Thursday, November 28, 2019

Nike and Reebok an Example by

Nike  and  Reebok by Expert Prof. Cecil | 13 Dec 2016 Description of the Primary Industry of the segment: Need essay sample on "NikeandReebok" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Nike and Reebok belong to the sports equipment industry. They produce sportswear for everybody in both indoor and out door sports. They have also been producing sport monitoring equipment and gadgets. Nike is based in Oregon, in US. (Foot wear global market, Online)Reebok on the other hand was acquired by Adidas by 2006 for $8 billion. Reebok are British based. (Reebok, Online) Current Annual Sales: By the end of year 2007, Nike's annual sale had risen to $17 billion. (Foot wear global market, Online). Just ahead of take over by Adidas, Reebok had revenue of $825 million in the 2005 first quarter. (Reebok Earning, Online). Today, Adidas has revenue of about $8 billion after taking over Reebok. Reebok contributed $ 4 billion to these sales. (ESPN, Online). Market Share relative to its competitors Nike has 37% of the market share and is actually the market leaders in that segment. It is followed by other mix of firms at 29% then Adidas is third with 22%, Puma is fourth with 7% and new balance is fifth with 6%. (Foot wears global market, Online) Reebok on the other hand takes 8.8% on the market share after the acquisition by Adidas. (Reebok Earnings, Online). Historic growth rate: Trends and characteristics related to the industry as a whole (life cycle stage in industry) This industry has been growing at a decreasing rate. Citing from 2003 to 2004, the growth for sports apparel went up by about $7.5 billion which translated to over 12%. In the following financial year to 2005, there was a growth of under $ 4 billion which translated to only 6%. Therefore the life cycle at the moment is at lag phase. (Foot wear global market, Online).Reebok has had a slow growth rate up to the time it was acquired by Adidas. (Reebok Stores, Online) Projected growth rate Overall, Nike will have a reduced growth rate in the total market. Specifically Europe will have a reduced growth while China has a steady growth that will boom toward 2008 when they host the Beijing Olympics. Nike will be sponsoring the event. Nike has a project growth rate of 7% for the next 10 years. (Foot wears global market, Online). Reebok have a 10 years projected growth rate of 4.7%. (Fortunes 500, Online). Major customer group within the industry (businesses, government, consumers and expected demand) The trend for the customers has been a steady shift to the low performance consumer who is not necessarily involved in sports. The big markets have continued to be in US and Europe. Generally the low performers are the most consumed at average 88 - 100% followed by the athletic products at average 58- 87% and finally the fashion products at average 0-57%. (Foot wear global market, Online). How similar products are distributed within the industry Across the industry for Nike, footwear contributes $7.965 billions, Apparels contribute $ 4.168 billions, Equipment contributes $0.873 billions while other products contribute $ 1.954 billions. (Foot wear global market, Online). Sales force options/ media available Nike uses low advertising strategies to push the sales up. In 2006, they spent $ 1.74 billion on the aggregate advertising strategies which translated to just 11% of its revenue. However their force for sales lies on well networked retail system. Nike has in the past used the Beetles songs, and Chinese theme advertisements. (Foot wear global market, Online). Reebok on the other hand have been active on sponsorships such as the NBA and other sporting functions. (Reebok Stores, Online) Barriers to exit to operate in this market place The barriers for exit for Nike from this market segment are the multi billion sponsorship arrangement and contracts that have been made by the respective sport organs and athletes. They are also the market leaders. (Foot Wear Global Market, Online). The exit barriers for Reebok are very high due to its acquisition by Adidas whom the have become entity. (ESPN, 2008.) Macro - environmental analysis The Sociological Conditions conditions that impact on Nike are the preferences for low performance products. This has seen the rise of demand of low cost footwear and apparels always from the core sport gear. (Foot wear global market, Online) The Technical Conditions that affect Nike are its manufacturing locations. Nike has most of its manufacturing plants in Asia and especially in China but that will soon impact on its distributions technicalities with rising stiff competition. (Foot wear global market, Online). The technical conditions that affect Reebok are it current acquisition status that means management will not be as independent as before. (ESPN, Online) The economic conditions that face Nike are the rising wage bill especially in China which takes more than 35% of its world manufacturing share. This has been going up by over 10% per year. From 2002 to 2005 there was a rise of over 17% in wage bill. Nike also has the second highest operating margin at 8.8% after Adidas. They spend over 11% of the revenue in advertising. Nike has 418 mega store worldwide. (Foot wear global market, Online). The Economic conditions that affect Reebok are its dwindling sales due to poor brand positioning. (Reebok Stores, Online). The Environmental conditions that affect Nike are its good compliance with product recycle that has earned it a high slot in global ratings. (Foot wear global market, Online). Reebok on the other hand was recently fined $1million for violations of Federal Hazardous Substances Act. This was following an import of lead laden bracelets which are considered toxic. (Environment News Service, Online). The Political Conditions that affect Nike are concerns for human right. Nike has been accused of exploitation of laborers in Far East, Asia, Mexico. They have also been accused of disempowering women with some of their campaign strategies in the East Asia. There are also allegations of child labor. (Foot wear global market, Online). The political conditions that affect Reebok are the market image following the acquisition by Adidas. (Reebok Stores, Online) Any Cultural Changes that influence Nike and Reebok Both Nike and Reebok has been moving from the cultural product advertisement to celebrity promotion styles. They are contracting major sport personalities to sell their brands globally. (Foot wear global market, Online) Works Cited ESPN: Adidas buy of Reebok would boost US market Share. Footwear Global Market: Nike Market Share. Available at http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Nike_(NKE)#Market_Share . Accessed on March 21, 2008. Fortunes 500: Reebok. Available at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500_archive/snapshots/2003/1113.html . Accessed on March 21, 2008. Reebok Stores: Available at http://store.reebok.com/home/index.jsp Accessed on March 21, 2008. Reebok Earning. Available at http://www.reebok.com/useng/ir/press/2005/Q1_2005_Earnings.htm Accessed on March21, 2008.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

University of Illinois at Springfield Admissions Data

University of Illinois at Springfield Admissions Data University of Illinois at Springfield Description: The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public, four-year institution located near Lake Springfield on the southern edge of Springfield, Illinois. St. Louis, Missouri, is about 90 miles to the south. A medium sized university, UIS has about 5,000 students, a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1, and an average class size of 15. U.S. News World Reports Americas Best Colleges 2013 ranked UIS second among public Regional Universities in the Midwest Region, and the university takes pride in being large enough to offer a broad range of academic fields, but small enough to provide students with personalized attention. UIS is part of the University of Illinois system along with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois at Chicago. UIS offers a wide range of graduate and undergraduate majors, and the most popular fields span the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professional fields. The university also offers online courses, with some undergra duate and graduate degrees offered entirely online. UIS has more than 85 student clubs and organizations on campus, as well as a range of intramural sports. For intercollegiate athletics, the UIS Prairie Stars compete in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. The university fields six mens and eight womens intercollegiate sports.   Admissions Data (2016): University of Illinois - Springfield Acceptance Rate: 65%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 423  / 598SAT Math: 463  / 548SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 20 / 26ACT English: 20 / 27ACT Math: 18 / 26ACT Writing: - / -What these ACT numbers mean Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 5,428 (2,959 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 49% Male / 51% Female65% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $11,413  (in-state); $20,938 (out-of-state)Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $9,600Other Expenses: $2,700Total Cost: $24,913  (in-state); $34,438 (out-of-state) University of Illinois at Springfield Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 92%Loans: 55%Average Amount of AidGrants: $12,449Loans: $5,449 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Communication, Computer Science, English, Psychology, Social Work Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 73%4-Year Graduation Rate: 37%6-Year Graduation Rate: 50% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, BaseballWomens Sports:  Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Golf Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like UIS, You May Like These Schools as Well: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Illinois at Chicago:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphIllinois State University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphEastern Illinois University:  Profile  Southern Illinois University-Carbondale:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBradley University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDePaul University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphNorthern Illinois University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphLoyola University Chicago:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph University of Illinois at Springfield Mission Statement: complete mission statement can be found at  uis.edu/strategicplan/plan/sectionone/mission/ The University of Illinois at Springfield provides an intellectually rich, collaborative, and intimate learning environment for students, faculty, and staff, while serving local, regional, state, national, and international communities.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The effects of mergers and acquisitions on small business lending Essay

The effects of mergers and acquisitions on small business lending - Essay Example Besides the expected advantages arising from consolidations taking place in small businesses, mergers and acquisitions play an important role in increasing the size of banking institutions in a country. These benefits include; mobilizing of domestic savings, which are necessary for investments, deepening and increasing intermediation processes, as well as reduction of inefficiencies entrenched in businesses and other economic activities. However, there is one thing that has remained unclear in many economies, that is; the impact that mergers and acquisition have on credit creation to small and medium-sized businesses in a country. Studies indicate that large and complex organisations that are created by mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector are less disposed compared to small institutions that are less complex. The research further reveals that most of these borrowers in small businesses are dependent on banks for credit; however, they hardly get it following the new business developments in the banking sector. The reason for this development follows the fact that the large financial institutions resulting from mergers and acquisition in the banking are usually not interested in extending loans and other credit facilities that requite close knowledge of particular small business (Haq 2005). This comes about because there are several diseconomies that arise from the process of such loans, as well as other financial products to not only small business, but also to medium-sized enterprises. The diseconomies that large financial institutions face in advancing credit to small businesses often arises from several factors, first, lending to these businesses is distinctly different in terms of their activities, which requires the mergers and acquisitions to have different technologies and a special lending culture that takes care of these concerns (Haq

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Environmental Science DB3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental Science DB3 - Essay Example It is also important to acknowledge the fact that energy cuts across all areas of our lives but very perishable. Therefore, there is need to use energy responsibly or reduce usage all together. According to Natural Resources Defense Council, there are several ways on how to reduce energy used at homes which include taking precautions like unplugging some of the appliances that are not commonly used in the house. For example, presence of an extra refrigerator requires that you unplug it from the main source of energy to save power. Unplugging electronics chargers when not in use or using power strips to switch off televisions and radios. It is also advisable to set your computers to sleep as well as hibernating mode just in case there not switched off (Consumer Reports 2006). Alternately, an individual can incorporate renewable sources such solar energy to heat bath water instead of using un-renewable energy. However, implementing these changes is accompanied by several challenges like cost and unavailability of required resources. In addition, some individuals live in remote areas, and due to lack of information, they may not have the knowledge or the potential to tap reso urces such as solar and wind energy. One of the most consumed forms of energy in many homes in USA is fuel which has been known to contributor to green house gas emission and noxious gases into the atmosphere (US Department of Energy, 2013). In attempts to avoid the use of fuel, electrical and hydrogen-powered vehicles have proven to be the best alternative. This is because they can cover many miles, are them cost effective, and do not emit noxious gases. Therefore, although such vehicles are very expensive, it is the best method to reduce fuel consumption. In conclusion it is clear that we can only reduce use of energy by first identify what, how energy is used in most homes and then utilizing the options that

Monday, November 18, 2019

The difference between liberalism and socialism Essay

The difference between liberalism and socialism - Essay Example Nevertheless, wealth is shared in accordance with the individual’s contribution in the creation of that wealth (Wallerstein 73). This implies that those who involved a lot in the creation of the wealth get more share than those who does not contribute much in the creation of wealth. Socialist ideology also discourages the formation of classes or groups since it does not support competition among individuals (Wallerstein 74). To socialists, everybody in the society is considered equal, meaning that no one is considered superior to others. It is also noted that, in a socialist government, all resources are collectively owned by the people who also determine how the resources are to be utilized for the development of the society. Socialists also believe in equality and, therefore, discourage accumulation of capital in the hands of a few according to Wallerstein (73). China is a good example of a socialist state, which has also practiced the liberal system of government. Germany a nd the U.K. are another classical example of a country that have practiced both socialism and liberalism (Wallerstein 76). Liberalism is a political ideology which believes in the freedom of people in the society (Wallerstein 74). This implies that it is opposed to any restrictions on people in the society. According to liberalists, the state has the power to control all industries with the aim of eliminating malpractices. However, unlike in a socialist system that discourages private ownership of property, liberalists encourage private ownership of property (Wallerstein 75). The liberalist economic system, like a socialist system, is also structured in a manner the ensures fair distribution of national resources to every individual in the society as noted by Wallerstein (75). However, in a liberalist system, the activities of private welfare is regulated by the government or laws aimed at barring them from exploiting their

Friday, November 15, 2019

Postmodern Characteristics Works Of Young British Artists Cultural Studies Essay

Postmodern Characteristics Works Of Young British Artists Cultural Studies Essay Got their fame in the early 1990s, the Young British Artists (YBAs) is known as a group of highly publicized British avant-garde artists active from the late 1980s (Chilvers, 1999). In this research essay, the works of two leading artists of the YBAs, Marcus Harvey and Damien Hirst, will be mentioned and analyzed within the context of postmodern theories. The evident postmodern characteristics being discussed in the four art pieces is pluralism. Marcus Harvey (1963-now) is an English artist and painter and a leading member of YBAs; his pieces cited and analyzed in this essay are Myra (Fig. 1) and Toilet Roll (Fig. 2). Both of the two paintings are the representation of an object with blurred lines and pieces, seemingly as if the macro images are composed by tiny units and sections. The composition of the paintings and the fuzzy impressions has largely corresponded to the meaning of pluralism in postmodern theories. Damien Hirst (1965-now) is a close friend of Marcus Harvey, he is the most prominent member of YBAs and most of his works focus on the theme of Death (National Galleries of Scotland n.d.). In this essay, two of his works being analyzed are the painting LSD (Fig. 3) and the sculpture For the Love of God (Fig.4). In these two art pieces, LSD is constructed using a grid of dots of different colors while For the Love of God is consisted of human skull, platinum, and diamond. These pieces illustrate how single elements can produce new meanings when being composed together or re-arranged, similar as Harveys works, these art pieces are also a reflection of pluralism in postmodern viewpoint. In postmodernism, the word pluralism is generally used to describe the multiplicity of meaning and the status of a mixture and disorder (Bohman 1999) of culture, identities, ideologies, worldviews, religions etc. in postmodern era, it embraces the idea of fragmentation or incoherence in contemporary world. Body Pluralism is literally defined as the quality or state of being plural (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2010), which is in contrary of dualism. As we learned from the course, pluralism within postmodern practice is not only apparent within its political content but also in the strategies, processes and the styles within the works themselves. Looking back to all the theories and argumentations on postmodernism, it is easily observed that the common ground among all the discourses is to admit the chaos, disorder, fragmentation, and even meaningless of any subject from my perspective, the balance of disorder and order is a representation of what we called pluralism. Doubtlessly, pluralism has become a dominant tendency in every aspect of modern life in the backdrop of globalization and commercialization tide. According to Milbrandt (2003), the characteristics of postmodern world have directly triggered the emergence of popular culture and postmodern art forms such as visual art, on the other hand, conceptual barriers between so-called high and low culture have broken down due to the evolution of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). In one word, to study todays artistic creations in turns of different postmodern characteristics, such as pluralism, will provide us a comprehensive understanding of postmodernism theories as well as postmodern lives/practices. Speaking of the arena of art, more specifically, the YBAs, those conceptual artists, painters, sculptors and installation artists are noted for their shocking and creative tactics in making art; and as reported by The Guardian (14 June 2000), they dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. By analyzing the four works I cited in this essay, I hold the viewpoint that as typical Young British Artists works, those art pieces from Marcus Harvey and Damien Hirst have notably demonstrated and reflected the qualities of pluralism. Myra (Fig. 1) is one of the most famous and disputed works by Marcus Harvey, it is the portrait of a child killer Myra Hindley recreated from multiple copies of childrens handprints. In this artwork, numerous childrens handprints seem to cover and claw at Hindleys face and shape a unique situation: on the one hand, the image of her face is composed by those handprints; while on the other hand, those tiny palms also obliterate her features. It is commended by The Guardian Weekend (Burn, 1997) that this artwork brings the chill of horror we feel but can rarely express and suggests the coolness that is, the affectless-ness; the loss of sensation; the stray; the cold stoniness in the work itself. Connecting it with postmodern theories, one can easily catch the smell of pluralism in Myra. As Hughes (2004) and Knoper (2008) summarized (though the idea is originated from Lyotard), postmodern art represents the death of so-called meta-narratives maintained in modern society and adopts plur alism to replace dualism, thus create a sense of chaos and disorder in meanings. Such is what we read from the controversial artwork Myra, in which the tiny units are both creating and destroying the whole iconic image, based on this, varied and more in-depth meanings are conveyed. Toilet Roll (Fig. 2) is another artwork by Marcus Harvey and from which we can also find evidence of pluralism. Ang (2006) points out that, the status of pluralism and the imitation of an existed style lead to things like pastiche (an empty copy), which is an idea that suggests little of the implied depth. Toilet Roll the painting is a reflection of such death of depth I personally dont think the image in this artwork conveys much aesthetic delight, nor it is as meaningful and thought provoking as Myra. However, when we look at the fuzzy images and small blocks in the picture, a sense of meaningless and confusion is generated in readers mind. In other words, from my perspective, no/little value or meaning is the meaning of this work. LSD (Fig. 3) by Damien Hirst might be the one among the four artworks that represents pluralism most apparently and directly: a grid of dots of different colors, a simple mixture of plural elements. Similar to many postmodern paintings, one cannot easily grasp what the artist wants to express in this painting. Villeneuve Erickson (2008) point out that contemporary art cannot be judged simply by whether they are representational or attractive, and contemporary artists tend to use unconventional materials and touch difficult topics (such as sexuality, patriotism, and religion), which all present obstacles in understanding. So as to LSD, readers can have numerous interpretations to the grid of dots from varied perspectives. Those perceptions express the complex and different cultural backgrounds and social identities of the appreciators as well create the multi-dimensionality in interpretation (Song, 2009), which reveals a broader pluralism beyond the painting format itself. Besides, t he interdisciplinary mediations and analysis (Trafà ­-Prats, 2009) of contemporary art also reflects the spirit of pluralism (i.e. the interpretation of LSD may touch upon the field of music, political science, cultural studies, religious studies, etc.). For the Love of God (Fig.4) is a sculpture by Damien Hirst produced in 2007, it consists of human skull, platinum cast, and 8,601 diamonds (Hirst unveils  £50m diamond skull, 2007). Besides the value of the material itself, the artistic value of this sculpture is also precious. George Steiner (2001) claimed in his book Grammars of Creation, the age such as ours is an age of ugliness the violence, oppression, economic enslavement and social irrationality. And this artwork For the Love of God shows a hope for beauty in this age of ugliness and death and is a restoration of respect for God (Moore, 2004). The materials used in this sculpture are shock, contrasting and creative, and when Hirst constitutes the skull, the platinum, and the diamonds together, they successfully create new meanings with sharp impacts such is an aspect of pluralism, that the single distinct elements can produce an organic whole. Conclusion In conclusion, all these four art pieces analyzed in this essay is a good demonstration of pluralism in postmodern context. As artistic works created by British avant-garde artists in the post-1990s era, they successfully used some tactics and gimmicks to produce and convey what I would call a sense of nonsense and a sense of confusion and shock to the audience. It is not surprising that all the works can easily find a niche in postmodern interpretations, not only because they were produced in the context and with the idea of postmodern thoughts, but also because we are trying to read them from a postmodern perspective. Nonetheless, although it is hard to elaborate in details what aesthetic feelings or experiences they create to audience, because each individual has his/her own judgment on artistic (especially postmodern artistic) works and also because postmodern fine art is often anti-aesthetic, it is still possible to reach a better understanding of them besides the sense of nonsense, confusion and shock. From my perspective, those works in general expressed the artists concern on the spurt of modern technology, industrialization and commercialization, as well as the loss of meaning and depth in postmodern way of life, which are the eternal focuses of all forms of postmodern fine art.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Big Bang Theory Essay -- Science Astronomy Scientific Essays

The Big Bang Theory There have been many theories concerning what the universe looks like, how it became this way, and where it is going. The most popular theory that people hold today is that the universe began when all the matter ever present in the universe was contained in a tiny speck and that spec exploded. This is known as the Big Bang. This theory has developed a great deal since it was first conceptualized and continues to evolve today. Many different scientists have had a hand in this. Throughout time people have held different ideas of what the universe looks like, from the Aristotelian universe centered around the Earth to the Copernican universe with our Sun at the center. After Sir Isaac Newton invented physics, natural philosophers started to think that perhaps at one time there were no planets or stars but a cloud of matter. Then the gravity that is inherent to matter, which is what Newton explained, pulled the matter together into clumps and that is how the stars and planets formed. There has also been the question of how old the universe is. Until the theory of the Big Bang the most widely held belief was that which the Catholic church taught, that is that the world was created on October 23 at 9 o’clock in the morning 4004BCE. This is the date that Newton himself would have been taught. This was obtained by Archbishop James Ussher going through the Bible and recounting the generations of people born from Adam and Eve all the way up to Jesus. Scientists before the publication of Newton’s Principia did not argue this number, simply because they had no way of testing and refuting it. (Gribbin, 11) After Newton’s work, the scientific community finally had a place to start. Newton himself stated that a ... ...tant because it gives us a good scientific basis for the beginning of the universe and a tool to use to see how it will progress. The big bang may not give a beginning as precise as 9 o’clock October 23 4004 BCE, but we truly do believe that it is a great deal more accurate. References: - Gribbin, John. The Birth of Time. Yale University Press. New Haven. 1999. pp.221 - Goldsmith, Donald. The Runaway Universe. Perseus Books. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2000. pp. 222 - Parker, Barry. The Vindication of the Bid Bang. Plenum Press. New York. 1993. pp. 339 - Trefil, James S. The Moment of Creation, Charles Scribner’s Sons. New York. 1983. pp. 217 - Schaefer Dr. Henry "Fritz" III. "The Real Issue, Stephen Hawking, The Big Bang, and God". 1994. Online. n. page Apr 20 2001. Available http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9404/bigbang.html

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Greco-Persian Navy War

During the Greco-Persian war (500 B. C. – 449 B. C), many battles took place in this bloody war. Battles were fought on land and at sea. Sea battles played a major role during the war. The Athenian Fleet was among the most sophisticated and powerful navies to date that time. The Persian Armada seemed unbeatable with its vast number of ships and soldiers. The Athenian Navy had a higher kill ratio than the massive Persian Fleet. The Persians and the Athenians both used that same type of ship for sea battles, the trireme. A trireme was warship used in ancient civilizations.They were wooden ships powered by mostly men with oars. The strucural integrity of these ships was remarkable. The average trireme with a length of 120 ft. could hold about 40 tons. These ships weighed about 2,200 pounds. The hull was composed of small yet dense planks held together by interlinking edges. Due to their inovative design these vessels were able to reach top speed reaching almost 10 mph. In the fro nt of the vessel was the primary armament of the ship, the bronze battering ram. The secondary armament included spearmen and bowmen. The two main tactics of naval warfare during ancient times were boarding or ramming.When boarding, the oarsmen on one boat would board the enemy boat and fight to the death. When raming, you would manuever around enemy and strike the enemy ships from the side in order to sink their ships. The Athenian generals were highly effective with their tactics. The Battle of Salamis Like the Battle of Thermopylae, the Greeks were largely outnumbered in the Battle of Salamis. They faced an overwhelmingly large number of Persian ships. The Athenian Fleet Force included according to Herodotus, 366 triremes. The Persian Armada however, included 1,207 triremes. The Athenians were facing a seemingly unstopable force.However, in middle 480 B. C, a storm arose and destroyed one third of Darius’s fleet. The Greeks had two commnaders, Themistocles of Athens and Eu rybiades of Sparta. The commanders of the Persian Fleet were Xerxes of Persia, Artemisia of Caria, and Xerxes’s brother Ariabignes. Artemisia was the only commander in Xerxes’s force to be female. Xerxes’s brother Ariabignes perished in the Battle of Salamis. The Persian’s primary tactic for this battle was to overwhelm the Athenian Navy with their massive armada. Xerxes wanted to end the conquest of Greece in a single military campaign.The Persians were better sailors; they had experienced men and ships that had fought before. The Greeks had unexperienced sailors and new ships. Statisticaly speaking, in an open sea battle, the overwhelming number of Persian ships and experienced sailors should unquestionably defeat the Athenian Navy. The Greeks without many choices had to defend the Island of Salamis. If the Greeks wanted any chance in winning, they would have to bring the Persians someplace where the number of ships would no longer be a variable. Themis tocles sailed his navy to the narrow straits of Salamis in order to constrict Xerxes’s fleet.Once they came through the narrow path, the Spartan Navy began attacking along with the Athenians. The battle was brutal and long. Persians sent wave after wave of triremes to devastate the Greeks. Their efforts were futile for the Greeks had a better tactical position, which was to defend the coast. Persian admiral Ariabignes had died early in the battle. This caused much perplexity among the Persian ships. Confused and without their admiral, their strategy began to fall apart. Artemisia, realizing defeat was imminent, attacked a Persian trireme to trick the Greeks into thinking she was an ally so she could flee.She succesfuly escaped with the conscience of leaving her men to die in battle. The Persians quickly retreated to avoid further losses. Xerxes was furius; upset at the astonishingly incomprehensible loss of his massive fleet. After the battle he said ‘’my men hav e become women, and my women men’’. This Greek victory played a major role in the winning of the war. The battle of Salamis also gave prestige to Athenians and their allies. They now had the most powerful navy in the World. Their navy’s kill/death ratio had rissen by 480%; they were precise, efficient, and above all lethal.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How does Shakespeare use language in Hamlet to teach the reader valuable lessons in life Essays

How does Shakespeare use language in Hamlet to teach the reader valuable lessons in life Essays How does Shakespeare use language in Hamlet to teach the reader valuable lessons in life Paper How does Shakespeare use language in Hamlet to teach the reader valuable lessons in life Paper Hamlet is written during the Elizabethan period . The tragedy , Hamlet was written at a time of intellectual and political controversy . Hamlets popularity is global and it is one of Shakespeares frequently performed plays. Hamlets popularity is due to its artistic exuberance, rich and varied incidents, characters and language. Shakespeare has deep insight into human nature and can intrigue and excite the reader or the audience . Shakespeares plays are written specially to be acted on the stage . Performances took place in the open air and spectators were seated all around the stage. Shakespeare richly depicts his interest in his own profession . Obvious examples include the players and the play-within-a-play to reveal Claudiuss guilt resonates with the language and the imagery of the theatre . Shakespeares Tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is based on a 12th century tale by Saxo Grammaticus, which Shakespeare most certainly never saw, and is part of a spate of revenge dramas which were extremely popular around the turn of the seventeenth century. Hamlet was written in the 17th Century . In Elizabethan times revenge was taught to be noble and man made . According to the Elizabethans there could only be order only if man could control his passions . During the Elizabethan times elevated passages reflected philosophical thoughts . These thoughts were often spoken in verse . Rhyme was also used to convey the anxiety and passion . There was no real scenery and so setting was created through magic words . In Elizabethan times tragedy only occurred when the person was initially good and there is some tragic flaw in him which leads to his downfall . Shakespeare has cleverly used soliloquies in his plays to express the characters feelings in that situation. Using soliloquy was a literary tradition used in the olden plays to make all the readers be engrossed in the play and so that they can get in to the most possible depth and understand the hidden meaning . A kind of inner debate is portrayed through the use of soliloquies. The reader is able to gain direct experience of Hamlets inner world. to be or not to be The complexity of his thoughts and ambiguity of his actions appear life like . His intellectual energy and alertness made the action more comprehensible. Shakespeares language complexes the reader but it has deep meaning in them . He uses similes and metaphors that are the lifeblood in all his plays . In Hamlet imagery has been used, descriptive style has been used through out the play . The language used by Shakespeare is full of variety , sometimes enigmatic . Shakespeare genius and mastery of language helped the reader to appreciate Hamlets inner turmoil and to share his trauma . This play is a family drama and since we are all family members, it sustains our interest . The focus is on family relationships like brother , sister ,father and son, daughter and mother, etc . We also understand the importance of friendship , In this play in the 1ST Act the reader is informed that the King of Denmark was murdered by His own brother Claudius . Claudius wanted to rule Denmark and so fulfilled his greed by murdering his own brother . Shakespeare also includes super natural element his fathers ghost . His fathers ghost commands him to take his revenge. So this play depicts the sons turmoil and how he delays to take his actions. To obey our parents is the primary duty of each and every child . A child is been taught till today in school that he should always respect his elders and obey them as they will be successful in their lives if they are obedient and can also pass this on to the next generation . Shakespeare conveys the lesson of being obedient through many ways . One of the ways is when Leartes warns Ophelia about Hamlet . A violet in the youth of primary nature , Forward not permanent , sweet, not lasting. The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal . In this case colours have been created here through the words violet . Images of the spring season have been created . Shakespeare uses this phrase as it was proverbial as well as associated with love . This is one of the ways Shakespeare involved the reader in the play . Adjectives have also been used in this line sweet . All this is done to create an image in the readers eyes . These lines emphasizes that Hamlets love was short lived and not lasting because as Hamlet grew up he became wiser . The words youth of primary nature emphasizes that love is youthful and not long-lasting. Leartes also cautions Ophelia His greatness weighed , his will is not his own For he himself is subject to his birth For on his choice depends The safety and the wealth of this whole state. Leartes makes Ophelia aware that as he is the king he has to please everyone . Hamlet cant choose to marry because he is the prince and he has to marry in the interest of the state. Leartes is a typical protective brother as he warns her of Hamlet. We learn from this the relationship of the brother and sister . He also says Fear it Ophelia , fear it my dear sister. And keep you in the rear of your affection Out of the shot and danger of desire This line tells the reader that Leartes warns her that Hamlet might take advantage of her innocence . Shakespeare cleverly uses images of treasure , war , masks and disease as sexual metaphors when Leartes warns his sister against losing her virginity to Hamlet or lose your heart or your chaste treasure open to this unmastered opportunity . This is a lesson to the reader that he should always listen to his elders as they are more experienced and know more than us . Polonius even warns Ophelia about Hamlet and this part even shows us the importance of being obedient and always listening to our elders . Shakespeare has used a variety of language techniques here to make the reader learn valuable lesson about obedience . Shakespeare begins with a Rhetorical Question . What is between you ? Give me up the truth . Polonius too warns Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet as he could deceive her at any moment and as he was the king his primary duty was to look after the needs of the people . Shakespeare also uses a simile . Affection ? pooh ! You speak like a green girl . A green girl is a girl who is inexperienced . So Shakespeare uses this to compare Ophelia to an inexperienced girl . This word green refers to the reader as he too is inexperienced and he should always listen to his elders . Shakespeare creates stunning imagery which helps the reader visualize the situation . Or not to crack the wind of the poor phrase The image is of a horse or over exertion of a hound which will get the stitch . Shakespeare has used strong comparisons . Ay, springs to catch woodcocks Wood cock was a foolish bird that fell into snares . So in this case he compares Ophelia to a woodcock . When the blood burns , how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows He tells her that in youth any body will say anything , but it is up to her that she should not believe them set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parle Polonius tells her that she should have her own dignity. Its very important for a person to have his or her dignity because others will respect him / her . She should also be at a commanding position. for Lord hamlet , Believe so much in him that he is young, Do not believe his vows . For they are brokers. He warns Ophelia that she should be careful of Hamlet as he could take advantage of her innocence . In this case Shakespeare uses comparison again . This time he compares Hamlet to brokers . I appreciate his comparison as Polonius was confident that Hamlet would break her daughters heart and all the vows and promises they had taken . Ophelia unwillingly acknowledges her father and replies I shall obey my lord . I appreciate her courage as she is ready to sacrifice her love and submits herself to her fathers instructions . There is one more character who shows the reader that he is loyal to his father . That is Hamlet . In Act 1 scene 5 Shakespeare has made use of supernatural elements his fathers ghost. His father commanded him to take revenge against the serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears the crown He promised his father that he will take revenge. Hamlet was in a state of confusion whether or not take the revenge . He knew that it taking away a persons life was not in his hands , it was all on All Mighty . His conscience prevented him to do such a devious thing. Still he took revenge to show the reader that he obeys his father. Another way we know about his obedience is when his fathers ghost tells him Taint not thy mind , nor let my soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven. His fathers ghost commanded him to leave his mother alone to the heaven. When he had a conversation with his mother , he never harmed her but persuaded her to introspect herself. He also forced her to confess that she was responsible for his fathers death. Confess yourself to heaven. Friendship is an in-depth relationship combining trust, support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy. In friendship trust lies on each other and they share their feelings with each other . One lesson which we learn is about friendship . Shakespeare has conveyed this lesson for the reader through many ways . One of the way is through Leartes and Polonius . In this situation Leartes is departing to France and Polonius instructs him about what kind of friends he should have . These instructions resembles of a typical father who advices his son when he goes out for future studies . The first thing Polonius tells him The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail . Shakespeare uses stunning language techniques when he portrays some very valuable lessons which could be applied in our lives. He makes use of Personification here . Polonius tries to tell Leartes that nature is favoring him that he should go out of the country to study . Shakespeare gives the wind the quality to sit . look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue. This line emphasizes that a person should think before he / she speak because if you dont think the other person might have a wrong impression about you . This is a lesson for the reader that he should think before he speaks . Be thou familiar , but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast and their adoption to them Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel Harsh words have been used by Shakespeare vulgar. Shakespeare has used harsh words so that the reader learns that a person should not be rude in friendship and you should not offend your friends as they are an integral part of your life . This line conveys the message that we should be pleasant in our friendship when dealing with others and that we should not become cheap with the common people . The 2nd sentence teaches the reader that we should not be overfriendly with someone as there could be disagreements between friends . But do not dull thy palm with entertainment . Negative words like dull have been used to emphasize on the point that your friendship should not be meaningless . We should also be very selective while choosing our friends. We should not be with bad company but with true friends who will help us out . So we should only shake our hands with those people who are our true friends . This is again a lesson for the reader. be aware of entrance to quarrel . but being in beart that th opposed may be aware of thee . Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice Take each mans censure , but reserve thy judgement Harsh words like quarrel used by Shakespeare to depict the fact that in friendship there should be no fights. Words like beware used to caution the reader that quarrel should not exists in friendship . In the 2nd quote the line emphasizes that a man should always listen more and talk less. Another lesson it tells the reader that he should take advice from other people . At last Shakespeare has also used a simile And it must follow , as the night the day . Shakespeares compares that just as the day follows the night , Leartes should also follow the instructions given to him . I appreciate his use of similes , comparisons as they help the reader to visualize the situation . The other characters that depict the importance of friendship are Horatio and Hamlet . Horatio was Hamlets close friend . A friend is whom we share our feelings and they are the ones who give us suggestions if we are facing any crisis . Horatio also warns Hamlet when he was following a ghost : Do not my lord What if it tempt you toward the flood , my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff Horatio warns him that he should not believe in hallucinations as it could harm him or drive him into madness . This shows his concern for his friend. Horatio used to support Hamlet at every ups and downs . A friend is someone who we can trust up on. Horatio was worthy to be trusted by Hamlet . The reader knows about it in the 1st Act when Hamlet tells them to swear that they wont tell anything about the ghost. Ay by heaven my lord . Horatio kept his secret and till the end he did not tell it to anyone. Hamlet used to admire Hamlet and he shows his admiration as a true friend . Hamlet tells Horatio about friendship and tells him to support him. He tells Horatio For what advancement may I hope from thee , That no revenge hast but thy good spirits Shakespeare has used adjectives while teaching us valuable lessons in life so that its descriptive and it captures the readers attention. good spirits. Hamlet tells to Horatio that he should be friendly with him and not betray him in any way or the other . Hamlet also shares his inner conflict with Horatio. He tells Him Sir in my heart there was a kind of fighting- This shows true friendship as Hamlet shares his emotional disturbance with Horatio as he feel secured with him . Harsh words have been used by Shakespeare fighting to depict Hamlets inner disturbance . Shakespeare has also used characters who dont value friendship at all they are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern . They are a contrast to Hamlet and Horatios friendship . They are the ones who try to deceive Hamlet but failed . They were sent by the King to find about the reason for his madness . Hamlet wanted a friend who would be true to him and not deceive him . By what more dear a better prosper can charge your withal . Shakespeare uses simile to compares those characters who did not value friendship- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern He keeps them like an ape an apple . He compares these two to an apple kept so that the King could extract all information from them . The reader also learns the importance of prayer . Prayer is very necessary as we should thank God for all we have . We should also confess to God if we have done something wrong . Claudius is guilty of what he has done and confesses to God . Poetic language used by Shakespeare to show that Claudius was really guilty To wash it white as snow? Where to serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence? He has used similes white as snow . He wants God to wash away all his sins completely . What then ? What rests? What it can it not Shakespeare has used Rhetorical Questions in the play to depict the reader that his state of mind was in confusion . Imagery has been created through Shakespeares choice of words heart with strings of steel The reader imagines his heart strings have hardened to steel as a result of the crime . Introspection is necessary as a person would be able to find out whether was he correct or wrong . It was a literary tradition to convey the character of the person . This above all :to thine own self be true . This is the most important line as it portrays that whatever we do , we should be answerable to conscience . If we do something superior than we will be able to answer our conscience and will not be ashamed of what we have done. In Hamlet Shakespeare has used Soliloquy to tell us about the characters feelings at that time and this helps us to judge the character of Hamlet. o what a rogue am I Hamlet humiliates himself . He also asks himself questions am I coward? who calls me villain? He condemns himself for not taking any action against Claudius . why , what an ass am I. Shakespeare has used rhetorical questions which depict the reader the state of confusion he was in and the inner conflict he was facing at that situation. Hamlet asks himself many questions through out the play. to be or not to be- Hamlet was wondering to take the revenge or not. This is an important lesson to the reader that he should ask himself a string of questions to test whether he was right or wrong .

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Trafalgar Company

The Trafalgar Company The organization’s mission, vision and new business strategy: For fifty- years Trafalgar Company had a very successful tradition of producing a popular consumer product. Its name and its product were synonymous in public’s mind due to its quality and strong market position. Its basic product is sold throughout the world and can be used in variety of applications.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Trafalgar Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Initially, the competition came mainly from American and Japanese companies and also from German and English producers. However, with its superb distribution system and centralised manufacturing, the competitors were not able to provide the wide range of quality product and consumer services. Now the company is facing competition from worldwide producers, the quality and price of the competitive products are threatening the company’s market position. T rafalgar’s fundamental principle was to maintain the market share, as a result demanded price adjustments, due to the current market situation. The core Mission of the company is to retain the strong market position that the company use to have before the onset of the worldwide competition by providing quality product at less than the price of the competitor and to retain the faith of its customers. The company’s vision is to provide the market with the better quality product at more affordable price than the competitors. Create an outstanding value for the customers and the stakeholders. Regularly researching and developing new and better products. Always stay ahead from the competitors. And in achieving the vision not forgetting the man force that helped in the success of the company’s Mission. For achieving this, the company has to make drastic changes in the current work practise in the company. It needs to reduce the personnel, find people who are really br ight and competent and who share the same vision. Increase productivity by developing new cost effective manufacturing methods. Earlier, each and every product was produced internally, resulting in higher cost of production. But now they have to look for suppliers and reduce its cost. They have to create a customer centric business model. They need to carry out customer-driven novelty and to be close to the customers. They also need to listen to their customers and associate with them and establish better customer value.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Impact of the new organizational model on the human resources strategy: To support the organisational goal in an effective manner, the human resource department also has to make major changes in their strategy. They should move from purely transactional role to more tactical role that is accepted, appreciated and che rished by the organization. In broad summary, the new strategy should be based on the four key themes: Transforming the way deferent departments does the business by: Integrating their activities more closely Changing the balance of work and head count Making worth appointments and helping those appointed to thrive Updating current systems and developing new and more effective ones. Clearly defining functions, accounting and measurement systems. Focusing on performance and delivery in operations. Monitoring and measuring progress by reporting system that is based on relevant and transparent performance indicators. Taking the unique business and support role the departments have with the company to a higher level and occupying the logical and influential high ground in humanitarian diplomacy (Human Resource Management Strategy, n.d., Para 3) People are the company’s primary asset and the company’s directive can only be realised through the ability, zeal and dedica tion of its staff. The HR practices need to be improved in how to recruit and develop staff; the working conditions the company offers; and the manner in which they readily embrace the fundamental principles and humanitarian values of the company. ((Human Resource Management Strategy, n.d., Para 5) The HR department should make sure that all appointees should go through intensive induction and training in the company. It should recruit, place and develop high quality international managers. HR department should ensure that the salaries and benefits remain competitive for this purpose benchmarking exercise should be carried out from time to time (Human Resource Management Strategy, n.d., Para 6). HR department should have strong and innovative systems, procedure and practices that should be fair, comprehensive and transparent.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Trafalgar Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Desi gn a staffing strategy that will meet the needs of the organizations changing work environment: Strategic staffing is the process of knowing and dealing with the staffing implications of business plans and strategies. Following are some tactics to be followed for staffing which will be suitable in the company’s changing work environment (Bechet, n.d., Para 2): Classify the number and types of employees who are required to execute such plans effectively. Knowing about the staffing resources which are currently available. Analyzing the supply of talent which will be available at that point when requirements have been defined as retirements, planned movement etc. Recognising difference between damand and supply. Creating and executing staffing plans which are helpful to remove talent gaps and reduce extras. Implementing more pragmatic approaches to strategic staffing can give high quality results that organizations need (Bechet, n.d., Para 8).Following are some more ways to im prove the strategic staffing process: Staffing should not be considered from an implementation perspective. It is also a planning perspective (Bechet, n.d., Para 11). Orgnisations feel that plans should be created for each and every unit but this should not be the case rather focus should be only on those areas where strategies are really required (Bechet, n.d., Para 12 13). If each unit is said to provide the same information regarding staffing where common template is being used, at the same time, in the same year, then it brings consistency to the approach. Keeping this in mind, the HR staffing manager should tailor the process for each issue (Bechet, n.d., Para 17). The HR staffing manager should focus on a particular position not all positions. Generally some organisations try to develop staffing strategies which include all jobs though every job does not require to be dealt with from a strategic perspective. While applying such strategy the organisation needs to be proactive and it also needs time to respond (Bechet, n.d., Para 19). While creating staffing strategies, the plans should be kept separate and distinctive. The HR staffing manager should create plans which are at the same level as the company’s problem solution (Bechet, n.d., Para 24). The HR staffing manager should define the staffing implications when there is any change expected (Bechet, n.d., Para 28). His focus should be on planning not reporting (Bechet, n.d., Para 30). Whatever data exists should be used fully (Bechet, n.d., Para 37). Reference List Bechet, TP. Developing Staffing StrategiesThat Work: Implementing Pragmatic, Nontraditional Approaches. Retrieved from http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UN/UNPAN021815.pdf Human resource management strategy. International Federation of Red Cross and Red  Crescent Societies. Retrieved from https://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/annual10/MAA0003410p.pdf

Monday, November 4, 2019

Plato, Euthyphro, Plato, Apology, Plato, Crito, Martin Luther King, Essay

Plato, Euthyphro, Plato, Apology, Plato, Crito, Martin Luther King, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Plato, Meno, Plato Phaedo - Essay Example There are many lessons that modern day philosophers can learn from Socrates and his commitment to seek Knowledge through Philosophy. One important lesson derived from the experience of Socrates devotion to knowledge and truth. Socrates is one of the few individuals to die for what they believe in. This teaches modern philosophers that no other external force should be able to stop one from seeking knowledge and truth, even if it means death (Morrison 123). Through his life, Socrates sought knowledge by raising questions about almost anything, giving lectures and holding public discussions in order to help other people understand philosophy. Socrates also challenged conventional actions in the society by questioning everything in order to evoke critical thinking among Athenians. Socrates urged people to examine their own lives in order to fine good purposes for living meaningful lives. Socrates behavior a philosopher is engaged with Athenians at different levels through intellectual discussions that aimed at unveiling meaningful truth and knowledge. His behavior provoked people to become critical thinkers. From what is documented in the Apology and Phaedo, philosophy is all about seeking knowledge through raising fundamental questions that will lead to an understanding of the society and everything around us. It is necessary to live a Socratic life in order to be a true philosopher. Thus is because Socrates provided a good example for one to seek knowledge. This is based on acceptance of one’s ignorance and willingness to learn. The Socratic Method refers to a dialectical approach of seeking knowledge through raising and responding to questions in a discussion with other people. It involves a debate where a particular point of view is critically analyzed open-mindedly in an attempt to unveil new knowledge and

Friday, November 1, 2019

Role of social media for business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Role of social media for business - Essay Example All this information is of great value to websites that we visit. Social networks operate on the development of tools to help marketers reach their goals through a time where people spend a significant penalty of their time in the use of these sites as Facebook Twitter Instagram etc. To begin with, social media helps to know the target customers, such as data that put by them in Facebook, such as age, nationality, geographical location, educational attainment, and tastes in entertainment choices and brands Favorites. All of these data allows marketers to get close to their customers and more than enable companies marketing their products easily. An example of this is the oil companies, Apple, television channels, magazines and newspapers companies, perfumes, makeup health tools, medicines and slimming products. Moreover, Social networking sites help to improve the quality because it can compare each company between its products and products of other companies and read peoples opinions and comments on networking sites. For example comparisons between Smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung. Not only the major companies that will promote itself through social networking sites, but also ordinary people who have small businesses or working from inside their homes and who cannot afford to pay huge amounts of money for advertising about their companies or do not have sufficient funds to support their business, So social media is a very effective tool for them. To support this fact I would like to share my own example. Two years back I started working as freelancer for cake decoration. I did not have enough sources to run my freelancing work but at that time social media helped me to reach at the people and I generated so many customers online for me. I started promoting my work on Instagram I open an account and I added some photographs of