Thursday, October 31, 2019
American Ideals by a Founding Father Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
American Ideals by a Founding Father - Essay Example This declaration comprised of Thomas's ideals. His second and the most important accomplishment was the Louisiana Purchase. This land was previously occupied by France but now due to Thomas Jefferson's efforts it is a part of the United States. It is approximately one third of the present United States. Louisiana was important to United States because it was located at the Mississippi border which majorly carried out the US trade. Free public education had always been one of Thomas Jefferson's dreams and the University of Virginia is the result of it. It was inaugurated in 1825 and welcomed deserving students both wealthy and poor. He is known as the father of institution for his efforts to renew to university curriculum. (Norman, Pierson, 1917) Nations can attain independence without declaration of independence too like acts of heroism and deceit, military revolt, civil strife etc. but it is not that effective as that which is achieved through proper agreements. The Declaration of Independence was presented by Thomas Jefferson and it revolutionized the American history and paved way for their success. The ideals and the philosophy of independence were already presented by John Locke and the Continental philosophers and hence it was not new. The efforts made by Thomas Jefferson actually mobilized the aims of the previous philosophers. He put forward the injustices of the government and the king and made the world look at the conflicts that existed between the different colonies and the mother country. It was accepted and hence it became one of the most important documents in the history of America. After its success the Americans were at liberty and they were no longer under the British rule. It has formed the American government's structure. After the Declaration of Independence the Americans were able to achieve their goals without any hindrance or difficulty. They were free and respectable citizens and were no longer slaves. (Francis, Cogliano, 2006) QUOTATION AND ITS REVEALENCE ABOUT AMERICAN IDEALS According to Barak Obama, the true test of an American ideal is whether they recognize their failings and struggle to fight with them or not. Whether we are able to counter the challenges of time. It is up to the nation to determine whether they allow the events and history to shape the future or control and maneuver them in such a way that they are in their favor. Whether chance of birth decides the winners or whether everyone has a chance to achieve their goals. This quotation gives a clear view of the American ideals dreams and policies. It indicates that the American ideals are very ambitious people. They don't let the events or their dark history affect their future. On the contrary they take the matter and in their own hands and shape their future according to their dreams. The race or class difference has no effect on their lives whatsoever. It is the goal and ambition of an individual that matters the most and their efforts are not tarnished by their class or background. Their main goal is the achievement of their dreams. (Kelly
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Swot Analysis Essay Example for Free
Swot Analysis Essay Top Gloveââ¬â¢s strengths and the opportunities available to it outweigh its weaknesses and the threats to its business. Strengths. One of Top Gloveââ¬â¢s competitive edge is its size and wide product range. This is in line with groupââ¬â¢s strategy of becoming the one-stop glove sourcing centre for glove users. Its size confers on it economies of scale and also the ability to expand upstream. Weakness. We can identify only one weakness in Top Glove. Being an OEM manufacturer, it does not have any products that carry its own brand name. Its size and strong growth could also work against its favour as it makes it more difficult for management to keep a close eye on all its operations. This is demonstrated by the recent illegal labour issue. Opportunities. Opportunities abound for Top Glove. Its expansion plans will enable it to ride on the increasing global demand for rubber gloves and the outsourcing trend by MNCs. Top Gloveââ¬â¢s size also places it in a good position to undertake Mamp;As, which are likely given our belief that the local industry will experience more consolidation. Threats. The glove industry has low barriers of entry as only RM1m-1. 5m is needed to start a line. That said, although it is cheap to enter the industry, new players may not be competitive as they have to distinguish themselves from other players and need to compete in terms of volume in order to enjoy economies of scale. Aggressive expansion by the bigger players also poses the threat of an industry glut. Price and availability of latex are also sources of concern given that latex makes up more than 50% of the groupââ¬â¢s costs. To mitigate the risk, Top Glove has expanded upstream by acquiring its own latex processing plant.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
A Study On Internet Banking In Nepal
A Study On Internet Banking In Nepal This research is the effort for study and analyzing the Internet Banking in Nepal Bank Limited. Internet Banking can be defined as the use of technology to communicate instructions to and receive information from a financial institution where an account is held. Internet Banking includes the systems that enable financial institution customers, individuals or businesses, to access accounts, transact business or obtain information on financial products and services through a public or private network, including the Internet. Since the launch of Internet the large planet has become a smaller one. It has rendered enormous impacts on business sectors. Remarkable development in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has introduced a global revolution in banking industry. The global trend in business arena set some challenge that cannot be fulfilled with the help of the traditional banking system. The survey of current banking system in Nepal reveals the fact that it requires rapid modification and adaptation to keep harmony with the world economy business. It becomes more obvious by observing the increased number of customers in some modern bank while others are losing them. The existing banking system in our country is slow and error-prone. In one hand, fails to meet the customers demand and it causes some significant losses both for the banking authority and traders. E-Banking, on the other hand solves the above problems. Furthermore, it opens up some other salient aspects such as increased foreign trade and foreign investment. Most plan allow customers to perform all routine transactions, such as account transfers, balance inquires, bill payments and stop payment requests everything but its very easy to set up an account. We can access our account information anytime day or night and we can do it from anywhere. A few online banks update information in real time, while others do it daily. 1.2 Introduction of Origin and Growth of Bank in Nepal The growth of banking in Nepal is not so long. In comparison with other developing or developed country, the institutional development in banking system of Nepal is far behind. Nepal had to wait for a long time to come to this present banking position. The origin of bank in Nepal and its beginning of growth is controversial. Even though the specific date of the beginning of money and banking deal in Nepal is not obvious, it is speculated that during the reign of the King Manadev, the coin Manank and Gunank during the reign of the King Gunakamadev were in use. After the establishment of Nepal Bank Limited on 30th Karkik, 1994 (1938), modern banking system started in Nepal. Under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act 2012 (1956), Nepal Rastra Bank was established in 2013(1957) Baisakh 14th in Nepal. But this act has been repealed and the Nepal Rastra Bank Act 2058(2002) has been enacted by the parliament. After its establishment, it issued the Nepali notes on 7th Falgon 2016 for the first time. Gradually, bank develop their services in Nepal according to requirement of customers and to compete market so today we can transact via non cash elements : like Internet Banking, Credit Card, ATM Card and SMS banking etc. 1.3 Nepals ICT Background Nations worldwide have recognized development opportunities and challenges of the emerging information age characterized by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). These technologies are driving national development efforts worldwide and a number of countries in both developing and the developed world are exploring ways of facilitating their development process through development, deployment and the exploitation of ICT within their economies and societies. Nepals journey into the world of information technology began some three decades back with the use of IBM 1401 for the population census, 1971. Royal Nepal Academy for Science and Technology (RONAST), for the first time, used the internet. Mercantile Private Limited started email services for commercial purpose in June 1994. In 1995 government purchased the machine for further data processing in the Bureau of Statistics and established a separate organization called Electronic Data Processing Center (EDPC) and after 6 years it converted to National Computer Center (NCC). Government has formed High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT), which is playing the role of facilitator between private and public sector in the development of ICT in Nepal. 1.4 Introduction of Internet Banking Internet banking refers to systems that enable bank customers to access accounts and general information on bank products and services through a personal computer (PC) or other intelligent device. Internet banking products and services can include wholesale products for corporate customers as well as retail and fiduciary products for consumers. Ultimately, the products and services obtained through Internet banking may mirror products and services offered through other bank delivery channels. Some examples of wholesale products and services include: Cash management. Wire transfer. Automated clearinghouse (ACH) transactions. Bill presentment and payment. Examples of retail and fiduciary products and services include: Balance inquiry. Funds transfer. Downloading transaction information. Bill presentment and payment. Loan applications. Investment activity. Other value-added services. Other Internet banking services may include providing Internet access as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The OCC has determined that a national bank subsidiary may provide home banking services through an Internet connection to the banks home banking system and, incidental to that service, may also provide Internet access to bank customers using that service. Historically, banks have used information systems technology to process checks (item processing), drive ATM machines (transaction processing), and produce reports (management information systems). In the past, the computer systems that made the information systems operate were rarely noticed by customers. Today, Web sites, electronic mail, and electronic bill presentment and payment systems are an important way for banks to reach their customers. 1.5 Statement of the Problem Establishing Internet Banking infrastructure has been a challenging task for the developing countries like Nepal. In the context of Nepal there are ample of problems in Internet Banking some of them are given below : Computer and Banking Literacy : In aggregate here is low level of IT literacy. Very few people are computer literate in Nepal and very few people understand banking system or banking process even educated people also there. Infrastructure Development : Though banks reach with their services in rural area ISP or NTC services is not available there for internet services and vice versa. Risk Management : In Nepal, Internet Banking is at its infancy right now. However, no Internet Banking frauds have been found yet. Lack of understanding of internet technology may be the reason. But precaution must be taken. In order to mitigate the risks associated with all e-banking businesses, banks should have in place a comprehensive risk management process that assesses risks, control risk exposure and monitors risks. Security : Security of a transaction, authenticity of a deal, identification of a customer etc are important technological and systems issues, which are major sources of concern to e-banking. Customers are afraid from online attack. Various online attacks are also available. 1.6 Objectives of the Study The main objectives of proposed research are to study, analyze and understand the Internet Banking of Nepal Bank Limited. Some of the other objectives are as follows : To identify the problems in existing Internet Banking services of Nepal Are public satisfy or not from Internet banking Services ? If not what will be the effective service delivery mechanism. To identify the prerequisites to get the Internet Banking services The research tell prerequisites to get Internet Banking services (for e.g. Computers, telephones, internet, customer should be account holder of bank) To examine the service delivery of different banks of Nepal The research includes various types of Internet Banking services provided by different banks to general public. 1.7 Scope of the Study The study will be mainly focused on three components of the study area : Social aspects : In social aspect the studied is focus on public participation according to their satisfaction, knowledge, beliefs, values etc. Technical aspects : This aspects is concerned with the technically how to develop system and technology used on projects. Economic aspects : In the economic analysis part, the study will focus on the possible areas of economic development by using this Internet Banking. 1.8 Limitation of the Study This research is the small effort for study and analyzing the Internet Banking services of Nepal which has limited time so it cannot focus on all areas and may not be able to explore many fields. This research work is done within limited time frame during the MBS dissertation. There are so many constraints while doing the work such as inadequate time, load shedding, and resources etc. To understand methodology of Internet Banking service is very difficult because banks only provide surface level of information because of their security concern. In spite of great effort, there are many limitations of this research work. The major limitations are as follows : In the field of E-banking, there are so many arenas like ATM, Tele Banking, Mobile Banking etc. but this research does not focus on all the e-banking services. Research works mainly focus on Internet Banking. Fund transfer is possible within the branch of bank. It means once cannot transfer amount from one bank to another bank. Banks have their own policy but there is no any standard policy for Internet Banking in Nepal. In the field of Internet Banking security is must but this research doe not cover all the aspects of security. General customers and corporate customers of Internet Banking system have same kinds of facilities. 1.9 Organization of the Study This study is organized and decorated in seven chapters. Each chapter and unit will be on a prescribed format of thesis writing to the partial fulfillment of MBS program. Each unit gives the clear picture or roadmap of the study. Chapter One This chapter deals with Introduction of The Study. In this chapter, separated unit for background, significances objective and limitation of the study has mentioned. Chapter Two This chapter focused Review of Literature. In this chapter, various relevant such as different books, journals, article and previous thesis mention has mentioned. Chapter Three Third chapter presented Research Methodology. In this chapter, research design, sources of the data, method of data collection and analysis has mentioned. Chapter Four This chapter deals with Analysis of Internet Banking. This chapter provides the different analysis like strength, weakness, opportunity, threat (SWOT) analysis and feasibility analysis of Internet banking. Chapter Five Fifth chapter deals with Internet Banking Security. Security in Internet Banking comprises both the computer and communication security. Therefore this chapter consist different security principles, cryptographic key management, RAID etc. Chapter Six This chapter focused on System Analysis and design to present the current Internet Banking system. This chapter provides requirement analysis, process modeling, data dictionary, hardware and software requirement to execute program. Chapter Seven Seventh chapter presented with Summary, Conclusions and Recommendation of the Study. 1.10 Research Design There are two types of research approaches qualitative and quantitative. In the quantitative approach results are based on numbers and statistics that are presented in figures, whereas in the qualitative approach where focus lies on describing an event with the use of words. This study is the result of qualitative research using comparative and analytical methods. The comparative research was conducted in two ways : Firstly, the comparison is carried out by investigating the availability of basic services of Internet Banking in different banks of Nepal. Secondly, the comparison is also carried out by investigating the different features offered by banking institutions in Nepal. For that purpose, reviews of website from banks are conducted. Thus to gain practical knowledge of Internet Banking in the Nepali context, this research is conducted as a qualitative study to explore the perception of Internet Banking among Nepali Banks. Hence, the aim is not to make any simplification but instead establish a closer contact with the objectives of prior research which intend to provide us a deeper understanding of the participants attitudes and perceptions. Finally my intention with this research is to understand Internet Banking first describe and explore, find and analysis detailed information about Internet banking services provided by different banks of Nepal so qualitative approach is the most suitable method for my research. 1.11 Source of Data Both primary as well as secondary data have been collected in order to achieve the real and factual result out of this research. All possible and useful data available have been collected. The major sources of data are as follows : a. Primary Source The primary data are collected from primary sources. The primary sources of data are the opinion survey through questionnaire, field visit and information received from the respondents. Some of the information was also collected from interview with the respondents. b. Secondary Data The secondary data are collected from secondary sources. The secondary sources of data are the information received from books, journals and article concerned with the study for example website of the Nepal Bank Limited, thesis and dissertation submitted at Shanker Dev Campus, Central Library T.U.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Waterlily By Ella Cara Deloria :: Waterlily, Ella Cara Deloria
Waterlily by Ella Cara Deloria Waterlily is a book based on the events that happen within a particular Dakota Indian family's life. Not only does it depict the affairs of blue Bird's life and her family, but it documents the rituals and culture of the Dakota people. With illustrative words and graphic details, the incidences within the story can be visualized and understood. à à à à à The story begins with the occurrences that take place with a certain individual, Blue Bird. Blue Bird is traveling with a camp of Dakotas and is carrying a baby while doing so. While on the path, Blue Bird feels it is time to have her baby and went off into the trees to have her baby. Seeing how beautiful her baby was Blue Bird exclaimed, ââ¬Å"How beautiful you are! As beautiful as the waterlillies. You to are a waterlily, my waterlily.â⬠(p. 6). Blue Bird ends up marrying a man, Star Elk, whom doesn't favor her grandmother very much. Star Elk is a lazy, jealous man who is sub-standard in Dakota male value. He demonstrates this effectively when he ââ¬Å"throws away his wifeâ⬠(p. 16) at a victory dance. Men weren't suppose to publicly display emotion in Dakota tradition. After being publicly humiliated, Blue Bird, her grandmother and Waterlily luckily and happily ran into their family's tiyospaye. The reason why it was so fortunate is because Blue Birds parents and brothers were killed one day when Blue Bird was about fourteen. They were taken in and made to feel at home. Along with finding their family, Blue Bird also met her new husband, Rainbow. Rainbow was a good provider, hard worker and a widow who had a son.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 4 WAKING UP
TIME PASSES. EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. EVEN when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me. CHARLIE'S FIST CAME DOWN ON THE TABLE. ââ¬Å"THAT'S IT, Bella! I'm sending you home.â⬠I looked up from my cereal, which I was pondering rather than eating, and stared at Charlie in shock. I hadn't been following the conversationactually, I hadn't been aware that we were having a conversationand I wasn't sure what he meant. ââ¬Å"I am home,â⬠I mumbled, confused. ââ¬Å"I'm sending you to Renee, to Jacksonville,â⬠he clarified. Charlie watched with exasperation as I slowly grasped the meaning of his words. ââ¬Å"What did I do?â⬠I felt my face crumple. It was so unfair. My behavior had been above reproach for the past four months. After that first week, which neither of us ever mentioned, I hadn't missed a day of school or work. My grades were perfect. I never broke curfewI never went anywhere from which to break curfew in the first place. I only very rarely served leftovers. Charlie was scowling. ââ¬Å"You didn't do anything. That's the problem. You never do anything.â⬠ââ¬Å"You want me to get into trouble?â⬠I wondered, my eyebrows pulling together in mystification. I made an effort to pay attention. It wasn't easy. I was so used to tuning everything out, my ears felt stopped up. ââ¬Å"Trouble would be better than this this moping around all the time!â⬠That stung a bit. I'd been careful to avoid all forms of moroseness, moping included. ââ¬Å"I am not moping around.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wrong word,â⬠he grudgingly conceded. ââ¬Å"Moping would be betterthat would be doing something. You're just lifeless, Bella. I think that's the word I want.â⬠This accusation struck home. I sighed and tried to put some animation into my response. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry, Dad.â⬠My apology sounded a little flat, even to me. I'd thought I'd been fooling him. Keeping Charlie from suffering was the whole point of all this effort. How depressing to think that the effort had been wasted. ââ¬Å"I don't want you to apologize.â⬠I sighed. ââ¬Å"Then tell me what you do want me to do.â⬠ââ¬Å"Bella,â⬠he hesitated, scrutinizing my reaction to his next words. ââ¬Å"Honey, you're not the first person to go through this kind of thing, you know.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know that.â⬠My accompanying grimace was limp and unimpressive. ââ¬Å"Listen, honey. I think thatthat maybe you need some help.â⬠ââ¬Å"Help?â⬠He paused, searching for the words again. ââ¬Å"When your mother left,â⬠he began, frowning, ââ¬Å"and took you with her.â⬠He inhaled deeply. ââ¬Å"Well, that was a really bad time for me.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know, Dad,â⬠I mumbled. ââ¬Å"But I handled it,â⬠he pointed out. ââ¬Å"Honey, you're not handling it. I waited, I hoped it would get better.â⬠He stared at me and I looked down quickly. ââ¬Å"I think we both know it's not getting better.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'mfine.â⬠He ignored me. ââ¬Å"Maybe, well, maybe if you talked to someone about it. A professional.â⬠ââ¬Å"You want me to see a shrink?â⬠My voice was a shade sharper as I realized what he was getting at. ââ¬Å"Maybe it would help.â⬠ââ¬Å"And maybe it wouldn't help one little bit.â⬠I didn't know much about psychoanalysis, but I was pretty sure that it didn't work unless the subject was relatively honest. Sure, I could tell the truthif I wanted to spend the rest of my life in a padded cell. He examined my obstinate expression, and switched to another line of attack. ââ¬Å"It's beyond me, Bella. Maybe your motherâ⬠ââ¬Å"Look,â⬠I said in a flat voice. ââ¬Å"I'll go out tonight, if you want. I'll call Jess or Angela.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's not what I want,â⬠he argued, frustrated. ââ¬Å"I don't think I can live through seeing you try harder. I've never seen anyone trying so hard. It hurts to watch.â⬠I pretended to be dense, looking down at the table. ââ¬Å"I don't understand, Dad. First you're mad because I'm not doing anything, and then you say you don't want me to go out.â⬠ââ¬Å"I want you to be happyno, not even that much. I just want you not to be miserable. I think you'll have a better chance if you get out of Forks.â⬠My eyes flashed up with the first small spark of feeling I'd had in too long to contemplate. ââ¬Å"I'm not leaving,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠he demanded. ââ¬Å"I'm in my last semester of schoolit would screw everything up.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're a good studentyou'll figure it out.â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't want to crowd Mom and Phil.â⬠ââ¬Å"Your mother's been dying to have you back.â⬠ââ¬Å"Florida is too hot.â⬠His fist came down on the table again. ââ¬Å"We both know what's really going on here, Bella, and it's not good for you.â⬠He took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"It's been months. No calls, no letters, no contact. You can't keep waitingforhim.â⬠I glowered at him. The heat almost, but not quite, reached my face. It had been a long time since I'd blushed with any emotion. This whole subject was utterly forbidden, as he was well aware. ââ¬Å"I'm not waiting for anything. I don't expect anything,â⬠I said in a low monotone. ââ¬Å"Bella,â⬠Charlie began, his voice thick. ââ¬Å"I have to get to school,â⬠I interrupted, standing up and yanking my untouched breakfast from the table. I dumped my bowl in the sink without pausing to wash it out. I couldn't deal with any more conversation. ââ¬Å"I'll make plans with Jessica,â⬠I called over my shoulder as I strapped on my school bag, not meeting his eyes. ââ¬Å"Maybe I won't be home for dinner. We'll go to Port Angeles and watch a movie.â⬠I was out the front door before he could react. In my haste to get away from Charlie, I ended up being one of the first ones to school. The plus side was that I got a really good parking spot. The downside was that I had free time on my hands, and I tried to avoid free time at all costs. Quickly, before I could start thinking about Charlie's accusations, I pulled out my Calculus book. I flipped it open to the section we should be starting today, and tried to make sense of it. Reading math was even worse than listening to it, but I was getting better at it. In the last several months, I'd spent ten times the amount of time on Calculus than I'd ever spent on math before. As a result, I was managing to keep in the range of a low A. I knew Mr. Varner felt my improvement was all due to his superior teaching methods. And if that made him happy, I wasn't going to burst his bubble. I forced myself to keep at it until the parking lot was full, and I ended up rushing to English. We were working on Animal Farm, an easy subject matter. I didn't mind communism; it was a welcome change from the exhausting romances that made up most of the curriculum. I settled into my seat, pleased by the distraction of Mr. Berty's lecture. Time moved easily while I was in school. The bell rang all too soon. I started repacking my bag. ââ¬Å"Bella?â⬠I recognized Mike's voice, and I knew what his next words would be before he said them. ââ¬Å"Are you working tomorrow?â⬠I looked up. He was leaning across the aisle with an anxious expression. Every Friday he asked me the same question. Never mind that I hadn't taken so much as a sick day. Well, with one exception, months ago. But he had no reason to look at me with such concern. I was a model employee. ââ¬Å"Tomorrow is Saturday, isn't it?â⬠I said. Having just had it pointed out to me by Charlie, I realized how lifeless my voice really sounded. ââ¬Å"Yeah, it is,â⬠he agreed. ââ¬Å"See you in Spanish.â⬠He waved once before turning his back. He didn't bother walking me to class anymore. I trudged off to Calculus with a grim expression. This was the class where I sat next to Jessica. It had been weeks, maybe months, since Jess had even greeted me when I passed her in the hall. I knew I had offended her with my antisocial behavior, and she was sulking. It wasn't going to be easy to talk to her nowespecially to ask her to do me a favor. I weighed my options carefully as I loitered outside the classroom, procrastinating. I wasn't about to face Charlie again without some kind of social interaction to report. I knew I couldn't lie, though the thought of driving to Port Angeles and back alonebeing sure my odometer reflected the correct mileage, just in case he checkedwas very tempting. Jessica's mom was the biggest gossip in town, and Charlie was bound to run into Mrs. Stanley sooner rather than later. When he did, he would no doubt mention the trip. Lying was out. With a sigh, I shoved the door open. Mr. Varner gave me a dark lookhe'd already started the lecture. I hurried to my seat. Jessica didn't look up as I sat next to her. I was glad that I had fifty minutes to mentally prepare myself. This class flew by even faster than English. A small part of that speed was due to my goody-goody preparation this morning in the truckbut mostly it stemmed from the fact that time always sped up when I was looking forward to something unpleasant. I grimaced when Mr. Varner dismissed the class five minutes early. He smiled like he was being nice. ââ¬Å"Jess?â⬠My nose wrinkled as I cringed, waiting for her to turn on me. She twisted in her seat to face me, eyeing me incredulously. ââ¬Å"Are you talking to me, Bella?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠I widened my eyes to suggest innocence. ââ¬Å"What? Do you need help with Calculus?â⬠Her tone was a tad sour. ââ¬Å"No.â⬠I shook my head. ââ¬Å"Actually, I wanted to know if you would go to the movies with me tonight? I really need a girls' night out.â⬠The words sounded stiff, like badly delivered lines, and she looked suspicious. ââ¬Å"Why are you asking me?â⬠she asked, still unfriendly. ââ¬Å"You're the first person I think of when I want girl time.â⬠I smiled, and I hoped the smile looked genuine. It was probably true. She was at least the first person I thought of when I wanted to avoid Charlie. It amounted to the same thing. She seemed a little mollified. ââ¬Å"Well, I don't know.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you have plans?â⬠ââ¬Å"No I guess I can go with you. What do you want to see?â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not sure what's playing,â⬠I hedged. This was the tricky part. I racked my brain for a cluehadn't I heard someone talk about a movie recently? Seen a poster? ââ¬Å"How about that one with the female president?â⬠She looked at me oddly. ââ¬Å"Bella, that one's been out of the theater forever.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠I frowned. ââ¬Å"Is there anything you'd like to see?â⬠Jessica's natural bubbliness started to leak out in spite of herself as she thought out loud. ââ¬Å"Well, there's that new romantic comedy that's getting great reviews. I want to see that one. And my dad just saw Dead End and he really liked it.â⬠I grasped at the promising title. ââ¬Å"What's that one about?â⬠ââ¬Å"Zombies or something. He said it was the scariest thing he'd seen in years.â⬠ââ¬Å"That sounds perfect.â⬠I'd rather deal with real zombies than watch a romance. ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠She seemed surprised by my response. I tried to remember if I liked scary movies, but I wasn't sure. ââ¬Å"Do you want me to pick you up after school?â⬠she offered. ââ¬Å"Sure.â⬠Jessica smiled at me with tentative friendliness before she left. My answering smile was just a little late, but I thought that she saw it. The rest of the day passed quickly, my thoughts focused on planning for tonight. I knew from experience that once I got Jessica talking, I would be able to get away with a few mumbled responses at the appropriate moments. Only minimal interaction would be required. The thick haze that blurred my days now was sometimes confusing. I was surprised when I found myself in my room, not clearly remembering the drive home from school or even opening the front door. But that didn't matter. Losing track of time was the most I asked from life. I didn't fight the haze as I turned to my closet. The numbness was more essential in some places than in others. I barely registered what I was looking at as I slid the door aside to reveal the pile of rubbish on the left side of my closet, under the clothes I never wore. My eyes did not stray toward the black garbage bag that held my present from that last birthday, did not see the shape of the stereo where it strained against the black plastic; I didn't think of the bloody mess my nails had been when I'd finished clawing it out of the dashboard. I yanked the old purse I rarely used off the nail it hung from, and shoved the door shut. Just then I heard a horn honking. I swiftly traded my wallet from my schoolbag into the purse. I was in a hurry, as if rushing would somehow make the night pass more quickly. I glanced at myself in the hall mirror before I opened the door, arranging my features carefully into a smile and trying to hold them there. ââ¬Å"Thanks for coming with me tonight,â⬠I told Jess as I climbed into the passenger seat, trying to infuse my tone with gratitude. It had been a while since I'd really thought about what I was saying to anyone besides Charlie. Jess was harder. I wasn't sure which were the right emotions to fake. ââ¬Å"Sure. So, what brought this on?â⬠Jess wondered as she drove down my street. ââ¬Å"Brought what on?â⬠ââ¬Å"Why did you suddenly decide to go out?â⬠It sounded like she changed her question halfway through. I shrugged. ââ¬Å"Just needed a change.â⬠I recognized the song on the radio then, and quickly reached for the dial. ââ¬Å"Do you mind?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"No, go ahead.â⬠I scanned through the stations until I found one that was harmless. I peeked at Jess's expression as the new music filled the car. Her eyes squinted. ââ¬Å"Since when do you listen to rap?â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"A while.â⬠ââ¬Å"You like this?â⬠she asked doubtfully. ââ¬Å"Sure.â⬠It would be much too hard to interact with Jessica normally if I had to work to tune out the music, too. I nodded my head, hoping I was in time with the beat. ââ¬Å"Okayâ⬠She stared out the windshield with wide eyes. ââ¬Å"So what's up with you and Mike these days?â⬠I asked quickly. ââ¬Å"You see him more than I do.â⬠The question hadn't started her talking like I'd hoped it would. ââ¬Å"It's hard to talk at work,â⬠I mumbled, and then I tried again. ââ¬Å"Have you been out with anyone lately?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not really. I go out with Conner sometimes. I went out with Eric two weeks ago.â⬠She rolled her eyes, and I sensed a long story. I clutched at the opportunity. ââ¬Å"Eric Yorkie? Who asked who?â⬠She groaned, getting more animated. ââ¬Å"He did, of course! I couldn't think of a nice way to say no.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where did he take you?â⬠I demanded, knowing she would interpret my eagerness as interest. ââ¬Å"Tell me all about it.â⬠She launched into her tale, and I settled into my seat, more comfortable now. I paid strict attention, murmuring in sympathy and gasping in horror as called for. When she was finished with her Eric story, she continued into a Conner comparison without any prodding. The movie was playing early, so Jess thought we should hit the twilight showing and eat later. I was happy to go along with whatever she wanted; after all, I was getting what I wantedCharlie off my back. I kept Jess talking through the previews, so I could ignore them more easily. But I got nervous when the movie started. A young couple was walking along a beach, swinging hands and discussing their mutual affection with gooey falseness. I resisted the urge to cover my ears and start humming. I had not bargained for a romance. ââ¬Å"I thought we picked the zombie movie,â⬠I hissed to Jessica. ââ¬Å"This is the zombie movie.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then why isn't anyone getting eaten?â⬠I asked desperately. She looked at me with wide eyes that were almost alarmed. ââ¬Å"I'm sure that part's coming,â⬠she whispered. ââ¬Å"I'm getting popcorn. Do you want any?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, thanks.â⬠Someone shushed us from behind. I took my time at the concession counter, watching the clock and debating what percentage of a ninety-minute movie could be spent on romantic exposition. I decided ten minutes was more than enough, but I paused just inside the theater doors to be sure. I could hear horrified screams blaring from the speakers, so I knew I'd waited long enough. ââ¬Å"You missed everything,â⬠Jess murmured when I slid back into my seat. ââ¬Å"Almost everyone is a zombie now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Long line.â⬠I offered her some popcorn. She took a handful. The rest of the movie was comprised of gruesome zombie attacks and endless screaming from the handful of people left alive, their numbers dwindling quickly. I would have thought there was nothing in that to disturb me. But I felt uneasy, and I wasn't sure why at first. It wasn't until almost the very end, as I watched a haggard zombie shambling after the last shrieking survivor, that I realized what the problem was. The scene kept cutting between the horrified face of the heroine, and the dead, emotionless face of her pursuer, back and forth as it closed the distance. And I realized which one resembled me the most. I stood up. ââ¬Å"Where are you going? There's, like, two minutes left,â⬠Jess hissed. ââ¬Å"I need a drink,â⬠I muttered as I raced for the exit. I sat down on the bench outside the theater door and tried very hard not to think of the irony. But it was ironic, all things considered, that, in the end, I would wind up as a zombie. I hadn't seen that one coming. Not that I hadn't dreamed of becoming a mythical monster oncejust never a grotesque, animated corpse. I shook my head to dislodge that train of thought, feeling panicky. I couldn't afford to think about what I'd once dreamed of. It was depressing to realize that I wasn't the heroine anymore, that my story was over. Jessica came out of the theater doors and hesitated, probably wondering where the best place was to search for me. When she saw me, she looked relieved, but only for a moment. Then she looked irritated. ââ¬Å"Was the movie too scary for you?â⬠she wondered. ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"I guess I'm just a coward.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's funny.â⬠She frowned. ââ¬Å"I didn't think you were scaredI was screaming all the time, but I didn't hear you scream once. So I didn't know why you left.â⬠I shrugged. ââ¬Å"Just scared.â⬠She relaxed a little. ââ¬Å"That was the scariest movie I think I've ever seen. I'll bet we're going to have nightmares tonight.â⬠ââ¬Å"No doubt about that,â⬠I said, trying to keep my voice normal. It was inevitable that I would have nightmares, but they wouldn't be about zombies. Her eyes flashed to my face and away. Maybe I hadn't succeeded with the normal voice. ââ¬Å"Where do you want to eat?â⬠Jess asked. ââ¬Å"I don't care.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠Jess started talking about the male lead in the movie as we walked. I nodded as she gushed over his hotness, unable to remember seeing a non-zombie man at all. I didn't watch where Jessica was leading me. I was only vaguely aware that it was dark and quieter now. It took me longer than it should have to realize why it was quiet. Jessica had stopped babbling. I looked at her apologetically, hoping I hadn't hurt her feelings. Jessica wasn't looking at me. Her face was tense; she stared straight ahead and walked fast. As I watched, her eyes darted quickly to the right, across the road, and back again. I glanced around myself for the first time. We were on a short stretch of unlit sidewalk. The little shops lining the street were all locked up for the night, windows black. Half a block ahead, the streetlights started up again, and I could see, farther down, the bright golden arches of the McDonald's she was heading for. Across the street there was one open business. The windows were covered from inside and there were neon signs, advertisements for different brands of beer, glowing in front of them. The biggest sign, in brilliant green, was the name of the barOne-Eyed Pete's. I wondered if there was some pirate theme not visible from outside. The metal door was propped open; it was dimly lit inside, and the low murmur of many voices and the sound of ice clinking in glasses floated across the street. Lounging against the wall beside the door were four men. I glanced back at Jessica. Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead and she moved briskly. She didn't look frightenedjust wary, trying to not attract attention to herself. I paused without thinking, looking back at the four men with a strong sense of dj vu. This was a different road, a different night, but the scene was so much the same. One of them was even short and dark. As I stopped and turned toward them, that one looked up in interest. I stared back at him, frozen on the sidewalk. ââ¬Å"Bella?â⬠Jess whispered. ââ¬Å"What are you doing?â⬠I shook my head, not sure myself. ââ¬Å"I think I know themâ⬠I muttered. What was I doing? I should be running from this memory as fast as I could, blocking the image of the four lounging men from my mind, protecting myself with the numbness I couldn't function without. Why was I stepping, dazed, into the street? It seemed too coincidental that I should be in Port Angeles with Jessica, on a dark street even. My eyes focused on the short one, trying to match the features to my memory of the man who had threatened me that night almost a year ago. I wondered if there was any way I would recognize the man, if it was really him. That particular part of that particular evening was just a blur. My body remembered it better than my mind did; the tension in my legs as I tried to decide whether to run or to stand my ground, the dryness in my throat as I struggled to build a decent scream, the tight stretch of skin across my knuckles as I clenched my hands into fists, the chills on the back of my neck when the dark-haired man called me ââ¬Å"sugar.â⬠There was an indefinite, implied kind of menace to these men that had nothing to do with that other night. It sprung from the fact that they were strangers, and it was dark here, and they outnumbered usnothing more specific than that. But it was enough that Jessica's voice cracked in panic as she called after me. ââ¬Å"Bella, come on!â⬠I ignored her, walking slowly forward without ever making the conscious decision to move my feet. I didn't understand why, but the nebulous threat the men presented drew me toward them. It was a senseless impulse, but I hadn't felt any kind of impulse in so long I followed it. Something unfamiliar beat through my veins. Adrenaline, I realized, long absent from my system, drumming my pulse faster and fighting against the lack of sensation. It was strangewhy the adrenaline when there was no fear? It was almost as if it were an echo of the last time I'd stood like this, on a dark street in Port Angeles with strangers. I saw no reason for fear. I couldn't imagine anything in the world that there was left to be afraid of, not physically at least. One of the few advantages of losing everything. I was halfway across the street when Jess caught up to me and grabbed my arm. ââ¬Å"Bella! You can't go in a bar!â⬠she hissed. ââ¬Å"I'm not going in,â⬠I said absently, shaking her hand off. ââ¬Å"I just want to see somethingâ⬠ââ¬Å"Are you crazy?â⬠she whispered. ââ¬Å"Are you suicidal?â⬠That question caught my attention, and my eyes focused on her. ââ¬Å"No, I'm not.â⬠My voice sounded defensive, but it was true. I wasn't suicidal. Even in the beginning, when death unquestionably would have been a relief, I didn't consider it. I owed too much to Charlie. I felt too responsible for Renee. I had to think of them. And I'd made a promise not to do anything stupid or reckless. For all those reasons, I was still breathing. Remembering that promise. I felt a twinge of guilt. but what I was doing fight now didn't really count. It wasn't like I was taking a blade to my wrists. Jess's eyes were round, her mouth hung open. Her question about suicide had been rhetorical, I realized too late. ââ¬Å"Go eat,â⬠I encouraged her, waving toward the fast food. I didn't like the way she looked at me. ââ¬Å"I'll catch up in a minute.â⬠I turned away from her, back to the men who were watching us with amused, curious eyes. ââ¬Å"Bella, stop this right now!â⬠My muscles locked into place, froze me where I stood. Because it wasn't Jessica's voice that rebuked me now. It was a furious voice, a familiar voice, a beautiful voicesoft like velvet even though it was irate. It was his voiceI was exceptionally careful not to think his nameand I was surprised that the sound of it did not knock me to my knees, did not curl me onto the pavement in a torture of loss. But there was no pain, none at all. In the instant that I heard his voice, everything was very clear. Like my head had suddenly surfaced out of some dark pool. I was more aware of everythingsight, sound, the feel of the cold air that I hadn't noticed was blowing sharply against my face, the smells coming from the open bar door. I looked around myself in shock. ââ¬Å"Go back to Jessica,â⬠the lovely voice ordered, still angry. ââ¬Å"You promisednothing stupid.â⬠I was alone. Jessica stood a few feet from me, staring at me with frightened eyes. Against the wall, the strangers watched, confused, wondering what I was doing, standing there motionless in the middle of the street. I shook my head, trying to understand. I knew he wasn't there, and yet, he felt improbably close, close for the first time since since the end. The anger in his voice was concern, the same anger that was once very familiarsomething I hadn't heard in what felt like a lifetime. ââ¬Å"Keep your promise.â⬠The voice was slipping away, as if the volume was being turned down on a radio. I began to suspect that I was having some kind of hallucination. Triggered, no doubt, by the memorythe deja vu, the strange familiarity of the situation. I ran through the possibilities quickly in my head. Option one: I was crazy. That was the layman's term for people who heard voices in their heads. Possible. Option two: My subconscious mind was giving me what it thought I wanted. This was wish fulfillmenta momentary relief from pain by embracing the incorrect idea that he cared whether I lived or died. Projecting what he would have said if A) he were here, and B) he would be in any way bothered by something bad happening to me. Probable. I could see no option three, so I hoped it was the second option and this was just my subconscious running amuck, rather than something I would need to be hospitalized for. My reaction was hardly sane, thoughI was grateful. The sound of his voice was something that I'd feared I was losing, and so, more than anything else, I felt overwhelming gratitude that my unconscious mind had held onto that sound better than my conscious one had. I was not allowed to think of him. That was something I tried to be very strict about. Of course I slipped; I was only human. But I was getting better, and so the pain was something I could avoid for days at a time now. The tradeoff was the never-ending numbness. Between pain and nothing, I'd chosen nothing. I waited for the pain now. I was not numbmy senses felt unusually intense after so many months of the hazebut the normal pain held off. The only ache was the disappointment that his voice was fading. There was a second of choice. The wise thing would be to run away from this potentially destructiveand certainly mentally unstabledevelopment. It would be stupid to encourage hallucinations. But his voice was fading. I took another step forward, testing. ââ¬Å"Bella, turn around,â⬠he growled. I sighed in relief. The anger was what I wanted to hearfalse, fabricated evidence that he cared, a dubious gift from my subconscious. Very few seconds had passed while I sorted this all out. My little audience watched, curious. It probably looked like I was just dithering over whether or not I was going to approach them. How could they guess that I was standing there enjoying an unexpected moment of insanity? ââ¬Å"Hi,â⬠one of the men called, his tone both confident and a bit sarcastic. He was fair-skinned and fair-haired, and he stood with the assurance of someone who thought of himself as quite good-looking. I couldn't tell whether he was or not. I was prejudiced. The voice in my head answered with an exquisite snarl. I smiled, and the confident man seemed to take that as encouragement. ââ¬Å"Can I help you with something? You look lost.â⬠He grinned and winked. I stepped carefully over the gutter, running with water that was black in the darkness. ââ¬Å"No. I'm not lost.â⬠Now that I was closerand my eyes felt oddly in focusI analyzed the short, dark man's face. It was not familiar in any way. I suffered a curious sensation of disappointment that this was not the terrible man who had tried to hurt me almost a year ago. The voice in my head was quiet now. The short man noticed my stare. ââ¬Å"Can I buy you a drink?â⬠he offered, nervous, seeming flattered that I'd singled him out to stare at. ââ¬Å"I'm too young,â⬠I answered automatically. He was baffledwondering why I had approached them. I felt compelled to explain. ââ¬Å"From across the street, you looked like someone I knew. Sorry, my mistake.â⬠The threat that had pulled me across the street had evaporated. These were not the dangerous men I remembered. They were probably nice guys. Safe. I lost interest. ââ¬Å"That's okay,â⬠the confident blonde said. ââ¬Å"Stay and hang out with us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks, but I can't.â⬠Jessica was hesitating in the middle of the street, her eyes wide with outrage and betrayal. ââ¬Å"Oh, just a few minutes.â⬠I shook my head, and turned to rejoin Jessica. ââ¬Å"Let's go eat,â⬠I suggested, barely glancing at her. Though I appeared to be, for the moment, freed of the zombie abstraction, I was just as distant. My mind was preoccupied. The safe, numb deadness did not come back, and I got more anxious with every minute that passed without its return. ââ¬Å"What were you thinking?â⬠Jessica snapped. ââ¬Å"You don't know themthey could have been psychopaths!â⬠I shrugged, wishing she would let it go. ââ¬Å"I just thought I knew the one guy.â⬠ââ¬Å"You are so odd, Bella Swan. I feel like I don't know who you are.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry.â⬠I didn't know what else to say to that. We walked to McDonald's in silence. I'd bet that she was wishing we'd taken her car instead of walking the short distance from the theater, so that she could use the drive-through. She was just as anxious now for this evening to be over as I had been from the beginning. I tried to start a conversation a few times while we ate, but Jessica was not cooperative. I must have really offended her. When we go back in the car, she tuned the stereo back to her favorite station and turned the volume too loud to allow easy conversation. I didn't have to struggle as hard as usual to ignore the music. Even though my mind, for once, was not carefully numb and empty, I had too much to think about to hear the lyrics. I waited for the numbness to return, or the pain. Because the pain must be coming. I'd broken my personal rules. Instead of shying away from the memories, I'd walked forward and greeted them. I'd heard his voice, so clearly, in my head. That was going to cost me, I was sure of it. Especially if I couldn't reclaim the haze to protect myself. I felt too alert, and that frightened me. But relief was still the strongest emotion in my bodyrelief that came from the very core of my being. As much as I struggled not to think of him, I did not struggle to forget. I worriedlate in the night, when the exhaustion of sleep deprivation broke down my defensesthat it was all slipping away. That my mind was a sieve, and I would someday not be able to remember the precise color of his eyes, the feel of his cool skin, or the texture of his voice. I could not think of them, but I must remember them. Because there was just one thing that I had to believe to be able to liveI had to know that he existed. That was all. Everything else I could endure. So long as he existed. That's why I was more trapped in Forks than I ever had been before, why I'd fought with Charlie when he suggested a change. Honestly, it shouldn't matter; no one was ever coming back here. But if I were to go to Jacksonville, or anywhere else bright and unfamiliar, how could I be sure he was real? In a place where I could never imagine him, the conviction might fade and that I could not live through. Forbidden to remember, terrified to forget; it was a hard line to walk. I was surprised when Jessica stopped the car in front of my house. The ride had not taken long, but, short as it seemed, I wouldn't have thought that Jessica could go that long without speaking. ââ¬Å"Thanks for going out with me, Jess,â⬠I said as I opened my door. ââ¬Å"That wasfun.â⬠I hoped that fun was the appropriate word. ââ¬Å"Sure,â⬠she muttered. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry about after the movie.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatever, Bella.â⬠She glared out the windshield instead of looking at me. She seemed to be growing angrier rather than getting over it. ââ¬Å"See you Monday?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. Bye.â⬠I gave up and shut the door. She drove away, still without looking at me. I'd forgotten her by the time I was inside. Charlie was waiting for me in the middle of the hall, his arms folded tight over his chest with his hands balled into fists. ââ¬Å"Hey, Dad,â⬠I said absentmindedly as I ducked around Charlie, heading for the stairs. I'd been thinking about him for too long, and I wanted to be upstairs before it caught up with me. ââ¬Å"Where have you been?â⬠Charlie demanded. I looked at my dad, surprised. ââ¬Å"I went to a movie in Port Angeles with Jessica. Like I told you this morning.â⬠ââ¬Å"Humph,â⬠he grunted. ââ¬Å"Is that okay?â⬠He studied my face, his eyes widening as if he saw something unexpected. ââ¬Å"Yeah, that's fine. Did you havefun?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"We watched zombies eat people. It was great.â⬠His eyes narrowed. ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËNight, Dad.â⬠He let me pass. I hurried to my room. I lay in my bed a few minutes later, resigned as the pain finally made its appearance. It was a crippling thing, this sensation that a huge hole had been punched through my chest, excising my most vital organs and leaving ragged, unhealed gashes around the edges that continued to throb and bleed despite the passage of time. Rationally, I knew my lungs must still be intact, yet I gasped for air and my head spun like my efforts yielded me nothing. My heart must have been beating, too, but I couldn't hear the sound of my pulse in my ears; my hands felt blue with cold. I curled inward, hugging my ribs to hold myself together. I scrambled for my numbness, my denial, but it evaded me. And yet, I found I could survive. I was alert, I felt the painthe aching loss that radiated out from my chest, sending wracking waves of hurt through my limbs and headbut it was manageable. I could live through it. It didn't feel like the pain had weakened over time, rather that I'd grown strong enough to bear it. Whatever it was that had happened tonightand whether it was the zombies, the adrenaline, or the hallucinations that were responsibleit had woken me up. For the first time in a long time, I didn't know what to expect in the morning.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Nike and Apple
This paper looks at two global brand names that have teamed up to make a new product for sports consumers. These are Nike and Apple. Nike is well known corporate brand associated with manufacture of Nike shoes while Apple is known for the manufacture of small and durable computer gadgets used in the music industry, the iTunes music store. Due to growing trend of consumers liking of their brand they have developed Nike+iPod Sport Kit that embraces two technologies that are divergent in nature but uniquely complementary to sports use. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is able to capture athleteââ¬â¢s data, store it and interact with other gadgets useful for sports training. The use of it and other older devices have contributed to the success and potential of the merger between Nike and Apple companies. NIKE AND APPLE Nike and Apple are brand names of companies dealing in two different market fields. Nike has established itself as the dominant figure in sport shoes while Apple is the dominant the filed of computer technology where they have build a solid base in the music play list. Nike brands are Nike shoes that are the darling and much sought after shoes from sports consumers. While Apple has the dominant iTunes music store in which athletes have been uploading music. Since music is synonymous with athletes during training, the CEOs of these two companies came with a partnership to deliver a product of its kind (Lab paper main source). The CEO of Nike first approached Appleââ¬â¢s CEO with the ââ¬Ësmart running shoeââ¬â¢ idea it was processed and a new idea referred by Appleââ¬â¢s CEO as ââ¬Ëgreat startââ¬â¢ was born. This is a combination of two technologies that would improve the performance of the runners. The partnership which was labeled ââ¬Ëdesign difficultiesââ¬â¢ embraces a phenomenon that has already been ventured by other companies however, great improvement have been made. Thus Nike and Apple came up with the product called Nike+iPod Sport Kit. This is where an electronic sensor is embedded on the shoe which relays signals to the receiver connected remotely to the Appleââ¬â¢s iPod of the nano music player (Lab paper main source). The data is loaded in it of which information like distance covered, speed of the runner, calories burned during the training and can be customized to give details with specificity such as setting of ââ¬Ëpower songââ¬â¢. The iPod stores information on duration, distance covered and calories utilized during running time. The data is then transferred to a Mac or computer to which it uses the Nike website, Nikeplus.com where the runner can view data on the screen, analyze his progress, customize goals and show results later. This kit allows the runner to get feedback through the iPod speaker, and listen to music as he or she trains (Lab paper main source; Lab paper supporting material 2). The accuracy of this gadget is quite precise at over 90 percent even when used outside the box. For instance Armstrong used it during his training and tested with car speed and found that the nano recorded 5.2 miles while the speedometer recorded 5.3 miles (Lab paper supporting material 2). As a matter of fact the two companies brought this synergy of ideas based on the ââ¬Ëbeautiful friendshipââ¬â¢ level to which there association has brought similarities and differences in harmonious integration.à For instance, Nike and Apple are similar because they leading global brand names in their field of specialization that is the buzz of young and cool consumer market. Two they are all technologically driven whereby the apple is known for semiconductors and software proficiency while Nike is force behind anatomy, precision molding as well as thin film technology. This is illustrated by one of the CEOs who termed it ââ¬Ëscratching the surface of technologyââ¬â¢ where they can only be limited by the scope of imagination and business deal. It is a merger that is transcending to a field that has not been touched hence showcasing the huge potential opening for further development (Lab paper main source). Therefore,à Nike hasà rolled outà an expansive development of seven other styles ofà Nike branded shoes in the near future which include Nike air zoom moire, Nike shox, Air max lines, Plus readyà and Nike plus. Plus ready brand is already in market with at least 4 million shoes being sold in stores (Lab paper main source). The development of technology did not happen without the obstacles as admitted by the executivesââ¬â¢ of the two companies. On is that it took them eighteen months to come to agreement on the best platform dubbed Zen state. The problems being the sensor in the Nike shoe was bigger which was not welcomed by Nike engineers but the Apple designers saw it as small. Secondly the duration of the battery was short at about 1000 hrs. This was because the wireless technology to be employed consumed a lot of power and none wanted wire connection. However, it brought out a gadget that could be beneficial to all at an affordable price of $29 for iPod, $ 149 for nano and $100 for the shoe. This brings the question of affordability of the product to the consumers compared to previous product from companies like Garmin handheld GPS which its cost range from $115 to $377 depending on its sophistication (Lab paper main source). The partnership of two companies carries great benefits to both as indicated by their market share experiences. For instance, Nike will be solidifying its presence on the MP3 payer market having unsuccessfully tried through collaboration with Philips electronics. Apple being the dominant player gives Nike the presence and avenue it needs most. While Apple is gaining ground on a new field hence making iPod become a platform in sport market rather than as a music player. Nike profile will be elevated due to its connection with Apple and their market share will expand similarly because of similar demographics. Although some criticize the apple deal arguing that it is nutty others opposed it vehemently. For the case of Philips electronics where they have had long brand-licensing agreement it will still hold (Lab paper supporting material). This is not the first time Nike is penetrating the MP3 player market because they have done so with Philips electronics and co-branded the PSA 610, 4 GB hard disk with GPS sensor. This market has had other products of similar nature such as use of wristwatches, heart rate monitors, pedometer and cycling computers. The polarââ¬â¢s line of heart rate enabled athletes and cyclist to set up, training regimens where data can be viewed on the computer and results analyzed. The Garmin forerunner which had a hand held GPS connected to the wrist or in edge lines provided real time tracking of location from the GPS.à Macââ¬â¢s gadgets were used to interface computers and internet including the use of polar and Garmin models. Therefore as the new product are developed old gadgets such as Macââ¬â¢s solidify their ground (Lab paper supporting material). CONCLUSION This paper has discussed the merger of two global brand names that are successful in their area of business. Their merger has created a new market and potential of technological collaboration as well as boost in market share consolidation. REFERENCE Lab paper main source article Lab paper supporting material Lab paper supporting material 2
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