Defend the proposition that the Bill of Rights in necessary today Essay

Defend the proposition that the Bill of Rights in necessary today - Essay Example The First Amendment is the glue that holds the countries hard-fought-for freedoms intact. The foundation of the American criminal justice system is founded upon the right to due process of law (Fifth Amendment) and the right to a speedy, public and fair trial along with the right to counsel and to confront the accuser, (Sixth Amendment). The Second Amendment states â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed† (â€Å"The Constitution†, 2006). Obviously, the right to own arms was of supreme importance to the Founders given that it was listed second only after the freedom of religion and speech was documented in the First Amendment. These four Amendments are invoked regularly today, argued and debated in and out of court. Each is necessary for the freedoms we all enjoy and as relevant today as they were imagined to be when conceived by the Founding fathers. The First Amendment states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.† (â€Å"The Constitution†, 2006). ... Journalists who questioned the King’s decisions were often jailed or worse. The Founders knew that if the press were not free, the country would not be either. The role of the media is critical to the preservation of freedom itself. The Constitutional right to freedom of expression and of the press includes the un-infringed right to investigate and publicly announce information or to espouse opinion. An effective media outlet must have editorial independence and serve a diversity of public interests uncontrolled by government or ideological influence. An adversarial relationship sometimes exists between mass media and the government regarding the public’s right to know balanced against matters of national security (Center for Democracy and Governance 1999 p. 5). Despite the criticisms of the press, would anyone in this country actually want press to stop doing its job? Journalists, as part of a free press, serve to enlighten the public regarding governmental activities as well as other items of common interest, often placing themselves in harm’s way for the benefit of others. America probably needs the freedom of the press today more so than in any other time in its history. The previous presidential administration stripped away freedoms at an unprecedented rate and ignored global and domestic concerns involving this nation in an illegal and immoral war all under the guise of the ‘war on terror.’ Politicians are as still corrupt as ever. The press should be held to the high standard they set for themselves and revered and recognized for the vital function they provide the country. Without the press and the constitutionally guaranteed freedom it enjoys in this nation, democracy could not endure. If they were to overstep their powers,

Projet 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Projet 4 - Essay Example The variances reflected the amount that needed to be earmarked for the vacation in Hawaii, life insurance of children, and the funds needed for the Christmas vacation, as identified under financial goals (Part 1). When these were not yet reflected in the Income and Expenses Statement for September, there was a surplus of $750. However, given that additional savings were needed for the planned expenses, no surplus was therefore reflected for October. Discuss what you learned about the budgeting process from this exercise and whether you feel you need to make any adjustments to your monthly budget. I realized that to finance planned vacations and other financial needs, the family needs to earmark an exact amount per month to save for these projected expenses. As shown from our comparative income and expense statements, the additional savings wiped our any surplus previously reflected. In this regard, in order to have a surplus amount, we should review some financial accounts and make l ittle adjustments in our monthly budget. The budget for food allowance, transportation and miscellaneous could be adjusted to give way for surplus in the future statements. B. Retirement Savings Needs In estimating the retirement savings needs, a quick response to the Ballpark Estimate indicates that â€Å"Based on the assumptions you entered, you have now saved enough to allow you to replace 6 percent of your final wages (this includes income from Social Security). The percentage of total salary you will need to save from now until retirement age to achieve your desired income replacement rate is 140 percent. The dollar amount you will need to save this year is $46,924† (Choose to Save, 2011). Information from the Social Security Online indicated that for Retirement, â€Å"Your estimated monthly benefit amount, beginning at age 62 and 1 month in 2040, is $2,729.00. For your estimate, we assumed future increases in prices or earnings† (Social Security Online, 2011). Th is information indicate that I need to earmark more funds for savings for my retirement. At the current monthly salary being received, the projected monthly benefit from the Social Security is only $2,729, which is below what I currently receive from my salary. Given that I do not need to support our children at that age, I still need to support and sustain daily living needs, including health and medications. C. Revised Goals Worksheet A. Describe the Goal B. Dollar Amount Required? C. Deadline Date? D. Date to Start Saving?   Number of Months to Save? (C - D) Monthly Savings Amount Long term goals: Vacation in Hawaii Retirement Fund $5000 $32,400 Dec. 2012 Jan. 2012 Oct. 2011 Dec. 2038 16 months 324 months $312.50 $100 Intermediate LT Goals Life insurance for the children $3000 Oct. 2016 Oct. 2011 60 months $50 Short Term Goals House fund Christmas vacation Summer

Emotionally And Socially Withdrawn Children And Young People Essay

Emotionally And Socially Withdrawn Children And Young People Essay Divorce, marriage breakdowns and separation is an extremely stressful time for all involved but particularly the children/young person. They may begin to lack in confidence and self esteem and become emotionally withdrawn. Due to the family upheaval, the child or young person may begin to loose focus on their own abilities and suffer mentally. In the same degree children and young people from a single parent family may also suffer due to a lack of female/male role model which can cause social stigma. In some households dual parents or lone parents may find they have to work long hours, resulting in little time remaining to focus on direct social, intellectual and emotional support. Some situations cause a child to find themselves becoming part of a step family through their parent meeting a new partner, which could result in friction between children from each side. Because of this particular situation the children or young person may become emotionally and socially withdrawn which c ould lead to an increasing risk of bullying by peers. Various factors have an influence on a child and young persons development process in particular relation to their background. Development is vital and major setbacks at a young age can have a lasting impression on children and young people. Family bereavement is a very traumatic time and experience for children or young people, even when they have been prepared for the worse. Emotional strain is created and outbursts of emotion should be expected during the bereavement period. Socially, children who have been through bereavement may feel different apposed to their peers who havent experienced bereavement. This may result in the child or young person suffering intellectually due to regular absences from nursery or school, their concentration levels and behaviour may also be affected. Moving house can also have an impact on a child and cause some great difficulty as the child has to adapt to a completely new situation, with changing their original nursery/school and having to adapt to a new routine. You may find that in these situations a child/young person may become highly emotional and socially introverted. Health There can be many health aspects that affect a child/young persons development. Children become extremely resilient and are often able to manage their conditions very well; however, certain aspects of their development can prove challenging throughout periods of ill health. Children may suffer from conditions such as asthma, which if not well controlled, can cause children to have extended periods of time off from school. This in turn leads to intellectual development being compromised as well as social development due to relationships not being maintained. Disability in children, whether it be physical or intellectual can be particularly difficult. A child that has a hearing impairment may suffer physically through loss of balance or socially through having to communicate in alternative ways such as sign language/makaton. A physical disability such as Cerebral Palsy can be physically challenging due to being restricted in taking part in certain activities. This can affect social situations due to these restrictions and can affect a child/young person emotionally questioning why they are different causing low self-esteem. Being diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer as a child/young person can also prove to lead to developmental issues. All areas of development can be compromised, intellectually, through missing school and being too ill to complete set work. They may suffer physically depending on the specific illness causing them to be weak and/or in too much pain and discomfort to complete physical activities. Socially they may be too ill to interact with others and/or maintain friendships. They may also become emotionally withdrawn and find it difficult to cope with their emotions. Allergies affect many children, particularly food allergies; this in turn can lead to social problems as they may become excluded from certain situations where their allergies are not known. In contrast they may feel a certain social stigma as their allergies are highlighted, for example; when eating lunch at school, they may be required to wear a special badge which shows their allergies, causing them to feel different from their peers. They have to be more physically aware of their condition and how this can cause changes in their body and manage this accordingly. Environment Environmental factors can play a huge part in affecting a child/young persons development. These can vary from cultural factors to living conditions. Children/young people from less advantaged backgrounds who live in poverty can have their development seriously compromised. They are less likely to have educational support from parents/carers which in turn creates intellectual problems for the child/young person. This is further influenced by having a lack of learning resources available such as access to computers and books. They may become disillusioned with education from an early age which sets them on a path of social and emotional turmoil. Also, they may suffer socially by not being able to participate in certain paid activities offered through school and outside school which means they interact less in physical activities. They may also feel that they cannot compete with their peers with regards to fashion trends and owning the latest technology. They might not seem to be as physically strong as their peers; parents/carers might experience difficulty in providing healthy, regular meals which can cause problems with their phy sical well-being. Their emotions can seem quite immature at times and they may well become emotionally withdrawn but also prone to emotional outbursts associated with behavioural difficulties, displaying a lack of attention.

The American Presidency: Evolution in Time Essay -- American History P

The American Presidency: Evolution in Time The American Presidency is undoubtedly one of the most widely recognized popular icons throughout the world. Although to most foreigners or those who have never resided in the United States or know little of its history, the executive branch of government may seem to be as dull and unyielding as the rest of the American politics, for those few rare individuals who have taken the time to examine and closely scrutinize this office of the American political system and its recent history, quite the opposite will be said. Unlike Congressional or local elections where typically a number of individuals of the same ideological background must be elected in order for a particular issue to be addressed by the government, when it comes to the presidency, one person, although checked by various other divisions of the same government, has the power and responsibility to literally, as history has proven, change the world. The American people, "like all people everywhere, want to have our (pol itical) cake and eat it too. We want a lot of leadership, but we are notoriously lousy followers" (Genovese). In other words the expectations the public has of the executive office are ever-changing since we demand that our leaders keep up with the evolving world around us and them. Throughout the past seventy eventful years alone, the American people's views, perceptions and demands of the Executive Office of American government have evolved simultaneously with the political and social events of that same time period. The 1930s was a time of not only political turmoil abroad, but of economic chaos on the home-front as well. After President Herbert C. Hoover's Presidency took the blame for launching the ... ...atter? The Role of Charisma in Public Leadership." Congress & the Presidency 29 (2002): 25-47. Genovese A., Michael. "'What Have You Done For Me Lately?: The Demands Placed On The American Presidency.' National Forum 80 (2000): 30-40. Iyengar, Shanto. "Public Opinion." 10 Nov. 2004 <http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=023 82400&templatename=/article/article.ht ml > Rosen A., Elliot. "Roosevelt, Franklin Delano." 10 Nov. 2004 <http: //ap. grolier. com/article?assetid=02501700&templatename=/article/article.ht ml > Saltzman, Joe. "All the News that Fits Our Views." USA Today Sept. 25, 2004: 55. Shea, Christopher. "Americans More United in Social Views." The Chronicle of Higher Education 43 (1997): A18. Weinstein, Michael A., Weinstein, Deena. "Hail to the Shrub: Mediating the Presidency." The American Behavioral Scientist 46 (2002): 566-581.

Poetry Explication Essay

Wordsworth is one among the best five poets in English. He wrote many poems and most of them are best known for its treatment of love for nature. â€Å"The Daffodils†, â€Å"Lines Written in Early Spring†, â€Å"To the Cuckoo†, and â€Å"My Heart Leaps Up† are very few of his poems in which the role of nature is predominant. By the close reading of the poems it is obvious that he is an ardent lover of nature. And he has the quality to heal all his deep sufferings by enjoying nature. And he insists his readers that to live in touch with nature and it will cure all their problems. Through his poems he gave such a healing power to nature. In most of his poems he considered nature as a living personality. He is a very sensitive to all changes occurred in nature. I WANTERED LONELY AS A CLOUD (THE DAFFODILS) His poem â€Å"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud† is one of the most celebrated poem. In which the poet describes about a time when he wandered like a cloud through vales and hills. From the first line of this poem it is clear that the poet feels lonely at the time of writing this poem. Finally he saw a group of daffodils which are â€Å"fluttering and dancing in the breeze†. This is all about the first stanza of this poem. In its second stanza he started describe about the daffodils. The flowers seemed never ending so he compares it with shining stars in the Milky Way. He assumes that he might see ten thousand daffodils at a glance. This shows that the flowers are countless or large in number. And they are â€Å"tossing their heads and sprightly dance†. Here the poet is depressed internally but he tries to find happiness from his surrounding nature. In third stanza he compares the waves of the lake and daffodils. But he says that daffodils have more â€Å"glee† than the â€Å"sparking† lake. And he says that a poet can’t do anything but enjoying it. Even in his loneliness he feels some happiness inside his mind. He says that â€Å"in such a jocunt company† a poet can only enjoy it nothing more than that. He starred at the scene for a long time and he couldn’t understand what he gained by gazing at it. Here he says that nature has a power to attract any man’s attention even if the man is in depressed mood. In its last stanza he describes about what he gained from this experience. He says whenever he feels â€Å"pensive† or â€Å"vacant† this experience fills happiness in the mind of the poet and he started dancing with that flowers. It shows his change of mood after take a look of those flowers. â€Å"They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. † The dancing daffodils have that much influence in the mind of the poet. This experience was capable to heal the inner sufferings of him. From this poem he tries to teach the reader about the importance of man’s connection with nature. Only nature can give utmost pleasure to man than any material possession. MY HEART LEAPS UP (THE RAINBOW) This poem is one of Wordsworth’s widely accepted poems. In which he depicts about his excitements when he saw a rainbow in the sky. This poem is well known because of its simplicity in theme and its treatment of nature. Through this poem he reveals to his readers that how childishly he keeps enjoying nature. He used to see rainbow in the sky from his childhood itself. Now he is a grown up man but still he didn’t lose his spirit towards nature. In short his love for nature is consistent. We can understand it by referring many of his poems. This poem is started with the line â€Å"My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:† From the first line itself he started describing his cheerful experience when he saw a rainbow in the sky. According to him there is no age bound in enjoying nature. He used here present, past and future tenses only to denote his spirit of enjoying the nature. â€Å"So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old,† He says that when he was in his childhood the view of rainbow made the same effect which he feels now, in his manhood. And he wishes to continue like this in his future also. In his mind leading a life without keeping any connection with nature is worse than death. He says that in his future days if he is not capable to enjoy it then â€Å"let me die! †. He can’t think a life without nature because it is everything for him. And through these lines he also shows his consistent love towards nature. His love has same spirit throughout his life. And till his end he wishes to live in nature’s lap. Towards the end of this poem he says that â€Å"The child is father of the man;† which gives a paradoxical meaning here. Commonly we know that man is the father of child. But here he was not talking about its direct meaning. He only means that from the childhood begins manhood. Here the word â€Å"father† means one from whom something begins. The main idea of the poem lies in this line, i.e. , the present is the outcome of past and like this future will be the outcome of present. And in its concluding lines he shows his deep desire to live in connection with nature by enjoying all its varieties. â€Å"And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety. † Through these lines he indirectly talks about his immense desire to go back to his childhood. In that age he was very cheerful. Now in his adulthood, because of the bitter experiences of his life, he wishes to attain his childhood once again and he finds that nature is the best mean to achieve it. The themes of â€Å"childhood† and â€Å"nature† are best described through this poem. â€Å"LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING†: It is a simple, lyric poem. The poet himself said in this poem that he wrote this when he sat under the shade of a group of trees. He was in a relaxing mood at that time and he sat there for a long time by enjoying the music or the sounds from his surroundings. Suddenly the music changes to a melancholy note when he started thinking about humanity. â€Å"In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. † Personally the poet was in a depressed situation at that time. Because of the French Revolution there were problems concerning poverty and society. Moreover he was not take care by his uncle, who was supposed to take care of him since the death of his father, after his graduation. But when he sat under the trees he felt better and slowly it act like a healing balm of his sufferings. But suddenly things have changed. He says that the beautiful sight of nature is a bridge from human soul to god. According to him natural sights are enough to give a perpetual bliss to his mind. â€Å"To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran;† Through these lines the poet tries to spiritualize nature. He knows that spiritual life is happier than material life. Now his tiresome heart is in search for eternal pleasure. Nature is a perfect creation of god so worshipping it will also give bliss. But the thought of humanity again started disturbing him. And he thinks pathetically about the treatment given to a man by his fellow beings. â€Å"And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. † From these lines he tries to say that all the sufferings of man are only because of the drifting away from nature. According to him nature is the mother of humans. From there only we get complete compensation from all our sufferings. So he indirectly says that men can’t exist without nature. Then he started describing about the flowers in that place. Primrose, periwinkle like flowers are well grown there. After gazing at them he realized that all the flowers are enjoying all their actions even their breathing. From his surroundings he wish acquire some happiness and thus feel an internal bliss. â€Å"The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure: — But the least motion which they made, It seemed a thrill of pleasure Secondly he started looking at the birds around him. They were â€Å"hopped† and â€Å"played† there. Then he says that he was not able to understand their thoughts but even in their small movements poet could feel â€Å"a thrill of pleasure† in them. Poet’s mind is wounded now. But the pleasant picture of the nature changes his mood and brings happiness slowly. In its fourth stanza he started describing about the trees around him. They were all spreading their leaves to breathe the fresh air. But their also he could see only happiness. He came to a realization that nature itself is blissful. All the creatures which are living in connection with nature are all blessed with peace and happiness. In the final stanza he concludes the poem with an important question that is â€Å"what man has made of man? † He became clear about the fact that drifting away from nature is the cause of all tragedies in human life. This realization ache him very harshly. â€Å"Have I not reason to lament What Man has made of Man? † According to him man himself is only responsible for their sufferings. Throughout the poem the pleasure which he describes is something spiritual or divine and the union of man and nature is also the plan of god. Here it is well expressed the poet’s capacity to spiritualize nature. Thus this poem is all about the relationship between man and nature. â€Å"TO THE CUCKOO†: This poem is one of the best poem in which nature is reflected. Throughout this poem the poet thus the speaker addressing a bird cuckoo. Through this poem the poet welcomes the spring season in the most elegant way. He from his childhood noticed that from the beginning of this season nature seems more beautiful with the â€Å"wandering voice† of the bird cuckoo. And in this poem he indirectly depicting about his belief in supernatural elements and he states that this earth is not only for humans but also for animals, birds, supernatural elements like fairies etc. He starts the poem by calling the bird cuckoo as â€Å"a BLITHE New Comer†. He was attracted by its double fold shouting than anything. The bird is not visible to the poet. So in utter confusion he asks the bird that, â€Å"shall I call thee bird, / Or but a wandering voice? † It also shows his interest to see that bird. In its first stanza he talks about his happiness when he hear the voice of the bird. In his second stanza he describes about when he heard the shouting of the bird cuckoo. When he lied on grass he heard the voice passing through â€Å"hills to hill† but he couldn’t fix the bird and thus the shouting seems to him as a wandering voice. Even he became in confusion that whether the bird is shouting from far away or nearby place. Thus the twofold sound of that bird made him a wanderer. Wordsworth is best known as the poet of eyes and ear. In his third stanza he talks about his pleasure and his experiences after seeing that cuckoo. â€Å"Though babbling only to the Vale, Of Sunshine and of flowers, Thou bringest unto me a tale Of visionary hours. † The valley which was filled with sunshine and flowers seemed more beautiful with the voice of the bird. It gives a feast to his eyes and ears. So it made him to stay there for a long time. It brings happiness to his mind. So whenever he heard its voice his urge to see that bird increases. And in the next stanza he addresses the bird as â€Å"darling of the spring† and he welcomes it to the season. And he says to the bird that the bird is only an invisible thing to him. So he feels that the voice of that bird is something mysteries. Even an unknown sound from nature has profound influence in poet’s mind. That’s why it easily catches the attention of the poet. In its fifth stanza he describes about his childhood. Even in his childhood he wandered a lot to see this bird. He tried to see the bird by following its voice. â€Å"The same whom in my school-boy days I listened to; that Cry Which made me look a thousand ways In bush, and tree, and sky. † He says that even from his boyhood age he was fully attracted by the catching beauty of nature. In his childhood also he used to listen its music but then also he didn’t get a chance to see that bird. The bird stays by hiding itself and through its sweet sound it makes the nature more alive and thus it tries to increase its overall beauty. In his childhood he often searched it â€Å"In bush, tree and sky. † Still he keeps searching it with a hope of success. So these lines also show the theme of hope also. He didn’t tire with his thousands of attempt to see that bird. All his failures made him to search more and more. So by observing nature he got a hope for his future. He believes that one day he will meet the owner of that wandering mysterious voice. In its next two stanzas he depicts about his theme of hope and childhood. Even in his manhood also he is wandering for that bird. He has a spark of hope by the shouting of that bird. He keeps an ardent love towards the bird even if he didn’t see that bird yet. And he says that when he lied on the grass and hear the voice, it made a nostalgic effect  to his mind. He started thinking about his â€Å"golden time†, childhood. From the line, â€Å"And listen, till I do beget That golden time again. † It is obvious that his childhood was full of happiness. That is why he referred it with the word â€Å"golden time†. The music of cuckoo had made this much influence in the mind of the poet. In its final stanza he gives a supernatural power to that bird. He calls it as â€Å"O blessed bird! †. From our childhood itself we heard about the stories of fairies. Fairies are some supernatural elements which help and give happiness to others. So to him the bird cuckoo also like this. It gives intense pleasure to the mind of the people. With its sweet voice it heals the incurable wounds of the mind. In his last stanzas he indirectly depicts about his believe in supernatural elements like fairy. â€Å"O blessed Bird! the earth we pace Again appears to be An unsubstantial, faery place; That is fit home for Thee! † Through this line he says that this world is not only for humans but also for animals and other super natural elements. In his eyes the cuckoo bird is a blessed one because it has the power to heal the inner sorrows of men and it fills eternal bliss in to the mind of the humans. This poem dramatizes the conflict between appearance and reality, particularly as this conflict relates to the central symbol of the poem, the goose fish. The speaker relates the tale of two lovers who encounter a dead fish on the beach after sharing their affection with one another. While looking at the fish, the couple ponders the meaning of this fish. Taken figuratively, the goose fish occupies many roles. As the speaker overlooks the events taking place between two lovers on a beach, he introduces the goose fish as playing the part of an intruder: â€Å"Until they saw†¦ / As though the whole world had found them out, / The goose fish†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (15-17). Shortly after the lovers witness the goose fish, they ponder over what the fish’s big toothy grin â€Å"would express, / So finished a comedian† (30-31). The speaker then expresses the lovers’ thoughts that delegate the fish as an emblem of their passionate love and an optimist of their relationship. Finally, after conveying the numerous roles that the lovers attribute to the fish, the speaker expresses the lovers’ final decision to call the goose fish their patriarch who blesses their union. In reality, the fish can not realistically satisfy these roles because it has died. In this way, the speaker communicates the several roles that the lovers ascribe to the goose fish. However, the poem begins with several oddities that hint to the fact that this poem expresses more than it’s literal words. For example, the poem follows the iambic tetrameter form with each stanza closing in an iambic trimeter line. The form of the poem as well as the speaker’s neutral attitude toward the events that take place create a philosophical and detached tone that suggest that the objects and events within the poem should not be interpreted according to their denotations. Also, the rhetoric of the first line illustrates that the words in that line do not simply describe the beach. The speaker uses long vowel sounds to create the long stretch of beach that the lovers inhabit: â€Å"On the long shore, lit by the moon† (1). The syntax conforms to traditional rules so that the speaker can explicitly narrate the action happening between the two lovers: â€Å"Two lovers suddenly embraced / So that their shadows were as one† (3-4). The lovers share an intimate moment that expresses their love for one another. The vocabulary that the speaker uses such as â€Å"graced,† â€Å"prized,† and â€Å"emparadised† suggests that whenever the couple gets together, they enter their own fantasy dream world that consists of just themselves. In the second stanza, the speaker replaces his long, flowing lines with short, abrupt words to convey the fright that the two lovers experience when an outsider intrudes upon their fantasy world: â€Å"Then, as if shaken by stage-fright / Beneath the hard moon’s bony light,† (10-11). The goose fish, the central symbol of the poem, introduces himself to the pair of lovers. Even though the fish looks deceased, the use of irony that the speaker employs describes the role of the goose fish as an intruder: â€Å"Until they saw, there underfoot, / As though the world had found them out, / The goose fish turning up, though dead, / His hugely grinning head† (15-18). The normal structure of the speaker’s sentence builds up to the suspense of finding out who has trespassed into the lovers’ secret world: â€Å"They stood together on the sand / Embarrassed in each other’s sight / But still conspiring hand in hand,† (12-14). In the third stanza, the speaker describes the importance of the interrupting goose fish on the couple through an iambic trimeter line: â€Å"The only way that could be known / To make a world their own† (26-27). The lovers express astonishment in how a fish has infiltrated their fantasy world. Thus, they try to attribute their own special meaning to the fish to make him a part of their world. The speaker blends the symbols of the moon and the fish to show the merging of the heavenly, or the appearance, with the earthly, or the reality: â€Å"There in the china light he lay, / Most ancient and corrupt and gray† (19-20). As the speaker tells about the fish, he inverts the order of his sentence. The fish’s description follows the introduction of the fish. The speaker reverses his word order to place emphasis on the comparison between the heavenly moon and the earthly goose fish. Descriptive words such as â€Å"fragile† and â€Å"violence† transform the lovers’ dream world into a place of horror because an unwelcome visitor joins them. In the last two stanzas of this poem, the goose fish becomes transformed into three different roles as the lovers attempt to decipher the fish’s true meaning. At first they believe that his â€Å"wide and moony grin† transforms the fish into a comedian (28). The use of the word moony to describe the fish fully joins the symbols of the moon and the fish together. This merge represents the unity of the cosmos and that although the lovers appear to exist only in their own dream world, they still find themselves stuck in reality. The couple quickly determines that the fish does not serve as a symbol of humor, but as an emblem of their love. â€Å"But took it for an emblem of / Their sudden, new and guilty love† (33-34). Through the use of short words, the speaker infuses energy into the lovers’ new interpretation of the goose fish to convey passion and lust behind the lovers’ relationship. Finally, the couple decides to look to the fish as their patriarch and friend. When conveying this final conclusion, the speaker expresses the naivete of the lovers and their desperate attempts to extract blessings from the goose fish. However, the lovers overlook the fact that the fish has died. This use of irony shows how the appearance of the fish symbolizes a personal connection to the lovers while in reality, the dead fish cannot fulfill this role. The visual division of this poem into five stanzas serves to create a play that consists of five acts. The lovers represent the actors of a drama. The fish becomes the unwelcome audience as the lovers share their intimacy with one another. When the lovers realize that something has watched their actions, they shiver with embarrassment, or stage-fright. While pondering over the goose fish, they stand hand in hand as if waiting for the curtain call. The goose fish appears to act as the comedian whose play may end in success or failure of the lovers’ relationship. In this way, the poet reinforces the conflict between the appearance of the numerous roles of the goose fish and the reality that the goose fish no longer lives.

Mercedes Benz’s E-Biz Solution

Free Case Study | Mercedes Benz's E-Biz Solution: The Factory Delivery Reservation System | Free | Case Studies | Case Study in Business, Management Case Details Themes: e-Supply Chain Management Case Length: 06 Pages Period: 1990-2001 Organization : SciQuest. com Pub Date : 2002 Teaching Note : Available Countries : USA Industry : Information Technology (Electronic Commerce) Mercedes Benz's E-Biz Solution: The Factory Delivery Reservation System â€Å"One of our most fundamental goals in developing the system was to strengthen and market the Mercedes-Benz brand in the United States.The fact that we would be one of the first car manufacturers in the United States to have a factory delivery program would be seen as a very positive thing in this regard. † – William Engelke, Assistant Manager, IT Systems, Mercedes Benz US International, commenting on the FDRS. Linking Customers By 2000, Mercedes Benz United States International (MBUSI), builder of the high-quality MClass s ports utility vehicle (SUV), established itself as a company that also delivered superior customer services. One such service was the delivery option where by the customer could take delivery of the vehicle at the factory in Alabama, US.The program called the Factory Delivery Reservation System (FDRS), enabled MBUSI to create and validate 1800 orders per hour. FDRS also automatically generated material requirements and Bills of Material1 for 35,000 vehicles per hour. The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution that made FDRS possible was based on Lotus Domino2 and IBM Netfinity3 server4. Analysts felt that with its innovative use of the new program, MBUSI not only managed to improve its customer relations by providing the best service, but also demonstrated its commitment to customers by making them an integral part of the process.Customers were, in a way linked directly to the factory floor – which was a powerful sales tool. Background: Mbusi and its Business Challen ges MBUSI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrylser AG. 5 In 1993, Daimler Benz realized that the ‘Benz' brand could be extended to wider market segments. Traditionally, Mercedes Benz6 appealed to older and sophisticated customers only. Daimler Benz wanted to attract customers below 40 years of age, who wanted a rugged vehicle with all the safety and luxury features of a Mercedes. Daimler Benz decided to develop a SUV known as the M-Class.It expected strong demand for the new vehicle and therefore planned to build its first car-manufacturing facility – MBUSI – in the (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) US. The MBUSI facility had many advantages. First, labor costs in the US were almost half that of in Germany. Second, the US was the leading geographic market for SUVs. Third, as the vehicles were assembled in the US, they could be distributed to Canada and Mexico more efficiently. In January 1997, the factory started production at partial capacity and by the end of the y ear, it was producing at full capacity.By 2000, the factory was rolling out around 380 vehicles per day. The new M-Class „allactivity'vehicle represented a new concept for the company. Also, mass customization required that each vehicle be treated as a separate project, with its own Bill of Material. To deal with these challenges, Daimler Benz decided to implement an enterprise wide Information Technology (IT) system, with the help of IBM Global Services7. To further strengthen the image of Mercedes Benz in the US, MBUSI planned to deliver vehicles at the factory, becoming the first international automobile manufacturer in the US to do so.MBUSI also wanted to enrich the customers'experience. Commented William Engelke, â€Å"The factory delivery option gives Mercedes-Benz customers something that they do not get from other automobile manufacturers which is why we think the program will resonate with our customers. We think that having the factory delivery program available to Mercedes customers adds to the overall experience of the customer. † The Design of FDRS The FDRS program was proposed in the first quarter of 1998. In the third quarter of 1998, MBUSI entered into a contract with IBM.A development team was constituted with IBM Global Solutions specialists and IBM e-commerce developers, who worked closely with MBUSI. The program became operational by the first quarter of 1999. The IT team at MBUSI had a clear set of functional specifications for FDRS. However, they relied on IBM to transform the concept into an e-business solution. The FDRS was designed in such a way that customers buying the M-Class SUV could specify that will take delivery of their new vehicle at the factory. They could place the order at any of the 355 Mercedes Benz dealers in the US.An authorized employee at the dealership entered the factory delivery order the web interface. Timing was the most important aspect of the FDRS'functionality, as it was closely linked with MBUSI 's vehicle production schedule. Mercedes Benz United States of America (MBUSA)8, based in Montvale, NJ, was the first link in the FDRS program. It was the point where the dealer actually placed the order. MBUSA's role was to coordinate the distribution of vehicles to dealers across the country. Later, it had to add the order to the company's Baan Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)9system, which scheduled the order for production.About three months before the production date, the dealer could schedule in a window, the date and time of arrival of the customer at the factory for delivery. The window was then automatically computed by the FDRS to give the dealer, the possible delivery dates. Apart from the delivery date, the customer could also specify the accessories for the car and also request a factory tour. FDRS was based on Lotus Domino (Refer Exhibit I), Lotus Enterprise Integrator10 and IBM Netfinity servers. It also interfaced with IBM S/390 Parallel Enterprise Server, Model 96 72-R45 located in Montvale, NJ (Refer Figure I).There were two Domino servers – an IBM Netfinity 5500 and an IBM Netfinity 3000. FIGURE I SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OF FDRS Source: MBUSI The former that acted as the „internal Domino server'was placed behind a firewall 11. It replicated databases through the firewall to the external server. The replication, which was encrypted, represented the primary means by which the FDRS system achieved security. Netfinity 3000 acted as an „external Domino server. ‘It had public information and was also the primary communication linkage for dealers. The ack-end of the FDRS was equipped with an Oracle database that updated the internal Domino server database with order information. The updation was done using Lotus Enterprise Integrator. The data which was replicated to the internal Domino server included lists of valid dealers and lists of order numbers. When an order was placed by the dealer on the FDRS system, the data was fir st stored on the external Domino server, after which it was replicated to the internal Domino server. Then it was replicated to the back-end database via the Lotus Enterprise Integrator.Data replication between the Lotus Notes servers happened every 15 minutes and data exchange with the back-end database three times per day. There was also a link between the back end database and an IBM S/39012 mainframe based system located at MBUSA via a T113 line. MBUSA managed the flow of vehicles to Mercedes dealers across the United States. This mainframe based system, received new vehicle orders (as opposed to factory delivery reservation requests) from individual dealers. The orders were then sent to MBUSI's Baan system and also to the back-end database.The vehicle ordering and factory reservation data were coordinated with each other when the back-end database uploaded the data to the internal Domino server. This coordinated the production and delivery information. FDRS Implementation One o f the most challenging aspects of the implementation seemed to be the complexity of the Lotus and Domino scripts. The development team had to group all the information from diverse systems. Commented William Engelke, â€Å"There was a substantial amount of very complex coding involved in the FDRS solution. This application involves a lot more than having our dealers fill out a form and submitting it.There are many things the servers have to do for the system to function properly, such as looking at calendars and production schedules. We built a solution with some very advanced communication linkages. † IBM faced many technical challenges during the implementation of the program. One of them was the different timing schemes of the Lotus Notes databases and backend databases (ERP). This led to discrepancies in the data. Domino server was a Near Real Time (NRT) Server14, and MBUSI's backend activities were both real time15and batch processing16. Also, to get the best results, th e Domino server was an optimised subset of the ERP table set17.However, the development team achieved a balance between the two „sides'of the solution by focusing on issues of timing, error detection schemes, and alerts. Customer Satisfaction: FDRS Primary Benefit MBUSI seemed to measure FDRS'success in terms of increased satisfaction of its customers. The company also believed that the marketing and customer satisfaction aspects outweighed the significance of more traditional cost-based benefits. Apart from the factory delivery experience, the program also offered the customer a factory tour and ride on the off-road course at a low cost.The company also seemed to gain strategic marketing benefits from the FDRS program, as it was able to establish Mercedes-Benz as a premium brand. (Refer Table I for advantages of FDRS in different areas). Customers could also visit the various tourist spots in Alabama after picking up their M-class vehicles. TABLE I ADVANTAGES OF THE FDRS PROG RAM AREA Strategic Marketing Benefits Cost Savings ADVANTAGES FDRS was expected to improve customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, as it enriched Mercedes' customer's experience. The program also strengthened the brand image of Mercedes in the US.Development of a web-based solution enabled MBUSI to offer the factory delivery program at substantially lower costs, due to less reliance on administrative personnel. â€Å"Package Marketing† the FDRS program with a ride to tourist sites, enhanced the image of Alabama as a tourist destination. The creation of a similar – albeit smaller – factory delivery system to the European Customer Delivery Center in Sindelfingen, Germany, reflected favorably on the MBUSI business unit. Source: MBUSI Regional Economic Development DaimlerChrysler AG Future of FDRS In 2000, MBUSI planned to leverage FDRS'platform by adding a range of other services.MBUSI built an advanced platform to create communication links to its suppliers. Thro ugh the link, MBUSI provided them feedback on the quality of supplies it received. The dealers and suppliers had a user-ID and password, which the system recognized. It then routed them into the appropriate stage of the FDRS. The company also planned to extend the innovative system to include transactional applications such as ordering materials and checking order status on the Web. The company expected that the new system based on FDRS, would be more cost-effective than the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)18 system. ] Bill of Material keeps track of all raw materials, parts, and subassemblies used to create a finished product. 2] A product of IBM Corp. , Lotus Notes and Domino R5 are the industry's leading client/server combination for collaborative messaging and e-business solutions. 3] The IBM Netfinity server offers solutions for file-and-print and application computing needs. 4] A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a file server is a c omputer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server.A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers, and a network server is a computer that manages network traffic. A database server is a computer system that processes database queries. 5] DaimlerChrysler AG was the result of a merger between two leading car manufacturers – Daimler Benz of Germany and Chrysler Corp. of the US in 1998. 6] A luxury brand of passenger cars, Sports Utility Vehicles from DaimlerChrysler. 7] IBM Global Services is the services and consultancy division of IBM Corp. that offers extensive ebusiness solutions. 8] MBUSA is the wholly owned US subsidiary of DaimlerChrylser. ] ERP attempts to integrate all departments and functions across a company onto a single computer system that can serve all those different departments' particular needs. 10] A server-based data distribution product that enables data exchange between Lotus Domino and a number of host and relational applications. 11] A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets.All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria. 12] The IBM S/390 servers offer direct high speed access to the e-business application and are used for Enterprise Computing. 13] A dedicated phone connection supporting data rates of 1. 544 Mbits per second. A T1 Line actually consists of 24 individual channels, each of which supports 64 Kbits per second. Each 64 Kbit per second channel can be configured to voice or data traffic. 14] The NRT Server System supports real time distribution of near-real time data. 5] Real time refers to events simulated by a computer at the same speed that they would occur in real life. 16] Executing a series of noninteractive jobs all at one time. The term dates back to the days when users entered programs on punch cards. They gave a batch of these programmed cards to the system operator, who fed them into the computer. Usually, batch jobs are stored up during working hours and then executed whenever the computer is idle. Batch processing is particularly useful for operations that require the computer or a peripheral device for an extended period of time.Once a batch job begins, it continues until it is done or until an error occurs. Note that batch processing implies that there is no interaction with the user while the program is being executed. 17] The ERP tables are the database tables, (thousands of them), on which the package is built. The programmers and end users must set these tables to match their business processes. Each table has a decision „switch'that leads t he software down one decision path or another. 18] EDI connects all the suppliers in and out of the US. www. icmrindia. org/free resources/casestudies/Mercedes Benz-IT&Systems-Case Studies. htm