Manufacturing and Geographic Postponement

Manufacturing and Geographic Postponement The difference between traditional distribution channels and modern supply chain is time. Traditional distribution channels take time to get the order from customers and its also take time to deliver customers the product they had ordered because traditional model firms do their own delivery and because they are not the specialize in transportation it tend to take long time to deliver products and it also costly, so what the firms do in traditional model is they tend to have a lots of stock in their warehouse, which cost them a lots of money to pay for the spaces. The modern supply chain is differences from traditional model because of the customers need and specification. Now a lots of customers tend to favor the customize products that made just for them, so the supply chain dont have to maintain a lots inventories or stock which help firm reduce cost, and because of the changing in technology the customers can receive their order faster than before because modern supply chain firm hire the specialize in logistic to do it for them which tend to cost less than they do it themselves. And because they hire specialize in logistic firm can promise to customers about time to deliver product. The Internet help firm receive customers order faster, so they can deliver it to customer in the shortest time. In modern supply chain firm dont need to have warehouse to stock inventories, so their cost goes down, this mean the firm can achieve the better performance in the lower cost. 2. What specific role does logistics play in supply chain operations? Answer: Logistics is the process used to create value. The good logistic can help firm added value to their products by deliver it on time. The good logistic help firm get the effective connection between supply chains by manage the location to place inventory (warehouse), transportation, and order management. These help firm work faster in the effective ways. 3. Describe and illustrate an integrated service provider. How does the concept of integrated service provider differ from traditional service providers, such as for-hire transportation and warehousing? Answer: Integrated Service Providers (ISP) can be count as the practice of outsourcing. The two traditional ISP services is specialize in logistic that provide the service and other work that necessary for the firm to service customers. The traditional ISP offers warehouse (public warehouse) and sharing transportation services (for-hire transportation, ex. DHL). Now firm also help manage order entry and the delivery services, but in some situation they also they also provide the value-added service. 4. Compare and contrast anticipatory and response-based business models. Why has responsiveness become popular in supply chain collaborations? Answer: Anticipatory (Push) and response-based (Pull) business models are used by firm to fulfill the consumer requirement. Anticipatory business model is the forecasting of what products customers will want in the future, then produce products based on market forecast, which is high uncertainty because the firm cannot know that they can sell all the products that they produced. But response-based business model try to reduce the uncertainty by information exchange between supply chains. The new technologies help firm sharing information quicker and now a day response-based business model tend to be very popular because it helps company reduce the uncertainty. The company does not have to have much inventory like before because many company today use the build-to-order system. 5.Compare and contrast manufacturing and geographic postponement. Answer: Manufacturing postponement is produce product one at a time (make-to-order, Ex. Dell computer they will produce laptop as soon as they get order from customer) with no preparation to produce more products until they know the exact customer specifications. The geographic postponement is the opposite of manufacturing postponement. This basically produce product and put in the warehouse to wait for customers to order, then they will delivery it to customers in the fastest time or on time. So manufacturing postponement focus on reduces the uncertainty to have a lots inventory but the geographic postponement focus on the speed of delivering the products. 6. Define and illustrate cash-to-cash conversion, dwell time minimization, and cash spin. How do supply chain strategy and structure impact each? Answer: Cash-to-cash conversion is the process that company takes to convert  companys resource inputs (inventories) into cash, in order to expand customers sales. Companies usually give discount to the buyer that pay within the given time. Dwell time minimization is the time that asset is in storage compare to the time required to satisfy supply chain mission. Companies reduce dwell time by collaborating in supply chain to eliminate duplicate inventory and non-value-added work. Cash spin is trying to reduce assets overall assets committed to supply chain performance. The investment in a warehouse, if eliminated by reengineered supply chain. If firm combine these three strategies together and performance it well, it will increase the financial attractiveness of effective collaboration. Challenge Questions 1. What are the operating challenges related to the Toys R Us plan to establish 600 temporary or pop-up seasonal retail outlets? Be specific concerning the supply chain challenges leading into, during and after the Christmas selling season. Answer: Toys R Us has to talk to their supplier, who produces the toys, whether they can deliver the order or not because during the Christmas period customer demand are going up, so the company needs to make sure that they have enough inventory to provide to customers. And also the company needs to make sure that they have enough space to keep their inventories and they need to make sure that there will be trucks stand by to deliver products because in Christmas all the worker go on long holiday. But the company also need to make sure that they wont be to much inventories left over after Christmas because usually in Christmas company will produce the special toys for that period, so if it left over they may need to give some discount, which reduce companys revenues. 2.How do the concepts of SaaS and cloud computing differ from the services offered by traditional data processing service centers? Answer: Traditional data processing service centers is the system, which firms own and maintain by it own. SaaS is referred to the external system that firms buy from outside. SaaS provides both internal system and hosted basis. When use the large specialize computer system to host is called cloud computing. 3. Discuss how reverse logistics can create value. Answer: reverse logistics is the process of returning the products went the products had problem. With the internet it help company know the information about the product returning, so they can deliver new products to customer in the short period of time. This can make customers feel like company very care about them. This can help customers make decision when they buying products. 4. What is the primary value proposition of Kane Is Ables collaborative distribution service? Be specific concerning how this collaborative distribution service differs from traditional services offered by 3PLs. Answer: Public warehouse provide product storage and transportation, but because they not the specialize in transport, so sometimes they cannot manage to deliver product on time and it not the efficiency way of transportation. Kane Is Able Inc is specializing in offering transportation and share warehouse. And they are good in managing and delivery products, this help company save money and time because they can promise to deliver products to customer on time.

Defining Good Advice :: Definition Essays

Defining Good Advice The first thing I know about good advice is that it can come from anyone. I found this out by looking at the narrative stories that we had to write in the beginning of this assignment. For example, J.Lutts got his advice from a friend, while Chris Lefstad got his advice from his uncle, and Nate Hilson and Nate Hall both got their advice from their parents. Although, Robyn Isaacs says, â€Å"Usually it (advice) is given to me by someone I know and trust on a personal level.† I don’t totally agree with this. I think that good advice can come from people we don’t know. For instance, take the three text book examples of giving advice on using contractions. I don’t personally know any of the people that are giving me this advice. The part that I do agree with Robyn is that you do need to trust the person on a personal level. I trust that the authors of these text books know what they are talking about when they give me advice on using contractions. I wouldnâ₠¬â„¢t take advice from a five-year old on when to use contractions, and when not to use contractions. The next thing that good advice depends on is how it is said. Sometimes when I get good advice, it needs to be expressed in an urgent way. Someone can yell at me to get out of the way when I am walking right into traffic. It is good advice and it needed to be hollered at me, otherwise I wouldn’t have paid attention to it, and I wouldn’t know how important this advice is to me. But other times, good advice needs to be said on the same level as I am on. I wouldn’t want my dad to yell at me when he was giving me advice on switching schools. I wouldn’t listen to him. He has to talk to me on the same level. I wouldn’t ask someone for advice if I didn’t think that they would give it thought, and suggest to me in an appropriate way, what their opinion on the subject is. That leads to another characteristic of good advice. When I seek good advice, I am going to go to someone that knows something about what I am going to ask. Chris Lefstad asked his uncle for advice on choosing a specific career in computers because his uncle went through the same thing.

Scott Consigny on Protagoras and Logos: A Study in Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric. :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Scott Consigny on Protagoras and Logos: A Study in Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric Edward Schiappa's cogent and eloquent book fully deserves the praise it has received. As Donovan Ochs observes in his 1991 review of the book (RSQ 21: 3942), Schiappa, presents a clear account of Protagoras' philosophy and supports his reading with a detailed analysis of each of Protagoras' five extant fragments. But even though Schiappa's reading is compelling, we need not necessarily be persuaded by it; for as Protagoras himself remarks, it is always possible to articulate two opposed accounts about everything, and to make the ostensibly weaker account stronger. In this review I will undertake a "Protagorean" project, articulating and defending an account of Protagoras' philosophy that is opposed to Schiappa's account. To this end I will briefly sketch Schiappa's account, which I label an "enlightenment" reading of Protagoras, and I will then sketch an opposed, "rhetoricist" reading of the Sophist. Schiappa begins his study by acknowledging his debt to George Grote and Eric Havelock. Schiappa concurs with Grote's assessment of the Sophists as "a positive force" in the fifth-century Greek enlightenment (12); and he accepts Havelock's notion that the transition from orality to literacy in Greek society led to a progression "from a mythic-poetic to a more literate, humanistic-rationalistic culture" (21). Drawing on these two scholars, Schiappa depicts Protagoras as a pivotal figure of the fifth century enlightenment helping to transform Greece from an irrational, mythical and theocentric culture into a rational and humanistic culture. Schiappa then proceeds to examine Protagoras' contribution to this intellectual progress, namely his advocacy and analysis of logos, or "rationality" as the proper means of inquiry. In a detailed analysis of Protagoras' five extant fragments, Schiappa argues that Protagoras provides the groundwork for the subsequent development of rational inquiry by delineating the assumptions or principles, the proper procedure or method, and the kind of results or explanations that may be attained through rational inquiry. Concerning Protagoras' conception of the starting points or principles of inquiry, Schiappa argues that in his remark that "humanity is the measure of all things," Protagoras sharply differentiates his anthropocentric logos from the theocentric mythos of the poets who claim to be inspired by the gods. Schiappa also construes Protagoras' remark that he is unable to know whether or not the gods exist as further underscoring the Sophist's rejection of theocentricity. These remarks are fundamental to Protagoras' project, for in them he suggests that valid inquiry must be initiated by humans themselves, without information supplied by the gods.

Wedding Toast - Best Man Essay -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Speech - Best Man Afternoon everyone, firstly, the city council have asked me to request that, for health and safety reasons, none of you get up on top of the chairs and tables during my standing ovation. I'm sure you'll all admit this has turned out to be a fabulous wedding celebration, yet every silver- lining does have a cloud, and that is, unfortunately that you've all got to listen to me for a few minutes. I'd just like to start by thanking everyone on behalf of the Bride and groom, for sharing their wedding day, although personally I wish you'd all stayed at home, because things would have been a lot easier on me. I'd also like to thank you George, on behalf of the bridesmaids for your kind words and also my personal thanks for giving me the opportunity to dress like Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen and for finally admitting after all these years that I am the best man. This book tells you to start all speeches with a joke & I promise I'll start shortly. It also says that you are the most forgiving audience & you'll laugh at the lamest joke. Over the next 10 minutes I will be severely testing this theory. ...I was really nervous before hand, so I prepared a few lines - and having snorted them I'm feeling pretty good right now... I didn't think I was going to be that nervous but believe me this is not the first time today that I've stood up from a warm seat with a bit of pap... ...h, fruity and intoxicating to the mind and then turn full bodied with age until they go all sour and vinegary, which inevitably gives you a headache. In all seriousness though George, it has been a great honour to have been your best man here today, but more importantly to have known you as a true friend of yours over the last 14 years. I sincerely wish you the happiest of marriages and may our friendship continue for many years to come. I started planning this speech a few weeks ago.... & it must feel like I've been delivering it that long. So it gives me immense pleasure, not to mention relief, to invite you all - well those who still can - to stand. Ladies and gentlemen, George and Julie!!

My Visit to a Greek Orthodox Church :: Observation Essays Descriptive Essay

I have decided to visit a Greek Orthodox Church, Saint Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church. I went alone because I figured that this would not draw too much attention during the service. I tried to find a nearby church that will give the service partially in English. When I found one near me it was my luck that I went at the time when it was all spoken in Greek. The English service was at six in the evening, and the all-Greek service started at ten in the morning. So to my discouragement I was at a lost at any attempts that I had preplanned to adapt to this new environment. I didn’t even get the name of the priest. While I was there sitting in the back I was able to dissect some of the norms of the church and the culture with in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The church external appearance was quite different than other churches that I have seen. It was basically a big white stucco block with a gold dome on top and four decorated spikes on each corner of the building that surrounded the dome. The people of course were all Greek and were very well dressed. Most of the men and boys all wore suits, and If not they had some kind of vest on. I don’t know if this was some kind of rule or tradition, but it mostly seemed as a respect to God. The women all wore the basic dresses, and all the skirts fell down below the knee. Everybody was proper and ordered. As I walked in the church I entered a lobby of some kind. What I saw hear was something like social hour. Everybody was in there. They were all speaking Greek, and I felt as if I was in a family reunion party. The children were all together; the adults talked together and the young adults all were together. The way they all socialize is when someone comes up to say he llo, they give each other a kiss on the cheek and a hug. These people are all very close to each other. It seems as if the church is the center of their lives. I admire that trait as well. To enter the auditorium you must enter this little room, which has a piece of garment from St. Constantine and St. Helen. Also there were candles lit. As they walked through this little room they lit a candle and knelt down for a moment to pray, and then touched each garment and made a cross over their chest.

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 27. NEEDS

I DIDN'T GET VERY FAR BEFORE DRIVING BECAME IMPOSsible. When I couldn't see anymore, I let my tires find the rough shoulder and rolled slowly to a stop. I slumped over on the seat and allowed the weakness I'd fought in Jacob's room crush me. It was worse that I'd thought – the force of it took me by surprise. Yes, I had been right to hide this from Jacob. No one should ever see this. But I wasn't alone for very long – just exactly long enough for Alice to see me here, and then the few minutes it took him to arrive. The door creaked open, and he pulled me into his arms. At first it was worse. Because there was that smaller part of me – smaller, but getting louder and angrier every minute, screaming at the rest of me – that craved a different set of arms. So then there was fresh guilt to season the pain. He didn't say anything, he just let me sob until I began to blubber out Charlie's name. â€Å"Are you really ready to go home?† he asked doubtfully. I managed to convey, after several attempts, that it wasn't going to get any better anytime soon. I needed to get past Charlie before it got late enough for him to call Billy. So he drove me home – for once not even getting close to my truck's internal speed limit – keeping one arm wrapped tightly around me. The whole way, I fought for control. It seemed to be a doomed effort at first, but I didn't give up. Just a few seconds, I told myself. Just time for a few excuses, or a few lies, and then I could break down again. I had to be able to do that much. I scrambled around in my head, searching desperately for a reserve of strength. There was just enough for me to quiet the sobs – hold them back but not end them. The tears didn't slow. I couldn't seem to find any handle to even begin to work with those. â€Å"Wait for me upstairs,† I mumbled when we were in front of the house. He hugged me closer for one minute, and then he was gone. Once inside, I headed straight for the stairs. â€Å"Bella?† Charlie called after me from his usual place on the sofa as I walked by. I turned to look at him without speaking. His eyes bugged wide, and he lurched to his feet. â€Å"What happened? Is Jacob . . . ?† he demanded. I shook my head furiously, trying to find my voice. â€Å"He's fine, he's fine,† I promised, my voice low and husky. And Jacob was fine, physically, which is all Charlie was worried about at the moment. â€Å"But what happened?† He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes still anxious and wide. â€Å"What happened to you?† I must look worse than I'd imagined. â€Å"Nothing, Dad. I . . . just had to talk to Jacob about . . . some things that were hard. I'm fine.† The anxiety calmed, and was replaced by disapproval. â€Å"Was this really the best time?† he asked. â€Å"Probably not, Dad, but I didn't have any alternatives – it just got to the point where I had to choose. . . . Sometimes, there isn't any way to compromise.† He shook his head slowly. â€Å"How did he handle it?† I didn't answer. He looked at my face for a minute, and then nodded. That must have been answer enough. â€Å"I hope you didn't mess up his recovery.† â€Å"He's a quick healer,† I mumbled. Charlie sighed. I could feel the control slipping. â€Å"I'll be in my room,† I told him, shrugging out from underneath his hands. â€Å"‘Kay,† Charlie agreed. He could probably see the waterworks starting to escalate. Nothing scared Charlie worse than tears. I made my way to my room, blind and stumbling. Once inside, I fought with the clasp on my bracelet, trying to undo it with shaking fingers. â€Å"No, Bella,† Edward whispered, capturing my hands. â€Å"It's part of who you are.† He pulled me into the cradle of his arms as the sobs broke free again. This longest of days seemed to stretch on and on and on. I wondered if it would ever end. But, though the night dragged relentlessly, it was not the worst night of my life. I took comfort from that. And I was not alone. There was a great deal of comfort in that, too. Charlie's fear of emotional outbursts kept him from checking on me, though I was not quiet – he probably got no more sleep than I did. My hindsight seemed unbearably clear tonight. I could see every mistake I'd made, every bit of harm I'd done, the small things and the big things. Each pain I'd caused Jacob, each wound I'd given Edward, stacked up into neat piles that I could not ignore or deny. And I realized that I'd been wrong all along about the magnets. It had not been Edward and Jacob that I'd been trying to force together, it was the two parts of myself, Edward's Bella and Jacob's Bella. But they could not exist together, and I never should have tried. I'd done so much damage. At some point in the night, I remembered the promise I'd made to myself early this morning – that I would never make Edward see me shed another tear for Jacob Black. The thought brought on a round of hysteria which frightened Edward more than the weeping. But it passed, too, when it had run its course. Edward said little; he just held me on the bed and let me ruin his shirt, staining it with salt water. It took longer than I thought it would for that smaller, broken part of me to cry herself out. It happened, though, and I was eventually exhausted enough to sleep. Unconsciousness did not bring full relief from the pain, just a numbing, dulling ease, like medicine. Made it more bearable. But it was still there; I was aware of it, even asleep, and that helped me to make the adjustments I needed to make. The morning brought with it, if not a brighter outlook, as least a measure of control, some acceptance. Instinctively, I knew that the new tear in my heart would always ache. That was just going to be a part of me now. Time would make it easier – that's what everyone always said. But I didn't care if time healed me or not, so long as Jacob could get better. Could be happy again. When I woke up, there was no disorientation. I opened my eyes – finally dry – and met his anxious gaze. â€Å"Hey,† I said. My voice was hoarse. I cleared my throat. He didn't answer. He watched me, waiting for it to start. â€Å"No, I'm fine,† I promised. â€Å"That won't happen again.† His eyes tightened at my words. â€Å"I'm sorry that you had to see that,† I said. â€Å"That wasn't fair to you.† He put his hands on either side of my face. â€Å"Bella . . . are you sure? Did you make the right choice? I've never seen you in so much pain -† His voice broke on the last word. But I had known worse pain. I touched his lips. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I don't know. . . .† His brow creased. â€Å"If it hurts you so much, how can it possibly be the right thing for you?† â€Å"Edward, I know who I can't live without.† â€Å"But . . .† I shook my head. â€Å"You don't understand. You may be brave enough or strong enough to live without me, if that's what's best. But I could never be that self-sacrificing. I have to be with you. It's the only way I can live.† He still looked dubious. I should never have let him stay with me last night. But I had needed him so much. . . . â€Å"Hand me that book, will you?† I asked, pointing over his shoulder. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion, but he gave it to me quickly. â€Å"This again?† he asked. â€Å"I just wanted to find this one part I remembered . . . to see how she said it. . . .† I flipped through the book, finding the page I wanted easily. The corner was dog-eared from the many times I'd stopped here. â€Å"Cathy's a monster, but there were a few things she got right,† I muttered. I read the lines quietly, mostly to myself. â€Å"‘If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and ifall else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.'† I nodded, again to myself. â€Å"I know exactly what she means. And I know who I can't live without.† Edward took the book from my hands and flipped it across the room – it landed with a light thud on my desk. He wrapped his arms around my waist. A small smile lit his perfect face, though worry still lined his forehead. â€Å"Heathcliff had his moments, too,† he said. He didn't need the book to get it word perfect. He pulled me closer and whispered inmy ear, â€Å"‘I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!'† â€Å"Yes,† I said quietly. â€Å"That's my point.† â€Å"Bella, I can't stand for you to be miserable. Maybe . . .† â€Å"No, Edward. I've made a real mess of things, and I'm going to have to live with that. But I know what I want and what I need . . . and what I'm going to do now.† â€Å"What are we going to do now?† I smiled just a bit at his correction, and then I sighed. â€Å"We are going to go see Alice.† Alice was on the bottom porch step, too hyper to wait for us inside. She looked about to break into a celebration dance, so excited was she about the news she knew I was there to deliver. â€Å"Thank you, Bella!† she sang as we got out of the truck. â€Å"Hold it, Alice,† I warned her, lifting a hand up to halt her glee. â€Å"I've got a few limitations for you.† â€Å"I know, I know, I know. I only have until August thirteenth at the latest, you have veto power on the guest list, and if I go overboard on anything, you'll never speak to me again.† â€Å"Oh, okay. Well, yeah. You know the rules, then.† â€Å"Don't worry, Bella, it will be perfect. Do you want to see your dress?† I had to take a few deep breaths. Whatever makes her happy, I said to myself. â€Å"Sure.† Alice's smile was smug. â€Å"Um, Alice,† I said, keeping the casual, unruffled tone in my voice. â€Å"When did you get me a dress?† It probably wasn't much of a show. Edward squeezed my hand. Alice led the way inside, heading for the stairs. â€Å"These things take time, Bella,† Alice explained. Her tone seemed . . . evasive. â€Å"I mean, I wasn't sure things were going to turn out this way, but there was a distinct possibility. . . .† â€Å"When?† I asked again. â€Å"Perrine Bruyere has a waiting list, you know,† she said, defensive now. â€Å"Fabric masterpieces don't happen overnight. If I hadn't thought ahead, you'd be wearing something off the rack!† It didn't look like I was going to get a straight answer. â€Å"Per – who?† â€Å"He's not a major designer, Bella, so there's no need to throw a hissy fit. He's got promise, though, and he specializes in what I needed.† â€Å"I'm not throwing a fit.† â€Å"No, you're not.† She eyed my calm face suspiciously. Then, as we walked into her room, she turned on Edward. â€Å"You – out.† â€Å"Why?† I demanded. â€Å"Bella,† she groaned. â€Å"You know the rules. He's not supposed to see the dress till the day of.† I took another deep breath. â€Å"It doesn't matter to me. And you know he's already seen it in your head. But if that's how you want it. . . .† She shoved Edward back out the door. He didn't even look at her – his eyes were on me, wary, afraid to leave me alone. I nodded, hoping my expression was tranquil enough to reassure him. Alice shut the door in his face. â€Å"All right!† she muttered. â€Å"C'mon.† She grabbed my wrist and towed me to her closet – which was bigger than my bedroom – and then dragged me to the back corner, where a long white garment bag had a rack all to itself. She unzipped the bag in one sweeping movement, and then slipped it carefully off the hanger. She took a step back, holding her hand out to the dress like she was a game show hostess. â€Å"Well?† she asked breathlessly. I appraised it for a long moment, playing with her a bit. Her expression turned worried. â€Å"Ah,† I said, and I smiled, letting her relax. â€Å"I see.† â€Å"What do you think?† she demanded. It was my Anne of Green Gables vision all over again. â€Å"It's perfect, of course. Exactly right. You're a genius.† She grinned. â€Å"I know.† â€Å"Nineteen-eighteen?† I guessed. â€Å"More or less,† she said, nodding. â€Å"Some of it is my design, the train, the veil. . . .† She touched the white satin as she spoke. â€Å"The lace is vintage. Do you like it?† â€Å"It's beautiful. It's just right for him.† â€Å"But is it just right for you?† she insisted. â€Å"Yes, I think it is, Alice. I think it's just what I need. I know you'll do a great job with this . . . if you can keep yourself in check.† She beamed. â€Å"Can I see your dress?† I asked. She blinked, her face blank. â€Å"Didn't you order your bridesmaid dress at the same time? I wouldn't want my maid of honor to wear something off the rack.† I pretended to wince in horror. She threw her arms around my waist. â€Å"Thank you, Bella!† â€Å"How could you not see that one coming?† I teased, kissing her spiky hair. â€Å"Some psychic you are!† Alice danced back, and her face was bright with fresh enthusiasm. â€Å"I've got so much to do! Go play with Edward. I have to get to work.† She dashed out of the room, yelling, â€Å"Esme!† as she disappeared. I followed at my own pace. Edward was waiting for me in the hallway, leaning against the wood-paneled wall. â€Å"That was very, very nice of you,† he told me. â€Å"She seems happy,† I agreed. He touched my face; his eyes – too dark, it had been so long since he'd left me – searched my expression minutely. â€Å"Let's get out of here,† he suddenly suggested. â€Å"Let's go to our meadow.† It sounded very appealing. â€Å"I guess I don't have to hide out anymore, do I?† â€Å"No. The danger is behind us.† He was quiet, thoughtful, as he ran. The wind blew on my face, warmer now that the storm had really passed. The clouds covered the sky, the way they usually did. The meadow was a peaceful, happy place today. Patches of summer daisies interrupted the grass with splashes of white and yellow. I lay back, ignoring the slight dampness of the ground, and looked for pictures in the clouds. They were too even, too smooth. No pictures, just a soft, gray blanket. Edward lay next to me and held my hand. â€Å"August thirteenth?† he asked casually after a few minutes of comfortable silence. â€Å"That gives me a month till my birthday. I didn't want to cut it too close.† He sighed. â€Å"Esme is three years older than Carlisle – technically. Did you know that?† I shook my head. â€Å"It hasn't made any difference to them.† My voice was serene, a counterpoint to his anxiety. â€Å"My age is not really that important. Edward, I'm ready. I've chosen my life – now I want to start living it.† He stroked my hair. â€Å"The guest list veto?† â€Å"I don't care really, but I . . .† I hesitated, not wanting to explain this one. Best to get it over with. â€Å"I'm not sure if Alice would feel the need to invite . . . a few werewolves. I don't know if . . . Jake would feel like . . . like he should come. Like that's the right thing to do, or that I'd get my feelings hurt if he didn't. He shouldn't have to go through that.† Edward was quiet for a minute. I stared at the tips of the treetops, almost black against the light gray of the sky. Suddenly, Edward grabbed me around the waist and pulled me onto his chest. â€Å"Tell me why you're doing this, Bella. Why did you decide, now, to give Alice free reign?† I repeated for him the conversation I had with Charlie last night before I'd gone to see Jacob. â€Å"It wouldn't be fair to keep Charlie out of this,† I concluded. â€Å"And that means Rene and Phil. I might as well let Alice have her fun, too. Maybe itwill make the whole thing easier for Charlie if he gets his proper goodbye. Even if he thinks it's much too early, I wouldn't want to cheat him out of the chance to walk me down the aisle.† I grimaced at the words, then took another deep breath. â€Å"At least my mom and dad and my friends will know the best part of my choice, the most I'm allowed to tell them. They'll know I chose you, and they'll know we're together. They'll know I'm happy, wherever I am. I think that's the best I can do for them.† Edward held my face, searching it for a brief time. â€Å"Deal's off,† he said abruptly. â€Å"What?† I gasped. â€Å"You're backing out? No!† â€Å"I'm not backing out, Bella. I'll still keep my side of the bargain. But you're off the hook. Whatever you want, no strings attached.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Bella, I see what you're doing. You're trying to make everyone else happy. And I don't care about anyone else's feelings. I only need you to be happy. Don't worry about breaking the news to Alice. I'll take care of it. I promise she won't make you feel guilty.† â€Å"But I -â€Å" â€Å"No. We're doing this your way. Because my way doesn't work. I call you stubborn, but look at what I've done. I've clung with such idiotic obstinacy to my idea of what's best for you, though it's only hurt you. Hurt you so deeply, time and time again. I don't trust myself anymore. You can have happiness your way. My way is always wrong. So.† He shifted under me, squaring his shoulders. â€Å"We're doing it your way, Bella. Tonight. Today. The sooner the better. I'll speak to Carlisle. I was thinking that maybe if we gave you enough morphine, it wouldn't be so bad. It's worth a try.† He gritted his teeth. â€Å"Edward, no -â€Å" He put his finger to my lips. â€Å"Don't worry, Bella, love. I haven't forgotten the rest of your demands.† His hands were in my hair, his lips moving softly – but very seriously – against mine, before I realized what he was saying. What he was doing. There wasn't much time to act. If I waited too long, I wouldn't be able to remember why I needed to stop him. Already, I couldn't breathe right. My hands were gripping his arms, pulling myself tighter to him, my mouth glued to his and answering every unspoken question his asked. I tried to clear my head, to find a way to speak. He rolled gently, pressing me into the cool grass. Oh, never mind! my less noble side exulted. My head was full of the sweetness of his breath. No, no, no, I argued with myself. I shook my head, and his mouth moved to my neck, giving me a chance to breathe. â€Å"Stop, Edward. Wait.† My voice was as weak as my will. â€Å"Why?† he whispered into the hollow of my throat. I labored to put some resolve into my tone. â€Å"I don't want to do this now.† â€Å"Don't you?† he asked, a smile in his voice. He moved his lips back to mine and made speaking impossible. Heat coursed through my veins, burning where my skin touched his. I made myself focus. It took a great deal of effort just to force my hands to free themselves from his hair, to move them to his chest. But I did it. And then I shoved against him, trying to push him away. I could not succeed alone, but he responded as I knew he would. He pulled back a few inches to look at me, and his eyes did nothing to help my resolve. They were black fire. They smoldered. â€Å"Why?† he asked again, his voice low and rough. â€Å"I love you. I want you. Right now.† The butterflies in my stomach flooded my throat. He took advantage of my speechlessness. â€Å"Wait, wait,† I tried to say around his lips. â€Å"Not for me,† he murmured in disagreement. â€Å"Please?† I gasped. He groaned, and pushed himself away from me, rolling onto his back again. We both lay there for a minute, trying to slow our breathing. â€Å"Tell me why not, Bella,† he demanded. â€Å"This had better not be about me.† Everything in my world was about him. What a silly thing to expect. â€Å"Edward, this is very important to me. I am going to do this right.† â€Å"Who's definition of right?† â€Å"Mine.† He rolled onto his elbow and stared at me, his expression disapproving. â€Å"How are you going to do this right?† I took a deep breath. â€Å"Responsibly. Everything in the right order. I will not leave Charlie and Rene without the best resolution I can give them. I won't deny Alice her fun, if I'm having a wedding anyway. And I will tie myself to you in every human way, before I ask you to make me immortal. I'm following all the rules, Edward. Your soul is far, far too important to me to take chances with. You're not going to budge me on this.† â€Å"I'll bet I could,† he murmured, his eyes burning again. â€Å"But you wouldn't,† I said, trying to keep my voice level. â€Å"Not knowing that this is what I really need.† â€Å"You don't fight fair,† he accused. I grinned at him. â€Å"Never said I did.† He smiled back, wistful. â€Å"If you change your mind . . .† â€Å"You'll be the first to know,† I promised. The rain started to drip through the clouds just then, a few scattered drops that made faint thuds as they struck the grass. I glowered at the sky. â€Å"I'll get you home.† He brushed the tiny beads of water from my cheeks. â€Å"Rain's not the problem,† I grumbled. â€Å"It just means that it's time to go do something that will be very unpleasant and possibly even highly dangerous.† His eyes widened in alarm. â€Å"It's a good thing you're bulletproof.† I sighed. â€Å"I'm going to need that ring. It's time to tell Charlie.† He laughed at the expression on my face. â€Å"Highly dangerous,† he agreed. He laughed again and then reached into the pocket of his jeans. â€Å"But as least there's no need for a side trip.† He once again slid my ring into place on the third finger of my left hand. Where it would stay – conceivably for the rest of eternity.

Edwardian family Essay

The furniture alone really shows the wealth and opulence of this upper class Edwardian family. The furniture and clothes also develops trust between the audience and characters as it gives off a cosy home feel.  It is obvious from when you first read act one that JB Priestley has made a deliberate effort to change the tone from how it was at the beginning (relaxed) to how it ended (tense). When we read the play for the first time, we get the impression that for people as superior as the Birlings to take any notice of somebody in a lower social class than them, somebody such as Eva Smith actually has to die. This shows huge injustice and makes us feel very sympathetic for Eva Smith. The main way he achieved this is by the use of the plot. This is because they are having a nice relaxed dinner party, and then an Inspector who they have never meet before knocks on their door, and begins to interrogate them about a suicide. This puzzles them as the police officer openly says that it was definitely a suicide, therefore what crime could they have committed.  Although this is the main reason for the drastic change in tone, Priestley does many other things to show this change. One aspect of his writing which does this is the way in which he wrote the inspectors lines. The inspector’s lines are all written so that it sounds extremely aggressive from the Birling’s point of view. One example of this, is when Shelia is being extremely honest, and is telling the Inspector how she got Eva Smith sacked. Shelia really shows how guilty she feels, how deeply sorry she is and how she would behave differently a second time. However the Inspector very bluntly says â€Å"Yes but you can’t. It’s too late. She’s dead. This is an extremely upfront and abrupt way of saying it. So he changes the mood from relaxed/happy to almost awkward and upsetting.  Due to this aggressiveness which the Inspector shows from the moment he walks in the door, Mr Birling almost tries to fight back which results in both of them almost competing in a childish game, where they keep trying to get one up on each other. E.g. (who’s the bigger man) This is shown by Mr Birling consistently mentioning that he has friends in high places. He does this in a very subtle and sly manor. At this point both of them know the involvement Mr Birling had with Eva Smith. Mr Birling remembered Eva Smith because he fired from his company her due to a campaign she led for higher pay. Therefore he last meet Eva Smith under unpleasant circumstances. This secret that both the inspector and Mr Birling had was probably what sparked off this aggressiveness. The first time we see this happening is when Mr Birling says â€Å"Perhaps I ought to warn you that he’s an old friend of mine, and that I see him fairly frequently. We play golf together at the West Bromley†. The â€Å"old friend† being the inspector’s chief constable. In a way Mr Birling is trying to tell the Inspector to tread carefully, by letting him know he has friends in high places.  This aggressiveness certainly demonstrates how Priestley changes the tone so drastically and so effectively. It also keeps the audience gripped making it very exciting.  All of the characters in this play have very strong personalities one way or another, and all of them represent some kind of portrayal above everybody else in the play. Shelia, for example, shows that she feels more remorse than anyone else by far and seems truly hurt and guilty by the whole thing. For example when the inspector asked Shelia â€Å"And was it the girls fault?†Ã‚  Shelia replies â€Å"No, not really. It was my own stupid fault†.  She has shown her honesty by owning up to it unlike her self obsessed father who would argue everything until he was proved completely wrong. She also displayed remorse by ridiculing herself, saying â€Å"It was my own stupid fault†.  Again she shows that she is sorry when she says â€Å"Oh-why had this to happen†. Rather than saying something like Mr Birling would say e.g.: â€Å"Well it was her own fault in the first place†. Shelia plays the kind understanding character to the play, who comes across as more innocent than anybody else. She brings reason to the equation and we probably feel the more sympathy for her than anyone else. This is because when she tells her story, Priestley writes it as if it was from the bottom of her heart/sincerely. Another reason we feel this sympathy for her is because we feel she has been conned out the most, when we find out that the inspector is a fake. This is because she seems to have poured her heart out more then everybody else and after she finds out that the inspector is a con she still defends the morals the Inspector was saying even though the entire Eva Smith scenario, was completely false based on the knowledge they had at the time. This happens in the 3rd act when Shelia says to Mr Birling â€Å"It doesn’t matter now of course, but was he really a police inspector?† Mr Birling then replies â€Å"Well if he wasn’t, it matters a devils lot. Makes all the difference.†Ã‚  Shelia then snappily responds â€Å"No it doesn’t†.  She says this meaning that just because the Inspector is gone nothing is changed because what he was saying was correct even if it was fictional. However Mr Birling cannot understand that the message has not changed, now they know the story was fiction and just says â€Å"Don’t be so childish, Shelia†.  This is another event in the play which supports Shelia’s kind, understanding and more mature than her father’s personality. She represents a possibility of social change and seems to have some basic morality.