tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18574318351111204042023-07-17T22:07:58.730-07:00Competition essay writingAmerican National Government Term Paper Topicsjufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-20963876135515664042020-08-24T04:26:00.001-07:002020-08-24T04:26:06.012-07:00Electronic Self-checkout System Essay -- Technology, Cashier CheckoutVarious exact investigations have presumed that a customerââ¬â¢s attribution of the reason for a postponement fundamentally influences its passionate outcomes (see Taylor, 1994; Tom and Lucey, 1995). As indicated by these examinations, clients are more unsatisfied with longer than anticipated holds up brought about by challenges that the store could have helped (for example wasteful checkout work force, understaffing, inability to give express checkouts) than with delays because of outer factors, for example, irregular varieties in store swarming, till breakdowns, the hour of day (a few periods are definitely busier than others) or the nearness of clients with a lot of shopping. This was particularly evident if little exertion with respect to the specialist organization was expected to improve the circumstance or potentially the issue making the postpone was a customary event. It showed up, subsequently, that the explanations behind a long line were significant determinants of con sumer loyalty or disappointment, not simply the delayââ¬â¢s term. The Psychology of Combining Queues Joining lines have demonstrated not to be a decent procedure for overseeing lines in markets and grocery stores. Studies have demonstrated that despite the fact that consolidating lines have been fruitful in some help associations, these strategies have demonstrated to have negative outcomes in markets. Among the components that cause postponements of clients who are in line at the checkout counter in supermarkets is managementââ¬â¢s endeavor to consolidate lines. In opposition to normal estimations, there are explanations behind accepting that joining lines, particularly lines of clients in checkout lines in supermarkets, may now and again be counterproductive. Rothkopf and Rech (1987) in their class had one member refering to the act of combini... ...e administration increasingly significant and were happy to pay substantially more for it when they discovered there were more individuals behind the places that were held for them. There exists an all inclusive human inclination to find out around ones self through examination with others (Gilbert, Price and Allan, 1995). Clients in checkout lines will in general contrast their situation in line and those of different clients. Be that as it may, seeing individuals behind is to some degree comfort since ââ¬â¢there are individuals more terrible off than meââ¬â", in this way making the experience less difficult. The examination laid out three arrangements of variables (line factors, individual elements, and situational factors) that may shape the degree of social correlations, every one of which is tried. Hkust and Hkust (2002) communicated that constrained research contemplates have been directed to decide how administration holds up can be controlled. To control the time customersââ¬â¢ hold up in line, jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-59898921533807089042020-08-22T00:31:00.001-07:002020-08-22T00:31:34.374-07:00Lord Of The Flies Essays (1067 words) - English-language FilmsRuler of the Flies A running topic in Lord of the Flies is that man is savage on the most fundamental level, in every case at last returning to an insidious and crude nature. The pattern of man's ascent to power, or exemplary nature, and his unavoidable go wrong is a significant point that book demonstrates over and over, frequently contrasting man and characters from the Bible to give a progressively clear image of his plunge. Ruler Of The Flies represents this fall in various habits, extending from the outline of the mindset of genuine crude man to the impressions of a degenerate sailor in limbo. The tale is the account of a gathering of young men of various foundations who are marooned on an obscure island when their plane crashes. As the young men attempt to compose and define an arrangement to get saved, they start to isolate and because of the dispute a band of savage ancestral trackers is framed. In the long run the abandoned young men in Lord of the Flies for the most part shake off cultivated conduct: (Riley 1: 119). At the point when the disarray at long last prompts a manhunt [for Ralph], the peruser understands that in spite of the solid sense of British character and politeness that has been imparted in the young for the duration of their lives, the young men have retreated and indicated the fundamental savage side existent in all people. Golding detects that organizations and request forced from without are brief, yet man's silliness and inclination for obliteration are suffering (Riley 1: 119). The tale shows the peruser that it is so natural to return to the malice nature inborn in man. On the off chance that a gathering of very much molded school young men can eventually end up submitting different outrageous tragedies, one can envision what grown-ups, pioneers of society, can do under the weights of attempting to keep up world relations. Ruler of the Flies' worry of wickedness is with the end goal that it contacts the nerve of contemporary repulsiveness as no English epic of its time has done; it takes us, through imagery, into a universe of dynamic, multiplying underhanded which is seen, one feels, as the regular condition of man and which will undoubtedly help the peruser to remember the most abominable signs of Nazi relapse (Riley 1: 120). In the novel, Simon is a quiet fellow who attempts to show the young men that there is no beast on the island aside from the feelings of trepidation that the young men have. Simon attempts to express reality: there is a monster, yet 'it's just us' (Baker 11). At the point when he makes this disclosure, he is disparaged. This is an uncanny corresponding to the misconception that Christ needed to manage for an amazing duration. Later in the story, the savage trackers are pursuing a pig. When they murder the pig, they put its head on a stick and Simon encounters a revelation where he sees the lasting fall which is the focal truth of our history: the destruction of reason and the arrival of... franticness in spirits injured by dread (Baker 12). As Simon races to the open air fire to tell the young men of his disclosure, he is hit in the side with a lance, his prediction dismissed and the word he wished to spread disregarded. Simon tumbles to the ground dead and is portrayed as lovely and unadulterated. The portrayal of his demise, the way where he passed on, and the reason for which he kicked the bucket are surprisingly like an incredible conditions and extreme end. The significant distinction is that Christ passed on the cross, while Simon was skewered. In any case, a peruser acquainted with the Book of scriptures reviews that Christ was wounded in the side with an a lance prior to his execution. William Golding talks about man's ability for dread and weakness. In the novel, the young men on the island first experience a normal dread of being abandoned on an unknown island without the direction of grown-ups. When the young men start to compose and start to feel progressively grown-up such as themselves, the dread of beasts dominates. It is reasonable that young men extending in ages from babies to youthful adolescents would have fears of beasts, particularly when it is taken into thought that the youngsters are abandoned on the island. The creator wishes to appear, in any case, that jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-20604736844134232052020-07-17T08:34:00.001-07:002020-07-17T08:34:02.407-07:00Build Your Brand Through Social Media StrategyBuild Your Brand Through Social Media Strategy If there is something that is cited as most important for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) fields, it is creating brand awareness. In fact, the more structured and defined the presentation of the brand, the more it subsequently draws attention to itself, thus creating a network of loyal customers.The more structured and defined the presentation of the brand, the more it subsequently draws attention to itself, thus creating a network of loyal customers. Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash.Social media are at the center of our personal and professional everyday life; it has been proved that nearly 2.1 billion people have social media accounts and are active in them. Targeting this huge market is a crucial step for businesses that want to build brand awareness and expand sales. And while most marketers agree its an almost necessary step to create a social media strategy, brand consistency across all marketing touchpoints remains tough, let alone elaboratin g it for each social media channel. Still, its a challenge taken and the results can be highly successful for every brand. Many recent researches like the one by Riswan Tarigan published in ResearchGate showcase that marketing via social media can give impact to a companys revenue; the effect of social media toward a companys brand awareness is crucial.Building brand awareness through social media starts by defining what is, in fact, a brand in total and how this can be effectively communicated online in a strong and consistent way. Those brand qualities are then distilled into strategy tips that best work together and can really shape the audiences perception of a brand as say, cool or with traditional values. Here, we offer a number of steps to follow to ensure your brand is instantly recognizable online in a consistent way and one that reflects its core values and aesthetics to the fullest.Be consistent through all social media platformsIn social media brand building, consistency is key. Try to use the social media channels that actually can help your brand and design a consistent logo, color palette, bio, and handle for all. Your content may vary from LinkedIn to Twitter according to each mediums special characteristics but the logo, colors and company details should match to avoid confusion. Nike is a good example of brand consistency: While their content varies from each social media channel, their colors, handle and bio are identical and recognizable at first glance.Deliver brand tone of voiceCreating a brand tone of voice is one most the most challenging facts and social media branding requires an approach similar to all advertising channels. The idea is to consider your social media accounts like parts of the same advertising tool kit; this way you will keep the tone of voice uniform across all platforms. Dont be afraid to be picky though; in a recent Forbes article, New York-based interior design firm Tilton Fenwick founders offer advice for choosing the right platforms. Not all social media platforms are created equal. Twitter is more of a conversation, best for sharing industry news or topics related to your brand. Facebook is similar to Twitter but with a much older audience. they note.Design a logo that expresses the brands core values, aesthetics and philosophyA logo is the first thing most social media users will note and connect with your brand so invest in one that expresses the brands core values and philosophy. Try to use a visual style guide and match the social profiles colors to those of your logoâ"and again, keep this color palette across all platforms. Your logo and company colors should ideally express emotions and make a strong statement about your brand.Keep content relevant and up to dateSocial media is all about change and the content that you create must follow this rule. Make a list with content that drew the most response from your followers and then replicate it with similar up-to-date posts. Your brand identity is reflected in the content you post so make it relevant and as unique as possible. The key here is to choose your topic of expertise and become a leader in it; be it sneakers or travel experiences, your followers will love to know the latest in the field from you first.Invest in strong visualsSocial media is all about great images and the more you create visually oriented content, the more you will set your brand apart. Choose great images that work effectively with each social media channel and edit them to suit each channels requirements. Photo editing apps like Snapped can help you create a feed that looks highly professional and polished.Engage in conversationYou have created great company pages in most social media channels and produce great content dailyâ"now its time to interact with your followers. Creating brand consistency has a lot to do with the online relationships you build with your followers, so try to engage in conversation, offer tips or create content to keep them coming back. The more human-oriented your brand feels, the more followersâ"and thus, potential customersâ"it can draw to your benefit.Post frequentlyCreating great content that reflects your brands values is a necessary step but you must be committed to posting it frequently. The frequency varies from each social media channel to another but twice a week is a very good starting point, especially for Instagram. Frequent posts create engagement and promote the very special characteristics or expertise of your brand online in a constant way. As Michael Noice, founder of Entrepreneur Coach, explains, A once-weekly Twitter post or monthly Instagram photo are not going to accomplish much, if anything. For this reason, its best to focus on two or three carefully chosen social networks and try to be active on them, rather than posting sporadically to a half-dozen.Connect with influencersConnecting with influencers is a great way to establish collaborations and get ambassadors that will promote brand awareness for a wide audience. You will need to create a strategy that involves developing relationships with the influencers of your choice and making them see you as an expert in your field. If they feel they can relate to your brand values and identity, they will be more eager to work with you, thus promoting your brand further. Start by specifying all the influencers in your industry and then follow them. Dont be afraid to engage with them by liking, commenting or even reposting their content with tagsâ"this is a great way of making them notice you the first time. DMs should come lastâ"be super careful with what you write and never force things.Dont be afraid to engage with influencers by liking, commenting or even reposting their content with tags. Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash.Create a special hashtagAnother great idea to expressing your brand identity online is creating a unique hashtag for your brand. This way, you will become instantly rec ognizable and will encourage others to use that unique hashtag and involve your content. Sprout Social writer Jenn Chen uses the case of Serena and Lily as an example: their branded hash tag #serenaandlily is used in every post the brand puts on Instagram and even works as a community hashtag, adding up to over 14k tagged posts.Above allâ"evolveCreating brand awareness on social media is a never-ending processâ"your brand identity should evolve with time and take note of all current developments in the field. Update your content to keep your audience coming back for more and try to be super aware of new developments in social media. Changes are fast and sometimes happen overnight. Telling your brands story is a process that needs to be redefined often and new social media strategies applied along with the old ones. Instagram has made a few changes in 2019 that change the way content is posted, including experimenting with nothing less than Augmented Reality, as seen in this AdEspe sso by Hootsuite article. Make sure you are informed of all changes in social media and use them to your brands benefit. jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-16775904711423627792020-05-21T16:27:00.001-07:002020-05-21T16:27:07.868-07:00Dbq Colonial New England and Chesapeake Regions - 891 Words DBQ: Colonial New England and Chesapeake Regions The Chesapeake and New England regions were settled by people of English descent, but by 1700, they had become two distinctly different societies. They had evolved so differently, mainly because of the way that the settlers followed their religion, their way of conducting politics and demographics in the colonies. Even though the settlers came from the same homeland: England, each group had its own reasons for coming to the New World and different ideas planned for the colonies. On his way to the New World, aboard the Arabella in 1630, John Winthrop, Puritan leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, spoke of the plan that he had in store for the colony. He preached that there would beâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦In the Chesapeake region, the settlers came for entirely different reasons; they didnt come to form a community in the New World, they came looking for gold. Everything in VirginiaÃâ"the colonist, the politics, and the societyÃâ"was based on profit, unlike in the New Eng land region, it was an every-man-for-himself society instead of a brotherly community. In History of Virginia, Capitan John Smith wrote that the colonist main reason for coming to the New World was to Ã⦠dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load goldÃ⦠Another reason the Chesapeake region was so different from the New England region was because the basis of the settlement was to find gold and ship it back to Mother England, some of the colonist did not plan to stay in the New World either; they were only attracted by the economic benefits. In the Ship List of Emigrants Bound for Virginia, it is reported that the settlers that are coming into the New World are still in allegiance with the Anglican Church and the King. This shows that the colonists are not seeking religious freedom or striving to become a city upon a hill, but rather seeking economic opportunities. Another significant point that arises in the document is that the population of men is about six times that of women; not to mention that the women are listed separate from the men. TheShow MoreRelatedAp Exam Essays1660 Words à |à 7 PagesAP Exam Essays 2001-2010 2010 AP Exam Essays 1. In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s? 2. Analyze the political, diplomatic, and military reasons for the United States victory in the Revolutionary War. Confine your answer to the period 1775ââ¬â1783. 3. Analyze the ways in which controversy over the extension of slavery into western territories contributed to the comingRead MoreDbq Although New England and the Chesapeake Region Were Both Settled Largely by of English Origin, by 1700 the Region Had Evolved Into Two Different Societies. Why Did This Difference in Development Occur?1229 Words à |à 5 PagesSeptember 24, 2012 DBQ ESSAY Question: Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by of English origin, by 1700 the region had evolved into two different societies. Why did this difference in development occur? Thesis Statement: When talking about New England and the Chesapeake region, you have to consider the differences in motives and geography. Consider economic situations (reasons for settling where they did, reasons why they came to New England in the first place)Read MoreApush Dbqs Essay2248 Words à |à 9 Pages2011 DBQ: (Form A) 1. Analyze the international and domestic challenges the United States faced between 1968 and 1974, and evaluate how President Richard Nixonââ¬â¢s administration responded to them. (Form B) 1. Explain the ways that participation in political campaigns and elections in the United States changed between 1815 and 1840, and analyze forces and events that led to these changes. 2010 DBQ: (Form A) 1. In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the politicalRead MoreBoyer Dbq Teacher Guide10764 Words à |à 44 PagesUsing the DBQ Practice Questions from The Enduring Vision, Sixth Edition A Teachersââ¬â¢ Guide Ray Soderholm Minnetonka High School Minnetonka, Minnesota Using the DBQ Practice Questions from The Enduring Vision, 6th Edition A Teachersââ¬â¢ Guide This guide is intended to suggest some possible ways that students may organize essays related to the document-based questions in the Advanced Placement version of The Enduring Vision, 6th Edition, and to provide teachers with some information on each included jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-47518361374066728462020-05-06T23:32:00.001-07:002020-05-06T23:32:08.324-07:00Kurt Vonneguts Opinions Expressed in Player Piano, Cats... Kurt Vonnegutââ¬â¢s Opinions Expressed in Player Piano, Catââ¬â¢s Cradle, and Slaughterhouse-Five Every so often, a person comes along and encompasses the meaning of a generation. This person will capture everything people want to say, and then word it so well that his or her name becomes legendary. The sixties was an era with many of these people, each with his or her own means of reaching the people. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., armed with a typewriter and a motive, was amongst those that defined the sixties. Like other notable figures of the sixties, his strong opinions moved the people. Vonnegutââ¬â¢s opinions cover a wide range of topics and address almost all aspects of society. He represented the flower children of the sixties, as heâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦He attended Cornell University from1940 to 1942, and the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1943. From 1942 to 1945, he served in the United States infantry in Europe during World War II (Ethridge 1-4: 970-971). According to Stanley Schaltââ¬â¢s book Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Vonnegut was captured at the Battle of the Bulge and then sent to Dresden to work in a factory producing vitamin supplements for pregnant women (n. pag.). He was awarded the Purple Heart for his efforts. Vonnegut then came home, where he continued his college education by attending the University of Chicago from 1945 to 1947. He married Jane Cox in 1945 and eventually fathered three children, their names being Mark, Edith, and Nanette. After the war, he was a Chicago City News Bureau Police Reporter in 1947. Before he became a writer, he also worked with Public Relations for General Electric in Schenectady, New York from 1947 to 1950 (Ethridge 1-4: 970). In 1950, Vonnegut decided to become a writer, with his first novel, Player Piano, being published in 1951. He would later go on to write works such as Canary in a Cat House (1959), Mother Night (1961), Catââ¬â¢s Cradle (1963), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1965), Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), and Breakfast of Champions (1973). His most renowned work, Slaughterhouse-Five, is as close to an autobiography as he comes. In Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut writes a novel based his experience as a prisoner of war jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-59739910564013073312020-05-06T08:10:00.003-07:002020-05-06T08:10:11.286-07:00Microeconomics Chapter 21 Free Essays Microeconomics Chapter 21 Free Essays Microeconomics Chapter 21: The theory of consumer choice After developing the basic theory of consumer choice, we apply it to three questions about households decisions 1)Do all demand curves slope downward? 2)How do wages affect labour supply? 3)How do interest rates affect households saving? The budget constraint: What the consumer can afford -People consume less than they desire because their spending is constrained or limited by their income Budget constraint: the limit on the consumption bundles that a consumer can afford -The slope of the budget constraint measures the rate at which the consumer can trade one good for the other Preferences: What the consumer wants -The budget constraint is one piece of the analysis: it shows what combination of goods the consumer can afford given his income and the prices of the goods -The consumersââ¬â¢ choice, however, depend not only on his budget constraint but also on his preferences regarding the two goods -The consumerââ¬â¢s preferences are the next piece of our analysis Representing Preferences with Indifference Curves Indifference curve: a curve that shows consumption bundles that give the consumer the same level of satisfaction -The slope at any point on an indifference curve equals the rate at which the consumer is willing to substitute one good for the other Marginal rate of substitution: the rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for another Because the indifference curve are not straight lines, the marginal rate of substitution is not the same at all points on a given indifference curve -The rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for the other depends on the amounts of the goods he is already consuming -The consumer is equally happy at all points on any given indifference curve, but he prefers some indifference curve to others -A consumerââ¬â¢s set of indifference curves gives a complete ranking of the consumerââ¬â¢s preferences -We can use the indifference curve to rank any two bundles of goods Four propert ies of Indifference curves Property 1: Higher indifference curves are preferred to lower ones. People usually prefer more of something to less of it. This preference of greater quantities is reflected in the indifference curves Property 2: Indifference curves are downward sloping. We will write a custom essay sample on Microeconomics Chapter 21 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The slope of an indifference curve reflects the rate at which the consumer is willing to substitute one good for the other, In most cases, the consumer like both goods. Therefore, if the quantity of one good is reduced, the quantity of the other good must increase in order for the consumer to be happy Property 3: Indifference curves do not cross. Contradicts our assumption that the consumer always prefers more of both goods to less. Thus, indifference curves cannot cross. (Refer to example) Property 4: Indifference curves are bowed inward. The slope of an indifference curve is marginal rate of substitution-the rate at which the consumer is willing to tradeoff one good for the other. The MRS usually depends on the amount of each good the consumer is currently consuming. People are more willing to trade away goods that they have in abundance and less willing to trade away goods of which they have little, the indifference curves are bowed inward Two Extreme Examples of Indifference Curves -The shape of an indifference curve tells us about the consumerââ¬â¢s willingness to trade one good for the other -When the goods are easy to sub. For each other, the indifference curve are less bowed; when the goods are hard to sub, the indifference curves are very bowed Perfect Substitute -Because the marginal rate of substitution is constant, the indifference curves are straight lines ââ¬â In this extreme case of straight indifference curve, we say that they two goods are perfect subs. Perfect Complements The indifference curve, therefore are right angles -In this extreme case of right-angle indifference curves, we say that the two goods are perfect complements -Real world- most goods are neither perfect substitutes nor perfect complements but typically, the indifference curves are bowed inward, but not so bowed as to become right angles Optimization: What the consumer chooses -Two necessary pieces for this analysis: the consumerà ¢â¬â¢s budget constraint and the consumerââ¬â¢s preferences- put it together and choose what the consumer should buy The consumerââ¬â¢s optimal choices The consumer must also end up on or below his budget constraint, which measures the total resources available to him -The highest indifference curve that the consumer can reac is the one that just barely touches the budget constraint -The point at which this indifference curve and the budget constraint touch is called the optimum -At the optimum, the slope of the indifference curve equals the slope of the budget constraint ââ¬â the indifference curve is tangent to the budget constraint -the consumer chooses consumption of the two goods so that the marginal rate of substitution equals to the relative price ââ¬â the consumer takes as given the relative price of the two goods and then chooses an optimum at which his marginal rate of substitution equals to the relative price -The relative price is the rate at which the ma rket is willing to trade one good for the other, whereas the marginal rate of substitution is the rate at which the consumer is willing to trade one good for the other How changes in Income Affect the consumerââ¬â¢s choices Normal good: a good for which, other things equal, an increase in income leads to an increase in demands Inferior good: A good for which, other things equal, an increase in income leads to a decrease in demand -Although most goods are normal goods, there are some inferior goods in the world How changes in prices affect the consumerââ¬â¢s choice A fall in the price of any good shifts the budget constraint outward Income and substitution effects Income effect: the change in consumption that results when a price change moves the consumer to a higher or lower indifference curve Substitution effect: The change in consumption that results when a price change moves the consumer along a given indifference curve to a point with a new marginal rate of substitution -T he income effect is the change in consumption that results from the movement to a higher indifference curve -The substitution effect is the change in consumption that results from being at a point on an indifference curve with a different marginal rate of substitution Deriving the Demand Curve The demand curve for any good reflects those consumption decisions -A demand curve shows the quantity demanded of a good for any given price -The theory of consumer choice provides the theoretical foundation for the consumerââ¬â¢s demand curve -The theory of consumer choice is, however, very useful in studying various decisions that people make as they go about their lives Three Applications Do All Demand Curves Slope Downward? -Demand curves can sometimes slope upward -Consumers can sometimes violate the law of demand and buy more of a good when the price rises Giffen good: A good for which an increase in the price raises the quantity demanded -Giffen goods are inferior goods for which the income effect dominates the substitution effect- therefore- the demand curve has a slope upwards How do wages affect labour supply? The substitution effect induces Sally to work harder in response to higher wages, which tends to make the labour supply curve slope upwards -The income effect induces her to work less, which tends to make the labour supply curve slope backwards -Economic theory does not give a clear prediction about whether an increase in the wage induces Sally to work more or less -If the sub. effect is greater than the income effect for Sally, she works more -If the income effect is greater than the substitution effect, she works less -The labour supply curve, therefore, could be either upward or backward sloping How do interest rates affect household saving? Substitution effect: when the interest rate rises, consumption when old becomes less costly relative to consumption when young-therefore- consume more wen old and less when young Income effect: when the interest rate rises, he moves to a higher indifference curve. As long as consumption in both periods consists of normal goods, he tends to want to use this increase in well-being to enjoy higher consumption in both periods- income effect induces him to save less -The theory of consumer choice says that an increase in the interest rate could either encourage or discourage savings Conclusion: Do people really think this way? -The theory of consumer choice does not try to present a literal account of how people make decisions -The theory of consumer choice tries to describe this implicit, psychological process in a way that permits explicit, economic analysis -Test of theory is in the application How to cite Microeconomics Chapter 21, Essay examples jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-65815050736604173762020-05-06T08:10:00.001-07:002020-05-06T08:10:09.840-07:00Microeconomics Chapter 21 Free Essays Microeconomics Chapter 21 Free Essays Microeconomics Chapter 21: The theory of consumer choice After developing the basic theory of consumer choice, we apply it to three questions about households decisions 1)Do all demand curves slope downward? 2)How do wages affect labour supply? 3)How do interest rates affect households saving? The budget constraint: What the consumer can afford -People consume less than they desire because their spending is constrained or limited by their income Budget constraint: the limit on the consumption bundles that a consumer can afford -The slope of the budget constraint measures the rate at which the consumer can trade one good for the other Preferences: What the consumer wants -The budget constraint is one piece of the analysis: it shows what combination of goods the consumer can afford given his income and the prices of the goods -The consumersââ¬â¢ choice, however, depend not only on his budget constraint but also on his preferences regarding the two goods -The consumerââ¬â¢s preferences are the next piece of our analysis Representing Preferences with Indifference Curves Indifference curve: a curve that shows consumption bundles that give the consumer the same level of satisfaction -The slope at any point on an indifference curve equals the rate at which the consumer is willing to substitute one good for the other Marginal rate of substitution: the rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for another Because the indifference curve are not straight lines, the marginal rate of substitution is not the same at all points on a given indifference curve -The rate at which a consumer is willing to trade one good for the other depends on the amounts of the goods he is already consuming -The consumer is equally happy at all points on any given indifference curve, but he prefers some indifference curve to others -A consumerââ¬â¢s set of indifference curves gives a complete ranking of the consumerââ¬â¢s preferences -We can use the indifference curve to rank any two bundles of goods Four propert ies of Indifference curves Property 1: Higher indifference curves are preferred to lower ones. People usually prefer more of something to less of it. This preference of greater quantities is reflected in the indifference curves Property 2: Indifference curves are downward sloping. We will write a custom essay sample on Microeconomics Chapter 21 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The slope of an indifference curve reflects the rate at which the consumer is willing to substitute one good for the other, In most cases, the consumer like both goods. Therefore, if the quantity of one good is reduced, the quantity of the other good must increase in order for the consumer to be happy Property 3: Indifference curves do not cross. Contradicts our assumption that the consumer always prefers more of both goods to less. Thus, indifference curves cannot cross. (Refer to example) Property 4: Indifference curves are bowed inward. The slope of an indifference curve is marginal rate of substitution-the rate at which the consumer is willing to tradeoff one good for the other. The MRS usually depends on the amount of each good the consumer is currently consuming. People are more willing to trade away goods that they have in abundance and less willing to trade away goods of which they have little, the indifference curves are bowed inward Two Extreme Examples of Indifference Curves -The shape of an indifference curve tells us about the consumerââ¬â¢s willingness to trade one good for the other -When the goods are easy to sub. For each other, the indifference curve are less bowed; when the goods are hard to sub, the indifference curves are very bowed Perfect Substitute -Because the marginal rate of substitution is constant, the indifference curves are straight lines ââ¬â In this extreme case of straight indifference curve, we say that they two goods are perfect subs. Perfect Complements The indifference curve, therefore are right angles -In this extreme case of right-angle indifference curves, we say that the two goods are perfect complements -Real world- most goods are neither perfect substitutes nor perfect complements but typically, the indifference curves are bowed inward, but not so bowed as to become right angles Optimization: What the consumer chooses -Two necessary pieces for this analysis: the consumerà ¢â¬â¢s budget constraint and the consumerââ¬â¢s preferences- put it together and choose what the consumer should buy The consumerââ¬â¢s optimal choices The consumer must also end up on or below his budget constraint, which measures the total resources available to him -The highest indifference curve that the consumer can reac is the one that just barely touches the budget constraint -The point at which this indifference curve and the budget constraint touch is called the optimum -At the optimum, the slope of the indifference curve equals the slope of the budget constraint ââ¬â the indifference curve is tangent to the budget constraint -the consumer chooses consumption of the two goods so that the marginal rate of substitution equals to the relative price ââ¬â the consumer takes as given the relative price of the two goods and then chooses an optimum at which his marginal rate of substitution equals to the relative price -The relative price is the rate at which the ma rket is willing to trade one good for the other, whereas the marginal rate of substitution is the rate at which the consumer is willing to trade one good for the other How changes in Income Affect the consumerââ¬â¢s choices Normal good: a good for which, other things equal, an increase in income leads to an increase in demands Inferior good: A good for which, other things equal, an increase in income leads to a decrease in demand -Although most goods are normal goods, there are some inferior goods in the world How changes in prices affect the consumerââ¬â¢s choice A fall in the price of any good shifts the budget constraint outward Income and substitution effects Income effect: the change in consumption that results when a price change moves the consumer to a higher or lower indifference curve Substitution effect: The change in consumption that results when a price change moves the consumer along a given indifference curve to a point with a new marginal rate of substitution -T he income effect is the change in consumption that results from the movement to a higher indifference curve -The substitution effect is the change in consumption that results from being at a point on an indifference curve with a different marginal rate of substitution Deriving the Demand Curve The demand curve for any good reflects those consumption decisions -A demand curve shows the quantity demanded of a good for any given price -The theory of consumer choice provides the theoretical foundation for the consumerââ¬â¢s demand curve -The theory of consumer choice is, however, very useful in studying various decisions that people make as they go about their lives Three Applications Do All Demand Curves Slope Downward? -Demand curves can sometimes slope upward -Consumers can sometimes violate the law of demand and buy more of a good when the price rises Giffen good: A good for which an increase in the price raises the quantity demanded -Giffen goods are inferior goods for which the income effect dominates the substitution effect- therefore- the demand curve has a slope upwards How do wages affect labour supply? The substitution effect induces Sally to work harder in response to higher wages, which tends to make the labour supply curve slope upwards -The income effect induces her to work less, which tends to make the labour supply curve slope backwards -Economic theory does not give a clear prediction about whether an increase in the wage induces Sally to work more or less -If the sub. effect is greater than the income effect for Sally, she works more -If the income effect is greater than the substitution effect, she works less -The labour supply curve, therefore, could be either upward or backward sloping How do interest rates affect household saving? Substitution effect: when the interest rate rises, consumption when old becomes less costly relative to consumption when young-therefore- consume more wen old and less when young Income effect: when the interest rate rises, he moves to a higher indifference curve. As long as consumption in both periods consists of normal goods, he tends to want to use this increase in well-being to enjoy higher consumption in both periods- income effect induces him to save less -The theory of consumer choice says that an increase in the interest rate could either encourage or discourage savings Conclusion: Do people really think this way? -The theory of consumer choice does not try to present a literal account of how people make decisions -The theory of consumer choice tries to describe this implicit, psychological process in a way that permits explicit, economic analysis -Test of theory is in the application How to cite Microeconomics Chapter 21, Essay examples jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-50569816162797648852020-04-25T14:10:00.001-07:002020-04-25T14:10:03.400-07:009/11 Terrorist Attacks Essay Example9/11 Terrorist Attacks Essay An Analysis of the 9/11 Terrorist Attack On September 11, 2001, 19 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four United States commercial airliners travelling from the east coast to California. The hijackers forcibly took control of four planes. Two planes were purposefully crashed into the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. The third aircraft was flown into the Pentagon building in Washington DC. The fourth plane landed in a Pennsylvania field. All of the people on board the aircrafts were killed. There were 2996 people killed including the hijackers and the airline passengers and the victims on the ground in New York and Washington DC. A total of 836 first responders also died as the result of their efforts to rescue people in the WTC before it collapsed (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). According to the US government, 9/11 was an act of war. The United States government, state and local agencies mobilized during the disaster. Victims in New York and Washington DC were taken to area hospitals for medical treatment. As the result of the terrorist attack, the government instituted a series of measures that changed the United States policy towards terrorism and homeland security. The aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks left the country in a state of shock. The report on 9/11 details the steps taken by the government during the attack on the WTC and the Pentagon. The attacks caused wide-spread confusion among air traffic controllers and news organizations. During 9/11, the government used radio and television to communicate with people and inform them of the situation. Grisly scenes of the wreckage were replayed in the media. Government and state agencies communicated with each other via radio and walkie talkie. We will write a custom essay sample on 9/11 Terrorist Attacks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on 9/11 Terrorist Attacks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on 9/11 Terrorist Attacks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Cell phone and telephone services were impossible; because, the volume of calls disabled communications networks. Because of the possibility of more 9/11 style attacks, the government immediately invoked SCATANA, Security Control of Air Traffic and Navigation Aids. United States (US) airspace was closed to all aircraft except for military aircraft, and the US border was closed to international travel. Planes that were in flight were ordered to land immediately. International planes that were travelling to the United States were forced to land in Mexico or Canada. Because the 9/11 terrorists targeted the White House and the Pentagon, the federal government created a contingency plan for the continuity of government in cases of emergency. In addition, a plan for the evacuation of the top American political leaders was developed and implemented in case of future terrorist attacks (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). On September 11, 2011, the government declared a state of emergency. The United States military and the National Guard were mobilized. The states of CT, NJ, NY, and VA also mobilized resources. The government passed the USA Patriot Act which allowed law enforcement officials to invade the privacy of citizens suspected of terrorism. The National Security Agency also employed listening devices to eavesdrop on the telephone and email communications of people in the USA and other countries without a warrant. In addition, The Homeland Security Act was passed in 2002 to protect the United States from terrorism and natural disasters. Because of the Patriot Act, several of the masterminds of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were captured, like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). After the first attack in New York, the New York Police Department (NYPD), Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were mobilized to care for the wounded, conduct search and rescue operations. In New York City, the subway was closed and main roadways were cleared for emergency use. In Washington DC, similar actions were taken to secure the city and the surrounding area. In New York, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) also began search and rescue and firefighting efforts. After the 2nd plane crashed, 2000 NYPD officers rushed to the World Trade Center. In addition, there were numerous port authority officers coordinating efforts with the NYPD and FDNY. In New York City, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was located at the WTC. Difficulties occurred in New York because the OEM office was destroyed after the second airplane crash and had to relocate. In addition, many people were trapped in the WTC because rooftop rescues were not possible, and airspace was closed. The authorities and people trapped in the WTC were unprepared for the mass evacuation which occurred. Inadequate communications also created problems in the aftermath of 9/11. Government and local agencies communicated with one another by radio or walkie talkie, as cell phone communications were impossible. Problems occurred with the state and local response in New York because the number of 911 calls disabled the emergency channels. In addition, messages to first responders were given inaccurately which caused problems with search and rescue operations. First responders in New York failed to get relevant radio messages which resulted in the deaths of firefighters and civilians (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). A triage station was established, at the WTC, to treat victims with injuries and transport them to area hospitals. Problems occurred because of lack of communication among the EMS staff and area hospitals. In addition, there was no helicopter transport for the most critically injured patients. Some reports suggested that many of the physicians who became first responders were not adequately trained in emergency medical procedures (Simon Teperman, 2001). In Washington DC, local, regional, state, federal, police, fire, and military agencies responded to the Pentagon attack. In addition, FEMA, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Red Cross, Department of Defense, Ronald Reagan National Airport Fire Department, and the VA Department of Emergency Management assisted. Prior to the Pentagon attack, the government received advanced warning of the hijacking and began evacuating all personnel. Because of the swift evacuation of the Pentagon and skillful mobilization of the state government and local agencies, there were fewer casualties than in New York. Communication in Washington DC was conducted by pagers and walkie talkies, as radio and cell phones did not operate. In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Solace and the Dilorenzo Clinic were established to provide families and victims of the attack with mental health care and therapy. Pentagon workers were desensitized and returned to work as quickly as possible. Operation Solace and the Dilorenzo Clinic were highly successful. People were able to return to work within several days of the attack, and there were no long-term mental health consequences. The Pentagon Family Assistance Center was created to assist people who lost a family member and were homeless because of the attack. Homeless families were housed in the Sheraton hotel for a month and provided with housing assistance. The government also assisted families with financial assistance and memorial services (Ritchie, n. d. ). The 9/11 terrorist attacks were the first large scale attacks in America since Pearl Harbor. The government should be given credit for mobilizing quickly, and speedily establishing services to care for the wounded. Because the government took immediate action, closed airspace and warned the pentagon of the impending attack, lives were saved. Problems with the 9/11 response occurred in the areas of communication and lack of training in some first responders. In future disasters, communication should be conducted by walkie talkie or text message instead of radio and cell phone. Studies have also suggested that first responders need better training to handle large scale emergency events. In the 9/11 disaster, over 3000 people lost their lives. However, because of the courageous actions of the American people and government and local agencies, many people survived the tragedy. The lesson of 9/11 continues to affect American policy on terrorism and disaster planning, at the state and federal level (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). References (National Commision On Terrorist Attacks 2004 9/11 commission report)The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (2004). The 9/11 commission report (). Retrieved May 10, 2011, from The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks website: http://www. 9-11commission. gov/report/911Report. pdf (Ritchie E 2011510 9/11 response to the pentagon)Ritchie, E. (n. d. ). The 9/11 response to the pentagon. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www. newpaltz. edu/idmh/keynote3ritchie. pdf (Simon R Teperman S 2001 World Trade Center attack: Lessons for disaster management)Simon, R. , Teperman, S. (2001). The World Trade Center attack: Lessons for disaster management. Critical Care, 5(6), 318-320. (United States Government 20010911 George W. Bush 9/11 address to the nation)United States Government. (2001, September 11). George W. Bush 9/11 address to the nation. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www. americanrhetoric. com/speeches/gwbush911addresstothenation. htm jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-81714860108857463872020-03-18T07:50:00.001-07:002020-03-18T07:50:03.351-07:00Fiber Optic History essaysFiber Optic History essays Our current age of technology is the result of many brilliant inventions and discovers, but it is our ability to transmit information and the media we use to do it, it that is perhaps most responsible for its evolution. Progressing from the copper wire of a century ago to todays fiber optic cable, our increasing ability to transmit more quickly and over longer distances has expanded the boundaries of our technological development in all areas. Toadys low-loss glass fiber optic cables offer almost unlimited bandwidth and unique advantages over all previous developed transmission media. The basic point-to-point fiber optic transmission system consists of three basic elements: the fiber optic cable and the optical receiver and the fiber optic cable. Optical communications date back two centuries to the opical telegraph that French engineer Claude Chappe invented the 1790s. His system was a series of semaphores mounted on towers, where humans operators relay messages from one tower to the other. It beat hand carried messages hands down, but by the mid-19th century was replaced by the electric telegraph, leaving a scattering of Telegraph Hills as it almost visible legacy. In the intervening years a new technology slowly took root that would untimely solve the problem of optical transmission, although it was a long time before it was adapted for communications. It depended on the phenomenon of total internal reflections, which can confine light in material surrounding by other materials with lower refractive index, such as glass in the air. In the mid 1840s, Swiss physicist Daniel Collodon and French physicist Jacques Babinet showed that light could be guided along jet of water for fountain display. British physicist John Tyndall popularized light guiding in a demonstration he first used in 1854, guiding light in a jet of water flowing from a tank. By the turn of the century, inventors realized that bent... jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-8286702546114688362020-03-01T23:36:00.001-08:002020-03-01T23:36:02.817-08:00Emigrants vs. Immigrants vs. MigrantsEmigrants vs. Immigrants vs. Migrants Emigrants vs. Immigrants vs. Migrants Emigrants vs. Immigrants vs. Migrants By Mark Nichol Whatââ¬â¢s the difference between an emigrant and an immigrant, and where do migrants fit in? The answer, for both questions, is that itââ¬â¢s a matter of direction. Emigrant, immigrant, and migrant all stem from the Latin verb migrare, which means ââ¬Å"to move from one direction to another.â⬠The distinction between the nearly identical-sounding first two terms is that emigrant describes a person from the perspective of coming from somewhere else, and immigrant refers to someone in the context of arrival at his or her destination. Simply said, emigrants come from somewhere, and immigrants go to somewhere. (To help you remember which is which, think of emigrants as emerging from and immigrants as being immersed into.) Other terms for this phenomenon that include the root word migrant include in-migrant and out-migrant. Another synonym for emigrant, à ©migrà ©, usually refers specifically to someone forced for political reasons to leave a country; the word is derived from the Latin verb emigrare by way of French. There is no equivalent term synonymous with immigrant, however. A migrant, meanwhile, is a person or an animal who travels to and from two locations, as in the case of an economic migrant who leaves home to earn money in another country and returns periodically before going back to the other country again. (Migrator is an alternative.) Less often, migrant is used to refer to an animal that travels from one region to another depending on the seasons, as when geese in the Northern Hemisphere fly south for the winter as their habitat grows too cold and then return when the weather becomes milder again in the spring. Nouns referring to movement to and from a place, respectively, are immigration and emigration; the verb forms are immigrate and emigrate. Migration describes the process of repeated movement from one place to another and back again (migrancy is a less common variant), and the verb form is migrate; migrant and migratory serve as adjectives, the former usually referring to humans and the latter to animals, and migrational might also modify a noun to refer to back-and-forth movements of humans or animals. Check out our latest YouTube video: Wether, Whether, Weather Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business LetterSelect vs. SelectedHow to Address Your Elders, Your Doctor, Young Children... and Your CEO jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-3208698008952486072020-02-14T15:00:00.001-08:002020-02-14T15:00:02.797-08:00Collapse of the Traditional Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 wordsCollapse of the Traditional Family - Essay Example The first thing that immediately occurs to mind, the number one culprit, is of course the exploding divroce rates, in the Western societies as well as in many developing nations. Divorce rates have been on the rise for decades now, but they seem to be shoooting up to epidemic proportions with each passing day. The very institution of marriage which lies at the root of family and home is under assault. Out-of-wedlock births too are drastically rising. Unmarried cohabitation is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon in contemoporary society. The sporadic spread of same-gender marriages are another aspect of the problem. So, one way or other, it is the fact that more and more people are losing their faith in the sanctity of marriage between man and woman which is ultimately threatening the very viability of our society. In a more immediate sense, though, this is adversely affecting the lives of millions of innocent children, causing grave irreparable damage to their delicate sensibi lities at a very tender age. No wonder then that so many of our national leaders are seriously concerned about the need for fortifying the edifice of family, in their bid to build a more coherent and sensible society. A resurgence of early and almost universal marriage, as it happened in the postwar periods of 1950s and 1960s, is bound to revitalize our society. But what is so different between our own times and just a couple of decades ago Why cannot such a thing cannot happen today One most conspicuous difference is the tremendously greater proportion of full-time working women in today's world as compared to the 50's. This is of coure a very positive change. But could not the absence of the mother from the household for the better part of the day be taking its toll on the upbringing and well-being of the children Not necessarily, since it has its own advantages. A confident and independent mother can serve as a better role model for children of both sexes, and not just the girls. Obviously, with both dad and mom working, there would be two incomes instead of one, and this translates to better financial security for children. Also, in a way, with relatively less time available to spend with children, the parents would tend to treasure this time even more than if time weren't such a constraint. It is a universal truth in any relationship, whether between lovers or between parents and children, that distance brings people closer, making them grow fonder of each other. But only to a certain extent though, a little more distance and it can alienate people, to which point we will come shortly. Now though there may be several practical advantages to argue in favor of working women, in relation to their families, the cohesive presence of a full-time mother acting as the central force in holding together the home, with her love and mystique - is simply irreplaceable. It is becoming an increasingly rare sight these days, and evokes a kind of idyllic nostalgia in many of us. But still, if certain things have to be gained, certain other things have to be jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-46206054397911872912020-02-01T21:49:00.001-08:002020-02-01T21:49:01.977-08:00IT Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 wordsIT Industry - Essay Example In business context, Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) has referred to IT as that industry that deals with the software application and their use in enabling the consumersââ¬â¢ needs be satisfied in what would be otherwise tedious through management of information systems (Crookes, 2012). This informs that IT is a very essential option for businesses today where technology has taken over in almost every operation. IT industry is thus involved in a number of activities which includes, software development and installation, network administration, planning and management of the life cycle of organizationââ¬â¢s technology as well as maintaining, upgrading, and replacing the IT system of the organization where applicable. Transformation in the IT sector mobile computing, the cloud, and consumerism Because of the increasing demand on the service of IT, IT experts have responded by researching and coming up with those options that will satisfy the interest of those in need of the IT services. It is surprising that at times the pace at which IT is changing is faster the even the IT managers of business organizations have been left with no option but to discard their current options to embrace the new technology even if they have not fully exploited their previous option. In this reference, IT gurus have been advised to make consideration to standardized systems that will be embraced by all finally (Renkema, 2000). In this agitation, the IT experts have been advised to look into four cardinal areas when building a system standardization, simplification, integration, and modularity. Some of the changes that have been realized in IT includes, mobile computing, the cloud, and consumerism. Mobile computing Mobile computing has made it possible to use the small portable computing devises to connect to network systems, in some case, the wireless option enables these devices to access network and do all what they want be done through the internet, thi s is the consumerism trend that has been established of late (Kamal, 2007). The devices used in this case includes, laptops, notebook, palmtop, and tablet PCs Cloud computing Cloud computing involves the use of computing resources such as the hardware and the software in the delivery of services through a network system. Software as a Service and Software Oriented Architecture are option that are considered by cloud computing, they have become alternative option for the Enterprise Resource Planning which are all systems that are used by firms. Because of the complex system in the ERP, SaaS and SOA from cloud computing have brought a simpler system that is easier to maintain, cheaper and do not require much training to operate (Crookes, 2012). Cloud computing unlike the ERP can be customized as per the customers need without extra licensing fee and maintenance cost. This is because all applications in are supported by a single server operated by the designer. Cloud computing has then made it possible for SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) to adopt such IT systems because they are cheaper to operate and maintain (Crookes, 2012). Consumerism Is a transformation in IT industry that allows employees to use their personal devises to connecting with the corporate networks, in this sense, the employees use their smart phones and tablets to connect with the corporate system. This is contrary to the traditional system where the company jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-72346156781240303952020-01-24T18:12:00.001-08:002020-01-24T18:12:03.403-08:00A Nineteenth Century Ghost Story in The Turn of The Screw by Henry JameA Nineteenth Century Ghost Story in The Turn of The Screw by Henry James The Turn of The Screw is a classic Gothic ghost novella with a wicket twist set in a grand old house at Bly. The story is ambiguous; we never fully know whether the apparitions exist or not and we are left with many more questions than answers. The Governess is left in charge of two young children, Miles and Flora, of whom she later becomes obsessed with, describing them as 'angelic'. She has no contact with her employer from London, the children's enigmatic uncle once there, sparking suspicions of the children being unwanted. The anonymous Governess' obsessive nature is taken to another level, with the darker side of Bly appearing. Her sanity is called into question with her continued revelations of apparitions around the family's country residence. The story itself could not have had a bigger twist in it, from being overwhelmed by the beauty and innocence of the two orphans under he care to being convinced that ghosts of her predecessor and the master's former valet, Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, both who die in mysterious circumstances, have come to possess the souls of her charges. The Governess begins to take ever more desperate measures to protect them, but is it enough? A typical Gothic story in many respects, The Turn of the Screw conforms to our expectations by sharing many key features, style and themes typical to nineteenth century horror fiction. A gothic story is a type of romantic fiction that predominated in English Literature in the last third of the 18th century and the first two decades of the 19th century. The setting for this type of st... ...riously wrong with her. Taking all of these points into account all of these points, I am sure that you now agree that The Turn of the Screw is a typical 19th century gothic ghost story. The story itself has many characteristics typical of a gothic story and it is based around two apparitions, which is a necessity in any ghost story. Gothic stories were very popular during this period due to Darwin's book, 'The Origin of Species' which hugely questioned Christian beliefs. People were no longer sure of religion, and became very superstitious, with Ghost stories becoming very popular. They had always thought god came first; now science was starting to take over. In the 19th century people were unsure about what was real in the world. The Victorians did not know what to believe about in their world and spirituality. jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-73745608146420686722020-01-16T14:35:00.001-08:002020-01-16T14:35:03.567-08:00Indian Luxury Consumer EssayThe Indian Luxury Consumer: Rapidly maturing and looking for more Any study of the luxury market needs to conclusively address core questions around the luxury customer ââ¬â Who, What and Where. To fully understand answers to these questions, we interviewed existing and prospective customers across various locations, income and age groups. We also interviewed industry leaders across all luxury categories on the Indian consumer and the changes that they have observed over the last few years. In this section, we shall provide answers to three basic questions: 1. What constitutes luxury in India? 2. Who is the luxury consumer? What has changed in the last 2-3 years? 3. How is the behavior of the luxury consumer changing? 4. What are their specific tastes and preferences? 5. Where do they make their purchase? Luxury in India ââ¬â more aspirational luxury than ultimate luxury Industry leaders across categories believe that luxury is not only determined by price. Exclusivity is a far more important parameter for a product or service to be called luxury. As such customization, uniqueness, and even understatement is important. Design, use of exquisite materials, presentation and personalized service all contribute to luxury. Consumers also talk about exclusivity, uniqueness and appeal to personal taste. This is not as yet corroborated by increased sales of ââ¬Å"ultimate and subtleâ⬠luxury products. The majority of the market is still far away from this definition and brand/logo/badge value drive luxury purchases very clearly. Size, flashiness, clearly visible logos, well known brand are the key considerations in the purchase. That said, traditional attributes such as high quality, heritage, longevity, the ââ¬Å"storiesâ⬠associated with brands are beginning to emerge as drivers of purchase. Bulk of the Indian market is still dominated by the more accessible and aspirational luxury products. Status ââ¬â announcing your arrival into the elite segment of the society ââ¬â is the biggest motivation still. The mindset is still that of an ââ¬Å"aspirerâ⬠not that of a ââ¬Å"connoisseurâ⬠. The Indian luxury consumer ââ¬â new insights The Indian luxury consumer has been studied a few times now. Various segments have been identiofied by earlier studies. The old money/new money/gold cuffs/.. (Luxury Brands) and Industrialist/Corporate/Professional/ (Economic Times ââ¬â A. T. Kearney India Luxury Review 2007). The focus of our consumer research was to find out how the consumer has evolved in the last 3-4 years. The accepted wisdom is that industrialists and traditionally wealthy families is the largest segment, senior corporate executives are a smaller but emerging segment and young professionals are entering the market. Our research has shown that by and large the consumer segments that constitute the bulk of the market have not changed significantly, although finer sub-segments are now more apparent: Medium size enterprise owners: This is the largest segment in terms of number ââ¬â these are typically the medium enterprise owners ââ¬â industrialists and traders who run businesses with revenues upwards of 50 cr. The source of their spending is the surpluses generated by the business. Many of these have grown as the economy grew rapidly in the last twenty years. Their wealth is their passport to the elite segment of the society and conspicuous consumption is their way of announcing it to the society. The children who tend to be second or third generation are the bigger spenders, having been educated abroad and hence familiar with brands and the luxury way of living. They are now educating and enticing their more conservative elder generation into spending. Interviews also reveal that those who generate cash need to necessarily spend it and luxury goods are a good avenue for spending. These are very frequent luxury consumers and consume the entire gamut of products and services and some assets like cars and real estate. These consumers shop around for deals and bargains, including international travel. Traditionally wealthy families / large industrialists: This group comprises two sub-segments ââ¬â the first is the traditionally wealthy families ââ¬â who have been consuming luxury for several decades and go for the finer things in life. The largest business houses in the country and historically wealthy Marwari, Gujarati, Parsi, Punjabi families epitomize this class. The other sub segment comprises the promoters of some very large businesses which have come up in the last two decades and have created disproportionate wealth very quickly. Builders, miners, diamond merchants, stock brokers, new age enterprise owners fall in this category. Many of them have migrated to the highest ladder of luxury consumption very quickly by acquiring yachts, jets, houses and really expensive cars. Corporate executives: Senior executives of corporate India who are paid in excess of Rs. 1 crore and bankers who earn big bonuses epitomize this category. These executives are well traveled and are aware of brands. Most of these are in their mid-late forties and represent some of the brightest minds in the country. Many of them though have come from middle class backgrounds and hence have a conservative approach on conspicuous spending. While they can well afford to spend, their propensity to spend is low. A gradual change is being seen as they see more and more of their compatriots spend. These consumers spend on some luxury products such as watches, accessories, select apparel, fine dining, international and domestic travel and high end cars. They also tend to shop on their frequent international trips to get the best deals. Self employed professionals: These comprise of professionals such as lawyers, doctors and architects: A small but niche segment, comprising the top stars in their profession, who have made it big. While many of these come from middle class backgrounds, they use their new found wealth to live a good life. They shop for the entire range of products and services although are found less often at the absolute top end of the ladder. Young professionals: Working in service industries ââ¬â these earn the least compared to the others, but since they donââ¬â¢t have family responsibilities, the disposable part of the income is high. They are in tune with the latest fashion trends, travel abroad once in a while and believe in spending on what they fancy. They tend to consume entry level products and are infrequent consumers. Other segments: Expatriates: Expatriates in the country are growing and they are staying for longer periods: These are on expatriate packages and are accustomed to luxury consumption in other parts of the world. However most of these fly back very frequently and stack up on their luxury products need on these trips. Luxury services and assets (mostly cars) are influenced in a small way by this segment. The segment is definitely driving the increasing awareness and need for luxury products Politicians and bureaucrats: Interviews reveal that politicians and bureaucrats are a large segment for all luxury products, but have a much more pronounced preference for jewellery, watches, cars and real estate. Contrary to the popular perception that is generated by the flashy lifestyles of film and television actors, they are not large spenders by themselves and collectively it is still not a large segment. Luxury consumption of film and TV stars is paid for by the producers. They alsoi shop abroad a lot. Many celebrities belong to rich business families and owe their luxury consumption to their family wealth or get a lot of luxury products as gifts. Citywise sub-segments: There are sub-segments in each city that drive most of the purchases: * Mumbai ââ¬â stock brokers, diamond merchants/exporters * Delhi ââ¬â industrialists, traditionally wealthy, politicians, bureaucrats * Chennai ââ¬â traditionally rich, industrialists * Bangalore ââ¬â builders, IT top brass * Kolkata ââ¬â traditionally wealthy Marwari businessmen, traders Age profile. The average consumer is still young ââ¬â between 30-45. This is in line with the overall demographics and is expected to stay that way for some time. It is thus a young luxury market in contrast with some of the mature markets like Europe and the USA where the average consumer is much older (need some data here). Consumer Behavior We found that while the average Indian luxury customer values High Quality, Exclusivity and Social Appeal as key drivers of luxury purchase, they are also very Price Conscious and often straddled with a ââ¬Å"middle-class mindsetâ⬠. Corporate Professionals in particular tend to be more price sensitive than the Traditionally Wealthy and Business Owners. This is also due to the fact that the average ââ¬Å"fashion consciousnessâ⬠of Indian consumers is still quite low ââ¬â most consumers prefer ââ¬Å"well knownâ⬠brands and make luxury purchases for ââ¬Å"brand valueâ⬠and not ââ¬Å"fashion valueâ⬠. The table below summarises the typical behavior patterns of the consumers in each of the segments | Medium Size Enterprise Owners| Traditionally Wealthy Families & Large Industrialists| Corporate Executives| Self Employed Professionals| Young Professionals| Average Age| | | | | |. Awareness| Low| High| High| Medium| High| Fashion consciousness ( apparel and accessories)| Low| High| Low| Low| High| Price Consciousness| High| Low| High| Very High| Very High| Badge Consciousness| High| Medium-Low| High| High| Very High| Propensity to buy overseas| High| High| High| High| High| Greater awareness ââ¬â rapidly increasing and the entry of brands, development of malls and magazines has helped. Compared to three-four years ago, the number of people who can correctly pronounce Chanel and Gucci correctly has increased dramatically, although there is still a long way to go. What is interesting to note is that the Indian luxury customer is maturing rapidly and brand awareness has increased significantly over the past 3-5 years. Brands are beginning to see loyal customers who have their preferred set of brands. Among brands, the pedigree of a brand is very important. There is a heritage value with luxury brands ââ¬â customer typically put more value on brands that have been around for many years. When it came to Indian brands, there is clearly a mixed perception. While most customers were willing to purchase luxury services from Indian players, the luxury products market still has a long way to go. Specifically in services, Indian service quality is considered to be at par with the best in the world. Within products, the categories that customer preferred have a high class value attached to it. Hence very select categories like jewellery and Indian designer apparel products are considered ââ¬Ëluxuryââ¬â¢. Fashion consciousness ââ¬â changing very fast, dressing for a look increasing in the metros ââ¬â still a long way to go ââ¬â in the words of one of the luxury fashion CEOs ââ¬â Indians are ââ¬Å"sartorially challengedâ⬠. The younger members of the rich families and the young professionals are leading are leading the pack. Badge consciousness ââ¬â continuing, no doubt. A logo is probably the most important thing about a product. It is easier to sell a pair of sunglasses or a polo shirt where the logo is clearly visible than a shirt where it is not so obvious. Price consciousness ââ¬â here to stay. The entire industry acknowledges this and both the principals and the Indian parties strive hard to match prices to make it price neutral for the Indian consumer who would not mind taking a flight to Singapore or Dubai or ask someone to get it, if the difference is more than 3-5%. The economics is simple ââ¬â its costs 15-20,000 for a return trip (economy of course! ) to Dubai or Singapore. On a product costing upwards of Rs. 200,000, this is less than 10% of the product price. That puts a limit on the amount of premium that anyone will be willing to pay for products that can be easily purchased overseas and carried back. The grey market will willingly carry products for a fraction of the cost of a return trip. The only exception is cars ââ¬â where it is not possible to bring it in ââ¬â either legitimately or smuggled. Propensity to buy overseas ââ¬â reducing but still very significant. One interesting observation is that Indian luxury customers are not averse to buying from India, just that they feel there are better avenues abroad. One of the key challenges is to provide luxury shopping destinations that offer a variety of brands under one roof. While most of them purchased from boutiques in New York or Malls in Dubai, in India there are not many avenues for luxury purchase. While most consumers also make luxury purchases in India, shopping abroad is still by far the preferred option. Consumers have certain perceptions about luxury shopping in India, that have held them back making large scale and frequent purchases in the local market. Interviews with industry leaders reveals that the consumer wants the same package here ââ¬â merchandise (range, freshness), convenience (location), price and experience (ambience, service) ââ¬â with an extra expectation of service, given that this is India, where labor is cheap. The development of the Indian duty free has meant that Indians have an option of buying duty free products in India when they arrive rather than carting it all the way from popular shopping destinations overseas. Consumers still believe that the widest, most recent range is not available here and that prices are more expensive here, though at least two of these clearly are myths that need to be broken. In fashion, collections are designed for the whole world once, no one creates separate collections for India and old collections are not available. Width of range is a trade-off that has to be made depending on the depth of the market, so that is a possibility. Converting the overseas market is a big challenge for retailers. Propensity to buy from the grey market ââ¬â by all accounts, this is reducing in established brands. Concerted efforts by players to bring in the latest merchandise, efforts by brands to supply products at lower prices to India and Indian retailers willing to work on thin margins has meant that the consumer now gets a good bargain. New brands which consumers want and are not available find their way through this channel. Driver of Luxury consumption: Number of HNIs, HNI Wealth or Household Income? It is generally accepted that luxury market size is positively correlated to household income (GDP/capita), the number of high networth individuals and/or their wealth. Discussions on luxury are never complete without a reference to these parameters. A correlation between the size of the luxury market, the GDP/capita, number of HNIs and HNI wealth over the years 2004-2009 shows that in terms of importance the number of high networth individuals is the most important driver, followed closely by GDP/capita and HNI wealth. Interviews with leading luxury brands in India points to the fact that family wealth is a very strong determinant of spending than household income. Consumer interviews with traditionally wealthy families indicates a very interesting pattern ââ¬â they are habitual consumers of luxury and less price conscious. Some of the segments mentioned above would fall in the HNI category. However luxury consumption in India is not limited to only the HNIs. The masstige phenomenon can be observed very clearly in India. Luxury products in India are appealing to, and purchased by, middle-class consumers that do not fit the typical profile of an elite consumer segment. For these shoppers, luxury represents status and prestige, a place in society that they fit into as a result of their purchase of high-end products. This phenomenon is observed even in the large mature markets such as UK, where a large number of individual consumers buy very small volumes. Luxury goods companies develop products that re-enforce the ââ¬Å"masstigeâ⬠and drive volumes. As such it is very important to look at the other indicator of the market ââ¬â the GDP/capita. In India given the fact that wealth is being created due to the rapid growth, growing household incomes are converting the middle class into emerging luxury consumers. As such there is a large segment (below the 1 cr income category) where while the wealth might be low, it is the incomes that are driving the consumption. Measured in PPP terms, 25 -100 lakhs in India is equal to $ XX-YY,000 of income in the US or EUR AA-BB,000 in Europe, which is definitely a luxury consumer. The above two factors combine to make the consumer spectrum in India very broad. Our research shows that sporadic/ infrequent luxury consumption for products and services begins when annual household income goes upwards of Rs. 20 lakhs, becomes frequent when annual household income crosses the Rs. 1 crore mark and becomes habitual when the wealth crosses the HNI milestone ($1 mn in liquid assets). For luxury assets, the markers are understandably much higher and even within assets, the ladder become quite steep as one goes higher. For example, consumer for private jets would be the top 200-400 richest families in the country ââ¬â the billionaires, super rich families (the HNIs) ââ¬â anywhere around 200-400 families ââ¬â such as the private jets, yachts and the largest houses ââ¬â earning anywhere upwards of 50 cr per annum or with family wealth in excess of 100 cr. The spectrum thus begins at rupee millionaires and goes all the way to real billionaires. While the small traditionally super wealthy families who know what absolute or real exclusive luxury means, and can be called connoisseurs, bulk of the incremental wealth generation in India has been the the handiwork of new age businessmen/industrialists ââ¬â who were not so wealthy a couple of generations ago. As the ââ¬Å"new moneyâ⬠matures, one can expect that the tastes and preferences will also evolve. | | Rupee Millionaires| Near Millionaires| Real Millionaires| Category| Household Income| 10-25 lakhs| 25 lakhs ââ¬â 1 cr| 1-5 cr| 5 cr+| | Networth/Wealth| | | | |. Estimated number of households| 2,373,000| 1,292,000| 141,000| Typical Occupations| Service Industry professionals| Corporate Executives, Self Employed Professionals| Medium Enterprise OwnersTraditionally wealthyCompany CEOs, top bankers| Large IndustrialistsTraditionally wealthy| Luxury products| Low ticket value items such as leather accessories ties, cuff-links,Wines and spirits, personal care| Watches, some apparel, accessories| All| All| Luxury Services| Spas, Infrequent fine dining| Travel, frequent fine dining, hotels, spas| All| Luxury Assets| | | Cars, YachtsReal estate, Paintings| Private jets|. Geographical distribution of consumers Luxury consumption in the country has so far been concentrated in Delhi and Mumbai with Bangalore being a distant third. Brands have been thinking of expanding their footprint beyond these cities and have been wondering about where their next store should be opened. We now believe that the distribution of the rupee millionaires is a good indicator of the luxury consumer distribution in the country. We also believe that for luxury consumption to take off a minimum critical mass is needed in a city. While Delhi and Mumbai continue to be the mainstay markets for luxury consumption, there are several other cities with a large base of potential luxury consumers. A look at the figure below suggests that while Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are the top three cities, other cities also have significant potential for luxury consumption. Show a chart between the number of families (X-axis) and the growth 2006-2009 (Y-axis) and number of such households as the bubble size. Use the data below. Year| 2006-07| 2009-10| | Income Category| Annual income >Rs. 10,00,000/-| CAGR| Top 20 Cities ranked on the basis of Annual Market Size| Number of Households| Number of Households| | Delhi| 132,258 | 348,000| 38%| Mumbai| 98,164 | 347,000| 52%| Bangalore| 101,550 | 126,000| 7%| Thane| 69,658 | 137,000| 25%| Pune| 57,130 | 106,000| 23%| Chennai| 28,025 | 109,000| 57%| Ahmadabad| 45,224 | 91,000| 26%| Hyderabad| 26,670 | 69,000| 37%| Surat| 34,457 | 60,000| 20%| Coimbatore| 18,076 | 37,000| 27%| Salt Lake (Urban Areas in ââ¬Å"North 24 Parganasâ⬠district)| 14,373 | 65,000| 65%| Kolkata| 15,790 | 94,000| 81%| Thiruvallur| 17,837 | 22,000| 7%| Lucknow| 20,654 | 29,000| 12%|. Jaipur| 27,011 | 21,000| -8%| Vadodara| 22,911 | 53,000| 32%| Nagpur| 23,637 | 46,000| 25%| Kancheepuram| 13,920 | 24,000| 20%| | 767,345 | 1,784,000 | 32%| Source: Indicus Analytics| | | | Extrapolating the growth rates seen in these cities, over the next 3 years implies that several new cities will become potential centres of luxury consumption. Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Vadodara are high potential destinations to watch out for. A quick comparison with China shows that there are atleast 20 cities/towns where luxury brands are present. Comparison between luxury stores in India and China. | LV| Burberry| Chanel| Hugo Boss| Beijing| 3| 2| 2| 9| Shanghai| 3| 2| 5| 5| Other Tier I| 6| 6| 0| 8| Tier II| 12| 10| 1| 22| Others| 11| 13| 0| 43| | LV| Burberry| Chanel| Hugo Boss| Mumbai| 2| 1| -| 1| Delhi| 2| 1| 1| 1| Bangalore| 1| 1| -| 1| Others| -| 1| -| -| We believe in the next 5-7 years, atleast 5-7 new towns will get added on the luxury map of India. We also believe that the potential in Delhi and Mumbai has not been fully exploited and that there exist a few more micro markets within these cities that need to be tapped. Pockets of wealth and good infrastructure could be the next big destinations. In Mumbai, South Mumbai, Central Mumbai, Bandra/Juhu, Powai and Thane are micro markets which are far enough from each other, have concentration of wealthy families and decent infrastructure. In Delhi, similar micro markets could be South Delhi, Gurgaon, Saket, â⬠¦.. In summary, while the Indian luxury market is evolving, so is the luxury customer. Understanding the nuances of the customer is extremely critical to succeed in this dynamic industry. jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-90761582960511751472020-01-08T10:57:00.001-08:002020-01-08T10:57:03.186-08:00Essay about William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Shakespeare, in his A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream, uses his characters to cast a sense of derision over the use of the imagination. ââ¬Å"The lunatic, the lover and the poetâ⬠are thrown together all on one line, and it is implied that the latter two are as crazy as the first. (Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream, V.1.7) Despite this seeming scorn for plays and their ilk, Shakespeare is implementing a strong irony. Characters who scorn the imagination are no more than imaginings themselves ââ¬â and, by this, Shakespeare is actually reinforcing a positive image of plays of the imagination. Theseusââ¬â¢s denial of imaginationââ¬â¢s worth reads more as apophasis than as any true refutation. Even as he scorns theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Theseus, as an added level of irony, spends a fair amount of time voicing his disdain for the imagination, and for plays ââ¬â and then, just after that, he chooses a play for the nightââ¬â¢s entertainment. He disregards ââ¬Å"some satire, keen and criticalâ⬠in favor of Pyramus and Thisbe, in fact. (V.1.58) One would think that, as the representative of cool reason, Theseus would opt to listen to something less fanciful, but he belies his own position against the imagination and chooses an ââ¬Å"airy nothingâ⬠instead. (V.1.17) It is in this direct contradiction that Shakespeare cinches the irony of Theseus. Even so, once he has chosen Pyramus and Thisbe, Theseus maintains his stand: ââ¬Å"the best in this kind [plays] are but shadows.â⬠(V.1.224) If this were true, and he believed it, why would he then choose a ââ¬Ëshadowââ¬â¢ for entertainment? Why not choose something more ââ¬Ëreal,ââ¬â¢ something that has more of an effect on the world? The simple answer is that plays themselves do affect the world. For even this ââ¬Ëshadow,ââ¬â¢ Pyramus and Thisbe, does in the end draw some emotion from its watchers ââ¬â Theseus says ââ¬Å"this passion, and the death of a dear friend, would go near to make a man look sad.â⬠(V.1.303) Hippolyta furthers his sentiment, adding ââ¬Å"Beshrew my heart but I pity the man.â⬠(V.1.305) If the worst of plays can draw such emotion, then plays hold power indeed. In yet a further interpretation, Theseus may act as a sort of metaphor for theShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream1973 Words à |à 8 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream The focus of this discussion will be upon the language and performance possibilities of this extract from the Dream[1], following brief consideration of the manner in which the extract relates to the rest of the play in terms of plot development and the reflection of certain of the playââ¬â¢s themes. Performance aspects are considered alongside the distinctive features of the language, as it is suggested that the natureRead More William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay935 Words à |à 4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream could have easily been a light-hearted, whimsical comedy. Complete with a magic forest and a kingdom of fairies, it is an iconic setting for amorous escapades and scenes of lovers. But Shakespeareââ¬â¢s writing is never so shallow; through this romantic comedy, Shakespeare postulates an extremely cynical view of love. A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream becomes a commentary on the mystery of love, and lovers in general emerge shamedRead More William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1591 Words à |à 7 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream In William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream, there are endless images of water and the moon. Both images lend themselves to a feeling of femininity and calm. In classical mythology, the image of water is often linked with Aphrodite, goddess of passion and love. Born of the foam of the sea, Aphrodite was revered as an unfaithful wife to her husband Hephaestus (Grant 36). This may have a direct coloration to the unfaithful nature of theRead MoreEssay William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream974 Words à |à 4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Shakespeareââ¬â¢s A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream can be considered an archetypal comedy due in large part to the ill-defined characters. Part of what makes this play work so well is that rather than becoming too invested in any one characterââ¬â¢s hopes and fears or desires and struggles, the audience is simply rooting for things to work out well in general. If the audience became too attached to any one character, they might lose sight of the bigger pictureRead MoreThe Supernatural in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream1550 Words à |à 7 PagesSupernatural in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Consider the presentation of the supernatural in A Midsummer Nights dream. In what way does it reveal Shakespeares moral and philosophical concerns? How does Shakespeares stagecraft (setting, Characterisation, language, verse form etc) facilitate the consideration of his concerns? and how do we as a modern audience respond to the play as a piece of theatre? The main themes of A Midsummers Night Dream areRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essays3973 Words à |à 16 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream In the following essay I am aiming to show how Lysanders claim that the course of true love never did run smooth is supported by other events in the play. A Midsummer Nights Dream was written by William Shakespeare. No one knows the exact date it was written but we know it was between 1589 and 1595. He combines romance with comedy to produce this popular story. When he was writing the play superstition aboutRead More Night in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1379 Words à |à 6 PagesNight in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream One of the recurring themes throughout Shakespeareââ¬â¢s A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream is the time of day during which the playââ¬â¢s major action takes place: night. This being the case, there are certain words that are directly linked to this theme that appear numerous times throughout the script. Four such words are ââ¬Å"moon,â⬠ââ¬Å"moonlight,â⬠ââ¬Å"moonshine,â⬠and ââ¬Å"lunatic.â⬠Each comes from a feminine root that serves to identify the women in the play asRead MoreEssay on Women in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream780 Words à |à 4 PagesWomen in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream, by William Shakespeare, is a play that illustrates a good picture of womanââ¬â¢s lack of freedom. It is a story of several couples, among which there is a fairy king, Oberon, who proves his sovereignty over the queen of the fairies, Titania. The two have an ongoing conflict about who should keep the Indian boy, whose mother had recently died. Titania doesnââ¬â¢t want to give him up because she and the boyââ¬â¢s mother knewRead MoreEssay about William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream 1648 Words à |à 7 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dreamà à à There are so many references to the eyes in A Midsummer Nights Dream that one would expect there to be a solid and consistent reason for their appearance. However, this does not seem to be the case. Indeed, the images associated with the eyes are so varied, and shift so frequently, that it is practically impossible to define what it is they represent. This difficulty reflects the problem of distinguishing between what is real and whatRead MoreTrue Love in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream1928 Words à |à 8 PagesTrue Love in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream I have been studying A Midsummer Nightââ¬â¢s Dream and exploring how the characters within this play deal with love and the consequences resulting from falling in love. I will be answering the question asked by providing quotes and examples of Shakespeareââ¬â¢s technique in showing that ââ¬ËThe course of true love never did run smoothââ¬â¢ as well as providing answers as to why Shakespeare made this the case in the play jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-14640485099342329432019-12-31T07:23:00.001-08:002019-12-31T07:23:02.239-08:00Analysis Of Daniel Dennett s Where Am I - 1509 Words In this Daniel Dennettââ¬â¢s essay ââ¬Å"Where Am I?â⬠Dennett tackles the difference between mind, body, and a personââ¬â¢s identity. In his story, Dennett has his brain removed and preserved in a vat. His body stays alive, and radio transmitters make it so he can still function. Dennett starts to question who and where ââ¬Å"heâ⬠is. Though Dennett has several strong ideas, he isnââ¬â¢t correct in everything he suggests. When Dennett goes to view his brain, his first thought is that he is outside of the vat, looking at his brain. This confuses him, because Dennett believes that he should instead think, ââ¬Å"Here I am, being suspended in fluids, being stared at by my own eyes.â⬠Puzzled, Dennett names his brain and his body so itââ¬â¢s easier for him to make sense of whatââ¬â¢s going on. He names his brain Yorick, his body Hamlet, and dubs himself Dennett. First, he suggests ââ¬Å"where Hamlet is, so is Dennett.â⬠That idea is shut down when he starts to think about brain transplant experiments. In those experiments, it seemed like you could switch peopleââ¬â¢s brains and the person would follow the brain. Therefore, Dennett reasons that the body and the person can be separate, but perhaps the brain and the person canââ¬â¢t be separate. So he suggests that ââ¬Å"where Yorick is, so is Dennett.â⬠He starts wondering about committing a crime in a different state. Where wou ld he be tried? The state where his brain is? Or where he committed the crime? Deciding that just his brain being him isnââ¬â¢t right either, he comes to a thirdShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Daniel Dennett s Where Am I Essay1534 Words à |à 7 Pagesother to function, but where do they join together to form a unique individual. To what extent do the mind and body bridge together to form a unique individual? Is there even a bridge that connects them or are the mind and body separate entities who solely rely on each other to function, but thatââ¬â¢s where all the shared boundaries that create a person end. Daniel Dennett tackles these mind and body questions in his essay, Where Am I. In Daniel Dennettââ¬â¢s, Where Am I, Dennett agrees to undergo an operationRead MorePhilosophy comparing libertarianism, compatibilism, and determinism2363 Words à |à 10 Pagesfree or if they are governed by forces outside of your control. In the following paper I intend to compare and contrast the three major philosophical viewpoints regarding this question, and come to a conclusion on which I find to be the right answer. I believe the best way to do this is to first lay out the beliefs of each viewpoint. Once I have done this I can compare them, and give my insight on which I believe to be right. The first viewpoint regarding human freedom is determinism. TheRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words à |à 34 PagesWestern philosophy [edit] History Main article: History of Western philosophy The introduction of the terms philosopher and philosophy has been ascribed to the Greek thinker Pythagoras (see Diogenes Laertius: De vita et moribus philosophorum, I, 12; Cicero: Tusculanae disputationes, V, 8-9). The ascription is based on a passage in a lost work of Herakleides Pontikos, a disciple of Aristotle. It is considered to be part of the widespread legends of Pythagoras of this time. Philosopher replaced jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-8095489485244954912019-12-23T03:09:00.001-08:002019-12-23T03:09:04.495-08:00The War On Drugs And Its Effects On Society - 889 Words The war on drugs is one that continuously alters society and effects millions of people. Whether it be the constant back and forth battle of whether or not to legalize marijuana for recreational or medicinal use to stories of girls like Kristina in Crank that find their way to more potent drugs such as meth; drugs policies are always necessary. Stories like this are important to help people understand how drugs fit into our society and just how prevalent they are. In the story of Crank, Kristina is a well-behaved, average girl who falls into the cracks because of a boy. Her story probably is like many others who get sucked into the world of drugs. In the instance of cases like hers and many others, I think it is very important to take into account these stories when looking how drugs fit into our society. It is important because these people make up our society. There wouldnââ¬â¢t be any statistics, facts, or really any knowledge of how these drugs affect people and the community without these stories. The people who are doing the drugs and talking about them give everyone a better insight in to who does them, how they get involved with them, where each drug is being used most prominently and how they can change someoneââ¬â¢s world after just one time. In the text, Kristina lived a good life and rarely got in trouble. Once she met a boy who offered her meth and told her how good it would make her feel, she agreed to try it just once. Before she did it she says ââ¬Å"I was ready toShow MoreRelatedThe War On Drugs And Its Effects On Society1564 Words à |à 7 Pages The War on Drugs is a deep-rooted controversial campaign of prohibition and military aid that has been disputed for many years. There are constant debates as to whether there will ever be a viable solution to the problem. However, as we continue to pursue the ââ¬Å"war on drugs,â⬠it has become increasingly evident that ââ¬Å"winningâ⬠the war seems to be an impossible task. Dr ug prohibition and the undertaking of the war on drugs have stirred much controversy over its moral and logical implications. WhileRead MoreWar On Drugs And Its Effects On Society Essay1730 Words à |à 7 PagesNovember 2016 Final Paper War on Drugs Introduction The War on Drugs was established in the early 70ââ¬â¢s to end drug abuse, which had increasingly become a problem during that era. Considering drugs will continue to be manufactured and consumed, this war has no end. And because there is no boundaries, there is room for discrimination and people being targeted. A disproportionate amount of minorities, particularly African Americans, are incarcerated every year for drug possession. As a result, childrenRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effects On Society1276 Words à |à 6 PagesJust a little over a year and a half after being in office President Reagan declared a ââ¬Å"war on drugsâ⬠, creating a zero tolerance policy. The ââ¬Å"war on drugsâ⬠claimed that it would reduce drug use if they were made illegal. The common misconception of the idea of this solution if that by restricting the supply of illicit drugs for the demand the price would increase making it harder for users to afford the habit and further discour age users from using. When in reality this shifted individuals into diggingRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effect On Society1888 Words à |à 8 PagesHumans have the tendency to wage war on anything which they thing has a negative Fulsy 7 effect on their society or which may affect their way of life. Before the 19th century, alcohol was considered a product of religious relevance and individualistic satisfaction, but latter people realized it was being abused and in 1914 the Narcotics Tax Act was introduce. And later the 18 amendment was introduced prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol with exception to religious orRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effect On Society1840 Words à |à 8 PagesThe, ââ¬Å"War on Drugsâ⬠has been an ongoing debate in many circles for much longer than most people know. Starting in the late 1800ââ¬â¢s, drug regulations and laws have been imposed upon American society and, although they have changed and been manipulated to fit different policies, by different politicians with different agendas, they are still in effect today. These laws and regulations may be in place for the safety of society or, according to some, are a way for the federal government t o control theRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effects On Society1907 Words à |à 8 PagesThe ââ¬Å"war on drugsâ⬠has been an ongoing problem for almost a century. With the amount of effort to decrease the use of drugs, it is still a major problem in todayââ¬â¢s society. Drugs have played a crucial role on the effects of incarceration rates in our society. It has also played a major role on the effects on prisoners and their communities. In the first place, in the 1800ââ¬â¢s, drugs made their first appearance in the United States. After the American Civil War, Opium became a popular drug in the UnitedRead MoreIs The War On Drugs?1252 Words à |à 6 Pagesdiscussing is the War on Drugs. I will discuss the War on Drugs in relation to mass incarceration and to what consequences the War on drugs has caused among people and society itself. I have always been interested by the War on Drugs. However, slowly realizing, I only knew so much about the issue. As I further researched I learned what the term, ââ¬Å"War on Drugsâ⬠really means. The ââ¬Å"War on Drugsâ⬠is about the prohibition of drugs in society. Therefore, I strongly believe that the Drug War is a very controversialRead More America And The War On Drugs Essay1216 Words à |à 5 PagesColumbia, when they have their own problems with drugs? The Untied States of America has a rather large drug trafficking problem but compared to Columbia it is fa irly small. To help Columbia solve their problem the U.S. senate has decided to send troops over there and take control. This new involvement will have many consequences in and what can you make for instance the cost of a war, the loss and gain of jobs, and physical side effects. Now war is a very serious subject to study for sociologistsRead MoreMethamphetamine And Cocaine Are Two Commonly Negatively Depicted Substances1746 Words à |à 7 Pageslooking at the history of each. Important factors are when and how each ââ¬Å"drugâ⬠came up in society. Other necessary characteristics one must analyze about each is the positives of each, but also the harmful effects of each. The final, and arguably most important aspect an individual must inspect is how society is affected by either meth or cocaine. 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Since the Vietnam conflict made absolutely no sense politically, militarily jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-34033157244783262442019-12-14T23:39:00.001-08:002019-12-14T23:39:03.914-08:00Racial Ethnic Groups in the United States Free Essays string(92) " only their culture and people but the society of people in which they surround themselves\." Even in 2013 racism and ethic differences are a struggle in the United States. This is mainly due to the fact that unlike fifty years ago when the country was split just black and white, there are now more races involved. Granted, the generations now are much more knowledgeable about the ethic differences, most donââ¬â¢t see any harm in a person judged based on their skin color. We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Ethnic Groups in the United States or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, those who do still find it a problem have taken it to the extreme to let their opinions be known. Take for instance in week fiveââ¬â¢s reading; the hate that was betrayed against Asian Americans in the radio show where over two dozen Asian Americans were physically injured, thirteen of which had to go to the hospital because their African American classmates decided to fight. However that is not the worst part of that situation. Instead of the security guards and teachers doing something to stop the hate, they let it continue. And this is in every race. Many people in todayââ¬â¢s day and age tend to pick more on the Latino groups of America. This is mainly due to the fact that a lot of them are not in the United States legally. Included in these races are people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan heritage. The main reason for many of these immigrants to come to the United States is to receive a better life. But with this immigration mainly fail to assimilate properly to their local neighborhoods to live the American way. By assimilating in the United States one is able to adopt the cultural traits and/or identity of the host group, Americans, and/or integrate into the primary networks and secondary organizations of the host group.à (Feagin and Feagin) While coming into the country illegally the Latino race automatically puts a bad taste in most Americanââ¬â¢s mouths because on top of them coming into the country without proper paperwork, they take away jobs that could be used for other Americans simply because Latinos are known for taking a lower pay so that they may be paid in cash verses check based on the simple fact that they do not have proper documentation to be working in the United States. According to Milton Gordon, author of the influential Assimilation in American Life, there are many problems with assimilation. This though involved mainly European groups coming into the United States that they were not willing to adjust to the living styles of another country. This being the main problem of immigrants is that they will not forego racial difference to fit into the country. Gordon suggested that this will be the main problem with America in the future. (Page: 31, Racial and Ethnic Relations Census Update, Ninth Edition, 9E by Clairece Booher R Feagin and Joe R. Feagin, Pearson) This of course is not the case with all Latinos though. There are many people of these races that live in the United States legally that are hardworking and want to the properly the American way. These are the kind of people though that end up getting left in the dust because not many realize that some people want to be a part of the country to that extend. These Latin Americans have fully comprehended the concept of acculturation, or cultural assimilation, which is the change of one groupââ¬â¢s important cultural patterns to those of the host or dominant group. (Feagin and Feagin) This doesnââ¬â¢t mean though that Latin Americans, or any race, have to give up their entire cultural habits. It simply means that they understand that they came into a different country and they respect the fact that some things culturally are done differently. For instance there were many situations brought up in the video on 60 Minutes regarding the American Canal. Americans see that canal as a water source for their vegetables in the winter, however those from Mexico see it as a dangerous way into the United States. This is of course a problem between the two races because the Americans donââ¬â¢t feel they need to alter the safetyà of the canal so that Mexicans donââ¬â¢t continue to keep drowning in the water in attempts to get into the country illegally. Asian Americans have a huge burden on them just like the Latino races but itââ¬â¢s not as much as being considered ââ¬Å"illegalâ⬠. Their pressure is more of an educational outlook. They are expected to excel in school and get great grades at high education at the best colleges. Some of this plays into their benefit though considering the life they will be able to live by better educating themselves. They are pressured with these expectations through their own families though too. For instance it is assumed that if a Caucasian American meets an Asian American while they are at school, such as college, it may be assumed that the Asian American is good at math. It might not be verbally said, but as Americans that is a trait that Asian Americans have always had. This is a trait though that does not , and should not, be given up with trying to fit into the American way of life. If anything a trait like this only enhances living in America. Take for instance the breakdown of educations in America. Asian-Indian Americans lead the country when it comes to obtaining a Bachelorââ¬â¢s degree from college with 70.1%, Chinese Americans follow with 52. 1%; Filipino Americans 48%, Vietnamese Americans at 27. 8%, Asian-Indian Americans with 70. 1%, and White Americans with 30. 7%. (Page: 338, Racial and Ethnic Relations Census Update, Ninth Edition, 9E by Clairece Booher R Feagin and Joe R. Feagin, Pearson) Even according to Gordon, the transition of Asian Americans into the United States society is a lot easier that other races and it has a lot to do with their ability to want to learn and help not only their culture and people but the society of people in which they surround themselves. You read "Racial Ethnic Groups in the United States" in category "Papers" According to the research done in the Feagin and Feagin text the amount of Asian students not only applying but getting admitted into college is increasing every year. A study shows that in 1979 2. 6 percent of students admitted into Brown University were of Asian descent. In 1993 however, it jumped to 14. 8 percent of the students accepted. Many researchers though such as James Madore of the Christian Science Monitor label Asian Americans as ââ¬Å"model minoritiesâ⬠. However they still have their troubles. For instance the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) argued with U. S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas for his use of the term ââ¬Å"model minorityâ⬠when describing Asian Americans. Thomas argued that Asian Americans ââ¬Å"transcended the ravages caused even by harsh legal and social discriminationâ⬠and should not be beneficiaries of government affirmative action because they are ââ¬Å"overrepresented in key institutions. â⬠(Page339: , Racial and Ethnic Relations Census Update, Ninth Edition, 9E by Clairece Booher R Feagin and Joe R.à Feagin, Pearson) The term ââ¬Å"model minorityâ⬠can be taken as a good or bad quality as explained in the above paragraphs it is all a matter of who is saying it and in what context they are using the title. But it expresses the fact that Asian Americans still face hard consequences in the United States based on assimilation and acculturation because even though some of their traits from their own heritage are beneficial to Americans, Americans then feel offended that someone is coming into the country trying to take over schools and education. It is hard to be an immigrant in the United States and that is understood by a lot of people in the country. But at the same time Americans want to keep their reputation of living the American dream with excellent jobs and families that love and support each other with the right to stick up for what they believe in and the will to pursue their dreams in whatever they wish. It is the some groups of Americans that have backed down to the immigrants of the country and have been belittled by thoseà assimilating into the United States. It is these Americans that create the hate in the country against entire races verses individuals. It is the lack of education on Americans that plays into part of the frustration of the country. No one notices those trying to do things the correct way but that may be because there are so many immigrants in the country that are illegal and take advantage of the fact that they donââ¬â¢t have to do anything to stay in the country. But this is not ââ¬Å"Living the American Dreamâ⬠. Immigrants that are taking advantage of any stateââ¬â¢s aid, or not agreeing to file proper documentation to become a citizen to receive a paycheck instead of a lower pay but being paid in cash are a huge part of the problem. Taxes play into this just as much. Immigrants to America are not stupid. America taxes everything and everyone is required to pay them. Not everyone does though. Having many other races enter the country in this day and age gives those of this generation a clue to what happened many years ago when whites and blacks were ordered to stay separated. There are still parts of the country that blacks are not welcomed and they are discriminated against. It is almost as if no laws were overturned. Today there are still about eleven states in the country without a street dedicated to Martin Luther King Junior, and some states say they do not plan on including that street in the maps anytime soon. With racial issues almost always a battle it is almost near impossible to say that everyone one day will be entirely happy and created equal. The battle between White Americans against Asian Americans against Latino Americans and African Americans seems to be a never ending battle. In his research, Gordon believe that ââ¬Å"the integration of African Americans into the core economy and society is well under wayâ⬠. (Page 205: , Racial and Ethnic Relations Census Update, Ninth Edition, 9E by Clairece Booher R Feagin and Joe R. Feagin, Pearson)This indicates simply that the full migration of different races, though thought to be fixed many years ago, still has many small details to be drawn out. Every person whom goes to school learns about the horrible way that African Americans were treated before any slavery laws were abolished. It is a part of any history class at an early age. Every child in America should be able to answer simple questions such as what was Jim Crow segregation. Could this be that years down the road history is repeating itself only with another race, which race will it be? Will it be all of them? Will it be illegal immigrants? African Americans though were willing to fight for what they believed they had a right to, they stood up and protected themselves and many dies fighting for what they believe in, which is the exact way that Americans are known to live their lives. That quality in itself is one of the most solid reasons as to why African Americans are treated equally in America now as opposed to having different drinking fountains and bathrooms and having to sit in the back of the bus. Many of the challenges facing African Americans today are more subtle and involve a struggle that is more within the African American community than without. Many of these challenges involve fighting negative stereotypes that were born from hip hop videos or the misuse of power and authority by well-known figures in the African American community. The struggle involves pushing against institutional barriers that have been strengthened by those in favor of maintaining a historical precedent or the status quo. For example, it oftentimes seems easier for city leaders to support the new school district that educates the suburban community rather than funding the struggling inner city schools. And simply because an organization has never had an African American leader, does not mean that it never should. Finally, the struggle involves a continued determination to resist an apathetic attitude toward the problems in the African American community. In many instances, it is not the opinionated few who determine the overall outcome, but the indifference of the majority who are usually directly affected by the decision that they fail to be a part of. Discrimination is described as the actions carried out by members of dominant groups, or their representatives, that have a differential and harmful effect on member of subordinate racial or ethnic groups. Since times of racial issues the word discrimination can be used for other things also. Many people even in the year 2013 are being discriminated for physical or mental differences too. There is so much hate in the United States yet and many people are not aware of it. Discrimination due to skin tone, physical or mental differences can have long tern effects on a person and often cause, like in the Asian cultures, attempts at suicide. These are actions that can be avoided if people would just educate themselves on the hate that is still in the world. How to cite Racial Ethnic Groups in the United States, Papers jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-84973392363231832352019-12-06T20:01:00.001-08:002019-12-06T20:01:05.661-08:00Strategic Management for Innovation and Technology-myassignmenthelp Question: Discuss about theStrategic Management for Innovation and Technology. Answer: Introduction Strategic management is the process in which an organization develops and implements plans for achieving the organizational goals and objectives. A successful strategic management process must involve managers and employees. The context of strategic management is concerned with the character and direction of the enterprise. This case study discusses Sara Lees retrenchment strategy concept. This strategy is adopted when an organization aims to minimize its cost by reducing one or a few business operations for achieving a stable financial position. In the given case study, Sara Lee started a small company of wholesale distribution that became larger with time, geographically and operationally. However, it was analysed that the shareholder value did not increase. Therefore, Sara Lee decided to divest eight business units for increasing operating profit and sales. It divested the less profitable industries and shifted its focus on food and beverage. This report shall critically evaluate the strategic retrenchment aspects of the company. Moreover, an analysis about the implications of Sara Lees macro-environment using PESTEL framework shall be made. At the end of the section, a set of recommendations of the strategic planning cycle regarding the organizations market and financial performance in Oman shall be determined. Critical Evaluation of Strategic Retrenchment Aspect Retrenchment Strategy is required by a company to reduce their expenditure in order to be more profitably stable. The financial stability is always the goal of a company and retrenchment strategy helps in achieving the same. This involves withdrawal of certain products or pulling out from a precise market and also sometimes discontinuing from the whole market. This is done to make a financial turnaround. Sara Lee Corporation also used these retrenchment strategies for stabilising their financial issues (Gamble and Thompson 2014). Sara Lee developed these strategies to make sure that the companies focus is primarily on the optimum utilization of its resources to make it more profitably stable. They wanted to focus on the products which have been more profitable and would provide strength to the companys financial status. Few years ago, the operating quality of the company was not as progressive as it was supposed to be. Sara Lees management then came up with the policy to support Sara Lees overall performance financially. Sara Lee divested some of their units from the market which included direct sales, meats in Europe and The United States, US retail coffee, Nuts and snacks (European) and other European products. The expected revenue to be obtained from the divested business was around $3 Bn. The net profit margins and operating margins from five out of eight businesses were negative. Four out of these five businesses had margin greater than negative 10%. Rest of the businesses also kept on declining and that is why the divestment strategy was developed. Sara Lees goal was to increase the profit margin, so they had to prioritise the sale of their beverages and goods used in households which were the areas where profit was marginally more. They also did something very innovative and it was really influential in 2008. They launched Project Accelerate, a program framed for reduction of cost and increase their productivity. Sara Lee started focussing on their overhead cost, reframing their supply chain and outsourcing. This program was planned to save approximately $400 million by the end of 2012 and in 2010 only, this project saved approximately $180 million. Then the management decided to buy back shares worth $3 billion within a three year period. Sara Lees revenue at the end of year 2010 was around $10.8 billion and then they decided to disassociate their international body care and household business (Tangpong, Abebe, and Li 2015). Their spinoff with Hanes brand Inc. was also a very bold move but eventually it was not as successful as it was projected by Sara Lee. The operating profit was still the support system of the company. This step could not strategically be called a deal breaker. The retrenchment plans was also a major part of their financial decisions. The company still lacked a lot of cash flow for their expansion programs and other projects. Other companies are also trying to compete with Sara Lee Corporation because they have been renewing the trends as far as the beverages and food products are concerned and Sara Lee has been struggling with the cash flow issues. Implications of Macro-Environment Sara Lees business units are affected by the external factors that can be analysed using the PESTEL framework: Political Forces- Political forces can be defined as the regulatory forces and legislations that affect the company. Sara Lee has a vast portfolio of companies from different industries. They deal in food and beverage, food processing, household products and multiple other categories that are governed by different regulatory bodies. Moreover, Sara Lee has business in over 40 countries such as Europe, America, Oman and others. Due to increased globalization, the business pattern and revenue is dependent on the taxation system of different countries. Economic Forces- The economic forces include the factors such as recession, unemployment, exchange rate fluctuations and other economic factors. It is analysed that the world is affected by global recession. The disposable income of the consumers has declined due to increased expenses. It is not pocket-friendly for the public to eat out which is why the consumers are turning to purchase food and grocery products. There is a need for more cash flow in the company for acquiring new trends from the food and beverage departments of other companies. However, there is economic slump experienced by Sara Lee that restricts growth. Social Forces- The social factors include the change in attitude, market trends, social trends, lifestyle and other socio-cultural factors. The people across the globe have changing demands and choices. In the current times, the people are switching to healthy and economical consumption of food that makes them purchase meet and other foods rather than eating out. Moreover, there is a need for products like frozen desserts, meats, bakery and coffee to make the range attractive. The consumers have high demand for the above mentioned food range as it is organic and suits the taste of consumers. The International Bakery experienced decline resulting in a loss of $726 million. This is because the consumers prefer having fresh bread in comparison to package bread. The demand for fresh bread is dominant in the European market. Further, the International Beverage segment grew that increases scope of opportunity for the beverages. Technological Forces- The technological factors refer to the recent developments and innovations in the technological field for improving the products and services. In the technologically advancing field, there is a huge opportunity for Sara Lee to conduct its business operations through e-commerce. Moreover, Sara Lee can focus on the logistics and production technology in the food industry for delivering high quality products. Such technological advancement shall increase the efficiency and quality of the products. Moreover, the cost may be decreased by the application of latest technology thereby giving room to Sara Lee for increasing operating profits (Johnston and Marshall 2016). Environmental Forces- There is increasing trend towards environmental sustainability. There is a wide scope for Sara Lee to create Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR products. The consumers prefer to consumer products that are sourced ethically or promote Corporate Social Responsibility. The eco-friendly products can help in increasing environmental sustainability in the organization. Legal Forces- The legal forces include the compliance procedures that can guide the legality of the company. The legal bodies make Sara Lee vulnerable as retrenchment shall increase unemployment level among the workers. The Workers Union, Remuneration Act and Fair Wage acts may apply to ensure satisfaction among the unemployed workers. Therefore, there is threat for Sara Lee if the legal compliances are not met with (Grant 2016). Recommendations of Strategic Planning Cycle The strategic planning cycle is defined as a set of formal planning procedures that are necessary to overcome operational problems. Before implementing a strategic decision, there is a number of decisions to be resolved. Sara Lee must select an external consultant who shall act as a strategic planning facilitator. The first step is to propose a mission. This shall align with the organizational competitive interests and advantages. It should also be noted that the need to review objectives arises from signals that may be different from, and independent of, the signals that cause a review of strategy. Each of the two cycles may take place at different times and over different periods of time (Fisher and Oberholzer-Gee 2013). First, Sara Lee on the go as any other company and it was a minor company that is doing extensive supply that slowly raised to a sequence of connected and unconnected commercial. The Sara Lee Corporation was an American purchaser stock association arranged in Downers Grove, Illinois. It had operations in more than 40 countries and sold its things in more than180 nations around the globe. The company after several years as mentioned earlier expanded into a food processing, retail food and household products to more than forty countries as mentioned earlier. For conducting the retrenchment strategy effectively, the employees must be chosen so that they are laid off strategically in a cost-efficient manner. Sara Lee must choose an appropriate timing to make the announcement (Frynas and Mellahi 2015). Firms may pursue a divestment strategy by spinning off a portion of the business and allowing it to operate as an independent business entity. But those that affect strategic decisions may be examined before, during or after the determination of objectives, the diagram is neutral on that point. It does show that strategic decisions cannot be taken until both the objectives and the factors affecting strategic decisions have been determined (Abebe and Tangpong 2018). The first stage is start engagement and commitment in which the employees must be engaged and commitment must be generated. Purpose and target setting involves setting of target mainly for the purpose of retrenchment. In the next step, analyzing and generating options, alternatives to retrenchment shall be determined. The issue that is confronting Sara Lee is that level board separation system and geologically spread operations has administration attempting to work viably. Declining benefits around the world, Sara Lee's Retrenchment is strip eight of its specialty units to raise productivity through working benefits and deals (Harrison and John 2013). Sara Lee has several positions that it can take that can strategically grow its profitability. The company currently has limited margins on its bakery line, especially from its dessert items. Since Sara Lee has significant market share with its packaged bread in North America, the company should eliminate its dessert sales and the sale of single-serving coffeemakers. Growth in this segment is very slow, and is not growing within the foodservice industry either. By selling off its dessert brands, Sara Lee can invest the profits of the sale into other innovations in its other business units. Sara Lee International should expand its household and body care brands into the Oman (Tangpong, Abebe, and Li 2015). Conclusion Sara Lee started a small company of wholesale distribution that became larger with time, geographically and operationally. Retrenchment Strategy is required by a company to reduce their expenditure in order to be more profitably stable. They wanted to focus on the products which have been more profitable and would provide strength to the companys financial status. Sara Lees goal was to increase the profit margin, so they had to prioritise the sale of their beverages and goods used in households which were the areas where profit was marginally more. The retrenchment plans was also a major part of their financial decisions. The company still lacked a lot of cash flow for their expansion programs and other projects. There is a need for more cash flow in the company for acquiring new trends from the food and beverage departments of other companies. Sara Lee can focus on the logistics and production technology in the food industry for delivering high quality products. References Abebe, M.A. and Tangpong, C., 2018. Founder?CEOs and corporate turnaround among declining firms. Corporate Governance: An International Review. Fisher III, W. W., and Oberholzer-Gee, F. 2013. Strategic management of intellectual property.California management review,55(4), 157-183. Frynas, J. G., and Mellahi, K. 2015.Global strategic management. Oxford University Press, USA. Gamble, J. and Thompson, A.A., 2014.Essentials of strategic management. Irwin Mcgraw-Hill. Grant, R. M. (2016).Contemporary Strategy Analysis Text Only. John Wiley Sons. Harrison, J. S., and John, C. H. S. (2013).Foundations in strategic management. Cengage Learning. Johnston, M. W., and Marshall, G. W. (2016).Sales force management: Leadership, innovation, technology. Routledge. Mann, M. and Byun, S.E., 2017. To retrench or invest? Turnaround strategies during a recessionary time.Journal of Business Research,80, pp.24-34. Tangpong, C., Abebe, M. and Li, Z., 2015. A temporal approach to retrenchment and successful turnaround in declining firms.Journal of Management Studies,52(5), pp.647-677. Tangpong, C., Abebe, M. and Li, Z., 2015. A temporal approach to retrenchment and successful turnaround in declining firms.Journal of Management Studies,52(5), pp.647-677. jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-3783118049231656112019-11-29T08:04:00.001-08:002019-11-29T08:04:02.766-08:00Term Vs Whole Life Essays - Life Insurance, Whole Life Insurance Term Vs Whole Life TERM VS WHOLE LIFE If you're like most people, there's nothing more important to you than your family. As difficult as it is for you to imagine not being there for them, it's a risk we all face. To help be sure your loved ones have the financial protection they'll need, it's important to not only think about the unexpected, but to plan for it. If you were gone, who would provide for your loved ones? Who would help... Provide cash for family income? Cover the cost of raising your children? Pay off your mortgage? Pay off your debts? Life insurance can help give your family the protection they need while providing you with peace of mind. It can help provide continuing income and help pay the bills--keeping your family's hopes and dreams alive even after your death. or to find out if you're approved for up to $150,000 of immediate 10-year term life insurance that could save you up to 30%.* Coverage starts today with no medical exam if you're approved.** Or, get more information on other life insurance coverage offered through U.S. Bancorp Insurance Services: in higher coverage amounts for maximum coverage at the lowest premiums that can be designed for long-term protection while providing flexibility in terms of premium payments and cash value accumulation. Applying for 10- and 20-year underwritten term and universal life insurance involves an interview and a medical exam (including blood and urine samples). Term Insurance Advantages Initially, premiums are lower than those for various forms of whole life insurance, thus allowing you to purchase higher amounts of insurance coverage. It is good for covering specific needs that will disappear in time, such as mortgages and other loans. Disadvantages Premiums will increase as you grow older and at the end of the term of the policy you purchase, such as 10 year term. In the 11th year the premiums will increase. Eventually, coverage may lapse due to the expense of the policy the older you do get.Generally, the policy does not have cash value. Permanent Insurance Advantages As long as the necessary premiums are paid, the life insurance policy is guaranteed to be there for your entire life. Your premium can be fixed or flexible to meet your own personal needs. The policy accumulates a cash value that you can borrow against. Loans would need to be paid back with interest or your beneficiaries will receive a reduced value of benefit if you pass away prematurely. If you ever needed to have your premiums paid for with you existing cash value, you can. If you surrender your policy, the cash value will be returned to you. Disadvantages The required premiums may make it to expensive to purchase the necessary amount of insurance you and your family needs. It may cost more than term insurance if you do not keep the policy long term. I think I would take the whole life insurance because it will adjust to your personal need as the term wont it is just a fixed rate but the whole life also has a fixed rate but it will fluxuate to fit your personal needs at the time that your in that would be why I pick whole life over term life. TERM VS WHOLE LIFE If you're like most people, there's nothing more important to you than your family. As difficult as it is for you to imagine not being there for them, it's a risk we all face. To help be sure your loved ones have the financial protection they'll need, it's important to not only think about the unexpected, but to plan for it. If you were gone, who would provide for your loved ones? Who would help... Provide cash for family income? Cover the cost of raising your children? Pay off your mortgage? Pay off your debts? Life insurance can help give your family the protection they need while providing you with peace of mind. It can help provide continuing income and help pay the bills--keeping your family's hopes and dreams alive even after your death. or to find out if you're approved for up to $150,000 of immediate 10-year term life insurance that could save you up to 30%.* Coverage starts today with no medical exam if you're approved.** Or, get more information on other life insurance coverage offered through U.S. Bancorp Insurance Services: in higher coverage amounts for maximum jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-20407875846522841592019-11-25T14:15:00.001-08:002019-11-25T14:15:04.485-08:00The New South and the Civil Rights Movement essaysThe New South and the Civil Rights Movement essays Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, became the center of what was a great moral victory for blacks in the South. It was an inevitable even in my thought because there is only so much abuse one can take from authority, especially when it was unfair. Out of this came many individuals who were not afraid to take a step past what was set, to do what they were told and forced not to do. The most notable man who would come out of this would be Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. In the midst of all the injustice of having to stand because a white person needed a seat came a woman who refused to give in to the rules. Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, refused to give her seat up for a white man, which in turn led to her arrest. A man by the name of E.D. Nixon, president of the NAACP at the time, helped get Mrs. Parks out of jail and saw this as an opportunity to end the segregation of buses in Montgomery. This began a small, but effective chain reaction to begin the bus boycott. Phone calls were made, supporters were recruited, and a new direct way to turn the tide of bus segregation had begun. Mrs. Parks was noted as the "perfect symbol" (Sitkoff 39) because of her appearance. She was dignified, intelligent, respectable, and married (Sitkoff 39). Nixon took the first steps to boycott the buses by calling around and getting support from his contacts. To his surprise, many of the people who were very reluctant to the idea of acting against such an institution such as public transportation vowed their support. So on December 5th, 1955 the Montgomery Bus Boycott began and would now become a great conflict in what was called the Cradle of the Confederacy. Martin Luther King Jr. would step out of the shadows as a new southerner to Montgomery and become the greatest force in the protest. He told the blacks to act with nonviolence, but with love. To act with unity because the only way support works are with the combination of all people... jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-44757296050444098362019-11-21T21:39:00.001-08:002019-11-21T21:39:03.101-08:00The Role and Tasks of Purchasing In Assuring Product Quality from EssayThe Role and Tasks of Purchasing In Assuring Product Quality from Suppliers - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that purchasing is critical to the effective management of material logistics. Positioned at the interface between the customer and the supplier, responsibility often falls on this function for managing the relationship between the customers and suppliers in the supply chain. The role of purchasing is a gateway to suppliers so that other business functions can communicate with counterpart within the supplier organizations. According to Garvin, there are eight basic elements of product quality. They are performance, features, reliability, conformance, durability, serviceability, aesthetics and perceived quality. What is quality Quality is defined as "conformance to requirements". To maintain a high quality standard of goods, supplier quality is of paramount importance. Purchasing has different meaning in different industries. This article first introduces different perspectives of purchasing in different industries. Then, the role and task o f purchasing in the abovementioned areas will be analyzed respectively. Examples are given in each area in the article. Purchasing has four objectives. They are right quality, competitive price, economic quantity and on-time delivery. Right quality refers to conforming specification requirement. For competitive price, there are two aspects. One is internal competition, the other is external competition. The former can be achieved by reducing the production cost. The latter is due to highly competitive market, with reference to price comparison, historical price, shipping and payment terms etc. Third, economic quantity is crystal clear that buying quantity must lead to a lower cost of the purchase. Cost of holding inventories and cost of not holding inventories are essential consideration. Cost of holding inventories and cost of not holding inventories are essential consideration. Last, on-time delivery is vital to a company as there are cost and price consequence. Normally, urgent o rder placement is more expensive than the regular placement as late delivery for urgent one might hold up production and incur cost penalty. The aim of purchasing varies in different industries. In manufacturing firms, purchasing of raw materials and components is for supporting production. For original equipment manufacturer (OEM), high cost in purchasing raw materials means it should transfer the burden to its customers or cut the production cost. Besides, quality of components counts. Quality-in-quality-out is of paramount importance. If there is defect in one lot of components and it is not discovered by the staff responsible for quality control, it would be disastrous. Quality of components affects the quality of production, and hence affects customer satisfaction. In government or public organization, purchasing is used to support user's need. For example, stationery is essential for every department in government. Purchasing, in this sense, means buying at a satisfactory qual ity with the lowest price. This can be achieved by formal tendering. According to Government Procurement Agreement, Hong Kong government has to go for an open tender for a purchase order of approximately over $1.3 million. In service sector, purchases have to match corporate image and business strategies. For a five-star hotel, the quality of commodity purchased is indispensable for its image.à jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-29489247310149325842019-11-20T17:33:00.001-08:002019-11-20T17:33:06.593-08:00Report and roadmap about an emerging technology EssayReport and roadmap about an emerging technology - Essay Example chnology roadmap that sets out key milestones and activities occurring in the course of developing the technology, milestones in technical development required in the future, and key activities for supporting future technical as well as commercial development of the project. In addition, other relevant factors for its past or its future are considered. The milestone in developing the artificial uterus can be attributed to development of the artificial placenta. A significant progress in the pump technology and the oxygenator has allowed the development of the artificial uterus to focus in the direction of the physiological role model in the coming years. Again, this development has been enhanced by the invention of the novel pump-less assist device. The milestones required in the technical development in the future include submersion, inflammatogenicity and thrombogenicity, and cannulation. These requirements are discussed further in the paper. They are initiated in the presence of various aspects that are considered in the development of the artificial uterus such as artificial endometrium, artificial placenta, and synthetic amniotic fluid. For the artificial endometrium, the interior lining of the uterus has to have the same features as the natural one. Regarding the artificial placenta, it has to in a position of developing on the endometrial wall or as an external device and its capacity has to allow nutrients, gaseous exchange and eliminate waste products. The synthetic amniotic fluid on the other hand would be considered an important component in the success of the project. Regarding its future market, the development of the artificial uterus is a safer way for women. Ladies will able to have children without the cost of labor pains or cesarean surgery scars. Moreover, it gives women, who have childbearing difficulties, the opportunity to have children. Women will have the liberty that would not have come with having a normal pregnancy, as keeping up with jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-44373776388053774902019-11-18T17:27:00.001-08:002019-11-18T17:27:03.586-08:00Macroeconomics.....Case Study NEED respond to at least 2 other EssayMacroeconomics.....Case Study NEED respond to at least 2 other students - Essay Example It would be incomplete to analyze and predict a nationââ¬â¢s history without accepting political underpinnings in events. While it is true that the government is really accountable on how it should spend public funds, balancing a national budget is a complicated task. In fact, ordinary citizens like you and I canââ¬â¢t even handle our own budgets. What I am saying is that things have already happened and the most that we can do as individuals is to reduce our spending and stop blaming the government for all the mess. After all, if we are not part of the solution, then we must be part of the problem. A.Having a President whose main agenda is war is not a good president. Had all the resources been devoted to social services then the country could have survived the crisis. There are just too many issue s that a President can prioritize inside oneââ¬â¢s country . It I sjust unfortunate that the political propaganda to project war as a noble cause gripped most of Americans when the fearful thing is not war that happens thousands of miles away but fear of failing health insurance. B. I definitely agree with tax-cut measures too since leadership is situational and at certain times, circumstances call for tax-cuts. It is true that tax-cuts have consequences but it is a lesser evil. Too much strain on American people would not only cause financial hardship but can make them resentful against the government. Civil disobedience can be an ugly jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857431835111120404.post-71616960962928870142019-11-16T05:59:00.001-08:002019-11-16T05:59:03.164-08:00Thucydides and international relationsThucydides and international relations Thucydides is seen by some scholars as the first writer in the realist tradition as well as the founding father of International Relations.[1] There are contrasting interpretations of the History of the Peloponnesian War as Thucydides rarely gives his opinion about the events described and the characters actions. This essay will adopt the realist interpretation of Thucydides and argue that he is still relevant today due to the prevalence of fear, self interest and power politics in todays world. It will use competing interpretations of his work to show that, even though there are important differences between his world and todays world, his insights into human nature are relevant and are one of the best sources to learn from history.[2] Thucydides work is valuable as it investigates the causes and dynamics of war. He states: What made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta. [3] According to Lebow, power transition theories are based on the premise that hegemons are unwilling to relinquish their status to upcoming powers.[4] Power transition theories investigate how a shift in an actors power in the system affects other actors. Theorists stress the critical importance of changes in the relative power of states as these changes produce fear and result in the security dilemma. Thus the system becomes increasingly unstable and small events can precipitate a major conflict. [5] Sparta was afraid that a shift in the balance of power would be to the detriment of its national security and thus according to power transition theory it felt aggression was necessary to address the imbalance. A theme that dominates Thucydides narrative is how fear in conjunction with honour and i nterest result in a state taking action in the hope of safeguarding its national security and independence.[6] The Peloponnesian war was the product of two developments. The first was the uneven and unprecedented growth of Athens. The issuance of the Megarian Decree was another provocative action. Athens believed that the integrity of their empire was at stake due to their fear of a revolt of their colonies. Athenss use of economic sanctions aimed to dislodge Megara from its alliance with Sparta posing a direct threat to Spartan and Corinthian security.[7] The Corinthians warned their Spartan allies that unless they asserted themselves against the Athenians, they (the Corinthians) would form a new alliance thus harming Spartan security. Thus Sparta delivered the ultimatum calling for the revocation of the Megarian decree. Rejection of the ultimatum was the immediate cause of the war. Thus the security dilemma can be said to have drove the hegemons into a war that neither desired.[8] A modern example of this theory is the change in American perception of Soviet power after the first Soviet ICBM launch. The so called missile gap resulted in US insecurity as the Kennedy administration believed Khruschchev was behaving aggressively in Berlin because he felt the power balance was shifting in his favour. Concern to maintain US power led Kennedy to increase the US strategic buildup.[9] However Kauppi states that there are intervening variables preventing the shifting balance of power leading to war in the cold war world. He cites modern examples of the restraining effect of nuclear weapons, and the existence of neutrals as having a stabilizing influence by not entrapping the superpowers in a zero sum game. He also cites the role of ideology as convincing both superpowers that they could win without war. [10] Thus while power transition theory and the resultant fear explain the pressure imposed on states, other factors can prevent fear from resulting in war. Lebow con tests the basis of power transition theory by pointing out that Athens reached the zenith of its power 20 years before the outbreak of war, he adds that it is the perception of power that is vital to power transition theory and war. The effect of middle powers like Corinth is another factor to consider. [11] While there was no direct conflict between the superpowers in the cold war, the massive defence budgets and development of weapons of mass destruction shows that both superpowers were using fear to deter their enemy and acting on fear by arming themselves. Another central feature of Thucydides thought is that of self interest. According to Gilpin, Thucydides believed that human nature was unchanging and since human beings were driven by interest, pride and fear, they always seek to increase their wealth until others driven by like passions, try to stop them.[12] In the Melian dialogue the Athenians say: Our opinion of the gods and our knowledge of men lead us to conclude that it is a general and necessary law of nature to rule wherever one can. [13] The Athenians state that maintaining their empire is their only concern and they try to convince the Melians that it is in their interest to surrender. They ask the Melians to ignore the matter of justice and claim that it is not in Spartas interest to intervene on their behalf.[14] The Melian dialogue shows the primacy of self interest not only as a practical course of action but as a law of nature. A modern example of self interest is the statist concept the national interest- seen in th e Mytilenian debate. Even though Cleon and Diodotus have different thoughts of the way forward they both seek to deal with the situation to Athenss benefit. For Diodotus, considerations of justice are inapplicable to interstate relations. [15] A modern example of the national interest at work is the October, 2006 United States doctrine on space. The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US national interests. [16] In todays world while the national interest is seen as a guiding principle it need not always be action by a sole state. States may cooperate to ensure the common good. In an increasingly globalised world states must consider and temper their exercise of national interest. The development of international law, particularly humanitarian law, shows that there are norms of non intervention and human rights that states are obliged to follow. Condemnation from the international community in case of their violation would not be in a states national interest. Thus while the national interest is a key component of state decision making, today, the experience of two world wars and the prevalence of liberal ideas mean that the national interest is still important but not the sole reason for state behaviour. Self interest and fear result in power politics. The Athenians say ones ability to engage in power politics depends on strength. The standard of justice, depends on the equality of power to compel and that, in fact, the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.[17] Thus ones ability to enforce ones demands depends on relative power. The quote above from the Melian dialogue shows Athens warning Melos to submit as they are too weak to resist. Since there is anarchy in relations among states, the order that exists is created and sustained by the powerful that impose their power within their sphere of influence. States, like individuals, are motivated by fear and self interest and appeal to justice only when their interest is served. The natural right of the stronger to rule over the weaker is a rather simplistic explanation and justification of imperialism. [18] A modern example of this is the ultimatum given by the US warning countries that they were either with us or against us. This can be seen as a threat to compel unity in the war on terror. Thucydides adds that an actors power determines his treatment thus showing the essential nature of the balance of power in international relations. This is the safe rule to stand up to ones equals, to behave with deference towards ones superiors and to treat ones inferiors with moderation. [19] A quote from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about nations that didnt support the war on Iraq illustrates this: Punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia.[20] For Thucydides it is a law of nature that the weak become subject to the strong and when the opportunity of aggrandisement is offered by superior strength considerations of right and wrong are sacrificed to self interest. [21] Welch adds that while Thucydides does not deny the notion of universal justice; he simply acknowledges that for better or worse it has no constraining force in a system composed of states unequ al in power.[22] However Bagby argues that not all states choose to maximise power. He cites the example of Sparta and how the Corinthians call them timid and weak in contrast to Athens. King Archidamus of Sparta confirms these national differences when he asks fellow Spartans to be not ashamed of the slowness and dilatoriness for which they censure us most.[23] According to Doyle, the political ideologies of both Athens and Sparta, and the different sectors of society they appealed to, were an important component of their conflict. He picks up on Thucydides emphasis on the national character of Athens, both in its restless culture and its democratic institutions, as well as the character of Sparta, with its slow and cautious character and the conservation of its oligarchic institutions.[24] Thus the goal to maximize power can be seen as a powerful motivator but domestic influences and domestic character are also important. In conclusion, Thucydides was among the first to set out three basic assumption of classical political realism: states are the key units of action, they seek power either as an end in itself or as a means to other ends and they behave in ways that are by and large rational. [25] While Thucydides has been interpreted in various ways, his ideas about human nature fear, self interest and power maximisation are enduring. They explain the pressures acting on states in todays world pushing them to make decisions. While there are many differences between today and his time, Thucydides effectively explains the psychological and social tendencies in strategy and is thus still relevant today. Bibliography International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002. The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, Bagby, L, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter. Political Theories of International Relations, Boucher, D, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Ways of War and Peace, Doyle, M, New York, Norton, 1997. Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991. Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Welch, D, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003. www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0525-09.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6063926.stm Paul Viotti and Mark Kauppi as cited in Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 131 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 1 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 36 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 135 Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, page 301 Kauppi, M, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 103-104 Gilpin, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 34-35 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 127 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 142 Gilpin, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 47-48 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 128 As cited by Welch, Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 304 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 57 Ibid Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 76 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6063926.stm Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 52 Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 75 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 58 www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0525-09.htm Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 75 Ibid Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 138 Doyle, M, Ways of War and Peace, New York, Norton, 1997, Page 150-152 Keohane as cited in Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 132 jufebacon1972http://www.blogger.com/profile/03535085524498001525noreply@blogger.com0