Mountain Dew case analysis free essay sample

PepsiCo, Inc. is among the best buyer items organizations on the planet, with 1999 incomes of over $20 billion and 116,000 representatives. â€Å"Do the Dew!† This was quite a while slogan for the Mountain Dew brand. In 1995 showcasing directors for Mountain Dew understood the slogan had lost purchaser interests, understanding this they altered the course of the inventive. Some of PepsiCos brand names are 100 years of age, however the company is generally youthful. PepsiCos achievement is the aftereffect of unrivaled items, elevated requirements of execution, unmistakable serious methodologies and the high uprightness of their kin. PepsiCo concluded that in 2000 Mountain Dew would be highlighted during the Super Bowl instead of Pepsi. PepsiCo the executives had discovered that choosing the privilege innovative was one of the most basic choices they had as far as effect on deals and benefits. Mountain Dew had conveyed PepsiCo’s soda pop incomes during the 1990s as cola brands battled. We will compose a custom exposition test on Mountain Dew case investigation or then again any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Proclamation OF THE PROBLEM: The issue that the organization has all the earmarks of being confronting is the way to keep their present crusade â€Å"Do the Dew† attempting to expand on their image picture. Likewise Mountain Dew needed to remain serious with other energized and sweet caffeinated drinks and non-carbonated beverages. Goals: To continue the â€Å"Do the Dew† battle To take into account the danger of non-carbonated sodas contenders. SWOT ANALYSIS: Quality: PepsiCo’s turned into the biggest carbonated beverage at retail PepsiCo’s top advertising officials routinely depended upon to help control marking choices. Shortcomings: Mountain Dew was getting to a lesser extent a specialty brand Openings: Mountain Dew’s national media plan concentrated on a more youthful crowd. Dangers: Numerous contenders Need information on the advertisements introduced Elective COURSES OF ACTION ACA 1: Additional one month to time period of review the advertisement in ads Points of interest: Customers will better fathom More introduction Burdens: May be exhausting More contenders ACA 2: Choosing Cheetah, Dew or Die and Showstopper ideas Focal points: More intrigue is given to rival’s shoppers Impediments: May be exhausting Proposal: ACA 1, which is having an extra one month to time span of review the advertisement in plugs, is enthusiastically suggested for it give the watcher a superior cognizance of the promotion and of what the promotion is telling. Additionally, the consumersâ will most likely recall the advertisement when it is introduced record-breaking in plugs. Activity PLAN: Time span Movement Individual RESPONSIBLE Month of February Sponsorship of fun-run where candidates wears shirt with the â€Å"Do the Dew† explanation Scott Moffitt (Marketing Director, Mountain Dew) Month of July Sort out an immense gathering where free mountain dew items are given only to the accompanying individuals who goes to Scott Moffitt (Marketing Director, Mountain Dew)

Education Problem in Korea Essay Example for Free

Training Problem in Korea Essay A mother recovers a cerebral pain at whatever point she gets back home subsequent to going to moms standard gatherings, the motivation behind which is to get some data about private guidance. Her kids keep her as occupied as an expert administrator. She overviews well known recently opened organizations called hagwon, makes a gathering for private exercises, picks teachers and pushes her kids to contemplate. At the point when they are approached about their arrangements for the declining long periods of their lives, most are not putting something aside for mature age. They feel uncomfortable in light of the fact that they can't set aside cash, so a few moms go to work to gain enough for additional guidance cost. Numerous married couples contend about their childrens training. In any case, their youngsters dont care about their folks inconveniences. The kids see it as the normal job of guardians, since they are the lords or sovereigns of the family, served by giving up guardians from birth. Guardians appear to permit their childrens griping. Youngsters dont value their folks since they are not content with their help. Some of the time they act like robots constrained by moms orders. They dont have the opportunity to chat with family, to play with their companions or to get adequate rest. They generally rush to get the hang of something. With respect to me, I additionally have uneasiness about my little girls private schooling. There are minutes that I need her to push to concentrate somewhat more since I feel stressed when I hear what number of sorts of additional guidance her companions are taking. Yet, I can quiet down my egotistical want by taking a gander at my depleted little girl. I attempt to affirm that the best aftereffect of contemplating originates from self-concentrating with solid inspiration. Most guardians dont hold up until their kids request that they help with their examining. Theyre perpetually discontent. For instance, numerous Korean goose daddies choose to forfeit their lives without anyone else, not by the childrens requests, despite the battle with forlornness after they send their families to an outside nation. Nowadays, numerous conventional families without adequate accounts are getting ready for their kids to concentrate abroad in spite of the colossal expense. They most likely need to crush their financial plan or even obtain the cash. Are their valuable children and little girls going to thank their folks later on? Will their folks be happy with their kids later? I wonder how extraordinary their results will be. Notwithstanding issues inside families, there are many symptoms with private schooling at school, which are normally from the examining trouble. They get familiar with the material they need ahead of time in hagwon before they learn it at school. Numerous math educators in center school become vexed while they are showing hypotheses or ideas. A few understudies dont focus on the exercise since they are under a fancy that they definitely know it all. All things considered, they cannot settle even the simple and essential issues when marginally changed. What is the speculation of the cash and time for private exercises for? Math instructors state the inadequate information ruins the understudies capacity to think. In English class, there are a few familiar understudies with local articulation picked up in English talking nations. Notwithstanding, now and again educators are disturbed when they are calm and never volunteer for the class since they dont need to be casualties of negative prodding from their companions. The understudies high-leveled from private schooling will in general be exhausted during class. Another enormous issue is about the understudies who have a sort of mental malady, some of who are very hostile and some who have abiosis with no enthusiasm for anything. Their disposition is normally brought about by the weight of considering and of too elevated requirements contrasted with their capacity. Koreans all realize that financial development depends on instructing for the group of people yet to come. Korea doesnt have enough normal assets, so we have to create information and aptitudes. The administration these days needs to increment self-ruling secondary schools for serious framework to develop unrivaled abilities. Be that as it may, guardians are not prone to lessen the private schooling. We trust the administration listens cautiously to what the residents state. For example, English educators need little classes as indicated by understudies levels so as to accomplish the focus on English-talking class. Guardians and educators dont need age making arrangement, however only one stage in the advancement of instruction approach. Korean guardians need to recall this fact: their interest in youngsters who dont have self-inspiration may squander their cash, their time and their vitality. Id like to encourage guardians to allow their youngsters to pick what they need, and to hold up until they are anxious to contemplate what they need. Additionally, I recommend they ought to overlook their neighbors private schooling, not government funded instruction.

Top 10 Obsolete Grammar Rules - by Guest Blogger Steven Sawyer

Top 10 Obsolete Grammar Rules - by Guest Blogger Steven Sawyer Article by Steven Sawyer. Edited by Brenda Bernstein, The Essay Expert Following The Essay Expert’s post about using the “singular they,” some writers in one of my LinkedIn groups were talking about breaking English grammar rules. Several of us spent a few hours discussing the merits, or de-merits, of using “they” as a singular pronoun. We were essentially divided into two camps:   purists, who would never break a time-honored English grammar rule, and progressives, who know all the rules â€" and delight in breaking them.   By the end of the heated discussion, purists were still purists and progressives remained progressive. Purists love the predictability of our language and the grammar rules that govern it. They still remember how to diagram a sentence.   They can spot a dangling modifier at 50 yards and pick out a subject-verb agreement error faster than you can say “comma splice.” If you went to their houses you might find that they iron their underwear and alphabetize the canned foods in their pantry. (I know a couple of purists who do that.) Progressives, on the other hand, believe that breaking rules connects writers with the masses, who stopped thinking about grammar rules decades ago. (If you dont believe me just ask any passerby to locate the verb in a sentence.) Just last year, a group of Ivy League English language purists lobbied to have “Thou shalt not break English grammar rules” added as the 11th commandment. But language mavens, dictionary writers and even influential linguists are relaxing many writing standards. Some experts are equating this usage shift to the Great Vowel Shift that took place in England in the 15th century. So, my Purist grammar friends, what will you do? Will you suck it up and go with the changes in the language as they evolve?   Or are you determined to maintain pristine prose? Its really okay if purists remain purists. I believe theyll dwindle over time until they become an extinct species, but they do have their place in our culture today. Purists, heres what youre going to have to swallow if you want to keep pace with our ever changing language. Top 10 Obsolete Or Seldom Enforced Grammar Rules Don’t split infinitives. Who would want to shamelessly do that anyway? Active voice verbs are preferable to passive voice verbs. I will never part with this one. I have  encrypted  this rule in my memory’s hard drive. Passive voice will forever be stricken from my writing. That makes me a purist for this rule only. Never start a sentence with “And” or “But.” And why not? It gets easier every time you do it. See 5th paragraph, second sentence. Never start a sentence with “There is” or “There are.” There are many occasions when starting a sentence with “There is” or “There are” is perfectly acceptable. Boring, perhaps, but acceptable. E.g., There is more Canadian bacon in the United States than in Canada. It would be difficult to change the wording in that sentence without starting with “There is”. Never end a sentence with a preposition. Now that’s a rule we can all live without. Always use “more than” instead of “over” with numbers. Okay. Whatever. Math’s not my gig. But truly, either one is acceptable use today. So, purists, get over it. Data is plural, so the verb must always be plural. So data is what data does? Or data are what data do? If they say so. Anyone with a good ear for English knows the answer to this one. Don’t start a sentence with “This.” The grammar gurus now say that you can start a sentence with “This.”   But (Ooops, there I go, breaking rule 3. See how easy that was?)   I believe that [practice] is okay and this [guideline] is perfectly acceptable. Don’t use “free” as an adjective.  E.g., “Can I get that laptop free?”   Nay, nay, writing comrades. That’s purist speak. Feel free to use “for free.” E.g., “Can I get that laptop for free?” Don’t use “fun” as an adjective.   You purists make me giddy.   You’ve always used “fun” as a noun.   E.g., “We had fun at the game today.” But we progressives like to use it as an adjective. “It was a fun weekend reunion with my family.” English is an evolving language. A new word gets added to the language every 98 minutes, according to the Global Language Monitor. That’s 14.7 words per day.   As words get added, usage rules undergo changes as well. Will you adopt the new “rules” of grammar? Your answer determines which camp you’re in. Steven Sawyer is a blogger, author, editor and online English teacher and writing consultant.   Read his blog at https://stevensawyer.wordpress.com/.

“Letter From Birmingham Jail” Is Addressed To Several...

â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† is addressed to several clergymen who had written an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during their protests in Birmingham. Dr. King tells the clergymen that he was upset about their criticisms, and that he wishes to address their concerns. First, he notes their claim that he is an â€Å"outsider† who has come to Birmingham to cause trouble. He defends his right to be there in a straightforward, unemotional tone, explaining that the SCLC is based in Atlanta but operates throughout the South. One of its affiliates had invited the organization to Birmingham, which is why they came. However, he then provides a moral reason for his presence, saying†¦show more content†¦In particular, the black community has waited long enough. Dr. King insists that the black man has waited â€Å"more than 340 years† for justice, and he then launches into a litany of abuses that his people have suffered both over time and in his present day. Amongst these abuses is his experience explaining to his young daughter why she cannot go to the â€Å"public amusement park† because of her skin color. Because the black man has been pushed â€Å"into the abyss of despair,† Dr. King hopes that the clergymen will excuse his and his brethren’s impatience. Dr. King then switches gears, noting that the clergymen are anxious over the black man’s â€Å"willingness to break laws.† He admits that his intention seems paradoxical, since he expects whites to follow laws that protect equality, while breaking others. However, he then distinguishes between just and unjust laws, insisting that an individual has both a right and a responsibility to break unjust laws. He defines just laws as those that uphold human dignity, and unjust laws as those that â€Å"degrade human personality.† Unjust laws, he argues, hurt not only the oppressed, but also the oppressors, since they are given a false sense of superiority. He then speaks specifically of segregation, describing it as unjust. Because it is a law that a majority forces the minority to follow while exempting itself from it, it is a law worth breaking. Further, because Alabama’s laws work to prohibitShow MoreRelatedEssay on Analysis of Martin Luther Kings 1219 Words   |  5 Pagesinfluential are the best adjectives to explain Letter from Birmingham Jail. Martin Luther King Jrs astuteness is enhanced by the astonishing capability to show the unkind and heartless attitude against black community. Throughout the whole writing to the eight clergymen Jr. never get too far from the clash for fairness in Birmingham. As head of the South Christians Leadership Conferences (SCLC), Martin L. King, Junior., in the year 1963 acknowledged Birmingham, Alabama, as possibly the most carefullyRead MoreOutline And Objective Of A Persuasive Text1284 Words   |  6 Pageshave an empty picture. Evidence and reasoning are the two basic pieces of your persuasive letter. Without these, you’ll simply have a frame—your claim—without information to complete the argument. Explaining how things connect for your reader is one of the most important ways to strengthen your argument. Today s lesson objective is: Students will be able to develop an analysis using relevant evidence from texts to support claims, opinions, ideas, and inferences. When reading a persuasive textRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr1689 Words   |  7 PagesLuther King Jr. led a protest in Birmingham, Alabama that focused on the unfair treatment and the segregation of African Americans. The court ruled that he was not allowed to hold protests. Therefore, he was arrested and placed in Birmingham Jail. While inside his solitary confinement cell, he wrote a letter and had it sent out through his lawyer. This letter was addressed to the clergymen of Birmingham but he knew that everybody would be reading it. Throughout the letter, he demonstrates his knowledgeRead MoreLetter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Essay1116 Words   |  5 Pagescompositions was done in a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was heading a national political movement for the recognizable equal treatment of colored people wrote a letter to his fellow clergy men while being imprisoned. In one article, he was able t o address not only the clergy, but a wide, diverse audience, send his message across thoroughly, and affect millions of lives because of his purpose and the different personas he assumed. Dr. Kings letter was a success becauseRead MoreRacism And Social Discrimination Essay835 Words   |  4 Pagesdid not reserve the same rights as other races. African Americans made process from slavery but still had a long way to go to be seen as equal. Although the obstacles that African Americans were facing at the time led them to have no hope for equal equality the action and bravery of others in due time made a change. In this document, I will be analyzing the sources â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail† and â€Å"John F. Kennedy, Televised Address Promoting the Civil Rights Act†. TheseRead MoreDr. King s Letter From Birmingham Jail1667 Words   |  7 Pagesevident in the community, Dr. King delivered two of his most noted works called the â€Å"I have a Dream† speech and â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† to the public. These two pieces, quickly following each other in succession, were literary works of Dr. King devoted to the cause of racial equality and used eclectic devices and appeals to achieve that goal. King’s purpose bolstered in his â€Å"Letter† and â€Å"Dream† speech by key rhetorical devices are supported by audience oriented diction and appeals. King’s rhetoricalRead MoreMlk Jr.’S â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail†1325 Words   |  6 PagesMLK Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† While unaware of the impact this would have on the American people, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† turned into an iconic piece of American history. King’s tremendous work as a civil rights activist through non-violent protest changed our day-to-day life, and his words captured the entire American population. King was persuasive due to his genuine nature and passion for his work, which is easily communicated in his writing. SpecificallyRead MoreDr. King s Letter From Birmingham Jail1342 Words   |  6 PagesDr. King Lays the Clergymen’s Anxiety to Rest Dr. Martin Luther King addressed many topics in, â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†. He answered all the issues that were aimed towards him in a very skillful and well thought out manner. These issues came from, â€Å"A Call For Unity†, which was a letter that was published by eight local clergymen expressing their feelings about what Dr. King was doing. One concern in particular that King did an outstanding job of confronting was that of the clergymen’s anxietyRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay1996 Words   |  8 PagesKing Jr. wrote a letter while incarcerated in Birmingham jail to eight clergymen in response to their letter known as â€Å" A Call For Unity.†   The letter asked for the halt of direct action type protest in Birmingham, Alabama that Martin Luther King was leading.   The letter has become known as one of the greatest works of argument in American history. Part of the reason for the letter’s notoriety and effectiveness is due to its eloquent use of pathos. King’s use of pathos in his letter not only supportsRead MoreAfrican Americans And The New State Constitution1836 Words   |  8 PagesIn Birmingham, Alabama between 1957 and 1962 seventeen black churches and homes had been bombed, racial tension continued to grow, and more and more African Americans were being killed. Although the population of Birmingham was 40% African American, there seemed little hope for a political solution to the racial divide; of 80,000 registered voters, only 10,000 were black due to a barrier that was placed on the new state constitution of Alabama. One of these barriers was an annual poll tax that had

The Continuation of Gender Inequality - 822 Words

Gender inequality means differences in the status, power and prestige women and men have in groups, collectivities and societies. Gender inequality is caused when women have less power than men. While culturally and historically-bound, gender commonly is a function of power relations and the social organizations of inequality. Another point about gender is that class and ethnicity, gender inequality is not one homogeneous phenomenon, but a collection of disparate and interlinked problems. Inequality men and women can take many different forms Though there is essential equality between women and men, there is still foremost inequity in the rights of women. Throughout much of the world families and societies treat girls and boys unequally, with girls disproportionately facing privation, lack of opportunity, and lower levels of investment in their health, education, and work. Gender discrimination continues in adolescence and is often a constant feature of adulthood. â€Å"While women represent 50% of the world’s adult population, and one-third of the official labor force, they perform nearly two-thirds of all working hours, receive only one-tenth of the world income and own less than 1% of the world’s property. Female feticide is selective abortion, based on gender, and made a large occurrence in the 20th century; this is mostly due to the ability to determine sex through the use of ultrasound. In many cultures, such as India, girls are abandoned as a result of the dowry system;Show MoreRelatedThe Burden Of Benevolent Sexism Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle I have decided to conduct my research on is titled The Burden of Benevolent Sexism: How it contributes to the maintenance of gender inequalities. The article is written and researched by Manuela Barreto and Naomi Ellemers from Leiden University in the Netherlands. The article examines benevolent sexism and how it contributes to the continuation of gender inequalities. It discusses the idea how we are less likely to challenge benevolent sexism due to the fact that we do not see it as a prejudiceRead MoreAnalysis Of Gish Jen s Who s Irish?893 Words   |  4 Pagesknowing about how gender inequality in china has changed over the last several decades since the story was written, and wanting to narrow the topic I focused on inequality in education in China. Not many women were fierce and independent women who could make a life of their own, which then brought up the question, has gender inequality changed in Chinese culture? Or to narrow it down some more how has gender inequality in education changed in Chinese culture? Though slowly gender inequality has been changingRead MoreOthello - shakespeare and saxs film adaptation923 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s film Othello. This reflection is established through the two ideas of racism and the inequality between genders. The context of a text plays an essential role as it is the way in which the composers convey their message and this is done effectively as both composers are conveying an important message about racism and gender inequality. Racism is a theme that is prominently evident throughout Shakespeares Othello. Through this theme, there are several perceptionsRead MoreWhy Race and Gender Inequality Still Exist1101 Words   |  4 Pagescenturies ago, but inequalities between gender and race continue to exist. To analyze why gender and racial inequalities prevail, human capital theory and functionalism take into account cultural, historical, and economic factors. In my opinion, the human capital theory presents a more persuasive reason. Although race and gender inequalities in the United States have diminished in the past few centuries, many aspects of these inequalities still persist today. Race and gender inequalities are covert, andRead MoreAchieving Gender Equality : Education1520 Words   |  7 PagesAchieving Gender Equality: Education in China In Gish Jen’s short story Who s Irish?, the main character is a determined Chinese grandmother who moved to America with her husband when she was a young woman, and now, in her old age, she is nearing her limit when she cannot handle her granddaughter s behavior and how she is being raised. The story was written in 1956 and while reading it a question of interest grew in knowing about gender inequality in China and if it has changed in the last severalRead MoreAttire Analysis. In Terms Of Attire, From A Visual Standpoint1354 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Colgate has a reputation for being a continuation of preppy high school, and not much has changed even with increasing protests and calls for diversity.† Gender Analysis In regards to the second theme of gender, within the dining hall the majority of tables generally exhibited single-sex groupings. This assertion sticks true to the commonly accepted norm within anthropology and caused no arousal of surprise (Allan, Graham, and Rebecca G. Adams 2006, 126). This gender exclusion by table also offers anRead MoreFeminism1121 Words   |  5 Pagesdefined as a recognition and critique of male supremacy combined with efforts to change it. Feminism The goals of feminism are: To demonstrate the importance of women To reveal that historically women have been subordinate to men To bring about gender equity. Feminism Simply put: Feminists fight for the equality of women and argue that women should share equally in society’s opportunities and scare resources. Types Individualist feminism Relational Feminism (Karen Offen) History As old asRead MoreGreek Life And Its Impacts On Women1108 Words   |  5 Pagesnumber of reasons, some of which include dangerous hazing habits and unsavory social scenes. While there certainly are undeniable benefits and negatives within these systems, the biggest effect they have is on gender. â€Å"Greek life† in college is unhealthy due to its impact on post-college gender expectations by promoting party culture, encouraging misogyny through ingrained tradition, and indoctrinating women into subservience at an impressionable age. First and foremost, parties plays a huge roleRead MoreEssay about The Cycle of Socialization1111 Words   |  5 Pagessocialization. The cycle of socialization can open ones eyes to why our society has specific views of people from other cultures, races, and genders. The cycle of socialization can help us understand the current situation in our society since it is the reason for the existence and continuation of racism, prejudices, stereotypes, and oppression amongst different people. The cycle of socialization has a beginning, and a middle, but it Read MoreGender Differences And Gender Inequality Essay2348 Words   |  10 Pagescom/dictionary/institution). Taking this into account, that means that a gendered institution is one in which gender differences and gender inequality have become an established organization; or a custom, practice, or law that has been accepted and used by many people. Kimmel states that they reflect existing gender differences and gender inequalities, construct gender differences, and reproduce gender inequality by making those differences appear not to be socially produced but naturally produced (pg 318). Thus

Streams of Silver 7. Dagger and Staff Free Essays

string(48) " that she would not give up her life so easily\." Entreri stood on a hill a few miles outside the City of Sails, his campfire burning low behind him. Regis and friends had used this same spot for their last stop before they entered Luskan and, in fact, the assassin’s fire burned in the very same pit. This was no coincidence, though. We will write a custom essay sample on Streams of Silver 7. Dagger and Staff or any similar topic only for you Order Now Entreri had mimicked every move the halfling’s party had made since he had picked up their trail just south of the Spine of the World. He would move as they moved, shadowing their marches in an effort to better understand their actions. Now, unlike the party before him, Entreri’s eyes were not on the city wall, nor toward Luskan at all. Several campfires had sprung up in the night to the north, on the road back to Ten-Towns. It wasn’t the first time those lights had appeared behind him, and the assassin sensed he, too, was being followed. He had slowed his frantic pace, figuring that he could easily make up the ground while the companions went about their business in Luskan. He wanted to secure his own back from any danger before concentrating on snaring the halfling. Entreri had even left telltale signs of his passing, baiting his pursuers in closer. He kicked the embers of the fire low and climbed back into the saddle, deciding it better to meet a sword face to face than to take a dagger in the back. Into the night he rode, confident in the darkness. This was his time, where every shadow added to the advantage of one who lived in shadows. He tethered his mount before midnight, close enough to the campfires to finish the trek on foot. He realized now that this was a merchant caravan; not an uncommon thing on the road to Luskan at this time of year. But his sense of danger nagged at him. Many years of experience had honed his instinct for survival and he knew better than to ignore it. He crept in, seeking the easiest way into the circle of wagons. Merchants always lined many sentries around the perimeter of their camps, and even the pull-horses presented a problem, for the merchants kept them tied close beside their harnesses. Still, the assassin would not waste his ride. He had come this far and meant to find out the purpose of those who followed him. Slithering on his belly, he made his way to the perimeter and began circling the camp underneath the defensive ring. Too silently for even wary ears to hear, he passed two guards playing at bones. Then he went under and between the horses, the beasts lowering their ears in fear, but remaining quiet. Halfway around the circle, he was nearly convinced that this was an ordinary merchant caravan, and was just about to slip back into the night when he heard a familiar female voice. â€Å"Ye said ye saw a spot o’ light in the distance.† Entreri stopped, for he knew the speaker. â€Å"Yeah, over there,† a man replied. Entreri slipped up between the next two wagons and peeked over the side. The speakers stood a short distance from him, behind the next wagon, peering into the night in the direction of his camp. Both were dressed for battle, the woman wearing her sword comfortably. â€Å"I have underestimated you,† Entreri whispered to himself as he viewed Catti-brie. His jeweled dagger was already in his hand. â€Å"A mistake I shan’t repeat,† he added, then crouched low and searched for a path to his target. â€Å"Ye been good to me, for bringing me so fast,† Catti-brie said. â€Å"I’m owing to ye, as Regis and the others’ll be.† â€Å"Then tell me,† the man urged. â€Å"What causes such urgency?† Catti-brie struggled with the memories of the assassin. She hadn’t yet come to terms with her terror that day in the halfling’s house, and knew that she wouldn’t until she had avenged the deaths of the two dwarven friends and resolved her own humiliation. Her lips tightened and she did not reply. â€Å"As you wish,† the man conceded. â€Å"Your reasons justify the run, we do not doubt. If we seem to pry, it only shows our desire to help you however we may.† Catti-brie turned to him, a smile of sincere appreciation on her face. Enough had been said, and the two stood and stared at the empty horizon in silence. Silent, too, was the approach of death. Entreri slipped out from under the wagon and rose suddenly between them, one hand outstretched to each. He grasped Catti-brie’s neck tightly enough to prevent her scream, and he silenced the man forever with his blade. Looking across the breadth of Entreri’s shoulders, Catti-brie saw the horrific expression locked onto her companion’s face, but she couldn’t understand why he hadn’t cried out, for his mouth was not covered. Entreri shifted back a bit and she knew. Only the jeweled dagger’s hilt was visible, its crosspiece flat against the underside of the man’s chin. The slender blade had found the man’s brain before he ever realized the danger. Entreri used the weapon’s handle to guide his victim quietly to the ground, then jerked it free. Again the woman found herself paralyzed before the horror of Entreri. She felt that she should wrench away and shout out to the camp, even though he would surely kill her. Or draw her sword and at least try to fight back. But she watched helplessly as Entreri slipped her own dagger from her belt and, pulling her low with him, replaced it in the man’s fatal wound. Then he took her sword and pushed her down under the wagon and out beyond the camp’s perimeter. Why can’t I call out? she asked herself again and again, for the assassin, confident of the level of terror, didn’t even hold her as they slipped deeper into the night. He knew, and she had to admit to herself, that she would not give up her life so easily. You read "Streams of Silver 7. Dagger and Staff" in category "Essay examples" Finally, when they were a safe distance from the camp, he spun her around to face him – and the dagger. â€Å"Follow me?† he asked, laughing at her. â€Å"What could you hope to gain?† She did not answer, but found some of her strength returning. Entreri sensed it, too. â€Å"If you call out, I shall kill you,† he declared flatly. â€Å"And then, by my word, I shall return to the merchants and kill them all as well!† She believed him. â€Å"I often travel with the merchants,† she lied, holding the quiver in her voice. â€Å"It is one of the duties of my rank as a soldier of Ten-Towns.† Entreri laughed at her again. Then he looked into the distance, his features assuming an introspective tilt. â€Å"Perhaps this will play to my advantage,† he said rhetorically, the beginnings of a plan formulating in his mind. Catti-brie studied him, worried that he had found some way to turn her excursion into harm for her friends. â€Å"I’ll not kill you – not yet,† he said to her. â€Å"When we find the halfling, his friends will not defend him. Because of you.† â€Å"I’ll do nothing to aid ye!† Catti-brie spat.†Nothing!† â€Å"Precisely,† Entreri hissed. â€Å"You shall do nothing. Not with a blade at your neck – † he brought the weapon up to her throat in a morbid tease – â€Å"scratching at your smooth skin. When I am done with my business, brave girl, I shall move on, and you shall be left with your shame and your guilt. And your answers to the merchants who believe you murdered their companion!† In truth, Entreri didn’t believe for a moment that his simple trick with Catti-brie’s dagger would fool the merchants. It was merely a psychological weapon aimed at the young woman, designed to instill yet another doubt and worry into her jumble of emotions. Catti-brie did not reply to the assassin’s statements with any sign of emotion. No, she told herself, it won’t be like that! But deep inside, she wondered if her determination only masked her fear, her own belief that she would be held again by the horror of Entreri’s presence, and that the scene would unfold exactly as he had predicted. Jierdan found the campsite with little difficulty. Dendybar had used his magic to track the mysterious rider all the way from the mountains and had pointed the soldier in the right direction. Tensed and his sword drawn, Jierdan moved in. The place was deserted, but it had not been that way for long. Even from a few feet away, the soldier from Luskan could feel the dying warmth of the campfire. Crouching low to mask his silhouette against the line of the horizon, he crept toward a pack and blanket off to the side of the fire. * * * Entreri rode his mount back into camp slowly, expecting that what he had left might have drawn some visitors. Catti-brie sat in front of him, securely bound and gagged, though she fully believed, to her own disgust, that her own terror made the bonds unnecessary. The wary assassin realized that someone had entered the camp, before he had ever gotten near the place. He slid from his saddle, taking his prisoner with him. â€Å"A nervous steed,† he explained to Catti-brie, taking obvious pleasure in the grim warning as he tied her to the horse’s rear legs. â€Å"If you struggle, he will kick the life from you.† Then Entreri was gone, blending into the night as though he were an extension of its darkness. * * * Jierdan dropped the pack back to the ground, frustrated, for its contents were merely standard traveling gear and revealed nothing about the owner. The soldier was a veteran of many campaigns and had bested man and orc alike a hundred times, but he was nervous now, sensing something unusual, and deadly, about the rider. A man with the courage to ride alone on the brutal course from Icewind Dale to Luskan was no novice to the ways of battle. Jierdan was startled, then, but not too surprised, when the tip of a blade came to rest suddenly in the vulnerable hollow on the back of his neck, just below the base of his skull. He neither moved nor spoke, hoping that the rider would ask for some explanation before driving the weapon home. Entreri could see that his pack had been searched, but he recognised the furred uniform and knew that this man was no thief. â€Å"We are beyond the borders of your city,† he said, holding his knife steady. â€Å"What business have you in my camp, soldier of Luskan?† â€Å"I am Jierdan of the north gate,† he replied. â€Å"I have come to meet a rider from Icewind Dale.† â€Å"What rider?† â€Å"You.† Entreri was perplexed and uncomfortable with the soldier’s response. Who had sent this man, and how had he known where to look? The assassin’s first thoughts centered on Regis’s party. Perhaps the halfling had arranged for some help from the city guard. Entreri slipped his knife back info its sheath, certain that he could retrieve it in time to foil any attack. Jierdan understood the calm confidence of the act as well, and any thoughts that he might have had for striking at this man flew from him. â€Å"My master, desires your audience,† he said, thinking it wise to explain himself more completely. â€Å"A meeting to your mutual benefit.† â€Å"Your master?† asked Entreri. â€Å"A citizen of high standing,† Jierdan explained. â€Å"He has heard of your coming and believes that he may help with your quest.† â€Å"What does he know of my business?† Entreri snapped, angered that someone had dared to spy on him. But he was relieved, too, for the involvement of some other power structure within the city explained much, and possibly eliminated the logical assumption that the halfling was behind this meeting. Jierdan shrugged. â€Å"I am merely his courier. But I, too, can be of assistance to you. At the gate.† â€Å"Damn the gate,† Entreri snarled. â€Å"I’ll take the wall easily enough. It is a more direct route to the places I seek.† â€Å"Even so, I know of those places, and of the people who control them.† The knife leaped back out, cutting in and stopping just before Jierdan’s throat. â€Å"You know much, but you explain little. You play dangerous games, soldier of Luskan.† Jierdan didn’t blink. â€Å"Four heroes from Ten-Towns came into Luskan five days ago: a dwarf, a halfling, a barbarian, and a black elf.† Even Artemis Entreri couldn’t hide a hint of excitement at the confirmation of his suspicions, and Jierdan noted the signs. â€Å"Their exact location escapes me, but I know the area where they are hiding. Are you interested?† The knife returned again to its sheath. â€Å"Wait here,† Entreri instructed. â€Å"I have a companion who shall travel with us.† â€Å"My master said that you rode alone,† Jierdan queried. Entreri’s vile grin sent a shiver through the soldier’s spine. â€Å"I acquired her,† he explained. â€Å"She is mine and that is all that you ever need to know.† Jierdan didn’t press the point. His sigh of relief was audible when Entreri had disappeared from sight. Catti-brie rode to Luskan untied and ungagged, but Entreri’s hold upon her was no less binding. His warning to her when he had retrieved her in the field had been succinct and undeniable. â€Å"A foolish move,† he had said, â€Å"and you die. And you die with the knowledge that the dwarf, Bruenor, shall suffer for your insolence.† The assassin had told Jierdan no more about her, and the soldier didn’t ask, though the woman intrigued him more than a little. Dendybar would get the answers, Jierdan knew. They moved into the city later that morning, under the suspicious eye of the Daykeeper of the North Gate. It had cost Jierdan a week’s pay to bribe them through, and the soldier knew he would owe even more when he returned that night, for the original deal with the Daykeeper allowed the passage of one outsider; nothing had been said about the woman. But if Jierdan’s actions brought him Dendybar’s favor, then they would be well worth the price. According to the city code, the three gave up their horses at the stable just inside the wall, and Jierdan led Entreri and Catti-brie through the streets of the City of Sails, past the sleepy-eyed merchants and vendors who had been out since before dawn and into the very heart of the city. The assassin was not surprised an hour later when they came upon a long grove of thick pine trees. He had suspected that Jierdan was somehow connected to this place. They passed through a break in the line and stood before the tallest structure in the city, the Hosttower of the Arcane. â€Å"Who is your master?† Entreri asked bluntly. Jierdan chuckled, his nerve bolstered by the sight of Dendybar’s tower. â€Å"You shall meet him soon enough.† â€Å"I shall know now,† Entreri growled. â€Å"Or our meeting is ended. I am in the city, soldier, and I do not require your assistance any longer.† â€Å"I could have the guards expel you,† Jierdan shot back. â€Å"Or worse!† But Entreri had the last word. â€Å"They would never find the remains of your body,† he promised, the cold certainty of his tone draining the blood from Jierdan’s face. Catti-brie noted the exchange with more than a passing concern for the soldier, wondering if the time might soon come when she could exploit the untrusting nature of her captors to her own advantage. â€Å"I serve Dendybar the Mottled, Master of the North Spire,† Jierdan declared, drawing further strength from the mention of his powerful mentor’s name. Entreri had heard the name before. The Hosttower was a common topic of the whisperings all around Luskan and the surrounding countryside, and the name of Dendybar the Mottled came up often in conversation, describing the wizard as an ambitious power seeker in the tower, and hinting at a dark and sinister side of the man that allowed him to get what he wanted. He was dangerous, but potentially a powerful ally. Entreri was pleased. â€Å"Take me to him now,† he told Jierdan. â€Å"Let us discover if we have business or no.† Sydney was waiting to escort them from the entryroom of the Hosttower. Offering no introduction, and asking for none, she led them through the twisting passages and secret doors to the audience hall of Dendybar the Mottled. The wizard waited there in grand style, wearing his finest robes and with a fabulous luncheon set before him. â€Å"Greetings, rider,† Dendybar said after the necessary, yet uncomfortable, moments of silence when each of the parties sized up the other. â€Å"I am Dendybar the Mottled, as you are already aware. Will you and your lovely companion partake of my table?† His raspy voice grated on Catti-brie’s nerves, and though she hadn’t eaten since the supper the day before, she had no appetite for this man’s hospitality. Entreri shoved her forward. â€Å"Eat,† he commanded. She knew that Entreri was testing both her and the wizards. But it was time for her to test Entreri as well. â€Å"No,† she answered, looking him straight in the eye. His backhand knocked her to the floor. Jierdan and Sydney started reflexively, but seeing no help forthcoming from Dendybar, quickly stopped and settled back to watch. Catti-brie moved away from the killer and remained in a defensive crouch. Dendybar smiled at the assassin. â€Å"You have answered some of my questions about the girl,† he said with an amused smile. â€Å"What purpose does she serve?† â€Å"I have my reasons,† was all that Entreri replied. â€Å"Of course. And might I learn your name?† Entreri’s expression did not change. â€Å"You seek the four companions from Ten-Towns, I know,† Dendybar continued, having no desire to bandy the issue. â€Å"I seek them, as well, but for different reasons, I am sure.† â€Å"You know nothing of my reasons,† Entreri replied. â€Å"Nor do I care,† laughed the wizard. â€Å"We can help each other to our separate goals. That is all that interests me.† â€Å"I ask for no help.† Dendybar laughed again. â€Å"They are a mighty force, rider. You underestimate them.† â€Å"Perhaps,† replied Entreri. â€Å"But you have asked my purpose, yet have not offered your own. What business does the Hosttower have with travelers from Ten-Towns?† â€Å"Fairly asked,† answered Dendybar. â€Å"But I should wait until we have formalized an agreement before rendering an answer.† â€Å"Then I shan’t sleep well for worry,† Entreri spat. Again the wizard laughed. â€Å"You may change your mind before this is finished,† he said. â€Å"For now I offer a sign of good faith. The companions are in the city. Dockside. They were to stay in the Cutlass. Do you know it?† Entreri nodded, now very interested in the wizard’s words. â€Å"But we have lost them in the alleyways of the western city,† Dendybar explained, shooting a glare at Jierdan that made the soldier shift uneasily. â€Å"And what is the price of this information?† Entreri asked. â€Å"None,† replied the wizard. â€Å"Telling you helps my own cause. You will get what you want; what I desire will remain for me.† Entreri smiled, understanding that Dendybar intended to use him as a hound to sniff out the prey. â€Å"My apprentice will show you out,† Dendybar said, motioning to Sydney. Entreri turned to leave, pausing to meet the gaze of Jierdan. â€Å"Ware my path, soldier,† the assassin warned. â€Å"Vultures eat after the cat has feasted!† â€Å"When he has shown me to the drow, I’ll have his head,† Jierdan growled when they had gone. â€Å"You shall keep clear of that one,† Dendybar instructed. Jierdan looked at him, puzzled. â€Å"Surely you want him watched.† â€Å"Surely,† agreed Dendybar. â€Å"But by Sydney, not you. Keep your anger,† Dendybar said to him, noting the outraged scowl. â€Å"I preserve your life. Your pride is great, indeed, and you have earned the right. But this one is beyond your prowess, my friend. His blade would have you before you ever knew he was there.† Outside, Entreri led Catti-brie away from the Hosttower without a word, silently replaying and reviewing the meeting, for he knew that he had not seen the last of Dendybar and his cohorts. Catti-brie was glad of the silence, too, engulfed in her own contemplations. Why would a wizard of the Hosttower be looking for Bruenor and the others? Revenge for Akar Kessell, the mad wizard that her friends had helped defeat before the last winter? She looked back to the treelike structure, and to the killer at her side, amazed and horrified at the attention her friends had brought upon themselves. Then she looked into her own heart, reviving her spirit and her courage. Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis were going to need her help before this was all over. She must not fail them. How to cite Streams of Silver 7. Dagger and Staff, Essay examples

Real Estate Purchase Essays - Real Estate, Investment,

Real Estate Purchase Like so many things in life, when it comes to buying Real Estate, proper preparation is one of the keys to success. Don't want to find yourself in a neighborhood you don't like? Don't want to be making mortgage payments on a house in which you are uncomfortable? Don't want to waste your time falling in love with houses you can't afford? In a word, prepare! One of your most important tasks will be determining your needs. It can help to avoid either a nasty disappointment or the pain of buying more house than you need (or can afford). Distinguishing needs from wants will go a long way in preventing expensive mistakes in the house buying process. Establish some basic parameters and stick to them. When house hunting, it is easy to get swayed by the emotion of the moment--and end up with more house than will be financially comfortable. Do your mortgage investigation early. Odds are strong that you will be working with Real Estate Agents when you buy a house. Before you go on a house search, familiarize yourself with how Agents work and most importantly, who they represent. Thousands of buyers have made the huge mistake of assuming that the Agent with whom they were working represented them in the transaction, when, in reality, the Agent represented the seller. Determining Needs Want to save a lot of aggravation and possibly a great deal of money when you buy a house? Spend a few hours determining precisely what your needs are before you begin your house search. Examples of NEEDS Examples of WANTS ? Enough square footage for comfortable living ? Carpeting color, paint color, exterior color, roof color, etc. ? Enough bedrooms to accommodate your family ? Pool or Jacuzzi (unless for medical reasons) ? Adequate number of bathrooms ? Wood floors ? Eat-in kitchen ? Bay windows ? Garage or basement for storage needs ? Built-in entertainment center ? Lot size to accommodate children's play area ? Brass lighting fixtures ? Adaptation for Handicapped ? Skylights ? Proximity to a specific school ? A pretty view Gameplan If you haven't already done so, investigate your housing needs and wants to determine what types of houses you should be considering. Learn who "The Players" are in a Real Estate transaction so that you will know who is responsible for what. Get your financial picture in focus as soon as possible. Get a copy of your Credit Report to see if there are problems or disrepencies that you need to deal with. Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process. Get Pre-Qualified from a Mortgage Lender. Do this first. Your Agent will need your mortgage qualification, and it will significantly strengthen your offer when you find a home. At LendingTree, you can submit a quick application, and within 2 business days get up to 4 offers from lenders so that you can compare terms and rates. Find an Agent that you trust. It is important to do this before you go rushing off looking for homes or you may end up with no representation. See the Agent Representation section for an important discussion regarding "who represents whom." When you find an acceptable house, write a contract. Negotiate your best deal. Make a formal loan application. Arrange for home inspection. Arrange for closing agent or attorney. Make moving plans--for an innovative and money-saving approach to moving, click here. Secure final loan approval and commitment from the lending institution. Do a final walk through of the house. Final closing and settlement. Move to your new home and begin enjoying it!! "The Players" Real Estate is never bought and sold on your own The vast majority of home buyers enlist the services of a Real Estate Agent, a Lender, a Professional Home Inspector, and a Closing Attorney or Escrow Agent. Knowing what each is responsible for will help your understanding of the process and eliminate confusion as you proceed. Sellers: Familiarize yourself with seller motivations and psychology. Real Estate Agents: An Agent may or may not be your representative. an Agent will arrange to show you houses that are available through a Multiple Listing Service. Without the use of an Agent, you will be limited only to those houses that are For Sale By Owner. The Agent will coordinate the offer, negotiations and the contract of sale. Lenders: A broad term that refers to the person originating the loan to familiarize yourself with these lenders, whether they be banks, mortgage companies, or brokers. Home Inspectors: Responsible for a whole house