Essays --

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing plain stitch of research that is making exciting discoveries and advancements in the field of medicine at an dumfounding pace. With such progress there are many ethical issues that arise concerning new innovative implants, medical devices, and diagnosis and therapeutic treatments in the field of biomedical engineering in order to make better an individuals quality of life. Neuroethics in particular has become a big topic of debate as researchers gradually decode the complex organism called the human brain. The brain has long been an enigma, its intricate inner workings perplexing even the most scholarly of intellectuals for decades. new-fangled advancements in neuroimaging, brain implants, and scientists increased knowledge of basic human psychology concerning the bases of individual behavior and personality have led to the fear that this new gained entropy has the potential to be misused by governments and other entities. Ethicist fea r that the same devices meant to help patients suffering from devastating neural diseases could be manipulated to breach singles privacy. Devices and treatments used to cure or alleviate effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons, or perhaps to help those who have mental illnesses or impairments could be used to decipher ones hidden thoughts, and even used as a way to discriminate against someone based on ones religious beliefs and values. The main areas of Neuroethics that have caused concern are brain implants and medical devices, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing. Implantable brain or neural devices are an exciting rapidly growing research area in class of biomedical devices. Brain implants usually function by interfering w... ... of the brain and the more complex interworkings of the human mentality. As a result the field of Neuroscience is making strides in medicine and engineering at an astounding rate with no prospect of slowing down in the near future. With such great innovation in biomedical engineering concerning brain implants, neuroimaging, and brain machine interfacing meant to improve the quality of life of individuals. The potential misuse of this technology is of great concern. As engineers grow closer to producing brain scanners that can read someones mind or neuroimaging machines that can be used to predict behavior and influence thoughts and emotions, Neuroethics must be a moral compass at the forefront of the field of biomedical engineering in area of neuroscience to ensure that ultimately the rights and privacy of the individuals the technology is meant to help are protected.

Rhyme, Scheme and Meaning in A Poison Tree :: Poison Tree Essays

Rhyme, Scheme and Meaning in A Poison Tree In many cases, poetrys are very abrupt and awkward sounding when check or spoken aloud. A simple solution to end a poems awkwardness is a rhyme scheme. Many poems dont rhyme for reasons of subject matter but to make the poem more interesting and easier to read the poet uses rhyming words. In many cases, poets use end rhyme, which is development words that rhyme in the end of the phrase or sentence of each sentence. A Poison Tree by William Blake is a great lawsuit of end rhyme used in poetry. When one looks at the title, A Poison Tree one can assume the poem is going to be about some sort of fauna. When the reader goes on to read the poem in its entirety, one sees A Poison Tree is simply a emblematic title. The poem begins with someone telling of his wrath for a friend. He had once told a friend why he was mad at or ferocious with him. When he spoke to the friend, the irritation went away. In another instance, he was also angry w ith his foeman. He had never told his foeman basically that he held him with the title of enemy and his angst or hate for him grew. The poem takes on an AA, BB end rhyme scheme in that a sentence (in a group of two) will rhyme with the next. The poet continues the poem exclaiming what he had to deal with while trying to fell his hate for his enemy. He had basically tried to hide his hate or irritation for his enemy out of fear. And I sunned it with smiles, and with soft deceitful wiles is a phrase in the poem that shows that the person speaking in the poem also tried to hide his hate for his foe. The sentences in the poem continue to rhyme one after another in groups of two. The third part in the poem exclaims what happened to the hate and anger he tried to hide while hiding it from his foe. His hate grew both day and night which can basically sum up that what the speaker unfeignedly has is angst towards his enemy. Finally his angst grew so much that it could not be hidden an ymore and his enemy found out about his secret.

The Jungle By Upton Sinclair :: essays research papers

There atomic number 18 many characters in The Jungle. These characters vary widely in their professions, social status, and economic status. The main character in the novel is a Lithuanian named Jurgis Rudkus. His wife is Ona Lukoszaite, also a Lithuanian. Their son is named Antanas. Mike Scully is a powerful political leader in Packingtown. Phil Connor is a foreman in Packingtown, politically connected (through Scully), and a man who causes much trouble for Jurgis. Jack Duane is an experienced and educated criminal who is also politically connected. A man called Ostrinski is a half-blind tailor who teaches Jurgis about Socialism. There are also the members of Onas family, each of whom play minor roles in the story. The story opens with the feast at Jurgis and Onas spousal relationship in America, but soon flashes back to the time before they left Lithuania. Jurgis met Ona at a horse fair, and fell in love with her. Unfortunately, they were too shortsighted to have a wedding, sin ce Onas father just died. In the hopes of finding freedom and fortune, they left for America, bringing many members of Onas family with them.After arriving in America, they are taken to Packingtown to find work. Packingtown is a section of Chicago where the meat packing industry is centralized. They take a tour of the plant, and see the unbelievable efficiency and recreate at which hogs and cattle are butchered, cooked, packed, and shipped. In Packingtown, no part of the animal is wasted. The tour guide specifically says They use everything about the hog except the squeal, (The Jungle, paginate 38).Jurgiss brawny build quickly gets him a job on the cattle killing beds. The other members of the family soon find jobs, except for the children. They are dictate into school. At first, Jurgis is happy with his job and America, but he soon learns that America is plagued by corruption, dishonesty, and bribery. He is forced to work at high speeds for long hours with misfortunate pay, and so is the rest of the family. He is cheated out of his money several times. The children must leave school and go to work to help the family survive. This means they will neer receive the education they need to rise above this. Ona is not permitted to take a holiday, even for her own wedding.After the birth of her first son, Antanas, Ona soon becomes with child(predicate) again.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell Essay -- nineteenth century Engla

The nineteenth century was a time of economic, technologic, and population growth. These changes created problems in everyones daily lives. Two examples of things that affected the lives of many were disease and sanitation. Disease and sanitation led to high mortality rates in Nineteenth- Century England. This relates to North and southbound by Elizabeth Gaskell as it takes place during nineteenth century England and multiple characters died presumably ascribable to disease. In North and South by the Victorian Novelist, Elizabeth Gaskel, the towns in the intelligence were given different names than they were in England during the nineteenth century. The population growth, diseases, and sanitation was similar throughout all of England, however most research focuses on London, England due to London being one of the largest cities in England. The nineteenth century was definitely a time of population growth and England was no exception to population growth. agree to Professo r of Economics, Nicola Tynan, in 1801, the metropolis in London had a population of 959,000. By 1851, the population had grown to 2.3 million residents and then in 1900, the population was up to 4.5 million (Tynan, 76). People in the area just wanted to move into the cities for the news jobs that were available in industry and to change their lives. These statistics are for the London metropolis, however the same population growth was occurring in many of the cities in northern England. In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell examines the Hale family as they moved from Helstone to Milton. The family moved because Mr. Hale felt up like he could no longer faithfully fulfill his position in the village, so the family went to the city for a change and to start over. (Gaskell... ...South. Penguin Books. England. 2003. Print. Jenson, Jane. Getting to Sewers and sanitation Doing Public Health within Nineteenth Century Britains Citizenship Regimes. Politics and Society. Volume 36. No. 4 5 32-556. December 2008. Web.Pooley, Marilyn E., and Pooley, ColinG. . Urban Disease and Mortality in Nineteenth Century England. 1984. Great Britain. Print. Pages 158-159. Thorsheim, Peter. The Corpse in the Garden Burial, Health, and the Environment in Nineteenth-Century London. Environmental History 16.1 (2011)38-68. Proquest. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. Tynan, Nicole. Nineteenth Century London weewee supply Processes of innovation and improvement. Review of Austrian Economics. Volume 26. Issue 1. 2013. Pages 73-91. Web.Woods, Robert. Woodward, John. Urban Disease and Mortality in Nineteenth Century England. 1984. Great Britain. Print.

Lorraine Hansberry Essay -- essays research papers

Her first play, A Raisin In the Sun, is based on her childhood experiences of desegregating a white neighborhood. It won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award as Best Play of the Year. She was the youngest American, the fifth woman and the first black to win the award. Her succeeder opened the floodgates for a generation of modern black actors and writers who were influenced and encouraged by her writing. Hansberry was born in 1930, the youngest of four children of Carl and Nannie Hansberry, a respected and successful black family in Chicago, Illinois. Nannie was the college educated daughter of an African Methodist Episcopal minister, and Carl was a successful real estate businessman, an inventor and a politician who ran for congress in 1940. some(prenominal) parents were activists challenging discriminating Jim Crow Laws. Because of their stature in the black community such important black leaders as Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, and Langston Hughes frequented the Hansberry hom e as Lorraine was growing up. Although they could afford good private schools, Lorraine was educated in the segregated public schools as her family worked within the system to change the laws governing segregation. After spunky school Hansberry briefly attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before moving to New York for "an education of another kind." She married Robert Nemiroff, a white Jewish bright who she met on a picket line protesting the exclusion of black athletes from universi...

Lorraine Hansberry Essay -- essays research papers

Her first play, A Raisin In the Sun, is based on her childhood experiences of desegregating a white neighborhood. It won the New York Drama Critics roach Award as Best Play of the Year. She was the youngest American, the fifth woman and the first dingy to win the award. Her success opened the floodgates for a generation of modern black actors and writers who were influenced and encouraged by her writing. Hansberry was born in 1930, the youngest of four children of Carl and Nannie Hansberry, a respected and successful black family in Chicago, Illinois. Nannie was the college ameliorate daughter of an African Methodist portentous minister, and Carl was a successful real estate businessman, an inventor and a politician who ran for congress in 1940. Both parents were activists challenging discriminating Jim Crow Laws. Because of their stature in the black community such important black leaders as Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, and Langston Hughes frequented the Hansberry home as Lorra ine was growing up. Although they could afford good private schools, Lorraine was educated in the segregated public schools as her family worked within the system to change the laws governing segregation. After high school Hansberry briefly attended the University of Wisconsin at capital of Wisconsin before moving to New York for "an education of another kind." She married Robert Nemiroff, a white Jewish intellectual who she met on a picket line protesting the exception of black athletes from universi...

Instrumental and end values Essay

Values argon ones judgment of what is all important(p) in life. One track of shell outing value is in terms of subservient and end values. Instrumental values are beliefs about the type of behavior appropriate for reaching certain goals. cease values or sometimes called terminal values, are beliefs about the kind of goals or outcomes that are worth trying to pursue. This paper will evidently key the primary concepts of each value while examining my personal list and rankings of five instrumental and end values most important to me.End vales can be categorized by two different aspects, personal and social. My end vales consist of equality, an exciting life, self-respect, a sense of accomplishment, and scholarship. The end values most important to me take to the woods towards a more personal aspect, even though equality is considered a social end value according to Rokeach. Making necessary life decisions consider these five end values. Equality is definitely one of most importa nt values in my life. Equality among friends and family has always been one of the major values in my life. An exciting life is necessary for ones happiness and happiness leads to a positive aura surrounding an individual. Self-respect, a sense of accomplishment and wisdom are three aspects that are tied together. An individual needs to have self-respect and a sense of accomplishment to acquire wisdom.Instrumental values, according to Rokeach, d causeslope in two categories as well morality and competence. The means people use to achieve their goals might violate moral values like honesty, or violate ones personal sense of competence and capability like become illogical. My five instrumental values include ambition, cleanliness, forgiveness, responsibility, and self- control. The instrumental values most important to me focuses more on competence than morality. These instrumental goals are key aspects that focus on pursuing ones life goals. silver dollar is the best policy. Honest y is one of the most important aspects in pursuing ones goals in life. Ambition is also one of many important values in a goal oriented person. Ambition is required for one to achieve goals and be successful. Cleanliness andresponsibility are at an equal direct of importance in my life. Cleanliness is associated with responsibility in numerous ways. One has to be responsible to keep oneself and ones surroundings clean which leads to a ingenious lifestyle. Forgiveness and self-control are two keen values to ones life as well. Self-control is very important to succeed in life.However, every individual has two instrumental and end values, every person differs in how they order the values into priorities, which accounts for tremendous variation among people. Comprehending ones own values clarifies what is important, which is essential for effective leadership. Leaders can identify and comprehend value differences to improve communication and effectiveness.Instrumental and end values are both essential in achieving goals and having a successful life whether it is a personal end value and social end value or morality instrumental value and competence instrumental value. This paper described and listed five instrumental and end value and their importance in ones life. Values are fundamental beliefs that an individual considers to be important that have an impact on attitudes and behavior.

Historic Centres of Melaka and Penang Social

Historic Centres of Melaka and Penang mixer and Cultural History I. Introduction To solar daytime if unitary were to look d bear from an aerial view over the cities of Melaka ( employ to be spelt as malacca cane) and Penang on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, iodine would be capable to discern a gay mosaic of artifacts and people, characteristic of the living cultures of both the historic cities.Melaka which is about 600 days old from its founding and Penang or Pearl of the orientate which is 215 historic period afterwards(prenominal) being taken over by the British, accept a precise well semblance in their multi- hea whenceish characteristics which developed over the years through the processes of history. For these living cultures, Melaka and Penang deserve to be con viewred as World heritage Cities. Melaka is set 2 degrees north of the equator and very well cognize in the topical anaesthetic legend as a fortunate land for, even the pelandok (mouse deer) w as full of courage. It went through the age of glory for slightly more than 100 years low the rule of the Malay sultanate, when it became unmatchable of the greatest behaviors in Asia, if not the dry land. However, it fell into European hands for more than 400 years after that the Portuguese control for 130 years, the Dutch for 160 years and the British for 133 years. In 1948 it became secern of the Federation of Malaya and gained her independence with the emit of the peninsula in 1957.The early(a) proposed heritage city is Penang which became a British possession in 1786 when Francis comfortable, a British country trader, was able to conclude a treaty with the grand Turk of Kedah for the vitamin E India troupe. Penang became the commencement exercise leg for the British to set themselves into peninsular Malaysia, and was intended to be a British naval base and a trading revolve about. Situated at the northern end of the base on balls of Melaka, it could challenge the Dutch in the southerly. Light was very hopeful of Penang as he had earlier indicated in his letter to his comp either, Jourdain, Sulivan and De Souza, European ships potbelly easily halt there. in that location is plenty of wood, water and provisions there they whitethorn be supplied with tin, pepper, beetle-nut, rattans, birds-nests . and the Macao ships will be glad to stop there, and all other vessels passing through the streights may be as easily supplied as at Malacca by the Dutch1 Indeed it soon became a metropolitan city when people from all over the world were allowed to prove in and trade with Penang. In the earlier stage it was ruled by the British as a Presidency from Bengal under the East India Company, and became recess of the Straits Settlements since 1826 together with Melaka and Singapore.As in Melaka, Penang was made part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 which gained its independence in 1957 II. The Foundation of Heritage Cities Melaka and Penang rich perso n left behind diachronic legacies that deserve to be recognised by the World Heritage Convention. Melaka fits criteria 24(a)(iv) indicating the depth of layers of history in Melaka dating pole from the 14th century to the present, and Georgetown in Penang fits in criteria (v) which acknowledges the breadth of typical traditional urban fabric and vital traditional activities that in time remains.However, it is the multi-cultural population of both the cities of Melaka and Penang today, that make them unique. They argon the result of hundreds of years of history. III. Melaka The diachronic City (paragraph 27(ii)) like a shot Melaka is officially known as The Historical City (Bandar Bersejarah) because the histories of the Malays argon said to have started from here. Founded at the end of the 14th century by Parameswara, a prince from the declining Srivijaya empire in Sumatra, it became one of the largest entrepot in selenium Asia by the origin of the 15th century.Being strategi cally placed at one of the narrowest muscae volitantes on the Straits of Melaka and geographically blessed as the area where the northeast and southwest monsoons met, it became a favourite user interface of call by traders from India, the Middle East, china, the mainland Southeast Asian states and the surrounding Malay archipelago. From the 15th century onwards Europeans to a fault began to ply the Melaka Straits. It provided them with fresh water and the harbour was situated such(prenominal)(prenominal) that it could easily be defended from any attacks.The deep harbour similarly served as the door to export goods from the rich hinterland, such as gold from Pahang and tin from neighbouring districts. Melaka had a well administered disposal and had enjoyed comparatively long stoppages of peace. Its economic success was based on the roles of international traders. A strong tradition was thusly set during this flow. The famous Melaka Maritime Laws were introduced to date the rights of ships captains and their crew.There were four different ports, each offered by a harbour master or Syahbandar. The most important was the one in shudder of ships from Gujarat, followed by the one in charge of those from other parts of India, Burma and north Sumatra. The third was in charge of ships from islands Southeast Asia, and the last unless not least was in charge of ships from China and Indo-China. People from different lands had to stay even if however for a few months while waiting for the respective monsoons to bring them home.Thus various ethnic groups from the Chinese, Indian, the Malay archipelago, Siamese, Burmese, Indo-Chinese, Arab communities were gathered in this port city germinating the existence of a multi-cultural society that today becomes one of the outstanding features of the general Malaysian population. It was said that at the upside of the Melaka period more than 80 different languages were spoken on the streets of Melaka. Melaka trade dea lt with spices from the islands of Moluku and Banda, textiles from Gujarat, Coromandel, Malabar and Bengal in India.These were exchanged for aromatics, corals, pearls, gold, silver and other exotic goods from the East and West, such as Chinese porcelain and silk or perfumes from the Red Sea. About 2 000 ships were reported to anchor at Melaka at any one time. The prosperity of Melaka was enhanced by her family with the Ming Dynasty whose patronage was well-sought after by most rulers in island Southeast Asia. Official visits were exchanged annually by both parties, led by the newly ins nobleed sultans from Melaka or officials of the Chinese court. Two of the most famous of the latter were Yin Ching and the outward looking Moslem Commander, Cheng Ho.Melaka alike became the centre of Islam e peculiarly after the sultans became converted. Since then this religion became equivalent with the Malays themselves. The religion spread through conversions, marriages, conquests and trade. Th e Arabic script, being the script of the Quran, was adopted as the official script for the Malay language which had long been the lingua franca of the region. The Melaka enactment or Hukum Kanun Melaka, the first written laws and order of the state and written in this script, became the basis of state laws of other Malay states in the peninsula.Malay traditions, especially on the religion, language, boldness and customs were born in Melaka. Some remnants of the Malay period still exist in an old Malay burial ground In Jalan masjid Tanah, just outside Trendak Camp. This burial ground was said to date back to the 15th century. An imposing grave that remains was said to belong to one of the legendary Malay warriors, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi or Hang Lekiu. Two and a half miles outside Melaka and situated at Kampong Duyong is another artefact attached with another renown Malay legend of the 15th century, the Hang Tuah well, which is near one of the oldest mosques in Melaka.Another pl ace with a legend behind it is Bukit China or China Hill. Bukit China was said to be presented to the retinue of the Chinese princess Hong Lim Poh who became one of Sultan Mansurs consorts. At the foot of the hill is a well take for the Raja, hence the name, the Rajas Well or Perigi Raja. The Chinese called it Sam Pos Well after the name of Admiral Cheng Ho who was too known as Sam Po. They believed the water became purer after the visit of the famous admiral. Because of the water which never dried up, the Dutch walled it up for protection and preservation. 2 IV. Melaka and Portuguese bequest (paragraph 29 (iv)) Melakas glory under the Malay sultans ended in 1511, when the Portuguese captured the the fabulous eastern empire, under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque. The new conquerors had already heard about the wealth of Melaka and how its control could also make Portugal a new power to be reckoned with in Europe. About Melaka a Portuguese had erst said, Whosoever holds Malac ca, had his hands on the throat of Venice. 3 The Portuguese then quickly built A Famosa, the fort that surrounded the present St.Pauls Hill. Hundreds of workmen, slaves and captives were said to have been utilise to build the fortress made of stones from broken down mosques and tombs of nobles. Within the walls were the Governors palace, the Bishops palace, the Governments Council chambers, several churches, two hospitals, a monastery and a prison. The fortress had successfully defended Melaka from enemy attacks until it fell into Dutch hands in1641. Catholicism was introduced to the locals during the Portuguese rule. A famous French Jesuit St. Francis Xavier Apostle of the Indies, started St.Pauls College in Melaka in 1548. On another hill opposite China Hill, the Portuguese also built a chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and the hill was thus named after him, St. Johns Hill, or Bukit Senjuang (the corrupted Malay name for the hill). The date of the construction is not know n. Celebrations commemorating St. John is carried out here on twenty-third June every year with much gaiety and music. V. Melaka and Dutch Legacy (paragraph 29 (iv)) In 1641 the Dutch took Melaka from the Portuguese after a five-month siege.Many of the structures within the fort were damaged or destroyed and the suburbs were in ruins. The Dutch quickly restored A Famosa which was then renamed Porta de Santiago. On it was engraved the coat of arms of the coupled East India Company and the date 1670. Between 1760s and 1770s the Dutch built another fort on St. Johns Hill. 4 It utilise to be armed with eight cannons. Under the Dutch, Melaka ceased to be the emporium that it was onward, because the new conquerors gave more importance to Batavia (Jakarta) as the capital of the Dutch empire in the East.But trade at Melaka continued, and here the Dutch spread their Protestant missionary works and established Christ church service on Jalan Gereja in 1753, the oldest Protestant church i n Malaysia. It was built of red bricks especially imported from Holland. It had tall slender windows with arched heads, massive walls and heavy wooden ceiling beams. directly devotees still use the original wooden pews during Sunday prayers. Although the Catholics were persecuted by the Dutch, a Catholic St. Peters church service, was allowed to be built in 1710 on a put of land given by the government to a Dutch convert.It is situated at the present Jalan Bendahara in the Bunga Raya district. The church bell dated 1608 was apparently taken from a church which was destroyed by the Dutch during the early period of their rule. This became the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia built on a mixture of oriental and western architecture. St. Pauls College which was founded by St. Francis Xavier during the Portuguese, however, was not spared. The Dutch used it as part of the fort and later as a burial ground for high ranking Dutch personalities.The former Governors vestibule was convert ed into the red terracotta Stadthuys (Government House) in 1650 and was made the home of the Dutch Governor and his retinue. It had a elegant balcony that faced Christ Church. It contained large board, one of which had a attractively carved ceiling. The upper floor was once used as the Court of Justice, and the light floor partly for the fire service and partly for the main military guard. At the back was an attractive patio that might have led to the Bishops palace of the Portuguese period. Today it becomes the Melaka Historical Museum. VI. Melaka and British Legacy (paragraph 29 (iv))The Dutch ruled Melaka until 1795 when it was handed over to the British during the Napoleanic wars when the Dutch king had to take refuge in England. It was agreed, however, that it would be returned to the Dutch when the wars were over, which was in 1818. It was during this interim period that the fortification in Melaka was destroyed. The Melaka British Resident William Farquhar, under the ins truction of the Penang Council, started to effectively level down .. the intact of the fortifications, arsenals, store houses and public buildings of all denominations in Melaka boot out Bukit China and St.Johns Hill. 5 Penang which at this time was beginning to expand as a trading centre did not want Melaka to rival it when the Dutch returned after the Napoleanic wars. Thus the famous local writer, Abdullah Abdul Kadir Munsyi, noted sadly in his journal, The Fort was the pride of Melaka, and after its destruction the place lost its glory like a woman bereaved of her husband, the lustre gone from her face The old order is destroyed, a new world is created, and all around us is changed. 6 The only part that remained of A Famosa and Porta de Santiago was the gate which now still stands.Further destruction was stopped by the agent of the East India Company, Thomas Stamford Raffles, who happened to be visiting Melaka at this time. His report on Melaka to the East India Company that, Its name carries more weight to a Malay ear than any new settlement could,7 and indeed, with the assistance of Malacca, the whole of the Malay rajahs in the Straits and to the Eastward might be rendered not only subservient besides if necessary tributary,8 was almost prophetic in relation to later expansion of British influence in the Malay areas.A significant landmark that the British left in Melaka before the Dutch took it back was the establishment of Anglo Chinese College in 1818. It was the brain-child of Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to China, who had failed to make any headway in that imperial country, but used Melaka for the diffusion of Christianity and also for the reciprocal cultivation of Chinese and European culture. 9 Most of the students were children from Melaka-born Chinese, as well as Indian and Malay.The college which stood on a piece of land given to the capital of the United poufdom Missionary Society was just outside the Trankerah gate. A lthough the contribution of the college in discipline was unquestionable, in 1843 the London Missionary Society sold it for private purposes because it decided to melt its activities to Hong Kong. In the same decade, however, a twin-towered Gothic Church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier by the French Father P. Fabre, was built on part of the Portuguese ruins to continue with the Christian missionary works. VII. The Melaka People The Living HeritageAlthough the population of Melaka had been multi cultural since the Sultanate period, new communal groups that emerged as the result of cultural and social metamorphosis make them unique. They were the Peranakan Chinese or Baba, the Chitty and the Portuguese Peranakan. The Baba community practised a culture which is a syncretism of Chinese and Malay culture. It was not the result of inter-marriages for they segregated strictly among themselves. 10 They spoke Baba Malay, and the women wore Malay tog and jewellery. The majority were Buddh ists but some became Christians.They dominated the Tranquerah district and Jalan Tan Cheng Lock. Today they lean more towards the Chinese culture. The Chitty were the Melaka born Indians who might have immigrated in the sixteenth century as traders and inter-married with the local women. They spoke Malay but remained staunch Hindu. They built Hindu synagogues and shrines. 11 The last group is the descendents of Portuguese settlers who came during the Portuguese rule. They had inter-married with local women but remained staunch Catholics. They spoke an archaic and highly localised Portuguese called Cristao.In 1933 an 11-hectare land was allotted for this community at Ujong Pasir where the people could preserve their traditions and customs which they continue to celebrate, such as the Natal or Christmas, singing the carols and dancing the branyo. 12 Festa de San Pedro a celebration honouring St. Peter, the patron of the fishermen, most of whose members are from this community, is hel d on 29th June every year. On this day their boats are well decorated and are blessed by the local priests. Easter is alship canal noted at St. Peters Church on Jalan Bendahara.Here, too, the Palm Sunday and Good Friday are celebrated by a life-sized statue of Christ being borne in a procession around the church. As in other parts of Malaysia, the Malays are synonymous with Islam and identified with their mosques. Although Islam already existed in Melaka in the 14th century, one of the oldest mosques that still remains is the Tranquerah Mosque which might have been built in the early 1820s. It is in the grounds of this mosque that Sultan Hussein, who signed the cession of Singapore to the British in 1819, was buried.The mosque which is strongly influenced by Achehnese modal value of the period, has benefit roofs and Islamic designs and motifs. Another mosque that denotes Melakas rich cultural heritage is the Kampung Keling Mosque at Jalan Tukang Emas. Also built in Sumatran agen cy, it has pyramid roof and pagoda-like minaret, white lustrous Portuguese tiles and Victorian chandelier. One of the significant landmarks of the Chinese community in Melaka is the Cheng Hoon Teng temple (the Abode of the Green Merciful Clouds), which could be the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia.Situated in Temple thoroughfare in the heart of Melaka, was founded by Li Wei King or Li Kup at the beginning of the Dutch period. He was a Chinese refugee who escaped from the Manchus and was the first Kapitan China in Melaka. The temple has undergone renovations and expansion by different Chinese community leaders at different times. Today it also houses Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, and several other deities. The building is based on intricate Chinese architecture, whose roof ridges and eaves are decorated with exquisite Chinese mythical figures, animals, birds and flowers of sloping glass or porcelain. 13 The Indians, most of whom are Hindus, are also identified by the house of adore. Their oldest temple is Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi which was built in the late 18th century. The temple which stands at Jalan Tukang Emas, have deities which are invoked by devotees for their aids before starting new businesses, occupying a new house, finishing marriages or funerals. VIII. The Living Cultures of the City of Penang (Georgetown) A local writer in 1986 wrote a piece of poetry which describes the people of Penang, thus noes On My Native Land To this corner of the world came People from China and India From In makesia and Europe Some of the people Adopted local ways They spoke Malay Dressed Malay But still kept their customs Others stuck to their ways While firmly planting A foot on Malaysian soil The alchemy worked And today we have a nation That is a kaleidoscope Of numerous things and many people We all belong to this fabric Having each lent a stitch To make up a whole no. we sop up the world To see this tapestry.David Lazarus, 1986. This poetry which is printed on a board in the vestibule of the Penang Museum is the first thing that one sees as soon as one enters the main building indicating the main theme of the museum display. This also sums up what the people of Penang are. Penang began to attract traders from all over the world. As it was accorded the status of a free port it grew steadily and within a few years its trade and population increased. True to Lights prediction, it was able to outgrow the position of Melaka.And as in Melaka, people from all over the world, from India, China, the Middle East, Europe, island and mainland Southeast Asia, and the Malay archipelago thronged the city. The core area of Georgetown nominated to be placed as a Heritage City covers 108. 97 ha. (269. 27 ac). Here Penangs history and its character are displayed by the historic buldings as well as by the authentic daily routines of its people. It has outstanding universal values that fit in with the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention relating to historic urban areas as give tongue to in paragraphs 27(ii) and 29(iv).Paragraph 27(ii) is, historic towns which are still inhabited and which, by their very nature, have developed and will continue to develop under the influence of socio-economic and cultural change, a situation that renders the assessment of the authenticity more difficult and any conservation policy more problematic. Under 29(iv) it states Sectors, areas, or isolated units which, even in the residual state in which they have survived, provide coherent evidence of the character of a historic town which has disappeared.In such cases surviving areas and buildings should bear ample testimony to the former whole. IX. The Penangites (Heritage Convention paragraph 27(ii)) The living cultures of the people in Penang today bear testimony of the living cultures of the past generations. In 1998 the Penang Town and untaught Planning Department Director, Mohamed Jamil Ahmad s trongly acknowledged the living cultures of Penang as having, multicultural influences. It is a unique melting pot of Indian, British, Armenian, Chinese, Malay, Acehnese, Thai, Burmese and Arab. It is an old trading port that contains one of the largest ensemble of multicultural buildings and landmarks in the world. 14 These zones consist of early suburban residential townhouses, known for their ecclectic architecture, commercial centres, the waterfront, religious and family houses. More than 100 years earlier an avid British traveler and writer, Isabella Bird, had given an almost identical commentary of Penang As one lands on Pinang one is impressed even before reaching the shore by the blaze of colour in the costumes of the crowds which throng the jetty. About the people she said, The sight of the Asians who have crowded into Georgetown is a wonderful one, Chinese, Burmese, Javanese, Arabs, Malays, Sikhs, Madrassees, Klings, Chuliahs, and Parsees, and still they come in junks and steamers and strange Arabian craft, and all get a living, depend slavishly on no one, never lapse into pauperism, retain their own dress, customs and religion, and are orderly. 15This description does not seem to defer from the observation of Sir George Leith, the Lieutenant Governor of Penang in the early 1800s, who succinctly described the situation, There is not, probably, any part of the world, where, in so small a space, so many different people are assembled together, or so a great a variety of languages spoken. 16 X. The Relics (paragraphs 27(ii) and 29(iv)) Perhaps the easiest way to appreciate Penangs wealth of cultures and historical sites is by following its historical trail.As soon as Francis Light booked Penang in 1786, he built a fort at Tanjung Penaga that faces the sea front of the Esplanade. It took him 5 years to complete it and named it Fort Cornwallis after the Governor of the East India Company. sooner the fort was made of gabions (cylindrical baskets fill ed with earth) then with nibong trunks supported by bulwarks and mounted with canons, the most famous is the Seri Rambai. Next to it Light, who was later appointed by the East India Company as the Superintendent of the island, built a low bungalow and a kitchen meant for his use.All these were later combined to form the fort which underwent several constructions. Impressive renovations were done in early 1800s especially by the chief engineer and surveyor, Captain Thomas Robertson, under the auspices of Governor Norman Macalister. In 1820 granite was heaped on the shoreward side to prevent erosion, but today it has a frontal road, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah. In the early period the expansion of Penang seemed to have emanated from here. XI. West Meets East (the Living Tradition) At the back of the Fort is Light pass, the first street in Penang named after Francis Light.Several other streets were opened to accommodate Penangs expansion, especially for the British officials and tra ders who were here. As indicated by the names of streets close by, the Christians began to set up churches. Bishop course was named after the French priest, Arnold Garnault, who first set up the Assumption Church in 1787. He was then the Bishop of Bangkok. This church was built on Farquhar course (named after one of the Lieutenant Governors of Penang) which is on the western end of Light passageway. It was in Bishop Street that Francis Light then built a large house for the Bishop, hence the name.Only in 1860 was the Assumption Church built on the present basilica layout. In 1817 an Anglican church, the St. George Church, was then built at the junction of Pitt Street (named after the then Prime Minister of Britain) and Farquhar Street by the East India Company chaplain, Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings. Pitt Street runs from north to south at right angle with Light Street and agree with Farquhar Street. This church which was completed a year later, was based on standardal colonial style with a Greek style porch. Its dignified facade and graceful columns speak to the eye of the artist. 17 Just as the Christian missionaries were keen to spread their religion through the churches, they were also bent to educate the varied local population with western education. The English informs that they set up slowly attracted local families, especially the established ones, such as the Straits Chinese, better known as the Babas or Peranakan. 18 The children were sent to such schools, spoke very good English, some became government officers and other professionals. They showed strong tendencies to adopt the Malaysian homeland.One of the first missionaries responsible for introducing English schools, was the same Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings. He had initiated the building for the Penang Free School which was to educate boys from all creed or class. The school which started temporarily at Love Lane was moved to a permanent building on a piece of land ad collaborateing St. Ge orges Church at Church Square at Farquhar Street. It was built by Captain R. Smith of the Royal Engineers and was opened in 1821. It was based on a classic Renaissance architecture which has symmetrical arches, debased columns, pilasters and twin decorative domes on the roof.This school was responsible for producing some of the most prominent local personalities. 19 During the war it was bombed and only half of the original building remains. It has been renovated and now houses the Penang State Museum. Some 30 years later, in 1852, a convent was set up at Light Street by Rev. Mother St. Mathilde. It was the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus School, popularly known as the Convent Light Street. 20 The main building which was acquired from the Government House has corniced reception rooms and broad arcades that faced the sea.It served as a boarding house, an orphanage and a school. Both boy and girl orphans were taken in, until the boys reached 11 years when they left to join the nearby St. Xaviers Free School as full boarders. 21 Slowly the school began to add an elegant Gothic chapel with stained glass windows specially commissioned from France. Then new wings for classrooms were added as the demand to educate girls increased. Today it still serves as one of the most progressive schools for girls in the state. In 1852, too, another boys school was set up at Bishop Street, just across the Light Street Convent.The St. Xaviers Free School, today known as the St. Xavier fundament (SXI), was founded by the Paris Foreign Mission Society Superior Father V. M. Beurel. It was their first mission school in the Far East. Although its main aim was ab initio to provide education for the poor, children from established local families were also sent there. In 1889 the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Cecil Clementi, introduced a Queens Scholarship to the best students who excelled at the Senior Cambridge School Certificate examination. Fourteen of these awards were w on by students from this school. 22 The recipients were sent to the best universities in the United Kingdom to further their studies. Many became successful professionals and leaders. Today the SXI remains as one of the most prominent schools in the country. Obviously English education was becoming more popular. Some 30 years later after the SXI was opened, another girl school was established. It was initiated by Mrs. Biggs, the wife of another chaplain, Rev. L. Courtier Biggs. This was the St. Georges Girls School which was situated on the northern beach at Farquhar Street and was officiated in 1885.It was a double-storey bungalow based on Malay-colonial style surrounded by airy verandahs and stables on the side. 23 Classes were conducted on the ground floor while the morsel floor was occupied by the principal and some boarders. In 1920 the school was moved to another bigger premise at Northam Road (todays Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) as the number of girls receiving education here in creased. The original bungalow was maintained as a boarding house. Today it houses the State Welfare Office. XII. Entrenching the Traditions Christianity and western education were not the only culture introduced in Penang.The Chinese population which had begun to grow had their own practices. A large number of them was at first brought in by Francis Light as masons and bricklayers. They settled around the site that was then named China Street which is parallel to Church Street. Besides masons and bricklayers, other Chinese traders and merchants also began to settle near here, for example in Pitt Street. In 1800 a large group of the Hokkien and Cantonese communities who settled here built a temple of their own, called the Kwan Yin Temple (The Goddess of Mercy Temple).It was also sponsored by Chinese from Melaka and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. 24 Its massive roof was guarded by two guardian dragons while the front was guarded by two lion figures. Inside was a 40- feet square hall wh ich housed the Kwan Yin, the Patroness of Virgins associated with rites of fertility, peace and good fortune. Even today it is invoked daily but especially celebrated on the 19th day of the 2nd, 6th and 9th months of the Chinese lunar calendar. Devotees offer food, flowers, oil and burn incense or joss sticks to seek consolation for various illnesses.In logical argument with the Christian churches, this temple was decorated with ancient Chinese artwork and architecture. The Indians who also came in large numbers to Penang in 1780s, were first imported as labourers, shipbuilders, and deckhands who worked at the waterfront. Soon they were joined by traders, merchants and chettiars. The Hindu followers which had numbered about 1,000 at this time, felt that they had to build a temple for their daily worship. In 1801, a piece of land was granted by the government to one, Bette Lingam Chetty, to build the Arulmigu Mahamariamman. 25 This temple had undergone several renovations and expans ion, the major one was made in 1933. It is a temple which was built in accordance with the Saiva agamas with an ante chamber (Artha Mandapam), a hall (mahamandapam), circumambient (pragaram), dome (vimanam), surrounding walls, and entrance tower (Rajagopuram). This is situated at Queen Street, which is on the east of and parallel to Pitt Street. It is from this temple, that the celebration of the Thaipusam starts every year. This is a celebration when good overcomes evil, when goodness symbolised by the goddess Mariamman, is brought out from the temple on a chariot that roceeds through Queen Street, Church Street and King Street to the Esplanade near Fort Cornwallis, where a priest shoots an arrow into the air to symbolise the killing of the demon. The chariot then returns to Queen Street through Penang Street and Market Street. Thousands of devotees follow the procession and give her offerings. 26 Every year the procession becomes bigger and longer as this day is declared a public holiday in Penang, and the number of devotees has also increased. To the south of Queen Street is Chulia Street.Majority of the people who lived here were Indian Muslims from the Coromandel Coast in India. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Chulias were the second most dominant population in Penang, after the Malays. In 1820 there were 9,000, and this number increased to 11,000 in 1830. Although many of them were merchants and owners of property, there were others who were machine politician carriage runners and gharry drivers as well as boatmen and coolies. During her Penang visit in 1880s, Isabella Bird was impressed by Chulia Street which she said was entirely composed of Chulia and Kling bazaars. Each side walk is a rude arcade, entered by passing through heavy curtains, when you find yourself in a narrow, crowded passage, with deep or shallow recesses on one side, in which the handsome, brightly-dressed Klings sit on the floor, surrounded by their bright-hued goods and over ones head and all down the narrow, thronged passage, noisy with business, are hung Malay bandanas, red turban cloths, red sarongs in silk and cotton, and white and gold sprinkled muslin, the whole length of the very long bazaar, blazing with colour, and picturesque beyond description with beautiful costume. 27 Today, 200 years later, the scene changes little. Amidst the sound of Indian music, the scents of perfumes mixed with the smell of curry and spices whiff through Chulia Street. Interspersed amongst the stores that sell colourful sarees, and other clothings, as well as carpets from India, Pakistan, the Middle East and China, there are also stores of famed Indian jewelers and money-changers.There are also the famous nasi kandar stores where one can buy rice topped with more than a dozen gourmet of ones choice, to be eaten with ais bandung (iced water with syrup and milk), or teh tarik (milked tea that is poured from a mug to another at a space of about three to four feet). The British had correctly nicknamed this area as Little Madras. 28 But Chulia Street does not merely house economic activities of the Indian community alone. Several mosques were also built here. They were Masjid Bahudi Bohra and Masjid Jamek Alimshah.Some Chinese associations, such as the United Association of Cantonese Districts, also built their imposing headquarters here. So, too, were the Nam Hooi Kam Association, the Teowchoo Merchant Association, and the Teowchoo kongsi. Not far from Chulia Street, and at Pitt Street, is where the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy stands. Now this street is renamed Jalan Mesjid kapitan Kling where the Kapitan Kling Mosque stands. It was built following an Anglo-Indian architecture, with domes and turrets. The interior aisles are formed by series of horseshoe arches, crowned with King Edwards plumes.The five-time daily call for prayer by the muezzin from the minarets of this mosque further enlivens the living scenery of this part of the city of Penang. The mosque was built in 1801 by Kader Mydin Marican who was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor as Kapitan Kling or head of the Indian community. 29 As the head of his people, he was assigned the duties to regulate civil and religious ceremonies. Inter-marriages between Indians and Malays were frequent, and the generations produced a community that spoke Malay and followed the Malay culture. They were popularly known as the Jawi Pekan or Jawi Peranakan.Today they have become so absorbed into the Malay culture that they are no longer called Jawi Pekan or Jawi Peranakan but are called Malays, although the Indian physical features of having sharp nose and tanned skin still remain strong. The Kapitan Kling Mosque had undergone several renovations and extensions, but retained its main structures of onion shaped domes and pitched roof. Major Islamic functions are conducted here, such as the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, the first of Muharram (the Islamic New Y ear), and the 10th day of Muharram (commemoration of the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad).Parallel to and on the west of Chulia Street are Armenian Street and Acheh Street or Acheen Street as it is more popularly known to the locals. At the beginning of the 19th century, the area between these two latter streets were dominated by traders of Arab and Achenese descent. It was the focul point of the first Muslim urban parish and the earliest centre of Achenese spice traders and Malay entrepreneurs in Penang. The leader, Tengku Syed Hussein Al-Aidid who was married to a member of the Achenese royal family, built the first Malay mosque, Masjid Melayu or Masjid Jame on Acheen Street.This was distinct from the Kapitan Kling Mosque on Pitt Street. Its minaret was octagonal, which followed the 16th century Moghul architecture common in old mosques in Acheh. It was also influenced by some western style especially in the wooden transoms, the stucco work and the round brick c olumns in the outer aisles. 30 Next to the mosque he built his tomb which was covered with timber and Islamic caligraphy. The gravestones were intricately carved in Achehnese style. Surrounding the mosque were Malay urban homes of half timber, half brick and terracotta tiles.Some of these homes also served as offices of the Qadi, Jeddah Ticket Agency for Muslim pilgrimage to Mekah and rest houses for the pilgrims. Consonant with the need to spread Islam, the community leaders also set up madrasah Al Quran (Quranic school) on the same street to memorize the religion to local children. Armenian Street was also known for the pepper trading among the Arab-Achenese and Chinese. Their relationship was not limited to only trading but also to other social and political activities. It was believed that many of them were also members of the Red Flag or Hai San Secret Society, that were based at the Masjid Melayu.One of their leaders was Syed Mohamed Alatas who built the Alatas household at a junction between Acheen Street and Armenian Street. This mid-nineteenth century building of Indo-Malay style was surrounded by a brick wall and two supply that were accessible from both the streets. Its porch was paved with terracota tiles and the gable roof was decorated with Islamic motifs. Today the building which had undergone some renovations is used as the office for the Penang Heritage Centre. Alatas also had another building which became a landmark for pepper traders in Penang.This was his four-storey spice godown and office popularly called Rumah Tinggi (tall house) by the local people because it was the highest building at that time. This building which was also known as Kuan Lau or Small-Tower junction by the Chinese, stands on Beach Street which runs on the east of and at right angle with Armenian Street and Acheen Street. Acheen Street and Armenian Street were typical examples of a multi-cultural section of Georgetown where people of various communities lived side by side and intermarriages were not uncommon.One of Alatas wives was one of the daughters of a very wealthy Hokkien pepper trader in Penang and Sumatra. He was Khoo Tiang Poh who had presented his Khoo Poh Villa at the corner of Acheen Street and Carnavon Street to his Muslim son-in-law. Today it houses the Li Teik Seah School. Khoo Tiang Poh also had a bungalow on Acheen Street which later became the premises of Bangkok Hotel. 31 The Cheah kongsi which was founded in the 1820s also had their kongsi house on Armenian Street. The piece of land which was donated by its founder, Cheah Eam, added a temple building of Malay, Chinese, European and Straits Chinese styles in 1873.This two-storey temple has an upper porch enclosed by wrought iron grills decorated with wood carvings. The lower porch which was renovated in 1930s was guarded by two lion heads. The wide courtyard in the front provides an airy atmosphere for people who come to perform ancestral worship, and other functions. Also on Armenian Street was built the Tua Pek Kong Temple which was dedicated to the God of Prosperity. It was founded by Khoo Teng Pang in 1844 and was also used as a base for the Tua Pek Kong triad or the Khian Tek Society. It was an important headquarters for the Straits Chinese.After 1890 when secret societies were banned by the government, this triad became a Hokkien kongsi consisting of several clans, such as the Khoo, Cheah, Lim, Tan and Yeoh, which built clan houses close by. Starting from that year and since then annually, they organised a chng panh (decorated stage) procession accompanied by the very colourful chingay featuring towering triangular flags. This procession which took place on the 14th day of the Chinese New Year, carried the Tua Pek Kong and the more than 200-year old incense urn from the Armenian Street temple to the Son Pearl Temple in Tanjong Tokong.There were also other clan houses on Armenian Street such as, the Moh Hun Association or the Teowchoo Social club, the Yap kongsi headed by Yeap Chor Ee, and a house which used to be the base for Dr. Sun Yat Sen whenever he was in Penang to plan his political strategies in China. Situated between Armenian and Acheh Streets, at ricochet Square, is the elegant Khoo Kongsi temple. The piece of land where it stands was bought in 1851. The Khoo clan started building the temple in 1894 and completed it in 1902. 32 Other sub-lineages of the Khoo clan built separate temples, such as the grand Boon San Tong Khoo Kongsi at Victoria Street, and the Khoo Si Toon Keng Tong which occupies a shoplot at Beach Street. The main Khoo Kongsi at Cannon Square which was surrounded by over 20 clan dwellings, is very impressive for its intricate architecture. The double imperial roof decorations were constructed from shards cut out from colourful ceramic bowls, and the ancestral hall was decorated with woods carved by specialist artisans. Religious and family functions used to be held here for it had a meeting room, a large reception hall and kitchen.Today it holds only three gatherings annually. They are to celebrate the Cheng Beng (Chinese All SoulsDay) or the Hungry Ghosts, when the descendants come to the clan temple to worship their ancestors a reunion ceremony during the Tang Chi (Winter Solstice) and an awards ceremony usually held to honour Khoos who have graduated from a tertiary education or who have gained public recognition. XIII. The Former Whole (paragraph 29(iv)) The expansion of Georgetown seemed to grow naturally. The waterfront which was the busiest commercially, was constructed with wharves, godowns and offices.Weld Quay was the main street that greeted ships, tongkang, boats and ferries that carried passengers from the mainland. Colonial style two-storey brick buildings with arches dominated this area. They housed European companies, such as the Messrs. Behn, Meyer & Co. , German ecstasy agents, general importers and tin refiners. Parallel to Weld Quay, and on the inner side of the city, is Beach Street which was an extension of the port area. The western part was mainly occupied by Asian (Chinese, Malay and Indian) forwarding agents, traders, market sellers, metalsmiths, cargo handlers and shipyard workers.The buildings were normally smaller. Only Gedung Acheh was four-storey high. The eastern side of the street was more dominated by European companies, and banks, such as the Standard Chartered Bank and the Algemene Bank Nederland (ABN Bank). An adjacent block of buildings that was built later housed the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Adjacent to these latter buildings were the Government offices, first of the East India Company, and later of the Straits Settlements. They were called the Governments Quadrangle built on King Edward frame. The ground floor used to house the Post Office.Now it houses the State Religious Department on one side, which still retains the original building, and the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce on the other, which underwent a complete renovation because it was bombed during the Japanese occupation. King Edward Place ends with the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. This tower now stands on a small round-about that opens to Beach Street on its west, Light Street on its north, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah on its east and the eastern end of Weld Quay on its south. The Tower was built by a prominent Chinese business man, Cheah Chen Eok, to celebrate the Queen Victorias diamond jublee in 1897.Although the Clock Tower is small compared to the buildings at Beach Street, it remains prominent because of its strategic position. It will be one of the first monuments that can be seen by ferry passengers to the island. XIV. Conclusion The cities of Melaka and Georgetown are both very rich in their cultural heritage. The people are the living proof of a unique multicultural population, the consequence of centuries of history, that are shown from the living cultures and abodes, the architecture, the langu ages, and daily routines.They are thoroughly mixed still not solely blended, much like the rojak, a popular local mixed fruit salad in sweet, slightly hot thick sauce, where the taste of the different fruits is still maintained, but on the whole becomes different because of the unique condiment that binds all in it. The people of both Melaka and Penang, though dominated by Malays, Indians, Chinese as distinct communities, yet there are also the unique historical offshoots of these communities that do not exist anywhere else (except perhaps in Singapore). They are the Peranakan Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Arab.The most beautiful result of the historical phenomenon is that they all live together, side by side, doing their own things, maintaining their own religions and customs and also enjoying everybodys cuisine. Bibliography Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir,1969. The Hikayat Abdullah. Annotated and translated by A. H. Hill. Kuala Lumpur, Oxford University Press. Bird, Isabella, 1983 ( first published in 1883). The Golden Chersonese. Introduction by Robin Hanbury Tenison. London, cytosine Publishing. Choong Kwee Kim, In Good Hands The Star, 5. 2. 2001 Clammer, John R. , 1979.The Ambiguity of Identity Ethnicity Maintenance and Change Among the Straits Chinese Community of Malaysia and Singapore. ISEAS. Occasional Paper No. 54. Clodd, Harold Park, 1948. Malayas First British Pioneer The Life of Francis Light. London, Luzac. Fujimoto, Helen, 1988. The South Indian Community and the Evolution of the Jawi Peranakan in Penang up to 1948. Tokyo, ILCAA, Tokyo Gaokokugo Daigaku. Harrison, Brian, 1985. Holding the Fort Melaka Under Two Flags, 1795-1845. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Monograph No. 14. ___________, 1979.Waiting For China The Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, 1818-1843, and Early Nineteenth coulomb Missions. Hong Kong. Karathigesu, R. , Mariammans Temple Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 42-44. Khoo Su Nin, The Red Belted School Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 3. , 1990, pp. 10-11. __________, The Acheen Street Community A Melting Pot of the Malay World Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 22. __________, The Chariot Procession Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 46-48. Leith, George, 1804. A Short Account of the Settlement, Produce and Commerce of the Prince of Wales Island in the Straits of Malacca. London, J. Booth.Malacca, 1986. The Times Travel Library, Singapore. Meerah, N. , Old Tamil Place Names Pulau Pinang, Vol. 1, No. 5, 1989. Pp. 13-15. New Straits Times, 4. 8. 1998. Ong Seng Huat, Temple On the Knoll Pulau Pinang, Jan-Feb. 1989, pp. 24-29. ____________, The Khoo Clan Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1990, pp. 4-16. Pintado, Manuel Joachim, 1980. A Stroll through Anciet Malacca And A coup doeil At Her Historical Sites. Melaka, Loh Printing Press. Rabeendran, R. , Ethno-Racial Marginality in West Malaysia The Case of Peranakan Hindu Malacca or Malacca Chitty Community University of Malaya, n. d. Scott-Ross, Mar cus, 1971.A Short History of Malacca. Singapore, Chopmen Enterprise. Tan Leh Sah, Convent Light Stree Pulau Pinang, Vol. 1, No. 6, 1989, pp. 24-26. The Star, 24. 6. 1984 8. 9. 1987. Wurtzburg, C. E. , 1984. Raffles of the Eastern Isles, Singapore, Oxford University Press. 1 Harold Park Clodd, 1948. Malayas First British Pioneer The Life of Francis Light. London, Luzac. P. 9. 2 Marcus Scott-Ross, 1971, A Short History of Malacca. Singapore, Chopmen Enterprise, p. 94. 3 Qouted from Manuel Joaquim Pintado,1980. A Stroll Through Ancient Malacca And A Glimpse At Her Historical Sites. Melaka, Loh Printing Press, p. 6. 4 M. J. Pintado, op. cit. , p. 76. 5 Brian Harrison, 1985. Holding the Fort Melaka Under Two Flags, 1795-1845. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Monograph No. 14, p. 62. 6 Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, 1969. The Hikayat Abdullah, by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir. Annotated and translated by A. H. Hill, Kuala Lumpur, Oxford University Press, p. 63. 7 C. E. Wurtzburg, 1984. Raffles of the Eastern Isles, Singapore, Oxford University Press, p. 76 8 Ibid. p. 79. 9 Brian Harrison, 1979. Waiting For China The Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, 1818-1843, and Early Nineteenth hundred Missions.Hong Kong, pp. 40-44. 10 John R. Clammer, 1979. The Ambiguity of Identity. Ethnicity Maintenance and Change Among the Straits Chinese Community of Malaysia and Singapore. ISEAS. Occasional Paper No. 54. p. 3. 11 R. Rabeendran, Ethno-Racial Marginality in West Malaysia The Case of Peranakan Hindu Malacca or Malacca Chitty Community University of Malaya, n. d. , p. 7. 12 Malacca, 1986. The Times Travel Library. Singapore, p. 31. 13 Marcus Scott-Ross, op. cit, p. 111. 14 New Straits Times, August 4, 1998. 15 Isabella Bird, 1983. (First Published in 1883). The Golden Chersonese. Introduction by Robin Hanbury Tenison.London, Century Publishing. pp. 254-255. 16 George Leith, 1804. A Short Account of the Settlement, Produce and Commerce of Prince of Wales Islan d in the Straits of Malacca. London, J. Booth, p. 14. 17 Quoted from Shukor Rahman, The Star, 24 June 1984. 18 Like the Baba in Melaka, these people were born in the Straits Settlements, including Penang. There were few marriages with the local Malays, but had little ties with China. They were distinct from the Melaka Baba. See, John R. Clammer, 1979. The Ambiguity of Identity, p. 54, pp. 2-3. 19 The first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman was once educated here.So was Tan Sri Lim Chong Eu, one of the header Ministers of Penang. 20 Tan Leh Sah, Convent Light Street in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 1, No. 6, 1989, pp. 24-26. 21 Choong Kwee Kim, In Good Hands The Star, 5 February 2001. 22 The Star, 8 September 1987. 23 Khoo Su Nin, The Red Belted School in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 3, 1990, pp. 10-11. 24 Ong Seng Huat, Temple on the Knoll in Pulau Pinang, Jan-Feb 1989, pp. 24-29. 25 R. Karthigesu, Mariammans Temple in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, no. 6, 1990, pp. 42-44. 26 Khoo Su Nin, Th e Chariot Procession, in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, no. , 1990, pp 46-48. 27 Isabella Bird, op. cit. , p. 256. 28 N. Meerah, Old Tamil Place Names, in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 1, No. 5, 1989, pp. 13-15. 29 Helen Fujimoto, 1988. The South Indian Community and the Evolution of the Jawi Peranakan in Penang up to 1948. Tokyo, ILCAA, Tokyo Gaokokugo Daigaku, p. 36. 30 The Acheen Street Mosque in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2 No. 2, 1990, p. 27. 31 Khoo Su Nin, The Acheen Street Community A Melting Pot of the Malay World Pulau Pinang. Vol. 2, No. 2, 1990, p. 22. 32 Ong Seng Huat, The Khoo Clan in Pulau Pinang, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1990, pp. 4-16.

Letter To My Children

As I lay awake in bed with Carol by my side, sharing my insomnia, it occurred to me, totally out of the blue, that neo had opened up for me a new military personnel of understanding, which is to say that my conversation with him had led me to the realization that in that location was a way out of my conflicts here and now. I was being selfish aforetime it occurred to me. Although I could non go to the Vatican all the way from America in order to express my new understanding of Christianity rather than to sustain questions that the authorities on religion there were not expected to appreciate I could express myself before my children, as though nakedly. just now what would I teach them? I certainly did not wish to confuse them by sharing my conflicts. Neither did I desire for them to catch on my negative emotions surrounding the wonderful truths I was learning my inbuilt life. One such negative emotion was my slight fear of various authorities on religion because I could not s tick out over my miserable misunderstandings with them. I understood that the authorities on religion atomic number 18 meant to be peacemakers, and yet I could not see snapper to eye with them on many issues of peace, which, in my cognizance, is often a result of increased knowledge and new understanding of faith.These misunderstandings, I knew, were tormenting me alone, while they slept soundly night by and by night. I recalled then the words of the Nazargonne, virtually unaware at the time that Carol had started to sing in bed a song from the film, EvitaBlessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are they that hunger and thirst subsequently powerfuleousness for they shall be filled (Gospelof Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 3-6).Did I have to share myself with the various authorities on religion in order to find peace? I did not deliberate so. All the same, my torment was asking me to somehow stand in front of the whole wide world and keep back myself to be a true seeker of truth. Then, and only then, I thought, would I find peace. However, it was impossible for me to stand on the stage before the entire Christian world and declare myself to be true. As soon as I realized that my mind was straying away from my children, I said Yes. Carol asked me right away, What? Oh, nothing, I said. I am enjoying your song Carol continued notification from that point on.I got back to my reflections through insomnia. I thought that I knew that I could die very soon, and I did not have the kind of oneness saviour experienced with God Almighty to know when. I could express my understanding to my children yes I could do that, I thought again and my children in turn would develop their own understanding of religion based on my article of faiths and their own experiences in life.As I lay in bed reflecting on the new questions that h ad perchance occurred to me through supernatural inspiration, it did not take me long to figure out what exactly I would be teaching my children and how. I would write a letter to them, directing Carol to deliver it to them onlywhen they have all reached maturity at the same time. I would not want one child wanting to know more than the others at any given time. I would like them to grow in spirituality altogether. I did not want them to have to go through the experience of single elapseedly dealing with the problems of realizing the truth as I did. I did not want them to notice as alone in the world as I entangle.But perhaps I would eventually leave the letter in Carols hand to decide when to give it to each of my kids, I thought. I was hungering and thirsting after righteousness. I knew that expressing my understanding of the religion to my children would grant me a sense of completion from the Almighty somehow. I did not know how He worked on such completions.By the time I h ad reached this point in my train of thoughts, I realized that Carol had gone to sleep. Her singing was over and done with she was snoring, in fact. I suddenly realized a sense of greater freedom in my thoughts. Increased confidence was aroused to boot. Although I knew that Jesus had said, Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 10), I neither had the strength nor the courage to stand before the world and discuss my concept of religion. I should have had the courage, I thought, but sadly, I did not. I then realized that perhaps this kind of courage is unnecessary, given that Jesus had also said Agree with thine adversary quickly, lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison (Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 25).Was Jesus right there with me to teach me something of the essence? How was it that verses from the Gospel of Matt hew were appearing in my self without notice, and perhaps out of context?I got out of bed then, with the awareness that I had the courage to teach my understanding of Christianity to my children, even if I could not teach the whole world. Yet I did not want to express my entire self to my children. I only believed that they had a right to know the basics that I was working with. I believed in their right to question apparitional practices of the world. I also trusted that they would eventually find the truth using the tools I would provide them with.I turned on the lamp on my desk. Carol moved a picayune in bed, responding to the click of the lamp. Fortunately, she did not get up to ask what I was up to. I did not want to bother her at all, and so I sat down to write, as though in a whisperDear children,By this time you must be old enough to musical note the need to know God. You will be exposed to many practices in the Church.I gave up writing at this point, tore the page in hal f, and took a fresh sheet of paper to begin again.Dear Children,For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no overbold enter into the kingdom of heaven.Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, mebibyte shalt not kill and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgmentBut I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council and whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift (Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 20-24).I comprehended what I was doing. Comparing the Pharisees and the scribes to the majority of reli gious authorities in the world, I was directing my children to go to the scriptures whenever they require guidance from the divine authority. I did not have another way of teaching them the truth. I wanted to say that they must never go to any religious authorities except the scriptures in the process of seeking truth and that they must be good to each other, no matter what.I had written the words of Jesus in my memory with great enthusiasm. And I did not doubt that my children could given the right direction show equal respect to the word of righteousness. Yet I doubted whether I should tell them everything about the Church as it existed in the world today.I gave a moment of attention to Carol at this point. She was snoring, fast asleep, and looking lovely. I thought with tenderness that her children were mine, and I had a right to teach them whatever I felt I must. I did not have to mention the Church and the circle surrounding my role in it that very day. It was not important, given that the circumstances surrounding the Church were expected by me to change, perhaps drastically, in the years of my offsprings maturity.I went back to my letter. Without explaining myself in it, besides the purpose of my letter, I felt that I had to write something else I remembered from the Gospel of MatthewAt that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the new and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babesYea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight (Chapter 11, Verses 25-26).Confident in my writing, I continuedMy dear children, after reading the above scriptures you must be thinking that perhaps I felt in my years in Church that these are some of the most perfect verses in the Gospels. As a matter of fact, I did not think so. And the only reason I am writing you today is that I want you to learn how to trust yourselves in seeking the truth. The scriptures are the best guidance I can offer you now. Hold on to them, learn from them, and do not mind questioning the practices of otherswhen you do not believe them to be correct. This is, in my opinion, the best attitude to take into maturity. Let us leave the rest in Gods hand.Your loving father on earth.

Pch International

CASE GS-61 DATE 04/01/08 PCH INTERNATIONAL MANAGING THE FLOWS OF INFORMATION, GOODS, AND FINANCE Liam facey, CEO of PCH International Limited (PCH), was in every way an adventurer. Born and having dog-tired around of his youth in Cork, Ireland, Casey had never lived in mainland China until he started traveling and working in the country in his new-made twenties. Yet, without speaking often clock times Chinese, Casey deliver the goodsd to establish an innovative publish image responses telephoner in Chinas factory city of Shenzhen and grew it to al well-nigh 700 employees in dependable ten eld.By 2007, PCH had suffer a human being-wide union it had guests in Western Europe and North America and its IT operations, manufacturing and warehousing validate was located in Ireland, China, Singapore, mainland China, South Africa and Brazil. In fact, so successful was Caseys furrow that the mildmannered and extremely diligent entrepreneur won the Ireland 2007 Ernst & Young E ntrepreneur of the year award. 1 Collecting business competition accolades was non what Casey had in mind when he first started PCH.When Casey went to Taiwan in 1996 to attend a computer and electronics fair, he maxim an opportunity to help global engineering companies take vantage of Asia and Chinas low- bell permitr base and manufacturing capabilities. Although PCH started out in the mid-1990s as a sourcing agent of low-priced electronic comp nonpareilnt parts from Taiwan and China to the Western world, by 2007 it had evolved into a provider of comprehensive run range of a function solutions to global engine room companies. PCH was designed to address the needs of a building complex global applied science grant chain landscape. Arthur Beesley, Casey Picks Up Overall Award, Irish Times, October 26, 2007, p. 12 Jennie Tung prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Hau lee(prenominal) as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright 2008 by the be on of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, e-mail the Case Writing Office at emailprotected stanford. du or write Case Writing Office, Stanford Graduate indoctrinate of Business, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5015. No break off of this publication whitethorn be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or new(prenominal)wise without the permission of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. PCH International Managing Goods, In changeion and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 2 STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPLY CHAINThe Maturing preparation kitchen stove By the twenty-first century, technology crossings of all sorts became ubiquitous and deep transformed the way people lived and worked. However, in the 1990s, in comparison to former(a) global preparation gyves such as garments and toys, which had over some 50 years of outsourcing experience, the technology lend chain was unperturbed in its primeval development. For example, by the mid-1990s, the digital camera, the mobile telephony, and the laptop computer had only just fit a mainstream consumer category.As such, in addition to focusing on designing cutting edge products, technology companies were trying figure out the most efficient shipway to deliver their products to end consumers. On the consumer technology supply chain timeline, the 1970s and 1980s showed only a small number of global brands, such as the large technology conglomerates Sony and Siemens, who were manufacture leaders in many product categories. These industry leaders relied on their vertically integrated supply chains and their faculty to lock in suppliers to keep new competitors from entering the mart. However, as v enture detonator funding became more avail able-bodied in the 1990s, the technology trade saw continuous waves of innovation, little(a)er product lifecycles, new products and brands. At the aforementioned(prenominal) time, the 1990s overly saw a drastic increase in independent manufacturers and suppliers, particularly in Asia. These businesses had developed sophisticated technical capabilities after overhaul the global brands for a number of years. The confluence of these factors changed what it took to win in the technology space. Vertically integrated players of the ancient were re home based with engineering-savvy, asset-light grocery storeing and design companies. As such, both large and small technology companies had the opportunity to bring products to market through the use of sub- riveting. By the late 1990s, consumers not only had more product choices simply also multiple channels to buy from, including online stores, which were becoming popular. Within the world of technology products, the supply chain systems for the wide-ranging product types were not uniform. For example, the more complex large systems, such as telecom base stations, had a opposite supply chain model from the littler consumer electronics products, such as personal MP3 players and laptop computers.This case focuses on the small consumer electronics supply chain, whose characteristics included having many component suppliers, with assembly sites doing the final assembly and testing. The modular structure of technology products meant that the brand owners had to manage a large network of suppliers. To stay competitive, large and small technology companies began to outsource a significant part of their supply chain to third party vendors in order to focus their resources on brand differentiating activities, such as product design and marketing. This outsourcing trend in the 2 3PCH International Limited (PCH), knowledge Memorandum for Potential Investors, November 2007, pp . 3-5. Ibid. 4 www. Alibaba. com was an online directory of suppliers in China 5 PCH, op. cit. pp. 3-5. PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 3 1980s created a new industry known as Electronic Manufacturing operate (EMS). By the 1990s, the EMS industry had a number of global scale players, notably Hon Hai Precision Industries (Foxconn), Flextronics, Celestica, Sanmina-SCI, Jabil, Elcoteq, and a few dozen others.In addition, several thousand smaller companies continued to occupy EMS niches and served a wide range of consumer electronics brands. The business model for the EMS industry was based on large economies of scale in manufacturing, raw materials procurement, pooling of resources, and industrial design expertise, in addition to other value-added function such as imprimatur and repairs. Products manufactured by EMS companies were labeled with the brand owners brand and corporate identity.As price competition intensified in the consumer ele ctronics industry in the late 1990s, EMS players gradually shifted their manufacturing assets to lower monetary value areas, such as cities in Southern China. While the leaner overhead structure provided numerous operational and financial benefits, the technology companies faced enormously complex argufys in dealing with procurement, manufacturing, and logistics vendors. Fragmented Supplier Base Many technology companies looked to Asia as an outsourcing post, given the number of low- cost manufacturing and component suppliers in the region.By 2007, China became a major sourcing and production hub for many technology companies. However, to take full advantage of Chinas low cost supplier base was not always straightforward. As China was rapidly developing into the factory of the world, many companies strove to achieve low cost objet dart maintaining caliber. Low cost technology goods suppliers were abundantly available in the coastal regions of China, in particular in the southern city of Shenzhen, just a 50-minute train ride from Hong Kong. As a procurement officer for a technology company, trying to identify the most suitable supplier could be a huge headache.For example, for every course connector, printer circuit board, and MP3 player accessory item, there were literally hundreds of suppliers to choose from in China. 4 For many technology companies, many of these components were not core or strategic. However, poor management of component parts could impact every aspect of the supply chain, leaving behind many unsatisfied customers. Therefore, to take full advantage of Chinas wealth of suppliers, technology companies needed to filter through numerous vendors to find ones that optimized cost, speed to market, and quality.Working Capital Constraints While independent manufacturers and component suppliers benefited from global outsourcing trends in the late 1990s, they also had to face increasing financing challenges. Casey, who had worked with hundreds of factory owners, learned of the challenges in raising working capital In the earlier days of outsourcing, suppliers were able to take a purchase order of a guaranteed volume from a well-known company to the bank and, upon verification, would be able to obtain working capital inancing. Letters of Credit (LCs) were issued by the purchaser. However, guaranteed longer term product volumes have been replaced by rolling short term product guidelines forecasts. The reason is as a technology company faces tough competition and declining PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 4 margins, it needs to manage cost aggressively by minimizing inventory build-up. This is requisite given the need to match the ebb and flow of customer taste and extremitys.They in turn demand just-in-time delivery from their suppliers which shifted some of the inventory holding costs upstream to its vendors, further increasing its need for working capital. In addition, sometimes t he purchase company may not be one of the blue-chip globally recognizable brands banks sometimes perceived this as an additional credit risk. This trend resulted in substantial volatility and pressure on some suppliers as banks were not as willing to provide trade financing given the perceived increased risk levels.This meant some suppliers found it tremendously difficult, if not extremely costly to obtain financing. Increasingly Demanding Customers Consumer technology products of the twenty-first century were about superior functionalities, seamless ordering process (both in-store and online), timely and accurate product delivery, and a unforgettable out-of-box experiencereferring to how consumers felt when they opened the box and reacted to the overall product presentation. Of course, it was critical that the products themselves be trendy and cool, and accompanied by a whole host of accessories to current of air up the products.For many consumers, technology products were perc eived in the same vein as fashion goods. Brands, therefore, needed to meet constantly changing tastes and extremely short and tight product development cycles. While professional technology products generally placed more emphasis on product functionalities, they still essential support services, such as regional configuration (e. g. , language differences and pre-loaded computer software) and just-in-time delivery of products, in order to minimize inventory costs. Finally, technology companies needed to provide their customers these highly customized products and purchasing experiences at a competitive price, term achieving all of the above. These were just some of the characteristics that made the technology supply chain much more challenging than the supply chain of more traditional industries. EMS companies, as discussed above, while able to deliver manufacturing savings to brand owners, were unable to adequately address these pain points, given that their business model focus ed on large scale production.The end consumers increasing demand for low price and customized products made it challenging for EMS companies to address these evolving market trends. TECHNOLOGY SUPPLY CHAIN FLOWS AND CHALLENGES An insightful entrepreneur, Casey saw the pain points described above as opportunities. Over the years, Casey had thought a comprehensive solution addressing the market and customer challenges would provide extraordinary value for technology companies. In PCHs menu of services, the over-arching theme was to help clients better manage the cardinal distinctive flows in the technology supply chain information, goods, and financial.These flows essentially address every element required to take a product from concept to being retail ready, including the backbone step of manufacturing, packaging, product customization, logistics and supplier financing. (See manifest 1 for an overview of the three flows in the technology supply chain. ) PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 5 The Virtual furnish Chain The virtual supply chain referred to information flow that occurred in the supply chain as goods moved through the various stages.The information requirement might be for a unique customer, such as, when will my goods arrive at my door step or for the planning department in a company, how much inventory should I order given existing inventory levels in different parts of the supply chain? When a company outsourced all(prenominal)(prenominal) portion of the supply chain to different vendors, disbursing and piecing information back together from disparate sources could be extremely challenging. The Physical Supply Chain The physical supply chain referred to he steps by which physical goods went from product concept to their final customers it dealt with the movement of goods from various physical locations, such as procurement of components, manufacturing, and logistics. 6 As discussed in the section on c hallenges facing the technology supply chain, the large number of suppliers and manufacturers in Asia made it extremely cumbersome for companies to identify the most appropriate vendors for their needs. In addition to price negotiation, service quality also required significant due diligence.For example, incidences of delinquent delivery and product quality issues were commonplace. effrontery the myriad of choices that consumers had for any given technology product, the margin of error allowed was very small. Another challenge in the physical supply chain was customization of products. A fountainhead often asked by supply chain executives at technology companies was, how should I best take advantage of economies of scale by producing in volume while achieving the customization for each local anaesthetic market, and sometimes for each private customer? This question highlighted the challenge of managing market-level customization since most technology products needed to reach mul tiple countries around the world. The challenge could be as simple as placing different language labels on products, to more complex tasks such as first consolidating product warheads from different manufacturing sites and and so assembling various units for unique customer orders. Finally, logistics and shipment also needed to be managed in an efficient and cost effective manner.The Financial Supply Chain Tied very closely to the physical flow of goods, the financial supply chain referred to the financing required for each step of the supply chain. For example, a manufacturing declarer would need financing to buy components and honorarium its workers to make the products, before shipping them to the technology company to collect the revenue. Established vendors may have had enough bills to last through a collection cycle but smaller or newer vendors could be strapped for cash when a large order came through.While commercial banks could provide financing for some vendors, new o r smaller vendors ended up paying extremely high interest First Capital Presentation at the Zhejiang University Innovation Institutes Supply Chain Forum, Zhejiang, China, November 13-14, 2007. 6 PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 6 costs, at least in the initial years of operationsuntil they had developed a stronger track record to borrow at more favorable rates from banks. THE PCH SOLUTIONBy 2007, PCH counted a number of global clients as customers. Among its clients were three of the top five personal computer companies, three of the top five telecom and networking companies, and the top five leading contract electronics manufacturers. 7 According to Casey, PCH offers customized solutions for each client. PCH helps to manage the various communication, culture and geographic barriers that often create operational friction amongst the technology company and its suppliers in the supply chain. In Caseys framework, each PCH solution could be map ped to the various challenges in the three flows of the supply chain, thereby addressing the various gaps in coordinating these flows. For example, PCH manufacturing services addressed the needs in the flow of goods, while PCH Capital addressed the needs in the financial flow in the supply chain (See Exhibit 2 on PCH services categories). Like PCHs technology customers, Casey believed an asset-light approach in managing his business worked the best and, therefore, he had no ownership in any of the vendors that PCH worked with.PCH was neither a supplier of goods nor an importer for global technology companies. PCH was a service providera coordinator that helped orchestrate and maximize the benefits of an outsourced supply chain for all parties convoluted. Addressing the Needs of the Virtual Supply Chain Information transparency was a highly valued feature for technology companies given the many moving pieces involved. Casey explained why its software services division was core to P CHs offering to clients and why developing these tools was important to PCH in the long term Transparency of process is a central PCH offering.This is why weve developed a series of online software tools that drive internal PCH activities and to provide a portal for clients to oversee and participate in the process. These systems enabled PCH, customers and third-party suppliers to view and share the same data. As all parties are working with the same data on the same platform, confusion is reduced, the need for location communication is reduced and clients can have full visibility to PCHs activities even though they may be half a world away. By 2007, PCH had developed a set of software visibility tools that consolidated relevant information for each individual customer.Examples included StatusFlo, which showed inventory levels of goods in the various locations of the supply chain and TransFlo, which housed all information relevant to billing and shipping documents in one central l ocation for each order. Given the myriad of suppliers, ChinaFlo provided a database of background data on over 900 factories evaluated by PCH. Each factory profile contained detailed information ranging from rudimentary background information, to factory qualification reports, and to capabilities case studies. Customers also had the ability to view pictures of their products and even search 7 Beesley, loc. it. PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 7 for hotels in the vicinity of the factories, as the factory profiles had GPS coordinates associated with them. Resolving the chaos and lack of data transparency in the virtual supply chain was one key value-add that PCH offered. (See Exhibit 3 for a screenshot of different sections of PCHs information portal. ) Addressing the Needs of the Physical Supply Chain Casey reflected on the path that PCH took The historical success of PCH was in manufacturing services where goods were sourced and manufacture d for our clients.This was how the company got started. Over time, PCH had moved deeper into the product life cycle where solutions were replacing entire distribution systems for some of our clients, PCH took over warehousing, inventory management, and retail preparation functions. We wanted to move to higher value services as opposed to being just a sourcing agent. With this strategy, PCH developed three core services that addressed the complexity and confusion of sourcing and manufacturing in Asia, in particular in China. As of 2007, these services were manufacturing, deferment, and fulfillment services.Manufacturing Services PCH offered its manufacturing services to clients as early as the product development phase. Technology companies would approach PCH with ideas for products and PCHs design team then developed prototypes for manufacturing. Casey proudly mentioned how PCHs differentiated services created benefits for the entire supply chain. nevertheless if our clients just ask for product quotes, we would put the product through industrial design optimization that yields the best cost for the customer while minimizing potential quality issues.Many of our clients did not expect this but this is the level of services that we aim for. We do not tie the product design to the capabilities of any specific factory group but act independently on behalf of our clientsThis level of services also compares favorably to just a company to outsource manufacturer relationship where the focus is on landing the contract and meeting minimum quantities this also meant final product quality and the end user experience being far down the outsource manufactures list of priorities.The other part of PCH manufacturing services entailed factory identification, qualification, and ongoing monitoring. For this set of services, PCH also leveraged its software services (see information supply chain in previous section) to differentiate itself from other competitors. Casey express, Rather than just identifying the factories for manufacturing, we would map out the locations of the various potential manufacturing sites and how that would fit in the overall supply chain. This strategy ensured that the entire supply chain was optimized, taking into con military positionration the later steps in the process, such as warehousing and shipment consolidation. PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 8 Postponement and Fulfillment Services Traditionally, once the technology products were produced and quality checked in the approved outsourced factories, they were shipped to store facilities before going to the various retail terminuss.A potential downside to this model was that when the bulk shipment arrived at the retail destination, which might be in a high cost country such as the U. S. or Europe, the products still needed to be further customized for each local market whether it was adding country appropriate labeling or putting on UPC labels. This meant that even though a company had saved by manufacturing its goods in Asia, this last mile customization could bring the total product costs back up. The other downside was that a technology company also needed to pay for inventory holding costs.And, this inventory had limited flexibility a company could not move it to other geographies, even if a particular product was rail a shortage in other locations. To address these challenges, PCH offered handle servicesthe act of holding goods in the supply chain (often in bulk format pending final assembly or packaging) for delivery to a warehouse, retail store or the end consumer. 8 In Caseys words, What we are doing is transport a vanilla product to a stage in a process and then flavor in the last minute. So youre postponing the flavoring. The final steps would only be carried out once the demand was clearly visible. Most of PCHs clients products were manufactured around the coastal areas of China, so PCH strateg ically located its postponement processing facilities in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, and in Singapore. These locations were selected for their relatively low labor costs (some of the final packaging was quite labor intensive) and the approachability of favorable tax-free trade zones. For example, one of PCHs clients was a global personal computer (PC) company.When its PCs arrived in Shenzhens postponement processing facility in bulk, the machines had no software. Given these computers could be destined for different locations around the world, PCH would wait for the final order before it preloaded the different language operating systems into these computers for the various markets. These computers were held in Shenzhens Futian Tax Free Trade zone which yielded lower inventory holding costs, as compared to having them sit at the warehouses in a higher cost country location.As PCHs goal was to help customers fully manage the physical supply chain, its fulfillment services addressed the handling of product orders from clients, their distribution chains or instantly from end consumers over the net profit. 9 This meant that after products had gone through final assembly and packaging in the postponement phase, PCH could have them delivered directly to retail stores, ready for sale or to the end consumers doorstep. Working with third party logistics providers, PCH had several options for pickup and shipment to overseas locations.Even though PCH provided postponement in China, technology products were often transported by air, so this did not mean PCHs response time was much worse than the conventional approach of having postponement at the retail distribution center in the U. S. Casey explained why the combination of postponement and fulfillment services worked well for PCHs technology clients and how it addressed challenges in the broader market environment 8 9 PCH, op. cit. pp. 9-13 Ibid. PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial F lows GS-61 p. 9The constantly shifting consumer tastes and trends make forecast volume for any technology product difficult. When Internet sales direct to a customers home are added into the array of distribution possibilities, the processing needs become even more complex. With postponement and fulfillment services located close to the manufacturing sites, it drastically shortens time to market. By offering a variety of packaging and shipment options, PCH is able to both manage fast and slow moving inventory in a manner that reduces the overall supply chain costs to technology companies.This approach provides clients with substantial leverage in their operations total factory commitments remain somewhat unchanged, product inventory quantities shrink, warehouse networks shrink, if not disappearing all together, and the cost of operating the supply chain falls. PCHs Unique Position In summarizing PCHs value proposition, Casey believed PCHs role as the coordinator in the supply chain was beneficial for all parties involved Our purpose as a company is developing partnerships, delivering peace of mind.None of our customers have ever gone direct to a factory. Some customers have made phone calls to factories, but the factories will call us immediately because those factories also made products for five of our other clients. So we bring a very big daybook of business to these component suppliers and thats why they like to work with us. The factories are getting a steady flow of business through our volume consolidation. At the same time our customers also benefit from economies of scale by consolidating their orders with their competitors, which are nonproprietary stuff.Casey believed that in the 1990s, global companies operating in China were all about the acquaintance challenge and everyone was just trying to learn about the landscape. By 2000, it was all about the execution challenge that is, how do you actually do it and benefit from what China has to offer, said Casey. Client Case Example10 Managing the Physical and Information Supply Chain PCH worked with a wide range of technology clients but perhaps its partnership with one global consumer technology company provided the best example to illustrate the principles behind technology supply chain outsourcing.Situation The client was a global consumer electronics company and, since the early 2000s, had produced a number of blockbuster products that were sold worldwide. Sales revenue was growing rapidly and most of its products were manufactured in Taiwan and China. These products were sold over the Internet, in addition to a variety of retail outlets, and were often sold with accessories such as protective carrying cases, spare parts, and alternative configurations of the products. PCH operated under a confidentiality agreement with most of its clients hence, actual client names have been disguised.Some of the company data provided was fictitious to preserve anonymity. 10 PCH Internation al Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 10 Playing in the extremely competitive consumer technology space, this client had introduced new products every year or sosometimes with an entirely new product line and sometimes with upgrades to existing models. Complication In the initial years, this client worked with a global logistics provider to operate its more than five North American and European warehouse facilities inventories from Asia arrived in bulk and were stored in these locations.Its products were delivered to end consumers or retail locations upon ordering. Its accessory parts were produced by different factories in Asia and were then shipped separately to various destination markets. For example, when customers ordered four accessories, they might receive four different shipments on four different dates, leaving them sometimes confused and unable to track the status of their orders. This arrangement was also expensive for the technology company, given the high cost of inventory storage and the multiple airfreight bills for each customer.More importantly, the client promised its end consumers more than just beautifully designed products, it also promised a superior consumer experiencefrom placing the order on the Internet to actually receiving the product. The order status had to be available real time and visible to consumers at each stage of execution the delivery commitment to its end consumers was two to three days to the doorstep, which was often half a world away from where the goods were produced.Finally, considerable care and attention were given to the packaging and presentation of the products to ensure that end consumers were truly delighted when opening the box. Solution In serving this client, PCH set up an on-site real-time data transfer between clients and PCHs system in Shenzhen, China. As customers place orders in North America, the orders were consolidated and fed live to PCHs processing facilities.PCH had alread y stored bulk inventories of various accessory parts in its facilities once information for each orders were received, the PCH teams in Shenzhen then go and grab the various parts and assemble them into one single package for each customer order. Customized and country appropriate packaging, including items such as usual manuals and in-country product support, were added to these parts. Finally, product codes were added to products in case the consumer wanted to a return or obtain customer services in their local customer service centers.This solution brought all product handling (post manufacturing) into China and all orders were shipped directly from one location to the final destination. This translated into savings on logistics as customers were now receiving only one shipment as opposed to multiple shipments. Addressing the Needs of the Financial Supply Chain As discussed in the state of the technology supply chain section, component suppliers and factories sometimes ran into a working capital crunch when unable to obtain feasible financing from commercial banks.On the opposite side of the table, the commercial banks generally appreciated the opportunity to help finance the components suppliers and factories, thereby gaining more visibility into the operations of these small to medium size operations. Casey drew insights from notice these challenges and decided that PCH was actually in a great position to help de-risk the entire supply chainfor the technology companies, banks, and the factories. Casey described how PCHs services were different from those of other global PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 . 11 logistics providers The FedExes and DHLs know where the boxes are, but PCH knows whats inside the boxes. Given its span of participation in the supply chain, PCH gained a wealth of knowledge about the factories, the products, and the ultimate client. This knowledge became extremely valuable in doing risk assessm ent. For example, PCH staff (including Casey) had personally visited the factories and had worked with the owners and the technology companies for months. This level of intellect far exceeded what could be accomplished by lending officers.This unique position enabled PCH to effectively play the trade finance role in the supply chain cycle. By 2008, Casey image the ways in which PCH could play a broader role in the financial supply chain as it saw pain points in the retailer to factory relationship. In the past, U. S. retailers (customers of PCH) placed purchase orders (POs) with outsourcing factories in China. The U. S. retailers would then apply for a Letter of Credit (LC) with a bank that would provide the required financing to the factory. Once the orders had been manufactured, the factories would then ship the goods directly to the retailers.As the consumer electronics industry evolved, retailers were no longer willing to place large purchase orders, given the uncertainty of t he market. In order to protect their margins and to minimize inventory costs, retailers changed payment terms on the factories. The factories were required to obtain financing on their own and would only be paid 90 days after the retailers received the products. This put a tremendous amount of pressure on the factories. PCH saw this as an opportunity for another value-added service.Casey envisioned that PCH could play the role of an intermediary to facilitate the financial flow from the moment the retailers placed their orders to the delivery of goods. The new model was such that retailers would place orders with PCH and PCH would then place the orders with the factories. Given PCHs size and its relationship with global technology firms, banks would be willing to lend capital to PCH. At the same time, PCH could then lend funds back to its factories and suppliers at a higher interest rate, but still lower than what the factories and suppliers would have gotten on their own.PCH effe ctively made the interest spread between the banks and the factories and suppliers. JOURNEY TO-DATE AND PATH GOING FORWARD Casey, the business adventurer from Ireland seemed to have demystified the often chaotic Chinese manufacturing landscape. Casey recalled the tremendous difficulty in initially saddle horse up the business in 1996 I found companies in Ireland that were buying cables, connectors and audio accessories through British distributors who were actually sourcing them from Asia anyway.It took a long time to urge these Irish companies to go source directly from Asia because their perception was that you couldnt get quality or the right products in Asia, plus they were worried about dealing with the time difference. With only $20,000 in start-up capital and unable to afford staff, Casey worked alone for two years, getting to know factories in China, opportunities, and the business. Just ten years into the PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows G S-61 p. 12 ame, Casey disclosed that by 2007, PCH generated over $100 million in annual revenue, not a small feat for someone who still claimed to not speak much Mandarin. As the company grew into a much larger company since its start-up days, Casey believed one of the most important things to preserve in the company culture was the sense of urgency. In the initial years, he remembered that every single customer contract determined the survival of the company. That sense of urgency, to get things done, to exceed customer expectation continued to stay in the company even after all these years.This sense of urgency was a trait of PCHthe speed and the can-do attitude, said Casey. (See Exhibit 4 and 5 for revenue breakdown. ) A long-time customer of PCH was Better Energy Systems (BES), the brand owner of Solio portable solar power. PCH had been managing BESs end-to-end supply chain. Put simply, PCH understands the business and quality requirements of the West, while at the same time ca n effectively manage the day to day complexities of a Chinese supply chain, said Christopher Hornor, chief executive of BES. 1 While Casey believed PCHs end-to-end solution provided a unique value proposition to technology companies, he also humbly admitted theres nothing that would prevent our customers from going directly to the suppliers in the future. In trying to chart out the growth plan for his company in the years to come, he was contemplating several options expanding service options or obtaining strategic investors. Regardless of the growth strategy, Casey had always believed in building PCH one client at a time. You do a good job, they give you more work, he said. Its all about servicemaking sure they get what they want, when they want it. 12 And such was the truism in operating any supply chain. 11 12 Clifford Coonan, Understanding the Rules Is Key to Success in China, Irish Times, September 25, 2006. Anna Healy Fenton, Irish Rover Now Fluent in Solutions-Speak, South C hina Morning Post, March 26, 2005. PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 13 Exhibit 1 PCH structured Supply Chain Approach Technol ogy Suppl y Chain Sol uti on V i rtual Supply Chai n Flow of inf ormation Physi cal Suppl y Chain Fl ow of productsFi nancial Supply Chai n Fl ow of f unds obtain Company Internal Information Exhibit 2 PCH Services Categories PCH International Managing Goods, Information and Financial Flows GS-61 p. 14 Exhibit 3 PCH Information Portal Source Company Internal Document Exhibit 4 Revenue Breakdown by Category 2005 49% 19% 13% 10% 10% 2006 42% 32% 12% 6% 7% 2007 45% 29% 14% 5% 6% Electronics Telecom Medical PC Other Source Company Internal Document Exhibit 5 Revenue Breakdown by Geography 2005 51% 23% 9% 17% 0% 2006 46% 26. 5% 0. 4% 27% 0. 1% 2007 48% 22% 3% 25% 1% USA Ireland Europe Asia Brazil Source Company Internal Document