Abstract This study was undertaken with a purpose of analyzing and making recommendations based on the analysis of situation and strategy identified within the mountain bicycle industry. In particular, close attention is paid to Cannondale Corporation, the leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance aluminium bicycles and its immediate rivals. Assessment of the nature and strength of competitive forces in the mountainbike industry is based on the five factors analysis and allow to identify key success factors that are a must for survival and profitability of any company that operates in the mountain bicycle industry. A graphical representation of current rivals allows to judge strength of the competition in the industry and influence the choice of alternatives and eventual recommendations for Cannondale corporation.
From the Paper "The global bicycle industry, including bicycles, parts and accessories, is estimated to have total retail sales in excess of $20 billion. The bicycle-manufacturing segment of the industry produces approximately 100 million units per annum. The global market for bikes is reported to be dominated by just a few big players, many of whom seem to bounce from owner to owner, and from cash crisis to cash crisis, on a distractingly regular basis. (bikebiz.com). Even though people seem to be "saturated" with bicycles and the mountain bike boom is proclaimed to be over (bikebiz.com), comments of the cyclist community allow to conclude that the industry's and segment's decline is not likely. It was also noted that the worldwide cycling industry is waiting for the "next big thing" in cycling which will likely shift position of major players in the industry if they can't keep up with the trend."
Abstract This paper takes three different forms of transport, the aXcess car, the Millennium Train and the PRST-4 MountainBike and analyzes how they work together with comprehensive pictures and diagrams. For each method of transformation it gives an overview and looks at the workings of the wheels, frame, body and brakes. It then proceeds to compare and contrast the differences between the wheels, frame, body and brakes in the different modes of transport. It concludes with a look at the process of forming for bike and car tires.
From the Paper "The forming of a polyurethane micro cellular bike tyre (such as Urethon's tyres which are puncture proof and can be recycled) begins by metering a specially formulated liquid consisting of polyurethane, polyol and, isocyanate components in a high pressure-metering cylinder type polyurethane dispensing machine. The liquid then passes through an impingement chamber into a mould (a polyurethane elastomer, manufactured by casting a specially formulated polyurethane into different tyre sized aluminium moulds), which is designed to have different tread rings fitted, with nylon cord for reinforcement of the tyre pre fitted (the cord stops the tyre slipping from the wheel rim). The mould is then clamped to a centrifugal casting machine, which spins the moulds at between 200-400rpm."
Tags: millenium, train, mountain, bike, aXcess, car
Abstract In this article, the writer examines the Toronto Bike plan. The writer explains that the city of Toronto has many bicycle riders and that the authorities wish to encourage this form of transport. The writer discusses the planning and policy of the plan in this article. Further, the writer looks at the implementation and administration of the Toronto Bike plan.
From the Paper "The city of Toronto has many dedicated bicycle users. A Decima Research Poll in 1999 showed that 62% of Toronto households own a bicycle, and that 939,999 adults regularly bicycle in the city. Furthermore, an impressive 20% of Toronto residents regularly use their bicycle for transportation purposes, e.g. to work, school, shopping, etc. Another 28% regularly bicycle for recreational or exercise purposes. For its part, the City of Toronto states that it is committed to encouraging bicycling, and that the Toronto Bike Plan that it is currently working on is the latest evidence of this."
Abstract This paper presents a geographical analysis of the Rocky Mountain region. The paper examines the region's physical environment, its climate, early settlement pattern, and population demographics. The paper also includes a discussion of how geologists believe the range was created.
Abstract This paper examines how Southern California is dotted with several mountain ranges, including the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, San Jacinto, San Bruno, Santa Rosa, Cuyamaca, the Palomar Mountains, and even the Chocolate Mountains. It provides an overview of the ecosystems in these mountain ranges in general, with an emphasis on the San Gabriel mountain range in particular, what species are endangered within these ecosystems and why, followed by an assessment of what is being done to correct the problem and protect endangered species in these regions. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "This southern California mountain range is something of a geographic interruption to the region, since they surge from the Sonoran desert at sea level to sub-alpine forest areas that are 10,800 feet above. The range ascends through more than six life zones: ?It's remarkable that there's so much wild land there surrounded by development on all sides,? reported Jay Watson, California/Nevada regional director for The Wilderness Society. "There are mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and endangered peninsular bighorn sheep, creatures sturdy enough to clamber up cliff faces, yet vulnerable to golf courses and housing tracts creeping up the foothills" (Sullivan-Brennan 2004:56). In addition, there are numerous reptiles in this system; for instance, there are three kinds of rattlesnakes, endangered desert tortoise, and the southern rubber boa."
Abstract This paper reviews Tracey Kidder's novel, "Mountains Beyond Mountains". The paper discusses questions posed in the book and in so doing, analyzes Kidder's views, as presented in the book. The essay draws heavily upon the Kidder work itself. It discusses, in detail, underlying conditions in developing countries and in Haiti in particular.
From the Paper "Much like a radio wave, life is a series of repeating peaks and troughs, a succession of failure and success. Tracey Kidder's, Mountains Beyond Mountains is an appropriate adaptation of the Haitian proverb, "-beyond mountains there are mountains." Much like the radio wave metaphor, this proverb elicits a multitude of interpretations, including, as Kidder explains in an interview, "sometimes it's used to express the idea that opportunities are inexhaustible, and sometimes as a way of saying that when you surmount one great obstacle you merely gain a clear view of the next one." In the context of the culture it comes from, this proverb is an important aspect of why Paul Farmer has dedicated his life to insurmountable challenges, only to affect change and lives, no matter what the magnitude."
Abstract This paper discusses how one of the most fascinating cultures to be found in the entire annals of anthropology is that of the mountain villages of Nepal. It examines the various issues of this culture and setting in comparison and contrast to those of other parts of the world. The paper concludes that cultures of all levels of development can peacefully coexist and contribute to one another, if only we will allow it to happen.
Outline:
Abstract
Who are the People of the Mountains of Nepal?
Ethnography
An Overview of Familial Structures and Bonds
Status Symbols in the Mountains of Nepal
Gender Roles
Restrictions to Sexual Access
Marriage in Nepalese Culture
Mating Patterns in Culture
Proliferation of the Members of a Culture
Other Factors that Stifle Cultural Development
Procreation in Nepal's Mountain Villages
Modern Threats to Nepalese Culture
Summary
From the Paper "In order to be able to fully discuss and understand the many aspects of the social, economic and familial customs of the mountain dwellers of Nepal, it is extremely useful to first consider a demographic profile of the Nepalese people. Nepal is a relatively small nation, located in Asia with such huge and powerful neighbors as China. While Nepal is influenced somewhat by the influence of other cultures and its geographic neighbors, in many respects, the mountain villages of Nepal have remained the same as they were thousands of years ago. Many of the agricultural techniques and tools that are used today have not changed to any degree since the Stone Age. These simple people have been able to remain loyal to their roots and traditions and still survive despite many of the changes in other parts of the world."
Abstract This paper looks at how Yucca Mountain, located in Nye County Nevada, is the result of The Nuclear Waste Policy Act that tasked the U.S. Department of Energy with finding, building, operating, and maintaining an underground facility for the storage of nuclear waste that has been piling up since the 1940s. The paper discusses how the geological makeup that makes Yucca Mountain desirable is ignimbrite created by several eruptions of a now extinct volcano and how the ignimbrite (tuff) has special characteristics that scientists believe will contain the radioactive material for hundreds of thousands of years. TSpecifically, the paper makes the argument that the United States Government should continue to research, develop, and eventually use the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Storage Facility because doing so could increase economy for the state which would include more funding for school, roads, and emergency services.
From the Paper "The second major argument made for the stop of the storage facility is that the site won't actually maintain the radioactive material. The facility is located 1000 feet below ground and 1000 feet above the water table and the waste will be stored in several layers of stainless steel and nickel alloy material that will act as a container and as a rock shield should a major earthquake occur that would collapse the stone tunnel. Even if the containers should be damaged or break down, tests show that by the time the radioactive material reached the water table it would be inert. Although Nevada is ranked the third highest state in seismic activity there is no evidence that continental plates meet in the area. The risk of volcanic activity has also been pushed as a reason to shut down the site since the area was formed by volcanic activity but science shows that last minor eruption in the area occurred over eighty thousand years ago and the last large eruption that formed most of the mountains in the region occurred over 12 million years ago. "
Abstract This paper examines how the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme was Australia's largest engineering project ever and how it took 25 years to build with strong multi-cultural work force that included thirty different countries, some being European immigrants made homeless by the Second World War. Its purpose was to divert the largely untapped waters of the Snowy and Tumit into the Murrumbidgee River.
Outline
Introduction
What was the Lead Up to the Snowy Hydroelectric Scheme?
Why Can the Snowy Mountain Hydroelectric Scheme be Considered Such a Success?
From the Paper "For many years during the dry farmers looked up to the snow capped mountains and watched much of the Snowy and other rivers flow, unexploited into the oceans but it was not until 1944 that the idea of a irrigation/power scheme was viably put forward. Later on in 1947 the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Victorian Governments formed a technical committee to explore viable uses for the Snowy River. In 1949 the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act formed a Snowy Mountains Authority, which was put in charge of the daunting task of designing, building and running a duel Power and Irrigation project."
Abstract In his play, "Magic Mountain", Thomas Mann expresses the intellectual squalor of the pre-World War I era, that would inevitably lead to violence and destruction. The central protagonist of the tale is a young marine engineer who, taken singularly, is of no particular importance. The paper shows that what makes him-Hans Castorp -significant is what he represents for society: he is the embodiment of humanity, caught between the forces poised to crush individual identity and reduce it to mass conformity. The paper shows that, all together, these forces of thought, to Mann, are mere derivatives of nature, which act to shape each person's mind into a particular archetype. In this way, "The Magic Mountain" is a universal warning to the course of history and of the dangerous capacity of unbound rationality.
From the Paper "Personally, Castorp comes from a reasonably wealthy bourgeoisie family; and although his parents have both died, he remains well positioned and is "obviously on the way to important positions in his life." (Mann, 54). Largely, this is also a consequence of his association with Hamburg-an emerging port city during the early twentieth century. Symbolically, Hamburg's rising prominence comes at the expense of other, older, and better established cities. Accordingly, Castorp's path to important positions rests on the shoulders of the new age: technologies and industrial might. Additionally, Castorp's occupation makes him poised to build Germany into a naval empire, which is also a drive of the new age. Naval dominance, as seen by many of his time, was the only true way to establish Germany's rightful place within the world."
Abstract "Brokeback Mountain", directed by Ang Lee, is an astounding story about two young men who meet and fall in love in the summer of 1963 while they are working as sheepherders on Brokeback Mountain, in the state of Wyoming. The paper provides an overview of this controversial, Academy award winning film about the lives and feelings of homosexuals which was released in 2005. It discusses the plot and the theme of sexuality that runs through the movie.
From the Paper "The sadness that they feel is intense as they realize that the feelings that they do have for each other are loving feelings. Both men separate with tears in their eyes, but think in their mind that it is the best thing for the both of them because homosexuality is not accepted in society, especially a country society like Wyoming, where the movie takes place. The tears that the two men cry show the viewer that they really had an emotional relationship and it was not simply "sex"."
Abstract The paper compares Ang Lee's 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain" and Woody Allen's 2006 film "Match Point" which feature story lines that revolve around romantic and sexual relationships and the repercussions those relationships have. The paper states that in "Brokeback Mountain," the principal characters, Jack and Ennis, must struggle to both accept and hide their relationship and in "Match Point" the two main characters, Chris and Nola, must attempt to balance their secret relationship with their public lives. The paper highlights the various visual and storytelling techniques which add depth and drama to each film, with the end result being award-winning examples of modern cinema.
From the Paper "Once the pregnancy occurs and Nola demands their relationship and unborn child finally be shown to the public, he becomes trapped in a way that any solution he chooses ends up with people being hurt in a very serious way. The scene in which Chris rides away from the scene of Nola's murder is one that shows a man who has reached the limits of his emotional and mental health. His killing Nola and her neighbor is an act of desperation that causes him agony. Similar to when Jack breaks down after Ennis' rejection, the camera shows a close up of Chris' face as he cries and thinks about what he has done. The interior of the car is dark, as an obviously dark event has just transpired."
Abstract This paper explains that the motif of the changing river and the unchanging mountain is thoroughly developed by the end of Robert Frost's poem "The Mountain". The entire interplay between the first stanza and the subsequent dialogue, the paper suggests, demonstrates this metaphorical and synecdochical relationship. The author clarifies the way the symbolic structure itself is hinted at throughout the delayed descriptive development of the poem.
From the Paper "Going back to the placement of 'The mountain' at the very beginning, we also find a door into the various tones of the poem, which gain shape in the opening stanza and echo throughout the rest of the poem. The word 'held', in the first line, immediately places a fearful sense over the mountain. Working along with 'shadow', 'held' carries traces of oppression, as a shadow is confined to following its maker around and this confinement shapes into oppression through the controlling, i.e. holding down, aspect of 'held'."
Tags: phrase-echoes ox-driver fluidity naming, descriptive development
Abstract An examination of James Baldwin's fictional representation of his early life "Go Tell it on the Mountain". The author discusses the content of the novel, biographical information on the author, how the novel was received at the time of the original publication and a personal critique of the book itself. The paper concludes with admiration of how the story illustrates one man's struggle to come to terms with his life as an unwanted child and what goes on in the mind of a fourteen year old child when he feels he has sinned against the teachings of his God.
From the Paper "Literature is an art form that can be seen as both representative and critical of society. When we consider historical texts they can tell us a great deal about the culture and expectations that may have been prevalent in that society.
"James Baldwin was a man who knew how to manipulate words during his time time. His writing looks at the role and aspect of the Black man in society and where they are constrained by the societal frameworks and ideas of propriety. The subjects of Baldwin's books have many common themes including the emotions of men and the analogy of youth. If we look at the way in which life was viewed with both positive and negative aspects we may gain a more comprehensive understanding of his work."
