Case Study, Kodak

CASE STUDY REPORT 1 Case Study On Kodak, What Went Wrong? Patricia A. Webster Oklahoma Wesleyan University CASE STUDY REPORT 2 Introduction This case study will analyze what areas of failure caused Eastman Kodak to continue to have continued underperformance and misalignment within the company’s operations. There were four serious counts of corporate failure on the park of Kodak’s strategic planning and decision making.The analysis will review these failures, recommendations for change will be discussed, and clear explanations as to why the wrong decisions lead to the failure for growth will be reviewed. A conclusion will discuss how Kodak has managed to survive despite the bad corporate decisions and how the company must reconsider the majority of the recent strategic choices they have made. Strategic Analysis George Eastman founded Eastman Kodak Company in 1880. Within four years Kodak had become a household name after he replaced glass photographic plates with a roll of film.His decision regarding the company’s philosophy was to focus on quality. He stated, â€Å"Nothing is more important than the value of your name and the quality it stands for†. By 1963, color prints surfaced by this company. By 1981 they launched new product lines including cameras, graphical arts, and medical imaging. Their top sales tripled to $10,000,000,000 at that time. Kodak’s performance today is in trouble, sales are drastically falling, the company’s profit margin had declined to a staggering 3% in 2005.The chairman of the shareholder’s stepped down that year conceding a disappointing performance all-around. Due to declining economic environment in this country the company continues to fall. Several corporate failures have contributed to the spiral downward. The connection between logic and creativity was not present. They failed to jump on board with the digital age and technology at the beginning of its era. Next was the lack of strategy between revolution and CASE STUDY REPORT 3 evolution and the strategy it called for.Kodak did not realize the importance of the strategic planning needed to move ahead and attack the changes the company needed. Kodak could have addressed the change by evolutionary means by slowly adapting business strategy incrementally since the beginning of the digital age in the 1980’s, but they did not and this lead to great demise of the company. Also important was the lack of marketing and resource strategic planning. The leaders should have addressed the multiple levels of relationships between resources and practices that exist within a business.Finally and one of the most important factors was the lack of focus on the competition. Very little strategic planning was performed in regards to the competition of other technologic corporations. Solutions, Recommendations, Conclusion Despite continually reports of poor financial forecast, Kodak has managed to keep afloat by handing on to the traditional razor-blade model of analogue technology. The company’s CEO, George Fisher recognized the validity of the digital world. So the company needs to grow on that new insight.Marketing will need to broaden their horizons, even crossing oceans and opening new ventures in the Eastern markets and beyond. Kodak should take advantage of the disparate demands of consumers around the world. Strategic review and planning should involve knowledge of their competitors. Knowledge is power, Kodak’s greater insight and understanding of other corporations such as their own will lead to more enhanced strategy and planning for its future. The key now is to build a global strategy that can continue to exploit both the older and new generations. CASE STUDY REPORT 4References Brickley, J. , Smith, C. & Zimmerman, J. (2009). Managerial Economics and Organizational Architecture. (5th Ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill Irwin. Hamel, G. (1990). The core competence of the corpor ation, Harvard Business Review. May- June, pp. 79-91. Kodak, 1985. Annual Report, Eastman Kodak Senge, P. (1990). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New York, NY. Currency Publishing. Wit, B. & Meyer, R. (2004). Strategy Process, Content, Context. Chicago, IL. Thompson Learning.

P&G in Japan

Why was SK-II so successful in Japan? Statement: By based on research of Japanese market, P&G made clear targeting and positioning, and developed new products which fulfilled customers’ needs, built the effective distribution. As a result, P&G could establish differentiation advantages for the following. †¢ Product: â€Å"Foaming massage cloth† , Elegant dispensing box â€Å"Foaming massage cloth† increase skin circulation through a massage while boosting skin clarity due to the microfibers’ ability to clean pores and trap dirt. Price: Premium price †¢ Place: Luxury and nice counter at department store †¢ Promotion: Counseling by Beauty counselor, TV advertising, Beauty magazines Description Targeting Positioning Affluent women aged over 30s Prestige skin care Premium price R&D team: Market research > catches up demanding Japanese women, Develop Technology > excels Japanese competitors Sales: Training > beauty counselors, Promotion > Counter design Capability Q1. contd. What was the business model behind the success? Statement: SK-II ’s success is not only prestige skin care product or advanced technology but also its marketing approach to build the New brand.P&G succeeded to connect between the core technology or product concept and local market. Through Japanese market among the world’s toughest competitors, P&G developed potential source of innovations. In addition, SKII ’s marketing strategy built a new approach, Market research, Concept, Packaging, Positioning, Communications strategy. It was a big challenge that P&G shifted from Mass marketing, such as Olay brand, to Class marketing. SK-II ’s marketing strategy Description Market Research Concept Packaging Positioning Communication strategy Find the customer needs, habits Japanese women’s needs: sensitive with skin condition abits: five or six step cleaning Classify customers, Specify attractive market Affluent women aged over 3 0s Define the customer value Prestige skin care Product design Build the differentiation Premium price Advertising feature the targeting customers Design counter and installation Resource R&D Marketing R&D Marketing Technology Marketing Brand Sales force Channel Advertising Q2. How transferable is the model? †¢ The SK-II’s business model based on through production, advanced technology, marketing research and customer behavior.From this point if P&G Japan want to enter foreign market using this model they should exploit by exporting or by direct investment. Either case business model is transferable. But main concern is the model could be successful as in Japan? SK-II’s success had been achieved in a culture where the customers, distribution channels, and competitors were different from in China and Europe. For example: Japanese customers more educated, average Japanese women spent 4. 5 minutes on her face cleansing regime, and most sophisticated users of beauty p roducts in the world.Other hand in China customers due to Olay’s education recently moved from a one-step skin care process to a three-step cleansing and moisturizing process. But unlike China, Europe had a large and sophisticated group of beauty-conscious customers who is already practiced a multistep regimen. As we see it is model is transferable but they have to modify some of models characteristic depending on customers behavior, competitors and market factor. P&G Japans competitive advantage is firm-specific but SK-II’s advantage is country-specific. How to transfer SK-II:China Advantage The company had led with beauty products when entered this huge market Many woman took their fashion cues from Tokyo Wealthy China concentrated in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou Prestige beauty-counselor, TV advertisement Europe European customers are educated and already using multistep regimen. Also fine-fragrance business was beginning to do well Mass- market Cost of televisi on or print ads in Europe prohibitive. But sales force staff selling directly to department stores. †¢ †¢ Target Promotion Q3. What should P&G ‘s expansion strategy be in rolling out SK-II? We recommand P&G to directly invest in this market by focusing only on Marketing and Distribution to roll out SK-II (a special product) in a foreign market. It should not be an advantage for P&G to acquire subsidiaries, or to license or to franchise because resources and capabilities of SK-II are located in Japan. It would be difficult to find same raw materiels to produce SK-II in another country. Exporting SK-II in a foreign market will be better, for that they should emphasize on: †¢ Differentiation advantage, †¢ Changing customer behavior, †¢ Product positionning, †¢ Pricing policy, †¢ Advertisement, †¢ Counseler team†¦Q3. Contd. Which country should be the priority? Porter national diamond analysis Supporting Industries Superior in-store inf rastructure Counseling counters Cosmetic R&D centre MDO, Max factor Strategy, Structure and Rivalry High number of domestic competitors with high innovation. Tough competition Presence of prestigious foreign brand Intense, established, well respected , high experience and famous competitors Limited competitors in high-cosmetic market which can lead to low innovation and learning improvement as well as an opportunity to easily reach a huge market for P&G Country Factor ConditionDemand Conditions Japan High R&D technology and innovative. Skin care Educated labor force Home-grown resources comparative advantage Sophisticated and wealth customers Slow market growth trend High potential in other skin care solution Sensitive to the quality of the product Sophisticated customers New kind of advertisement Educate costumers: to help them know what is SK-II, and how to use it 30-40% cosmetic industry growth China’s P&G skin care sale showed 28% growth rate High return on investment Goo d positioning and targeting to reach wealth costumers Differentiation advantage Home grown skin care technicians.High labor cost Europe High retailer network MDO China Beauty assistance for premiumcounter cosmetic New product that will involve changes in costumers behavior (innovative product) High growth in retailing such as increasing number of department stores. More counters and and beauty counselors MDO CHINA should be P&G’s priority. A biggest market near to P&G Japan and opportunity to expand P&G extensive technological ressources Beijing and shanghai are best location to reach an elite consumer but counterfeit is a huge problem Rigidity of the system is a characteristic of Chinese governement, high import duties 35 to 40 %China China MDO covered by GBU A Target to acces to prestigious customers and a new research field concerning SK-II (unmet need) , a second security base in Asia regarding the instability of Japanese market Differentiation advantage , SK-II is consid ered as a premium product Sales may be $ 10 to $15 million over first 3 years against $1 to $1. 5 million of losses over 3 years Q4. What is your assessment of Jager’s strategic initiative? Why did he emphasize worldwide innovation? How does the initiative address barriers to worldwide innovation and learning?The strategic initiative denominated Organization 2005 aimed to expand P&G worldwide presence. By separating the organization in business units, service functions and market segments (MDOs) the company achieved ability to focus on exploring market potentials. Innovation was a major point of the initiative and helped P&G to obtain a rapid development of new products globally. With this initiative, P&G could develop competitive advantage by identifying emerging needs in different places while responding to them through internal capabilities and diffusing the outcome to the rest of the business.Several management changes in the company supported the initiative: †¢ Cult ure Changes: (cultural revolution within P&G): Company culture was slow, conformist and risk adverse, making P&G vulnerable to competition. By changing norms and practices, Jager created a culture which encourages risk taking, faster decisions and innovation. This change was fundamental to achieve a fast worldwide innovation mechanism within P&G. Processes Changes: Employees compensation became focused on performance, reinforcing risk taking culture.Also, by extending the reach of the stock option plan to all employees, a positive sense of ownership was created among P&G workers. Organization Structure Changes: Global Business Units (GBUs) assumed responsibility for profit, product development and marketing of their respective categories worldwide. Through this modification, P&G was able to delegate responsibilities for developing and rolling out new products. Standardization in manufacturing was achieved, bureaucracy was eliminated and accountability increased. Nevertheless, the ch ange created a complex organization structure were relationships were not clear.Managers had to adjust to this change. †¢ †¢ In general, the initiative allowed P&G to adapt core technologies or product concept to local markets, facilitating easier market penetration. Q4. Contd. What is your assessment of Jager’s strategic initiative? Why did he emphasize worldwide innovation? How does the initiative address barriers to worldwide innovation and learning? The emphasis in worldwide innovation was held because Jager identified that without a major- in country product development capability, P&G could not respond to the Japanese customers demands and competitors.Product development was needed, not only in Asia’s markets but even worldwide, to avoid the Japanese experience in new markets. He wanted to address: †¢ newer consumer trends †¢ new technologies that may be developed in various parts of the world. Worldwide innovation and learning barriers were a ddressed with integrated business planning process, organization structural change to improve communication, and learning sharing through GBUs and MDOs.Identifying and recognizing different customer’s needs and addressing them through new product development processes has become an objective of P&G after restructuration, addressing innovation through learning. Q5. As Paolo DeCesare, what would you recommend to the Global Leadership Team in your SK-II presentation? What is the set of factors you would consider in developing your recommendation? We would like to recommend P&G GLT to expand in China for SKII product line.Factors influencing the recommendation: Potential Market Size: Determine the market size, growth potential in future Product Fit: How the product fits into the market, define our unique selling point Product Competitiveness: know the competitors, Bargaining power of customers, suppliers, threat of any product substitute Entry Strategy: find barriers to entry, kn ow Country rules and regulations, Access to distribution channels Timing of entry: product climate for beauty related products Cultural differences: Different consumer behaviors / workplace practices Administrative constraints: Local content, preferences for domestic competitors in the form of subsidies and favoritism in regulation and government procurement Economic differences: Consumer incomes, cost and quality of natural resources, cost and quality of human resources Q5. contd. What would be your supporting reasoning for the recommendation?Potential Market Size: Japan Market Growth is becoming saturated, so globalizing SK-II in a growing market is advantageous China: 1. 2 billion population, the largest available market, Annual growth rate: high 30 – 40% Product Fit: SK-II is able to supersede Olay as the premium skin care choice in China, and counter the entry of non-mainland retailers carrying Olay as a discount product Product competitiveness: SK-II will be in a less c ompetitive market in China than it faces in Japan, or might encounter in Europe Entry strategy: The China entry strategy of test counters in Shanghai is promising Timing: Good timing as China economy is growing and more awareness among affluent society for beauty related products

The Four Noble Truths

The four noble truths are considered to be fundamental teachings of Gautama Buddha. These truths lay groundwork on how man should view his existence in this world. Others have viewed these teachings as being too pessimistic. This is because of the focus on suffering/pain as an inextricable component of life. The four noble truths aim at recategorizing man’s experience as cause and effect, skllful and unskillful rather than me/not me and being/not being (Bikkhu, 1999). The first noble truth discusses about the nature of suffering (dukkha).It claims that the latter is experienced through our relations with others, in aging, in birth, in death, and in illness (â€Å"Four Noble Truths,† 2007). In short, it is the case that everyone would encounter some sort of pain whether mental or physical. Gautama Buddha tells us that we must learn to know/understand as well as accept these sufferings as facts of life. The Second noble truth is centered on the origin of suffering/dukkha- samudaya. Accordingly one suffers because he/she craves, this can either be sensual, for eternal existence or for self-destruction.Craving (or tanha) is a corruption of one’s mind and as such ought to be avoided (â€Å"the Second Noble Truth,† 2005). There is a need for us to confront and rid ourselves of attachments, hate, and our delusions. Craving or desire can lead one to lie, cheat and steal— in short to live a dishonest life. Inability to get one’s object of desire also leads to anger and frustration; which would be self-destructive to the individual (â€Å"The Cause of Suffering,† 2007). To be controlled by one’s desire is to remain in ignorance.The latter is considered to be the inability to see the truth about things. In order for one to overcome this he/she must seek wisdom through meditation and study. The third noble truth is the end of suffering. This will be made possible if one is able to rid of his/her ill will, craving, and ignorance. When we are able to end suffering, we will be able to attain full/ultimate happiness. It is the case that as one is able to transcend his/her desires and consequently pain; he/she would be able to become increasingly at peace and happy.Buddhist calls this transcending as supreme enlightenment whereas the person is able to achieve the same clarity as Buddha. The two main features of being enlightened is wisdom and great compassion (â€Å"enlightenment,† 2006). The fourth noble truth tells us how we could end suffering. Buddha teaches us that we must take the middle path in order for us to be enlightened. This goes to say that one should not live the extremes of life. One must not live in total luxury and indulgence but he/she must also not live is pure ascetism.Both these extremes are prone to error, even the one which seeks absolute purification of one’s existence. In line with this middle path, Buddha formulates the systematic cure to suffering which is the eight fold path. The latter could be seen as â€Å"self-help† guide on how to achieve enlightenment by following different steps. I think that the teachings of Gautama Buddha with regards to the four noble truths can be applied in everyday living and modern meditation. I believe that even if one is not an official Buddhist; he/she would find meaning in these teachings.After all if we come to take a keener look at what these truths are saying; we would realize that they can be used to make one lead a more clear and peaceful kind of life. The truths that Buddha speaks of can be used by anyone wanting to achieve clarity of the mind and wishes to lead a life free from internal and external conflicts. It is the case in order for a person to achieve this he must first recognize that he/she is prone to afflict him/her and others. She must take into consideration that the things she does in life would be for the removal of superficial cravings instead of indulging in vanity, greed, and pride.I personally believe that we would be able to apply the teachings of Buddha in our day to day existence. The cessation of over-craving, and suffering would lead to a life of personal illumination. Overcoming these tendencies would not only aid our selves but also influence for the better our relationship with other people. Buddhism gives us a path to spirituality that manifest itself in the way we do and deal with life. References: Bhikku, A. ,(1999). The Four Noble Truths: A Study Guide. Retrieved September 14 2007, from http:// www.accesstoinsight. org/lib/study/truths. html. (n. d. ). Four Noble Truths. Retrieved September 13, 2007, from http://buddhism. 2be. net/Four_Noble_Truths. (2005). The Second Noble Truth. In Access Insight, Retrieved September 13, 2007, from http://www. accesstoinsight. org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca2/index. html. Gyatso, G. K. , (2006). Buddhism and the Four Noble Truths. in Meditate in London. Retrieved September 14, 2007, from http://www. meditat einlondon. org. uk/buddhism-the-four-noble-truths. php

Suggestions on the strategic quality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Suggestions on the strategic quality - Assignment Example In this case the prospector strategy. Prospector strategy involves active programs that enable a firm expand into new markets stimulating new opportunities. An organization following this type of prospector strategy should be highly innovative and continuously seeking new markets and prospects (Sun, 2006). The firm should be conversant with growth and should be able to take risks (Millington, 2015). KFC should use prospector strategy because they are a growing market and need to experiment regularly with potential responses to environmental trends that are emerging from the new market that they are creating. Instead of KFC centering their focus on the young generation, they can develop a new idea that should be serving different categories of customers with different meals. It can come out with a family package that serves the whole family KFC can also come out with new products and including them in their menu. They can also venture into catering services and functions like after school parties and site selling for outdoor events. It should also encourage its employees to develop new ideas and products so as to excel in the business market (Millington, 2015). Organizations that adopt the defender strategy are companies that produce a restricted set of products directed at a very constricted section of the total market (Sun, 2006). These organizations ignore trends and progress outside their distinct area and their growth is often based on market penetration (Marek, 2014). Firms with this kind of strategy try to avert other companies from entering their market. McDonald’s has a global, extensive presence and acclaimed products. It is an already established company and can use this strategy to deter other firms from entering its market by lowering prices that their competitors would fail to meet in regards to making profits. McDonald’s is a capital intensive company ranked at the top in terms of sales and assets. It can, therefore, use

ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL MANAGEMENT MODULE Assignment

ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL MANAGEMENT MODULE - Assignment Example Entrepreneurs are very important as they contribute to the development of the society. One of their main contributions to the society is the generation of jobs apart form the various products and services that they offer. The marginal success rate of entrepreneurs raises various important questions – What do entrepreneurs have or do that makes them stand from rest of the crowd? Why only a very few succeed in being successful entrepreneurs? Do entrepreneurs have special personal characteristics or attributes that result in their success? This essay is aimed at answering these questions. The essay discusses the various attributes, behaviors and skills associated with the entrepreneur that is discussed in the literature. Various authors and researchers have tried to answer this question. This paper relies on their works to answer the questions raised above. Various authors and researchers have identified or argued about the characteristics of an entrepreneur. It is now a known fact that entrepreneurs have special characteristics that makes them successful in their ventures. Bygrave (2003) in his article states that it is the environment and personal attributes that shape the entrepreneurial traits in a person. Richard Branson in his acclaimed books repeatedly mentions that his success as an entrepreneur is due to his personal characters and attitude that he developed due to the challenging environment that his mother created in his early years (Branson, 2008). Richard Branson mentions various instances where he is mother created situations and made little Richard realize about the hard truths in life. Bygarve (2003) identifies 10 D’s or 10 personal attributes that can be found in entrepreneurs. Various authors have different takes on the entrepreneurial characters, but most of the characteristics collide with each other. Followi ng are the various entrepreneurial traits identified by various scholars in the literature: Dream: Dream is nothing

Energy Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Energy Planning - Research Paper Example As the paper will demonstrate, any energy program must adopt a clear guideline that has key energy plans, assessment of main goals in regards to energy planning, and explaining the effectiveness of the identified energy plan. There are different varieties of energy plans worth noting. First, the need to measure energy use within a given economic framework. It implies that any energy planner must consider aspects of prices levied on power plants and the existing energy systems that manipulate the larger market. Alternatively, the study of price setters in relation to consumer behaviour is an imperative approach because it measures energy use from the deregulation perspective. Second, involves fixing the basics found in the energy sector such as addressing issues affecting industrial management. The process should be facilitated by a thorough energy audit that oversees energy consumption and elements of monitoring and power metering (Skipka & Theodore, 2014). Similarly, implementation of high-efficiency lighting, motors and capacitors to boost the power factor, and the use of HVAC systems assists in fixing the basics. On that note, the third energy plan is the process of automation. Automation entails the installation of an active energy management program that influences energy efficiencies. It also boosts cost savings and energy within a particular period. For instance, during automation as part of the energy plan, HVAC control conducts regulation that either cools or heats at optimal levels. Additionally, turning lights on remains the functional role of occupancy sensors in assistance with schedule-based lighting control (Randolph & Masters, 2008). Therefore, the fourth energy plan entails monitoring and control. It is a process facilitated by modification of worker behaviour to inspire consistent improvement dissemination of information. Within that framework, management of central

The Global Recession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Global Recession - Essay Example The demand for homes and mortgages continued to increase over the years as buyers became more confident in their buying decisions and the return on their investments thus creating a form of bubble that resulted in a continuing rise in home prices. To further induce the borrowing by home buyers loan terms were further relaxed as plenty of funds were available with the lenders and agencies causing a wide dispersion of credit facility without properly checks and balances (Jaffee 2008). Property agents were assigned the task of bringing potential home buyers to the agency in return for the additional benefits and incentives. At that time, the only aim of the financial institutions was to give loan to as many people as possible to earn more and benefit from the soaring prices of properties. But what they ignored in their greed was to check the repaying competency of their potential customers in order to avoid the future debacle. The financial prudence was ignored and people with low income or bad credit history were facilitated by the lenders. Favorable loan conditions were offered as a way to attract borrowers by lending companies that in fact led to solvency issues for them. Loans offered at variable low rates were expected to increase in the future and many borrowers took mortgages in their anticipation that the high prices will help them to refinance swiftly at more encouraging provisos (Jaffee 2008). However, this did not happen and conditions really worsened ov er a period of time.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet A. Jacobs, Writing Essay

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet A. Jacobs, Writing as Linda Brent - Essay Example When that mistress, Margaret Horniblow died, everything changed for the worse for Harriet, who was willed to Dr. Norcom, the Dr. Flint in 'Incidents'. While he did not actually whip her, he sexually harassed the girl, an issue she seeks to expose in order to enlist the understanding and action of Northern white women; that a slave woman has no freedom either as a person or a woman. Flint makes this clear, often. It is difficult to select only three critical incidents in her life, but one has to be the suffering endured at the hands of both Dr. Flint and his jealous wife. The effect of this caused her to abandon her moral stance regarding purity, and almost lost her the allegiance of her grandmother. By the taking of a white lover, Lawyer Sands, (Samuel Treadwell Sawyer) and bearing him two children, she may be considered to be enslaving herself further. She explains that such action was a means of self protection, for Flint still tormented her, wishing to set her up as his mistress in a cottage somewhere, and she could not succumb to this form of enslavement. Instead, she chose to use her sexuality as a means of escape. The children do however, belong to Flint, but with the hope of them being set free, she removes herself, going into hiding for seven years in her grandmother's attic. This is another important, central issue to the story, for she shows her audience that she cannot be the mother to them she desires to be, but will sacrifice this for their freedom. The happy outcome of these actions means that Sands is able to buy the children from Flint, with the help of some subterfuge. "The darkest cloud that hung over my life had rolled away. Whatever slavery might do to me, it could not shackle my children, If I fell a sacrifice, my little ones were saved." (Chap. 19, p. 166) In Chapter 29, when she is ready to escape, after delays and prevarication, there is a bitter-sweet quality in her discussion with her son, who says, "Mother, I'm glad you're going away. I wish I could go with you...I have been so afraid they would come and catch you" (Chap. 29 p. 234) The escape, and what comes after it, signify a third important incident for Harriet/Linda, bringing about, as it does, a faith in the kindness of others (the Bruce family) but a bitter understanding that the Fugitive Law 1851 (Chap. 40) still robs her and her people of freedom. Regarding the standards of womanhood in 19th century America, Jacobs is aware of these and how she is deprived of the freedom to adhere to them. The ideal image of womanhood was that of motherhood, traditional homemaker, one who creates a place of love and security for her family, and who possesses the virtues of purity, piety and submission. At the same time, while nurturing the family, she must use her moral values, judged higher than the male of the species, to teach and develop her children. Jacobs is driven by this maternal instinct, the desire to secure freedom for her children, and to nurture them in a secure family unit, spiritually and physically. These elements are what she portrays to show evidence of 'respectability' in that society. On the other hand, the contradiction lies

Internal Audit of Fuller Smith & Turner plc Essay

Internal Audit of Fuller Smith & Turner plc - Essay Example The aim of the audit is to see the need for corrective action by top-level management on its policies. The idea is to stimulate mutual discussion between outside auditors and insiders (management and employees) who implement goals and find ways of improving the present situation. Its objective is therefore not only to correct the present way things are done, but probably more important is the good that the process can do to everyone involved, like the conduct of surveys of the present situation and the roundtable discussions that would be based on facts instead of opinions (Kondo, 1988, p. 15-16). An internal audit serves an educational purpose and offers management a chance to review those facts of the firm's strategies and operations that may reflect on management, employees, and other stakeholders. One positive effect of an audit is contributing to the way employees improve relationships with each other and understanding the work they do. There are different ways of doing an internal audit. ... The simplest is to gather data from periodic strategic and operational reviews, but the firm can also commission the use of other tools such as employee and customer satisfaction surveys, performance excellence models, and benchmarking (Witcher, 2003). Three highly popular techniques we can use audit the firm and the business environment where it operates are the SWOT analysis (Andrews, 1987; Ansoff, 1965; Chandler, 1962), the PESTEL analysis (Steiner, 1979; Andrews, 1987), and Porter's Five Forces model and Generic Strategy (Porter, 1980 and 1985). SWOT/PESTEL Analysis For this first part, we combine the SWOT/PESTEL approach. The SWOT analysis is so-called because of the acronym of the four factors required for assessing the organization's internal (Strengths and Weaknesses) and external (Opportunities and Threats) environments. The PESTEL analysis considers six environmental factors that affect the enterprise and its business: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal. We will combine the PESTEL factors with the SWOT analysis factors to audit Fuller's. Porter's Models Porter (1980, 1985) proposed the Five Forces model that helps a firm analyse its environment and design its competitive strategy by choosing one of three generic strategies. The five forces are bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, the intensity of rivalry, and the threat of new entrants. The three generic strategies are over-all cost leadership that allow the firm to compete on the basis of price by achieving efficiencies by minimising costs and attaining economies of scale; differentiation by way of brand image, technology, features, uniqueness, or the quality of service support, any of which enables the firm to charge a

The importance of recruitment and selection of sales people Essay

The importance of recruitment and selection of sales people - Essay Example Effective recruitment involves the identification of certain qualities which spell success. Certain people are imbued with that quality of good salesmanship and have the ability to out forth that quality of sincerity and integrity that certain people are imbued with that quality of good salesmanship and have the ability to out forth that quality of sincerity and integrity that encourages customers to purchase a product. The focus of good recruitment is in matching the capabilities, talents and skills of a particular candidate with the demands and requirements for the job. There must be transparency and uniformity in the recruitment process, in order to identify the most meritorious candidates available for a sales job. The manner in which the recruitment is carried out will affect the kind of candidates who get selected finally. During the process of recruitment, the selectors need to match up the best candidate for the job by an evaluation of the needs of the job and the qualities o f the candidate, in order to determine which candidate is best likely to fulfill the needs of the job.

Euthyphro - Piety Essay Example for Free

Euthyphro Piety Essay The discussion between Socrates and Euthyphro is one of the most famous Socratic discussions because of the meaning set behind the actions. This discussion is focused on what is the piety or the holiness asked by Socrates to Euthyphro. Socrates appoints Euthyphro to help him understand what piety is as he admits he does not know, in order to help with his case against him. They argue about Euthyphro’s answer that piety is what the Gods love and impiety is the opposite. Socrates then questions which is dear because they love or they love because it is dear. Socrates challenges to comprehend an understanding of this indefinable concept and uses logic to understand what holiness is as provided by Euthyphro who is acting religious. This paper will show how the concept of holiness emerges from Euthyphro’s three definitions of piety. In addition this paper will suggest why Socrates goal for this discussion. Euthyphro’s three definitions of piety are well used with great examples, but Socrates always tries to shoot them down by trying to have a rejection. The first definition Euthyphro says is â€Å"Piety is doing as I am doing; that is to say, prosecuting any one who is guilty of murder, sacrilege, or of any similar crime-whether he be your father or mother, or whoever he may be-that makes no difference; and not to prosecute them is impiety† (Plato, 380 B. C. E. ). But at once Socrates says Bear in mind that I did not bid you tell one or two of the many pious actions but that form itself that makes all pious actions pious, for you agreed that all impious actions are impious and all pious actions pious through one form (Plato, 380 B.C. E. ). As you can see Socrates is determined to not have piety for anything that is happening at the time. Drawing a line between these particular contradictions is difficult because of cultural differences, values, moral, and religious beliefs within society. Euthyphro’s most important attempt to define piety comes with the suggestion that the pious is what all the gods love. Euthyphro states that The godly and the pious is a part of the just that is the care of the gods, while that concerned with the care of men is the remaining part of justice (Plato, 380 B. C. E. ). Socrates then asks, The pious is loved by the gods because it is pious, or is something pious because it is loved by the gods (Plato, 380 B. C. E. ). But since the gods are in a state of discord, and are at odds with each other and therefore have different views on what things are pious and what things are impious. He therefore proves that if an action or a man dear to the gods is pious, but an action or a man hated by the gods is impious then the same things then are loved by the gods and hated by the gods, and would both be god-loved and god-hated, which would make the same things both pious and impious at the same time. Socrates was a man who wanted his son to know that there is always moral reasoning to everything and that the right way is the correct way. By arguing with Euthyphro he tried to make him understand that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should always do everything because it is morally correct to do it. By Socrates going against every definition of piety he had, I think he made Euthyphro think deeper in himself about the actions played out from him. Socrates had an intense belief in the importance of virtue, he believed that if man was able to gain the wisdom that attended virtue then he would no longer do wrong simply because humans do not choose to do the wrong actions. Socrates felt that the first step in becoming virtuous was to acknowledge ones own ignorance and rid him of it. He encouraged men to be more apprehensive with their self-development and less obsessive in obtaining material wealth.. However, Socrates expresses that virtue is not a goal that can be taught, but that it must be learned in each individuals own experience. To me he meant that not only by experiencing the good and the bad will a human understand how to make things right. Piety to me is knowing how to make the moral situation correctly. I think that by someone wanting to do the right thing it can make other do them as well. Being piety knows that one must always abide by the rules given to them no matter who you are and where you might be. This does not pertain to every one is the world we live in because loopholes are always around and someone always knows how to use them when they need to. Religion has, is, and always will be a point of conflict for people for one that not everyone prays in the same way and believes in the same kind of religious beliefs. We are always free to believe or disbelieve in what we want to, and this leads to an inability for us to universally agree on a single kind of doctrine. But religion is exactly that, a doctrine and everyone follows one, whether they know it or not, people follow it and some live by it. A doctrine is something that defines a person’s life by dictating the choices that person’s chooses and tends to live on. God’s will can be someone’s doctrine the same way a person’s own set of morals can. Following this logic, a religious person is simply someone who follows a predetermined set of ideals, God’s. With this in mind, it can be concluded that while an atheist chooses to follow his own set of morals, the religious man simply chooses to follow an already existing set. I think a good example of following the rules are like traffic violations. The violations set on the road are to keep everyone from getting hurt and letting others get away with anything they can. This is an example of treating everyone equally and not letting no one get away with something just because of the their race, religion, money or even fame. The problem that we face in the world we live in is that people who do have money, fame or some kind of high importance are let of a lot easier than others how are struggling in life. Money and fame plays a major role in the world that we live in and it is sad that everyone has to stand by and see it with no options of saying what they might want to say to be heard. Reference Page Ackah, K. (2006). Platos euthyphro and socratic piety. Scholia: Studies in Classical Antiquity, 15, 17-34. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/211628972? accountid=32521 EUTHYPHRO. (1982). World Philosophy, 115. Mosser, K. (2010), A Concise Introduction to Philosophy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Angel in the house essay Essay Example for Free

Angel in the house essay Essay Do you agree with the view that during the second half of the nineteenth century the concept of the â€Å"angel in the house† lost its relevance? I believe that by the end of the second half the nineteenth century the concept of the â€Å"angel in the house† had not lost its relevance. Many laws were in place to protect women legally but socially women were still seen as inferior to men and the ideology of the separate spheres was still the ideal way for men and women to act by society. Women were viewed as â€Å"Angels† which was seen the most accepted path for women to take and were still greatly wanted as well as being expected by the others, especially the middle class. On the law front courts still favoured men with an example being the Jacksons case in 1891 where Mr Jackson imprisoned his wife in their home for refusing to have sex at his choosing. This was effectively breaking the Matrimonial Causes Act 1884 designed to prevent this from occurring in the marriage. However due to the bias which was shown towards men at that current time the courts initially sides with Mr Jackson because, they and he argued, a Victorian home was a taboo and the act was carried out in his own home. Eventually after much protesting form Mrs Jackson’s friends the case was turned around forcing Mr Jackson to release his wife. This shows the complete lack of support and empathy women received from anyone apart from their own and also how disregarded their opinions were when it came to the law, and that it was more down those in the court and what their feelings were towards women’s rights. On the other hand there is evidence to suggest the â€Å"Angel in the house† had lost its relevance due mainly incessant campaigning from women forcing government reforms. Up until 1870 women had no financial control over their earnings putting them at a major disadvantage when it came to men and controlling their own lives. However this all changed with the Married Women’s Property Act (MWPA) passed in 1870 that now entitled women to have control over their earnings and thus their lives. Furthermore in 1882 the MWPA allowed women to attain what they owned at the time of the marriage such as the right to own, sell and buy property as well as sue which inevitably lead to an increase in divorces. A problem before these acts was passed was that women were very much under the control of their partner as he held the key to money and this prevented many women form leaving abusive and unwanted relationships, the act now changed that  and it could be said reduced the â€Å"angel in the house’s† relevance because women now had more freedom and could support themselves rather than being financially tied to their partner and having to be the â€Å"Angel in the house†. The unfairness of the sexual double standard is highlighted here as women were only able divorce their husbands if the committed incest or long dissertation where as men could divorce their wife for both the reasons as well as adultery which women could not, allowing men to have other relationships within their marriage and be unfaithful with women unable to do anything about it. In conclusion that although there was significant progress towards eliminating the concept of the â€Å"Angel of the house† such as the MWPA which were substantial achievements but there is more evidence to suggest that during the nineteenth century the concept of the â€Å"Angel of the house† had not lost its relevance as women still viewed as inferior to men. This was mainly because although many laws had been changed the views of society had not and this was the key factor as most still did not value women or their rights. A major example was the Jackson case with the husband breaking the law but the court siding with him because he was a man and she a woman, they were blatantly bias and only changed this when forced by the might of Mrs Jackson’s friends and supporters. Society controlled whether or not the â€Å"Angel the house† concept still applied and it still did in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Effect of Water Velocity on Erosion Corrosion Behavior

Effect of Water Velocity on Erosion Corrosion Behavior Effect of water velocity on erosion  corrosion behavior of materials used  in marine conditions Corrosion, among others, is one of the main and considerable causes which is liable for the failure of the equipment and the material used in marine applications. Up to now, the majority of the materials that have been developed for marine applications are carbon steel, copper-base alloys, nickel-base alloys, titanium and apparently stainless steel and its variations such as super austenitic, duplex and super duplex stainless steel. (Meng, 2009) Last decade, the use of composites in maritime industry has also increased. (Jones Summerscales, 2016) One parameter, which influences the extent of corrosion on these materials is the water flow velocity, as a result of mass transfer and other incidents, such as erosion corrosion. (Scheers, 1992) For that reason, they are required to withstand to a wide range of velocities. Water can be either static during shutdown periods or have movement. At low movement speed, the cathode reactants affect the rate of the erosion corrosion process. This most usually brings about higher rates of deterioration, but there are some cases in the case of passive alloys, that this results in decreased rates. Furthermore, the provision of oxygen on the external surface of the corroding metal is extremely dependent on the water velocity. (Chandler, 1985) Oxygen can fuel the cathodic reaction in seawater which can also lead to higher corrosion rates. In conditions where the water velocity is increased, apart from the corrosion arising from the electrochemical process of corrosion, there is also mechanical action with much worse consequences. In other words, high velocity results in enhanced erosion corrosion of the components and the installation parts. The concentration gradients in the bulk of the fluid are destroyed by the turbulent conditions. The action which affects neg atively the phenomenon of erosion corrosion appears in a very thin layer of the fluid which is bordering to the pipe wall. (Scheers, 1992) In addition to, there is also the impingement attack and cavitation corrosion which are more extreme forms of erosion corrosion. Conditions offering high water velocity can be found in tubes, pipes and rotating machinery. Figure 1:Schematic of turbulent eddy mechanism for downstream undercutting of erosion-corrosion pits On this dissertation, the effects of water velocity on erosion corrosion behavior of the materials that are used in marine conditions will be examined. Furthermore, the second part of this project will include the impingement of the water from different angles while the amount of the material loss during the impingement and electrochemical corrosion varies between different angles. Cathodic can be also applied, in order to investigate the effects on the erosion corrosion during the changes in flow velocity. It is very important and crucial to know exactly the effects of velocity because the combination of the electrochemical reactions with the synergy of the mechanical reactions due to the impingement in aqueous environments can cause horrible failures of the metallic components used in industry (Meng, 2009) . In addition there is also great need to know the difference in the number and in the size of the pits while velocity is increased (Wing, et al., 2016), as long as materials have suffered and caused serious accidents before in the marine environment and in the hole marine society. Moreover, pipes are used everywhere in ships and offshore structures, so after the study engineers will construct them with bigger safety and reliability (Jin, et al., 2016). The dissertation I about the experimental investigation of the consequences on erosion corrosion behavior in materials, as long as the impact of the impingement from different angles. Afterwards, an anode will be placed on the specimen to investigate with accuracy the changes on erosion corrosion. The major aim of this project is the accurate plot of the corrosion rates, in comparison with the different flow velocities. What is more, one of the aims of this research is the determination of the difference on corrosion behavior between materials and compare the deterioration process and extent of erosion to them. In other words, erosion corrosion, might not be the same in all marine materials, therefore engineers will have a better indication of the effect on each on of them, because in conditions where high velocity occurs, as the dissolved oxygen controls the rate of corrosion in sea water (Larson King, 1954) . It is still very difficult to choose the most optimum material for a specific job in the current working environment, selecting a more erosion corrosion resistant material. (Meng, 2009) The ongoing protocols for design and selection are extremely basic and are based on empirical service data (Neville Hu, 2001). Moreover, another aim is to compare the degree of electrochemical and mechanical reactions in changing angles. The durability of steels and cast iron and other materials will be further interpreted. Lastly, the removal of the protective oxide film in stainless steels might accelerate corrosion (Bonner, 2016) Many water characteristics influence the rate of corrosion process, like Ph, dissolved gases, temperature, dissolved salts, but the one under consideration is the flow velocity. The effect of velocity on corrosion is also Ph dependent. Seawater is alkaline and it is more at the base side 7.9-9.0 and carbonate ion concentrations increase as ph increases (Sabrowski Silva, 2010). Therefore, in basic or alkaline water, the higher velocities have as a consequence enhanced supply of the cathodic reactant, oxygen. For that reason, the cathodic reaction is stimulated and higher corrosion rates take place, causing erosive damage to the metal surface (Hodgkiess, 2013). According to (Meng, 2009), an increase on velocity has as a result the acceleration of corrosion on behalf of the motion of the fluid, as well as (Neville, et al., 1995) state that the reason of the increased rate of corrosion is the enhanced turbulence and the mixing of water on account of the supply of oxygen. Furthermore, as Giourntas stats in his study (Giourntas, et al., 2015), stainless steels have the ability to abide high flow rates. However, in the presence of solids I seawater the persistence is decreased. It also states the application of cathodic protection as a very important feature. As reported by (Neville, et al., 1999), with or without the absence of solids, the E corr drifts to more positive values, during the impingement. As stated by (Neville Hu, 2001), in places with high velocity and sudden changes in direction because of pimps, elbows in pipeworks etc. higher rates occur. Moreover, as Weber reports in (Webber, 1992) the effects are divided in three categories at low flow velocity, medium and high velocity. In the first category, natural convention is responsible, while at the second corrosion increases but without any significant mechanical effect of flow. During high velocities, the damage mechanisms becomes very complex. In keeping with (Li, et al., 1994), erosion corrosion problems enlarge catastrophically but the outflow of water. In agreement with Lin and Shao, with increasing impingement angles and velocities, the erosion is developing also. The rate of 1020 steel is lower than pure aluminums. During erosion conditions, many mechanisms act but only one or two of them is the principal mechanism. (Lin Shao, 1990) Concerning (Scheers, 1992), the simultaneous effects of velocity and ph have been investigated and turn out that in mild steel, there is an increase in corrosion rate with the velocity of flow, according to the ph value. Not to mention that, L. Wang notices that erosion corrosion increases rapidly with the development of the flow velocity at 14 m/s at 80% HR (Wang, et al., 2016). The dissertation of the effects of water velocity on erosion corrosion behavior of materials is mostly experimental. First of all, all available sources, papers and books will be investigated concerning erosion corrosion on materials that are used in marine condition. Furthermore, the effects of velocity and impingement angle will be searched. Relating the experiment, specimens have to be chosen. Possibly, only the major materials of maritime industry will be selected. These will have a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, those specimens will be placed in a recirculating rig as shown in the figure below. Afterwards, saline water will pass through a pump and therefore accelerate. Water will flow through pipes, where at the end of the piping system, a nozzle is installed, in order for the flow to take the exact preferable velocity. Nozzles will be changed. Directly vertical from the direction of the flow is the stagnation point. In the figure besides is a representation of the region where the liquid jet impinges to the solid material (Neville, 1995). The velocity depends on the diameter of the nozzle. Thence, water will impinge to the specimen causing erosive and corrosive damage. With the use of an equipment, the vertical impingement will change and erosive damage from different angles will be investigated. Afterwards, the exact amount of the material that has been degragated will be investigated through scale and metallography. References Bonner, R., 2016. Passivation coatings for micro-channel Coolers. s.l.:s.n. Chandler, K., 1985. Marine and offshore corrosion. s.l.:s.n. Giourntas, L. G., Hodgkiess, T. Galloway, A., 2015. Comparative study of erosion-corrosion performance on a range of stainless steels. s.l.:s.n. Hodgkiess, T., 2013. University of Strathclyde: General-Surface Corrosion. s.l.:s.n. Jin, H. ÃŽÂ ºÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¹ à Ã†â€™Ãƒ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ½., 2016. Failure analysis of multiphase flow corrosion-erosion with three-way injecting water pipe. s.l.:s.n. Jones, G. Summerscales, J., 2016. Marine applications of advanced fibre-reinforced composites. s.l.:s.n. Larson, T. King, R., 1954. Corrosion by Water at Low Flow Velocity. s.l.:s.n. Lin, F. Shao, H., 1990. Effect of impact velocity on slurry erosion and a new design of a slurry erosion tester. s.l.:s.n. Li, Y., Burstein, G. Hutchings, I., 1994. Influence of environmental composition and electrochemical potential on the slurry erosion-corrosion of aluminium. s.l.:s.n. Meng, H., 2009. Erosion-Corrosion of marine alloys. s.l.:s.n. Neville, A., 1995. An Investigation of the Corrosion Behaviour of a Range of Engineering Materials in Marine Environments. s.l.:s.n. Neville, A., Hodgkiess, T. Dallas, J., 1995. A study of the erosion-corrosion behaviour of engineering steels for marine pumping applications. s.l.:s.n. Neville, A. Hu, X., 2001. Mechanical and electrochemical interactions during liquid-solid impingement on high-alloy stainless steels. s.l.:s.n. Neville, A., Reyes, M., Hodgkiess, T. Gledhill, A., 1999. Mechanisms of wear on a Co-base alloy in liquid-solid slurries. s.l.:s.n. Sabrowski, A. Silva, P., 2010. ph:Regulation of Seawater, the role of Carbonae and Biicarbonate. s.l.:s.n. Scheers, P., 1992. The effects of flow velocity and pH on the corrosion rate of mild steel in a synthetic m;newater. s.l.:s.n. Scheers, P., 1992. The effects of flow velocity and pH on the corrosion rate of mild steel in a synthetic minewater. s.l.:s.n. Wang, L. ÃŽÂ ºÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¹ à Ã†â€™Ãƒ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ½., 2016. Erosionecorrosion behavior of 2205 duplex stainless steel in wet gas environments. s.l.:s.n. Webber, J., 1992. Br. Corrosion. s.l.:s.n. Wing, L. ÃŽÂ ºÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¹ à Ã†â€™Ãƒ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ½., 2016. Erosionecorrosion behavior of 2205 duplex stainless steel in wet gas environments. s.l.:s.n.

Online Reporting, Discussion, Activism and Emerging Democracies :: Internet Blogs Communities Politics

Online Reporting, Discussion, Activism and Emerging Democracies In the rise to prominence of weblogs and other social software, Jim Moore and Joi Ito see a fundamental transformation in how people act, interact and make decisions. In essays first published in 2003 - Jim Moore's The Second Superpower Rears Its Beautiful Head[1] and Joi Ito's Emergent Democracy[2] - they paint hopeful, if sometimes vague, pictures of how Internet communities can show us techniques and tactics that could radically change real-world politics. Where I'm uncomfortable with both essays is the fact that they extrapolate from the behavior of the people currently using the Internet to make generalizations about how a larger world might use these tools. My work for the past few years, helping spread information technology in developing nations, has convinced me that technology transfer is much more complicated than bringing tools to people who previously lacked them. I think it's worth taking a close look at what happens when we try to include the developing world in the models Ito and Moore put forward - in other words, "Is there room for the third world in the second superpower?" Moore's Second Superpower suggests that a group of people are changing democracy by using a three-part model for social engagement - collect information, comment and debate, then act. These three steps are all being transformed by new technologies. While we continue to be informed by mass media, we're also getting information from alternative media, published cheaply on the Net, and from personal accounts in weblogs. We're debating and commenting in entirely new ways, enabled by weblogs, discussion groups, instant messaging and mailing lists. And we're discovering that these tools also make some forms of action more efficient: fundraising, protesting, and organizing face to face "meetups". Ito's Emergent Democracy focuses on the third, "action" phase, and suggests that forms of decision-making emerging from the world of weblogs might lead to a viable form of direct democracy. In the way that ideas percolate from personal networks, to social networks, to large, political networks, reinforced by positive feedback loops, Joi sees a possible path for decision-making to move from individual thinking to group action. While Moore and Ito have justifiable enthusiasm about the phenomena we're seeing emerge from interconnected communities - the growth of weblogs as an alternative to "mainstream" media, the success of grassroots campaigning in the United States - this enthusiasm needs to be tempered by some skepticism about who is currently using social software, and who has potential to use it.

A view from the bridge is set in New York City in the 1950s. :: English Literature

A view from the bridge is set in New York City in the 1950s. Arthur Miller was born October 17th 1915 in New York City. His parents were both immigrants in the United States and were originally from Sicily. Arthur’s father had a successful business but it collapsed, along with the American economy as a whole, Following the Wall Street crash, as a result, Arthur had to work as a warehouseman in order to save his fees before he was able to go to Michigan University in 1934 to study Economics and History. I think he has the same background ‘The view from the bridge’. A view from the bridge is set in New York City in the 1950s, with a Sicilian background. Sicily is the home of all the characters which is an island in Italy. The characters change from old world Sicily to new world America in the book. Sicily had been invaded a lot of times by different countries, so this made the Sicilian people develop a culture of not talking or reporting to the authority, so the people of Sicily dealt with their own problems between their communities. Sicily was a very poor country after ww2 because Italy lost the war in 1948. A view from the bridge has a theme of old world Sicily and new world America, there is a lot of masculine and famine emotion between the characters. The characters brought their culture with them from Sicily to America and one of their main rules never to broken is don’t snitch to authority, the worst crime a Sicilian can do is snitch to the authority and Sicilians either kill the person for snitching or reject the person from the Sicilian community. I think the book evolved around the Sicilian culture. Incest is another theme of the book because Rodolfo and Catherine are in love even do there cousins , Eddie began to get attracted to Catherine who was his niece and other themes in this book is obsession, desire and control. Beatrice meant a lot at first to Eddie but when he was starting to loose Catherine, Beatrice knew that Eddie is attracted to Catherine in a different way from just family love but loved her in a sexual way; I think Beatrice became jealous of Catherine because Eddie was playing more attention to Catherine and forgot all about her, I think this challenged Eddies masculinity because he wasn’t performing in bed and controlling his marriage like a masculine man should do. I think the most dramatic scenes in the play is when Eddies masculinity is challenged and the Sicilian way of life is being

Definitions of Tourism and Tourists :: Travel, Non-residents

According to Smith (1988), an author of a specialist dictionary on tourism, the word ‘tourist’ was reportedly introduced in 1800 and the word ‘tourism’ in 1811. However, what exactly is tourism? Who are tourists? Regardless of the fact that both terms have now been part of the English language for over two centuries, there is still no universally acknowledged effective definition for either. For over many decades, researchers and practitioners have produced many precise definitions for both ‘tourist’ and ‘tourism’ but no definition of either term has become widely recognised. According to Smith (1988), he suggests that there â€Å"probably never will be a single definition of tourism† as economists, psychologists and geographers perceive certain things about tourism in their field (Smith 1988 as cited in Leiper 1995:3). However, any approach to defining tourism can be useful for the persons proposing it and for those who perc eive the world in the subjective way. In this essay, academic authors such as Krapf and Hunziker (1942), Stear (2005) and McIntosh and Goeldner (1977) each define ‘tourism’ in different methodical approaches. After discussing ‘tourism’, the focus then shifts to ‘tourists’ where again, Stear (2005), Leiper (1979) and Weaver and Lawton (2006), defines ‘tourists’ and its heuristic concepts. One of the first attempts to define tourism was that of two Swiss academics, Professors Hunziker and Krapf of Berne University. They defined tourism in a 1942 study as a complex of environmental impacts: â€Å"the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected to any earning activity.† This definition has been acknowledged by many international associations including the International Association of Scientific Experts on Tourism (AIEST). The advantages of this definition are is acknowledgements of wide-ranging impacts; it bases a very large number of issues that is studied under the name ‘tourism’. Additionally, Krapf and Hunziker’s definition is highly intellectual as they manage to distinguish tourism from migration however; its theory is based on â€Å"travel and stay† making an assumption that this is necessary for tourism, thus preventing day tours. While the definition’s approach is reasonable, the definition is noticeably â€Å"too vague† (Leiper, 1995: 17) as it includes a huge amount of human activity that few thinking individuals would regard as coming within the scope of tourism. Because of their broad definition on tourism, prisoners, hospital patients, boarding students and soldiers at war can easily fit in the definition, thus exposing a major defect.

Movie Review: In the Womb

In the womb – the DVD – Review A must see movie for future parent's! Experience  the life before birth, The formation, a step by step in a film that have not been seen like him. In the womb, was produced for National Geographic Channel . Its includes  features in advanced technology, simulations that have been  generated by ultrasound photography in four dimensions. Before it takes its first breath, a human baby has been through an incredible transformation from a single cell to a complex, self-sustaining organism.Watch this amazing process in real time inside the womb. Recommendation + personal experience I remember that moment I realized that my wife's stomach size is what supposed to be my child, with God's help,  I studied this film, explaining   me something that is very difficult for me personally to understand: how our body produces live? How does it work? If you think that I got it after seeing the film and that I  understood all of these scientific facts, then you're wrong, its still seems like a crazy miracle that happens one after the other in the all wide World.I sthrongly recommend everyone to see that   movie, it shows the very little detailsof the process  and even shows us the fetus  in  a verity of positions, moves, making faces, etc that we cant see without that film. you will enjoy it. Source:  http://www. shvoong. com/exact-sciences/2000143-womb/#ixzz2cqvNjWSF Maybe this has already been talked about and I missed it, but I thought I would let all of you ladies know about a National Geographic special my husband recorded for me to watch called â€Å"In the Womb. † I HIGHLY recommend the film.It's a fairly new documentary about how babies develop and it's quite interesting. I thought I would do a little review for you all since some of you are midwives and others are looking for informational videos. There are good and bad things about the documentary, but the end made me so very, VERY happy that I've forgiven the film all of it's faults. Con: The intro is of a woman in labor screaming bloody murder like they do in the movies while giving birth. You'll forgive this later, however. Read on. Con: I kinda almost fell asleep at the beginning when they were covering conception.It was stuff we've all heard a million times in school, so it was pretty redundant. Get to the babies already! Pro: Some of the computer graphics and filming was really amazing. They use all new footage, no recycled stuff from other documentaries. Con: Sometimes the film would state some fact and then not back it up in any way, so you'd be left wondering â€Å"gee, that's new. Where on earth did they get THAT? † For example, during one part, they said that a woman is more likely to have a miscmarriage if she experiences stress, has an immune disorder, or if she has previously given birth to a boy.Now, I've had three miscmarriages, so I've read tons of information about it and never have I heard that givi ng birth to a boy makes you more likely to have a miscmarriage. I thought â€Å"wow, really? Where'd they hear that? † but they just went on to the next subject without explaining. Con: 99% of the babies in the film are not real – they are either rubber models (which look absolutely fantastically realistic, by the way) or these super creepy alien-looking computer generated babies that totally freaked me out. They were a bit disturbing looking.Con: They stressed the value of ultrasound in the video and I'm personally against it, but it doesn't lose a lot of points with me because a lot of women are pro ultrasound. Pro: They did mention that ultrasound might be harmful, though it is not â€Å"known† to cause problems in babies. They also mentioned that while we can't hear ultrasound, babies CAN because it creates an echo inside the water-filled uterus. They explained that babies â€Å"run† from it because it is extremely loud – somewhat like standing next to a subway train. Pro: They provided TONS of the most amazing 4D footage of babies I've ever seen.They had videos of babies only weeks old in the womb yawning, playing with their noses and feet, and twins interacting with each other. I cried at parts. Pro: Aside from a brief (and very low-key) clip where a doctor does a minor surgery on an unborn fetus along with a few short clips of doctors pperforming ultrasound, there were NO HOSPITAL SCENES or doctors in the film. Woot! The best part ever: The film follows only one mother through her pregnancy and ends with her giving birth. I grumbled my way through a few mildly irritating parts of the film, but whe I reached the end, I got a rather shocking surprise.When it's time for the mother to give birth, you see her standing – yes standing – next to a bed in a birthing center giving birth. There is not one doctor in the room or a machine beeping of any kind, only the woman, her midwife, the cameraman, and the husband . There are no bright lights and it's very quiet except for the woman's screams. Then, to my utter delight, the narrator informs the viewers that standing or squatting are the best positions in which to give birth and that it is better and more comfortable for the mother than laying on her back.I wish every reader could have been there with me as I whooped and hollered and punched my fists in the air in delight! Imagine a mainstream documentary saying something like that! The baby is immediately handed to the mother through her legs and she sits on the bed with her newborn, a smile plastered on her delighted face. No one takes her baby away. The midwife waits to cut the cord and then the mother is seen breastfeeding. WAY TO GO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC!! So yes, any midwives out there who are looking for a good educational video, I'd have to say that this is the one.It's not about birth, it's about development, but it's the best I've seen so far and it's SO ultra pro-natural birth. ETA: S ORRY! The Youtube link seems to have been taken down. I'll keep an eye out for any other sites hosting the full video   -Amber National Geographic Channel's In the Womb by Inbar Maayan  Keywords:  Human development,  Movies,  Fetus Written, produced, and directed by Toby Mcdonald, the 2005 National Geographic Channel film  In the Womb  uses the most recent technology to provide an intricate glimpse into the prenatal world.The technologies used, which include advanced photography, computer graphics, and 4-D  ultrasound  imaging, help to realistically illustrate the process of development and to answer questions about the rarely seen development of a human being. The following description of the images and narrative of the film captures the major points of  In the Womb, and of embryonic and fetal development, as they are seen at the outset of the twenty-first century, depicted in only 100 minutes. In the Womb  opens with a glimpse of the mature  fetus  moment s before she is ready to emerge into the outside world.The narrator explains that at this final stage, she is equipped with all of the faculties necessary for full function outside the  womb. The main focus of the film, however, is the journey leading up to these final moments, a journey that begins with just a single cell. This journey is viewed intermittently tthroughout the film using 3-D and 4-D  ultrasound  scanning techniques which show the baby moving. 4-D refers to a string of 3-D images taken in real time (time is the fourth dimension), thus creating a movie of in utero events.In addition, the process is simulated by computer imaging based on observations, giving a vivid portrayal of embryonic and fetal development. The developmental narrative begins with millions of swimming  sperm, and an explanation of their unique purpose—carrying the father’s genetic information to the moment of  conception. The  sperm  are produced in a man’s  test es, and their quality depends on his lifestyle choices; they tend to be damaged by the consumption of various drugs and by heat, and stimulated by the consumption of coffee.A singlesperm  is filmed swimming across a black landscape, which accentuates the rapid, intricate movements of its tail. The tail’s flexibility allows the  sperm  to progress approximately a tenth of an inch per minute. Millions of  sperm  are filmed as they appear in the  vagina, many of them dead on their sides, with the vast crowd in the middle swimming toward the  uterus, the  fallopian tubes, and the  egg, which looks like a moon-like orb nestled among its protective agents. This  egg, like all her others, was formed during the mother’s own time in the  womb  and has resided in her body ever since.The film suggests that in order to find the  egg, the  sperm  Ã¢â‚¬Å"sniff it out† using their figurative sense of smell. A graphical simulation shows the  sperm   traveling toward the awaiting  egg, and one of them penetrating its outer layer. The bigger picture, in which the rest of the  spermare permanently shut out upon  fertilization, is filmed. Another graphical simulation follows, illustrating the fusion of the father’s and the mother’s genetic material at the moment of  conception. The narrator notes that this particular genetic combination has never before existed, and will never be duplicated in another human being.DNA, which carries the organism’s genetic information and is bundled in the chromosomes, is depicted as a long, energetic helix that carries the more than 20,000  genes  that make up an average human. These  genes  are responsible for various characteristics and are determined by paren'tal contributions. They are absolutely crucial to the development of new life. The various physical effects of genetic information are illustrated in the display of various shapes of eyes, noses, hair , and other features.The great variability of genetic effects on appearance is depicted by the morphing of a face to show a vvariety of characteristics, both male and female. It is noted, however, that while the parent's contribute equal amounts of genetic information, it is the DNA from the  sperm  that determines the child’s sex, via its twenty-third chromosome, which is either an X or a Y. The  genes  contributed by the parent's largely predetermine the child’s appearance and much of the child’s personality and predisposition for certain diseases.After the illustration and explanation of  fertilization, a description of the fertilized egg’s journey toward the  uterus  is accompanied by film footage of the process. As it sails along the fallopian tube on the first day of its journey, the single cell divides into two identical cells. Cell division continues and by the fifth day, the resulting ball of cells is made up of about 100 cells and is called a  blastocyst. At this stage, theblastocyst  will split into two groups of cells: the outer layer prepares to become the  placenta,  umbilical cord  and fetal membranes, and the inner layer prepares to become the embryo itself.The cells making up the inner part of the  blastula  are  stem cells, and have the ability to differentiate into all of the different types of cells that make up the human body. One week after  fertilization, the  blastula  reaches theuterus, where it will start to develop into a new human being. Three weeks into  gestation,  In the Womb  simulates the embryo folding inward and elongating as the basic body plan is determined. An actual embryo at this stage is shown and a basic spine is visible.The top of the embryo, destined to become the head and brain, is indicated; this region has already begun to generate  nerve cells  by the fifteenth day of the  pregnancy. These  nerve cells  will proliferate and eventually become the brain and the  central nervous system. The heart forms soon after this, and twenty-two days after  conception, begins to beat. This movement is initiated by a single heart cell which begins to beat and induces the cells around it to beat to the same rhythm. Close-up filming shows this pulse as heart cells proliferate and the organ continues to form.With the formation of the heart come thin veins and early blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients; the blood in these veins moves to the beat of the heart. During the early stages of development the heart beats relatively independently, though its function will later be carefully regulated by the brain. By the time the embryo is four weeks old, preliminary eyes have appeared on her head. These look like dark spots on a pale landscape of surrounding tissue on which the early contours of the forehead, nose, mouth, and other parts of the mature face can be seen.In addition, arm and leg buds emerge. The n arrator mentions that even though thirty days have passed since  conception, the embryo is almost indistinguishable from the embryos of other mammals. The changes taking place in the embryo’s  morphology  over the following few weeks are shown through film progression. The face plates move in to better define facial features, arms and legs continue to take shape, and the head becomes more clearly defined. At six weeks, the embryo is about an inch long, has a firmly rooted and visible  umbilical cord, and the outline of her fingers can be distinguished as well.The eyes have developed by leaps and bounds, although they are not yet concealed by eyelids. The nostrils are now visible, wide-set beneath the eyes on a head that is giant in relation to the size of the body. By the end of eight weeks of  gestation, the embryo is called afetus  and is no longer dependent on the  yolk  sac that nourished it during the  embryonic stage of development. The  yolk  sac, a balloon-like structure of tissue with visible veins, vanishes at this point and the  fetus  becomes solely dependent on the  umbilical cord  rooted in theplacenta, and thus on the mother’s blood for nutrition.A close examination of the  placenta  reveals intricate blood vessels transporting the nutrients necessary for the embryo’s growth, while keeping out many of the toxins present in the mother’s own blood. Despite the placenta’s effectiveness, substances like drugs and alcohol cannot be completely be filtered out, and it’s up to the mother to limit her consumption of them. By nine weeks, the nervous system has developed dramatically and starts to allow the  fetus  to move. Although this movement, shown through computer simulation, is not yet connected to the brain, it premotes agility and further growth.After this point, the body will gradually come under the control of the brain. This change also has the effect of regulating heart rate, which may increase to more than 150 beats per minute before cerebral  regulation. A standard  ultrasound  is performed at the Create Health Clinic in London at the conclusion of the first  trimester, and the narrator explains how  ultrasound  waves function to create the image on the screen. While a physician explains the various tests that can be done at this stage of  pregnancy  using  ultrasound, the baby’s heart can be seen contracting and expanding in the moving image.A step beyond standard  ultrasound  is the 4-D scan, which shows the three-dimensional  fetus  moving in real time. This tool allows for even more accurate evaluation of the fetus’s health and development. It shows everything from the  fetus  moving her arms to yawning or playing with her nose. Four-dimensional scans of various babies at different stages of development greatly expand the amount of detail that is visible to the world outside the  womb. The n arrator also notes that this first  ultrasound  scan is the first oopportunity to ascertain the number of fetuses present in the  womb.Four-dimensional scans also allow us to see the preliminary steps of a baby’s literal first steps. These are manifested in scans of eleven- and twelve-week-old fetuses kicking and pushing off the walls of the  uterus  as they exercise the use of their appendages. This movement is called the stepping reflex, and it is controlled by the fetus’s nervous system. The five weeks leading up to this point, weeks six through eleven, are considered to be the period in which the  fetus  undergoes the most dramatic transformations in its developmental journey.By the end of the eleventh week, all organs have formed, but the  fetus  is still tiny—about three inches long—and thus must grow significantly before it can be  viable. Sex is also determined at this point, and the sex organs produce  hormones  that furth er regulate the sexual development of the  fetus. Miscmarriage beyond this point is far less likely than during the first three months of  pregnancy, since the  fetus  is more stable. As time goes on, the  fetus  looks more and more human, and her senses sharpen further.Simulation reveals highly developed hands and the hardening (ossification) of bones beneath the semi-transparen't skin. The face looks far more â€Å"human† as well, with the eyes now closer together and the nose and mouth more defined. By this time, the brain controls most of the body–including the heart–through thecentral nervous system. Aside from seeing the heart, a Doppler probe is also used to hear what the fetus’ heart sounds like. It beats at a frantic 146 beats per minute, which the physician indicates is a healthy pace for a  fetus  this age.At four months, she not only has control of her heart rate, but she also begins to respond to physical stimuli and to move a round a lot. She has also begun to develop proprioception, which is the awareness of the body’s position in its surroundings. She is shown feeling the sides of the  womb  and grasping at different parts of her body. Four-dimensional images of twins also reveal how interactive they are with each other; identical twins, however, interact much more than do fraternal twins, who have a membrane separating them.This membrane is also visible with this more detailed scanning tool. Eighteen weeks after  conception, fetal movements become readily detectable to the mother. In addition, the  fetus  starts digesting amniotic fluid as her digestive system begins preparation for the outside world. Another preparation has been revealed by 4-D scans, where thefetus  can be seen practicing the blinking reflex. Soon, she will even have her own fingerprints. At the conclusion of the second  trimester, the  fetus  is fully formed but still needs to experience dramatic growth and to develop her senses.The film states that at this stage, she begins to taste flavors from her mother’s food, and to hear the sounds that surround her cocoon, including the tone and cadence of her mother’s voice. Comfort with her mother’s various sense-inducing habits may even prove conducive to more healthy development once the baby has been born. In the Womb  also notes that, as well as providing a preliminary basis for diagnosis of complications,  ultrasound  scans also premote the development of paren'tal attachment to the yet-unborn child.Ultrasound is thought to enhance the relationship of the child with the parent's, both in infancy and later in life. At twenty-four weeks, this relationship could begin prematurely, for it is at this point that a baby could survive outside of the  womb; though still small and underdeveloped, with appropriate intensive care, she could be considered  viable. The greatest complications may arise due to the prematur e lungs, since the lungs only fully develop near the conclusion of the  pregnancyand are filled with amniotic fluid until breathing begins.The eyes, which have been fully developed since the middle of the  pregnancy, cannot see yet but are adorned with eyelashes by the twenty-fifth week. Babies are usually born with lighter-colored eyes than they will have later; babies of Caucasian descent are often born with blue eyes, while babies of Asian or African descent first have darker brown eyes. These colors will often change or deepen during the first few months of life, as the pigments in the eyes are exposed to light, which is absent in the  womb. In the darkness of the  womb, babies in their final  trimester  spend most of their time sleeping soundly.When they are awake, however, fetuses are often active, practicing their reflexes in response to provocations from outside the  womb. These include the startle reflex, when the  fetus  flings her arms out and over her h ead, and the swallowing and sucking process, crucial to nutrition outside of the  womb. The latter may be manifested in thumb sucking, which is thought to be sthrongly correlated with handedness during a person’s life. The  placenta  not only conducts oxygen, nutrients, and flavors to the  fetus, but it may also conduct the mother’s mood. The ear or anxiety that a mother might experience cascade through, eventually causing the baby’s heart to beat faster as well. Serious and sustained stress or anxiety have been found to result in stress in the child and a higher risk for stress-related physical and mental health complications. Past twenty-six weeks the  fetus  concentrates almost solely on growth; despite this, serious issues might arise even before birth. In the Womb  shows Dr. Kypros Nicolaides of King’s College Hospital in London diagnosing and pperforming  in utero  surgery on a  fetus  whose intestines are obstructing lung grow th.He performs this delicate surgery with the help of a fetuscope, which allows him to see inside thewomb  and is also used as a tool in the surgery itself. Nicolaides’ technique for treating this particular disorder has been met with a 50% increase in the survival rate of his prenatal patients. The last two months of  pregnancy  see the final steps toward a healthy birth. During this time, the  fetus  develops a layer of insulating fat and has even been found to develop consciousness and memory. The  fetus  may remember and respond to familiar sounds such as her mother’s voice or even her parent's’ favorite music.If the  fetus  recognizes music, she might even move in rhythm. Fast music has been found to stimulate and excite the  fetus, which seems to be almost dancing in the  womb, while classical music will often have a calming effect. The development of all of these complex functions prior to birth has also led some experts to posit tha t, developmentally, birth is not as significant as was previously assumed. This is because the brain of a maturing  fetus  is almost identical to that of a newborn. This ssimilarity is particularly striking considering the sighting of rapid eye movement (REM) in 4-D scans, since these are indicative of dreaming.From thirty-five weeks on, the  fetus  could be fully functional and self-supporting (aside from its need for external nutrition and warmth). The film notes that though it is not yet certain what sets off delivery, the maturation of the lungs may play a key role. When mature, the lungs release a protein that affects the  hormone  production of the  placenta, reducing  progesterone  production and initiating the production of oxytocin, which in turn triggers uterine contractions and inhibition of memory.These are useful when the  cervix  undergoes extreme widening—approximately 10 cm—as it conveys the baby’s large head out into the wo rld. In the Womb  has now gone full-circle, arriving again at the time of delivery. To ease the pain of delivery and risks of complication, the mother in the movie delivers standing up and leaning forward with her legs spread apart slightly. During this time, the baby releases large quantities of adrenalin, which keeps the heart pumping fast and prepares the lungs to take their first breathes of air. Soon, the baby’s head crowns and is followed by the rest of the body.As soon as the baby has emerged, it starts crying as its lungs fill with oxygen and it is exposed to the light and cold of the outside world. The  placenta, now unnecessary, detaches from the  uterus  and exits the mother’s body through the birth canal. In the Womb  reviews the entire process of the  pregnancy  and highlights the grand achievement that is transformation from a single cell into an entirely new individual. The newly born baby depends on adults for warmth and nutrition, althoug h all other functions rest solely in her tiny hands.

Joyce Carol Oates “Golden Gloves” Story

Yu-Tzu Lin Instructor Emily Plicka English 101 6, October 2012 In Joyce Carol Oates’ story â€Å"Golden Gloves†, it is about the growth of a boy to becoming a man. This boy who was a born with deformed feet, he had couldn’t walk until 3 years old. His dad was a little shameful of him being handicapped. He didn’t like people to touch him or help him. When he was eight, he had a surgery on his feet. He suffered a lot of pains during his rehabilitation . His father took him to a boxing match and he fell in love with boxing right away.He told himself that He would box one day at the Golden Gloves tournament and people would see him standing there in that ring, not in a wheelchair. He began his training at the YMCA. He worked out every day in order to keep himself in the best shape. All he thought about was boxing. He was told that he had talent and had a future. He won many local matches. At the young age of eighteen he boxed in the semi-finals of the Golden G loves tournament, and it was the game that ended his boxing career. A few years later, he married a woman, Annemarie, who desired to have children so bad.She always wanted to have a family even after her first miscarriage; she still persisted to be pregnant again. Finally, Annemarie got pregnant again. They took natural childbirth classes together. But her husband never told Annemarie about his past—about his amateur boxing. He even wasn’t honest about his premature birth and deformed feet. It is a deep shame he struggles with. Joyce Carol Oates â€Å"Golden Gloves† story, the main character struggles with insecurity, even as an adult who eventually achieves success and happiness in his career and marriage.His insecurity haunts him his whole life through: First, insecurity as a child, he was suffering a lot of pain from his deformed feet. He was being bullied by the kids at school. He would grab them and hurt them and made them cry when he got older. Those child hood experiences built up his personality more like shy, showing none of his emotions in him, even a little bit self-abased. As a child, there was not much things that he could do about it, so he keeps his hurt and anger bottled up inside. (P. 774) Second, as a boxer, he lies awake at night worrying about the â€Å"punch out of nowhere† and worries about disappointing his dad.When he was training at YMCA, he was constantly thinking about what did other people think about him and if he challenged other boys, could he knock him out? He also practiced with boys that might be older than him. He improved himself, he knew his weaknesses. (p776) From that example shows that he was insecure that he would be fail. Although some readers might think that it showed his humility, actually here is a mixture feeling of being humble and afraid of not being the best boxer. His father made the statement: â€Å"Either you have the talent or you don’t, It can’t be fake. (p. 776) t his pointed out that he had to win to show that he had talent in boxing. Also his dad put bets on him and that gave him more pressure and worried about letting his dad down. That is probably why he would wake up in the middle of the night and confused about himself. Here, Oates wrote â€Å"His fists when he woke would be clenched so hard his fingernails would be cutting into his palms, his toes curled in tight and cramped as if still deformed, secretly deformed. † (p. 779) because character here was physically healed, he was not crippled anymore.But he still had the same reaction as when he was crippled before. Moreover, the last word, â€Å"secretly deformed†, makes readers feel like that he is still deformed in some way. Maybe he is not physically deformed; maybe in deep down his heart, he is still that crippled boy. Third, he was also insecure as an adult in his strength —admire the strength of his wife, her willingness to try again reminds him of his failure at eighteen, and his insecurity haunts him. Annemarie, his wife, was miscarriage the first pregnancy. She suffered a lot physically and mentally.Annemarie was persistent to be pregnant again but he hesitated. Annemarie’s persistence made him think of his boxing career, made him think of his failure. The main character told himself that â€Å"It’s just physical after all it doesn’t mean anything. Such failures of physical life don’t mean anything. You take the blow then get on with living isn’t that the history of the world? Of course it is. † This part showed that he was trying to comfort himself and made himself feel better about trying again. And the next he said he is an adult now, not a boy any longer. (p. 82) He compared Annemarie’s miscarriage to his failure at eighteen, and he admired the strength of his wife and persuaded himself that he can take more now. Even though when the baby due in less than a week, he was still insecu re about the punch out of nowhere. (p. 783) Maybe he was worried about that he couldn’t control what would happen next. Throughout his life, things were always happened unexpectedly. â€Å"He hadn’t been a fighter at all, merely a victim. † (P. 783) This phrase from Oate’s story pointed out that his biggest insecurity is from life, since he was a premature baby who had deformed feet.He worked so hard to be able to walk; he got bullied by other kids. When he finally became a boxer, he was worried about disappointing his dad, and failure in boxing. He still struggled with insecurity about things happened to his wife. Actually he had a good life when he grew up. But why does he continue to feel insecure in his life, in his happiness? Is it because deep down inside of him he is still that little boy with deformed feet that people pitted or made fun of? Hopefully, he would learn from strength of Annemarie. And maybe when their baby is born, he can feel more se cure in his role as a father and a husband.

Germans and people Essay

From the very days of the establishment of Republic in Germany after WW-I, Germany lacked stability. Its foreign policy was not appreciated by Germans and people believed that the Republic was responsible for the humiliation that was meted to Germany after the war. Republic also failed to assert itself strongly in the international affairs. Added to this the great world-wide depression (1929) badly hit Germany, which was already passing through acute economic crisis. Germans felt greatly worried and disillusioned. It was at this state of economic affairs of Germany, that Hitler rose to prominence by his party ‘NAZI’. [more in the third page on Hitler’s Nazism]. RISE OF FASCISM Out of chaos and disorder, fascist party emerged with Mussolini as its leader. The Fascists wore black shirts as uniform and drilled themselves in the military companies. The found a secret organization by name ‘carbonary’ to spread nationalist ideas. The principles of fascism [a] opposed democracy, socialism and liberalism. [b]It placed the interests of the nation above all interests. [c]It deprived capitalists of all their wealth and also prohibited the labourers to go on strike. [d]they believed that their race was the most superior race in the world. They did not believe in peace. They advocated that â€Å"War to a nation what maternity is to women†. RISE OF IMPERIALISM Imperialism is a form of exploitation of one nation by another mainly for two purposes. The first being for industrial purposes and secondly aggressive nationalism. Japan attained victory over Manchuria in 1931 and started systematic conquests of mainlands in China. MILITARY PREPARATIONS Compulsory military education was introduced by Japan, Germany and Italy. Russia gathered war planes, military troops and mechanized army. FAILURE OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS The league failed to stop the race for arms while Germany and Japan did not respect the principles of League. Born in Austria in 1889, he was a great orator and public speaker. He opposed parliamentary system after being upset by Treaty of Versailles. His book ‘Mein Kamf’ became a sort of Nazi Bible. All those who opposed him were hunted out of the country or lead to the gallows. After the post of Chancellor, he declared himself as dictator of Germany and rose to power of prominence admist of Germans economic crisis. Hitler’s imperialistic devices caused tensions in the world and became responsible for another World War. MUSSOLINI Mussolini was born 1883. He started his political career as a socialist agitator. He advocated anti-communist ideas. His fascist party was supported by industrialists. Mussolini joined hands with Hitler and signed an anti-communist pact and thus caused the outbreak of World War-II. Finally he was killed by his own people and fascism came to an end. SPAIN WAR and JAPAN’s attack on Pearl Harbour infuriated another Super Power America and promulgated the outbreak of WW-II.