Are We Progressing? Essay

Are we really progressing ? India unfortunately is lacking leaders. There was a time when we had real heroes those who fought selflessly for our freedom and sacrificed their lives. Now a days ‘leaders’ are replaced by diplomats and politicians , who are hardly concerned with the development or progress of our country ? They are not at all bothered by the grievances of common man. 40 percent population is living below poverty line but the rich are getting richer. The difference is growing between rich and the poor with a great speed. They have tall claims that India has developed a lot but the truth is that we have lost our grip on many significant fronts? With this type of ineffective leadership India will lead nowhere. We Indians copy the Western culture on silly counts like fashion , openness and homosexuality but unfortunately we do not follow the British way of tackling the awful mess . The journalism their is admirable. They do not hesitate or fear in criticizing, exposing or taking names of their politicians. Their efforts are determined and meticulous in contrast to our media where they are reluctant to question or expose their colleagues , as it happened in Radia’s case. Worst part is when our media dares to question the PM , he is either unavailable or protected by his advisers, unlike Cameron who made himself available to face all the criticism in west . Majority of countries are victim of terrorism but the selfish politicians of India have developed the habit of consoling themselves and fooling the general lot by saying – â€Å"Spirit of Mumbai† . Rest of the world have learnt their lessons from terror attack and have improved their law and order except India where our leaders have mastered the art of making tall claims and sympathizing with the victims for a brief period. Mumbaikars are living in fear of bomb attacks for past two decades but our government seems reluctant to take any effective measure. There is no improvement in the facilities at a grass root level even . The current political dissonance and institutional attitude do not inspire confidence. Indian media needs to stop sensationalizing everything and should cover issues with sincerity and due diligence . It should be a strong corruption free crusader against injustice. India is not keeping pace with its development needs? We need to delink politics from reform processes and improve our regulatory framework to reach our global leadership goals. We must not tie ourselves with allies which adversely affects our autonomy. We need to be more strategic in developing relationship with neighboring countries. Government needs to confer ‘infrastructure’ status on all fronts ? Brain drain should be checked and measures should be taken for reverse brain drain . We need to look into the reasons for people reluctant to serve their own country . The lack of innovation and quality research and development is putting our country at lower graph. Growth in jobs are needed . There should be major expansion in all spheres , be it health , education , science or security . Our products are not making any remarkable impact in global market . For our country to progress we need to have thoughtful leaders who do not ignore the demands of one billion population and resonate well with the common lot.

Letter to Best Friend About Not Quiting High school Essay

I have been thinking about what you announced to us and I wanted to help you out. I am willing to help and encourage you to not drop out of high school because you need have a good future. Dropping out of high school is not the best way to give up because your having problems, failing a class or just feel that you don’t like school. You yourself need to set your mind that you can do it ! I believe education is important because you learn new things, it prepares you, and orientates you through the right path. In order to be successful in life we have to focus and be perseverance. In the first place, I’m going to convince you of staying in school and earn that diploma. Earning that diploma can give you many opportunities. With a diploma you can get a job. Its sometimes difficult to apply to jobs without them seeing you didn’t finish your high school. Its important to get that diploma because it says a lot about you that you didn’t give up and tried your best throughout high school to earn it. With a diploma you can go to any college or university. It shows schools that you conquered to complete your high school to move onto the next level. Also, it basically proves to that you completed your four years of high school education,which is important. Second, you need to continue with your education because it is important that you learn all the materials you need to know including mathematics, history, English , science and others courses. It is necessary that you stay in school because without you knowing any of this it might confuse you in future exercises including those subjects. It is important that you learn these subjects because it useful for everything. For example, mathematics, is going to be needed for the rest of your life. Math is needed in everything as in counting money, and other things. All types of jobs need mathematics like cashier and accountants. History is also important to learn for those who maybe want to become a history teachers to teach their student about our the history of the U. S or other countries. Science is also useful in anything you maybe want to work in a science lab investigating and looking deep into your research. English is kind of like math English is used everywhere. Learning grammar and punctuation is very important also, you don’t want to misspell a word. What I’m trying to do is just convince you that finishing these courses can help you in whatever you want to become either it is becoming an accountant, history teacher, work in a science lab, or just not make any errors in your English it is important that you learn all these materials that are going to prepare you for your future. Third, going through high school might me hard , difficult , and confusing at times but it also makes you think about life. It makes you think about what you want to become as in your career. With time you start realizing what you like and dislike. Also, I believe that finishing your high school and getting your diploma makes you feel special. It makes the people around you happy that you accomplished and finished. It shows that you never gave up and tried your best to make them happy and yourself. It says a lot about you that you got a diploma and it can open many doors for you in the future. To conclude, I encourage you friend to finish your high school and earn that diploma. High school teaches you new things, it prepares you, helps you decide what you want to be become in the future. Earning your diploma gives you many opportunities, learn all your basic courses needed, and it makes the people around you happy because you showed them and your self that you can do it and acconplish your goals. I’m encouraging you to not quit and think about it twice and not drop out look at all the opportunities you have and all you can do it !

Damien Peter Parer

Damien Peter Parer (1 August 1912 – 17 September 1944) was an Australian war photographer. He became famous for his war photography of the Second World War, and was killed by Japanese machinegun fire at Peleliu, Palau. He married Elizabeth Marie Cotter on 23 March 1944, and his son, producer Damien Parer, was born posthumously. He was also the uncle of Australian politician Warwick Parer and film-maker David Parer. He was cinematographer for Australia's first Oscar winning film, Kokoda Front Line, an edition of the weekly newsreel, Cinesound Review which was produced by Ken Hall. Damien Parer was born at Malvern in Melbourne, the tenth child of Teresa and John Arthur Parer, a hotel manager on King Island, Tasmania. In 1923, he and his brother, Adrian, were sent as boarders to St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst and St. Kevin's College, Melbourne . He joined the school's camera club, and decided that he wanted to be a photographer, rather than a priest. However, finding a job as a photographer in depression-era Australia proved difficult, and so he resumed his education at St Kevin's in east Melbourne. While at this school he won a prize in a photographic competition run by the Melbourne newspaper, the Argus, and used the money to buy a Graflex camera used by professionals. Parer obtained an apprenticeship with Arthur Dickinson. He said later that he learnt most about photography from Dickinson and Max Dupain. He finished his apprenticeship in 1933 and, sometime later, obtained work with the director, Charles Chauvel, on the film Heritage, where he met and became friends with another up and coming filmmaker of the time, John Heyer. At the conclusion of that film, and with the help of Chauvel, he obtained work in Sydney, and so moved there in 1935. By World War II, Parer was experienced at photography and motion pictures, and was appointed as official movie photographer to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). His first war footage was taken on HMAS Sydney after it had sunk the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. Soon after, he was aboard HMS Ladybird while it was bombarding the sea port of Bardia in Libya. His first experience at close quarters was during a troop advance at Derna. Parer filmed in Greece and in Syria, covering the action from aircraft, the deck of a ship and on the ground with the infantry. After Syria he travelled to Tobruk in August 1941 before covering the fighting in the Western desert. By mid-1942 Parer was in New Guinea ready to cover the fighting against the Japanese. During this phase of the war, he filmed some of his most famous sequences, some at Salamaua and, most notably, those used in Kokoda Front Line. This documentary won its producer, Ken G. Hall, an Academy Award for documentary film-making. Parer was killed by Japanese gunfire while filming a United States Marine advance in Peleliu on the island of Palau.

To what extent does the internet represent a more democratic medium of Assignment

To what extent does the internet represent a more democratic medium of information - Assignment Example that when the history of the 20th and 21st century will be written, internet would be labelled as the major stimulus that shaped this era and many of the developments that have been witnessed by these generations (Gaur, 2006, p. 57). Over the past few years, citizens from various developed countries in the world have become extremely cynical and sceptical of their government, traditional forms of media and governmental institutions for any information. Therefore, these people usually extend greater trust and credibility over the internet, which they are increasingly using to fulfil their information needs. Furthermore, many political parties and politicians, realising the power of internet are using the internet to their advantage (Bennett & Entman, 2000, p. 214). The rise of several populist parties in Europe, some of which now enjoy considerable representation within the parliaments of Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Slovakia, Greece and others, have been able to transform their parities because of their extensive reliance over social media (Salter, 2003, p. 118). Since the internet has the ability to reach billions of people all over the world and absorb their opinions, viewpoints and ideas, the general opinion amongst the public is that internet is a populist and democratic tool. From the surface, it might appear that internet is a highly democratic medium, as it is so diverse, huge, far reaching and dynamics that nobody can control it (Gaur, 2006, p. 57). However, a closer examination makes it apparent that the internet has deeply embedded structural inequalities. For example, consider the fact that the most developed countries in the world, which account for only 16 percent of the world’s population, control 97 percent of all internet hosts (Bennett, 2007, p. 259). Interestingly enough, the 100 least developed countries in the world have only 5 percent of the internet hosts of Iceland. Nevertheless, proponents of

Elements of the Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Elements of the Legal System - Essay Example The adversarial type is always seen on films and read in novels. The adversarial model works in two types of criminal cases: First are the celebrated cases, where famous people are involved, or cases that are horrifying and beyond the normal type of crime. Second are the serious felonies, which include serious misdemeanors that are done by strangers. The consensual model is a model classified as more effective because there is good cooperation from both the defense and prosecutor. In this model, the two attorneys from both sides share the same understanding of the crimes and punishments. These attorneys think that arguing over the case will only slow down the court proceedings of the case when their main purpose is to make the process faster and finish the throng of cases as quickly and effectively as possible. Crime Control vs. Due Process Models. Crime control model is the assurance of public protection. This type of model believes that all criminal suspects are guilty; thus, their cases should be dealt quickly in the courts or in any other legal branches. The legal process of this model with the criminal suspects is characterized like that of a conveyer belt where all cases and the suspects pass by in the conveyer belt quick and fast. â€Å"Crime control and consensual models complement each other since crime control gives importance to quickly and efficiently convict criminal suspects to ensure the public their safety† (Barkan, 2009). The consensual model gives importance of the same goal but only because to ensure of the continuous and uninterrupted court proceedings. In contrast, due process model is a model that protects and ensures the suspected criminal from the likely abuse of the government of its power. This model take into consideration that the suspected criminal or defendant is innocent of the charges thrown at him. In a democratic country, both the innocent and the guilty deserve to have proper court proceedings and ensure of their indivi dual freedom. The adversarial model and the due process model â€Å"complement each other† since the former model stresses on challenging the evidences of the two parties while the latter highlights on protecting the rights of the suspected offender (Barkan, 2009). Lawyers The significance of the function of a defense attorney is to talk and act in behalf of the defendant. A defense attorney understands the fair process of the criminal justice system. A defendant is in need of every legal advice and counsel throughout the court proceedings, and a defense attorney is the one that gives such. A defense attorney also â€Å"represents the defendant after the he or she is taken into custody†¦to give advice and to make sure constitutional rights are not violated during pretrial procedures† (â€Å"The Adversary Justice System,† n.d.). The prosecuting attorney does not give advices the same way a defense attorney does. A prosecutor’s responsibility is making sure that parties involved in the trial are conscious and be aware of legal measures. Prosecuting vs. Defense Attorney. The prosecuting and the defense attorneys both lay their sides to the judge and to the jury, and during the trial proceedings of the case both are involved. The prosecuting team goes first in presenting evidence that proves the conviction of the defendant followed by the defendant who is going to present his or her

George H.W. Bush Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

George H.W. Bush Presidency - Essay Example ("Like") On the other hand, President Bush had his own shares of defeat. In the 1980 Republican presidential nominations, he was unsuccessful in winning the bid. But in 1981, he served as the country's vice president for eight years under the Reagan administration. And it was only in 1988 when he had finally won the Republican nomination for President, for which he took Dan Quayle as his running mate during the election. ("Bush") Unlike his predecessor, Bush arrived at the presidency with considerable knowledge about the ways of Washington and experience with leading a staff closely similar to the president's own. (Relyea, 1997) On the other hand, there have been several criticisms regarding his governance when people had thought he learned from his predecessors. The book written by Hess clearly shows the abilities of the presidents who assumes the office and their unique personalities towards their responsibilities. Presidents are assumed to have very little knowledge and understanding, as well as very limited skills in running a government. The actual responsibilities of the office are but unclear to them on the onset of the term. However, these abilities, skills and understanding of the responsibilities are often learned in the long run yet they could not escape the part where they will have to undergo a transition of imitation of the previous presidents. Their transition stage is crucial such that this is where the presidents will have to develop their own skills according to their traits and priorities which are vital in the development, performance, and course of the administration. (Borrelli, 2003) In congruence to this statement, Farrar-Myers at the same time notes that "Presidents often are tied to the legacy of the office holders who came before them. Sometimes a president assumes the office upon the death of his predecessor and, therefore, is expected at the start of his presidency to follow the predecessor's agenda until he is able to establish his own course." (Farrar-Myers, 2001) History could not deny this fact such that there had been several vice-presidents who had continued the agenda of their predecessors when they died or take their turns as president. Some of these are John Tyler; Chester Arthur; Harry Truman; and Lyndon Johnson, for example. (Farrar-Myers, 2001) There are also times though wherein presidents purposefully follow the agenda of their predecessors. They come to base their presidency according to an assumption that they will have to continue the same policy since the president before them at the same time followed the policies that the previous president has had before them. It is a choice that some of the presidents like James Madison following Jefferson; Martin Van Buren and James Polk as Jacksonian Democrats; William Taft's campaign (if not actual presidency) to follow in Theodore Roosevelt's progressivism; and, most recently, George Bush's election to carry on the Reagan Revolution. (Farrar-Myers, 2001) Based from Hess's suggestion, it could be derived that President Bush could have at one point imitated the administrative styles of his predecessors before he had gained his own unique style in running his

To be Determined Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

To be Determined - Essay Example Their joy therefore reflects their perfect and pure relationship they behold. The two lovers portray the fulfillment one gets in loving the partner. Porphyria is quite in love and even lacks words to express it to the lover. Later on, the lover finds out that she is much deep in love with him, when he says "at last I knew Porphyria worshipped me".{Browning}. In Rossetti's poem, the theme of love and passion has been explored in a unique manner. This is because the image of love and passion has taken two dimensions, such that the author is bringing out Kate's engagement as perfect and standing the test of time. While her cousin's is doomed after what she held precious is lost. She talks of leading a shameless shameful life and not even the neighbors have regard for her. This changes the theme to that of Hate because she rail against the fact that she was lured by wealth and would not have taken her love's hand when she knew that she would treat her like a rag and plaything. This purposefully reveals to us the sufferings one can be faced with when they fail in finding a true love that cares and values them. Rossetti's poem is therefore driving in some important message of love and suffering intertwined together. Such that not all love come to blossom especially if one is lured by wealth and not real love, i.e. if it's bought. Styles brought out In regard to the two poems, the major style explored is imagery. It is clearly brought out in the Browning's in which we are able to visualize the setting of the poem and even the passion shared by the two. The beach because we are told that she withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl. A clear picture is brought out when porphyria's lover gives a vivid description on the way his love blazes up a gloomy grate and warms up the cold lodge. This enough tells us how much she is of value to him. Imagery in Christina's poem is brought out through the woman who has been deserted by the lover. The suffering can be seen in her choice of regretful words. We are also able to see the kind of peaceful and lovely life her cousin Kate is leading with her love which was described as planted in sand yet hers was founded in great love and wealth. Imagery in this poem has also been portrayed through the use of metaphor and simile. She has indirectly compared Kate's love with writ in sand, "You love was writ in sand" {Rosssetti}.meaning that her love was not founded on a strong ground but later survived. She even refers to Kate as 'fret' to mean that she is simply a trouble. This shows how resentful she feels towards her cousin Kate for having succeeded in her relationship. There is also use of similes to directly compare a person or situation, for example. "He wore me like a silken knot" "He changed me like a glove" These two comparisons give us an idea about the value that was accorded to the woman by the lover. In that he manipulated her according to his desires and later on dumped her just like one can throw away a used useless glove. Therefore this style can be said to be laying a lot of emphasis on the theme of hate since the woman does not only hate the lover but also dislikes the cousin for having a good life. Besides, it's

Evaluate and revise A Strategy for Scottish Tourism Essay

Evaluate and revise A Strategy for Scottish Tourism - Essay Example It was evolved primarily based on the views that the overseas target markets showed declining performance, there was considerable increase in short tours and also the expenditure was exceeding budgets as per the targets set. The new strategy was the result of a consultation document from Henry McLeish MSP, Honorable Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in 1999. The consultation document provided the broad items that could go to make for the new strategy, viz., optimal use of IT, tourism promotion to remote and rural areas, assuring quality, identifying future markets, domestic as well as overseas, extending the tourism season, improving training, improving accessibility of areas for tourism interest in Scotland, ATB functioning, as well as making tourism sustainable in the long term. It is therefore in this context that the strategy was examined. Acknowledges are due and hence conveyed in all earnestness to the university professors, fellow students as well as the different authors and experts who have permitted quoting their works in this report. In particular, mention needs to be made of JRB Ritchie and GI Crouch, whose painstaking work The Competitive Destination: A sustainable tourism perspective, 2003, has afforded this study to be made on the basic of fundamental strategy and tourism concepts outlined by these eminent authors. The study examined the new Scottish Tourist Board (STB) strategy according to the principle that tourism development needs to both competitive and sustainable in the long term. Sustainability means conserving the natural resources of Scotland and protecting its heritage structures. The strategy recognizes the natural advantages of Scotland in its scenic beauty and varied landscape and also highlights efforts to be undertaken like technology adoption, customer focus, service quality assurance, lifelong learning, training, better coordination among public bodies and greater involvement of

The Name Of The Rose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Name Of The Rose - Essay Example The chief suspect for these deaths, William asserts, is the library assistant Berenger.   But there is more to the mystery than the series of deaths, for further probes inside the library unravel great hidden secrets that could embarrass and topple Christian authority over the masses.   The intrigue and the suspense intensify as further evidence and events unfold, leading to a gripping climax and ending.   The books in the library are the special significance to the plot and substance of the movie.   It is suggested by William early in his investigation that notes and translation to the Greek version of a book are found on the desk of Venantius.   And later during the investigations of the library, he discovers invaluable collections of ancient wisdom, including such Greek luminaries as Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, etc.   The Abbott and the institution of Church would not be pleased upon learning of this discovery, for this ancient wisdom is more sophisticated than what is found in the Holy Bible. More importantly, that such wisdom could emanate from Pagan worshippers such as the ancient Greeks would undermine the authority of Christian theologians in Medieval Europe.   Considering all these potential threats to their power and privilege, the presence of these books in the hidden library has been kept a tightly held secret.   And attempts to crack open its access points are w hat sets up the central plot of the story.   Hence, the books and the secret library containing them are central to the narrative. The message to be gathered from this story is rather discouraging.   Authority figures usually tend to act brutally and ruthlessly in suppressing dissenting voices and views.

Research Designs and Methods Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Research Designs and Methods - Term Paper Example   If we were to not use scientific research, we would have to rely on intuition, guess and whims. All through history, one can see examples of how important decisions can go wrong because the decision maker relied on these. Intuition is often influenced by a few events that are not representative of the norm. The decision maker may not even realize how much weight a particular incident may be given simply because it has had an emotional impact on them; and not because it is really relevant. Statistical studies have shown that any one of a number of guesses has exactly the same chance of being right as any other in the set. Nevertheless, we often make the mistake of believing that a particular guess has a greater probability of being right. This is a fallacy that motivates every gambling situation. The whims and ideas of monarchs have often been their downfall. Major decisions of corporations, countries and even individuals, if taken without the backing of facts and research can oft en lead to costly mistakes – sometimes irreversible... (Baily, 1994; 76-83). A majority of the type of research mentioned is conducted by using mathematical and statistical functions. But when the object of study is a human being, quantitative measurement of phenomena is not always possible. Human experience is inherently qualitative, and often it is best reported thus. A number of researchers have understood this, and choose to study phenomena from a qualitative and descriptive point of view. While such research is often criticized for not being able to present hard data, the insight it provides into the human experience makes it well worth the effort. It is, of course, difficult to generalize from subjective data; a strength of objectively collected data. In some cases, there is no attempt at all to apply the findings in a larger context. Qualitative research is also more fallible in its interpretation. But in spite of all its flaws, qualitative data – especially in the Social Sciences – can provide an understanding and a perspective that empirical data cannot afford.     

Positive And Negative Effects Of Video Games Essay Example for Free

Positive And Negative Effects Of Video Games Essay The video game technology, like most technologies, has changed drastically in the last few years. Arcades may look much the same on the surface as they did a decade or two ago, but the games have become far more violent, sophisticated and addictive. When one visits the video arcade it is not surprising to see children pointing and shooting something that looks suspiciously like a real weapon. If Pong or, for that matter, Pac-Man and Super Mario Brothers is ones point of reference, one needs to think again. What one assumes about the benign, outdated games of the 1970s and the 1980s, even of the early 1990s, the research regarding them cannot be considered valid as video games put in the market in the last five years. It is a whole new world, and it is evolving at a rate that is hard for parents to keep pace with (Funk. Jeanne 1993). How fast a rate? Consider this: During the last two decades interactive video games have emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment, particularly among teens. According to the non-profit organization, Mediascope, Globally, annual video games revenues now exceed $18 billion. In the United States alone, video game revenues now exceed $10 billion annually, nearly double the amount Americans spend going to the movies. On average, American children who have home video game systems play with them about ninety minutes a day. The kids are changing with the technology how could they not be? They are riding technology curve in a way we are not and never can. On many levels, its wonderful to have them exposed to this brave new cyberworld: the opportunities for them to learn, the resources at their fingertips, are tremendous and hard to fathom. Some claim that video games are a mind controlling device (The World Wide Web is like a vast, almost limitless encyclopedia, and unlike Encyclopedia Britannica, kids can talk to it and it talks back. So its especially disconcerting to see armies of these very kids wandering through cyberspace mutilating and killing everything in their path and having a great time doing it. Its the dark side of heightened technology, but one to which we ought to be paying much closer attention (The First Fighting Game That Let You Just Be Friends). Some say there are positive effects of video games and that there are hollow claims about fantasy violence. However, there are others who maintain that the general effect is negative and hazardous to children and adolescents in general. This paper looks at the positive and negative sides and attempts to put look the issue in the proper perspective. The debate over the effects of digital games is getter hotter. Many claim that people may not pay too much attention regarding the issue of digital games but they are now becoming a powerful cultural force (Secko, David). This has become a powerful force since computer and video games sales topped $10 billion in the U. S. in 2004. Children spend more and more time working and playing with them. And some social theorists say society is gripped by a moral panic over the effects of computer games (Secko, David). As some maintain, exposure to television violence results in violent actions in real life. Several researchers have agreed that children extensively exposed to violence as projected on television tend to think that it is appropriate to act in violent ways (Hurst). Today, this has evolved into video games. Like most technologies, video game technology has changed drastically in the last few years. Some of the issues tied to this are those on values. Values motivate behavior. Judgments about right and wrong or good and bad are moral judgments based on values. In the course of human interactions, there are many situations in which it is difficult to make a decision because values come into conflict. Conflict between moral values results is an ethical problem. Major influences on moral decision-making in cyber environment are personal, professional and organizational values. Values must be clarified if moral decisions are to be reached. We are just beginning to understand that digital mediums are bringing us expressive forms comparable to the movies and the novel, says Janet Murray, a Professor of Digital Media at Georgia Tech and author of Hamlet on the Holodeck (Lee, J. 2004. p. 1375). Video gaming exists today as a symbiotic relationship among many self-preserving organisms. All must strike a gentle balance between exerting their will and killing their host. Even if others find it obsolete, the young must engage in values clarification to develop a decision-making process that fosters ethical behavior (Funk. Jeanne 1993). More than any other aspect of these new video games, its the accuracy of the simulations the carnage, the blood, and the guts that is so advanced. Realism is the Holy Grail of the video game industry. And the latest technology leaves little to the imagination the simulations seem less fake, and therefore more effective. Add to this the fact that in the last few years, video game manufacturers have chosen to amplify gruesome violence (note that 49 percent of young teens indicate a preference for violent games, while only 2 percent prefer educational ones). (Funk, Jeanne 1993) to make it a mainstay in their products seems a direct result of where the television and movie industry have taken their content. What worries most parents and educators here is the desensitizing effect on-screen violence has on kids, and how it fosters a need for more graphic real-life displays of carnage and mayhem to keep kids interested. Graphically violent video games like Doom, Postal, Duke Nukem, and Mortal Kombat are games way past the curve. Some claim that these are mind control devices (Videogame- mind control? ). Author Schmitt (2004) states the many disadvantages of video games. He goes on to list several of the drawbacks of video game playing. He states in no unequivocal terms, If pursued as a solitary activity, playing video games can decrease important social interactions with family and friends. A childs interactions with friends may become limited to pumping them for information about hidden passageways and secret doors. Schmitt lists several good reasons to advice people not play video games. He also not only listed that but he also listed ways to keep us from playing them altogether or how to encourage children to play more healthy activities (Schmitt 2004 p. 33-56). In terms of the educational principles related to this issue, any teacher or coach of young people will tell you that hands-on experience is what teaches best. Repetition of movements and the hand-eye connection are invaluable for learning most skills. And especially with children, hands-on learning is usually a lot more fun and interesting than the alternatives. It is precisely this that makes interactive video games so potent a learning tool. As researcher Patricia Greenfield points out, Video games are the first medium to combine visual dynamism with an active participatory role for the child. (Provenzo, Eugene. 1991). Video games have the distinct advantage between itself, the television and the movies it lets you put your hands on it, aim and fire. Thus, it is really no surprise that violent games are very habit-forming. Parents interviewed are alarmed at not just the violent images in the games, but the amount of time their children spend playing them. It proves how effective these things are. More than 60 percent of children report that they play video games longer than they intend to play. The interactive quality, the intensity of the violence, the physiological reactions, all serve to connect the players feelings of exhilaration and accomplishment directly to the violent images. And good feelings keep the player wanting to play. Countless parents try desperate to keep video game play within certain time limits, but its a huge challenge a parental battle they so often lose. Once kids get hooked, its difficult to unhook them. Both home and arcade games make extensive use of reinforcement schedules for both the acquisition and maintenance of the habit (Provenzo, Eugene. 1991).

To Grade or Not to Grade Essay Example for Free

To Grade or Not to Grade Essay Sweaty hands, racing heartbeat, trouble breathing. These are a few of the things some students may experience right before, or even during a test. Jerry Farber brings some very interesting alternatives to testing and to the whole grading process in an article he wrote called, â€Å"A young person’s guide to the grading system†. (Farber 1969) In A young persons guide to the grading system (Farber 1969) Farber has some radical ideas for change that unfortunately, may not be taken seriously enough to invoke change. Although in my opinion his ideas are certainly something that could benefit many students in many ways. In brief, what Farber says is, instead of grading with A’s and F’s, schools could use something he calls the â€Å"credit system†. He goes on to say â€Å"If you meet the minimum requirements of a course, you get credit for it. No A’s or C’s or silver stars, just credit†. (Farber 1969) The best part of this is if you do not meet the minimum requirements nothing happens. As a student that certainly struggles when it comes times for a test, I would like to see some of his ideas implemented in schools. The way school works now, if you try your best but still don’t meet the minimum requirements of the course, it can greatly affect your grade point average. It can even affect your financial aid or get it taken away completely. Also, students will have to pay again to re-take the class, thus adding more money on to your student loans. What a turn off to learning this becomes. Instead of really wanting to learn, school becomes more of learning only what you have to learn to pass a class. Is this what school is supposed to be about? Only learning what we must? I believe Farbers ideas would certainly make school a lot more stress free, thus opening up the doors to free learning. Looking at this from the point of view of the student who struggles with test anxiety or grades in general, but is very smart and puts forth great effort, Farbers ideas make all the sense in the world. A great number of the jobs in the world today require a college degree when on the job training and apprenticeships would be so much more practical. Is it really a good idea to pay for four years of college, graduate and then get training? I think not. To me it makes perfect sense to skip to the on-the-job training. After all, that’s where we learn the most about the job we are doing. And what about all the money spent on college? Is this necessary? According to the Project on student Loan Debt, â€Å"The average amount of student loan debt was $24,000 in 2010. And the unemployment rate is up for college grads too. Given that the average job for a person fresh out of college was approximately 27,000 a year in 2011, according to an article in the New York Times. (NY Times) Does it make sense to burden our young people with a debt that will take years to pay off? Apprenticeships would be so much more beneficial to people and to the government as well. No more student loans or finical aid! Well, at least not as much money going towards them. High schools may see a decrease in the drop-out rate and could turn out smarter, more confident students with a genuine eagerness to learn. I believe Farbers eagerness to teach his students out-of-the-box may have been the reason for him writing this article. Farber is a professor at San Diego University to me that says a lot. He may have gotten tired of seeing his own bright students not meet the requirements of the school and offered a new solution to the problems of the current grading system. Farber has developed a unique new alternative to the current rigid grading system. Wouldn’t it be a great thing to see a study done in a large university that implemented these ideas? It may work. No one will know until it’s tried and tested. Unfortunately this article was written in 1969 and through my research online I was not able to find a single school that was ever willing to take a chance and give more students the chance to â€Å"learn without restriction†. (Farber 1969) References Farber, J. (1969). A young person’s guide to the grading system. In Baker College composition: A custom approach (Revised Edition) (pp. 184-188). Boston, MA: Pearson. [Grads today]. (2011, January 10). Retrieved January 31, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/business/ economy/19grads.html [Student loan debt]. (2011, April 7). Retrieved January 31, 2013, from http://projectonstudentloandebt.org/

History of Nude Drawings in Art

History of Nude Drawings in Art Nudity vs. Nakedness The nude figure is the most volatile subject in the history of painting. The artists treatment of the nude dictates whether her gaze addresses the viewer with a coy obliqueness or a confrontational directness. The figure has the ability to condemn, invite, and often perform both simultaneously. Through the viewers inverted projection an immediate response to nudity, the nude figure attains the ability to undress us. The vulnerability and splendor of nudity is that in its elemental form, with no adornment or intention, it is looked upon with grace and beauty but the moment that it dallies on the line of effortful pleasure, it will be seen in the opposite light. Even today, certain nude photos, in the culturally appropriated context, are appreciated as art, whereas pornographic images are viewed tactlessly and cheaply. The reclining nudes contentiousness can be charted from Cabanels Venus to Manets Olympia through the writers Zola, Clark and Castagnary. They argue that it is the contex t that demarcates the crucial difference of acceptable and refutable works of nudity and explain that these artists, most notably, Manet, disobey traditional conformity by being able to belong to multiple facets of prostitution therefore, in essence, not belonging to any singular categorization. To preface my explication on Manets Olympia, Ill first give some background. Edouard Manet was born on January 29, 1832. He was well educated but showed a great liking toward drawing and the arts. His Uncle Charles Fournier encouraged Manets appreciation for the arts and often took him and his friend, Antonin Proust, on outings to the Louvre. In 1850 Manet entered the studio of Thomas Couture and studied there until 1856. During this time, Paris began its massive transformation of the city under the supervision of Baron Haussmann. Haussmanns revitalization affected the physical environment of Paris as well as the cultural and social atmosphere. Thousands of jobs were created, stores redesigned, and buildings torn down and redeveloped. All of this happened to try to make Paris the most beautiful and cultural city in the world. This idea of change might have prompted Manets decision to paint his Olympia so boldly naked. But I believe the answer lies in the artists lifelong ill-health; it was in fact Manet himself suffered the physical pain from which he suffered on a daily basis was the result of a syphilic virus contracted during one of his aforementioned youthful encounters, a misconception which haunted the artist throughout his life . Taking this point into consideration, one must therefore consider the psychological effects that Manets own feelings of guilt and regret concerning the cause of his illness, and consider the effects that it had upon his life and his work, and thus in turn the way in which those feelings influenced his view of women as a whole, but particularly those of ill-repute. Although he has been hailed as the first modern painter, Manet was inspired by the great tradition of artists like Giorgione, Titian, Velazquez and Raphael, whom the Pre-Raphaelites had rejected. For example, Olympia (1863) is undoubtedly based on Renaissance works and shows his re-examination of old masters where as traditionally, nude figures were always depicted in classical settings or as goddesses, details like the choker and shoes of the subject of this painting make it clear she is a contemporary courtesan. Also, she does not have the typical demure, slightly coy expression the public would expect, but instead looks straight out of the painting in a matter of fact, challenging manner which would be shocking and considered unacceptable at this time. This painting also shows Spanish influences, and was described by a critic as a crazy piece of Spanish madness; due to the way the figure seems to be asserting a powerful physical presence. This idea of a powerful female figure was possibly inspired by the Spanish ballet troop who performed at the Hippodrome in Paris starring a woman called Lola, depicted as a robust, red-blooded figure. In the Salon of 1863, Manets Olympia was criticized her unacceptable composition and directness of gaze while Cabanels Venus, later purchased by Napoleon III, was lauded for its refined eroticism. Castagnary epitomizes this idealized view of the nude in his account of 1863 when he uses the words dazzling, immaculate and naked beauty to describe the nude form of the goddess Venus. Castagnary also comments on Venuss harmonious pose and pure, well arranged contours. Cabanels Venus is perfectly, technically drawn- idealized, devoid of any blemish or body hair. She is sexually passive, characterless and more perfect than is humanly possible- which fitted with the accepted style of the time. According to Frances Borzello, Cabanel adheres to a strict set of conventions when he paints his Venus as historically, the reclining nude is painted in the guise of a classical goddess and tends to lie with her eyes turned from the spectator, half closed, or even closed (as in Cabanels piece), offerin g no obstacle to his free-ranging glances over her body she often stretches out in a landscape whose hummocks and valleys metaphorically echo her curves (hence the significance of the swelling sea Venus floats atop) . The Salon goers were used to seeing paintings with elaborate shades between light and dark, and because Manet covered up nearly all such shades, the critics could not see Olympia as a three dimensional figure, only as an arrangement of flat patterns. But this engaged the eye more, forcing it to assemble continuity from extremes of light and dark. Manet chose instead to paint bold brush strokes, implied shapes, strong simplified forms, and used simple colours. He allowed the viewer to see the paint itself as a part in the painting and to see the texture, and elements of colour. His work looked natural with no actual fixed composition. Olympia beyond doubt shows Manets determination to simplify. Manet highlights his subject with a thick, blackish outline that closes in o n her. As a result, all of these techniques forced the viewer to see Olympia not only as a naked woman, but also as patches of paint precisely laid on the surface of the canvas. Manets use of color in Olympia separates it from many of his other paintings. Olympias chest is very lit up making her the focus of the painting. This flattens the image of Olympia by extracting the roundness of her. Everything in this painting is either light or dark. The light and dark both make up two different planes, the foreground and the background. The white sheets, pillows, flower bouquet, and the servants dress are the entire foreground layer. The dark green curtains and rust like wallpaper make up the background. These two layers, however, are joined together with the servants dark face, the black cat, and Olympias black jewelry. Without these elements the foreground would look like it was just cut out and pasted down on a background. The contrast of colors within Manets painting appeals to the viewers senses. Emotional responses to the painting, such as purity, are caused by the white colors of the bed and the woman upon the sheets. Her white, pure skin tone relates to th e natural association with virgin purity. The darkness that surrounds the women upon the bed then relates to dark, harmful feelings that most relate to evil. The woman upon the bed inhibits the natural innocence of the painting. The flower that is placed within her hair contains colors of pink and red hues. These brighter colors of the painting bring a very strong interest to the womans head and facial features. There are other various color relationships within this painting as well. The different flowers seen in the bouquet can also be seen in the blanket Olympia is laying on. The dress of the servant matches that blanket also. The wall in the background coincides with the couch or bed that she is laying on. Overall the repetition of color allows the painting to flow smoothly. The use of color within the painting allows different perspectives based on feelings and emotions. The subject matter of this painting is both intriguing as well as artistic. The woman, Olympia, is portrayed in a very different way than most of paintings in that time period. Her naked body shows her physical beauty, but the way she is propped upon the bed gives the idea of her not having respect for her personal body. The reason for this is that other paintings of this time show women presenting themselves in a more graceful matter, stereotypically ladylike. Her complete nudity, with the exception of her bracelet, necklace, and shoes shows that she feels that accents are needed to make her beautiful. If the womans view of herself was different she would see herself and her body as a piece of art work within itself. Her jewelry, flower, and shoes show us she needs more to feel beauty outwardly. The bed beneath her gives the pretrial of laziness because it is unmade. Yet the lines of the sheets accent her body curves to give an even idea of shape. Some might view her as a sexual par tner to many men because of her willingness to be nude and the flowers that are being brought to her by the servant. The flowers symbolize Olympia being very lady-like, and proper. However she maintains a very impersonal relationship with the viewer because of her flat gaze. Camille Lemonnier states that in order for a nude to stay pure in art she must be made impersonal and this is what Cabanel does by draping the arm across Venuss face, obscuring it and allowing her just to peek out through half-closed eyelids and by ridding her body of imperfections (which explains the absence of pubic hair) that make her personalized, and therefore flawed. The view that comes across very strongly in Castagnarys account is that all artists that paint nudes should strive to create perfection. This is a very different view compared to both Zola and Clark. Cabanel also includes the group of flying cupids that accompany Venus on her journey (to finally stand erect and reveal herself to men as Castagnary puts it). They play the part of the necessary allegorical trappings that must be included in a traditional reclining nude, as the aim of the painter is to elevate his model to goddess status and present her idealized, modest form to the spectator to appreciate and admire in her immaculate beauty. By placing cupids in his painting it ensured that the spectator would know that this was Venus- not just a naked girl Cabanel got to model for him, a mistake Manet makes with his Olympia. The fact that Manet copied his model, in Zolas words, just as she was caused much shock and outrage among the crowd at the salon of 1863. Manet disrupted the convention that the reclining nude should in no way cause embarrassment to the viewer. He caused a scandal by posing his model as a modern woman (with no allusions to her being a goddess) who stared boldly back at the spectator, challenging and discomforting. In Zolas account of Manets Olympia he focuses on the technical merits of the painting and highlights the new style that Manet was painting in, saying that everything is simplified and that if you wish to construct reality you must step back a bit, he believes Manet had performed a miracle. This view differs highly from Castagnarys, as in his account of Cabanels Venus he stresses the fact that Cabanel is a skilful draughtsman and much emphasis is placed on creating a technically correct painting. However it is my view that Venus in Cabanels work doesnt sit as comfortably in her setting as Manets Olympia does in hers. To me Venus appears stuck on to the crest of the wave- as if Cabanel had sketched his model first and added the background in later, working it around his model and not actually incorporating her into the scene very effectively. However, despite Manets miracle brushwork and his courteous nod to Titians Venus of Urbino people found the painting offensive. We can clearly distinguish Olympia as being a courtesan and this is what I believe caused the public react in a hostile manner towards it. She is adorned with many of the trappings that would have been familiar to them as they would have been able to tell she was a prostitute- her pink flower placed on the side of her head, her black ribbon around her neck and slipper dangling from her foot. A black maid offers flowers to her- no doubt sent by one of her clients, also whereas Titians Venus delicately covers her sex, Olympias flexed hand firmly protects hers, as if to refuse to let the viewers eye roam freely over her. This, accompanied with her calm, almost insolent glare further adds to the feeling of discomfort the visitors to the salon must have felt. There were many prostitutes around at this time that chose ancient names for themselves (like for example Olympia and Aphrodite) and numerous members of the nobility kept open mistresses. It was normal to go about your business and family life during the day then mix with women like Olympia at night. These high class men would have attended the Salon with their families and been confronted with something from their other life- a prostitute. The fact that she was a prostitute elevated to goddess status many people thought was unacceptable. Countless felt that this kind of image didnt fit in the setting of a respectable salon. Its because of this fact that Zola states that Manets work is more real than any other- when other painters correct nature (as Cabanel does in his work) they lie why not tell the truth? He says that Olympia is a girl of our own times whom we have met in the streets. Manet incorporated the present with the classical in a way that had never been seen before, it was a comment on society but more importantly he wanted to capture his subject as she really was. Titian turned his model into a goddess, whereas Manet turned Titians goddess back into a simple woman. Here we see the differences in Castagnary and Zolas opinion. Its my impression that Castagnary advocated that nudes should be objects of perfection to be viewed as a way of deepening our appreciation of beauty, whereas Zola stresses the importance of telling the truth and painting from real life, to create a comment on society. However Clark takes a different stance on the nude altogether and argues that the nudes purpose is to stir erotic feelings within us- if it fails in this objective he believes the artist has created bad art. Clark says this is the obvious point of the nude, and that however abstract, it shouldnt fail to arouse in us some vestige of erotic feeling. Manets Olympia certainly does this and so do countless other artists versions of the nude. Artists like Giorgione and Ingres show how the nude can be erotic in the traditional sense and artists such as Henry Moore, Modigliani, Picasso and Egon Schiele have explored new ways of portraying the nude- set free by Manets rebellion in 1863. However I do not wholly agree with Clarks view that the nude should always be erotic as I think that the nude evoke other feelings besides this. For example Egon Schiele can emit the feeling that is conveyed to me is one of intense vulnerability and this is something Clarke doesnt explore at all. To be nude/naked is to be stripped of our clothes, laid bare for all to see with nothing to hide us. It is true to say also that many nude paintings are too erotic- to the point where as a spectator you feel more like a v oyeur. Lucien Freuds painting Naked Girl Asleep for example, shocks me whenever I look at it, as do any of his paintings. However it is true to say that in the period we are living in we have been desensitized, which makes me believe that my reaction to Freuds work is similar to the salon goers of Manets day, to his Olympia. Its my opinion that the subject in Naked Girl Asleep is placed centrally on the canvas so that it forces you to look at her (much like how Manet made the focal point of his painting, Olympias eyes where she challenges you to engage with her). Everything in Freuds piece seems too stark and amplified, the rib cage juts out and the skin tone of the girl has an almost death like quality. Funnily enough this view is very similar to comments made by critics of Manets time about Olympias dirty flesh. I think it is very important to remind ourselves therefore of the period that each of these extracts were written in, as both Castagnary and Zolas account come from 1863, whereas the extract from Clarks book was written in 1956 and therefore what society found acceptable as art had changed quite dramatically. For centuries the reclining nude had been constrained by rules and conventions. After 1900 a reclining nude could be fractured by cubism or dissolved by abstraction painters were able to depict the previously unemitable. The nudes are no longer passive like Cabanels Venus but force you to interact with them, as did Manets Olympia. However, I do agree with Clarkes point that a nude should be erotic, but I dont believe that is its only purpose. I also agree with his point that if it does not evoke any feeling then it is bad art and I think this is true to says of all art in every genre. I believe a painting has to make you feel something whether its a bad feeling or a good one, as then it is creating a response- this is what I believe good art does. For me I get more out of looking at Manets Olympia than I do looking at Cabanels Venus as I feel there is more to engage with in the painting- the black servant presenting a bouquet of flowers, the cat arching its back and the mystery this creates. Is the cat arching his back and hissing because an unexpected person has just walked into Olympias room? Has Olympia sat up straighter, placed her hand coyly over her pubic area and met an unannounced guest with accusing, challenging eyes? Are we, as the spectator, in the position of someone bursting in? Is it us she chall enges, looking out as we look in? Cabanels painting in contrast fills me with none of these questions apart from the fact that I want to know why it is that Cabanel thought it acceptable to plonk Venus on top of the wave; I feel that she and the background do not fit together at all. Saying this I wouldnt say that Cabanels Venus was completely devoid of any erotic overtones, as I believe the way she gazes out at the spectator through half closed eyes is, in a way, inviting. I think the main thing that irritates me about this painting though is her passivity, almost as if she cant be bothered to really acknowledge you. She seems resigned to the fact that she is there as an object of desire and just accepts it. Whereas Olympia is much more aware of her sexuality and is in control of it- this to me, living in a post-feminist era is a lot more interesting and I feel I can identify with the painting more. In conclusion I believe that each of the writers attitudes towards the nude in the three extracts is valid and interesting. I can see Castagnarys point that the nude should be perfect as it can be an object of beauty, but this is an idealized view of how a woman should be. This view is still prevalent today in the culture we live in, where we are bombarded with images of perfect (often airbrushed models) on a daily basis. The idea of what perfection is may have changed but the concept has not. I believe that Zolas opinion that painters should tell the truth is correct in reference to painting the nude, as I agree with showing the body as it is, complete with every blemish as Picasso said if it is pure (as Venus is in Cabanels painting) it is not art . I also agree with Clark to some extent when he says that a nudes purpose is to be erotic, but I do not believe that this is its only purpose. The nude can evoke all sorts of feelings within the viewer- feelings of pity, of empathy, of a mazement, or of appreciation of our human bodies. To be nude is to revert back to the way we were in the beginning. Bibliography CLARK, T.J.- Olympias Choice, The Painting Of Modern Life- Princeton- 1984- p. 212, p.214 BORZELLO, Frances- Nude Awakening- The Guardian Online- 2009 (Found athttp://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,824240,00.html) CLARK, Kenneth- The Nude- A Study Of Ideal Art- John Murray- London- 1956; repr 1957- p. 6

Essay --

Pomacea insularum Pomacea insularum commonly known as the apple snail is a species of snail from the class Gastropoda. P. insularum are found in warm wetlands habitats. They are capable of fast growth rates and reproduce many offspring which increases their capability to quickly invade different ranges. Recently this species has been spreading through southern United States and altering the environments in which they are found. The Pomacea insularum species in round in shape and is usually brown, black, and yellowish tan. P. insularum may reach 150 mm in length or the size of an apple. Their offspring are large egg masses that are a bright pink color. Pomacea insularum look very similar to Pomacea canaliculata making it difficult to properly identify. To better control the invasive species P. insularum it is important to understand the native range, invasive range, and related species. The known native range of this species is Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The Apple Snail generally inhabit areas with slow moving or stagnant waters in lowland swamps, marshes, irrigation canals, streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. Currently the species is invading in several areas of the world including several countries in the Asian and European continents. Another continent that P. insularum is found in is North America specifically the southern United States. States that have the species are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas. The first sighting of P. insularum in many of these states were in the 2000’s while in Texas the first sited was 1989. A study done by Howell surveyed 393 sites in Texas and P. insularum was found in 53 of the sites. The snail was found in low densities in ponds and streams but in agr... ...dling age from two to five weeks resulted in significant reductions in snail damage. Management of the apple snails may have to target the entire genus of Pomacea since there are so many invasive species of Pomacea in the United States. Forecasting the potential range of the Pomacea insularum is important for management of the species. Pomacea insularum lives in habits that are generally warm and composed of wetlands. Currently P. insularum is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas. These states all have areas that are warm and have wetlands. Under current climate conditions Pomacea insularum should not spread much farther through the United States. Along with the right climate P. insularum needs the waters to be ph that is greater than 5.5. If the ph levels are lower than this number the snail’s survival and persistence declines.

Emma Goldmans Speech -- essays research papers

Few people are fearless speakers. As students, we generally feel the rumble of butterflies in our stomachs, but the most we have to lose is a good grade. For Emma Goldman, the stakes were considerably higher. She had the daunting task of speaking to secure her own freedom when she was placed on trial for obstructing the draft in 1917. The country was awash in patriotism, and she was prosecuted as an enemy of the state. When preparing her speech, she realized that a seated jury would be a microcosm of the country's national spirit. Jurors may have had children or loved ones committed or lost to the Great War. Her position, though heartfelt and eloquently expressed, with an attempt to express her own patriotism, was subversive and threatening to the population. Although many of her words may have angered the jurors, Goldman made the key points of every topic that she discussed very clear and easy to understand. She was able to talk about her stances, and use powerful language and various sources to help the jury understand why she held certain ideals. When describing her opposition to war, Goldman stated that "all wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight and who therefore induce the young manhood of the world to do the fighting for them." Also, Goldman goes to great lengths to clearly depict the fact that she was not acting in a violent manner. She used imagery, such as the officers who went to arrest her finding "Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman, in their separate offices quietly seated at their desks, wielding not the gun or the bomb or the club or the sword, but only such a simple and insignificant thing as a pen." Goldman also makes it very clear why she does not believe that the war should co ntinue. She claims that it is "not a war for democracy. If it were a war for the purpose of making democracy safe for the world, we would say that democracy must first be safe for America before it can be safe for the world." By repeating this idea throughout her speech, Goldman emphasizes why she behaved in the manner that she did. She also explains that "the war going on in the world is for the further enslavement of the people." Goldman works to point out that "the fight began in Australia and conscription was there defeated by the brave and determined and courageous ... ..., [and] which expresses itself in prisons." During this point in American history, where the nation's pride was sweeping the nation, the last thing Goldman should have done was criticize the United States. These accusations against the country, although they were her belief, went against the accepted norms and rules of the time. By continuing to behave in such an antagonistic manner, Goldman makes the jury feel like it needs to vindicate its country and punish her. Emma Goldman's remarks may have infuriated the jury, and this may have proved too big an obstacle to overcome. Jurors may purport to be impartial, but they carry within them a belief system that is threatened by a revolutionary perspective. Goldman's organization and logic was compelling, and her persuasive skills were impressive. It was a wise decision to portray herself as pro- America. But Goldman's failure was to underestimate the depth of commitment that Americans had at this time to the War effort. To allow Goldman's opposition to the government system of conscription would mock the sacrifices of loved ones. Despite an eloquent defense, Goldman was not able to overcome this bias.

Admiralty Outline :: essays research papers

Admiralty Outline Overview Admiralty is federal law, originating in Article III,  § 2 of Constitution. i.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First Congress included Cases of Admiralty/Maritime in Judiciary Act. ii.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Supremacy Clause. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If say that case is admiralty/maritime case, governed by admiralty law, is to say that substantive admiralty law applies. i.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Differences: statute of limitations, comparative laws for recovery, etc. a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Main: trial by judge. From very beginning, admiralty cases are w/o juries. May be why someone brings suit in admiralty – to avoid the jury. ii.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Admiralty cases can’t be removed from state to federal courts. a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  but most admiralty cases can be brought in state courts unless qualify under diversity. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But federal admiralty law will be applied. iii.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jurisdiction arises under: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  28 USC 1331: federal question b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  28 USC 1332: diversity c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  28 USC 1333: admiralty & maritime. iv.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  BUT, Congress didn’t choose to enact substantive law in the statutes – left to courts. v.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Courts mainly address three issues: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  what is an admiralty case? b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  if it is, what is the admiralty rule? c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  construing the savings to suitors clause – eg, what types of cases does Congress mean to say that we only want federal courts sitting in admiralty to have jurisdiction over? Basics of Admiralty Requires: Locality + maritime nexus -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Executive Jet decision. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  DeLovio v. Boit (1815): Maritime insurance policies are within admiralty & maritime jurisdiction of US b/c maritime contracts include charter parties, affreightments, marine bonds, Ks for repairing, supplying & navigating ships, Ks between part owners – etc – AND insurance. Historical limitations: -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Could only sue in rem -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forbade actions in personam vs. shipowner, master. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rules precluding admiralty court from hearing matters arising w/in body of the country. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forbidding admiralty jurisdiction where no influence of tide. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forbidding admiralty jurisdiction involving building or sale of ship. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Thomas Jefferson (SCOTUS, 1825): Action arising on Ohio to Missouri river is not in admiralty, because no influence of tide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Great Lakes Act (1845): extends jurisdiction to G. Lakes. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Becomes almost superfluous after Genesee Chief, but – still allows saving to suitors the right of jury trial if wanted. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Possible to have an equal protection argument – why in GL, but not other inland navigable waters. But no caselaw.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Genesee Chief v. Fitzhugh (SCOTUS, 1851): overrules the TJ. Holds that GL Act is Constitutional. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lakes are inland seas o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hostile fleets have been encountered on them, prizes made, reason to have admiralty jurisdiction. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nothing particular in the tide that makes waters suitable for admiralty. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Limiting admiralty in country with so many inland navigable waters is impracticable.

Ethics implications of production facilities

Being in a rural location, Facility A has ethics implication if it would provide tax incentives and exempted restrictions to a large and hi-tech firm (Herley Industries 2007).   The local population may demonstrate rallies and lobbying that would gradually lead to Manychip having equal-footing with similar companies.   Manychip must verify if the location provides incentives for manufacturing in equal footing rather than arbitrarily. When the firm decided to locate in Facility B, it will expose its labor practices to international organizations due to practice of child labor.   Although cost efficient, Manychip will confront a whole new operating environment and culture that can undermine its quality and efficiency derived in developed countries.   Manychip must identify if laborers in this facility are qualified to meet their present quality criteria, potential reduction in value from the market when identified as using child labor and value-added in tariff-free distribution. Similar essay: Disadvantages of Ethical Business Practices In Facility C, Manychip can acquire its quality standards however with higher labor costs, tax and restrictions.   The company’s margin can be narrowed which can affect funding in its research and development.   On the other hand, Manychip has ample experience in operating in metropolitan environments and local regulations that it can used to minimize business risk. There are three location analysis techniques to aid Manychip in choosing the best alternative; namely, location factor rating, center of gravity and load-distance (Bose 2002).   Load factor rating is a technique that closely resembles location evaluation above.   The difference is that it attached weights to location factor totaling to 100% (e.g. labor pool and climate, proximity to suppliers, wage rates, community environment, etc.) depending on their important to a company (i.e. wage rates = 30%). The location that will be chose is the one that has the highest rank.   The second and third technique focus on providing the minimum transportation costs to a firm.   For example, center of gravity computes for straight-line coordinates where the company must locate its facility.   In contrast, load-distance combines the aspect of load where the location facility will be appraised based on its capacity to offer minimum load and minimum distance.   This technique will also compute specific coordinates where the firm will construct its facility. References Bose, R. (2002).A model for location analysis of industries. Esri. Retrieved August 6, 2007 from http://gis2.esri.com/library/userconf/proc02/pap0449/p0449.htm Herley Industries (2007). Two Herley Industries, Inc. Manufacturing Facilities Suspended by the U.S. Federal Government. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved August 6, 2007 from http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070627/new050.html?.v=12

Axe Essence Essay

Businesses and organizations use advertising as a channel source of marketing in order to communicate a product, service, or idea to a targeted audience. These companies strive to create a particular advertising appeal, which is â€Å"the basis or approach used in a advertising message to attract the attention or interest of consumer and/or influence their feeling toward the product, service, or cause†(Belch & Belch, 2012). The company takes into account various social factors before encoding the message in the ad in order to create a positive attitude toward their brand and product in the market. The two different media channels advertising is used are traditional media, including mass media (television, magazines, newspapers, etc. ), and new media, such as web sites and text messaging. I am prepared to discuss and analyze the advertising objectives and tactics of an Axe Essence body spray advertisement in Rolling Stones magazine. I will discuss the ad’s executional format, targeted audience, and message/persuasion strategy as if I was a brand manager for Axe. Axe Ad  Axe’s executional format of the magazine ad, in Rolling Stone, is a picture of a good-looking couple walking down the sidewalk with two store windows to the right of them. The man’s lower body is stopped and is facing the store window on the right, which has a mannequin dressed in red lingerie in it. The man’s upper body is continuing walking happily with his arm around his girlfriend. In the bottom right corner of the ad is says, â€Å"Part Good. Part Bad. That’s Man’s Essence. New Axe Essence† and has a picture of the new Axe Essence body spray can. The Axe Essence body spray ad is creative and catchy. The use of computer software to edit and manipulate pictures is unbelievable and can help create a stimulating advertisement. This Advertising Objective & Tactics Axe’s advertising objective of this ad is to increase awareness, brand identity, and sales of Axe Essence body spray. We first decided to communicate to our large targeted audience of adult males through a non-personal mass media magazine ad in Rolling Stone using sex and humor appeal. We decided to use the push strategy to persuade and appeal to a specific benefit segmentation of the market. We positioned ourselves in the market emphasizing the product attributes and benefits. This ad is also used in many different magazines reaching adult males. Axe visually utilizes this sexually themed ad to increase the viewer’s attention of the ad and to the product itself. By increasing the viewer’s attention, it also increased the consumer’s retention of the product. It associates different positive attitudes and satisfactions with the product that will also increase word-of-mouth exposure. Ultimately, when the consumer is in need of smelling good, sex, lingerie, or happiness they will think of Axe Essence body spray. Message/Persuasion Strategy The ad’s intended message is that if men use Axe Essence body spray, they attract/lust for sexy women in lingerie, as well as, have satisfaction in their current relationship. The advertising text â€Å"Part Good† insinuates that men are happy and committed to their ordinary beautiful girlfriends. The text â€Å"Part Bad† suggests that men desire sexually appealing women as compared to ordinary, casually dressed women. When stating â€Å"That’s Man’s Essence†, after these two descriptions, it reassures that it is natural and normal for men to have a sexual drive and desire sexy women. It associates the â€Å"Part Good† side with love, romance, and happiness and the â€Å"Part Bad† side with risk, sex, and desires. This message has emotional and humor appeal to the customer. The persuasion strategy for the advertisement is that by being able to attract such beautiful women using the Axe Essence body spray, men will feel better about their self image, have better relationships, appear to be more successful in life, and therefore be more happy and content. This picture also makes the customer feel that by using this product they can get their current girlfriend to wear sexy lingerie. The ad is stimulating and comical because the viewer is trying to figure out why the man’s body is in two parts and in different places. The reason both the man and woman are smiling is to show customer satisfaction of using this product. Summary By using a magazine ad with sex appeal in Rolling Stone, a popular magazine read by adult males, it will increase the consumer’s attention and retention of Axe Essence body spray. The overall message and persuasion strategy of this advertisement is to show the satisfactions accompanied with the product and to motivate consumer’s behaviors of purchase Axe Essence. The sex and humor appeal of this ad will also increase the word-of-mouth advertisement about the product. This ad may be considered risky because of the stereotyping that women are sex objects and men always think about sex, but is effective through the right marketing channel and the fact that â€Å"the use of sexual appeals are quite common in the United States as well as many other countries where the societies are more liberal and accepting of them† (Belch & Belch. 2012). The Axe Essence body spray advertisement is effective, stimulating, well thought out, and develops a positive consumer attitude and perception toward the company and product. The use of computer software and technology to create, edit, and manipulate advertising techniques and tactics in advertising is revolutionary. Any and all ideas are able to come to life, which continues to inspire and evolve the way we communicate and market products and/or services. Axe has a young, energetic, innovative, and outside-of-the-box thinking advertising department that continues to create brilliant ads that appeal to large audiences. They have different advertisements are all the different media channels and their increased sales numbers over the past years reflect their excellent marketing.

A Cultural Event I Ever Witnessed Essay

Kenyatta University is known beyond African continent for its annual culture week, an event during which activities that reflect diverse African culture are performed. The much awaited cultural week is characterized by songs, drama, poems, drama among other topical activities. I was privileged to attend the cultural week organized during the month of September, 2007 and held both at the universities cultural village and the finals held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenya. The most interesting was a traditional song presented in one of the native languages reflecting the manner with which the interest of others present and could not understand the local languages were catered for. Most of the songs were presented by groups composed of members from different communities, a clear indication of the cooperation and sharing within the communities at that time. A great artistic skill was depicted in the manner in which the singing group combined the different sounds to produce an enjoyable song, with coming in at different times and parts. It was accompanied by both traditional and modern instruments, stringed, drums, the piano and projected by the loud speakers for many to be able to hear. The performing group wrapped a lesso on their bodies. However, most of the traditional costumes were missing, enough to predict that the communities were moving away from the traditional dressing codes. The song was introduced by two of the performers, who played different parts in turn, the dance was in pairs and the group also left the stage in pairs. Through out the song though at different points, tonal variation was employed and this caught interest of the audience. All these reflected a great style. The lead singer who happened to be a lady demonstrated a great ability in tonal variation and dancing more than others in the team. Others could be heard whispering that â€Å"she is genius†, and actually she was and in all her performances, none matched her. It was a fact that the song described above had a lot in common with other forms of cultural expression at that time. Other forms as well included more than one performer, and involved the use of sound to communicate. Many forms of expression adhere to a specific style during performance and involve some degree of individual inherent exceptional ability, even though training also efficiently enhance success of such forms. They are performed during a cultural event and need audience. However, in contrast, most of the forms of cultural expression at that time were in a common language (that is English language) and did not involve cultural accompamyments neither was dance a common characteristic even though some element of demonstration were evidenced. REFERENCES Cook, N (1990) music imagination and culture. New York: Oxford University Press. Bratton, J. S (Ed. ) (1986) music Hall: Performance and Style. Philadelphia: Open University Press. Sloboda, J. A (1985) The Musical Mind: The cognitive Psychology of Music. New York: Clarendom Press.

Speech on Global Warming Essay

I would like to begin with a statement. Our earth is in trouble. Can anyone of you argue with that? I suppose you could argue. And why is that? Because you have never deeply researched the concepts of either global warming or climate change. So what can we learn from that? The first step of solving a problem is being aware of it. So you would ask â€Å"what is global warming?† Global warming is exactly what you hear. The warming of the globe. The earth’s climate gets hotter and hotter until icebergs start melting causing massive floods, forests are burning and whole areas are left without any water because it has vaporized. So global warming can affect the economy of the countries, the health of the people and the life expectancy of our planet. If that is not a major problem, I don’t know what it is. So, being aware. In a set of explanatory studies and mental model interviews that was conducted in 1994 responders regarded climate change as both bad and high likel y. So far so good. But the majority of them confused stratospheric ozone depletion with the greenhouse effect which are two completely different phenomena. Explanation of ozone destruction with the two lines, the cloud and the human activities (a cloud that protects us from harmful sun rays. But it’s just a cloud. The gases that came from human creations like sprays and cars started â€Å"attacking† to the cloud and that was so fragile that it opened allowing some harmful sun rays enter our atmosphere.) So the responders were answering that the reasons for global warming are the use of car, emissions from industrial processes and pollution. And of course most of the solutions that they were proposing were things like â€Å"we have to focus on controlling pollution†. I have news for you. The hole in the ozone layer is not the main cause of global warming. Global warming is linked mainly to the green house effect which is caused by the gathering of too much carbon dio xide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxides are in the green gasses emitted from the burning of fossil fuels. Those dioxides trap infrared radiation and do not let it leave the earth’s atmosphere, resulting in warmer low atmospheric layers than the upper ones. Think of it as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. I believe you are all familiar with sprays. Sprays used to contain some particles called chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs in short. Those were the main reason for the hole in the ozone layer. In 1989 CFCs were banned by the Montreal Protocol. Then,  it was noticed that global warming slowed down. But like I said, the slowing down was not because the destruction of the ozone was mainly paused but because CFCs were 17,000 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than carbon dioxides. So after managing being aware of the problem, one has to also recognize its existence in order to solve it. Despite the desperate attempts of scientists and the earth itself to tell us that there is a major issue that needs to be tackled immediately there is still a number of people denying the very existence of the issue. There is a â€Å"climate change denial† which is, â€Å"quote†, â€Å"a set of organized attempts to downplay, deny or dismiss the scientific consensus on the extent of global warming, its significance, and its connection to human behavior.† So those people are denying, not ignoring, denying, the scientific proofs of global warming and the relation with the human activities. Yeah, so the earth one day decided to start destroying itself. As for the significance of the problem, I will let the events speak for themselves: 1) 2000, studies claimed confidently that greenhouse gases had contributed to floods in Britain, 2) 2010, heat wave (a long period pf time when a region has an abnormally hot weather) struck Russia, killing 50,000, 3) 2011, Hurricane Irene slams into the United states killing 45 people and leaving $10 billion in damages 4) 2011 Texas and Oklahoma suffer from the worst one-year drought on record 5) July 2011 – June 2012, the hottest 12 months ever recorded, 6) January – June 2012 the hottest 6 months ever recorded. I could go on until tomorrow. So its like the earth is screaming â€Å"I’m burning here!† and some people are just answering â€Å"yeah right†, or not listen at all. So now I will leave the decision up to you. Will you decide to listen?

Marble Slab Case Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Company: Marble Slab is a company that is famous for making fresh ice cream. It sells its premium prestige ice cream that is made daily with unique toppings. The unique thing about Marble Slab is the customers’ ability to completely customize their ice cream the way that they want to eat it. Instead of having a predetermined flavour, customers are able to mix their flavours of ice cream that they please and put a numerous amount of toppings on them that include Bananas, Strawberries, Bread crumbs etc. They call this Mixins. All of this is done on a giant ice cold marble slab.Marble Slab wishes to give customers a unique experience with a prestigious brand of ice cream. Marble Slab Creamery Inc. was founded in Houston, Texas in 1983. It was independently owned by franchisees across the United States until 2003 when Canadians were granted permission to have franchisees in Canada. In 2007, Marble Slab creamery Inc. was purchased by NexCen Brands Inc. Although Ne xCen owned Marble Slab they played a small role in the daily operations of their locations. Marble Slab has become one of the fastest growing quick serve restaurants with almost 400 locations worldwide.Product: Besides premium ice cream that is made daily, Marble Slab also sells sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, frozen yogurt and more. Since the ice cream is made fresh at the location it can last up to 30 days. Every location had an offering of 21 different flavours and an endless amount of mixins. And the prices of the products were the same across any of the locations. Price: The prices of Marble Slabs products vary from as low as $4. 95 for an ice cream cone with 1 mixin to a Slab cake for $54. 95 and everything in between.They do have things that are cheaper than the cone with 1 mixin such as brownies, apple pie slices, and even a charge for extra mixins, all of which are under $3. 00. Event catering for an event of at least 200 people will need 2 employees at a cost of $12 per hour, as well as the cost of supplies and the ice cream itself. Place: There are approximately 400 Marble Slab locations worldwide. With many locations in major Urban and Suburban areas throughout Canada and the United States With a potential location in Vaughn, Toronto Annex Area, the Beaches, or Oakville.Promotion: Potential promotional ads in the Toronto Star, Now Magazine Toronto, Pattison Outdoor and on 104. 5 Chum FM. CURRENT MARKET ENVIRONMENT MICRO ENVIRONMENT Industry: Trends: The biggest trend in the ice cream industry as of right now is that most consumers are switching over to a more premium and more expensive ice cream products. An example of this would be the Magnum bar that comes from chocolate imported from Belgium, which has become very popular because of their marketing campaign.Things such as TV Commercials and celebrity endorsements are the reasons for the success of that product. The popularity of impulse ice cream has been decreasing steadily since 2007. Th e reason for this is that people are becoming more health conscience and are not interested in that type of ice cream anymore. Organic ice creams are becoming very popular. People are interested in natural flavors with no artificial colours added. People like the act that these products are not genetically enhanced in any way because, as stated before, people are more health conscious.Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry flavours are still the most popular flavours of ice cream. But this does not mean that consumers are not willing to try new flavours. New flavours are still being created because they are still successful. Competition: Direct: Cold Stone- Cold Stone is pretty much an exact replica of Marble Slab. They offer a premium ice cream with complete customization. They even prepare it on a frozen granite stone. Created over 20 years ago and with over 1,400 stores it is easily one of Marble Slabs direct competitor.Baskin Robins- Baskin Robins is the largest ice cream company in the world. In Canada it has the largest share-of-mind. They serve ice cream, milkshakes, cakes and other products. They are well known for their 31 original flavours and their ice cream is known to be of good quality. A Baskin Robins can be found anywhere from malls to stand alone buildings. It has a large amount of financial resources and is priced similarly to Marble Slab. Dairy Queen- Dairy Queen is mostly known for its famous â€Å"Blizzard† It also serves ice cream and milkshakes and cakes.But it also sells Hamburgers, Hotdogs, and Sandwiches. Dairy queen also has a similar mixins concept that Marble Slap has but at a cheaper price. They also target children with children friendly food options. Indirect: McDonalds- McDonalds is the biggest restaurant chain in the world. McDonalds has a food chain in over 120 countries. They are primarily known for selling Hamburgers and fries but also have ice cream. The most famous of their ice cream meals being the â€Å"McFlurryâ₠¬  Milkshake. McDonalds is a power house and is unstoppable when it comes to promotion of their products.They excel in quick serve food and are definitely the leaders in the food market. A positive for Marble Slab is the fact that McDonalds isn’t really popular for its ice cream products and does not have the share-of-mind for that product. Starbucks- Starbucks is known for selling their premium coffee and tea products. Another thing that they do well is sell a comfortable environment. It’s a good place for people to hang out and socialize with friends and family. However they do not have a very large menu and mainly specialize in customized drinks.They also have a niche market and do not cater to children. Convenience Stores- There is convenience and grocery stores everywhere that have access to ice cream. It’s quick and easy to get ice cream at these places and they also have almost every other food choice. They can also choose to discount prices on items. Th ey are good for bargains. Baskin Robins has the Market share of ice cream restaurants. What they and Marble Slab have in common is that they have the same target market. Marble Slab is more prestigious and expensive. It also has more of a sit down restaurant feel to it.What Marble Slab has done better in terms of its competition is: * Greater share-of-mind than McDonalds * Caters to a bigger demographic than Starbucks, and Dairy Queen * Selling an original product * Having an original mixins concept * Offering a unique experience with the food being prepared on a frozen marble slab What Marble Slab has done that is weaker than their competition is: * Not as popular as Baskin Robins or McDonalds * More Prestigious product means it will be more expensive * Don’t have the marketing power or financial resources as their competitionConsumer: | Families| Young Adults| Women| Demographic| -A Family with children who are under the age of 15| -Young Adults aged 15- 24| -Women aged 15- 50| Geographic| -Primarily in Urban and Suburban areas| -Primarily in Urban and Suburban areas| -Primarily in Urban and Suburban areas| Psychological| -Parents who are often engaged in family activities- Looking for good quality ice cream. | – People who have their own disposable income -PT, FT, or summer employment| -Health conscious-The primary food purchasers in the household. Do a lot of food decisions in and out of the house| Behavioural| -Those who enjoy ice cream as a treat and would go to Marble Slab to fulfill their need for ice cream| -Looking for social interaction-Impulsive-Limited family obligation| -Looking for some place fast and easy to get a snack -Impulsive| Suppliers & Marketing Intermediaries: They get their supply from dairy farmers. Dairy can be quite expensive in the off season. They get most of their fruits and vegetables from farms as well. Also products such as cheese get purchased from factories.All marble Slabs are individually owned so they all h ave their own means as to where they get their supply. It may vary slightly from location to location. Products from the factories and the farms get purchased then they will be supplied to each of the Marble Slabs. MACRO ENVIRONMENT Macro-environment factors are the major external and uncontrollable factors that influence an organization’s decision making, and affect its performance and strategies. These factors include the economic factors; demographics; legal, political and social conditions; technological changes; and natural forces.Technological: Technology is another aspect of the environment a firm should consider in developing strategic plans. Changing technology may affect the demand for a firm's products and services, its production processes, and raw materials. Technological changes may create new opportunities for the firm, or threaten the survival of a product, firm, or industry. Technological innovation continues to move at an increasingly rapid rate. The technol ogical aspects of Marble Slab include the technology utilized to create and produce frozen dessert products such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, and milkshakes.Additionally, a new technological trend can be found in companies Investing in ways to create the same sweet taste of frozen desserts, but with less saturated fats and processed sugars. Demographic: Socioeconomic characteristics of a population expressed statistically, such as age, sex, education level, income level, marital status, occupation, religion, birth rate, death rate, average size of a family, average age at marriage. A census is a collection of the demographic factors associated with every member of a population.Income level of the cities where Thomas is looking to start the business are highly populated and people have pretty high level of income. The age groups of young adults 15-24 are in the range of 2000-35,000. Economic: Economic factors refer to the character and direction of the economic system within which th e firm operates. Economic factors include the balance of payments, the state of the business cycle, the distribution of income within the population, and governmental monetary and fiscal policies. The impact of economic factors may also differ between industries.The economic downturn of 2008 is still a heavy factor in the minds of Canadian consumers. Although conditions have improved in the last few years, Canadians still show some amount of concern financially. This concern materializes into apprehension for luxury and treat items such as ice cream. This raises a slight risk for Marble Slab especially because of their super premium ingredient, and luxury status. Another economical macro environmental factor is the ice cream industry’s exponential influence from the wide fluctuation of dairy market prices.The price of commodities such as cocoa and sugar also vary depending on supply and demand. This plays a direct role in the amount spent on goods. Social/Cultural: The socioc ultural dimensions of the environment consist of customs, lifestyles, and values that characterize the society in which the firm operates. Socio-cultural components of the environment influence the ability of the firm to obtain resources, make its goods and services, and function within the society. Sociocultural factors include anything within the context of society that has the potential to affect an organization.Population demographics, rising educational levels, norms and values, and attitudes toward social responsibility are examples of sociocultural variables. One of the social aspects discussed in the Marble Slab case study is the rise of the â€Å"healthy-eating† trend. The increased rate of obesity in North America is one of the leading factors in the occurrence of this social trend. This poses a threat to Marble Slab because ice cream is a frozen dessert treat high in calories. This however is combated by Marble Slab’s addition of fat-free frozen yogurt.Ice c ream is considered to be a social event in our culture, and the fact that ice cream establishments offer a social environment is a leading factor in why the market holds so much potential for young adults and families with children. Political/legal: The political-legal dimension of the general environment also affects business activity. The philosophy of the political parties in power influences business practices. The legal environment serves to define what organizations can and cannot do at a particular point in time.One of those most important political factors in the assessment of the macro environmental factors of Marble Slab lies within the Harmonized Sales tax policy (HST) that has replaced the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) since July of 2010. The combination of the PST as well as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) indicates a slight raise in the overall cost of goods and services. This is an important political factor for a retail store like Marble Slab Creamery, because consumer s will find a noticeable increase of tax.This raises a slight risk they will be discouraged from visiting luxury or treat stores like an ice cream establishment. Natural environment: An identifiable element in the physical, cultural, demographic, economic, political, regulatory, or technological environment that affects the survival, operations, and growth of an organization. Winter Weather in Canada can affect the business. People try to ignore eating cold products in winter. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths: * Make Fresh Ice Cream Daily * High Quality Ingredients * Customizable Product 21 Flavour of Ice Cream * Fat Free * Greater share-of-mind than McDonalds * Caters to a bigger demographic than Starbucks, and Dairy Queen * Selling an original product * Having an original mixins concept * Offering a unique experience with the food being prepared on a frozen marble slab Weaknesses: * Not as popular as Baskin Robins or McDonalds * More Prestigious product means it will be more expensive * Do n’t have the marketing power or financial resources as their competition * Not as many locations as competition Not as many flavours as other places like Baskin Robins (32 Flavours) * Not too convenient or those who want fast ice cream * Lots of Substitutes in Market Opportunities: * Can start to sell their ice cream at Convenience and Grocery stores * Have a take home section, sort of like a drive through * Use Social Media to Advertise * Create more flavours * Increase number of locations * Expanding to other countries * Appealing to price sensitive customers Expand menu so that there are more products than just ice cream (Coffee or Hamburgers. Ex. Dairy Cream, McDonalds) * Focus on Catering because it can be a great asset if done well * Trent towards healthy eating gives fat-free yogurt sales a boost * Children see ice cream as a treat, and encourage parents to choose an ice cream establishment as a family activity * The lucrative young adults (15-24) market are inclined t o visit and ice cream establishment due to its social environment and low costThreats: * Recession * Other companies who want to become more involved with ice cream products * Brand Loyalty to other ice cream companies * Dominant Retailers can sell ice cream for a lot less * Intense competition from other frozen dessert chains and grocers * Indirect competition from convenience and grocery stores * The dairy industry has a wide fluctuation rate, which directly affects goods prices * Canadians are concerned about the dip in the American economy. Other competitors such as Baskin Robins and Cold Stones have the financial resources to generate strong promotion, and can keep their prices on par with Marble Slab * Other competitors have products similar to Marble Slab’s â€Å"mixins†, such as Dairy Queen’s â€Å"Blizzard† or McDonalds â€Å"McFlurry† * Other food establishments have the advantage of supplying their products through grocers Problem and Is sue Analysis The major issue is deciding the location, because all the expenses related to promotion and pricing decision depend on the location.Some locations have different financing and leasing whereas others have target market issue. Every single decision to be made depends on the location where Thomas would like to start the business. Marketing Objectives Marble Slabs Marketing objectives are: -To have a successful promotional plan for the grand opening of the store and meeting the revenue goal of $400,000 in the first year. -To have promotional costs of $10,000 for the grand opening. -To have a 20% ROI on our catering events every year. Marketing StrategiesLocation is defined as the major problem as every single thing related for operations depends on location. Looking over the census information for the locations, Oakville is the most suitable option, the reasons are as follows: – 1- Median household income is the highest for Oakville 2- There are considerable amount o f target market in Oakville 3- Located near the lake, could be considered as picnic spot 4- There is little direct competition Purchasing power is the most important, because if the consumer has low disposable income then they won’t have that curiosity to spend.Oakville has the highest median income. 13,245 young adults live in Oakville. Ample of target market are present in Oakville, Thomas should work on 80 20 rule, where 20% of consumer make 80% of the revenue. There is little direct competition; this gives Thomas to act as the market leader in Oakville. There is some indirect competition from the grocery stores but that won’t affect the sale to a major extent. Thomas has to introduce fat free ice cream, because most of the consumers are health conscious.To achieve the objectives Thomas has to try as hard as possible to stay on the budget. There are a lot of expenses that come with the opening of a business. She must concentrate her time and money on the proper adve rtisement. I think one of her best bets in that situation would be to have a commercial on 104. 5 Chum FM during driving time because I believe that that will reach the most people. Also if she is to go into catering I believe that the best option for her to use is the portable slab option. It caters to the most people and the whole Marble Slap experience to the customers