Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry - Research Paper Example He makes big assertions from the beginning, the he sees in all things a â€Å"simple, compact, well-joined scheme† (Section 2) and so on time and place â€Å"avail not† (section 3) an inspirational claim of harmony, solidarity and unity in the world and all through time. The central purpose of the poem is to communicate this argument and sense of balance and unity, not just to explain it but, to express it in the most direct route (Coffman). They say that a person can go beyond individual identity, change and time through shared human nature and experience, through the physical world itself and through works of art, Whitman’s Crossing Brooklyn Bridge being an example of works of art that talks about how humans can live in harmony and unity in the world and throughout life. The idea of art being a means of rising above time is on that Whitman’s poem, ‘Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry’ shares with other poems like Ode on a Grecian Urn by Keats. This argument is made to obtain an exciting and kinesthetic excellence that other similar poets have not been able to do in comparison to Whitman (Cavitch). Critics who have commented about how the poem is able to make a sense of movement and motion and how the linguistics and imagery used in the poem seem to be moving and flowing. The kind of experience about life that Whitman talks about and captured therefore seems to be more like a motion picture than a statue. The author also includes distinctive lines and quotes which talk about life’s struggles and weaknesses as a theme in the poem. In the line â€Å"The dark threw its patches down upon me also† (section 6), the poem expresses another way in which Whitman finds unity and harmony across time. At first it can be seen that the dark patches refer to â€Å"curious abrupt questionings† (section 5) that rouse within the author. After the dark patches,

Bobs Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 18

Bobs Dilemma - Essay Example As the discussion stresses, employees who wanted to further their careers at the company had to work hard and keep family out of it. If Bob would take his paternity leave, his teammates would have to fill in for him, which he is afraid would create resentment. Additionally, he is worried that it will harm his career. Bob decided to take the advice of his colleagues on the issue. Mike, his married teammate, told him that the job’s structure required one to be quiet regarding family needs if one wanted to move up and talked to him about the use and abuse of the policies. Manuel, who is his best friend and single, is of the belief that those without children face discrimination. Judy, a 38-year-old single mum, was of the opinion that the uses of benefits made an individual seem less dedicated and affected their performance appraisals. Finally, Jessica, who is a recent college graduate, opined that company policy provisions are there to be used. One communication theory that appli es in this case is formal communication vs. informal communication. Communication involves sharing of information for purposes such as influencing, motivating, persuading and informing. Formal communication is distributed across an organization in an organized manner downwards flowing from executives regarding company policy and upward from the staff in the form of reports and data. This kind of information is well planned and established. Informal communication, on the other hand, works to satisfy emotional and social needs without basis on the positions that individuals hold in the organization. The most common term for it is grapevine and is considered as rumor or gossip. Information flowing through this channel can be exaggerated or deleted, causing inaccuracies. Employees use this channel when they feel vulnerable, such as in this case where Bob is searching for help on his issue by talking to colleagues.

The effect of BRIC countries on the Triad

The effect of BRIC countries on the Triad The United States, Japan and the European Union have long been regarded as the leading economic powers in the world. Referred to as à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“The Triadà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, this group of nations represents the largest economic power bloc in the world. With strong economic controls, they are able to grow their economies in measured steps. This is in stark contrast to the growth of many BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries whose growth is rapid and often uneven in both tempo and regional development (Dhaval 2010). The United Kingdom, traditionally allied with the Triad, has both opportunities and threats from the emerging BRIC nations. These include challenges to existing industries within the United Kingdom itself and also in competition with usual export markets for their goods, prompting GDP growth. However, with the competition also come expanded markets and niches where the United Kingdom may be able to compete to sell goods. The different sectors of the United Kingdom will be affected by the power shift in different ways. The main sectors will have to compete for raw materials in an increasingly competitive market, which will cause prices to rise. However, the services and technology sector, especially in the areas of software development and higher education may well experience a boom, as they are in high demand, require an educated work force and do not rely on primary resources (An Overview of the BRIC Economies 2010). The well educated middle class demographic could do well from such a boom. Overall, however, the BRIC economies represent a rising threat to the stability of the global economy and to international trade. While the Triad have undergone their own trials, with the Global Financial Crisis, Greek bailouts and Japanese à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“Lost Decadeà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, they have at least managed to some degree. With the possible exception of China, the rest of the BRIC lack sufficient controls over monetary and fiscal policy to correct the problems that might befall them. You may think that it is good to see the BRICs gaining power. It means that as these nations become more prosperous nations they can help to address global problems. Who wouldnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t like it if China, India, and Russia started to clean the oceans and feed the starving nations of Africa? That however is the problem with the emerging BRICs. These countries usually do not find it in their best interest to assist in solving global problems. They prefer not to get involved in things that do not benefit themselves. Many of the BRICs prefer to use old Cold War methods of operating. They find it easier and more profitable to say they are like the United States and care for their citizens in public, and oppress them in private; than to generally make life for the average citizen better. Nations such as China send their citizens to work camps for tweets, and are some of the biggest non regulated polluters in the world (Associated Press 2010). OVERVIEW: The United Kingdom business environment is beginning to change. The current global economic troubles are starting to affect business within the UK business community. There has been a power shift from the established Triad of the United States, European Union, and Japan; to the emerging economies (BRICs) of China, India and several smaller nations. It is hard to say if this power shift is good or bad. Some growth for the BRICs is a good thing. The increase in the economic power of emerging nations will allow them to help their own countries and to increase the trade of global goods. This is beneficial to the world as a whole. However, the current rapid growth they are experiencing today is very dangerous. With the BRICsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ rapid growth and less need for international trade, nations such as the UK can be facing tough times. The business environment in the United Kingdom especially is at a great risk due to the declining powers of the current Triad. The Triad of economic power; that has held the economy in not only the UK but the whole world together since the end of the Cold War, is starting to lose its grip on the world economy. The growth in foreign economic power is leading to increasing strain on global prices on raw materials. This then leads to strain on every business in the UK. Due to this increasing stress and uncertainty in the markets, the UK is rapidly approaching uncertain times. Industries such as airlines and other transportation services are already suffering due to high global oil prices. It is possible to see why there is concern for a loss in trade that can be brought about by the growing BRICs. This is all being compounded by a decrease in growth and a troubling global economy. While the current forecasts for the United Kingdom business economy look bleak, there is still time to turn things around. The governing power of the UK may be able to do something to stabilize the economy, and protect the business infrastructure. But, with the government struggling to sustain the economy with massive bailouts, and economic manipulation; things are not looking good for business in the UK. MAIN REPORT: With emerging economies (BRICs) such as China, India, Brazil and Russia; it may seem like there are new world powers that can assist in the stabilization of the global economy. However that point of view is only for the short-sighted, who neglect to see the economic strain that is placed on the global economy. With the recent bail out of Greece and the massive 85 billion euro bail out of Ireland, the UK is in a tough economic predicament (Davis 2010) (Irish Republic 85bn euro bail-out agreed 2010). This predicament is caused by the unstable and rapid growth of these BRICs. The growth of these emerging economies is not regulated and controlled like the Triads, and this leads to a dangerous and unstable economy. Countries such as China which plans to raise their GDP from 1.54% to 2.5 % by 2020, is one of the most dangerous (Narendra 2010). China as one of the fastest growing economies in the world can be seen as a threat to global stability. With their highly unstable growth, and unregulated economy, it is only matter of time before China starts a ripple effect that will devastate the UK economy (Dixon 2010). With the shifting of power from the US and UK toward China at an alarming rate, China is quickly becoming a massive economic force. With the shift in economic power, nations such as China have far less need to export goods to outside nations and less need to purchase imports from other nations. This is leading to economic troubles in the United States. This in turn, causes economic troubles for the UK. With BRICs increasing their self reliance and lessoning their dependence on foreign nations, the economic strain will drastically increase in the UK in the long run. This can be seen in various goods that have recently seen high prices not seen in decades, such as the price of raw sugar (Plummer 2009). This increase in raw material prices leads to increased prices for processed materials, which causes increases in the cost of living (Verma 2010). [See Figure 1] With the increased cost of living and the economic power shifting to unstable foreign powers, the UK is quickly approaching uncertain economic times. With the increase in price of raw materials, business in the UK is starting to suffer. While it may seem that the worst is over, the UK auto industry is reporting an estimated increase of 160bn euro in the cost of vehicle components by 2020. While the increase in demand for components will increase, it is only a matter of time before China, with its unregulated cheap labour begins to out produce the UK, which will lead to greater economic troubles (Berret, Bernhart 2010). The future of business in the UK looks bleak with the budget balance expected to expand to a dangerous -13% of the GDP. [See Figure 2] This would increase the public debt of the UK to over 70% of the GDP. It would cause the borrowing rates of the UK to rise and make banks less likely to loan to new businesses (UK Economy 2010, Economic Forecast). [See Figure 3] With no new loans, an increase in the cost of raw materials and increases in the cost of living; local businesses will began to suffer greatly which will lead to higher unemployment rates. With the loss of local business, unemployment is expected to climb. Unemployment that is estimated by some to increase to 4 million by 2012. In addition to climbing unemployment and rising costs, growth in the UK is expected to be a mere 2% by 2012. This will cause a domino effect where businesses cannot hire new employees, and out of work citizens cannot afford goods, causing more business to collapse thus leading to greater unemployment (Hopkins 2009) (Inman 2010). [See Figure 4] This shift from power to the BRICs is going to cause troubles with not only the UK economy but the global economy as well. While it may be harsh to say that growing economies on the emerging world is bad, it is a fact. While the rest of the world grows at a rapid and unsustainable rate, the larger nations and the United Kingdom will face tough economic times until the BRICs collapse under their own weight. While it is certain the BRICs will remain dominant for the foreseeable future, it is inevitable that they will become unable to sustain themselves and have to turn by to the Triad for help; one must just hope it is still there (Ionescu, and Oprea). With the loss of business and the increase in unemployment, UK business as a whole will suffer greatly. [See Figure 4] The transportation industry which is already suffering due to high fuel cost and the threat from global terrorism will suffer even greater when they see huge deceases in travelling Europeans. The loss in traffic will not only hurt the transportation industry but the tourism industry as well; which in turn hurts local businesses even more. This chain reaction of a crumbling economy and loss in growth will lead to panic and strife among neighbours that will threaten the European Union as a whole. All of this will happen while nations such as China increase in both economic and military strength. With a powerful nuclear armed China and an increasing Russian economy, it is possible to see a threat of a renewed Cold War. (Pop 2006) This may seem farfetched for a younger population that does not remember the great threat and fear felt throughout the world. It is not the case for an older population that knew all too real the threat of the Soviet Union. One may think this is never going to happen, as this is the modern world. It is always the modern world, and the threat is all too real. Russia, China, and other BRICs are gaining power, and nations such as North Korea are starting to stir up trouble. One just has to look at the fact to see that not just the UK but the whole world is quickly approaching a change. It is a change that for better or worse will be here in our lifetime and in the near future. Whether you are a UK business owner or a possible investor; you can not overlook the changing times, where the Triad is no longer the most dominant economic power. CONCLUSION: The United Kingdom will face many challenges in the future. There is significant risk in relying on the BRIC economies to generate economic growth, as this growth is unplanned and relies on many unpredictable factors. In addition, many businesses in the United Kingdom are already under pressure. It is therefore likely that standards of living are set to fall and unemployment is going to rise. The nations of the BRIC, unlike the nations of the Triad, lack sufficient fiscal control and monetary policy to effectively police their economies. When this is combined with the decline in the Triad, it will spell uncertainty for many of sectors within the United Kingdom. In particular, it will be very difficult for the manufacturing sectors to compete against the low labour costs of the BRIC nations. Additionally, without environmental regulation, a minimum wage or an educated populace, it will make it even harder for manufacturing to survive. This is in addition to rising raw material costs, which will in turn raise living costs. It is unfortunate, but the BRIC economies represent the introduction of even more people into the global market place. The small population and many main market sectors being challenged by their competitors in the BRIC means hard times ahead for the business environment in the United Kingdom. References An Overview of the BRIC Economies. URL: (http://www.selloverseas.co.uk/overview-bric-economies.html [29 Nov 2010]. Associated Press. (2010) Chinese women sent to labour camp for retweeting. 18 November 2010. Available from: [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Berret, M. and Bernhart, W. (2010). Growth in China, but Stagnation in Europe, North America and Japan. Key Topics going forward are electronics and power strain. URL: http://www.rolandberger.com/company/press/releases/Key_topics_Electronics_and_Powertrain.html [28 Nov 2010]. Davis, A. (2010) Rescue of Ireland Dwarf Greeceà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Bailout on Cost of Shoring up Banks. Bloomberg. 22 November 2010. Available from: . [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Dhaval, S. Brazil BRIC Economic Growth and China Retail Sales Analysis. URL: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article20220.html [29 Nov 10 2010]. Dixon, J (2010). USA-China-Europe: Tomorrowà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s New Triad? 5 March 2010. Available from: http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/Open_Think_Tank_Article/USA-China-Europe%3A_Tomorrows_New_Triad%3F [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Hopkins, K. (2009). Unemployment could Peak at 4m in 2012. The Observer. 10 May 2009. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/may/10/unemployment-figures-to-peak-2012%20%5B28. [Accessed 27 Nov 2010]. Ionescu, R. Oprea, R. (n.d.) Global Economy and the Triad. Inman, P. (2010). OECD Slashes UK Growth Forecast to 1.7%. The Guardian. 19 November 2010. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/nov/19/oecd-slashes-uk-growth-forecast%20%5B28 [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Irish Republic 85bn euro bail-out agreed. (2010). BBC. 28 November 2010. Available from:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11855990. [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Narendra, C. (2010). China Challenging US, Europe, Japan in RD. 12 November 2010. Available from: 27 November 2010]. Plummer, R. (2009). Sugar Rush for Hyperactive Brits. BBC. 2 September 2009. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8231287.stm [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Pop. A. (2006) Globalization, Regionalization and the EU-Japan-U.S. Triad, Romanian Journal of European Affairs, 6(3). UK Economy 2010, Economic Forecast. URL: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/united-kingdom/uk-economy-2010-forecast.html [28 Nov2010]. Verma, S. (2010). Rising Food Prices trouble Households. TopNews. 3 November 2010. Available from: http://topnews.us/content/228446-uk-rising-food-prices-trouble-households [Accessed 28 Nov 2010].

History Of Skateboarding :: essays research papers

Skateboarding has rich history of innovation and is full of intriguing stories. Many of these stories are documented in this book in great detail. However, this essay will provide you with an overview of the last nine decades. The first type of skateboards were actually more like scooters. These contraptions, which date back to the early 1900's featured roller skate wheels attached to a two by four. Often the wood had a milk crate nailed to it with handles sticking out for control. Over the next five decades kids changed the look of the scooter and took off the crate and started cruising on two by fours with steel wheels. Tens of thousands of rollerskates were dismantled and joyfully hammered on to planks of wood. In the 1950's modifications were made to the trucks (the device that hold the wheels) and kids started to maneuver more easily. Towards the late 1950's, surfing became increasingly popular and people began to tie surfing together with cruising on a board. By 1959, the first Roller Derby Skateboard was for sale. Clay wheels entered the picture and sidewalk surfing began to take root. By the time the 1960's roll around, skateboarding had gained an impressive following amongst the surf crowd. However, when Larry Stevenson, publisher of Surf Guide begins to promote skateboarding, things started to take off. Larry's company, Makaha designed the first professional boards in 1963 and a team was formed to promote the product. The first skateboard contest was held at the Pier Avenue Junior School in Hermosa, California in 1963. In 1964, surf legend Hobie Alter teamed up with the Vita Pakt juice company to create Hobie Skateboards. While most skaters took to the street or sidewalk, some brave souls decide to ride empty swimming pools. By 1965, international contests, movies (Skater Dater), a magazine (The Quarterly Skateboarder) and cross country trips by teams of skateboarders elevated the sport to enormous heights. Over fifty million boards were sold within a three year period and then all of a sudden skateboarding died in the fall of 1965. The first crash of skateboarding came about due to inferior product, too much inventory and a public upset by reckless riding. The manufacturers were so busy making product that little was done in the way of research and development. Although some companies developed better quality wheels, clay wheels were the cheapest to manufacturer. However, clay wheels did not grip the road well and skaters fell everywhere.

Compromise in the American Constitution

The United States Constitution is a bundle of compromises mainly because there were contending groups during its early stages of conceptualization and even during its formation. On one side, there were those who criticized the first constitution of America—the Articles of Confederation—for lacking several key provisions and adjustments that could give the government more power. Those who were for the reformation of the Articles and for the creation of a stronger national government are called the â€Å"federalists†.On the other hand, there were also those who feared that giving the national government too much power may result to the infringement on the welfare of the individual citizens of the country. Those who opposed the endowment of wider powers to the national government would later on accept the compromise of securing a â€Å"Bill of Rights† so that the government especially the Congress will not make laws that violate the rights of the citizens.App arently, the Bill of Rights came to be the first manifestation of a compromise that sought to resolve the contending issues at that time. While the Articles of Confederation was later on replaced by the United States Constitution, the Constitution did not entirely survive the years without plenty of changes to it. Part of the reason to it is the fact that there was a fear at the time that granting the national government full powers would allow the situation wherein the people are aggravated in exchange for expediency and productivity on the part of the government.The first amendment to the Constitution came to be known as the Bill of Rights which lists the essential rights that each American is entitled to. The Bill of Rights provides the first ten amendments to the Constitution as proposed by Thomas Jefferson. Although the Bill of Rights was eventually ratified, it did not easily pass through Congress without the criticisms of those who oppose it, one of whom is Alexander Hamilton , a leading figure among the so-called â€Å"federalists† (Chan, 2004).The federalists generally saw the establishment of a Bill of Rights as a constitutional amendment that could limit the rights of individuals because it merely protects the rights that are explicitly stated in it. That being the case, the rights that are not included in the Bill may not be acknowledged as part of the recognized rights. The opposition to the federalists—the so-called â€Å"anti-federalists†Ã¢â‚¬â€however claimed that it is not necessarily the case.As a result, the Ninth Amendment was included which sought to protect the rights that are not enumerated in the Constitution. In general, the significant issues raised by the contending parties were addressed through the Massachusetts Compromise. While the compromise paved the way for reaching the needed support for establishing the Constitution as proposed by the federalists, it also gave credit to the sentiments of the anti-federal ists, thereby securing the passing of the Bill of Rights as part of the condition in passing the Constitution.Another interesting aspect of the Constitution is the fact that slavery was not immediately abolished entirely after the Constitution was passed. It was only after the Thirteenth Amendment when slavery and involuntary servitude were finally abolished by the law. Moreover, the successful ratification of the Constitution would have hardly been realized had there been no compromises which sought to protect the interests of the slave-owners at the time when the Constitution was well on its way to being formally recognized.Concessions had to be made so that the framers of the Constitution would gather support from those who were pro-slavery. Otherwise, they would have been unable to pass the Constitution (Furstenberg, 2003). The compromises with regard to the issue of slavery during the debates over the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention include the proposal of those w ho were against slavery to count â€Å"slaves† as three-fifths of all other persons since the number of free persons determined the representation in Congress at the time.It was made clear, however, that the â€Å"three-fifths† count for every slave was not meant to dehumanize them but rather to penalize those who owned slaves. Another compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention is the protection of the slave trade; it was a concession that the delegates who were for slavery proposed. However, the compromise did not hinder the individual states from altogether outlawing or restricting the existing slave trade after the passing of the Constitution. Lastly, fugitive slaves were expected to be returned to the state from which they came from.It was a compromise that distinguished the federal government from the individual states in the sense that slavery practiced in some states was not to be sanctioned by the Constitution. To a certain extent, federal laws did not legitimize slavery as an institution although neither did it sanction slavery as far as the individual states are concerned. The compromise essentially permitted the return of fugitive slaves from the original states that they were held in labor without stressing the point that these slaves should be freed as part of the concession to the demands of the pro-slavery delegates in the Convention.Through the years, the Constitution of the United States of America has had several initial clauses and key amendments that underscored the urgent need to make compromises in order to complete the task of creating a Constitution that will embody the principles of the nation.ReferencesChan, M. D. (2004). Alexander Hamilton on Slavery. The Review of Politics, 66(2), 207-231. Furstenberg, F. (2003). Beyond Freedom and Slavery: Autonomy, Virtue, and Resistance in Early American Political Discourse. The Journal of American History, 89(4), 1295-1330.

Forever Strong Essay

We all can understand that there is no â€Å"I† in â€Å"team† but how many of us can honestly say we know the significance and appreciation of a team. Forever Strong is a sports drama inspired by actual events. We are introduced to a troubled rugby player, Rick, who injuries himself and his girlfriend driving drunk and finds himself in a juvenile detention center, not knowing this journey will forever change his life. Rick is given the choice to decide between jail and playing rugby for his hometown’s ultimate rival, Highland, which also means playing against his dad, his hometown’s coach. With every scene we are able to see Rick’s struggle with understanding the value of teamwork and the desire to become a better person. It’s not uncommon for someone to neglect the obvious opportunity that is ahead of them, but many never will get over their own ego to do what is best for them. Rick’s first day of practice at Highland he is given a taste of what it means to be a part of a team but he doesn’t quite like the idea of playing for a team who he has competed against and loathed. He tries his hardest to be the star while his teammates try their hardest to put him in his place. At the end of the day his new coach makes the team promise they will keep their bodies clean, eat right, and stay away from drugs and alcohol while Rick makes a complete joke out of it. You begin to see the relevance of this scene throughout the movie while Rick slowly begins to understand the significance of teamwork and what it means to the rest of his teammates. The thoughts that one has going through their head as they encounter something surreal are not only sincere but indescribable. After a phenomenal victory not only for Highland but for Rick, personally, as he allows himself to open his eyes to being a part of a team, the team pulls over to help a family with car troubles and a terrible incident occurs leaving a teammate dead. All Rick can do is â€Å"run it out,† as he handles the impact of the news. Rick decides to stop the drugs and alcohol in order to be a better man and live in honor of his former teammate. Rick later on in the movie has pride in him and confessed, â€Å"I don’t do ANYTHING to embarrass myself, my team, and my family. Rick is given a positive evaluation from his guidance counselor to go home just in time to play against Highland for the championship game. He is quickly pressured into revealing â€Å"Highland’s secrets,† refusing, causing his friends to set him up with drugs and alcohol and getting caught by the cops. He tries over and over to plead his case that he has changed to his peers and family, resulting in a failure, until a former friend tells the truth about what really happened. Rick ultimately wonders where his loyalty lies. We all come to what seems like a fork in the road; we have no idea why life is tugging on us so hard but we eventually figured out what we have to do in order to protect yourself and your morals. Rick was shown the value of teamwork and selflessness while he was at Highland; although, he knew his teammates needed him for the game and he decided to go play for Highland where he was welcomed with open arms by his teammates to fulfill their common goal – win the championship game and come together as a whole. Forever Strong is much more than a movie about rugby, it’s about how one man struggles to become something much bigger than himself.

Gestalt Key Concepts Essay Example

Gestalt Key Concepts Essay Example Gestalt Key Concepts Paper Gestalt Key Concepts Paper Gestalt therapy aims for self knowledge, acceptance and growth by looking at the current existence. This theory entails concepts around what is actually currently happening rather than what has happened in the past. It focuses on the here and now, not on what should be, could be or what was. From this present centred forcus, one can become clear about ones needs, wishes, goals and values. The concepts emphasized in gestalt therapy are creative adjustment and modification, unfinished business, Zones of awareness, creative indifference Creative adjustment and modification: contact is necessary if change and growth are to occur. Contact is made by, seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and moving. It is made effectively by interacting with nature and other people without one losing their individuality, however people often resist contract. Resistance to contact are defences we develop to prevent us from experiencing the present. These modification are called introjection, projection, retoflection,, deflection and confluence. The therapist is to help the client to become aware of how there are blocking there contact with themselves and environment. Unfinished business: This refers to clients who do finish things in their lives and often relates to people with growth disorder. Clients with unfinished business often resent the present and because of this are unable to focus on the here and now. For example if figures emergy from the background but are not completed and resolved, clients or individuals are left with unfinished business and this can manifest in expressed feelings such as resentment, frustration, rage, pain , anxitey, and grief. : Zones of awareness: this concept where you focus on what one is in touch with and in situations requiring such attention. It is thought that is leads to insight results in change or adjustment. This concept encourages the client to directly experience a situation rather then talk about it. These three zone of awareness according to gestalt therapy, outer zone, middle zone and inner zone. We / clients can get struck in any of these zones. Its best being able to be choose from one zone to another in order to develop self awareness. Awareness is needed in situations where thinking and acting are not working and in which one does not learn from experience. It helps the client gain awarenesss of what there are experiencing and doing at that particular time in there life. Outer zone: this is where the client makes contact with the outer world through the use of all senses. This includes awareness of there environment and the other people. Middle zone: this zone includes all over thinking process and what we imagine, fantasize, memories and daydream. Inner zone: this zone is concerned with what we feel, experience, dreamworld, our emotions and bodily sensations. We make statements such as â€Å"I am noticing†, â€Å"I am imagining†, â€Å"I am feeling† there relate to the three zones by paying attention to all three zones we can heighten our own awareness so that we become a highly attend instrument, assessing what is going on and for using this knowledge to help build the relationship we want with ourselves and the client.

Free sample - The Growing Power of the Peoples Republic of China. translation missing

The Growing Power of the Peoples Republic of China. The Growing Power of the People's Republic of ChinaChina is a country located in East Asia. This country is considered one of the worlds oldest continuous civilizations with approximately four thousand years of history. The country’s rapid growth is largely attributed to a change in economic policies in the 1950’s which transformed the country into a technology based economy. China is actually the second largest economy in the world after the U.S and the world’s fastest growing major economy. The country’s population stands at 1,340,610,000 (Phang 20). This large population provides a good market for the country’s industrial products. The large population also ensures availability of manpower for the country’s military as well as labor for the industrial sector. Out of this population, 26% is urban. The presence of large rivers and arable land ensures adequate agricultural products to feed the high population. Principal rivers in the country include Yangtze, Huang He (yellow river), Amur, Pearl, and Mekong (Phang 22). The population of china is largely made of the Han ethnic group. The country’s large size has ensured availability of large agricultural fields. The climate is quite conducive for agricultural activities (Phang 25). The country is actually the world’s largest producer of rice. Other agricultural products produced in large quantities in the country are: cotton, wheat, maize, tobacco, soybeans, and peanuts. The country is also rich in mineral resources. Its renowned for the production of coal, crude oil, antimony, tungsten and other mineral resources. This ensures availability of foreign income to develop the country’s infrastructure (Henley 100). The country’s decision to loosen restrictions on private businesses ensured their growth hence contributing to the rapid economic growth of the country. Opening the door for foreign investment ensured the creation of numerous factories and other production centers hence the creation of jobs (Henley 105). Foreign investment also facilitated technology transfers and increased exports thereby contributing to economic growth. A research carried out recently by IMF concluded that increased worker efficiency has played a big role in the growth of the country. The report compiled by the researchers indicate that this efficiency led to high productivity gains which accounted for nearly 42% of the country’s growth in the 1990’s (Henley 106). The availability of cheap labor for the country’s industrial sector has ensured low production cost hence making products from the country very competitive in the international market (Henley 111). This availability is largely because of the high population in the country. As a result of this, manufactured products constitute a very large share of the country’s trade. Appreciation of the Yuan has also played a very big role in the development of the country. This appreciation has caused very favorable exchange rate against the dollar. China pegs its currency against the dollar but this is expected to change owing to the improvement of the country’s economy and the weakening of the dollar. The country is expected to do away with the peg system after the G- 20 summit (Henley 112). This step is expected to be accompanied by a further increase in the value of the currency. This increase is expected to spur more economic growth in the country. Conversely, this appreci ation is expected to affect negatively the economies of Chinese neighbors such as south Korea which happens to be China’s major trade partner (Henley 112). The country continues to receive aid from other countries despite its blossoming economy. for instance, the Australian government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has provided support for china for the last thirty years. This body supports many development projects in china and also provides the required expertise (Chen 55). This helps china make up for deficiencies hence ensuring adequate resources for development. The country has formed a program called â€Å" China country program strategy†. This is a program that focuses on supporting the country’s development as well as reform agenda via targeted policy management, high level capacity building as well as partnerships in the economic key sectors. Alliances have therefore played a key role in helping the country realize its development goals (Chen 56). The country’s tourism sector has also played an important role in the country’s development. This sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the country’s national economy. Revenue from the industry reached about USD 67.3 billion in 2002, contributing about 5.44% of the GDP. In 2003, the number of tourists reached about 91.66 million. This placed the country among the world’s top five countries as far as revenue from this industry is concerned (Chen 58). China’s high regard for science and technology has seen a high priority awarded to modernization of the same. The country’s leaders have actually been described by many scholars as technocrats. There is a very good political will to advance the field. This has ensured a state of the art production systems in the industries thereby ensuring efficiency (Chen 59). Works cited Chen, B. â€Å"Determinants of Economic Growth in China: Private enterprise, Education and Openness†. China Economic Review (Elsevier Science, 2010 Henley, J. etal. â€Å" Foreign Direct Investment in China: Recent Trends and Current Policy Issues†. The World Economy (Blackwell Synergy, 2010 Phang, S. China overtakes Japan as Worlds Second- Biggest Economy. London: Oxford University Press, 2010

The Grassland Biome Habitat

The Grassland Biome Habitat The grassland biome includes terrestrial habitats that are dominated by grasses and have relatively few large trees or shrubs. There are three main types of grasslands- temperate grasslands, tropical grasslands (also known as savannas), and steppe grasslands. Sufficient Rainfall Most grasslands experience a dry season and a rainy season. During the dry season, grasslands can be susceptible to fires which often start as a result of lightning strikes. The annual rainfall in a grassland habitat is greater than the annual rainfall that occurs in desert habitats. Grasslands receive sufficient rainfall to support the growth of grasses and other plants, but not enough to support the growth of significant numbers of trees. The soils of grasslands also limit the vegetation structure that grows in them. In general, grassland soils are too shallow and dry to support tree growth. Variety of Wildlife Grasslands support a variety of wildlife including reptiles, mammals, amphibians, birds and many types of invertebrates. The dry grasslands of Africa are among the most ecologically diverse of all grasslands and support populations of animals such as giraffes, zebras, lions, hyenas, rhinoceroses, and elephants. The grasslands of Australia provide habitat for kangaroos, mice, snakes, and a variety of birds. The grasslands of North America and Europe support wolves, wild turkeys, coyotes, Canada geese, cranes, bison, bobcats, and eagles. Some common plant species that occur in North American grasslands include buffalo grass, asters, coneflowers, clover, goldenrods, and wild indigos. Key Characteristics The following are the key characteristics of the grassland biome: Vegetation structure that is dominated by grassesSemi-arid climateRainfall and soils not sufficient to support significant tree growthMost common at mid-latitudes and near the interiors of continentsGrasslands are often exploited for agricultural use Classification The grassland biome is classified within the following habitat hierarchy: Biomes of the World Grassland Biome The grassland biome is divided into the following habitats: Temperate grasslands - Temperate grasslands are habitats that are dominated by grasses and have lack trees and large shrubs. Temperate grasslands include tall-grass prairies which are wet and humid and short-grass prairies which are dry and experience hot summers and cold winters. The soil of temperate grasslands has an upper layer that is nutrient-rich. Seasonal droughts are often accompanied by fires that prevent trees and shrubs from growing.Tropical grasslands - Tropical grasslands are grasslands that are located near the equator. They have warmer, wetter climates than temperate grasslands and experience more pronounced seasonal droughts. Tropical grasslands are dominated by grasses but also have some scattered trees. The soil of tropical grasslands are very porous and drain rapidly. Tropical grasslands occur in Africa, India, Australia, Nepal, and South America.Steppe grasslands - Steppe grasslands are dry grasslands that border on semi-arid deserts. The grasses found in steppe grasslands is much shorter than that of temperate and tropical grasslands. Steppe grasslands lack trees except along the banks of rivers and streams. Animals of the Grassland Biome Some of the animals that inhabit the grassland biome include: African elephant (Loxodonta africana) - African elephants have a large head, large ears, and a long muscular trunk. The two front incisors of African elephants grow into large tusks that curve forward.Lions (Panthera leo) - Lions are the largest of all African cats. Lions inhabit the savannas of Africa and the Gir Forest in northwest India.Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) - Spotted hyenas inhabit the grasslands, savannas, and semi-deserts of sub-Saharan Africa. Their population densities are highest in the Serengeti, a vast plains ecosystem that stretches from northern Tanzania to southwestern Kenya.American bison (Bison bison) - Millions of bison used to roam North Americas grasslands, boreal regions, and scrublands but the relentless slaughter of bison for meat, hides, and sport drove the species to the brink of extinction.

Legal Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal Case Study - Essay Example Generally, death in any manner is a sad thing for the kith and kin of the deceased or dying. Euthanasia or assisted death though relatively new has caused much debate. But Terri’s case of a person who can not decide whether she wants to continue in a persistent vegetative state. She could not decide or communicate her desire. Hence many ethical issues arose. The personal ethics of her parents and husband were in sharp contrast in the later part of Terris’ life. Michael her husband wanted her artificial life support to be withdrawn and the Schindlers, Terri’s parents did not. They argued it would have been against the wishes of Terri who they claimed to be a devout catholic. The parents were wrong in persisting in their demand even after the courts ruled in favour of Michael and appointed him guardian. The judiciary acted reasonably in the matter. Bouma (2005) opines that â€Å"There are adequate checks and balances in the levels of judicial system, and courts have not acted precipitously or hastily.† Yet the Florida Legislature passed a bill authorizing the governor to intervene in Terri’s case. The law was later struck down by the Supreme Court yet the legislature and executive tried unsuccessfully to decide the fate of a person who can not think for herself, against her implied wish as the courts had decided. The society violated its ethics in that special interest groups tried to influence and decide such a highly personal question of a caretaker’s decision about life support to a person in a persistent vegetative state. Lastly, the government violated its duty towards the larger majority of people needing medical aid which would have been provided for instead of spending the amount in costly healthcare of an individual whose legal guardian had expressed his desire to stop her artificial life

The characteristics of performance management Essay

The characteristics of performance management - Essay Example Performance management has been promoted, researched and emphasised upon in small and large enterprises since long. The topic has evolved from much technical performance appraisal system. However, with the passage of time, increased complexity in businesses and emerging concepts of knowledge transfer, innovation, strategic human resources and greater attention on capabilities of human assets have transformed the way performance has been perceived, measured, judged and understood in organizational perspective. Even its application to subsequent HR policies and strategies has also changed drastically with the advent of information systems, international operations and establishing cultural symmetries between multinational offices of firms. In such context, it becomes essential to revisit the definitions of these two areas of HRM, chalk out differences between the two and identify reasons for prevailing confusion. Performance management can be defined as â€Å"a process for establishin g a shared understanding about what is to be achieved and how it is to be achieved, and an approach to managing people that increases the probability of achieving success† (Armstrong 2009). Thus, thriving on this basic definition of performance management, it can be deciphered that performance management is concerned with synchronisation of individual and organizational goals, setting up of expectations, duties and responsibilities and providing for the development of employees through a modification in their attitude, work behavior, skills and abilities. The characteristics of performance management can now be charted out. Armstrong (2009) next opines that performance management system is the sum total of five basic elements- agreement, dialogue, measurement, feedback and reinforcement. Agreement takes place between what organizations want to achieve with the help of contribution of its employees and what employees want to achieve with the help of organizational culture, stru cture and policies. Dialogue is the sharing and dissemination of ideas, data and information to and fro employer and employees. In this respect, not only the managerial heads, but also line managers are responsible for the establishment of a two-way communication channel that exhibits transparency, reliability and truthfulness. Measurement of individual performance is based on continuously evolving standards, indicators and targets. Combination of these three tenets serve as foundation for constructive feedback mechanism through which employees identify their own deficiencies and shortcomings and policy makers also allow and arrange for their development and reinforcement of positive behavioural traits. Secondly, performance management is a flexible, continuous and evolving process which takes note of both past experiences and future requirements to chalk out present policies and strategies. It is not in the nature of authoritative or bureaucratic management where commands and order s follow from the upper echelons of hierarchy. Rather, it is a process done in partnership with employees themselves. As such, continuous changes in role expectations, job requirements, skills and competencies needed and other work aspects keep on surfacing out. Known by various names like merit rating, merit evaluation and others, performance appraisal is a narrower concept with respect to performance management. It is more formally and operationally focused upon evaluating the performance and work behavior of employees through the use of various rating techniques. Grote (1996:3) state that performance appraisals serve to fulfil three major objectives- one organizational and two individual. Organizations use it as a tool to determine the contribution of employees towards the achievement of

Resource Rich Economies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Resource Rich Economies - Essay Example This study stresses that  various countries of the world choose different paths of development. However, it must be noted that in the majority of the cases this choice is conditioned by the environment and availability of resources. Thus, those countries that are deprived of natural resources compete using other valuable materials. For example, Japan that can hardly boast any oil or gas is a widely known leader of technology. On the other hand, those countries that were blessed with natural resources often make emphasis on their export, forgetting about other ways of becoming successful. That is why it is often suggested that resource rich economies are poor, underdeveloped and politically unstable.   This paper will analyze the example of Russia and prove that abundance of resources can have a negative impact on a country.  If one considers the Russian billionaires, one will be able to see that they are less likely to help their compatriots and are willing to invest abroad more. For example, Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea football club in England and this was seen as manifestation of the Russian wealth. However, it is obvious that he could have bought one or even several football clubs in Russia and pay for the best equipment and players for them. However, Abramovich decided to invest his money in a foreign football club which means that he is not willing to share his wealth with his compatriots.

Aspiration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Aspiration - Essay Example Aspiration could be consequential and come with the risk of leading to a type of pneumonia known as aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration is generally being identified to be common in some people than others. For example, patients who suffer dysphagia stand a higher risk of being affected with aspiration and on a very regular basis. Dysphagia could pose a risk to patients because it is the difficulty in swallowing and such difficulty commonly leads to misplacement of food or fluid particles. It is also said that the male to female ratio of risk is 2:1 (Medscape, 2012). What this means is that there are more males who are at risk to aspiration than females. It is for this reason that the control of aspiration is an important issue to health practitioners. Symptoms of aspiration are varying and often dependent on the level of risk. Most commonly however, aspiration will be characterized by coughing, choking, fever, chills, leakage of food from mouth, shortness of breath and wet voice after swallowing (University of Wisconsin, 2012) The National Safety Council is quoted as stating that choking is the forth leading cause of unintentional injury death (Medscape, 2012). There are other critical effects that adults and other sufferers of aspiration face. Some of these include a permanent expansion of one’s lungs or trachea (Selius and Subedi, 2008). Once such permanent damages take place, the resorting long term consequence is that there could be the development of dyspahgia, which in its self is a risk factor to getting aspiration. Practitioners often want to use the term conservative management because they have a feeling that aspiration is best treated when taken care of at the initial stage. To this effect, some of the treatments prescribed include the need to place children in upright positions, not putting children in seated position after ninety minues of feeding, raising head of bed to 300,

Social Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Social Media - Essay Example This is a basic principle in the Internet, and the advent of social networking sites operate on the same idea. People can get connected with each other no matter what because lines are redundant. The Internet has since been given away by the military for civilian uses, for free and it is now a highly-evolved network. Businesses previously reluctant to put up a digital presence had been encouraged to put their own Web sites because of vast improvements in Internet technology primarily those dealing with secure on-line financial transactions. The introduction of the SSL or secure socket layer technology enabled people and business firms to conduct transactions in safe and secure manner, and this in turn gave birth to electronic commerce (e-commerce). A potential buyer can browse a Web site, and see high-definition graphics or video of a product or service. The latest phenomenon on the Web today is the new way of marketing to people, who can be reached anywhere. This vast potential cust omer base gave birth to social media marketing (SMM). This paper examines some of the relevant issues associated with the rise of SMM. Discussion Social media marketing is simply the practice of applying the principles of marketing or advertising to the digital world or cyberspace. In other words, advertising and marketing in those traditional media like print, television, and radio have been adapted to the social networking sites in which potential buyers and existing consumers of a product or service can interact with each other through that site, by registering as members of the site and using their comments, opinions, recommendations, and referrals give everyone on the site additional information to make buying decisions intelligently, like offering product choices or other alternative services. Social media marketing (SMM) is not to be confused with social marketing. The latter is using marketing techniques to promote desired behaviors or highlight a social advocacy, such as an ti-smoking campaigns, the dangers of alcohol abuse, environmental protection, promote a proper diet through better nutrition, reduction of waste, mitigate the effects of climate change, or other social changes to encourage healthy living. SMM, on the other hand, is a powerful tool for marketeers and advertisers if done correctly. In the proper hands, social media marketing helps to build up a brand and encourage customer loyalty over a much wider potential consumer base. It is a main reason why big and reputable multinational corporations, especially those in fast-moving consumer goods, engage in SMM today. It is cost-effective in terms of ad spending, it is interactive by which customers can exchange their views with the seller or manufacturer, it can easily be updated to reflect the latest product developments, and it provides a better content and context for what is being sold in that Web site. SMM provides many advantages or benefits, but on the other hand, there are also legal pitfalls for those who are not careful on its use. In this regard, a legally-astute social media marketing managers takes cognizance of the four components necessary to engage in e-commerce but mitigates the risks of

Case Analysis Report Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Analysis Report - Case Study Example With reference to the case, it is observed that GMCR has established a business venture with Starbucks for K-Cup portion package of their coffee for use in ‘Keurig Single cup brewing technology’. The key players or officers as mentioned in the case study are Howards Schultz, the President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Starbucks Corporation, Jeff Hansberry, President of Starbucks Global Consumer Products Group, the then CEO and President of GMCR Lawrence J. Blanford and Nigel Travis, the CEO of Dunkin Brands and President of Dunkin’ Donuts among others (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2009). The current CEO and President of GMCR is Brian Kelly. The company’s total sales for the year 2012 were USD 3,859,198 and the total profit was USD 1,269,399 (Yahoo! Inc., 2013). One of the major events in the GMCR’s history was in the year 2006 when GMCR made acquisition of Keurig, a maker of single-cup brewing machines. Moreover, in the year 2010, the company’s stock rose to an all time highest figure, placing it in the number one position in the Best Corporate Citizen criteria. In 2011, GMCR’s decision to enter into a venture with Starbucks was another important phase of the company (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2009). ... It has a wider reach to the customers created through joint venture with the top most coffee houses in the coffee industry. It is the only manufacturer of single brewer machine (Wile, 2013). Weaknesses The main factor which may be weakness for the company is its financial performance is dependent primarily on the sales of K-Cups. Increased cost and decreased of raw materials may have keen impact on the future production of the company (Wile, 2013). Opportunities Owing to the reason that GMCR is the only manufacturer which provides single serve brewing machines and K-Cup, its brand name is getting promoted with joint ventures formed with well known companies such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts resulting in attraction of more companies to form a venture with them (Wile, 2013). Threats With the new trend of globalization, the world has become a much smaller place and GMCR is facing significant competition from companies manufacturing similar products (Wile, 2013). SWOT Matrix An alysis Via Porter’s Five Forces Model Porter’s five force model is a business strategy tool used to analyze the value of an industrial structure, capturing the vital rudiments of competition. Threat of new entrants GMCR is the only company which provides a wide selection of coffee products, the number of competitors competing for the same section of customers and resources is limited. Thus, threat of new entry can be deemed to be low as the company possesses exclusive offerings which can be quite hard for new competitors to imitate (Vitalsource.com, 2013). Bargaining power of buyers GMCR, being the only manufacturer of K-Cup, has a large number of buyers resulting in quite limited bargaining influence by the customers having a positive impact on the company (Vitalsource.com, 2013).

Social Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Social Media - Essay Example This is a basic principle in the Internet, and the advent of social networking sites operate on the same idea. People can get connected with each other no matter what because lines are redundant. The Internet has since been given away by the military for civilian uses, for free and it is now a highly-evolved network. Businesses previously reluctant to put up a digital presence had been encouraged to put their own Web sites because of vast improvements in Internet technology primarily those dealing with secure on-line financial transactions. The introduction of the SSL or secure socket layer technology enabled people and business firms to conduct transactions in safe and secure manner, and this in turn gave birth to electronic commerce (e-commerce). A potential buyer can browse a Web site, and see high-definition graphics or video of a product or service. The latest phenomenon on the Web today is the new way of marketing to people, who can be reached anywhere. This vast potential cust omer base gave birth to social media marketing (SMM). This paper examines some of the relevant issues associated with the rise of SMM. Discussion Social media marketing is simply the practice of applying the principles of marketing or advertising to the digital world or cyberspace. In other words, advertising and marketing in those traditional media like print, television, and radio have been adapted to the social networking sites in which potential buyers and existing consumers of a product or service can interact with each other through that site, by registering as members of the site and using their comments, opinions, recommendations, and referrals give everyone on the site additional information to make buying decisions intelligently, like offering product choices or other alternative services. Social media marketing (SMM) is not to be confused with social marketing. The latter is using marketing techniques to promote desired behaviors or highlight a social advocacy, such as an ti-smoking campaigns, the dangers of alcohol abuse, environmental protection, promote a proper diet through better nutrition, reduction of waste, mitigate the effects of climate change, or other social changes to encourage healthy living. SMM, on the other hand, is a powerful tool for marketeers and advertisers if done correctly. In the proper hands, social media marketing helps to build up a brand and encourage customer loyalty over a much wider potential consumer base. It is a main reason why big and reputable multinational corporations, especially those in fast-moving consumer goods, engage in SMM today. It is cost-effective in terms of ad spending, it is interactive by which customers can exchange their views with the seller or manufacturer, it can easily be updated to reflect the latest product developments, and it provides a better content and context for what is being sold in that Web site. SMM provides many advantages or benefits, but on the other hand, there are also legal pitfalls for those who are not careful on its use. In this regard, a legally-astute social media marketing managers takes cognizance of the four components necessary to engage in e-commerce but mitigates the risks of

Gun Control Persuasive Essay Example for Free

Gun Control Persuasive Essay I believe that guns should not be banned in the US. â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.† I am sure most of us have heard this saying at some point in our lives. Surely, it is a statement of the obvious, but the logic behind it rings true. It may seem rational to ban guns entirely to prevent people from killing, but it is not the guns themselves that are the problem. That is just a simple solution to a complex problem. The criminals who kill others are willing to break the law and risk going to prison for the rest of their lives to murder, yet they are expected to follow firearm laws? If a nationwide gun ban is enacted, criminals will not suddenly follow the law and reject the thought of buying a firearm on the black market. Banning all guns in the United States would be irrational because it would not lower crime or prevent firearm-related murders. Outlawing firearms punishes the law-abiding citizens by leaving them defenseless against criminals who obtain their firearms illegally .Protecting yourself with a legally obtained firearm should not be against the law and should me more of a necessity for the safety of your family and property. The Department of Justice’s own National Institute of Justice study titled Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms estimated that 1.5 million Americans use guns for defensive purposes every year. People who commit crimes are already willing to break the law to kill someone, why wouldn’t they break the law and buy a firearm off the black market. As we’ve learned from the war on drugs, prohibiting a particular item only makes a stronger criminal enterprise. It would seem logical that the banning of firearms would lead to less firearms and less crime, but statistics show just the opposite. Washington D.C. has had a handgun ban in effect since 1976. After the ban, D.C.’s murder rate only once fell below what it was in 1976. Furthermore, Washington D.C. has been notorious for being one of the most violent cities in the country. Not only is this the case in the United States, but the trend continues in other countries around the world. For example, after firearms were banned in England and Wales in 1997, the number of deaths and injuries from gun crime increased 340 percent in the seven years from 1998 to 2005. The claim that guns are the problem is merely a scapegoat for larger socioeconomic problems such as poverty, drugs, poor parenting, and undesirable role models. As for the mass shootings that have become a staple for the fear mongering corporate media, it should be noted that every single mass shooter since columbine had been prescribed serotonin boosting psychiatric drugs, yet the media seldomly mention this and never correlate it with the crime. Perhaps they don’t want to point the blame towards their big pharmaceutical sponsors, whose ads bombard you during every commercial break. Furthermore the media also sensationalizes these shooters making them seem like martyrs for the next potential shooter. An abundance of registered firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens acts as a deterrent against crime. The city of Kennesaw, Georgia passed an ordinance in March of 1982 requiring each household to own and maintain a gun. Kennesaw’s crime rate dropped significantly after the ordinance, and there has not been a single murder over the twenty-six years that it has been in effect. The claims that a high gun ownership results in high amounts of violence is nothing more than a fabrication. Switzerland, a country known for having one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, also maintains one of the lowest firearm-related crime rates in the world. In areas where gun ownership is high, the threat of an armed civilian acts as a hindrance against the criminal element. Overall, I speculate that the United States will continue to see a reduction in crime in areas of rising gun ownership. A firearm ban would not stop crime and would only hurt responsible, law-abiding citizens. As long as there is a criminal element, people will always feel the need to protect themselves against a perceived threat. The second amendment was implemented by the founding fathers of the United States as a fundamental right of the people to protect themselves from all forms of tyranny. The right to keep and bear arms is deep-rooted in American culture, and it will not be going away any time soon.

Socio Cultural Environment Line With Its Sustainability Drive Marketing Essay

Socio Cultural Environment Line With Its Sustainability Drive Marketing Essay Abstract This is a case study on Unilever business strategy. It would seek to analyze the strategic position of the group with the help of SWOT, PEST and BCG Matrix models. The paper would critically assess the competitive situation of the company in relation to other major product based companies in the market and companys financial performance and key issues. In the end it would submit few recommendations. The case study is my first effort towards analyzing the business strategy of Unilever and its success in the market. Since Unilever is so famous and its products so widely used all over the world, it is of great interest for me to carry out a case study on its business strategy. The paper would greatly help me and the readers to understand some key issues concerning Unilever in todays business world. Introduction 2.1. About Unilever Unilever is a multi-national corporation, formed of Anglo-Dutch parentage that owns many of the worlds consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products. Unilever employs nearly 180,000 people and had worldwide revenue of almost à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40 billion in 2005. Unilever is a dual-listed company consisting of Unilever NV in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Unilever PLC in London, England. This arrangement is similar to that of Reed Elsevier and that of Royal Dutch Shell prior to their unified structure. Both Unilever companies have the same directors and effectively operate as a single business. The current non-executive Chairman of Unilever N.V. and PLC is Michael Treschow while P Mr Paul Polman is the Group Chief Executive. The company is widely listed on the worlds stock exchanges (About Unilever: 2008). 2.2. History Unilever was founded in 1930 through merger by the British, Lever Brother; and the Dutch, Margarine Unie; now Unilever PLC in London, U.K and Unilever N.V in Rotterdam, Netherlands respectively. In 1872 before the merger, Jurgens and Van den Bergh, the Dutch, built factory in Netherlands for the production of Margarine made from milk and fact. In 1927, they formed Margarine Unie (margarine Union) together with two European Businesses, Centre and Schicht. Lever Co on the other hand was founded in 1884 by British William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James, and was producing soap Sunlight soap for people in England especially for women. William Lever wrote: to make cleanliness commonplace; to lessen work for women; to foster health and contribute to personal attractiveness, that life may be more enjoyable and rewarding for the people who use our products. In 1890, Lever Co become limited company known as Lever Brothers (Uhomhoabhi, Fredrick Albert: 2008) Unilever, Unilever N.V and Unilever PLC comprise Unilever group. Both companies have the same directors. Its annual turnover in 2005 was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬39.672 billion and employs206, 000 employees around the world.1 Unilever brands consist of Food, Beverage, and Home and Personal Care. Some of these products are Knorr, Breyers and Magnum, Lipton, Omo (detergent) etc. Knorr has the biggest sales of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2.3 billon in 2005.In May 2007 it became the first tea company to commit to sourcing all its tea in a sustainable manner, asking the Rainforest Alliance, an international environmental NGO, to start certifying its tea estates in East Africa. It declared its aim to have all Lipton Yellow Label and PG Tips tea bags sold in Western Europe certified by 2010, followed by all Lipton tea bags globally by 2015. Covalence, an ethical reputation ranking agency, placed Unilever at the top of its ranking based on positive versus negative news coverage for 2007. In 2008 Unilever was honor ed at the 59th Annual Technology Engineering Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for Creation and Distribution of Interactive Commercial Advertising Delivered through Digital Set Top Boxes for its program Axe. Strategic position of the company The strategic position of the company shall be analyzed through following techniques: 3.1. S.W.O.T Analysis The overall evaluation of a companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is called SWOT analysis. In general, a business unit has to monitor key macro environment forces (demographic-economic, technological, political-legal, and social-cultural) and significant microenvironment actors (customers, competitors, distributors, suppliers) that affect its ability to earn profits. The business unit should set up a marketing intelligence system to track tends and important developments. For each trend or development, management needs to identify the associated opportunities and threats. Strengths Recognized as a global company. Strong brand portfolio. Strong relationship with retailers Economies of scale. Corporate social behavior Variety of products Weaknesses Dual leadership Limited costumer connection Inefficient management of brands Inability to maximize acquisitions Lack of control in the market Reduced spending on RD Opportunities Changing consumer preferences Increasing need for healthy products Low income consumers Rapid increase in population Threats Decrease in revenue Strong competition(PG) Tougher business climate Exchange rates Economic crisis Increase in production and labor cost 3.2. BCG Matrix Stars(High market growth share) Lux Sunsilk Walls ice cream Fair lovely Rafhan Energile AXE Vasline PG tips Dogs(Low market growth share) Wheel detergent Supreme tea Lifebuoy shampoo Cash cows(Low growth High share) Surf excel Ponds Lipton Close up Blue band Dove soap Rexona Knorr Question marks(High growth low share) Clear shampoo Rin Comfort Ben Jerrys Persil 3.3. PESTEL Analysis 3.3.1. Political/Legal environment Unilever, as a matter of policy, set a standard as to the way of tackling political issues. Unilever has its tactical way of handling political issues. First, in the 1960s, many countries began to nationalize foreign firms which also affected Unilever. This was a call for local equity participation in foreign firms. Thus, so many companies were subject to local control on prices, imports, employment of expatriates and so on. As a result of the adverse effect of nationalization policy, in the 1970, many US companies e.g. IBM and coca cola left India. There was fear by foreign companies uncertain issues such as knowledge leakage, loss of trademark etc. this was also hazardous for Unilever as its control over operation in the market was reduced. For example UAC, a subsidiary of Unilever, whose operation was in many African countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, etc.), was focused on as its profit margin and rate of easy remittance of profit to its Anglo-Dutch parent was enorm ous. Nationalizing UA Chambered Unilevers control over the market where UAC operates. However, Unilever uses its experience and goodwill to make contacts in many countries to bargain with government so as to modify their regulations. In central and south America, Unilever only engaged in lobbying rather than active politicking. In other words, Unilever never get involved in sponsoring political parties. Today, Unilever has gained political ground using its tactical strategy and experience. Unilever is a member of many organizations all over the world. The aim is to create favorable business environment, and also facilitate corporate reputation management. 3.3.2. Economic environment Unilever market environment is becoming highly competitive especially in the Western Europe. Procter Gamble (PG) is one of the major competitors in the European market. More so, there are so many discounters in the European market resulting from EU free trade policy. This has had adverse effect on Unilevers profit potentials. Retailers are pressurizing FMCG producers to reduce prices of their products. Consumers on the other hand would not want to buy expensive product or brands due to current economic tide. Competition in EU has grown so strong that Unilever is facing difficulties in places like France, Netherlands. In the developing countries and the emerging economies (Asia and Africa), where there are political instability, Unilever has adopted its company strategy to ensure that its profitability drive is sustained. Some Products are packaged in small size for low or regular income earner, for affordability. In some developing countries, Nigeria to be precise, there was uncertainty about duties to be paid by companies due to inflation and fluctuation of currency. The effect on Unilever was a decrease in profit in 2005 compared to 2004, though there was increase in turnover. 3.3.3. Socio-cultural environment Unilever has continued to maintain momentum in its socio-cultural environment in line with its sustainability drive. The company is working relentlessly to bring improve hygiene and better nutrition to people in Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially the poor and obesity. Over 30% of Africa population lives on less than $1 per day. By this, Unilever strengthens it goodwill. However, the low literacy of consumers affects marketing vehicles such as advertisement in print media. This therefore requires employment of more resources, for instance to enhance face-to-face communication. Besides, Unilever employs about 100 nationalities. It ensures that diversity works for everybody both employees and consumer alike. In order to achieve and ensure that diversity works amongst employees, Unilever employed the strategy of so as to manage and leverage diversity. Unilever is focused on building an exclusive culture and embracing difference, which resulted in high demand of its products in th e developing and emerging markets. 3.3.4. Technological environment Right in the 1930s, Unilever continue to diversify. Business continue to boom in the1950s with new technology being invented to boast production and enhance quality products for consumer, competitors improving their products using new inventions. Unilever did not give up its effort in RD. Since 2000, Unilever has been spending on IT to improve its business especially in the area of e-business so as to improve brands communication and market through internet, making transaction simple along chain. Today, Unilever is trying to minimize cost through IT efficiencies at global level. In addition, Unilever Technology Venture works in collaboration with Unilever RD group to help Unilever meet consumers needs. Area of concern is genomics, advanced bioscience, advanced materials science and nanotechnology. In 2003, Unilever installed and commissioned pallet live storage system from Bitto Storage System Ltd. This was meant to store its frozen products. The facilities include: pallet live storage systems, carton live storage systems, pallet racking, boltless shelving, plastic bins and containers, wide span and heavy load shelving, cantilever racking, and multi-tier shelving systems. 3.3.5. Environment In recognition of local legislation and to keep its corporate responsibilities, Unilever designed management system. Unilever has respect for consumer health and safety. This policy is to ensure all Unilever operators establish a formal environmental management system. Training programs are being arranged in various regions/business groups to ensure compliance with the company Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Care (SHE). This framework is based on the ISO 14001 management standard. Unilever had also worked in conjunction with government of countries of its operation as regards waste management. For instance in Ghana, 2004, over 21 tones of wastes were supplied to small and medium size recycling businesses in Accra, Ghana, by Unilever to reduce the amount of plastic waste sent to landfill. Financial performance Underlying sales growth of 7.4% was partly offset by movements in exchange rates (4.8%) and the net impact of disposals and acquisitions (1.4%). Including these effects, turnover was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40,523 million for the full year, increasing by 0.8%. Operating profit increased by à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1,922 million to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬7,167 million, including a higher level of profits on business disposals. These generated a pre-tax profit of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2,190 million in 2008, compared with à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬297 million in 2007. Net profit was 28% higher than last year, boosted by the profits on disposals. Earnings per share were à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.79, including a net gain of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.36 from RDIs. This compared with à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.35 last year, which included a net loss of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.07 from RDIs.Net cash flow from operations at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3.9 billion was in line with last year. Total cash returns to shareholders in the year wereà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3.6 billion, made up of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2.1 billion of dividends and à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.5 billion of share buy-backs. 4.1. Consolidated income statement (Highlights for the year ended 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Turnover 40 523 40 187 Operating profit 7 167 5 245 Profit before taxation 7 129 5 184 Taxation (1 844) (1 128) Net profit from continuing operations 5 285 4 056 Net profit 5 285 4 136 Combined earnings per share from total operations à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.79 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.35 4.2. Consolidated balance sheet (As at 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Non-current assets 24 967 27 374 Current assets 11 175 9 928 Current liabilities (13 800) (13 559) Total assets less current liabilities 22 342 23 743 Non-current liabilities 11 970 10 924 Shareholders equity 9 948 12 387 Minority interests 424 432 Total capital employed 22 342 23 743 4.3. Consolidated cash flow statement (For the year ended 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Net cash flow from operating activities 3 871 3 876 Net cash flow from/ (used in) investing activities 1 415 (623) Net cash flow from/ (used in) financing activities (3 130) (3 009) Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2 156 244 Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 901 710 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes (697) (53) Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2 360 901 4.4. Financial Objectives Unilevers ambition is to top Third Total Shareholder Return, over a 3 year rolling period out of peer group of 20 other companies. Its outlook for year 2010 is: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Un-geared free cash flow in the period 2005-2010 to be à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬25-30bn. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improvement in Return on Invested Capital. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Underlying sales growth of 3-5% p.a. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Operating margin of over 15% by 2010 after normal restructuring. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improved capital and tax efficiency. Market share and competition 5.1. Top Unilever Competitors Company Location Proctor Gamble Cincinnati,OH Kraft Foods Northfield, IL Nestle Vevey, Switzerland 5.2. Competitor Comparison Unilever P G Kraft Nestle Top Segment C/G Foods Consumer Care Food Food Top Brand Dove Tide Mac Cheese KitKat CEO A.Burgmans A.G.Lefley R.Deromedi P.Letmathe Stock per share $66.03 $53.76 $30.70 $66.90 Growth 15.55% 9.25% 8.2% 11.23% Revenues $42.942m $28.2BL $31,010m $69.BL Revenue Growth -11.93% 19% 4.3% -1.93% International 100+ 42 150+ 86 Business Segments 3 5 5 6 Employees 234000 110000 10600 253000 (Source: Hoovers business Intelligence guide) 5.3. Category position in the market Strategic Issues Following are some of the key strategic issues which Unilever faces today: 6.1. Leadership Unilever maintains two business entities i.e. Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. Due to dual chairperson approach; it faces following problems in their business strategy: List stock separately Shared board of directors Typical management; wear two, three hats Conflict in Board and Business responsibilities Company remains fragmented Reduced effectiveness Slow decision making process( Bureaucracy) Unilever believer (believe in Unilever) Unilever should create a sense of belief amongst its consumers. It should try and focus on program that focuses on brand initiative to the consumers. Use advertising that connects with consumer needs: Consumers demand high quality products that are both convenient and delicious Consumers look for new ways to use the product Large population of single parent house hold More females are working full-time jobs Increase consumer focus on health and nutrition Strategy Justification 7.1. Recommendation 1 Make an initiative to create an overall umbrella brand across all Unilevers brands that will eventually consolidate various businesses under one name. Unilever Plc Unilever NV One Unilever Provides a greater clarity of leadership, responsibility, and accountability Allows Unilever to focus on the needs of their customers and consumers thus reigniting growth and increasing sales potential Provides the ability to leverage scale of operations Create a strategic platform for brand management Recommendation 2 It should implement Unilever Believer product and brand extensions. The related example in this case is of Lipton tea. It should try and create an extension to this famous brand by focusing on energy drinks. Justifications are: Energy drinks jumped 56% in sales last year Market has exceed $100 million in the recent years Main Competitor: Red Bull Positioning Statement: A Healthier Alternative to Energy Drinks Unilever should cash in this opportunity by: Target Market: Young adults 18-32 Uses: stay up all night and/or start a night out Main Ingredients: Caffeine, Vitamin B, Guarana Advertisements: Highlight healthier ingredients of the product while showcasing its ability to give energy and revitalize body

Self-Promotion and Celebrity Endorsements of Healthy Lifestyles Essay

Self-Promotion and Celebrity Endorsements of Healthy Lifestyles In his book Celebrity and Power: Fame in Contemporary Culture, P. David Marshall states "The close scrutiny that is given to celebrities is to accentuate the possibility and potential for individuals to shape themselves unfettered by the constraints of a hierarchical society" (246). Therefore, celebrities are seen as role models for a lifestyle that might never be fully attainable by the average person, but can be imitated. What is ironic then is that following a celebrity-endorsed lifestyle does not create individuality, but reduces it. While celebrities endorse products, they also appear in advertisements which promote a healthy lifestyle where through the abstinence from vices such as smoking and drinking, to the consumption of healthy products such as milk, or the changing of habits to create a more environmentally friendly world. While these advertisements may have noble intentions an examination of the linguistic messages, iconic messages, and the target audiences, shows that t he celebrities who appear in advertisements promoting healthy lifestyle choices are also promoting their own creative projects at the same time. An interesting example of how celebrities promote themselves while promoting a healthy lifestyle is seen in an advertisement sponsored by Budweiser beer and featuring the band *NSYNC. Appearing in the May 14, 2001 issue of People Magazine, the ad encourages parents to talk to their children about underage drinking. If parents visit the website and read about the program, they can enter to win a family trip to Washington D.C. to see the group in concert. The linguistic messages work to not only promote the cause, but the band and the beer.... ...sement does achieve some level of cross promotion because of the audience it is reaching. In conclusion it is evident that whether explicit or less obvious, there is always some element of cross-promotion in advertisements featuring celebrities. Although the celebrities may genuinely care about the causes which they are promoting it is obvious that their very presence in the advertisement draws attention to themselves and allows the reader to make connections to any creative projects they are working on at the moment. The advertisements work in part because the celebrities featured are those in the public eye at the time of publishing and that they are easily recognizable. The linguistic message, the iconic messages (both coded and non-coded) work together along with a strategic targeting of similar audiences to promote more that one thing in the advertisement.

The Zone Diet Essay example -- Weight Loss Nutrition Papers

The Zone Diet High-protein/ low-carbohydrate diets are nothing new to Americans these days; they seem overwhelmingly to be the most popular among those people trying to lose weight. Ph.D. Dr. Barry Sears’ books on his version of the high-protein diet, the Zone Diet, are among the best selling diet books on the market. The diet seems to be yielding quick and noticeable results to those who follow Dr. Sears’ plan. Many people are desperate to lose weight and have tried numerous methods that have not produced sufficient and long lasting results. This could perhaps be the reason for the recent craze for the high-protein/ low-carbohydrate diet- it really does cause weight loss. Even Hollywood movie stars such as actresses Jennifer Anniston and Sandra Bullock attribute their recent weight loss and improvement in appearance to the Zone diet. However, in the midst of all of the hype, we must examine the claims and assess the degree to which this diet is indeed effective. Further, considering that Dr. Sears’ advice contradicts what we have been told for years about dieting, we must determine if it is healthy. Could we have been misinformed when given advice to eat a diet rich in carbohydrates, or is this diet another that falls short of what it promises? THE ZONE AND IT’S PURPOSE Dr. Barry Sears, Ph.D., is responsible for the development of The Zone nutrition concept, which is based upon 15 years of his research in the field of bio-nutrition. It was guided by the same science that won the 1982 Nobel Prize for Medicine dealing with the research of eicosanoids. The term "Zone" is an expression used by athletes to describe a near-euphoric state of maximum physical, mental and psychological performance (http://www.nutrition... ...igh meat diets and cancer risk." The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 58(2):243-8, May 1999. Holm, L et.al. "Randomized trial on protein vs carbohydrate in ad libitum fat reduced diet for the treatment of obesity." International Journal of Obesity. 23(5):528-36, May 1999. Katan, MB. "High-oil compared to low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets in the prevention of ischemic heart disease." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 66:974-979, Oct. 1997 Miller, SI and Wolfe, RR. "Physical exercise as a modulator of adaptation to low and high carbohydrate and low and high fat intakes." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 53:112-9, Apr. 1999 Panhuysen, G. et.al. "Does carbohydrate-rich, protein-poor food prevent a deterioration of mood and cognitive performance of stress-prone subjects when subjected to a stressful task?" Appetite. (1):49-65, Aug. 1998.

Effectiveness of Online Advertising Essay

Growing internet user base, increasing time spent on the internet, broadband penetration into the households and fragmented media consumption of consumers are driving advertisers towards the field of online advertising. But there are a few limitations to this sector as well, the primary one being low broadband penetration in the country. Thus, the field of online advertising promises growth as it is interactive, targets specific consumers and has no geographical or time boundaries. With the help of all the primary and secondary data collected and analyzed, certain trends and conclusions came forth. The first and foremost thing in this project was to understand the influencers (online advertising agencies). Why various sectors are getting into the field of online understanding, what are the features of an online advertisement, what are the advantages of internet as a medium over other forms of media, objectives of an online campaign, which sectors are investing in this field and what are the limitations of internet as a medium of advertising – all these are listed under the major findings. The next thing was to understand the average consumers who had to be users of internet. Why they use internet, do they notice these advertisements, if yes do they take any action, if no then what is the reason for the same, do they think that online advertising is more engaging, if not what is their preferred medium for advertising, whether they have been pursued to take any action regarding the product/service after watching the online advertising and whether they think that online advertising has any limitations or not – all these are listed in detail under major findings. For this, students studying across Delhi, pursuing graduate/post-graduate and various professional courses were among the target audience. The reason behind this was that students these days spend a lot of time on the internet whether it is for acquiring information or social networking sites. They are present their on the medium and notice these advertisements. The Young Working Professionals are the other target segments as they are also heavy users of internet using it for acquiring information or sending e-mails or social networking sites. Online advertising as a medium is emerging and holds a promising future for brands to build consumer relationships as these advertisements act as a reminder as well as a channel of sales. Online Advertising provides brands with the opportunity to exist alongside their competition and yet be relevant. Presently BFSI and IT sectors are the major investors in online advertising as their target audience (corporate) is present online most of the time. So, internet acts as a medium of influencing the target consumer as well as a channel of sales for them. But FMCG sectors are also catching up. Because of the advent of social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter, it has become easier for FMCG brands to advertise online as these advertisements act as a reminder for the consumers and directs the interested consumers to the main sites. This helps them in building their brand image as well as the consumer database as it gives them the opportunity to interact with the consumers and get feedback. The most important feature of Online Advertising is that is measurable i. e. consumer reactions can be monitored. This feature of online advertising makes it an efficient medium for advertising as results can be easily monitored. The major limitation to this medium is the low broadband penetration in the country and although the internet user base is on a rise but the ratio when compared to the total population is very low. Thus, Online Advertising is an effective medium of advertising owing to its interactive and measurable nature. With the growing possibilities of sectors investing in this medium we can expect more creative content to be available on the online space. This would make the medium of online advertising more creative, more interactive and in tune with all the other mediums of advertising. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUNDER The Indian advertising industry is in a phase of transition. Rapid advances in technology and an ever growing base of empowered customers have redefined how advertising is created, sold, consumed and evaluated. At this juncture advertisers are experimenting with a number of emerging platforms including Internet which has been globally acknowledged as an interactive medium with a lot of advertising potential. Internet is the most powerful communication medium known to humankind but there is still a debate on as to how powerful it as a communication tool. It is a way of directly communicating to consumers in cyberspace. It is unique as there is more of narrow focus on e-commerce. It has opened up a lot of opportunities for marketers for targeting customers in an interactive and measurable ways. Online advertising is an effective way of advertising that uses the power of Internet and World Wide Web in order to deliver marketing messages and attract consumers. It helps to target specific customer segments and gather information across geographical boundaries in a cost effective manner. Online advertising helps in not only leading visitor to a publisher’s site but also creating awareness which potentially could result in gradual brand building. With online advertising you get instant results. It is growing faster than other segments due to fundamental drivers such as †¢ Low input costs for advertisers †¢ Increasing awareness of online usage in India amongst advertisers and marketers †¢ Growth in online user/audience base The number of net surfers in India is increasing at a rapid rate and studies have shown that people are spending more and more time on the web. Buying products online is convenient, hassle-free and easy. Online market places allow buyers to see the best deals available without moving from their desks and choose the products they want which they could not find at the local supermarket. For a company putting an advertisement online gives a benefit of being present right next to your competition when people are looking for products or services. Online Advertisement in India is a fast growing market and media buying is becoming a very important decision for all online spenders. The biggest advantage of Online Advertisement is it helps you to track your user online and understand online consumer behaviour. Recognizing the possibility of using Internet as an effective tool for targeting niche audiences, innovative perspectives are being practiced by established and traditional institutions. According to a study1, in the recent general elections in India (early 2009), many Indian politicians considered Internet as a useful platform for interactive political communication especially with youth. Indian National Congress party used sites like YouTube and Facebook to execute web-based social marketing campaigns. With 50 Million Internet users in Urban India and majority of them in the age group of 18-24 years, Internet was found to be an effective tool to engage with them. 1 Study on Online Display Advertising in India by IMRB (December 2009) Growing Internet user base, increasing time spent on the Internet, broadband penetration into households and fragmented media consumption habits of consumers are driving advertisers towards the online medium.

First Day in Delta College Essay

January, 14th 2014, was my first day at Delta College. I have heard some say that their first day of college was full of excitement, but for me it was completely new experience. My first day in Delta College was a memorable experience due to three reasons: I was exposed to the new environment, I met new teachers, and I met some new friends. On the first day of college, I saw the new environment and it made me feel more and more comfortable. At my first glimpse of my new campus, the air smelled new, the faces looked new and the environment seemed so different from Cambodia (my country) that it took away my anxieties. As my new friends, Theara, Sok, Samdy, and I roamed around, visiting every Delta College building, following the map. We saw awesome facilities support by high technology in the auto shop and we didn’t even know what it was called. All I know about it was that some of these machines were used it to fix cars. It was my first time seeing those amazing technologies. I t might sound that it was just ignorance in my new world, but it just really seemed new to me. These great experiences in the new environment helped me to adjust to Delta College as well. My first teacher for my English 84 class was named Becerra-Qu, and my second teacher for my Precalculus I class was named Tripp, R. At first they seemed so serious, but it was just the way their teaching styles were, which I found very helpful with my education. Then later on, my new friend told me that both teachers were nice people, but they just wanted their students to take their classes seriously. My friend also said, â€Å"They look serious and mean but they also make joke around and make the students felt more comfortable to study in their classroom.† She told me that â€Å"Every teacher has his or her own ways to teaching because some students tend to not to pay attention to their teachers if they don’t set up their rules in his or her classroom.† My first day of college was kind of scary but after my friend told me some stories about the teacher, it made me feel better. On my first day in Delta College, I made a couple new friends’ named Theara, Sok, Sam, Samdy, Vuth and I found them worth having. At the start, all of those new faces made me feel uncomfortable because they were looking at me as if I were an interesting creature that they had never seen before. My first hour at Delta College made me feel lonely and miserable. During the first hour, I realized that I missed the majority of my old friends in my country, whether they were nice or rude to me. On my first day in Delta College, I remembered all of those good old days with my good old friends and all the good old memories that I spent with them in Cambodia. However, things went back to normal as if I had returned to my old life after I had my first English 84 classes at 8:30 in the morning. English 84 class was nice and I met some new classmates there, named Theara, Sok, Sam, Samdy, and Vuth. We all spoke Khmer, and they all came from the same country as I did; however, we all came from different provinces. Some of my new classmates that I met on my first day of school have been friends of mine since that first day. Most importantly, as I was Cambodian, I had a hard time to read, to write, and to listen to my classmates including the teacher. Most of students that studied in English 84 with me didn’t speak English in a correct way. So, on my first day in my English 84 class, I always spoke broken English. When my first English 84 class was over at 10:30, I started to walk down to Shima building and stopped to ask someone I met for directions to my math class. I actually arrived to the class late because I got lost in the Shima building. In addition, when I got to my Math class fifteen minutes late, it was terrible and I didn’t get what the teacher said at first because he was speaking too fast for me, so I just found my own seat and settled down in the Math class for one hour and a half. It was a big challenge for me to go to college because I came from another country, but it gave me a memorable experience that I will never forget. Overall, I believe that the first day of College was an exciting journey because of all the new things that we had been through and experienced. For me, my first day in Delta College turned out to be terrible experience that I had never expected, but was a step that boosted my interesting and also my  confidence.