Abstract
This paper reviews the novel "Brick Lane" by Monica Ali. This is the story of a Bengali woman who grows up surrounded by superstition and the belief in fate. The paper describes her development as she raises her own family in London and attempts to shed her superstitious belief system.

From the Paper
"Learning from her sister that their mother chose suicide, Nazneen becomes able to embrace her strength. In her new found freedom, Nazneen has defied fate and made her own choices, and has not been punished or met death over it. Living in London has expanded her thinking, and her perspectives shift as she sheds her superstitious upbringing It has become clear to her that when a person depends solely on Fate, she possesses no power of her own to change anything. Her husband, as a highly educated man, could not make a happy life for himself where so much autonomy of choice keeps him confused and angry. In India, where there was not as much freedom and wealth, people are forced to rely on fate and their religious beliefs to be able to handle the rough parts of their lives. We can assume Nazneen's children will decide their own fates as they grow up, following their mother's example. Nazneen overcomes incredibly deep programming to make this major shift in her life, but she is happy, and dances in her autonomy."

Tags:Monica, Ali, Brick, Lane

Abstract
The paper analyzes the specific catalysts that are fueling the growth of construction in general and brick demand specifically. The paper discusses how to forecast demand and examines the dominant competitors in British Columbia. The paper includes several tables.

Outline:
Synopsis
Construction Demand Increasing in British Columbia
Forecasting Brick Demand
British Columbia Brick Competitive Environment

From the Paper
"The demand for construction materials including concrete pipe, bricks and blocks, which together comprise NAICS 32733 industrial codes throughout British Columbia continues to experience consistent growth, year over year, beginning in 2000. There are several catalysts that are fueling the growth of demand for pipe, bricks and blocks, and the focus of this analysis will specifically be on demand for bricks in the British Columbia province. The goal of this report is to analyze the specific catalysts that are fueling the growth of construction in general and brick demand specifically, also taking into account the implications labor force growth necessary to support the projected increase in production as well."

Tags:demand, competition

Abstract
The paper offers a summation of the plot of Rian Johnson's movie "Brick" by demonstrating the techniques that make the film effective as well as what makes the film unique. The paper discusses how "Brick" is a compelling and intense film that is a refreshing break from the monotony of Hollywood and how the use of high schoolers highlights the seriousness of the story. The paper also looks at how the characters and mis-en-scene harken back to the days of the film noir genre, and as a result the film is dark and gritty.

From the Paper
"The film noir genre was the result of post-WWII disillusionment. It was a cynical genre overrun with shady characters and questionable morals. Johnson first pays homage to film noirs by creating characters that fit the stereotypes of these films. A staple of the film noir genre is the concept of the "hard-boiled detective." In Brick Brendan Frye(Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fills this role. Brendan is not a typical Hollywood protagonist. He is an outsider by choice, as the powerful and popular students, known as the "upper-crust", all know Brendan and seem to approve of him, yet he remains solitary. His only friend is The Brain(Matt O'Leary), a whip-smart student who spends most of his time in the library. Though Brendan sounds unlikable, Johnson makes the audience support him. "

Tags:film, noir, genre, Joseph, Gordon-Levitt

Abstract
The paper includes a summary of the story, along with a textual analysis of the story, which tells the tale of a family of Maoris from New Zealand, leaving behind their homeland to make a new life in the city of Wellington. It explains that the Maoris are a tribe of natives who live predominately in New Zealand. They have been successful in maintaining their cultural identity apart from the white inhabitants of the island, but as this story shows, they face the same prejudices and poverty that most native inhabitants of a country face. The writer shows how "Yellow Brick Road" illustrates this prejudice, showing the elders as tired and a little afraid, while the narrator is full of hope for the future as they set off for their new life in Wellington.

From the Paper
""Yellow Brick Road" is the story of a Maori family headed to the city of Wellington to make their fortune. The story is told in the voice of the young narrator, a boy enthralled with the story "The Wizard of Oz," who sees their trip as an adventure along a Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where all things wonderful will happen for the family. This short story opens up the world of the Maori of New Zealand a native tribe displaced by the white settlers of centuries past, who have managed to hang on to their vivid culture and beliefs while their native lands are swallowed up by the white man. As with most native cultures, they are seen as less than human by many of the whites. As the white man on the road says to the family, "Oh, what's the use. You Maoris are all the same. Dumb bloody horis" (Ihimaera). Ihimaera uses this one crucial scene to illustrate the hatred and mistrust the whites have for the Maori, and the family's reaction to the hatred and prejudice. The only one in the family who does not understand is the young narrator, who has yet to experience hatred and prejudice, and does not understand the man's comments. The implication is that later, as the boy grows older in Wellington, he will most certainly understand, and his dreams of the Emerald City will shatter."

Tags:maori, new, zealand, cultural, prejudice

Abstract
This paper looks at the different marketing and business strategies of companies whose business is solely through their website (click-and-click companies) and those whose website is an additional source of sales (brick-and-click); but who physically have a storefront. Their strategies are compared for their effectiveness and ability to reach the audience the companies seek.

From the Paper
"The first characteristic of the Internet store is the importance of the web site. The web site is the basis of the Internet store, with accessibility and ease-of-use determining whether the customer will purchase from the store and return to the store. The web site is the equivalent of a retail store front's location, if it is easy to get to, customers will be more likely to visit it again. Unlike retail stores, the biggest concern is how easy the store is to move around in. Ease-of-use is said to be the most significant factor, with ease-of-use comprising three attributes: how quickly the web site downloads, how easy the first page is to understand and how easy it is to navigate between pages (Kotler 48). Click-and-click retailers have built their businesses based on the online presence and so tend to be aware of how important the web site is. Part of their marketing strategy involves making the web site as convenient and easy-to-use as possible."

Tags:internet, website, user, customer, sales, retail, business, company, online, strategy, content

Abstract
This paper examines the transformation of the mass retailer Target from brick and mortar to a click and brick company. It looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with doing business on the Internet.

Tags:target, internet marketing, distribution channels, internet

Abstract
This research paper provides a background and overview of how cultural influences affect consumer buying behaviours to identify any commonalities and differences between consumers in the United States and Russia, and to determine what impact these differences and commonalities have on online and brick-and-mortar outlet purchasing behaviours. Chapter one introduces the topics under consideration, provides a statement of the problem, the purpose and importance of the study, as well as its scope and rationale. Chapter two provides a critical review of the relevant and peer-reviewed literature concerning e-commerce and e-tailing and a discussion of the respective economies of Russia and the United States today. Chapter three presents the study's methodology, a description of the study approach, the data-gathering method and the database of study consulted. Chapter four is comprised of an analysis of the data developed during the research process and chapter five presents the study's conclusions, a summary of the research and salient recommendations for companies seeking to establish or expand their online presence in the future.

Outline:
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Methodology
Data Analysis
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

From the Paper
"The trends are clear and unmistakable. Just a decade ago, online sales were a very small part of the national economy of the United States and were virtually nonexistent in the former Soviet Union, and online sales in total comprised a tiny fraction of global trade. Today, though, online sales are in the tens of billions of dollars, and electronic commerce is becoming increasingly important to consumers, sellers, and entire economies. Though considered to be in its relative infancy, Internet usage and on-line marketing are also growing explosively. In fact, during 2003 alone, approximately 40 million households in the U.S. made at least one purchase from the Internet, up from only six million in 1994 (Black, 2005). Rapid innovations in a wide range of telecommunications, the volume and rapidity of air travel (in spite of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States), e-business and instantaneous "live" television coverage of important - and not so important - events have made the world a smaller place in which to live and shop, but with an enormously wider selection of choices available for those with the right tools and access. Today, new words and terminologies have entered the vernacular to describe this emerging reality; e.g., Internet, e-commerce, KBE, ISPS, dot-com companies, web portals, telephony, PGs, wireless application protocols; combined with other buzzwords such as "creative destruction" and "paradigm shift," as well as neologisms such as "glocalization," "globalating" and "technoglobalism," it is clear that more and more businesses will be turning to the Internet as a way to improve their competitive advantage and increase their market share in current and additional markets (Mutalib, 2002). Indeed, advances in technology have provided useful supportive tools in the conventional market. For example, television and radio have greatly facilitated one-way communication. Various information systems can be used to process transactions, collect and analyze data."

Tags:on, line, purchasing, cultural, differnces, internet

Abstract
This paper takes a closer look at the new phenomenon of online retailing, and compares it to the more customary variety of commerce. The researcher interviews "real-life" shoppers, asking them to compare their internet experiences with their experiences in the high street. The paper questions whether consumers prefer one over the other and whether there are certain things that people will not buy in cyberspace. The paper also questions whether the online marketplace inspires the same level of comfort and trust as its brick and mortar counterpart.

Paper Outline:
Introduction
Aims
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Internet shoppers cited the wider variety of choices available, especially in terms of the above-mentioned favorite purchases. For the high street shopper, the "what you see is what you get factor" proved to be the most positive aspect of the shopping experience. The subjects were fairly evenly divided as far as the other criteria were concerned. However, subjects did feel that one could get a better price online, as opposed to in the high street. There was, nevertheless, a striking difference in spending amounts between the two styles of shopping. Very clearly, the subjects spent considerably more money in the high street than on the Internet."

Tags:customer, shopping, center, merchandise, satisfaction

Abstract
This paper outlines the strategic web development for a 'brick only' company Colorado Pattern Inc.

Tags:colorado, pattern, inc

Abstract
Retailing has become extremely competitive over the last ten years. The Internet has allowed customers to access retailers by just clicking a mouse as opposed to physically visiting a retail location. This paper compares and contrasts a "click and click" company (Amazon.com) and a "click and brick" company (Barnes and Nobles Inc.). Each of these companies sells books and offers additional consumer goods. The paper presents a SWOT analysis on each of the companies to show its niche in the market.

From the Paper
"Barnes & Noble needs to lower its prices on new bestsellers to compete with discount stores that offer discounts on current books. The company needs to enhance its web site and offer more links. Barnes and Nobles could also offer more information about the books it sells. Barnes and Nobles may also want to consider selling used books or offering club members consignment on books to compete Amazon's used market."

Tags:United, Parcel, Service