Inventory Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Inventory Management - Research Paper Example The project will only review the relevant literature on inventory management. The review will cover the elements of inventory management then go through four main sections of intelligent inventory management. The first three parts will cover the principal domains of inventory management: inventory modeling, expert systems, and the decision support systems. The fourth part is the intelligent decision support system discussion, which advances the two previous parts. Inventory is the stock of goods kept on hand by an entity for future and current use of meeting the customers demand. The inventory is of importance to an entity in both the financial and operational perspective. First, inventory contributes the main investment for any firm. Inventory constitutes approximately 30 to 55 percent of current assets in manufacturing companies while constituting approximately 70 to 85 percent of current assets to wholesaler and retailer companies. On the other perspective, from the operational po int of view, inventories put operating flexibility to company. Keeping of adequate inventory by manufacturing processes will facilitate smooth production process. Holding of inventory by wholesaler and retailers facilitates good customer service which in return gives the companies good public image. The main aim of inventory management is to balance between having low inventory and the high return on investments. Inventory has a variety of functions, which should be summarized to facilitate a good inventory management. First, the main aim of holding inventory is to meet customers demand for the product. This is because it is impossible to have delivery of products or production of goods exactly the same time when the consumers need them. It is therefore wise to keep a reasonable level of inventory to meet this expected or anticipated consumer demand. Secondly, it is wise to keep adding inventory inform of buffer or safety stocks since the demand is usually not known with certainty.

Was Louis Riel Guilty Of Treason

Was Louis Riel Guilty Of Treason I believe that Louis Riel is guilty of treason. Riel, Louis Riel has been called many names, he has been called a Prophet, a Statesman, a scoundrel, a hero, a madman, a visionary, a hero, but Louis Riel is best described a traitor, he has betrayed Canada in many ways. If passed, Bill C-417 will reverse Riels conviction for high treason. Riel ordered a man named Thomas Scott to be killed and organized a rebellion that caused the loss of dozens of lives, in order to become a territorial leader. Indeed Riel spent most of his adult life in Canada, the United States, seeking political intrigue. Eventually he was executed for his many crimes and the endless turmoil he caused with the Canadian government. That sentence may appear harsh today, but it was no harsher than Scotts execution or the dozens lost in the Riel rebellion: life itself was hard then. The punishment was meted out accordingly, and believed to be very fair at the time. Even though Louis Riel did not want Bloodshed and stay ed away from rebelling against the government for most of his adult life he did not keep it that way so Louis Riel is indeed still guilty of treason. This is true because Louis Riel started rebellions, and was responsible for levying war against the Canadian government which is treason. Louis Riel also fled to the U.S and conspired with the president to start war with the government which is also treason. Louis Riel is guilty in many ways of treason. Riel did not touch a gun and did not kill anyone but he is responsible for the dozens of lives lost in the Riel rebellion and for the execution of Thomas Scott. After all did he not court Marshall Scott and from his peoples vote, 2 only 2 of the seven could do what Riel could not, only 2 of Riels people had the courage to raise their hands, and denounce the Scott execution cold blooded murder. Scott wasnt guilty of treason for two reasons one, he had no government to be treasonous against, and never in the criminal code does it say do not be racist to your government. It does say form an intention to start war with the government, or use force to overthrow the government, Scott was innocent and Riel should have known it, and it is not the killing of Thomas Scott which made Riel guilty it is what that lead to which was rebellions, a provisional government, and many other acts of the crime treason. Save our country from this wicked government by taking arms if necessary Louis Riel. According to the criminal code of Canada paragraph 46 section 1 a through 2c treason is someone who a) uses force or violence for the purpose of overthrowing the government of Canada or a province. The North West Rebellion is a perfect example of this, ¦ Riel formed a provisional government at Batoche in order to wring concessions from Ottawa by force, if necessary does this sound like a man who cares for his government, or a man that will use his government to get what he wants. One week later, the Mà ©tis clashed with the North-West Mounted Police on Beardys Reserve near Duck Lake, by this attack from the Metis people led by none other than Louis Riel, and in section 46 2b on the criminal code of Canada it says levies war against Canada or does any act preparatory thereto- by acting and rebelling though it was only few Mounties it is still part of the Canadian government, and by god it was the very first step on Louis road of rebellion on the Canadian government, so by rebelling they are levying some sort of war on Canada which is a form of treason, isnt it. Riel decided to make his stand at Batoche, a strategy that ultimately sealed the fate of the Mà ©tis and lost any chance of prolonging the conflict- the stand Louis riel is taking a stand to overthrow the Canadian government therefore committing treason, and he is in every way guilty of treason. The North-West Field Force, momentarily stunned by an ambush at Fish Creek in late April 1885, swooped downed on Batoche on May 9 and easily overran the defenders three days later. The next six weeks were largely anticlimactic, as Indian leaders and their followers who had been implicated in the troubles surrendered to Canadian authorities. another section says that You shall not start (Riel was the leader so he started it) or assist armed forces (Metis using Nails, Stones Sticks, cannons guns) against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities (Riel + Metis), whether or not a state of war exists betwee n Canada and the country whose forces they are. The Metis and Riel are doing this they are starting war, and convincing others to join which is also an act of treason so Time travelling back to the Riel era and undoing Riels hanging through simple historical revisionism implies that someone else should pay the price for killing riel, now innocent. In other words, it calls our entire justice system into question, and too be fair and just, if you pardon Riel you must pardon, everyone else who has been charged with treason, and take a look at them, and by doing this it is implying we can get away with rebelling against our government, in the way Riel did. Maybe at first Louis Riels Provisional Government was used to protect the Metis and maybe because the term provisional means temporary and it was only used so the Metis could negotiate with the Canadian government to become a part of Canada but it was later an excuse to rebel against the Canadian government. At a meeting inside of a church in Batoche after a priest  which had told the Metis people Riel that I refuse to give the sacrament to anyone who participates in a rebellion against the Canadian government Riels reaction was assaulting the priest and holding a meeting, at that very meeting Riel uttered this quote I propose we set up a provisional government and take up arms to defend our right to do so! By saying this Riel is saying that hell use his government which was legal and use it to commit illegal crime treason by taking up arms and fighting for their rights and possibly overthrow three governments, and all three of those points are against the Canadian criminal code. So after this meeting occurred it was all downhill and became from harmless to harmful and treason. So by saying this is levying war against Canada and conspiring with the Metis to take up arms against the Canadian government, which both are Treason. Bill C-417 should not be passed because Mr. Riel does not deserve a second chance to live and be a hero, he was given chances and he blew them. Throughout his life Riel had formed a provisional government, started many rebellions, killed innocent men, and had fled to the U.S. When he murdered Thomas Scott, he was in trouble and he done wrong and he knew it, and he wasnt ready to be accountable for his actions so he fled to the U.S, if he knew it was the right thing to do and felt accountable for his actions he would have stayed in Canada and fought for his cause. Does this sound like a strong leader? Is this a leader who would stand up and never abandon his people? No it sounds like a traitor to his government and his people, only a guilty man would leave his own country and have the nerve to come back start rebellions, and run for a spot in parliament. The main reason why people think he is a hero is because he fought for the rights of his people and stand up for them, and by fleein g his people he did not stand up for them but he sat down. Yes throughout Riels earlier years he tried to avoid bloodshed and he did, he avoided fighting against the government, for a long time Riel had avoided killing anyone to avoid bloodshed but later in his life he started a rebellion with a man named Gabriel Dumont who was for bloodshed, and Dumont had been accountable for many Canadian deaths but lets not forget Dumonts leader and the one who organized the rebellions Riel. Louis Riel was one hundred per cent responsible for Dumont and his actions thus responsible for the blood shed he caused. Riel shouldve known Dumont was the man who wouldnt hesitate at chance to battle or capture, a person who was part of the Canadian Government I mean in a football game isnt it the quarterbacks job to call the plays and lead his team, so in the football game of The Metis vs. the Canadian Government Riel was the Quarter back and therefore responsible for the work of his defense man Dumont. Riel was there when Dumont was talking about ambushes, guerri lla style tactics, etc. Riel knew what Dumont wanted and went along with it, so Dumonts Bloodshed is also Louis bloodshed. I mean Riel couldve stopped him, yet when Riel sent him over to Mitchells store near Duck Lake to raid it, Gabriel couldnt resist starting battle; Mr. Riel knew Dumont was a violent man, toward the Canadian Government but still Riel sent Dumont out to a place near, where Mounties were located. By not giving Dumont his follower instructions not to start battle Riel is responsible for Dumonts Bloodshed and his treasonous acts against the Canadian Government, and by being responsible for others treason he is guilty of his own treason. We intend to fight for our freedom as a separate state from Canada In 1875 Mr. Riel was expelled from Canada for 5 years to the U.S and in these 5 years without the authorization of the Canadian government Riel went to acting U.S president Ulysses S. Grant to ask for money and protection. According to the criminal code of Canada without lawful authority can a person conspire with another person or ought to do something for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and defense of Canada. By going to Ulysses S. Grant Riel and asking him for money and protection he is preforming a treasonous act. At this same meeting Riel also says that I am convinced that I could raise a military force sufficient enough to compel the Canadian government to reconsider its relationship with the North West by saying this he is discussing his plan to raise a military force and levy war against Canada which is also part of treason. So by fleeing Canada to go to the President and discussing Riels plan to attack the Canadian government is treason in to ways, and then acting on the se plans in the North West resistance is completely treasonous. How could an insane person lead 700 people into a rebellion unless they were all insane? Louis may have been a traitor and a scoundrel but one thing that is true is he is very honest. At his trial Louis was a truthful man and would not plead insane because he was considerate as well. In fact President John A. Macdonald said because there was doubt about Riels sanity, I delayed the execution until November 16th and had him examined by three doctors. They all agreed that hes not crazy. Three doctors examined one man, he was said to be diagnosed with megalomania, and megalomania is Delusional belief of superiority, Delusions of greatness, Delusions about ones own power Delusions about ones own importance. Louis Riel envisioned himself as a prophet, according to the dictionary; a prophet is a man who speaks for god or a deity, or by divine inspiration or a person who practices divination. Riel saw himself as a prophet of God not a person that is superior, great or is any more important than anybody else on Gods green earth. So not one, not two but the three doctors are right , Riel in no way has any symptoms of megalomania; he does not see himself as great. Louis could not be insane anyway, instead of staying nice and safe in Montana, Riel gave up his safety for the Metis. During his trial, Riels lawyer thought the only way to get Riel out of this mess was for him to plead insanity, it was his lawyers decision to make him insane, he himself knowing he would be executed, Riel still did not agree, only a proud sane man would die to say he was just a sane leader. Riel is right how could an insane person lead 700 people into a rebellion unless they were all insane? If Louis Riel had not been apparently diagnosed with the single diagnosis of megalomania According to http://mwolk.com/blog/definition-of-insanity/ in general an insane person is a person who is not at all afraid of doing anything which might lead to drastic problems for him/her in the future, near the beginning of the Riel era  Riel had asked his men to stop the bloodshed and be loyal to the Q ueen, so even though he started rebellions and broke many laws mostly TREASON, Riel did try to avoid things that would be dreadful to himself and the Metis. So Riel was not insane and therefore was right to be punished for the treason he caused in the rebellions, and the turmoil he gave to the government. Riel didnt Father Confederation; he fought those who did. In comparison with the constructive minds of his generation, Riel was an anomaly. Since he was certainly not a hero to everyone, in no case should we commemorate his misdeeds by erecting a statue of him on Parliament Hill. That would be an insult to the memory of the soldiers who fought and died fighting Riels army and defending the cherished rights we associate with that same Parliament Hill. No person advocating or engaging in armed rebellion against Canadas democratic processes should be so honoured. To do so would be to elevate anarchy and civil disobedience to statesmanship. In short, Riel did not have the full support of his people, let alone Ruperts Land that he needed to create his own territory. Instead, he used arms and force, those ancient non-democratic methods, resulting in death and terror. He was accordingly confronted by force for his crimes, lost and hung. So by revising History, you are not condemning Louis R iel you are condemning Canada, he fought against those who made Canada, and for that alone, for being a bump on the road of what Canada is today, Louis Riel Deserved the death of hangings and more, in the end Louis Riel broke every part of the Criminal Code subsection Treason and high treason  [v]  except for causing bodily harm to her Majesty. In final conclusion to make Louis Riel innocent is making our government guilty and they did not break any single law in Riels lifetime so Riel is indeed guilty of treason.

Indigenous Hawaiians Protest the Exploitation of their Islands :: Essays Papers

Indigenous Hawai'ians Protest the Exploitation of their Islands Reminiscent of the Civil Rights movement that thundered through the continental states in the 1960’s, the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement has gripped the shores and cities of America’s pet paradise and rattled its â€Å"settler society† with determined strength and purpose: the deliberate exploitation of Hawaiian land, Hawaiian spirituality, and Hawaiian life must unequivocally end now. From first contact in 1778, through the militaristic overthrow of the Queen in 1893, America’s â€Å"settler society† ostensibly destroyed the cultural fabric and language of Hawai’i’s autochthonous people. American colonists killed thousands of natives through the spread of lethal diseases and crippled the existing Hawaiian economy through land acquisition and monopoly of the sugar market. Engineered exclusively for the benefit and survival of the settlers, American â€Å"settler society† allowed for no legal recourse by the marginalized natives; native rights were denied altogether. Thus defined by 100 years of oppression and exploitation, modern Hawaiians are fiercely ethnocentric in a movement which has progressed from demands of restitution to outright sovereignty (69). As â€Å"multinational corporations sell our [Hawaiian] beauty†(61), the Ka LÄ hui Hawai’i actively seeks to secure indigenous self-determination and enforce the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for all remaining Hawaiians. In these demands for universal human rights, the strenuous progress of decolonization reverberates with every non-violent demonstration and international gesture. Yet despite the triumphant illusion of decolonization, historical colonialism continues to render Hawaiians victim to the consuming institutions of neocolonialism, namely, co-optation and the scourge of tourism (108). Triumphant decolonization is not yet a reality. The success of decolonization rests heavily on eradicating the â€Å"psychological dependency† Hawaiians imbibe through haole education (42). As he who controls the past controls the future, modern day haoles seek to perpetuate modern racist realities by poisoning public memory with counterfeit history. Haoles teach these false interpretations of â€Å"settler society† and crudely render â€Å"civilization† as a blessed yoke to the feudal Hawaiians. Therefore, in the cycle of decolonization, the truth of the marginalized Hawaiians must be rewritten. Spiritual and cultural identity is primarily reclaimed in the celebration and survival of native languages and philosophies. As â€Å"[Haunani-Kay Trask] had to learn the [Hawaiian] language like a lover so that [Trask] could rock within her and lay at night in her dreaming arms† (118), so must the prostitution of Hawai’i by haole and tourist be transformed.

Kfc in China Essay

Is Tony Wang correct in assuming that China is an ideal market for KFC? Should KFC be pursuing the Chinese market at the present time? Considering China as a strategic location was based from a SWOT analysis. Availability of Supply (Strength) There is ready access of quality poultry in the major metropolitan areas such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. Poultry industry is one of the top priority categories in China’s agriculture modernization and it is highly encourage by the government. Thus, the company can ensure a reliable supply of high quality chicken. Low Competitive Pressure (Strength) Potential competitors such as MacDonald’s face major barriers to enter the China market due to poor beef supply while KFC, aside from availability of high quality chicken supply, has the clear advantage since its main product-chicken- is eaten almost everywhere in the world. Furthermore, chicken is already familiar in China and even much cheaper. Company’s Control Measures (Strength) KFC s control mechanisms are designed to ensure standard levels of quality, service and cleanliness (QSC) at all of the restaurant’s chain stores. This fits the positive image in Asia of American fast food restaurants as famous, air-conditioned, and hygienic. Product Consumption (Strength) Chicken has long been regarded as a kind of nutritious food, which is especially good for the patients, the elders and children. An increase in health conscious consumers also raises the consumption of chicken. Moreover, chicken is a more popular meal than hamburgers in most Asian countries and KFC has the opportunity to offer an American style experience that is different from most other food establishments. Drawing Area (Opportunity) In late 1978, China began implementing economic reforms to modernize its economy by lessening the government’s control of the economy. This reform referred as a socialist market economy boosted the national wealth and the consequent increase in individual’s income has led to steady changes in Chinese consumer patterns prevalent in pre-Mao era. As the world’s most populous nation with over 1 billion inhabitants, the potential size and growth for KFC makes the Chinese market very attractive. Not to mention, the possibility of establishing the first Western style fast-food operation in China as a historic opportunity for the company. Scarce Human Resources (Weakness) Managerial resources are precious because of the scarcity of Chinese-speaking KFC managers. There are also possible conflicts between KFC-appointed managers and local employees. Lack of Local connections (Weakness) Pioneering in the fast-food field would find KFC very difficult to form local and personal networks between businesses and government agencies, which are crucial in providing access to the local market and domestic suppliers and eventually, to the company’s success. Entering into a relatively unknown market, KFC, as a new entrant will have to get in touch with the local business customs and laws as well as with knowledge of culture and language. Quality of Government (Threat) A communist government with strict foreign investment laws rules China. Setting up here requires heavy investment expenses and high levels of resource commitment. The risk of domestication measures may be imposed by the host government, often leading to major financial losses for the foreign investor. Overcoming Threats and Weaknesses KFC has three options of entering the China market thru, namely: Franchising, Wholly owned subsidiary and Joint venture. The traditional franchising strategy, in markets where political risk and cultural unfamiliarity exists, certainly would reduce financial risks. However, KFC had already encountered problems in the past with the aligning of corporate planning with the franchisee’s short-term focus on profitability. In addition, KFC will be pioneering in the fast-food service and thus needs to be highly sensitive to cultural demands. In such case, franchising is not feasible. On the other hand, a wholly owned subsidiary would rely upon total control over competitive advantages and ensures complete operational and strategic control. It also involves high financial risk and little country-level flexibility and responsiveness. This option is not recommended. Entering into a joint venture is highly recommended. Such an international business strategy will attempt to solve many logistics problems such as access to good quality chicken and other supplies, ease the access to Chinese market, share risk with a local entity, utilize ways to cut bureaucratic red-tape and finally, serve as a sign of commitment to the host government increasing goodwill. In addition, due to the complexity of many barriers to entry into China, a potential partner with sufficient contacts or networks with the government officials may smoothen the process of setting-up operations in the country. The potential joint-venture partner should be large, well established, provide excellent distribution channels and have personal network access to government officials. It is recommended that a partner be found by backward integration- that is, a good domestic supplier of poultry. In order to ensure total commitment, the set-up of the joint venture should be with KFC as the dominant partner. This way, cost, quality and strategic control measures are maintained. By building on each partner’s core competencies, knowledge, and efficiencies, a mutually beneficial synergy effect could be achieved as a result of joint venture activities. For instance, the local partner can learn from KFC how to produce a better product at a lower cost and further expand on its new competitive positioning. KFC, on the other hand, can maintain quality supply, which is critical to its success. RECOMMENDATION: The Chinese market represents a great opportunity for KFC where Tony Wang is correct in his assumptions. By finding an appropriate domestic business partner via backward integration, it is possible to further build on opportunities and significantly reduce risk throughout financial sharing, cultural sensitivity and favorable treatment from the host government. KFC should start pursuing this strategy at the present time and develop a coherent international strategy linking the China operations with the other markets. Which of the three cities being investigated should the company choose if it decides to enter China? The capital city, Beijing, is recommended as the preferred location for KFC’s entry into the Chinese market. Beijing is the center for most political activities and provides the necessary access to government agencies and business regulatory bodies. Also, it has a large population of nearly 9 million inhabitants. The numerous universities located in the city contributes to more affluent and educated people that may make them more open to foreign ideas including Western fast-food. More importantly, plenty of Western tourists are attracted to Beijing’s many tourist attractions, increasing the potential for generating foreign currency sales. Furthermore, supplies of poultry are readily available. Beijing can serve as the initial platform of KFC’s operations and later expand into other potential areas such as Shanghai and Guangzhou. One or two initial outlets should be set-up to get an insight of how KFC will be perceived in the Chinese capital. Both dine-in and take-out facilities much in line with most KFC’s international operations ought to be offered in large, clean and well-serviced outlets to cater for the customers with above-average disposable incomes. In order to serve large numbers of customers due to the sheer size of the population, the right cultural fit of the business restaurants must be highly functional and effective. Special menu-substitutions may also have to be facilitated to cater to consumers taste for traditional Chinese meals. Lessons Learned Capitalizing on Strengths and Opportunities In the initial period of KFC’s entry into China market, few of Chinese onsumers were really impressed with the food itself since the country is known to have the best culinary culture in the world. Instead, they were more fascinated with the eating experience: the encounter with friendly employees, quick service, spotless floors climate-controlled and brightly-lit dining areas, and smiling Colonel Sanders standing in front of the main gate. Having experienced the initial surprises brought by a never-seen western lifestyle, Chinese consumers have gradually calmed down and their consumption attitudes towards foreign products are getting more reasonable. Since Chinese people are more concerned with the nutrition and tastes of the fast food, KFC taken advantage of McDonald’s. By offering poultry food that is more acceptable to Chinese people compared with beef, have taken consumers needs and competition with other brands into account. Knowing the market The most prominent success of KFC in China is not only the outcome of KFC’s persistent tenets â€Å"quality, service and cleanliness† but also the achievements of its keen perception of cross-cultural marketing and its understanding of Chinese culture. Based on its scrutiny and adoption of Chinese traditional culinary arts, KFC has developed a series of products that are specially designed for the tastes of Chinese consumers. Moreover, in purpose of maintaining its image of a U. S. brand and keeping consistent with its globalization strategy, most of KFC s Chinese side dishes are defined as short-term products and would be replaced by new products. KFC’s product strategies are categorized into two aspects: 1)To meet consumers desire for novelty by introducing western style products like Mexican Chicken Warp and New Orleans Barbeque Wings. This means can satisfy young consumers who are more open and acceptable to the foreign flavors. 2)To cater to consumers taste for traditional Chinese meal by offering Chinese style fast food from time to time, say, Old Beijing Chicken Roll, a wrap modeled after the way Peking duck is served, but with fried chicken inside and accompanied with green onions and hoi sin sauce, and Sichuan Spicy Chicken which absorbs the spicy flavor of Sichuan dish. This measure can attract older consumers who are fond of Chinese food and in need of the convenience of fast food service as well.

Donnie Darko †Detailed Summary Essay

Donnie Darko is an intelligent, yet delirious and emotionally-ill teenager, who’s idealistic fantasy of correcting the wrongs in society, finally appears possible in a ‘tangent universe’ (an imaginative reality), where he is guided by an imaginary friend Frank, who appears as a malevolent giant bunny in Donnie’s day-time hallucinations. In the early stages of the film, Frank literally lures Donnie from reality and introduces him to a tangent universe where Donnie observes what would’ve been, (yet ultimately is) his own death in reality, where he is crushed by a plummeting airliner engine that crashes through the roof of his house directly above his bedroom where he sleeps. In the tangent reality though, he is merely a bystander, bemused and frightened by the calamity of the aftermath, as he returns home the morning subsequent to the disaster. He realizes that his long sleep-walk adventure the previous night, (Summoned by Frank) had ensured the avoidance of his death. The viewer is initially under the impression that Frank is a product of Donnie’s disturbed and inventive sub-conscious, as he is but a vehicle to allow Donnie’s inhibitions to express themselves through acts of desecration. In many ways, Frank seems to take advantage of Donnie’s mental state by coercing him to perpetrate crime. Yet Donnie appears to advocate his own actions, indicating his intentions for societal change, reformation, and also for companionship – he fears the prospect of â€Å"dying alone,† in which case, Frank is an ally who can assist Donnie in coping with his emotional struggles and hardships. The fact that Donnie’s mental condition is later classified as ‘paranoid schizophrenia’ by Dr Thurman (Donnie’s psychiatrist), would appear as another viable theory or impression, for the viewer to follow. However, it proves not as strong. The reason being, is that the initial or aforementioned theory supports the film’s noteworthy theme that ‘destruction is a form of creation’ (an idea propagated by Donnie’s secondary literacy teacher, Mrs. Pomeroy), whereas the latter is a shallow, yet logical conclusion that isn’t glaringly in keeping with any underlying messages of the film itself. Later in the film, the tangent universe allows for the discovery of Frank, as an authentic person, who is murdered by Donnie as he is directly responsible for a fatal car accident involving Donnie’s much- adored ‘tangent’ girlfriend, Gretchen. This enlightens us as to the reason for Frank’s contact with Donnie. – Frank has traveled back through time, to in-turn; open a port-hole to Donnie’s future and enable Donnie to view aspects of his life ahead as a series of visual manifestations, (ie post airliner engine catastrophe). In doing this, he informs Donnie that Armageddon will arrive in twenty-eight days, which conveniently serves as a manipulative motive to aid his primary objective: – To discourage Donnie in continuing his life in reality; in the hope that Frank’s life will be spared. At this point in the film, the recurring theme of time travel claims its stronghold, regardless of previous acknowledgements and inferences. For instance, in one particular scene Frank implies he is from the future, and in numerous others, Donnie is seen eagerly researching and discussing theoretical revelations, pertaining to the philosophy of time travel. Evidently though, these scenes and others, such as the ‘Frank-influenced’ despoilment of Donnie’s school and the arson of a corrupt perverts house, illustrate critical stages of Donnie’s inner journey – that is, from a disillusioned teenager, troubled by the folly of mainstream attitudinal beliefs, to an individual who transcends reality in order to subsist in an idealistically superior society, of his own invention. After twenty-seven days of endeavor through outrageous public displays and clandestine defilement, the foretold event of Armageddon looms near. Donnie ambles through the final moments of his tangent existence (inner journey), as his character-defining tenacious dynamism begins to fade. As expected, he assumes his fatalistic mentality of â€Å"all living things have a set path,† and that humans are merely vessels traveling along â€Å"God’s channel,† gradually nearing a pre-determined destination. At this stage, Donnie’s mindset suggests a search for spiritual solace and religious meaning. Whilst denying an utterly defeatist outlook, Donnie exerts a courageous exterior by modestly welcoming his fate, in the hope that there will be â€Å"so much to look forward to.† He is of course referring to a reformed humanity that is devoid of inadequacy, corruption and suppression. It is here, that the film takes an unexpected turn, whereby Donnie’s inner journey in the tangent universe is virtually thwarted due to the sub-conscious acknowledgement of an audible phrase, originally voiced by his late girlfriend, Gretchen. It is part of her conjecture of emotional solace: â€Å"What if you could go back through time, and replace all those hours of pain and darkness with something better?† At this point, Frank uses his god-like essence to summon Donnie in reality, assuming that he’d been subjected to enough to be dissuaded, and, much to the viewer’s astonishment, Donnie awakes in bed, hysterically laughing in awe and disbelief of his ‘dream.’ Whilst conscious, he remembers the tangent visions of pain and anguish, including Gretchen’s death, and the murder of Frank, and decides that his future should be exempt from more emotional suffering. Donnie opts to conclude his inner journey heroically, by means of self-sacrifice – that is, to allow the plummeting airliner engine to destroy him, thus ensuring an extended life for his beloved female tangent counterpart, Gretchen. The film Donnie Darko is significant to the theme of ‘imaginary journey’ as it details a person’s sinister epigrammatic voyage into the future, and consequent development of emotional alteration. Director Richard Kelly uses the character Donnie as a representation of idealistic thought inherent in society. It is no undisclosed fact that society itself, is pervaded by thoughts and ideals that are in contrast with expected societal opinion. Kelly hints at the notion that we are engaged in the journey of life, yet our propulsion is suppressed somewhat, by the  undeniable need to conform to society’s bounds and restrictions – thus society would seem to preclude humans from achieving their primary goal(s) or concluding their journeys. Also intertwined with this perception, is the suggestion of the faà §ade of human nature. Kelly suggests it is unnatural for veritable human inclination to be constrained, hence the rationale of life-long journeys that are embarked upon to discover a sense of self. Donnie’s self discovery is shown through his sacrifice for Gretchen. Whilst on his imaginary journey, Donnie identifies with her troubled emotions and sinister background of family trauma. He discovers a person remarkably similar to himself, so his sacrifice in essence could be perceived as an effort of self-preservation as he was intent on ensuring continuity of his ‘spirit’ within a physical entity other than himself. This is a viable interpretation, relevant to a reflective ‘inner’ journey, as it is a primary motive for initial commitment to the journey itself. Kelly realizes that Donnie’s journey is exceedingly implausible and unrealistic. Without detracting from the intended solemnity, it seems a feat such as Donnie’s could only be surmounted by a ‘philosophical super-hero’ with ethereal powers. Kelly deliberately captures the fervent yet slightly naà ¯ve central vision of Donnie’s ideological expectations in the films title, and in Donnie’s heroic bravado. Nonetheless, he encourages provocation of thought and motivational urge on our set path in life, or inner journey. The reason being is that humans are inclined to stray from reality, if indeed; there is an absence of true accomplishment in their existence. By this, Kelly infers that an inner journey is necessary to undergo, as it induces self-gratification and contributes to the conservation and perpetuation of ones psyche. Director Richard Kelly uses the medium of time travel to symbolize the eternal human endeavor/journey in Donnie Darko. I use eternal, because we yearn for such an easy method as time travel to reveal future outcomes and destinations, yet we are simultaneously disenchanted by its obvious  impracticalities. Kelly expresses his interpretation of fatalism via ‘liquid spears,’ which consist of water and metal, and appear as a cylindrical protrusion from a human’s chest. In the scene known as the ‘liquid spear waltz,’ (tangent universe), Donnie in his hallucinatory state, sees these spears connected to the chests of his friends and family. He observes that the individual always follows the path of the spear, to their immediate destination. For example, Donnie’s spear leads him to the fridge on one occasion, whilst he was thirsting for a drink. He would’ve made that same trip even if the spear wasn’t there. Furthermore, the inclusion of mystical activity in the film, such as the liquid spear, adds to the surrealism of the tangent universe, reinforcing the ‘imaginary’ focus of Donnie’s journey. Kelly has portrayed the same dream-like atmosphere via other medium also. For example, many of the tangent universe scenes are in slow-motion, and filmed from an aerial perspective. This informs the viewer of the simulation of the tangent universe, whilst creating a mystic atmosphere and mood. Finally, Kelly’s concept of fatalism may well be perceived as a mere scapegoat for human failure, yet such a perception would be grossly incorrect. He emphasizes that; we shouldn’t knowingly inhibit ourselves because we travel on a set path in life. If anything, a pre-determined future should provide motivation, and encourage one take advantage of daily opportunities and prospects. After all, we are oblivious as to when exactly, our journey of life shall ultimately cease.