Most Admired Person

Do you have any person that you admire most in your life? I’m sure that the so-called admiration characteristic is a natural instinct for every human being. Whenever something or someone that fit our appetites feasts into our eyes, we surely will come into an action which is known as admiration. We might completely or partially transform in the way whereby our admired persons do. Therefore logically, all of us should have the most admired person in recesses of our hearts. There is no exception for me as well. Indeed, I always admire a well-know British female author. She wrote novels and a few articles which sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and had won multiple awards such as British Children’s Book of the Year (1998 and 1999), Nestle Smarties Book Prize (1997, 1998 and 1999) and so on. In addition, one of her novel series had been basis for a popular film series which starring by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Well, I guess you all surely recognize this author. Yes, she is the author for the famous Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling. I admire her not just only because of her success, but also involve some reasons. Have you ever heard about her â€Å"rags to riches† life story? She started to write this novel when she was on a four-hour-delayed train trip from  Manchester  to London in 1990. The idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry â€Å"came fully formed† into her mind at that time. However, the sudden death of her mother due to multiple sclerosis had heavily affected her writing. As you look through the Harry Potter first book, you will find out that she introduced much more detail about Harry's loss, because she knew about how it felt. Her marriage had failed once and by that time, she became a jobless single mom with a dependent child. She even had to survive on state welfare support. She described her failure as a stripping away of inessential. However as the saying goes, â€Å"when there’s a will, there’s a way. † Soon the â€Å"Harry Potter† series become popular around the world, she become twelfth richest woman in United Kingdom. Her life story showed that â€Å"rags to riches† is always possible to achieve as long as there is a strong will and hard work in our souls. In order to attain success in our lives, we should be braver and not easily given up in which shown by her nature. â€Å"Anything’s possible if you got enough nerve,† she said. Therefore, we should go for it but not in reckless manner and grab any opportunities that knock our doors to avoid crying over the spilt milk. Furthermore, when we step upon this journey of life, we always must come across with choices in life. At first, I quite confused and wondered about the choices I need to make and scared if I have made a wrong decision. Nevertheless, the quotes by Rowling herself had inspired me in different ways. One of her quote is â€Å"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might have well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default. † And the other is â€Å"It is our choices†¦ that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. † Out of the blue, I realized about what she had said. We should never afraid to make decisions as without failure we cannot gain life experiences. Failure is always the path which leads to success. Moreover, the choices we have made are showing who we are. In other words, we have to be honest to ourselves and not self-deceiving. Life is painful and yet meaningful journey. Choices that we made will lead us to different paths and at there we will learn essential life lessons. â€Å"Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power to that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared. She quoted. This is also a reason why I admire her. In fact, I love to imagine and hoping that I can produce my own fantasy novel just like her. Imagination is not only part of my life, but it also comforts me and gives me more visions. In directly, I can try to feel the experience which I never been through. I also can share my joy and tears by expressing them through imagination. Of course, imaginations need to be written down or drawn out to become permanent thing. As life is quite dull, imagination is the only way I seek for endurance and satisfaction. In short, J. K Rowling has her own special personality which influences me in many aspects. Her â€Å"Harry Potter† series has motivated me to move further and take the first step. As a matter of fact, I start to conceive a storyline for fantasy novel. In the future, I might be able to publish my novel to worldwide although I am now pursuing the pharmacy career. However, do not afraid to take actions, so just step forward. I will always refer to her personality and learn her attitude towards life in order to become a real man. By that time, my success is within my reach and that will be my precious moment!

Free software Essay

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2). The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this You are free to (1)study it, (2)redistribute it, and (3) modify it. 2. Why is Linux popular? Why is it popular in academia? Bell Labs offered it to educational institutions at nominal cost. The schools, in turn, used it in their computer science programs, ensuring that computer science students became familiar with it. Because UNIX was such an advanced development system, the students became acclimated to a sophisticated programming environment. As these students graduated and went into industry, they expected to work in a similarly advanced environment. As more of them worked their way up the ladder in the commercial world, the UNIX operating system found its way into industry The source code for the operating system is readily available so that students can understand more easily how GNU/Linux works and can modify the code further to understand its operation and change the way it works. 3. What are multiuser systems? Why are they successful? Sharing the computer’s power among many users and giving them the ability to share data and programs are central features of the system. a multiuser operating system allows many people to use all of the system resources almost simultaneously The use of costly resources can be maximized and the cost per user can be minimized—the primary objectives of a multiuser operating system. 4. What is the Free Software Foundation/GNU? What is Linux? Which parts of the Linux operating system did each provide? Who else has helped build and refine this operating system? The Free Software Foundation (www. fsf. org) is the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Project. GNU developed many of the tools, including the C compiler, that are part of the GNU/Linux Operating System Linux is the name of an operating system kernel developed by Linus Torvalds and expanded and improved by thousands of people on the Internet. Torvalds’s kernel and GNU’s tools work together as the GNU/Linux Operating System 5. In which language is Linux written? What does the language have to do with the success of Linux? 95% is written in C. Because Linux is portable, it can be adapted (ported) to different machines and can meet special requirements. For example, Linux is used in embedded computers, such as the ones found in cellphones, PDAs, and the cable boxes on top of many 10 Chapter 1 Welcome to Linux and Mac OS X TVs. The file structure takes full advantage of large, fast hard disks. Equally important, Linux was originally designed as a multiuser operating system—it was not modified to serve several users as an afterthought. Sharing the computer’s power among many users and giving them the ability to share data and programs are central features of the system 6. What is a utility program? otften reffered to as â€Å"commands† These utilities perform functions that are universally required by users. The sort utility, for example, puts lists (or groups of lists) in alphabetical or numerical order and can be used to sort lists by part number, last name, city, ZIP code, telephone number, age, size, cost, and so forth. A utility (program), sometimes referred to as a command, is a program that performs a task that is frequently related to the operating system. A utility is simpler than an application program although there is no clear line separating the two 7. What is a shell? How does it work with the kernel? With the user? In a textual environment, the shell—the command interpreter—acts as an interface between you and the operating system. its the link between user and kernal to tell it what to do. or view what the kernal is doing. its the command line interface that accepts input from the user. 8. How can you use utility programs and a shell to create your own applications? Write a shell script, also called a shell program, or a batch file under DOS. A shell script is one or more command lines contained in a file. Make the file executable and give the name of the file as a command: The shell executes the commands in the file, as though you had typed each command individually 9. Why is the Linux filesystem referred to as hierarchical? The Linux filesystem provides a structure whereby files are arranged under directories, which are like folders or boxes. Each directory has a name and can hold other files and directories. Directories, in turn, are arranged under other directories, and so forth, in a treelike organization. This structure helps users keep track of large numbers of files by grouping related files in directories. Each user has one primary directory and as many subdirectories as required 10. What is the difference between a multiprocessor and a multiprocessing system? multi processor is a computer that has more than one processor (processing units) and multiprocessing system is the fact that it can process multiple tasks at the same time Multiprocessing is the use of more than one CPU in a computer system 11. Give an example of when you would want to use a multiprocessing system. Multiprocessing is the use of more than one CPU in a computer system so when you have more than one CPU you can take advantage of it. Multiprocessing sometimes refers to the execution of multiple concurrent software processes in a system as opposed to a single process at any one instant 12. Approximately how many people wrote Linux? Why is this project unique? The Linux kernel was developed by Finnish undergraduate student Linus Torvalds The Linux operating system, which was developed through the cooperation of many, many people around the world, is a product of the Internet and is a free 13. What are the key terms of the GNU General Public License? The GPL says you have the right to copy, modify, and redistribute the code covered by the agreement When you redistribute the code, however, you must also distribute the same license with the code, thereby making the code and the license inseparable.

Analyze the main theories in Origin of Species by Charles Darwin and Essay

Analyze the main theories in Origin of Species by Charles Darwin and then present arguments by his detractors and supporters for these theories - Essay Example Immediately and after the theory was proposed, there were many supporters and many detractors who questioned the validity of the theory and its applicability in the word. The book was controversial and it still remain controversial apparently due to the contradiction that it made to the religious belief of the people at that time and the fact that the contribution that it continued to express between the scientific and religious world. There were also many scientists who supported and many who refuted the theory as not applicable and a mere protrusion of Darwin’s mind. Since then there have been an evolution of the theory but some of the principles of the postulation of the theory are still acceptable to the world of science. But the subject of creation and evolution still attracts ranging controversy in the world. (Jenkins, 2002) The theory can be summarized into some key postulations which showed how species survived in their natural environment. The theory of survival for the fittest and eliminating by natural means showed that the current species that we have been a product of the genetic material that makes up the species and the natural environment under which they live. The theory postulated that species are likely to survive in the environment when there are favorable conditions that can allow for the evolution to take place. As such species changes as the environment changes and therefore it is the way a species adapts to the environment that determines how the species will survive in the environment. In the course of his adoption, they undergoes different structural changes which are all meant to give them adaptive feature that the will help them to survive in the environment. (Ronald, 1994) Therefore we can say that it is the nature which selects the right individuals who will survives in the environment. The theory was hence called natural selection theory

Slavery Throught The World Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Slavery Throught The World - Research Paper Example The history of human civilization is the most explicit document of the fact that corruptible capacity of power can be enhanced to such an elaborate extent that it finally gives birth to a situation of brutal aggression of one man or a community over another less powerful individual or community. Aristotle in Politics suggested quite prophetically that â€Å"†¦ [the] greatest crimes are caused by excess and not by necessity. Men do not become tyrants in order that they may not suffer cold; and hence, great is the honor bestowed, not on him who kills a thief, but on him who kills a tyrant† (Aristotle, 1932, p. 33). Thesis Statement: Judging the factors that are responsible behind genesis of slavery and helping in to take different shapes according to the changing course of time, it can be said that man’s insatiable hunger to gain power, in terms of money and recognition, his natural desire to survive as the fittest being and finally his indomitable desire to enjoy all the rights that society has enshrined to him even at the cost of depriving others, are main reasons that introduced the evil of slavery on the ideological backdrop of an equal and humanitarian existence. Most of the modern philosophers are of opinion that human interaction and development of human relations, both are dependent on respective person’s perception of power and how they are interpreting scope of such power. Max Weber defines power as an â€Å"†¦ [opportunity] existing within a social relationship which permits one to carry out one’s will even against resistance and regardless of the basis on which this opportunity rests† (Weber; Cited in Patterson, 1982, p. 1). One of the greatest philosophers of recent times and famous post-structuralist, Michel Foucault, though has defined power in a much simple way, suggesting that â€Å"power is a relation between forces, or rather every relation between forces is a ‘power relation’† (Deleuze,and

How does John Lewis profit sharing with their employees benefit the Literature review

How does John Lewis profit sharing with their employees benefit the company - Literature review Example When the employees get the feelings of ownership, they increase their contribution toward the business profitability. The profit sharing approach works best when the business and the management educate the employees in understanding the business challenges hence work hard to get solutions. There are two way communications that create a hardworking culture; employee involvement and flat management (Melton, Smith & Yates 2008). In this strategy, the employer provides the employees cash and bonuses. The employer pays the workers extra money depending on either their individual level of performance or the company’s performance level. The management will have to deduct the extra payment as an expense but will pay income tax from that amount (Latta 2005). A company can also award the performance-based incentive in the form of deferred compensation plan. In such a strategy, the employer will add a bonus amount to a pension scheme followed by a deduction of the contribution. The employee will then have to pay the income tax that the contribution amounts to when he/she receives the money from the trust. Various researches indicate that cash reward strategies give better productivity motivation than the deferred compensation plans. The difference is explained by the immediacy resulting from the positive behavior reinforcement (Hallman & Rosenbloom 2003). The last method that a business can use in this strategy is the stock option. Developing companies can use this process, but should be in markets that are growing fast. The company awards the employees the opportunity to buy shares at a specified period at a set price. The employees wait until the company executes the plan in order to start getting the benefits. The company offers stock option as a bonus to employees for inclusion in the profit sharing plan (Gitman & Joehnk 2005). One of the major benefits of this strategy is that it is cheap and flexible while implementing. The employer can

Manufacturing Technology lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Manufacturing Technology - Lab Report Example The first order of business was to machine the chamfer. The chamfer was created using a High Speed Steel (HSS) tool through tapered turning using the taper turning attachment. The tapering operation was measured for consistency to ensure that the angle or the dimensions were not exceeded beyond the drawing recommended levels. Next, the portion of the job, with the largest diameter was held inside the chuck. The next operation was to rough up the stock billet using the single point tool along with acceptable feed rates and depths of cut. The cutting speed for aluminum is recommended as 75-105 meters per minute (Smith & Peterson, 2008). The rotational speed of the lathe chuck was determined using the formula shown below: In a similar manner, the feed rate was required for determining how fast the piece would be fed to the lathe machine. Two different feed rates were used, one for roughing operations and one for finishing operations (Fox Valley Tech, 2014). The chosen feed rate for roughing was 0.65 mm per minute while the finishing rate chosen was 0.20 mm per minute. The entire stock billet was roughed out in the first series of operations, after which it was measured to determine how much finishing would be required. The finishing operations were carried out to create a stepped piece which would further require an external grooving operation and a chamfering operation on one end. The next operation was creating an external groove. This groove was created using a finer finishing tool with a much slower cutting speed and feed rate to contain accuracy. Once the external groove was machined into place, and measured for consistency at four different points on the circumferential surfaces of the groove, the piece was faced to size. The facing was carried out with the same finishing tool. The final step was to create a M8 thread on the 8mm diameter portion of the job. The piece was centered

Defining the Evolution of Duties Among Social Workers Essay

Defining the Evolution of Duties Among Social Workers - Essay Example As the essay declares the changes which are made through the social welfare system change levels of accountability as well as legal approaches taken to working with others. The alterations made through each of these continue to evolve, specifically because of cases associated with rights as well as actions taken for or against social workers. Examining the various roles and how these have altered in recent years for social workers then creates a deeper understanding toward the current expectations of those within the social justice system. According to the report findings the professional mix which is created for those working as a professional social worker continues to alter because of regulations and policies which are implemented. The alterations are specific to finding innovative ways and measures of working with other professionals as well as with the duties which are expected by workers. It is noted that there are dual roles which are carried by social workers. The first is to the interest of the social work, specifically with the judicial and legal roles as well as the expected duties which need to be performed in relation to the judicial system. The second role is based on meeting the client needs and expectations while assisting with the social and personal values that are expected among social workers. The duties then become based on making ethical decisions that best serve the interests of both roles while developing a sense of value neutrality toward both sides to ensure that the correct human rights and a lternative goals are met. (Dolgoff, Loewenberg, Harrington,2012). The modernist approach which is taken is further defined because it is a state mediated profession within the statutory sector. The result is that there is a set of discrete behaviors that are performed within the profession and which are expected to match with the state regulations that are performed. This is followed with the professional treatment model. This shows that as long as one is able to follow the state expectations, there is not difficulty in meeting the agenda of the state and in regulating specific aspects of the judicial system (Brayne, Carr, 2010: 57). Even if there is a sense that a client needs a different aspect relating to a case, a sense of subordination begins to appear, specifically to begin to change and alter the way that the social workers look at the organization and expectations which appear. Structural and ideological changes, modernization agendas with New Labor and Human Rights Acts and other legalities change the entire structure of the social work and the professional duties, creating alterations with the code of ethics, performance and the restrictive use of Fair Access to Care Services. These dilemmas are then created by asking professional social workers to continue to meet the agenda, demands and judicial duties within the social worker system (Harris, White, 2009: 132). The changing government regulations then meet with the expectations for codes of ethics that are defined for social workers. It is noted that there are two sets of ethics that are defined among social workers, including principle based and virtue based. The principle based comes with the judicial system, specifically which identifies each social act creating expectations and alterations to those that are going through the justice system. The judicial system regulates concepts such as human

Reflection of your leadership style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection of your leadership style - Essay Example With this form of leadership, I am not interested in power, excess money or selfish prestige. I am guided equally by my heart and mind. I lead a multitude with zeal of passion and compassion as I think greatly while engaging my mind (George, Peter, Andrew, &Diana 2-3). Authentic leaders lead with purpose, meanings and values giving them with a very strong sense of people relationship. This makes people follow them as they can be relied upon, they are strong and quite consistent. An authentic leader will never bend their beliefs for the sake of another person’s interest; furthermore, they will never compromise any situation or case for anything. I believe that becoming a leader takes a lifetime therefore; I am dedicated to personal growth and learning. Relation to the course content The course content has enabled me realize the form of leadership characteristic that I exhibit. This is because I have lifted myself to the position that I am able to interact with the people and pi ck out of our interaction the pieces which will make a lot of sense to me. I develop my own model in the community by finding a group which belives in the same things that I do believe in. through becoming self directed and independence of mind, I am able to stay consistent with my personality and my values. This has gone to the extent that when O try paying attention to what everyone else wants me to be, I develop a feeling like my head is spinning in my shoulders and my feet wanting to from under me. I therefore find myself in a situation where I am comfortable always standing alone and this has developed to be one of my strengths. The leadership style is one which enables an individual form relationship building skills hence ability to work with various people in different environments or situations. I highly appreciate the fact that this form of leadership skill has enabled me be in the position where I am able to embrace my weaknesses and use my strength (George, Peter, Andrew, &Diana 5). The only setback is the peoples complaint that I intimidate then given they are not confident with their abilities. I make decisions fast and move as fast hence get disgusted when other people cannot make decisions faster. This impatience has been polished by me paying attention to people and their feelings hence making them feel they have been heard and therefore fully engaged. Strengths and weaknesses Form the studies I have come to realize that my strengths are vast. They start from my ability to listen to others compassionately and assist people as they wish. I am also quite patient when it comes to listening to a group and acting upon their grievances even before I act on my own. I have also come to learn that one must not only be born a leader to be one, you can as well endure for some time and become a very great leader (George, Peter, Andrew, &Diana 6-7). The weaknesses than I need to rectify are not much but a few. That is the ability to bring people from divers e backgrounds together and make them believe in the same shared thoughts. It is worth noting that leadership is in us, whether in business, government or a volunteer organization, whatever we need to work on is the ability to understanding ourselves and discovers where we can use our leadership gift to serve others. In doing so we will adequately discover ourselves and the purpose of our

Social Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Enterprise - Essay Example According to the essay findings  an economy is known to have three sectors namely; the public sector, the private sector which highly competes with the state owned enterprises and the third sector pertinent to the enterprises are established by individuals voluntarily with the intensions of chasing the community, social and charitable goals. It is prevalent that the three edged sector of an economy tends to impose a restriction on these third sector organizations that happen to infringe the set definition. The co–operative enterprises coming under the purview of social enterprise tend to cross the margin that distinguishes the voluntary and private sectors.This discussion stresses that  the enterprises in form of co–operatives and ‘mutual help’ following the commercial principles were the way to the emergence of ‘Third Sector’ as an innovative term. There is a value related to the social face that encompasses this Third Sector, is the conce rn for the management principles that the modern public and private sector follows and which has contributed to the exclusion of under–privileged and vulnerable individuals, socially. The Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) of public sector and ICOM, one of the co–operatives enabled Social Enterprise London with the assets and the funding part required for a proper establishment of an enterprise.  An entrepreneurship involving the societal aspects is in general terms defined as â€Å"entrepreneurial activity with an embedded social purpose†.

Motivational Climate Task and Ego Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivational Climate Task and Ego - Essay Example Motivational climate ego is of entirely another genre. The motivation for the ego is to win and win at any cost. It will even resort to lying and cheating to achieve victory. The ego thinks it is the best, does not like the second place and wants none else to be the better player (Schwarz, Joel, 2007). The aim of the ego to win at all times irrespective of the methods used to win is not truly satisfying or fulfilling. It inflates the ego for some time but such victories are consigned to history and become fodder for statistics. Motivational climate task dwells on mastery with a difference. It concentrates on tasks for mastery without overtly looking forward to win and humble the opponent. It is more concerned about its performance at the present time in comparison to the past. The proponents of motivational climate task will complement a player according to his performance, irrespective of whether he lost or won (Walling, Mary D & Duda, Joan L, 2009). The investment on a team of players through the application of motivational climate task sends the team soaring in high spirits. The realization that something is being done about their weaknesses is a positive development that not only improves individual performance but also boosts team morale. In motivational climate task "Studies that view coaches' behaviors a... It is not possible to be totally free of egoism in team efforts. There is the mix of task as well as ego-oriented attitudes in any venture. The idea is to raise awareness about the task and not to pay attention to the ego. Tasks motivational climate involves a broad approach to the game. It does not include winning by wrong means. Individuals prefer tasks motivational climate when they play a game to "develop their skills, compete, and interact with others" rather than concentrate totally on just winning (Walling, Mary D & Duda, Joan L, 2009). Ego-centric motivational climate dwells on the methods and abilities of individual players. It defines strategies to win at any cost. It does not consider broad team work and strong and principled stand when playing. Ego-centric motivational climate does not strictly abide by the rules. It might even resort to bullying and cheating if these help in securing a win. Research shows that majority of adults and even children prefer to play for fun and participation. This certainly augurs well for tasks motivational climate. Normally, any community groups consist of men and women of experience and qualify for mastery in motivational climate task. As such, they are in a position to foster a learning environment that encourages innovation and growth. Thus, the group succeeds in establishing an attitude for competitive and healthy growth in a socio-cultural environment that balances individual strengths and weaknesses and sets the stage for motivational climate that provides the growth curve. "Teaching that is based on adult learning theories of motivation and infused with techniques for

Boston Beer Company Essay Example for Free

Boston Beer Company Essay 1.Evaluate the attractiveness of the craft beer segment relative to the market space occupied by the traditional Big Three. (tip: use the Five Forces framework). a.High Threat of new competition: over 600 of specialty beer companies were founded over the past five years, approximately 40% growth each years. In addition, the existence of contract brewing companies lead to low entry cost. b.High substitution: The attractiveness of craft brewing industry are majorly based on unique styles and flavors of beer. there are many different brands and styles of beer so the actual threat of substitutes is high. c.The intensity of competitive rivalry is also high: while there is a major growth of new entry, the market size shows little growth. This creates tremendous competitive pressures among the industry. d.Bargaining power of buyers: Switching cost for buyers are low, as there are many different substitution and options. companies has to consistently maintain high quality in order to retain customers. e.Bargaining power of suppliers: switching cost for suppliers are high for the traditional Big Three, as their supplies are tied to their own brewies. Craft brewing companies has the option of switch breweries in a relatively low cost, as the suppliers know they have options to supply other breweries. This allows them to charge higher prices than the big three. 2.Evaluate Boston Beers business model relative to Redhook and Petes, comparing their business models with respect to specific activities such as procurement, brewing, distribution, and marketing. BBC’s strategy of producing the highest quality of products, the company pursued four initiatives: high quality standards, contract brewing, intensive sales and marketing, and product line innovations. Unlike BBC and Pete’s, redhook relies on its own breweries. Redhook also established a strategic alliance with Anheuser-Busch whereby Redhook products were sold through the nation-wide network of 700 distributorships in exchange for a 25% equity stake in the company. \Similar to BBC, Pete’s operates on a contract brewing basis and stress heavily on marketing. In retrospect, BBC intended to remain a contract brewer exclusively, capitalizing on lower overhead and transportation costs while continuing to invest heavily in its branded products. Redhook believed that its long-term growth and profitability were best served by assembling the largest company-owned production capacity of any domestic craft brewer, guaranteeing production capacity in more than one geographic region of the United States. Redhook also made a substantial investment in distribution, gaining access to Anheuser Busch’s nation-wide network of resellers. Pete’s, on the other hand, appeared to be following a combination of these two strategies by producing its products at both company-owned and third-party breweries. 3.How realistic analysts long-term growth forecasts (25% to 40% for the craft-brewing segment)? Based on the porter five forces analysis, the craft brewing segment has many advantages over the traditional big three, which explains the 40% growth rate. However the large number of new entries companies has already created a tremendous amount of competitions among its own, which retard the long term growth in my opinion and makes the forecasts of 25% to 40% seem unrealistic. 4.What do you recommend to Boston Beer? a.While the US market size remains somewhat stable. By exporting globally, will introduce BBC to new markets and additional sales b.Forming strategic alliance will help combat the increasing competition among industries.

Suspense Techniques In Hitchcocks Movies Film Studies Essay

Suspense Techniques In Hitchcocks Movies Film Studies Essay Suspense, horror, and creative are some of the words that describe Alfred Hitchcock s films. Something that no one had ever seen on screen was the techniques Hitchcock used. He was known as the master of suspense for his ways of manipulating and creating the sense of fear in the audience. Knowing the meaning of fear since childhood, he was believed to be the inventor of the suspense and horror genre in the film industry, improving movies with new technology and ideas to deliver exactly what he wanted to viewers to feel and understand. The film The Birds (1963) was a masterpiece and a thriller directed by Hitchcock that had many effective and brilliant techniques that are still used to this day. Alfred Hitchcock (August 13, 1899-April 29, 1980) was born and raised in a middle class family in London, England. Fear was the key emotion Hitchcock was very familiar with while growing up that played a huge part in the films he directed. At the tender age of five, his father sent him to a local police station many times after misbehaving and was put in jail for several minutes. The policeman returned to let him go, just to remind him that this is what naughty boys go though if they get into trouble. His mother would punish him by making him stand up at the foot of her bed for hours. Because of his overweight body figure, he stated that his childhood was very lonely and sheltered . He first went to school at St Ignatius College, but right after his dad died when Hitchcock was 14 years old, he went to the School of Engineering and Navigation, where he was fascinated by photography and film. His first job was working as a title-card creator for the film company Paramount Pictures. It took Hitchcock five years to become a film director. Being a perfectionist, Hitchcock would draw every single scene on his storyboard before shooting a film. This was one of his styles for which Hitchcock became famous. He was very dedicated to his art from the start of his career. Some techniques Hitchcock used were with the camera. The camera would capture shots that were made to build suspense so the audience can see something that the actors themselves don t see. An example of this technique being used was in The Birds. Melanie Daniels, the protagonist of the film, was sitting in front of a jungle gym smoking a cigarette. Black birds, which had attacked Melanie viciously earlier in the film, started gathering behind her, but she did not know, the viewers knew. This technique agitates the audience because something frightful can happen and we can do nothing to warn her. Knowing something that something bad can happen to an innocent makes the audience worried mixed with fear. Another technique he used was the subjective shot where th e camera was placed in the human eye perspective. The camera would stray around the setting or place mischievously looking for something unusual in a room, as if it is a detective itself. This allows the viewers to feel like they are involved in revealing the problem. Before sound films came out, the directors of films had to find a way to communicate to the audience what is the plot of the story, and Hitchcock used this technique even after sound films came out because it was so successful. He used this technique in The Birds. Perhaps the most suspenseful part of the movie was when Melanie was walking slowly up the stairs in the dark with a flashlight in her hand. The camera was put at Melanie s perspective, and we can see how frightening it can be to be in that position when we know that if she goes to the room on top of the stairs, the malicious birds will be there, waiting. The camera would start with a close-up of the actor, and then cut to the shot what they are seeing, and th en back to the actor to see his reaction. The sound of her footsteps was quiet, her breathing shallow, almost no sound was being heard. Finally, when she opened the door, she was attacked brutally. Suspense building was a major technique Hitchcock was famous for using. What we as humans find most horrendous is to know that nature can turn on us and that no place is safe. The Birds had several scenes where this technique was used, one of which was at a children s birthday party. The evil black birds came swooping down and started attacking the children, pecking until their flesh was open and bleeding. This behavior by the birds was unexplained; there was no answer as to why the birds were like this, which caused insecurity to the actors which is framed closely to show the emotion, therefore causing the audience to feel insecure also. The house was attacked during a night, windows were broken, doors were being pecked open, and the roof was being destroyed. At this point in the movie, the actors show deep concern about their safety and that their fear doesn t stop from the horror from coming, and the fear the viewers gain is exactly what Hitchcock was going for. Hitchcock s movies were planned to perfection. His ideas were sketched for every scene and chose his actors carefully that would break the clich or stereotype of people. He was well aware of what the audience was about to go through when they are watching the film, and this is what makes a great film director. Hitchcock wrote, produced, and directed films up until 1979. Despite his fondness for murder, chaos and shock, Alfred Hitchcock led a quiet life with his wife and daughter. In the last year of his life, Hitchcock was honored with the American Film Institutes lifetime achievement award. The master of suspense died in 1980 in Los Angeles, but his techniques are still alive today.

Devising As A Journey Of Exploration And Discovery Theatre Essay

Devising As A Journey Of Exploration And Discovery Theatre Essay Devising is a very fluid form of theatre. Taking inspirations from anywhere and everywhere, a devised performance can be in any form and on any topic. This style is in direct contrast to scripted theatre, where a text is laying out the plot, direction, characters and details of the final performance. Although there is freedom for a personal interpretation of the overall view and form of the piece, the rehearsals and performances are confined by what has already been decided by the playwright. But devising is unlimited, in which a company can produce a performance on any theme or topic, taking ideas from any part of life and producing something new and fresh †¦the precise nature of the end product [of devised theatre] is unknown. In conventional theatre, however, everyone knows the production is, for example, Shakespeares Hamlet from the outset. (Oddey, 7) An example of a devising piece is the recent Fairytale Mash-Up which I was involved in as an actor. For this our original stimulus was a collection of short fairytale stories, some of which were familiar and others were unknown to the group. On reading the stories we found them to be surprisingly gruesome, which was something that is not necessarily picked up when a fairytale is heard as a child, such as the butcher cutting off the girls feet in Red Shoes. This was an unexpected twist and was the main basis of the beginning of our idea, as we decided from the very start that the Fairy Godmother would be dead, and therefore would not make all dreams come true as is usually expected of this character. Already we had a new interpretation of a classic idea, but our own input had discovered a new alternative. As oak trees grow from small acorns (Greet, Why Devise) and all ideas must stem from somewhere, the actors within a devising group are responsible with feeding new ideas into the group to create more diversity within the piece. Through this an actor has the power to get what they individually want from the piece and therefore it becomes more personal for the actors. It becomes their piece in a deeper way than, for example, a Chekhov play would, as it is inspired by their own ideas and experiences. In the Mash-Up I personally wanted something from it, having not attempted a murder mystery before and having not explored the true possibilities within comedic theatre. Devising allows us, as actors, to explore ourselves, our possibilities and our limitations. Sarah Kane believed that if something could be imagined then there was a way of reproducing it on a stage, and with this in mind an actor can explore distant memories and fantastical stories in aid of a devised performance. As every human is unique and no two people have the same experiences, a devised company has a whole variety of stimulus that is previously unseen and unexplored by a public audience. In this, the not knowing is clear, as at the start of development of a piece nobody knows what will be their influences and stimuli, and this creates a feeling of excitement and in return provides energy for the piece. This, as a result, means inevitably every devised piece will always be original due to the fact that a different group of actors will provide different motivations, due to the contrasting relationships within the group. In the 1960s a group was formed called the People Show and their performances relied on the differences and conflict between individual artists within the group, which changed with every new shows situation, conditions and circumstances. Every show was a unique devising performance. (Oddey, 5-6) This company is an ideal representation of a devising company, as they are described as a group of individual artists in collaboration with each other, taking risks, having a sense of unknown at the start of the devising process (Oddey, 6). It is this risk-taking that is important to devising, as people need to lose their inhibitions for true inspiration and new ideas to form. Having worked with members of my group before there were connections for some, but others were new relationships that had to be built during the development process. A benefit of this was that fresh eyes on an actor would see a talent within them that had maybe not been explored before, that their closer friends would have overlooked as being too obvious. In this risks were taken, not all of which were successes but by doing rehearsals we allowed the freedom and non-judgement of an idea so that even if only a tiny aspect of it was used later, we made it so that actors would not fear having ideas rejected within the group. One of the main techniques within devising is improvisation, which in reality is the basis of most devised work. This is a spontaneous activity, and therefore allows freedom, as an actor is not tied down by any limits, there is no final destination laid out in advance and there is limited if any direction made. The actor can be in the moment, without having to concern his thoughts with the next moment: Nothing is fixed and absolute, it is in flux, what will the next moment be? (Bentley, 78) In improvisation the next moment is not important, it is about focusing on the current and feeling free to explore in the present without fear of the future. Not all improvisation goes well, and more than often it takes more than several tries to find something worth anything, which is why continued improvisation is vital for discovering new things, because if a company always goes with the first idea they limit themselves greatly where they should be free to pick and choose from many ideas. Addit ionally a benefit of devised work is that even a concept that has been weeks in processing can be dropped if needed something that is not so possible within scripted work. In our piece we swapped and changed characters as we felt needed one member was set to be the Fairy Godmother before this was changed weeks in, but it was discovered that this actually allowed the original actor to experience more, having been able to try out more than one character until she found one that would fit with what she wanted out of the devising experience. Additionally, original characters like a reclusive genie were dropped as we felt necessary, and in early stages we were regularly swapping characters until we found an option that gave everyone the best opportunities for themselves and for the group. WE toyed with the idea of simply picking out characters from a hat then performing as them or producing still images without discussing it, but this became more complicated as some were drawn more to a certain character and struggled with more obscure options. As time went on and the piece became more complex and structured, one group member produced poems which acted as monologues for all the different characters, so in time we found ourselves structuring scenes around these poems as more were produced. It was quite interesting combining improvisation with scripted work, as we could improvise and develop until we found a place where the poem fit, and once it was done we would improvise the end of the scene as well. This meant that we could feel sure that the scene would have a point but we would still have the freedom to play around the set information. Additionally, as all the scenes were flashbacks for various murder suspects, there was no set order for them to be in, so this also added the opportunity to play with different orders to study the flow of energy from one to another before finding the right arrangement. Oddey says how thinking on your feet allows the individual to respond to new ideas or thoughts spontaneously, to sense and react to others so that the interaction or combined operation often produces unknown or unseen fresh material. This is not to underestimate the value of or importance of group discussion, but to point out the danger of becoming preoccupied with talking (155) and this is definitely a significant point. In our group we found that discussion was best left until after trying out some free improvisation and even then it needed to be brief otherwise it became compressing. We gave ourselves strict time limits and this meant that there wasnt time to talk and added concentrated energy into a moment, which often created new and exciting results. Devising is also about exploring how common ideas and regular day-to-day things can be flipped on their head and transformed into brand new perspectives, thereby challenging our preconceptions. (DV8, Artistic Policy) Theatres priority is to get a message across or to make an audience feel something particular, and more than often this is done through opening their eyes to the obvious but unexpected. This is the use of the known rather than the not known but has just as much if not more of an impact on viewers. The forgotten and the ignored are just as important as the undiscovered and in fact these things make it more personal and an actors own memories or feelings have a real power to shape plot or characters. Additionally, using influences from outside of theatre is very important and often not considered. For Frantic Assembly neither of its artistic directors has a formal background in drama, theatre or dance. In creating work, the company relies on influences that lie, for the mo st part, outside the realm of theatre and its regular forms and practise. (Frantic, †¦uk/p110.html) For our work we were inspired greatly by the 2001 film Shrek and used nursery rhymes for development in one scene. By looking further than common theatre techniques and looking outside the box, we found more options for variety within the piece. The physical company DV8s focus of the creative approach is on reinventing†¦ with meaning, particularly where this has been lost through formalised techniques (Artistic Policy). Another skill in devising is the use of play and re-exploring our childish minds, though not pretending to play as a child, but rediscovering the intensity of focus we experience as children (Greet, Why Devise), as this removes inhibitions and helps to reintroduce the more fantastical creative imaginations we once had. Consequently it makes actors less fearful of bad ideas and therefore less afraid to be more outrageous and experimental. One can then look beyond self-perceived limitations (Frantic, †¦uk/p106.html) and find a more energetic side, which means that physical theatre is achieved much more easily. Even closing ones eyes makes judgement less threatening which provides opportunity for even more exploration. In devising, the aim is to produce brand new theatre that has not been seen before. We found in our company that we often did not know what would happen next; in fact the murderer was not decided until well into the rehearsal process. It made no sense to know the end before the beginning or middle, so we did not rush this decision. Our piece was not a search for knowledge, but for the unknown. (Barba, 5), so knowing the ending would have confined us and limited exploration, constantly distracted by the final message of the piece. Even if two companies did a performance of The Caucasian Chalk Circle for example, completely uninfluenced by each other, they would still be telling the same story. This is why for our piece we used well-known characters but then added a twist, such as Cinderella actually being an obsessive cleaner. By exploring all of our different possibilities we did discover new opportunities and new perspectives on theatre as a whole. The real discovery, however, comes at the end, when we watch it back and see what we have achieved from scratch, and finally acknowledge and notice how our own input has provided a brand new interpretation: Now we have made a journey in our own home. True travellers know this experience very well: the unknown world is discovered when one returns. (Barba, 146)

Past Contrasted with Present in Faulkners A Rose for Emily :: A Rose for Emily, William Faulkner

Past Contrasted with Present in Faulkner's A Rose for Emily  Ã‚   In "A Rose for Emily", Faulkner contrasted the past with the present era. The past was represented in Emily herself, in Colonel Sartoris, in the old Negro servant, and in the Board of Alderman who accepted the Colonel's attitude toward Emily and rescinded her taxes. The present was expressed chiefly through the words of the unnamed narrator. The new Board of Aldermen, Homer Barron (the representative of Yankee attitudes toward the Griersons and thus toward the entire South), and in what is called "the next generation with its more modern ideas" all represented the present time period (Norton Anthology, 2044). Miss Emily was referred to as a "fallen monument" in the story (Norton Anthology, 2044). She was a "monument" of Southern gentility, an ideal of past values but fallen because she had shown herself susceptible to death (and decay). The description of her house "lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps--an eyesore among eyesores" represented a juxtaposition of the past and present and was an emblematic presentation of Emily herself (Norton Anthology, 2044). The house smells of dust and disuse and has a closed, dank smell. A description of Emily in the following paragraph discloses her similarity to the house. "She looked bloated like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that palled hue" (Norton Anthology, 2045). But she had not always had that appearance. In the picture of a young Emily with her father, she was frail and apparently hungering to participate in the life of the era. After her father's death, she looked like a girl "with a vague resemblance to those angels in colored church windows--sort of tragic and serene" (Norton Anthology, 2046). This suggests that she had already begun her entrance into the nether-world. By the time the representatives of the new, progressive Board of Aldermen waited on her concerning her delinquent taxes, she had already completely retreated to her world of the past. She declared that she had no taxes in Jefferson, basing her belief on a verbal agreement made with Colonel Sartoris, who had been dead for ten years. Just as Emily refused to acknowledge the death of her father, she now refused to recognize the death of Colonel Sartoris. He had given his word and according to the traditional view, his word knew no death.

Hostile Takeover of the New World Essay -- Native American History Ind

Hostile Takeover of the New World The Effects of the United States Government on the Indians "The responsibility of any nation, and the particular responsibility of elected officials of any nation, is not to justify what has passed for legality but to anticipate the conditions and problems of tomorrow and attempt to deal with them. The current confusion and violence in Indian Country are a result of the failure to do so by generations of elected officials in this country. To continue to perpetuate myths about American Indians which have no basis in fact or in law is merely avoiding the larger issues confronting the nations of the world," said author Vine Deloria, Jr. (Deloria, Prologue) The United States government failed miserably in its attempt to deal with the Indians. By pushing them further and further West, they pushed the Indians to hate and distrust the white man to the point of war. These wars resulted in hundreds of white deaths. However, the wars resulted in the destruction of several entire Indian tribes and the near extinction of Indian spirit throughout America. The tale is a sad one, one that Americans should not be proud of. After every broken treaty, the Americans blamed the Indians for existing, despite the want of the Indians to simply live on their lands peacefully. The "Trail of Tears" was a great tragedy and many thought it would be the last now that all of the Indians were out of the eastern United States. But the U.S. government became land hungry and due to their idealism of "Manifest Destiny," the ... ... guide them as time passes and the Indians are further stereotyped as drunks and crooked casino owners. Alas, the ways of the Indians were replaced. Sacred hunting territories gave way to railroads and ranches. Buffalo are an animal of the past and often thought of as an animal of mysticism. Both the buffalo and the Indian culture are romanticized in movies that are neither truthful nor accurate. Stereotypes and prejudices replaced unity and togetherness. Pollution haunts every city on the planet. Respect of one's fellow man gave way to crimes unthought of by the Indians. They lived their lives honorably. They died honorably. Even despite hardships and misconceptions, they will continue to live honorably. That is one thing the government can never take away from them.

Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America :: American America History

Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted his work Democracy in America, in which he expressed the ability to make democracy work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would soon "sap the virtue of public life" (395) and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and therefore not bothering to fulfill their civic duties or exercise their freedom. Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become aimed at the satisfaction of individual needs, rather than the greater good of society. Alexis de Tocqueville viewed participation in public affairs, the growth of associations and newspapers, the principle of self-interest properly understood, and r eligion as the only means by which American democracy could combat the effects of individualism. Given that despots have every interest in keeping people isolated, the individualism resulting from equality makes despotism a great danger to equality. "Despotism... sees in the separation among men the surest guarantee of its continuance, and it usually makes every effort to keep them separate" (399). Exercising freedom through participation in public affairs is therefore extremely vital because it gives people a personal interest in thinking about others in society. Local self-governments are important because they draw people together, and it is therefore more likely that they will exercise their liberty. Tocqueville states that "as soon as a man begins to treat of public affairs in public, he begins to perceive that he is not so independent of his fellow men as he had first imagined, and that in order to obtain their support he must often lend them his cooperation" (400). When people act together they frequently form dependencies on one another, especially when they are working for the good of the entire community. Another means by which Tocqueville believes it is possible to contest individualism is to form associations and write newspapers. He believes that like local governments, associations help people to realize their dependence on their fellow citizens and take interest in public affairs. It is crucial to have institutions and civic duties which force people to look beyond their own interests and think about the problems of the community.

Why People Commit Crime

Tyler Hertz CRJ 308 10. 28. 2012 Why People Commit Crime How do people define crime? Some might define crime as an act of offence towards the morality of humans. Others might regard crime as an act that harms the universal human rights. In my perspectives, I think that crime is an offence made towards the law. Therefore, why do people still commit crimes? There are many reasons why people may commit crimes and it depends on the type of person they are. Many people will commit a crime everyday whether it be speeding, J-walking, or in some cases, theft and murder.Some crimes are easy to commit and that’s why I think people commit them. I also, refer to the Routine Activities theory. This theory, I believe, does a great job on explaining why people commit most crimes. It says that in order for a crime to be committed three things must have to occur and those being; a motivated offender, lack of a capable guardian, and suitable target. Why I think this does a good job in explain w hy people commit a crime is because it goes into detail about all aspects that involve a crime taking place.Take speeding for example, a person who is in a hurry will speed; this makes them the motivated offender. Next, for this crime to take place there must be a suitable target and this could be any road that is not congested by traffic. Last, we have the lack of a capable guardian and this is an obvious one, it would be not visible Law Enforcement officers on the highway. If all these are possible a person can and most likely will speed. Speeding is not really considered by most to be a really crime but, more of a criminal act.I just wanted to show how that theory can explain most types of crimes and it will work even for other crimes. I believe there is a huge difference between a crime and a criminal act. I believe a crime to be something that causes harm to others. Speeding, although can, does not usually cause any harm to others, this is what I consider a criminal act. A crim e would be something like assault or theft. Theft does not cause physical harm but, finaical and emotional harm to the victims. Why do people do it?Another reason I believe people commit crimes is because of greed. Greed is the wanting to lead a luxurious life or even to own something that is beyond one’s financial budget. For example, a person of moderate income would like to own an expensive plasma television which the price is beyond his budget. However, his greed prompts him to own that item by either stealing money to purchase it or to steal the item itself. When the person gets caught by any law enforcer, the person will be charged in court for committing a crime.To steal to fulfill one’s desire to own an item which one understands that it is beyond his financial budget is committing a crime by the cause of greed. This, in my view, shows that people commit crimes for selfish reason. In conclusion, I believe that most people will commit a crime either because they can and it is easy or because they have the selfish vision of living a life they cannot afford to live so they will do anything they can to achieve it, even if that means breaking the law and causing harm to others.

Country: White People Essay

Since African American literature started back in the 18th century, the majority of these writings mainly focused on racism, ethnicity, and the struggle of African-American people. Nadine Gordimer and Patricia Smith are but two contributors to this area of literature. In my paper I will compare and contrast the short story by Nadine Gordimer, â€Å"Country Lovers†, and the poem, â€Å"What It’s Like Being a Black Girl†, written by Patricia Smith. In both pieces of literature, the focus is put on the racial background and ethnicities, considering that the main characters or protagonists are black women, dealing with some degree of discrimination because of the color of their skin. It is common knowledge that racism has been a major issue which has tainted society, and the African-American people, particularly females have been dealing with the effects of racism, and have experienced the effects of discrimination and racism. (Clugston, 2010). In the short story â€Å"Country Lovers†, a forbidden love between a black girl named Thebedi and a white male named Paulus, is depicted. In the story, two main characters are brought together since early childhood, spending much of the childhood days with each other. As they grow up, they became even closer, eventually falling in love. They soon realize that the racial politics of the time would not allow them to maintain their relationship simply because, Paulus, being the son of a white farm owner and Thebedi, the daughter of a black farm workers, would be unable to show or share their love publicly. I found that there were many dramatic effect throughout this entire story. For example, when we read about the part were Paulus is going way to school, â€Å"This usefully coincides with the age of twelve or thirteen; so that by the time early adolescence is reached, the black children are making along with the bodily changes common to all, an easy transition to adult forms of address, beginning to call the old playmates missus and baasie little master. † (Clugston 2010). When Paulus watches Thebedi wading in the water, is the part of the story where I interpreted the loss of innocence and the description of a forbidden love. â€Å"The schoolgirls he went swimming with at dams and pools I may bring farms were bikinis but the site of their dazzling bellies and thighs in the sunlight had never made him feel what he felt now when the girl came up to the bank and sat beside him, two drops of water beading offer dark legs the only points of light in the earth -smelling deep shade. They were not afraid of one another, they had known one another always; he did with her what he had done that time in the store room at the wedding, and this time it was so lovely, so lovely, he was surprised†¦ And she was surprised by it too – he could see her dark face that was part of the shade, with her big dark eyes, shiny and soft water, watching him attentively: as she had when they used a huddle over their teams of mud oxen, as she had when he told her about attention weekends at school. â€Å"(Clugston, 2010). It is towards the end of the short story where you realize the racism. It begins when Paulus arrived back home from college over the holidays, and finds out that Thebedi had given birth to a child. When he decides to go and see Thebedi and the child, he said, â€Å"You haven’t been near the house with it? † (Clugston, 2010). His reaction alone reiterated the fact that such a thing would not be tolerated in his community. As the story continues, Paulus returned to the head later on: it states, â€Å"She thought she heard small grunts from the hut, the kind of insufficient grunt that indicates a full stomach, a deep sleep. After a time, long or short she did not know, he came out and walked away with plodding stride (his father’s gait) out of sight, towards his father’s house† (Clugston 2010). For me as a reader, it became apparent that Paulus actually killed the child. After analyzing that particular part of the story it became evident that Paulus was afraid the relationship between him and Thebedi would become common knowledge, so in murdering the child, it would serve as a cover-up as if nothing happened between two of them. In the ending of the story, the police assumed the baby’s body and charged Paulus with murder. During the trial, the story states that Thebedi took the stand. â€Å"She cried hysterically in the witness box, saying yes, yes (the gilt hoop earrings swung in her years), she saw the accused pouring liquid into the baby’s mouth. She said he had threatened to shoot her if she told anyone† (Clugston 2010). A year later, when she returned to the courthouse, she tells the court that, â€Å"she said that she had not seen what the white man did in the house† (Clugston, 2010). Because she altered her testimony, â€Å"The verdict on the accused was â€Å"not guilty† (Clugston, 2010). In the poem â€Å"What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl† seems to depict a very similar theme. In the poem, Patricia Smith tends to use rigid and strong words in order to show the seriousness of the topic she is writing about. From the very beginning of her poem, â€Å"First of all,† I sense of how the story is going to be told and is laid out for the reader. It presents the audience with a picture of a young black girl transitioning into black womanhood, a place where being a black girl as well as being a black woman is often not a welcome thing. To help the reader understand the thoughts that run through the mind of this puberty stricken young girl, she writes,† Its being 9 years old and feeling like you’re not finished, like your edges are wild, like there’s something, everything, wrong† (Smith, 4) This particular poem, in my opinion, is how racism and discrimination, both of race and gender, affects this young girl as she is transitioning from a young black girl, into a young black woman, while trying to accept all the changes that are happening to her. In the line, â€Å"It’s popping a bleached white mop head over the kinks of your hair and primping in front of mirrors that deny your reflection. † describes how this young girl wishes to look like other girls in order to be accepted in society. I found several tones in this poem that included not only pain and suffering, but courage is well. The poem discusses this young lady’s loss of innocence as a direct result of being raped. In the line, â€Å"It’s dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them turn blue and suffering the burn in silence,† in my opinion is the showing of this young girl’s pain of being raped by a white person. Since the color blue plays a significant role in this line, it shows not only this suffering, but the despondency this young black girl is experiencing. In both the poem and a short story, the main characters have been negatively affected by the discrimination of a society in which the color of their skin is not accepted. Both of the female characters lost their innocence, the only difference being, that Thebedi lost her virginity under the mask of the forbidden love, and the young girl in the poem lost her virginity is a direct cause of her rape. The sufferings of both characters is basically the same because the color of their skin and nothing else. The gender plays a very important role, but only after the race they belong to, as well as the alarming situation of the issue is accurately brought into the light and both of these literature works. It clearly indicates the suffering in the pain both these women experience. (Fluehr-Lobban, 2010). The mindset of a common young black girl is accurately presented in the poem â€Å"What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl†, and shows the effects that the society leaves on the mind of young black girls who wish to have the appearance like white girls simply because white girls are accepted in the society and the black are usually misused, refused, and disrespected. (Clugston, 2010) Both the story as well as the poem distinguish ethnicity and radical backgrounds, as well as explaining how women experienced cruelty for white racists. I found limited separation between race and gender issues within both authors work simply because they elaborated the fact that they could not, and would not be on the same side with sexists or races. While reading Patricia Smith poem, it gave me the impression she was demonstrating her anger to the fact that white patriarchy confines and limits black women. Black females have been tormented by discrimination racism, and ethical and racial discrimination, as characterized in both the poem and short story can be affirmed as a depiction a reflection of racism and its effects on society. (Dovidio, & Gaertner, 1996). In conclusion, I truly feel that both authors share the same sentiments. First and foremost, both of their main focus was on the role of the black female. Not only did the Explorer the victimization of the black woman, but also brought to light their emotional struggles as well as her experiences. I also feel that both authors were the obstacles of racism and feminists’ society that same time expressed that defeat does not mean giving up, but offers the opportunity to conquer negativity in life. References Clugston, R. W. (2010), â€Å"Country Lovers, Nadine Gordimer. In Journey into Literature (ch. 3): retrieved from http://content. ashford. edu/books/AUENG125. 10. 2/section/h3. 2 Clugston, R. W. (2010), Poems for Reflection. In Journey into Literature (ch. 12. 2): retrieved from http://content. ashford. edu/books/AUENG125. 10. 2/section/12. 2 Fluehr-Lobban, C. (2010). Race and Racism: An Introduction, Rowman Altamira: pp. 111-116 Dovidio, J. F. , & Gaertner, S. L. (1996). Affirmative action, unintentional racial Biases and inter group relations. Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 52, pp 51-75Ã'Ž

Logistics Management Essay

He costs of satisfying customer demand can be significant and yet, surprisingly, they are not always fully understood by organizations. One reason for this is that traditional accounting systems tend to be focused around understanding product costs rather than customer costs. Whilst logistics costs will vary by company and by industry, across the economy as a whole that total cost of logistics as a percentage of gross domestic product is estimated to be close to 10 per cent in the US1 and in other countries costs of similar magnitudes will be encountered. However, logistics activity does not just generate cost, it also generates revenue through the provision of availability – thus it is important to understand the profit impact of logistics and supply chain decisions. At the same time logistics activity requires resources in the form of fixed capital and working capital and so there are financial issues to be considered when supply chain strategies are devised. Logistics and the bottom line Today’s turbulent business environment has produced an ever greater awareness amongst managers of the financial dimension of decision making. The bottom line’ has become the driving force which, perhaps erroneously, determines the direction of the company. In some cases this has led to a limiting, and potentially dangerous, focus on the short term. Hence we find that investment in brands, in R&D and in capacity may well be curtailed if there is no prospect of an immediate payback. Just as powerful an influence on decision making and management horizons is cash flow. Strong positive cash flow has become as much a desired goal of management as profit. For example, many successful retailers have long since recognized that very small net margins can lead to excellent ROI if the productivity of capital is high, e. g. limited inventory, high sales per square foot, premises that are leased rather than owned and so on. Figure 3. 1 illustrates the opportunities that exist for boosting ROI through either achieving better margins or higher assets turns or both. Each ‘iso-curve’ reflects the different ways the same ROI can be achieved through specific margin/asset turn combination. The challenge to logistics management is to find ways of moving the iso-curve to the right. Logistics impact on ROI Logistics and the balance sheet As well as its impact on operating income (revenue less costs) logistics can affect the balance sheet of the business in a number of ways. In today’s financially-oriented business environment improving the shape of the balance sheet through better use of resources has become a priority. Once again better logistics management has the power to transform performance in this crucial area. Figure 3. 3 summarizes the major elements of the balance sheet and links to each of the relevant logistics management components. Balance sheet Assets Cash Logistics variable Order cycle time Order completion rate Receivables Inventories Property, plant and equipment Liabilities Current liabilities Debt Equity Invoice accuracy Inventory Distribution facilities and equipment Plant and equipment Purchase order quantities Financing options for inventory, plant and equipment Fig. 3. 3 Logistics management and the balance sheet Cash and receivables This component of current assets is crucial to the liquidity of the business. In recent years its importance has been recognized as more companies become squeezed for cash. It is not always recognized however that logistics variables have a direct impact on this part of the balance sheet. For example, the shorter the order cycle time, from when the customer places the order to when the goods are delivered, the sooner the invoice can be issued. Likewise the order completion rate can affect the cash flow if the invoice is not issued until after the goods are despatched. One of the less obvious logistics variables affecting cash and receivables is invoice accuracy. If the customer finds that his invoice is inaccurate he is unlikely to pay and the payment lead time will be extended until the problem is rectified. Inventories Fifty per cent or more of a company’s current assets will often be tied up in inventory. Logistics is concerned with all inventory within the business from raw materials, subassembly or bought-in components, through work-in-progress to finished goods. The company’s policies on inventory levels and stock locations will clearly influence the size of total inventory. Materials handling equipment, vehicles and other equipment involved in storage and transport can also add considerably to the total sum of fixed assets. Many companies have outsourced the physical distribution of their products partly to move assets off their balance sheet. Warehouses, for example, with their associated storage and handling equipment represent a sizeable investment and the question should be asked: ‘Is this the most effective way to deploy our assets? ’ Current liabilities The current liabilities of the business are debts that must be paid in cash within a specified period of time. From the logistics point of view the key elements are accounts payable for bought-in materials, components, etc. This is an area where a greater integration of purchasing with operations management can yield dividends. The traditional concepts of economic order quantities can often lead to excessive levels of raw materials inventory as those quantities may not reflect actual manufacturing or distribution requirements. The phasing of supplies to match the total logistics requirements of the system can be achieved through the twin techniques of materials requirement planning (MRP) and distribution requirements planning (DRP). If premature commitment of materials can be minimized this should lead to an improved position on current liabilities. Debt/equity Whilst the balance between debt and equity has many ramifications for the financial management of the total business it is worth reflecting on the impact of alternative logistics strategies. More companies are leasing plant facilities and equipment and thus converting a fixed asset into a continuing expense. The growing use of ‘third-party’ suppliers for warehousing and transport instead of owning and managing these facilities in-house is a parallel development.

Cannon

Select a company you believe to be innovative (this should be an internationally known company). Explain what makes this company innovative? In your answer, use relevant theory and examples to illustrate why you believe the company is innovative. Cannon – an innovative company Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon’s passion for the power of image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services. Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers’ creative needs. In my essay I will show that through disruptive, strategic and product innovation Canon remains the leader in the market of all its products. Canon has proved that disruptive innovation brings many benefits to businesses. Christensen and Raynor (Christensen and Raynor, 2003) justify that new entrant firms will win with leading firms of an industry through disruptive innovation, by commercializing a simpler, more convenient product that sells for less money and appeals to new or unattractive customer set. Canon has proved that the best way for an upstart company to attack established competitors is to disrupt them. Disruptive innovations do not attempt to bring better products to established customers in existing markets. Rather, they disrupt and redefine that trajectory by introducing products and services that are not as good as currently available products. Still, disruptive technologies offer other benefits – typically, they are simpler, more convenient, and less expensive products that appeal to new or less-demanding customers (Todd and Bessant, 2009). Once the disruptive product gains a share in the new or low-end markets, the improvement cycle begins. In addition, the pace of technological process exceeds customers’ ability to use it; the previously not good enough technology eventually improves to intersect with the needs of the more demanding customers. When that happens, the disruptors are on the path that will ultimately beat the incumbents. Throughout Canon’s history, the company has used disruptive innovation in order to gain market share. In 1982 Canon developed the first personal copier. It gained its name because the reproduction elements were all contained in a cartridge that users could just replace themselves when they ran out. Canon’s desktop photocopiers were a new-market disruption; in that they enabled people to begin conveniently making their own photocopies, rather than taking their originals to the corporate high-speed photocopy center where a technician had to run the job for them. The high-speed Xerox machine was very complicated, needed servicing frequently and only a technician could operate it. When Canon made photocopying so convenient, people ended up making a lot more copies, therefore through disruption innovation Canon has created new value network. Additionally, Canon’s innovation sources come from monitoring the market and following and adjusting to its competitors. In 1987 Ricoh revolutionized the photocopier industry with the release of the first digital photocopier. Thus, Canon followed releasing their digital photocopier products, which effectively consisted of an integrated scanner and laser printer. In 2001 Canon released its first two digital personal copiers, the PC1080F and the PC1060. Furthermore, with the disruptive innovation of touch screen technology, the company has decided to launch its own touch screen display in order to compete in the market. The new Digital IXUS 200 IS features Canon’s first ever touch screen display that delivers intuitive control to the customer and greater ease of use. Canon’s success is also based on the company’s commitment to strategic innovation. Strategic innovation means experimenting with new strategies, with new combinations of the ‘What, Who and How’ of a business. If a company identifies a new customer base, it will start behaving in a way that best satisfies the specific needs of those customers. This behavior will most likely be different from that of established competitors who are serving different customers (Markides, 1997). In the case of Cannon, Xerox leased big photocopiers to corporations through a direct sales force. Canon sold its personal photocopiers to end users through a dealer network. Thus Canon has adopted a different product, along with different selling and distribution strategies. They identified a customer segment that was not currently served by existing competitors. Then they designed their products and delivery systems to fit the requirements of this customer niche. New product innovations from Canon strengthen its leadership in imaging technology. In 2009, Canon has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation in product development with the launch of 38 consumer products ranging from an innovative new Digital SLR camera in its flagship EOS range to a germ resistant calculator, and a first voice guided printer. The new SELPHY ES40 is the first printer, which talks to its user. It provides spoken instructions on how to operate the printer in seven different languages; the guidance also gives advice to assist users of all ages to simplify the printing process. Successful product innovation requires more than the management of technology; it also must address users’ problems and needs, how the product will be used, and for what purpose. Conducting marketing research to obtain customers requirements and needs is a fundamental feature of Canon’s strategic innovation process, which the company adds onto its product innovation cycle. The new EOS 7D digital SLR camera is a completely new design created to meet the specific demands of photographers. During extensive development Canon went back to the drawing board, listening to photographers worldwide, in order to design the new digital camera to meet their specific needs. Commenting on the creation of the EOS 7D, Mr. Uchidoi, Group Executive of Photo Products Group, said, â€Å"We consulted over 5,000 photographers worldwide and asked them what they most wanted to see from a camera. Matching this insight with cutting-edge technology, we were able to develop a camera that truly gives photographers the versatile tool they require to experiment with their images. † Markides (Markides, 1990) argues that successful innovative companies need to adopt a new thinki ng process. New ideas emerge more easily if managers can escape their mechanistic way of thinking and look at an issue from different perspectives or angles. Thinking ‘out side of the box’ enables Canon to create new ideas and pioneer new trends. One area, which Canon has foreseen, was the growing importance of reducing global warming and becoming more ‘green’. Long before it was in fashion, Canon introduced a collection and recycling program for used toner cartridges. The company adopted a corporate-wide lifecycle assessment to understand and reduce its carbon footprint, and it has already achieved zero waste output at its worldwide plants. Canon has jointly developed a new bio-based plastic that incorporates plant-based and organic components to use in its products (Silverstein, 2010). Therefore, innovative thinking helps the company stay ahead of the competition. Another source of innovation is building on the organizations existing core competencies to create a new product or a new way of doing business that is totally different from the way competitors currently do business. Leveraging existing core competencies is therefore one way to create new products or new ways to compete. Canon’s core competencies lay in the combination of the precision mechanics, fine optics and microelectronics technologies that underline all their products (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). However, most major breakthroughs occur not so much from amortizing existing competencies but from exploiting them to create and accumulate new strategic assets more quickly and cheaply than competitors. A company can use a core competence of a strategic asset in one small business unit (SBU) to help improve the quality of a strategic asset in another SBU (Markides, 1990). Because Canon is in two businesses, cameras and photocopiers, in which the processes of improving dealer effectiveness, speeding up product development or improving assembly-line productivity are similar, it can improve the quality of the strategic assets in its photocopier business by transferring competencies learned in its camera business and vice versa. Leveraging core competencies among Canon’s different business units therefore reduces the costs and saves valuable time. Through the years, Canon has continually provided a lot of innovative and revolutionary products. From the company’s very first product launched, a 35 mm focal plane-shutter camera called the Kwanon, to now a days most recent products, the company has integrated innovation to all of its business units. Canon is committed to developing innovative solutions to enhance business productivity that it invests 8% of annual turnover in R&D. This devotion to innovation translates to fact that the company is consistently rated in the top five most innovative companies in the world in terms of new patent registrations. Thus concluding, throughout disruptive, strategic and product innovation Canon stays one of the leaders in its markets.

Corporate Entrepreneurship As a Strategic Option for Firms Research Paper

Corporate Entrepreneurship As a Strategic Option for Firms - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that survival of companies remains largely reliant on its ability to react to market forces immediately or have the resources, reach and net to capture markets that were not primarily considered at the onset of its existence. In any industry, correct timing in reacting to market forces has always been a source of debate. It is a variable that is almost impossible to predict even with empirical data on hand. Thus the next best thing is to make sure that the company’s market presence has a wider reach and has an inventory that can satisfy the demand of the market at any time. However, this proposition is expensive without any value added opportunity opening for the company. On the other hand, competition will most likely remain as a factor or a constant reminder to drive quality and excellence in customer service. However, competition also has the ability to expand its market reach and compete head to head with any branch of the compan y. Market leadership can only be gained if the following are implemented in sequence: operational streamlining and implementation of control to have a strong corporate governance structure. But, these too can be implemented by any competitor. Ergo, all else being equal, the only remaining factor that will enable companies to gain a competitive edge over their rivals are its employees. Promoting a culture of corporate entrepreneurship is a formula that has been percolating in the minds of Covin and Miles as a strategic option for companies to gain competitive advantage over their rivals. This paper, in essence, will show how corporate entrepreneurship as a strategy will capitalize on the untapped natural innovation and creativity of its employees as they perform their daily functions. However, once the gates are open the flow of ideas from employees will be unrestricted. This paper shall propose strategies on how to reign in the creativity and direct them to directions that are juxta posed to the company’s goal.

How the Manifest Destiny Affected Native Americans in the U.S Research Paper

How the Manifest Destiny Affected Native Americans in the U.S - Research Paper Example The paper tells that almost four decades after the ratification of the Relocation Act, the removal procedure keeps on. Even though the initiative has been seriously and constantly denounced, it has had merely narrow modifications and has never been severely pressured with closure. The hesitance of Congress to financially support it at a point that would have terminated it more quickly may partly reveal the undecided sentiments of several of those who permitted its continuation. Opposition from the targets of relocation, under the headship of quite a few religious leaders and aged Navajo women, resulted in a chain of constitutional measures, the most triumphant being the case of Manybeads claiming that relocation infringed their religious rights. Just like in numerous other cases of relocation, the underlying reason of the relocation of the Navajo people had nothing do with their interests or welfare. The case of Navajo is distinctive in the sense that it does not require the ravaging of their territories and does not belong to any development plan. Nevertheless, as in other instances of displacement, Navajos target for relocation were not permitted to choose freely whether to abandon or stay in their lands. Scudder and Cernea emphasize in their relocation classifications that triumphant relocation plans should take into account the needed socioeconomic elements for building enduring bonds to the new land. Nevertheless, both scholars argue that majority of relocation plans was unsuccessful. The senior consultant on social policy for the World Bank, Michael Cernea (1998), supports positive collaboration between sociological and economic disciplines for the purpose of decreasing relocation and improving the subsistence of relocatees.4 The Navajos’ relocation from the Hopi Partitioned Land (HPL) has been disastrous. It was badly premeditated and executed forcibly. The relocation procedures have been performed in lack of knowledge of the Navajo people’ s land possession and dwelling patterns, livelihood, and economic production.5 A number of the most unfavorable outcomes of this relocation could still be alleviated with sufficient subsidy, developmental design, and practical conditions for actual community involvement. However, with no such dedications, aimed at reviving or regaining abandoned economic production prospects, it is not likely that complete economic resurgence will ever happen.6 Examining the responses of the Navajo people to forced relocation from HPL clarifies several common features of the response differences of the displaced people, the vitality of economic production self-rule, and importance of traditional land possessions. Relocation is comparatively triumphant merely when the targets of the relocation revive or broaden their economic production tasks.7 Nonetheless, forced removal harms inhabitants and no measure can quantify the difficulties of these people against the actual reparation they get. The U.S. Go vernment versus the Navajo John O’Sullivan, an American correspondent, introduced the concept of ‘manifest destiny’ in 1845 to characterize American westward expansion. As stated by this principle, white Americans were fated to expand westward by God’s will. American merchants, as early as the 1820s, disseminated encouraging accounts of the Navajo People and frequently conveyed compassion and high regard for their attempts to oppose the Mexicans inhabiting contemporary New Mexico.8 Frontiersman Josiah Gregg, for instance, assumed that the New Mexican people and their chief had â€Å"greatly embittered the disposition of the neighboring savages, especially the Navajos, by repeated acts of cruelty and ill-faith well calculated to provoke

Analysing Argument - A Way to Pay for College, With Dividends Essay

Analysing Argument - A Way to Pay for College, With Dividends - Essay Example The article is based upon the argument of proving the benefits of human capital contract as the more suitable and appropriate source of study finance that is beneficial for the students as well as for the entire society and labour market. The author has impressively described the pros and cons of several ways of arranging the higher studies finance and has persuasively concluded that the human capital contracts are the most expedient and equitable way for the students to manage finance for their higher education. The author has included the experience of some students who have availed different options for securing the finance for their higher education. In the light of the experiences of these people the author insists that the most suitable, fair and supportive mode of college finance is human capital contract that needs to be further refines and elaborates to provide students will freedom of choice about their professional careers. He also highlight the disadvantages and problems associated with the other modes of higher education finance and argues that the comparison of all the possibilities unveils that human capital contract is the best options among all the choices and schemes available and implemented for providing the finance for the higher education to the students. The article explains that the choice of getting study finance through the "human capital contract" appears to be helpful resource for finance for the low income students of US, Mexico and Colombia etc. The author compares this option with certain other possibilities of getting finance. He also talks about the income based repayment introduced by US government and criticizes the finance schemes like income based repayment. He argues that in these methods the students are bound to repay the loans once they finish their education. This liability limits their freedom and they have little options in front of them to initiate their careers and rather spending time in the job of their choice, th ey are compelled to work for the corporations from where they could earn enough to pay their loans. The author argues that human capital contracts have more options and freedoms for the students and that rather than becoming slaves they could make free choice for their working careers. He shares his opinion â€Å"with human capital contracts, students would have wider options. They would know that, regardless of their career choices, their payments would not be unmanageable†. The author answers the people concerns and criticism regarding the market based mechanism of financing and their demands for the free college financed by the government. The author explains that it is not realistic approach to expect that the government should get enough from the taxes to build the free college for the students because usually the government fail to collect the desired amount of taxes from the citizens. He stresses upon this opinion by explaining that expecting government to provide educ ation finance will cause heavy tax burden on all the citizens that will eventually added to the problems of the people rather facilitating them. The article presents the author’s viewpoint that if the government will take the initiative to provide free college education it will result in the