The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 27

Elena felt confident and just a little light-headed as they set out for the Silver Nightingale's gala. However, when the four of them arrived on litters – Damon with Elena, Meredith with Bonnie (Lady Ulma being forbidden by her doctor to go to any festivities while she was pregnant) – at the Honorable Lady Fazina's palatial home, she was struck with something like terror. The house was truly a palace, in the best of story-telling tradition, she thought. Minarets and towers soared above them, probably painted in blue and lavish gilt, but turned lavender by the sunlight, and looking almost lighter than air. To complement the sunlight, torches had been lit on either side of the path of the litters up the hill and some chemical had been added – or some magic used – to make their lights shine in varying colors so that they changed from golden, to red, to purple, to blue, to green, to silver, and these colors shone true. They took Elena's breath away, as the only things that were not tinged with red in the whole world that she could see. Damon had brought a bottle of Black Magic with him and was almost too high-spirited – no pun intended, Elena thought. As their litter stopped at the top of the hill, Damon and Elena were helped out and down a hallway that cut out much of the sunlight. Above them hung delicate, lighted paper lanterns – some larger than the litter they'd been in a moment ago – brightly lighted and fancifully shaped which gave a festive, playful air to a palace otherwise so magnificent that it was a little intimidating. They passed by lighted fountains, some of which had surprises – like the line of magical frogs that constantly leaped from lily pad to lily pad: plop, plop, plop, like the sound of rain on a rooftop, or a huge gilded serpent that coiled among trees and over the heads of visitors, winding from there to the ground and then back up to the trees again. Then again, it was the ground that would turn transparent with all manner of magical schools of fish, sharks, eels, and dolphins cavorting, while in the dim blue depths far below loomed the figure of a gigantic whale. Elena and Bonnie hurried quickly over this portion of the path. It was clear that the owner of this estate could afford any kind of extravaganza her heart desired, and that above all things what she enjoyed the chiefest was music, for in each area, splendidly – sometimes bizarrely – dressed orchestra were playing, or there might be only one famous soloist, singing from a high gilded cage perhaps twenty-five feet above the ground. Music†¦music and lights everywhere†¦ Elena herself, although thrilled by the sights, sounds, and glorious scents coming from huge banks of flowers as well as from the guests, both male and female, felt a slight fear like a small rock in her stomach. She had thought her dress and diamonds so elaborate when she had left Lady Ulma's estate. But now that she was here at Lady Fazina's†¦well, there were too many rooms, too many people, as fancifully and finely clad as herself and her sister â€Å"personal assistants.† She was afraid that – well, that that woman over there, dripping jewels from her delicate three-tier diamond and emerald tiara to her delicate diamond-circled toes, made her own unadorned hair look dowdy or laughable, at such a grand affair. Do you know how old she is? Elena almost jumped to hear Damon's voice in her head. Who? Elena replied, trying at least to keep her envy – her worry – out of her telepathic voice. And am I projecting that loudly? she added in alarm. Not all that loudly, but it never hurts to tune it down. And you know perfectly well â€Å"who†: that giraffe you were eyeing, Damon replied. For your information, she's about two hundred years older than I am, and she's trying to look around thirty, which is ten years younger than when she became a vampire. Elena blinked. What are you trying to say? Send some Power to your ears, Damon suggested. And stop worrying! Elena obediently increased slightly the Power to what she still thought of as her burst ear nodes, and conversations suddenly became audible all around her. †¦oh, the goddess in white. She's just a child, but what a figure†¦ †¦yes, the one with the golden hair. Magnificent, isn't she?†¦Oh, by Hades, look at that girl†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Did you see the prince and princess over there? I wonder if they'd swap†¦or – or – do a quartet, dear? This was more like what Elena was used to hearing at parties. It gave her more confidence. It also, as she allowed her eyes to sweep more boldly across the opulently costumed crowed, caused her to feel a sudden surge of love and respect for Lady Ulma, who had designed and overseen the construction of three glorious dresses in only a week. She's a genius, Elena informed Damon solemnly, knowing that through their mindlink he would see who she meant. Look, Meredith already has a crowd around her. And†¦and†¦ And she's not acting much like Meredith at all, Damon finished, sounding slightly uneasy. Meredith didn't seem uneasy in the least. She had her face turned deliberately to show off a classical profile to her admirers, but it wasn't the profile of level-headed, serene Meredith Sulez at all. It was a sultry, exotic girl, who looked as if she might very well be able to sing the Habanera from Carmen. She had her fan open and was gracefully, languorously fanning herself. The soft but warm indoor lighting made her bare shoulders and arms gleam like pearl above the black velvet dress, which seemed even more mysterious and striking than it had back at home. In fact, it seemed to have stricken one devotee to the heart already; he was kneeling before her with a red rose in his hand, so hastily picked from one of the arrangements that a thorn had pricked him and blood welled from his thumb. Meredith didn't seem to have noticed. Both Elena and Damon felt for the young man, who was blond and extremely handsome. Elena felt sorry†¦and Damon felt hungry. She certainly seems to have come out of her shell, ventured Damon. Oh, Meredith doesn't ever really come out, Elena replied. It's all playacting. But tonight I think it's the dresses that are doing it. Meredith is dressed like a siren, and so she's acting all sultry. Bonnie's dressed like a peacock and†¦look. She nodded down the long hallway that led to a huge room in front of them. Bonnie, dressed in what looked like real peacock feathers, had a crowd of her own followers – and that was just what they were doing: following. Bonnie's every movement was light and birdlike and her jade bracelets clinked together on her small rounded arms, her earrings chimed with each toss of her head, and her feet seemed to twinkle in golden sandals in front of her peacock train. â€Å"You know, it's strange,† Elena murmured, as they reached the large room and at last sound was muted so she could hear Damon's physical voice. â€Å"I didn't realize it, but Lady Ulma designed our dresses at different levels of the animal world.† â€Å"Hm?† Damon was looking at her throat again. But fortunately at that moment a handsome man dressed in formal Earth clothes – tuxedo, cummerbund, and so on – came by with Black Magic in large silver goblets. Damon drained his in one gulp and took another from the gracefully bowing waiter. Then he and Elena took seats – on the outside of the back row, even if this was a rudeness to their hostess. They needed to be free to maneuver. â€Å"Well, Meredith is a mermaid, which is the highest order, and she's acting like a siren. Bonnie is a bird, so that's the next highest order, and she is acting like a bird: watching all the boys display themselves while she keeps laughing. And I'm a butterfly – so I suppose I'll be a social butterfly tonight. With you beside me, I hope.† â€Å"How†¦cute,† Damon said heavily. â€Å"But what exactly makes you think you're supposed to be a butterfly?† â€Å"Well, the designs, silly,† Elena said, and she lifted her mother-of-pearl and gold and diamond fan and gave him a tiny butterfly rap on the forehead with it. Then she opened it to show him a masterly sketch of the same design as her necklace on its front, decorated with tiny dots of diamond, gold, and mother-of-pearl where they would not be harmed by the folds. â€Å"You see? A butterfly,† she said, not displeased with the image. Damon traced the outline with one long, tapering finger that reminded her so much of Stefan's that it hurt her throat, and stopped at six stylized lines above the head. â€Å"Since when do butterflies have hair?† His finger moved to two horizontal lines between the wings. â€Å"Or arms?† â€Å"Those are legs,† Elena told him, amused. â€Å"What kind of thing with arms and legs and a head has six hairs and wings?† â€Å"A tipsy vampire,† suggested a voice above them and Elena looked up, surprised to see Sage. â€Å"May I sit with you?† he asked. â€Å"I couldn't manage a shirt, but my fairy godmother did conjure up a vest.† Elena, laughing, scooted over a seat so that he could take the aisle seat by Damon. He was much cleaner than when she had last seen him working around the house, although his hair was still in long wild unruly curls. She noted however, that his fairy godmother had scented him with cedar and sandalwood, and provided him with Dolce & Gabbana jeans and vest. He looked†¦magnifique. There was no sign of his animals. â€Å"I thought you weren't coming,† Elena said to him. â€Å"You can say that? Garbed as you are in celestial white and gold? You mentioned the gala; I took your wish as a command.† Elena giggled. Of course, everyone was treating her differently tonight. It was the dress. Sage, murmuring something about his latent heterosexuality, swore that the image on her necklace and fan was a phoenix. The very polite demon on her right, who had deep mauve skin and small, curling white horns, deferentially submitted that it looked to him like the goddess Ishtar, who had apparently sent him to the Dark Dimension a few millennia ago for tempting people to sloth. Elena made a mental note to ask Meredith whether this meant tempting them to eat sloths, which she knew were some kind of wild animal that didn't move around much, or something else. Then Elena thought that Lady Ulma had called the dress a â€Å"goddess dress,† hadn't she? It was certainly a dress you could only wear if your body was very young and very close to perfection, because there was no way to fit corsetry into it or even to drape it to minimize an unflattering feature. The only things under the dress were Elena's own firm young physique and a pair of scant, soft flesh-colored lace underwear. Oh, and a spray of jasmine perfume. So it's a goddess I feel like, she thought, thanking the demon (who stood and bowed). People were taking their seats for the Silver Nightingale's first performance. Elena had to admit to a longing to see Lady Fazina, and besides, it was too early to try for a restroom trip – Elena had already noticed that guards were posted at all the doors. There were two harps on a dais in the middle of a great circle of chairs. And then suddenly everyone was on their feet and clapping, and Elena would have seen nothing, if the Lady Fazina had not chosen to walk down the same aisle Elena and Damon had taken. As it was, she paused right beside Sage to acknowledge the roar of acclamation, and Elena had a perfect view of her. She was a lovely young woman, who to Elena's surprise looked hardly older than twenty, and was nearly as small as Bonnie. This diminutive creature obviously took her sobriquet very seriously: she was dressed entirely in a gown of silver mesh. Her hair was metallic silver, too, swept high in front and very short in back. Her train was barely attached to her, by two simple clasps at the shoulders. It floated horizontally behind her, constantly in motion, more like a moonbeam or a cloud than like real material until she got to the central dais and ascended it, then walked once around the tall uncovered harp, at which point the suspended part of the cape fell softly and gracefully to the floor in a semicircle around her. And then came the magic of the Silver Nightingale's voice. She began by playing the tall harp, which seemed even taller in comparison to her small body. She could make the harp sing under her fingers, coax it to cry like the wind or make music that seemed to descend from heaven in glissandos. Elena wept throughout her first song, even though it was sung in some foreign language. It was so piercingly sweet that it reminded Elena of Stefan, of the times they had been together, communicating by only the softest words and touches†¦ But Lady Fazina's most impressive instrument was her voice. Her tiny body could generate an extraordinary volume when she wanted it to. And as she sang one poignant, minor-tuned song after another, Elena could feel her skin break out into gooseflesh, and a trembling in her legs. She felt that at any moment she might fall to her knees as the melodies filled her heart. When someone touched her from behind, Elena started violently, brought back too quickly from the fantasy world the music had woven around her. But it was only Meredith, who despite her own love for music had a very practical suggestion for their group. â€Å"I was going to say, why not start now, while everyone else is listening?† she whispered. â€Å"Even the guards are out of it. We agreed on two by two, yes?† Elena nodded. â€Å"We're just having a look around the house. We may even find something while everyone is still here, listening, for nearly another hour. Sage, maybe you could sort of liaise between the two groups, telepathically.† â€Å"It would be my privilege, Madame.† The five of them set out into the Silver Nightingale's mansion.

Justify your choice of major theme(s) in the novel “Of Mice and Men”, and trace its/their development Essay

Within the novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men†, numerous different themes are evident. These range from death (the killing of Curley’s wife and of Lennie) to nature (the descriptions of the scenery at the beginning and towards the end of the story). However, the themes that I will consider are that of friendship and of the ‘American Dream’. Friendship, in my opinion, is one of the most regularly occurring themes in the story because of all the struggles George and Lennie have to overcome in their friendship, for example, keeping Lennie out of trouble so as to avoid any further predicaments. Also, it is considered slightly strange that these two men (Lennie and George) have travelled together for so long given the trend at the time of itinerant workers who were almost constantly changing their workplace. This shows how strong their bond is and how they would never leave each other. To further enhance this point of the constant occurrence of friendship, we see all the other friendships present on the ranch like Candy’s friendship with his loyal dog and the general friendship between all the ranch ‘guys’. Candy particularly has a strong friendship between himself and his dog. His feelings are clearly evident in the scene in which Carlson volunteers to shoot his dog. Candy is extremely reluctant but allows it anyway. However, he soon realises his mistake after he has decided to become a part of George and Lennie’s dream and we can see he regrets it when he tells George â€Å"I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.† Another friendship that is present and the most integral to the story is the friendship between George and Lennie. This friendship has many different sides to it like anger and happiness and even George being protective of Lennie. George sometimes can’t stand the sight of Lennie and constantly breaks into sudden outbursts about how â€Å"life would be easy† without Lennie. Yet deep down George realises that he took up the responsibility for looking after Lennie after his Aunt Clara died and knows he could never desert Lennie because they need each other equally. Their friendship also links into the other theme I have chosen, the ‘American Dream’. This theme is what bonds Lennie and George together because they know that they have a purpose and will eventually get somewhere, which is another reason why George doesn’t leave Lennie. Moreover, this theme is also one of the main sources of conversation between George and Lennie. For example, the way Lennie constantly tells George to â€Å"tell how it’s gonna be.† Again, like friendship, the theme of the ‘American Dream’ is also a regularly occurring theme that is never far from the action. For example, in the fight scene with Curley and Lennie, it was because Lennie was grinning at the idea of the dream materialising that Curley, upset about his wife, decided to pick a fight with him thinking Lennie was laughing at him. Additionally, to emphasise this point further, there is a final recitation of it just before George shoots Lennie. George shoots Lennie because he feels that it is his responsibility and he didn’t want to see Lennie get shot â€Å"in the guts† at the hands of Curley. The dream also has an aura of infectiousness to it and the reader can see this when George and Lennie are going over it again to each other and Candy overhears them and wants to become a part of it. Furthermore, in the scene with the four ‘rejects’ (Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curley’s wife), we see that Crooks also wants to facilitate the dream becoming a reality when Lennie inadvertently lets the idea slip out, but by the time the scene has ended, Crooks withdraws because of the verbal attack by Curley’s wife on him. â€Å"Keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.† A further example of friendship is how nobody tries to befriend Crooks because he is black with the exception of Lennie because he doesn’t know the difference. Back then, in society, racism was openly accepted and it wasn’t thought unusual for blacks and whites to be separate. It was regarded as the way it was meant to be. In the case of Crooks, his circumstances also link into the themes of Racism as well as Loneliness, other themes within the novel. The two themes I have chosen both have twists in their paths. With friendship, it is introduced almost straight away when we read the descriptions of the two men although at first we don’t know the connection between them. However, as the story unfolds, their relationship becomes more apparent and we begin to see the depth of it. To begin with, we have the basic emotions and things that can happen within a simple friendship. For example, when Lennie has a dead mouse and is stroking it, George takes it away but Lennie is hesitant. The emotions range from anger, â€Å"give me that mouse or do I have to sock you?†, to a caring side when George consoles Lennie after he has confiscated it, â€Å"I ain’t taking’ it away jus’ for meanness.† On the other hand, as we go deeper into the friendship, we learn that despite the incident in Weed, George is still taking care of Lennie thus concluding that his feelings for Lennie are stronger than those in an ordinary friendship and we can also see that their relationship resembles that of one between brothers. As we move onto the ranch, we see that there is a general sense of friendship between all the ranch ‘guys’ and also see that racial discrimination is evident in the form of Crook’s loneliness. Returning to Lennie and George, when they’re introduced to Curley, the defensive element of their friendship comes back into play when Curley gets annoyed that Lennie isn’t talking, George becomes protective of Lennie and defends him. Again, the friendship has drastic contrasts, for example, one minute George is almost going to hit Lennie and the next, he’s preventing him from getting hit by Curley. A new character comes into the fold in the form of Slim who is more appreciated by George than Lennie although he gives Lennie one of his pups. George becomes friendly with Slim by confiding in him about Lennie. For example, he tells him about Weed and how when earlier, he used to beat Lennie up but Lennie would never retaliate and the time when he told Lennie to jump in the river and Lennie did. This builds up an element of trust within their newly formed friendship. â€Å"An’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him.† Finally, we come to the final scene and this is when George and Lennie’s friendship really hits a downfall. After Lennie has killed Curley’s wife and has run off, Candy finds the body and informs George. Judging from George’s reaction, (â€Å"I should of knew. I guess way back in my head I did.†), it can be interpreted that he realises what the circumstances will be resulting from Lennie’s actions. Nonetheless, he joins the ensuing manhunt, knowing where to find Lennie, and meets up with him â€Å"in the brush†. At this period in the novel, we can sense the apprehension within George simply from his actions and responses to Lennie. For example, when Lennie says â€Å"I done another bad thing.† â€Å"It don’t make no difference,† George said, and he fell silent again.† Even so, George realises that Lennie can prove to be a menace to society and is unsafe because everyone is looking for him. George manages to be mentally strong and shoots Lennie because he doesn’t want his long time cherished friend suffering an agonising death at the hands of someone else. Ironically, we see that as one friendship ends, another one blossoms as George walks off with Slim. The theme of Friendship runs through the entire novel and even beyond with the new friendship formed between George and Slim – although it can’t possibly replace his friendship with Lennie. For the ‘American dream’, it also follows a path, which changes as it unfolds. We first learn of it during the first scene where we are introduced to George and Lennie when, after George has just shouted at Lennie, Lennie tries to win him back over by telling George to tell â€Å"how it’s gonna be†. We are surprised that what could be labelled as two ‘oddballs’ (one is like a giant, the other like a mouse) are unified by something so simple. From then on, the dream takes a backseat until it reappears when Lennie and George are telling it again and Candy overhears them. As mentioned earlier, the dream has an infectiousness aura about it and this is what has drawn Candy to it, the fact that you can have your own independence and avoid taking orders from a boss. It is at this point in the novel that Lennie and George (with Candy’s input) are the closest they’ll ever be to actually seeing this ‘dream’ of theirs become a reality. Later, Crooks also falls victim to this idea of independence and freedom such is its ability to attract people towards it. Unfortunately though, at the end of the scene, he withdraws because of the verbal attack on him by Curly’s wife. Curley’s wife reminds Crooks that he is black and black people in those days were oppressed, resulting in even the simplest aspirations of a person not being realistic. Another point about the dream is how it’s earned Lennie the tag of being stupid. For example, in conversations with Crooks and Curley’s wife, he says things about the rabbits he will soon be able to tend and how he shouldn’t do wrong or he won’t be able to tend them. He is so obsessed with this idea that its all he talks about to others and this has lead both Crooks and Curley’s wife to calling him crazy because they don’t know what he’s talking about and this is a factor as to why he is considered slow, not just because of his intellectual inability but also because of the things he says not following the thread of conversation. Lastly, in the final scene, Candy asks George if the dream is off after they find Curley’s wife’s body but he doesn’t respond. In any case, when he meets up with Lennie, Lennie requests that George tell the dream again one last time. George obliges and then shoots Lennie during it, signalling the end of the dream they once shared. The theme of the ‘American Dream’, like that of Friendship, is introduced almost from the beginning and runs right through till the end but doesn’t extend beyond however as it’s been given a conclusion. The two themes chosen are interconnected very closely: The complications of George and Lennie’s friendship got in the way of them realising their â€Å"dream†. The friendship and dream got in the way of each other spelling disaster for both. For example, Lennie being killed (friendship) and the dream not seeing the light of day (‘American Dream’). This point also links with the meaning of the title of the novel.

Overview of Perry Street Restaurant Found in New York Essay

Overview of Perry Street Restaurant Found in New York - Essay Example The paper will give the restaurants URLs date and time of our reservation, people we will be dining with, our dining experience expectation and other pertinent information about Perry Street restaurants. Going through different reviews, I could only find a few negatives and so many positives. Additionally, the restaurant was crowded even though their prices were a bit higher than expected. This is usually an indication of quality services and or good food. Most Jean Georges establishment has a reputation for quality service and good food. This made me feel that Perry Street would not disappoint. Also, the ambience and atmosphere at Perry Street were more than I expected; even though the restaurant was crowded, you could see that the place was neat and well arranged. This usually signals a good restaurant. The servers at the restaurant knew what was in their menu, they were not mealy doing recitals about the food they are serving. Also, the servers were formally dressed and clean, a clear indication that the restaurant cared about how its people looked like. These factors and others made me decide on Perry Street. Perry Street is located in the Richard Meir Towers on 176 Perry Street New York. It is a fairly new restaurant and was opened in 2005. Their URLs are www.perrystreetrestaurant.com and www.jean-georges.com. The websites employ an easy to use, fun, clear and informative interface. Perry Street is a bit casual dining restaurant with a mix of fine dining. Its head chef is Jean Georges Vongerichten and the restaurant belongs to the Jean Georges establishments. Jean Georges establishments are three and four-star restaurants of savvy restaurateur and businessman Jean Georges Vongerichten.

Modern Consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Modern Consumerism - Essay Example When one need is fulfilled, there is always going to be another need that pops up requiring attention. That is just the way humans are made. Not necessarily just physical needs need to be met—but rather, the accoutrement of things which humans seem to accumulate over the years one has spent living is a perfect example of this, especially in more developed countries. Consumption is so puzzling to Campbell especially because this insatiability for things is considered an ethnocentric phenomenon, in his view.2 For example, it is considered anathema in some cultures to want things outside of what one already has—not to mention blasphemous to try to attain things for the self. Any kind of achievements that are related to one â€Å"getting ahead† in life is not the norm in small communities. Rather, it is the importance of community that encapsulates one’s decisions—not the self-promotion and self-egotistical self-centeredness that is so evident in many W estern cultures. This self-centeredness is puzzling not only because one knows one can â€Å"never have enough,† but this incessant search in the quest for one’s self-fulfillment—demonstrated in Western culture—is tantamount to blasphemy. In a small town somewhere off the beaten path, this kind of behavior would never be tolerated. This is because, in essence, in the cultures of many nations that are less-developed or not developed at all, community is a big part of who people are. These humble people who grew up with small beginnings are not willing to sell out their communities for fame. It is just not in their natures. What is in human nature, however—which apparently shows up more in Western cultures than not—is this idea of instant gratification and the search for self-actualization that is not found in many places that are rural where the people have less education and

The Contributions of the FIFA world cup 2010 to the Local Businesses Dissertation

The Contributions of the FIFA world cup 2010 to the Local Businesses in South Africa - Dissertation Example This type of activity is regarded as one of the most fastidious importance to emerging economies and growing commercial countries, such as South Africa. However, comparatively small work has been completed by researchers to reveal the effect of mega-events, such as the football world cup, on informal as well as formal sectors in emerging economies. Known the comparative size as well as strength of the involvement made by informal sector to different economic activities in the developing part of the world, it has been significant to consider â€Å"how an event like the world cup may help shape the entrepreneurial potential of informal and formal sector participants† (Venter et al., 2012, p.449). This paper is aimed at providing a detail analysis of different contributions made by this world cup on the local businesses of the country. FIFA world cup and economy of South Africa: It has been well-established that super-events are most expected to possess a considerable effect on t he business as well as socio-economic development of the host nations and localities. Commanding as well as hosting of mega-events, such as the football world cup, has been a means through which regions compete in respect to attracting as well as retaining greater volume of capital mobility through place improvement. Also with the help of re-imaging as well as regeneration of local businesses of these regions has been realised. Particularly, sport hallmark as well as mega-events, which have been hosted on either as a one-off basis or as regular basis, has been transformed as increasingly important in the contemporary period of globalisation. Some of the most high profile illustrations of these super-events would incorporate the â€Å"Olympic Games, the Rugby and Cricket world cups, and the FIFA soccer world cup†. These events have been provided to create greater level of emphasis on the development of industrial as well as agricultural sector of the developing countries. Sout h Africa being a developing country has also been expected to be greatly helped by the mega-events like the soccer world cup. Several other important works have been discussed by several other researchers regarding the fact that tourism and travel industry of the developing countries of the world (du Plessis and Maennig, 2010, p.2). Key aspects of concern in regard to the hosting of super-events mainly in the developing part of the world relate to process of optimising their effects for economic as well as social development. These issues are also related to the building of greatest level of national identity along with significant volume of foreign policy effects. The distributional as well as allocative benefits of hosting super-events in the developing countries of the world have been scrutinised with many vital observers. These observers have suggested that widespread growth or development benefits cannot be considered as a necessary corollary of the process of hosting of these types of super-events. This is due to the fact that the marginalised groups can be given little benefit (Venter et al., 2012, p.450). Positive contributions in South Africa: Even though potential opportunities for medium as well as large businesses related to the strategy of hosting of super-events has obtained significant amount of academic notice, limited consideration has been intended for the

International Business (Domino's Pizza) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Business (Domino's Pizza) - Essay Example The paper will discuss the methods of international expansion the company used to date and its appropriate development methods, Domino's Pizza methods using in different markets, as well as the possible combination of international expansion methods. The paper will also critically appraise the current strategy and give appropriate recommendations for further development. 2. The most appropriate Domino's Pizza development method, as well as the best method of international expansion is licensing and franchising: "We have developed a large, global, diversified and committed franchise network that is a critical component of our system-wide success and our leading position in pizza delivery. As of March 21, 2004, our franchise store network consisted of 6,878 stores, 63% of which were located in the contiguous United States" (7). These system has doubtless advantages namely for such global international company as Domino's Pizza. The franchise system allows minimizing such negative barriers of international expansion as language barrier, local governmental measures and the registration of trademark. The system also provides the adaptation of Domino’s Pizza rights and regulations to the cultural differentiations of various countries: â€Å"We also adapt our system to the local market to accommodate cultural differences in delivery vehicles, store design, signage, etc. Pizza toppings are the most common cultural adaptation. We have pickled ginger in India, squid in Japan and green peas in Brazil† (3). Domino’s Pizza quick service restaurants in different countries are not a wholly subsidiary of Domino Pizza Company (like McDonald’s in the UK). 's in the UK). They are based on Franchising Agreement with Domino's Pizza International, Inc. A franchisee must have appropriate local market, business strategies and experience knowledge: "Internationally, we have also been able to grow our franchise network by attracting franchisees with business experience and local market knowledge. We generally use our master franchise model, which provides our international franchisees with exclusive rights to operate stores or sub-franchise our well-recognized brand name in their markets" (7). Through well developed franchising system Domino's Pizza Company gains constant royalty payments which allow the company to develop an d expand to international markets: "A substantial percentage of our earnings is generated by our committed, owner-operator franchisees through royalty payments and revenues to our vertically-integrated distribution system. Royalty payments yield strong profitability to us because there are minimal corresponding company-level expenses and no capital requirements associated with their collection" (3). The growth and revenue of Domino's Pizza is mainly provided by its franchising system development and royalty payments from numerous stores throughout the world. The company has chosen the most appropriate method of international expansion. Domino's Pizza makes franchising agreements with appropriate firms working in relevant market segments and having local market features knowledge.

Breeding Thoroughbred Racing Horses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Breeding Thoroughbred Racing Horses - Essay Example They are also frequently cross-bred with other breeds to generate new breeds or to develop new ones, and have been important in the conception of many significant breeds, for example the Quarter Horse, the Standardbred, the Anglo-Arabian, and a variety of Warmblood breeds. Thoroughbred racehorses act with highest force, which has given rise to high percentage of mishaps and other health troubles. Racing has been established to have a higher casualty rate than all other human and animal games. As well, Thoroughbreds are inclined to other health problems that include bleeding from the lungs, low fertility, unusually small hearts and a small hoof to body mass ratio. There are a number of theories for the causes behind the occurrence of accidents and health complications in the Thoroughbred breed, and study continues into how to decrease the fatality rate and nurse those animals that are wounded. The archetypal Thoroughbred spans between 15.2-17.0 hands high. They are mainly reddish-brown, brown, chestnut, black, or gray (Patten, 191-195). A fewer familiar colors consists of roan and palomino. Although white is uncommon, however is a standard color distinct from gray. The face and lower legs may be stained with white (Bongianni, 1987); even though white will commonly not displayed on the body. Skin patterns that have more than one color on the body, such as Pinto or Appaloosa, are not present in the Thoroughbred (Glyn, 50). Excellent Thoroughbreds have a well-chiseled head on a long neck, high withers, a deep chest, a short back, good depth of rear legs, a slim body, and long legs (Bongianni, 1987; Montgomery, 338-354). Thoroughbreds are grouped among the fiery breeds, which are animals raised for quickness and rapidity and are normally regarded as brave and gallant (Henry 60, 66). Selective Breeding Theory It is advocated that the speed is improved in an already quick animal by raising muscle mass, a variety of selective breeding that has fashioned animals intended to win horse races (Kluger, 2006). Hence, the contemporary Thoroughbred moves quicker than its skeletal composition can bear (Finley, 1993). Consequently, all aggressive contemporary Thoroughbreds are strongly dominant however osteologically weak animals, notably more so than any fossil or living, found in the natural habitat. A top-down observation of skeletal muscle is contractile tissue of the body and is issued from the mesodermal layer of nascent germ cells. Selective breeding in domestic animals is the method of developing a sophisticated breed in the fullness of time. Horse-racing is an equestrian sport pursuit which has been accomplished over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example. Crossbreeding Thoroughbreds are often crossed with other horses to produce new breeds or develop existing ones. They have been prominent on many new breeds, for example the American Quarter Horse, the Standardbred, and perhaps the Morgan, a breed that continued to impact many of the gaited breeds in North America. Other familiar crosses with the Thoroughbred consist of crossbreeding with

The Changing Interaction of Finance, Information and Technology Coursework

The Changing Interaction of Finance, Information and Technology - Coursework Example This has raised questions on the efficiency of the IT departments of companies in carrying out the requirements as stipulated in the act. There were also criticisms about the failure of SOX act in various aspects related to the IT. This paper discuss about the impact of S-OX act on the IT department and a review about the various aspects about the act. â€Å"IT supports the corporation’s drive to comply with SOX by securing and protecting financial data on the network.† (Networkinstruments.com, 2011) The Act requires the companies to impart the compliance process as an integrated business process. The Act also requires continuous risk management and also regular checks about the IT control measures that are put into place as per the Act. The act also put additional accountability on the officers or firm which attests that the companies’ financial reports are true and represents the present state of the firm. The relevant components for the S-OX are internal envir onment, Risk assessment, Control activities, Information and communication and Monitoring. (COSO framework) Sarbanes Oxley Act- Implementation and Impact upon IT departments In order to implement the act effectively, it is very crucial to keep the program cost effective and also sustainable. There should be a cost-effective process in place to provide a greater transparency into the infrastructure and control measures to assure the correctness of the financial reports. In order to keep a continuous track on the system it is very much important that all the processes must be automated and sustainable. When we try to understand the impact of S-OX on IT departments, we need to keep in mind that the act was primarily created for the detection of accounting fraud, make the higher management accountable for the malpractices if any in the organization. The IT comes into picture where it assists the financial practices undertaken in picture. Since all transactions would be recorded in the f ully computerized work environment and also all the audit processes would be recorded, the role of IT comes in. They are responsible for keeping a tab of all the transaction and audit and to retrieve these data when it is required. This essentially means that the pressure created on IT departments is not a direct result of the implementation of S-OX act, since the act is focussed on the accurate disclosure of the financial statements and making the people accountable for their actions. The pressure on the IT departments is coming from within the company as it is the only department which can realistically overview and keep a continuous track of the activities of a firm. â€Å"Companies are increasingly turning to technology in their Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance efforts in order to automate internal controls or streamline their activities, according to new research and interviews last week with corporate executives.† (Hoffman, 2005) Involving IT would help to reduce the time and efforts that needed to create the compliance reports at quarterly and annually. This would also reduce the costs involved in the process. Benefits to IT department while adopting the Sarbanes Oxley Act The benefits of the Act cannot be limited as benefit to IT department alone. Since the positives would finally impact the performance of the company.

Literature Review Authentic Leadership Models Essay

Literature Review Authentic Leadership Models - Essay Example rship, which responds to globalization, and (3) spiritual, holistic and transcendental leadership, which revive universal spiritual ideas to provide holistic and integrated models. Renowned personalities throughout history have provided role models of leadership, and it is through studying their leadership characteristics that many of the features of leadership models are derived. These include social and political leaders, business leaders, and also spiritual leaders such as prophets and saints. For example, the Bhagvad Gita extols the leadership of Krishna, the Buddha’s leadership demonstrated true compassion, and the Holy Quran (surah 18: 83-98) presents an exemplary model of leadership of Dhul-Qarnayn, believed by some to be either Alexander or Cyrus the Great. Confucius’ ideas also have profound lessons for modern leadership theory. Social learning theory then explains how people learn from the examples of others. In the modern era, Burns’ conceptualization of leadership as either transactional or transformational set a new paradigm in leadership theory a few decades ago. Transactional leaders are described as leading for the sake of simple social exchanges, and transactional leadership models are grounded in self-interest and designed to uphold the status quo. On the other hand, transformational leaders â€Å"stimulate and inspire followers to both achieve extraordinary outcomes and, in the process, develop their own leadership capacity† (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p. 3). The following are the components of transformational leadership: Another stronger form of leadership, namely charismatic leadership, is more socialized and constructed to serve collective interests. In the highly personalized form however, it can lead to dominating and authoritarian behavior and self-aggrandizement (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p. 13). On the other hand, more charismatic styles of leadership have been found to positively correlate with â€Å"traditional, collectivist work,