Blue Rhinos Business Strategy and Information Systems Essay

Blue Rhinos Business Strategy and Information Systems - Essay Example In fast-growing complex businesses, the uncertainties in employee productivity levels, customer satisfaction levels, operating costs, duplication of work, operations performance, actual revenues, ability to grow, forecasting & hypothecations, etc. increases beyond the comfort levels of the Management and Stake Holders. In light of these uncertainties, an organization may need to implement an effective, integrated & controlled Business Information System (BIS). However, such a system is not just a product which can be purchased, plugged and played. Management commitment and end-user buy-in are critical to implementing the BIS (The ERP Selection process survival guide, Relevant Business Systems Inc, 2005, p.3). In this case-study, Blue Rhino Management did take the wise decision to implement BIS and provide interfacing to employees, suppliers, and customers via an Intranet. The implementation actually became faster and more collaborative & effective because of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation that was implied on the organization. Blue Rhino is a national leader in their business that deals with Propane Cylinder Exchange Services. Their growth soared in a very short time due to aggressive spirit of the organization, macro management by the CEO (empowerment of staff) and a major strategic change in their business – exchanging cylinders rather than refilling cylinders. Employee empowerment works well for this kind of retail business analogous to the Wal-Mart business model (Malone, Thomas W. 1997, Sloan Management Review, Winter97, Vol.38, Issue 2, p.125-125, 1/2p).  

Unrealistic Optimism Gender and Culture Essay Example for Free

Unrealistic Optimism Gender and Culture Essay Several studies have been conducted to determine the influence that unrealistic optimism has over gender differences and culture. Unrealistic optimism is defined as the belief that positive (negative) events are more (less) likely to happen to one ’s self-versus others. Researchers have reported that both men and women from across cultures tend to be influenced by this bias. Nevertheless, they’ve found that Western cultures (such as Americans or Canadians) are identified by being independent and individualist, whereas Eastern cultures (such as Japanese) tend to focus on interdependence and collectivism. Given this basic traits, experimenters have discovered that Canadians tend to believe that positive events are more likely to happen to them, whereas Japanese tend to believe that they are more likely to experience negative events. In the other hand, both men and women have revealed to be unrealistically optimistic. However, men have reported higher levels of unrealistic bias compared to women around the world. Introduction Unrealistic optimism or optimistic bias is defined as the tendency for people to believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events compared to others. (Weinsten, 1980). Taylor and Brown stated that almost 121 studies have demonstrated this phenomenon. Various findings have confirmed that American college students think that they were more likely than others to experience positive events such as getting a good job or forming a family. In opposition, most people think that they are less likely than others of experiencing negative events such as having a drinking problem or being fired from a job. The purpose of this essay is to determine the extent to which cultural and gender differences are influenced by unrealistic optimism. Unrealistic Optimism Unrealistic optimism could cause a negative effect over an individual’s life as it can distort their perception about reality. However, unrealistic optimism has also shown favorable effects over and individual’s well-being. This bias is significantly important because it can impact people’s intentions to engage in preventive behaviors. In addition, it can also affect the way in which people process information to update their beliefs. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that optimistic bias appears to be motivated by threat. In other words, if a negative future event is perceived to be particularly serious, it’s more likely that the person will feel invulnerable toward that particular event. Western vs. Eastern Cultures The tendency of believing that one has better-than-average attributes has been researched and discussed lately. Researchers have found that people from Western cultures tend to be more unrealistically optimistic than people from Eastern cultures when comparing their chances of experiencing negative events to the average’s person. Markys and Kitayama stated that this bias influences every culture in a different way because they emphasize to tasks relevant to everyday life in different forms; independence and interdependence. Additionally, they stated that the cultures that have developed an independent construal of self are characterized by having an autonomous sense of self that’s different from others and the environment, whereas cultures that have fostered an interdependent construal of self are mutually reliant on each other and don’t attribute their individuality and uniqueness separately from the social world. Study #1 Cultural differences in unrealistic optimism and pessimism For this particular study participants form Japan and the United States responded to questions about negative health events that varied in event frequency and severity. The overall purpose of this study was to examine cultural differences in unrealistic optimism and pessimism through the direct versus the indirect method. The direct method involved a question in which participants compared themselves to the average group (e.g., â€Å"How likely are you to have a heart attack, relative to the average student of your age/sex?†). In the other hand, the indirect method involved a single question in which participants made absolute separate ratings for themselves (e.g., â€Å"How likely are you to have a heart attack?†). For the indirect method, the researchers predicted that participants across cultures would present different patterns. For instance, they expected that Japanese participants would report equal or higher risk estimates than for the average student for most events. In the other hand, they predicted that U.S participants would present higher risk estimates for themselves than for the average student for most events. In contrast, for the direct method investigators predicted that participants across cultures would report similar patterns of unrealistic optimism since cognitive biases such as egocentrism on direct comparisons will have a significant influence over respondents. After 127 students from the University of Iowa (United States) and 123 students from Kansai University (Japan) were tested through both the direct and the indirect methods, researchers acknowledged that in order to determine whether there are cross-cultural differences in unrealistic optimism they needed to take in consideration on whether direct or indirect comparisons were made. Considering the direct method, there was evidence that both Japanese and U.S. participants displayed high levels of unrealistic optimism about avoiding infrequent/negative events but, unrealistically pessimistic about avoiding frequent/negative events. However when measuring unrealistic optimism or pessimism through the indirect method the Japanese participants reported to have a tendency towards being less unrealistically optimistic than the U.S. participants. Contrarily, U.S participants showed that they tend to be more optimistic about themselves than for the average student for the majority of the events. Study#2 Does the West feel more vulnerable than the East?. At the same time, Steven J. Heine and Damn R. Lehman from the University of British Columbia compared the levels of unrealistic optimism between Canadians and Japanese through two different studies. The first study examined levels of unrealistic optimism exhibited by a sample typical of an independent construal of self (Canadians) and a sample typical of an interdependent construal of self (Japanese). Three different hypotheses were stated by the researchers. The first hypothesis anticipated that Canadians would show significantly more unrealistic optimism than Japanese; the second hypothesis drawn expected that constructs that have been shown to sustain the optimism bias, and availability of stereotypes, would be more pronounced in Canadians than in Japanese. And the last hypothesis predicted that Japanese’s optimism judgments will be less strongly related to threat whereas, Canadians unrealistic optimism would increase with perceived threat. For this particular study a total of 510 students who were taking different introductory psychology courses participated. Respondents were evenly separated between each of the Japanese and the Canadian samples. Moreover, in order to obtain membership in the westernized Canadian sample, respondents had to meet each of the following criteria: (a) the respondent had to be born in either Canada or the United States; (b) both of the respondents parents had to be born in Canada, the United States, or in a European country; (c) the respondent had to declare his or her ethnic descent to be that of a European culture; and (d) to keep the age range of the Canadian sample comparable to that of the Japanese sample, the respondent had to be between the ages of 18 and 25. All participants completed a questionnaire packet that included 15 future life events. Unrealistic optimism was measured for both negative and positive events through two methods: within-groups measure and between-groups measure. In the within-groups measure, participants had to respond questions about the chances they thought they had about experiencing a particular future event compared to other university students. In the other hand, through the between-groups measure the experimenters measured unrealistic optimism between groups. Participants received two different versions of the questionnaire. In the first version, beneath each future life event respondents were asked to estimate the absolute percentage chance that this event would happen to them. Contrarily, in the second version of the questionnaire, beneath each future life event, participants had to estimate the absolute percentage chance that a future event would happen to another same-sex student from their university. The assumptions made by Heine and Lehman about Study 1 were strongly supported since Japanese showed less unrealistic optimism than Canadians in all instances, regardless the methodology used. Surprisingly, experimenters found an in teresting pattern among participants’ estimates for themselves and others. Their findings suggested that Canadians tend to believe that positive events are more likely to occur to themselves in comparison to Japanese that reported to believe that positive events are less likely to happen to them than to others. Conversely, compared to Japanese, Canadians reported that the negative events were non significantly less likely to happen to themselves and significantly more likely to happen to others. Similarly, the main purpose for Study 2 was to examine only future life events. Researchers wanted to determine if Japanese would self-enhance more in cases in which their interdependence is threatened. Their findings were done through two subsets of future life events that we believed would be particularly threatening to people with independent and interdependent construals of self, respectively. Furthermore, Heine and Lehman anticipated that independent events would be perceived as more threatening than interdependent events for Canadians whereas interdependent ev ents would be perceived more threatening than independent events for Japanese. 215 introductory psychology students were taken in consideration for Study 2, including Japanese and Canadian students divided evenly within samples. All respondents completed a questionnaire which contained 10 questions about negative independent future events and 10 questions about interdependent future life events. These events were selected based on reasoning that independent events will threaten the individual; whereas interdependent events will threaten the individual’s relations with close others such as co-workers, friends or family members. The researchers’ findings revealed that comparing across cultures, Japanese perceived interdependent events to be more threatening than Canadians. Control and stereotype ratings were also examined in terms in how these independent and interdependent events would be rated. With respect to control, Canadians found that both independent and especially, independent events are more controllable. However, Japanese reported that in terdependent events are more controllable than independent events. Taken together both the controllability and severity findings, ratings suggest that negative future events were perceived differently by both cultures. As a result, Canadians and Japanese showed unrealistic optimism for both independent and interdependent events. In brief, Canadians were more unrealistically optimistic than Japanese for both independent and, especially, interdependent events whereas Japanese actually showed significant unrealistic pessimism for both types of events. Similarly, recent findings have shown several differences in the way in which genders (feminine and masculine) are influenced by unrealistic optimism. Most predictions suggest that men would show greater levels of unrealistic optimism than women. In fact, as women have a more interdependent self-construal of the self and men possess a more independent construal of the self, unrealistic optimism should be stronger and more resistant for men than for women. Furthermore, gender research has shown that men an d women have different expectations of marital quality; specifically different definitions of what constitutes a happy marriage Study #3 Gender differences in unrealistic optimism Two different studies held by Ying-Ching Lin and Priya Raghubir examined gender differences in optimistic bias, and their beliefs about marriage using a Taiwanese population. Study 1 tested the strength of the optimistic bias for men compared to women with respect to their expectations for a happy marriage or divorce. They hypothesised men to report higher levels of unrealistic optimism than women. In the other hand, Study 2 examined the bias’s resilience among men and women, and expected men’s beliefs to be less likely to be influenced by base rates compared to women. 309 students from a Taiwanese university were part of the study in which they had to respond to different questions regarding a target person (self, same-sex best friend, average undergraduate, and average person) and their likelihood of getting divorced or having a happy marriage. Half of the participants answered questions regarding the likelihood of having a happy marriage and the other half answered q uestions regarding the likelihood of getting divorced. Finally, they were asked to estimate the likelihood of an event occurring in the future from 0% to 100% for each of the four target persons. The results of this study suggested that Taiwanese men and Taiwanese women are unrealistically optimistic with respect to their relationships, and that men think that positive events, such as a happy marriage, are more likely to happen to them compared to an average person than women do. Similarly, they believe that negative events, such as divorce, are less likely to happen to them than to another person compared to women. 188 students participated in Study 2. They were divided into two groups assigned randomly to one of the two event conditions: happy marriage or divorce and were asked to estimate their own likelihood for that particular event. Subsequently, all participants were given base rate information for the event to which they were assigned (divorce = 25%, happy marriage = 60%). These base rates were based on an official publication of the Government Statistical Reports: Monthly Bulletin of Statistics. After being exposed to base rate information, all respondents were asked to estimate the likelihood of the event occurring to them, and to estimate the likelihood of the event occurring to someone else. The findings for this study reported, that both men and women show high levels of unrealistic optimism regarding a happy marriage and a divorce. Compared to men, women with a positive prior were influenced by the base rate information regarding a happy marriage. However, neither women nor men updated their estimates about their own divorce. In the other hand, men’s answers with a negative prior got influenced by the provided base rates at the beginning of the study whereas women’s answers were only influenced when talking about a happy marriage, but not about divorce. In general terms, both studies showed that both men and women tend to be influenced by optimistic bias about their expectations of their marriage. However, men showed greater levels of unrealistic optimism than women did. Regarding base rate information, women were more realistic in their estimates about a happy marriage compared to their estimates of getting divorced. Finally, only men with a negative initial prior were influenced by base rates whereas men with a positive initial prior do not updated their self- estimates. Gender vs. Culture The data used in both studies was collected using a Taiwanese sample (collectivist culture). However, the experimenters found that this bias is a universal phenomenon that occurs to both individualist and collectivist cultures. Moreover, recent work has reported that the bias is lower for participants who belong to collectivist cultures such as Japanese compared to individualist cultures such as Canadians. Because marriage is considered a relational aspect, consistent with a collectivist attribute, the population under this domain should show unrealistic levels of optimism. Conclusion Unrealistic optimism is a universal phenomenon that affects both gender and cultural differences around the world. Recent findings have demonstrated that both men and women across cultures (Eastern vs. Western) tend to be unrealistically optimistic about avoiding frequent/negative events, and unrealistically pessimistic about avoiding infrequent/negative events. However, the extent to which men vs. women and Eastern vs. Western cultures are affected by the bias varies among them. Being the West an independent and individualist culture, they report a higher tendency to be unrealistically optimistic. In contrast, being the East an interdependent and collectivist culture they present lower levels of unrealistic bias. At the same time, men and women have reported to be biased to some extent. Men have reported higher levels of unrealistic optimism, whereas women have shown to be less likely influenced by this threat. Now the question is: have you ever felt influenced by unrealistic bias?

Computer Systems :: essays research papers

Computer Systems Push a single button and you are connected to the world. It has revolutionized our economy, culture, and lifestyle. It connects you to the world through the internet, where you can check e-mail or read the news. It also allows you to process and store important data and information. When you think of computers you think of a variety of things, such as games, the internet, and e-mail. The computer in our generation serves as a tool to educate and entertain. The technology for computers is growing rapidly, as many companies compete to advance hardware and software. Over the past years, the battle has been between Apple (Macs) and IBM (PCs). While both Macs and PCs make their product to suit the needs of the consumer, they are built differently. Therefore, Apples and PCs have two different strategies when it comes to selling a product. I think the biggest differences are shown in three main categories: design/style, software/performance, and reliability/cost. Apple is known best for their innovative and stylish designs. When you compare Macs and PCs side by side, you can easily distinguish which is which. First, Apple computers are becoming more compact in size. Their new system designs include the display (monitor) integrated with the rest of the computer. The Apple’s iMac is a good example of how compact their systems are becoming. The PC on the other hand, is laid out in separate components such as the display and speakers that you plug into the desktop. Second, Apple computers have a more contemporary look. This has proven to be a great marketing and selling strategy. This new distinctive look makes the computer more appealing to the customer. Macs came out with a variety of translucent colors such as green, blue, and orange. New Apple products are coming out with very clean-looking all white models. PCs, on the other hand, are usually sold in grey or black colors, depending upon the company you buy from. I think Apple intended to make their design more like an appliance, rather than a computer, which looks user friendly and consumer appealing. Third, Apple’s design makes it easy to set up, meaning that you don’t need to connect many cords to operate the system. Easy Set up is a big plus when it comes to buying a computer. And last of all, instead of looking like a box with slots, Apple has designed computers using more shape.

Religion, Creation Stories, and Creation Myths Essay -- Theology Relig

Religion, Creation Stories, and Creation Myths One of the fundamental questions that religions seek to answer is that of origin. How was man put on earth? Why and from what was he created? Who created him? What does his creation imply about the status of human beings? Some or all of these questions are answered by a religion’s creation stories. Every religion’s creation myths attempt to give solutions to problems present to that religious society. Because of this, each religion may have one or more creation stories, each of those different from one another in the questions they ask and the answers they give. Genesis In the Western world, the most well-known creation story is in Genesis (Myth A), in the Old Testament of the Bible. Surprisingly, even the Bible does not relate only a single account of Creation. In the book of Genesis itself, one can find two versions of the Creation of the world that are similar in idea, but different in content and detail. The story in Genesis I claims that God created the world and everything comprising it in six days. On the first day, God created Day and Night. Next came Sky, then Earth, and then Stars and Sun on the fourth. The fifth day was used to create water and sky dwelling creatures, and finally, on the sixth day, God created all the animals of Earth, finishing with mankind. In this version of the creation story, God created man and woman together, on the sixth day. The seventh day was Sabbath, saved for rest. However, another version of Creation exists in Genesis II, which relates the more popular story of Adam and Eve. Genesis II starts by telling how God rested on the seventh day and then goes into elaboration of the creation of mankind. This seems to imply ... ...telligent species in the universe. We cannot possibly fathom what plan this higher power has, or even if a plan exists, and any attempts to do so would be futile. Instead, we must live this life doing what we believe to be true and right, ideas we ourselves created and so only we can live by. Works Cited Deussen, Paul. The Philosophy of the Upanishads. New York: Dover Punblications, 1966. Eliade, Mircea. Essential Sacred Writings from Around the World. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1967 Freund, Philip. Myths of Creation. New York: Washington Square Press, 1965. Heidel, Alexander. The Babylonian Genesis. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1954. The Holy Bible. King James Version. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2000. The Rig Veda: An Anthology. Betty Radice, ed. London: Penquin Books, Ltd, 1981.

Brand Promotion of Nestle Essay

Nestle has a wide market for infant food in India. Nestle India enjoys a monopolistic position in baby foods Nestle has about 80% of market share in the baby cereal segment alone – which is a promising segment in future. Some of the Infant foods of nestle includes: Lactogen, Cerelac, Good Start, NAN, Nido etc. And all the infant foods except Nido come in different and innovative tastes according to the stages and growth of the children. Sauces and Ketchups: Nestle India introduced versatile types of sauces and ketchups according to the taste buds of Indian consumers under the brand name â€Å"Maggi†. There are numerous varieties of sauces which range from usual Tomato sauces, tangy ones, sour ones, continental ones, to the recent tamarind sauce which is yet to be introduced in some of the localities in India. Breakfast cereals: Nestle International has already taken up the breakfast segments of the International consumers. There is no doubt that Nestle India would also take up the Indian markets in its hands by the wide range of breakfast cereals. Some of the cereals include Nesquik which is targeted towards the kids, Cheerios towards Adults and Cookie Crisp for all age groups. Milk and dairy products: Milk: The largest segment of nestle is Milk and Dairy products. Nestle India focused and involved closely in this sector for the last 3 decades, also in the process of developing strong relationship with more than 85,000 farmers country wide. As a result Nestle has the best quality milk in India. Dairy products: Nestle is known for its dairy products especially, â€Å"Milkmaid† which has an unbeatable taste and other dairy products of nestle includes fresh and natural curd, light curd, and fruit flavored curd Famous chocolates of nestle includes Nestle Milk Chocolate, Nestle Milky bar, Nestle Munch, Nestle Kitkat, Nestle Bar One, and Polo. All these chocolates come in different flavors. Instant Food and Cooking Aids: Noodles: Nestle India’s Instant noodles â€Å"Maggi† is preferred by 80% of the consumers around the nation and the brand Maggi provides lots of attractive and tasty noodle variety targeting the kids and the adults especially office going people. Maggi is the largest and the most loved brand of Nestle India presently Maggi comes in 9 different and innovative flavors. Cooking Aids: An Indian Masala powder for cooking for enhancing the taste of the food we cook. â€Å"Maggi Bhuna Masala† is the magical powder which increases the taste of Indian food. Bottled water: Nestle has launched its packaged drinking water â€Å"Pure Life† which is an upcoming water brand o nestle sure to hit the markets of India. Nestle India – Market Leader: Nestle India is the market leader of Infant food, Instant coffee, and Milk Maid, the greatest market leader in Instant noodles â€Å"Maggi’. Case Studies of Nestle India: Social Impact of Nestle Global: Water saving initiatives held in India: Nestle India conducted a water saving campaign in Moga, Punjab where the brand has the largest milk districts. The campaign was about the water scarce and how scarce in water affects the production of milk. Happy Day in New Papua Guinea: Joining hands with the ministry of health in New Papua Guinea, Nestle conducted a Personal hygiene program initiating the nutritive values and health ailments faced due to the nutrition deficiency. Awareness campaign in North Africa – Nido: Nestle in North Africa conducted an awareness program regarding their launch of Nido in the markets of North Africa. Focusing on feeding mothers and infants. Nestle also conducts various awareness programs in different regions instructing the importance of water and the benefits of the purity and innovation of Nestle’s Water. Products of Nestle in India: (Pictorial Representation) Infant Formula: Sauces and Ketchups:

History and Evolution of Vinyl

History and Evolution of Vinyl Polyvinyl chloride or PVC was first created by the German chemist Eugen Baumann in 1872. Eugen Baumann never applied for a patent. Polyvinyl chloride or PVC was never patented until 1913 when German, Friedrich Klatte invented a new method of the polymerization of vinyl chloride using sunlight. Friedrich Klatte became the first inventor to receive a patent for PVC. However, no really useful purpose for PVC was found until Waldo Semon came along and made PVC a better product. Semon had been quoted as saying, People thought of PVC as worthless back then [circa 1926]. Theyd throw it in the trash. Waldo Semon - Useful Vinyl In 1926, Waldo Lonsbury Semon was working for the B.F. Goodrich Company in the United States as a researcher, when he invented plasticized polyvinyl chloride. Waldo Semon had been trying to dehydrohalogenate polyvinyl chloride in a high boiling solvent in order to obtain an unsaturated polymer that could bond rubber to metal. For his invention, Waldo Semon received United States patents #1,929,453 and #2,188,396 for the Synthetic Rubber-like Composition and Method of Making Same; Method of Preparing Polyvinyl Halide Products. All About Vinyl Vinyl is the second most produced plastic in the world. The first products from vinyl that Walter Semon produced were golf balls and shoe heels. Today, hundreds of products are made from vinyl, including ​shower curtains, raincoats, wires, appliances, floor tiles, paints and surface coatings. According to the Vinyl Institute, like all plastic materials, vinyl is made from a series of processing steps that converts raw materials (petroleum, natural gas or coal) into unique synthetic products called polymers. The Vinyl Institute states that vinyl polymer is unusual because it is based only in part on hydrocarbon materials (ethylene obtained by processing natural gas or petroleum), the other half of the vinyl polymer is based on the natural element chlorine (salt). The resulting compound, ethylene dichloride, is converted at very high temperatures to vinyl chloride monomer gas. Through the chemical reaction known as polymerization, vinyl chloride monomer becomes polyvinyl chloride resin that can be used to produce an endless variety of products.

buy custom Delta Air Lines essay

buy custom Delta Air Lines essay Flash Flash is a cross-platform medium and is compatible and well-supported by about 95-98% of web-browsers in the marketso if Delta incorporates Flash on its website, it will be assured the content will be viewed correctly by an user whose browser has the Flash plugin, but independent on operating system and browser. This intriguing technological medium will add interactivity and flashy graphics to Deltas website. For instance, Delta can use it to make fascinating 2D animations, which are also easy to view. Delta can use Flash to present information in a way plain written words alone cannot do, bearing in mind that video works well in Flash applications on the browser regardless the OS software such as Media Player. Flash interface has replaced the traditional non-static elements on webpage with ones that lively interact with users. Flash on Delta Air Lines can make the interface more absorbing and indulgingwhen used in making booking forms and cost calculators, which is logically a good marketing tool that is likely to enhance sales. Audio With the help of high speed internet, audio has turned a geat marketing tool that eventually increases sales. With audio on Delta website, visitors will the experience of a blend of visual and interactivity (such as the one offered by Flash), hence creating a memorable website. Most people can play streaming audio, meaning audio on websites is not a complicated medium. Visitors will find it a stimulating change to listen to a voice of all the text they read. By incorporating audio, Delta will make its site unique and memorable, hence attractive and with chances of increasing sales. People are more likely to recall what they listen to than what they read. Recent researches established that just 20% of individuals recall what they read compared 70% remember what they hear. By incorporating audio Delta will be allowing itself thrice more of a stick factor to its site visitors. Luckily, with audio, there are no limits to what Delta can let its site visitors listen to. For instance, Delta could showcase its customers inspiring feedback and testimonials, a practice that has a lot of potential in increasing sales. Video Delta can also consider using Videovideos are one of the best methods for passing aalong messages to audiences. In fact, it is much easier to take in visual images than read texts. In most of the times, the visual impact generated by videos can be used in a creative manner to stretch out and bewitch the mental imagery of a diverse audience. Video is the best choice for simple and convincing communications. People get an emotional connection more enthusiastically with sound and moving images in videos than other media. Indeed, the audience can feel closer to reality through video. Owing to its nature, video medium can be very versatile in style and tone used to express various messages. A particular video in itself can be great, with iconic graphics cut to enthralling music to set the tone of a product. Delta can also use video insert contemporary documentaries on its website to showcase its practice or initiative. A good video has to be accompanied with the right support material, which will make it among the most effective means of reaching out to a global audience across the clock. However, any associated mistake can make a good video a blunder, such as a poor video player or poor resolution. Nevertheless, videos have the potential to increase sales for Delta based on all the discussed features. Buy custom Delta Air Lines essay

The Malefic Deity of all things Good and Bad Professor Ramos Blog

The Malefic Deity of all things Good and Bad Born into royalty, a beautiful baby girl named Aurora is introduced to her entire kingdom on her christening day. The introduction also includes all the mystical creatures that live in the kingdom, such as faeries. Princess Aurora received an honorable visit from the three great faeries of her kingdom Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. The three great faeries had come to bless the newborn baby with magical gifts such as happiness, song and much more. As Merryweather begins to bless Princess Aurora with a precious gift, a peculiar gust of green fog starts to surrounds everyone as a new fairy appears. Flabbergasted reactions and fear automatically fill the room as the fortuitous, undesired, fairy emits a malevolent aura. The unbidden malefic fairy too wanted to bestow Princess Aurora with a precious gift, casting a powerful wicked curse on the newborn. The curse being that when Aurora turns sixteen years old, she will die before sunset due to pricking her finger on a spinning wheelâ€℠¢s spindle. Merryweather adjusted the curse attempting to make it less harmful. Now when Aurora pricks her finger on the spindle, she will fall into a deep slumber waiting for a true loves kiss to awaken her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fairytale of  Sleeping Beauty has been around since the 16thcentury, and was written by  Charles Perrault, a famous French author. Perrault’s version of the fairytale influenced the two German brothers,  The Grimm Brothers.These philologists were also famous authors who wrote many famous folk tales that are now popular because of Walt Disney, who turned them into the incredible films that we now know today. In Walt Disney’s version of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is sent off to a cottage by her royal parents so that she can be taken care of by the three great fairies, who are disguised as her great aunts. All three fairies will then raise Aurora and hide her true identity. Hoping that if she is hidden away from the castle by her sixteenth birthday, the curse from the evil fairy will fall off. On Aurora’s sixteenth birthday is where she will meet her true love, Prince Phillip, who is then kidnapped by t he malefic fairy. Meanwhile the wicked curse succeeds as the evil fairy tricks Aurora into pricking her finger, having her fall into her deep slumber.  Ã‚  Flora, Fauna and Merryweather save the prince where he, and his army, is then put up against the enraged wicked fairy who then shapeshifts into a dragon. The Dragon is defeated and Prince Phillip awakens Princess Aurora with a kiss and they live happily ever after.   The malefic fairy inSleeping Beautyis also known as Maleficent, the Mistress of Evil. Maleficent is the Queen of Moors, played by Angelina Jolie in the Disney film, who was once the guardian of her land, that boarded the human kingdom, protecting it from human invaders. She is a powerful human-sized fairy, with super human strength and magic powers. Maleficent also has the abilities to fly, heal and curse individuals. The way Maleficent was created ties in perfectly with Jeffery Cohen’s third monster theory,â€Å"The Monster Is the Harbinger of Category Crisis.† (6)She was born with different features that humans do not have, in order to protect her enchanted forest, making her unique, peculiar and intimidating. Cohen states that,â€Å"Monsters are generally disturbing hybrids whose externally incoherent bodies resist attempts to include them in any systematic structuration. And so the monster is dangerous, a form suspended between forms that threatens to smash distinc tions†(Cohen 6).Because Maleficent is not human, she is already a target, but because she also uses her powers, that humans do not possess, for evil, she is categorized as a monster. Cohen’s fourth monster theory also ties into the way Maleficent is looked at and how she isn’t given a chance to prove that she means well,â€Å"The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference.† (7)As Cohen explains that,â€Å"monstrous difference tends to me cultural, political, racial, economic and sexual† (Cohen 7). Believe it or not, Maleficent was once a young, kind-hearted fairy with a soul generated by love. In her forest is where she met her love interest Stefan, a human boy who accidentally wandered his way into Moors. As she helps Stefan find his way back, they both discover that they have many things in common and he then promises to visit her again. As time pasts Stefan visits Moors enough for the two to develop feelings and fall in love with each other, as they grow older and mature. On Maleficent’s sixteenth birthday is when Stefan presented her with aTrue Love’s Kiss. However, after that, years pass and he stops visiting Moors. Unfortunately, the enchanted forest then becomes under attack by the greedy King Henry, and his army, yet victory is with Maleficent and her army of mystical creatures/fairies. King Henry was terribly wounded during the battle of Moors and demands that Maleficent is killed before he passes. Stefan, who now serves for the King, is sent to slay Maleficent but cannot find it in him to do so. He pays Maleficent a visit one last time and spends the night with her, drugs her, and cuts off her wings. Stefan then presents them to King Henry, who is on his deathbed, as proof that he has slain Maleficent. The injured Maleficent is heartbroken and betrayed, filled with so many emotions. She takes in a crow as her servant to â€Å"be her wings† and demands him to find Stefan, who has just been announced the new king with a newborn child born. Maleficent was infuriated to find out that King Stefan betrayed her and traded in her wings for royalty turning her into The Evil Queen of Moors, cr eating a dark kingdom. She was the uninvited malefic fairy, full of revenge for King Stefan, that casted the spell on the newborn, Princess Aurora. Due to the curse, the King sent Aurora away for safety, and frantically made sure that every spinning wheel in the kingdom was destroyed. Thesis fiveâ€Å"TheMonster Polices the Borders of the Possible† (12)ties in very well with this because once Maleficent made her appearance and cursed Aurora, a new fear was introduced. No one wanted to leave the Kingdom, and so much was improvised because of the Mistress of Evil. â€Å"The monster prevents mobility, delimiting the social spaces through which private bodies may move.† (Cohen 12). Love at first sight Later on, Maleficent ends up finding the cottage, due to her crow, where baby Aurora is being kept. She dryly mutters the hate she has for the baby and calls her â€Å"Little Beastie† before leaving. She is then reunited with the Aurora who seems to be five years old and Maleficent is shown saving the child from falling. Maleficent then begins to watch over Aurora as she grows older. Fifteen years later, Princess Aurora misinterprets Maleficent as her Fairy Godmother as Aurora realized that she was being watched by Maleficent, all her life. Months pass and Maleficent has pretty much raised Aurora as her own, becoming benevolent and tries to reverse her curse unsuccessfully. This is where Aurora meets Prince Phillip and a few days later falls to her slumber, on her sixteenth birthday. Maleficent puts a sleeping spell on Prince Phillip so that when he wakes up, he is next to the Princess and can kiss her awake, but the kiss fails because it is not true love. Prince Phillip is dr agged out the room and Maleficent enters and kisses Aurora on the forehead, where she then awakens. The movie ends with Maleficent fighting King Stefan and his army, along-side with her crow that she turned into a Dragon. Aurora sets Maleficent’s wings free as they get re-attached to her and she then takes on King Stefan and his army, successfully. Peace will now be restored between the two kingdoms. Princess Aurora awakens The Mother Daughter bond Overall, after learning about Maleficent’s side of the story, you learn that she was always a kind-hearted fairy, with a pure soul who still had so much love in her heart. Maleficent was not always a monster.â€Å"We sometimes see archetypically evil characters redefined primarily by the telling of their backstories to provide rationale for their behavior and to evoke sympathy or pity from the audience† (Donnelly).She was betrayed and heartbroken by King Stefan. She became the heartless, vengeful, sorceress the kingdom knew her as and was deemed as an evil monster that would represent evil, because of King Stefan’s doings; therefore, King Stefan created this monster.â€Å"Thesis Seven: The Monster Stands at the Threshold. . . of becoming† (20).Limits were taught about the monsters we create and how monster are our children.She was feared by all and was the shadow of her former self until she experienced what true love felt like. True love was something she never truly believed in due to her treacherous past with Stefan. In the end, Maleficent’s cold heart turned pure again due to Princess Aurora. This Mistress of evil easily gets a 5/5. Seeing Disney create the reasoning to Maleficent’s actions inSleeping Beautyand to learn about her side of the story was truly intriguing and taught a lesson of how true love conquers all. Annotated Bibliography Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. â€Å"Monster Culture (Seven Theses).† Monster Theory: Reading Culture, University of Minnesota Press, 1997, pp. 3–25. This source is a credible published book source that cites the sources being used in the text, and it was a really helpful article that I used to help describe Maleficent as a monster. All seven of the monster culture theses is relevant to Maleficent, though thesis seven seemed to be the most relevant in Maleficent’s case. Thesis seven explains how Monsters stand on the threshold of becoming. Maleficent was a kind-hearted fairy with a pure soul who was betrayed by her love interest King Stefan. He steals her wings as a trophy to present to the previous King to gain royalty, and because of this unfortunate event, this is what poisons her pure heart and turns her into a revengeful, wicked creature. Dartnall, Jane. ‘Sleeping Beauty’The Cambridge Guide to Childrens Books in English, edited by Victor Watson, Cambridge University Press, 1st edition, 2001.Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/childbooks/sleeping_beauty/0?institutionId=5312. Accessed 18 Jul. 2019. This credible article explains the story of sleeping beauty and where it originates from. The original dark twisted version vs. the story that we know and are familiar with because of Charles Perrault, which is where Walt Disney got his ideas from when creating the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty. The well-known version that we love. This article was helpful for me as it explains where the idea of Maleficent originates from, from the old fashion fairytale. It also shows proof that Maleficent was always evil at the time until we were able to see her side of the story in the movie. Donnelly, Colleen Elaine. â€Å"Re-Visioning Negative Archetypes of Disability and Deformity in Fantasy: Wicked, Maleficent, and Game of Thrones.†Disability Studies Quarterly, dsq-sds.org/article/view/5313. I found this journal to be very useful as it talks about how there are some characters in fantasy and horror stories/films that embody terror and evil, because we say so. Once an evil character tells their side of the story as to why they became monsters, we then humanize these characters or â€Å"monsters† due to pity and sympathy. Stories liked this, which is relevant to Maleficent, places the audience in their shoes as it shows us how they’ve become isolated from the rest of society, due to stereotypes that are learned. The oblivious behaviors categorizes monsters into â€Å"others† when we do not know their back story. â€Å"IN FAIRYLAND The Finest of Tales by the Brothers Grimm.†Kirkus Reviews, vol. 86, no. 24, Dec. 2018, p. 76.EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=a9hAN=133505448site=ehost-live. This scholarly article was very useful for me as it explains the two famous Grimm Brothers and the mystical stories that they have gifted us with. This article explains the fairytales we know and love, and explains every creature created by the Grimm brothers. What stood out to me was the topic on Fairies, since Maleficent is a fairy. It talks about the idea of fairies and where they originate from and how they came to be about, of course along with other famous fairytales and creatures. Weinstock, Jeffrey Andrew. Introduction: Monsters are the Most Interesting People.The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, Ashgate Publishing, 1st edition, 2014.Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ashgtmonster/introduction_monsters_are_the_most_interesting_people/0?institutionId=5312. Accessed 18 Jul. 2019. This is a credible scholarly article that I found to be really intriguing and extremely helpful when explaining hot monster are actually created by us and how we are still somewhat fascinated with monsters because they change over time. Monsters are just plain and simply interesting to us. Whether it is literature and cinema, to folklore, we are still fascinated by monsters because they reflect our own anxieties. That human creativity does not compare to the monster we created, to entertain us.

Managing for the future Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Managing for the future - Assignment Example The analysis of the performance then focuses on how the company has performed in these three factors. Finally scenario development is done and the management initiative that needs to be taken for the success of the organization in future has been recommended. Company Overview Marks and Spencer (M&S) has been operating in the retail industry for last 129 years and has transformed itself from a single market stall to a multi-channel retailer who has international presence. The company is operating in more than 50 territories with employee strength of 82,000 people. They stand on the pillars of trust, innovation, value, service, quality and works hard to ensure that that they sustain in the market by continuing to offer value relevant to the customers. They are shifting their focus from United Kingdom and diversifying their product range, location and channels in order to broaden their focus towards the international market. The turnover of the company from the market of UK comes from g eneral merchandises (46%) and food (54%). They offer great value, high quality, stylish clothing and home products. Beside this they also offer quality food that is sourced from several suppliers present all around the world. In UK they have around 766 stores facilitated with flourishing e-commerce business. In UK they are the market leader in menswear, women’s wear and lingerie section. ... In order to make these initiatives successful the company has engaged their customer, suppliers and employees (Marks and Spencer plc, 2013a). Company’s History from 2007 to 2013 M&S aims to place itself as a multi-channel retailer that is truly international and making them accessible to more and more customers present around the world. The company has implemented wide range of activities and claims to make progress and extract benefits from them. One of the most significant initiatives that the company has taken is the design of Plan A. Through this plan M&S aims to make the operation of Republic of Ireland and UK carbon neutral, broaden sustainable sourcing, no waste is send to the land fill, set standards for ethical trading and help the people to move towards healthy lifestyle (Marks and Spencer plc, 2007). This plan creates an impact on the corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental issues and sustainability. Following is the overview of what the company has don e in these past seven years. 2007 In this year M&S plans to initiate a five year, 100 point, ?200 million ‘eco-plan’ that touches every part of the company and transforms the way in which they conduct business. This plan aims towards â€Å"doing the right thing†. The company initially started with 100 commitments which were later extended to 180 commitments. This plan is made to work in collaboration with the suppliers and the customers who look towards combating with the climatic changes, trade ethically, use raw materials that are sustainable, reduce waste and encourage the customers to lead a healthy lifestyle (Marks and Spencer plc, 2013b). This

Old American Special Occasion Baskets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Old American Special Occasion Baskets - Essay Example We would also be advertising this website as much as we can, so as to get people to visit our website, on which they would be able to find more information about our business. The site will also contain contact information, for customers and prospective customers to reach the shops administration via e-mail, and also by live chat. We envision our shop to be the most up-to-date, fastest, most accessible and the most outstanding gift basket shop in the whole area. Our store will boast of everything that our clients want, ranging from birthday gifts to thanksgiving gifts, and "Thank You" gift baskets. We aim to ensure that clients feel extremely comfortable and awed whenever they enter our shop. We will be filling the store with 20th century charm, but also surround it with the 21st century comfort. As a short-term goal, we also plan to carry out extensive promotions in the area and on the Internet. We would hand out fliers and do promotions on the radio and local newspapers. We will al so put a site on the web exclusively devoted to our shop and business. We will also put up big banners all over the mall, and we will be visiting different orphanages, houses and business establishments to promote our gift basket business. We also have some intermediate goals.

The Utilization of Tuscan Columns in the Coliseum in Rome Essay

The Utilization of Tuscan Columns in the Coliseum in Rome - Essay Example Apart from the brutal sport which was always staged by the Coliseum, the huge structure was the place for culture. The Roman high society exhibited their appreciation for the plebeian entertainment, while having brought their royal tradition amongst their peers. The patrician class, on the other hand, were the avid fans of their iconic gladiators whom they placed their bets upon. Aside from becoming a melting pot of the Roman society, the Coliseum was an architectural marvel. Its colossal image in the Roman urban setting was undefeated through time. Its intricate floor plan was deemed as an innovation of the classical era, an advanced structure ahead of its time. It was frequently compared by modern engineers and architects to the stadiums and arenas of today. This was in terms of organizational planning. Since the Coliseum had the capability to house thousands of individuals, it had to be constructed with respect to the manner of entry and exit of crowds at a single moment. The Coli seum was the first to bear such technical functions. In addition, having to bear such number of audiences, the Coliseum managed to separate the classes of the Roman society as per the seating placements within the arena. More importantly, the architectural design of the structure was an undeniable marvel for during its glory days. The series of arches and wall carvings were testament to the Roman classical art. What is interesting is the series of Tuscan columns prevalent in the entirety of the Coliseum. The Doric, Ionic and the Corinthian columns could be seen from the exterior to the interior of the structure. The prevalence of Roman columns is, indeed, a very interesting notion to look at. These columns have functional and implied meanings which pertain to their structural use and the message they convey to scholars of the Roman classical art. Thus, this research would focus entirely on the mentioned aspect: the use of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in the Roman Coliseum . This research will first tackle a brief historical background to the structure in order to fully understand the context which it outlived. It will then establish a better understanding of the Tuscan columns, namely the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, through historical analysis and interpretation. As for the conclusive part of the study, it will use the historical analysis of the Coliseum and the Tuscan columns in order to establish the relationship of both. Hence, the task of this study is to explain the use and presence of the mentioned columns in the Coliseum through a survey of historical contexts associated with the classical Roman period. For the purpose of this study, it will use a series of secondary sources and scholarly works in order to corroborate and prove the thesis of this research. A Brief Historical Narrative of the Coliseum in Rome By mere observation of the ruins which now lay at the heart of Rome, the Coliseum is deemed as one of the most treasured classical legac ies of the Roman period. The magnanimous and huge built of the structure was conclusive of its ambitious accomplishment of having been considered as the focal point of the urban Roman setting. From the origins of its name alone, the Coliseum can be derived from either the colossal traits that it had during its time or from the Colossus of Nero from which it copied its enormity, height and bulk. Even scholars of Roman history are

Game Theory for Applied Economists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Game Theory for Applied Economists - Essay Example This is very helpful in the formulation of the necessary strategies of the business. EXAMPLES OF GAME THEORY-EARLY CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT One of the earliest examples of game theory can be seen in the studies of Antoine Cournot in the year 1838. It studied the example of duopoly in the context of a formal type of game and theoretical analysis. The formal theory for the games was brought into the forefront by the mathematician Emile Borel, who had the suggestion of a formal theory of the games by the year 1921.It, was further developed by the likes of mathematicians like John von Neumann in the year 1928. The field of game theory was established as an entity in its own right after the publishing of seminal book called as Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by the likes of Vo Neumann and the economist known as Oskar Morgenstern (Binmore 114). It also received a lot of fillip from the studies of mathematician John Nash who demonstrated that the finite games have any equilibrium, wher ein all the players choose the option that is best for them keeping in mind the action of the fellow players. This is a fundamental unit of the design element that can be seen from the studies of these individuals. This concept of non-cooperative game theory was broadened by the application in the year 1950 and 1960’s. t has always been a central point for discussion. It has been applied to the areas of politics and war. This is one of the centralized concepts of this theory. It has also been accepted in the fields of sociology and physiology. It is also seen in the field of biology. These are some of the common points of the relationship that find mention in the development of theories. It received a lot of attention with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in the field of economics to the likes of Nash, John Harsanyi, and Reinhard Selten. At the period of 1990, it was seen that the game theory was being increasingly used in a number of the fields. It is being prominently used i n for the designing of auctions. It is being designed in such a manner that there is the distribution of maximum benefits for the population. It has also developed a level of understanding in terms of the number of the division of electromagnetic spectrum to the telecommunication firms. The usage of this theory has helped in raising billions of dollars in a number of governments. GAME THEORY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS The level of internal consistency and the basis of mathematics make it one of the primary tools of the modeling and design of many of automated processes of decision making as a part of interactive environments (Fudenberg and Tirole 173). As for example, one of the examples was setting up of efficient rules for the bidding process, websites, and the generation of tamper proof negotiation that is useful in the purchase of communication bandwidth. The automation of strategic choices is necessary for making the choices to be robust in nature. This is helpful in the avoidance of any kind of manipulation in the process of bidding and guards against any kind of abuse form any of the users. The strength of game theory comes from the process of structuring the problems in a way that all the options become clear.

Aberdour Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Aberdour - Coursework Example In the first two figures (provided that those two were from the same shore) the zonation pattern of the species varies a lot in the same species. So it is an interesting point to note as well as to research. Comparison between the Zonation Pattern of transects from Site A and B:- Transects from site A and Site B were from the same shore, although they have a lot of difference in their zonation pattern. Looking at both the figures given, Ascophyllum nodosum has totally different represented structure in the second figure as compared to first. Max scale level in the first figure is in C group, but in the second figure, it is only included in F group. Limpets also have different represented structure in the second figure as compared to first. Max scale level in the first figure is in C group, but in the second figure, it is only included in O group. Difference between Exposed Shore and Sheltered Shore Sheltered rocky shore is one where on earth the tide/waves cannot crash onto it; such as one where within a bay offering is some protection. Exposed rocky shore is a short time ago the opposite, nil to stop waves crashing onto it. Exposed can be worse for deep-sea life as the pounding of the top can damage some organisms e.g. could construct them lose their grip on the rocks. Further, organisms that can withstand the exposed shore are prone to less predatory effects and as a consequence can survive longer.

Game Theory for Applied Economists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Game Theory for Applied Economists - Essay Example This is very helpful in the formulation of the necessary strategies of the business. EXAMPLES OF GAME THEORY-EARLY CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT One of the earliest examples of game theory can be seen in the studies of Antoine Cournot in the year 1838. It studied the example of duopoly in the context of a formal type of game and theoretical analysis. The formal theory for the games was brought into the forefront by the mathematician Emile Borel, who had the suggestion of a formal theory of the games by the year 1921.It, was further developed by the likes of mathematicians like John von Neumann in the year 1928. The field of game theory was established as an entity in its own right after the publishing of seminal book called as Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by the likes of Vo Neumann and the economist known as Oskar Morgenstern (Binmore 114). It also received a lot of fillip from the studies of mathematician John Nash who demonstrated that the finite games have any equilibrium, wher ein all the players choose the option that is best for them keeping in mind the action of the fellow players. This is a fundamental unit of the design element that can be seen from the studies of these individuals. This concept of non-cooperative game theory was broadened by the application in the year 1950 and 1960’s. t has always been a central point for discussion. It has been applied to the areas of politics and war. This is one of the centralized concepts of this theory. It has also been accepted in the fields of sociology and physiology. It is also seen in the field of biology. These are some of the common points of the relationship that find mention in the development of theories. It received a lot of attention with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in the field of economics to the likes of Nash, John Harsanyi, and Reinhard Selten. At the period of 1990, it was seen that the game theory was being increasingly used in a number of the fields. It is being prominently used i n for the designing of auctions. It is being designed in such a manner that there is the distribution of maximum benefits for the population. It has also developed a level of understanding in terms of the number of the division of electromagnetic spectrum to the telecommunication firms. The usage of this theory has helped in raising billions of dollars in a number of governments. GAME THEORY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS The level of internal consistency and the basis of mathematics make it one of the primary tools of the modeling and design of many of automated processes of decision making as a part of interactive environments (Fudenberg and Tirole 173). As for example, one of the examples was setting up of efficient rules for the bidding process, websites, and the generation of tamper proof negotiation that is useful in the purchase of communication bandwidth. The automation of strategic choices is necessary for making the choices to be robust in nature. This is helpful in the avoidance of any kind of manipulation in the process of bidding and guards against any kind of abuse form any of the users. The strength of game theory comes from the process of structuring the problems in a way that all the options become clear.

What do empirical tests of the Capitsl Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) tell Essay

What do empirical tests of the Capitsl Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) tell us about the validity of this model - Essay Example e no taxes or transaction costs; 2) all investors share the same market opportunities; and 3) all investors have the same information on expected returns, volatilities, and correlations of securities available. It was found that under these assumptions Tobin’s (1958) super efficient portfolio (it consists of the risk-free asset added to Markowitz’s portfolio on the efficient frontier) must also be market portfolio. Further on, Sharpe (1964) divided portfolio risk into systematic and specific. While systematic risk affects every asset of a portfolio (as the market moves, each individual asset is more or less affected), specific risks are unique to individual assets (it represents the component of an assets return which is uncorrelated with general market moves) and thus can be diversified in the context of a whole portfolio. In other words, the expected rate of return of a portfolio depends not on specific risks of assets, but on the systematic risk of a portfolio. where ERi is the expected rate of return on asset i, Rf is a risk-free rate, ERm is the expected rate of return of the market portfolio, and ÃŽ ² is systematic risk. As can be seen from the SML equation, excess return depends on beta alone and not on systematic risk plus specific risk. Moreover, the connection between rate of return and beta is linear for portfolios. Obviously, CAPM was designed as a way to determine prices of assets in market portfolios. Indeed, given a systematic risk value and asset’s expected rate of return investor can adjust the price of an asset using the SML formula. However, because of its ‘ideal’ nature CAPM is often seen only as a theoretical tool. In practice its main assumptions are not true, and all investors have different information on risk-return characteristics of assets. Since CAPM introduction to nowadays SML equation became a topic of wide academic discussion. Studies performed to assess the validity of CAPM can be divided into three general groups:

Elements of Marketing Mix Essay Example for Free

Elements of Marketing Mix Essay Elements of Marketing Mix A typical marketing mix includes a product, offered at a price, with some promotion to tell potential customers about the product, and a way to reach the customers place (Perreault McCarthy, 2004, pg. 36). A company will use the marketing mix in order to control variables in marketing to satisfy a target group. This paper will describe the four elements of the marketing mix; product, place, price, and promotion. In addition, the four elements of the marketing mix will be discussed on the impacts in the development of Starbucks marketing strategy and tactics. ProductThe product area is concerned with developing the right product for the target market (Perreault, 2004, pg. 38). This requires a company to determine what item or service is desired by the customer in order to fulfill needs. The product needs to provide a service, cover the expected needs for the customer, or deliver the expectations created by other elements of the marketing mix. Service, benefits, branding, and packaging are some things that are taken into consideration with an organizations product (Perreault et al, 2004). The overall objective is to offer a product that will satisfy the wants and needs of people. PlacePlace is concerned with all the decisions involved in getting the right product to the target markets place (Perreault et al, 2004, pg. 39). Place refers to the delivery of a product or service to a location that customers may obtain from. This step is needed to get the finished product from the company or origin to the consumer. Marketers need to consider the most efficient method to distribute an organizations product. Channel type, market exposure, locations of stores, service levels, means of transportation and distributing are factors that are taken into considers when marketers need to develop a strategy for place (Perreault et al, 2004). The overall objective is creating a place in order for customers to buy the product. PricePrice setting must consider the kind of competition in the target market and the cost of the whole marketing mix (Perreault et al, 2004, pg. 40). The price is the amount that will be charged for the product. Managers  must know current practices as to markups, discounts, and other terms of sale (Perreault et al, 2004, pg. 40). The prices set by competitors will affect the price of the product. Organizations use pricing techniques in order to reach a competitive price of the product. Prices are set by a company in order to become profitable or to even reach the break even point. Flexibility, product life, cycles, geographic terms, discounts, and allowances are factors that must be considered before setting the price of a product (Perreault et al, 2004). In addition, pricing strategies also will vary according to region. For example, a product that sells for a price of 10 dollars in California may only sell for 7 dollars in the state of Georgia. The overall objective is the set the right price for the product. PromotionPromotion is concerned with telling the target market or others in the channel of distribution about the right product (Perreault et al, 2004, pg. 40). Promotion is how the marketer will communicate, inform and persuade customers to purchase a product or service. There are many ways in which to market the product. The marketer must take in account multiple ways of promotion; personal selling, mass selling, and sales promotion. All can be mixed to create the right blend that will target the marketplace. Personal selling involves direct communication between a company and their customer, usually face-to-face. However, direct communication can also be through phone interviews or sales calls, conferences through video and the internet (Perreault et al, 2004). Promotion can also be used to target a large group of consumers at the same time such as radio or television advertising. This is known as mass selling. Finally, sales promotion refers to promotion activities that do not in volve advertising and personal selling. Contest, coupons, and special offers are some examples of sales promotions (Perreault et al, 2004). Starbucks Marketing MixStarbucks Coffee mission statement is to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow (Starbucks, n.d.). Starbucks has utilized the four marketing elements to help create an excellent impact in the development of their marketing tactics and strategies. Starbucks originated in Seattle, Washington, over 30 years ago,  and owns more than 12,000 stores worldwide. Starbucks achieved this by creating a successful marketing strategy. Starbucks was recognized 7 times as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Business Ethics Magazine (Shareholder, 2007). Starbucks customers include people of diverse ethnicity, income, and age groups with varying tastes and interest. With this diverse clientele, Starbucks has made marketing a challenge to target all these diverse groups of people. ProductStarbucks is dedicated to purchasing the highest quality coffee and paying premium prices to reflect ongoing commitment to coffee-farming communities (Shareholder, 2007). The reason Starbucks offer so many different varieties of products is to satisfy the diverse clientele. This company has continuously been able to influence their clientele by offering products that appeal to all cultures. Starbucks has been able to meet a specific market demand. Starbucks gives a wide range of food and beverage options, from indulgent treats to lower-fat and reduced-calorie choices for all consumers tastes (Shareholder, 2007). Starbucks continues to innovate and extend the Starbucks Experience with imaginative new ready-to-drink beverages and expanding coffee offerings. PlaceStarbucks stores are strategically placed in locations that are visible and have a great deal of traffic. Starbucks is successful at placing their products strategically in order to impact sales volume. According to the Starbucks 2006 annual report, we opened 2,199 new stores globally (ahead of 1,800), at an average pace of six new stores per day, bringing our total to 12,440 stores in 37 countries (Shareholder, 2007). They have locations on busy street corners, in malls, theaters, office buildings, grocery stores and airports which have allowed them to be clearly visible. Almost anywhere a person turns there is a Starbucks around the corner. PriceStarbucks does not consider their price to strategy to be of significance compared to the other elements in the industry. The companys 12-ounce tall latte ranges from $2.25 in Minnesota to $3 in New York City (Wong, 2004). Like any company, prices are based on the level of economy in each area. Starbucks prices largely are also based on manufacturing.  Starbucks prices reflect cost of coffee beans, sugar, geographical areas, and the overall experience. Distribution also plays a role in how the product is priced at each company. PromotionStarbucks employs a mix between personal selling and sales promotion. Personal selling lets the salesperson adapt the firms marketing mix to each potential customer (Perreault et al, 2004). Starbucks does not just have salespeople, but baristas. Starbucks baristas inform and sell the product face-to-face to the customers. Starbuckss promotions do not include traditional advertising, but global sales promotions. Sales promotions spark purchases by customers through different channels. In August of 2006, Starbucks supported Jumpstarts Read for the Record campaign. They sold 53,000 copies of The Little Engine That Could and hosted 330 reading events setting an official Guinness world record. Furthermore, incentive sales promotions included donating 5 cents for every bottle sold for the Ethos Water Fund. The Ethos Water Fund focuses on improving local water sources and providing sanitation and hygiene education to the communities in Ethiopia and Indonesia (Shareholder, 2007). People want to be apart of Starbucks global efforts and these are examples of effective sales promotions. ConclusionWhen developing a marketing, all decisions impacted the four Ps should be made at the same time. The four elements of the marketing mix are equally important. This is because the products, places, prices, and promotions of an organization surround the most important element; the customer (Perreault et al, 2004). According to Starbucks 2006 annual report, There are numerous competitors in almost every market in which Starbucks operates and in which it expects to expand in both the specialty coffee beverage business and the specialty whole bean coffee business (Shareholder, 2007). Starbucks has proven to stay on top of their market. However, Starbucks and any organization need to continuously examine their marketing mix in order to stay competitive and profitable. By successfully completing the circle of the four Ps, Starbucks has established a multi-million dollar organization that is a Fortune 100 Company. References Perreault, W. D. McCarthy, E. J. (2004). Basic Marketing: A Global-Managerial Approach. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2007, from https://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.aspStarbucks, (n.d.). Retrieved Nov. 11, 2007, from http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/environment.aspShareholder, (2007). In Starbucks Coffee 2006 Annual Report. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2007, from http://www.shareholder.com/visitors/dynamicdoc/document.cfm?CompanyID=SBUXDocumentID=1382PIN=Page=13Zoom=1xWong, B. (2004, Sept. 28). In Cup of Starbucks going up average of 11 cents Oct. 6. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2007, from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/192721_coffeeprice28.html

West Side Story And Romeo And Juliet Film Studies Essay

West Side Story And Romeo And Juliet Film Studies Essay West Side Story is an American musical written by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It is said to be a rendition of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet have a number of similarities and differences in many ways. The play, Romeo and Juliet, is set in Verona in about 1594.   In contrast, West Side Story takes place in New York City in 1957.   Most of the characters in West Side Story can be seen as a modernized version of many characters in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. Tony can be seen as Romeo, Maria as Juliet, The Jets as Montagues, The Sharks as Capulets, Anita as the Nurse, Riff as Mercutio, Bernardo as Tybalt, Doc as both Friar Laurence and Balthasar, Chino as Paris, The Police as Prince, Anybodys and Baby John as Benvolio. Many scenes in West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet have very close parallels connection. The confrontation between the gangs at the beginning of We st Side Story can be seen as a parallel to the 3rd civil brawl scene in Romeo and Juliet, dance at the gym as party at the Capulet house, fire escape scene as balcony scene, mock wedding at the bridal shop as wedding at Friar Laurences cell, rumble underneath the bridge as duels between Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo, and Anitas mock rape scene as nurse abandons Juliet by urging her to marry Paris. In addition to the similar connection between the characters and the scene, the theme of male dominate patriarchal society appears to be one of the major theme throughout both plays. Romeo and Juliet has been criticized by many critics as having strong gender roles. According to an article written by Professor Jeanne Gerlach, Professor Rudolph Almasy, and Professor Rebecca Daniel, the men are expected to carry themselves with honor and pride. Anything the man or the head of the family wanted would be put into motion as soon as he finished saying the words. In contrast, a womans typical role and characteristic of that time period was weak, subservient, always holding her words when it came to decision making, and be obedience to the husband and father. At the beginning of Romeo and Juliet when one of the Capulets servants, Sampson said, And therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall; therefore I will push Montagues men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.(I, 1, 15) These words from Sampson is further reinforcing a typical stereotypical Renaissance thinking which suggests that women are weaker in physically, emotionally, intellectually and morally in nature and they exist for male sexual gratification only. Similar, such thinking on woman can also be found at a parallel scene in West Side Story during the confrontation between the Jets and Sharks at the beginning. After the character, Anybody, express her interest in joining the gang and that she could fight as good and strong as the men does to Riff, one of the Jets wannabes start making fun of her sexually or mocks her undesirability then Riff sends her away by telling her to beat it. Such action done by the Jets also further reinforcing the stereotypical thinking and inequality between the man and the woman. Another example of how Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story further reinforcing genders roles within the male dominate society can be seen in the rumble between the Sharks and the Jets underneath the bridge scene. After the Rumble, Anybodys treat to act as Tonyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s unofficial protector. Even though she was not physically present during the rumble between the Sharks and the Jets, she seems to be lurking in and out from shadow and only appear as the most useful person or tool when the man, Tony in the scene, in urgent need of her to help rescue him from the police after all the other Jets fled the scene without him. In fact, she refuses to leave without him by repeatedly shouting Come on, Tony! until he escapes with her. Such action perform by Anybody could be seen as a reinforcement on gender roles. A woman, the wife or daughter, should remain loyal and obedience to the man, husband or father, even if everyone else are not doing the same. Such loyalty that the society is s eeking the woman should have also appeared in the scene where Juliet learns the news that Romeo has killed her cousin from the nurse. Nurse: Will you speak well of him that killd your cousin Juliet: Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name when I, thy three-hour wife, have mangled it? (III, 2, 105) Juliet is showing her loyalty to her husband, Romeo, even when the nurse is blaming Romeo for Tybalts death. In conclusion, both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story both reinforcing the idea that the womans typical role and characteristic of that time period was weak, subservient, always holding her words when it came to decision making, and be obedience to the husband and father. In contrast, a mans typical roles and characteristic should be masculine and powerful and expected to carry themselves with honor and pride. In Romeo and Julie, Mercutio and Tybalts death were a result of a man defending the mans pride and honor. The death of Bernardo in West Side Story was also a result of the men defending the mens honor and pride. We can see these values that the society put on us being employed in both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story.

Lady Capulet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Shakesp

Lady Capulet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet A woman during the 16th century did not have the freedoms that a woman today enjoys. During Shakespeare’s life wives were not allowed the independence they take pleasure in today. Therefore, the role of the mother for Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is not commanding or authoritative because of the time period Shakespeare lived. The role of a wife must be looked at in order to understand and appreciate Juliet’s mother. When a couple was married during the 16th century, Susan Amussen said it was the beginning of a partnership, but not one of equal proportions. The husband is awarded all the power in the family. He represents the family to the outside world and keeps the peace within the household. The wife is only an assistant. Her duties included feeding and running the household smoothly. Helping with the family business is another duty the wife has to carry out (86). Lady Capulet abides by these rules when dealing with her daughter. She knows her husband is planning to marry their daughter to Paris. It is she that must prepare Juliet for the news because one of her duties is to take care of the household. However, Lady Capulet has no say of who Juliet should marry, because that is left to the husband who is lord of the manor. Instead it is the wife’s duty to inform her child that she must prepare herself for marriage. Lady Capulet was married at an age younger than Juliet is. She says, "By my count I was your mother much upon these years that you are now a maid" (1.3.73-75). It is time Juliet leaves her nest and adds to the family’s fortune. The mother is the one to tell Juliet this news because she was put into the same situation as her daughter. During the ... ...s set for a woman of this time and carried them out with dignity. She was a true 16th century woman. Works Cited Amussen, Susan. "The Family and the Household" in A Companion to Shakespeare. Ed. David Kastan. Malden Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 1999. 85-99. Dash, Irene. Wooing, Wedding, and Power: Women in Shakespeare’s Plays. New York: Columbia University Press, 1981. Pitt, Angela. Shakespeare’s Women. New Jersey: Barnes & Noble Books, 1981. Rich, Barnaby. "Women as Property" in Dusinberre, Juliet. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1975. 115. Shakespeare, William. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The Norton Shakespeare Based on the Oxford Edition. Gen. Ed. Stephen and Ed. Walter Cohen, Jean Howard, and Katherine Maus. New York: Norton & Company, 1997. 872-941.

The Philosophy of Education :: School Teaching Teachers Essays

The Philosophy of Education Personally, being an educator gives me a chance to have a great impact on the world. I have always enjoyed seeing the look on someone’s face when they make a new connection or learn something. I have many strong beliefs in the education process and many times feel that the needs of the student are overlooked. As a teacher, the students would be priority and that is the backbone of my teaching philosophy. I know that I am not very experienced and have much to learn. This I will strive to do throughout my education and even when I enter the teacher workforce. The reason I chose upper level Biology and Natural Science as a concentration is I have a passion for nature and science. I think that many times, children are not exposed to these things when they grow up for one reason or another. As a teacher, I plan on instilling a since of appreciation of nature and the environment into the children as much as possible. I understand that there are limitations onto which this can be done including student background, lack of resources, and limited time constraints but I would take it on myself to do what I can learning science as exciting as possible. My classroom would be run with the attitude of the students in mind. First of all, the main emphasis of class would be learning science, not good behavior. I guess I would take a non-authoritarian view of discipline. By high school, the students know how to behave and constantly pointing out the right way to behave is only going to make them do the opposite for attention. The only time a student would be punished is if their actions are taking away from the learning process. At this point in my education, I would probably say I would let the principle deal with the discipline considering only severe cases would need punishment. This, as with many of my views, may change with increased education and experience. As for my classroom, it would probably be very busy in regards to appearance and activity. I think surrounding the students with pictures and things of that sort related to class is very conducive to a positive educational environment. I would somewhere have a student prepared locations where students are responsible for researching and displaying a topic probably after presenting it to the class.

Adverse trend and data management Essay

Data accessibility is a necessity in the health care system. â€Å"Data management is the process of controlling the collection, storage, retrieval, and use of data to optimize accuracy and utility while safeguarding integrity† (Hebda & Czar, 2013, p.65). Nursing informatics has changed the accessibility of data and decision-making process. Nursing Informatics is the â€Å"science and practice (that) integrates nursing, its information and knowledge, with management of information and communication technologies to promote the health of people, families, and communities worldwide† (IMIA Special Interest Group on Nursing Informatics 2009). Technology has changed the way information is collected and shared. Interoperability allows to entities computer or human to share data while not changing and maintaining the original meaning data. This paper will discuss how adverse trend may occur and why to investigate further. The data needed to collect, the source, and why that dat a is needed. List of description of data collections methods, how the data affects the adverse trend, explain how the use of technology is used, and a description of the regulatory factors. Adverse trends lead to severe medical errors. A trend that frequently occurs is inconsistency of patient’s knowledge of the dosages or names of their home medications. Frequently on admission when questioning patients they do not recall the name of the medication or dosage. Patient’s that are on methadone need to maintain their dose to decrease with draw symptoms knowing the dosage is important. After reading and learning about other hospitals and having a mater patient index that gives a complete view of the patient’s history. Developing a master patient index that had interoperability to communicate with other pharmacies and clinicians. Master patient index is a database that lists all identifiers to one patient  using all information systems. Using this system would allow access to all patient information. Having access to all patient information would allow you to see the current medications and dosages the patients are taking. This access increases patient safety. In order to initiate a master patient index program the data that would be needed is patient first and last name, social security number, birth dates, and driver license number. Information needed goes beyond demographic information and social security number. Creating a master patient index can decrease errors, view patient history, increase time efficiency, and improve accuracy. Through the master patient index accessing patient medications from pharmacies allows nurses to know the current medications patient’s are taking, and increasing safety. There are many issues of safety acknowledging medication allergies, and contraindication of medications with current medication. The master patient index is highly security, business integrity and confidential. As in any facility HIPPA is the only legal issue. Accessing patient’s records should only be on a need to know basis. Hospital staff that access patient’s record that should not are reprimanded according to the facility hospital. The increasing change in technology has allowed for data accessed at a finger touch. The increasing access can help save a patient life. Data management is helpful in decreasing medical errors, quicker documentation, increasing patient safety, and assist in decision-making process. Data management can assist in recognizing trends, and help create a new nursing process. Master patient index would create a current record of patient’s history for all facilities to view. If a patient came into the hospital unable to speak accessing their health record the master patient index would allow physicians to view the patient medications, allergies, vitals, and retrieval patient’s visits. Reference: Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals (5th ed.). : Pearson Education, Inc. Sewell, J., & Thead, L. (2013). Informatics and Nursing: Opportunities and Challeges (4th ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. http://www.amia.org/programs/working-groups/nursing-informatics http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/healthcare.pdf

Ap European History Reading Questions-Chapter 15

1. The upmost important reason for economic and social problems that troubled Europe from 1560 to 1650 was an incredible inflation among other things. The Spanish empire brought tons of gold back to Europe and caused the value of gold to plummet. Since this was a situation that Europe had never experienced, they didn't understand it. More gold was supposed to be good, right? Suddenly prices started to rise for no reason. Also in Spain, unlike gold, there was very little silver being produced at the time and therefore pirate attacks began to take place.Other problems facing Europe during this time include, population decline, plague, economic warfare, and famine. As a result of all these problems, social tension was greatly increased, all involved with a â€Å"crisis† at hand. 2. Although initially caused by religious issues, by the mid 1630s the Thirty Years War had become a dynastic conflict between two Catholic powers; France and the Hapsburgs. As the Battle of the Boyne and the Jacobite risings the '15 and the '45 in Scotland were directly linked to religious ideas that the TYW was the last religious war in Europe are therefore mistaken.Really, a more accurate name for the Thirty Years’ War would be, ‘The first modern war' would be more accurate. New tactics, deployments, equipment and methods were introduced in European armies which were widely adopted within a decade by almost all armies and all further developed over the next few decades. 3. The Military Revolution refers to a radical change in military strategy and tactics with resulting major changes in government. The concept was introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s as he focused on Sweden 1560–1660 searching for major changes in the European way of war caused by introduction of portable firearms.Roberts linked military technology with larger historical consequences, arguing that innovations in tactics, drill and doctrine by the Dutch and Swedes 1560–1660, which maximized the utility of firearms, led to a need for more trained troops and thus for permanent forces. These changes in turn had major political consequences in the level of administrative support and the supply of money, men and provisions, producing new financial demands and the creation of new governmental institutions. Thus, argued Roberts, the modern art of war made possible — and necessary — the creation of the modern state. † 4. Women were viewed as being spiritually weaker than men, and more susceptible to demonic influence, and this meant that women tended to be suspected of being witches much more often than men. However, this was not a consistent pattern found throughout Europe. In some regions, there were more men convicted of witchcraft than women, in the Lorraine region of France for example, and in Iceland, where the overwhelming majority of convictions were of men.Overall though, about 75% of those executed for witchcraft were women. So ultimatel y what this suggests about women in the 16th and 17th centuries is that women were not nearly as important as men in society during this time. 5. Absolutism pertains to an absolutist state, where all power, or sovereignty is made in the ruler. These rulers claimed to have divine right, meaning they ruled by the grace of God and were responsible only to God. However, these absolute monarchs respected the basic laws of the land.They controlled interest groups within their territories and created bureaucracies as well, in which the offices held public/state positions, directing the economy to the benefit of the king. Absolute monarchs also kept permanent standing armies and created new methods of compulsion. Louis XIV of France was an aggressive expansionist. He followed in the footsteps of Cardinal Richelieu in that aspect. His foreign policies were mainly against the Habsburg dynasty's power and the ownership of French-speaking territories by nations other than France.Hence, his fore ign policies included many wars. He took over the Spanish Netherlands and some of the United Provinces of Holland, and Franche-Comte. However, his aggressive advances caused alliances to be formed against him which included the Habsburg domains of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, England, and Holland in all of their incarnations. Eventually, Louis XIV could not defeat the alliances, and some acquired territories were lost again in treaties, even French colonies. 6.The reign of Peter the Great marked the emergence of a decisive Russian influence in European affairs, an influence that would last into the twenty-first century. It was Peter who inaugurated modern Russia's vigorous and aggressive foreign policy against its three neighboring states, Sweden, Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. Through the Great Northern War (1700-1721), he decisively broke Sweden's supremacy in the Baltic, while his wars against the Ottoman Turks and his interference in the internal affairs of Poland set prece dents that later Russian rulers would follow in subsequent decades.These great strides made by Russia in Eastern Europe were to a considerable extent the result of Peter's extensive program of reforms, which touched all facets of Russian life. 7. Although it may sound strange, it was Napoleon who was majorly responsible for the transformation of Brandenburg-Prussia. Napoleon invaded half of Europe and also the most German states. Only East Prussia remained free and became the leader in the â€Å"Befreiungskrieg† (Freedom war) against France. It was this war against Napoleon 1812-1815 that created a common German national feeling.This transformation is still evident in modern society of Germany today. 8. In the later fifteenth century- the period of the ‘refoundation of the Crown’, in Sir John’s Fortescue’s phrase- there was a marked change in the structure of politics and hence in the nature and role of faction also; a politics of many centres becam e a politics of one. To begin with, in the feebly strange grasp of Henry IV the monarchy had descended into being one noble faction among many- and not necessarily the strongest.The fact became manifest from 1456 when the King abandoned the government of the kingdom: the court withdrew from London to Coventry in the heart of the Lancastrian lands, and the national revenues were diverted from the Exchequer and used directly- like the income of any other lord- to pay for the royal household and the royal retainers. Henry was now only effectively Duke of Lancaster and he was soon to loose that. 9. The main issue was a disagreement between the king and Parliament about who had ultimate political power.King Charles believed in Divine Right, the idea that he was king because God wanted him to be. Further, as the king's power was God given, no earthly power or person could justly remove it from him. Parliament saw themselves as the elected representatives of the People and therefore believ ed they should have ultimate political authority, even over the king. Thus, when Charles needed money, Parliament would refuse to cooperate unless Charles addressed alleged abuses of his power first. This always led to political deadlock, and eventually to civil war.Puritans took control of Parliament's war effort during the First English Civil War, and by 1646 and the end of the war extreme Puritans known as Independents had taken control of the military, The NMA. Using the NMA as his power base, Oliver Cromwell was able to intimidate Parliament into the execution of Charles I, The abolition of the Monarchy, and the establishment of the Commonwealth. The main change was that, on the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Parliament ensured that the King had a guaranteed annual income that was enough both to live off his own, and pay for the ordinary expenses of state and expenses. 10.The Dutch Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces, was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and ultimately the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. Alternative names include the United Provinces Federated Dutch Provinces and Dutch Federation. 11. Art reflected the political and social life of the second half of the seventeenth century primarily through mannerism, which reflected environment attempt to break down renaissance principles.Baroque however, reflected search for power and just the will to control all people during that time. Then, literature reflected political and social life during this time through writing research on a new type of stage, known as the â€Å"golden stage of literature. † Literature was a major component of this time period also in that in was an era of many great dramas and playwrights such as the still-praised today, William Shakespeare. 12. Form s of monarchy differ widely based on the level of legal autonomy the monarch holds in governance, the method of selection of the monarch, and any predetermined limits on the length of their tenure.When the monarch has no or few legal restraints in state and political matters, it is called an absolute monarchy and is a form of autocracy. Cases in which the monarch's discretion is formally limited (most common today) are called constitutional monarchies. In hereditary monarchies, the office is passed through inheritance within a family group, whereas elective monarchies are selected by some system of voting. Historically these systems are most commonly combined, either formally or informally, in some manner. For instance, in some elected monarchies only those of certain pedigrees are considered eligible, whereas many hereditary monarchies have legal requirements regarding the religion, age, gender, mental capacity, and other factors that act both as de facto elections and to create si tuations of rival claimants whose legitimacy is subject to effective election. ) Finally, there are situations in which the expiration of a monarch’s reign is set based either on the calendar or on the achievement of certain goals (repulse of invasion, for instance. )