The Crucible and the Mice of Men Essay - 2059 Words

The Crucible and Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, and Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, both have similarities and differences that appear through the history of the United States, prejudice, and also through the themes. Of Mice and Men and The Crucible, share the similarity of teaching the history of the United States throughout the pieces. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, the reader will be able to learn the history of the United States through the writing style of the author, John Steinbeck. The setting of this novella takes place in Salinas Valley in California during the 1930s, the time of the Great Depression. The Great Depression began when the stock market in the United States dropped rapidly.†¦show more content†¦Prejudice is everywhere. It may be because of skin color, religion, or even someone’s fashion sense. No one fits into this idealistic world perfectly. In Of Mice and Men, there are several different levels of prejudice shown, all contributing to the failure of the American dream. The main types of prejudice shown in this novel are racial, sexual and social prejudice. There is a lot of racial prejudice shown in this novel towards Crooks, the black stable-hand. Crooks, the â€Å"more permanent than the other men† (67), had his own â€Å"little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn† (66) with â€Å"more possessions than he could carry on his back† (67). He, ain’t wanted in the bunk house (68) just because he is black, they play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black (68). Curley’s wife would never call him by his name, and treated him awfully while abusing her position as the boss’ son’s wife. â€Å"’Listen, Nigger’, she said, ‘you know what I can do to you if you open you trap’(80). Curley’s wife, who is never given a name, but always called â€Å"Curley’s wife†, is shown with a lot of sexual prejudice. She is referred to as a â€Å"looloo† (51) with a very flirtatious nature and â€Å"she got the eye goin’ all the time on everybody†, and she might â€Å"even gives the stable buck they eye† (51). A ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain’t no place for a girl, specially likeShow MoreRelatedThe Bravest of Individuals Is One Who Obeys His or Her Conscience, 871 Words   |  4 Pagesof what is right or wrong will lead to the right choices in life. Two examples of literature that strongly support this quote can be found in Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, as well as The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The use of literary elements, such as rising action, dramatic irony, mood and foreshadowing. In Arthur Miller s, The Crucible, John Proctor is faced with a life or death situation. Even though John Proctor virtually has the choice of which path to follow, life or deathRead MoreThe Freedom Writers And Romeo And Juliet905 Words   |  4 Pagesin read 180, which was a remedial english, or composition. 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However, if they are informed of his â€Å"pen† name, theyRead MoreLove Is A Confusing Thing1836 Words   |  8 Pagestribulations to help ourselves. The Crucible showed clearly a misled romantic love. Abigail was so lost in her desire that revenge at being turned away consumed her. The love of the Proctors for each other led almost solely to the end conflict. For me, this helps put my own feelings in check: those that can be spoken and those that shouldn’t. Those that will help and those that will hinder. Being as out of control as Abigail was helps absolutely no one. We also read Of Mice and Men. This book was heartbreakingRead MoreEssay Prompts4057 Words   |  17 Pagesauthor’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. You may select a work from the list below or another novel or play of comparable literary merit. Alias Grace Middlemarch All the King’s Men Moby-Dick Candide Obasan Death of a Salesman Oedipus Rex Doctor Faustus Orlando Don Quixote A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man A Gesture Life Rosencrantz andRead MoreFacilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice3273 Words   |  14 PagesBrave New World, Dante’s Inferno, Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Death of a Salesman, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Shakespeare’s MacBeth and Hamlet, and numerous examples of poetry by Whitman, Wordsworth, the Brownings, Poe, Dickinson, Donne, Frost, Burns, Sandburg, Longfellow, Hughes, Angelou, Cummings, PlathRead MoreHow To Write Literary Analysis4174 Words   |  17 Pagesthesis because it offers the writer’s personal opinion about the book. Yes, it’s arguable, but it’s not a claim that can be proved or supported with examples taken from the play itself. Surprising. â€Å"Both George and Lenny change a great deal in Of Mice and Men† is a weak thesis because it’s obvious. A strong thesis will argue for a reading of the text that is not immediately apparent. Specific. â€Å"Dr. Frankenstein’s monster tells us a lot about the human condition† is almost a really great thesis statementRead MoreBelonging Essay4112 Words   |  17 Pageschoose from the below list. 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Does National Culture Affect Organizational Practices? 30 Point/Counterpoint Lost in Translation? 31 Questions for Review 32 Experiential Exercise Workforce Diversity

Golf Industry Competition Free Essays

Case #3: â€Å"COMPETITION IN THE GOLF EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY† From its earliest beginnings in the 1450’s, golf was a peculiar game that tested the individual skill of each person who played. It is a game that takes a player on a journey through a number of â€Å"greens. † The player must try to get the small, hard golf ball into the â€Å"green† or â€Å"putting green† which contains a hole in the ground. We will write a custom essay sample on Golf Industry Competition or any similar topic only for you Order Now The player can only hit the ball with a golf club. Golf equipment, such as golf clubs, golf balls, and the like are the subject of this report. There are five competitive forces: â€Å"competitive pressures stemming from buyer bargaining power and seller-buyer collaboration; competitive pressures coming from companies in other industries to win buyers over to substitute products; competitive pressures stemming from supplier bargaining power and supplier-seller collaboration; competitive pressures associated with the threat of new entrants into the market; and competitive pressures associated with rivalry among competing sellers to attract customers. This is usually the strongest force)† (Gamble Thompson, 2011). There are a handful of rival competitors in the golf equipment industry. The leading manufacturers and marketers of Golf Equipment were Callaway Golf Company, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, Titleist/cobra Golf, Ping Golf and Nike Golf. Innovation in regards to new technology â€Å"as allowed by the USGA and RA, product performance, brand image, tour exposure, and price were the competitive forces that had the greatest effect on the industry. In 2009, most golf club manufacturers had met dimension, volume, CT, and MOI limits and were attempting to achieve differentiation in drivers by either lowering the center of gravity to increase launch angle or by offering clubs with adjustable features† (Gamble Thompson, 2011). The pace of rivalry is not becoming more intense since the industry services a limited amount of players and must work within the industry’s guidelines and regulations. Drivers of industry and competitive change include â€Å"changes in an industry’s ong-term growth rate; increasing globalization; emerging new internet capabilities and applications; changes in who buys the product and how they use it; product innovation technological change and manufacturing process innovation; marketing innovation; entry or exit of major firms; diffusion of technical know-how across more companies and more countries; changes in cost and efficiency; growing buyer preferences for differentiated products i nstead of a standardized commodity product; regulatory influences and government policy changes; and changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles† (Gamble Thompson, 2011, p 61). Differentiation of product, quality control, and touring professional golfers’ endorsements and their design preferences, along with other industry forces continue to shape the golf equipment industry. A charismatic professional touring golfer with perfected golf skills can bring a lot of positive changes to the golf industry. This might lead to increased awareness and viewership, an increased number of new golfers and returning golfers, and innovative design of products. Key success factors (KSFs) may include â€Å"particular strategy elements, product attributes, resources, competitive capabilities, or intangible assets†¦and answers these questions: on what basis do buyers of the industry’s product choose between the competing brands of sellers? That is, what product attributes are crucial? ; given the nature of the competitive forces prevailing in the marketplace, what resources and competitive capabilities does a company need to have to be competitively successful? and What shortcomings are almost certain to put a company at a significant competitive disadvantage? † (Gamble Thompson, 2011, pg 67, 69). Common key success factors include â€Å"technology-related; manufacturing-related; distribution-related; marketing-related; skills- and capability-related; and other types of KSFs† (Gamble Thompson, 2011, p 68). Technology, innovative design, and cost control are the key factors that determine success of companies competi ng in the golf equipment industry. Callaway Golf, Ping Golf, and Taylor-Made Golf utilized the innovations in club head design the best. Important factors in evaluating industry and competitive environment include: the industry’s growth potential; whether powerful competitive forces are squeezing industry profitability and whether competition appears destines to grow stronger or weaker; whether industry profitability will be favorably or unfavorably affected by the prevailing driving forces; the company’s competitive position in the industry vis-a-vis rivals; and how competently the company performs industry key success factors (Gamble Thompson, 2011, p 69). Net sales for Callaway Golf is: $1,117,204,000 in 2008 up from $934,564,000 in 2004; TaylorMade-Adidas Golf is: â‚ ¬812,000,000 in 2008 (when the exchange rate was 2. 008 US dollars for every â‚ ¬1) up from â‚ ¬633,000,000 in 2004; Fortune Brands’ Golf is: $1,369,000,000 in 2008 up from $1,212,000,000 in 2004. Operating income for Callaway Golf is: $84,188,000 in 2008 up from ($24,702,000) in 2004; operating profit for TaylorMade-Adidas Golf is: â‚ ¬78,000,000 in 2008 (when the exchange rate was 2. 008 US dollars for every â‚ ¬1) up from â‚ ¬60,000,000 in 2004; Fortune Brands’ Golf is: $125,000,000 in 2008 up from $154,000,000 in 2004. TaylorMade-Adidas Golf is doing extremely well. TaylorMade-Adidas Golf seem to have a strategy that copes strategically well with the competitive forces prevailing in the industry. The recession of 2008-2009 was very telling in the financial performance of the industry’s major sellers. Some increased financially while others decreased. Callaway Golf ‘s net sales decreased $7,387,000 in 2008 from 2007; TaylorMade-Adidas Golf’s sales increased by â‚ ¬8,000,000 in 2008 (when the exchange rate was 2. 08 US dollars for every â‚ ¬1) from 2007 numbers; Fortune Brands’ Golf decreased $31,000,000 in 2008 from 2007. I would recommend more research and development to Callaway Golf. I would also recommend that their employees play golf with their clubs, balls, and other equipment and suggest product design to an unbiased top management. Perhaps Callaway Golf could make a few high-end specialty items that cater to player preferences including players with disabili ties. Buyer access to its product line could also be streamlined and revamped to include low or no-cost shipping and handling. To Fortune Brands, I would recommend selling the golf division. It seems like Fortune is in the golf business to make money and although this is an essential trait, the golf business requires the company to be all in it to win it. I would recommend buyer seminars, classes, instruction offered to TaylorMade-Adidas Golf customers and business clientele. I would suggest that notification of these instructional seminars be marketed through high-end retailers and office pools in locations where golf is an accessible sport. Maybe a golf celebrity or other celebrity could show up at the seminars to increase the enthusiasm of TaylorMade-Adidas Golf product line. I would suggest that TaylorMade-Adidas Golf research the options of wider distribution points such as the internet and other outlets. If the issue is the instructional experience of the buyer, perhaps TaylorMade-Adidas Golf could offer some quick internet video access instruction or live instructional seminars (as mentioned above) to the internet buyer as well. Essentially, a company is to perform at its best capacity: â€Å"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men† (Colossians 3:23) and â€Å"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God† (Romans 13:1) REFERENCES Gamble, J. E. Thompson, Jr. , A. A. (2011). Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: 2nd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Holy Bible (KJV). Public Domain. How to cite Golf Industry Competition, Essay examples

Engineering and Management New Product Development

Question: Discuss about the Engineering and Management for New Product Development. Answer: Introduction Think Again Laser Clinic is a tattoo removal clinic, which operates at the heart of Sydney. This organization is one of the market leaders in the tattoo removal industry in Australia. At Think Again Laser Clinic, the medical professionals are solely focused on the process of tattoo removal with the help of a laser. This organization utilizes the most advanced technology in the tattoo removal industry, and it has conducted more than 4000 treatments. The organization is equipped with technologies that can remove all colors of the spectrum. The Think Again Laser Clinic also provides their customers with a free consultation wherein their tattoo removal experts evaluate the unwanted tattoo, which the clients want to get rid of. They guide their customers through the entire process of tattoo removal and provide the expected outcomes to their customers in the market. The organization believes in the power of their technology and guarantees faster and better results to their customers. The organization prides itself on having the most advanced Q-switched laser in entire Australia. Their Quanta Laser is capable of removing tattoos of any color from the skin of a person. The level of efficiency with which it can remove multi-colored tattoos is virtually unparalleled anywhere else in Australia. This laser technology removes even red, orange and yellow ink (which are considered to be difficult to remove) in a safe and effective manner. Tattoos are essentially balls of ink, which are artificially injected into the superficial layer of the skin. These balls of ink get stored among the immune cells which are present in the second layer (dermis) of the skin where they get stuck because they are too large to be carried away (Bassi et al. 2014). Their Quanta Laser technology involves passing extremely short nanosecond bursts of a high intensity and powerful light beam, which penetrates through the tattoo ink pigment present on the human skin leaving the surrounding skin untouched. The laser beam passes under the dermis of the skin and reacts with the ink molecules directly. The result is that the ink molecules are shattered into smaller pieces, which are then absorbed into the blood stream. Once these molecules are absorbed into the blood stream, the body then begins the process of harmlessly removing the ink pigment through the lymphatic system, which might take a total time of six weeks to be eliminated from the human body (Luebberding and Alexiades-Armenakas 2014). The Think Again Laser Clinic is a part of the tattoo removal industry, which is a rapidly growing industry in Australia. There are few cosmetic laser procedures, which are considered as profitable and exciting as the laser tattoo removal. The high popularity of tattoos among the consumers has matched the high prevalence of regret among the consumers for their past decision of making tattoo they want to remove it. It has given rise to the present demand for tattoo removal among the consumers in the market. The tattoo removal industry in Australia has grown over the years to keep up with the demand for tattoo removal. Moreover, the introduction of laser tattoo removal techniques has played a major role in enhancing the attractiveness of the tattoo removing procedures among the general public who want to regain control over the appearance of their skin (Barbour 2013). Laser tattoo removal practitioners charge a premium amount from their patients every time they visit them. Each laser procedure is usually priced within the range of $200 to $1000, and to remove their tattoos completely, a patient requires between five and ten sittings. The laser procedure itself only takes between 30 seconds and 15 minutes to be completed, and this depends on the size and complexity of the tattoo that the customers want to remove (Naga and Alster 2016). Selecting a new potential opportunity which could be exploited by the Think Again Laser Clinic: As mentioned by Buganza et al. (2014) for expanding the market operation and obtaining a sustainable growth in the future market, the organizations need to opt for the strategy of new product development. However, the process of new product development involves a few interrelated and consecutive phases. As mentioned by Dahan and Hauser (2002) opting for the continuous processes for developing a new product, the organization becomes able to introduce the product, which has the best potentiality for being successful in the market. Here, for Think Again Laser Clinic, I need to go along with those overlapping processes for being successful in the future market. This process involves opportunity identification and selecting them for generating the new product concept. As discussed by Owens and Davies (2000) Firms must become adept at not only identifying customer needs but also at anticipating needs that customer themselves find difficult articulate. Then, the organization needs to generate concepts depending on the market opportunities or the scopes available in the market for introducing a new product or service. In the next stage, the organization needs to make an evaluation of the generated ideas on the technical, marketing and financial criteria. Depending on the evaluation, the concepts need to be prioritized for further proceeding. According to Buganza et al. (2014), the companies need to develop the prototype, testing, and validation of them needs to be done on the selected option. In the last phase, the product is commercialized. It involves the selling and distribution of the new product. Here, in the context of Think Again Laser Clinic, the company also needs to identify the market opportunities as the first phase of its new product process. As discussed by Fuller (2016) in the first phase, the companies need to explore the active and passive push factors for new product generation. Here, the company has identified that the product mostly used for tattoo removal, creates roughness in the skin as it dries out the natural oil from the epidermis (Bassi et al. 2014). The organizations those are operating in the same field of Think Again Laser Clinic have faced customer complaints in this regard. If the company addresses this opportunity or the customer demand with a service for providing softness to the skin, the company will be able to attract more customers to its main business of tattoo removal as, they will be the only service provider for this gap. On the other hand, the competitors will also opt for the product or the service of Think Again Laser Clinic, as are als o facing the same client complaint. Thus, the company will be able to become the market leader and obtain a great level of competitive advantage over its competitors. On the other hand, the basic opportunity of the tattoo removal industry depends on the customers who have changed their mind regarding their tattoos (Barbour 2013). In most of the cases, it can be identified that the clients often opt for a tattoo without thinking of its consequences. In few years, they find it boring or unacceptable. It directs them to opt for the service of the tattoo removing organizations like Think Again Laser Clinic. Here, the companies can address this gap between customer demand and service pattern. The management has identified that any service model that will serve the temporary demand of tattoo will perfectly this segment of the customers who love to change their tattoo designs with time. With addressing this opportunity, the organization will be able to change the direction of the industry (Buganza et al. 2014). As the opportunity deals with the pattern of tattooing, creating a technology or process for the temporary tattoo will change the market and demand of tattooing worldwide. Now, to address these market scopes or the untouched opportunities, the company can opt for different strategies or new product development. However, in such a context, Think Again Laser Clinic need to opt for the second stage of new product process and generate new ideas those can address the gap between the customer demand and organizational offerings. Generating two new product concepts and providing a clear explanation of the concept and illustrating how they will enable the organization to capitalize on the market opportunity; As discussed by Bhuiyan (2011) after finding the market opportunities, the idea generation stage begins where the search for product ideas is made to meet company objectives. After identifying the market opportunities now, Think Again Laser Clinic needs to generate ideas for addressing them and obtaining the profit making results. For addressing the issues of customer complaints regarding the roughness of skin the company can opt for developing a new product for skin conditioning. As discussed by Fuller (2016) on the second level of product development process, the organizations need to ideate the best possible solution for addressing the market demand. Here, Think Again Laser Clinic will also do the same by introducing an affordable skin conditioning product range for all skin types. As noted by the company, in the contemporary market, no organization is being able to provide a high quality and affordable products support to the clients. Hence, the company can opt for creating skin- conditioning cream for the clients. On the other hand, for addressing the other opportunity of temporary tattoo, the company can opt for providing a service of natural henna based temporary tattoos. As mentioned by Barbour (2013) in the countries like India, Pakistan or Persia this process is highly popular. The company will opt for using henna in the place of tattoo colors, which will be totally natural and organic. Hence, it will make no harm to the skin of the clients. As discussed by Dahan and Hauser (2002) the ideas generated on this stage, needs to be shaped in such a manner so that they address the requirement of the clients. Here, the company is doing the same by introducing a skin friendly temporary process of tattooing. Evaluating the two new product concepts and recommending one new product concept for the organisation to take forward to the stage of testing: As mentioned by Fuller (2016) the third phase of new product process involves evaluation and screening of all the generated ideas in the previous stage of idea generation. In this phase, the ideas need to be evaluated on the financial, technical and marketing criteria. For the first idea of developing a new product for skin conditioning, the company has all the needed facilities. Being an experienced marketer, the company has knowledge and technologies for developing a skin care product, which will successfully address the issue of the roughness of skin created by the tattoo removal process. However, the company can face the issue in the marketing of the product. As discussed by Dahan and Hauser (2002) in the evaluation phase, it is important to identify the frailties of a certain idea to implement it rightly in the product development phase. Here, the company will face the issue of lack of business customers, as the competitors will deny buying the product. Hence, the company can opt for the strategy of operating under a parent company TJ Enterprises with a new company name Acacia Organics. It will help the company in selling the product with the brand of a reputable company to its competitors. On the other hand, the company will also address the customers directly and thus create a pull factor for the competitors to use the product, as the customer demand will be high. Finally, the company will appoint sales personnel for direct marketing. On the other hand, the second idea of introducing natural and temporary tattooing will be helpful in every respect for the company. As it will not involve intricate technologies, the company need not make many financial investments (Buganza et al. 2014). Moreover, for offering various designs, the company already has talented and experienced tattoo artists. In the criteria of marketing approach, the company will be able to market it with no much significant challenges. As the service will be clearly provided on the B2C basis, the company will not have to struggle to obtain the positive purchasing decision of the competitors or other players of the market. The popularity of the henna tattoo in the exotic culture of the East will provide an advantage to the organization in promoting the new service pattern. Moreover, to promote this new service, the company will not need any sales personnel, which will be significantly cost effective to the organization. As discussed by Dahan and Hauser (2002) in the new product process, evaluation holds the most important position as it assesses all the scopes and potential frailties of each of the ideas generated in the previous stage of idea generation. By identifying all the advantages and limitations of each of the ideas, the companies need to select the best possible strategy that will be supportive to the economic, technological and marketing base of the organization. After comparing the two products if we have to justify the long-term tangible benefits, which will be obtained by the organization, then we can safely say that the natural temporary tattoo is the product of choice for Think Again Laser Clinic. The temporary tattoo created from natural ingredients will be the game changer in the market shortly. It will enable the organization to target both types of customers in the market the ones who are willing to go for a new tattoo for the first time and the ones who have learned their lessons and are willing to remove their permanent tattoos. This will result in retaining the old customers of the organization from whom they will be able to realize their loopholes as well as the positive effects and thus there would be chances of rectification as well as the advancement for better. Their ultimate aim is customers satisfaction, and they will end up in delivering the same to their consumers (Buganza et al. 2014). This product will fit the business strategy of the organization, which is to create a stronghold in the market by dominating the market competition with their business rivals. This results in attracting the customers to their outstanding product delivery, thus resulting in the increment of their profit as well as generating revenues throughout in Australia. The marketing feasibility of the new product is much better as compared to the other product as it will enable the organization to project itself as a holistic treatment provider, which offers their line of services as well as the products to their consumers in the market. It will result in creating a brand rapport of the organization by attracting diversified customers from the market arena. The fact that this is the first product of its kind in the market, there will be no competitors for the same product, and thus the organization would be able to develop a monopoly on the market by offering the new natural temporary tattoos to their customers. Think Again Laser Clinic can use the social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to spread consumer awareness regarding the product. It will enable Think Again Laser Clinic to save their money and in this way the concern will be potential enough to earn a significant profit by delivering the optimum satisfaction to their consumers and keeping up their quality (Fuller 2016). References: Barbour, K., 2013, January. It can be quite difficult to have your creativity on tap: balancing client expectations and artistic practice in the tattoo industry. In Projections-Proceedings of WCCA'2013-VI World Congress on Communication and Arts (pp. 2-7). COPECScience and Education Research Council. Bassi, A., Campolmi, P., Cannarozzo, G., Conti, R., Bruscino, N., Gola, M., Ermini, S., Massi, D. and Moretti, S., 2014. Tattoo-associated skin reaction: the importance of an early diagnosis and proper treatment. BioMed research international, 2014. Bhuiyan, N., 2011. A framework for successful new product development. Journal of Industrial Engineering and management, 4(4), pp.746-770. Buganza, T., Colombo, G. and Landoni, P., 2014. Small and medium enterprises' collaborations with universities for new product development: An analysis of the different phases. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 21(1), pp.69-86. Dahan, E. and Hauser, J.R., 2002. Product development: managing a dispersed process (No. 9). Sage Publications Inc. https://dx. doi. org/10.4135/9781848608283. Fuller, G.W., 2016. New food product development: from concept to marketplace. CRC Press. Luebberding, S. and Alexiades-Armenakas, M., 2014. New tattoo approaches in dermatology. Dermatologic clinics, 32(1), pp.91-96. Naga, L.I. and Alster, T.S., 2016. Laser Tattoo Removal: An Update. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, pp.1-7. Naga, L.I. and Alster, T.S., 2016. Laser Tattoo Removal: An Update. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, pp.1-7. Owens, J.D. and Davies, J., 2000. The importance of a new product development (NPD) process: getting started.

Slavery in Mexico free essay sample

Some would think Of them as squires. By the year 1570, the population of Africans in Mexico was 20,569. But with time came an enormous increase in number. The number nearly doubled by 1 646 with a population of 35,089. Out of all colonies in the Western Hemisphere, historical records show that Mexico (New Spain) had the most enslaved Africans over the three hundred years the slave trade lasted and had brought in around 200,000 Africans. Many blacks had been born in Mexico and were forced to follow their parents into the act of Slavery.Due to diseases killing off a great number of colonists, the labor of Africans was vital. They took on a majority of the burden of work. The slaves were used for labor in silver mines in many areas including Taco, Scatters, Upchuck, and Conjugate in the central and northern regions. In southern regions, they were used on sugar plantations of the Morels and Valve De Arizona. We will write a custom essay sample on Slavery in Mexico or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The west coast recruited them in textile factories. But not all slaves went into these trades. Others worked as household slaves or worked in skilled trade, or on cattle ranches.The number of African slaves never surpassed more than two percent of Mexico population but with all the labor they had put in, their contributions were tremendous. Slavery in Mexico was just as brutal as slavery in any other region, if not worse. Slaves were tortured especially and psychologically. The abuse was constant and resisting oppression would would end in mutilation, torture, whipped and sometimes being put into confinement. In result to this, death rates were extremely high among the slaves, especially for those who irked in the mines and plantations.Incredibly, through the rough times, the slaves still managed to keep their pride and maintain a sense of self. They had created networks in which would allow them to express themselves and keep their self worth. Eventually, the networks had spread all throughout Mexico which had allowed the Africans to preserve at least some of their heritage. With this network, it allowed many slaves to find spouses and marry in their ethic group or sometimes even other ethnic groups. With this came a rising population in mixed bloods.A majority of these mixed bloods were either born free or had in time obtained their liberty. A great number of slaves had fled from their owners to different areas of the country to establish settlements. After time, the colonists were unable to defeat the Africans that had fled so they finally recognized their freedom in which the freed slaves were then able to build their own tm?. The leader of the town, Yang, still to this day remains a great symbol in Mexico for black resistance. Eventually, in 1 829, the last slaves were freed by President Guerdon. On gaining their freedom, they had left behind them cultural and genetic imprints in every region they had once been a slave of. Over time, the decedents of these once slaved Africans had no longer seen themselves as members of the many African ethnic groups, although they did still hold evidence of their ancestry. They then identified themselves as Mexican and with it being their homeland, they had much to share with the other members of Mexico. Some African traditions are still alive in some parts of Mexico.Much has changed in the country since slavery had been abolished and many traditions have been lost due to the constant change in society. Luckily, some of the small minority has been able to keep the tradition of music, dance, and Song. Up until recent times, Mexico had not been kind to the achievements of the African people.

10 of the most useful apps for nurses

10 of the most useful apps for nurses We know nurses have to do it all: gain the trust of the medical staff and tend to patients’ physical and emotional needs, all while having some of the best memories in any industry. While the emotional side of the job usually comes with years of experience, there are a few apps out there geared toward making the information part of nurses’ lives a little easier to learn and remember.If you’re a nurse, or know a nurse, check these apps out and prepare to rejoice.1. Human Anatomy AtlasThis 3D atlas of the human body lets you search for the exact anatomy you need to see. With extremely detailed visuals that you can move and dissect, you’ll also get definitions with pronunciations of tons of medical terminology, a 1,000+ question test bank, and the ability to read information in 7 languages.2. Med MnemonicsDaunted by all the terminology you need to remember cold? This app helps you figure out ways to trick your brain with fun and easy-to-remember wordplay for more than 1,900 terms and concepts.3. NCSBN FlashcardsThe Medication Flashcards from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing give you an instant download of an entire medication library. It’s great for studying for exams like the NCLEX, but also a great reference point throughout your career.4. EpocratesThis app is a one-stop resource for all medical professionals. In it, you’ll find tons of information on prescription drugs, interactions, and diseases; medical news; the ability to calculate key formulas; and much, much more.5. PEPIDThere’s a different version of this app for everyone- nurses, EMTs, physicians, students, etc. It’s a great (and comprehensive) resource guide for all stages of a medical career, in which you will have access to a drug database, dosing and medical calculators, and high-resolution art.6. Taber’s Medical DictionaryThis is a mobile version of one of the best medical dictionaries out there. It even has photos, pronu nciations, videos, and the ability to save â€Å"favorites.† This free resource gives you more than 65,000 definitions and 1,200 images at your fingertips.7. Nursing CentralThis is another one-stop-shop app that gives you references for diseases, drugs, and exam prep, plus a literature search function. You’ll also gain access to a bunch of databases including Davis’s Drug Guide, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Diseases and Disorders, and MEDLINE Search and Journals.8. NurseGridThis one helps you organize and plan your life with color-coding and calendars galore. You can coordinate your schedule and shifts with your entire department: see who you’re working with, message your colleagues, and generally stay on top of your work and personal life, all for free!9. Pill Identifier and Drug ListNeed to identify a drug and learn everything about it? This is the app for you- and it’s free! In it, you will find information for 60,000+ drugs, plus images o f many medications so you can identify them by color, shape, and imprint.10. MediBabble TranslatorUse this app to communicate with non-English speaking patients. Even if you have some working knowledge of another language, chances are the medical terms will be tricky!

Elvis Gyrates on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956

Elvis Gyrates on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 Experienced showmen such as Ed Sullivan werent sure the world was ready for such wild moves as the slick  Elvis Presley  was offering, but when Elvis proved too popular not to book, Sullivan scheduled him. Elvis made his first appearance on The  Ed Sullivan Show  on September 9, 1956. Getting Booked Elvis Presley had already appeared on other national television shows (such as on Stage Show, The Milton Berle Show, and on the popular The Steve Allen Show) when Ed Sullivan booked Elvis for three shows. Elvis pelvic gyrations during his appearances on these other shows had caused much discussion and concern about the suitability of airing such provocative and sensual movements on television. Although at first Ed Sullivan said he would never want Elvis on his show, Sullivan changed his mind when The Steve Allen Show with Elvis as a guest had about twice as many viewers as Sullivans show that night (they were competing for the same audience since they were in the same time slot). After negotiating with Elvis manager, Ed Sullivan paid Elvis the huge sum of $50,000 for appearing on three of his shows: September 9, 1956, October 28, 1956, and then on January 6, 1957. Sullivan Didnt Host and Elvis Not Actually on Set For Elvis first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday night at 8 p.m. on September 9, 1956, Ed Sullivan himself was not able to host since he had recently been in a very serious car accident that left him in the hospital. In his place, Oscar-winning actor Charles Laughton hosted the show. Elvis was also not on location in New York for the show since he was in Los Angeles for the filming of Love Me Tender. Laughton hosted from New York and then when it came time for Elvis appearance, Laughton introduced him and then cut to the stage in Hollywood with Elvis. Elvis Performance Elvis appeared on a stage with large, artistic guitars as decoration. Wearing a plaid jacket and holding his guitar, Elvis thanked Mr. Laughton and the audience and then said,  This is probably the greatest honor that Ive ever had in my life. Theres not much I can say except that hope it makes you feel good and we want to thank you from the bottom of our heart. Elvis then sang, Dont Be Cruel with his four back-up singers (the Jordanaires) followed by Love Me Tender, which was the not-yet-released title track from his new movie. During this second set, Elvis sang Ready Teddy and then ended with a portion of Hound Dog. Throughout Elvis entire performance, viewers could hear girls in the audience screaming, especially when Elvis did his special twitch or swung his hips or swiveled his legs. Elvis appeared to enjoy himself, frequently smiling or even laughing, which made him seem friendly, sweet, and hunky  - depending on who was watching. Censored During Elvis first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show,  the cameras stayed mostly from the waist up during the first half of Elvis appearance, but during the second time he appeared that night, the camera widened out and the TV audience was able to see Elvis gyrations. While many have felt that Elvis was censored by only showing him from the waist up on  The Ed Sullivan Show, that really only happened during Elvis third appearance, on January 6, 1957. For some still unknown reason (although there are a lot of rumors as to why), Sullivan allowed Elvis to only be shown from the waist up during that third and final show. It Was a Breakthrough Performance Elvis appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was a major success. Over 60 million people, both young and old, watched the show and many people believe it helped bridge the generation gap for Elvis acceptance into the mainstream.

Brand audit "Heineken" Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Brand audit "Heineken" - Essay Example The Global Heineken Manager Design & Concept once said that the new global long neck would reinforce the packaging, which applied the contemporary fancy can and embossed glasses. The Americans preferred short necks in order to differentiate the local beer from the imported one. The new bottle emphasizes on the visual identity on the cans and bottles. The visual identity was achieved by introducing sensory elements like embossments, indents that are strategically placed and tactile ink. The elements offer consumers aesthetic appealing and fun in the overall drinking experience. Specific packaging changes were done, with the brand elements including an elliptical curve originating from the Heineken’s logo. The refreshing green color is the Heineken’s trademark, which is enriched by the iconic star emblem that is red; the world has mostly recognized beer symbol. Heinekens commitment to improvement is evident from the new can design that was the first of its type to feature with tactile ink will be introduced all over the world. The latest glass has an embossed curve, which adds pleasant and better feeling when held. Heineken produces beer. In changing face of its beverage consumption, blurring its position among self-owned beverage labels and advertising restrictions. The company marketers decided to use the Heineken strong brand equity in expanding into neighboring markets and provided customers with other ways to interact with the company’s brand. Through a number of demonstrations, workshops and other activities, Cisco offered guidance and support on how Heineken could use technology to achieve this vision. The beer produced by Heineken is categorized into three groups; that is Heineken, Buckler and Subsidiary brands (Bergh & Behrer, 2010). Heineken lager beer is the primary product of the Heineken Group. It is over five percent pale lager, which was first manufactured in 1868. Forty brewers in thirty-nine countries around the

Victims of Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Victims of Abuse - Essay Example The paper illustrates the complexity of human behaviour and the cycle of repetitive abusive or maladjusted behaviour patterns that may lead to inter-generational cycles of maladjustment or failure to integrate into society. The paper also examines the multiple potential links between cause and effect when applied to human behaviour and highlights the potential interplay between environmental influences and genetic factors. It became apparent that more research is required in order to improve our current understanding of causative connections between these factors and the author feels it appropriate to point out that long-term studies examining such causative links would be beneficial for a quantitative analysis of abused to abuser behaviour cycles. The objectives of my research were to establish whether there is a causative link between abuse experienced in childhood and children becoming abusers in turn. In particular, I researched evidence linking sexual and violent abuse suffered in childhood to a cycle of abuse. Statistically most children are abused at home or by people known to them and it is therefore paramount to investigate the domestic environments and circumstances that may trigger and potentially pass on abusive behaviour patterns, leading to a cycle of violence which is passed down from one generation to the next. I also investigated whether there may be factors not connected to abuse that turn children into abusers and found that other factors, such as passive consumption of scenes of violence via the media or computer games including scenes of violence, socio-economic and genetic factors can contribute to increased incidents of violent and abusive behaviour in children and teenagers. In recent years, the topic of child sexual or physical abusers of other children has been widely discussed in the media.

United States Parcel Service Essay Example for Free

United States Parcel Service Essay Founded in 1907 as a messenger company in the US, UPS has grown substantially into a multi-billion dollar corporation. Today UPS is a global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world. They are the world’s largest packaging and Delivery Company and a leader of transportation and logistics services. Every day they manage the flow of goods to more than 200 countries worldwide. In 1907 there was a great need of private messenger and delivery services in America. A young entrepreneur named James E. (Jim) Casey, borrowed $100 dollars from a friend and established the American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington. Six years before the US Parcel Post system was established, messengers would run errands, deliver packages, carry notes, baggage, and deliver food from restaurants. Most of the deliveries were made on foot, and bicycle for longer trips, because there were few automobiles in existence and horse and wagons were many used for deliveries to department stores. At only 19 years of age Jim and his partner Claude Ryan ran the service, taking phone calls within their basement. The company did well despite stiff competition, according to accounts that there were quite a few messenger services already in the area, some of which Jim had worked for in the past. The messengers were a handful of teenagers including Jim’s younger brother George, these messengers ran off very strict policy of customer courtesy, reliability, round the clock service and low rates. These same principles guide UPS today, and are summarized by Jim’s slogan: best service and lowest rates. Between 1913 and1918 the company focused on package delivery for retail stores. The year in 1913 brought several significant changes, as improvements of the automobile and telephone were causing a decline in the messenger business. For the next two years their biggest client was the US Post Office, for which they delivered all special delivery mail entering the Seattle area. During this period the company started combining packages addressed to a certain neighborhood on to one delivery vehicle. Doing this enabled them to use manpower and motorized equipment more efficiently while still keeping up their low rates principle. Also during these times, Jim agreed to merge with competitor Evert (Mac) McCabe. The merge reflected a shift in the primary focus of the business form messages to packages and created a new name: Merchants Parcel Delivery. The young company built a strong reputation among stores in the city, and by 1918 three of Seattle’s largest department stores had become regular customers. Due to their high standard of service and personalized attention to every package handled many stores got rid of their own delivery cars, some of which Jim would purchase and slap the name Merchants Parcel Delivery on the side. In 1919 the company adopted its current name the United Parcel Service, and made its first expansion beyond Seattle to Oakland, California. â€Å"United† served as a reminder that the companies operating in each city were part of the same organization, â€Å"Parcel† identified the nature of the business, and â€Å"Service† indicated what was offered. In 1922 they introduced their innovative â€Å"common carrier† service that they acquired in a company in Los Angeles. This new common carrier service included automatic daily pickup, acceptance of checks made out to the shipper, and weekly billing. UPS was one of the few companies in the U.S. to offer common carrier service at the time. In 1924 they created another technological that would shape their future, by introducing the first conveyor belt system for handling packages. The retail delivery service had also expanded to include all the major cities on the U.S. Pacific Coast. It wasn’t until 1930 that UPS extended its reach to the East Coast when it began consolidating the deliveries of several large department stores in the New York area. During WWII, there were shortages of fuel and rubber which influenced retail stores to restrict their delivery services and encourage customers to carry home their packages. The trend continued after the war, throughout the 1930s and 40s they had continued to expand their retail store services, though by the early 50s it was clear that contract service to retail stores was limited. In 1952 UPS decided to expand its services by acquiring â€Å"common carrier† rights to deliver packages between all customers. This placed UPS in competition with the U.S. Postal Service, and in direct opposition to the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission or the (ICC). So they decided to begin common carrier operations in cities where they could do so without authority. In order to satisfy the growing public demand for their services, they went before regulatory commissions and courts to obtain certification to operate over wide areas. It wasn’t long until UPS provided air service through privately operated aircrafts in 1953. They tried this in the past in the year 1929 but due to a lack of volume the service had to end the same year. When they began their air operations, they offered two-day service to major cities along the east and west coasts. It wasn’t until 1979 when air service was available in every state, between the 1950s and 70s the company was still restricted from operating in many parts of the country and fighting with the ICC to freely ship in all states. In 1975 was when they were first able to serve all 48 contiguous United States, and now available coast to coast and all around the world. Before this was available senders sometimes had to transfer a package between several carriers before the package reached its final destination. Because demand for air delivery was increasing during the 1980s UPS began to assemble its own jet cargo fleet. In 1985, UPS entered the overnight air delivery business, due to the growing demand for faster service. By 1988 UPS, officially became an airline, after they received authorization from the FAA to operate their own aircraft. The UPS Airlines was one of the fastest growing airlines in history and today is one of the 10 largest airlines in the United States, and features some of the most advance operating systems in the world and operates in more than 200 countries and territories. `By 1993 UPS was delivering 11.5 million packages a day, and with such a high volume they had to develop new technology. That’s when they came up with the handheld Delivery Acquisition Device that we see every UPS delivery driver using. It was developed to record and upload data to the UPS network, so customers can have real-time information about their packages, in case of any change in sche dule or delays. It wasn’t until 1994 that UPS.com went live, allowing for customers to be able to track their packages. Then in 1995 they became the first company to allow same day departure and over-night deliveries. Over the past 100 years, UPS has become an expert in transportation growing from a small messenger company to a leading provider in air, ocean, ground, and electronic services. The company maintains its reputation for integrity, reliability, employee ownership and customer service. As the world’s largest package delivery company and leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, UPS continues to develop the frontiers of logistics, supply chain management and e-commerce, by combining the flows of goods information and funds.

Essays --

Bearing in mind the aim of creating ranking criteria to support GPIC’s decision in choosing the most insurance company which it can rely on to pay its money back in case of a claim. Background research was initially performed to gain both knowledge and information regarding the Insurance industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and worldwide. This knowledge in turn helped us to reach to our final deliverable. This criterion was based on a number of factors, to name them: †¢ Insurance company reputation both locally and worldwide †¢ Core business percentage & Insurance company area of specialty †¢ Nature of the insurance company, the question of is it a consolidated or non-consolidated company was the main concern. †¢ Insurance company performance based on specific ratios (detailed in the Financial analysis) †¢ Based communication networks so customers can reach them easily: available branches, online communications (website, e-mails), and clear communication lines including telephone numbers, faxes etc. Search Methodology and criteria formulation- Limitations and Difficulties: Before reaching t...

Post-Modernism

The term â€Å"postmodernism† can literally be translated as â€Å"after the modern movement†. This term’s use can be traced back to the 1870’s, and was commonly used to describe a change in art, music and architecture. It describes a movement from modern thinking and attitudes to a new set of beliefs. Although the actual beginning of the post modern era is unknown, it is best believed to have started in the mid – 1900’s. There have been many influences driving the postmodern way of thinking, some of the more influential of these potentially being Jean-Francois Lyotard, Jean Baudrillard and Fredric Jameson.Of course, this is left to interpretation. Postmodern thinkers believe that there is no absolute truth. They believe that what is true for one person can be false for another. So what is false one day could be truth the next. They do not see one complete and grand narrative in the world in which everyone can believe in. Rather they believe that there are different truths for different people. Whatever a person believes to be true is truth for them, but not necessarily to another person. The postmodern view heavily relies on the view of self-conceptualization and rationalization.They put science aside and depend on personal opinions and thoughts. Postmodern thinkers believe that morals and ethics are based on personal opinions. They believe that our cultures general morals can be disregarded, what matters is what we personally believe is moral and true. Globalization is another issue that postmodernists commonly raise, saying that separation, and having individual countries is what causes war in our world. They believe that separate countries should be united. As far as religion goes, postmodern thinkers believe that there is not one true religion. Any religion can be true, it doesn’t matter what you believe.As long as you believe in something you will go to heaven. Postmodernists denounce the idea that Jesus Ch rist is the only way to God, and that Christianity is the only one true religion. Postmodernism reacts against modern principles, and changes the modern way of architecture, music, beliefs etc. Recent postmodern architecture and art, are meant to look like they have no structure, which feeds off of the un-structuralized postmodern way of thinking. Postmodern thinkers want to implement the idea of pluralism in every aspect of life, saying that there is more than one way of looking at things.There is not only one truth, instead there are many and anybody can believe whatever they want. The idea of postmodernism is very easy to criticize especially as a Christian. The postmodern view says that there are no absolute truths and that everyone needs to come up with their own truths and opinions of reality. This postmodern view does not allow for Christianity, as Christians believe that the fact that Jesus was God’s son and came to earth, died and rose again in three days is an absol ute truth. We also believe God exists and created the world around us to be truth.Without these absolute truths, Christianity would not exist. In our postmodern world people are given the ability to come up with their own truths, and their own views on reality. Instead of allowing God to show us truth, we are basing truth on our feelings. Isaiah 5:20 says, â€Å"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! †, and Jeremiah 17:9 says, â€Å"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? †.God warns us about depending on ourselves for truth, by doing this we do not allow ourselves to abide by the higher law God has laid out for us, and depend on him to show us truth. Our postmodern world says that what we see as truth may not be truth to someone else. They believe that as long as we each have a truth and we live by it, we are doing the right thing. As Christians we do not agree with this as we know that we cannot depend on ourselves to find what is real and true in this world. God warns us against this many times in the bible. We need to depend on what he tells us is moral and true.Post modernity has made religion into something that people just come and see what they like and take from it what they want. Postmodernism also contradicts itself in the fact that if everything is true, then nothing is true. It takes away the meaning from everything. Postmodern thinkers have a weak argument in saying that there are no universal morals. It would be wrong for people to kill, and this does not go unpunished in our country. With a postmodern worldview, it would be up to the person if it is morally alright for them to do it, and if it is there would be nothing we could do against it, as this was true for him.It is often hard to come up with positives for postmodernism as a Christian; however pluralism can be a positive to a certain degree. It is good to respect other people’s decisions and hear their opinions. When we get different views on a certain subject, we can often come up with a better and more complete answer or decision. It helps when analyzing scriptures as well, by getting other opinions on the meaning of a scripture we hear opinions that may be influenced by a different culture or background.This causes us to look at scripture from a different angle and come to a better understanding of it. Although we shouldn’t persecute people for their beliefs, we shouldn’t just accept others beliefs as truth right away before looking into it ourselves. Jean-Francois Lyotard, is arguably one of the most important figures in the development of Postmodern thinking. Born in France in 1924, Lyotard grew up studying philosophy, and later became a teacher of the subject. By the 1970’s Lyotard’s ideas for postmodernism began to form, specifically in the areas of meta-nar ratives.Meta-narratives, which are described as grand truths, things that are believed to be universally accepted as truths, do not exist. Lyotard tried to simplify everything in life saying, â€Å"Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives†. Lyotard was the first to introduce this type of thinking that says everything needs to be destructuralized, there is no structure or metanarratives in our world. This idea of removing structure has been implemented in many things in our postmodern world today, we see it in art, music and architecture.Destructuralization is dangerous as without structure in our world, people will be confused and there will be no rules, rather everyone will do as they see fit. This idea makes it hard to evangelize to people as our Christian views are structuralized, and we believe in an overarching truth. Lyotard introduced ideas of pluralism, saying that there is not just one truth, rather there are different tru ths for different purposes. He argued that Rome’s religious views had an advantage over monotheistic religions, because they had different god’s each pertaining to a different area of life.He explains that this helps show that each of our human experiences are not all connected necessarily, and cannot all be grouped together into one overarching classification. This postmodern view is a direct contradiction to Christianity, in that Christians believe in one God and one way to heaven. This statement allows everyone to believe what they want without any guilt or accountability. This mindset does not leave room for anyone to be corrected as no one has experienced exactly what another has, and therefore your opinions would not be relevant to another person.Lyotard also dealt with issues of technology, saying that with the advancements of technology we are provided with an infinite amount of information, and believes that eventually wars will be fought over control of infor mation. Lyotard suggests that information in our postmodern age is becoming more of a business, people are producing it in order for it to be sold to a select group of people. Lyotard says that information is no longer being used for the purpose of inspiration in order to come up with truths.He wants the information to be used for people to find their own truths, and understand different ideas, rather than just believing what they are told. There are some very real truths to this analysis, in that information is very powerful and can help form our opinions. By leaving information to one person or a select group of people the information is left to only one interpretation. The scriptures require many different interpretations in order for us to grasp a complete meaning of it, and we shouldn’t just take the first interpretation we hear as truth, we need to analyze it ourselves.However, we shouldn’t take this principle too far. Lyotard is implying that by having all this information accessible to us, we can pick and choose what we want to believe, and what we find as truth. Nevertheless, as Christians we need to match what we read to the scriptures to see if they line up, and if they don’t, we shouldn’t take them to be truth. All of Lyotard’s writings and ideas regarding postmodernism, strongly influenced it into what it is today. However, postmodernism’s ideas are dangerous for us as Christians to follow.We need to look at what is going on around us in the world, and what people are thinking, and compare that to how God has told us to live in his word. Postmodern ideas are finding themselves into more and more aspects of our world. These ideas do not suggest Christianity to be truth, and go against the structure of Christianity. Though there are a few things we can take from Lyotard’s writings and other postmodern ideas, there is a vast majority of these ideas that are very false and non-conducive to a Christian l ife.Bibliography Bertens, Johannes Willem, Bertens Hans, Natoli Joseph P. Postmodernism. Malden, Massachusettes: Wiley Blackwell, 2002. Simons, Herbert W. and Billig, Michael. After Postmodernism. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, 1994. Connor, Steven. Postmodernist Culture. Cambridge, Massachusettes: Blackwell Publishers, 1989. Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996. Eagleton, Terry. The Illusions of Postmodernism. Malden, Massachusettes: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.

Aims and Objectives of the Copthorne Hotel Essay

An aim is a long term goal that is set by a business in order to improve the quality and value of their company. The Copthorne hotel has four main aims. Their first main aim is ‘To Make a Profit for Shareholders’. The Copthorne hotel and the Millennium group is a plc, meaning their shares are sold to the public on the stock exchange. When a share of a business is bought, they become a shareholder, meaning they own a small stake in the business. They aim to increase their profits for the benefit of their shareholders, the more profit they are making, the higher the dividend their shareholders are going to get back. If for example the value of their shares decline in the stock market, the shareholders may wish to sell them, in order to invest in a company making profit, because in a more valuable company they will be paid a higher dividend. Their second aim is ‘To Increase Market Share’. Market share is the amount/percentage of a particular category of market owned by a certain company. The Copthorne wants to increase their Market Share in order to increase the popularity of the business. An increase in their market share would mean more rooms being booked, more weddings planned and more conferences put in place. All together meaning that the Copthorne would also see an influx in its income, meaning the company has the money to expand further and beat the competition. In order to this they rely heavily on their customers returning, and new customers coming through their doors. In order for this to happen however, they need to meet the customer’s high expectations and provide a high quality, good value for money service. Their third aim is to ‘Increase the number of hotels globally’. The millennium group currently have over 100 hotels worldwide, 13 of which are based in Europe. Over the last few years, the company has grown and expanded slowly, as the business becomes more popular. The term ‘floated on the stock exchange’ means that anyone can buy shares in the business, based on the information read in the company’s prospectus. This simply means that the Copthorne can raise money in order to expand. The Copthorne has been floated  on the stock exchange as it is a Public Limited Company (plc). A majority shareholder is someone who owns at least 51% of the shares in the company, meaning that they have the most influence of the Copthorne’s decisions, and therefore decide on where, when and how to expand. Finally, their last aim is to ‘constantly improve customer service’. Customer service means the quality of the service/goods given to the customer, whether it be before, during, or after. If a company provides a top quality customer service then they are more likely to retain their customers, and in addition attract new ones by word of mouth, meaning that the customer tells their friends, they tell their friends etc. Therefore it is extremely important for a company such as the Copthorne because the business is constantly trying to expand, and having good reviews plays a vital, big role in supporting this. Copthorne Objectives The objectives that the Copthorne set are the shorter term, smaller steps that they take in order to achieve their aims. However as the aims change over time due to external factors affecting the business, the objectives will change and alter as well. In order to achieve their first objective ‘to make a profit for shareholders’ they need to meet or exceed the financial targets set by the Millennium group. These targets may be to increase the numbers of people in the restaurant, sell more rooms, or lower their prices. Overall, their wish is to attract more people through the doors in order to make a profit, so that their shareholders can be paid back. Their second aim was ‘to increase their market share’. To do this they constantly monitor their global position against their competitors and expand globally within the continents they operate in. This means that they measure their success against their competitors, they constantly wish to be beating them and make bigger amounts of profit, so they have the financial room to grow and expand. To succeed in their third objective ‘to increase the numbers of hotels globally’ they try to open a new hotel in a major city across the world every year. By doing this not only are they achieving their aim but increasing the amount of income they get, and therefore helping to achieve some of their earlier aims. Their fourth and final objective is to provide excellent facilities and customer service measured by achieving 95% or more on customer satisfaction surveys, this is set in order to assist their 4th aim of trying to constantly improve customer service. When a customer is staying at the Copthorne they ask them to fill in a survey, these surveys involve questions to do with, the customer service, the rooms, the food, the facilities etc. If they manage to achieve this aim it is displayed on their website and in other advertisements on order to persuade people to stay, if someone sees that another person likes a business, and rates it highly, then they themselves are more likely to try and experience the high quality of service as well. Mission Statement The Copthornes mission statement is to ‘Get it right first time, every time and think like a Customer’. The ‘get it right first time and every time’ means that the staff working within the facility need to try and do everything perfectly, without fault, in their first attempt, there are no second chances as people tend to form their opinions on first impressions. The second part ‘think like a customer’ means that the staff and employees in order to maintain a high standard service need to put themselves in the customers shoes and think what would I expect from a hotel of such high standards? And they need to perform to this level. Overall this Mission statement helps the Copthorne employees stay focused, and stay on the right track to success. A high quality service results in the end in increased sales and therefore increased profits.

Useful Guide To a Composition Essay Writing

Useful Guide To a Composition Essay Writing Before explaining how to write a composition, it is worth to be aware of its simple difference from an essay. The idea of the latter is concentrated on a particular thing or character, while composition’s themes go far beyond the frames that define the essay and even could have an abstract subject. Nevertheless, there are also some recommendations on how to write a well-structured and easy-read composition. The process of writing an essay can be represented as a chain or a sequence of individual elements, stages, and operations. The student may divide the whole process for a few phases – preparation, composing and structuring, finishing. That’s what this composition essay writing guide is all about. Preparation Defining the format of the composition is essential at the very beginning. The most popular forms include: ‘For and against’ is a composition essay, in which the main part represents an equal number of â€Å"against† and â€Å"for† arguments supported by the evidence or examples. A parity of ideas on both sides is vital for creating a balanced position, and the student’s opinion is expressed only in the results part. ‘Personal Opinion’ is a type of composition essay where the author expresses his/her position on a given topic, and the central part contains the justification of such an opinion and examples. ‘Problems and Solutions’. In this type of composition essay the author describes the vision of a particular problem, how to solve it, and its consequences. After the format is defined, there go the brainstorm and selection processes. Brainstorming is everything that comes to mind on the subject is recorded. At this stage, it is crucial to develop the mindset and generate a sufficient number of ideas. Some ideas are selected from the previous notes made by the method of annotation. The focus is set on those ideas that are directly related to the topic. For example, in case of â€Å"for and against,† the concepts could be conveniently written in two columns, where the student simultaneously records the evidence (or arguments) and keeps the ideas â€Å"for† equal to the number of â€Å"against.† Annotating, especially during reading, is a strategic intellectual skill, rather than an uncomplicated mechanical presentation of the author’s thought or position. While doing the annotating, the student selects the relevant material and develops his/her understanding of the theoretical views and empirical data, in other words facts of the kind that either confirm or refute the idea. When reading texts, the student makes notes and compares one narrative piece to another, remarks the points that will be useful in subsequent work or represent some exciting and meaningful data from theoretical or empirical approaches. Composing and Structuring Before starting to write the essay, it is worth to write some outline of the draft structure and then â€Å"switch† to the writing of the first draft that might be further revised by the student or professor initiative. Outline is the creation of a plan for a future essay: the student selects ideas that will be used in the introduction, the primary part, and the results. There are about three paragraphs in the primary section, where each theory or idea is considered in the first or second sentence, and the rest of the sentences are devoted to evidence or arguments. A rough draft is writing an essay according to the plan, not forgetting about advanced grammatical constructions, sophisticated vocabulary, formal style, and word-links. Finishing Verification and final version comes when student carefully scrutinizes the written essay regarding the presence of errors and makes the corrections; he/she verifies whether all thoughts are logically linked to each other and form the necessary reader response. The Key to Write Composition Essay Writing the composition essay takes place in a short time frame, so students often choose to skip one of the stages to win time. For example, they start writing right away, hoping that the relevant ideas will appear themselves in the process of writing, or do not check the essay for errors. Naturally, illogical and inconsistent text with a large number of elementary level errors cannot get a high grade of the examiner. Nevertheless, keeping an eye on time is just as necessary in order not to leave the argument unfinished. Hence, the key to writing the right composition essay includes: the clear understanding of the requirements of the examination task; the observance of the structure of the composition and the passage of all stages of its writing; explicit time management. Choose an Interesting Topic and the Questions When choosing a topic, the student first must make sure that he/she has correctly shaped and understood it. Since the matter can be interpreted differently, there are several approaches to its coverage. Therefore, the student needs to choose one version of an interpretation or strategy to be able to substantiate his/her vision of the problem. The content of the topic can cover a wide range of issues and require the involvement of a large volume of literature. In this case, the student has the opportunity to formulate a hypothesis according to which only some aspects of this problematic issue will be illustrated in the composition (namely, it’s primary part). A student gets rid of unnecessary difficulties if he/she does not go beyond the specified range of issues. The choice and the vision of the student should be argued with appropriate evidence. Next, it is necessary to make a plan and structure based on the decision of the student about the hypothesis of work. When writing the composition, the student must remember: the number of opinions is the same as the number of people. Therefore, the author should be as objective as possible, keeping his/her position well-supported by arguments and illustrated by examples. Only then the thesis statement will avoid criticism. Besides, it might be difficult to find an illustration of literature for the separate topics; therefore, some examples from real life will be more fitting. Here are some composition essay questions and examples of illustrations: In what epoch from the past you would like to live? (Example: romantic melodrama ‘Midnight in Paris’ directed by Woody Allen, the main character is Gil Pender). Is the value of a photo has faded away with the advent of digital cameras that have allowed to make an unlimited number of photos? Should tobacco products be forbidden to sell worldwide? (Example: Bhutan became the first country to ban tobacco in 2010. â€Å"Tactical arguments†: the economies of most countries are receiving substantial excise taxes; a vast number of people smoke; thousands of farmers and industrial workers hired by tobacco companies will lose their jobs in the event of a ban. The arguments â€Å"against†: tobacco accelerates aging, primarily the skin of hands and face; it promotes faster appearance of wrinkles and jaundice; the owners of monopoly companies earn crazy money from the sale of tobacco; the smokers provoke the most of fire cases in the United States; about a thousand citizens die annually as a result of fires from the cigarette butts; tobacco causes the cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, and the increase in blood pressure which ultimately leads to diabetes, heart attack, or infarction). Is there a friendship between a boy and a girl? What is the effect of gadgets on your learning during the lesson? (Example: Microsoft’s founder and owner Bill Gates forbade their children from using phones until they reached the age of fourteen). Do people who have committed brutal crimes deserve the death penalty? (Example: One of the most famous serial killers of the Soviet Union, Andrei Chikatilo, was executed in 1994. The sentence was read to him for almost an entire day; he was found guilty of more than sixty-five murders in which most of the victims are children. However, before he was arrested, two innocent people were executed as suspects sentenced for the crime that not they but Chikatilo committed). Is it necessary to adhere Grammar rules in spelling and punctuation in an Internet message or SMS? (Example: Read who is referred as â€Å"Grammar Nazi†). Classic Structuring and Logics There is also some logic to adhere to get perfect results: Statement (clear position). The thesis is the student’s direct answer to the topic question (if not, he/she must formulate the question by himself/herself). When formatting the thesis, it is worth to use the keywords given in the topic. Proof (convincing explanation in the arguments). The student gives at least two compelling indications that defend the thesis. Remember: the examples should correspond to the number of arguments. Explanation (illustration of evidence in the examples). The student provides information from a reliable source in the illustration. Each instance proves a separate argument. It is worth to remember that in the example the student must clearly explain how it illustrates the argument and, hence, the thesis. What Makes Examples Essential? Examples in work are needed to illustrate the thoughts, to show that the reasoning is justified, that something similar has already been said about the matter (for example, about a work of art) or it has already been happening with someone in real life. In the examples, the student has the opportunity to explain in more detail what is meant by the arguments and, finally, the thesis. A good argument is always based on an example. Illustrative examples give weight to the arguments, make them â€Å"stronger,† and protect against criticism of opponents. There must be at least two types of examples in the product: An example of fiction or other arts (cinematic, fine art, theatrical, and musical). An example is a historical fact or a case of socio-political or personal life. Examples, like arguments, must be convincing; the facts presented in them interesting, objective, fully illuminated, authentic, and unambiguous. Some Tips for Picking the Ideal Examples for Composition Essay Writing With the insertion of arguments into the text, the examples should acquire a specific linguistic design. Therefore, first of all, the student has to indicate that now there will follow an example/ sample/illustration of the problem that he/she have been talking about in the argument. An example is always a fact taken from a reliable source. Frequently, when the composition essay is related to the art subjects, the examples are particularly necessary for visualizing the thought. Therefore, it is important to note all the data about this composition and not to make mistakes. Next is the scheme how to pick and substantiate the illustrative examples in composition: The motivation of example (1 sentence, might be included in the previous one). This element of the example is the most important. It depends on how many points the student insert in his/her work. To motivate the example means to explain how it illustrates an argument. It can be done in the first introductory sentence or the next paragraphs. Explanation of the image / problems (3-4 sentences). In the following sentences, it is worth to reveal an artistic image that illustrates the argument. The student explains in detail how the hero chosen by him/her represents a model of the problem raised in the argument. There is no need to tell the full story of the book. Citation (1 sentence). If there is no such element in the example, no points will be removed. But still, if the student remembers the relevant (!) quote from the analyzed work, it is worth it to indicate it. Mini-conclusion (1 sentence). Successful completion of the example is a sentence in which the student will once again return to the illustrated argument and summarize the issue. It does not interfere with the logical transition to the next paragraph of the composition. For instance: Topic: Every society has its music, painting, and literature. The different types of art exist since the very human creation. It is characterized by a rich history. Besides, what is the most important art for the society and the individual? Thesis: I am fully convinced that art is an important factor in the positive development of both an individual and a society as a whole. Bonus Information from Our Expert Writers: How to train yourself in writing the composition? To remember the structure of the composition well, it is necessary to practice the writing of its parts. It is worth considering the plan/outline before writing any composition essay. The student should not be afraid of this word: it does not look like the typical plan for a summary. It will turn into a short composition with approximately seven sentences that thoroughly cover the author’s position. Such mini-composition essays are recommended to write daily (trying to fit in five minutes) to refine the logic of the statement. Composition essay example: minimal guidance Mini-text with Displayed Problem. Quite often people can hear the idea that it is worth talking â€Å"in his/her language† with a rough and unskilled person because he/she does not understand the other approach. At the same time, many believe that when we start â€Å"playing† with such people in relationships by their rules, we will not be different from them anymore. Questions for The Theme. How to deal with disobedience and dishonesty of another person? Requirements for Writing. Formulate the thesis, present two or three convincing arguments that will confirm the opinion. Illustrate the thoughts with references to examples of fiction or other types of art (indicate the author and the title of the work; note the problem raised by the artist and the artistic image through which problem is solved; quote from the literary piece), historical facts or occasions. Do not retell the content of the artwork and do not give a full description of the images. Formulate the conclusions. We do hope that these composition essay writing tips are of use to you!

German Gift Ideas (Geschenkideen)

German Gift Ideas (Geschenkideen) Are you looking for a good gift for the German fan on your list? Heres a list of gift ideas for people who love German and the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In some cases, youll find a link to the product or more information, but most of the listings below are just helpful gift ideas related to German and the German-speaking countries. Books and Dictionaries A serious all-German dictionary (hardcover)A German-English dictionary (hardcover)Dual-language books (German poetry, literature)Harry Potter books in German, German audiobooks, travel guidebook You can also look online  for books, CDs, DVDs, and more German gift ideas Christmas Season Gifts If youre giving a gift to a German lover during the Christmas season, consider the following: Carved wooden Nativity setChristmas pyramidGerman pewter or crystal tree ornamentsNutcracker figureBook of German Christmas carolsAdvent wreath with candlesChocolate Advent calendar (before Dec. 1)Steiff teddy bear or dollGerman incense smokers (figures) Steiff Teddy Bears The German Steiff company made its first teddy bears in the early 1900s. Some early Steiff bears sell for thousands of dollars to collectors. Steiff still makes its high-quality bears, and they remain the most valuable of all teddies. A new Steiff bear or other figures generally cost between $30 and $250. German Incense Smokers (Raucher) Incense smokers can be very attractive- in both modern and traditional designs. These often colorful figures represent fisherman, firemen, soldiers, postmen, and people in traditional dress. The smoke from the incense comes out of the figures mouth. Cooking, Food, and Drink Gifts German cookbookRaclette set (for fondue)Glà ¼hwein (hot mulled wine) packet with bottle of wineGerman or Austrian wineGerman wine decanter stand (Weinheber)Gift certificate to a local German/Bavarian/Swiss restaurantAustrian/Swiss chocolateCookie and gingerbread moldsEgg cup set (Eierbecher) German Decor Austrian crystal (Swarovski, Kisslinger) glass ornamentsCeramic beer steinGerman, Austrian or Bavarian flagHummel ceramic figures  Decorative bells (Bavarian, Swiss, Tyrolian)Cuckoo clockGerman hand-made candles (modern)Pewter items (steins, ornaments)Posters and photos (German scenes, Austrian/German people: Bach, Einstein, Mozart, etc.)Stuffed animals (classic Steiff teddy bear)Good luck ceramic pig (a sign of good fortune in Germany). Austrian Crystal and Glass (Krystal) Austria is well known as a producer of beautiful crystal glass in many forms and designs. Although Swarovski is the best-known brand, you should also consider Kisslinger in Tyrol.   Miscellaneous German Gifts Dirndl dress or lederhosen (Austrian/Bavarian leather pants)German TV subscription (in North America)German wrap-around sling baby carrier (Storchenwiege) Music and Movie Gifts CDs by German-language artists (Falco, Fanta4, Die Prinzen, etc.)iTunes gift certificate (for downloading music by German music/artists)iPod or MP3 playerGerman movie DVDs Travel Gifts Set of plug adapters or voltage transformers (large small)Handheld computer/PDAMultiband cell phone (that works in Europe and North America)Electronic English-German dictionaryPortable DVD playerTravel guidebook and maps

Comptronix Corporation-Case study on identifying Inherent and Control Assignment

Comptronix Corporation-Case study on identifying Inherent and Control Risk factors (Using the facts of the case and the relevant AUDITING standards, answer each of the questions) - Assignment Example Taking into account all the relevant factors, the auditor has to apply his professional knowledge and skills in taking appropriate decisions. â€Å"IR = Inherent risk (the risk that an assertion is susceptible to a material misstatement, assuming there are no related controls)† (Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs): Risk Assessment Standards par. 3). Examples of financial records that have low Internal Risk include fixed assets or traded securities as opposed to accounts with high Internal Risk. For instance, those for which estimates have to be used and computations have to be conducted. An audit comprising of a physical examination of Comptronixs equipment might have revealed that recognized assets do not exist. Considering the age of certain equipment, there is a need to take into account their depreciation. Thus, the actual value of the some equipment may not correspond to their book value. â€Å"Fictitious transactions frauds involve important accounts or just assets or revenues in general† (Ketz 407). Besides auditing in a way that would have exposed the absence of certain purchases of equipment, the assessor could have also carried out an examination of check accounts and bank records to see where and by whom the vouchers were cashed. This would have revealed that the checks were not cashed in by an outside party. Thus, the company would have been in a clear position to establish the involvement of someone within the organization in the said manipulation. In the same manner as in the case of fictitious accounts for equipment, the assessor could have checked the inventory to confirm the decrease in inventory of goods for sale with the actual sales to the consumers. â€Å"The auditor’s objective in examining accounts receivable is to form an opinion regarding management’s representation that an account receivable is presented fairly in conformity with

MTV Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MTV - Case Study Example Also, it must be noted that the management of the MTVI conducted massive changes in the scheduling and presentation of programs in order to meet the tastes and expectations of the local population. We understand all the details of the process in the course of this article. MTVI’s main motive to expand all through different continents was to position MTV as a No. 1 global brand in cable television and music broadcast. In its plans of introducing the channel in the Middle East, the channel’s management had to undertake rigorous research and analysis before announcing the launch. Whenever a channel plans to launch itself in the new territory, local producers and networks try to grab as much channel space as they can. Anything new is always welcome and MTV had a tough time deciding which local producers to rely on and which to reject. It started by measuring the major blocks that could create a rough ride in the establishment of the channel. They can be broadly classified into cultural sensitivity, program content, and political and social opinions which could create controversy and social turmoil. MTVI understood that it has to reflect and respect culture and this was highly important for the Arabian challenge. With the brains of Roedy, Singh and ABN’s Sayegh (Purkayastha, 5) behind the venture, right from the word go, MTV concentrated on creating the right balance between cultural aspects considered important to the Middle East and the outgoing spirit of program content that the channel is known to provide. In what has been termed as a litmus test for the channel in adapting its core principles to the concept of localization that it had adopted in the 90s, the Arabian market turned out to be the promise it was considered. As it is, the most important factor that attracts every global brand to the Arabian market is the market strength. MTV was well aware that outside

Journal 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Journal 4 - Essay Example This shows that the size of the inferno is too big for the people on the run to control, as they need to secure their lives first. At the fore, middle, and background, the artist paints most of the ventilations of the building including the doors and the windows in black color to put emphasis on the magnitude of the smoke inside the building. By a keen glance at the middle ground, the painter has made use of horizontal lines on the building with short vertical lines cutting between the horizontal lines as an indication that the multistory structure is either a stone or a block building. Although the artist in this painting presents a number of scenes, the focus of this painting is at the fore ground where he portrays people escaping out of the building through the main exit route. The painter manages to catch and retain the attention of the viewers by the yellow color and curvy shape of the flames and smoke with several people taking to their heels, meaning that there is an impending danger. This style of art is a painting because the artist has used various colors, shapes, and lines in his image. The main reason that prompted the concerned artist to come up with this particular piece of art could have been the plight of lowly and neglected that constantly encountered such challenges as home infernos with little or no help from the authorities. Although there were several pieces of art, this one came from an artist who was one of the renowned artists globally in the 1960s and so he quality of his artistic works were always guaranteed. Besides, he depicted in his painting an issue that touches on social and moral responsibility, as his focus was to expose the predicaments of the then refugees. I can say that the humanitarian aspect of the painting resonated with me personally due to the compassionate aspect of my character and I guess this might have been one of the driving forces behind my choice. The image invokes my benevolence side, as it encourages

Renaissance and Baroque Eras: Art Comparison

Renaissance and Baroque Eras: Art Comparison Comparing the Eras of the Renaissance and Baroque Since the beginning of time Art has been used as a form of expression. With each historical art era came new advances and techniques. Each era was influenced by the unique characteristics, style and social conditions of its time. Although each era bought forth new forms and unique styles of art many historical art periods were influenced by an earlier period of history. The following essay will describe and explain the characteristics, style and influences of the Renaissance and Baroque eras as individual periods. It will also analyze painting from each period and explain the similarities and differences of both paintings; it will also discuss the relationship between the two eras. A look at the Renaissance The Renaissance era is known as the period of transition into modern day. The term Renaissance originated from the French language meaning rebirth, which precisely describes the period of the Renaissance. The Renaissance began in Italy and quickly spread across Europe between the 14th and 17th century. During this period Europe experienced large social, intellectual and economic changes. Europes ability to surface from the stagnated economy of the Middle Age had large effects on the period. Possibly the most significant and popular advancements made were in the cultural, social and political institutions. The progression into Individualism during the Renaissance made way for major advancements. This progression removed the traditional values of the Church and allowed individuals the freedom to explore the human mind, body and their surroundings. The issue of religion had a significant effect on the Renaissance era. With the Catholic Church tangled up in controversy over power, corrup tion, simony, nepotism and the Popes fathering of illegitimate children, many followers turned away from the Church and embraced a new reformed version of their beliefs causing a decrease power level for the Church. The increase of literacy also affected the Catholic Church, as believers learned more they realized that the Church was preaching only what they favored to the followers. Possibly the most significant religious event during the Renaissance history, was the Protestant Reformation, which was founded by Martin Luther in Germany. The new found views towards religion had major effects on society and their way of thought. Freedom from the Church allowed individuals to explore freely which resulted in a completely new way of life in all fields. (The Renaissance,n.d.) The Renaissance era allowed art to develop and mature far beyond the traditional and conventional religious subject matter to replicate human emotion and realism in art. While religion remained the main influence during the renaissance the origination and recognition of human form, expression and scientific study became very active influences in the arts. Painting and sculpting techniques developed greatly during the Renaissance. Artists began using new techniques such as linear perspective, laws of portion, balance and physical presence. The key distinctiveness that characterized Renaissance art includes an adoration and praise of the human figure and nature, realistic linear perspective and prominence on the association of light and shadow. Most of the best known artists and masterpieces were produced during the Renaissance period. During the Renaissance era famous artists such as Masaccio, Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci created unique and untraditional techniques neve r used before. (The Renaissance,n.d.) A look at the Baroque period The term Baroque originates from the Portuguese language meaning irregular pearl. The era was dubbed the name to imply strangeness and irregularity. The baroque style began roughly at the end of the 16th century and lasted until the mid 17th century. The Baroque style first developed out of the Catholic spectacle and poise associated with the Counter-Reformation. Later, as the technique expanded north, it quickly became famous at royal courts, where it represented the rising rule of the new monarchies. The religious differences which begun during the Renaissance with the Reformation and Counter Reformation continue well into the 17th century. The religious conflict among the two groups influenced art greatly in this era. As a result of the Catholic Churchs Counter-Reformation, amazing churches were built, decorated and furnished to the extreme. Consequently, the demand for unique extraordinary religious themed artwork was great. As the economy flourished many European capitals began to raise, therefore the increase for architecture and decoration was high. (Guisepi, n.d.) Art during the Baroque period produced a sensation of progression, dynamic and apprehension. The technique of powerfully using distinction of light and shadow and a never-ending quantity of space is famous during this era. The presence of passionate spirituality and realism were also vastly utilized. Artists were famous for showing an individuals personalities, passion, emotions and thought merely through their facial expressions. Baroque art was a form of exaggerated Renaissance style art. Baroque painters utilized the fundaments of art distinctively from prior eras. In paintings lines were typically smooth and gentle; the color scheme consisted mainly of a single tone. The difference between shade and little was an essential technique. Time was particularly important to painters during the Baroque era. Artists viewed time as an assessable object. They believed time fades lies away leaving truth and justifies good over evil. The use of time would be a recurring theme throughout the Baroque era. Similar to the Renaissance, the Baroque artists ornamented the interior of grand buildings such as chapels and palaces. Along with art, the Baroque style surpassed the modern form of sculpture. Baroque sculptures were full of uniqueness, expression, and action. The sculptures of this period also expressed a passionate emotional bliss and creativity. (Guisepi, n.d.) Analysis Both the Renaissance and the Baroque eras created several of the most famous artistic works produced in the Western world. While the two eras illustrate distinctive distinction in work style and theme, nonetheless they reveal many characteristics in common. To better understand the similarities of the eras a comparison of two works of art from the two different periods is helpful. The two paintings that will be analyzed and compared are Leonard da Vincis Mona Lisa and Peter Paul Rubens The Straw Hat. Analysis of the Mona Lisa The woman portrayed in the Mona Lisa painting is known as La Gioconda or the Smiling One. The structure of the Mona Lisa forms a pyramid shape, her folded arms and hands serving as the bottom base, her shoulders and arms forming the sides and her head as the peak all connecting to form a pyramid. The support on which her left arm lays is hardly noticeable, extending to a vanishing armrest. Leonard da Vincis keen Renaissance period infatuation with features and detail is enthusiastically obvious in the painting. The smallest details such as the creases in her gown, the superior use of detail of the background, and the structure of her hair are accurately and thoroughly painted. The painting looks as though it was submersed in a smoky haze which was created by da Vincis expert ability to gradual blend one area of color into another without a sharp outline. This technique allows the viewer to recognize the shadows and light of both the image and background. The paintings lighting is sub missive, however extremely natural. The use of natural and realistic highlighting and shadowing characterize the shape, features and expression of Mona Lisa. Unlike her face, her dark tone clothing easily blends into the softly lit setting behind her, merging the work of art in the classical Renaissance manner. Regardless of the proficiently blended colors, the features of the scenery behind Mona Lisa are obviously noticeable, another distinctive technique of the Renaissance. The utilization of linear perspective is delicately understated due to the absents of individually positioned lines, but nonetheless are still present and noticeable, as the observer stares back into the scenery the vanishing point can easily be located behind the head of the figure. The stream flowing behind her, the distant mountains, the path and canal near the center of the painting are distinctive features of the painting regardless of the haze and create addition interest to the entire painting. ( da Vinc i, 1605) Analysis of The Straw Hat The subject of Peter Paul Rubens The Straw Hat is Susanna Fourment. In the painting Fourments stand is positioned to formed a pyramid structure. Resembling the structure of the Mona Lisa her folded arms also serve as a base, her shoulders and arms as the sides and her head as the peak all corresponding to form a pyramid like shape. The hat on her head is placed casually with a minor slant, which creates a line that cuts the peak of the pyramid. Her flared skirt which is slightly noticeably under her folded arms creates the sense of a second, shorter pyramid that is concealed under the first. In his painting, Rubens demonstrates the classic Baroque freestyle brushstrokes. This technique is noticeably observed in the features of Fouments dress and hat. Her laced cuff and the feathers in her hat are visibly identifiable; however their finer details are buried by the graceful flowing brushstrokes, which is a typical technique of the Baroque era. Rubens employed the classic Baroque method of strongly contrasting shadows and lights to highlight and focus on features in his painting. To create a naturalistic light in the painting the lighting was focus directly on Fourment. Rubens use of strong bold colors for Fourments clothes along with the contrast of color and texture among fabric and skin allow her to stand out and clearly portray her as the focal point of the painting. The backdrop of this painting is merely a mistily illustrated group of clouds with a hint of blue sky scarcely peeping through. As a result, the background of The Straw Hat painting is utterly inferior to the focal point of the piece. Without distinctive images in the backdrop to supply an allusion point, the use of linear perspective is unseen. ( Rubens, 1625) Similarities in both paintings Both artists treat the similar themed topic according to the technique of their particular periods. Both paintings illustrate a young lady in nearly identical poses, both bodies are positioned at a 75 degree angle with the head somewhat turned back in the direction of the observer. Both women have their hands carefully positioned under the bust in front of them. Both woman gaze towards the right of the viewer neither one stares directly towards the viewer. Both women display a slight content grin on their faces. Another similarity among the paintings is observed in the background of both painting. Both paintings create mysterious and foggy sceneries behind the woman. In addition Rubens composition resembles the Mona Lisa so much that many questioned if Ruben intentionally setup his painting that way. Differences of the paintings In the Mona Lisa painting da Vinci uses precise and magnificent technique in the details of the background; the eras passion for details is enthusiastically noticeable. On the other hand, the background of The Straw Hat demands no attention. During the Baroque era artist primarily focused on the main subject matter. Another difference in the paintings is the use of linear perspective, in the Mona Lisa da Vinici creates a clear vanishing point in the background of his painting, unlike Rubenss painting were he pays no attention to the background scenery and only focuses on the main subject. Another distinction in the paintings is the color scheme, in the Mona Lisa deep dark colors are blended smoothly with the background and the sfumato technique is used perfectly to bring focus to the details of both the image and background, in The Straw Hat bold daring color tones are used to make the image stand out, also instead of the sfumato technique Rubens uses the traditional Baroque techniqu e of combining strongly differing lights and shadows to focus on and emphasize the features in his painting. Relationship and connection of both historical eras Although both eras are unique in different respects, yet the eras share similarities and also continuing relationship. The Baroque era is said to have been generated at the end of the Renaissance era, which progressed to a dramatic, illuminate, energetic sophisticated form of art. The techniques of the Baroque art era united the sophisticated techniques and magnificent advances of the Renaissance along with the emotion, intensity and drama of the high Renaissance with the Baroque style of mixing the basic fundaments of the naturalist and classicist manners that are characterized by magnificence, energy and emotional enthusiasm. Many art scholars consider the Baroque style a representation and continuation of the Renaissance era. Similar characteristics of both eras include the use of light and color, focus on realism and idealism, strong perspective effects, religious themes and nude portraits. ( Myers, n.d.) To conclude the Renaissance and Baroque eras generated several of the most celebrated artist as well as masterpieces of all time. Although both eras share many similarities each era has its own unique characteristics and is unique in its own way.