Haroun and the Sea of Stories free essay sample

The general idea of sharing an opinion about a global issue through fiction has appeared in a variety of novels. Throughout Rushdie’s novel, he uses names that allude to a reference for readers to compare and contrast the person or place to. For instance, Rashid, the protagonist’s father, is being compared to Rushdie himself. When Rushdie wrote the Satanic Verses he, like Rashid was â€Å"as stuffed with cheery stories as the sea was full of glumfish† (15), but to the Ayatollah, â€Å"his rivals, he was the Shah of Blah. (15) Khattam-Shud is quite openly associated with Khomeini, the same man who issued Rushdie the fatwa destining him to a completely silent life just like Khattam-Shud does to his citizens in the land of Chup. The Sea of Stories itself is a symbol of free speech and the great effects of cultural identity. In the land of Chup, where the Sea of Stories is being polluted and wasted, there is no happiness, but in the land of Gup, there is a sense of nationalism which allows the citizens to work together and consequently overthrow Khattam-Shud. We will write a custom essay sample on Haroun and the Sea of Stories or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When the source is found, â€Å"Haroun watched, the glowing flow of pure, unpolluted stories came bubbling up from the very heart of the Kshsni. There were so many Streams of story, of so many different colours, all pouring out of the Source at once, that it looked like a huge underwater fountain of shining white light. † (167) The description displays Rushdie’s vision of a perfect society or a Utopia where people with unique identities come together to form a cultural identity to create a beautiful world, just like separate stands unite to form a beautiful story in the story. Quite surprisingly, this imagery is added into a children book, but in reality is being used to directly challenge Rushdie’s persecutors, the very reason why the fatwa was issued in the first. Through the similarity of names and descriptions, it is evident that Rashid’s adventure is a coded journal of Rushdie’s predicament after being issued the fatwa, during which he longed for reunion with his family and his talent of writing. Through Haroun and the Sea of Stories, opinions are spread about global controversies and issues, specifically censorship and the freedom of speech and how these two can either restrain a community or allow it to flourish. To elaborate, when Haroun gazes down at the â€Å"sounds of heated quarreling† (118) coming from the army, Butt the Hoopoe declaims â€Å"’But but but what is the point of giving persons Freedom of Speech if you then say that they must not utilize same? And is not the power of speech the greatest power of all? Then surely it must be exercised to the full? ’† (119) The entire novel is a conflict in which the opposed paradigms of artistic desolation and creativity are set up against each other. This concept which prevades throughout the story, has various specific questions, which Rushdie would have also battled with when a fatwa was issued against him as an unsuccessful measure to censor his artistic and free voice that was conveyed through The Satanic Verses. The attack on free speech, â€Å"the greatest power of all all† (119) which emerges throughout the story is first embodied through Mr. Sengupta and then again by Khattam-Shud, the personification of negation and silence. In essence, Rushdie uses fiction to play to role of personifying his opinions about an Utopian society, his thoughts about Khomeini and fatwa that was issued to him thoughtlessly through the characters’ personalities and the setting of the story.

Critical Analysis on De Tocquevilles Democracy in Essays

Critical Analysis on De Tocqueville's Democracy in Essays Critical Analysis on De Tocqueville's Democracy in America subject = HIS 131 U.S. History I title = Critical Analysis on De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" Alexis De Tocquevilles Democracy in America delves deep into how the American States and the federal government would grow politically and socially under the umbrella of democracy. He sees the United States as a unique entity because of how and why it started as well as its geographical location. De Tocqueville explains that the foundations of the democratic process in America are completely different from anywhere else on the globe. The land was virginal and the colonies had almost complete sovereignty from England from the very beginning because they were separated by an ocean and financial troubles. The people who came to America were the oppressed and unhappy in England and all were trying to find a place where they could start anew and create a political structure that would facilitate an individual freedom unlike anything that they had previously experienced in Europe. De Tocqueville believed that the nature of democracy in the New World rested within the fact that all of the emigrants were basically from the same social strata, resulting in the first new country where there was no preliminary basis for an aristocracy. "Land is the basis of an aristocracyand [in America] when the ground was prepared, its produce was found to be insufficient to enrich a proprietor and a farmer at the same t ime(41)." He saw that even the soil of America was opposed to the structure of an aristocracy. There were also outside influences lending unvoiced support for the creation of this new democracy. Being an ocean apart from its mother country, who at this time did not have the financial reserves to oversee its colonies, let the Americans govern themselves. If they had not had this sovereignty at the beginning America might have become something completely different than it is today, but that was not the case, so these emigrants now had a fertile place to plant their ideas of a country founded upon the many ideas of the Enlightenment. Another large influence was the lack of neighbors. America had no worries of guarding and protecting its borders because there was not anyone there who could pose a threat. They could put all of their energies toward the creation of their democracy. This democratic nation was to have no aristocracy and only one major division between its people: the North and the South. De Tocqueville saw two very different attitudes in these regions. The North and the South had conflicting views as to how they were going to advance themselves in the economic and political arenas. But the introduction of slavery into labor was the major conflict between the two. "Slaverydishonors labor; it introduces idleness into a society, and with idleness, ignorance and pride, luxury and distressThe influence of slavery, united to the English character, explains the manners and the social condition of the Southern States(42)." With the advent of slavery, the South was creating a class system amongst themselves that would not exist in the other regions of the States. The few Southern founders were granted huge amounts of land with which to work, and instead of diving into the land themselves like the northerners did with their smaller pieces of land. They instead bought slaves and would eventually divide the country in a nasty dispute over their handling of affairs. He realized that the majority of the influences over public policy were the men in the North. They created the first public school system that was to be readily accessible to the majority of the people. The enlightened idea that every man should have access to knowledge was given exercise in this new nation, creating a highly learned society, but one that is not very intellectual. Schools teach specialized skills so that American can enter the work force as soon as possible, but gloss over any areas that have no value in work. Whereas in England, the few who do go on towards a higher education are actually being challenged and forced to expand their minds, higher education in America is available to many, but it is more specialized and very basic. This unlimited quantity, limited quality relationship is seem by de Tocqueville as an inherent part of a democratic society. This is because, "there is no classin which the taste for intellectual pleasures is transmitted with hereditary fortune and leisure and [wherein] intellect [is] held in honor(53)." Democracy is a facilitator of a blended society. The masses will be

Ethical Relativism and its Beliefs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Relativism and its Beliefs - Assignment Example This argument is true because from the past, cultures were isolated and people had little information about other cultural practices. Today, people consider their practices and traditions in their own cultures, which have existed over the years, in determining what is ethical. Even with information technology and the widespread use of the internet, it would be ignorant to think that there is a universal way of determining what is ethical. It is not wise to think that one culture’s way of doing things is the best way of doing things. Cultural diversity still exists around the world. For the instant, after the recent terror attacks in Paris, where the main target was a satirical magazine called Charlie Hebdo, people in France felt that the attack was an attack on freedom of speech. As a result, the magazine published magazines with Prophet Mohamed on the front cover. Many French people supported the magazine and saw this as a way of fighting for their freedom of speech. In this country and the rest of the western countries, the publication of the magazine was ethical. However, this was not the case in the Arab and Muslim countries who considered the action unethical and a mockery to the prophet and to the Muslim religion. This example clearly shows that it is not reasonable to assume that people interpret what is ethical in the same way. The theory of ethical relativism is also valid because it avoids ethnocentrism. This means that the theory does not judge another culture based on another culture instead. Ethnocentrism makes one culture look more superior to the others. It is argued that such thoughts are a form of discrimination just like sexism and racism (Hinman, 2013). Ethnocentric people devalue and look down on other cultures. If religious opinions are brought into this debate, more cultural differences can be identified. There are different religious opinions on what is right and what is wrong.  

Using technology to improve students listening and speaking Essay

Using technology to improve students listening and speaking - Essay Example In the current advent of innovation and globalization, with shrinking distances and integrated economies, the world of education is also undergoing a paradigm shift. This paper focuses on the use of technology to improve EFL students’ listening and speaking skills. The mode of education and instructional methodologies are shifting from the conventional use of oral and print media, including lectures and textbooks to more modern forms such as the use of computers (including computer assisted language learning or CALL), internet (which provides access to online libraries, electronic journals, search engines, websites which allow audio and video streaming and email facilities) and multimedia (including audio tapes, videos, etc). Acquisition of a second language comprises of four main components viz. listening, speaking reading and writing. Technology can be used to enhance all of these aspects of learning via different modalities.In the modern era of innovation and globalization, with shrinking distances and integrated economies, the world of education is also undergoing a paradigm shift. The term technology refers to the formation of new ideas, products or tools that extend our natural abilities and bring about changes in our social environment. Technology is completely responsible for how structured our civilization has become. Modern technology has not just influenced the industrial and corporate world but also has a great impact on our personal lives. Many of the everyday items we use nowadays are a result of technology. These technological advancements have brought about improvements in our health, the clothes we wear, the way we travel and communicate and hence, revolutionized the way we live. Similarly, it has also influenced the mode of education and instructional methods and tools used in the classroom to facilitate learning amongst students. In this fast growing world of technology, people are continuously looking for new and innovative ways of co mmunication. Research Question The research question discussed in this paper is whether the use of technology in the EFL/ESL classroom helps in enhancing students’ listening and speaking skills and in what ways is this achieved. Literature Review Effective learning results from a complex interplay of several factors including the mode of instruction, the communication skills of the instructors and the interest and the capability of the learners (Orellana, 2010). Thus, any interventions aimed at enhancing the learning process must target all these factors. The main aim of teaching any language to students in the classroom as a second or foreign language is to enhance their skills in four important aspects, viz. listening, speaking reading and writing in order to enable them to use that language fluently as a medium of communication (Xu, 2005). These are also the aims when English is taught to students as a foreign or second language, i.e. EFL or ESL, and can be achieved in a v ariety of ways. Listening is one of the most important tools in aiding and facilitating the learning process. Research as revealed that an average human being spends atleast 45% of his/her time in listening and approximately 85% of the knowledge that a person possesses throughout life has been acquired via listening (Xu, 2005). Moreover, while learning a new language, listening skills become more important as listening not only helps in facilitating comprehension but also aids in the acquisition of the proper accent, grammar and pronunciation. In a recent study carried out among Chinese students learning English as a second language, it was found that one of the most commonly encountered problems by EFL were in the listening aspect of learning (Yang, 2007). This problem can arise due to a variety of reasons including the fact that listening is a relatively neglected component while teaching a language and thus most teaching strategies fail to focus on this aspect

Zinc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Zinc - Essay Example But it varies with different temperatures, as the appearance becomes ductile when heated at ranges 110-150  °C. Zinc is a reactive metal that was first discovered in 1746, and the person who discovered zinc was Andreas Marggraf. The symbol of zinc is denoted with â€Å"Zn†. Being in the group of transition metals, it is the property of zinc that it conducts electricity and heat. The valence electrons of zinc are present in more than one shell. Being placed in the transition metals, it has several oxidation states. Zinc has hexagonal crystalline structure. The atomic number of zinc is 30. It has the atomic mass of 65.39 a.m.u (atomic mass unit). Zinc has a melting point of 419.58  °C and it has a boiling point of 907.0  ° C. The density of zinc is 7.133 g/cm3. The numbers of neutrons are 30 and then numbers of protons/electrons are 35. ISOTOPES OF NEUTRON: The isotopes are the atoms containing different number of neutrons and same number of protons, responsible for alteri ng total number of nucleons. There are ten isotopes of zinc that are shown in the table below. Half Life Zn-62 9.26 hours Zn-63 38.5 minutes Zn-64 Stable Zn-65 243.8 days Zn-66 Stable Zn-67 Stable Zn-68 Stable Zn-69m 13.76 hours Zn-70 Stable Zn-72 46.5 hours Zinc has two oxidation states and the valence electrons are in s shell. ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF ZINC:- The atomic structure gives us an idea about the structure of atoms and its arrangement. The atomic structure includes atomic radius, atomic size, covalent radius, cross section, and crystal structure. The atomic radius of zinc is 1.53 A °, the atomic volume is 9.2 cm3/mol, the covalent radius is 1.25 A °, cross section of 1.11, and the structure is hexagonal in nature. ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION OF ZINC:- The electronic configuration tells us that how much electrons are placed in the specific shell. The electronic configuration of zinc is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 3d10, 4s2.This electronic configuration makes the process easier to remove 2 of 4s electrons and easier to form compounds like ZnO, Zncl2 and ZnSO4.   SOURCES OF ZINC:- The annual production of zinc is 5,020,000 tons. It is found in the minerals such as zincite (ZnO), zinc blende (sphalerite) (ZnS), calamine, and franklinite. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:- Zinc has electronegativity of 1.65 Pauling, Heat of fusion of 7.322 kJ/mol, electron work function of 4.33 eV, it has an electrochemical equivalent of 1.22g/amp-hr, and a valence electron potential of 38.9. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:- It is hard, brittle, bluish white transition metal. The enthalpy of fusion is 7.32 kJ/mol, enthalpy of atomization is 129.7 kJ/mol, average atomic mass of 65.39 and boiling point of 907 ° C. COMPOUNDS OF ZINC:- Many compounds of zinc are formed, but ten are discussed over here. 1. Zinc Borate: It is also called as fire brake ZB. Zinc borate has elements containing Zinc, Boron and oxygen. It has a chemical formula 3ZnO. 2B2O3. Its CAS number is 1332-07-6. Its casewell number is 909b. It is white powder. 2. Zinc carbonate: It is also called carbonic acid and zinc spar. It has a formula of ZnCo3, made up of zinc, carbon and oxygen. It has CAS number 3486-35-9. 3. Zinc sulphate: It has oxygen, sulphur and zinc. The formula is ZnsO4. The CAS number is 7733-02-0. Casewell number is 927. It is also called Bonazen having several other synonyms. 4. Zinc chloride: Is formula is ZnCl2. It has elements containing zinc and chlorine. Its CAS number is 7646-85-7. Its casewell number is 910. It is also called as butter of zinc. 5. Zinc Oxide: It has elements zinc and oxygen. Its chemical formula is ZnO2. Its CAS number is 1314-13-2. It casewell number is 920. It is also called as snow white. 6. Zinc stearate: Its formula is Zn(C18H35O2) 2. It has carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and zinc. Its

The Southwest Airlines

The Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline. Southwest is the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried per year (as of 2009). Southwest maintains the third-largest passenger fleet of aircraft among all of the worlds commercial airlines. As of May 3, 2009, Southwest operates approximately 3,510 flights daily. Southwest has its headquarters on the grounds of Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Southwest Airlines has carried more customers than any other U.S. airline since August 2006 for combined domestic and international passengers according to the U.S. Department of Transportations Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Southwest Airlines is one of the worlds most profitable airlines, posting a profit for the 37th consecutive year in January 2010. Southwests successful business model involves flying multiple short, quick trips into the secondary (more efficient and less costly) airports of major markets, and using only one aircraft type, the Boeing 737. The Southwest Effect The success and profitability of Southwests business model led to a common trend being named after the company, the Southwest Effect. Since Southwests original mission in Texas was to make it less expensive than driving between two points (in the early 1970s, during the first major energy cost crisis in the U.S.), it developed a template for entering markets at rates that allowed the airline to be profitable, yet only on the basis of lean operations and high aircraft use. The key concept to the Southwest Effect is that when a low-fare carrier (or any aggressive and innovative company) enters a market, the market itself changes, and usually grows dramatically. For example, when fares drop by 15% from their historical averages, the number of new customers in that market may not just double, but actually quadruple, or more. Southwest has been a major inspiration to other low-cost airlines, and its business model has been repeated many times around the world. Europes EasyJet and Ryanair are two of the best known airlines to follow Southwests business strategy in that continent (though EasyJet operates two different aircraft models today). Other airlines with a business model based on Southwests system include Canadas WestJet, Malaysias AirAsia (the first and biggest LCC in Asia), Sir Richard Bransons and Australias Virgin Blue (although Virgin Blue now operates two aircraft types), Qantass Jetstar (although Jetstar now operates two aircraft types), Thailands Nok Air, New Zealands Freedom Air, Mexicos Volaris and Turkeys Pegasus Airlines. Although Southwest has been a major inspiration to many other airlines including Ryanair, AirAsia and Jetstar, the management strategies, for example, of Ryanair, AirAsia and Jetstar differ significantly from those of Southwest. Goals and Objectives Ensure highest quality Customer Service in the air or on the ground. Ready to help customers under any circumstances. Are there to ensure you make it from point A to point B safely To stay the most successful with low-fare, high frequency point-to-point carrier. History of Southwest Airline Ø On February 20, 1968 the Texan Aeronautical Commissions approved plans to fly in 3 states, the c5eators are Rollin King and Herb Kelleher Expanded through 1980s to 1990s by 1993 Southwest Airlines could fly in 34 states in 15 states They also expanded into new destinations California, Northwest, Florida, East Coast The competitors could not keep up, 500 pound cockroach that was too big to stamp out: Ø While the airfare was dropping the traffic went up tremendously, in 1994 United started a shuttle service, the large air carriers were feeding traffic into transpacific and transcontinental routes, they could not keep up In 2004 Southwest Airlines is fourth largest domestic carrier, customer boarded In 2002 they traveled in 58 cities and 30 states, it has been 13 years in a row that they are profitable, even after September 11, 2001, net income fell 52.9 percent, Southwest was the only airline company that had a profit all the other companies were in the red Was the first airline to achieve the Triple Crown, they had five difference Triple Crown dedicated to the Employees of Southwest Airlines for their excellent achievements. Southwest Airlines Mission and Vision Statement Mission The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. To give ordinary people the opportunity to fly. To the employees We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer. Vision To have a conservative increase growth, capitalize and cutback schedules of other airlines. To continue expanding conservatively in long-haul success. New Mission Statement Southwest Airlines is a company that is for anyone and every that wants to get from point A to point B by flying. Our service and philosophy is to fly safe, with high frequency, low-cost flights that can get passengers to their destinations on time and often closer to their destination. They fly in 58 cities and 30 states and are the worlds largest short-haul carrier and we make sure that it is run efficiently and in an economical way. Their technology is current such as our check-ins process is faster. Striving to expand and grow in a conservative manner is key, and being financially stable by keeping quality high and cost low. Their excellence is managing cost by our rapid twenty-minute gate turnaround, a non-stop flight with our airplanes, and a more productive workforce which keeps above our competitors. They treat our employees like customers, family and motivate and compensate them for doing a job well done. They continue to be in the Fortune Magazines most admired companies (2 nd in 2002) 100 best companies to work for. Since 1972 we have ranked first in Money Magazines featured in The 30 Best Stocks. In their communities they make donations to charities to organizations and people in time of need. New Vision Statement Their vision is to expand our locations both domestic and overseas by being the largest and most profitable airline company to achieve both short and long-haul carriers efficiently and with low cost. Also to be an airline carrier that has the most productive workforce to guarantee the best flight possible for each and every passenger. Acquisitions Morris Air One airline influenced by Southwest was Morris Air, founded in 1984 by June Morris and David Neeleman, based in Utah and operating in the northwestern U.S. Southwest Airlines purchased Morris Air and absorbed the capital and routes into its inventory and service. David Neeleman worked with Southwest for a short period. When his non-compete agreement expired, Neeleman founded JetBlue Airways, a competing airline that also incorporates (and in some ways, improves upon) many principles and practices pioneered by Southwest, including building a positive, warm employee culture and operating a simple fleet. Muse Air Southwest Airlines has mostly pursued a strategy of internal growth, rather than by acquisition of other airlines as commonly occurs. However, in addition to acquisition of Morris Air Transport (see above), Southwest did acquire competitor Muse Air in 1985, which operated McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. Muse Air was renamed TranStar Airlines. TranStar Airlines was then closed in August 1987. ATA Airlines Towards the end of November 2008, Southwest announced it was buying the operating certificate and the remaining assets of ATA Airlines. This acquisition transferred to Southwest Airlines ownership of New York LaGuardia slots formerly controlled by ATA. The transaction did not include any aircraft, facilities or employees of ATA. Political: Deregulation in 1978 1st big political win for southwest airlines. Government helped two major airlines get out of financial trouble after 9/11 attack. Economic: When economic conditions are unfavorable: Airliners very susceptible/vulnerable Discount airlines see profits People look for cheaper travel options Social: Flying on planes to get to where you need to be has been the norm for the last 30 years and will continue to be the norm in the foreseeable future. As more and more Spanish speakers come to live and travel in the US there is more need for airlines to be bi-lingual. Technological: Some airlines have converted to e-tickets, and have a self-checking machine. Many people use the internet to compare prices to find the best option for their trip. Environmental: Airlines have cut prices and offered expensive frequent flyer programs just to grab customers away from other airlines The regular airlines are starting to get away from the hub system and switch to the point to point system that southwest airlines uses. Legal: Legal issues have hindered airlines from making a full 9/11 recovery. Porters 5 forces Model Rivalry among competitors: There is high competition for Southwest airlines because other airlines are also there in US which are providing same services to the customers. Its main competitors are United airlines, Alaska airlines etc. Rivalry among competitors sets the price-Southwest Airlines is a discount airliner. Rivalry is increasing, as the market decreases, and competitors downsize, the competitors become more or less equal in size and capacity. This means that as economic conditions worsen, competitors downsize and then compete for the same remaining market. Threats of new entry: The threat of new entrants is low, the demand is not high. On top of that, there are hurdles, not necessarily the greatest; the FAA. Government regulations and restrictions imposed on those involved in this industry. Such would be government sanctions consequent of international issues. Threats of substitutes: Threats of substitutes is very high because many other form of transportation such as high speed trains, video conferencing, buses etc. While these alternates cannot offer the speed of travel, most of Southwest Airlines customers are attracted to the low price. Bargaining power of Buyers: The bargaining power of buyers is very high because many other airlines are present for which passengers can opt for instead of Southwest airlines. Suppliers include those who provide service/products necessary for Southwest Airlines to their business function. For Southwest Airlines, suppliers include mechanics (and other maintenance people), providers of fuel, food (the snacks that are offered). The suppliers do not have much bargaining power. Customers include both residential and commercial sectors. There is no bargaining power for customers, as there is no threat of backward integration; it is unlikely that customers of Southwest Airlines are going to build their own airplanes and fly themselves. Bargaining power of suppliers: The suppliers power is low for Southwest airlines because they have to charge the premium according to the strategy of competitors otherwise the passengers can switch off to the other airlines where he can have maximum benefits in terms of quality of service and the monetary value. BCG Matrix The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix is a simple tool to assess a companys position in terms of its product range. It helps a company think About its products and services and make decisions about which it should keep which it should let go and which it should invest in further. In 1970s, BCG experience curve work led to inside that has a significant impact on business thinking i.e. of rapid growth in market share was the important as the curve suggested then the usual approach resource allocation in which each business unit funded in on growth seems to be recipe for its failure. Business with low market share but high potential would never generate enough cash to win the race down the experience curve. Those with the high market share but few changes of growth would generate far more cash than those would use productivity. The BCG matrix can be diagrammatically represented as follow Question Marks Question marks are products that grow rapidly and as a result consume large amounts of cash, but because they have low market shares they dont generate much cash. The result is large net cash consumption. A question mark has the potential to gain market share and become a star, and eventually a cash cow when the market growth slows. If it doesnt become a market leader it will become a dog when market growth declines. Question marks need to be analysed carefully to determine if they are worth the investment required to grow market share. Dogs Dogs have a low market share and a low growth rate and neither generates nor consumes a large amount of cash. However, dogs are cash traps because of the money tied up in a business that has little potential. Such businesses are candidates for divestiture. Stars Stars generate large sums of cash because of t heir strong relative market share, but also consume large amounts of cash because of their high growth rate. So the cash being spent and brought in approximately nets out. If a star can maintain its large market share it will become a cash cow when the market growth rate declines. Cash Cows As leaders in a mature market, cash cows exhibit a return on assets that is greater than the market growth rate  ± so they generate more cash than they consume. These units should be  µmilked extracting the profits and investing as little as possible. They provide the cash required to turn question marks into market leaders. Strategies for Southwest airlines Ansoff Matrix Market Penetration Strategy Encouraging existing Customer to buy more Showing benefits for using more (associating freebies/extra service/membership with primary offering). Try to look for foreign entrants weakness. Product Development Seek additional distribution channels (More tie ups collaboration: Try seeking collaboration with international carriers, Bilateral discussions over seats and code-sharing between the carriers). New product development. Market Development Strategy Try to find out new customer group (Old-retired persons). Special offering for first time fliers. Diversification strategy May go for other services like international flights etc. (concentric diversification). May go for arrangement fashion shows (horizontal diversification). May go for other things, which can lure the youth. SWOT Analysis of Southwest Airlines Strengths Southwest has successfully adopted a cost leadership strategy. Southwest maintains operating expenses per available seat mile at 15-20% below average. The company has no baggage handling, no meals, no central reservations, and no assigned seats. Because all of its planes are Boeing 737s, maintenance, turnaround, and training costs are contained. The company has embraced technology that will reduce costs (e.g., ticketless travel). The company has a reputation for great customer service. 28 years of safe, reliable operations 5 consecutive years of Triple Crown Customer Service 5 consecutive years of record profits and 24 consecutive years of profitability Top ranking in the Airline Quality survey conducted by The National Institute for Aviation Research for two of the last three years A route system that has grown to 52 airport in 25 states, carrying more than 50 million customers on 243 Boeing 737 aircraft, etc. The company has a strong, fun-loving, employee-oriented culture. The companys mission statement focuses on these aspects of the business. The companys growth has been steady and planned. Southwest enters new markets only when they can achieve frequent flights. The companys marketing focuses on its low prices, convenience service and sophisticated combination of advertising, public relation and promotions. Weaknesses Gap between Southwest and the rest of the majors has narrowed as other carriers have attempted to emulate Southwest formula. Southwests competitors are offering shuttle services that compete directly with the company. They are also operating, investing in, and forming alliances with regional carriers. As the result of its steady, planned growth strategy, there are numerous untapped domestic markets Pilot and Flight Attendant Unions have increased salary and benefit packages to be the highest in the industry. Continued increases in Seat cost per Mile will not allow southwest to remain a low fare carrier. External Opportunities and Threats Opportunities There are opportunities for expansion to new markets. The new Boeing 737-700 has the ability to fly longer distances nonstop, which may change the definition of short haul. Demographic trends appear favourable to an airline focusing on price and reliability. The consumer continues to seek convenience and time savings. Flying, rather than driving, will meet that need if the price is right and the airline is reliable. The competition is looking to international, rather than domestic markets, for growth opportunities. Improved computer technology will allow more ticketless transactions and reservations made by PC. Threats Southwests ability to hold the line on costs will impact its cost leadership position. The largest cost component is labour. This cost could be impacted by union actions, which cover 85% of Southwests workforce. The second largest cost component is fuel, which could be negatively impacted by economic or political events. Government regulation could hinder Southwests ability to control costs, control fares, or enter new markets. Recent government crackdown on safety (e.g., insulation, cargo fire detection) means costly retrofits. Proposed re-regulation would limit existing firms ability to respond to under-pricing by new companies. Prior to deregulation in 1978, carriers were limited in their ability to enter new markets. The government recently proposed an increase in facility tax rates, which would have resulted in higher costs. Improved telecommunications may lower demand for air travel, or may lower demand for discount airlines. E-mail and teleconferencing can result in less need to travel. Consumers may demand personal technology on planes, such as movies, phones, games, etc. Alternative forms of transportation, such as a high-speed railway, could weaken demand for air travel. Also, if the economy weakens, people may choose to drive rather than fly. Southwest would be hurt if the public perception were that low price equates to low quality. Competitive Advantage for Southwest airlines Focus on Customer Service. Embracing the New economy through the use of internet tickets sales. Focus on lowest cost fares. Internal demand Keeping fares lower through cost reduction methods Lowest cost due to no assigned seating No meals on flights Lower overhead expenditures Use Hubless system to reduce costs

Legalization of Marijuana :: Argumentative, Marijuana Legalization

The legalization of marijuana has been questionable for many many years now, but the government just seems to always decline. I feel that marijuana should be legalized. There are many reasons for and against legalization, but the arguments for it outweigh the arguments against it. I believe marijuana should be legalized for three main reasons. Legalization will bring in much needed tax dollars, it will free up prisons and their resources, and it will save the U.S tons of money. If marijuana is legalized, it can be taxed by the federal government, like alcohol and cigarettes are now. If this is done, not only will the government save millions of dollars on searching for marijuana, the government will make billions of dollars off the sale of marijuana which can be used for drug education programs to help educate the youth of America. In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participate in the "War on Drugs." We currently spend billions of dollars every year to chase peaceful people who happen to like to get high. These people get locked up in prison and the taxpayers have to foot the bill. We have to pay for food, housing, health care, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses to lock these people up. This is extremely expensive! If you must know, it costs taxpayers like you and me $42,000 a year to keep just one criminal in jail. That's more than twice the amount citizens spend on sending their children to school. Taxpayers only spend a dissapointing $13,000 a year for public schooling. We could save billions of dollars every year as a nation if we stop wasting money locking people up for having marijuana. In addition, if marijuana were legal, the government would be able to collect taxes on it, and would have a lot more money to pay for effective drug education programs and other important causes. According to The Report of the Task Force on Cannabis Regulation to the Center for the Study of Drug Policy, "marijuana is one of the largest tax-exempt industries in the country today." 10-15 billion dollars a year could be made simply by legalizing cannabis. Hemp, the nonpsychoactive version of the plant, has many, many uses but is outlawed by the U.S. government. Hemp is an incredibly strong fiber that can be used for ropes, clothes and

Key Aspects of Surrealism Inaugurated by Max Ernst

Key Aspects of Surrealism Inaugurated by Max Ernst Amrit Johal, 301102319 FPA 111: D109 (Anna-Marie) Research Essay, Fall 2010 Max Ernst, an inventive artist and one of the pioneers of the Surrealist movement, was able to project the ideas of Surrealism to his audience in a very efficient manner. Surrealism is a discipline, which allows one to think like a child and create art that brings you to a dream-like state.Ernst was able to accomplish this by creating images one can only imagine seeing in a dream, such as his ‘Angel of Heart and Home’ series. As well as by piecing things together which would not typically be put together (collages), such as his Oedipus Rex. Ernst’s work, Oedipus Rex(1922) and L’ange du Foyer(1937), are crucial works of art for the Surrealist movement and  inaugurated many of the important characteristics associated with Surrealist art. Surrealism Surrealism is a cultural movement and artistic style that emerged in 1924 in the hand s of Andre Breton.Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility. Breton defines Surrealism as a â€Å"psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express – verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner – the actual reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern† (Breton in Harrison, 2003, pg. 452). It is meant to bring the viewer to a dream like state, where a sense of freedom can be achieved, as it would in childhood.Breton said that â€Å"the mind which plunges into Surrealism relives with glowing excitement the best part of its childhood†¦[it is] childhood where everything nevertheless conspires to bring about the effective, risk-free possession of oneself† (Breton in Harrison, 2003, pg. 452). He says that it is Surrealism that gives you a second chance to be like a child, it is another opportunity. Although Surrealism, in a s ense, emerged from Dada, the two practices are different in many ways. Dada took an anti-art stance, avoiding repetition and therefore the creation of a style.Although it did not seek a common style, Surrealism, however, had none of the nihilism of the earlier movement but was concerned with a redefinition of painting, with transgression rather than proscription (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 11). Crevel describes Surrealism beautifully as being â€Å"for the mind a truly magnificent and almost unhoped for victory, to possess [a] new liberty, [a] leaping of the imagination [†¦] smashing the bars of reason’s cage, and bird that it is, obedient to the voice of the wind† (Crevel in Spalding, 1979, pg. 28).For Ernst, â€Å"the fundamental opposition between meditation and action coincides with the fundamental separation between the outer and inner worlds† (Ernst in Hofmann et al, 1973, pg. 23). It is here, Ernst believes, that the universal significance of Surr ealism lies, and that no part in life is closed to it (Ernst in Hofmann et al, 1973, pg. 23). Ernst’s art showcased his fascination with Surrealism through his many great works of art including Oedipus Rex and L’ange du Foyer. Max Ernst Max Ernst was a German painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and poet.A prolific artist, Ernst is considered to be one of the primary pioneers of the Dada movement and Surrealism. He was born in Bruhl, Germany. In 1909, he enrolled in the University at Bonn to study philosophy but soon abandoned these courses to pursue his interest in art. In 1913 he met Guillaume Apollinaire and Robert Delaunay and traveled to the Montparnasse Quarter in Paris, France where a gathering of artists from around the globe was taking place. In 1919 he visited Paul Klee and created his first paintings, block prints and collages, and experimented with mixed media.During World War I he served in the German army and after the war, filled with new ideas, Max Ernst, Jean Arp and social activist Alfred Grunwald, formed the Cologne, Germany Dada group. Constantly experimenting, in 1925 he invented frottage, a technique using pencil rubbings of objects. Following the outbreak of World War II, Max Ernst was detained as an enemy alien but with the assistance of the American journalist Varian Fry in Marseille, he managed to escape the country with Peggy Guggenheim. They arrived in the United States in 1941.Living in New York City, along with Marcel Duchamp and Marc Chagall, fellow avant-garde painters who had fled the War in Europe, Max Ernst helped inspire the use of Abstract expressionism among American painters (Camfield, 1993). Ernst turned away from the idea of the artist as creator as well as from the myth of ‘artistic talent. ’ For Ernst, the artist is only indirectly responsible for the creation of the work of art: â€Å"The old view of ‘talent’ [†¦] has been thrown out, just as the adoration of the hero [â₠¬ ¦] has been thrown out† (Spies, 2006, pg. 27). A sense of humor permeates his canvases and collages, none more so than in his renditions of natural phenomena. Interested in plants and in their life cycles, he permits his sense of the mythical to prevail. Trees gods, spirits and fantastic animals are everywhere in his canvases†(Stern, 2009).Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex was one of Ernst’s first paintings in which he was able to successfully transfer the techniques of combination, assemblage and collage to large-scale painting. The picture is given the impression of a collage by the use of hard outlines and the dry appearance of the paint (Bischoff, 2003, pg. 3). Gimferrer notes that Ernst was able to expound the conception, mechanics and techniques of collage. His collages were able to sustain the principle of the union of two dissociated situations in the strictly Dadaist or Surrealist manner. This technique seems to stem from Max Ernst and is â€Å"applied to the ve ry nucleus of consciousness [and] to the notion of personal identity† (Gimferrer, 1983, pg. 5-6). The spatial situation of Oedipus Rex is, to some extent, unclear due to the initial context of the picture. Here objects differing in scale are arranged in a setting indicated by architectonic elements.A device for marking chicks is pierced through a hand extended through a window and through the nut it is holding. The nut, which has been cracked open, resembles an eye, bringing to mind Luis Bunuel’s film Un Chien Andalou. Two birds are to be seen looking out of a hole in the stage in the foreground, prevented from withdrawing their head by palings and length of string (or halter) tied to the horns of one of them (Bischoff, 2003, pg. 23). Bischoff claims, â€Å"the desire for forbidden fruit (indicated by the hand which has reached for the nut) and curiosity (for the birds have put their head through the opening in rder to see something) are immediately punished† (Bi schoff, 2003, pg. 23). Schneede, on the other hand, understands Oedipus Rex as being â€Å"held in check by a halter [†¦] and by palings. † He says that â€Å"living creatures exist [†¦] in a rigid state of suspended animation [and that] the saw cleaves no trace of cut marks behind† (Schneede, 1972, pg. 50). Moreover, Schneede agrees with Bischoff, in that the cleaved nut resembles an eye, anticipating the opening sequence of Bunuel’s film, Un Chien Andalou.There are numerous allusions to the Oedipus legend of classical antiquity, says Bischoff, a myth, which has retained its validity throughout the history of mankind, for the motifs of vision, blindness and piercing, are all present (Bischoff, 2003, pg. 23). Although there are many understandings of this work of art, it can still be difficult to understand the meaning of it to the extent the Ernst had intended. For Spies, pictures such as Oedipus Rex compel us to search in vain for some key that might help us to explain them. And that in doing so, we get no closer to the meaning.He goes on to say that â€Å"it is important to recognize that even precise knowledge of the sources Ernst made use of for his collages and paintings does not help us understand them, for he cut away and obscured the meaning of the original image in the course of making his own work† (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 4). L’ange du Foyer Max Ernst’s L’ange du Foyer is another one of his ground breaking pieces in which a â€Å"gigantic bird-like or dragon-like creature [is] launching into a terrible jump over a plain† (Bischoff, 2003, pg. 60). The smaller secondary figure is trying to hold the monster back.The painting projects a vivid sense of danger and total destructiveness. â€Å"The monster’s violent nature is perfectly clear from its menacing claws, its fluttering garments in glowing colours, its expansive gestures, with its raised left hand making some kind of magical sign, and it’s enraged stomping in front of a low-lying horizon† (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 28). The gesture of the outstretched arms is more expansive but does not seem so menacing, inasmuch as it does not threaten to burst the boundaries of the picture. The monster appears not to be acting so much as reacting to something.A number of details that Rewald pointed out are as follows: â€Å"On the creatures right foot in the Munich picture is a house slipper – an allusion to the title L’ange du Foyer (Fire Side Angle), whereas in the large canvas it is a horses hoof, suggesting the devil. His right hand, lacking the long claws of the other beast, still has some resemblance to human anatomy. His left arm, by contrast, appears to dissolve into vegetable forms. The fluttering drapery on this arm can be interpreted as an object: it calls to mind a blood red executioners ax. And the monster’s grimace is hideously repulsive.Thus, terror is not entirely banished from the smaller picture† (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 29). Attached to an arm and a leg of the beast in the painting is a small, no less monstrous creature that seems more amphibian. Rewald describes the creature as having a â€Å"gaping birds beak and long frog legs,† she says that â€Å"it combines irreconcilable elements [of] air and water† (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 29). In addition, the obviously female creature exudes a crude eroticism: her thick thighs are spread far apart, exposing a button-like sex organ.And according to Rewald, it is impossible to overlook her obscene gesture, which has infuriated the trampling beast and caused him to leap so high (Rewald & Spies, 2005, pg. 29). Despite the individual differences, says Bischoff, all the themes and subjects of Max Ernst’s work had a political dimension (Bischoff, 2003, pg. 57), none more so than his L’ange du Foyer. This painting consisted of three versions, ca lled the ‘Angel of Heart and Home’ series. The ‘Angel of Heart and Home’ is an ironic title, Ernst says, for a kind of â€Å"juggernaut, which crushes and destroys all that comes in its path.That was my impression at the time of what would probably happen in the world, and I was right (about WWII)† (Ernst in Schneede, 1972, pg. 154). The monster is seen as being driven solely by an instinct for power, he represents a variety of governmental, military, and ecclesiastical authorities, crushing and killing everything that stands in his way, especially women. In 1938, Ernst gave the picture, for a time, the title ‘The Triumph of Surrealism,’ â€Å"a despairing reference to the fact that the Surrealists with their Communist ideas had been unable to do anything to resist Fascism† (Schneed, 1972, pg. 54). Ernst’s additions to Surrealism Max Ernst, a primary pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism has, through his art, brought us to a dream-like state time and time again. Surrealism is meant to bring us to our inner child, and exercise our imaginations. In practicing this discipline, Ernst was able to eliminate the notion of artist as creator as well as the idea of ‘artistic talent. ’ Through experimentation and his skillfulness, he was able to deliver us many great works of art, including Oedipus Rex and L’ange du Foyer.Oedipus Rex was the first time Ernst was able to transfer the technique of collage to a large-scale painting, and through this work he permeated the idea that the desire for the ‘forbidden fruit’ or curiosity is, many times, immediately punished (Bischoff, 2003). With L’ange du Foyer, Ernst deliberately made a reference to war, projecting a vivid sense of danger and destructiveness. He was able to bring his ideas on war to a surreal, phantasmagorical state. Oedipus Rex(1922) and L’ange du Foyer(1937) are a couple of the most important additio ns to the Surrealist movement. Ernst, through these works, was able to establish many significant elements linked to Surrealism including the use of collage and bringing the audience to a dream like state with his overtly spine-chilling creations.References Bischoff, U. (2003). Max Ernst : 1891-1976 Beyond Painting. (J. Harrison, Trans. ) Koln, Germany: Taschen. Camfield, W. A. (1993). Max Ernst: Dada and the Dawn of Surrealisn. Munich: Prestel. Gimferrer, P. (1983). Max Ernst. New York: Rizzoli International Publications Inc. Harrison, C. (2003). Art in Theory 1900-2000. US: Wiley-Blackwell. Hofmann, W. , Schmied, W. & Spies, W. (1973). Max Ernst, Inside the Sight. Houton, Texas: Institute for the Arts, Rice University. Rewald, S. , & Spies, W. (2005). Max Ernst : A Retrospective. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Schneede, U. M. (1972). The essential Max Ernst. (R. W. Last, Trans. ) London: Thames and Hudson. Spalding, J. J. (1979). Max Ernst: from the Collection o f Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Ernst. Clagary, Alberta: Glenbow Museum. Spies, W. (2006). Max Ernst: Life and Work. London: Thames and Hudson. Stern, F. (2009, January). Surrealism: The Alternate Reality. CPI. Q (Canadian Periodicals) .

conformity vs individuality essays

conformity vs individuality essays "People don't talk about anything...and nobody says anything different from anyone else" This quote, from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, demonstrates how this fictional society had no individuality, yet they expressed no disprovement of the conformity. To be so simple minded as this civilization was would have eventually lead to self-destruction. To support my theory, recall in the novel when the old lady chose to commit suicide because she did not have freedom. She felt that even though she was "free" she was "enslaved" by the enforcement of limited knowledge. Without individuality in today's society, the world would be filled with a population of large amounts of followers as opposed to leaders. Do you know where and what this society would be like if we didn't have leaders like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, etc.? I presume that we wouldn't be as strong of a nation as we are now. We wouldn't have any freedoms or rights that these leaders fought so hard to achieve. We wouldn't be able to experience historical periods such as the Industrial Revolution, the Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Movement, etc. for all of these eras express different ideas, inventions, and opinions and gradually erased some people's ignorance towards these changes. As an African-American, I take great pride in the Harlem Renaissance because this was a time when we got to prove the "ignorant" people wrong as we demonstrated our artistic and intellectual abilities. "What do we want in this country, above all? To be happy!" I disagree with this quote made by Captain Beatty due to the fact that with a society like ours full of different people with different outlooks towards different things, it is impossible to make everyone happy. What I think our country wants above all is equality, freedom, and peace, something our past leaders have fought so courageously to obtain. Being happy all the time isn't everything, it is beneficial ...

The Nursing Profession The WritePass Journal

The Nursing Profession Introduction The Nursing Profession   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from rcm.org.uk/college/campaigns-events/campaign-for-normal-birth/ Ipek C. G. Kasikci, M. 2011, Development of the Attitude Scale for Nursing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Profession. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17 (5): 518-24 Harrison, J. Journeaux, M. 2011, Promoting nursing and midwifery as a potential   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   career for school leavers. Nursing Standard, 26 (9): 35-40 Carol H. Dawn R. 2011, What Is Nursing? Exploring Theory and Practice. NY: SAGE, 2011 Hiscott, R. 1998, Career Paths of Nursing Professionals: A Study of Employment Mobility. NY: McGill-Queens

Sales Planning and Operations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sales Planning and Operations - Assignment Example This report is an effort to signify the importance of personal selling in the promotional activities and how they can be used by the Hendrix brothers to foster their sales and service. Significance of Personal Selling in the Promotional Mix â€Å"Promotion is persuasive communication. Companies rely on promotion to inform people about their products and services. Companies also use promotional techniques to enhance their public image and reputation and persuade people that their products are valuable† (Glencoe, n.d., p.362). Non-profit organisations rely on the promotional activities to make the public educated about an issue or to advocate for the changes in a regulation or a policy. The objectives of the promotional activities can be articulated by the phrase AIDA. In the process, the company must attract the attention, build the interest and desire and finally the company must ask for action. Promotion is a significant element of the marketing mix. In the absence of communi cation, the customers may not be aware of the product and its prospective their requirements and desires. A number of different communication tools form a significant part of communication mix. The organisations must decide which tools are required to be used for the larger sales and in specific proportion. There are four significant components of promotion mix including advertising, sales promotion, personal selling and public relations. Promotional mix is an organisation’s total communication a program consisting of various blends of its components and the mix is used to achieve the company’s marketing goals and objectives. â€Å"Personal selling refers to the personal communication with one or more prospective buyers for the purpose of selling a product or service† (NOS, n.d., p.28). Personal selling is one of the most effective tools to communicate with the consumers. Personal selling involves interaction at the personal level and that is why the feedback is received immediately. The communication through personal selling is quite flexible. The sales personnel can adjust the communication according to the understanding of the customers. The personal selling is more persuasive. The selling personnel can convince the consumers about the utility of the product. The efficiency of the impressive salesmen can leave an impression on the potential buyers which in turn would increase the sales in the coming future. There are a number of other forms of promotional mix. Personal selling can offer considerable contribution in the other promotional mix tools. Advertising is an impersonal and paid communication form in order to endorse a physical product or service. The promotional tool can be in the print form as in the newspapers and magazines, in the audio form or in the audio visual form as on the television or cinema screen etc. Personal selling can be used to flaunt the utilities and advantages of the products to intensify the advertisements. Sales promotion refers to the use of short term incentives such as discounts, free gifts, demonstration, store display, free sample coupons etc to encourage the immediate purchase of a product or service. The personal sales team can offer these incentives to the customers to increase the sales and revenue. To a certain extent the significance of personal selling depends on the nature of the product. As a general rule, merchandises which are

Communication-Public Relation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Communication-Public Relation - Assignment Example oach would not necessarily work in the event that a boss requires that his employees exhibit strong independent character traits, that allow for them to take the initiative and effectively address issues without constantly trying to come across as likable (Scheer, 2009). This position is further supported by research conducted by career edge which on a sample size of 1,118 Ontarians that found that 82 percent of individuals aged between 18 and 29 years actually preferred to being in workplace environments that offered them a balance between independence and teamwork (Taylor 2010). In a further demonstration of the research dubbed 5 myths established that 34% of individuals in this age category preferred that cubicle styled office structures that offered more independence and privacy to employees as opposed to using the open-concept of the more hyper-casual offices that offered less independence and privacy. I agree with the results of the survey that also established that this generation –Y ers are quite keen to understand the given corporate culture, however they do not what a boss whose acts like a best friend and instead prefer having bosses who act like mentors and provide them with a lot of feedback on their work (Taylor, 2010). Concepts such as employees going well above and beyond what their employees require of them, striving to establish good networks, and always ensuring that they display enthusiasm and energy are valuable tips that are not only useful during the internship period, but are also critical work ethics that should be observed by those wishing to be good employees (Internweb, 2014). Taylor, L. (2010). Career Edge Study: What twentysomethings want from their jobs. Retrieved on 27, May 2014,