Twilight Book Report Essay Example

Twilight Book Report Essay The novel Twilight is a fantasy romance story wrote by Stephenie Meyer. According to the information from Wikipedia, the series has sold over 120 million copies worldwide with translations into at least 38 different languages around the globe.The protagonist is Bella Swan, a seventeen-year-old girl. Unlike other teenage girls who like shopping and fashion; Bella does not pay much attention on dressing. â€Å"The dress selection wasn’t large, but both of them found a few things to try on. I sat on a low chair just inside the dressing room, by the three-way mirror, trying to control my fuming.† (page154) Bella changes from passive to active by the end of the story. At the very beginning of the story, Bella is quiet, she does not like to talk much, and she tries to keep the feeling to Edward in secret. By the end of the story, Bella feels confident to say she loves Edward, and she dresses up gorgeously and goes to the prom with Edward. One important right thing Bella does in the story is even though she knows Edward is a vampire, she stills keep in relationship with Edward instead breaking up with him, and personally I can feel the strength of love at that moment. â€Å"Charlie is Police Chief Swan to the good people of Forks† (page5) Charlie is the protagonist Bella’s father. Although Charlie knows nothing about vampire and werewolf, his best friend Billy Black belongs to werewolf family and Charlie’s coworker who is Doctor Cullen is a vampire. Besides, all of the â€Å"murders† that Charlie is responsible for is do by the vampires. Another character, Jacob Black is one of the children of Billy Black, and he is also a werewolf. Jacob grows up with Bella together, and they always play together when they are small and live in the same city. Jacob loves Bella, but he does not say the love to Bella yet. However, same as Edward, Jacob is willing to do everything to protect Bella. In the novel, Jacob is the one who tells the history of w We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight Book Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight Book Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight Book Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Save an Endangered Species Classroom Campaign

Save an Endangered Species Classroom Campaign In this Lesson Plan, students aged 5–8 are provided a way to gain a deeper understanding of how human activities affect the survival of other species on earth. In the space of two or three class periods, student groups will develop advertising campaigns to save endangered species. Background Species become endangered and go extinct for many complex reasons, but some of the primary causes are easy to pin down. Prepare for the lesson by considering five major causes of species decline: 1. Habitat Destruction Habitat destruction is the most critical factor affecting the endangerment of species. As more people populate the planet, human activities destroy more wild habitats and pollute the natural landscape. These actions kill some species outright and push others into areas where they cant find the food and shelter they need to survive. Often, when one animal suffers from human encroachment, it affects many other species in its food web, so more than one species population begins to decline. 2. Introduction of Exotic Species An exotic species is an animal, plant, or insect that is transplanted, or introduced, to a place where it did not evolve naturally. Exotic species often have a predatory or competitive advantage over native species, which have been a part of a particular biological environment for centuries. Even though native species are well adapted to their surroundings, they may not be able to deal with species that closely compete with them for food or hunt in ways that native species have not developed defenses against. As a result, native species either cannot find enough food to survive or are killed in such numbers as to endanger survival as a species. 3. Illegal Hunting Species all over the world are hunted illegally (also known as poaching). When hunters ignore governmental rules that regulate the number of animals that should be hunted, they reduce populations to the point that species become endangered. 4. Legal Exploitation Even legal hunting, fishing, and gathering of wild species can lead to population reductions that force species to become endangered. 5. Natural Causes Extinction is a natural biological process that has been a part of species evolution since the beginning of time, long before humans were a part of the worlds biota. Natural factors such as overspecialization, competition, climate change, or catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes have driven species to endangerment and extinction. Student Discussion Get students focused on endangered species and initiate a thoughtful discussion with a few questions, such as: What does it mean for a species to be endangered?Do you know of any animals or plants that are endangered (or have gone extinct)?Can you think of reasons why species become endangered?Do you see activities in your local area that could affect animal or plant species in a negative way?Does it matter that species decline or go extinct?How might one species extinction affect other species (including humans)?How can society change behaviors to help species recover?How can one person make a difference? Gearing Up Divide the class into groups of two to four students. Provide each group with poster board, art supplies, and magazines that feature photos of endangered species (National Geographic, Ranger Rick, National Wildlife, etc.). To make presentation boards visually exciting, encourage students to use bold headings, drawings, photo collages, and creative touches. Artistic/drawing talent is not part of the criteria, but its important that students use their individual creative strengths to produce an engaging campaign. Research Assign an endangered species to each group or have students draw a species from a hat. You can find endangered species ideas at ARKive. Groups will spend one class period (and optional homework time) researching their species using the internet, books, and magazines. Focal points include: Species nameGeographic location (maps make good visuals)Number of individuals left in the wildHabitat and diet informationThreats to this species and its environmentWhy is this species important/interesting/worth saving? Conservation efforts that are helping to protect this species in the wild (are these animals being captivity bred in zoos?) Students will then determine a course of action to help save their species and develop an advertising campaign to gain support for their cause. Strategies might include: Fundraising to purchase and restore habitat (suggest innovative approaches like a comedy tour, a  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹film festival, a prize giveaway, an  endangered species adoption program, a movie about the cause)Petitions and appeals to legislatorsA proposed ban on an activity that harms their speciesA captive breeding and wild release programAn appeal to get celebrities behind the cause Campaign Presentations Campaigns will be shared with the class in the form of a poster and persuasive verbal presentation. Students will organize their research on posters with photos, drawings, maps, and other related graphics. Remind students that effective advertising captures attention, and unique approaches are encouraged when it comes to presenting a species plight. Humor is a great tactic to engage an audience, and shocking or sad stories elicit peoples emotions. The goal of each groups campaign is to persuade their audience (the class) to care about a particular species and motivate them to climb aboard the conservation effort. After all of the campaigns have been presented, consider holding a class vote to determine which presentation was the most persuasive.

Strategic Analysis of Ebay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Analysis of Ebay - Essay Example Internal Analysis eBay has a strong base of 30 million subscribers (Hill and Jones, 2011: 123) and this include buyers and sellers who spend a lot of time and resources buying and/or selling on the website. Ebay is always listed amongst the pioneering entities and they started putting the internet to economic use in 1995 alongside the biggest names like Yahoo and Amazon (Hill and Jones, 2011: 122). This puts them in the category of the largest entities with the biggest brand recognition. According to Haberberg and Rieple (2010: 182), eBay has the most competent public relations officials and they come up with strong strategies to ensure that consumers are interested in their services. Ebay also has niche markets in different parts of the world and this is quite specialised and enables the company to get important returns and results in different areas. For instance, in 2005, eBay claimed that in an average day, according to their sales per minute, they trade one comic book in France, one mobile phone in China and one car in the United States (Haberberg and Rieple, 2010: 182). This shows the power of their technological capabilities and strengths. The company also aims at continuous improvement of their capabilities (Singh, 2009: 311). eBay spends significant sections of their income towards the acquisition of new companies like the acquisition of PayPal to support in e-commerce (Campos, 2007: 19). This kind of horizontal integration provides important competitive advantage in the industry.

Effects of emerging technologies in Accounting Information Systems- Research Paper

Effects of emerging technologies in Accounting Information Systems- focusing on XBRL - Research Paper Example Due to numerous benefits, XBRL captured the market and now-a-days few biggest economies in the world such as US, China, France and Japan organizations are obliged to implement XBRL for financial reporting (Geerts, Guido, et al 815-840). XBRL assures control of data sources and in addition, it ensures the integrity of reporting information by using the structured format of XML that are adapted to the financial particularities. It helps in facilitating and automating the import of data from diverse computing environments. Along with summiting the regulatory constraints, the enterprises that are implementing XBRL are benefitting from an innovative context for improvement and cost diminution relative to their reporting processes. Recently, XBRL has come out to be a viable option for the public sectors (Jiu, Li, Wang and Gong 84-96). There exists number of extensions of XBRL such as XBRL IFRS and XBRL US GAAP that are created for the adoption of specific norms and rules for reporting in f inancial accounting. The objective of the report is to explain the impacts of technological advancements such as XBRL in accounting information system and its relevance. The evolution in the world of XBRL was exceptionally rapid, progressing from the state of initiative of American accounting expert Charles Hoffman in 1988 to the state of international standard that are used internationally and promoted by a significant number of national and international jurisdictions. Considerable numbers of paper are dealing with the problems of XBRL and its significance in accounting information systems (Baldwin, Amelia and Trinkle 1-24). This research report goes beyond the research preoccupation for adopting XBRL as a standard format and tool generally in business reporting and particularly in financial reporting. This research report will review the effects of emerging technologies on accounting information systems (AIS) majorly focusing on XBRL. This

How and why did the visionary architectural drawings of tienne-Louis Essay

How and why did the visionary architectural drawings of tienne-Louis Boulee and Claude Nicolas Ledoux challenge the classical style of their time - Essay Example The structures that they envisioned looked unbuildable because of their technical standards. The following paper tries to elaborate how both architects Etienne-Louis Boulee and Claude Nicolas Ledoux challenge classical style of their time. The historical importance of Ledoux is the fact that he introduced a new system in his architectural works. The new system incorporated new elements that became evident in the old system dominating it and replacing it with the new system. In French revolution period, theses architects are considered to have developed opposing principles. The work by Etienne is a demonstration of the new system in architecture where he asserts the importance of new principles in architecture and isolation of the other parts. In most cases, both architects are considered together but they are not similar in their architectural works. Ledoux is considered pragmatic because his works were developed to be constructed putting into consideration the needs of the people. On the other hand, Boullee does not seem to share the same interests. He was appointed as an architect by king Lous XVI in 1773 and before he could publish his work he was dismissed and arrested in 1793 by the revolutionary committee for al leged conspiracy of cooperating with Madame du Barry and for not acknowledging the king. His book was published in 1804 prior to his death, and this enabled him to share his ideas concerning architecture (Lawrence 25). Boullee’s theoretical designs for public cenotaphs sought to instigate lofty feelings in the view by architectural designs that suggested immensity, sublimity, and awesomeness of nature and divine aptitude underlying its creation. He was greatly inspired by indiscriminate interest for antiquity form Egyptian monuments experienced by his contemporaries. Boullee work is characterized by geometric forms put

Cultural Impacts Of Tourism In Mumbai

Cultural Impacts Of Tourism In Mumbai What is culture? Lederach (1995) defines culture as the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them. When we think of culture, commonly we think traditions, food, language, clothes, religion and behavior. These traits can change over time if and when a particular place adapts or incorporates the culture of another. This can either have a positive or negative effect on the culture of that place. Mumbai is located on the Salsette Island which lies at the mouth of Ulhas River off the western coast of Maharashtra India in the coastal region known as the Konkan. Mumbai is classified as a metropolis of India, under the jurisdiction of the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation. It consists of two distinct regions, the Mumbai City District and Mumbai Suburban District. The city region is also commonly referred to as the Island City by most media publications. There are many kinds of dishes that are native to the state of Maharashtra. Many of which are available in roadside fast food. Other popular cuisines include Lebanese, Korean, Thai, Italian, Mexican and Chinese. Mumbai is one of the most liberal cities in India, embracing concepts that would be considered taboo in other parts of the country. Mumbais culture has been heavily influenced by western culture which gives many tourists familiarity. Some could argue that Mumbai has already lost a lot of its culture to cosmopolitan culture. Climate in Mumbai is warm and humid. There are four seasons the city experiences. During the months of December to February, cool weather exists from December to February and hot weather from March to May. The monsoon season lasts from June to September and is followed by the post-monsoon season, which lasts through October and November, when the weather is again hot. Monthly temperatures vary from 91 degrees in May to 67 degrees Fahrenheit in January. Annual rainfall is about 70 inches with an average of 24 occurring in July alone. Before tourism development, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) was originally a group of seven islands on the Konkan coastline, occupied by Koli fishermen. It wasnt until Sultan Muhamed Begada took over the islands, where Mumbai was colonized by the Hindus. A Portuguese traveler named Vasco da Gama was the first person to explore the route to Mumbai which led to the discovery of the islands and the attack by the Portuguese to capture the islands in 1534. The Portuguese built a parish, several forts and churches, but realized there was no value in them. In 1661, Catherine of Braganza, sister of the Portuguese King, offered these islands as a gift to Charles II of England. Having no use for the islands, Charles II leased them to the British East India Company in 1661. This was the beginning of British rule. This trading company built docks, trading posts, and forts because of its strategic location. Mumbai developed into an important trading post. Governer Gerald Aungier persuaded businessmen from all over the country to come and settle in Mumbai. Mumbai developed into a major commercial center. In the 18th century, population increased significantly and by the 19th century there was construction of buildings, monuments, railway stations, offices, banks. With the introduction of the Great Indian Peninsular Railways, the city received an improved means of transportation. After Indias independence from British rule in 1947, India was restructured into Bombay state. In 1960 when, Maharashtra state came to existence, Bombay, now Mumbai became the capital. There are positive effects tourism can have on a destination. One example would be the host communities residents sharing their culture in addition to those visiting the communities. Other benefits may include the host may include community pride, tolerance and a stronger sense of ethnic identity (Velachis, 2010). The other positive effects of tourism are the cultural exchange, the resurgence of local traditions, and an enhanced image for the community. The perception of India to westerners is of an exotic destination. Then there negative images still associated with it such as poverty, poor health, sanitation, and inferior infrastructure (Jafari, 2000). Tourism in Mumbai would have a positive effect on the community as it would break the stereotypical perception of India. Mumbai is the definition of urban India. It can be said that Mumbai the New York of India, as it is the city that never sleeps with its residents leading a fast-paced life and high rise structures. The involvement of the local communities is an important factor for visitor satisfaction. The hosts for tourism are the local community and they participate directly in the tourism experience, helping to define the sense of place and atmosphere of regions (Arzeni, 2009). The support of the local community is essential in developing cultural experiences for tourists. Ever since the success of the film, Slumdog Millionaire, slum tourism has been a growing attraction in India. The Dharavi slum, located in Mumbai, is the largest slum in Asia. This Slumdog setting is what grew peoples curiosity. Slum tourism can have a positive impact by introducing the positive side of the slums and dispelling the negative. Besides the obvious economic benefits it brings, it can give tourists some insight to their lives and create awareness of the situation. Despite the poverty and its bleak appearance, the people living in these slums are hard working with a strong spirit and sense of community (Ward, 2 010). It can change the preconceived notion they may have had about these slums. It can be seen as a positive that there is a combination of Mumbai culture as well as Western culture. Many locals in Mumbai celebrate both these culture. Many festivals held in Mumbai allow tourists to have a look into the Mumbai culture because they are able to celebrate along with the locals while at the same time interacting with them. This mutual relation encourages a cross-cultural communication that can support understanding between the host and guests (Valachis, 2009). Residents alike are educated about the world outside without leaving their homes, while visitors learn considerably about a unique culture. Another positive outcome that tourism brings is to Mumbais economy. The entire country of India is dependent on tourism, as tourism is its largest service industry. Tourism in Mumbai has served as a tool for income and employment generation, lessoning poverty and sustainable human development. It contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India (Tourism Statistics, 2008). Business tourism is quickly growing and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, an international tourism trade organization, Indian business tourism will contribute over $14.2 billion to the economy in 2011. Not only does this benefit the economy, it will allow business traveler a glimpse of Mumbais culture and give the opportunity to explore diverse activities in juxtaposition to their business agendas. The common impacts in the destination occur from the tourist activities. These impacts include the revitalization or commoditization, the commercialization of traditional cultures, the loss of cultural authenticity, the destruction of the heritage and historical sites by the swarming of tourists. It can be argued that one of the strongest signs of such impacts is the loss of native language as a result of an invasion of tourist languages (Velachis, 2009). The official language of the city of Mumbai is Marathi with only 42% of the population who are fluent. Other than Hindi being one of the major languages in Mumbai, English in prevalent. As business tourism in India increases, English is widely spoken in commercial communication and the professional workforce (Fulton, 2009). With the major languages of Hindi and English, Bombay Hindi was developed, a pidgin that is widely spoken in Mumbai incorporating Marathi, Hindi and English. The changes in language, has been associated in addition to changes in attitudes and behavior. Other harmful impacts tourism can create are to its attractions. The central aspect as to why people travel. The Girgaum Chowpatty is one of the most famous public beaches and one of the oldest beaches in Mumbai. With the many hotels nearby, Chowpatty draws a great number of tourists. Residents of Babulnath which faces Chowpatty, fear that the heritage, sanctity and aesthetics of the area will be flawed (Thanawala, 2006). Another attraction that is in danger is the Elephanta Caves, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Elephantas close proximity to Mumbai and international reputation as a masterpiece has come at an unsustainable level of tourism (Mink, 2009). There has been little effort at preserving the statues and poor crowd control conducted by the authorities. As a result, the already damaged sculptures are in danger of further degradation. According to Mathieson and Wall (1982), one of the major impacts on culture destination is the conversion of the material and non-material structures of local culture, which are called revitalization or commoditization. The Mumbai Tourism Development Corporation has created numerous amounts of festivals specifically to promote tourism in the city. A number of cultural activities including, dance and music recitals are held during these festivities in order for tourists to be able to observe the culture of Mumbai. Tourism can turn local cultures into commodities when religious rituals, traditional ethnic rites and festivals are reduced and to match to tourist expectations. When tourists acquire a vacation as a package, they also purchase culture as a package. Despite how ancient or composite the destination culture is, it is lessoned to a few recognizable distinctiveness. Examples such as arts and crafts, dance, music, buildings and festivals or ceremonies are promoted as a commodity (Mathieson and Wall, 1982). The Elephanta Festival in Mumbai is a cultural festival created to honor and commemorate Indian dance, sculpture and art. It is a major attraction for locals as well as the neighboring city. What is suppose to a be tribute to classical performers and an initiative to popularize Indian classical dance and heritage art form found its main purpose in trying to promote tourism in the state, as it was organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Another negative impact that tourism creates in the culture of a destination is that the put the desires and interest of the tourist without regard to the locals who may have had families and friends that were killed. This was another way for the city to make profit. A tragic event occurred on November 26, 2008 when the terrorist attacks destroyed monuments and injured and killed hundreds of people. This event struck a new found terror tourism. (Shatterjee, 2008). Travelers congregate to the monuments of the Taj hotel, Gateway of India, Cama hospital and Nariman house, which were under terror attacks. Visible bullet marks on walls, windows and roofs, damaged regions and reinstated structures. There has been an increase of local tourists and foreign travelers to Mumbai because of this terror tourism. There are even tour guides and agencies that will give detailed descriptions on the events and show the various places that were under the siege. Although this terror tourism brought the in a set of tourist, it cant be denied the impact it had on Indias tourism industry. Not only did the attack affect leisure travel to Mumbai, it rippled through the entire country with cancellations of hotel bookings. Business travel has also affected the business tourism as many companies have asked employees to restrict travel to India. The wake of this attack has undoubtedly impacted this destination negatively. While retaining the traditional image of cultural tourism in India, diversification of the tourism product would continue, mainly in the fields of leisure, adventure and convention, thus responding to the changing consumer needs (Menon, 1993). Mumbai blends old traditions with new and modern culture. Mumbai is known as the business and entertainment capital and known for the exciting nightlife one can experience, but not for the historic monuments. Little effort was made in preserving the few monuments they already had. If tourists were looking for the old India, it would deter tourists to visit other parts of India, which could hurt the image of Mumbai for being too commercialized. Mumbai is at the point of standardization. This means the process of fulfilling tourists desires (Arzeni, 2009). The landscape, accommodation, food and drinks, etc., must meet the tourists desire for the new and unfamiliar, they must at the same time not be too new or odd because very little tourists actu ally want to see completely new things. Aurangabad, another city in the state of Maharashtra was named the Tourism capital of Maharashtra. Like many other cities in Maharashtra, it is part of the urban sprawl that includes, Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. Unlike Mumbai which has few historic sites, Aurangabad has is tourist hub surrounded by many historical monuments and caves some of which are UNESCO heritage sites. This could create competition for Mumbai who is constantly finding ways to boost tourism in the city. Recently, Mumbai has introduced fort tourism (Buch, 2011). These forts will be able to attract more tourists, but have been poorly preserved and rather than being restored have been tampered with. Tourists want to be introduced to new culture. The culture of Aurangabad is still very much intact, contrast Mumbai who culture is deeply blended with western culture. The city of Mumbai has done a poor job at trying to preserve the few monuments they already have. These monuments are a part of their heritage, but they make it seem they no longer have any pride in their own culture. This could also be said about the food in Mumbai. As mentioned earlier, Mumbai offers cuisines from all over the world, with Chinese being most prevalent. According to the Travel Industry Association of America and the National Restaurant Association (2008), food is central to deciding vacation destinations for at least 25% of leisure travelers. Mumbai has not made any effort to promote their food, which is an aspect of their culture. The state of Kerala, located in southwestern India could also create competition. Tourist looking for sun, sea, and sand can find it in this state. Kerala was named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the Ten Paradises of the World. Mumbai does offer sun, sea and sand from its famous Juhu Beach and Chowpatty. Unfortunately, because of the severely polluted water, it is advised not to swim. Other than being a paradise, what makes Kerala unique is its ecotourism incentives, which it is well known for. Eco-friendly places can be a deciding factor as to why people would choose one place over another. Mumbai has become the new pollution capital with the rapid population growth and increase in number of automobiles. What may make Kerala more desirable is its unique culture, as it managed to remain organic and rich in its heritage. In many destinations, the cultural industries have been recognized as having an important relationship with tourism. As tourism gradually shifts away from its prior attraction of landscapes and natural resources, tourists are becoming more interested with the symbolic and sensory consumption of images and ideas associated with particular destinations (Arzeni, 2009). An example would be Bollywood, or the Hindi cinema. It has become a major part of Mumbai culture. Like Hollywood is associated with L.A., Bollywood is associated with Mumbai. Mumbai is the largest film producer of Hindi film. Tour companies now offer Bollywood tour packages, which offer tours around Film City and in the studios, as well as the residents of Bollywood actors. It is not a historic site, nor is it monumental, but it is one of the most popular attractions in Mumbai. People want to go to destinations that are linked with particular famous people, events, and they want to experience the sights and sounds. (Arzeni, 2009). Though not traditionally part of Indian culture and not found in other parts of India, Mumbai is known for its vibrant nightlife. A typical night out would be exploring one of the many bars and clubs the city has to offer. This is just another example of how a host community fulfilled the tourist desire of familiar facilities. The fact that tourists just want a quick glance of the local atmosphere, a brief look at local life, and no awareness or even interest creates a loss in authenticity which means adapting to the taste to the tourists needs and not taking the time to truly understand the locals and their culture. Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but to simply put it, it is the learned and shared behavior of a community of interacting human beings. When tourists arrive to a destination, they bring their culture which is then learned and shared by the host communities. Though there is no doubt that culture and tourism are related, it can strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of a place and the same time hurt it. Mumbai is continually finding ways to promote tourism to their city although they have already established themselves as a popular tourist destination for both leisure and business travelers. What started out as seven islands occupied by Koli fisherman, has developed into the one of the largest and richest metropolitans in the world. Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing global tourism markets and countries that are dependent upon it will find ways to attract tourists, even if it means altering their culture to fit the needs of the tourist. We see ho w negatively tourism can affect the culture of ones community, but it also has its positive aspect. Interaction with the local community can change their perception about the place they had before, dispel any negative stereotypes and are able to learn something about another culture.

Professional Sports Teams Move - Cities Fight To Keep Them Essay

Professional Sports Teams Move - Cities Fight To Keep Them   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Professional sports, like most of our popular culture, can be understood only partly by through its exiting plays and tremendous athletes. Baseball and football most of all are not only games anymore but also hardcore businesses. As businesses, sports leagues can be as conniving, deceitful, and manipulative as any other businesses in the world. No matter what the circumstances are, it seems that Politicians are always some how right around the corner from the world of sports. These Politicians look to exploit both the cultural and the economic dimensions of the sports for their own purposes. This is what is known in the sports industry as â€Å"playing the field†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the last decade, almost all the big cities in the United States, and a few small cities as well, have battled with each other for the right to host big league franchises. Cities spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build new stadiums and offer enticements to private franchise owners. Politicians often push for stadiums and other favors to teams despite not having support from neighborhoods and general opposition across the whole city, especially where these high dollar stadiums would be built.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of the most prolific franchises in sports, like the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Colts of the National Football League, have moved to other cities breaking off their loyalty to the hometown fans. More important than the actual moves are the more frequent threatened moves. When teams â€Å"play the field† and explore the option of playing in other cities they are able to lure interested cities into giving them just about any royalty they want. New stadiums are only the beginning. The willingness to threaten departure has secured for teams a variety of land deals, lower taxes, more revenues from parking and concessions, control of stadium operations, guaranteed ticket sales, renovation of stadiums with luxury seating, control over neighborhoods and transportation systems, and that’s only the beginning of the list.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Franchises are able to control their own destinies and have major advantages over city officials. This is what as known in the sports industry as the â€Å"uneven playing field†. City officials react to the offensive stra... ...s left Baltimore to play in Indianapolis, where they haven’t had a championship season since they left.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ironically, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL who were a playoff caliber team every year, who had loyal fans and good attendance, lost their team to the city of Baltimore. Owner Art Modell moved his Cleveland Browns team to the city of Baltimore, with the promise of a cost free state of the art stadium, built by tax payers, and a larger market for their team to play in. The city of Baltimore welcomed the team wholeheartedly, after going through the same loss of a team, the Colts. The team is know called the Baltimore Ravens and play in a beautiful stadium complex in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. They have great fan support and Baltimore is once again a football town. The city of Cleveland on the other hand has been in shock after losing a team they loved and supported and are not very fond of Art Modell. The city of Cleveland will once again become a football town, with the expansion Cleveland Browns preparing for their inaugural season, beginning in the fall 1999. The city is once again very excited about the NFL and the â€Å"Dog Pound† will live again.