The most effective channel structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The most effective channel structure - Essay Example Specification of distribution tasks in order to achieve the set objectives was done using the five task groups namely physical distribution, after sale service, channel support, selling and risk assumption. The next stage involved selecting alternative channel structures using the channel levels, intensity and intermediary levels after which evaluation of the alternatives was done using the weighted factor score approach. This helped to determine the effective channel strategy which was to provide accommodation services so as to reduce costs for tourists hence attract them. This is to differentiate Webjet from the competitors and gain sustainable competitive advantage. An implementation plan was then designed to achieve the results needed. Table of Contents Executive summary 1 Table of Contents 2 List of Tables and Figures 4 1. Introduction 5 1.1 Authorization 5 1.2 Limitation 5 1.3 Scope of Report 5 2. Case Background 6 2.1 Company Background 7 2.2 Channel Design Decision Paradigm 7 3. Major Case Issues 9 4. Situation Analysis 9 4.1 Internal AND EXTERNAL Analysis 9 4.2 INTERNAL ANALYSIS 10 4.3 External Analysis 11 4.4 Setting and Coordinating Distribution Objectives 11 4.5 Distribution Tasks 12 4.5.1 Selling 12 4.5.2 Channel Support 13 4.5.3 Physical Distribution 13 4.5.4 Product modification and after-sales services 14 4.5.5 Risk Assumptions 14 5. Identifying Alternative Channel Structures 14 5.1 Number of Channel Levels 15 5.2 Intensity at Each Level 16 5.3 Types of Intermediaries 16 5.4 Alternative Channel Structure Strategy 16 6. Evaluation of Alternative Channel Structure 17 6.1 Company Variables 17 6.2 Market Variables 18 6.3 Product Variables 19 6.4 Intermediaries Variables 20 6.5 Weighted Factor Score Approach 20 7. Recommended Strategy 21 8. Implementation plan 21 9. Conclusion 22 10. List of References 24 List of Tables and Figures Figure A- Channel Design Paradigm Adapted from (birch, 2006) 9 Figure B - Channel levels in travel agency Adapted FROM ( Holma, 2010) 15 1. Introduction 1.1 Authorization This report has been authorized by Mr. David Clarke to outline the most effective channel structure for Webjet Limited. In the production of the report, the seven steps of the channel decision paradigm will be utilized. 1.2 Limitation Various limitations were noted while conducting research and producing the report. One of the major limitations was not having a clear timeline for completion of the report. This meant the report could be delayed due to lack of urgency and timeline leading to outdated information which has been overtaken by events and also delays in implementation which could lead to severity of the problem. Another limitation was lack of useful and relevant information from the literature and inability to obtain timely communication from Webjet. 1.3 Scope of Report This report examined a number of ways on how to create or modify the channel design of Webjet Limited. This involved looking into the existing channels and determining if they are suitable for the organization and what could be done to improve on them. This was to assist Webjet to recognize the need to make a decision on the channel design. This involved undergoing the seven channel design stages to come up with the right channel for Webjet. Firstly, a brief background was given for the company selected (Webjet) containing company profile, locations, products and company history together with the channel design

Understanding advertising media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Understanding advertising media - Essay Example Capturing the true essence of advertising is an exigent task for there are varying factors that greatly affect its definition. One of these factors that cause modification in the meaning of the term is the media used. At present times advertising encompasses different avenues of communication.These include the printed media such as magazine, books and newspapers; visual media such as the television; the electronic media such the internet and other diverse form of tools that can attract the attention of the target market to a certain product (Richards & Curran, 2002).In the developing world of advertising and the business market, the printed media remains to be the primary avenue used. In the United kingdoms, the newspapers and magazines are established form of media utilized for advertising. The Guardian is one of the newspapers in the UK that receives a comparatively significant readers' share as compared to other newspapers and magazines.The Guardian is one of the leading newspaper s in the United Kingdom. There are factors that affect the competitiveness of this newspaper. The Guardian is known for covering news in a wide range of fields that is presented in a visually stimulating design that attracts the readers. This is due to the fact that the newspaper is being printed in colour which is unique for broadsheets. Another feature of the newspaper that serves purpose is the size of The Guardian and its printing process; the speed of production decreases with the size of the paper, thus, this size lessens the time needed for production of the Guardian (Hollis, 2005). Aside from the lay-out of the newspaper, the primary aim of this printed media is to impart issues that are pioneering and at the same time is of significant value to the target readers. Reaching and attracting a diverse population of readers is also important for any newspapers and media, thus, the Guardian made use of the advantages of the internet to be able to target the readers online (Rusbri dger, 2006). In the study of any form of media, attributes such as the target market, the circulation and coverage are considered. In the case of the written media, the editorial style is one factor that is deemed important. This factor mainly deals on the style of writing of a particular published work such as the newspaper. The primary consideration is the organization of the presented information in a newspaper. Every data imparted must be unambiguously constructed in prose or paragraphs and in a language that is considered formal yet not expressed in jargons that some groups of readers would not be able to understand. The literary presentation includes the construction of every story, the priority given to each story and the presentation of every titles and subtitles. May it be in the printed version or as seen in the web, the interface and the layout are important. Being a paper presented in full colour can be used to its advantage (Lynch & Horton, 2004). The aesthetics of the paper present ation can be used as a tool to attract readers whose readership and attention largely depends on being captured visually. The Guardian has 14.5 percent readers share compared to the other newspaper that is distributed daily. There is an increase which can only show that there is an improvement in the number of readers targeted by the newspaper. This is made possible although according to data presented The Guardian has the least volume sales. Thus, this can only mean that compared to the sales made in groups more individual readers purchase the Guardians (The Guardian, 2006a). In terms of readership on the other hand, a research that is periodically conducted by the National Readership Survey (NRS) revealed the following results. The result for the 2005 NRS is presented in Table 1. Based on the analysis conducted by The Guardian, an increase of 11.6% was observed in the survey results from NRS for the period of 12 months or one year.

Analysing The Malaysian Construction Industry Construction Essay

Analysing The Malaysian Construction Industry Construction Essay Abstract: The Malaysian construction industry is undergoing a transitional change from an industry employing conventional technology to a more systematic and mechanized system. This new system is now known as the Industrialized Building System (IBS). This new method of construction can increase productivity and quality of work through the use of better construction machinery, equipment, materials and extensive pre-project planning. This study becomes very necessary since there is yet no organized body, which can provide the necessary information on the building cost comparison between the conventional system and industrialized building system in Malaysias construction industry. This study also addresses the building cost comparison of the conventional system and industrialized building system of formwork system. It provides the details building cost between the conventional system and the formwork system and indicates which of the two is cheaper. The data were collected through quest ionnaire survey and case study, which consisting of institutional buildings. Through the statistical test t-test it is shown that there is a significant difference in cost saving for the conventional system as compared to the formwork system (industrialized building system) Key words: Conventional, Formwork System, Building Cost, Comparison INTRODUCTION The Malaysian construction industry is undergoing a transitional change from an industry employing conventional technologies to a more systematic and mechanized system employing the latest computer and communication technologies. This is vital for the future health of the industry, given the trend towards global competition and the advent of the k-economy. The Industrialized Building System (IBS) has been introduced in Malaysia since the 60s by the use of precast concrete beam-column elements. Since the demand of building construction has increased rapidly, it is necessary to innovate a construction method, which speeds up the building construction process. Abdullah et ad. [1] has listed the various types of building systems currently available in Malaysia. Few definitions of industrialized building system are also given by various authors [2]. To sum-up, in general, the IBS is a methodology whereby a local construction industry is driven towards the adoption of an integrated and encouraging key players in the construction industry to produce and utilize pre-fabricated and mass production of the building at their work sites. This will help to enhance the efficiency of construction process, allowing a higher productivity, quality, time and cost saving. The construction cost of a building using precast components should be assessed in its overall context. The traditional method of costing by material quantities with a fixed factor for labor cost can lead to incorrect estimation. For example, if labor usage is halved, this will more than compensate for a 10% material increase. More importantly, there is saving in time. Also, if properly designed and executed, precast can lead to much better quality of work. The overall cost impact of precast has therefore to take all these factors into consideration. With the rising costs of labor and less assurance of dependable skilled manpower, the trend is that precast construction will become increasingly competitive compared to cast-in-place construction [3]. Classification of Industrialized Building System Industrialization: The Oxford English Dictionary (1991) defines industrialization as the process of industrializing or fact of being industrialized; also, the conversion of an organization into an industry. However, industrialization in this study means industrial methods employed, referring to especially, prefabrication, mechanization and standardization. The meaning of prefabricated, according to the same dictionary, is, to manufacture, sections of building or similar structure, in a factory or yard prior to their assembly on a site. However, prefabrication in this study is the assembly of buildings or their components at a location other than the building site. The types of construction methods range from a conventional construction method to fully prefabricated construction method. Generally, the construction methods are classified here into four categories: * Conventional construction method * Cast-in-situ * Composite method * Fully pre-fabricated method. Conventional Construction Method: Conventional building method is defined as components of the building that are pre-fabricated on site through the processes or timber or plywood formwork installation, steel reinforcement and cast in-situ. Conventional building are, mostly built of reinforced concrete frames [4]. The traditional construction method uses wooden formwork. It is much more costly for construction, which includes labor, raw material, transportation and low speed of construction time [5]. Cast-in-situ Construction Method: This system is suitable for a country where unskilled labor is limited. There is no heavy machinery or high technology involved. The system is technically applicable to almost all types of building. Formwork is used as a mould, where wet concrete, is poured into a temporary system. The temporary system also acts as a temporary support for the structures. The objective of in-situ method is to eliminate and to reduce the traditional site based trades like traditional timber formwork, brickwork, plastering and to reduce labor content. A carefully planned in-situ work can maximize the productivity, speed and accuracy of prefabricated construction. Cast in-situ method uses lightweight prefabricated formwork made of steel/fiberglass/aluminum that is easily erected and dismantled. The steel reinforcement is placed within the formwork as they are being erected and concrete is poured into the mould. When the concrete is set according to the required strength the mould are dismantled. The workers can be trained easily to erect the moulds and set the steel reinforcement. Its advantages over the traditional construction method are, its low skill requirement, can be quickly constructed, maintenance is low, structure is durable and cost can be less [5]. Composite Construction Method: The objectives of composite construction method (partially prefabricated) are to improve quality, reduce cost and shorten construction time. The concept of partial industrialized is derived from the composite nature of full industrialization and is used to describe a manufacturing or production strategy that selectively uses some industrializing aspects, while avoiding or postponing the use of others. The prefabricated construction method is combined in such a manner the features applied could be prominently demonstrated especially composing various work such as temporary facilities, building frames, building finishes and equipments [5]. Fully Prefabricated Construction Method: In this method of construction, all elements that can be standardized are prefabricated in the factory. Normally, this method would involve the assembly of precast elements such as floor slabs, in filled walls, bathrooms, staircases, etc. into place for incorporation into the main unit, columns and beams. This method of construction has reduced the amount of site labor involved in building operations and increased the productivity of the industry. Precast building systems can reduce the duration of a project if certain conditions are met [6]. The last three construction methods are considered nonconventional construction methods. These types of construction are specifically aimed to increase productivity and quality of work through the use of better construction machinery, equipment, technology and materials. The main important point to consider here is the particular construction method most suitable for a particular project [7]. Method of Cost Comparison in Construction Industry: During the past decade a large number of such studies has been carried out and published. In the existing studies three principal approaches for comparing costs of building projects among countries can be distinguished [8-11]: * Comparison of standardized identical buildings * Comparison of standard buildings with local modifications * Comparison of functionally similar buildings Comparison of Standardized Identical Buildings: With the first method exactly the same buildings work is priced on the basis of the same drawings and specifications. This is possible only in theory, largely as a result of national (or even regional) differences which exist in architecture, standards, availability of products, etc. The building and the costs will be comparable, but they are not necessarily representative. Comparison of Standard Buildings with Local Modifications: Better representivity can be achieved when modifications for local circumstances, like building codes, standards, specification levels, are taken into account. Comparison of Functionally Similar Buildings: With the third approach, typical, functionally similar buildings are compared: this means building types, which are representative. Not only locally divergent circumstances and quality-levels are taken into account, but also various performance and aesthetic criteria, which reflect typical client requirements or tenant expectations for a building in that sector. The buildings and the costs are representative, but not necessarily comparable. Arguably apples are being compared with oranges [12]. A meaningful comparison must take into account all relevant (time-dependant and quantity-dependant) cost components, classified as follows [13]: * Labour; Direct Indirect * Materials * Investment * General expenses (site and plant) * Transportation (for system construction only) * Overhead As for this study the method of cost comparison used is standardised identical buildings and functionally similar buildings while the unit is cost per gross floor area. Research Methodology: Data was collected by using mail questionnaire. To strengthen the finding of the survey and to assist in providing the information about building cost comparison study, a case study was also conducted. However the major approach was using questionnaire, considering such factors on sample size, time, cost and efforts. Questionnaire method was chosen as the appropriate approach for this study. Questionnaire can reach a large number of respondents in different locations of the country at a relatively lower cost, shorter time and less effort as compared to other data collection methods. The questionnaires were sent to the general manager, project manager, technical executive, managing director and project director. The questionnaires were mailed to the respondents, accompanied by a covering letter, self addressed and stamped envelope. The case study was conducted on building cost comparison of 1 unit 4-storey of school building project carried out by Public Works de partment, Malaysia, which uses conventional system and formwork system. Data gathered on building cost of building systems in Malaysia were processed and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Figure 1 shows building cost-saving in term of percentage. Forty tow percent of the respondents agreed that conventional construction method are more cost saving, 25% agreed that composite construction method are most cost saving, 21% agreed that formwork system are most cost saving. Last but not least only 12% agreed that prefabricated construction method are most cost saving. The previous study showed clearly the advantages of using formwork system (cast in-situ). These were speed, quality and economics [5]. However, the results of the analysis revealed that the conventional construction method is more cost saving compared to the IBS method. According to the reasons given by the respondents, the conventional system is more cost saving as compared to formwork system was because of better negotiations and chances to get the most competitive tender price appropriate to the developers budget. There is also flexibility in choosing alternative building materials at a lower cost. Therefore, building cost can be reduced. As for the IBS, there are limited to a few manufacturers or specialized contractors. This contributed to the higher cost of building due to higher licensing cost and they tend to be monopolized by the higher price of the building panel or other building components. Formwork System Case Study: The selected industrialized building system case study is based on formwork system. This system is suitable for a country where unskilled labor is limited. There is no heavy machinery or high technology involved. The system is technically applicable to almost all type of buildings. Formwork are used as a mould, where wet concrete, is poured into a temporary system. The temporary system also acts as a temporary support for the structures. This In-situ method is to eliminate and reduce the traditional site based trades like traditional timber formwork, brickwork, plastering and to reduce labor content. Carefully planned in-situ work can maximize the productivity, speed and accuracy of prefabricated construction [5]. The main objective of this case study is to study the cost comparison of school building cost of 1 unit 4-Storey (academic block) project carried out by Public Works Department, Malaysia, which uses conventional/traditional system and formwork sy stem. The conventional and formwork system building cost is based on analysis of the Elemental Cost Analysis (ECA) form. The formwork system is based on the combination of pre-fabrication and in-situ conventional construction, which features the utilization of permanent concrete for elements instead of conventional timber formwork. Building Cost Information: The main objective of this case study is to study the cost comparison of 4-storey school buildings, which used conventional/traditional system and formwork system. The conventional system building and the formwork system cost is based on elemental cost analysis form from the Public Work Department, Malaysia [14]. Cost Comparison: Table 1 shows the mean difference between 1 unit four storey school building of conventional and formwork system for 20 numbers of data. The mean cost of conventional system is RM 432 per square meter whereby the formwork system is RM 544 per square meter. The difference is RM112 per square meter. Although the difference is RM112 per square meter the total of the square meter for 1 unit 4-storey school building is about 2000 square meter. This shows that there is a wide difference between IBS and Conventional. In laymans term the IBS is very expensive. For example, if the government wish to build 20 school building of the same IBS, this means the cost will be very high. Therefore, all efforts must be made to reduce this so as to ensure the future use of IBS method is feasible. The t-test analysis is a statistical analysis to test the difference between two variables. The purpose is to show the significance level of the building cost comparison between 1 unit four storey school buildings using conventional system and formwork system. The present study used a two-tailed test The underlying reason for application of the two-tailed test over onetailed test is to ensure that the result obtained is compatible. If only one-tailed test is used, then the result obtained might not be the same with that of a two-tailed test. If the result shows the difference between conventional and formwork system is not significant then, the study cannot conclude that formwork system is more expensive than conventional system. Perhaps, The formwork system is only expensive for certain numbers of buildings based on 20 numbers of data available. Table 2 shows the result of the t-test conducted using IBS (formwork system) and conventional methods. It has been found that there is a 0.000 (last column) or 100% confidence level. This therefore, confirms that cost of building using formwork system method is expensive compared to the conventional method. The mean difference is RM 112 per square meter shows that formwork system is more expensive compared to conventional system. The highest building cost difference per square meter is RM 149 and the lowest difference is RM 75 per square meter. This analysis, which was carried out was based on Elemental Cost Analysis Form (ECA) from Public Works Department, Malaysia shows 1 unit 4-storey school building cost using conventional system and formwork system. The cost provided uses the same type of contract. With reference to Table 1, the mean cost of conventional system is RM 432 per square meter, where as the formwork system is RM 544 per square meter. The difference is RM 112 per square meter from 20 numbers of data. The results showed that the difference is significant with a 100% confidence levels. Therefore, the conventional cost is cheaper, compared to formwork system. This finding is in coherence with the results already obtained in an earlier survey analysis. CONCLUSION According to the reasons given by the respondents, the conventional system is more cost saving as compared to formwork system (IBS) since it provides better negotiation chances so as to obtain the most competitive tender price appropriate to the developers budget. There is also flexibility in choosing alternative building materials at lower cost. Therefore, building cost can be reduced. As for the IBS, there are limited to a few manufacturers or specialized contractors. This contributes to the higher cost of building since a higher licensing cost is levied on the IBS panel and they tend to be monopolized by the higher price of the building panel or other building components. From the results of the case study, it can be concluded that the conventional construction system is more cost saving as compared to the formwork system (IBS). The case study results are also in coherence with the result from the survey analysis. Most of the organized body in the construction industry thought that the building cost of IBS is more cost saving compared to conventional system. However, the present study proved the results was opposite to what was thought earlier.

Attitude in All Quiet on the Western Front :: essays research papers

All Quiet on the Western Front All Quiet on the Western Front shows the change in attitudes of the men before and during the war. This novel is able to portray the overwhelming effects and power war has to deteriorate the human spirit. Starting out leaving you're home and family and ready to fight for you country, to ending up tired and scarred both physically and mentally beyond description. At the beginning of the novel nationalist feelings are present through pride of Paul and the rest of the boys. However at the end of the war it is apparent how pointless war really is. All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel that greatly helps in the understanding the effects war. The novel best shows the attitudes of the soldiers before the war and during the war. Before the war there are high morals and growing nationalist feelings. During the war however, the soldiers discover the trauma of war. They discover that it is a waste of time and their hopes and dreams of their life fly further and further away. The remains of Paul Baumer's company had moved behind the German front les for a short rest at the beginning of the novel. After Baumer became Paul's first dead schoolmate, Paul viewed the older generation bitterly, particularly Kantorek, the teacher who convinced Paul and his classmates to join the military. " While they taut that duty to one's country is the greatest thing, we already that death-throes are stronger.... And we saw that there was nothing of their world left. We were all at once terribly alone, and alone we must see it through."(P. 13) Paul fe lt completely betrayed. " We will make ourselves comfortable and sleep, and eat as much as we can stuff into our bellies, and drink and smoke so that hours are not wasted. Life is short." (P 139) Views of death and becoming more comfortable with their destiny in the r became more apparent throughout the novel. Paul loses faith in the war in each passing day. * Through out the novel it was evident that the war scarred the soldiers permanently mentally. Everyone was scared to go to war when it started. Young recruits were first sent because the veterans knew they were going to come back dead. "When we runt again, although I am very excited, I suddenly think: "where's Himmelstoss?" Quickly I jump back into the dug-out and find him with a small scratch lying in a corner pretending to be wounded.

The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18

Matt woke, fuzzily, to find himself still behind the steering wheel of Elena's car. He stumbled into his house, almost forgetting to lock the car, and then fumbling with keys to unlock the back door. The house was dark; his parents were asleep. He made it up to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed without even taking off his shoes. When he woke again, he was startled to find it was nineA.M . and his mobile phone was ringing in his jeans pocket. â€Å"Mer'dith?† â€Å"We thought you were coming over early this morning.† â€Å"I am, but I've got to figure outhow first,† Matt said – or rather, croaked. His head felt twice its usual size and his arm at least four times too big. Even so, something in the back of his mind was calculating how to get to the boardinghouse without taking the Old Wood Road at all. Finally a few neurons lit up and showed him. â€Å"Matt? Are you still there?† â€Å"I'm not sure. Last night†¦God, I don't evenremember most of last night. But on the way home – look, I'll tell you when I get there. First I have to call the police.† â€Å"Thepolice ?† â€Å"Yeah†¦look†¦just give me an hour, okay? I'll be there in an hour.† When he finally arrived at the boardinghouse, it was closer to eleven than to ten. But a shower had cleared his head, even if it hadn't done much for his throbbing arm. When he did appear, he was engulfed in worried femininity. â€Å"Matt,what happened ?† He told them everything he could remember. When Elena, with set lips, undid the Ace bandage he had wrapped around his arm, they all winced. The long scratches were clearly badly infected. â€Å"They're poisonous, then, these malach.† â€Å"Yes,† Elena said tersely. â€Å"Poisonous to body and mind.† â€Å"And you think one of these can getinside people?† Meredith asked. She was doodling on a notebook page, trying to draw something that looked like what Matt had described. â€Å"Yes.† For just a moment Elena's and Meredith's eyes met – then both looked down. At last Meredith said, â€Å"And how do we know whether one is inside†¦someone†¦or not?† â€Å"Bonnie should be able to tell, in trance,† Elena said evenly. â€Å"Even I might be able to tell, but I'm not going to use White Power for that. We're going down to see Mrs. Flowers.† She said it in that special way that Matt had learned to recognize long ago, and it meant that no argument would do any good. She was putting her foot down, and that was that. And the truth was that Matt didn't feel very much like arguing. He hated to complain – he'd played through football games with a broken collarbone, a sprained knee, a turned ankle – but this was different. His arm felt in danger of exploding. Mrs. Flowers was downstairs in the kitchen, but on the family room table were four glasses of iced tea. â€Å"I'll be right with you,† she called through the swinging half-door that divided the kitchen from where they were standing. â€Å"Drink the tea, especially the young man who's injured. It'll help him relax.† â€Å"Herbal tea,† Bonnie whispered to the others, as if this were some trade secret. The tea wasn't all that bad, although Matt would've preferred a Coke. But when he thought of it as medicine, and with the girls all watching him like hawks, he managed to get over half of it down before the landlady came out. She was wearing her gardening hat – or at least a hat with artificial flowers on it that looked as if it had been used for gardening. But on a cookie tray, she had a number of instruments, all gleaming as if they'd just been boiled. â€Å"Yes, dear, I am,† she said to Bonnie, who had stood up in front of Matt protectively. â€Å"I used to be a nurse, just like your sister. Women weren't encouraged to be doctors then. But all my life I've been a witch. Gets kind of lonely, doesn't it?† â€Å"It wouldn't be so lonely,† Meredith said, looking puzzled, â€Å"if you lived closer to town.† â€Å"Ah, but then I'd have people staring at my house all the time, and children daring each other to run and touch it, or to throw a stone through my window, or adults peering at me every time I went shopping. And how could I ever keep my garden in peace?† It was the longest speech any of them had ever heard her make. It took them so by surprise that it was a moment before Elena said, â€Å"I don't see how you can keep your garden in peace outhere . What with all the deer and rabbits and other animals.† â€Å"Well, most of it isfor the animals, you see.† Mrs. Flowers smiled beatifically and her face seemed to light up from within. â€Å"They surely enjoy it. But they don't enjoy the herbs I grow for putting on scrapes and cuts and sprains and such. And perhaps they know I'm a witch, too, since they always leave me a bit of the garden for myself and maybe a guest or two.† â€Å"Why are you telling me all of this now?† Elena demanded. â€Å"Why, there've been times when I was looking for you, or for Stefan, when I thought – well, never mind what I thought. But I wasn't always sure you were our friend.† â€Å"The truth is that I've gotten solitary and unsociable in my old age. But now you've lost your young man, haven't you? I wish I had gotten up a little earlier this morning. Then I might have been able to speak to him. He left the money for a year's rental of the room on the kitchen table. I've always had a soft spot for him, and that's the truth.† Elena's lips were trembling. Matt hastily and heroically lifted his wounded arm. â€Å"Can you help at all with this?† he asked, peeling the Ace bandage away again. â€Å"Oh, my, my. And what sort of critter gave you these?† Mrs. Flowers said, examining the scratches while the three girls winced. â€Å"We think it was a malach,† Elena said quietly. â€Å"Do you know anything about those?† â€Å"I've heard the word, yes, but I don't know anything specific. How long ago did you get them?† she asked Matt. â€Å"They look more like tooth marks than claw marks.† â€Å"They are,† Matt said grimly, and he described the malach to her as best he could. It was partly to keep himself distracted, because Mrs. Flowers had picked up one of the gleaming instruments from the cookie tray and was starting to do things to his red and swollen arm. â€Å"Hold as still as you can on this towel,† she said. â€Å"These have already scabbed over, but they need to be opened and drained and cleaned out properly. It's going to hurt. Why don't one of you young women hold his hand to help keep his arm steady?† Elena started to stand but Bonnie beat her to it, almost leaping over Meredith to take Matt's hand in both of her own. The draining and cleaning were painful, but Matt managed to bear it without making a sound, even giving Bonnie a sort of sickly grin as blood and pus trickled out of his arm. The lancing hurt at first, but the release of pressure felt good, and when the wounds were drained and clean and then packed with a cold herbal compress, they felt blessedly cool and ready to heal properly. It was while he was trying to thank the old woman that he noticed Bonnie staring at him. In particular, at his neck. Suddenly she giggled. â€Å"What? What's funny?† â€Å"The bug,† she said. â€Å"It gave you a hickey. Unless you did something else last night that you didn't tell us about.† Matt could feel himself flush as he pulled his collar up higher. â€Å"I did tell you about it, and it was the malach. It had a sort of tentacle with suckers around my neck. It was trying to strangle me!† â€Å"I remember now,† Bonnie said meekly. â€Å"I'm sorry.† Mrs. Flowers even had an herbal ointment for the mark the sucker tentacle had left – and one for Matt's scraped knuckles. After she'd applied them, Matt felt so good that he was able to look sheepishly at Bonnie, who was watching him with big brown eyes. â€Å"I know, it does look like a hickey,† he said. â€Å"I saw it this morning in the mirror. And I've got another one lower down, but at least my collar covers that one.† He snorted and reached into his shirt to apply more ointment. The girls laughed – a release of the tension that they'd all been feeling. Meredith had started back up the narrow stairway to what everyone still thought of as Stefan's room, and Matt automatically followed her. He didn't realize that Elena and Bonnie were hanging back until he was halfway up the stairs, and then Meredith motioned him onward. â€Å"They're just conferring,† Meredith said, in her quiet, no-nonsense voice. â€Å"Aboutme ?† Matt swallowed. â€Å"It's about that thing Elena saw inside Damon, right? The invisible malach. And whether or not I've got one – inside me – right now.† Meredith, never one to soft-pedal anything, simply nodded. But she put a hand briefly on his shoulder as they entered the dim, high-ceilinged bedroom. Shortly after, Elena and Bonnie came up, and Matt could tell at once by their faces that the worst-case scenario wasn't true. Elena saw his expression and immediately went to him and hugged him. Bonnie followed, more shyly. â€Å"Feel okay?† Elena said, and Matt nodded. â€Å"I feel fine,† he said. Like wrestling alligators, he thought. Nothing was nicer than hugging soft, soft girls. â€Å"Well, the consensus is that you don't have anything inside you that doesn't belong there. Your aura seems clear and strong now that you're not in pain.† â€Å"Thank God,† Matt said, and he meant it. It was at that moment that his mobile phone rang. He frowned, puzzled at the number displayed, but he answered it. â€Å"Matthew Honeycutt?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Hold, please.† A new voice came on: â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"Uh, yeah, but – â€Å" â€Å"This is Rich Mossberg of the Fell's Church Sheriff's Department. You called this morning to report a fallen tree midway down Old Wood Road?† â€Å"Yes, I – â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt, we don't like prank calls of this sort. We frown upon them, in fact. It takes up the valuable time of our officers, and besides, it happens to be a crime to make a false report to the police. If I wanted to, Mr. Honeycutt, I could charge you with this crime and make you answer to a judge. I don't see just what you find so amusing about it.† â€Å"I wasn't – I don't findanything amusing about it! Look, last night – † Matt's voice trailed off. What was he going to say?Last night I was waylaid by a tree and a monster bug? A small voice inside him added that the Fell's Church Sheriff's officers seemed to spend most of their valuable time hanging around the Dunkin' Donuts in the city square, but the next words he heard shut it up. â€Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, under the authority of Virginia State Code, Section 18.2-461, making a false police report is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. You could be looking at a year in jail or a twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine. Do you findthat amusing, Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"Look, I – â€Å" â€Å"Do you, in fact,have twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"No, I – I – † Matt waited to be cut off and then he realized that he wasn't going to be. He was sailing off the edge of the map into some unknown region. What to say?The malach took the tree away – or maybe it moved by itself ? Ludicrous. Finally, in a creaky voice he managed, â€Å"I'm sorry they didn't find the tree. Maybe†¦somehow it got moved.† â€Å"Maybe somehow it got moved,† the sheriff repeated expressionlessly. â€Å"In fact maybe somehow it moved itself the way that all those stop signs and yield signs keep moving themselves away from intersections. Does that ring a bell, Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"No!† Matt felt himself flush deeply. â€Å"I would never move any kind of street sign.† By now the girls were clustered around him, as if they could somehow help by appearing as a group. Bonnie was gesturing vigorously, and her indignant expression made it clear that she wanted to tell the sheriff off personally. â€Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt,† Sheriff Mossberg cut in, â€Å"we called your home number first, since that's the phone you used to place the report. And your mother said that she hadn't seen you at all last night.† Matt ignored the little voice that wanted to snap,Is that a crime? â€Å"That was because I got held up – â€Å" â€Å"By a self-propelled tree, Mr. Honeycutt? In fact we had already had another call about your house last night. A member of Neighborhood Watch reported a suspicious car roughly in front of your house. According to your mother, you recently totaled your own car, isn't that right, Mr. Honeycutt?† Matt could see where this was going and he didn't like it. â€Å"Yes,† he heard himself say, while his mind worked desperately for a plausible explanation. â€Å"I was trying to avoid running over a fox. And – â€Å" â€Å"Yet there was a report of a brand new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, just far enough away from the streetlight to be – inconspicuous. A car so new that it had no license plates. Was that, in fact, your car, Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"Mr. Honeycutt's my father!† Matt said desperately. â€Å"I'm Matt. And it was my friend's car – â€Å" â€Å"And your friend's name is†¦?† Matt stared at Elena. She was making wait gestures, obviously trying to think. To sayElena Gilbert would be suicidal. The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gilbert was dead. Now Elena was pointing around the room and mouthing words at him. Matt shut his eyes and said the words, â€Å"Stefan Salvatore. But he gave the car to his girlfriend?† He knew he was ending his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could hardly believe Elena's coaching. Now the sheriff was beginning to sound tired and exasperated. â€Å"Areyou askingme , Matt? So you were driving the brand-new car of your friend's girlfriend. And her name is†¦?† There was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo. But then Bonnie threw her arms up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself. â€Å"Meredith Sulez,† Matt said weakly. He heard the hesitation in his own voice and he repeated, huskily but with more conviction, â€Å"Meredith Sulez.† Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Meredith's ear. â€Å"And the car was purchased where? Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"Yes,† Matt said. â€Å"Just a second – † He put the phone into Meredith's outstretched hand. â€Å"This is Meredith Sulez,† Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a classical music disk jockey. â€Å"Miss Sulez, you've heard the conversation so far?† â€Å"Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant. I have.† â€Å"Did you, in fact, lend your car to Mr. Honeycutt?† â€Å"I did.† â€Å"And where is Mr.† – there was a shuffling of paper – â€Å"Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car?† He's not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought. He must know. â€Å"My boyfriend is away from town right now,† Meredith said, still in the same refined, unflappable voice. â€Å"I don't know when he'll be back. When he is, shall I have him call you?† â€Å"That might be wise,† Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. â€Å"These days very few cars are bought with cash on the line, especially brand-new Jaguars. I'd like your driver's license number, also. And, in fact, I'd very much like to speak to Mr. Salvatore when he returns.† â€Å"That may be very soon,† Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elena's coaching. Then she recited her driver's license number from memory. â€Å"Thank you,† Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. â€Å"That will be all for – â€Å" â€Å"May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove stop signs or yield signs. He's a very conscientious driver and was a leader in his high school class. You can speak to any of Robert E. Lee High School's teachers or even the principal if she's not on vacation. Any one of them will tell you the same thing.† The sheriff didn't seem to be impressed. â€Å"You can tell him from me that I'll be keeping an eye on him in the future. In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriff's Department today or tomorrow,† he said, and then the phone went dead. Matt burst out, â€Å"Stefan's girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond? How are we going to work that out?† â€Å"We aren't,† Elena said simply from behind Meredith. â€Å"Damon is. All we have to do is to find him. I'm sure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control – if the price is right. And don't worry about me,† she added gently. â€Å"You're frowning, but everything is going to be fine.† â€Å"You believe that?† â€Å"I'm sure of it.† Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek. â€Å"I'm supposed to stop by the Sheriff's Department today or tomorrow, though.† â€Å"But not alone!† Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. â€Å"And when Damon goes with you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend.† â€Å"All right,† Meredith said. â€Å"So what are we doing today?† â€Å"The problem,† Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, â€Å"is that we've got too many problems at once and I don't want anybody – and I mean anybody – going out alone. It's clear that there are malach in the Old Wood, and that they're trying to do unfriendly-type things to us. Kill us, for one.† Matt basked in the warm relief of being believed. The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shaken him more than he wanted to show. â€Å"So we make up task forces,† Meredith said, â€Å"and we split the jobs between them. What problems do we need to plan for?† Elena ticked off the problems with her fingers. â€Å"One problem is Caroline. I really think someone should try to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her. Another problem is Tami – and who knows who else? If Caroline is†¦contagious somehow, she might have spread it to some other girl – or guy.† â€Å"Okay,† Meredith said, â€Å"and what else?† â€Å"Someone needs to contact Damon. Try to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving, and also try to get him to go in to headquarters with us to influence Sheriff Mossberg.† â€Å"Well, you'd better be on that last team, since you're the only one Damon's likely to talk to,† said Meredith. â€Å"And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep – â€Å" â€Å"No. No Calling today,† Bonnie pleaded. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Elena, but I just can't, not without a day of rest between. And besides, if Damon wants to talk to you, all you need to do is to walk – notinto the forest, butnear it – and call to him yourself. He knows everything that's going on. He'll know you're there.† â€Å"Then I should go with Elena,† Matt reasoned. â€Å"Since that sheriff is my problem. I'd like to go by the place where I saw the tree – â€Å" At once there was a protest from all three girls. â€Å"I said I'dlike to,† Matt said. â€Å"Not that we should plan for it. That's one spot we know is too dangerous.† â€Å"All right,† Elena said. â€Å"So Bonnie and Meredith will visit Caroline, and you and I will go Damon hunting, all right? I'd rather go Stefan hunting, but we just don't have enough information yet.† â€Å"Right, but before you go, maybe stop by Jim Bryce's house. Matt has an excuse to stop by anytime – he knows Jim. And you can check on Tami's progress as well,† Meredith suggested. â€Å"Sounds like plans A, B, and C,† Elena said, and then, spontaneously, they all laughed. It was a clear day, with a hot sun shining overhead. In the sunlight, despite the minor annoyance of Sheriff Mossberg's call, they all felt strong and capable. None of them had any idea that they were about to walk into the worst nightmare of their lives. Bonnie stood back as Meredith knocked at the front door of the Forbes home. After a while of no answer and silence inside, Meredith knocked again. This time Bonnie could hear whisperings and Mrs. Forbes hissing something, and Caroline's distant laughter. Finally, just as Meredith was about to ring the bell – the height of discourtesy between neighbor and neighbor in Fell's Church – the door opened. Bonnie neatly slipped a foot in, keeping it from being shut again. â€Å"Hi, Mrs. Forbes. We just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith faltered. â€Å"We just wanted to see if Caroline was any better,† she finished in a tinny-sounding voice. Mrs. Forbes looked as if she'd seen a ghost – and she'd spent all night running from it. â€Å"No, she's not. Not better. She's still – sick.† The woman's voice was hollow and distant and her eyes scanned the ground just over Bonnie's right shoulder. Bonnie felt fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. â€Å"Okay, Mrs. Forbes.† Even Meredith sounded false and hollow. Then someone said suddenly, â€Å"Areyou all right?† and Bonnie realized it was her own voice. â€Å"Caroline†¦isn't well. She's†¦not seeing anyone,† whispered the woman. An iceberg seemed to glide down Bonnie's spine. She wanted to turn and run from this house and its aura of malevolence. But at that moment Mrs. Forbes suddenly slumped. Meredith was barely able to break her fall. â€Å"She's fainted,† Meredith said tersely. Bonnie wanted to say,Well, put her on the rug inside and run! But they could hardly do that. â€Å"We've got to take her inside,† Meredith said flatly. â€Å"Bonnie, are you okay to go?† â€Å"No,† Bonnie said just as flatly, â€Å"but what choice do we have?† Mrs. Forbes, small as she was, was heavy. Bonnie held her feet and followed Meredith, step by reluctant step, into the house. â€Å"We'll just put her on her bed,† Meredith said. Her voice was shaky. There was something about the house that was terribly unsettling – as if waves of pressure kept bearing down on them. And then Bonnie saw it. Just a glimpse as they stepped into the living room. It was down the hallway, and it could have been the play of light and shadow there, but it looked for all the world like a person. A person scuttling like a lizard – but not on the floor. On the ceiling.

Government Regulations Within the Jewellery Industry

The government regulations are really down to the federal trade commission to enforce it and to ensure that the jewellery industry complies with it. The government regulations even have an influence in the way that the businesses are allowed to market themselves and the way that they do their advertising. There are a lot of people that feel that the jewellery industry would be far better if it was self-regulated. The internet is changing the way in which the business is conducted. There are a vast number of companies that are listed on the many different listing sites and the web pages. These companies all have countless false statements and inaccuracies. There are a lot of people who are unaware of the many companies so these companies see the internet as a good way to push the boundaries of truth to a certain amount. The jewellery industry at present does not have any way controlling the industry, reviewing the industry or even regulating the industry. All of the communications that are carried out on the internet only have a limited time before the government steps in to intervene. The government will intervene in order to deal with a rising amount of consumer complaints because there are a lot of people who are being ripped off on the internet and this is thought to be on the increase. The government regulations state what can and cannot be done within the jewellery industry in order to try and control the rising problems associated with the internet. It is very important that the industry is educated in what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. It is very important that the industry is aware of what can be contained in reviews about pieces of jewellery whether these reviews are available on the internet or off the internet.