Value Added Services In Logistics Operations Marketing Essay

Value Added Services In Logistics Operations Marketing Essay Logistics is a procedure to optimize all activities to ensure the delivery of cargo through a transport chain from one end to the other. The comparative efficiency of a countrys trade logistics chain is of vital importance in enhancing competitiveness of its industry and commerce. In this regard, international differences in trade logistics efficiency determine in large extent the efficiency and sustainability of the economies. In developed countries such as the U.S. and Japan, logistics costs are about 10 per cent of GDP. For some less developed economies, these costs exceed 30 per cent. Moreover, these differences among countries appear to be widening. According to the European Logistics Association, the logistics costs in relation to annual turnover can amount to more than 30 per cent in the food industry, 27 per cent in the metal industry, 23 per cent in the chemical industry, 15 per cent in the automotive sector. The percentages may differ from country to country and industry by industry, but many of the critical cost factors are influenced by public policy. The logistics chain consists of activities that facilitate the movement of goods from supply to demand. As many such activities require the use of ports, port authorities have taken a particular interest in the various port activities involved in logistics. Logistics costs are not limited to costs consumed in carrying out logistics activities. Rather, they should be understood as all costs input into a given logistics system for the provision of logistics service. According to the US Department of Transportation, logistics is defined to be the method that service groups position themselves to perform activities such as transportation, warehousing, inventories, information processing and customer relations. Advanced logistics is the term used when the firms make use of technologies and permits to reduce costs by substituting large inventories, multiple warehouses and customer service outlets with transportation, e-commerce and just-in-time deliveries. To reap the benefits of advanced logistics, firms have restructured themselves in relation to transporting of goods from one point to another and improving infrastructure. During the 1970s typical logistics functions focused on traditional physical distribution activities, including the movement and storage of finished goods between the producer and consumer. Those specific functions were identified in the 1985 A.T. Kearney study of logistics organizations as outbound transportation, logistics administration, intracompany transportation, logistics control, finished goods field warehousing, and logistics systems planning. These activities were eventually determined to be quite narrow in terms of meeting customer needs. Therefore, they provided the foundation for broader interpretation of logistics, which led to inclusion of various activities like the processing of orders and development of customer relations, finished goods plant warehousing, finished goods inventory management, and inbound transportation. The third phase in this evolutionary process was identified to include logistics engineering, production planning, sourcing or purchasing, raw mater ials or work-in-process inventory management, sales forecasting, and international logistics. This evolutionary process moves logistics from its traditional physical responsibility to an integrative value added role in the business. As logistics becomes more important in an organization, it encompasses more functional areas within a single responsibility center to provide more coordination and more highly integrate the logistics channel. Because of the evolution of the logistics operations, its responsibility travels further back through the supply chain to the raw material source. When logistics operations is linked with manufacturing operations, it can be seen that the aspects of manufacturing activities with logistics operations activities address the common underlying foundations that contribute to the value of the products and services offered to customers. According to a study conducted by Frost Sullivan in 2009, about logistics operations in ASEAN countries, it was found that Singapore accounts for the lowest percentage of logistics as a part of total sales at 8 percent while Indonesia has the highest at 19 percent. According to this 2009 study, Malaysia and Thailand accounts for 17 and 12 percent, respectively. It has been noted that the high logistics costs may be attributed to inefficiency in operations. The inefficiency may be linked to the lack of trained man power and inadequate support to facilities and infrastructure, which has led to the slow flow of cargo and distribution of goods. Based from this study it can be deducted that an efficient operation is due to the presence of trained professionals, high quality and an array of logistics services offered and an excellent infrastructure and communications or information system. As of present date, studies have shown that transportation is the largest contributing factor to the cost acquired by most companies. Currently, the primary reason of most consumers for engaging in a third party logistics provider or what is known to be a trucking service is to enhance the efficiency of logistics operations through professional intervention. Engaging in a trucking service also has its cost advantages and thereby acts as a cost saving move for most companies. An arrangement with a logistics company also provides the consumer the ability to focus on other concerns such as their own competency and reliability. It is no surprise therefore that the main criterion evaluated by most companies engaging in this service is the cost savings factor. There is only Malaysia that evaluates the services offered and the condition of the equipments when choosing their logistics service provider. Meanwhile, it has also been found out that across ASEAN countries, technology is the least considered factor. On the other hand, it can be noted that the most efficient country in logistics operations, Singapore, is heavily focused in the communications area. This countrys most influential consideration factor is the network coverage employed by the logistics service provider since Singaporean companies are main players in the international market. Technology wise, there are sixty percent of consumers adopting technology are heavily rely on warehouse management and the bar coding system. On the other hand, transportation planning system and vehicle tracking system are yet to be embraced by more than sixty percent of the end-users. The use of the smart labeling system or RFID for public vehicles is still low. The adoption and usage for RFID or smart labeling system are still low mainly because of the high cost of implementation and the less mature technologies across South East Asia. Among all the activities in logistics operations, transportation is the most utilized activity accounting for more than seventy percent of end users outsourcing such logistics activities to service providers. Freight forwarding comes to a close second to transportation followed by inbound warehousing accounting for more than fifty percent. On the other hand, processes like the packing and labeling of goods and management of fleet are the value added services that are most utilized. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Value Added Services (VAS), which is loosely defined as a collection of specific requirements mandated by customers involving additional processing of a product or an order beyond the simple picking of the product for an order, is an especially common practice in the retail supply chain and is estimated to consume +10% (and growing) of total labor hours. According to Logistics Managements 2nd Annual Warehouse Operations Survey, 80% of respondents are dealing with some form of VAS in their DCs. This was confirmed during in-depth interviews conducted by Distribution Digest for our report on Automated Case Picking (ACP). Value added services are offered by the logistics companies in order for customers to benefit from their full use and application. This may include anything from routine maintenance and customer technical support; to customization and application training; to real-time inventory management and state-of-the-art channel support. It refers to the process of developing rela tionships with customers through the provision of an augmented offer, which may encompass many aspects of value-added activities. Value added services are aimed at ensuring that special requirements of customers are met and that product is received as ordered. These services are integrated with logistics operations through a global network of agents and coordinated at either point of origin or final delivery location. These services may include: complete shipping documentation from start to finish; cooperation with convention/trade show coordinator; pickup and delivery of time definitive freight; unpacking and setup assistance including the removal of packing materials; repackaging of materials at end of trade show; pickup and return; logistics consulting; performance reporting and distribution services. Through out the years, an evolution to the terminologies relating to the consumer has been witnessed in the logistics industry. Logistics initially gave birth to the concept of customer relations which represents the combined output of the various processes in logistics. Eventually, end products of marketing and logistics activities were connected to customer relations to create customer satisfaction. Most recently, the concept of customer success has been introduced to link the service provided by the firm not only with the satisfaction of the customer, but with the success that the customer realizes in attaining its organizational objectives. Since, transportation, warehousing and freight forwarding are activities that are most likely to continue in the next 2-3 years, there is an increasing trend for consumers to look for companies that can supply value added services. The value added service employed by the logistics companies are created through the eyes of the logistics executi ve. It is critical that the strategies and tactics used influence the perception that the customer has of the organization and has the potential of transaction creation during the short term as well as the long term. Therefore, the logistics executives perception of value is directly linked to the firms ability to satisfy the customer. This can result in customer satisfaction, which can ultimately lead to a positive attitude by the customer towards the service provider. The value of the logistics service provided is measured by an assessment of the logistics executives perception of how customers perceive the service provided by the firm and how they react, or respond to this service. This measure, called customer reaction, include the level of perceived satisfaction with the existing service levels, whether customers are inclined to reduce or increase their business with the firm if the service levels change relative to their expectations, and whether customers can recognize change s in the service levels provided by the firm. These days, the commercial success of a logistics operation could stem from a productivity advantage in traditional cargo-handling service, from value-added service, or from a combination of the two. Productivity advantages come mainly from economies of scale and economies of scope, suggesting that the most productive ports will be those that are equipped to handle large cargo volumes and significantly reduce unit costs through efficient management. Shippers and carriers select individual ports not only based on their cargo handling service capabilities, but also on the benefits they are capable of delivering. Unless a port can deliver benefits that are superior to those provided by its competitors in a functional aspect, customers are likely to select logistics providers based merely on price. This fact raises the question of how to one logistics company can stand out from the rest of the companies that are in the market or what is known to be value differentiation. In the 1970s, almost every logistics company provided the same basic package of services to almost every customer. Nowadays, however, it is more difficult for service providers to compete on the basis of cargo-handling service. There has been a convergence of technology within cargo-handling service categories. This means that though new technology may sometimes provide a window of opportunity for productivity improvement, in many cases that same technology is also available to competitors. It is no longer possible to compete effectively on the basis of basic, traditional functions. Thus, there is a need for logistics service providers to seek out new means of gaining a competitive edge. The late 1980s saw the emergence of major changes. Consumers began to ask service providers to provide a greater variety of services. Providing value-added services is a powerful way for logistics companies to build a sustainable competitive advantage. Shippers and customers are becoming increasingly demanding. Customers now tend to look at value-added logistics services as an integral part of their supply chain. As a result, service providers must attempt to satisfy these needs by offering differentiated services. This poses a particular challenge for logistics operators in the industry. Studies show that the most successful logistics service providers are those that not only have a productivity advantage in cargo-handling services, but that also offer value-added services because operators who do not provide additional services are indistinguishable to their competitors. Although there have been researches that have found that there continues to be a need for operators to provide the basic, traditional cargo-handling function and that there continue to be many customers for such services, it is clear that, in the future of the logistics operations industry, there will be fewer ports that prosper only in this area. Rather, we will see the dominance of superior service leaders that possess both a productivity advantage and a value-added service advantage. Logistics companies that provide value-added services are on their way to becoming the more superior logistics company. The advanced ports around the world have continuously emphasized the function of logistics centres mainly due to the high degree of global production and the need for value added services. These trends in international logistics strongly suggest that the trend toward value added services is likely to continue into the future. Currently, the logistics discipline continues to revolutionize itself with the adaptation of various e-business practices and forms of just in time delivery. The nature of these adjustments may result to more single package deliveries requiring additional transport services. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS Therefore, for logistic operations to have an edge, it is recommended that logistics companies incorporate valued added services to the array of services that they provide in a matter that is cost efficient. There is also a need for service providers to be able to offer services of high quality and as well as cost reducing solutions. Service providers must also take a closer look at the activities in operations and ensure that there are no repetitions of activities for maximum optimization. The elimination of redundant activities results in more efficiency and cost reductions. Providing trainings for inexperienced personnel is also vital in achieving maximum customer satisfaction in the future. The ultimate output of the quality effort by the logistics organization should be through the customers reaction in the market. This reaction is continually perceived by the logistics executive in the form of individual customer sales, business in specific traffic lanes, changes in facility in ventory levels, or changes in the volume of customer complaints to the customer service department. However, the simple truth is that when you are processing thousands of cases an hour and shipping dozens of trailers per day, there just isnt a lot of time for value added services, especially that which doesnt provide real benefit. In the end engaging in value added services is a business decision. A customer can be told that the service provider can do just about anything they want, but the customer must also know that its not free. Value added services make the services provided by the logistics service providers more expensive. The customer needs to gauge how important it is to its business. Sometimes retailers are surprised that their requests dont add any value. As an example, in a certain logistics company, one Vice President of Operations, described a situation where an existing customer ordered standard 12 packs last year, however this year all their orders were in 6 packs. The Operations VP went back to the customer explaining that when youre handling 80,000 cases verses 40 ,000 there is a big difference in handling and processing cost. That particular customer understood the logistics cost impact for the DC, as well as for them, and immediately changed their Purchase Order back to 12 packs. Still, for some companies the consequences of value added services have been more frequent shipments and in smaller quantities, forcing many of them into piece-pick operations where they had previously been a full case-based pick. Or, at the very least, having to open full cases to apply tickets and other paperwork and then manually applying a special shipping label.    If it is determined that the cost absorption for a specified value added service is too great, the logistics company has the option to try and work out a deal with the customer to obtain waivers, or in some extreme situations refuse to comply. On the other hand, a major component of an efficient supply chain is getting everything done on the first touch. Therefore, it can be logically argued that in many cases moving value added services upstream to the manufacturing level is moving it in the right direction. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢

Birth and Family Life Jose Rizal

Birth and Family Life Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. It was a Wednesday evening in Calamba, Laguna, and his mother nearly died in the process. He was baptized three days later, on June 22, by the parish priest of the Catholic church in his town, Fr. Rufino Collantes from Batangas. His godfather, Fr. Pedro Casanas, was a close family friend. Rizal's mother named him after St. Joseph, to whom she was ardently devoted. He was born in Calamba, Laguna (a few kilometers south of Manila) on June 19, 1861 and spent most of his childhood days in Calamba.At the age of 8 in 1869 he wrote his first known poem â€Å"To my Fellow Children† (in Tagalog) where he encourages the love for one’s native language. On June 10, 1872 he started his secondary education in Manila at the Ateneo de Letran. On November 14, 1874 he wrote a poem titled â€Å"Felicitation† as a birthday greeting to the husband of his sister Narcisa. On December 5, 1875 he wrote 3 more poems for which at the end of the school year in March 1876 won him five medals for his talent in poetry.On April 1, 1876 (age 15) he writes 2 more poems namely â€Å"Intimate Alliance of Religion and good Education† and â€Å"Education gives Luster to the Country†. During the summer months while on vacation he wrote a poem called â€Å"San Eustaquio, a Martyr†. On December 3, 1876 he writes 3 more poems â€Å"El cautiverio y el triunfo† or â€Å"The Captivity and the Triumph†, â€Å"Entrada triunfal de los Reyes Catolicos en Granada† or â€Å"The Triumphant entrance of the Catholic Kings in Granada†, and â€Å"La Conquista de Granada† or † The Conquest of Granada†. On March 14, 1877 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree.On November 22, 1879 his poem â€Å"A la Juventud Filipino† (â€Å"To the Filipino Youth†) won first prize in a poetry contest and an honorable mention from the organization loosely translated â€Å"A ssociation of the Friends of the Fatherland†. Notably also he wrote an essay or prose entitled â€Å"The Council of Gods† which was about the Greek/Roman mythological â€Å"gods and goddesses† which showed his deep knowledge of the subject. He started his medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila (the oldest university in the Far East) but stopped because of the unfair treatment by the Dominican Friars of Filipino students.On May 3, 1882 he left the Philippines for Spain where he studied to be a doctor at the Universidad de Madrid. While in Europe he lived in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria until July 3, 1887 when he returned to the Philippines for a brief period. RIZAL'S FAMILY Francisco Mercado Rizal was born on May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna. He was a graduate of the College of San Jose in Manila, studying Latin and Philosophy. Francisco moved to Calamba to become a tenant-farmer of a hacienda owned by the Dominicans. He died at th e age of 80 on January 5, 1898 in Manila.About his father, Jose Rizal says that he is â€Å"a model of fathers. † Teodora Alonso Realonda was born on November 8, 1926 in Manila. She was a graduate of the College of Santa Rosa. She died at the age of 85 on August 16, 1911 in Manila. About his mother, Jose Rizal says, â€Å"My mother is a woman of more than ordinary culture; she knows literature and speaks Spanish better than I. She corrected my poems and gave me good advice when I was studying rhetoric. She is a mathematician and has read many books. † Rizal is the seventh of eleven children: 1. Saturnina 2. Paciano 3. Narcisa 4. Olimpia 5. Lucia 6.Maria 7. Jose 8. Concepcion 9. Josefa 10. Trinidad 11. Soledad Rizal's family was a mixture of races. They were a combination of Negrito, Malay, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish, though Jose was predominantly Malayan. THE SURNAME Mercado was the original surname of the Rizal family. Domingo Lamco, Jose's great-great -grandfather, adopted the name Rizal in 1731 and it became a second surname of the family. In Jose's letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt, he says: â€Å"I am the only Rizal in because at home my parents, my sisters my brother, and my relatives have always preferred our old surname Mercado.Our family name was in fact Mercado, but there were many Mercados in the Philippines who are not related to us. It is said that an alcalde mayor, who was a friend of our family added Rizal to our name. My family did not pay much attention to this, but now I have to use it. In this way, it seems that I am an illegitimate son. † THE MERCADO (RIZAL) FAMILY The Rizals is considered as one of the biggest families during their time. Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Even Negrito blood aside from Chinese.Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda, and nine sisters an d one brother. FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898) Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in Binan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila. TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913) Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious, hard-working and well-read.She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila. SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913) Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas . PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930) Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution. NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939) The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician. OLIMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887) The fo urth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from childbirth.LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919) The fifth child. Married Mariano Herbosa. MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945) The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna. JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896) The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December 30,1896. CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865) The eight child. Died at the age of three. JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945) The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster. TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951) The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die. SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929) The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.

The Mayas and the Incas.

The Mayas and the Incas are two Indian civilizations that inhabited South America and left a significant mark on the culture and history of these places. They both have legends that link their arrival to immigration from the East; however it is more likely that the immigration occurred from the north. Though these two cultures had some similarities one of these was not language as they had several differences in their native tongues. However, regardless of the differences legends have claimed a community of origin between these two civilizations, in the remote past.The Inca civilization has a reign of less than 200 years in comparison to the Maya civilization and has its base in the area that is now Peru. They flourished in the highlands of the Andes and their reign is estimated as being from AD 1438 – 1534. They also extended into the areas that are now Ecuador and Chile. There are links that show that this civilization was derived from a warlike tribe that moved into the val ley at Cuzco. Their reign was estimated to span from the Maule River to the Quito.In contrast, the Maya civilization emerged in BC 1000 and lasted more than a thousand years in the Yucatan area of Mexico into Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. They were responsible for the creation of many cities in their time such as Tikal and Uxual. They also had a wide span however their system of governance varied greatly and there was no emperor but rather several powerful heads in each city. There was also no capital as each city ruled itself.In terms of religious practices both civilizations practiced sacrificing of animals and at times of humans as well.   They also both worshipped several Gods. The Incas believed in a creator and many sky gods. They called gold the â€Å"sweat of the sun† and viewed it as precious only in materials used for ceremonial items. They focused on rituals that they believed led to healing and increasing harvest. In a trait similar to the Mayas, in times of c alamity they believed in the sacrifice of humans.These times included earthquakes and drought. The Inca also had a similar religion to the Inca. They also believed in several nature Gods and in the use of sacrifice to appease the Gods. The thought that the feeding of blood to the Gods would also appease and satisfy the Gods so that their  children would be healthy and their crops would be good. Religion was important in daily life and this is evident from the information that has been attained from pottery, the walls of buildings and murals.Inca architecture was ornate. The capital city was Cuzco and this was the richest city in the Americas at that time. The temples were decorated with gold plates. There were many royal estates and palaces that were for the nobility and were constantly maintained by the builders and artisans. The Mayas had elaborate buildings as well but were more advanced in their use of material.They used concrete in their construction and built pyramids as mon uments to Gods and leaders. Some of these pyramids were as tall as 200 feet. They also had a distinctive style of construction. The pyramids that they built the tops were flat unlike those in Egyptian architecture. This meant that their leaders were able to climb and sit atop the pyramids.There were mainly three staples in the Inca diet. These were corn, potato and a seed called quinua. They were advanced in thinking and grew a surplus of food for times of war and drought. The quinua was the seed that was used to produce flour and cereal.Corn was used in religious ceremonies and to make a drink called Chicha. The Maya diet was also largely reliant on agriculture. They cultivated corn, beans, sweet potatoes, squash and yucca. Corn was the main staple in their diet. They also sourced meat from the hunting of deer, monkey, duck and wild turkey. The product that was limited in consumption to the nobles was chocolate and was referred to as the drink of the Gods.The Incas had rulers that enforced a strong work ethic in them. Though they had leisure time this time was focused more on religious festivals. Many festivals would take place that were to honour leaders, Gods and to help with a good harvest. The Maya, in contrast, actually had a lot more activities. They had a game called â€Å"pok-ol-pok† that used a rubber ball.This game is very similar to what we know today as soccer. As in soccer the hands were not used to touch the ball and the ball had to be hit though a ring. This game could be very competitive and sometimes the losing team would lose their life. They also had trumpets made from conch shells and drums that they used to play music. Some other instruments included the turtle shell rattles and the pottery flutes. They loved to dance and play music and would honour the rulers and Gods by doing these activities.Both societies were classed societies. The Maya had at the bottom of the ladder the slaves. This was followed by the peasants, artisans, no bility, priests and the leaders at the top. There was no supreme leader. The farmers raised crops and worked hard as they did not use animals to prepare fields. Craftsmen made murals, pottery, jewellery and many other items.They also had piercing and tattoos like today but viewed beauty differently. The Inca had a similar class but with labourers below and an Emperor at the top. Farmers also worked hard and grew crops but also reared animals. The llamas were used for transport and the alpacas for their wool. The Inca painted their faces and also had piercings. They in addition had the ear of boys pierced in a manhood ceremony and a gold disc placed in the hole. When the boy grew older this disc was replaced with larger and larger discs. This was considered to be a sign of beauty.The culture of the Maya was very developed. They possessed a written language and books. They also had experts in the fields of mathematics and astronomy. As already mentioned, their architecture was excepti onal and they constructed palaces and pyramids with great skill. The writings of the Maya are perhaps on of the first writings of the Americas. They utilized pictures and symbols to represent words and thoughts.These symbols can be known as glyphs and have been found in books and walls. Their books were folded like a fan and were called codices. Their number system was advanced and they based it on the number 20 unlike our present system that uses 10. The Maya could subtract and add. It has also been seen that they were able to plot the movement of the sun, moon and Venus. They performed calculations on the orbit of Venus that have been found to be very accurate today. Their calendar is the most accurate one from the ancient world. They based their year on a 365 day system over one thousand years ago.The Inca culture was not as advanced and they did not have any written language. They did have the foresight to have verbal historians in their society that ensured that their history w as passed along through the generations. The form of mathematics that was practiced was also not very developed. They used a quipus to keep track of numbers. This consisted of coloured strings and knots tied. The quipu rememberers were able to translate the knots and keep track of amounts.The method by which the quipu was used is not known today. Although not  very advanced like the Maya in many aspects the Inca were also skilled in terms of architecture. The material they used was stone and not concrete however they were skilled enough to be able to fit the stones perfectly without the use of mortar. They also had the insight to build a lot of roads as much as 10,000 miles in addition to many temples, palaces and bridges. Their bridges were great structures that were made using a rope suspension method and they were advanced in terms of irrigation.The Inca and the Maya civilizations both have a lot of similarities and differences. The similarities in their religious beliefs are e vident on further inspection. These may be due to the fact that they most probably have in their lineages common ancestors or roots. The belief in sacrifices as well as the similarities in some of their Gods points clearly to this. The importance that the societies have placed on religion is also evident in their cultures.One factor that can account for the advanced development of the Maya civilization is the fact that they were an old civilization. This civilization had a lot of time to develop. The time period that they existed for was over a thousand years giving them a lot of time to develop, grow, explore and investigate the world around them and ways to improve their life. This information could then be passed along through the generations and built on and further developed with each successive generation.The Inca civilization, however, is one that was very young in age. They were around for only a period of about 200 years. This means that they were not able to advance to the degree of the Maya civilization within that timeframe. There achievements are in fact great for the limited time that they were in their prime. Their language given time, I am certain would have developed into a written language as well.Location of the civilizations can also account for differences in their diet and daily life. Though in the southern continent of the Americas the types of crops planted and reared would have varied from area to area and this would affect the type of food that was consumed by the population.The governance system of the civilizations may also account for some of the differences. The Mayas were not dependent on the governance of an Emperor and were able to function as independent cities while the Inca had  a supreme Emperor. This may indeed have held back the development of the Inca as they were dependent on the genius of one individual whereas the Maya were led by several leaders in many cities.  These reasons may account for the differences and s imilarities in the Inca and Maya civilizations. These civilizations had many similarities and many differences but were both in their own way and in their own time great in terms of their achievements and development.ReferencesStrohl, M. and S. Schneck. Mayas, Aztecs, Incas: Cooperative Learning Activities. New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 1994.Baquedano, E. Eyewitness Books: Aztec, Inca, and Maya. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,1993.Mesoamerican Civilizations: Mayas and Incas. 24th April, 2007Bleeker, S and Sasaki, K. The Maya: Indians of Central America. Published: Morrow, 1961.

Spatial Rhythm and Poetic Invention in William Carlos...

William Carlos Williams was fascinated by the ways in which living organisms and inert matter occupy space--how they move in it, or cannot move, are cramped or allowed to roam freely--and how the space inside organisms and matter is charted, perceived, and manipulated. Williamss preoccupation with actual space in the material world is paralleled by his formal experimentations with the placement of words on the page. Without invention nothing is well spaced (P 50), Williams writes at the beginning of Sunday in the Park, raising the question, what does well spaced mean for Williams? How can the world and how can poetry be well spaced? The aim of this paper is to look at the relationship between Williamss use of what I will call†¦show more content†¦In the opening lines of Sunday in the Park, Dr. P.s walk through the park becomes a metaphor not only for sexual intercourse but for poetic production: Outside outside myself there is a world, he rumbled, subject to my incursions lt;BLOCKQUOTElt;--A (to me) at rest, which I approach concretely-- The scenes the Park upon the rock, female to the city --upon whose body Paterson instructs his thoughts The link between walking, coitus, and creativity is part of a larger framework in Sunday in which biological processes and various kinds of movement through space--what I am calling spatial rhythms -- are used to explore the nature of poetry. One only has to look at the configuration of words on the page to know that for Williams well spaced involves not regularity but constant change and surprise. Williamss manipulation of space, both on the page and in the Park, is, in this section of Paterson, the main tool used to create the structure that M. L. Rosenthal and Sally Gall have described as characteristic of the modern poetic sequence, a structure that is not predominantly narrative or dramatic, but lyrical, a progression of specific qualities and intensities.[1] This rhythm corresponds to a cyclicity of mood that can be described as manic-depresive or, to use Rosenthals and Galls term, cyclothymic.[2] Corresponding to this constantly changing tone is a space that is