Air Service Agreements (Part 1) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Air Service Agreements (Part 1) - Essay Example The Chicago Convention of 1944 also created an independent organization, the heir to the International Commission for Air Navigation. The new organization exists and is a key player in international law: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based in Montrà ©al (ICAO, 2007). Both the U.S and U.K signed a convention relating to the regulation of aerial navigation which influenced other states like Italy, japan, Brazil, France, Greece and Poland to sign. They modified their domestic laws to reflect the newfound jurisdiction. England was the first off the mark with their air aviation act 1920. In 1958, the U.S adopted its own version of sovereignty called the federal aviation act (Geloso, 2008). Bermuda I led to the agreement between United States and Great Britain on the first two freedoms that is the right to fly over territory of another country and the right to land for essential repairs, refuelling or to escape adverse weather conditions in another country. The United States also agreed that the international air transport association an international body that would set fares subject to the two government’s approval. Bilateral agreement became the model for a series of future bilateral agreements between United States and other countries (Marin,

How HR Professionals Handle the Challenges Essay - 1

How HR Professionals Handle the Challenges - Essay Example Further, it would tell as to how these challenges should be dealt with by the professionals. It would take into view the Atkinson model of Job Flexibility and would tell as to what the professionals should do to provide the workers of the firm with a better working environment. The title of this paper is â€Å"The Challenges faced by the HR professionals when creating a better environment†. Flexibility in an organization refers to the provision of such principles and rules which provide its employees with an environment where they can easily balance their work and personal commitments like education, social activities, family relations, professional advancement and other leisure activities. The application of flexibility in the business depends on "securing lower labor costs, tighter manning levels, higher machine utilization, greater staff mobility and few interruptions and bottlenecks in production" (Blyton 1992, p.301 cited in Sheridan, Conway 2001 pp. 8). To understand the concept of flexibility Atkinson's model of flexibility is very useful and of paramount importance. He explains four kinds of flexibility, which firms may achieve, namely functional flexibility, numerical flexibility, pay flexibility and distancing flexibility. Functional flexibility is identified as a qualitative approach to work and talks about managements ability to organize and reorganize particular segments of the labor force on a broad variety of tasks in reply to market demand when needed (Sparrow 1998 cited in Teicher & Holland 2006 p. 241-242). The workers are given proper training in a broad number of skills in order to make its achievement certain. The unpredictable nature of consumer demands of the products makes this type of flexibility to continue in the market.  

Plastics Recycling Business Plan

Plastics Recycling Business Plan Executive Summary Recently, the growing utilization of plastics are specifically used domestic purpose and produced from industrial and consumer applications and need Students Paper: and need to combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products for our general consumer applications, combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products. One of our general purposes. One of the quickest increasing Students Paper: quickest increasing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant where located fastest growing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in where Students Paper: plant where located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). To be and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial ). To be honest, Students Paper: be honest, Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated and utilize almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division and any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase the entire product or Canada). Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated, and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers, who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase all of the product produced entire product produced. MANAGEMENT Ben Braddock, President who has experienced since 30-years of history and related with Students Paper: related with encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. Moreover, he of experience encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. He has . Moreover, he has founded great Students Paper: founded great ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. In his personal founded successful ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire his personal life, Students Paper: personal life, Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with almost over manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with over 20 almost Students Paper: with almost over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY Moreover, after Engineer with over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY After a Moreover, after a four month grow- Students Paper: month grow-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also looking an month start-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also seeking an looking Students Paper: also looking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. Then, these also seeking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. These funds . Then, Students Paper: operations. Then, these funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for create of begin operations. These funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for the set up create Students Paper: for create of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in first year set up of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in firstyyear, $31 first Students Paper: in first year, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million. Gross margin in firstyyear, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million.y Gross . Gross margin of 35% or more in first Students Paper: in first year, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profit of in firstyyear, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profityof 13 profit of 13% in year one, then exceeding 20% Students Paper: exceeding 20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a generally manufacturing then exceedingy20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a manufacturing company generally Students Paper: a generally manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods. We intend is a manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods.yWe intend . We intend to make enough profit to generate a significant Students Paper: a significant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products. We will generate aysignificant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products.yWe will . We Students Paper: products. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply of post-consumer products.yWe will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply ofypost-consumerybottles post-consumer bottles Students Paper: consumer bottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing Contractual arrangements ofypost-consumerybottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing -yyContractual arrangementsyfor Contractual arrangements for Students Paper: arrangements for the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience. 1.4 Potential yyContractual arrangementsyfor the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience.http://www . Students Paper: specific experience. 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low cost post 934697d142204abeb7020c6e32f2e18d.png 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low costypost-consumer cost Students Paper: low cost post-consumer PET bottles (feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturers of PET bottlesy(feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturersyof PET manufacturers Students Paper: U.S. manufacturers of PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identify markets U.S. manufacturersyof PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identifyymarkets for identify markets for the Companys products. Their Students Paper: products. Their expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production. The location may products.yTheir expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production.y The Students Paper: initial production. The location may not be near enough to markets The markets that have production.y The location may not be near enough to markets Theymarkets that Students Paper: The markets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S., which will markets Theymarkets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S.,ywhich will , which will provide a distinct advantage Students Paper: distinct advantage to the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attract top distinct advantageyto the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attractytop managementy attract top Students Paper: attract top management The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable venture provides attractytop managementy The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable ventureyprovides for venture provides Students Paper: venture provides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and return nearly favorable ventureyprovides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and returnynearly all return nearly all of the process water Students Paper: process water to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility. Company Summary The the processywater to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility.yyyy Want Summary Students Paper: Company Summary The Company will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. Recycling Division Using a Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a Using a patented process, Students Paper: patented process, the Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States; we have Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 ; we have chosen this region because Students Paper: region because all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada, despite western the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial , despite western states favorable recycling attitudes among consumers. Its initial annual Students Paper: initial annual capacity will be 46 million pounds and it will utilize bottle feed Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock from Students Paper: stock from California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200,000,000 pounds collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million 200,000,000 pounds per year. The Company will become totally vertically integrated, and use all or Students Paper: all or almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus material produced will and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake produced will be sold to outside companies. Packaging Division We will create a plant (actual facilities to be shared with the Recycling Division) to manufacture extruded plastic roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping, employing state-of-the-art technology developed to utilize recycled PET resin. The extruded sheet will be primarily sold to thermoformers who will convert it into high visibility packaging, as well as laminators and fabricators. The strapping will be sold to commercial users for use as package or pallet strapping. The Company currently has commitments from customers to purchase all of the initial production capacity. Excess flake will be sold to outside customers. 2.1 Company Ownership Replay Plastics is owned by the initial founders, B. Braddock, S. McGuire and C. Smith, who are the proposed three executives of the operating entity. The plan was conceived and developed by these individuals, with the intent to apply their extensive experience and contacts in the industry to building a successful profitable corporation. 2.1.1 Potential Conflict Our COO, Mr. Sam McGuire, the inventor and patent holder of the recycling process to be used by the Company, is a principal in Company A of Chicago, IL. For many years, Company has designed, manufactured and assembled plastic recycling equipment, and has given us quotes on meeting our needs in this area. After a thorough investigation, Replay has found that Company A is able to source or supply the required equipment at considerably lower cost than any other company from which a quote was available. Mr. McGuire has disclosed that Company A has included a smaller than normal margin in their quote on goods they will manufacture, to cover overhead, contingency and profit which might result in a small benefit to him. They have agreed to source all of the equipment possible with no added margin. Replay has concluded that the savings available outweigh any other consideration and that we will purchase the cleaning and refining equipment from Company A. 2.2 Start-up Summary Our start-up expenses are budgeted at $210,000, which is mostly for on-site contractor services during facility preparation. $50,000 has been set aside for legal and accounting, $25,000 for special consulting that may be required during start up and $50,000 each for local engineering and lab equipment and supplies. $30,000 has been set aside as a contingency for the start up period. Our largest Start-up Requirement is the building of the recycling and extrusion facility. Its final value at completion is listed below as a long-term asset of $3,620,000 (excluding expensed items like consultants and engineering listed above). Aside from the building itself, we need $25,000 in machinery and fixtures, $500,000 of inventory (plastic bottle feed stock) and cash to cover us through the initial year. Start-up Funding Start-up Expenses to Fund $210,000 Start-up Assets to Fund $4,790,000 Total Funding Required $5,000,000 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up $4,145,000 Cash Requirements from Start-up $645,000 Additional Cash Raised $0 Cash Balance on Starting Date $645,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing $0 Long-term Liabilities $800,000 Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0 Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0 Total Liabilities $800,000 Capital Planned Investment Founders $1,500,000 Investor $2,700,000 Additional Investment Requirement $0 Total Planned Investment $4,200,000 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($210,000) Total Capital $3,990,000 Total Capital and Liabilities $4,790,000 Total Funding $5,000,000 Start-up Requirements Start-up Expenses Legal Accounting $50,000 Stationery etc. $5,000 Consultants $25,000 Lab Equipment $50,000 Local Engineering $50,000 Misc Start up $30,000 Other $0 Total Start-up Expenses $210,000 Start-up Assets Cash Required $645,000 Start-up Inventory $500,000 Other Current Assets $25,000 Long-term Assets $3,620,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Total Requirements $5,000,000 Products Replay Plastics will utilize two processes in the same facility to produce: Cleaned and recycled plastic PET flake (RPET), recovered from post-consumer beverage bottles and manufacturing waste produced by its sheet customers Extruded roll stock sheet PET. Extruded PET high-strength strapping for securing large packages or pallet loads; each using 100% RPET produced in-house 3.1 Product Description Roll stock sheet will be sold to custom thermoformers primarily to be used to produce high-visibility packaging. It will also be sold to manufacturers of laminates and fabricated plastic products. High strength PET packaging strapping is used to secure packages or pallets in such industries as lumber milling and corrugated and other paper production. Both products will be extruded from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The recycling programs in California, Washington and Oregon collect in excess of 200,000,000 pounds of PET bottles per annum. Replay initial capacity will be 46,000,000 pounds. Using a patented process, Replay will clean and refine the PET material from the post-consumer bottle stock and post-industrial manufacturing waste. The PET flake resin produced will be extruded into roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping. Although the Company expects to convert all of its bottle feed stock into extruded products, any surplus flake will be sold to outside manufacturers. 3.2 Competitive Comparison While quality and delivery are important factors to our potential clients, price is most often the determining factor in a buying decision. Good-quality packaging products manufactured from recycled (less expensive) resins, as close as practical to the end customers operations, will be most competitive and achieve a significant market share. These factors have helped to determine the business parameters of Replay Plastics. 3.3 Sourcing In excess of 200,000,000 pounds of post-consumer PET beverage bottles are collected and available as feed stock for manufacturers who can re-process this material into commercial products. The Company has excellent relations with the firms and associations that collect and distribute these materials and has been assured that its requirements will be available for the foreseeable future. The Company has entered negotiations with a California based source of post-consumer bottles and is confident that sufficient volumes are available on a contract basis from this source to satisfy its requirements. In addition, the Company intends to purchase production waste from its sheet customers and blend it into its feed stock. Currently, the majority of the post-consumer PET bottles collected in California, Oregon and Washington are exported to China. The Chinese have absorbed the amounts surplus to the use in North America. Their interest has kept the industry in the position of being able to maintain a steady price range for this bottle stock. A significant percentage of all sales of such bottle stock are managed by Plastics Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC), an industry funded marketing agency which operates similarly to a co-operative. They accept bids from potential buyers on behalf of the firms which act as consolidators, which accumulate stocks from the smaller, individual bottle-recycling depots. Some amount of the available stocks are regularly bought by recyclers in eastern North America who focus on the carpet manufacturers who use RPET resin in their process, but the high cost of transport from the western U.S. makes eastern sources more desirable. Replay has a good relationship with Company B, one of the larger consolidators in California. Company B has indicated a desire to contract to supply Replay with all of its raw material needs. They prefer to deal with a local consumer such as Replay, rather than the uncertainty and extra preparation requirements of the export market. There are other sources of post-consumer feed stock known to Replay, and we are confident that we will have sufficient materials available for our production needs. 3.4 Technology Sam McGuire, a key member of our Management team, is one of the original innovators of cleaning and refining technology for post-consumer PET, and we will be utilizing his patented process in our recycling facility. Sam has worked in the establishment and operation of facilities employing similar technologies over the last several years. On the manufacturing side, Management has been an integral part of the advancement of industry practices over the last twenty years or so, and includes in their knowledge base most, if not all, of the state-of-the-art available equipment and manufacturing techniques. Students Paper: manufacturing techniques. Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor. Major users http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm 8 y Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor.y Major . Students Paper: industrys favor. Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm favor.y Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling.y Recycled Students Paper: growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin. Supply of http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm recycling.y Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin.ySupply of . Supply of recycled PET is in excess of 800 million pounds per year. This figure is expected to grow, reaching over 1 billion pounds during the next few years. Students Paper: few years. The plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing. Of the http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm years.yThe plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing.yOf the . Students Paper: is increasing. Of the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm increasing.yOf the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources.yOf the Students Paper: just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yOf the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources.yPlastics, after Students Paper: recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding. Plastic containers are http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yPlastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding.yPlastic containers Students Paper: expanding. Plastic containers are being collected at the curb for recycling in nearly 500 communities, representing more than 4 million households. U.S. demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm expanding.yP Plastics Recycling Business Plan Plastics Recycling Business Plan Executive Summary Recently, the growing utilization of plastics are specifically used domestic purpose and produced from industrial and consumer applications and need Students Paper: and need to combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products for our general consumer applications, combined with increased consumer awareness surrounding solid waste recycling, has led to an increased demand for recycled plastic resins and products. One of our general purposes. One of the quickest increasing Students Paper: quickest increasing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant where located fastest growing types of collected plastic materials for recycling is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from post-consumer beverage and water bottles. Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in where Students Paper: plant where located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). To be and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial ). To be honest, Students Paper: be honest, Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated and utilize almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division and any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase the entire product or Canada). Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock presently collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million pounds per year. The Company will be vertically integrated, and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake) produced will be sold to outside companies. The extruded sheet may then be sold to manufacturers, who will thermoform it into high-visibility packaging or use it in other high value added manufacturing operations. The strapping will be sold to companies who ship large packages or pallets, such as the lumber milling industry. The Company currently has commitments available from customers to purchase all of the product produced entire product produced. MANAGEMENT Ben Braddock, President who has experienced since 30-years of history and related with Students Paper: related with encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. Moreover, he of experience encompassing all aspects of Polymer Raw Material, Plastic Conversion Methods, and Venture Development. He has . Moreover, he has founded great Students Paper: founded great ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. In his personal founded successful ventures in the plastic converting industry, and assisted in the launch of five plastic converting manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire his personal life, Students Paper: personal life, Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with almost over manufacturing plants. Sam McGuire, Executive VP and COO, is a graduate Engineer with over 20 almost Students Paper: with almost over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY Moreover, after Engineer with over 20 years experience in the post-consumer plastics recycling industry and is the inventor of the primary cleaning refining technology used in the process for this project. He has received a patent for his technology and has been directly involved in over twenty-five major post consumer plastics recycling projects. Carl R. Smith, CFO, has over 30 years investment and merchant banking and management experience. He has assisted in raising over $500 million and served as board member and/or officer in over 40 public and private companies. FINANCIAL SUMMARY After a Moreover, after a four month grow- Students Paper: month grow-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also looking an month start-up period to build the recycling and packaging facilities, buy equipment, and incorporate the business, Replay Plastics will begin a quick turnaround of product. Sales will begin in May, and with over $15 Million in sales the first year, we will see a first year net profit of $2.3 Million. The owners are investing $500,000 each, for a total of $1.5 Million, and are securing an $800K long-term loan. The Company is also seeking an looking Students Paper: also looking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. Then, these also seeking an investment of $2,700,000 in order to begin operations. These funds . Then, Students Paper: operations. Then, these funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for create of begin operations. These funds will be used for the purchase of one recycling line and one manufacturing line, for the set up create Students Paper: for create of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in first year set up of the plant facilities and for working capital. An outside investor providing this amount would receive 48% equity in Replay, and receive an IRR of 69% from simple dividends alone over the next 5 years. At the end of that period, we will consider a public offering of stock or a buy-out by a related business. Recent information on private sales of similar industry companies has indicated that transactions under $25 million have averaged 5.3 times EBITDA, while transactions in the range of $25-250 million have averaged over 7 times EBITDA. Further details can be found in the Financial Plan, below. 1.1 Objectives Sales passing $15 million in firstyyear, $31 first Students Paper: in first year, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million. Gross margin in firstyyear, $31 million in year 2, growing to $43 million.y Gross . Gross margin of 35% or more in first Students Paper: in first year, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profit of in firstyyear, 45% in second year then 50% or more. Net profityof 13 profit of 13% in year one, then exceeding 20% Students Paper: exceeding 20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a generally manufacturing then exceedingy20% annually starting in year two. 1.2 Mission Replay Plastics is a manufacturing company generally Students Paper: a generally manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods. We intend is a manufacturing company dedicated to converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products, utilizing environmentally friendly recycling and manufacturing methods.yWe intend . We intend to make enough profit to generate a significant Students Paper: a significant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products. We will generate aysignificant return for our investors and to finance continued growth and continued development in quality products.yWe will . We Students Paper: products. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply of post-consumer products.yWe will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. 1.3 Keys to Success The main keys to the success of the Company are: Secure Supply- Contract for supply ofypost-consumerybottles post-consumer bottles Students Paper: consumer bottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing Contractual arrangements ofypost-consumerybottles and post-industrial manufacturing waste for PET raw material feed stock. Marketing -yyContractual arrangementsyfor Contractual arrangements for Students Paper: arrangements for the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience. 1.4 Potential yyContractual arrangementsyfor the sale of virtually all initial production. Management Strong senior management with extensive, broad-based, industry-specific experience.http://www . Students Paper: specific experience. 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low cost post 934697d142204abeb7020c6e32f2e18d.png 1.4 Potential Risks Unavailable or scarce raw material feed stock for production Replay is confident that it has secured good availability of low costypost-consumer cost Students Paper: low cost post-consumer PET bottles (feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturers of PET bottlesy(feed stock) derived from post-consumer beverage bottles from California based recycling collectors, and has back up sources identified. Technology employed may be unreliable or unproven Replay will use a proven, patented technology that was developed by one of its principals for the cleaning and recycling phase. The extrusion division will employ commercially proven technology the industry is employing unique recycled PET technology which is used by prominent eastern U.S. manufacturersyof PET manufacturers Students Paper: U.S. manufacturers of PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identify markets U.S. manufacturersyof PET extrusions. There may not be a market for the Companys products The Industry-wide experience of the Management Team has allowed them to identifyymarkets for identify markets for the Companys products. Their Students Paper: products. Their expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production. The location may products.yTheir expertise and reputations have allowed them to obtain commitments for virtually all of the planned initial production.y The Students Paper: initial production. The location may not be near enough to markets The markets that have production.y The location may not be near enough to markets Theymarkets that Students Paper: The markets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S., which will markets Theymarkets that have been identified are primarily in the western U.S.,ywhich will , which will provide a distinct advantage Students Paper: distinct advantage to the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attract top distinct advantageyto the Company because of freight costs and delivery timing. The Company may not be able to attractytop managementy attract top Students Paper: attract top management The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable venture provides attractytop managementy The Company has assembled a world class management team with proven ability and direct experience in the Companys market segments. Company may not meet environmental standards This environmentally-favorable ventureyprovides for venture provides Students Paper: venture provides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and return nearly favorable ventureyprovides for the development of technically feasible and economically viable solutions to PET plastic beverage bottle recycling, as well as environmentally aware in-house re-use practices which filter and returnynearly all return nearly all of the process water Students Paper: process water to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility. Company Summary The the processywater to the production lines. The Company may not be able to sell all of its production capability Through the Senior Managements industry-wide contacts, the Company has identified potential customers and received commitments for all of the production potential of the initial facility.yyyy Want Summary Students Paper: Company Summary The Company will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. Recycling Division Using a Replay Plastics will capitalize on the opportunities in the recycled resin and packaging markets through two main divisions: a Recycling Division and a Packaging Division. The Company will create a Using a patented process, Students Paper: patented process, the Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States; we have Packaging Division. The Company will create a PET cleaning and refining plant located in the western United States (all 16 ; we have chosen this region because Students Paper: region because all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada, despite western the western United States (all 16 major North American PET recycling plants are currently located in the eastern United States or Canada). Its initial , despite western states favorable recycling attitudes among consumers. Its initial annual Students Paper: initial annual capacity will be 46 million pounds and it will utilize bottle feed Its initial capacity will be 46 million pounds, and it will utilize post-consumer bottle feed stock from Students Paper: stock from California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200,000,000 pounds collected in California, Oregon and Washington States, which collect over 200 million 200,000,000 pounds per year. The Company will become totally vertically integrated, and use all or Students Paper: all or almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus material produced will and use almost all of its recycled material in its Packaging Division. Any surplus materials (clean flake produced will be sold to outside companies. Packaging Division We will create a plant (actual facilities to be shared with the Recycling Division) to manufacture extruded plastic roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping, employing state-of-the-art technology developed to utilize recycled PET resin. The extruded sheet will be primarily sold to thermoformers who will convert it into high visibility packaging, as well as laminators and fabricators. The strapping will be sold to commercial users for use as package or pallet strapping. The Company currently has commitments from customers to purchase all of the initial production capacity. Excess flake will be sold to outside customers. 2.1 Company Ownership Replay Plastics is owned by the initial founders, B. Braddock, S. McGuire and C. Smith, who are the proposed three executives of the operating entity. The plan was conceived and developed by these individuals, with the intent to apply their extensive experience and contacts in the industry to building a successful profitable corporation. 2.1.1 Potential Conflict Our COO, Mr. Sam McGuire, the inventor and patent holder of the recycling process to be used by the Company, is a principal in Company A of Chicago, IL. For many years, Company has designed, manufactured and assembled plastic recycling equipment, and has given us quotes on meeting our needs in this area. After a thorough investigation, Replay has found that Company A is able to source or supply the required equipment at considerably lower cost than any other company from which a quote was available. Mr. McGuire has disclosed that Company A has included a smaller than normal margin in their quote on goods they will manufacture, to cover overhead, contingency and profit which might result in a small benefit to him. They have agreed to source all of the equipment possible with no added margin. Replay has concluded that the savings available outweigh any other consideration and that we will purchase the cleaning and refining equipment from Company A. 2.2 Start-up Summary Our start-up expenses are budgeted at $210,000, which is mostly for on-site contractor services during facility preparation. $50,000 has been set aside for legal and accounting, $25,000 for special consulting that may be required during start up and $50,000 each for local engineering and lab equipment and supplies. $30,000 has been set aside as a contingency for the start up period. Our largest Start-up Requirement is the building of the recycling and extrusion facility. Its final value at completion is listed below as a long-term asset of $3,620,000 (excluding expensed items like consultants and engineering listed above). Aside from the building itself, we need $25,000 in machinery and fixtures, $500,000 of inventory (plastic bottle feed stock) and cash to cover us through the initial year. Start-up Funding Start-up Expenses to Fund $210,000 Start-up Assets to Fund $4,790,000 Total Funding Required $5,000,000 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up $4,145,000 Cash Requirements from Start-up $645,000 Additional Cash Raised $0 Cash Balance on Starting Date $645,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing $0 Long-term Liabilities $800,000 Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0 Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0 Total Liabilities $800,000 Capital Planned Investment Founders $1,500,000 Investor $2,700,000 Additional Investment Requirement $0 Total Planned Investment $4,200,000 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($210,000) Total Capital $3,990,000 Total Capital and Liabilities $4,790,000 Total Funding $5,000,000 Start-up Requirements Start-up Expenses Legal Accounting $50,000 Stationery etc. $5,000 Consultants $25,000 Lab Equipment $50,000 Local Engineering $50,000 Misc Start up $30,000 Other $0 Total Start-up Expenses $210,000 Start-up Assets Cash Required $645,000 Start-up Inventory $500,000 Other Current Assets $25,000 Long-term Assets $3,620,000 Total Assets $4,790,000 Total Requirements $5,000,000 Products Replay Plastics will utilize two processes in the same facility to produce: Cleaned and recycled plastic PET flake (RPET), recovered from post-consumer beverage bottles and manufacturing waste produced by its sheet customers Extruded roll stock sheet PET. Extruded PET high-strength strapping for securing large packages or pallet loads; each using 100% RPET produced in-house 3.1 Product Description Roll stock sheet will be sold to custom thermoformers primarily to be used to produce high-visibility packaging. It will also be sold to manufacturers of laminates and fabricated plastic products. High strength PET packaging strapping is used to secure packages or pallets in such industries as lumber milling and corrugated and other paper production. Both products will be extruded from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The recycling programs in California, Washington and Oregon collect in excess of 200,000,000 pounds of PET bottles per annum. Replay initial capacity will be 46,000,000 pounds. Using a patented process, Replay will clean and refine the PET material from the post-consumer bottle stock and post-industrial manufacturing waste. The PET flake resin produced will be extruded into roll stock sheet or high-strength strapping. Although the Company expects to convert all of its bottle feed stock into extruded products, any surplus flake will be sold to outside manufacturers. 3.2 Competitive Comparison While quality and delivery are important factors to our potential clients, price is most often the determining factor in a buying decision. Good-quality packaging products manufactured from recycled (less expensive) resins, as close as practical to the end customers operations, will be most competitive and achieve a significant market share. These factors have helped to determine the business parameters of Replay Plastics. 3.3 Sourcing In excess of 200,000,000 pounds of post-consumer PET beverage bottles are collected and available as feed stock for manufacturers who can re-process this material into commercial products. The Company has excellent relations with the firms and associations that collect and distribute these materials and has been assured that its requirements will be available for the foreseeable future. The Company has entered negotiations with a California based source of post-consumer bottles and is confident that sufficient volumes are available on a contract basis from this source to satisfy its requirements. In addition, the Company intends to purchase production waste from its sheet customers and blend it into its feed stock. Currently, the majority of the post-consumer PET bottles collected in California, Oregon and Washington are exported to China. The Chinese have absorbed the amounts surplus to the use in North America. Their interest has kept the industry in the position of being able to maintain a steady price range for this bottle stock. A significant percentage of all sales of such bottle stock are managed by Plastics Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC), an industry funded marketing agency which operates similarly to a co-operative. They accept bids from potential buyers on behalf of the firms which act as consolidators, which accumulate stocks from the smaller, individual bottle-recycling depots. Some amount of the available stocks are regularly bought by recyclers in eastern North America who focus on the carpet manufacturers who use RPET resin in their process, but the high cost of transport from the western U.S. makes eastern sources more desirable. Replay has a good relationship with Company B, one of the larger consolidators in California. Company B has indicated a desire to contract to supply Replay with all of its raw material needs. They prefer to deal with a local consumer such as Replay, rather than the uncertainty and extra preparation requirements of the export market. There are other sources of post-consumer feed stock known to Replay, and we are confident that we will have sufficient materials available for our production needs. 3.4 Technology Sam McGuire, a key member of our Management team, is one of the original innovators of cleaning and refining technology for post-consumer PET, and we will be utilizing his patented process in our recycling facility. Sam has worked in the establishment and operation of facilities employing similar technologies over the last several years. On the manufacturing side, Management has been an integral part of the advancement of industry practices over the last twenty years or so, and includes in their knowledge base most, if not all, of the state-of-the-art available equipment and manufacturing techniques. Students Paper: manufacturing techniques. Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor. Major users http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm 8 y Market Analysis Summary Strong demand for recycled plastics is working in the industrys favor.y Major . Students Paper: industrys favor. Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm favor.y Major users of plastic packaging, apparently responding to consumer desires, have begun incorporating at least some recycled plastic content in their products as part of the growing interest in recycling.y Recycled Students Paper: growing interest in recycling. Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin. Supply of http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm recycling.y Recycled resin demand is on the rise as prices for the two major recycled resins, PET and HDPE, continue to hold value or appreciate against their virgin counterparts. In volume, PET is currently the number one recycled resin.ySupply of . Supply of recycled PET is in excess of 800 million pounds per year. This figure is expected to grow, reaching over 1 billion pounds during the next few years. Students Paper: few years. The plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing. Of the http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm years.yThe plastics industry has developed new markets and applications for recycled resins from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. PET leads the recycled recovered resins as the most visible and valuable, and its use is increasing.yOf the . Students Paper: is increasing. Of the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm increasing.yOf the total 3.7 billion pounds of PET consumed in 1997, just 16% was from recycled sources.yOf the Students Paper: just 16% was from recycled sources. Of the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yOf the more than 90 billion pounds of plastics produced annually in the United States, less than 5% is from recycled sources.yPlastics, after Students Paper: recycled sources. Plastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding. Plastic containers are http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm sources.yPlastics, after aluminium, represent the second highest value material in the waste stream and have the highest projected growth rate. Markets and uses for recycled plastics are rapidly expanding.yPlastic containers Students Paper: expanding. Plastic containers are being collected at the curb for recycling in nearly 500 communities, representing more than 4 million households. U.S. demand http://www.bplans.com/plastics_recycling_business_plan/market_analysis_summary_fc.cfm expanding.yP

Gender in Mother Courage and Her Children and M. Butterfly Essay

Comparing Gender in Mother Courage and Her Children and M. Butterfly    "The term gender is commonly used to refer to the psychological, cultural, and social characteristics that distinguish the sexes" (Cook 1). From the idea of gender such notions as gender bias and stereotyping have developed. Stereotypes have lead society to believe that a male or female should appear, act, or in more philosophical terms, be a certain way. What these gender stereotypes are and, whether or not they really exist, will be discussed further so that they can be examined in reference to the plays Mother Courage and Her Children and M. Butterfly. In Mother Courage and Her Children "motherhood", and what it should be, is challenged as a result of the actions and qualities of the character Mother Courage. M. Butterfly gives us a great depiction of a stereotypical male, and uses the female stereotype against him. Both of these plays invert, modify, and even glorify the gender stereotypes. Society has females and males alike typecasted into roles which have basic characteristics that are the reverse of each other. Although this has begun to change over the past thirty years, typically the man was seen as superior to the female. This superior image is one that today, is slowly on its way to being reduced to one of complete equality between the two genders. Before the feminist revolution began, the female was traditionally in charge of taking care of the children and household. Her image in life was that of the wife, mother, and nurturing person. Some of the traits that were thought to be uniquely feminine were; ". . .emotional, sensitive, gentle, quiet, nurturing, interested in personal appearance and beauty, focused upon h... ...ect Woman" (1.3.5) in M. Butterfly. The play shatters the illusion of the female ideal. The character Gallimard discovers that it doesn't really exist. However, the stereotypical male all too real. It is glorified to its absolute extremes in this play. The one conclusion that can be drawn between these two plays and gender stereotypes, is that stereotypical masculine characteristics are quite genuine. Conversely, those qualities that create the female ideal, are merely a figment of male perceptions. Works Cited Brecht, Bertolt. "Mother Courage and Her Children." Worthen 727-751. Cook, Ellen Piel, ed. Women, Relationships, and Power. Virginia: American Counseling Association, 1993. Hwang, Henry David. "M. Butterfly." Worthen 1062-1084. Worthen, W.B. ed. The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama. 3rd ed. Toronto: Harcourt, 1993.   

The Lost Symbol Chapter 22-23

CHAPTER 22 Pacing the library, Katherine Solomon pulled back the sleeve of her lab coat and checked her watch. She was not a woman accustomed to waiting, but at the moment, she felt as if her whole world were on hold. She was waiting for Trish's search-spider results, she was waiting for word from her brother, and also, she was waiting for a callback from the man who was responsible for this entire troubling situation. I wish he hadn't told me, she thought. Normally, Katherine was extremely careful about making new acquaintances, and although she had met this man for the first time only this afternoon, he had earned her trust in a matter of minutes. Completely. His call had come this afternoon while Katherine was at home enjoying her usual Sunday- afternoon pleasure of catching up on the week's scientific journals. â€Å"Ms. Solomon?† an unusually airy voice had said. â€Å"My name is Dr. Christopher Abaddon. I was hoping I might speak to you for a moment about your brother?† â€Å"I'm sorry, who is this?† she had demanded. And how did you get my private cell-phone number? â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine did not recognize the name. The man cleared his throat, as if the situation had just become awkward. â€Å"I apologize, Ms. Solomon. I was under the impression your brother had told you about me. I'm his doctor. Your cell number was listed as his emergency contact.† Katherine's heart skipped. Emergency contact? â€Å"Is something wrong?† â€Å"No . . . I don't think so,† the man said. â€Å"Your brother missed an appointment this morning, and I can't reach him on any of his numbers. He never misses appointments without calling, and I'm just a little worried. I hesitated to phone you, but–â€Å" â€Å"No, no, not at all, I appreciate the concern.† Katherine was still trying to place the doctor's name. â€Å"I haven't spoken to my brother since yesterday morning, but he probably just forgot to turn on his cell.† Katherine had recently given him a new iPhone, and he still hadn't taken the time to figure out how to use it. â€Å"You say you're his doctor?† she asked. Does Peter have an illness he's keeping from me? There was a weighty pause on the line. â€Å"I'm terribly sorry, but I've obviously just made a rather serious professional error by calling you. Your brother told me you were aware of his visits to me, but now I see that's not the case.† My brother lied to his doctor? Katherine's concern was now growing steadily. â€Å"Is he sick?† â€Å"I'm sorry, Ms. Solomon, doctor-patient confidentiality precludes me from discussing your brother's condition, and I've already said too much by admitting he is my patient. I'm going to hang up now, but if you hear from him today, please ask him to call me so I know he's okay.† â€Å"Wait!† Katherine said. â€Å"Please tell me what's wrong with Peter!† Dr. Abaddon exhaled, sounding displeased with his mistake. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I can hear you're upset, and I don't blame you. I'm sure your brother is fine. He was in my office just yesterday.† â€Å"Yesterday? And he's scheduled again today? This sounds urgent.† The man heaved a sigh. â€Å"I suggest we give him a little more time before we–â€Å" â€Å"I'm coming by your office right now,† Katherine said, heading for the door. â€Å"Where are you located?† Silence. â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine said. â€Å"I can look up your address myself, or you can simply give it to me. Either way, I'm coming over.† The doctor paused. â€Å"If I meet with you, Ms. Solomon, would you please do me the courtesy of saying nothing to your brother until I've had a chance to explain my misstep?† â€Å"That's fine.† â€Å"Thank you. My office is in Kalorama Heights.† He gave her an address. Twenty minutes later, Katherine Solomon was navigating the stately streets of Kalorama Heights. She had phoned all of her brother's numbers with no reply. She did not feel overly concerned about her brother's whereabouts, and yet, the news that he was secretly seeing a doctor . . . was troubling. When Katherine finally located the address, she stared up at the building in confusion. This is a doctor's office? The opulent mansion before her had a wrought-iron security fence, electronic cameras, and lush grounds. As she slowed to double-check the address, one of the security cameras rotated toward her, and the gate swung open. Tentatively, Katherine drove up the driveway and parked next to a six-car garage and a stretch limo. What kind of doctor is this guy? As she got out of her car, the front door of the mansion opened, and an elegant figure drifted out onto the landing. He was handsome, exceptionally tall, and younger than she had imagined. Even so, he projected the sophistication and polish of an older man. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit and tie, and his thick blond hair was immaculately coiffed. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I'm Dr. Christopher Abaddon,† he said, his voice a breathy whisper. When they shook hands, his skin felt smooth and well tended. â€Å"Katherine Solomon,† she said, trying not to stare at his skin, which was unusually smooth and bronzed. Is he wearing makeup? Katherine felt a growing disquiet as she stepped into the home's beautifully appointed foyer. Classical music played softly in the background, and it smelled as if someone had burned incense. â€Å"This is lovely,† she said, â€Å"although I expected more of . . . an office.† â€Å"I'm fortunate to work out of my home.† The man led her into a living room, where there was a crackling fire. â€Å"Please make yourself comfortable. I'm just steeping some tea. I'll bring it out, and we can talk.† He strode toward the kitchen and disappeared. Katherine Solomon did not sit. Female intuition was a potent instinct that she had learned to trust, and something about this place was making her skin crawl. She saw nothing that looked anything like any doctor's office she had ever seen. The walls of this antique-adorned living room were covered with classical art, primarily paintings with strange mythical themes. She paused before a large canvas depicting the Three Graces, whose nude bodies were spectacularly rendered in vivid colors. â€Å"That's the original Michael Parkes oil.† Dr. Abaddon appeared without warning beside her, holding a tray of steaming tea. â€Å"I thought we'd sit by the fire?† He led her over to the living room and offered her a seat. â€Å"There's no reason to be nervous.† â€Å"I'm not nervous,† Katherine said entirely too quickly. He gave her a reassuring smile. â€Å"Actually, it is my business to know when people are nervous.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I'm a practicing psychiatrist, Ms. Solomon. That is my profession. I've been seeing your brother for almost a year now. I'm his therapist.† Katherine could only stare. My brother is in therapy? â€Å"Patients often choose to keep their therapy to themselves,† the man said. â€Å"I made a mistake by calling you, although in my defense, your brother did mislead me.† â€Å"I . . . I had no idea.† â€Å"I apologize if I made you nervous,† he said, sounding embarrassed. â€Å"I noticed you studying my face when we met, and yes, I do wear makeup.† He touched his own cheek, looking self- conscious. â€Å"I have a dermatological condition, which I prefer to hide. My wife usually puts the makeup on for me, but when she's not here, I have to rely on my own heavy touch.† Katherine nodded, too embarrassed to speak. â€Å"And this lovely hair . . .† He touched his lush blond mane. â€Å"A wig. My skin condition affected my scalp follicles as well, and all my hair jumped ship.† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm afraid my one sin is vanity.† â€Å"Apparently mine is rudeness,† Katherine said. â€Å"Not at all.† Dr. Abaddon's smile was disarming. â€Å"Shall we start over? Perhaps with some tea?† They sat in front of the fire and Abaddon poured tea. â€Å"Your brother got me in the habit of serving tea during our sessions. He said the Solomons are tea drinkers.† â€Å"Family tradition,† Katherine said. â€Å"Black, please.† They sipped their tea and made small talk for a few minutes, but Katherine was eager for information about her brother. â€Å"Why was my brother coming to you?† she asked. And why didn't he tell me? Admittedly, Peter had endured more than his fair share of tragedy in his life–losing his father at a young age, and then, within a span of five years, burying his only son and then his mother. Even so, Peter had always found a way to cope. Dr. Abaddon took a sip of tea. â€Å"Your brother came to me because he trusts me. We have a bond beyond that of normal patient and doctor.† He motioned to a framed document near the fireplace. It looked like a diploma, until Katherine spied the double-headed phoenix. â€Å"You're a Mason?† The highest degree, no less. â€Å"Peter and I are brothers of sorts.† â€Å"You must have done something important to be invited into the thirty-third degree.† â€Å"Not really,† he said. â€Å"I have family money, and I give a lot of money to Masonic charities.† Katherine now realized why her brother trusted this young doctor. A Mason with family money, interested in philanthropy and ancient mythology? Dr. Abaddon had more in common with her brother than she had initially imagined. â€Å"When I asked why my brother came to you,† she said, â€Å"I didn't mean why did he choose you. I meant, why is he seeking the services of a psychiatrist?† Dr. Abaddon smiled. â€Å"Yes, I know. I was trying to sidestep the question politely. It's really not something I should be discussing.† He paused. â€Å"Although I must say I'm puzzled that your brother would keep our discussions from you, considering that they relate so directly to your research.† â€Å"My research?† Katherine said, taken totally off guard. My brother talks about my research? â€Å"Recently, your brother came to me looking for a professional opinion about the psychological impact of the breakthroughs you are making in your lab.† Katherine almost choked on the tea. â€Å"Really? I'm . . . surprised,† she managed. What is Peter thinking? He told his shrink about my work?! Their security protocol involved not discussing with anyone what Katherine was working on. Moreover, the confidentiality had been her brother's idea. â€Å"Certainly you are aware, Ms. Solomon, that your brother is deeply concerned about what will happen when your research goes public. He sees the potential for a significant philosophical shift in the world . . . and he came here to discuss the possible ramifications . . . from a psychological perspective.† â€Å"I see,† Katherine said, her teacup now shaking slightly. â€Å"The questions we discuss are challenging ones: What happens to the human condition if the great mysteries of life are finally revealed? What happens when those beliefs that we accept on faith . . . are suddenly categorically proven as fact? Or disproved as myth? One could argue that there exist certain questions that are best left unanswered.† Katherine could not believe what she was hearing, and yet she kept her emotions in check. â€Å"I hope you don't mind, Dr. Abaddon, but I'd prefer not to discuss the details of my work. I have no immediate plans to make anything public. For the time being, my discoveries will remain safely locked in my lab.† â€Å"Interesting.† Abaddon leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a moment. â€Å"In any event, I asked your brother to come back today because yesterday he suffered a bit of a break. When that happens, I like to have clients–â€Å" â€Å"Break?† Katherine's heart was pounding. â€Å"As in breakdown?† She couldn't imagine her brother breaking down over anything. Abaddon reached out kindly. â€Å"Please, I can see I've upset you. I'm sorry. Considering these awkward circumstances, I can understand how you might feel entitled to answers.† â€Å"Whether I'm entitled or not,† Katherine said, â€Å"my brother is all I have left of my family. Nobody knows him better than I do, so if you tell me what the hell happened, maybe I can help you. We all want the same thing–what's best for Peter.† Dr. Abaddon fell silent for several long moments and then began slowly nodding as if Katherine might have a point. Finally, he spoke. â€Å"For the record, Ms. Solomon, if I decide to share this information with you, I would do so only because I think your insights might help me assist your brother.† â€Å"Of course.† Abaddon leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, as long as I've been seeing your brother, I've sensed in him a deep struggle with feelings of guilt. I've never pressed him on it because that's not why he comes to me. And yet yesterday, for a number of reasons, I finally asked him about it.† Abaddon locked eyes with her. â€Å"Your brother opened up, rather dramatically and unexpectedly. He told me things I had not expected to hear . . . including everything that happened the night your mother died.† Christmas Eve–almost exactly ten years ago. She died in my arms. â€Å"He told me your mother was murdered during a robbery attempt at your home? A man broke in looking for something he believed your brother was hiding?† â€Å"That's correct.† Abaddon's eyes were appraising her. â€Å"Your brother said he shot the man dead?† â€Å"Yes.† Abaddon stroked his chin. â€Å"Do you recall what the intruder was looking for when he broke into your home?† Katherine had tried in vain for ten years to block out the memory. â€Å"Yes, his demand was very specific. Unfortunately, none of us knew what he was talking about. His demand never made sense to any of us.† â€Å"Well, it made sense to your brother.† â€Å"What?† Katherine sat up. â€Å"At least according to the story he told me yesterday, Peter knew exactly what the intruder was looking for. And yet your brother did not want to hand it over, so he pretended not to understand.† â€Å"That's absurd. Peter couldn't possibly have known what the man wanted. His demands made no sense!† â€Å"Interesting.† Dr. Abaddon paused and took a few notes. â€Å"As I mentioned, however, Peter told me he did know. Your brother believes if he had only cooperated with the intruder, maybe your mother would be alive today. This decision is the source of all his guilt.† Katherine shook her head. â€Å"That's crazy . . .† Abaddon slumped, looking troubled. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, this has been useful feedback. As I feared, your brother seems to have had a little break with reality. I must admit, I was afraid this might be the case. That's why I asked him to come back today. These delusional episodes are not uncommon when they relate to traumatic memories.† Katherine shook her head again. â€Å"Peter is far from delusional, Dr. Abaddon.† â€Å"I would agree, except . . .† â€Å"Except what?† â€Å"Except that his recounting of the attack was just the beginning . . . a tiny fraction of the long and far-fetched tale he told me.† Katherine leaned forward in her seat. â€Å"What did Peter tell you?† Abaddon gave a sad smile. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, let me ask you this. Has your brother ever discussed with you what he believes is hidden here in Washington, D.C. . . . or the role he believes he plays in protecting a great treasure . . . of lost ancient wisdom?† Katherine's jaw fell open. â€Å"What in the world are you talking about?† Dr. Abaddon heaved a long sigh. â€Å"What I am about to tell you will be a bit shocking, Katherine.† He paused and locked eyes with her. â€Å"But it will be immeasurably helpful if you can tell me anything you may know about it.† He reached for her cup. â€Å"More tea?† CHAPTER 23 Another tattoo. Langdon crouched anxiously beside Peter's open palm and examined the seven tiny symbols that had been hidden beneath the lifeless clenched fingers. â€Å"They appear to be numbers,† Langdon said, surprised. â€Å"Although I don't recognize them.† â€Å"The first is a Roman numeral,† Anderson said. â€Å"Actually, I don't think so,† Langdon corrected. â€Å"The Roman numeral I-I-I-X doesn't exist. It would be written V-I-I.† â€Å"How about the rest of it?† Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. It looks like eight-eight-five in Arabic numbers.† â€Å"Arabic?† Anderson asked. â€Å"They look like normal numbers.† â€Å"Our normal numbers are Arabic.† Langdon had become so accustomed to clarifying this point for his students that he'd actually prepared a lecture about the scientific advances made by early Middle Eastern cultures, one of them being our modern numbering system, whose advantages over Roman numerals included `positional notation' and the invention of the number zero. Of course, Langdon always ended this lecture with a reminder that Arab culture had also given mankind the word al-kuhl–the favorite beverage of Harvard freshmen–known as alcohol. Langdon scrutinized the tattoo, feeling puzzled. â€Å"And I'm not even sure about the eight-eight- five. The rectilinear writing looks unusual. Those may not be numbers.† â€Å"Then what are they? Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. The whole tattoo looks almost . . . runic.† â€Å"Meaning?† Sato asked. â€Å"Runic alphabets are composed solely of straight lines. Their letters are called runes and were often used for carving in stone because curves were too difficult to chisel.† â€Å"If these are runes,† Sato said, â€Å"what is their meaning?† Langdon shook his head. His expertise extended only to the most rudimentary runic alphabet– Futhark–a third-century Teutonic system, and this was not Futhark. â€Å"To be honest, I'm not even sure these are runes. You'd need to ask a specialist. There are dozens of different forms– Hlsinge, Manx, the `dotted' Stungnar–â€Å" â€Å"Peter Solomon is a Mason, is he not?† Langdon did a double take. â€Å"Yes, but what does that have to do with this?† He stood up now, towering over the tiny woman. â€Å"You tell me. You just said that runic alphabets are used for stone carvings, and it is my understanding that the original Freemasons were stone craftsmen. I mention this only because when I asked my office to search for a connection between the Hand of the Mysteries and Peter Solomon, their search returned one link in particular.† She paused, as if to emphasize the importance of her finding. â€Å"The Masons.† Langdon exhaled, fighting the impulse to tell Sato the same thing he constantly told his students: â€Å"Google† is not a synonym for â€Å"research.† In these days of massive, worldwide keyword searches, it seemed everything was linked to everything. The world was becoming one big entangled web of information that was getting denser every day. Langdon maintained a patient tone. â€Å"I'm not surprised the Masons appeared in your staff's search. Masons are a very obvious link between Peter Solomon and any number of esoteric topics.† â€Å"Yes,† Sato said, â€Å"which is another reason I have been surprised this evening that you have not yet mentioned the Masons. After all, you've been talking about secret wisdom protected by an enlightened few. That sounds very Masonic, does it not?† â€Å"It does . . . and it also sounds very Rosicrucian, Kabbalistic, Alumbradian, and any number of other esoteric groups.† â€Å"But Peter Solomon is a Mason–a very powerful Mason, at that. It seems the Masons would come to mind if we were talking about secrets. Heaven knows the Masons love their secrets.† Langdon could hear the distrust in her voice, and he wanted no part of it. â€Å"If you want to know anything about the Masons, you would be far better served to ask a Mason.† â€Å"Actually,† Sato said, â€Å"I'd prefer to ask someone I can trust.† Langdon found the comment both ignorant and offensive. â€Å"For the record, ma'am, the entire Masonic philosophy is built on honesty and integrity. Masons are among the most trustworthy men you could ever hope to meet.† â€Å"I have seen persuasive evidence to the contrary.† Langdon was liking Director Sato less and less with each passing moment. He had spent years writing about the Masons' rich tradition of metaphorical iconography and symbols, and knew that Masons had always been one of the most unfairly maligned and misunderstood organizations in the world. Regularly accused of everything from devil worship to plotting a one- world government, the Masons also had a policy of never responding to their critics, which made them an easy target. â€Å"Regardless,† Sato said, her tone biting, â€Å"we are again at an impasse, Mr. Langdon. It seems to me there is either something you are missing . . . or something you are not telling me. The man we're dealing with said that Peter Solomon chose you specifically.† She leveled a cold stare at Langdon. â€Å"I think it's time we move this conversation to CIA headquarters. Maybe we'll have more luck there.† Sato's threat barely registered with Langdon. She had just said something that had lodged in his mind. Peter Solomon chose you. The comment, combined with the mention of Masons, had hit Langdon strangely. He looked down at the Masonic ring on Peter's finger. The ring was one of Peter's most prized possessions–a Solomon family heirloom that bore the symbol of the double- headed phoenix–the ultimate mystical icon of Masonic wisdom. The gold glinted in the light, sparking an unexpected memory. Langdon gasped, recalling the eerie whisper of Peter's captor: It really hasn't dawned on you yet, has it? Why you were chosen? Now, in one terrifying moment, Langdon's thoughts snapped into focus and the fog lifted. All at once, Langdon's purpose here was crystal clear. Ten miles away, driving south on Suitland Parkway, Mal'akh heard a distinctive vibration on the seat beside him. It was Peter Solomon's iPhone, which had proven a powerful tool today. The visual caller ID now displayed the image of an attractive middle-aged woman with long black hair. INCOMING CALL–KATHERINE SOLOMON Mal'akh smiled, ignoring the call. Destiny pulls me closer. He had lured Katherine Solomon to his home this afternoon for one reason only–to determine if she had information that could assist him . . . perhaps a family secret that might help Mal'akh locate what he sought. Clearly, however, Katherine's brother had told her nothing of what he had been guarding all these years. Even so, Mal'akh had learned something else from Katherine. Something that has earned her a few extra hours of life today. Katherine had confirmed for him that all of her research was in one location, safely locked inside her lab. I must destroy it. Katherine's research was poised to open a new door of understanding, and once the door was opened even a crack, others would follow. It would just be a matter of time before everything changed. I cannot let that happen. The world must stay as it is . . . adrift in ignorant darkness. The iPhone beeped, indicating Katherine had left a voice mail. Mal'akh retrieved it. â€Å"Peter, it's me again.† Katherine's voice sounded concerned. â€Å"Where are you? I'm still thinking about my conversation with Dr. Abaddon . . . and I'm worried. Is everything okay? Please call me. I'm at the lab.† The voice mail ended. Mal'akh smiled. Katherine should worry less about her brother, and more about herself. He turned off Suitland Parkway onto Silver Hill Road. Less than a mile later, in the darkness, he spotted the faint outline of the SMSC nestled in the trees off the highway to his right. The entire complex was surrounded by a high razor-wire fence. A secure building? Mal'akh chuckled to himself. I know someone who will open the door for me.

IKEA Global Strategy Essay

Introduction: A network that covers a broad area (i.e., any telecommunications network that links across metropolitan, regional, national or international boundaries) using leased telecommunication lines. Related terms for other types of networks are personal area networks (PANs), local area networks(LANs), campus area networks (CANs), or metropolitan area networks (MANs) which are usually limited to a room, building, campus or specific metropolitan area (e.g., a city) respectively. If you have a large campus network using routers and dynamic routing protocols and an internal infrastructure, you do not necessarily have a WAN. A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. If your network uses a network infrastructure that is owned by your service provider, implementing WAN technologies, you have a WAN. Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. Body: The distinguishing features of a WAN: Sending data long distances Although distance is not a true criterion for determining whether your network is a WAN, most WANs do span a great distance, and the technologies used in the WAN depend a great deal on the distances involved. If your WAN spans only a single city, across town is a long way; nevertheless, your carrier may choose different technologies for that distance than they would if your network spanned a state, country, or continent. Although long distances are not criteria for defining a WAN, commonly, WANs do span substantial distances. Implementing routing protocols Routing protocols are also not true criteria for a WAN definition. A WAN can either use manual routing or implement a routing protocol such as RIP or EIRGP. Although larger, more complex networks like a national WAN may be  easier to manage when implementing a routing protocol, their use does not dictate that you have a WAN. A large corporation could have a single (but large) building or a campus of several buildings that causes the network to have several routers. To make life easier on the routing front, you could choose to implement one of the many available routing protocols. So, although most WAN environments make use of routing protocols, not all networks that implement routing protocols are necessarily WANs. Using carrier equipment Means the equipment from your telephone company that allows you to connect your network to the backbone of its network. These network connections can be digital subscriber line (DSL), frame relay, fiber optic, broadband cable, or another technology used by your telephone company or network provider. This component really turns a network into a WAN, allowing your traffic to travel between your locations while traversing another provider’s network, mainly your ISP or telephone company. In some cases, this traffic may cross several providers’ networks. If you are connecting two offices and they are in different countries, you may be crossing networks owned by a regional provider, which connects to a national provider and then crosses borders and travels across the other national provider to another regional provider before finally reaching your other branch office location. It is this use of other people’s networks that really defines use of a large LAN versus a WAN (LANs are covered in the next section). So, a WAN is not related to the size of your network, or to your choice of routing protocols, or to any other factors. Consolation: However, in terms of the application of computer networking protocols and concepts, it may be best to view WANs as computer networking technologies used to transmit data over long distances, and between different LANs, MANs and other localised computer networking architectures. This distinction stems from the fact that common LAN technologies operating at Layer 1/2 (such as the forms of Ethernet or Wifi) are often geared towards physically localised networks, and thus cannot transmit data over tens, hundreds or  even thousands of miles or kilometres. This could be to facilitate higher bandwidth applications, or provide better functionality for users in the CAN. A CAN, for example, may have a localised backbone of a WAN technology, which connects different LANs within a campus. The textbook definition of a WAN is a computer network spanning regions, countries, or even the world.