Guidelines for Using Quotation Marks Effectively

Causes of Stress Essay - 757 Words

Causes of Stress Introduction So, what causes the stress that can be so bad for you? Some people may have a nervous system that goes into a stress reaction more readily than others. This could be due to individual differences in genetics and brain chemistry. To try to understand stress better, we need to consider the psychological factors involved - emotional and cognitive (thinking) factors. Research has suggested that major stressors in our lives are life changes, for example, moving house, marriage or relationship breakdown. Work-related factors, including unemployment and boredom, are also common causes of stress. Differences in personality may also play a part. A†¦show more content†¦Other research in the 1990s showed a correlation between high levels of negative life events with increased vulnerability to colds. The trouble with this social readjustment rating scale is that it does not account for the fact that some people will find the same sort of event less stressful than others - for example, divorce could be perceived as a relief or a disaster. We cannot give reliable predictions about risks of stress-related illness based on this scale. Lazarus and colleagues in the 1980s came up with a different stress measurement scale called the hassles and uplifts scale. They claimed that, rather than major life changes, it is day-to-day hassles or small uplifts that determine our overall levels of stress. It has been found that found that high scores on hassles - for example, being stuck in traffic or minor arguments with partner - correlated with symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression. Personality and stress In the 1970s, Friedman and Rosenman carried out a nine-year study of 1000 people to try to find out if personality type affected stress levels. They came up with the idea of the Type A personality - illustrated below: The typical type A person is competitive, time-conscious, workaholic and easily frustrated with others. Researchers have suggested that this sort of person would be likely toShow MoreRelatedCauses of Workplace Stress969 Words   |  4 PagesCauses of Workplace Stress There are many factors that can exacerbate the causes of stress in the workplace. The challenges faced by people in the workplace make the job more exciting and interesting. However, there are challenges that can also have negative effects. The normal reaction to stress is tension, anxiety and excitement and work-life goes back to normal after a while. If however, the stress becomes overwhelming or if it happens too often, there can be a problem getting back to the normalRead MoreCause And Effect Of Stress1029 Words   |  5 Pagesthe day of the week? Why adults cannot be as happy as little kids? 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Harry Houdini Free Essays

Sarah Busi Ms. Roach Honors American Literature 12 March 2013 Harry Houdini: World’s Greatest Magician â€Å"Remembered for his ability to escape from bonds and containers, Houdini is the world’s most famous magician, and his name is instantly recognized, although he died over 70 years ago† (â€Å"Harry 1†). Harry Houdini was much more than any ordinary magician a mother might hire for their child’s birthday party. We will write a custom essay sample on Harry Houdini or any similar topic only for you Order Now When one thinks of Harry Houdini, the furthest thing from their mind would be the cliched pulling a rabbit out of a hat or amateur card tricks. Houdini forced his audience to question reality with his outstanding and incomprehensible ability to make the impossible possible. During the 1920s, crime, gangster activity, and racial discrimination were at their peak, but Harry Houdini was able to offset some of those harsh realities by entertaining and fascinating people using the mystery and illusion of his magic tricks. Harry Houdini’s early life influenced and sparked his interest in entertainment and magic. The Weiss family, consisting of Mayer Samuel, Cecilia Steiner Weiss, and their five children, were originally from Budapest, Hungary and later immigrated to Appleton, Wisconsin (Higbee). Harry Houdini was born on March 24, 1874 (â€Å"Harry 2†). Harry Houdini’s father, a rabbi named Mayer Samuel, did not necessarily agree with his son’s interest in magic, but when Harry was sixteen, his father passed away, and he felt free to pursue his passion as a career. Harry’s brother, Theodore Hardeen, born Ferencz Deszo Weiss, helped him to kick-start his career by becoming his magic assistant. The duo became known as the â€Å"Houdini Brothers† (Higbee). Houdini later met Wilhelmina Beatrice â€Å"Bess† Rahner, and two weeks later, he made her his wife. Bess was also in the entertainment business as a struggling singer, so she decided to help her husband with his magic career. Although she replaced Theodore, Bess made a great magic assistant because she could sing, dance, and she was light weight (â€Å"Harry 1†). To most, magic is just a hobby, but instead, Harry Houdini decided to pursue his passion and was very ambitious to become the best in his craft. Houdini’s first exposure to magic was when his father took him to see Dr. Lynn, a touring magician, who used butcher knives to cut off the limbs and head of a victim in a cabinet. Harry Houdini was thereafter infatuated with magic. â€Å"At the age of 12, Houdini ran away from home to find a job and help support his family. When he returned, he greeted his mother with, â€Å"Shake me, I’m magic. † As his mother shook him, coins flew from his body; this was Houdini’s first magic trick. † The young, aspiring magician educated himself primarily with books. Revelations of Spirit Medium by A. Medium exposed the tricks of fake psychics, and The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin was the autobiography of Houdini’s mentor and inspiration. At the age of seventeen, Erich Weiss changed his name to Harry Houdini after Harry Kellar, American magician, and Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, from whom Houdini took his surname and added the letter ‘i’. Houdini had written, â€Å"From the moment I began to study the art, he became my guide an d hero. I asked nothing more of life than to become in my profession like Robert-Houdin† (â€Å"Harry 1†). Harry Houdini’s thirty-five year magic career was very successful and his well-known, outrageous stunts made him the legendary magician we know him as today. One of Houdini’s first performances got him the name the â€Å"King of Cards. † He was obviously a talented magician but he performed simple tricks that got mediocre reviews (â€Å"Harry 1†). For about seven years, Houdini worked small shows and labored in obscurity. He was on the brink of reevaluating his career when he was given his big break on vaudeville by theater master, Martin Beck. Beck became Houdini’s manager and helped the young magician get nationwide notoriety. This was a huge leap from the twenty-five dollar a week Harry had been previously making. This was a huge turning point for his career (â€Å"Harry 4†). Harry joined the Society of American Magicians (S. A. M. ) in 1904, an organization established in 1902 by professional and amateur conjurers who shared a common interest in publicizing mystery attractions and sharing their tricks at monthly meetings. † Houdini resigned two weeks later because of disagreements regarding his magazine. Harry Houdini and S. A. M. eventually reconciled their differences and Harry not only rejoined the group, but was readmitted as an honorary member in 1912 and was later even elected president, which was a huge honor to Houdini (â€Å"Harry 1†). He sailed to England in the summer of 1900 where he began his first international tour. Upon returning to the United States in 1905, he was feeling pressure to become bigger and better. Houdini toured for the next ten years, constantly finding ways to stay in the public eye and push his abilities to their limits (â€Å"Harry 4†). But Harry was smart. He knew that his vaudeville tours would not last forever so he started finding alternative ways to further his career. He began appearing in silent films such as Master Mystery and Grime Game. This also sparked his idea to found the Houdini Picture Corporation in 1921. The production company debuted its first film the Man From Beyond (â€Å"Harry 5†). Another venture that Harry Houdini was particularly proud of was the Conjurer’s Monthly Magazine (â€Å"Harry 3†). Harry Houdini is known for his death-defying stunts and escapes and his ability to entertain and shock his audience which is why he is considered to be one of the forefathers of magic and illusions. Houdini had two fundamental types of tricks: illusions and escapes. For example, early on in his career, Harry realized that most handcuffs open with the same key. He then took this premise and began to encourage the members of his audience to bring their own handcuffs to lock him into for a sense of believability. This became known as his â€Å"Challenge Handcuff Act†. But later on in his career, his escapes became more and more outrageous. On January 7, 1906, Harry Houdini established himself as a professional magician by escaping from the jail cell of President Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, in Washington DC. Houdini was stripped down, searched, and locked up in the cell. Not only did he escape from the cell, he also retrieved his clothes that were locked in a different cell, redressed, and switched eight other prisoners to different cells, all in 21 minutes. This stunt was coined, the â€Å"Naked Prison Test Escape†. Harry Houdini then decided to take his escape skills to the next level by challenging himself to get out of a straitjacket. Sure enough, the master escape artist was able to do it, but how? There are theories that Harry had to dislocate his shoulder in order to get slack. Or perhaps another, and more likely theory, is that Harry expanded his chest and strained against the body straps. While those are just examples of Houdini’s most famous escapes, he is also known for being an illusionist as well. One of Harry’s most famous illusions was the â€Å"Vanishing Elephant† which became such a hit, that Houdini continued to perform it on his tour for nineteen weeks. It first debuted on January 7, 1918 when Houdini’s 10,000 pound elephant, Jenni, walked into an empty cabinet with a door on the back and a curtain in front. Two seconds later, Jenni had disappeared. Needless to say, Houdini left the audience dumbfounded. Unfortunately, however, during Houdini’s tour on October 22, 1926, students from McGill University asked if Houdini could withstand a blow to the stomach. Before Harry had any time to brace himself for the hit, J. Gordon punched the famous magician three times causing his appendix to rupture. Harry survived but not for much longer. A few weeks later he fell ill from streptococcus peritonitis (an inflammation of the abdominal cavity) and died on October 31, 1926. Harry Houdini’s mysterious illusions and risky escapes caught the attention of people all over the world, and he continued to entertain them for the early part of the 1920s. As the forefather of magic, Harry Houdini set the stage for future, aspiring magicians to try to go above and beyond his already extreme tricks. There have been comparable stunts from magicians, such as Chris Angel and David Blane more recently, but Harry was the first to make the impossible possible. For that he will forever be known as the greatest magician of not only the 1920s, but the greatest magician of all time. Works Cited â€Å"Harry 1 Houdini. † American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography In Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Harry 2 Houdini. Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Biography In Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Harry 3 Houdini’s Magic. † American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. Cynthia Rose. Vol. 1: 1900-1909. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 33-37. Biography In Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Harry 4 Houdini. † St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Sara Pendergast and T om Pendergast. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. Biography In Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. Higbee, Joan F. â€Å"Houdini: A Biographical Chronology. † Houdini: A Biographical Chronology. Oct. 1996: n. p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 22 Feb 2013. How to cite Harry Houdini, Essay examples

Fate vs Free Will in Oedipus free essay sample

Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus is responsible for the tragedy of his downfall. Fate and free will are two opposing ideas that Sophocles seamlessly blends into the play. Sophocles ultimately leaves it up to the audience to interpret the reality behind this argument. Oedipus is presented with a series of choices throughout the play, and his arrogant and stubborn nature push him to impulsively make the wrong decisions, the decisions that ultimately lead him to his downfall. While Oedipus and those around him consider fate the source of Oedipus problems, Oedipus decisions show the audience that it is he who is responsible. Sophocles is able to drive his message about the pitfalls of human arrogance through Oedipus fatal flaws and the use of metaphorical and literal blindness. Perhaps the most obvious reason Oedipus is responsible is that by the end of the play Oedipus has taken responsibility for his actions. Oedipus states, Now loathed by the gods, son of the mother I defiled coupling in my fathers bed, spawning lives in the loins that spawned my wretched life. What grief can crown this grief? Its mine alone, my destiny-I am Oedipus! (Sophocles 1492). Oedipus clearly declares that he defiled his mother, he coupled with her in his fathers bed. The grief is his alone. Even though he may believe that this was his destiny, he takes responsibility for fulfilling it. Oedipus has no trouble seeing the error of his ways by the end of the play, as he states, I was so wrong, so wrong (Sophocles 1557). Although Oedipus takes responsibility, he is not the only person to blame. Ultimately, the blame could fall on Jocasta and Laius, Oedipus biological parents. The couple was warned that their child was cursed early on, but instead of having Oedipus killed and actually seeing it through, they carelessly had baby Oedipus pinned down on a mountain. Jocasta and Laius never actually made sure that Oedipus was killed. Oedipus references this at the end of the play: If Id died then, Id never have dragged myself, my loved ones through such hell (Sophocles 1487). Oedipus encounter with Laius at the crossroads reveals a great deal about Oedipus character and fatal flaws. In this crucial scene, Oedipus reveals his temper and lack of self-control that sets him on the road to fulfilling the prophecy of his fate. One could even say that Oedpius simply shows a face of ancient road rage. Dr. George Eppley asserts, Had there been a newspaper account of this violent event, the banner headline might have read, Road Rage Kills King Laius and Bodyguards. Murderer Sought' (Eppley 48). Nothing forces Oedipus to kill Laius; there is no accident. The location of a crossroad for this scene is metaphorical of Oedpius choice. Oedipus could have chosen to ignore the dispute and end it peacefully, but he instead lashes out. The use of crossroads as a setting throughout literature and film alike has shown to be symbolic of the unknown outcomes of a group of choices. Some might recall the last shot of the Robert Zimeckis film Cast Away, in which Tom Hanks stands at the center of a crossroad, forced to make a physical and metaphorical choice about his life. Sophocles utilizes that symbolism in this scene. The literal setting of a crossroad serves also as a figurative crossroad in Oedipus life, the point in which Oedipus can veer away from the fateful prophecy or begin fulfilling it. Because he gives in to his quick, impulsive temper, Oedipus chooses the latter. When Oedipus arrives at Thebes, he is presented with yet another choice: to become the king and to wed the queen, or to move on. Once again, Oedipus choice puts him one step closer to fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus is not forced into marrying Jocasta, this is simply his decision. Fate is not responsible. Regarding fate versus free will, E. R. Dodds says this about the play: we are not entitled to blame Oedipus either for carelessness in failing to compile a handlist for lack of self control in failing to obey its injunctions. For no such possibilities are mentioned in the play, or even hinted at (Dodds 40). Dodds then goes on to say, Oedipus does what he can to evade his destiny (Dodds 41). What Dodds fails to recognize is that Sophocles motif of blindness throughout the play seems to be a direct reference to Oedipus flaws. From the very beginning when he declares, I see- how could I fail to see (Sophocles 70) to the middle when he realizes, [h]ow terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! (Sophocles 359) to the end when he laments, [d]ark horror of darkness, my darkness (Sophocles 1450) sight and blindness, the absence of sight, are literal and figurative motifs in the play. Oedipus can attribute his figurative blindness throughout the play to his hubris and arrogance. It is because Oedipus is so quick-tempered and arrogant that he is blind to his own mistakes that lead him to his demise. Sophocles use of blindness in the play gives the reader/audience more insight into Oedipus flaws, and Oedipus flaws are what cause him to fulfill the prophecy. Therefore, Sophocles, in a complexly roundabout way, does in fact hint at the possibility that Oedipus was simply careless. To counter Mr. Dodds argument, Oedipus has plenty of opportunities to make a better choice, he is just blind to those opportunities because of his flaws. To fully understand Sophocles message, the play must be analyzed objectively as well as textually. What is Sophocles trying to say to the audience about human nature? If it truly is an inescapable fate that gets Oedipus where he is, then no point can be made about the danger of arrogance, hubris, and temper. If Oedipus really had no way out of his fate, if he truly was on some sort of rail, then his flaws are essentially rendered obsolete. If it is solely fate that takes care of Oedipus life, then the subtext of Sophocles point through Oedipus is that no man really has free choice; no man can learn from his mistakes because he is trapped inside of a one-track life, a life that is governed by something other than himself. Instead of leaving the reader with this message, Sophocles leaves the argument of fate versus free will far more ambiguous. By the end of the play, two facts remain: Oedipus downfall is prophesized, and Oedipus does fulfill the prophecy. The truth of the matter is that Oedipus choices are what led him to fulfill the prophecy. If the play is viewed in this light, then Oedipus hubris becomes far more consequential, thus giving the play further meaning. While Sophocles never blatantly states, What happens to Oedipus is a result of his own choices, the subtext of the play is rife with evidence that nobody is more responsible for Oedipus than Oedipus. Through Oedipus, Sophocles shows the audience the consequences of carelessness in decision-making and the adversity that is often spawned from inflated ego.

9 Simple Ways on How to Improve Your Writing Skills

So, you want to be a writer and make a living out of this. I write for small businesses and I also am a blogger. So, I consider myself a professional writer since I make a living as a writer now! If youre interested in doing online writing, then its important that your writing skills are greatamazing..brilliant! Its true though that you can get started as a freelance writer with no experience. But, you are wondering, how to improve your writing skills. Anyone from anywhere in the world can do this, but they need to be able to effectively write in English and be able to write coherently and for an online audience as well. Im not the greatest writer out there; but I do know how to write effective copy that my clients love. To help you as a new writer, here are strong writing tips you can adopt in your writing process to help you become a better writer. How to Improve Writing Skills As a Beginner 1. Write Every Day One of the best writing tips I can give you is to write every day. You need to practice writing to become a better writer. Can you write about anything? Well, yes, you can. I own several blogs and write about various topics from parenting tips to pregnancy tips to freelancing tips to budgeting tips. The fact that Im writing online content in various topics helps me maintain my writing skill and helps me gain more experience writing for an online audience. As a new writer or freelance writer, its probably best to kill two birds with one stone by writing every day in your niche. This can help you build your writer portfolio and improve your overall writing skill. Other ways to incorporate writing every day is to write social media posts. If you have a Twitter profile or a Facebook profile, start creating a post a day and write two or three sentences on what youre promoting or doing. This can help you with copywriting techniques and paring down your words to fit a social media post. 2. Create an Outline On of the best ways to improve your writing skill is to create an outline of everything you write. This is especially true if you land a freelance writing job. Clients want a coherent and complete post, so having an outline can help make sure you include everything your client wants. For me, I think about what I want to write about and create subtopics and then other ideas I want to write about. For more help, you can see how other freelance writers and bloggers develop their writing process. 3. Read What You Want to Write About Okay. Reading can also help with improving your writing skills as many of you know. This is the same for freelance writers. If you read what you want to write about your writing niche then youll effectively become a better writer overall. Why? Well, youll understand your niche better. Youll also read from other bloggers and writers and marketers on their take on your writing niche. How do they talk about the popular health food called Keto bombs, for example? You also get to read how these writers use their words and write sentences for an online audience. All of this can help you develop your writing skills. When I began as a freelance writer, I read a WHOLE LOT about freelance writing and blogging. I absorbed HOW each blog post was written, how they structured their sentences and the type of language they used into my own writing. 4. Choose Simple Words Keep it simple, sam (K.I.S.S)! You may think you sound smarter if you use complex words but thats not true. In the online world, you want your writing to be at a 4th-8th grade reading level. Thats right! Theres no need to write a blog post like your thesis paper for college. In fact, that probably wont help you gain blog traffic or clients. Whats better is to ditch those big fancy words and use simple, yet effective words when you write. Its almost like youre writing as you would be talking just without much slang andums. 5. Convey Your Message Easily Clients want smart writing thats engaging and will capture their message perfectly. As a writing tip, you need to learn how to convey that message from your client easily in your writing. This means not being too wordy when describing things. Now, dont get me wrong Ive been known to be a tad wordy at times in my writing, but I think I make up for it with my ease of writing. Thats why its important to have that first draft. Write and then let it sit. You have to take the time to transform that first draft into the article youll submit to your client. This may mean cutting entire paragraphs, or changing ideas around. 6. Avoid Filler Words Filler words like: that, very, just, really, etc.. are just that..filler. There is no need to add those extra words in your sentences, unless its there for intention. I work hard not to have those extra filler words and I often do, but Im still editing my work and trying to catch all those extra words before I hit publish! I know Im not the best writer. I dont have an English degree. But, that hasnt stopped me from making a living as a writer! If I can do it, you can too! Theres a balance of using enough words to convey your message. This will take time to develop and help you improve your skills as a new writer. 7. Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Short If youve noticed in this blog post, Im generally writing one sentence paragraphs. This makes it easy for you the reader to read my content. If you want to become a freelance writer and write online, then write shorter paragraphs and shorter sentences. Online users dont have the best attention spans, so make your writing easy on the eyes! 8. Invest in an Editing Tool I personally use Grammarly for all my edits online. From blog writing to client pieces to social media posts and more. Its my go-to editing tool and has helped me fine-tune my writing. As a freelance writer, one of the tools you need is an editing tool. You may think you just need a proofreader like your partner or friend, but I also urge you to have an edit tool first. For me, I edit my writing with Grammarly, proofread it myself and then have my husband read it as final read through. 9. Just Write The first step to help you improve your writing is to just write and keep on writing. Try not to edit while you work (I still do this) and let your creative juices flow. After I create my outline, its much easier to just write it all out. Since I blog every day, I am used to writing a lot and its getting easier and easier to just write! Become a Writer Today! Now is the time to become a freelance writer and get paid for your writing! How great is that? Let me know your best writing tip to help other freelance writers become better writers!

Critical Thinking Essays - Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology

Critical Thinking Essays - Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology Critical Thinking Chapter 4 Critical Thinking 1. You undoubtedly had certain beliefs and ideas about therapy before reading this chapter. Has studying this chapter changed these beliefs and ideas? Explain. Yes, because before reading the chapter I thought therapy was just for people who were diagnosed with a psychological disorder or be deeply struggling in order to seek therapy. Now I know that people go to therapy to cope with disorders, relationships, stress, and grief, to figure out who they are and learn to live life to the fullest. I also that it was pointless because all therapists do is rehash common knowledge and that is unnecessary when you can just talk to good friends. I now know that therapy is different from relationships with friends or family because therapists are highly trained professionals who?ve spent years learning and practicing how to diagnose and treat cognitive, emotional, behavioral and relational issues.? Instead of arguing with the issue, as with friends, therapy is devoted only on you. 2. Which form of therapy do you personally find most appealing? Why? I think that I would prefer behavior therapy because it focuses directly on the problem rather than on all the causes and I wouldn?t have to focus so much on my feelings. I believe that I would gain a lot from talking through problems, and find it cool to try a different approach to my problems. I wouldn?t prefer insight therapy because I would want a more straightforward answer to my problem instead of more insight on why I might be having the problem. I wouldn?t want to use biomedical therapy because I believe it will only be needed if the problem is severe. 3. What do you consider the most important commonalities among the major forms of therapy described in this chapter? What are the most important differences? All major forms of therapy are designed to address disturbed thoughts, disturbed emotions, disturbed behaviors, interpersonal and life situation difficulties, and biomedical disturbances, Research indicates that overall, therapy does work. Cognitive: Works in more scientific and logical way, can solve a large range of issues but general grounds is based towards more about the client's brain state rather than their mind. Humanistic: Works for people with self-confidence issues or other internal conflicts regarding their conscious self. Psycho-dynamic: Works for those who constantly deal with problems and cannot seem to find a way resolve it, generally meaning something is going on below the surface. 4. Imagine that you were going to use the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to change some aspect of your own thinking and behavior. (Maybe you'd like to quit smoking, or be more organized, or overcome your fear of riding in elevators.) How would you identify faulty thinking? What could you do to change your thinking patterns and behavior? I would identify faulty thinking as jumping to conclusions and making uninformed decisions, blaming yourself for things you have no control over, rejecting positive feedback or suggestions, and making excuses. You can change your thinking patterns by first recognizing that there is a need to change your thinking pattern, be aware of the situations in which you are using destructive thinking patterns, and choose positive thoughts to replace the destructive thoughts.

Risk Management and Investment Coursework Portfolio Essay

Risk Management and Investment Coursework Portfolio - Essay Example I changed the portfolio by taking the additional step to modify the number of shares and adding funds to the I already hold in the portfolio. There were few reasons to make the alterations in my portfolio starting with returns and performance of the individual stocks. The objective of the investment is to maximize the return and is found in UK. The fund comprises of the following; Barclays PLC, BG Group plc., Glencoe Xstrata PLC, Royal Dutch Shell Plc., Invensys PLC, Experian PLC, BHP Billiton PLC, Standard Chartered PLC, Old Mutual PLC, and ITV PLC. Additionally, there is 500,000 pounds in cash that need to be deposited, that earn 1 per cent annually since the inception date. Investments trust whose main goal is to generate income, faces the problem of managing all host of investments which have to be materialized using a lot of resources. There are two sets of study that alleviates the problem. First is the rules and mechanism that are defined for the needed tasks of schedule development and control schedule and its resource management. Additionally, the investment portfolios are described to allow maximization of portfolio, portfolio balancing, strategy alignment, and choosing the correct number of stocks. There is however a problem of managem ent that I faced. This is attributed to the fact that formal an investment portfolio management method was used to carry out the investment. This problem is specifically called the push problem. Additionally, the release problem where the objective of portfolio is to deliver the investments that raises the value of investments. The objective can therefore be achieved by recommending a condition that has to be followed (Prime 2007). The main objective of the investment fund is to maximize on the returns with low risk. Therefore, the investment needs to be focused on incomes that are

International Finance - financial stability Essay

International Finance - financial stability - Essay Example According to the Deardoff's Glossary of International economics, "International finance is the monetary side of international economics, in contrast to the real side, or real trade. Often called also international monetary economics or international macroeconomics, each term has a slightly different meaning, and none seems entirely right for the entire field. "International finance" is best for the study of international financial markets including exchange rates. To explain international economics, it is the interaction among countries with respect to financial transactions, trade relationships, organizations and policies that govern them. The handbook written by Hal S. Scot named "An overview of International finance Law and Regulation" states "For economists international finance has traditionally meant the study of exchange rates but or policy makers and lawyers it meant much more. Generally, it involves the study of financial transactions, transaction that have some cross-border element with respect to payment, credit or investment, or a financial contract." History of International Finance: In order to understand the history of 'International finance, we have to know the emergence of large scale money lending, stock markets, the credit and debt of countries across the globe. International markets and money lending traces back to the medieval Europe in the twelfth century. Stock markets rose simultaneously in Sweden and London and the London stock exchange was formally inaugurated in 1801. In 1946, the Bretton woods system the gold standard and set limits on foreign exchange However; it collapsed in 1971 when the USA discarded this standard. International finance came into prominence only after a proper gold standard and aggregation of exchange rates among countries was established. Moreover, it played a vast role in the determination of trade relationship between countries. So what is International finance Is it a regulatory body or an inter-governmental organization No, it is the combined activity of all the bodies, which regulate trade and foreign exchange, and the relation of borrowing and lending of capital between countries. Organizations in International finance: Let us look at some of the organizations that play a key role in International finance Below is a table which lists clearly all global organizations that stand as pillars to International trade and finance:- Organization name Location of headquarters Year created Description World Bank Washington DC, USA 1945 Made up of two institutions focused on development: the International Bank for Reconstruction, Development, and the International Development Association. The bank provides loans and grants to developing countries to assist their economic development. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Washington DC, USA 1945 Exists to promote stability in the world's economy, particularly the avoidance of monetary crises and the maintenance of a system of currency exchange. Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Basel, Switzerland 1930 Seeks to ensure consistency, co-operation and co-ordination of reserves by member countries (mainly European, and North/South American states). Group of Eight (G8) No HQ - group consists of the member states only 1998 (predecessors G6 and G7 began earlier) Collaboration between governments of USA, France, UK, Germany, Italy,

Understand the role of the Sales Manager and to gain knowledge Essay - 1

Understand the role of the Sales Manager and to gain knowledge - Essay Example eet who was a Dutch trader specializing in the importation of coffee beans to the U.S which he would roast and crush them resulting in a delicious flavor. The trader owned a coffee kiosk that attracted a sizeable number of customers including the three founders of Starbucks. They opened a coffee store in Settle in 1971 through personal and borrowed capital. The brand name Starbucks was associated with traditional coffee traders and the legend of the high seas. Basically, the company deals with processing and selling differentiated coffee products such as roasted coffee beans, coffee and tea beverages, cold blended beverages as well as beverage-related accessories and equipment. The company promotes the livelihoods of the public especially in the coffee growing regions. It promotes environmental conservation through tree planting activities with coffee growing communities. It also supports wildlife conservation in the poor coffee producing countries as well as educating farmers on better methods of coffee production. The company supports education and community development in poor rural communities. Its policy on ethics supports the global business ethics and is implemented through established regulations that each member of the organization should follow on day to day basis. Currently the company directly employs 137,000 workers and more than 100,000 indirectly employed through its products supply chain. The company is a multinational with subsidiaries established in 55 countries globally. Diversity in the workforce is a strategic human resource management practice that allows integration of various competencies and talents disregarding racial and ethnic background or gender among employees. It helps to avoid discrimination in the workplace. The company engages in best human resource human resource practices and attaches great value to its human capital. Working conditions, remuneration and professional ethics are held with high regard. It is the best company

Is Unbridled Freedom A Myth Or Reality Education Essay

Is Unbridled Freedom A Myth Or Reality Education Essay Freedom has been an object of study and discussion since antiquity. The definition, extent and implications of the idea of human freedom have been discussed in disciplines ranging from the arts, humanities and even the sciences. Freedom has been variously defined by many people. These definitions can be broadly classified into 2 categories for simplicity.  [1]   External Freedoms These include Legal and human rights that are conferred on human beings from the outside. These are circumstantial in nature. Their absence, misuse or withdrawal can be clearly seen and is usually protested against. These include freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion, Freedom from want, Freedom from fear, freedom of association, freedom of thought, etc. Internal Freedoms These are more Metaphysical in nature. Internal freedoms concern our inner mechanisms, thought- processes and the freedom to self-determination. These are less obviously visible, more complex and have far reaching consequences for our powers of decision making, judging accountability and responsibility. It is these internal freedoms that are the subject of interest for students of psychology and for those interested in understanding human behavior. The most contentious issue has been whether human beings can be free at all. Is Unbridled Human freedom a myth? Are we always constrained by internal and external forces that shape our ideas and beliefs or does each individual have some autonomy to make his/her own decisions? Generally speaking, the disparate views on this issue fall into three main categories  [2]   The Deterministic View The Libertarian View The Compatibilist Approach The first two approaches agree that both freedom and natural causality cannot exist simultaneously. However, they derive two opposite conclusions from this incompatibility. The deterministic approach asserts that there is no possibility of freedom. Thought, action, events are already decided and human choices are severely constrained by events beyond our control. The idea of freedom is hence an illusion. The libertarian approach says the exact opposite. Inspired by modern, rationalist school of thought, it concludes that human beings have unlimited choices and are absolutely free to pick and choose, to think and to act, keeping in mind physical limitations. . These choices may be influenced by certain factors, but these decisions have the power to change the direction of natural events. The third approach is therefore called the compatibilist position. Some actions are free, while others are reflexive. Freedom and free will is understood as a part of the workings of the human brain. A person is responsible for an action when this action results from a conscious intention. To be responsible for an action is not to be ultimately responsible for it, in the sense of also being responsible for all the events in the causal chains that led to the existence of the conscious intention that determined the action. In this project, we will be taking the third position. We will attempt to show, by taking some examples relevant to our lives, that unbridled freedom is indeed a myth. Further, we propose that unbridled freedom is not an ideal to be cherished either. There are certain limits to the freedom that one person can enjoy, without trespassing on the freedoms of others or spreading chaos and disturbance in society. It is desirable to have some restrictions that enable us to live in society and differentiate us from animals. The first restriction that human beings face in the exercise of unlimited freedom is the constraints put upon us by society. Human beings are social animals that have agreed to give up certain rights and freedoms in order to gain the benefits of living in society. This has been explained by various social theorists under the idea of the Social Contract.  [1]   Living within society, human beings are influenced by three types of factors.  [2]   The genetic factors The way they are activated Interaction between inner potential and outer surroundings The first factor talks of our inheritance from society and parents. Both in terms of genetic material passed down to the next generation, as well as the collective social conscience, which is a determinate system of ideas and beliefs which creates social likeness among all members of society  [1]  . The second factor consists of inner characteristics inherited from our parents as they are expressed in us. Some are recessive, some are dominant, but both types play a role in determining who we are. The third factor brings in the importance of the interaction with society from birth, that moulds and shapes our personality in millions of imperceptible ways. The third factor is considered to be the most relevant and potent since its influence begins the moment we are born and serves to shape and mould the ideas generated through the first and second factors. Society is always present, both inside and outside us. It guides our behaviours, determines the range of our choices and influences our decision making process. Most of the time, we are unaware of this situation. Many times, we do not mind this intrusion. because most of the time we ourselves desire just that which society expects of us. We want to obey the rules. We want the parts that society has assigned to us  [2]   This is evident in the way that advertisements  [3]  , for example shape our choices. Individuals are often attracted to products that they may not otherwise buy, need or use, purely on the basis of the way it is presented on the television, in the print media etc. The advertising and marketing industries try to appeal to this tendency- to seek the opinion of others, to do what everyone else is doing, to conform to social norms and standards- to their own advantage. Another example of purely external factors influencing personal decisions is seen in the concept of opinion and exit polls. The Indian government has banned the airing of exit polls on television, until all phases of voting is over, due to the fear that expected results in one region may hamper the influence the voting patterns in other regions. Similarly, opinion polls can often become opinion-generating mechanisms. Another factor that has been very effective in influencing thoughts, actions and behaviour has been religion. All over the world, various religions have encouraged people to think within preset frameworks. There are however, two sides to this coin. The unifying potential of religion has been well researched by thinkers such as Emile Durkheim who has claimed that- A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, i.e., things set apart and forbiddenbeliefs and practices which unite in one single  moral community  all those who adhere to them.  [1]   This positive view of religion is countered by Karl Marx who refers to religion as opium for the masses i.e. something that distracts them from alienation and hardship in this life, by promising leisure and comfort in the next, thereby serving the interests of the bourgeoisie. As an intrinsic part of the society we live in, religion- whether we accept it or not- is an important factor that influences the early development of our personalities. Its morals, values and teachings are instilled in us, and even if later in life we choose to turn away, these collective values remain with us. Another crucial institution that shapes us is the education system. The issue of freedom within the classroom and its importance in the learning process has been the subject matter of many debates. It is evident that unbridled freedom in a classroom, especially when the students are young or immature will only lead to chaos and confusion. The focus will be diffused since the authority of the teacher- who enforces discipline and concentration in the class will be lost. Also, the students, who are unaware of future benefits of studying certain difficult or complex subjects, will tend to avoid them altogether. As we have all experienced ourselves, unbridled freedom in the form of no attendance constraints usually leads to high levels of absenteeism. However, it is also important to consider what would be the case in a class with absolutely no freedom at all. Where the teacher is the absolute dictator and students have no rights, and only one duty- to listen to the authoritarian teacher. Such a scenario cannot be beneficial to the overall growth of the students. Their creativity will be stifled. Not allowed to ask questions or think independently, their curious and questioning natures will be subsumed under the weight of conformity, mediocrity and obedience. Education then divorces itself from understanding and development of the personality. It reduces to merely rote learning and superficial information gathering. This will have consequences for their future where they will be unable to take any independent decisions, never having faced that prospect earlier. As earlier, the most beneficial approach lies in the middle of these two extremes. Children must be given freedom within the classroom and within the education system. But how much authority should the teacher retain and how much he/she should leave the children to make their own decisions is a difficult question to answer. A number of theories have been put forward by various authors in this regard. Pioneers in child developmental theory- Jean Piaget (1896-1980), and Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), have powerfully influenced beliefs about interacting with children, how to set up learning environments, and expectations for childrens development.  [1]   There are some similarities and differences between Piagets and Vygotskys theories and these differences influence how teachers struggle and negotiate the location of their control and the childrens freedom in child-centred classrooms. The key difference between Piagets cognitive- constructivist theory and Vygotskys social constructivist theory lies in the role each theory assigns to the individual child and the social context of play in a Childs development. Although both approaches support the idea that individuals construct knowledge, Piaget and Vygotsky viewed nature (individual) and nurture (social context) as taking different roles in this process  [2]  . From the Piagetian perspective, individuals construct a personal reality based on previous knowledge and new experiences. Knowing is therefore, an interaction between the environment and the individual. For Vygotsky, learning is an interactive and constructive activity, and both society and individuals play essential roles in learning.  [3]   Both approaches emphasize the importance of social adaptation and social interaction in childrens learning, the difference comes in determining the direction of influence, that is, whether knowledge is constructed as a result of social interaction and then internalized (the Vygotskian view), or whether knowledge is constructed by the individual as a result of experience and then refined through testing in social situations (the Piagetian view) Moreover, both approaches locate learning within a social context, but each attributes different functions to that context. For Piaget, the importance of the social context is that it provides children with a means of testing the knowledge they had constructed. For Vygotsky, the social context is both the source and the cultural repository of the learning. The classrooms guided by Piagets theory give children the greatest degree of freedom. Teachers set up a rich environment for children to explore by themselves. Teachers are observers. On the other hand the classroom applying Vygotskys theory seeks to find a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Teachers assist children and give them challenges in order that children may attain the top level within their zone of proximal development. Two other writers who have provided valuable insights about the tension between childrens autonomy and the teachers authority in classroom teaching are John Dewey (1859- 1952) and Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Both, Deweys Experience and Education (1998) and Montessoris Absorbent Mind (1995) discuss many points about the relationship between childrens freedom and teachers roles in education. Although their ideas about education are widely considered to be child-centred, they hold divergent views about childrens freedom and the role of the teacher. In Deweys Progressive Theory, democracy is the aim of schooling. The curriculum is child-centred and is rooted in the ideas of continuity and interaction in a social context. Learning is experiencing. Teachers and children decide together what experience is meaningful to each individual students current learning needs and later development. Moreover, the experience is always a transaction taking place between the individual and the environment.  [1]   Therefore, as children develop within a school that functions like a democratic society, they learn and develop the ability to function well in the larger democratic society. Dewey (1998) believed that childrens freedom should be constructed, that it is not simply a product of their free will. He made a distinction between freedom based entirely on free will (doing whatever one wants to do) and freedom of intelligence, which is constructed from purposes that are intrinsically worthwhile, through observation and exercise of judgment in real-life situations.  [2]   Further, he believed that, Guidance given by the teacher to the exercise of the pupils intelligence is an aid to freedom, not a restriction upon it  [3]   Therefore, teachers should act as the representative and agent of the interests of the group as a whole, and should be responsible for each Childs on-going growth with the community. Moreover, Dewey indicated that the ideal aim of education is the creation of self-control. The mere removal of restriction or external control is no guarantee that children have self-control.  [1]   Maria Montessori believed that children and their proper education is the key to building a new world. Education must develop the potential abilities of children, who (she believed) are endowed with unknown powers. The role of education is therefore, to offer an orderly environment and materials which children can explore, by themselves, in order to promote their development. Montessoris educational philosophy is centred on the interaction between objects and the individual. The teacher acts as an observer to find a childs inner spirit and offers an orderly environment in which children can develop and grow. Montessori believed that the child has the power to teach herself. Children can adapt and have the ability to develop freely, which can become directly visible if their minds are not oppressed by adults who may limit the childs inner work and weigh down his spirit  [2]   She indicated that child herself must become the centre of education and should be guided by her inward mind. Therefore, the teachers task is not to talk, but to prepare and arrange a series of motives that inspire children to develop without any need of direct instruction However, Montessori did not ask teachers to completely abdicate authority. She believed that authority does not come from the adults dignity, but from the help that parents or teachers are able to give to their children. Therefore, authority consists of teachers aim to help children construct their work, without posing a threat to the childrens minds or reconstructing the childrens work.  [3]   Although Montessori suggested that teachers should refrain from either interfering with children as they are absorbed in their work or preventing childrens free expansion, she still believed that teachers should interrupt children if the children persistently annoy the others, because it means the childrens spirits or disciplines of development would unfold negatively. Therefore, the teachers should interrupt to break this negative development and guide children toward the right track These theories lead to 2 types of classrooms, with varying degrees of teacher control and childrens freedom. It would be generally expected that these ruminations on students freedom would lead to a low teacher control and high student freedom scenario. However, this is not the case. Low Teachers control, High Students Freedom Some people may assume that the progressive way of teaching should be located in this quadrant because they believe high teacher control (the application of teacher authority) may oppress children and cause unjust power relationships between teachers and children. However, it has been seen that is impossible to help children attain educational goals without the teachers guidance. Those who advocate this view must critically examine the following questions: Does teacher control have to be contradictory to childrens freedom? Does teacher control automatically oppress childrens freedom? Does teacher control prohibit childrens learning initiatives?  [1]   High Teachers control, High Students Freedom Reflected by both Piagets and Vygotskys theories. A teacher may respect and value childrens unfolding development, but he/she must also set up the expectations and goals for learning and give some guidance to children. In this kind of interaction, teacher control and Childrens freedom are not thought of as opposite to one to another; they coexist and both are highly valued in the whole process of teaching  [2]   This process of education, that gives great degree of freedom to the student, yet locates a certain degree of guidance and control with the teacher has implications for the professional domain as well. When these students grow up and enter organizations, the degree of freedom they are used to exercising and the decision-making skills that have been instilled in them through the process acquire great significance. The degree of freedom that an organization gives to its employees is also an important factor. The interaction between freedom given to employees within an organization and the degree of freedom the employees are accustomed to function under is very complex and gives rise to different types of behaviours. For example, those who are brought up through a process that involves high degree of control by parents, teachers etc. may, on finding a low control environment within the organization, be unable to function and take independent decisions, or they may end up mis-using those freedoms. Freedom within an organization has many meanings, and always involves the complex dynamics between individual freedom and the importance of meeting organizational/ professional targets. Some of these include: Freedom to have flexible work hours to accommodate family and lifestyle, while still meeting organizational goals. Freedom to come to leadership with new ideas and opposing viewpoints, while learning to trust people and letting go of absolute control. Freedom to do things differently by leveraging personal strengths to achieve goals, while still maintaining a professional, formal attitude. Freedom to leverage social media to communicate professionally and to help build brand awareness for your organization, while not devoting too much time to personal issues. Freedom to celebrate great accomplishments and milestones, while at the same time, having the freedom to say (without judgment,), I dont know or I cant handle any more or I made a mistake. Freedom to be compensated fairly, equitably, and even sometimes generously There is no debate that these, and many more such freedoms within the workplace will unleash creativity, encourage an environment of innovation, lead to relaxed and more productive employees, increase employee retention, make jobs more interesting and inspire employees to perform better. But, like in the case of implementing freedom within the education system, here too, there needs to be a delicate balance between employee freedom and organizational support and guidance. To make this possible, one of the major factors is the top leadership and their management style. Many people contend that this is exactly what makes companies like Google India, MakeMyTrip,Intel Technology,  Marriott Hotels, NetApp India the top 5 places to work in (in India). Freedom can be planned. It is the result of a designing triad consisting of the planning agents assumptions, the planning systems conditions and the opportunities and/or barriers which enhance or hinder the exercise of freedom.  [1]   Depending upon the amount of freedom and flexibility that organizations give to employees, and the qualities and skills they expect in their employees, they can be classified under 3 broad categories  [2]  : The industrial organization The Industrial Economy required the mass scaling of production and distribution. It met the requirements for the design of systems for scale, and was successful in plugging workers in to execute their specialized tasks. This type of organization is based on physical capital. Intellect, obedience and diligence are important employee characteristics. Employees have little or no decision-making freedom. The information Organization The information organization Information is used to uncover patterns, reduce the costs of production and consumption and find new solutions to vexing issues. Workers employ their intellect to solve problems relating to data. This type of organization is based on similar employee characteristics as the industrial, but gives a greater degree of freedom to its employees. The creative/learning organization  [2]   The creative organization is based on ideas and values qualities like initiative, creativity and passion. These qualities are intrinsic to employees, and when given freedom, bloom to provide a competitive advantage to the company. These assets are not physical in nature like commodities; hence the organization needs to work on retaining its highly skilled employees. Gary Hamel has given some great examples of companies that are innovating in terms of management to encourage these traits in their employees. W.L. Gore is one such example. It has made the list of Best Places to work for the past 25 years. The Great Place to Work organization noted these four aspects of W.L. Gores culture: People experience tremendous freedom at Gore: the freedom to talk with whomever they need or want to, the freedom to make comments and provide input, the freedom to bring who they are to work, and the freedom to make commitments.  [3]   To conclude, this paper tries to argue that there is no such thing as unbridled freedom. Human beings are essentially social animals and they are born within society. Society shapes and moulds human behaviour, which may also be influenced by certain intrinsic genetic predispositions of individuals. However, Institutions like Religion, Education, the state, family, friends, etc. have a huge role to play in the way we develop into adults. These may be conducive to the development of a balanced personality. However, they may sometimes be oppressive and may deter us from reaching our full potential in terms of faculties like creativity, innovation, lateral thinking etc. Further, unbridled freedom, even if it existed, is undesirable since it disconnects us from the social nature of our lives. Unbridled freedom can be destructive, chaotic and may in fact hamper the optimum developmental process, as was explained in the discussion on freedom within education earlier. The situation with high teacher control and high student freedom was found to be the best approach to bringing freedom within the classroom. Finally, the degree of freedom we are used to exercising and functioning under has a significant impact in the professional scenario- both for the employee as well as the organization. Employees must learn to handle freedom with responsibility and accountability while organizations must work on loosening bureaucratic hierarchical controls and give more freedom to make decisions to their employees.

The Kite Runner Essay -- Khaled Hosseini Afghani and Islamic culture

Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, The Kite Runner, is an eye-opening look into Afghani and Islamic culture through the painful memories of an American immigrant, Amir. Hosseini’s novel is rich with beautiful imagery and settings. The book also masterfully tells of disturbing events and very real characters. Perhaps Hosseini’s greatest achievement is his vast and quite effective use of symbolism in The Kite Runner. One such recurring symbol is the pomegranate. The pomegranate’s rich symbolic history from cultures around the world provides many different interpretations as to the various ideas the pomegranate represents. The Kite Runner can be viewed as an analogy for the well-known story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden by interpreting the pomegranate as the forbidden fruit. Many people are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve’s fall from paradise in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament or from the Hebrew Torah. What may be less familiar to people is that a similar story is also found in the Koran. The Koran states, â€Å"‘O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye plentifully there from whatever ye list; but to this tree come not nigh, lest ye become of the transgressors.’ But Satan made them slip from it, and caused their banishment from the place in which they were† (Rodwell 6). The Koran does not explicitly state the type of tree that was forbidden, just as the Book of Genesis only tells of an unnamed forbidden fruit. This forbidden fruit is commonly believed to have been an apple. Many scholars now believe, though, that the forbidden fruit of scripture was actually a pomegranate. The transformation in common culture of pomegranate to apple may have had many causes. Et... ...ions that will lead both countries toward a better future and paradises of their own. Works Cited Freedman, David Noel. The Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 2. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1991. Ghauri, Abdus Sattar. â€Å"The Concept of Original Sin.† 13 November 2002. Understanding Islam. 23 February 2008 com/related/text.asp?type=article&aid=178#_ftn2>. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Penguin, 2003. Prpic, J. Kaya, and Ainslie E. Ellis. â€Å"Influences in the design of a faculty-wide tutor development program.† HERDSA, 2002. Rieger, Mark. Introduction to Fruit Crops. Birmingham: Food Products Press, n.d. Rodwell, J. M. The Koran. London: Orion Publishing Group Ltd, Orion House, 1909, 1992, 1994. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 4th edition. Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

Marketing research proposal of Lion Ice Beer

Lion ice is a beer brewed in New Zealand by lion breweries. It has been one of the leading brands in premium beers in New Zealand but over the recent past there has been a substantial decline in sales volumes. The beer is specifically brewed for a certain social class (urban New Zealand males aged 26-39) who have incomes ranging from $35,000-$65,000. According the lion ice brand manager, the beer is within its latter stages of the brands product cycle and he feels there is need to re-engineer the brand afresh. Thus this research proposal aims at looking at some of the root causes for the products loss of market share as well as looking at ways that could restore the brands market share. The brand manager assumes that the reason for the decline in popularity is due to the introduction in the market of new brands of imported premium beers. Background: Lion Breweries Company launched the lion ice brand in 1993. The aim of its introduction was to compete with other brands in the ice-brewed segment of the market such as Carlton cold from Carlton breweries. This was in addition to the fact that ice-brewed beers were presumed to be a premium style of beer. Literature review: Marketing research proposals, just like many other types of research proposals need to be undertaken carefully. In writing this research proposal I have tried to emulate the laid down procedures for research proposals. Thus, I have used ideas from such scholars as Paul T. P. Wong, as well as David S. Walonick. These scholars have carefully described the art of proposal writing to its fullest both in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Methodology: In carrying out this research I have taken much emphasis in examining the best methodologies to use and I have come up with the following methodology. Firstly I have chosen the use of questionnaires that will supposedly be filled in by wholesalers and distributors. This is because these middle men have first hand information on what types and quantities of beer that retailers ask for. The questionnaires will help to determine the present demand as well as the supply available for the lion ice brand. In addition to this the questionnaires will also address the issue of pricing since it could also be a reason why people are avoiding the lion ice brand. In addition to these questionnaires there will be another set of questionnaires that retailers will be given by their distributors for them to be filled in by the consumers. This second set of questionnaires will target people’s tastes and preferences. This set will be geared towards the attainment of necessary information that will help to re brand the lion ice brand. This information will include issues of the alcoholic content, poster or logo image, bottle type amongst other factors. Since the New Zealand market is very large and given the time limitation I have decided to use snowball sampling technique. In so doing I will interview one major distributor of premium beers of selected cities. Once I have interviewed the distributor I will leave the questionnaires with him for them to be circulated by retailers. Once the forms are filled they will be returned back to the distributor as retailers replenish their stocks. The study will involve a lot of travelling as well as the use of telephone conversations from time to time. Due to time limitation I have chosen snowball sampling technique since it is easier under the circumstances. Since the research is supposed to take at most two months I have planned to spend the first three weeks randomly selecting distributors nationally who will be my primary subjects or participants. Within this period I will also issue the questionnaires for distribution. Once this is done I am hoping to use the fourth week contacting the distributors and knowing the degree of feedback. If this goes as planned I hope to spend the fifth and sixth week collecting the questionnaires as well as clarifying any disparities in the feedbacks. The seventh and eighth weeks I hope to analyze and compile my research findings and come up with the final recommendations. Results: After conducting the research and administering the questionnaires I will be looking forward to getting answers to the following questions. Firstly I will be able to know the current levels of demand and supply, I will also be able to know the best pricing strategy, the current tastes and preferences will also be known among others. Discussion: By undertaking this research I am positive that I will be able to come up with concrete answers necessary for the re-introduction of the brand into the market. However, due to time limitations the research will not be as conclusive as I would have wanted it to be. This may cause the results to deviate slightly from the actual case but the deviation will be minimal and negligible I believe. References: Edward F. McQuarrie. 2005. The Market Research Toolbox: A Concise Guide for Beginners. London: Sage Publications. Ian, Chaston; 1999. New Marketing Strategies: Evolving Flexible Processes to Fit Market Circumstance. London: Sage Publications The official lion brand website: www.lion-nathan.co.nz. Sunny, Crouch; &Matthew, Housden.2003. Marketing Research for Managers. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Â  

Macbeth Essay and Rennassance Period

The Renaissance Period The renaissance period started between the 14th and the 17th centuries ,and it? s associated to the rediscovery of the ancient Roman and Greek classics, geographical and astrological discoveries and the religious reformation, characterizes itself as a movement of thinking. Basically the Renaissance period the humanists try to make the feudalists and the ideas of the middle ages get extinct,and like this way ,introduce many new ideas of the rising bourgeoisie,and also to reconsider the purity of the Christian Church.Also there are many ways in which we can see that the Renaissance was a time of light for many thinkers, writers, etc. : as it sought to introduce blizzard poetic forms such as: the sonnet, free verse, these adapted to new topics with great interest communicating targets and new objectives humanists.The Renaissance was based on models of Greek and Roman classics, and precedents from Italy and Spain, the Spanish drama has evolved since the interludes and morality plays and became a complex art form, thus taking considered as the best known as dramatists, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, who wrote plays with such universal qualities of greatness, and that is why this drama becomes extraordinary and leaves a monument of the Renaissance in the history of English literature. The Renaissance, tend to emphasize the dignity of man and his earthly happiness was reflected in the work carried out in the period.Macbeth One of the most shocking things in Macbeth is the continued clash between the spirit of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. While the former starts out good and faithful and is corrupted by his wife to the point of disappearing remorse from the beginning, the second starts completely cold and perverse but will decline in the course of the work into a freaking bag of remorse so that is continually hands stained with blood and suicide. I was struck by the fact that Macbeth is killed in battle trying to end their action while his wife, initially strong, committed suicide.Just how dies each compared with its initial intention is enough to see the exchange of roles: the weak just being strong and vice versa. A very striking point in the work is the continuous appearance of remorse in the protagonists. As Lady Macbeth says that their actions have destroyed his happiness and the evil they have done makes them suffer. Some allusions to remorse are the dagger that Macbeth sees before killing the king, the specter of Banquo, the blood on Lady Macbeth's hands are not going, etc. ..I do not know how Shakespeare is a failure or is that I misunderstood something, but there is a mistake in the plot: the witches in his second appearance predict that Banquo will father a line of kings and later appears again this idea in the third appearance of the witches. However, once dead Macbeth, the successor to the throne is not Fleance, son of Banquo, as would be expected if the prophecies were fulfilled, but Malc olm, Duncan's natural successor. The prophecy and reality are incompatible in this case, and only in this case, the rest of all prophecies are fulfilled.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement essays

Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement essays American progressivism was a period of American history in which improving working conditions, improving the way of life, exposing corruption, expanding democracy and making reforms were the issues of this period. Also, the expansion of the federal government's powers, competition and economic distribution of wealth, and the social welfare of American citizens concerned many leaders during this time. During the Progressive Era business had a great influence on politics. They almost went hand in hand. However, the leading progressive political figures, Roosevelt, and Wilson were out to change things. Not only did the two leaders bring about new heights for government regulation, but they also set the standards for political intervention. Theodore Roosevelt was known as the "trust buster," and that is exactly what he did to help control big business. Roosevelt went into these companies and helped to stop this type of monopoly. Roosevelt was also a big supporter of labor he tried almost everything and anything to help the citizens of the United States. President Wilson also tried to help and improve the conditions for workers he did this by adding the income tax. This helped the poor because they were taxed less than big business men were. Wilson helped the economy by instituting a Federal Reserve Bank. All national banks were required to join this system. This bank system made a compromise between private and public control. Wilson also added a tariff called the Underwood Tariff, which lowered the price on imported goods. Although, Wilson accomplished many progressive oriented things during is presidency. The more progressive of the two is Teddy Roosevelt who accomplished many things during his four years in office. His accomplishments helped to pave the way for other progressive leaders such as Taft and Wilson. He had goals and appeared to have been very determined to accomplish them. Roosevelt brought new meaning to government r...

Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis - Essay Example The prosecutor analyzed the defendant’s explanation of the occurrence with the view of establishing inconsistencies that would help either incriminate the defendant or discover a potential evidence with which to determine guilt. The cross-examination process followed the defendant’s account of the occurrence. The defendant has defiant time to recount the events as he remembers them and as expected, the defendant took the opportunity to acquit himself of any claim thereby denying any connections with the crime. The vehement account from the occurrence portrayed the defendant favorably as he explained everything, as he believed they occurred. However, the prosecutor could not fail to observe several features of the account since he deliberately omitted issues that would readily incriminate him. The prosecutor therefore asked systematic questions allowing him time to respond appropriately. During the cross examination, the prosecutor sought to establish features of the defendant’s account that would help prove his theory about the crime. The prosecutor therefore asked systematic questions often developing effective follow up questions that would help him achieve his objectives. The defendant†™s attorney often rose to either object to some of the questions that he believed would incriminate or frustrate his client. The judge often either granted or denied the two factions chances as he deemed fit. The judge analyzed the accounts and the issues presented by the parties thereby determining the consistencies presented by each party. The final argument was the judge’s justification of his punishment. He claimed that the punishment would help reform the individual while the man would serve as an example for other people in the society who would act similarly in the future. This implied that the court cases have myriad functions a feature that consequently influences the precedents that judges make and use when making their

Consumer Buying Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Consumer Buying Behavior - Essay Example It has been further highlighted by Chiu et al. (2006) that consumer buying behavior is about asking key questions. For example, one might engage with the questions of why consumers buy or how consumers buy and what influences their purchasing. There is a mix of internal and external factors surrounding consumers that help shape and define their buying behavior and preferences. According to Pelsmacker et al. (2006), these internal factors include a perceptual filter, knowledge about products, attitude towards the brand, personality of the consumer, lifestyle of the consumer, perceived roles of consumer, and their overall motivation for making the purchase. It is also distinguished by the fact that the external factors include: group or segment membership of consumer and purchase situation or cultures of the consumer. For example, culture is one of the most important factors affecting the consumer’s buying behavior; because the consumer’s preference will be according to t heir beliefs and backgrounds. However, both internal and external factors are interconnected and play a vital role in the consumer’s buying behavior. This leads the reader to understand that a consumer’s choice and buying behavior is localized and will not be the same among individuals and businesses need to understand how to target the consumers from various backgrounds and lifestyles.The factors that have been mentioned help to identify the main reasons why people purchase products in general (Harper, 2005).