The Fall Of The House Of Usher - 888 Words

Edgar Allen Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher was very captivating. Once I began reading the story I couldn’t put the book down till I was done. I believe the protagonist in the story was Roderick Usher. I always assumed a protagonist to be heroic in some way. Roderick Usher’s character, however, was not heroic. Usher was not only a hypochondriac, but he was a mentally and physically sick man. I have no doubt that a lot of his mental and physical maladies sprouted from years of inbreeding in his family: I had learned, too, the very remarkable fact, that the stem of the Usher race, all time-honored as it was, had put forth, at no period, any enduring branch; in other words, that the entire family lay in direct line of descent, and had always, with very trifling and very temporary variation, so lain. (Poe, 1839, p.703). Roderick and his sister Madeline were not only slaves of their family’s bloodline, they were also slaves of t heir house. I found Madeline and the house to be the antagonists in this story. It seemed that as the house and Roderick’s sister deteriorated, so did our protagonist. In the start of the story the house was still in one piece, but it was falling apart slowly in strange ways, such as actual rocks deteriorating, â€Å"No portion of the masonry had fallen; and there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaption of parts, and the utterly porous, and evidently decayed condition of the individualShow MoreRelatedThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1243 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Fall Of The House Of Usher:† The Mysterious Family In the story â€Å" The Fall of the House of Usher† by Edgar Allan Poe, has an American romanticism with its characters. Edgar Allan Poe is considered a Dark Romanticism because of the way he writes his poems and short stories centered around the concept of evil human nature, darkness, and death. Roderick and Madeline Usher were said to be related during the middle of the story; they were twins. It explained how they were sick, Roderick had a mentalRead MoreThe Fall of the House of Usher700 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† is a classic horror story written by Edgar Allen Poe. Edgar wrote descriptively through the physical setting, the first person point of view, and the uniquely dynamic characters. These elements worked together to create suspense and kept the readers curious. The first fiction of element begins in the very first paragraph. The unknown narrator described the day as a â€Å"dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The setting while the narrator wasRead MoreThe Fall of the House of Usher1239 Words   |  5 PagesA young man ran away from a heap of ruins. He had witnessed the death of his best friend and his home but he ran away as it happened. At the moment, all was silent and not even a squeak could be heard. But if a house collapsed in the middle of a forest, and no one was around to hear it, did it make a sound? With such wonders, death, and darkness also come the work of Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe is known as a literature legend. He wrote many complicated horror and detective fiction stories, whichRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher856 Words   |  4 PagesThe Fall of the House of Usher and House Taken Over In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† and Julio Cortazar’ â€Å"House Taken Over† the short stories represent the genre of Gothic Literature. Gothic Literature is a genre that combines fiction, horror, death, and romance. Some of these traits are seen in both of these stories through characters and settings. However, there are other traits that set them apart. To begin with, one of the major themes in both of these stories is fear. InRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1285 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† has been noted as one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous short stories. The story begins when the narrator arrives at the house of his friend, Roderick Usher. Roderick is ill and has been living his life deeply reclusive. His sister Madeline suffers from a sensory disorder and is considered to be dead. The narrator attempts to comfort Roderick and alleviate his melancholy by reading a story that appears to foreshadow later events. In this story, Poe provides his audienceRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe second message of Poe s The Fall of the House of Usher is that moral disintegration should necessarily lead to destruction as a sort of mundane punishment. Usher blames himself for burying his sister before death so he expects punishment. One conclusion to be d rawn from the final scene is that Roderick dies of fear. Madeline appears in her coffin and rushes upon him and he falls to the floor a corpse. Symbolically Madeline is just a physical embodiment of Roderick’s fears and punishment.Read MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1727 Words   |  7 PagesFate’s Influence in â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† Depressing imagery, confrontation of death, and the intense madness humans are capable of are all themes integrated into Edgar Allan Poe’s stories. The psychology of the human psyche prompted him to create the complex tales that made him famous. Poe’s story of obsession and the power of suggestion is beautifully written through the narrator’s tale. In â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†, the characters portray the self-manifesting development of one’sRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1133 Words   |  5 Pagesthe story â€Å" The Fall of the House of Usher† by Edgar Allan Poe, has american romanticism with the characters. Edgar Allan Poe is considered a Dark Romanticism because of his poems and short stories centered around the ideas of evil human nature, darkness, and death. Roderick Usher and Madeline were that kind of person in this story; they were twins. There were sick; Roderick had mental disorder and physically and Madeline wa s physically sick. As the narrator enters the desolate house, he finds bothRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher2041 Words   |  9 Pagesfact that he makes a smooth transition from symbolism to allegory in his writings. Edgar Allan Poe uses a more gothic style of writing that gives his science fiction literature unique character. One of Poe’s more popular stories is â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† in which he uses deep symbolism and imagery to tell the story. Although both short stories portray critical use of allegory and symbolism, it is based upon opinion as to which story is the more superior. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is more superiorRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1651 Words   |  7 PagesRomanticism/Transcendentalism Essay Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† and William Cullen Bryant’s â€Å"Thanatopsis† illustrate several Romantic and Transcendentalist (and anti-Transcendentalist) traits. All of these authors are regarded as very important and influential Romantic writers. Their works are renowned all across the entire world. â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† is a Gothic short story written by Edgar Allen Poe, which focuses

Standardized Testing A Gateway Of Opportunities And...

Ogechi Nwokonko Mr. Marshall English 1301 11/12/2014 Researched Argument Although standardized testing was a gateway of opportunities and successes for many scholarship bound students, it was also the downfall in the educational system today. How can we define standardized testing? According to the Edglossary, state testing can be defined as a test that: â€Å"requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way, and that is scored in a â€Å"standard† or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students.† Standardized testing is a very important aspect in Texas education. It is used to view students’ progress in their classes. We see standardized testing in many different ways. As we look in to the history of standardized test taking according to the standadizedtest pros and cons; â€Å"standardized testing has been a part of American history since the mid-1800s.† They also made this form of test taking prominent after the 2002 â€Å"No child left behind act†, also known as the â€Å"NCLB†. In Time’s: A brief history on standardized testing, we are given a deeper history on how standardized testing began. It is said that the Chinese started using standardized testing for government jobs to examine their knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry. French philosopher Alfred Binet began putting together a standardized test of intelligence. ThatShow MoreRelatedFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesThis online teaching and learning environment integrates the entire digital textbook with the most effective instructor and student resources With WileyPLUS: Students achieve concept mastery in a rich, structured environment that’s available 24/7 Instructors personalize and manage their course more effectively with assessment, assignments, grade tracking, and more manage time better study smarter save money From multiple study paths, to self-assessment, to a wealth of interactive visualRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 Pagescomposed about three-fourths of the bank’s workers. As a result, several years later about one-fourth of all managers and executives are women. Similar attention also was focused on other diverse groups of employees. So that all employees were given opportunities to grow and learn, the Bank of Montreal’s Institute of Learning was established at a cost exceeding $50 million. The goal of providing five days of training and education to every employee each year has been met for several years. To focus on performanceRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesELEVENTH EDITION MARKETING MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES 30TH ANNIVERSARY Robert F. Hartley Cleveland State University JOHN WILEY SONS, INC. VICE PRESIDENT PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE MARKETING MANAGER ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING ASSISTANT DESIGN DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER SENIOR MEDIA EDITOR George Hoffman Lise Johnson Carissa Doshi Dorothy Sinclair Matt Winslow Amy Scholz Carly DeCandia Read MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagescentury, no matter how it is temporally delineated. Never before in history, for example, had so many humans enjoyed such high standards of living, and never had so many been so impoverished or died of malnutrition and disease. If the period from the 1870s is included in a long twentieth century (and perhaps even if it is not), migration served as a mode of escape from oppression and poverty and, in many instances, as an avenue toward advancement for an unprecedented number of people that soaredRead MoreAccounting Information System Chapter 1137115 Words   |  549 Pagesb. Your company will need to exchange information with various external parties. Identify the external parties, and specify the information received from and sent to each of them. The author turns this question into an in-class group activity. Students are divided up in groups, told to close their books, and given 15 minutes to: a. Think through the business processes, key decisions, and information needs issues in their group. b. Identify the external users of information and specify the informationRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 Pages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Violence and Crime in the Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 External Impacts on Human Resources—Legal Protections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Equal Employment Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Other Important Federal Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Affirmative Action and Comparable Worth . . . . . . . . . 285 xii Contents Sexual HarassmentRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesin markets that emphasize the difficulties that accounting practices face in determining true performance costs and that forecasting programs confront in establishing the economic determinants of corporate planning? In addition to these challenges, many analytical and strategic evaluation approaches that are used in an attempt to identify and project how well a company is performing have been overwhelmed by the frequency and magnitude of these economic groundswells. In today’s competitive climate

Managerial Theory of Firms

Question: Evaluating the usefulness of the theory as a tool for understanding the process of decision-making and target setting in the modern corporations? Answer: Introduction The theory of firm is generally defined as the accumulation of resources which are altered into various products that are demanded by the consumers. The organization also coordinates and buys the services and the production factors like labor, capital and land. The firm also manages the production and marketing of its goods. The decision makers of the firm often ask questions like: What should be produced? Where the production will take place? What should be the quantity of production? Etc (Richardson, 1972). Theories are basically the conceptualizing of the firm. It answers the questions like why the firm exists along with what is a firm. These are the fundamental things which are required for understanding the corporate governance. The different theories of firm also help in understanding why firms have organized businesses and how it impacts on the firm and the society. The theories of firm might be classified into two divisions, incomplete contracting model and principal agent model (Williamson, 1981). The managerial theory of firms has a great impact on the decision making process and the marketing area of the organization. The managerial theories decide the growth and development of the modern organizations. Managerial theory of firms The managerial theory of any organization is the economic theories which discusses about the way the modern management has impact on the various economic system of the firm. There are various different theories which has been researched thoroughly in management literature and also applied in different businesses. The managerial theories are categories into three groups. They are as follows: Discretionary Literature: In this theory the managers are assumed to take decisions mainly based on the cost and price and are not under strict supervision of the owners and direct stake of the firm. Growth oriented theories: This theory is similar to the previous theory but here long term goal is assumed and the managers dedicate themselves in developing the firm and its growth. Bureaucratic theories: This theory includes the owners of the firms who control the enterprise and also seek various strategies to reduce the risk. All the above mentioned types of theories have significant role in decision making of the firm and also help in setting the target of the organization. Managerial theories have both theoretical and empirical usefulness in various organizations. Management theory supplies basic knowledge for management process which includes organizing, controlling, leading and planning of the various regions of an enterprise. According to Taylor if management theory and process was approached scientifically then it would lead the firm towards development and success. His principles on scientific management started a revolution among the leaders of various organizations and changed their view on both position and process of a manger (Koontz, 1962). Many behavioral scientists have suggested involving many community organizations which would assist in making different strategies and also planning. Management theory also discusses about the importance of emergency management where the organization can use quality management and make proper use of the resources even during a disaster. However there exists a body of opinions which discusses the evolution of management after and during the Second World War. The management theory was the main topic of research after the industrial revolution which brought in specialization and mass production around the world (Turnbull, 1997). Management Theory has a significant role in decision making skills and techniques. According to management theory the decision makers of an organization must follow certain simple steps before making a decision or forming a strategy. The steps which are to be followed are given bellow: Identifying the purposes of the decision: The mangers must identify the reasons for taking the decision. What is the problem that needs solving? Why should it be solved? These are the few questions that one should ask. Gathering Information: The leaders and decision makers must collect all the relevant data and information before taking or implementing a decision. Identifying the principles for judging the alternatives: The mangers must search for the standards and also the judgment criteria that must meet the solution. Other possible choices: The decision makers and mangers must also take other possible choices into consideration before implementing their decision. Evaluating each of the choices and its consequences: Each of the choices made by the mangers must be evaluated thoroughly and changed according to their consequences. Determining the best alternate option: The decision makers must always go for the best alternate option. Putting the decisions into action: The decision must be converted into action steps and implemented on the right time. Evaluating the result of the decision: The mangers must thoroughly evaluate the consequences of the taken decision. Thus management theory has a deep impact on the decision making process of an organization. Management theory provides extensive details to understand the decision making process. However according to management theory decision making is difficult as it deals with both satisfaction and dissatisfaction of certain people. For example Sko-Die is a manufacturing company for 50 years. All the managers were leading the organization till some of them decided to leave. However the organization recruited new mangers for running the organization rather than promoting the old employees who were the team members of the organization. Since the new mangers are new to the organization they are less loyal and there is constant clash among the ideas of the employee. Due to this decision many employees are leaving Sko-Die at an alarming rate. Management theory also has detailed explanation of the importance and process of setting target in an organization. The importances of setting goals as discussed according to management theory are as follows: Motivating the workforce Goals and targets always motivate the workers in the organization. Firm goals encourage the team members in devoting extra energy for the firm. Help Stakeholders The shareholders, lenders and investors are the major part of an organization. The long term and short term goals of the firm has a great financial impact on the stakeholders. Thus setting targets assists them in taking better decisions for the company. Attracting new clients Certain goals and targets attract various partners and vendors. These will build a confidence among the stakeholders that the organization is progressing towards growth and development. Meet the financial targets Sales are the intrinsic part of an organization. It determines the revenue generated by the organization. Well structured targets and goals help the firm in accomplishing the sales target. According to management theory there are five characteristics that should be maintained while setting a goal. They are as follows: Specific: The targets must be specific and must not be vague. It must be properly interpreted and understood. Measurable: The goals must be measurable. The firm must have goals which can be measured. Attainable: The leaders of must set such goals which can be achieved by the organization. Thus only attainable targets must be set. Relevant: The goals and targets must be related to the firms mission and vision. Timely: The targets must be time bounded and thus helping the organization in focusing on the deadline of the target. Thus managerial theory provides a detailed importance and process in setting goals and targets of an organization. For example Unitech is an American organization which specializes in manufacturing telecommunication devices like phones, mobiles, wireless radios etc. The organization decided to expand its market and thus it opened up a branch in China and Australia. Both the branches manufacture telecommunication devices (Lewin Regine, 2000). As a result the market of the organization expanded in China and Australia. Similarly many western organizations started building branches in the east in order to expand their market. In the year 2009 LOreal targeted to be the number one leading brand in cosmetics in the world. Thus with proper utilization of resources and implementation of strategies the organization became the leading cosmetic brand in the year 2013 with an annual profit of $ 14.6 billion. Modern organizations take the help of management theory in developing their business. The various methods that the organizations use for their success are based on the management theory. Conclusion Thus from the above detailed study about management theory and its both theoretical and empirical application on setting target and decision making we have learnt the importance of it the success of an organization. Management theory basically deals with the economic condition of a firm. It discusses about the strategies that an organization should undertake in order to make the economic condition of the firm good. It helps the firm in facing challenges that it faces during its growth and expansion. However Henry Ford had a different view on management theory and thus he changed many marketing and managing strategies in his organization. In the beginning of 1920, Sloan resisted the strategies used by Ford and started following the management theory. After that many automobile companies like Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile started following the methods of Sloan (FEMA, 2000). Thus management theory has proved its importance and significance over the years in various organizations. Reference Koontz Harold (1962) Making Sense of Management Theory, in Harvard Business Review, July-August. Koontz Harold and Weihrich Heinz (1990) Essentials of Management, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill. Fleet David D. Van and Peterson Tim O. (1994) Contemporary Management (Houghton Mifflin Company), Third Edition. Williamson, Oliver E. (1981), The Modern Corporation: Origins, Evolution, Attributes, 19 Journal of Economic Literature, 1537-1568. Turnbull, Shann (1997), Stakeholder Governance: A Cybernetic and Property Rights Analysis, 5(1) Corporate Governance: An International Review, 11-23. Segal, Ilya R. (1996), Modeling the Managerial Task, California, Department of Economics, Berkeley. Richardson, G. (1972), The Organization of Industry, 82 Economic Journals, 883-896. Roberts, Karlene H. and Robert G. Bea (2001). Must accidents happen? Lessons from high reliability organizations. Academy of Management Executive. 15:70-78. Drucker, Peter F. (2002). The Effective Executive Revised. Harper Collins. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability". FEMA Report 364. Johnson, Richard A., Fremont E. Kast, and James E. Rosenzweg.(1963). The Theory and Management of Systems. New York: McGraw Hill. Lewin, R. and B. Regine (2000). The Soul at Work: Embracing complexity science for business success. Simon Schuster.

Upgrading Computer Network at XYZ free essay sample

An examination of what it takes to upgrade a companys computer network system looking at a fictitious company. This paper details which changes need to be made in order to upgrade a business computer system. It first explains why XYZ company needs to expand its system and how the change will benefit clients and personnel alike. XYZ is a medical practice and the writer examines what changes need to be made to the administration and operations of the company in order for the technical changes to run smoothly. One of the most critical areas to upgrade XYZ Company is that of its information technology system. Its current method of storing and retrieving information remains woefully out of date, resulting in needless delays for both patients and physicians. Such delays not only result in wasted time, but also hold the potential problem for error in terms of patients medical records, billing, and data regarding the organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Upgrading Computer Network at XYZ or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page XYZs current computer network consists of 3 IBM Pentiums 166 MHz. Due to insufficient hard drive capabilities the company thus must keep hard copies of all record. The most obvious problem that results from this is the danger of mishandled information lies in the often overstuffed and poorly organized storage room. However, needless costs also ensue because of the necessity of employees working more hours in an improperly filed and outdated file room.

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays The American Revolution was a time when America would transform from an extension of Britain into a new and independent nation. Although the Revolution gave way to new freedom and government, the rights of many groups were ignored during this period of time. The Declaration of Independence claimed to give liberty and justice to all Americans, but not everyone received these freedoms. The Revolutionary War would create opportunities for many minorities whose liberties were often taken advantage, and also allow these groups to develop themselves socially as well as politically. Two groups who would undergo drastic change as a result of the war were women and African Americans. Through the course of the American revolution, people began to look at women and African Americans in a different way than they had before. The reforms that were a result of the Revolutionary War gave new freedoms to many living in America, however, women were not fully encompassed in these reforms. Life in revolutionary America, for most women, meant staying in the home and playing a supporting role to their husbands, brothers, and even sons. Colonial women were subject to long hours of ironing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and knitting all for the benefit of their husband and families. Under American and English law, women were virtually always the property of another man. Until a women turned 21, they were under legal control of their father, and upon marriage, under control of her husband. This meant that women were not only ignored as individuals with opinions and beliefs, but they did not have the right to own property. In colonial times, women invariably had no say in any matter of politics, but when the Revolutionary War began women began to engage themselves in political debate. This was mostly upper-class, educated women, and their opinions were sometimes even featured in newspapers. The major difference from colonial times to life during ...

10 Facts About Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

10 Facts About Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) RNA or ribonucleic acid is used to translate instructions from DNA to make proteins in your body. Here are 10 interesting and fun facts about RNA. Each RNA nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.Each RNA molecule typically is a single strand, consisting of a relatively short chain of nucleotides. RNA can be shaped like a single helix, a straight molecule, or may be bet or twisted upon itself. DNA, in comparison, is double-stranded and consists of a very long chain of nucleotides.In RNA, the base adenine binds to uracil. In DNA, adenine binds to thymine. RNA does not contain thymine - a uracil is an unmethylated form of thymine capable of absorbing light. Guanine binds to cytosine in both DNA and RNA.There are several types of RNA, including transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). RNA performs many functions in an organism, such as coding, decoding, regulating, and expressing genes.About 5% of the weight of a human cell is RNA. Only about 1% of a cell consists of DNA.RNA is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of humans cells. DNA is only found in the cell nucl eus. RNA is the genetic material for some organisms which dont have DNA. Some viruses contain DNA; many only contain RNA.RNA is used in some cancer gene therapies to reduce the expression of cancer-causing genes.RNA technology is used to suppress the expression of fruit ripening genes so that fruits can remain on the vine longer, extending their season and availability for marketing.Friedrich Miescher discovered nucleic acids (nuclein) in 1868. After that time, scientists realized there were different types of nucleic acids and different types of RNA, so there is no single person or date for the discovery of RNA. In 1939, researchers determined RNA is responsible for protein synthesis. In 1959, Severo Ochoa won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering how RNA is synthesized.

ISLM model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ISLM model - Essay Example money demand equals to money supply. In the IS-LM model, money demand is assumed to be given exogenously at any point of time. It is the Central Bank, which determines money supply in any economy at any given point of time. The intersection of the two curves is known to be as the point of general equilibrium at which both the money market and the goods market are in equilibrium. In the above figure, the positively sloped curve is the LM curve, while the negatively sloped curve is the IS curve. E* is the intersection point of the two curves and represents general equilibrium. r* and y* is the general equilibrium values of r and y at which goods and money markets are simultaneously in equilibrium. Whether an economic model is reliable in terms of the values of different variables that it predicts and/or whether an economic model is capable enough of capturing what is actually happening in the real world depends on the reasonability of the assumptions it is based on. To examine how well IS-LM model captures what actually happens in the economy, one needs to check whether the two basic assumptions of the IS-LM model are reasonable. The major problem with the IS-LM model is that its two basic assumptions mentioned above have certain limitations and for this reason in spite of being a fundamental macroeconomic model, economists not very frequently use it for estimating the parameters involved in this model as well as the future values of output. (Clarida and Gertler, 1999 First, consider the problem with the assumption of price rigidity. IS-LM model always makes a prediction that equilibrium can be obtained at any level a it considers a passive kind of supply. According to this model, producers produce whatever is demanded by the buyers. In IS-Lm framework, if in an economy demand changes, then the economy will make all the adjustments to that change in demand in

Is It Right to Act in One's Own Best Interest, Or to Obey the State Essay

Is It Right to Act in One's Own Best Interest, Or to Obey the State - Essay Example Socrates’ understanding of the legal obligations is based on the personal morality analogies. He argues that there are two key reasons why people are obliged to obey the law; the reasons are gratitude and contract. In gratitude, the law plays a role for us just like the role played by individuals whom we are mandated to be grateful. In contract, Socrates decided to obey all the laws (Green 1). Socrates applies the general moral principle or rule, which he and Crito (his friend) accept as valid after deep reflection. They agree that we are not supposed to harm others, we are supposed to honor our promises, and that we are supposed to respect or obey our teachers and parents. Socrates uses the principle in his case and argues that if he escapes he will do harm to the society, fail to honor a promise, and he will be disobeying or disrespecting his parents and teachers. He then concludes that it is his moral obligation to obey all the city’s laws despite the fact that the s entence and the conviction were wrong (Frankena 1). ... Therefore, if the law was part of the contract or the agreement, then based on the general theory, he was obliged to obey it (D’Amato 10). The moral commitment of Socrates to obey the laws necessarily entails giving a portion of his own ethical standards to the tribunal. However, his teachings taught that each individual was supposed to think for himself and discover what is morally right and what the truth is. Socrates was of the opinion that there are some immutable standards of wrong and right discoverable through the process of logical thinking. He further believed that no individual is supposed to follow (without careful consideration) the teachings of another individual even if everyone else accepted his teachings in the universe. Thus, one may argue that Socrates was inconsistent in submitting to the presentation of the law by the court of law. Socrates was not lured by the urgings of his friends to escape. His decision was based on his own path of behavior because he t hought it to be right. However, the path he chose to follow consisted of delegation of his part of his own set of ethics to Athens’ lawmaking authorities, such that they, and not him, decided that that the law sentencing him to death was morally just and right (D’Amato 12). Socrates Being Obliged to Follow the Law by the State The difference between justice and truth is a confusing concept that perhaps surrounds the manner in which Socrates’ sentencing proceeded. On one hand, following the law demands that the state is built on principles of justice in an attempt to introduce order in the society. Justice in law entails dedicating the interests of the society and its perceptions of the right

Program and Policy Analysis Essay Example for Free

Program and Policy Analysis Essay A gang is a group formed by a number of people, who share a same identity either through formation, or organization. According to Charles (2003), the word gang is often associated with a negative connotation. Gang activities are wide and vary from typical organized groups that involve themselves in crimes, to a general class of certain behavior that carry out a collective action intended to attain social solidarity or cohesion, especially in cults, gangs, political parties or unions. Studies have shown that, various approaches have been applied by the government, the society, law enforcers, and even the experts in an attempt to fight with the social problems caused by various gang groups. The effort is also intended to prevent formation of gangs, to rehabilitate the gangs and punish those who engage themselves in criminal activities within the gang groups. It has been stated that, gang groups differ due to different experiences in culture which include drugs, territory and nightlife. Various Approaches to Gangs The gang culture approach. According to Shaw, McKay (2004), this approach looks at the cultural experiences of the young people as the key factor which leads to the formation of gang groups. Young people and especially the blacks have felt discriminated by the media and other social groups; hence they have a tendency to form gangs by feeling hated and stereotyped. Other factors such as the way in which policies of the local governments are set up, deprivation and racism have contributed to the rise of gangs. The supporters of this approach try to prevent such factors that contribute to formation of gangs, so as to reduce the number of young people joining various gang groups. The aggressive approach is applied by the harsh and conservative governments, who believe that force must be used in order to deal with criminals in the society. Miller (2000) posited that, such governments believe in the application of harsh laws which include the use of guns to fight criminals in the society. These governments employ a Zero-tolerance principle on criminal actions. The main aim and objective of this group is to bring criminal acts in the society to the end by doing away with any gangs that may be causing such evil in the society. The belief of the aggressive governments is that, harsh measures will instill fear to the youth and discourage them from joining gangs. The liberal approach on the other hand opposes the application and the passing of harsh laws in dealing with gangs. The liberal approach is of the view that, softer laws should be applied with the aim of rehabilitating the gang members and making them better people to live in the society. This approach advocates for the formation of rehabilitation institutions, where various criminals are kept for purposes of rehabilitation other than just applying the punishment measures. The sociological approach of deviance starts by describing and explaining gangs. This approach believes that, it is important to first understand the causes which lead to the formation of a certain gang, before measures can be put in place either for intervention or prevention of such a group. This approach therefore involves researchers to carry out an interactive interview with various groups from different cultures to find out the factors that contribute to the rise of gangs. It is after the findings that strategies and policies are put in place to deal with the problem. Conditions Under which a specific Policy may be Effective and the Requirements The liberal approach can work effectively where the government offers good support to the policy makers and the prison departments in dealing with gang members in the society. For this approach to work, there is need to put in place policies which would allow a good interaction between various gang members and the law enforcers such that, people like the police can first understand the problems which lead to the formation of such gangs so that they can know how to handle the criminals (Shaw, McKay, 2004). A proper rehabilitation center should be established where the reformed criminals can be used to assist those who are engaging in crimes to change by advising them and acting as a symbol, showing that reformation is possible. There is need for the government intervention by provision of funds and trained personnel to handle criminals. There is also need to put in place preliminary data, program performance and developed working strategies to ensure that the policy works out effectively. Assessment of a Local Policy Program One of the best programs applied locally in the U. S is the comprehensive community-wide approach to the intervention of gangs, gang prevention as well as gang suppression. Where all the required equipments and policies are availed, the conditions are suitable to deal with the problem of gangs in the society. Cohen (2005) observed that, this program has been put in place and is designed to test and implement a comprehensive and accurate model for limiting the number of young people who involve them in violence. The U. S government has contributed funds and established institutions which are used to enable this approach work among the youths in the society. The sites set for this work include the OJJDPs which is equipped with strong prospects to ensure the approach is successful, preliminary data, program performance and developed working strategies have been put in place. Other sites include the San Antonio Site, the Tuscon, Bloomington and the Mesa. The program involves the whole community in various programs where gang assessment is done, strategies are made, and consensus building is done and is a team oriented method which is used to solve social problems. Shaw, McKay (2004) stated that, the program mobilizes the community including the community groups, individual groups, citizens and various agencies, who are provided with social opportunities, economic and academic support. The intervention approach is applied here where the institutions use social intervention street workers, to interact and engage the youth gangs who often stay on the streets in various helpful activities. Gang suppression is done where informal and formal control measures of criminal justice system and juvenile procedures are carried out appropriately. In comparing this local approach with the earlier approaches analyzed out in this study, the comprehensive community-wide program has been effective, as it captures the elements discussed by other approaches, by ensuring that gang members are first of all well understood by considering the factors that contribute to the formation of such gangs and then moving ahead to tackle the problem (Cohen, 2005). The program has been effective in involving the community in various programs where gang assessment is done, strategies are made, consensus building is done, and a team oriented method is used to solve social problems. This is a successful way of ensuring that gang members and those who may intend to join various gang groups feel as part of the society and avoid engaging in any criminal acts.

Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol Essay -- Environmental, Environm

Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol Environmental issues are becoming a growing concern for the world as well as for the world's leaders. Pollution, littering and the burning of fossil fuels are all problems that have drastically affected humans over the past few years. Impure drinking water, radiation, less ecological diversity and cancer are a few of such harms that the world has experienced. However, one of the most prominent concerns is the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect, a natural occurrence, is turning deadly with the introduction of humans and carbon emissions and is slowly heating up the world. In future years this could cause catastrophic consequences. Rising global temperatures threatens the very existence of the world's population, making global warming an issue that has no territorial boundaries, every country is contributing to the problem and will inevitably suffer the consequences. As this is a global problem the interest of many world leaders was brought fourth. Eventually they came together to address this dilemma and come up with a solution to it. What officials are currently at odds with is how to implement the protocol that was reached in Kyoto Japan in 1997. This protocol made by world leaders is one of the first world wide efforts to try and resolve current environmental problems. The ratification of which, would have a huge beneficial impact on generations to come. The Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) was held in Kyoto, Japan from the first to the tenth of December 1997. The conference had more than 2,500 participants, 3,000 Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) and 4,000 press representatives in attendance. Discussions l... ...sultations. Despite world efforts Bush still claimed that the protocol is "fatally flawed," and bad for the economy. The European Union has been highly active in the efforts to get the protocol ratified and in working order. British environmentalist Michael Meacher said, "It's a beautiful day for the environment. It's a huge leap to have achieved a result on this very complex international negotiation." Up to this date 30 countries have ratified the pact. This very complex world issue is something which desperately needed, and got, attention. The future of the world and the existence of all living things are at stake. The Kyoto Protocol is on attempt to create a more environmentally sound world. There are flaws and the U.S. remains unchanging it its decision not to ratify it but a step has been taken and without a first step nothing will ever get very far.

Gmf (Genetically Modified Food) Essay

â€Å"Genetically modified foods† is the term most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or ani mal consumption, which have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. Development. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Typically, genetically modified foods are plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil, but animal products have been proposed. The first commercially grown genetically modified whole food crop was the tomato puree (called FlavrSavr), which was made more resistant to rotting by Californian company Calgene. Currently, th ere are a number of foods of which a genetically modified version exists. What plants are involved? Some foods have been modified to make them resistant to insects and viruses and more able to tolerate herbicides. Crops that have been modified for these purposes, with approval from the relevant authorities, in a number of countries, include: maize, soybean, oilseed rape (canola), chicory, squash, potato. Some of the advantages of GM foods: There is a need to produce inexpensive, safe and nutritious foods to help feed the world’s growing population. Genetic modification may provide: ï‚ · Better quality food. ï‚ · Higher nutritional yields. ï‚ · Inexpensive and nutritious food, like carrots with more antioxidants. ï‚ · Foods with a greater shelf life, like tomatoes that taste better and last longer. ï‚ · Food with medicinal benefits, such as edible vaccines – for example, bananas with bacterial or rotavirus antigens. ï‚ · Crops and produce that require less chemical application, such as herbicide resistant canola. Some of the disadvantages of GM foods: Food regulatory authorities require that GM foods receive individual pre-market safety assessments. Also, the principle of ‘substantial equivalence’ is used. This means that an existing food is compared with its genetically modified coun terpart to find any differences between the existing food and the new product. The assessment investigates: ï‚ · Toxicity (using similar methods to those used for conventional foods). ï‚ · Tendency to provoke any allergic reaction. ï‚ · Stability of the inserted gene. ï‚ · Whether there is any nutritional deficit or change in the GM food. ï‚ · Any other unintended effects of the gene insertion. Economic concerns: Bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agri -biotech companies wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor. One way to combat possible patent infringement is to introduce a â€Å"suici de gene† into GM plants. These plants would be viable for only one growing season and would produce sterile seeds that do not germinate. Farmers would need to buy a fresh supply of seeds each year. However, this would be financially disastrous for farmers in third world countries who cannot afford to buy seed each year and traditionally set aside a portion of their harvest to plant in the next growing season. How are GM foods labeled? Labeling of GM foods and food products is also a contentious issue. On th e whole, agribusiness industries believe that labeling should be voluntary and influenced by the demands of the free market. If consumers show preference for labeled foods over non -labeled foods, then industry will have the incentive to regulate itself or risk alienating the customer. There are many questions that must be answered if labeling of GM foods becomes mandatory such as; are consumers willing to absorb the cost of such an initiative? If the food production industry is required to label GM foods, factories will need to construct two separate processing streams and monitor the production lines accordingly. Farmers must be able to keep GM crops and non -GM crops from mixing during planting, harvesting and shipping. It is almost assured that industry will pass along these additional costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. Food labels must be designed to clearly convey accurate information about the product in simple language that everyone can understand. Conclusion: Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.

Gastritis and Its Consequence

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and has many possible causes. [1]The main acute causes are excessive alcohol consumption or prolonged use ofnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. Gastritis may also occur in those who have had weight loss surgery resulting in the banding or reconstruction of the digestive tract. Chronic causes are infection with bacteria, primarily Helicobacter pylori, chronic bile reflux, and stress; certain autoimmune disorders can cause gastritis as well. The most common symptom is abdominal upset or pain. Other symptoms are indigestion, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting andpernicious anemia. Some may have a feeling of fullness or burning in the upper abdomen. A gastroscopy, blood test, complete blood count test, or a stool test may be used to diagnose gastritis. Treatment includes taking antacids or other medicines, such as proton pump inhibitors or antibiotics, and avoiding hot or spicy foods. For those with pernicious anemia, B12 injections are given, but more often oral B12 supplements are recommended. Many people with gastritis experience no symptoms at all. However, upper central abdominal pain is the most common symptom; the pain may be dull, vague, burning, aching, gnawing, sore, or sharp. Pain is usually located in the upper central portion of the abdomen, but it may occur anywhere from the upper left portion of the abdomen around to the back. Other signs and symptoms may include: †¢ Nausea Vomiting (if present, may be clear, green or yellow, blood-streaked, or completely bloody, depending on the severity of the stomach inflammation) †¢ Belching (if present, usually does not relieve the pain much) †¢ Bloating †¢ Early satiety Loss of appetite †¢ Unexplained weight loss Acute Erosive gastritis is a gastric mucosal erosion caused by damage to mucosal defenses. Alcohol consumption does not cause chronic gastritis. It does, however, erode the mu cosal lining of the stomach; low doses of alcohol stimulate hydrochloric acid secretion. High doses of alcohol do not stimulate secretion of acid. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase-1, or COX-1, an enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids in the stomach, which increases the possibility of peptic ulcers forming.. Also, NSAIDs, such as aspirin, reduce a substance that protects the stomach called prostaglandin. These drugs used in a short period are not typically dangerous. However, regular use can lead to gastritis. Chronic Chronic gastritis refers to a wide range of problems of the gastric tissues. The immune system makes proteins and antibodies that fight infections in the body to maintain a homeostatic condition. In some disorders the body targets the stomach as if it were a foreign protein or pathogen; it makes antibodies against, severely damages, and may even destroy the stomach or its lining. In some cases bile, normally used to aid digestion in the small intestine, will enter through the pyloric valve of the stomach if it has been removed during surgery or does not work properly, also leading to gastritis. Gastritis may also be caused by other medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, certain connective tissue disorders, and liver or kidney failure. [10] Diagnosis Often, a diagnosis can be made based on the patient's description of his or her symptoms, but other methods which may be used to verify gastritis include: †¢ Blood tests: †¢ Blood cell count †¢ Presence of H. pylori †¢ Pregnancy †¢ Liver, kidney, gallbladder, or pancreas functions †¢ Urinalysis †¢ Stool sample, to look for blood in the stool †¢ X-rays †¢ ECGs †¢ Endoscopy, to check for stomach lining inflammation and mucous erosion †¢ Stomach biopsy, to test for gastritis and other conditions Treatement Over-the-counter antacids in liquid or tablet form are a common treatment for mild gastritis. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and can provide fast pain relief. When antacids do not provide enough relief, medications such as cimetidine, ranitidine, nizatidine orfamotidine that help reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces are often prescribed. [15] An even more effective way to limit stomach acid production is to shut down the acid â€Å"pumps† within acid-secreting stomach cells. Proton pump inhibitors reduce acid by blocking the action of these small pumps. [15] This class of medications includes omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, andesomeprazole. Proton pump inhibitors also appear to inhibit H. pylori activity. Cytoprotective agents are designed to help protect the tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. They include the medications sucralfate and misoprostol. If NSAIDs are being taken regularly, one of these medications to protect the stomach may also be taken. Another cytoprotective agent is bismuth subsalicylate. Many people also drink milk to relieve symptoms, however the high calcium levels actually stimulate release of gastric acid from parietal cells, ultimately worsening symptoms. In addition to protecting the lining of stomach and intestines, bismuth preparations appear to inhibit H. pylori activity as well. Several regimens are used to treat H. pylori infection. Most use a combination of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor. Sometimes bismuth is also added to the regimen. The antibiotic aids in destroying the bacteria, and the acid blocker or proton pump inhibitor relieves pain and nausea, heals inflammation, and may increase the antibiotic's effectiveness.

Should Race be a Consideration in College Admissions essays

Should Race be a Consideration in College Admissions essays A compelling argument against using race as a consideration in college admissions is that everyone has something different about them, if one looks hard enough, and so anyone could claim minority status in some way. To use individual traits of arbitrary choice does not make sense, as this writer notes, "Individualism cannot be defined via individuating or important traits. The principle of individualism is really meant to capture the completely different idea that people should be judged only by traits they choose. That is why race, an involuntary, immutable trait, is an improper basis for judgment" (Levin, 1997, p. 338). One cannot choose one's race, but one can choose other traits to excel at, and so, traits that are chosen and agreed on should be used as considerations for college admissions, such as GPAs, athletic and social abilities, membership in extracurricular activities, and test scores. These are all attributes that students have some input and control over, and these, not traits that cannot be chosen and acted upon, should be used to ensure everyone gets an equal chance at education and advancement. The weakness here is that those students who do not choose to work on themselves may not gain admission; while the strength is that those students who work hard will have a better Eliminating standardized testing is also a way to eliminate race as a basis for college admissions. Standardized tests measure nothing but standard learning. Each individual is different, and should be evaluated on those differences, rather than what they have in common with everyone else. Standardized testing is also suspect as to really giving a balanced view of actual learning. Another writer states, "The overriding conclusion is neither new nor earthshaking: in crafting a college admissions policy, tests serve as useful, but far from perfect, tools" (Zwick, 1999, p. 320). ...

Chemicals That Should Never Be Mixed

Chemicals That Should Never Be Mixed Some chemicals shouldnt be mixed together. In fact, these chemicals shouldnt even be stored near each other on the chance that an accident could occur and the chemicals could react. Be sure to keep incompatibilities in mind when reusing containers to store other chemicals. Here are some examples of mixtures to avoid: Acids with cyanide salts or cyanide solution. Generates highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.Acids with sulfide salts or sulfide solutions. Generates highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.Acids with bleach. Generates highly toxic chlorine gas. An example of this would be mixing bleach and vinegar.Ammonia with bleach. Releases toxic chloramine vapors.Oxidizing acids (e.g., nitric acid, perchloric acid) with combustible materials (e.g., paper, alcohols, other common solvents). May result in a fire.​Solid oxidizers (e.g., permanganates, iodates, nitrates) with combustible materials (e.g., paper, alcohols, other common solvents). May result in a fire.Hydrides (e.g., sodium hydride) with water. May form flammable hydrogen gas.Phosphides (e.g., sodium phosphide) with water. May form highly toxic phosphine gas.Silver salts with ammonia in the presence of a strong base. May generate an explosively unstable solid.Alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium) with water. May form flammable hydrogen gas.Oxidizing agents (e.g., nitric acid) with reducing agents (e.g., hydrazine). May cause fires or explosions. Unsaturated compounds (e.g., substances containing carbonyls or double bonds) in the presence of acids or bases. May polymerize violently.Hydrogen peroxide/acetone mixtures when heated in the presence of an acid. May cause explosions.Hydrogen peroxide/acetic acid mixtures. May explode upon heating.Hydrogen peroxide/sulfuric acid mixtures. May spontaneously detonate. General Advice About Mixing Chemicals While it may seem like chemistry is a good science to learn through experimentation, its never a good idea to randomly mix together chemicals to see what youll get. Household chemicals arent any safer than lab chemicals. In particular, you should use care when dealing with cleaners and disinfectants, since these are common products that react with each other to yield nasty results. Its a good rule of thumb to avoid mixing bleach or peroxide with any other chemical, unless youre following a documented procedure, are wearing protective gear, and are working under a fume hood or outdoors. Note that many chemical mixtures produce toxic or flammable gases. Even in the home, its important to have a fire extinguisher handy and work with ventilation. Use caution performing any chemical reaction near an open flame or heat source. In the lab, avoid mixing chemicals near burners. At home, avoid mixing chemicals near burners, heaters, and open flames. This includes pilot lights for ovens, fireplaces, and water heaters. While its common to label chemicals and store them separately in a lab, its also good practice to do this in a home. For example, dont store muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) with peroxide. Avoid storing household bleach together with peroxide and acetone.

Pharisees and Sadducees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pharisees and Sadducees - Essay Example The Pharisees were the flag bearers of the Mosaic law (The Torah). They also fought with Judas Maccabeus for the cause of religious freedom. It is said that they increased in numbers and had considerable clout during the Roman period, and as a result they became the most popular party. A number of Pharisees gave stress on the formal aspects of religion but didn't pay much heed to the spiritual (cf. Matthew 23). Nevertheless they do believed in the existence of angels, demons, the resurrection of the body, and the existence of heaven and hell (Acts 23:7-8). They had a very firm belief that they are the chosen people by God and are the keepers of the Law and the Messiah would come to them one day. According to the 'Random House Dictionary of the English Langauge' 'Sadducee' is a member of an ancient Palestinian sect that differed from the Pharisees chiefly in interpreting the bible literally, rejecting oral laws and traditions, and denying an afterlife and the coming of the Messiah. It is believed that the term possibly derived from the founder, Zadok. They were the leading party of the rich, wealthy, aristocrats and the priestly class. They also indulged themselves in diplomacy and making foreign relations. The Pharisees socially were common people, the figure of authority in them was the 'Disciples of the Wise' they had a selective attitude to Hellenism, as regarding their attitude to hasmoneans they were opposed to usurpation of monarchy, they believed in free will, angels and afterlife, they believed in Sophisticated scholarly interpretations of the Bible, written Torah and also advocated application of priestly laws to non-priests. In contrast to them the Sadducees came from the background of Priests and aristocrats, the figure of authority in them were the priests, they were for Hellenism, opposed usurpation of priesthood by non-Zadokites , they advocated free will but didn't believe in angels and afterlife. They had a Literalist attitude towards the Holy Bible but didn't believe in the oral Torah, they laid emphasis on priestly obligations. The Pharisees as well as Sadducees followed the Luni Solar Calendar. Within the ministry of Jesus the Pharisees had many confrontations with him, as their beliefs were entirely opposed to what the Jesus preached. Jesus openly violated many of their oral laws. "He mixed freely with tax collectors and sinners, making Him ceremonially unclean (Luke 7:39). He ate and drank with them, and was called a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34). He ate with ceremonially unclean hands (Luke 11:38). He broke their Sabbath laws by healing people, and gleaning corn to eat (Luke 13:14, Matthew 12:1-2). He forgave peoples' sins, which to the Pharisees was blasphemy (Luke 5:21). He also freely criticised the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and self righteousness (Luke 11:37-52). In the Pharisees' eyes, Jesus was guilty of law breaking and blasphemy. The idea of Jesus criticising them was an outrage (Luke 6:11). They also saw Him as a threat both to their popularity and their authority over the people (Luke 13:17). Because of this they plotted to kill Him. Throughout His min istry they questioned Him, trying to catch Him in His answers in order to hand Him over to the Roman Governor (Luke 11:53)." (Retrieved from 'The Law and the Sabbath' http://www.lastdays.org.uk/jesuspha.html 15 January 2009)

Future of Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Future of Human Rights - Essay Example The significance of the influence presented by the rise and continuing growth of these countries stems from the assertion that social, economic and political power play a vital role in comprehending human rights concept and its corresponding international regime. The emergence and growth of the BRICS countries has implications on human rights since social, economic and political power is shifting from the western states to non-western states. Such power shift generates divergent understanding of political legitimacy and morality hence development of a new world order goes beyond the notion of the dominance of western states. This paper investigates the future of human rights. State sovereignty relates to the continuing tensions between human rights regimes’ foundational principles and their role in contemporary world typified by preferences, values, power and ideas diffusion. The concept of human rights in the 20th century was all about relationship between the state and its citizens (the ruler and the ruled) and that the states’ external legitimacy in the global arena was shaped by the political order of its constituent domestic societies. This model has since changed in â€Å"modern† decades owing to the increased implications of weak states to adequately protect human rights; growing interdependencies; and emergence of the global community having settled norms (Engstrom, 2010). These arguments have changed sovereignty from entailing only power to a concept involving responsibility too. Several bodies and organizations have been established to uphold protection of human rights across the world beyond the â€Å"sovereignty† o f states that is such bodies can intervene, with military deployment as the last resort, if the state fails to respect human rights. The second theme concerns the implication of a global system

Serial Rapist Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Serial Rapist - Research Paper Example Some people commit the crime of rape for once or twice but some are the serial rapists who continue to do what they want in order to fulfill their wishful yet deadly desires. No law or court can stop their ultimate desires and its subsequent actions. Where ever they go they take their rapping attributes with them because they do not consider it a crime rather they call it their right. One similar case of a serial rapist illustrates that the criminal was arrested and then sentenced to prison in 1994 in Manhattan, New York. He was an old offender of raping and exploiting women. He once raped a business woman of 30+ years old in her own apartment. This guy managed to get into the house when she was out and hide. When she returned back in the late afternoon she did not know that some serious criminal is waiting for her on the side. As soon as she opened the door she found him in front of her. She looked at his face and then she could never remove his image from her mind. That guy raped t he girl. This was not his first act of rape rather he was a serial rapist who had been involved in other raping activities as well in Manhattan. However, the girl was raped for the first time. This girl had a clear look on his face whereas in all his previous cases he was able to hide his identity so that nobody could report against him. NYPD’s Detective Bureau has a Special Victim’s Squad to deal with the cases related to rape and forceful sex in the New York. This Bureau has a very distinctive way of investigation. They initiate the search of the offender with his Composite Sketch. In this case also they were able to draw the sketch of the criminal with the help of the girl victim who could easily recall his features and then told to the sketch designer. The composite sketch session went pretty successful and the detective unit got the sketch of the serial rapist. The victim herself was satisfied with the drawn sketch and said that it closely resembles the original person. The detective then made several photocopies of the criminal’s sketch which were then sent to the printing press in order to make it a wanted poster. This poster was then distributed among all the departments and key positions. It was hanging under some police boundaries that Assistant District Attorney (ADA) was within the Ne w York City for some other responsibilities and purposes. As she had a sight of the wanted poster she immediately recognized him as her step brother. She showed the highest level of courage and selflessness by telling the Detective Squad about her relationship with this serial rapist and fully cooperated with them in the investigations. Her recognition of the picture gave a very important clue to the Squad. The serial rapist was Anthony. This man lived in Florida where he was involved in rape cases. Few years ago he was arrested by the police because of the same crime. He was released just a few months before his recent case. The Special Victims Squad successfully arrested him from his Florida residence and he was then presented to the victim who also recognized him. During Anthony’s trial the judge identified that he used to have a great pleasure in raping women. He never considered it as a crime or an illegal activity. He was pretty much contented with what he was doing. Si nce he had committed the first degree rape therefore he was sentenced to 20 to 40

Self-Reflection on Entrepreneurial Personality

Self-Reflection on Entrepreneurial Personality By submitting this piece of work I confirm I am aware of, and comply with University and Programme Requirements and regulations regarding Examination and Assessment Offences and that I am not party to any behaviour which could be construed as an assessment offence. I am aware that if I, or any member of my group transgress these regulations that the entire group could be found guilty of an academic offence. The last decades have witnessed the most dynamic emergence of entrepreneurial activity worldwide and the interest in entrepreneurship has increased significantly. No sector of economy has grown as vital, powerful and creative as entrepreneurship. (Kaplan, 2003). What is Entrepreneurship? The ability and motivation to form something from practically nothing is entrepreneurship. Moreover it is the willingness and steely determination to build an enterprise and handle risks and do everything possible to get the odds in your favor (Timmons, 1989). What is an Entrepreneur? The term entrepreneur had his beginning in the 17th-century and comes from the French word â€Å"entreprendre† and is usually a sole proprietor, a partner or a majority shareholder in an incorporated venture (Rowland, 2015). I have potential to be an Entrepreneur, because of my tested competencies! Different models can be used to identify what your personal traits are. Each model or test assesses particular attributes for entrepreneurial characteristics. One model is the â€Å"Entrepreneurial Traits Wheel† that depicts some traits an entrepreneur or an enterprising person may have. My self-evaluation (Figure 1 / Appendix 1, p.6) shows that I ´m a proactive person with a strong vision and flair. Moreover I ´m self-confident and prefer to solve problems. Furthermore I very goal oriented, a team player and a motivator to overcome difficulties. Thus my not innovated skills I ´m a motivated and communicated decision maker. The T-P Leadership questionnaire indicates that I ´m more laissez-faire than autocratic. I prefer a more morale than productivity style. Nevertheless I have a moderate high shared leadership style with a high morale and moderate high productivity behavior (Appendix 2, p. 7). Related to the Thomas-Kilmann (Appendix 3, p.10) test my profile indicates in various situations a good repertoire of useful social skills. A further test to evaluate entrepreneurial characteristics is the â€Å"General Enterprising Tendency† (GET) test. The results of my test show only in one particular section an average score (Appendix 4, p.16). All other sections assess a nearly maximum score. Summarised the tests underline the argument that I have entrepreneurial skills. But these are only theoretical results. I have potential to be an Entrepreneur, because of my working experience and our family business! To be entrepreneurial is to be inspired and capable of creating opportunities for oneself. To be an entrepreneur is one of the interesting and most exciting things. But it is not easy to start and maintain your own business. The best example in this case is my father. In our family it is a kind of tradition to have an entrepreneurial thinking. In 1963 my grandfather founded the logistic company â€Å"HTS Hà ¼ttges Tranport-Service†. Meanwhile my father manages the company since 1986 and I am working part time during my study in my father’s office. But I have already worked for other companies (Appendix 5, p. 22). To start, I did my apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant at Friesland Campina from 2005 to 2008. Friesland Campina is a worldwide Joint Venture who manufactures milk products. During this time I worked in different areas in the company such as the sales, purchasing, marketing, accounting and controlling department. After my apprenticeship I stayed in the company and was taken in the purchasing department from 2008 to 2010. In these two years I was responsible for the purchase of packaging and raw materials. At that time I was 22 years old and had a huge responsible position in this company, because when my disposition was poor the production plant couldn ´t produce their planned qua ntity. But I grew with the task and became more and more responsibilities. So, I earned the ability to lead negotiations with suppliers and hold presentations during important meetings. Also during my Bachelor study in the Netherlands I have expand my competencies. In the first semester we had to write a business plan and had interview a general manager to analyse the company. Moreover I was general manager and finance director of a project team in reference of a study project named â€Å"Mini Company† at the Fontys International Business School in the Netherlands. We had to found a real company for one semester with real market conditions. We had to sell company shares to get money and had a real entry in the Netherlands Commercial Register. Our student company â€Å"Nature Arts† was very successful and a good investment for our shareholders. We won a price from the â€Å"Jong Ondernemen† organization for the one of the best Mini Company (Appendix 6, p.23). At the end we could disburse them with a dividend of 30â‚ ¬. A further experience which could be beneficial to an entrepreneurial career was the internship during my study at the METRO GR OUP. The METRO GROUP is the one of the biggest wholesaler worldwide such as Tesco. I worked in the Corporate Planning Controlling department. It was a hard time and with long business days. I worked in different teams with different educational and cultural backgrounds. But this was an experience I ´ll never want to miss. This work experience was excellent to prepare for higher duties later. Now I ´m 28 years old and had the fortune to witness a good education. The following figure (Figure 2 / Appendix 7, p.24) illustrates my personal life path. Figure 2: Life Path Chart Felix Freericks Source: Own Illustration, 2015 Certainly I have weaknesses. Nobody is perfect. Certainly I have weaknesses and also experience with some difficult situations during my life. One Example is the language barrier. Therefore to improve my language skills such as English I study abroad and live in a residential community with only international native speaking people. I hope after my study I have improved my English skills to be confident in business discussions. Another Weakness is the motivation in some areas. Sometimes I fall in a deadlock and it’s difficult to motivate myself to change the current unsatisfied situation. In this case I have a high potential for improvement. The life is a long-life-learning process. Hence, I have to learn from my mistakes and try to avoid them in the future. My dream is to follow in one ´s father ´s footsteps hopefully. But Dreaming a dream is one thing, but bringing the dream to market is another dimension entirely. Therefore I early recognised to have to study to become a well-educated manager with managerial responsibility. Through the experience in the last nine years and hopefully in the common years I will learn how to manage and maintain a business. I see myself as an enterprising person, because even now I use the learning and experience to benefit my father ´s company in other ways. This attitude is crucial to your success at this early stage. Once my father said to educate yourself you have to be open-ended and focused to provide the freedom necessary to explore unexpected leads. My personal work experience in different companies has shown that’s difficult to manage a company. But I am hopefully ready for this challenge in a few years. References Kaplan, J. M., 2003. Patterns of Entrepreneurship, s.l.: John Wiley Sons. Rowland, M., 2015. www.businessdictionary.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/entrepreneur.html#ixzz3SD5CxrBQ [Accessed 16 2 2015]. Timmons, J., 1989. The Entrepreneurial Mind. In: Andover: Brick House Publishing, p. 1. Appendix 1: Entrepreneurial Skills Wheel Appendix 2: T-P Leadership Questionnaire: An Assessment of Style The following items describe aspects of leadership behavior. Respond to each item according to the way you would most likely act if you were the leader of a work group. Circle whether you would most likely behave in the described way: Always = A, Frequently = F Occasionally = O, Seldom = S, or Never = N. A F O S N 1. I would most likely act as the spokesman of the group. A F O S N 2. I would encourage overtime work. A F O S N 3. I would allow members complete freedom in their work. A F O S N 4. I would encourage the use of uniform procedures. A F O S N 5. I would permit the members to use their own judgment in solving problems. A F O S N 6. I would stress being ahead of competing groups. A F O S N 7. I would speak as a representative of the group. A F O S N 8. I would needle members for greater effort. A F O S N 9. I would try out my ideas in the group. A F O S N 10. I would let the members do their work the way they think best. A F O S N 11. I would be working hard for a promotion. A F O S N 12. I would tolerate postponement and uncertainty. A F O S N 13. I would speak for the group if there were visitors present. A F O S N 14. I would keep the work moving at a rapid pace. A F O S N 15. I would turn the members loose on a job and let them go to it. A F O S N 16. I would settle conflicts when they occur in the group. A F O S N 17. I would get swamped by details. A F O S N 18. I would represent the group at outside meetings. A F O S N 19. I would be reluctant to allow the members any freedom of action. A F O S N 20. I would decide what should be done and how it should be done. A F O S N 21. I would push for increased production. A F O S N 22. I would let some members have authority, which I could keep. A F O S N 23. Things would usually turn out as I predicted. A F O S N 24. I would allow the group a high degree of initiative. A F O S N 25. I would assign group members to particular tasks. A F O S N 26. I would be willing to make changes. A F O S N 27. I would ask the members to work harder. A F O S N 28. I would trust the group members to exercise good judgment. A F O S N 29. I would schedule the work to be done. A F O S N 30. I would refuse to explain my actions. A F O S N 31. I would persuade others that my ideas are to their advantage. A F O S N 32. I would permit the group to set its own pace. A F O S N 33. I would urge the group to beat its previous record. A F O S N 34. I would act without consulting the group. A F O S N 35. I would ask that group members follow the standard rules and regulations. T13P13 Appendix 3: Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Questionnaire Consider situations in which you find your wishes differing from those of another person. How do you usually respond to such situations? On the following pages are several pairs of statements describing possible behavioural responses. For each pair, please circle the A or B statement which is most characteristic of your own behaviour. In many cases, neither the A nor the B statement may be very typical of your behavior, but please select the response which you would be more likely to use. 1. A. There are times when I let others take responsibility for solving the problem. B. Rather than negotiate the things on which we disagree, I try to stress those things upon which we both agree. 2. A. I try to find a compromise solution. B. I attempt to deal with all of anothers and my concerns. 3. A. I am usually firm in pursuing my goals. B. I might try to soothe the others feelings and preserve our relationship. 4. A. I try to find a compromise solution. B. I sometimes sacrifice my own wishes for the wishes of the other person. 5. A. I consistently seek the others help in working out a solution. B. I try to do what is necessary to avoid useless tensions. 6. A. I try to avoid creating unpleasantness for myself. B. I try to win my position. 7. A. I try to postpone the issue until I have had some time to think about it. B. I give up some points in exchange for others. 8. A. I am usually firm in pursuing my goals. B. I attempt to get all concerns and issues immediately out in the open. 9. A. I feel that differences are not always worrying about. B. I make some effort to get my way. 10. A. I am firm in pursuing my goals. B. I try to find a compromise solution. 11.A. I attempt to get all concerns and issues immediately out in the open. B. I might try to soothe the others feelings and preserve our relationship. 12.A. I sometimes avoid taking positions which would create controversy. B. I will let another have some of their positions if they lets me have some of mine. 13.A. I propose middle ground. B. I press to get my points made. 14.A. I tell another my ideas and ask them for theirs. B. I try to show him the logic and benefits of my position. 15.A. I might try to soothe the others feelings and preserve our relationship. B. I try to do what is necessary to avoid tension. 16. A. I try not to hurt the others feelings. B. I try to convince the other person of the merits of my position. 17. A. I am usually firm in pursuing my goals. B. I try to do what is necessary to avoid useless tensions. 18.A. If it makes the other person happy, I might let them maintain their views. B. I will let the other person have some of their positions if they let me have some of mine. 19.A. I try to get all concerns and issues immediately out in the open. B. I try to postpone the issue until I have had some time to think it over. 20.A. I attempt to immediately work through our differences. B. I try to find a fair combination of gains and losses for both of us. 21.A. In approaching negotiations, I try to be considerate of the other persons feelings B. I always lean toward a direct discussion of the problem. 22.A. I try to find a position that is intermediate between mine and another persons. B. I assert my wishes. 23. A. I am often concerned with satisfying all my wishes. B. There are times when I let others take responsibility for solving problems. 24. A. If the others position seems important to them, I would try to meet their wishes. B. I try to get the other person to settle for a compromise. 25.A. I try to show the other person the logic and benefits of my position. B. In approaching negotiations, I try to be considerate of the other persons wishes. 26.A. I propose a middle ground. B. I am nearly always concerned with satisfying all my wishes. 27.A. I sometimes avoid taking positions that would create controversy. B. If it makes the other person happy, I might let them maintain their views. 28.A. I am usually firm in pursuing my goals. B. I feel that differences are not always worth worrying about. 29.A. I propose middle ground. B. I feel that differences are not always worth worrying about. 30.A. I try not to hurt the other persons feelings. B. I always share the problem with the other person so that we can work it out. SCORING THE THOMAS-KILMANN CONFLICT MODE QUESTIONNAIRE Appendix 4: The Duham University General Enterprising Tendency (GET) Test Appendix 5: Part of Curriculum Vitae Felix Freericks Working Experience 02/2014 – 06/2014MSK Verpackungs-Systeme GmbH Bachelor thesis in the purchasing department Implementation of a key performance indicator system 08/2012 – 02/2013Metro AG Internship student employee in the Headquarter Controlling department Forecast- Budget reports Reporting Implementation of a reporting-tool for analysing the reporting structure 04/2010 – 02/2012Altenheim St. Marien gGmbH Assistance of the Board of Managements Finance Accouting tasks 01/2008 – 04/2009Friesland Foods Deutschland GmbH Purchaser Purchasing of raw packaging materials Negotiation Contracting Study 09/2010 – 07/2014Fontys International Business School Venlo, NL Study: International Business Economics Bachelor-thesis: Implementation of a key performance indicator system (Grade: 8,0) Graduation: Bachelor of Business Administration (7,4) Apprenticeship 08/2005 – 01/2008 Friesland Foods Deutschland GmbH Apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant Appendix 6: Certificate of Jong Ondernemen Appendix 7: Life Path Felix Freericks Statement of Authenticity We hereby solemnly declare, that we ourselves wrote this coursework, without the assistance of any third party; that in this report, we identified and specified all direct literal quotes from literature and indirect quotes (ideas, indirect quotations) from other authors. We are fully aware that any violation of this code may result in disadvantageous consequences for us. If fraud can be proved, we will be required to bear the costs of investigation into and sourcing of the original document. Plymouth, 23rd February 2015 Felix Freericks

Use of Three Literary Techniques in Things Fall Apart Essay -- Essays

In his work Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe tells a story describing the decay and destruction of ancient African tradition caused by the invasion of white culture. His tone in the book seems to side and sympathize with the Africans and their religion. Interestingly enough, though, he uses biblical allusion, as well as onomatopoeia and symbolism to bring the book to life and captivate the reader. The following will describe how he uses these. Even though it appears that he sides with Africans and their cultural beliefs, Achebe uses things from outside their religion, such as biblical allusions. When the missionaries appear it says, â€Å"they were all sons of God. And [they] told them about this new God† (Achebe 126). It is interesting to note that Achebe capitalizes the â€Å"g† in God, which is proper especially if one claims to be a Christian. Another allusion could be interpreted when the locusts cover the land. It is phrased, â€Å"then quite suddenly a shadow fell on the world, and the sun seemed hidden behind a thick cloud† (49). There were so many, that this â€Å"cloud† could easily repre...

New Product Launch

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH: UB GROUP – SOFT DRINK â€Å"MIST† COMPANY OVERVIEW United Breweries Limited (UBL) – has assumed undisputed market leadership with a national market share in excess of 50%. Through a process of aggressive acquisition and market penetration, The UB Group today controls 60% of the total manufacturing capacity for Beer in India. The flagship brand, Kingfisher is now sold in over 52 countries worldwide having received many accolades for its quality. MACRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Political Factors The political forces affect the beer industry to a large extent. The rates of the beer in various parts of the country are affected by the taxes and duties applied by the Govt. The political forces also affect the pricing of the beer by lowering the duties or deregulating the distribution channel. This leads to lower margins for the distribution channel partners. But, as 75% of the Indian market is covered by two players, there hasn’t been a reduction in the margins of the manufacturers. The taxation policies also affect the consumption patterns. Economic Factors India is home to nearly one-sixth of the global population and is one of the most attractive consumer markets in the world today. The total worth of Indian Beer Market is Rs 750 crore. This market is expected to expand by 39% by 2010. The beer consumption has been growing at a CAGR of 7% over last nine years. India provides attractive profit margins due to the consolidated nature of the industry. Various research studies have shown that a rise in the income levels has a direct positive effect on beer consumption. The National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) projects India's ‘very rich', ‘consuming' and ‘climbers' classes to grow at a CAGR of 15 per cent, 10 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. Thus, India gives ample opportunities for the UB Group to grow. Social Factors A deep-seated traditional social aversion to alcohol consumption has been a traditional feature of the Indian society. However, as urban consumers become more exposed to western lifestyles, through overseas travel and the media, their attitude towards alcohol is relaxing. Social habits are undergoing a transformation as mixed drinks are becoming more popular. The greatest evidence of this trend is the increase in beer consumption among women. More and more women are consuming beer – the penetration in metropolitan areas is almost twice as high as the penetration in other large cities – implying that the greater tolerance towards alcohol consumption in metropolitan areas facilitates the consumption of beer. With increasing urbanisation, this acceptance is only going to rise. As a consequence of the high birth rates prevalent until the 1990s, a large proportion of the Indian population is in the age group of 20-34 years. This age group is the most appropriate target for beer marketers. This population trend will give a further boost to the growth of beer consumption in India. Technological Beer industry is not technology specific. As the UB group is one of the oldest players in the market, they have achieved economies of scale. Thus, technological factor is not of great importance for the beer market. SWOT ANALYSIS PORTER’S FIVE FORCES MODEL Threat of new Entrants – Low In India, beer industry is growing with 11% CAGR making it attractive for new players. Strong brands like Kingfisher and Hayward’s which are already established and have strong brand recall will make it tough for new entrants and they are expected to struggle to expand their consumer base as they try to penetrate the beer market in India. Foreign brewers have been eyeing the Indian market for some years now since India is widely acknowledged to be the last untapped big growth market. Several international brewers have built brand associations and are marketing their brands aggressively through various point-of- sale promotions throughout their distribution networks. But with strong players in the market any new entrant will face problems of: a) Economies of scale – For example benefit associated with bulk purchases and sales – create high barriers to the national and global markets ) Cost of entry – For example investment in technology, costs associated with sales c) Distribution channel For example ease of access for competitors d) Government Legislations -Introduction of new laws might weaken have adverse effects e) Differentiation – For example certain brands that cannot be copied f) Supplier power – Possibility of forward integration by supplier Bargaining power of suppliers â₠¬â€œ Low Due to increasing costs of raw material and decreasing cost of barley suppliers, bargaining power of suppliers was high but by doing backward integration, done by acquiring Maltex Malsters Ltd. and shifting their production of beer on malt the company has achieved a hold on its raw material and considerably reduced supplier strength and dependency. Company has also entered into collaboration with Government of Punjab and Haryana for supply of its raw material. Bargaining power of buyers – Moderate This factor measures the extent to which customers are successful in forcing prices down, or securing high quality or more service at the same price. Customers tend to be powerful when the quantities they purchase form a large portion of the seller's total sales. Buyers do have a very clear understanding about the quality and as there are very few players in the market the customer cannot influence the price in any significant way. But while this is true a decline in consumable income shifts consumer preferences away from premium brands to lower-priced brands since the switching costs is low. Due to this the bargaining power of buyer tends to increase. Threat of substitutes – Moderate India is predominantly a spirits market and beer has traditionally been a minority preference for those who consume beverage alcohol. Therefore substitutes are the biggest threat as preference for beer among alcohol beverage drinkers is less but also the low penetration in beer consumption in comparison to international levels offers the potential for substantial and sustainable growth in demand for beer in India for years to come. Rivalry amongst Competitors – Low to Moderate Rivalry is the means through which competitors fight for position by using tactics such as price, competition, advertisement battles, and new product introduction, to lower the profits of competitors in the industry. As stated above CAGR of 11% is expected for beer in the next 5 years due to which many MNCs are eyeing the Indian market. Currently the major rivals for Kingfisher Premium are Budweiser, Carlsberg, Foster and Tiger and for Kingfisher Strong it’s Hayward 2000, Hayward 5000, Palone. SABMiller who came to India by acquiring small breweries and has made its hold as best-selling strong beer brand but still Kingfisher has managed to remain the largest-selling strong beer brand with 29% market share. There are also some small local players hat are in the market but are not much of a threat to Kingfisher. STRATEGIC FIT OF MIST WITH UNITED BREWERIES GROUP The UB Group (United Breweries Group) is a multi-faceted conglomerate with business interests in Beverage Alcohol, Pharmaceuticals, Media, International Trading, Aviation, Fertilizer, Research & Development, and Infrastructure Development with a major focus on the brewery (beer) and alcoholic beverages industry most of which is market ed under the Kingfisher brand. UB Group is already planning to venture into the mineral water segment via the Kingfisher Himalayan Water Brand. Thus strategically thinking Mist will be a perfect fit in the UB Group’s expansion plans. In fact introduction of a soft drink will make UB Group present in all versions of drinks and will be a wonderful way to reach out to customers who admire the Kingfisher brand but do not consume alcoholic beverages. Launching Mist will be a form of line extension and will help it respond to customer’s needs favorably. If we see the attributes of Mist, i. e. adventure, energy, fun and the â€Å"Hat Ke† attitude; it is very much in sync with the existing brand image of UB Group. Mist being a soft drink, it is very necessary to ensure proper distribution of the product. This is where UB Group can use its core competency of having a strong distribution network and bank upon its reputation regarding the stringent quality control measures it follows. Also if we look at the soft drink market, the only direct competitor of Mist is Mountain Dew and the market for soft drinks providing the set of benefits as Mist is in a growth stage. That makes it a perfect moment to introduce a drink like Mist under the Kingfisher brand name. Considering the sync between Mist attributes and Kingfisher’s brand image, we can also use the events held by the UB Group like the Derby, Kingfisher Calendar, IPL matches , functions like the Incredible India Party held last year at Cannes and the TV channel NDTV Good Times to increase awareness about Mist. It can make use of the cricket and Bollywood stars already associated with Kingfisher brand to endorse the product and help build a strong connect with its loyal customers. Added to that serving Mist in the Kingfisher Airlines will be a reat way of making future customers try out the drink. PRODUCT INTRODUCTION Mist is a soft drink that is being launched by UB group under Kingfisher brand. It is a citrus flavoured drink and unlike other soft drinks, it is more carbonated and has high levels of caffeine. MARKETING STRATEGY SEGMENTATION Demographic Segmentation 1. AgeA consumer needs and wants change with age. Hence this segmentation is important for this product. On the bas is of age, we can divide the population into the following categories a. 6-25 years b. Teenagers c. 25 years and above 2. Gender This is an important segmentation since both genders behave and respond differently to same situations. Geographic Segmentation This segment primarily refers to the location of the segments. For our product there will be three segments. a. Urban b. Semi-Urban c. Rural PsychographicSegmentation Here different groups are identified on the basis of personality traits, lifestyle or values. The following segments can be formed: a. Excitement, Adventure seeking, Risk lovers b. Health Conscious . Rebellious d. Fashsionable and stylish For our product, we can begin with demographic segmentation. These segments would be further divided using psychographic segmentation. The product is soft drink, but we will not go in for mass marketing and rather target based on psychographic segmentation. The target would also be different from those of already existing soft drink s. TARGETING Evaluating the above segments on the parameters like Measurable, Substantial, Accessible, Differentiable and Actionable, the target segment for MIST would be: Individuals (both genders) in age range 15-29 in urban areas (this is because the promotional activities would be focused on urban areas only). †¢ Based on market research data, we decided to target people who embrace excitement, adventure and fun. Reasons for choosing this target segment are: †¢ Our market research showed us that there were primarily five different target groups in the market. There was considerable presence of other soft drinks in the other target groups. †¢ Also in urban areas there are very few individuals in the age group 15-29 years who have not heard of Kingfisher; hence this would be our target age group. This segment in India is substantial and would be profitable. †¢ Kingfisher already has large distribution networks for selling its other products in urban areas. Hence there would be little cost of adding distribution channels. †¢ It is also easier to involve people from the aforementioned age group in various promotional activities and also they are easily accessible through internet. So it would be easier reaching across to them. POSITIONING Salient Attributes  · Offer from the Kingfisher brand Higher price for perception of premium quality and difference  · Available only in stylised cans  · Invigorating effect due to higher caffeine  · Tingling taste and flavor  · Selective availability in retail outlets, pubs, clubs, discos and other socializing places Values  · Adventure Seeking  · Thrill  · Different from competition  · Aspiration for youngsters to be associated with Kingfisher brand. Competition Mountain Dew As compared to Mountain Dew, we will po sition MIST as an exclusive brand and it will only be available through selective outlets. We are going for value-based offering that is premium in nature due to higher quality and reflects the values of aspiration for Kingfisher. Coke and Pepsi Both Coke and Pepsi are brands that differentiate themselves on the basis on the endorsements eg. Pepsi targets the youth market through endorsements from young celebrities. Price is not a discriminating factor between these two. We shall charge a higher price as compared to Coke and Pepsi and put forth quality as a prime concern while manufacturing MIST. This should help us differentiating from Coke and Pepsi since they have had troubles in the past regarding their quality. Media Influence  · Extensive promotion schemes across different media (using teasers, events and web portals)  · Advertisement frequency  · Brand endorsement Based on the above factors, our positioning of Mist vis-a-vis its main competitor (Mountain Dew) and other similar lime and lemon flavoured drinks (Coca cola was also included as a reference) has been quantitatively depicted in the cobweb diagram below. Some of the attributes are – 1. Ingredients – Mist is an augmented product over other citrus flavoured drinks, being packed with higher carbonation and caffeine. So, we rated this attribute above the other drinks. 2. Awareness – As Mist is a new product to be launched, we cannot gauge its awareness. However, we intend to bring it to the desired level based on our extensive promotional campaign which will be explained in the Marketing Mix. As of now, awareness is being measured based on the current awareness level for Kingfisher. 3. Availability – Unlike the extensive mass distribution and availability of the other drinks, we intend to have a selective distribution for Mist. 4. Refrigeration – This is based on the amount of refrigeration required and the level of service given by the companies by providing refrigerators. As Mist is selectively available, we intend to provide refrigeration facilities at all points of sale. This refrigerators will be small and exclusively for Mist. It will have eye-popping displays labelled with the title Mist and will be painted in its colours. MARKETING MIX | | |PRODUCT | | | | | | | |Functional |Great taste | | | | | | |Ity |Quench Thirst | | | | | | | | | | |Features |†¢ Invigorating effect due to higher caffeine | | | | | | | |†¢ Tingling taste and flavor | | | | | | |Appearanc |Available in Stylised cans | | | | | | |E | | | | | | | PRICING Competitor based pricing The price of a can of Mountain Dew and other soft drinks is Rs. 20. We may c hoose to price it higher than this since we are not going in for mass marketing but rather selecting a specific target segment. Cost Based pricing Cost Based pricing is integral to establish the lowest point of a new product's price range. By accurately analyzing cost per unit and taking into account a margin that corresponds to the lowest satisfactory return on investment, companies can define a new product's floor price. If the market cannot support this price, then the company must reconsider if the product is feasible. If we take the major cost components as manufacturing, advertising and distribution we can come to a rough estimate of the variable cost of Mist. This will not include the costs associated with machinery installation, R & D of the product and other associated capital expenses. This shall be collected through contribution per can. Using estimates for the major variable cost components we take: i. Advertising Cost per can – Rs. 8 – 10 ii. Manufacturing Cost per can – Rs. 4-5 iii. Administrative Costs and other overheads per can – Rs. 2-3 iv. Distribution Costs – estimated to be Rs. 1 per level Therefore the total cost of producing one can comes out approximately to be Rs. 17-19. Value Based Pricing While some benefits have values that can be readily quantified, others such as brand reputation and premium are more difficult to measure and must be probed using market research. Since we are positioning Mist as a premium brand it should be priced higher than its direct competitor (in this case Mountain Dew) in order for the target group to it as a premium brand. Since a can of a cola costs Rs. 0 then we will price it at Rs. 24 (we are trying simultaneously to take advantage of bundles of five pricing and have the customers perceive it as a premium brand). As shown by the market research, customers are willing to pay more for a product like Mist. Moreover, considering the aspiration value of the produc t and the parent company, we have decided to follow value based pricing. PROMOTION According to the positioning of the Mist, a promotional campaign will be designed to create awareness and pull in the market. AIDA model will be followed for the promotional campaign. The steps taken in each stage will make consumers to â€Å"Think, feel and do†.