Community College Essay

Community college is made up of an atmosphere of many di? erent categories. We have your tradi? onal, untradi? onal, veterans, and single parents. Some are there to transfer and some to get an associate’s degree while one of the biggest reasons is because they simply cannot a? ord the university price. â€Å"John Holt† (Three Kinds of Discipline) is very compliable with the categories in a community college. You need a great deal of discipline to succeed here reality sets in and if you are not disciplined then you will fail out and waste a lot of money. You  will always make mistakes while being here but learning from those mistakes is what will make you a be*er student. While you a*end you will create a lot of friendships and several kinds of them. â€Å"Judith Viorst† (Friends, Good Friends, and Such Good Friends) you will have your convenience friends, your historical friends, opposite sex friends, and in? mate friends. Your tradi? onal students are the students that a*end college right a/er they get out of high school or are under the age of 25. untradi? onal students are your students that are above the age of 25 and are a*ending college to move up in their job or just wan? ng a career the  needs a type of degree so they go to school. Veterans are a*ending the school to become a higher rank in the military or because they are searching for a new career a/er they 3nish there term. There are also single parents that work a full ? me who a*end the school at night while there kids are at a babysi*ers house or with a friend they go to be promoted in their job the job sends them to get a degree or they could be a young parent who needs to get credits so that they can get a good job to provide for their family. To be disciplined at college could poten? ally be the most important aspect to be a successful student. The reality sets in and students quickly realize they need to discipline themselves to study, do homework, and write essays. Discipline of a superior force is another way students can succeed as well. This may help because fear of disappoin? ng an instructor or a parent. A lot of friends will be made as you a*end college you will have di? erent groups of friends as well. You will have your convenience friends who you see as you are wai? ng in between classes and small talk about li*le things some of them you get along with and talk every day and others you’ll talk with once a week and possibly never even get their name. You  have your historical friends who you have grown up with since elementary school and can talk about anything with these are the friends you hand out with out of school with you go out to par? es with, watch spor? ng events and 7at out just hang out with. You meet some friends that are the opposite sex as you these are the ones who you may try a li*le too hard to impress or you might get along great with them great you may even become in? mate friends which is being in a rela? onship with them you could even possibly marry them. These are the categories that make up the atmosphere of community college and the kinds of students that make it up.

Flooding in South Africa Essay

Most floods take hours or days to develop, giving residents enough time to prepare or evacuate. Others happen quickly and with little warning. These flash floods can be extremely dangerous and cause major damage to the landscape and the habitants of such an area. Disaster specialists have various ways of classifying floods according to their likelihood of occurring and the intensity of the flood. A hundred-year flood, for example, is an extremely large, destructive event that would theoretically be expected to happen only once every century. Heavy rain in a short period of time in the part of South Africa, caused more than hundreds of people to be homeless by heavy flooding. Floods caused many to seek refuge on rooftops and on trees. This catastrophe killed more than hundreds of people causing the death toll to rise. Recently these floods caused evacuation of the Kruger National, a game reserve in Northern South Africa. Floods also covered some farmlands and crops were killed as a result forcing farms to close. Most of the roads, dams and large buildings were damaged. Due to flooding some mines were forced to close, this the case of a coal mines in Limpopo. Floods frequently causes major infrastructure damage of roads, railway lines, electricity supply systems, water supply and sewage disposal systems. Bribges over rivers are particularly exposed to damage and disruption of transportation systems follows. The economic effects of flooding are often greater than the flood itself. (Parker 2000) According to Parker (2000) be cause floods frequently destroy crops and livestock, food shortages are not uncommon in the aftermath. Floods may affect food availability in a number of ways. Food stocks may be damaged if storage areas are flooded. Serious flooding usually disrupts transportation of food deficit areas, particularly in towns, which are cut off from supply sources and have inadequate food stock. Impacts of flooding may hinder the economic growth and development that is the high cost of relief and recovery may adversely impact investment in infrastructure and other development activities in the area and in certain cases may cripple the frail economy of the of the region. Recurrent flooding in a region may discourage long-term investments by the government and private sector alike. Lack of livehoods, combined with migration of skilled labour and inflation may have a negative impact on a region’s economic growth. Loss of resource can lead to high costs of goods and services, delaying its development programmes. (Drep operation international federation of Red Cross and crescent societies). Figure 2 three kid were during floods in Limpopo As discussed under various perspectives, it is clear from the assignment that floods had adverse impact on the socio-economic status of livehoods for people in South Africa more especially the residents of Limpopo. It is also evident that there are varying underlying causes of floods i South Africa. Places near the flood event are the most susceptible to the dangers of the floods. Proximity of these places and poverty were identified as being the main cause of vulnerability of people

The number of people skiing has increased steadily for the past 100 years

The number of people skiing has increased steadily for the past 100 years. The ever popular sport was started by the English people visiting the Alps. Where people went skiing, resorts started to spring up and businessmen saw the opportunity to make money and started to expand these. These resorts started to bring in many opputunities for the locaal people to work in. Employment in these areas has increased drastically. For example, anyone who decides to visit the resort will have to stay in a hotel. These hotels may be run by an out of country firm but many of the employees would be from the surrounding villages. They would need bar staff, waiters, cleaners, chefs, receptionists, caretakers and managers. The same would go for a restaurant, this would need a manager, waiters, cleaners, and chefs. Many of these new properties that have business lead to multiple job opurtunities. Most of the employees would be local and live here all year. However, although up to 95% of the resorts workforce will be local, the skilled,high paid jobs would be taken by foreigners. Also the all year round businesses would change to become specialised in the few months to maximise the opportunity to make money. A normal sports shop would become specialised in a ski hire shop. The shop would have extra staff which again is an advantage to the local people. Also many people will either bring their children or will be first time skiers and will need an instructor. These people charge à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 for a week of training. This means that the ywill again bring in money for the local economy. Many people will leave their children in crà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ches and these will charge a lot of money again for the local people. However the catch is that these jobs are ENTIRLY dependant on the weather. People cannot ski if there is no snow. So apart from the ski season which at best is four months, the town will be like a small village. In the winter there can be thousands of people there. Some people may get replacement jobs in the summer. A ski instructor may become a water skiing intrsuctor. Or the crà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½che operator may become a teacher. Even so the majority of people will be out of work for eight months. Many may move away but to most people this work for four months make them stay. This halts the process of depopulation in these alpine areas. Depopulation means that people move out of an area because they feel they have no future there. The young people of the ski village will no tmove out because of the money to be made by the tourism in the area. Also if the people did move out ski resorts will not be able to operate as almost everything relys on humans. The will also not move out on the grounds that there are no facilities in the village. This is because many people attract banks, supermarkets, hotels etc. So this means that the people who move for better facilities don't need to. But to many people the idea that there is only work for four months is still not good enough. So for this reason many people do still move away. But if they do stay as in many resorts today, during a busy period they will just add to overcrowding. Because of tourism the area will expience prosperity in their economy. The tourist who come are often on self-catering holidays, this means that will need to buy many items of food, they will spend money in supermarkets and in groceries. They may go to a restaurant, they will spend money there. They will spend money on ski equipment, on ski passes, lift passes and to the hotels. All this will improve the economy. All these jobs mean that people have more money than before. If they have more money their standard of living increases and so they spend more money in the village meaning the economy will prosper. However there are some down sides to this resort. For example, all this development is not natural. It leads to the environment being destroyed. If the environment is destroyed many animals will lose their habitats and will have to go elsewhere or face dying. Trees will also have to be cleared which again means that animals will be forced to leave. Another problem that could be faced by the area is the fact that because o fthe increase in the numbers of people, the number of cars and vehicles in the area also increases. This means that air pollution also gets emmited more. This is ironic as this air pollution leads global warming. This leads to the snow line to get higher. If there is less snow then the resort may be open for less time every year and maybe even be closed. This is a disadvantage for the resort. The other problem is that it can be affected by the present state of the worldwide economy. If people are worried that they may not have enough money, the first thing that they cut is a holiday. As many people who go skiing go as a holiday from abroad. This means that the ywill not go to the resorts. This would be disastrous for the resort as it is the only time of the year they can make money. This means that they would have a bad standard of living for that year. What is more is that the people who do come to the resort will spend less freely than they would normally. This is again due to the fact that the economical situation would make them spend less. A ski resort has many advantages and disadvantages. These are some of the main ones.

What qualities, skills, and abilities must physical therapist Essay

What qualities, skills, and abilities must physical therapist assistants possess in order to be effective interdisciplinary team members - Essay Example What qualities, skills, and abilities must physical therapist assistants possess in order to be effective interdisciplinary team members? All Allied Health Schools (2002-2008) states that PTAs must earn an associate degree in physical therapist assisting so that they may practice in their field. They suggest that before starting a PTA program the individual should obtain some experience as a volunteer with a physical therapist or at a nursing home. Having a strong background in biology, chemistry, physics, health, arts, and social sciences is an advantage in their favor. The physical therapist assistant (PTA), works under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist (PT) (Dreeben, 2007). The PT and the PTA collaborate with each other. This collaboration is important for the patient ´s successful rehabilitation and for everyone ´s involved satisfaction. The interdisciplinary team members work together from different disciplines to set goals pertinent to the patient ´s case. Although the team members collaborate in the decision making the evaluations and interventions are done independently. This information may be extrapolated for the physical therapist assistants since this could be a stepping stone for them to take into consideration should they want to rank high in their positions, wish to excel obtaining a higher education degree, and become better prepared in their areas of expertise given the constant changes that are taking place in the field (new technologies, better patient healthcare, better physical therapist assistants).

Torture at Abu Ghraib Followed CIA's Manual Essay

Torture at Abu Ghraib Followed CIA's Manual - Essay Example The contents of the article seemed to be a disturbing masterpiece evidencing proofs of torture from a well respected intelligence organization, the Central Intelligence Agency. The author proffered issues relative to an innovative form of psychological, ‘no-touch’ torture that superceded the infliction of physical pain. Believed to be more effective in soliciting information from ‘subjects’, the discourse finally revealed its devastating and long lasting effect that erodes the stability in psychological state of mind of those subjected to this approach. McCoy was effective in his style of presenting a clear structure through initially detailing the features and methods of the psychological torture to achieve its goals. By providing illustrations through narrative depiction of the details that go through the various stages, readers are moved and made to empathize with the victim. Through the use of citations McCoy tried to objectively indicate the use of this method from the time it was codified in 1963 up to emergent and validated incidents that supported evidence of its application in contemporary times (arrest of Al Qaeda suspects, September 2001; at Bagram Air Base near Kabul, 2002).

Assessment and Measurement Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assessment and Measurement - Personal Statement Example ying to the JMU’s Assessment and Measurement Doctoral program hoping to enjoy such an enriching academic experience that will enable me to graduate as a global citizen. I am particularly interested in studying Assessment and Measurement at the JMU because of the program’s vision of preparing graduates that meet the increasing require need for quality assurance and accountability not only in education but other sectors such as business, healthcare etc. the programs goals of preparing quality graduates through extensive training that combines both theory and practical, conducting high quality scholarship that enhances knowledge for effective practice and providing services that promote professionalism in assessment & measurement attract me to be part of the JMU community. I hope to graduate from the program equipped with skills in designing assessment strategies, performing empirical investigations of new assessment techniques, analysis of empirical data, proper use of assessment outcomes, appropriate strategies to communicate assessment to different audience types and appropriate response to current & new measures of assessment as the world c ontinues to evolve. Currently I hold a bachelors degree from the Kind Khalid University- College of Education specializing in mathematics and a Master’s degree from the University of King Saud in Statistics. I also have an extensive work experience in public service. I also poses professional certification in project management. I have worked as a consultant with the Institute of Public Administration and the ministry of service since September, 2013. I am also a member of the training team at the IPA, have worked with the Ministry of Education since the year 2004 and statistician at the King Saud University. Given my extensive work as a teacher and trainer with different groups as well as educational background in mathematics & statics as well as professional certification in project management I believe I have the

The Katrina response and relief efforts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Katrina response and relief efforts - Essay Example There are several cases illustrating failure to respond effectively to mitigate the damages to life and limb of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans was poverty stricken and at least 120,000 people where without mobility. The mandatory evacuation issued on August 28 by the local officials also made no provisions for helping in evacuating the homeless, sick, carless, elderly, infirm and low-income residents. New Orleans disaster plan called for the mayor to make use of the city school buses to evacuate residents unable to leave on their own but the city never deployed the buses and was subsequently destroyed in the flooding. Amtrak also ran a special schedule to move equipment out of the city but the government declined to take the offer of this agency to take several hundred passengers instead of the scheduled equipment. Evacuees were sent to Louisiana Superdome but the large multitude of refugees was more than overwhelming to volunteers. There were not enough provisions for food, clothing and medicine. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency did indeed provide supplies, the unexpected number of evacuees rapidly depleted the provisions. (Nates & Moyer, 2005) There was visibly an ineffective mechanism in coordinating and managing the evacuation process as the governing agencies failed to respond and implement the provisions in the disaster plan that was available to them. 2)Discuss the reasons why the examples you cited above were or were not successful. Comment specifically on whether you believe that the organizational structure at the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and the Federal government was adequate, including communications, command, and control. (Please refer to the Organization Structure for... Hurricane Camille which battered Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama already demonstrated the vulnerability as did the documentary made by the National Geographic in October 2004 and Scientific American in 2001. What is profound is that when we review other articles, we find one common thread and that is the fact that the disaster was expected though many people did not give enough attention to what mechanisms should be installedHurricane Katrina revealed several interesting individual and community behavior during and after the occurrence of disasters. While many articles were concerned on race and looting issues, it was found that social networks play an important role during the fight to survive the disaster. According to a combined study from the University of Alabama and University of California, it was found that decision-making processes are greatly influenced by social networking. In a survey of 116 evacuees, it was found that it was the social networks that greatly influenced the respondent’s evacuation and planning activities. The role of the media was found to be less important as what many people perceive. Interviewed evacuees state that they became more aware of the severity of the situation as word spread through their social circles. Friends, classmates, neighbors and other acquaintances who gave them information enabled them to prepare more than what they would have from the information they get from radio and television.

The African and Chinese legal systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The African and Chinese legal systems - Essay Example Although, laws are culture specific and effectivity of laws still has to originate between man and the natural law. No amount of positive laws will prosper if the self controlled order is not put into consideration. Human beings as intelligent as ever could not be presumed to have no culture. As human beings, they have their own way of settling conflict amount themselves which are born out of human experience. In both Africa and Chinese laws they have their history to look back. Various events in their history shapes the present Leal legal system under which they operate. They have their historical cultures to look back that point’s evidence to their existence and them the manner they settle conflicts among themselves. The Western denial or branding on African and Chinese laws could not contradict the existence of internally developed wisdom of each culture. Each group of people in the world has its own way of doing things. For other culture not respect another’s cultur e would be me missing the very point of existence. Perhaps the law must have something to do as well with geographical locations because how these people behave socially or individually is also a function of geographical location, where they could be found on earth.

Build Employee Loyalty with Alternative HR Benefits Essay

Build Employee Loyalty with Alternative HR Benefits - Essay Example ed in prioritizing the employees and the members of the workforce is more essential than the operational and maintenance costs that can be saved in having people work in short terms or in laying employees off, which can be considered as the main trend in the current business world due to the different crisis experienced both in the national and the international community (Reichheld & Teal 96). There are different advantages that can be derived from the maintenance and improvement of employee loyalty. One is the improvement in terms of the quality of work delivered by the employees on the basis of different reasons that can be considered as the management techniques of the company. The employees that are satisfied and motivated in the responsibilities held can be considered to positively contribute to the uplifting of the whole organization (Reichheld & Teal 96). Another is the achievement of the important contribution of the employees in the process of maintaining customer loyalty. It had been considered that the loyalty of the clientele of a particular company can significantly be related to the loyalty of the employees. In addition, the importance that is given to the loyalty of the clients should be the same for the loyalty of the employee to be able to achieve the success that the organization is aiming for (Reichheld & Teal 96). In the trade and business, the loyalty of the employees is promoted on the basis of the need to maintain the trade secrets and techniques of a particular company. This is important specifically due to the fact that the clients along with the different methods within an organization are entrusted to an employee. Due to this reason, employees have the responsibility to keep the trust of the company. This can be considered a duty but the quality of work as well as the dedication of the employees can be related to the loyalty which can be incurred through different methods within the administration and management of the company

Modernism in the making Gustav Klimt Essay Example for Free

Modernism in the making Gustav Klimt Essay The early twentieth century is a period that gave rise to a number of artists distinguished as the best in their respective fields. From engravers, to painters, to sculptors and to literary greats, these individuals changed and modified the way their art was made and interpreted. They extended the tradition visions and opened new horizons for the world to better understand art. Gustav Klimt was one of these innovators, an artist that fascinated everyone with his unique style and approach in painting. Gustav Klimt, who lived from July 14, 1862 until February 6, 1918, was born in Baumgarten. He had four sisters and two brothers, and was the second eldest of them all. His father Ernst Klimt was from Bohemia and worked as a gold engraver. At a very early age, Gustav Klimt veered greatly towards art and enrolled at the State School of Applied Arts in Vienna where he studied a field called architectural painting. This led to a career in painting interiors and large ceilings of different public structures. A lot of murals in these buildings were also accredited to Klimt (Fliedl, 2006). In 1897, Klimt’s effect to the art world increased when he and others founded the Vienna Secession, a group of artists dedicated in bringing to the public works of unconventional artists. The group preferred no particular style, and different approaches to art existed under one roof. The movement became a revolt towards academic art style, challenging the views of the conservative fine arts (Sterling and Clark Art Institute, 2002). Throughout his lifetime, Klimt received numerous citations and awards for his contributions to art. One of these is the prestigious Golden Order of Merit from the Emperor Franz Josef. His group the â€Å"Company of Artists†, composed of himself, his brother Ernst, and their friend Franz Matsch also gained praises from both the academic and popular art divisions (Fliedl, 2006). Aside from art, Klimt also had a family by his side, with Emilie Floge as his wife. It is, however, quite known to many that Klimt had several relationships with different women, fathering a total of 14 children (Collins, 2001). But Emilie Floge stayed dedicated to Klimt, being his companion until his death at the relatively young age of 55 (Fliedl, 2006). Gustav’s style was known to many to be a revolution and a transformation from traditional works, and clearly from the common academic teachings of his time. His began developing his personal style at about the same time when the Vienna Secession took shape. It also evident that Klimt was consciously connected with the environment and factors around him that could have influenced his way of thinking. Klimt lived in the town of Vienna during the turn of the century. It was a time where a great battle between different aspects and standards of life was going on. Gilles Neret (1993) described the scene: Artists and intellectuals developed enormous creativity, torn as they were between reality and illusion, between the traditional and the modern. With inhabitants such as Sigmund Freud, Otto Wagner, Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schonberg, the city was a â€Å"Laboratory of the Apocalypse†, a late bloom, a last creative tumult before its decline. (p. 7) It was within this â€Å"laboratory† where Klimt created his work, bringing up a linkage between a passing world of tradition and an emerging one of modernism (Neret, 1993). Just like many other artists in his time, Klimt was challenged to create something totally unique and different, something that would reflect his own feelings and personality. He achieved this by creating art works that are very ornamental. Gold and shiny colors are very much present in his works, such as in the painting entitled â€Å"Adele Bloch-Bauers Portrait†. The portrait depicts a woman in elegancy, covered with a magnificent flowing dress of gold. The background was also painted in gold and yellowish hues. Aside from the colors, several jewelries can also be seen around the subject’s arms and neck. One interesting thing about the painting is the presence of different styles, yet common theme, patterns along the dress of the subject and on the background. These figures composed of eyes, triangles, squares, and circles, are another trademark of the artist. Klimt uses a lot of kaleidoscopic elements in his work. Most of these can be seen as symbolic, and it would take a little more effort to be able to draw the different meanings from Klimt’s works. Another common theme of Klimt’s art is the erotic element in his art. Vienna during those days fostered a languid yet exalted atmosphere which could have encouraged the artist to work a lot on eroticism (Neret, 1993). He is fond of using women as his subjects, and exposes their beauty and sweetness in the form of painting. The effectiveness of this element is manifested perfectly in this work â€Å"Judith I†. This is another image of a woman, also painted in a flavorful golden background. Her neck is covered with a broad ornament, also colored gold. On her hand hangs the head of a man. Although covered with some clothing, a great deal of flesh and skin is blatantly revealed. Also, aside from holding a head, her left hand is positioned as if pushing the part of her dress away, intentionally exposing her right breast. The eroticism of the image is additionally stressed by the sensual expression of the woman: eyes and lips almost showing signs of inner ecstasy and goodness. Nevertheless, Klimt was able to capture the beauty and perfection of a woman, without compensating any single angle on which a woman may be viewed. Klimt’s eroticism, however, became the subject of many critics. One of his greatest controversies is the attack on his murals for a Vienna university due to the bold and pornographic essence they hold (Sterling and Clark Art Institute, 2002). This however, had little effect on Klimt as he continued working with eroticism and women. Personally, I do not find the styles of Gustav Klimt to be a sign of pornography and taboo. Klimt used eroticism to further increase the sensuality of his paintings, adding a new dimension to the flat portrait of his subjects. Also, his use of this element must be seen symbolically and not just as a random factor in his works. Gustav Klimt used a lot of symbols in his paintings, from the kaleidoscopic images to different repeating patterns around and on the subject, and even the subjects themselves. One final work of Klimt that was able to grab my utmost attention is â€Å"The Kiss†, a painting that was said to be one of Klimt’s greatest works. It is an image of a couple in an intense scene where the male is passionately kissing the female. Sensuality is present in the painting, and a hint of ecstasy can be seen from the woman’s expression. Both are shrouded in something that looks like a golden veil. The broad background is in a bronze color, with different shadings of gray and black. On the foot of the couple lies a carpet of green area with dots of pastel colors scattered all over. This area is not that symbolical, and an experienced viewer can easily depict this as a garden, or probably a meadow of flowers where the lovers did their kiss. As with his previous works, a lot of repeating patterns are used in the painting. The male’s clothing is covered with rectangles of colors ranging from white to black. Some are â€Å"transparent†, and reveals the golden overall color of the male’s suit. The female on the other hand is covered with circles of different colors and sizes. On the bottom part of the female, particularly on her legs and feet hangs golden necklaces that extend to the carpet of flowers. The painting as a whole is a treasure throve of symbols. This can be interpreted in different ways. The golden veil, for example, can be a sign of endlessness and infinity. It shows how strong a kiss can be in creating a union between a male and a female. Time was symbolized as an imperishable element like gold. The painting also evokes a â€Å"sparkling feeling† when someone kisses another. Aside from the golden color, the positioning of the subjects also shows the superiority of the male. The woman, with her facial features, expresses succumbing to the power the kiss of male gives. But the hug by her hands suggests a mutual understanding between the two, and not just any abuse of patriarchal power over feminism. The patterns on the dresses of the subjects also serves as symbols that provide additional foundation on the painting. The rectangles signify a being full of strength and power. The black and white scheme also fosters an atmosphere of courage in the male. He was also wearing a crown of vines that shows wisdom and knowledge. On the other hand, the circles define womanhood – caring, warm, open, and eternal. Some circles are drawn inside larger circles, which might suggest pregnancy and formation of a new life inside an old one. The painting â€Å"The Kiss† is ever since opened to different interpretations and translations. Some would say that it shows power of men, others would decode it as a balanced act of love, while still many unravels it as a hidden desire of pleasure in women. Nobody really knows what Gustav Klimt was thinking when he created this work, and this is what makes â€Å"The Kiss† special. It is a work embedded with numerous symbols waiting to be identified and clarified. And this is what makes viewing a Klimt painting enjoyable. Each picture tends to create a sensation of difference and a struggle to derive the real meaning of the symbols found in the artwork. This shows the effectiveness of Klimt as an artist – someone who can stimulate an audience’s mind to think beyond the normal. References: Collins, J. (2001). Klimt: Modernism in the making. Canada: University of Michigan Press Fleidl, G. (2006). Klimt. Berlin: Taschen Neret, G. (1993). Gustav Klimt. Berlin: Taschen Sterling and Clark Art Institute. (2002). Gustav Klimt Landscapes. Retrieved May 03, 2008, from http://www. clarkart. edu/exhibitions/klimt/klimt/bio. cfm â€Å"Adele Bloch-Bauers Portrait† image from NBC news archive, April 9, 2006. Retrieved May 02, 2008, from http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/12187512/ â€Å"Judith I† image from All Posters website, 2008. Retrieved May 02, 2008, from http://www. allposters. com/-sp/Judith-I-Posters_i324971_. htm â€Å"The Kiss† image from Art in the Picture website. Retrived May 02, 2008, from http://www. artinthepicture. com/paintings/Gustav_Klimt/The-Kiss/

Ideological Elements Of Titanic Film Studies Essay

Ideological Elements Of Titanic Film Studies Essay This research explores about the mise-en-scene of the movie Titanic and its impact to the film industry. This chapter discusses the mise-en-scene that is applied in this movie, and also we will discuss about how the impact to the film industry after released the movie Titanic. Titanic is an American disaster and romance movie that released at the year 1997. This movie was directed and written by James Cameron. Titanic was a commercial success and enormous critical after screened to audiences worldwide. The amount gross avenue of the Titanic is $1,843,201,268. This movie maintains the record of the top of box office in the world until the release of James Camerons movie Avatar. Mise-en-scene is a French word that means what to put into the scene. This is the design aspects of film production, means visual theme or telling a story. There have five elements under the mise-en-scene which is setting, space, lighting acting style and also costume. This several elements of mise-en-scene will be use in further stage of this research. 1.1 Research Background The movie Titanic is a fictional romance story that is based on a real historical event, telling story between two young lovers Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) from different social classes who meet at the ships maiden voyage. Their love story end up with the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The budget for this film reached about $200 million; it is making the record that the most expensive film ever made at the time 1997. This film was widely ridiculed for the expense and protracted production scheduled before its release. Titanic was released on December 19, 1997 with 194 minutes running time. This movie was grossed less in the first weekend which is $28.6 million, then the second week is $35.4 million; it is an increase of 23.8%. This is beaten a record for a widely released film at the time. This film has held the number one spot on the box-office charts for the following months, grossing the total of over $600 million in the U.S. and Canada, and also more than $1.8 billion worldwide. This film has become the highest-grossing film in the world, until James Camerons 2009 film Avatar. Despite criticism during production of the film, the Titanic was received a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations at the 1998 Academy Awards. It won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Special Effects, Music, Editing, Sound and Score, and the Best Director award. The movie Titanic is based on the real historical event, so audience would have higher expectations toward the movie. Audiences have the foreknowledge that based on the real historical event, not much audience would wonder that the ship will sink or not in the movie. So, the mise-en-scene is an important aspect in order to make the movie interesting. Other than the mise-en-scene, the class system has obviously shown through this movie. Although the passengers have taking the same ship, but there were have different treats towards different class passengers. 1.2 Summary of the Titanic Titanic tells the romantic and sad story. The story started by explores the wreck of the RMS Titanic under the sea by the treasure hunter Brock Lovett and his team members in the year 1996; they are searching for a necklace called the Heart of the Ocean. They have found a nude womans sketch instead of diamond, the date have wrote at the sketch 14 April 1912, which was the night that the Titanic sinking. The old woman Rose Dawson Calvert contacts with Lovett, tells him that actually she is the woman that inside the sketch. Rose has recalls back her memories when asked the questions about the necklace. In 1912, the upper class lady Rose and her mother board the ship in Southampton, England with her fiancà © Caledon Cal Hockley, the son of a Pittsburgh steel tycoon. Cal and Roses mother stressed that this engagement is important because it will solve the financial problems of Roses family. Rose is not happy for the engagement to Cal, and the pressure of her mother that is putting on her. She considers end up her life by jumping into the sea. Before she leaps, Jack Dawson, an artist and drifter persuades Rose do not jump. A tentative friendship of Jack and Rose was developed at the time. Rose not considering with instruct of her mom and Cal to meet with Jack. The ship is collision with an iceberg, the Titanic will be sinking soon. Cal persuade Rose to a board of a lifeboat, after she boards, Rose realized that she cant leave Jack, Rose reunites with Jack on the Titanic. All the lifeboats were departed when Jack and Rose have return to the top deck. So, many people are falling to their deaths. They take refuge on the stern of the ship as the ship sinks bow first until the time they are washed overboard. The sea water is cold. Jack helps Rose onto the wood which is the wall panel that can only support the weight of one person. Jack assures Rose that she will not die there. Rose blows the whistle that taken from a dead officer nearby when the return of a rescue boat to the site of the sinking of Titanic, the RMS HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_CarpathiaCarpathia is taken her to New York, she gives herself name as Rose Dawson. She is hidden herself to avoids Cal when she saw Cal is searching for her. At last, her story complete, she goes to the stern of the Lovetts ship. Then she takes out the Heart of the Ocean then drops it into the sea. Later, she is sleeping on her bad, her daily photos is surround her, a visual chronicle that she has lived the life that she wanted with Jack. The last scene showing the young Rose reunites with Jack at the grand staircase of the Titanic; it is cheered and congratulated by those who perished on the Titanic. 1.3 Research Problems The movie Titanic has successfully to bringing audiences to the cinema and hit the top of the box office over ten years with the worldwide gross that over $1.8 billion, it also remained the record for twelve years until the Camerons next directorial effort Avatar, surpassed it in 2010. Titanic was an enormous commercial and critical success. This film was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards, eventually winning eleven, including the Best Picture and Best Director. Some of the internet users were created the trailer of Titanic II and upload in the Youtube.com. It makes people feel that the Titanic II will be release soon. But actually the trailer is the combination of different movie scene that is acted by Leonardo DiCaprio. From here, we can notice that the passion of audiences toward this movie. In an interview on March 2010 with USA Today, the director James Cameron stated, I am guessing six months to a year to do it right. We are targeting spring of 2012 for the release, the 3D version of the Titanic, which is the 100th years anniversary of the sailing of the Titanic. Nowadays, most of the film director is producing the movie with their own style. Mise-en-scene is an important aspect in order to bring out and enhance the quality of the film. Obviously, Titanic has the power to maintain the top of the box office over ten years, the mise-en-scene on this movie is one of the reasons to make this good result. As mentioned above, the Titanic will coming back to the cinema with the 3-D version, the storyline is the same. The same movie will be release in the cinema after 15 years. It is the main reason that inspired me to do research about the mise-en-scene and impacts of this movie. 1.4 Research Objectives To investigate the five mise-en-scene elements those are seen in the movie Titanic. The main goal of this research is to discuss the five mise-en-scene elements that are seen in this movie. To study the ideological elements portrayed in the movie Titanic. Second, this research is going to discuss the ideological elements that are portrayed in this movie. To discover which aspect of mise-en-scene which is most preferred by the viewers in the movie Titanic. Third, since this research has discussed the five mise-en-scene elements that are seen in the Titanic. So, this research also going to find out the most preferred out of five mise-en-scene elements in this movie. Research Questions How were the five elements of mise-en-scene applied into the movie Titanic? What are the ideological elements portray in the movie Titanic? What is the most preferred mise-en-scene element by the viewers in the movie Titanic? 1.6 Research Significance The significance of this research towards the mise-en-scene and its impact on film industry and society of the movie Titanic will help create a better understanding on the mise-en-scene that is seen in this movie. So, it can help to get more deeply knowledge of mise-en-scene through the discussion. This can help the further researcher to get better understanding on mise-en-scene. Besides that, this research can helps to create a better understanding on ideological elements in Titanic. We can find out those ideological elements that were portrayed in this movie. So, I hope can get more knowledge about the class system in western last time. Furthermore, this research also helps to expose which is the most preferred mise-en-scene elements when viewers watching the Titanic. Because this also one of the reason that make the Titanic become successful. 1.7 Research Scope This research will be done through focus group and content analysis. The target group is Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) student from age 18 to 25. The question will be designed base on the Titanic, and it will be posing to 5 students from Mass Communication Division under School of Social Science and Humanities (SSSH). This study selected the sample from TARC Mass Communication student in SSSH that have watched the movie Titanic since they are more major in media subject so that they can give more details answer toward the question. For the content analysis, it will conduct the analysis through the blockbuster movie Titanic that released at the year 1997. The five elements of mise-en-scene and the ideological applied will be analyzed through this film. Mise-en-scene is a French word that means what to put into the scene. This is the design aspects of film production, means visual theme or telling a story. There have five elements under the mise-en-scene which is setting, space, lighting, acting style and also costume. So, through the Titanic, researcher can find out these five mise-en-scene aspect in the film, so that the content analysis can be conduct smoothly. According to John Hess (2005), Ideology is a systematic body of ideas, attitudes, values, and perceptions; such like the actual modes of thinking typical of a given class or group of people in a specific time and place. So, ideology in the film refers to what the ideas that the filmmakers want to portray in the particular film. The content of the film Titanic is a suitable medium in order to conduct content analysis towards ideology in the film. 1.8 Summary As a summary, the mise-en-scene is important to every movie production. Mise-en-scene can be applied in every movie, but the suitable mise-en-scene is the key to make the movie either failed or successful. After the movie released, the most important is the audiences feedback and the impact of the film. Film scholar need to be more understanding towards the mise-en-scene in order to do the movie production in the future. Therefore, this research focuses on the mise-en-scene and the ideological elements that have been applied in the film Titanic and how its work and success when the production and after movie released.

Profitability And Sustainability Analysis Of Superstore Industry Marketing Essay

Profitability And Sustainability Analysis Of Superstore Industry Marketing Essay There are several framework on the financial performance have been became apparent during last couple of decades and most of them relates to social and financial performance, which are mainly associated around the corporate social responsibility and performance concept . Only few of the study emerged to evaluate financial performance and the sustainability of competitive advantage. Furthermore, most of the work has been associated with industry level but not the firm level, which is also more important to consider in the study on micro level. This is one the strong reason to investigate the firm level financial performance and the competitive advantage. However, there are some limitation related to data gathering for the industry analysis but it seems feasible to gather or access company level data and their availability. World Food Retail Overview After development in technology and policies in 1990, huge change in food industry has begun. With evolution in business globalisation, activities like mergers and acquisition has amplified which resulted growth of big players in efficient and dominant way. Globalisation also resulted an increase in tours and travel activities across the world. The expenses incurred on food and drink by a tourist is 30p on every  £1.00, as per survey conducted by regional tourist bodies of England, UK (IGD Global Retail Outlook Survey, August 2007). Among various sector, retail food sector create more value than that of others. The Organized food sector is such an area where both strong management system and sectorial operational specialization i.e. human and technology are mainly affected by large volume, Daily splitting in physical operations and lower margins, food retail in world are acumen and influenced by six basic trends: Uncertainty Variable Demographics Growth will/necessity Low Price Madness Technology Globalization It has been forecasted that the speed in retail globalization will further accelerate. In order to success, the competition between retailers and suppliers are more likely to increase in a diversified range of capability. Even though in retail sector, huge opportunities still exist, but success will depend on managing the risk and challenges at the same time by capturing the opportunities. According to IGD, In order to obtain sustainable growth, Retail Globalization has shifted its focus from flag-planting to targeted expansion. IGD conducted a survey in 12 countries where senior retailers and supplier has been questioned to derive the above statement (IGDs Global Retail Outlook Survey in August 2007), The top five supermarket companies in United Kingdom control a 50 percent share in market where as in Germany it is 60 percent and in France 90 percent (AC Nielsen). Industry Overview The top five biggest United Kingdom retailers and food selling companies influence the whole market, which are Tesco, Morrison, Sainsburys, Asda and Co-operative Group. In 2004, the whole market size was  £115 billion which includes the retailers from small shops who has store to the biggest supermarkets which have the full-scale operating chains. In 2004, Morrison ranked at 4th position among other 12 supermarkets in UK, which is illustrated below in Table (1). Whereas in 2008 February 79.4% market share captured by top 5 retailers i.e.30.9% by Tesco, 16.4% by Sainsburys, 11.6% by Morrison, 16.9% by Asda and 4.0% by Waitrose. Only 20.6% of market share has been left for others. With the above positioning Morrison can be concluded as upper-medium size food and grocery retailer in United Kingdom. Supermarket 2004 (%) 2005 (%) Aldi n/a 2.2 Asda 16.7 16.5 Co-op 4.8 n/a Iceland 2.1 1.9 Somerfield n/a 5.7* Lidl 1.8 n/a Marks and Spencer 3.5 n/a Morrison 14.6** 12.2** Netto 0.6 n/a Sainsburys 15.7 15.9 Tesco 29 29.8 Waitrose 3.5 3.7 To create portfolio, in same industry, five companies has been selected i.e. Tesco, Finsbury Food, Sainsburys, Thottons and Falkaland. In segregation, Sainsburys and Tesco are biggest supermarket, whereas Finsbury Food and Thorttons are the medium ones and Falkaland is small stores in UK. According to total asset, these portfolios almost represent the industry. Hence it is tried to increase the sample for closer representation of the population which is illustrated below in Table (2): UK Companies Size ( £) Falkland 24.25 Finsbury Food 102.60 Thorntorns 106.02 Morrison 7,370.90 Sainbarys 9,576.00 TESCO 24,775.00Table(2): the position of Morrison in the whole UKs industry according to total assets (2008) Business Drivers for sustainability strategies: There are various internal and external factors which might drives the growth in sustainability strategies in WM Morrisons and major supermarkets: Employees Communities Sustainable Product Development Competitors Green Buildings Waste Transportation and Logistics Costs Carbon Efficiency Rising Demand for Certified Products Expectation for Reporting and Performance Measurement Product Safety The above mentioned drivers are the key to change the retail sectors outlooks and providing competitive benefit to the retailers in terms of sustainability performance. Furthermore, competitive benefit can be drive by working with more innovative solution provider; brand owner and supply chain partners, which leads to reduce the cost the increases efficiency. Apart from above factors, supermarkets have already implemented a number of growth/sustainability strategies to achieve high growth. These are: Increasing focus into own label products. Expansion by organic growth and acquisition Convenience Sector Expansion Focus into nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ food items Graph 1 : Profit Margins of UK Supermarkets About Wm Morrison Supermarkets With acquisition of larger rival Safeway plc., Wm Morrison Supermarkets moved up in UK food chain. Founded in 1899, from 125 stores Wm Morrison runs approximately 425 stores in England and Scotland. It has already made a history beating UK supermarket giants like Tesco (the UKs No. 1 food retailer) and ASDA (Wal-Mart owned supermarket) in high concentrated acquisition battle. Through its Market Street specialty, Morrisons offer various food and non-food items. Morrison sell gas about 290 locations. With acquisition of Safeway, Wm Morrison enhanced its market presence with more than 12% share of grocery market. Aim of the Study The aim of this research is based on two objectives. The first objective is to examine the profitability of the WM Morrison within the superstore industry context in the UK market and secondly to examine the firms sustainability of competitive advantage on retail performance. Preliminary Literature Review The analysis of firm profitability is a bit difficult task because the majority of the performance indicator models focus on the success of various key financial indicators i.e. return on investment (ROI), return on assets (ROA) or return on capital employed (ROCE). These performance indicator models have been disapproved or criticized due to lack in the multiple dimensional approach of the performance as well as the its competitive advantages to organizations growth (Brignall and Ballantine, 1996). There are number of studies (Dawson,2005; Dess and Robinson,1984; Reynolds et al.,2005; Venkatraman and Ramanujam,1986) have faced challenge to consider right variables as a financial performance indicator. The understanding of the correct information and its non-availability to the public are the most common problems (Ailawadi et al., 1995). However, a number of alternative approaches have been implemented to getting best financial performance indicator in to order to handle above discussed problems. Therefore, subjective financial indicators are designed to measure firms performance i.e managers forecast on financial performance to compare with competitors performance. Although, some financial indictors has been considered in the number of empirical study (Capon et al.,1990; Dawson, 2005; Reynolds et al., 2005), which was significantly positive with the economic models. The most frequently used profitability indicator in the various studies could be return on equity, return on sale and return on investment etc. But still it is unconcluded regarding the best financial indicators to measure retail financial performance ( Ailawadi et al.,1995; Dawson,2005; Reynolds et al., 2005).On the other hand, the most commonly used performance indicators are rates of return, gross margin (Bradley and Taylor, 1992; Dobson, 2005; Reynolds et al., 2005) and sales growth, sales revenue (Doyle and Hooley,1992; Dobson,2005; Greenley,1995; Hooley et al.,1992; Reynolds et al.,2005). The accepted distinction between competitive advantage and sustained competitive advantage is matched by a range of studies which forward and debate the factors determining the sustainability of a competitive advantage (see Coyne, 1985; Williams, 1992). Whilst many of the studies of advantage sustainability are conducted from a resource based view, Porter (1980, 1990) contributes a number of observations at a more macro level. Briefly, Porter (1980) suggests that competitive advantage can only be sustained over time if consistent strategy is developed and applied promptly. Research Objective and Data Methodology An attempt has been made in this paper to analyze the profitability and examine the sustainability of competitive advantage on retail performance of the WM Morrison during 2005 -2010. Eventually top players will be identifying on the basis of total asset in UK superstore market. To identify competitors, Lexis-Nexis and Hoovers will be used. 5 years Balance sheet and other financial data will be extracted from Thomson One banker. The profitability of Morrison will be analyzed through decomposition method in context to peer group. Statistical analysis may be conducted as a support to the thesis. After performance analysis of Morrison, Industry performance will be compared to target company performance to analyze abnormality if any in the behavior pattern and the reason behind the pattern will be scrutinized. Analysis Factors: Return on Net Operating Assets (RNOA) Net Borrowing Cost (NBC) Operating profit margin Operating Liability Leverage Financial Liability Leverage (FLEV) Asset Turnover (ATO) Return on Common Equity (ROCE) Spread However one of the main aims is to analyze the driving factors for the performance of the firm and the industry and simultaneously to discuss the sustainability strategies of the firm for the competitive advantage. Conclusion

Critical Race Theory and the Rodney King Case Essays -- Recism

Critical Race Theory and the Rodney King Case In reviewing the article, Canadian Critical Race Theory, I found that the author, Carol Aylvard, raises some very interesting as well as disturbing questions on the nature of racism within the realm of police enforcement. In looking through the lens of the Rodney King case, we are provided with a very specific example of how the issue of race was dealt with, or not dealt with within the LAPD and judicial system. To gain a clearer understanding of how race was a major issue in this case but at the same time not confronted on the front lines, Alyvard highlights several aspects of the case. In the 1991 state trial of the four police officers accused of beating Rodney King, the prosecution did not even attempt to introduce evidence of "racial animus" on part of the officers. Even though there was video-audio evidence as well as eyewitness testimony to the contrary, they still did not challenge the defense's assertion that no racial epithets had been used by the police officers. As well, the prosecution neglected to appeal the decision of the State Court to move the trial from a racially diverse area to the predominantly white area of Simi Valley, where it was inevitable that the officers would be judged by an all-white jury. Furthermore, they also did not challenge the defense's portrayal of King's injuries as trivial. While it is needless to say that the list goes on and on, it came as no great surprise that the jury acquitted the four LAPD officers. It was also not surprising that riots followed this acquittal. One month after the beating and one year after the acquittal, two independent commissions, The McCone Commission and The California State Assembly Commission were appoint... ... is possible to implement alternative legal strategies that have their roots in recognition instead of avoidance? In looking at additional information displayed on the Internet, there seems to be an even wider range of issues being developed around the Rodney King Case. How do people of different social classes, gender or race fair in the law enforcement system? A few sites as well as the article alluded the O.J. Simpson case. Did this case confirm the importance of race consciousness and show a move toward a better understanding of the role that race plays in law? At any rate, Aylvard argues that the Rodney King case, " †¦exposed the significance of race in constitutional and criminal law and the dangers of avoiding it to maintain the "myth" of color blindness." (p. 66). References Carol, A. Aylvard. Canadian Critical Race Theory. Halifax: Fernwood, 1999.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Essays -- Biography Biographies Bio

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Mozart is perhaps the greatest musical genius who ever lived. Mozart 's full name is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Most people called him Mozart or Wolfgang. Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, January 27, 1756. His father, Leopold, perhaps the greatest influence on Mozart's life, was the vice Kapellmeister (assistant choir director) to the Archbishop of Salzburg at the time of Mozart's birth. Mozart was actually christened as "Joannes Chrysotomus Wolfgangus Theophilus," but adopted the Latin term "Amadeus" as his name of choice. Mozart was one of seven children born to Leopold and Anna, however, only one other sibling survived.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By the age of four it was evident that he possessed tremendous musical talent and music memory. His father, a master violinist and composer, decided to enroll young Wolfgang in harpsichord lessons. At age five Mozart was composing music and by age six he had mastered the keyboard. By his early teens, he had mastered the piano, violin, and harpsichord. He began composing minuets at the age of 5 and symphonies at age 9. In 1762, Mozart and his elder sister Maria Anna (best known as Nannerl) who was also a gifted keyboard player, were taken by their father on a short performing tour, of the courts at Vienna and Munich. Encouraged by their reception, they embarked the next year on a longer tour, including two weeks at Versailles, where the children enchanted Louis XV. In 1764 they arrived in London. Here Mozart wrote his first three symphonies, under the influence of Johann Christian Bach, youngest son of Johann Sebastian, who lived in the city. In Paris, Mozart publi shed his first works:four sonatas for clavier: with accompanying violin in 1764. After their return to Salzburg there followed three trips to Italy between 1769 and 1773.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1768 he composed his first opera, LA FINTA SEMPLICE, for Vienna; but conflicts prevented its performance, and it was first presented a year later at Salzburg. Mozart was a successful composer and violinist. He used the form of concerto (like the Symphony, in several section) to display the qualities of wind instruments, like the horn. His crowning achievements in concerto form, however, are for piano and orchestra - in all 25 works. Mozart's performances of his own piano concertos had much to do with the development of the instrument. In 1770, he began to ... ...him to ask Mozart to compose a Requiem Mass - a Mass for the Dead. But the nobleman wished to pass the music off as his own. Mozart agreed, not knowing the strangers true intention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mozart may had died of a number of illnesses. The official diagnosis was miliary fever, but the truth is that the physicians who attended him were never quite sure what Mozart died of. He suffered from rheumatic pain, headaches, toothaches, skin eruptions, and lethargy. A common theory today is that Mozart died of uremia following chronic kidney disease. Regardless of the cause, Mozart became bedridden for the last two weeks of his life. He died at shortly after midnight on December 5th, 1791, aged thirty-five years, eleven months, and nine days. Bibliography Einstein, Alfred. Mozart, His Character, His Work. New York, 1962. Knepler, Georg. Wolfgang Amadà © Mozart. Cambridge, 1994. Landon, H.C. Robbins. 1791: Mozart's Last Year. New York, 1988. Steve Boerner. The Mozart Project, Revised December 20, 2000 http://www.Mozartproject.org ? . The Mozart Story, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6014/ Mozart Addicts Home Page http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/8417/

To Build or Not to Build

In the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina unleashed what resulted in a widespread devastation wreaked on the city of New Orleans. New Orleans—the colorful, zealous Mississippi Delta city, home to world-renowned restaurants, jazz and blues’ clubs, and universities, saw many of its neighborhoods flooded, even washed away by Katrina’s strong waters that breached the barrier of its levees. The extent of this catastrophe has triggered fierce debate over how the city should be rebuilt; taking into consideration the city’s population shift, economic emergency, and continued below sea-level vulnerability. Actually, there are some who think that the potential for a similar disaster in the future begs the question whether the city should be rebuilt at all. I personally believe that New Orleans deserves to be rebuilt. As stated before, the continued below sea-level vulnerability is one of the major issues taken into consideration when debating whether or not to rebuild the city. Some may argue that the river that flooded New Orleans is a savage, untamable beast; aloof and unappeasable, with no heart except for its own task (Document A). However, the city has fought its mighty river for generations. The river is simply part of the New Orleans heritage, and is simply nothing new to its residents. This river is the same river that helped impregnate and vitalize the soil of early settlers. The austere beauty of the river itself is in fact too grand to be forgotten; and too awe striking to be completely omitted from New Orleans’ history and then categorized into a monster whose damage is underserving of man’s repair. Normally when tourists or first-time residents come to New Orleans, they have a difficult time understanding the city. Even a prolonged stay brings no easy recognition or familiarity. New Orleans history of different cultures, ethnicities and traditions that can help explain the city's atmosphere. You can say that diversity is birthed out of this bustling city’s loins. From jazz to rock and roll, Creole cooking, Mardi Gras, or the architecture of the French Quarter, all play as elements of New Orleans (Document B). All of these elements possess an astounding liveliness that has spoken to people around the world and shaped much of the best of what we think of still as American culture. Though many may argue that it is nearly impossible to recreate traditions that have been deracinated by the unfortunate inevitable, it is safe to say that it is not the St. Louis Cathedral, nor Jackson Square, nor King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band that makes the city the landmark that it is. It is the spirit of vigor and robustness that lies in the city streets that drives the indescribable, potent energy its visitors and residents feel daily. The same spirit that the people had was present as they confronted Katrina. Peering into the eye of the storm, this spirit faced the storm unafraid; knowing the storm would potentially consume their past and future, New Orleans’ present spirit is stronger than the storm (Document D). To the people who possess this type of spirit, having faith is an understatement. New Orleans should be rebuilt because its culture is more than just for the â€Å"tourists’ eye†. The city represents antiquity. It represents some sort of security. It represents home. Not only does the city represent home for many, it also has a present national commercial value. Its ports are continuously a pulse-point for commerce in Iowa and the rest of the country. Many argue that the levee system is ineffective, and will not be intact for possibly another twenty years or so. Therefore, why rebuild a city when there is a chance that another disaster will strike again, and there is nothing in the government’s economic interest to help prevent future predicaments? Document C) Yes—the opposing side holds a nearly infallible argument. However, one must consider the billions of dollars’ worth of work put into these ports. Yes, economically New Orleans is suffering. But the future of the nation’s economy as a whole can be in grave jeopardy if commerce is discontinued. New Orleans must be rebuilt. Shortage of ideas on how to rebuild the city is no issue; but rather the dedication to get it done. In closing, urban recove ry is more than just putting bricks and cement together, mortar and asphalt, or bytes and electricity. It is about reconstructing the innumerable social relations entrenched in schools, workplaces, childcare, arrangements, shops, places of worship, and places of play and recreation. It is not about restoring New Orleans’ authenticity. It is about preparing an atmosphere that is welcoming and accommodated enthusiastically to former residents (Document E). New Orleans may never look exactly the same ever again. But its people deserve to feel the way they first felt about the city when they first encountered it; and how can you place a price upon falling in love?

Othello William Shakespeare Essay

* William Shakespeare created one of his most famous plays Othello to investigate in an influential manner the unrelenting issues of racial discrimination and gender equility. Based on the tale ‘Un Capitano Moro’ (The Moorish Captain) by Giovanni Cinthio, Othello was written during the epoch of 1603. Due to the actions of Othello, in the midst of a small cast, there is an exploration of sexual jealousy, and thus this play has earned a title of a domestic tragedy. * In this, the final scene depicts how the tragic hero Othello acquiesces to his incurable blemish and reaches his cessation. The foreseeable ending is cathartic for the audience to experience catharsis, as they experience a passionate feeling of trepidation and pity. Shakespeare shows how he is able to differentiate an individual’s personality in the unchanging hierarchy of his society. * This was achieved through the Turkish invasion in Cyprus where the Venetians fought purely for national identity. Intertwined in the play, the Machiavellian character of Iago brings a certain rise to chaos and blurs out all the lines between appearance and reality. Saying this, by Shakespeare’s intense use of language, the emotional engaging final scene, brings back a certain order; giving light to issues of truth, race and female insubordination and defining the central protagonist. Context: * Written between 1601 and 1604, Othello’s context is based around the eras of the Elizabethan and Jacobean epochs of English history. Between the two different periods, the Renaissance ideologies are greatly encompassed. These ideologies are that of a cultural movement occurring throughout Europe in the 14th to the 17th centuries. In the crux of this era, a deep understanding of characters and issues in Othello may perhaps be attained from the initial actions of the play, being set in one of the foremost cities of the Italian Renaissance. Moreover, this period also brought with it the Protestant Reformation which was commenced by Martin Luther which viewed the refusal of medieval Christian values. The Protestant theology believed that God’s divine plan of rational and moral logic was constant throughout society; one which developed in the unchallengeable hierarchy. * The Chain of Being was the reason for such order whereby it relegate all beings to ones rightful place and purpose in the universe. To preserve such a harmony, people had to develop reason and intellect to rule their emotions. In difference to such strict array, the Renaissance also gave rise to Humanism. Pico Della Mirandola here declared that â€Å"one could become as low as an animal or through intellect and imagination become equivalent to God, at least in understanding†1, which I believe may have shaped Shakespeare’s traditional thinking in Othello. * The selection of using a black tragic hero was indeed controversial, and furthermore those â€Å"Blackamoors† in Shakespeare’s previous dramas were without a doubt wicked. This is exemplified through Aaron in Titus Andronicus where this drama exclaimed ‘If one good deed in all my life I did, I do repent it to my very soul’(Act 5, Scene 3). Due to the conflict with Spain during the Elizabethan period, Blackamoors arrived in England and were reduced to servants or slaves. Therefore it is obvious that the audience of the era would have seen Othello’s superior military position as a serve rebellion to natural order. * Nevertheless, although the importance of race in Othello, it is essential that the audience recognises that the play is created primarily for the concern with class and subordination rather than forceful racism. The historical and geographical setting also plays a major influence in bringing various amounts of symbolism to the play. Venice was seen as a locus of Christian civilisation, rational order, culture and prosperity. It was also linked with poisoning as it was the birthplace of Niccolo Machiavelli. Moreover, the city was at the forefront of the battle, between the Christians and the Turks; who were seen as malicious, barbaric infidels. * The conflict was move to the island of Cyprus in 1570 which was a place isolated from civilisation and allied with Aphrodite, the goddess of love- and thus deemed a place of wild infatuation. Therefore we can see how this setting is able to show Othello’s inner conflict and dichotomy of identities; between the civilised and the barbaric, the Christian and the Pagan, the good and the evil within himself. Theme 1: Women * According to the time that the play was written in and the general hierarchy within Venetian society men hold all the power and women are considered to be of low intellect. Yet it is the women that speak the most sense throughout the play and it is also the women that are able to trust other characters in the play. Each woman represents a different social level, Desdemona being the highest and Bianca being of the lowest. Each sexual relationship in the play provokes some jealousy between the couple. * Bianca does not appear in the play as much as the other female characters yet her presence is key to the death of Desdemona as well as other play themes. Iago often refers to her as a prostitute, â€Å"A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes†. She has fallen in love with Cassio, yet he does not speak of his returned affection for her due to his desire for status, and her social standing would affect this dramatically. She is the jealous partner in this relationship and expresses this when Cassio produces Desdemona’s handkerchief, which Iago has planted in Cassio’s room. * As Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s lady in waiting Emilia helps link Iago’s plan. It was she whom supplied the Desdemona’s handkerchief for Iago. This helps Iago distort Othello’s views about Desdemona’s fidelity. It is interesting that she does not question Iago too much when she gives him the handkerchief, it could be considered that this illustrates female ability to trust in the play. However she also remains ignorant of the entire plot until the end, when her life comes to an abrupt ending, at the hands of her husband, Iago. She often failed to think before saying and performing some action. This, without much thought, uncovers her husband’s plan, but she fails to consider the consequences for herself. This is very different to her husband, who seems to plan out every word in order to get the right response. It is apparent that this is quite an unhappy marriage, made clearer through their dissimilar personalities. She has many honorable qualities such as her honesty in addition to her loyalty towards Desdemona. Iago does not treat her like his wife until he requires something; this shows this marriage was purely one in order to gain status among piers. * Throughout the play Desdemona is a symbol of innocence and helplessness. However on first encounter with her she appears to be mature and quite perceptive of events around her. Iago often tells Othello that she is unfaithful. It seems that she refuses to accept what is happening. Her views are impartial. She has a tendency to be sympathetic towards other people’s situations, like Cassio. This also further inspired Othello’s jealousy when Iago pointed out they were speaking in privacy. She often pays attention to other peoples thoughts yet remains cynical if they differ to her own. She has a loyalty to her husbands in all aspects of life, whether it is mental or physical. If Desdemona had been an emotional void then Iago would not have succeeded in his plan. This would have meant that she would not have lied to Othello about losing the handkerchief, which she did so as not to hurt his feelings. However Othello sees this as an attempt to deceive him and conceal the alleged truth about her affair with Cassio. Even her final words, indicate that she blames her death on herself, and not her jealous husband. * Othello was indeed a tragedy, in which out of the three women that are introduced, only one survived. Although the women were all rational in thought and trusting, their trust was often misplaced, in gentlemen like Iago. As well as this regardless of their intellect and contemplation of events around them (in some cases) this was not enough for them to rise up in society, as women had no opinion in the time of the play. Although Shakespeare undertook many modern day ideas, he did not do this for a modern day society, as it would not have allowed so many events to occur, and it would not have been considered realistic by the viewing public. Theme 2: Appearance vs Reality. * When we are able to see the hidden truth in the closing scene of Othello, the distinct battle between appearance and reality is concluded, giving a clear exposure to the understanding of all the characters and issues of the play. Notably, productions of Othello during the Elizabethan epoch would have used a white actor as the protagonist, and masked their skin with black makeup. * This ultimately emphasises the immense difference between external appearances and the internal reality, whereby the obvious dishonesty of the white Iago is juxtaposed with a fundamentally dignified black Othello. This is further promoted by the lines of the Duke in Act 1, who confirms that ‘If virtue no delighted beauty lack/ Your son-in-law is far more fair than black’. * Iago has the ability to clearly identity the fraud of appearances; as also he is the most likely to lie, he gains a trust from all characters in the play which concludes as being fatal to Othello. Iago further says ‘I am not what I am’, as he is able to put on a fake honesty in society and only tells of his wickedness in soliloquy with the audience. * Thus wickedness allows Iago to affect the thinking of Othello and moreover creating a crude image that ‘Cassio did top  her’, hence believing his obscure reasoning and logic and making Othello take this as the truth leading to his disastrous endings. The soubriquet of â€Å"Honest Iago† is continually reiterated by Othello, Cassio and Desdemona; hence it is cynically mocking those he wanted to deceive. Moreover, in the closing scene, the truth is slowly revealed as Iago is finally revealed as the villain who he is seen by the audience throughout the whole play. * Although, in the final resolution to ‘never speak word’, Shakespeare is able to penetrate the message of the very mysterious and inevitable human nature which Iago represents. Actions made by Othello are depended on the characters ability to not see things. He is able to blame and prosecute Desdemona even though he never witnessed her so called unlawful act against him, and Emilia- although she does witness Othello’s extreme anger and sadness over the loss of the handkerchief- she does not properly see what her husband has done to cause this. * Thus it is obvious to see how the importance of the ‘eye’ imagery in the final scene as it helps to demonstrate a material realisation of the actual fatal truth. Once Othello has committed his own suicide, Iago is invited by Lodovico to ‘Look on the tragic loading of this bed/ This is thy work. The object poisons sight, let it be hid’. * Formerly, Iago poisoned Othello by pouring ‘this pestilence into his ear’. Conversely, it is as though Shakespeare is parodying the heroes need for ‘ocular proof, as it ends as the eye which receives the poison; with the man himself Othello being a part of the typical ending for a Shakespearean play, a horrific massacre. We then gain an understanding from the conclusiveness of death a certain reality and moral implication on issues of truth within the final scene. * Furthermore, it is only a given that Emilia protects Desdemona as ‘the sweetest thing that ere did lift up eye’, followed by Othello confirming his own wife’s truthful innocence by declaring of her look that ‘This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven’. Hence in the closing scene of the play, Shakespeare uses both visual and auditory imagery to show the difference between appearance and reality and deepen our understanding of the character Othello. Theme 3: Order and Chaos * The final scene, due to Elizabethan context, brings to place the restitution of order; which helps to reunite the characters with concerns they have detained throughout the play. All Shakespearean plays depict a hierarchic society to maintain the cosmic laws of God. * A great amount of torment in the 17th century came from this Great Chain of Being, as a disturbance of this order possibly would force the world into great chaos, one which out does any of the kind. Othello is given two roles in this, one as the creator of chaos, and the other, the protector of order. Being held at high regard as the military general gave him the label of a hero and defender of Venetian civilisation. * However, due to his race and colour, Othello also was seen to be threatening the white authority of the state. Much the same of the island of Cyprus, Othello was colonised by Venice, and used, however never fully becomes a Venetian. * With social fears of miscegenation, Othello’s position as an outsider was forced upon him, and hence by Brabantio’s repulsion at the harsh image of a ‘black ram tupping your white ewe’. Yet, like all Shakespearean plays, order is restored in the final scene. In this scene, Othello is able to re-establish himself as a heroic soldier through his suicide, by getting rid of the barbaric Turkish enemy. Through the uses of chaos and order, it represents the battle between Christians and Infidels. In the closing scene of Othello, Emilia reiterates ‘play the swan/ and die in music’. * This natural imagery says that it is possible that the laws of nature or religion are extremely powerful in society. This belief is further exemplified through the religious turmoil of the previous century, as Protestants were harshly persecuted under the rulings of Queen Mary I. * Thus, it is obvious how religious devotion kept world order. We can further link Othello’s character to black magic and a pagan history through items such as the handkerchief, illustrating the disorder of the unknown to the Venetians. This is further linked with Christopher Marlowe’s, Doctor Faustus who is able to create a sense of disorder through his associations with the devil. Saying this, at the ending of Othello, Shakespeare verifies that chaos and disorder can occupy the microcosm of an individual. * As Othello states ‘Perdition catch my soul/ But I do love thee; and when I love thee not/ Chaos is come again’, we can see how he foreshadows an expression of self chaos at the loss of Desdemona’s love. Next to the ‘temptation scene’ of Act 3, we see how Othello succumbs to the ‘green eyed monster’ of pure jealously brought on through Iago’s evil mind games. * This extremely powerful human emotion releases the beast hidden in Othello. This can greatly be seen in the breakdown of his language which has been his tool to command order throughout the whole play; typical of his contextual authority. He cries ‘Pish! Noses, ears,/and lips. Is’t possible? Confess-handkerchief! O/devil! ’, illustrating his confused mind and disorderly insecurity over Desdemona’s fidelity. However, as the play closes, Shakespeare leads Othello back to person order. * In ‘killing himself to die upon a kiss’, Othello is able to seal his bond with his sweet and innocent wife, Desdemona and eventually dies in an act of love. Ultimately, the final scene of Othello, illustrates to the audience the utmost importance of the restoration of order, in terms of both social structure and the individual. Conclusion: The final scene of Shakespeare’s Othello, offers us a sometimes erratic, emotion and foreseeable series of events. However this type of ending is extremely effective. It is in agreement with various traditional Aristotelian tragedies by the way it involves an intense feeling of pity and fear for the audience’s entertainment. Moreover, the exaggerated ending of the play brings intensity and incites the readers to look upon the nature of the characters in the various issues amongst the play. Mainly, in the final scene, we see the flaws of the tragic hero, the Machiavellian disposition of Iago, the way women are seen and positioned in Shakespearian context and lastly the necessity of order after the use of chaotic dimensions. Ultimately, the various emotions and thoughts put upon the audience in this final scene of the play Othello, helps promote and illustrate how it is one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing and controversial plays.

Rude American

Rude Americans Stories are often told about rude American tourists, neighbors, or simply Americans. They have been labeled as rude because of their actions and their portrayal in the media and our society. Most of the complaints involve tourists. According to businessperson. Com, Tripods, a travel blob, conducted a survey last year involving 700 respondents from 62 countries about bad tourist behavior. It covers everything from travel etiquette and manners (like hogging the armrests and asking to switch seats incessantly in plane rides) to drunken misbehaver and foreign fertilization.A whopping 33% of respondents, three times as many as the next worst, Britain, agree that Americans are terrible tourists. 44% of the American respondents even agreed that their countrymen are the worst tourists. As the stereotype goes, they're loud, rude, fat, and make terrible fashion choices. Stereotype aside, why are Americans seen as rude and disrespectful? Aside from the Internet research, a survey was also done in class asking the students their opinions on why Americans are often seen as rude.The top reasons turned out to be 1) the US is involved in a lot of wars, 2) the American bringing and 3) cultural differences and misunderstanding. The supports, however, were mostly based on information from the Internet and personal observations. First reason on why Americans are often seen as rude is the role of the US in wars around the world. The US has been a world superpower for so many years and is considered as one of the â€Å"Most Reliable Countries. Being one of the richest and most powerful countries, Americans tend to think they are superior and can overpower anyone, making them come off as rude and disrespectful. American rudeness and disrespect also comes from the wars hey were involved in the past to gain power or just for the sake of warring such as World Wars I and II, Vietnam, Korean, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Even if they didn't win without the help of other coun tries, it still made Americans act and think that they are above anyone, which carries on up until now.Second reason of American rudeness is the American upbringing. It is the environment that they grew up in; it is how they were raised. Many Americans are loud and outspoken because they grew up in a similar environment especially if they grew up in a city since American cities tend to be hectic and Hattie. They are often seen glued and yelling over their phones, which may be just talking normally for them. They are also seen as rude because of their informality when meeting strangers and they think everything is funny.This is because they are comfortable with other people although they don't realize that the same open behavior comes across as disrespect to other people. Americans are seen as rude because many of them feel that they have to insult others because everything has to be their way. Many Americans are known to be chain-swears like it's a part of them, like it's a normal t hing. When they do not get what they want, they become frustrated. They just lack manners and social graces because they feel the need to become dominant and take control of everything without thinking about how to treat others.Americans also seem to have a bad reputation with not realizing that the whole world did not grow up learning English to serve them, and that speaking slower to someone who doesn't understand or speak English, doesn't make a difference. Third reason is cultural differences. As mentioned in the previous reason, the open behavior of Americans comes across as disrespect to other people cause they aren't used to such culture, whereas Americans often view familiarity as a good thing. Mistakes made by tourists when visiting other countries are often seen as disrespectful.They may not be fully aware, but some people actually get offended. For example, if you're in France and you're invited to dinner at someone's house, you should bring a gift but do not bring a bott le of wine because it implies that your hoses wine is not good enough. Since it is habitual for polite Americans to bring a bottle of wine as a gift for one's hosts, it may be a problem especially if they aren't familiar with he French rule. Americans are also known for their busy lifestyle, wherein their time costs so much that they don't waste it in apologizing or thanking others.Some people as a child has been taught that saying â€Å"thank you,† â€Å"you're welcome,† or â€Å"I'm sorry/' is a way of showing good manners, so not doing any of the mentioned may seen by others as rude. The way they show their nationalism and pride makes them seem to look down on other countries since they say that other countries are nothing compared to them, and that the US is the best country in the world. Maybe we are just used to he respectful culture, but some of the ways they show nationalism and pride may be disrespectful to other countries.Some of the things they say may also sound offensive but they actually mean something different. An example would be their use of the phrase, â€Å"Oh, really? † A person could take it as someone challenging his opinion but in reality it simply means, â€Å"Interesting Can you elaborate? † The portrayal of arrogance among Americans through their actions, the media and the society is caused by the role of the US in wars, the American upbringing and cultural differences. Not all Americans are rude; they were just stereotyped as such.That is why everyone should respect and appreciate each others differences and try to learn and understand them and their culture. It is important to learn and understand them to avoid getting too offended, and to know how to react to certain situations. It also helps in getting to know and socializing with Americans instead of avoiding them for being intentionally or unintentionally rude because after all, they are humans just like everyone else.

Participation in Unit Discussion Boards for Academic Purposes Essay

Technology has currently changed the way people live in that it has made living and communicating easier for them. One of the most significant contributions that technology has given is the Internet. It has allowed people from all over the globe to communicate without the use of wires and without having to exert too much effort. More importantly, it has improved the way academic institutions provide education to their students. The Internet has given way for â€Å"virtual universities,† which â€Å"exists in the digital reality of the Internet, although it would also need to have extensions in physical reality for assessment purposes, which could provide optional experiences in situated learning† (Tiffin & Rajasingham, 2003, p. 136). There are numerous ways on how students and instructors communicate to make distance-learning work. These would include electronic mail, instant messaging, live teleconferencing, specific platforms designed for educational purposes, and discussion boards. Tools like these make it possible for students and teachers to exchange information even if they are miles apart. It gives them the capability to be flexible in terms of their schedule and workload. It also lessens the cost that they have to shoulder for their education compared to that of traditional education because they do not have to spend money on commuting to and from the university’s campus. â€Å"The promise of the Internet for education was the interactivity of the medium that allowed the students to interact and actively participate in any learning process† (Shimojo, Ischii, Ling, & Song, 2005, p. 87). As mentioned earlier, one of the tools that virtual classrooms use is the discussion board, which is an â€Å"asynchronous communication tool that allows one individual to post a comment or question online. Other individuals who are members of the same discussion board may read that comment/question, and respond with their own remarks over time† (Virginia Tech, n. d. ). Only students and their instructors have access to this site. Instructors may create the discussion boards for their overall course or for a certain topic so that the students are able to communicate and share information in a place where posts are organized and can be tracked and monitored. Discussion boards are beneficial to both students and teachers because it allows them to discuss topics more extensively through the aid of the Internet. It would also extend and maximize the time that they need to talk about their lessons and other concerns, as class time is sometimes not enough to cover everything. Discussion boards provide the opportunity for every student to participate actively in the discussion with the chance of receiving comment and feedbacks not only from the instructor but also from the other students. Most of all, discussion boards can be constantly accessed and has the ability to store conversations as is, unless it is deleted by the moderator or instructor who controls the board most of the time. However, because discussion boards are powered by the Internet and technology, it also has its limitations. Although this rarely happens nowadays, power failure can limit the students and teachers’ capabilities of interacting through the discussion board. Also, students who do not own a personal computer of their own might find it difficult to join in the discussion on a regular basis. There are also those who are afraid of using technology and will rather communicate personally than use the Internet. Students may also fear miscommunication and misunderstanding, which would lead to conflicts either with other students or with their instructors. â€Å"Misinterpretations may go unresolved or may take several communications before they are resolved† (French, French, Hale, Johnson, & Farr, 1999, p. 145). As such, students might not fully appreciate discussion boards and will ultimately have a negative effect on their learning. If students choose other Internet-based educational tools over the discussion board, they may not be able to maximize the full potential that virtual classrooms or universities can offer. Although they would still be able to communicate and interact through other means, they would not have the comfort of having their messages and posts arranged chronologically and stored in a safe place over a period of time. Not participating in a discussion board would also mean that the students and teachers would have to wait for the class to virtually meet again to discuss their concerns further. However, this would take up the actual class time and some instructors would choose to teach than discuss concerns, which means that students may not be able to talk about other things and interact with each other. Active participation and support for discussion boards, therefore, are needed for virtual classrooms to be effective. They can be encouraged through incentives like a reward for having the best post or comment in the discussion. Instructors should also think of interesting topics to discuss so that the students do not get bored and opt to stay out of the interaction. Also, instructors should require their students to regularly post content and comment on other people’s work. Indeed, technology has proven to be one of best innovation that man has ever seen. This is especially appreciated in the field of education because it has allowed people to receive education even at the comfort of their homes. It has allowed people from different countries of different backgrounds to share information and knowledge with each other. Classes are not limited to their schedules because students can still discuss their concerns over the Internet even after class hours. Different tools are provided to students to maximize their learning process. Discussion boards should be supported and used because it is one of the best Internet-based educational tools that they can use in virtual classrooms. References French, D. , French, H. , Hale, C. , Johnson, C. , & Farr, G. (1999). Internet Based Learning. Virginia: Stylus Publishing, LLC. Shimojo, S. , Ischii, S. , Ling, T. W. , & Song, K. (2005). Web and Communication Technologies and Internet-Related Social Issues. New York: Birkhauser. Tiffin, J. & Rajasingham, L. (2003). The Global Virtual University. New York: RoutledgeFalmer. Virginia Tech. (n. d. ). Discussion Boards. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://www. edtech. vt. edu/edtech/id/ocs/discuss. html

Current Strategy of Apple & its Competitive Advantage Case Study

Current Strategy of Apple & its Competitive Advantage - Case Study Example Later on, from 1980s many of the companies decided to diversify their business so that they both can be provided as a complete package. Among these companies, IBM was the first to emerge as the market leader in manufacturing personal computer, different software and other computer-related accessories (Bergin, 2001, p.25). In this report, the prevailing competitive strategy of Apple Plc will be evaluated in the light of internal as well as external strategies and policies followed by the company as well as its competitors. After analyzing the findings of the research, the key strategic issues related to the Apple will be discussed and then a few alternative opinions will be suggested that will assist the company to retain a sustainable competitive position in the computer and electronics industry. The history of Apple has not been very encouraging. Profitability had eluded the company for long and its market shares were hardly commendable. In the mid 90s, the company faced stiff competition from its rival operating in the same industry. The CEO of the company took all possible actions to expand its market share by minimizing the operating cost through outsourcing and other such allied activities. Despite these efforts, Apple was fast losing its appeal among the customers as a product that promises innovation and creativity. As soon as Steve Jobs took up the position of CEO, the market position of Apple saw an immediate reversal of fortunes. The CEO, with its maverick leadership style, made Apple one of the names to be reckoned in the international market. The core strategy of Apple can be summed up as constant innovation leading to the eventual betterment of its product offering. Steve Jobs firmly believes that innovation is not just a science but it is also an art. Such philosophy has lent Apple technological superiority along with aesthetic appeal. The CEO of the company maintains a ‘closed miniature technology-economy’ that assists the company to develop its unique environment.

Rem Koolhass Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Rem Koolhass - Essay Example He orchestrated many works of brilliance in many cities the world over and his artistry has earned him many prestigious individual accolades from reputable institutions among them Summary: Why Is Koolhaas the World’s Most Controversial Architect? According to Nicolai Ourousoff, the Smithsonian Magazine, and September issue 2012. Rem Koolhaas is widely respected and critiqued in equal measures. It is noted that he has been this controversial ever since his studentship in the 70s in London. He is unlike the other architects who are ready to compromise their work ethics for economic gains. He is described as being highly provocative and ill-behaved professionally. He has won several architectural competitions with the most recent one being in China. He was commissioned to undertake the building of the Headquarters of China Central Television. This works has been a source of scathing attacks from pro-western institutions and powers who insinuated that he was helping in the expansi on of a Dictatorial regime in China. However, other sources described the building as a masterpiece. This is just an example of the mixed reactions his works have elicited. He has taken part in many competitions even though he won some; he has also lost quite a number. For instance, his proposal to spearhead the transformation of the Museum of modern Art into a ministry of self-proclamation known as MoMA Inc. was badly rejected. Even though he has been under pressure from various sources, he has been able to nurture several great modern day architects such as DjarkeIngels of Copenhagen based BIG, and Winy Maas of MVRDV firm in the Netherlands. His books are also widely used by many architectural students all over the world who always try to emulate him. He is quite unpredictable unlike most of his peers and other magnificent architects of his reputation such as FranskGehry and ZahaHadid, who maintained their focus over long careers. Apart from architecture, he is also a great theore tician of the industry and has written quite a number of books concerning different architectural ideologies on major urban cities. In one of his demonstrations in Venice, he was against the out brushing historic buildings that represented more uncomfortable chapters in our past. He further wonders why people incredibly fear change rather than embracing it. His company has since expanded to other cities outside its Headquarters such as Hong Kong and New York. It has employed some 325 employees all architects. However, he has a personal preference for Rotterdam due to its isolation and location as a port city. Even though he is highly reputed, he still takes part in competitions. He concurs that this that this allows for creative liberty due to the changing ideas and preference of the client. However, in this process a lot of risk is involved. A lot of resource is wasted in projects that will never take off. One of his first tests of his urban theories manifested itself in the form o f the Euralille development on the outskirts of the French city of Lille in the mid-1990s. It was to include a shopping mall, conference and exhibition center and office towers in the midst of train tracks and freeways. His work was to be complimented by other well-known architects who helped in designing the various buildings. Koolhaas personally designed