Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Historic overview

The story of the Ritz-Carlton begins with Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz who was well known in the hotel industry as the â€Å"king of hoteliers and hotelier to kings. † Mr. Ritz redefined luxury accommodation in Europe with his management of The Ritz in Paris and The Carlton in London. Although he died in 1918, his wife Marie continued the tradition of opening hotels in his name. The Ritz-Carlton Investing Company was established by Albert Keller, who bought and franchised the name in the United States. The original Ritz-Carlton hotel was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and opened on May 19, 1927 with a room rate of $15 per night.It became known as the hotel to kings, queens, movie stars, and tycoons: Prince Charles, Irving Berlin, Bette Davis, and Howard Hughes were just a few of its notable guests. Additional locations soon opened in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlantic City and Boca Raton, but all these locations did not survive the Great Depression and by 1940 only The Ritz-Carlton Boston remained. The Wyner Years: 1927-1964 On October 1926, 29-year-old Edward N. Wyner bought a third-acre parcel at the corner of Arlington and Newbury streets and formed a partnership called The Ritz-Arlington Trust with his father, George, and business associate, John S.Slater. The trust sold $2. 1 million of bonds to finance the construction of a hotel to be called the Mayflower. The 18-story, 201-foot brick building, designed by Strickland, Blodget & Law Architects, was far taller than anything else along Newbury Street at the time. Construction had started on the second floor when Wyner was persuaded by then-Mayor James Michael Curly to make the Mayflower a world-class, 300-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which opened May 19, 1927. Room rates were $5 to $15 per night; $40 per night for suites. After a hugely successful opening, the stock market crash of 1929 and ensuing Depression brought financial difficulties.The Wyner family funded the hotel’s operating loss es during the early 1930s, although the interest on the bonds went unpaid. Still in 1933, when only 30 guests were registered in the hotel, Wyner turned on the lights in every guest room to give the appearance the hotel was full. Wyner died of a heart attack on Dec. 5, 1961. His six sons tried to continue operation of the hotel, but it was too difficult, and a decision was made to sell. The Blakeley Years: 1964-1983 The unpaid interest on the bonds dissuaded many from trying to buy the hotel.But Cabot, Cabot & Forbes principal Gerald F. Blakeley Jr. was interested. After more than a year of legal work, Hale and Dorr succeeded at clearing the bond obligations, and in October 1964 Blakeley and associates Paul Hellmuth and Charles Spaulding acquired the Ritz-Carlton Boston for $3. 8 million. â€Å"Out of the 20 years I owned it, it made money three years. The other years it broke even, but from a public relations standpoint for CC&F, it was a tremendous asset,† said Blakeley, wh o completed a 19-story Ritz-Carlton luxury condominium complex on land adjacent to the hotel in 1981.In the late 1960s Blakeley obtained the rights to the Ritz-Carlton name in North America (with the exception of Montreal and New York). In June 1978, Blakeley was awarded the rights and privileges of the Ritz-Carlton trademark in the United States and was given a US Service Mark Registration. In August 1983, Johnson Properties bought the Ritz Boston and US trademark for $75. 5 million and established the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. In 1988, Johnson subsequently obtained the exclusive rights to the Ritz name throughout the world (except for the 210-room Hotel-Ritz Paris and the Ritz-Carlton in Montreal).The Corporate Years: 1983-1999 Johnson grew the company from the One Ritz-Carlton Boston to 30 hotels worldwide in just 10 years. He obtained financing to do so from Manufacturers Hanover Trust of New York in 1983 in the amount of $85 million secured by the Ritz-Carlton Boston. This loan wa s refinanced in 1989 by Manhattan Tops USA of New York for $136. 5 million and again in 1994 by Sumitomo Bank of Japan. By 1996, this mortgage was in default and the interest and penalties brought the total debt to $214. 8 million.By splitting this mortgage note into three parts, Sumitomo Bank was able to unbundle the Ritz Boston from the trademark rights to the Ritz brand worldwide. Blackstone Real Estate Acquisitions of New York bought the Ritz-Carlton Boston at auction for $75 million in February 1998. A month later, Host Marriott Corp. of Bethesda, Maryland, acquired the hotel from Blackstone for $100 million. Marriott International Inc. , which franchises and manages Marriott’s 325,000 rooms, bought the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and rights to the Ritz-Carlton name worldwide from W. B. Johnson for $290 million in a two-part transaction completed in 1998.Millenium Purchase In 1998, Christopher Jeffries, founding partner of Millennium Partners, obtained Ritz franchises from Ma rriott for four hotel properties under construction: two in Washington, one in New York City, and one in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Jeffries was searching for a brand affiliation for the new 155-room hotel and 270-luxury condominiums he was constructing as part of Boston’s 1. 8 million-square-foot Millennium Place, a mixed-use complex on lower Washington Street. Because of noncompetition clauses, the only way he could obtain a second Ritz flag in Boston was to own the existing Ritz.Millennium Partners acquired the original Ritz-Carlton Boston for $122 million (though it had sold for just $75 million less than two years prior) and spent $50 million for renovations. Marriott agreed to allow the Ritz affiliation for the condominium complex, which will be known as The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, and share all of the services of the hotel. In 1999, when Millennium Partners of New York, the new owners of the original Ritz-Carlton Boston, announced that the company was build ing a second Ritz-Carlton in Boston (the now-completed 193-room Ritz-Carlton, Boston Commons), there was much local disapproval.A member of the old guard summed up: â€Å"The movement of a name from one place to another doesn’t do it. There would never be that special atmosphere; a grace, decency, and ambiance that once existed. † Millennium Partners admitted they had no intentions of trying to duplicate the Ritz. Taj Purchase In October 2002, The Ritz-Carlton Boston celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a major restoration to bring the facility 21st century amenities while maintaining its 20th century decor. The Ritz-Carlton Boston has been in continuous operation since it opened in 1927.The property is a Boston landmark and anchors fashionable Newbury Street and the picturesque Boston Public Garden located in the heart of the Back Bay. In November 2006, The Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, subsidiary of the India-based Tata Group, entered into a definitive agreement to purchase The Ritz-Carlton Boston from its current owners, Millennium Partners. The $170 million transaction is scheduled to close on January 11, 2007. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces operates 75 hotels across the world.The Ritz-Carlton Boston will be renamed the Taj Boston upon closing the purchase. The existing Ritz-Carlton Boston Common is expected to be renamed Ritz-Carlton Boston. 2000 and beyond From 2001 to 2007 Boston was home to two Ritz-Carlton hotels that faced each other on Boston Common. The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common Hotel opened in 2001. In November 2006 The Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, India luxury hotel group entered into an agreement to purchase the original 1927 Ritz-Carlton Boston from its current owners, Millennium Partners, for $170 Million.The Ritz-Carlton name was not sold to Taj Hotels. The Ritz-Carlton Boston was renamed Taj Boston on Jan. 11, 2007. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has announced its first hotel in India. The property is slated to open in Bangalore in 2007. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company In 1983, the original hotel and the brand were sold to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L. L. C. , based in Atlanta, Georgia which began expansion of the brand to other locations. The company grew to become the hospitality leader in the US under the leadership of Horst Schulze.His strong conviction of customer loyalty and emphasis on a value/mission driven philosophy for the â€Å"Ladies and Gentleman serving Ladies and Gentleman† became a benchmark in the industry that other companies aspired yet never reached. In 1995, Marriott International purchased a 49% stake in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and in 1998 purchased an additional 50% stake in the company giving it 99% ownership of the company. The company is now headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, located in the Washington, D. C. MSA.The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company partnered with Bulgari in 2001 to operate a chain of hotels owned by and operated under the Bulgari bran d. Simon Cooper joined Ritz-Carlton in 2001 as President and Chief Operating Officer taking the helm from Horst Schulze. Cooper's mandate was to grow the chain through hotel expansion and product diversification. Under Cooper's watch the company has aggressively expanded its hotels and has added The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton (private residential units) as well as The Ritz-Carlton Club (fractional ownership residences) to the company's new development program.

Residential Schools

IntroductionFor years, the aboriginal people have been discriminated in Canada. They were perceived as inferior because their native traditions were very different from the white Canadian traditions. In the 19th century, the Canadian government created mandatory residential schools to assimilate the Natives into English speaking and Christian Canadians. The schools were church-run and government funded. They did so thinking their traditions would diminish or be completely eliminated in a few generations. However, the residential schools affected the Natives and the Government negatively, despite it’s original objectives.The residential schools did not provide the proper education for the Natives. Also, many of them were living under poor condition and got abused which lead to different types of traumas in their  adult lives. To continue, the government`s goals were not reached and they had to apologize to the Natives to try to gain their respect. The impact of poor education The education in residential schoolsThere was a total of 130 residential schools across Canada, and about 150 000 children attended those institutes. The main goal of the schools was for the Natives to learn English and adopt the Christian and Canadian culture. To do so, the children were prohibited to speak their language or practice their culture, or else they would receive severe punishments. Aboriginal residential schools provided an inferior education to students than the general population in the public school system. They focused on training students for manual labor in agriculture, industries and domestic work such as cooking, sewing and laundry work. Over 40 pour cent of the teaching staff had not received any kind of professional training. Many students had to work for the school involuntary and unpaid after class because the school could not run without it.The impactWith such a poor education, students who reached the age of eighteen only had up to a fifth grade education . This caused a lot of problems later on when the government tried to incorporate Aboriginal students into public schools. Many of them struggled to keep up with the adjustment and those who wanted to attend university were often restrained to do so. That incident made it difficult for Aboriginal communities to break the cycle of poverty.Residential school conditionsThe poor conditionsMany students were taken away from their families, and were not able to communicate with their siblings who attended the same school. The students were forced to do labour work during their stay at the school and were fed poor quality food. The food that was given was sometimes rotten, moldy and infested with maggots. As a form of punishment, many of them were sexually, mentally and physically assaulted. Also, some of them were forced to sleep outside in the winter and they were used for medical experiments. Survivors remember having needles pushed into their tongue if they were caught  speaking thei r language.These abuses, along with the poor hygiene, overcrowding and inadequate food and health care, resulted in an outrageously high death toll. In 1907, a study by the government medical inspector P.H Bryce reported that 24 pour cent of the kids died ar the schools and 47 to 75 pour cent of those who were discharged from the schools died months within returning home (http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca).The impactThe negative impact of the residential schools on the Native communities still remains to this day. Even the people who did not attend those schools still share the same millstones as their ancestors. These include domestic violence due to personal trauma and the loss of Aboriginal language, culture and traditions. Some of those who have attended the schools suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and the effects make it challenging to take part in social, family and professional environments. Many of the children grew up without experiencing a nurturing family life and without the acquaintance and skills to raise their own families.Also, the sense of worthlessness that was implanted in the students resulted to self-abuse. The extremely low self-esteem contributed to a high rate of substance use, alcoholism and suicide. The damage caused by the residential schools has caused intergenerational trauma which is the cycle of abuse and trauma from one generation to the next (http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca).The government’s roleThe government’s main goalThe government believed that the socio-cultural difference between themselves and the aboriginal people was too wide. They described the Natives as a savage, ignorant, uncivilized and in need of guidance group of people. They assumed that by creating residential schools, they would be able to easily assimilate the Natives, â€Å"If anything is to be done with the Indian, we must catch him very young. The children must be kept constantly within the circle of civilized con ditions,† ( Davin). Their strategy was to rapidly adapt them to mainstream society through education.However, it did not go as intended. In 1950, despite all their efforts to extinguish the Native culture, the government realised that the integration was not working. Regardless all the  damage that was done, their culture was still surviving. It is at that point that the government recognized the devastating effects of the residential schools. Nevertheless, it wasn`t until 1986 that all doors of the residential schools were closed. The government’s apologyIn 1980, survivors of the residential schools started suing the government and churches for all the destruction the residential schools had caused to their individuals and communities. The federal government and churches involved approved to pay collective and individual rewards to the survivors of the residential schools, in 2007. They also promised to the Native culture that they would establish supporting programs to help heal their grief, and to launch a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is used when a country wants to reconcile and resolve policies or practices, in other words, unify Canada. In 2007, the government announced they would be giving 1.9 billion dollars to the aboriginal people who were forced to attend the schools as a compensation package.They also provided 120 million dollars to the Aboriginal Healing foundation as well as 100 million dollars given by the churches to finance services towards healing initiatives ( www.CBC.ca). On June 11th 2008, a ceremony was held by the House of Common to publicly apologize for the government`s participation and to recognize the negative impact it has done. That apology was left with a wide range of reactions. Some believed that it was a positive step for the government to build a relationship based on mutual respect while others believed that it would not change the government`s connection with th e Aboriginal people. The idea of the residential schools did a lot of harm to the government`s image because many Canadians lost respect towards the government after the truth behind those schools came out.ConclusionTo conclude, residential schools affected the Natives and the Government negatively despite their original objectives in many ways. The residential schools did not provide the proper education for the Natives. Also, many of them got mentally, physically and sexually abused which lead to a cycle of trauma and abuse for the future generations.To continue, the government`s initial goals were not reached and they lost the respect and trust of many  Canadians. Although the government tried to help the Native population financially and through healing support, it is difficult for the victims to leave the past behind. The Aboriginal communities still struggle to adapt to our society, which proves how persistent a nation can be.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Assessment Base Reading Instruciton Case Study Essay

Table of Contents Introduction Description of the Student Background Information PART 1: Administration of Assessments DIBELS: A Universal Assessment Battery Description and Purpose of the Assessment Setting for the Assessment Description of the Assessment Administration Process Results of the Assessment Analysis of the Assessment Results Running Records Description and Purpose of the Assessment The running record allows you to record the child’s reading behavior as he or she reads from the book. The purpose of a running record is a tool used to determine word recognition reading fluency reading strategies, self- corrections, and comprehension. It is an individually conducted formative assessment which is ongoing and curriculum based. It provides a graphic  representation of a student’s oral reading, identifying patterns of effective and ineffective strategy use. This method was developed by Marie Clay, the originator of Reading Recovery. Running records helps document reading progress over time. Help teachers decide what students need to learn and matches students to appropriate books. We want to capture all the behaviors to help interpret what the child was probably doing. Everything the child says and does tells us something: when the reading is correct, what his hands and eyes were doing, the comments he made and when he repeated a line of text. Setting f or the Assessment Library setting, after school. This was the only time available. Description of the Assessment Administration Process Select a book that is the child’s reading level. Explain to the child that he or she will read out loud as you observe and record his or her reading behavior. Sit next to the child so that you can see the text and the child’s finger and eye movements as he or she reads the text. Use running record form. As the child reads, mark each word on the running record form by using the symbols on the chart that follows. Place a check mark above each word that is read correctly. If the child reads incorrectly, record above the word what the child reads. If the child is reading too fast for you to record the running record, ask him or her to pause until you catch up. Intervene as little as possible while the child is reading. If the child is stuck and unable to continue, wait 5 to10 seconds and tell him or her the word. If the child seems confused, indicate the point of confusion and say, â€Å"Try again.† Results of the Assessment Student read 156 words at 98% accuracy. She had 3 errors and 2 self corrects. She missed boredom, I told her the word. She changed plan for idea, setting, characters, and beginning. She had trouble with middle and end. She did know the main idea but could not list supporting details. I would move this student to a higher level text. This text was easy for the student. Analysis of the Assessment Results Student read 156 words at 98% accuracy. She had 3 errors and 2 self corrects. She missed boredom, I told her the word. She changed plan for idea, setting, characters, and beginning. She had trouble with middle and end. She did know the main idea but could not list supporting details. This student needs practice in retelling story in sequence. She had issues with middle and end. I think she was going for a fluency score and read too fast. She had problems orally retelling middle and end. This level is an appropriate level for this student. I will use the results to plan for this student. Teaching purposes for running records. To find a book level appropriate for a child. Check a child after a series of lessons. Evaluate whether a lift in text level is appropriate. Observe particular difficulties in particular children in order to modify instructional emphasis. Evaluate in order to place a child in an appropriate instructional group, class or school. Add to a record which is monitoring an individual’s progress over time. Reading Inventory Description and Purpose of the Assessment Setting for the Assessment Description of the Assessment Administration Process Results of the Assessment Analysis of the Assessment Results Additional Diagnostic Assessment: Learner Choice Description and Purpose of the Assessment Setting for the Assessment Description of the Assessment Administration Process Results of the Assessment Analysis of the Assessment Results Overall Analysis of Assessment Results PART 2: Recommendations for Interventions and Instruction Identifying Student Needs Recommendations for Interventions and Instruction Recommendations for Further Assessment References Appendices Appendix A: DIBELS Scoring Documents Appendix B: Running Records Scoring Documents Appendix C: Reading Inventory Documents Appendix D: Additional Assessment Documents

Monday, July 29, 2019

Ebay - Business report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ebay - Business report - Research Paper Example With the varying market conditions and the preferences of the customers, the business of eBay developed significantly in recent times. This can be acceptable with reference to the fact that the company reported a profit of $4.4 billion in the year 2014, which was beyond its expectation (BBC, 2014). From the perspective of providing an e-business background of eBay, it must be mentioned that the company utilises a service of online payment named PayPal, which facilitates and eases in making transactions on behalf of the sellers as well as the buyers (Bensinger, 2012). Prior to conducting a detailed e-marketing study on eBay, it is essential to obtain a brief idea about the external setting of the company. With this concern, the theoretical structure of Porter’s five forces is taken into concern for analysing the external situation of the company. From the analysis, it is evident that eBay faces a moderate level of threat relating to the entrance of new market players in the industry, as there persists lower levels of entry requirement. Apart from this, the buyers’ and suppliers’ bargaining power are deemed to be high and moderate respectively owing to the reason that different e-commerce companies offer parallel products and/or services as that of eBay and the suppliers remain much eager to sell by making effective use of well-established online sites. Finally, eBay faces low level of threat of alternatives or substitutes, as the company offers certain attractive features to the potential customers that entail auctions and bu yer protection among others. Apart from the above discussed aspects, the company also faces high level of threat from the existing business market competition in the similar industry due to the presence of already existing companies like Alibaba and Amazon among others (Hao, 2013). E-marketing analysis of eBay clearly

Sunday, July 28, 2019

The Importance of Studying Information Systems for a Marketing Student Research Paper

The Importance of Studying Information Systems for a Marketing Student - Research Paper Example It is concerned with activities such as planning, promotion, and selling of services or goods with the aim of satisfying the customer needs and meeting business objectives of an organization. According to my findings from the aforementioned interviews, slight changes in practice and theory of marketing over the years have had a great effect in reshaping companies. Consequently, these changes have also been evident information systems utilized in various business environments. Most companies in various industries have been faced with the problem of controlling the ever increasing volume of information. This is because of the rapidly expanding information processing requirements that are due to their competitive environments becoming more volatile and dynamic. In order for companies to be able to handle the increasing internal and external flow of information, it is important that they embrace and make good use of the opportunities offered by IS. Marketing information is no exceptions and thus managing such information by means of Information Technology is one of the most critical elements of efficient and effective marketing. Information related to marketing includes all terms of facts, date, view, opinion, policies and guidelines, which are necessary for making vital marketing decisions. This data is collected from competitors, customers, government sources, sales staff and other company staff, and from specialized sources and agencies.This will also enable them to improve quality too.... Consequently, these changes have also been evident information systems utilized in various business environments. Most companies in various industries have been face with the problem of controlling the ever increasing volume of information. This is because of the rapidly expanding information processing requirements that are due to their competitive environments becoming more volatile and dynamic. In order for companies to be able to handle the increasing internal and external flow of information, it is important that they embrace and make good use of the opportunities offered by IS. This will also enable them improve quality too. Marketing information is no exceptions and thus managing such information by means of Information Technology is one of the most critical elements of efficient and effective marketing. Information related to marketing includes all terms of facts, date, view, opinion, policies and guidelines, which are necessary in making vital marketing decisions. This data is collected from competitors, customers, government sources, sales staff and other company staff, and from specialized sources and agencies. Through the collection and sharing of such information and by utilizing it in promoting brand and corporate image, Information Systems offers new ways of ensuring improved internal efficiencies of a company. These systems allow for dynamic marketing communication between personnel in accounting, corporate planning, sales promotion and advertising, channels of distribution, product management, and direct sales. There are various types of Information system systems. They can first be classified based on the various levels of operations such as the operational level which requires an operation support information

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Project Management - Essay Example Restaurants solve this problem and provide consumers with cooked food items. The time required to obtain cooked food does decrease but the decrease depends on the type of restaurant. Fast food restaurants have cooked food that is ready to serve with minimal need for service making them the fastest food providers. In essence, fast food restaurants have greater chances of being a business success than other larger and more exquisite restaurants for two reasons. The first advantage is that the consumer base for fast food restaurants is large and the second advantage is that the initial investment is small. In addition, fast food restaurants are more environmentally friendly since the processed food requires far less raw materials than exquisite dining options. On another note, the waste produced from fast food joints is also lower since lower amounts of food items are processed and so lower amounts of waste is produced. The other major benefactors from a fast food restaurant would be th e consumers being served and the investors backing the project. The consumers would be provided with fresh varieties of fast food in order to provide a diverse eating experience. Alternatively, the appeal of new varieties of fast food are expected to bring in attractive returns for the people investing in the proposed project. Project Risks The proposed project stands to get affected from a number of internal and external risks. For one thing, a fast food restaurant is a business that faces stiff competition at start since there are a lot of different fast food restaurants already present in the market. The presence of well established competitors means that the new business will have to create a loyal customer base and then expand it while old and new competitors exist in the market. Moreover, customers in the fast food category have already developed tastes for fast foods being offered at various kinds of fast food restaurants. This is comparable to the beverage industry, where fo r example, a Pepsi customer will not ask for Coca Cola and vice versa. There is a risk that when the new fast food restaurant opens, it may take a lot of time to develop consumer’s taste in new varieties of fast food. In the short run, this could mean a prolonged principal amount recovery period but in the long run this strategy would result in a loyal customer base. Another thing that must be kept in mind is the fragile state of the overall economy. When the economy is performing well, it could be expected that new business survival would be easy since people would be spending with an open hand. In more restrictive fiscal situations, such as the current state of the economy, consumers have smaller disposable incomes and they are less willing to take risks with their money. A consumer would prefer to take fast food from a restaurant whose taste they are already familiar with rather than trying out a new fast food restaurant. The opening up of a new business also poses some mo re familiar risks such as finding the right kind of labor and ensuring retention of good workers. For a fast food restaurant, highly capable chefs would be required to churn out recipes that can be produced in no time and that would cater to the tastes of the target market. In addition, fast food requires that the business have a committed supplier base who can deliver products at the most optimal prices. Larger fast food chains such as McDonalds and KFC have the distinct advantage of ordering in bulk and having many

Friday, July 26, 2019

Sociology- Pres candidates compaigning about family concerns Essay

Sociology- Pres candidates compaigning about family concerns - Essay Example They all, regardless of the era, have had a main focus on public policy issues, especially those that affect minorities and the poorer classes, and those that affect the middle and upper classes. Intricate issues, such as the country’s economic status, outline the democratic and the republican campaign. Accordingly, the crisis that America faces today is comparable, as many have noted, to the Great Depression. With depression there comes a sense of urgency and panic by the American people, causing voters to study the opposing candidates, to find out which candidate best represents the American public. In the 2008 presidential race, not only has economics played a huge role, but the moral fiber of both candidates has been repeatedly exploited, revealing John McCain and Barack Obama’s position on the family. There are four lucid issues that directly affect the family: the increase of federal taxes, outsourcing of jobs, the importance of setting a timetable for the withdra wal of troops from Iraq, and parental consent for minors to have abortions. Seemingly, John McCain’s definition of the family is more conventional, nothing outside the box, very strict orderliness. McCain, as is standard of the Republican Party, values the wealth of the family. Thus, his views reflect those of the upper class. On the four aforementioned issues that affect the family, McCain will not raise federal taxes, which, in essence, insinuates that those who make the less will pay the most. McCain also is for the outsourcing of jobs. Since the world is becoming more globalized, it is up to the American people to adjust. It is similar to Darwin’s survival of the fittest theory--only the strongest (richest) will be able to fully thrive in a globalized world. Furthermore, McCain is against setting a timetable for troop withdrawal. This is interesting because war in general severs the family.

Business and management research project, focusing on CSR and its Essay

Business and management research project, focusing on CSR and its relevant themes. Develop an appropriate and feasible research - Essay Example Thus, they are instruments to sharing news of this positive happening to the society acting as mediators that channel information from the company to their main audience. Indubitably, media companies have an edge in information dissemination because that is their business, but this strength may become their weakness as they become exposed to controversies that predominantly affect their integrity and reputation. Although several studies about CSR are now in existence, there are only a few that focus on the media and entertainment industry, in particular, the media companies. Thus, a study on this matter is proposed to uncover the reality that is taking place in this industry. The objectives of the study are given as follows. To investigate the relationship between CSR, business reputation, and profit To examine CSR in the context of UK media companies To assess the impact of CSR to the reputation and profitability of media companies To determine whether media companies are socially r esponsible and on how their being socially responsible helped in enhancing their reputation and profitability The proposed research targets to contribute factual and reliable information in regard to the issue on CSR that may as well become a reference for future CSR studies. In addition, it seeks to increase society’s knowledge about CSR by means of utilising media companies as the focus of the study. 2. Literature Review Since the 90s up to present, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been receiving overwhelming attention from academic researchers (Crane, et al., 2008, p.3). The arguments in performing CSR research are often in connection with the business itself as a part of society that is obliged to contribute something for it to progress (Crane, et al., 2008, p.3). There is a never-ending issue concerning the responsibility of businesses to the society apart from earning a profit for its owners and shareholders (Benn & Bolton, 2011, p.ix). In the en d, the point at issue is the benefit that a business will reap out of doing well (Benn & Bolton, 2011, p.ix). This concern again raises another issue in respect to how CSR is used for profit maximisation instead of using it as a tool to recognising the business’ societal, moral obligations (Benn & Bolton, 2011, p.ix). The real motive of a business into incorporating CSR initiatives is, therefore, altercated by the academes and business practitioners (Benn & Bolton, 2011, p.ix). The concept of CSR has gone a long way of acceptance and rejection prior to becoming a fundamental area of concern for business practitioners (Crane, et al., 2008, p.3). Studies have been conducted through the years, which have attempted to explain CSR in the context of different types of business. In the study of Knox and Maklan (2006), the increasing impact of CSR to leading multinational firms was examined. Knox and Maklan (2006, p. 4) argue that the notion of a business being socially responsible i s already acknowledged by a majority of people. Still, they believe that the problem lies in the fact that no systematic framework is there to guide firms in understanding the connection between business investments and on how this can be used to perform social responsibilities (Knox & Maklan, 2006, p.34). Knox and Maklan (2006) have contended that different companies must apply a varying approach to CSR that is standard to their business type in

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Assessment Assignment

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Assessment - Assignment Example This will be determined by people who will make purchases from the online program The first product is an online shopping service utilised by online shoppers. Consumers are able to analyse prices of different products and make a purchase. This product will save the customer time; buying many goods at once and money because customers can compare prices from different retailers and pick one that best suits them. The second activity is a juice bar (Crumpton, 2012). The bar will offer a variety of mixtures of fruit juices that are best described as tantalising. The juice bar targets consumers that are health conscious and are ‘going organic’. With the introduction of internet use in the present day, the mode of shopping is fast changing to e-shopping. Many people prefer to do shopping in the comfort of their homes. This online shopping service will allow the general public, who are the target buyers a chance to not only shop in the comforts of their homes without having to walk to the shopping centres. Many people are now aware that eating healthy will result in better health and they are going organic. The target buyers include all age groups and the entire population who are health conscious. Juice drinking has often logged strong sales in established and evolving markets in even in the face of economic recession; this goes to show that the demand for natural juice is high. For online shopping service, customers will be charged a registration fee. All advertisements that will be received from different products will also be charged a fee to advertise their product. The online shopping service will be promoted by advertising online, in newspapers and televisions. Pricing of the juice will be done according to demand and its availability. Promotion of the wide variety of juice being sold at the juice bar will be done online, using billboards, through newspapers and the

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Montessori Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Montessori - Assignment Example ults for them to emulate; the challenge in raising infants may lie on the supervision of adults, but many adults don’t have the right knowledge on how to train up the infants 5. stacking rings – develop child’s motor, cognitive skills and self-confidence; object permanence box – allows child to discover varying concepts in the physical world; shape puzzles – will incorporate cognitive ability 100. identifying colors (color booklet, sense of visual), identifying parts of the body (parts of the body, sense of visual), identifying objects by feel (objects in paper bag, sense of touch), identifying sources of sound (cassette and poster, sense of hearing) 103. Primary goal: improve sensorial capability; secondary goal: to expose the child to sensorial experience; material: object permanence box; Presentation: allow the child to explore the box and the objects inside 1. throwing an apple will remind children that they are wasting what the nature has provided them; preparing other foods from apple can help children evaluate the many things that the earth can provide for human survival 3. slow down and work at your child’s pace – children needs to learn step by step but in a pace associated with his experience in life; share household chores with your child – this is to ensure practical application, training and exposure 26. Parents should guide their children. The positive thing about exposing the child to new technology is learning things in the advance world. It’s also convenient because of easy access. However, technology linked to listening activity may lead to diversion of child’s focus. In addition, this will lead the child to be exposed to other areas not concerning Montessori training. 51. go jump. The boy laughs. She sighs. She eats. She smiles. He nods. He swims. He licks. He smirks. She gives thanks. She said no. she hates it. Go run. Go swim. The bird flies. The dog barks. The cat meows. The rain drops. The sun shines. the wind

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Henry inquiry into taxation and the report recommendation Essay

Henry inquiry into taxation and the report recommendation - Essay Example w, the ‘root and branch’ review into taxation, conducted by the government by its Treasury secretary, Ken Henry whose recommendations to the government would be decisive. The essay will inquire into the causes of Henry review into taxation, the major recommendation of the Henry report and government response to the super profits tax (RSPT). The purpose of the government for reviewing taxation on the financial organisations was to help in making Australia a regional financial centre by taxing managed funds and related services to ensure that conduit income will be tax free in Australia (Thompson, 2010). The major recommendation of the Henry report is to reduce the aggregate number of taxes collected by the government. Out of the 125 taxes 90% collection is realised from only 10 taxes, which has prompted to simplify and introduce the most effective form of taxation reform by raising those 10 taxes to nearly 10% each and erase rest of the 115 taxes (Thompson, 2010). The government response to the recommendation has been straight forward by releasing on May 2, 2010 ‘Stronger, Fairer Simpler’ tax plan. Regarding financial institutions among a number of other recommendations, the government response has been to be selective by not implementing all the recommendations. The Prime-Minister has stated in the press release that ‘some potential misinterpretations of the recommendations...it will not implement at any stage’ (Thompson, 2010). The government response on the super profit tax (RSPT) has been to introduce 40% rate from 1 July 2012 with the RSPT to be derived from company taking the tax rate effectively to 56.8%. It is still not the final outcome as the government has granted one more year to reconsider and hold discussions before implementing the taxes so that there remains no doubt over some crucial details and content of the RSPT (Thompson, 2010). Papandrea has discussed just one aspect of the issue between financial advisors and their clients,

Monday, July 22, 2019

Concepts of Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Concepts of Race and Ethnicity Essay Define the following terms. You may use definitions from the class readings, or from outside sources. If your definitions are from outside sources, cite the source(s) using APA style with in-text citations and a reference list. |Term |Definition | |Ethnicity |a shared cultural heritage, which typically involves common | | |ancestors, language, and religion | |Race |is a socially constructed category of people who share biologi-| | |cally transmitted traits that members of a society define as | | |important. | |Xenophobia |. The fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners. | |Segregation |the physical and social separation of categories of people. | |Assimilation |the process by which minorities gradually adopt cultural | | |patterns from the dominant majority population. | |Pluralism | a state in which people of all racial and ethnic categories | | |have about the same overall social standing | |White privilege | | |Colonialism | | |Racial profiling |in which police or others in power consider race or ethnicity | | |to be, by itself, a sign of probable guilt— illustrates the | | |operation of institutional racism. | Part II: Short Answer Using your course materials, answer the following questions in about 200 words each. Use your own words. Define de facto segregation and de jure segregation, and give an example of each. Which are we most likely to see today? Why? What conclusion do Crutchfeld, Fernandez, and Martinez (2010) come to regarding the presence of bias in the criminal justice system? How has bias in the system changed over time? Give examples of how an individual’s race or ethnicity might impact their experience as a suspect, a perpetrator, and a victim of crime. Describe anti-Chinese immigration sentiment in the 19th century. Compare this to anti-immigration perspectives today. How are they similar? How are they different? Part III: Personal Reflection sing as many words as you consider necessary. Consider the racial and ethnic groups that you belong to. Do you feel that you are knowledgable about the history of those groups? Now consider groups you do not belong to. Is there a group you would like to learn more about? |Worksheet 2 | PAGE 1 | |ETH/125 Version 7 | |. |Worksheet 2 | PAGE 1 | |ETH/125 Version 7 | |.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Potential Impact Of Online Sales To The Company Marketing Essay

Potential Impact Of Online Sales To The Company Marketing Essay Our Company, Houston Incorporated has decided to expand into online sales. The goal is to continue to sell our products in the retail stores located throughout the United States but also establish a presence on the World Wide Web. Your company has recently decided to expand into online sales. The company wishes to continue to sell its products in the retail stores located throughout the United States opportunities available for retail sales and provide a report to your manager which includes the advantages and disadvantages if marketing online, As Marketing Manager, I was tasked to research online marketing opportunities available for retail sales. This report outlines the advantages and disadvantages of internet marketing, the potential impact of online sales to the company, and the requirements for a successful online marketing campaign. Marketing and selling goods online electronically is made possible by software programs that execute the main functions of an e-commerce application. This soft enables product display, online ordering, and online processing. Online marketing encompasses both e-business and e-commerce. E-commerce typical refers to transactions involving the exchange of money such as selling products to customers. E-business is a broader term that includes providing customers with descriptions and specifications for a given product. Online marketing offer many advantages as this report shall show. Having a presence on the World Wide Web offers the opportunity to reach customers not only on a national level but globally. Doing business 7 day a week and 24 hours a day is a reality with online marketing. The gathering and analysis of information gather via online marketing is possible. This information can be used to improve marketing strategies both online and in traditional retail segment. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Increase sales, increased brand recognition coupled with the low cost of operating online leads to increase revenue. These are only a few of the overall impact of online marketing. Executing a comprehensive online marketing plan encompasses virtually the same processes and procedures as traditional marketing. It also requires the establishment of a web site for product display, online ordering, and online payment systems to process payments. The decision to expand into online sales is justified by this research. Expansion into online sales is a much more cost effective mean of growing the company. The recommended model is integration of the traditional retail segment with the new online arm. This is in opposition to establishing a purely online business. The current marketing strategies can be modified to include the online segment and used to promote the website. Introduction The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow. That quote was attributed to Bill Gates, Cofounder of Microsoft. Tomorrow has come and according to an article on Reuters website, Online retail sales in the United States could reach $248.7 billion by 2014, growing 60 percent from 2009. As Marketing Manager, my job is to do market research and develop market strategies. This report will outline the advantages and disadvantages if marketing online, the advantages and disadvantages if marketing online, the potential impact of online sales to the company, and the requirements for a successful online marketing campaign. The goal of online marketing, similar to traditional marketing, is to communicate and provide value to the customer and manage relationships with customers that benefit the company and stakeholders. Online marketing encompasses both e-business and e-commerce. E-commerces typical refers to transactions involving the exchange of money such as selling products to customers. E-business is a broader term that includes providing customers with descriptions and specifications for a given product. Marketing and selling goods online electronically is made possible by software programs that execute the main functions of an e-commerce application. This soft enables product display, online ordering, and online payment processing. The advantages of online marketing, including the ability to reach a larger market, far outweigh the disadvantages. Online selling tends to be very competitive and may necessitate lower pricing. This is one of the few disadvantages. Establishment of a globally presence and increased sales are ways that the company can be impacted. However, having an internet presence does not guarantee success. It requires a comprehensive marketing strategy aimed at attracting new customers to our website. Online marketing has its own process and tools that contribute to the achievement of marketing goals and objectives. . Research Findings Advantages: Similar to traditional business, online marketing presents many advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages of online marketing significantly outweigh its disadvantages. Online marketing can expand the geographic reach of the company by accessing customers in markets where the company does not have a physical presence. In the ecommerce world, doing business around the globe, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day is a reality. (Hossein Bidgoli, 2002) Online Marketing or e-commerce creates the ability to sell virtually any product that can be sold in a traditional retail environment. Nights, weekends, holidays, and time zones are no barriers to e-commerce. Online marketing can also reach customers that for various reasons can not personally visit a traditional retail store. Another advantage of e-commerce is the ability to gather additional information about the customer via tools such as cookies, email, and online surveys. This information can be used to personalize marketing effort s in a way that can lead to higher trade volumes. E-commerce also provides increased flexibility for customers. Customers can make purchases without having to leave the comfort of their homes. The customer does not have to deal with the hassle of parking or the worry of losing contact with their small children presented by traditional retail methods. Shopping tasks can be accomplished from the safety of their homes with a few clicks of a mouse. Of course, increased sales are the first thing people thing about when they consider online market. Market research shows that online sales are trending up despite the current depressed retail market. . Revenue generated by online businesses and the online part of traditional retail businesses exceed $96 billion in 2006, up from $86 billion in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. An added advantage of online marketing is decreased cost. Traditional retail businesses have overhead costs that associated with online marketing. These includ e utilities, insurance, store lease, and labor. Lower overhead cost generally result in lower overall cost and increased revenue. Therefore, online expansion will give the company a globally presence at a relative low cost. Disadvantages: Online shopping is not attractive to all consumers. They cite the loss of social contact experienced when shopping with others. While many researchers do not see any fundamental differences between the traditional and online buying behavior, it is often argued that a new step has been added to the online buying process: the step of building trust or confidence. (Constantinides, 2004) Many consumers are concerned with the privacy and security issues associated with doing business online. Almost 95% of Web users have declined to provide personal information to Web sites at one time or another when asked. (Otto Chung, 2000) Credit card fraud, unwanted solicitations, and use of their information for other than its intended purpose are a few of the reasons cited. The difficulty in attracting customers is another disadvantage to online marketing. That, coupled with increased competition due to the ease of comparative shopping greatly decreases the attractiveness of online marketing. Onlin e consumers can quickly access information from other online businesses and make better decisions. In fact, some websites are designed solely for that purpose. Therefore, online pricing is very competitive. Additionally, online marketing does not afford the consumers the luxury of examining and getting a feel for the quality and fit of merchandise sold online and generally require the seller to have liberal return and refund policies. The lack of after sales service is another concern of online shoppers. Time also is a problem with online marketing in that consumers are not able to take immediate possession of their purchases and are faced with added expense for faster delivery. Potential impact of online sales to the company: The greatest impact to the company may be the establishment of a globally presence. This means company growth at relative low cost. . Online marketing does not require the overhead cost associated with maintaining a brick and mortar store. This results in lower cost, increased efficiency and greater profit margin. Another potential impact, online sales increases in-store sales. Having an online presence leads to increased brand recognition and consequently leads to increased in-store sales. Conversely, not having an online presence means loss of potential valuable customers. Online marketing creates the opportunity to interact with customers. Exchange of information facilitates product and process improvement and can lead to greater customer satisfaction. It also allows for greater flexibility in that website information such as price, product availability, and promotion can be readily adjusted in response to market conditions. Information gathered via online sales information can be used when considering future expansion of the traditional retail operations. Requirements for a successful online marketing campaign Developing a successful online marketing campaign comprises most of the same processes and procedures used in traditional marketing. The company will need to establish goals, objectives, strategies and tactics much like traditional marketing. Likewise, market research is required. When formulating objectives, strategies, and tactics for online marketing product display it is imperative that such customers requirements as ease of use, quick access to product information, and effective distribution networks including order tracking for transparency is addressed. Understanding consumers motivations and limitations to shop online are major consideration in making adequate strategic, technological, and marketing decisions. (Monsuwe, Dellaert, De Ruyter, 2004) This is part of identifying your target audience and determining how to reach it, a very critical step. To attract customers, firms need to offer dynamic content, keep their sites fresh, and to install security devices to protect th eir customers privacy and interests. (Wei, Moreau, Jennings, 2005) Customer retention should also be included in any successful online marketing strategy. Retaining online customers depends on the overall experience when visiting a website, which includes factors such as perceived value and trust (Pitta, Franzak, Fowler, 2006; Wang Head, 2007). In addition, every online business must be able to accept online payment. Customers need a level of confidence with your website and business when making on line payment. Integration between the e-business arm and the traditional business segments helps to promote confidence. (Gay, Charlesworth, Esen, 2007) The reputation of the tradition retail environment can be extended to e-commerce. Likewise, an online presence enhanced the marketability of the traditional business. Traditional firms can adopt a range of strategies to combine offline and online market channels to derive synergies. For example Barnes and Nobles e-business model overla ps its traditional brick and mortal business model. Regardless of whether the merchandise is sold online or in a physical retail outlet, the warehousing operation is the same. (Rich, 2008) Retail companies should also integrate offline and online operations such as allowing customers to order online for pickup at stores. (Steinfield, Adelaar, Liu, 2005) Lastly, print and word of mouth advertisement will be needed to attract customers to the web site. Recommendations Based on research data, the company should expand into the online sales arena by creating an ecommerce arm of our traditional retail operation. Expansion into online sales is a much more cost effective mean of growing the company. The recommended model is integration of the traditional retail segment with the new online arm. This is in opposition to establishing a purely online business. Analysis suggests that firms should tailor their e-commerce approaches to improve service to existing customers in addition to pursuing new customers and markets. (Adelaar, Bouwman, Steinfield, 2004) Integration is advantageous in that perceived shopping risks are lower when a company also provides a physical location. Integrating online and offline operations adds additional cost saving measures such as such as ordering online for pick-up at physical location. . The current marketing strategies should be modified to include the online segment and used to promote the website Conclusion There are advantages and disadvantages to online marketing. While online marketing presents an opportunity for the company to expand its market nationally, even globally, online shopping is very competitive, as consumers have access to comparison shopping. In addition to reaching new markets, online marketing can also improve relationships with existing customers. To be successful, ecommerce websites must be properly designed so that it is easy to use, engages the customer, and provides a pleasant and trusting shopping experience. It must negate all perceived shopping risks such as concerns about giving financial or personal information, and after sale concerns such as refunds and after-sale service. Marketing strategy formulation for ecommerce businesses are very much like traditional marketing. Market research, goals, objectives, strategies and tactics are the making of a successful online marketing campaign. Analysis of the research data indicates that integration of the tradition al brick and mortar operation with an ecommerce business segment is the best method of creating an online presence. Annotated Bibliography Adelaar, T., Bouwman, H., Steinfield, C. (2004). Enhancing customer value through click-and-mortar customer experience. Telematics and Informatics, 21, 167-182. This article explains how traditional retail stores can combine online marketing to increase geographic reach and to improve relationships with existing customers of physical stores. Dr. Thomas Adelaar, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam Business School. Ph.D. in Media and Information Studies, Michigan State University. Awards and Honors include; Winner of the Graduate Office Scholarship Best Ph.D. Research Paper in the Dept. of Telecommunications, Information Studies, and Media, MSU (2004). Dr. Adelaar currently has 7 publications in Academic Journals. Charles Steinfield is a professor and chair in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University. In addition to his faculty position, Steinfield participates with the MSU Eli Broad College of Business Information Tech. Management Program. His research focuses on the organizational and social impacts of new communication technologies. Constantinides, E. (2004). Influencing online consumers behavior: The web experience. Internet Research, 14(2), 111-126. Dr. E. Constantinides conducted research showing that online marketing can increase business for companies at their physical retail locations. Dr. E. Constantinides is and Assistant Professor of Marketing, Netherlands. His research activities focus on strategic and commercial aspects of Ecommerce and E-media, and he is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Social Media Research Center. Gay, R., Charlesworth, A., Esen, R. (2007). Online marketing. New York: Oxford University Press. This book provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of online marketing as well as the techniques that can maximize revenues. Richard Gay is a professor at the Newcastle Business School, North Umbria University. Alan Charlesworth is a Senior Lecturer in marketing and emarketing at the University of Sunderland. Rita Esen is a Law Consultant and Visiting Lecturer at Durham University. Hossein, B. (2002). Electronic commerce: principles and practice. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Academic Press. This book is a four-part overview of electronic commerce. The book provides a balance of theories, applications, and hands-on material. Dr Hossein Bidgoli is a Professor of Management Information Systems. School of Business and Public Administration                California State University, Bakersfield, California Monsuwe (2004). , P., Dellaert, B., De Ruyter, K. (2004). What drives consumers to shop online? A literature review. International Journal of Service Industry Management. Using the technology acceptance model framework, the authors conducted a review of literature and identified website characteristics such as ease of use and usefulness as well as personal consumer traits as critical factors for online shopping. P. Monsuwe is a professor at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. His research focuses on the effects of media on strategy and decision-making processes, such as corporate environmental management. Otto, J., Chung, Q. (2000). A framework for cyber-enhanced retailing. Electronic Markets, 10(3), 185-191. This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of online retailing for companies with existing brick and mortar retail locations, and provides a framework for analyzing whether the company should engage in online retailing. Q.B. Chung is an Associate Professor at Villanova University. He earned a PhD in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as an M.B.A. in Management Information Systems. He has over twenty two published journal articles, numerous published books and is a seminar speaker. J. Otto is an Assistant Professor with many publications involving Management Information Systems and Operations Research and Management Science. Pitta, E., Franzak, F., Fowler, D. (2006). A strategic approach to building online customer loyalty. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 23(7), 421-429. The article integrates previous research to draw the conclusion that customer loyalty to online websites depends on the perception of value as well as emotional factors such as trust. Danielle Fowler, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of Baltimore. She has many awards and grants including The John and Margaret Thompson Professorship in Management Information Systems, and the Presidents Teaching and Learning Initiative Competition. Frank Franzak is a professor with Monash University and Director of Information Systems Honors Program. Steinfield, C., Adelaar, T., Liu, F. (2005). Click and mortar strategies viewed from the web. Electronic Markets, 15(3), 199-212. The authors analyzed retail store websites and found that few engaged in online and offline integration such as allowing customers to order products online for pickup at physical store locations. Dr. Adelaar currently has 7 publications in Academic Journals. Charles Steinfield is a professor and chair in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media at Michigan State University. In addition to his faculty position, Steinfield participates with the MSU Eli Broad College of Business Information Tech. Management Program. His research focuses on the organizational and social impacts of new communication technologies. Wang, F., Head, M. (2007). How can the web help build customer relationships? Information Management, 44(2), 115-129. The authors conducted empirical research to identify the factors critical for building customer relationships online and found that satisfaction, trust, and switching costs determined whether a customer would continue using a website. Dr. Milena Head is an Associate Professor of Information Systems and the Associate Dean at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Canada. Specializing in eBusiness and Human Computer Interaction, she has published over 50 papers in academic journals, books and conferences. Her research interests include trust and adoption in electronic commerce, interface design, mobile commerce, identity theft, cross-cultural issues in electronic commerce and human computer interaction, e-retailing, and web navigation. Dr. Fang Wang is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the School of Business Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. Her research interests include e-commerce, e-marketing and marketing strategy. She has published in journals such as Journal of Consumer Marketing, Journal of Comparative International Management, Internet Research, and Journal of Business Strategies. Wei, Y., Moreau, L., Jennings N. (2005). A market-based approach to recommender systems. ACM Transactions on Information Systems, 25(3), 227-266. The research described in the article uses simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of recommender systems for personalizing customer experiences and customer retention. Yan Zheng Wei is Director of The Department of Broadband Wireless Management, Shenzhen, China. Dr. Nicholas Jennings is an Assistant Professor at The School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, UK.

Fragrances Product In India Cultural Studies Essay

Fragrances Product In India Cultural Studies Essay Culture is defined as the social and political forces that influence the growth of a human. It is very important to study on the culture of the product targeting country, because culture sufficiently influences the consumers in many ways. Therefore we should introduce the culture first. Indian culture is diverse, rich and as a result unique in its special way. Manners, ways to communicate with one another are one of the important components of Indian culture. Even though Indian have accepted modern means of living, improved lifestyle, Indian values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A human can change his way of clothing, way of eating and living but the values in a human always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted into Indian hearts, mind, body and soul which we receive from Indian culture. The culture of India is one of the oldest and exclusive cultures in the world. In India, there is amazing cultural diversity throughout the country. The South, North, and Northeast have their own distinct cultures and almost every state has carved out its own cultural niche. There is hardly any culture in the world that is as varied and unique as India. India is a vast country, having variety of geographical features and climatic conditions. India is home to some of the most ancient civilizations, including four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.  [1]   A combination of these factors has resulted into an exclusive culture- Indian culture. Indian culture is a composite mixture of varying styles and influences. In the matter of cuisine, for instance, the North and the South are totally different. Festivals in India are characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, prayers and rituals. In the realm of music, there are varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music. The classical tradition of music in India includes the Carnatic and the Hindustani music. India, a place of diversity, is fascinating with its ancient and complex culture, dazzling contrasts and breathtaking physical beauty. Among the most remarkable features of India, is the arts and culture in particular. The Indian culture has persisted through the ages precisely for the reasons of antiquity, unity, continuity and the universality of its nature. Thus within the ambience of Indian culture one can identify Indian Music, Indian Dance, Indian Cinema, Indian Literature, Indian Cuisine Indian Fairs and Festivals and so on. Indian culture treats guests as god and serves them and takes care of them as if they are a part and parcel of the family itself. Even though when Indian dont have anything to eat, the guests are never left hungry and are always looked after by the members of the family. Respect one another is another lesson that is taught from the books of Indian culture.  [2]  Helpful nature is another striking feature in Indian culture. Indian culture tells us to multiply and distribute joy and happiness and share sadness and pain. It tells Indian that Indian can develop co-operation and better living amongst themselves and subsequently make this world a better place to live in. Nowadays the Indian Culture has crossed the geographic boundaries and has extended globally. No matter Indian or a person from any other country, will be attracted by the exuberant Indian Culture and traditions. 1.1 Life philosophy and Religion of Indian Religion influence http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/religion.jpg Figure 1 Religions in India  [3]   Religions have played the most crucial role in Indian life values. Besides Christianity and Islam, all the other four major religions practiced in India, namely Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism, were born in India and have exerted a powerful combined impact on the Indian thought and philosophy of life. After centuries evolution, Hinduism is the majority religion with 80.5% of the population of India. Islam (13.4%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism (0.8%) and Jainism (0.4%) are the other minor religions followed by the people of India according to the 2001 census. A religion can be defined as a system of belief in the supernatural, omnipotent and omnipresent power, which controls the destiny of humankind, called God, and who is entitled to obedience and worship. Religion is the personal relationship of humans with God and hence there could be said to be as many religions as individuals. However, some propounded faiths are followed by groups of people and these have come to be called as Religions in common parlance. The contribution of different religious faiths practiced in India to values related to peace and harmony are summarized below: Hinduism has not been proposed by any single individual but has evolved through the ages. As an ethical religion it enunciates four aims of life (a) Dharma (observance of religious and ethical laws); (b) Arth (living an honest life); (c) Kama (satisfying legitimate desires); and (d) Moksha (attaining salvation through emancipation from birth and death and unity with God. Hinduism believes that through moral life humans are elevated to greater spiritual heights. Towards this end, the practice of Yam and Niyam are prescribed. Yama implies: (a) Ahimsa (non -injury to others); (b) Satya (truth); (c) Asteya (non-stealing); (d) Brahmacharya (celibacy during the first 25 years of life); and (e) Apar Graha (non-acquisitiveness).Niyam implies: (a) Shaucha (cleanliness); (b) Tapas (awakening of vital forces); (c)Santosh (contentment); and (d) Swadhyaya (self study/analysis). Shanti (peace) is the highest craving of all Hindus. This includes peace within and peace without. After every ceremony or religious recitation, Hindus pronounce Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti! i.e., peace to men, peace to forces of nature, and peace to the entire universe. http://www.thekidswindow.co.uk/images/CMScontent/Image/hinduism.jpg http://xaxii.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mughaltop.png Islam believes the following behaviour-based values: (a) Honesty; (b) Meekness; (c) Politeness; (d) Forgiveness; (e) Goodness; (f) Courage; (g) Veracity; (h) Patience; and (i) Sympathy. Christianity pursue: (a) Love of God and fellow humans; (b) Good conduct for a happy life; (c) Not losing ones soul for worldly gain; (d) Worship of God and service to humankind; (e) Repentance for pardon; (f) Justice, fortitude and temperance; and (g) Avoidance of vices, and sins.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuE4FVTRBujwtx3hSrAJ57s-Hcv4wVmCPBpDKWb2R7u9muCrz8CvtgiaYuzsQRAYLVxSgTuCuW5gRViCzIa3vuPXNn7prB795Fo5A4tEuSv4Hw6mP0zE7Wgj5QxHR4OLOpIoavjRL0Ag/s1600/nat+geo+india+2.jpg http://news.restoringthepride.com/image/r4249448191.jpg Sikhism advocates the following moral values: (a) Truthfulness; (b) Humility; (c) Charity; (d) Dignity of labor; (e) Character of a saint and the strength of a soldier; and; (f) Noble deeds. Buddhism believes: (a) that right understanding, thought and speech, together with moral peaceful conduct, mental discipline and wisdom, eliminate the causes of suffering in life; (b) that material welfare is only a means and not the end; (c) that a pure life, based on moral and spiritual principles, leads to happiness; (d) that kindness, goodness, charity and truth win over their opposite sentiments; (e) that compassion should be the driving force of action; and (f) that contentment and tolerance are keys to peace and happiness. True renunciation, according to Buddhism, does not mean running away from the world. It is considered more courageous and praiseworthy to practice Buddhism by living among fellow human beings, while helping and serving them. http://www.chakranews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/jainism-agamas.jpg Jainism proposes the following values: (a) Live and let live; (b) Souls within us are immortal and potentially divine; (c) Self-discipline, moral conduct and self-purification are the goals for spiritual perfection; and (d) Individuals, communities, nations, races.  [4]   Religion tolerance Before proceeding further discussion we should also discuss the often repeated statement that all religions have mutual respect for each other. This seems that natural as we are told that all religions lead to a common goal unity with the Supreme. These thoughts are indeed important. But what is it that inculcates respect about a certain thing? What is the meaning of respect? Respect is defined as high opinion or regarded as for a high quality. In itself it implies recognition of superiority in the thing that is respected. One cannot have respect for something inferior. When a member of one religion claims that he respects another religion, he obviously does not recognize the other religion higher than his own. And if he does consider another religion as superior to his own, it is but natural that he should get himself converted to the other religion, but he does not do so implies that the word respect for him does not connote recognition of superiority or regard for a higher quality. What the term respect implies is tolerance and non-interference as regards other religions. Again, if one religion respects other religions, there would be no conversions into that religion. We know that almost every religion wants to convert members of other religions to it and every religion considers itself the true faith, while other religions are untrue and their members are either pagans, infidels or heretics. Hence it would be inconsistent with the true and evident spirit of religion to say that one religion respects others, what can utmost be said is that while some religions tolerate other religions, most others do not. In my opinion, it needs to be conceded that in India, the pantheistic character of Hinduism, the religion of the majority, has been conducive to the survival of religious tolerance.  [5]   Family http://www.afpionline.com/siteimages/indian-family.jpg Indian family culture is regarded as the most important part of its culture. A family typically has a powerful influence over choices made by its individual members, and of their communities. In India, people learn the essential idea of cultural life within the bosom of a family. In most of the country, the basic units of society are the patrilineal family unit and wider kinship groupings. The most widely desired residential unit is the joint family, ideally consisting of three or four patrilineally related generations, all living under one roof, working, eating, worshiping, and cooperating together in mutually beneficial social and economic activities. Patrilineal joint families include men related through the male line, along with their wives and children. Most young women expect to live with their husbands relatives after marriage, but they retain important bonds with their natal families. Despite of the continuous and increasing impact of urbanization, secularization, and Westernization, the traditional joint household, both in ideal and in practice, remains the primary social force in the lives of most Indians. Loyalty to family is a deeply held ideal for almost everyone. Large families tend to be flexible and well-suited to modern Indian life, especially for the 67 percent of Indians who are farmers or agricultural workers or work in related activities. As in most primarily agricultural societies, few individuals can hope to achieve economic security without being part of a cooperating group of kinsmen. The joint family is also common in cities, where kinship ties can be crucial to obtaining scarce jobs or financial assistance. Numerous prominent Indian families, such as the Tatas, Birlas, and Sarabhais, retain joint family arrangements even as they work together to control some of the countrys largest financial empires. The joint family is an ancient Indian group, but it has made some changes in the late twentieth century. Although several generations living together is the ideal, actual living arrangements vary widely depending on region, social status, and economic circumstance. Many Indians live in joint families that deviate in various ways from the ideal, and many live in nuclear familiesa couple with their unmarried childrenas is the most common pattern in the West. However, even where the ideal joint family is seldom found, there are often strong networks of kinship ties through which economic assistance and other benefits are obtained. Not infrequently, clusters of relatives live very near each other, easily available to respond to the give and take of kinship obligations. Even when relatives cannot actually live in close proximity, they typically maintain strong bonds of kinship and attempt to provide each other with economic help, emotional support, and other benefits. As joint families become ever larger, they are inevitably divided into smaller units, passing through a predictable cycle over time. The breakup of a joint family into smaller units does not necessarily represent the rejection of the joint family ideal. Rather, it is usually a response to a variety of conditions, including the need for some members to move from village to city, or from one city to another to take advantage of employment opportunities. Splitting of the family is often blamed on quarrelling womentypically, the wives of coresident brothers. Although womens disputes may, in fact, lead to family division, mens disagreements do so as well. Despite cultural ideals of brotherly harmony, adult brothers frequently quarrel over land and other matters, leading them to decide to live under separate roofs and divide their property. Frequently, a large joint family divides after the demise of elderly parents, when there is no longer a single authority figure to hold the family fact ions together. After division, each new residential unit, in its turn, usually becomes joint when sons of the family marry and bring their wives to live in the family home.  [6]   Variations in Family Structure Some family types bear special mention because of their unique qualities. In the sub-Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh, polygyny is commonly practiced. There, among Hindus, a simple polygynous family is composed of a man, his two wives, and their unmarried children. Various other family types occur there, including the supplemented subpolygynous householda woman whose husband lives elsewhere (perhaps with his other wife), her children, plus other adult relatives. Polygyny is also practiced in other parts of India by a tiny minority of the population, especially in families in which the first wife has not been able to bear children. Among the Buddhist people of the mountainous Ladakh District of Jammu and Kashmir, who have cultural ties to Tibet, fraternal polyandry is practiced, and a household may include a set of brothers with their common wife or wives. This family type, in which brothers also share land, is almost certainly linked to the extreme scarcity of cultivable land in the Himalayan region, because it discourages fragmentation of holdings. The peoples of the northeastern hill areas are known for their matriliny, tracing descent and inheritance in the female line rather than the male line. One of the largest of these groups, the Khasisan ethnic or tribal people in the state of Meghalayaare divided into matrilineal clans; the youngest daughter receives almost all of the inheritance including the house. A Khasi husband goes to live in his wifes house. Khasis, many of whom have become Christian, have the highest literacy rate in India, and Khasi women maintain notable authority in the family and community. Perhaps the best known of Indias unusual family types is the traditional Nayar taravad , or great house. The Nayars are a cluster of castes in Kerala. High-ranking and prosperous, the Nayars maintained matrilineal households in which sisters and brothers and their children were the permanent residents. After an official prepuberty marriage, each woman received a series of visiting husbands in her room in the taravad at night. Her children were all legitimate members of the taravad . Property, matrilineally inherited, was managed by the eldest brother of the senior woman. This system, the focus of much anthropological interest, has been disintegrating in the twentieth century, and in the 1990s probably fewer than 5 percent of the Nayars live in matrilineal taravads . Like the Khasis, Nayar women are known for being well-educated and powerful within the family.  [7]   Malabar rite Christians, an ancient community in Kerala, adopted many practices of their powerful Nayar neighbors, including naming their sons for matrilineal forebears. Their kinship system, however, is patrilineal. Kerala Christians have a very high literacy rate, as do most Indian Christian groups. Adulthood A young married couple starts to take adult responsibilities. These include work inside and outside of the home, childbearing and childrearing, developing and maintaining social relationships, fulfilling religious obligations, and enhancing family prosperity and prestige as much as possible. The young husband usually remains resident with his natal family, surrounded by well-known relatives and neighbors. The young bride, however, is typically thrust into a strange household, where she is expected to follow ideal patterns of chaste and cheerfully obedient behavior. Ideally, the Hindu wife should honor her husband as if he were her personal god. Through her marriage, a woman becomes an auspicious wife, adorned with bangles and amulets designed to protect her husbands life and imbued with ritual powers to influence prosperity and procreation. At her wedding, the Hindu bride is likened to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, in symbolic recognition of the fact that the grooms patrilineage can increase and prosper only through her fertility and labors. Despite this simile, elegantly stated in the nuptial ritual, the young wife is pressed into service as the most subordinate member of her husbands family. If any misfortunes happen to befall her affinal family after her arrival, she may be blamed as the bearer of bad luck. Not surprisingly, some young women find adjusting to these new circumstances extremely upsetting. A small percentage experience psychological distress so severe that they seem to be possessed by outspoken ghosts and spirits. In these difficult early days of a marriage, and later on throughout her life, a woman looks to her natal kin for moral and often economic support. Although she has become part of another household and lineage, she depends on her natal relativesespecially her brothersto back her up in a variety of circumstances. A wide range of long visits home, ritual obligations, gifts, folklore, and songs reflect the significance of a womans lifelong ties to her blood relatives. By producing children, especially highly valued sons, and, ultimately, becoming a mother-in-law herself, a woman gradually improves her position within the conjugal household. In motherhood the married woman finds social approval, economic security, and emotional satisfaction. A man and his wife owe respect and obedience to his parents and other senior relatives. Ideally, all cooperate in the joint family enterprise. Gradually, as the years pass, members of the younger generation take the place of the older generation and become figures of authority and respect. As this transition occurs, it is generally assumed that younger family members will physically care for and support elders until their demise. In their adult years, men and women engage in a wide variety of tasks and occupations strongly linked to socioeconomic status, including caste membership, wealth, place of residence, and many other factors. In general, the higher the status of a family, the less likely its members are to engage in manual labor and the more likely its members are to be served by employees of lower status. Although educated women are increasingly working outside the home, even in urbane circles some negative stigma is still attached to womens employment. In addition, students from high-status families do not work at temporary menial jobs as they do in many Western countries. People of low status work at the many menial tasks that high-status people disdain. Poor women cannot afford to abstain from paid labor, and they work alongside their menfolk in the fields and at construction projects. In low-status families, women are less likely than high-status women to unquestioningly accept the authority of men and even of elders because they are directly responsible for providing income for the family. Among Sweepers, very low-status latrine cleaners, women carry out more of the traditional tasks than do men and hold a relatively less subordinate position in their families than do women of traditional high-status families. Such women are, nonetheless, less powerful in the society at large than are women of economically prosperous high-status families, who control and influence the control of more assets than do poor women. Along with economically supporting themselves, their elders, and their children, adults must maintain and add to the elaborate social networks upon which life depends. Offering gracious hospitality to guests is a key ingredient of proper adult behavior. Adults must also attend to religious matters, carrying out rites intended to protect their families and communities. In these efforts, men and women constantly work for the benefit of their kin groups, castes, and other social units.  [8]   Hierarchy India is a hierarchical society. Within Indian culture, whether in the north or the south, Hindu or Muslim, urban or village, virtually all things, people, and groups of people are ranked according to various essential qualities. If one is attuned to the theme of hierarchy in India, one can discern it everywhere. Although India is a political democracy, in daily life there is little advocacy of or adherence to notions of equality. http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20120502-638px-Pyramid_of_Caste_system_in_India.png Figure 2 The hierarchy of the India sociaty Castes and caste-like groups, those quintessential groups, with which almost all Indians are associated or are ranked. Within most villages or towns, everyone knows the relative rankings of each locally represented caste, and peoples behavior toward one another is constantly shaped by this knowledge. Between the extremes of the very high and very low castes, however, there is sometimes disagreement on the exact relative ranking of castes clustered in the middle. Castes are primarily associated with Hinduism but also exist among other Indian religious groups. Muslims sometimes expressly deny that they have castesthey state that all Muslims are brothers under Godbut observation of Muslim life in various parts of India reveals the existence of caste like groups and clear concern with social hierarchy. Among Indian Christians, too, differences in caste are acknowledged and maintained. Throughout India, individuals are also ranked according to their wealth and power. For example, there are big men (bare admi , in Hindi) and little men (chhote admi ) everywhere. Big men sit confidently on chairs, while little men come before them to make requests, either standing or crouching down on their haunches, certainly not presuming to sit beside a man of high status as an equal. Even men of nearly equal status who might share a string cot to sit on take their places carefullythe higher-ranking man at the head of the cot, the lower-ranking man at the foot. Within families and kinship groupings, there are many distinctions of hierarchy. Men outrank women of the same or similar age, and senior relatives outrank junior relatives. Several other kinship relations involve formal respect. For example, in northern India, a daughter-in-law of a household shows deference to a daughter of a household. Even among young siblings in a household, there is constant acknowledgment of age differences: younger siblings never address an older sibling by name, but rather by respectful terms for elder brother or elder sister. However, an older sibling may address the younger by name. Even in a business or academic setting, where colleagues may not openly espouse traditional observance of caste or class ranking behavior, they may set up fictive kinship relations, addressing one another by kinship terms reflecting family or village-style hierarchy. For example, a younger colleague might respectfully address an older colleague as chachaji (respected fathers younger brother), gracefully acknowledging the superior position of the older colleague.  [9]   What India Culture Today is Iike http://mychardikalalife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/420bollywood-4200.jpg?w=420 India culture today was influenced by the ancient culture of India, but something new is happening that is stirring up differences in Indian society. While Indias traditions and core values are pretty much the same as ever, some aspects of the culture have changed drastically. For one thing, younger generations have become more independent and have accepted new ideas from western cultures. For example, sexual expression and display of affection have been kept behind closed doors for the most part in India many past generations, while these things have been culturally accepted in the U.S. and other western countries for a long time now. The older Indian generations still consider it taboo for a man and woman to hold each others hands in public, while younger couples have their own ideas of what is acceptable in India culture today. Essentially, the older generations are beginning to realize that Indias youths are a new and different generation and that they must accept these differences rather than disown their kids. Another visible change in India culture today can be found in Indian films. Mumbai is like Indias Los Angeles, California or New York City. Its the headquarters for production of many of the famous Indian Bollywood Movies. These fantastic films are an expression of Indian art and are filled with great music, amazing dancing, and Indian celebrities. In the past, Bollywood films were pretty conservative in regards to the amount of skin they would reveal and the body language that dance scenes displayed. However, in the last decades, the dancing in Bollywood Films has become much more provocative and the clothing has become much racier than in films of the past. The outfits often look like something you might see on the U.S. show dancing with the Stars. Another change to the traditional culture in India involves arranged marriages. Traditionally, parents found a marriage partner for their son or daughter and would arrange a marriage between the two. In some cases, a man and a woman were promised to one another in their teens and had no say in the decision. Many times, the bride and groom-to-be never actually met until their wedding day! Arranged marriages were popular for hundreds of years. This was in part because pressure from family members was so strong, but mostly because this type of marriage was deeply ingrained in the culture in India. Another factor was that divorce was considered so taboo in India. Many couples stayed together even when unhappy. Flash forward to today, perceived independence brought change. While arranged marriages still exist, they have mutated. India culture today allows young men and women have more freedom of choice. Now many youths pick who they will marry, and most certainly have a chance to meet their future life partner. When Indian families attempt to arrange marriages today, things are done differently. Nowadays, parents of the young man or woman will allow their kids to meet potential mates in advance. If there is not a reciprocal liking between the two, they may decline and meet other candidates. These meetings are like auditions, or speed-dates. The difference being that your family is there with you. Can you say awkward? Well, its better to be uncomfortable for a potentially chemistry-free meeting, than be stuck in a prearranged marriage that may lack chemistry and make a person miserable. Another factor for changes to Indian culture today is the influence of western culture. Many young men and women are sent to the United States, or other countries, to study and to acquire jobs. While away from India, they experience new rights of passage, independence and accept new cultural ideas. Plus, the internet has allowed people from different countries and cultural backgrounds to connect with one another, and to keep up on global events. Its nearly impossible for anyone to be kept in the dark about other cultures or whats going on in the world, given current technologies.  [10]   Bottom line is that India culture today is different from what it used to be, but Indias core traditions and cultural values mostly remain intact. Most important, the Indian culture today is still rich, beautiful and accepting of other cultural beliefs. 1.2 Standards of Beauty in India This section will contain some information about beauty and perfume in India. The main focus will be beauty and fragrance culture for women, given the explained target group. In the present day, the urban Indian woman has a cacophony of voices telling her how she should look, from television and Bollywood to fashion magazines to her family. Depending on the woman, the messages she is hearing may vary significantly from each other. As such, it is necessary to go straight to the sources-advertisements, television, magazines, and the women themselves-to determine what Indian women believe is beautiful, and, by extension, what appearance Indian women strive to attain. It is reasonable to believe that the issues discussed here are similar to those experienced by many urban Indian women, but the rural experience, and even that of women in smaller or more traditional urban center, may be significantly different. Still, in most areas where television and similar mediums have penetrated, Indian women are likely to be absorbing some of the same messages.  [11]   à ¥Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¾Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ãƒ §Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚ ¨Ã‚ ¼Ã… ¡ à ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ °Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¦Ãƒ §Ã… ¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¥Ã‚ ³Ãƒ ¦Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ®Ã‚ ¡Ãƒ §Ã‚ ¾Ã… ½Ãƒ ¨Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ Rename.d ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° à ¨Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¹Ã‚ Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ £Ã‚ ° à ¨Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ¯Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¸Ã…  Ãƒ §Ã… ¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¹Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ±Ã¢â‚¬ ¹~à ¦-†¡Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬Å" Ãƒ ©Ã‹Å"  The most important aspect of skin in India is, of course, a clear complexion. This feature is so important to the imagining of a beautiful Indian woman that it is emphasized in places ranging from the predictable fashion magazines to the more unexpected job advertisement.[30]However, the far

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Essay --

Many animals depend on different environments such as lakes, oceans or the forest in order to survive. However due to human intervention such as pollution of the ocean, or heavy deforestation, many animals are at the risk of extinction. One such example is known as the Gundlach Hawk which due to deforestation is currently on the endangered species list. Due to it being on the list, conservation attempts are being made in order to keep the animal alive and save it from extinction. To begin with, The Gundlach hawk was discovered and is only located on the island of Cuba. Before heavy human intervention, the Gundlach hawk was located commonly throughout Cuba however in present day, the Gundlach hawk can only be found in five isolated locations. Two of the larger populations current live in the eastern half of Cuba while the three smaller populations are distributed along the western half. Also the Gundlach hawk also is no very restricted to any particular habitat which allows them to live in forests, swamps or wooded coasts. However since it is a very secretive creature, it makes it v...

Friday, July 19, 2019

Falstaff :: essays research papers

Romanticism, as stated in the American Heritage Electronic Dictionary is, "An artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions." Falstaff is the ideal romantic character. In an article written by Harry T. Baker titled, "The Two Falstaffs" Baker writes against all the critics who claim that the Falstaff from Henry IV parts I and II is a different character then the Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor. He believes that, "although, as the critics declare, Falstaff is not himself, this is due to the [change in] situation, not to the inconsistency of character portrayal." In Henry IV parts I and II we see Falstaff as the romantic character that is stated in the definition above, defying everything that the Classical character, Prince Hal, stands for and believes.. He refuses to take life seriously. He believes that "War is as much of a joke to him as a drinking bout at the Boar's Head." He uses people solely for his own purposes, either for money or for food and drink. He is rude and crude to all those around him and is one of the best liars who continually gets caught in his lies but makes new ones to cover for the old failed ones. Yet Baker states that, "His presence of mind and quickness of retort are always superb; his impudence is almost sublime. Yet the man thus corrupt, thus despicable, makes himself necessary to the prince that despises him, by the most pleasing of all qualities, perpetual gaiety. Falstaff creates around his capacious bulk a sort of Utopia which frees us temporarily from the worries and troubles of the actual wo rld. What does it matter that Falstaff ridicules chivalry, honor, truth-telling, and bravery in battle? He is not to be taken seriously...he is a wholly comic character." At the end of Henry IV part II we can see what happens to Falstaff when he is surrounded by reality, he is caught off guard and is out of place. Baker states that when Falstaff is entangle with the realities of life "he cannot shine." We see this first at the coronation of Hal, once his friend in mischief, when Falstaff is told, quite bluntly by Hal that " I know thee not, old man.