Variations on the Modern Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Variations on the Modern - Essay Example The aim of this study is to discuss different versions of modern architecture movements in Italy and Scandinavia in order to show how modern architecture responded to the political and cultural subtexts. Modern architecture was flourished later in both Italy and Scandinavia than Germany, Holland, France and Russia. William J. Curtis notes that Modernism's influence was slight in Scandinavia in the 1920s1 and it formed relatively late in Italy2. Furthermore, both Scandinavia and Italy brought their own interpretation to the â€Å"international style†. However, their similarities end here; since their political, cultural and also ecological conditions were extremely different. While modern architecture emerged in Fascist Italy ruled by a dictator, democratic welfare states prevailed in Scandinavia at that time; hence, there was a stark difference between the political climates of Italy and Scandinavia. Their cultures also differed; whereas nationalistic tendencies and nostalgia for the Roman heritage were predominant in Italy, communal values were strong in Scandinavia. In line with their differences, they both developed a different variation of Modernism. While Italian Modernism highlighted nationalism and magnanimous Roman heritage; Scandinavia adopted a modernism with a human face stressing organic and natural life. As a matter of fact, in Italy, modernism grew in two directions: Noveconto and Italian Rationalism. The Classical Novecento movement, represented by Giovanni Muzio, paved the way for the development of Italian Rationalism represented by â€Å"gruppo 7†3. Sebastian Larco, Guido, Frette, Carlo Enrico Raba, Adalberto, Luigi Figini, Gino Pollini and Guiseppe Terragni formed Gruppo 7 in 19264. Throughout the 1930's, both Novecento and Italian Rationalism coexisted as alternative variations of modernism. Although Novecento, originated in Milan, used modern technology of concrete construction, it was highly committed to the traditional Itali an house. Gio Ponti, the famous architect and editor of the magazine of the Italian house Domus, described Italian house as setting for Italian life as follows: â€Å"the place that we have chosen for enjoying our life†5. Ponti's description highlights the stark difference between Novecento and Le Corbusier's â€Å"international style†, since Le Corbusier defined the house as â€Å"a machine for living in†. While Ponti's approach stressed the organic and humanist aspect of the house, Le Corbusier's definition was more mechanistic. Furthermore the Novecento houses were more decorative and furnished in Italian taste, while â€Å"the international style† was against any ornaments. Indeed, modern Milan houses incorporated common features of traditional Italian chimneys and sundials6. Although Italian Rationalism could be regarded as more radical than Novecento and closer to the spirit of machine civilization, it was still â€Å"fully contextual as well, rela ting to historical Italian culture†7. Besides Italian culture, Italian Rationalism was also intertwined with Fascist nationalism. It was not just Italian Rationalists were ardent fascists, but their work also reflected the Fascist ideology; although The Italian Fascist Party's relation to Italian Rationalism was ambivalent. Giuseppe Terragni's Casa del Fascio could

Motivation and Organizational Culture Essay Example for Free

Motivation and Organizational Culture Essay What makes a good manager? What makes an employee motivated? There are different types of leaders and everyone has a place in workplace psychology. What is the role of the managers and employees? In workplace psychology management’s role should be to motivate employees and get the tasks completed. Managers are a key in the workplace; they are role models for the employees. Managers should keep a professional relationship with employees but not be so strict that their employees are scared to ask for help or talk about what they need. The key to being able to talk to managers is a positive for managers and employees. It tells the manager what the employee needs to be motivated and always the manager to know where the employee is. Managers keep some of the pressure of the upper level managers and owners. Motivating employees is a key part of management because it helps get the job done and keep the employees happy. If an employee is not motivated and unhappy with their job then they will not do a good job and their work becomes sloppy, eventually they will quit. In workplace psychology employees have the role of carrying out tasks and helping the company become successful. Employees need a clearly defined task, adequate working environment, motivation, and feedback. I the case of Ayame Nakamura, managers need to talk with her to understand her work style and how she can be motivated to do her best. Each person is different and coming from a non-confrontational culture Ayame needs to work in a non-confrontational environment. Her managers need to give her positive feedback so she knows what she is doing right. Being told what she is doing right and wrong in a positive, non-confrontational way may boost Ayame’s motivation, and she may enjoy work again (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter, 2011). Ayame was brought up to avoid being confrontational and always be polite. Japanese are very strict in their business and are very straight forward. If Ayame’s work environment is hostile then she is more likely to think she is doing a bad job. In most cultures, if someone feels they are doing bad then they will try harder, if they never receive the feedback for doing a good job they lose motivation and eventually just stop trying. Ayame comes from a very straight forward culture and does not understand when someone is not straight forward with her. Ayame’s employer needs to change his approach with Ayame to give her more motivation and understand feedback clearly (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter, 2011). Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard have a model called situational leadership theory. In Hersey-Blanchard theory there are different types of managers; telling managers tell employees when, where, and how to complete tasks. They also have low relationships with their employees. Selling managers provide detailed tasks and have a high relationship with employees. Participating managers give low detail on tasks and have high level of communication with employees. Delegating managers give little direction and have low level relationships with employees. Ayame’s managers could help make her more motivated by taking time to get to know the way she works. If they talk to her and understand where she is at in her hierarchy of needs then they can come up with a reward system to motivate Ayame. Also, understanding that Ayame needs to have a non-confrontational environment this is another thing that can motivate her. It seems that Ayame has telling manager and she needs a selling or participating manager. Giving Ayame a good relationship and communication will help her know what she needs to do. Ayame relies on feedback from her employer and is not getting it in her current situation (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter, 2011). Giving employees what they need and keeping them motivated is the job of the manager. There are many different types of managers and some do not give employees what they need. Managers have responsibility to the company to make it as efficient as possible. Some key things managers should remember is that employees need tasks that are clearly defined, some employees may need more direction then others, and all employees need high level of support. Feedback lets employees know what they are doing well and what they can work on. Having something to work toward keeps an employee motivated. A motivated employee is more likely to be happy on the job and complete tasks efficiently; while, an unhappy employee is more likely to be slower, sloppier, and more likely to quit.

Adoptees Must Have Access to Their Original Birth Certificates Essay

Have you ever been to a new doctor and filled out the required paperwork on family medical history? After moving recently, I went to a new doctor. I had to have all those papers filled out. It was easy because I know all of the information or can get it. Most people know who their biological family is and therefore also know about medical history. However, in the 1940s many birth certificates of adoptees were sealed. This continued to occur for four decades. Now depending upon the state the adopted person lives in and how the laws have evolved, they may not be able to easily access their original birth certificate just like everyone else. Adoptees should have total access to their birth certificate and family medical history because this information will help them to understand where they came from, as well as know of the likelihood of contracting various genetic diseases. Children need to know where they came from so they can avoid embarrassing and awkward situations later in life like Luke and Leia Skywalker from Star Wars. It will also give them a sense of belonging in the world. Full access to an original birth certificate is something many people take for granted. For those people who have been adopted a changed birth certificate is given with the adoptive parents names instead. As an adopted child grows older, most will become curious. For Jeffrey Hannasch his curiosity started when his daughter was born (Ensslin). He started out on a journey to find his parents. After finding some papers in his adoptive father’s possessions, he was able to find out his mother’s name. Some internet searching and letter writing later he was able to find out that she did not actually know who his father was. She also was shocked that he was... ...elease of the information (Access). Works Cited Bahrampour, Tara. "Invisible Ties to Faraway Lands." Washington Post 2012 Jan 22: A.1. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012). Access to Adoption Records. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau. Ensslin, John C. "Landmark Adoption Ruling a Bittersweet Victory for Falcon Man." Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO) 2009 Aug 02: N.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Hamilton, James M. "Adult Adoptees Should Have Unconditional Access to Their Original..." MinnPost.com [Minneapolis] 14 Mar. 2013: N.p. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. O'Connor, John. "Unsealed Birth Records Give Adoptees Peek at Past." Daily Register 2013 Jul 28: N.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Reyes, Emily Alpert. "Internet Lifts Shroud of Secrecy on Adoption." Los Angeles Times 2013 Dec 12: A.15. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Online Harassment & and Cyber Mobs Essay

Cyberbullying, we have all heard of it and most of us have even experienced it in some way or another. There is no doubt, that being deliberately harassed in hostile manners on the Internet can have fatal consequences for the victims. And fatal consequences were exactly what the 15-year-old Amanda Todd suffered. After various sorts of cyberbullying, Amanda Todd was broken down to her cores and on October 10 2012 she committed suicide. Amanda Todd became world famous for a YouTube video, where she exposed all of the different kinds of online harassment that she had been through. More or less the same thing happened to Anita Sarkeesian. Anita launched an online fundraising campaign, to create awareness of how female characters are portrayed as sexual stereotypes in videogames. Unfortunately, Anita did not only launch a campaign, but also the beginning of a time with harsh online harassment against herself, from people who disagreed with her project. Anita is now a major voice when it c omes to stopping the harassment of women on the Internet, which she proved in a speech at the TEDxWomen event in 2012. It is indisputable that Anita Sarkeesian has been through many negatively affected emotions when she was harassed on the Internet, and she is not afraid to let the audience know how it was like. She is of course using pathos to awaken the audience’s feelings, in order for her to get them on her side. Already in the beginning of the speech, she reaches for the audience’s emotions: â€Å"All of my social media were flooded with treats of rape, violence, sexual assaults, death – And you’ll notice that these treats and comments were all specifically targeting me gender.†1 As the quotation shows, the words that she has chosen are very powerful. Words like rape, violence and death are all words that have an immediate shock effect on the audience, which is truly in her favor. Another way that she communicates is with the use of humor. Multiple times throughout her speech she uses humorous words and phrases, which optimizes the relationship  between her and the receivers. In addition to the way that she engages the audience in her speech, Anita Sarkeesian also masters explicit speech techniques that help her persuade the audience. One example is a rhetorical question: â€Å"The idea being that if you were interested in the project, you could donate, and if you weren’t interested, you could choose not to donate. It’s pretty straight forward, right? I mean what could possibly go wrong? Yeah.†2 In other words, she is fully aware of that the audience knows that something will go wrong with the project; she just asks the question in order to benefit from the audience’s participation. It is small little tricks or techniques like these that help her persuade the audience. As I pointed out earlier, Anita practices pathos in her speech. This is withal not the only form of appeal that she practices. Anita also attempts to make herself a more trustworthy person and she does that by making herself appear as a strong character: â€Å"Do you wanna know what happened to my fundraiser after all that? Well first, the cyber mob failed to silence me, as is evidence of me being here today.†3 So even though cyber mobs tried to silence her, she remained strong and rose above the influence. And that definitely makes her a person to believe. But how is the issue of online harassment actually looked upon? Well, in Singapore located in Asia online harassment is looked upon with the same disgust as in America. They have likewise experienced suicidal female victims, and they are therefore ready to pass new laws against harassment on the Internet: â€Å"Victims of harassment suffer from insufficient protection and face an unclear path when seeking recourse, especially when harassment occurs or spills over to daily life. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K. Shanmugam, has indicated that new laws on harassment will be tabled next year.†4 Hence this quotation, it is safe to say that online harassment is not just  some local coincidence, but actually a global problem. Otherwise it is no secret to anybody, that the Internet is the fastest way to spread and share ideas, so if online harassment is not yet a problem on a worldwide scale, then it is only a matter time before it is. On the other hand, there is always another side of the case, and online harassment is no exception. Just as easy as it is to receive emails with harassing matter or even Facebook messages and tweets, just as easy is it to delete it again. Some do for that reason, and other arguments as well, share the belief that online harassment is overrated and not an actual problem like physical bullying: â€Å"Cyber bullying is overrated, there, I said it. It is not a popular viewpoint to hold, but this is how I feel about cyber bullying issues (†¦) Emails can easily be filtered, forum insults can be reported and text messages can be filtered, blocked or used to trace back to the sender. Outside of the tracing part which can be left to the parent to handle, a child can be taught how to do the rest easily.†5 Although the quotation from above is just from an online blogger and not another expert in this particular field, it is still a suitable example of how online harassment is looked upon differently. Without saying that either stance is right or wrong, Anita Sarkeesian is a living proof of online harassment of women, which is enough reason for this topic to be discussed and perhaps dealt with. Anita Sarkeesian may be a decent speaker with good persuasive techniques, but that does not change the fact that her story is true. Luckily, she had the courage and strength to overcome the online harassment that she was put through, but many girls like Amanda Todd don’t have the same fortitude. However, it is also true that emails and other online communications systems are very easy to handle, thus it is possible with the right technical knowhow to secure oneself from online harassment and even cyber mobs. Despite the different views on this topic, online harassment is an ongoing thing and it definitely deserves attention.

The Beatles Influence on Rock-and-Roll

The Beatles are one of the most innovative rock bands of all time. They have not only changed the way rock and roll is looked at, but also the way that the music is recorded. They have influenced the artists of the 60s and the 70s, and also many generations later and to come. Originating from Liverpool, England, the Beatles, or the Fab Four, consists of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Topping the charts in ’63 with â€Å"Love Me Do,† and bringing in the highest rated viewing in history while performing on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles are definitely a band that broke the sound barrier of rock and roll.They used unique sounds in their music and weren’t afraid of experimenting in the studio, they even welcomed accidental occurrences and toyed around to get the sound they were looking for. Artificial double tracking was invented during the recording of their album Revolver and also a new technique on miking strings. They paved the way for other British Bands in America and even had full-blown imitators, like the Monkees, that copied everything from their look, to the spelling error in their name, and their campaign. They also helped create a whole new genre of music called folk rock.Their influence is still seen in today’s musicians, such as the band Oasis, who compare their music constantly to the Beatles. The Beatles Influence on Rock-and-Roll â€Å"The impact of the Beatles – not only on rock and roll but on Western culture – is simply incalculable. As musicians, they proved that rock and roll could embrace a limitless variety of harmonies, structures and sounds; virtually every rock experiment has some precedent on Beatles records. † Said by the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll, could not be any more wrong.The Beatles had a huge impact on not just rock and roll, but music as a whole, as well as influencing the technology used to record their music. They weren’ t afraid of experimenting and instead of producing music they produced art. Their influence is seen all over the world, but no one has come close to the fame that was Beatlemania. The Beatles originated from Liverpool, England and consists of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They first started playing shows in Hamburg, Germany as a skiffle band in 1960.In 1962 they released their first single â€Å"Love Me Do,† which reached the number one spot on U. S. charts in May of ’63. Their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of ’64 brought in over 73 million viewers, the most in U. S. history. By April 1964, they held the first five places in the Billboard Hot 100. The Beatles were one of the biggest influences on music during the 60s and 70s. Their music, to this day, remains more widely known than any other music of the rock era. They have brought new sounds and ideas in their music and revolutionized the idea of rock and roll.Their work was always invested with originality, using unique sounds in their music, which is most dramatically seen in Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. They used many studio effects on this album, including reverberation, echoes, and reverse tape effects. They experimented with sounds that no other bands used, and had great success with it. They created their own material, breaking the Tin Pan monopoly of song writing, setting in motion revolutionary changes in the music publishing industry. They wrote songs for fellow artists and even encouraged the Rolling Stones to write their own music. The Beatles were the first group to use the recording studio as a writing tool, building up complex song arrangements by multi-tracking and importing orchestral textures and avant-garde effects under the guidance of producer George Martin† (Glassman).In Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, instead of using traditional breaks in between songs, one tracked merged i nto the next, which were linked by studio talk, laughter, electronic noises, and animal sounds. They also used audio tricks involving steam organs, orchestras, sitars, and even a pack of foxhounds in full cry at the end of â€Å"Good Morning, Good Morning. The use of animal sounds were actually first used in the Beach Boys album Pet Sounds that the Beatles admired. When asked the Beach Boys where they got their innovation for Pet Sounds, the Beatles Rubber Soul album was what inspired them. â€Å"A Day In The Life,† the last song on the album, featured â€Å"what Lennon described as ‘a sound building up from nothing to the end of the world’† (Lazarescu). The song â€Å"Strawberry Fields Forever† fused two different versions of the same song and used reverse-tape cellos for an eerie effect.After George Harrison used sitar on the song â€Å"Norwegian Wood,† other bands like the Byrds, Yardbirds, and the Rolling Stones, soon followed incorporat ing Eastern-influence sounds into their work. Paul McCartney once said, â€Å"We would say, ‘Try it! Just try it for us. If it sounds crappy, OK, we’ll lose it. But it might just sound good. ’ We were always pushing ahead: Louder, further, longer, more different† (â€Å"All About Jazz†). The Beatles had complete access to Abbey Road studios free of charge, spending hours upon hours experimenting and writing music.They used the studio as an instrument in itself. They were the first band to push musical and technological boundaries. They took advantage of accidental occurrences in the recording process. You can see this in â€Å"I Feel Fine† where there is feedback and also in â€Å"Long, Long, Long† where there is a resonating glass bottle. They also deliberately toyed with situations and techniques that would further chance effects. An example of this is in â€Å"I am the Walrus,† where they used a live mixing of a UK radio broa dcast into the fade of the song, and also the chaotic assemblage of â€Å"Tomorrow Never Knows. Ken Townsend invented artificial double tracking (ADT) during the recording of Revolver because Lennon didn’t like singing a song twice. ADT is still widely used for instruments and voices; however, it is now mostly known as automatic double tracking. Other influences the Beatles had on technology were the use of close miking the strings by engineer Geoff Emerick when recording. In 1966 that was a radically new way of miking strings, and now it is common practice. The Beatles were also the firsts to use direct injection to record McCartney’s bass on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.This is done by connecting the bass to the recording console via an impedance matching DI box. The Beatles paved the way for other British bands in America. The Beatles were the first British group to break into America and since the Beatles were able to have fame in the US, they gave other British bands the possibility of making it in America. Such bands were Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, and the Searchers, who were all also managed by Brian Epstein. Other British bands that followed the Beatles were the Rolling Stones, the Who, and the Yardbirds.The Rolling Stones had a raunchier dirty bad boy look, different then the clean-cut look of the Beatles. As the 1970s began, you can see the Beatles influence in artists like Elton John and Pink Floyd. In America, the most blatant imitators of the Beatles were the Monkees, who even calculatedly misspelled the name just like the Beatles. The Monkees were four actors portraying longhaired whimsical musicians; however, their music was actually performed by studio musicians. They copied the Beatles to a tee, including their campaign.Before the Beatles came to the US, their manager Brian Epstein had Capital Records spend $50,000 on a campaign, plastering posters all over the country stating, â⠂¬Å"The Beatles Are Coming,† and gave disc jockeys records of interviews with the Beatles to feel like they were actually making personalized interviews. For the Monkees, â€Å"The band’s label spent $100,000 on an ad campaign that involved seventy-six advance men, who distributed thousands of posters proclaiming ‘The Monkees Are Coming’ and provided preview records to 6,000 disc jockeys† (Szatmary 125).After the assassination of President John Kennedy, the whole country was at a low point and the Beatles brought them back to happier times, especially the folk artists. A lot of folk artists felt like the protest was over after Kennedy was killed. Kennedy was making a change in the country, but after his death, they felt like there was no more fight left in them. Bob Dylan, one of the major folk musicians of the era, just gave it all away and went towards the more electrified sounds of the Beatles.Gene Clark, who at the time was part of the folk group the New Christy Minstrels, was on tour when he first heard the Beatles song â€Å"She Loves You. † â€Å"I must have played it 40 times in the two days the New Christy Minstrels were playing that town,’ he later enthused. ‘I knew, I knew that this was the future† (Szatmary 140). Gene Clark later quit the New Christy Minstrels and formed his own band with Roger McGuinn and a few other former folk musicians. They called themselves the Byrds, misspelling it to emulate the spelling error in the Beatles.They combined Dylanese folk, vocal harmonies and Beatles music to create folk rock. Other folk bands that switched to folk rock were the Turtles, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, and Scotland’s folk singer Donovan Leitch, which Paul McCartney was featured singing with him on his song â€Å"Mellow Yellow. † One other band was Lovin’ Spoonful who owed their debt to Dylan and none other than the Beatles. When new wave and punk music started in th e late 1970s, their sound and style could still be heard in artists like the Squeeze, the Police, and Elvis Costello. Their music has spoken not only to its own time but to every generation since† (Campbell, Brody 168). In the late 1980s a new style of music called â€Å"baggy† originated from Manchester. The musical devotees sported Bealte-esque haircuts and drew heavily on the 1960s. They fused Beatles psychedelic with electronic elements taken from the simultaneously developing acid house scene. You can see the Beatles influence in the guitar style and song arrangements of the Stone Roses, guitarist John Squire cited them as one of his main influences.The mid 90s saw a whole new host of Beatles influenced bands. The band Cast, which was formed by guitarist John Powers in 1994, has Lennon-esque vocals and memorable songs, which are still reaping the rewards. In 1995 a Liverpool band called the Boo Radleys had both the Beatles pop and psychedelic styles. Songwriter/gui tarist Martin Carr told Melody Maker in 1994 that, â€Å"There's never been a time when they haven't been a part of my life† (Glassman). The Gallagher brothers, who formed the group Oasis, lived and breathed the Beatles.They even named dropped the Beatles whenever they could in interviews. They would write their own melodies and then arrange them in a Bealte-esque style, but with a rocky, attitude-dowsed edge. â€Å"It's beyond an obsession. It's an ideal for living. I don't even know how to justify it to myself. With every song that I write, I compare it to The Beatles,’ Noel Gallagher told Q in 1996† (Glassman). Of the eight years that were the Beatles, no band has received more attention from fans, musicians, and scholars. Their music tells us more about the sixties than any other band.Their influence is seen in music and even the technology used to record music. From their first album Please Please Me (1963) all the way to their last album Hey Jude (1970), n o band has seen such a diverse selection of songs, going from retro one minute to folk-influenced the next. With their use of experimentation, they have opened a whole new door to the way rock is heard, converting even folk musicians, like the Byrds, to their style of music. You can still hear their inspiration in music even in today’s bands such as Oasis. Yet no one has seemed to copy the sound that was the Beatles.

Literary Analysis Rough Draft Example

Literary Analysis Rough Draft Example Literary Analysis Rough Draft – Essay Example 18th September Analysis of â€Å"An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† In Ambrose Bierce’s â€Å"An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge†, symbolism has been used to bring out the authors intent. This analysis seeks to explore the use and application of symbolism in the short story. First, the driftwood has been used to symbolize Peyton Farquhar’s unattainable freedom. As it floats over the water, so do his thoughts and fantasies. He visualizes himself executing a very brave escape through the water (Sergel 7). However, this does not materialize as he is already hanged and it is his imaginations, which flow into a fantasy world. He reasons that if he could free his hands, he would escape through the water to his family. â€Å"If I could let go my hands, I would throw off the noose†¦and get away home† (Bierce 35). In addition, the owl creek bridge has also been used to build on symbolism. It suggests connection and transition evident in the story. The br idge was used to allow the enemy forces to further advance into Alabama, bringing the civil war into culmination (Clinton 78). It also symbolizes Farquhar’s attempt to disconnect himself from his body by allowing his thoughts to plunge into the fantasy world. â€Å"†¦the light about him shot growingly with the noise of a loud splash, and frightful roar was in his ears, and all seemed cold and dark† (Bierce 39). Similarly, the bridge joins his life and death, which occurs after his hanging, just as it connects the two banks of the river. The bridge as well suggests a transition between fantasy and reality as he escapes to the water. Ambrose Bierce has also employed the use of realism in his short story. The setting of the story is in North Alabama at the time of the civil war. The set-up of the execution team is close to what happens in reality. The positioning of the soldiers and their superiors, and the way in which power and authority are displayed is evident in a military setting (Essential short stories 29). As Farquhar drifts in the fantasy world, the reader cannot tell any difference from the real world. It appears to be too real for one to question it. Lastly, it is clear that symbolism has helped Ambrose Bierce make the story â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† a classic work.Work CitedBierce, Ambrose. An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge: Essential Short Stories Teaching Unit. Clayton: Prestwick House, 2008. Print.Clinton, Catherine. Civil War Stories. Athens, Ga: University of Georgia Press, 1998. PrintSergel, Christopher. An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge: a play in one act: based on the short story by Ambrose Bierce. Chicago: Dramatic Pub, 1967. Print

An Explanation of Wechsler Intelligence Tests

An Explanation of Wechsler Intelligence Tests The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is an intelligence test which determines an individual childs  IQ, or intelligence quotient. It was developed by Dr. David Wechsler (1896-1981), who was the chief psychologist of New York Citys Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. The test that is typically administered today is the 2014 revision of the test that was originally devised in 1949. It is known as WISC-V. Over the years, the WISC test has been updated several times, each time changing the name to represent the proper edition of the test. At times, some institutions will still utilize older versions of the test. In the latest WISC-V, there are new and separate Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning index scores, as well as  new measures of the following skills: Visual spatial abilityQuantitative fluid reasoningVisual working memoryRapid automatized naming/naming facilityVisual-verbal associative memory Dr. Wechsler developed two other commonly used intelligence tests: the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). WPPSI is designed to assess children aged 3 to 7 years and 3 months. The WISC essentially outlines  students intellectual strengths and weaknesses and provides insight into their overall cognitive abilities and potential. The test also compares children to peers of a similar age. In the most general terms, the goal is to determine the potential for a child to grasp new information. While this assessment can be a great predictor of potential, the IQ level is, by no means, a guarantee of success or failure.   Where the Wechsler Test Is Used Private schools serving children in 4th through 9th grades often use WISC-V as part of their admissions testing procedures, which may be in place of, or in addition to, other admission testing like the SSAT. Those private schools that use it do so to determine both a childs intelligence and his or her performance in school relative to that intelligence level. What the Test Determines WISC determines a childs intellectual capabilities. It is frequently used to diagnose learning difference, such as  ADD or ADHD. The test also helps to assess strengths in order to determine  gifted children. The WISC test indices are verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. The subtests allow precise modeling of a childs intellectual abilities and readiness for learning. Interpreting the Test Data Pearson Education, a company that sells the Wechsler testing products, also scores the tests. The clinical data that the tests provide helps the admissions staff develop a complete understanding of your childs intellectual strengths and weaknesses. However, the wide range of assessment scores can be daunting for many and difficult to understand. Not only do school officials, like teachers and admission representatives, need to understand these reports and what the scores mean, but also the parents.   According to the Pearson Education Website, there are options for the type of score reporting available for the WISC-V, which will provide a narrative explanation of the scores including (the following bullet points are quoted from the website): Narrative summary of the child’s background, history, and test behaviorsInterpretation of the Full Scale IQ and all primary, ancillary, and complementary index scoresIntegration of the reason for referral in test score interpretationRecommendations based on WISC–V performanceOptional Parent Summary Report Preparing for the Test Your child cannot prepare for WISC-V or other IQ tests by studying or reading. These tests are not designed to test what you know or how much you know, but rather, they are designed to determine the test-takers capacity to learn. Typically tests like the WISC consist of tasks that assess various measures of intelligence, including spatial recognition, analytical thinking, mathematical ability, and even short-term memory. As such, just make sure that your child gets plenty of rest and relaxation before the test. The school is accustomed to administering these tests and will instruct your child what to do at the appropriate time.

Quotes on Love and Friendship

Quotes on Love and Friendship On a lot of issues, Friedrich Nietzsche was one of the most passionately opinionated luminaries. However, not many would expect quotes on love and friendship from Nietzsche. In addition to him, many other famous authors have opined on love. Here is a collection of quotes on love and friendship by famous authors. Charles Caleb Colton Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship never.Jane Austen Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of despised love.George Jean Nathan Love demands infinitely less than friendship.Paul Valery It would be impossible to love anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object.Friedrich Nietzsche It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.Fr. Jerome Cummings A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.Sarah McLachlan My love, you know you are my best friend.You know that Id do anything for youAnd my love, let nothing come between us.My love for you is strong and true.Margaret Guenther We all need friends with whom we can speak of our deepest concerns, and who do not fear to speak the truth in love to us.Andre Pevost Platonic love is like an inactive volcano.Ella Wheeler Wilcox All love that has not friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon the sand.E. Joseph Crossmann Love is friendship set to music. Hannah Arendt Love, in distinction from friendship, is killed, or rather extinguished, the moment it is displayed in public.Francois Mauriac No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.Agnes Repplier We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh.

The Nursing Shortage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Nursing Shortage - Essay Example Unless some wise decisions are taken which result in increasing the nurse population, the ageing general public will have a hard time in the future when they need the services of a nurse. My friend Thomas, when he had an ankle injury recently while playing basketball, had to wait in the hospital emergency room for a long time till he was attended to. The reason for his long wait: there were too few nurses, and they were all too busy. This is the story in all hospitals in the country. There is a dire shortage of nurses throughout the world. and it is affecting the health services everywhere. Fewer young women are opting to take up nursing as their profession. Considered one of the noblest professions, nursing has traditionally been the territory of women. Ever since the well born Florence Nightingale took up nursing in the late nineteenth century, it has attracted intelligent, educated and dedicated women . Although there are male nurses who are indispensable, their numbers are very small. The nurse is the indispensable helpmeet of the doctor and the patient. Her work is manifold- She helps the physician in his office, she cleans and bandages minor injuries, and gives emotional support to the patient. She can even help a pregnant woman in her labor. She teaches the patient's family how to take care of the patient. Nurses write detailed report of the patient's symptoms which helps the physician to diagnose the illness and treat the patient. Some nurses work in the operating theater. The operating surgeon relies on the nurse to assist him while he is doing the surgery. The nurse in the Intensive Care unit has a different set of duties than the nurse in the Trauma Center. A trained nurse is indispensable for the care of the seriously ill patient. Many patients become emotionally dependent on their nurse. According to a report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Home health nurses go to peoples' homes to help them. Flight nurses fly in helicopters to get to sick people in emergencies. "(BLA report p1) Any shortage in the number of trained Registered Nurses will be a catastrophe which should be avoided at all costs. The twenty first century is witnessing such a shortage of nurses worldwide. The reasons for the diminishing number of nurses are many. Steps must be taken immediately to arrest the shortage of nurses by all concerned so that the nurses and the public will not suffer.. The job of the nurse, besides being stressful, is emotionally exhausting. As Hingley says in The Nursing Mirror, "Every day the nurse confronts stark suffering, grief and death as few other people do. Many nursing tasks are mundane and unrewarding. Many are, by normal standards, distasteful and disgusting. Others are often degrading, some are simply frightening"(Hingly ) The daily confrontation with death and disease takes a heavy toll on the nurse's physical and emotional health. Being constantly exposed to various kinds of infection, the nurse is always in danger of catching one. She has to be extra vigilant in avoiding infection. The tasks a nurse has to do in the course of the day are sometimes disgusting. She has to put up a stoic front and do the task satisfactorily. Many times, the patients

The purpose of this project is to better understand the effectiveness Term Paper

The purpose of this project is to better understand the effectiveness of the sling in hunting and combat - Term Paper Example Archaeologists give us a number of answers, one of which points to the use of sling. A sling may simply be explained to be an effective personal projectile weapon that was used in ancient times for purposes of protecting herds, hunting, and combat (York and York 2011: 56-59). Fundamentally, sling was used as a hand-on weapon that was fired by the use of the arm. Users loaded the sling with offensive pellets that included stones and clay. The carriers then spanned the sling in their arms till they felt they had gathered enough force or pressure in the sling before finally releasing it towards their enemies. A very popular story of the use of the sling is told in the story of David and Goliath, where we are told that David used a sling to project a stone against Goliath. There is a lesson learnt from slings here and that is, slings were very powerful weapons and once they were in the right hands, the size of the opponent or target was not a problem. As a shepherd, David was familiar wi th the use of the sling and so he succeeded. It is in this direction that this project is trying to find out how slings could be used effectively to accomplish hunting and combative missions even in today’s cotemporary world. Known history behind the sling Thanks to archaeologists, history behind the sling is fading no time soon. ... Again, history has it the use of sling can be traced to all continents of the world. Archaeologists today have, however, gathered more evidence on the presence and use of the sling in Europe and the Near East (Korfmann 1973: 33-37). What is even more beautiful among the role of the sling in world history is that up to date, the use of the sling are symbolically still in place in areas of the world such as Southern Africa, Pacific Island, Mediterranean and Andean cultures. The slings are used for traditional memorial contests, historical recreations and festival purposes. Much of the history also points to the reasons why the use of the sling started at all. In fact, the use of slings, though became very popular in battle, was not originally meant for that purpose. Knowing that man was basically living with wildlife in the forest in the days of old, the design of the sling was actually necessitated as a weapon for protecting man from carnivores and other dangerous animals that could a ttack them. The sling was found to be preferably for this course because it has the ability to swing its shot to chase the animals, most of which were very athletic. Materials and construction Even in the ancient times, the materials used in the construction of slings underwent a lot of changes. Generally, the weapon was inexpensive to make as its construction involved the use of readily available materials in the human environment. Basically, a sling was constructed to have a cord and a pouch. One ideal factor was that both the cord and the pouch needed not to be elastic. To this end, materials that were used in the construction included animal hide, flax, hair, hemp, plant fibers, sinew and wool. The ideal behind

Financing Trade With Burma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financing Trade With Burma - Essay Example Political instability is a great challenge for investors in Burma. The investors also face risks from consumer boycotts. Therefore, Burma is not a favorable investment option for American companies. It becomes apparent that there is hesitation among investors to spend money on projects in Burma, which is the reason why there is a dearth of foreign investment in the country. For making investment in Burma, the companies should get approval from Burmese authorities. The foreign companies can do business only through joint venture with Burmese collaboration. Burma lacks strong economic policies to bring foreign investment. Therefore, it is really a threat for US firms to make investment in Burma. Moreover, the political instability and conflicts in the country are another problem. The country’s governance lies with its military and there no uniform or precise rules in the country to protect the investors. The poor infrastructure facilities are also a major handicap for companies investing the country. Thus, any person who intends to invest there will have to develop the basic facilities. This will entail additional costs to the investor. The fiscal policies in the country also do not favor investment there. Besides, Burmese government imposes huge taxes on foreign investors. â€Å"Foreign investment has risen dramatically over the past year, as international companies cooperate with Burma’s government to exploit the country’s natural resources† (Jared, 2011, para. 1). 2) Since a military government rules Burma, they impose many restrictions on foreign trade and most of their policies are arbitrary in nature. Thus, the country is not investment friendly for foreign investors. America has banned investing in Burma due to the military actions against the civilians. In Burma, government owns all major industries and they place many restrictions on foreign trade. The country has trade relations with Asian countries and they export agricultur al products and import manufactured goods. Burma’s trade with United States accounts only 5% of total foreign trade. Even though Burma has liberalized its economy, they still impose many restrictions on foreign trade. The major earnings in the country derive from oil and natural gas. Therefore, if an investor decides to invest in this country this industry is a better option. If US companies propose to start business in Burma, they will have to face several challenges there. Any person or firm can start business in the country only as a joint venture, in collaboration with a Burmese entity. Due to political instability the country’s fiscal and monetary policies are not good. The inflation rates are high, which will have a direct bearing on the cost of operating a business. Investors may also face problems form the government as they do not encourage foreign investment. The tax rates on foreign traders are also quite high. â€Å"In Burma, however, foreign trade and inv estment helps perpetuate the rule of a repressive, unelected junta. Full foreign ownership of companies operating in Burma is forbidden and almost all large investment in Burma is carried out through joint ventures with the military regime† (Burma: Country in Crisis, 2002, para. 1). 3) Every business involves some part of risk. It may also have to face uncertainty of earnings or risk of loss because of some unexpected developments in

Write a PESTLE analysis about HMV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Write a PESTLE analysis about HMV - Essay Example Nonetheless, the 2008 crisis caused this to change in May 2010. In addition, the heavy debt on UK has caused the British government to instil much nationalisation aimed at supporting its economy. The British government has indicated a lot of support for the fight against piracy. The Digital Economic Act 2010 has propagated the pursuance and arrest of persistent offenders with music labels and movie companies tracking illegal downloads from peer to peer networks using IP addresses. Despite the negative impact of the financial crisis, the UK remains the third biggest European economy (Central Intelligence Agency 2011). Its inflation and public debt grew from 3.3% to 2.2% and 68.2% to 76.5% respectively. With a GDP of USD 2.259 trillion in 2010, the unemployment rate also grew from 7.6% in 2009 to 7.9% in 2010. The country ranked 9th in 2010 in terms of purchasing parity which had increased from USD 2.268 trillion to 2.154 trillion to 2.189 trillion from 2008 through 2009 and 2010 respectively. The British government’s Environmental Protection Act 1990 cited by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2004) prohibits the firm from polluting the environment. The social analysis of the UK ranks it 22nd globally in population having 62,689,362 people as of July 2011, with the median age being 40 (Office for National Statistics 2011). The literacy level stands at 99% with urbanization being at 80% as of 2010. The British are known to be conscious of their benefit in purchases including quality, price, environment and brand. The country has musicians and bands in traditional and contemporary music. Expenditure on research and development in the UK stood at â‚ ¬29.824 billion, which represents 1.84% of its GDP (Office for National Statistics 2011). There have been indications that the digital infrastructure in the country does not suffice in speed and penetration and therefore need to be improved (British Council for Science and Technology, 2010).

Marketing SLP 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing SLP 1 - Essay Example Location and its current market strength: Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) is a company with its stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and is also listed in the Fortune 100. It is the largest specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the USA and Canada. Its total market share stands at 21% of the market. Its Headquarters are located in Richfield, Minnesota, USA. The company has a few subsidiaries such as Pacific Sales, Magnolia Audio and Geek Squad. The Best Buy Canada subsidiary does not operate its original name. In fact, it operates under the Future Shop label, which has a quite large market share in Canada (Hill, June 2008, retrieved July 2, 2008). Products : BBY sells all categories of consumer electronics – television sets, computers, i-phones, i-pods, mobile phones, digital and video cameras, Blu-ray discs, computer software, video games, DVD players, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, music and so on. Each store also has a separate department for audio and video equipment. Global operations: Its global network spans Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Turkey. The company has plans afoot for further expansion. For example its current network of stores amounting to 1150 in the USA will expand up to 1400 by the end of the current year. It’s planning string of acquisitions in the UK in 2009. For instance it will buy up rivals like Kesa Electricals and DSG International to position itself with a strategic advantage over other competitors. Chinese market: In June 2006, the company negotiated a deal with Feidiao Electrics Co. Ltd., in Shanghai to buy space on one of its buildings at a cost of $31.25 million. This figure includes the cost of decoration and outsourcing. Electronics retailers in China responded to this news with their own marketing tactics. Right now, despite Best Buy’s international presence Chinese electronics retailers have not fallen far behind in competition and sales revenue. Yongle which has nearly 50% of

Memory Deficits and Aging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Memory Deficits and Aging - Essay Example Memory impairment among the elderly often begins casually and progresses consistently leading to a disproportionately impaired cognitive symptom over time. By the middle part of the disorder, the memory is impaired but other types of cognitive functions such as language, visuo-spatial abilities, and key executive functions are also impaired. In its advanced stages, the patient ultimately becomes disoriented to time, place, and finally, persons. The advanced and latter stages will then require specialized medical care and attention to address the daily functioning of the elderly. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV; APA 1994) defined dementia as "the progress of multiple cognitive deficits that covers memory impairment and one of any of these cognitive disturbances: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, or a disturbance in executive functions" (p. 134). Cognitive disturbance as manifested in dementia pertains to a decline from a higher normal level of daily functioning to a severely impaired level which seriously affects an individual's discharge of his/her social, family or work duties. The prevalence of dementia increases significantly with age, and approximately 6% of individuals over age 65 and 20% over age 80 suffer from a a disabling degree of dementia (Plum 1987). Dementia and amnesia are... However, a single pattern of preserved and impaired cognitive abilities may not pertain to all amnesic sicknesses. Research Questions: This study will explore these research questions: a.) What is the incidence of memory deficits among the British elderly population considering functional limitations and demographic characteristics b.) What are the social services and medical services available for the British elderly population who are afflicted with this memory deficits c.) What is the extent of self-reported memory function among the British elderly population who are afflicted with dementia d.) What services do private elderly facilities provide for those who suffer from memory deficits Research Methods This study will utilize a quantitative methodology consisting of a survey questionnaire which is self-administered and the implementation of a Randt Memory Test (RMT) which will be administered to approximately 200 British elderly persons in a private facility.A RANDT MEMORY TEST (RMT) (Randt & Brown 1983) will be administered to the designated respondents. The RMT is a memory test which covers seven subtests: tests of general information, immediate span of auditory-verbal attention, verbal learning and recall, picture recognition, and learning test of the names of the previous tasks. The objective of this test is to present a global survey of patients' memory complaints.A key highlight of the RMT over other types of tests is the presence of at least five alternative forms which then allows for multiple testing of the respondents over short intervals of time. Aims of the Research The ability to measure and characterize memory disorders at both the structural and functional

Marketing SLP 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing SLP 1 - Essay Example Location and its current market strength: Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) is a company with its stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and is also listed in the Fortune 100. It is the largest specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the USA and Canada. Its total market share stands at 21% of the market. Its Headquarters are located in Richfield, Minnesota, USA. The company has a few subsidiaries such as Pacific Sales, Magnolia Audio and Geek Squad. The Best Buy Canada subsidiary does not operate its original name. In fact, it operates under the Future Shop label, which has a quite large market share in Canada (Hill, June 2008, retrieved July 2, 2008). Products : BBY sells all categories of consumer electronics – television sets, computers, i-phones, i-pods, mobile phones, digital and video cameras, Blu-ray discs, computer software, video games, DVD players, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, music and so on. Each store also has a separate department for audio and video equipment. Global operations: Its global network spans Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Turkey. The company has plans afoot for further expansion. For example its current network of stores amounting to 1150 in the USA will expand up to 1400 by the end of the current year. It’s planning string of acquisitions in the UK in 2009. For instance it will buy up rivals like Kesa Electricals and DSG International to position itself with a strategic advantage over other competitors. Chinese market: In June 2006, the company negotiated a deal with Feidiao Electrics Co. Ltd., in Shanghai to buy space on one of its buildings at a cost of $31.25 million. This figure includes the cost of decoration and outsourcing. Electronics retailers in China responded to this news with their own marketing tactics. Right now, despite Best Buy’s international presence Chinese electronics retailers have not fallen far behind in competition and sales revenue. Yongle which has nearly 50% of

Business ownership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business ownership - Term Paper Example It is always the dream of any person to own such multinational companies and successful businesses but what hinders everything is how to start, choose, plan and manage. This has always been a big challenge considering any business whether successful or still in the growing stage. Different people would have different views and plans on which business to start due the varying levels of understanding and desires. Such decisions are also affected by the availability of resources such as land, capital, labor and experience. Speaking from my point of view about the type of business that I would like to start someday given enough resources, this is what I would have in mind; starting my own business, sole proprietorship, and to be specific a computer components and accessories merchandise. I have a great passion in computer accessories and given that the business has a ready market, I consider it the best option to take. I would choose to be a sole proprietor where I would assume complete responsibility to anything that happens and also the liabilities and debts. In opening such a business, there are various factors that must be taken into account and this are explained below. For the marketing concept I would choose to do this critically by actually considering all the factors that my business would be dealing with. First of all and most important of all is to create and distribute well-designed and good business cards and posters throughout my locality with brief descriptions of what the business offers and the benefits that one gets by considering to purchase from the business. in doing the marketing, the main target market will be the youth aged between 15 to 35 given that this is the age group that has been seen to make higher purchases especially as it regards computer accessories. My marketing strategies through posters will mainly target to reach this group by ensuring to reach schools, colleges and other youth assembling places such as gymnasiums (Harper 22) . Since my company would be dealing with computer technology which is characterized by time to time updates and innovation, attending of trade shows would also form the basis of my marketing concept. This would allow me to promote my products and services and will also facilitate collection of information from other companies playing a part in the same market. Attending these shows would also offer resources for locating diverse venues around the country where I could get potential customers and more ideas for developing the business. Other important marketing concepts would also include networking at my local chamber of commerce and building strong relationship with local media outlets. Ensuring that people and your clients find my business over the web and internet in general would form the last and most important of all factors of marketing of my product and company. I will ensure to create a company profile of my new business in both facebook and twitter as this is the place to reach the target age group easily (Paulson 31). For the type of distribution, I would design and use selective distribution where I would actually rely on few intermediaries that would actually carry and transport the computer appliances from the other retail shops. This distribution would also be dependent on the regions where this product would actually have more sales. An analysis will be done across major cities and towns to find retail shops

The Civil War Essay Example for Free

The Civil War Essay The American Civil War and also known as the War Between the States was a war fought from 1861 up to 1865 between the Northern and Southern United States. The war has led to over 618,000 casualties. There were several reasons to why the Civil War has occurred in the United States. Firstly, the Northern and the Southern have different economies. With the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin in 1793, cotton became very profitable. This machine reduces the time taken to separate the seeds from the cotton. This leads to big plantations set up to meet up the demand of cotton and these plantation owners needed cheap labors, i. e. slaves. Hence, the Southern economy was based on agriculture and slavery while the Northern economy was based on industry and wages. These different economies caused a big division in the United States. On contrary, the northerners became more polarized against slavery. Sympathies began to grow for abolitionist and to fight against slavery. Besides that, the election of Abraham Lincoln as the president of United States is also one of the reasons that trigger the Civil War. He wanted slavery to be abolished and even before the election, seven states have seceded from the Union, which are South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, and formed the Confederate States of America (CSA) because they believed Abraham Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of the Northern interests. The Southern also felt that abolishing slavery would destroy their economy.

Personal Gods, Deism, & ther Limits of Skepticism :: essays research papers fc

In order to continue our discussion of the legitimate philosophical, scientific, and religious aspects of the science and religion quagmire we need a frame of reference to guide us. What I present here is an elaboration on a classification scheme proposed by Michael Shermer. (5) Shermer suggests that there are three worldviews, or "models," that people can adopt when thinking about science and religion. According to the same worlds model there is only one reality and science and religion are two different ways of looking at it. Eventually both will converge on the same final answers, within the limited capabilities of human beings to actually pursue such fundamental questions. The conflicting worlds model asserts that there is only one reality (as the same world scenario also acknowledges) but that science and religion collide head on when it comes to the shape that reality takes. Either one or the other is correct, but not both (or possibly neither, as Immanuel Kant might have argued). In the separate worlds model science and religion are not only different kinds of human activities, but they pursue entirely separate goals. Asking about the similarities and differences between science and religion is the philosophical equivalent of comparing apples and oranges. "These are two such different things," Shermer told Sharon Begley in Newsweek's cover story "Science Finds God," "it would be like using baseball stats to prove a point in football." Using Shermer's model as a starting point for thinking about S&R, I realized that something is missing. One cannot reasonably talk about the conflict between science and religion unless one also specifies what is meant by religion or God (usually there is less controversy on what is meant by science, though some philosophers and social scientists would surely disagree). So what makes Shermer's picture incomplete is the very important fact that different people have different Gods. I am not referring to the relatively minor variations of the idea of God among the major monotheistic religions, but to the fact that God can be one of many radically different things, and that unless we specify which God we are talking about, we will not make any further progress. My tentative solution to the problem is therefore presented in FIGURE 1. Here the panoply of positions concerning the S&R debate is arranged along two axes: on the abscissa we have the level of contrast between science and religion, which goes from none (same worlds model) to moderate (separate worlds) to high (conflicting worlds).

The Physics of Scales :: Physics Weight Scale Essays

The Physics of Scales To the dismay of some and a necessity for others, scales can be found about everywhere in today’s society. It never fails; if you go to the doctor you will step on the scale. They are at the grocery store, in most bathrooms and even in some of our favorite stores. Were we might even pay a quarter to have a machine tell us our weight, out loud. We as a society are obsessed with our weight. You’re asked for your weight when renewing your driver’s license. Every time you get in an elevator and see the little sign saying do not exceed *** lbs, the quarter-pounder with cheese and milkshake you ate for lunch, is brought back to your memory. A scale receives more mental and physical abuse than any other appliance that has ever been invented. All this abuse stems from a lesson each of use were taught at a young age, which is that we should always tell the truth. Well let’s look a little deeper into the scale and see the physics involved in how two different typesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ of scales weigh objects. There are two general kinds of scales. The first is a spring scale and the other type uses a load cell to electronically register a weight. Spring scales are the most common type of scale. The scale in your bathroom and those found in the produce department of your favorite grocery store are examples of spring scales. This summer when you go to weigh that fat juicy watermelon, think about the mechanics of how the scale works. The basket is attached to a spring that stretches in response to the weight of the melon or other objects placed in it. The weight of the melon creates a downward force. This causes the spring to stretch and increase its upward force, which equalizes the difference between the two forces. As the spring is stretched, a dial calibrated to the spring registers a weight. When designing scales one needs to take into account that every spring has a different spring constant (k). Bloomfield (1997) defines k as â€Å"a measure of the spring’s stiffness. The larger the spring constant-that is, the stiffer the spring-the larger the restoring forces the spring exerts† (p. 82). In analyzing the force associated with a certain spring, whether it is in you pen or under your truck, Hooke’s Law applies. The Physics of Scales :: Physics Weight Scale Essays The Physics of Scales To the dismay of some and a necessity for others, scales can be found about everywhere in today’s society. It never fails; if you go to the doctor you will step on the scale. They are at the grocery store, in most bathrooms and even in some of our favorite stores. Were we might even pay a quarter to have a machine tell us our weight, out loud. We as a society are obsessed with our weight. You’re asked for your weight when renewing your driver’s license. Every time you get in an elevator and see the little sign saying do not exceed *** lbs, the quarter-pounder with cheese and milkshake you ate for lunch, is brought back to your memory. A scale receives more mental and physical abuse than any other appliance that has ever been invented. All this abuse stems from a lesson each of use were taught at a young age, which is that we should always tell the truth. Well let’s look a little deeper into the scale and see the physics involved in how two different typesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ of scales weigh objects. There are two general kinds of scales. The first is a spring scale and the other type uses a load cell to electronically register a weight. Spring scales are the most common type of scale. The scale in your bathroom and those found in the produce department of your favorite grocery store are examples of spring scales. This summer when you go to weigh that fat juicy watermelon, think about the mechanics of how the scale works. The basket is attached to a spring that stretches in response to the weight of the melon or other objects placed in it. The weight of the melon creates a downward force. This causes the spring to stretch and increase its upward force, which equalizes the difference between the two forces. As the spring is stretched, a dial calibrated to the spring registers a weight. When designing scales one needs to take into account that every spring has a different spring constant (k). Bloomfield (1997) defines k as â€Å"a measure of the spring’s stiffness. The larger the spring constant-that is, the stiffer the spring-the larger the restoring forces the spring exerts† (p. 82). In analyzing the force associated with a certain spring, whether it is in you pen or under your truck, Hooke’s Law applies.

Classroom Observation Analysis Paper

The observation was in Mrs. Ayo a second grade teacher, in addition to Mr. Wray’s 5th grade classroom. Both classes are giving at Kinser elementary School , Both classroom actually work together in a group Reading Buddies. Which educational theories were employed? The educational theories that were being employed in her classroom are the Social Learning Theory by Bandura and Behaviorism Theory by Watson. Behaviorism is â€Å"the beliefs that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012).† The Social Learning Theory is â€Å"when an observer’s behavior changes after viewing a behavioral model (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012). † The teacher used Modeling with her Reading Mastery curriculum. The students were required to be paying attention before the lesson started. The teacher cued the students to find the title in the story and read the title together. One student did not read the title correctly, so the teach er said â€Å"my turn† and read the title correctly and then she said â€Å"your turn† and the students read the title again. Throughout the lesson, the teacher would praise students at different times.The assessments for the teacher with the lesson were questions asked to the student in the lesson, also the independent sections on the student worksheets. What educational theories could have been used to better enhance the instruction and learning? An educational theory that could have been used is Constructivism. Constructivism is â€Å"that learning is meaning, it is reflecting on experiences (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012). † Mrs. Mullins could have enhanced lesson to incorporate real life connections to the students to make it meaningful for them. She could have had students predict what was going to happen next in the story.How practical is the application of education theories in the classroom? It is very practical to apply educational theories in t he classroom like Constructivism, Behaviorism, and the Social Learning Theory. A teacher can use a combination of educational theories in a classroom. The teacher can build upon the students’ knowledge and emphasize problem solving and the teacher can also use the Social Learning theory with Modeling. The teacher can model the behavior to the student and use positive and negative reinforcements with Behaviorism. One can also use Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence in the classroom too.Gardner’s theory â€Å"has eight domains of intelligence (Linguistic, Logical, Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic) according to Bee and Boyd, 2010. The different types of intelligence can be used in daily lessons throughout the day. How does the theory of information processing apply to student learning? Information processing has two areas: innate ability and acquired knowledge (Bee & Boyd, 2010). A lower IQ can compensate for acquire d knowledge. People with higher IQ’s will perform better than a person with a lower IQ.This also applies to student learning. Children with a lower IQ need effective strategies for processing information. These students have to acquire a vast amount of information on any subject before they can perform as well as their peers with higher IQs. How does the classroom environment affect information processing and learning for adolescents? Information processing theory explains that, â€Å"children are born with some basic, inborn cognitive strategies that will change from earlier years of life to more complex ones and the old ones being used with more flexibility (Bee & Boyd, 2010, p. 197).†As the information processing theory is explained in the text as an adolescent plays chess, the better they will become as seeing and remembering the relationships among the pieces on the board. In the classroom, it should foster an environment that allows the development of the complex cognitive strategies. There needs to be repetitive tasks that are geared towards building cognitive strategies, such as sight words. It can be studied by writing it, reading it, putting the word into a sentence, drawing a picture of it, and defining it. The repetitiveness of the activities can develop cognitive development.Compare adolescent student learning in a social environment and an educational environment. Which is more conducive to attention and memory? In a social situation there are usually more than one stimuli competing for the attention of the individual; whereas in a classroom attention is more directed to one stimulus (the teacher). This would seem to dictate that educational environments are more conducive to attention than social situations. Memory refers to the processes that are used to acquire, store, retain, and later retrieve information. The three major processes involved in memory are encoding, storage, and retrieval.This does pertain to adolescent learning, it is important for new information to be connected to existing information. It is noted that rote memorization is not as effective as learning information through sayings or through stories. Learning through sayings and stories involve connecting the new information to existing information. Social situations would seem to have an upper hand, since social environments provides a context for learning that builds upon the pre-existing peer relationships and experiences. Some of these are present in the classroom, with the teacher and student, but it is not as great as the social environment.What teacher behaviors did you observe that facilitated student comprehension and reasoning? An activity that I believe facilitated student reasoning was when Mrs. Mullins would ask the students scripted questions from the curriculum program. This allows the teacher to know if the student understands the material that was just read. Also the student had to answer questions from their textbook and an independent worksheet to reinforce the comprehension. The students were required to answer the questions in complete sentences and circle the correct multiple choice answer.Why did the teacher behaviors positively affect student’s thinking and abilities? Both the activities required the students to think. The students are required to use different strategies to get their answers for the questions. I observed multiple strategies from the students. In this class, students were asked questions and sometimes the teacher would ask another question after the other question. Which teachers’ behaviors impeded student comprehension and reasoning? The teacher also gave a Spelling test at the beginning of the Reading lesson. The test may be the least productive activity of the lesson.The test was based on rote memorization of learning the word. The student was required to hear the word, then in a sentence, and then they were required to write the word on a piece of paper. Some children do not learn this way. Students all learn differently; some learn auditory, other learn visually, and lastly kinetically. There were a few students having difficultly writing down the spelling word because they could not remember the audible letters to match it to the written word. Why did the teachers’ behaviors negatively affect students’ thinking abilities?The students wanted to get a 100% on their spelling test to be able to get a prize out of the prize box. This auditory/visual deficiency also speaks to the inverted-U relationship between stimulation and performance. As stimulation increases (social pressure, teacher pressure, and peer pressure to make a good grade on the test), so performance on the test increases; however, there is a cutoff beyond which simulation begins to effect performance negatively. The students were motivated to get a 100% on their spelling test, because their teacher added increase pressure by adding a reward to the performance on the test.This affected the grades on their spelling test making the students to perform negatively, since the stimulation was too much for these students. How does delayed language development affect teaching? Delayed language development seems to be the result of a defect in the fast mapping processes and poor receptive language (Bee & Boyd, 2010). † Fast mapping refers to â€Å"the ability to categorically link new words to real world references (Bee & Boyd, 2010, p. 209). † In cognitive development, there are biological and environmental factors to language assimilation, acquisition, and recitation.The average vocabulary of a 2 year old is about 600 words, but it can be adequately be determined by the IQ scores of the parents; however, the language acquisition can increase if the child is read to by their parents daily. This means reading will compensate for any biologically or environmentally caused deficits in the language development. These deficits in the lang uage development can be through the use of a phonic approach that will translate to a specific letters into sounds and vice versa. Children who are poor language learners will have a problem with letter-sound recognition and combinations.This approach will overcome the obstacle. Lastly, the reading program is important; it should be flexible and responsive to student’s language needs. If the phonic approach is not working, then a reading comprehension approach should be tried. Being able to learn the words as a part of a sentence approach would be better. How does language development affect learning in children and adolescents? A systematic and explicit phonics approach to a language arts program states that lessons should move from simple words to complex words in an explicit manner that emphasizes the letter sound correspondence (Bee & Boyd, 2010).†The whole language approach seeks to teach language through meaning and context of the word rather than the actual struc ture of the word. This approach doesn’t explicitly teach letter sound correspondence unless the student has question about how the sound of the letter makes. The last approach is a balanced approach that is a systematic and explicit phonic and whole language approach. Language development can have a large impact on reading comprehension. Reading comprehension helps with the writing abilities of the student.

Importance Of Voting

Elections form the bedrock of the largest democracy in the world – India. Since Independence, as many as 15 Lok Sabhas have been formed through elections, the first one being held in 1951-52. The methodology of election is through universal adult suffrage, whereby every citizen of India over 18 years of age is an eligible voter in the eyes of the Constitution.The importance of elections in India—and for that matter, in any democracy—is as follows: Choice of leadership: Elections provide a way for the citizens of India to choose their leaders. They do so by casting their vote in favour of the candidate or party whose views appeal to them. This ensures that the will of the people is reflected in the elected candidates. Change of leadership: Elections in India are also a platform for the public to voice their resentment against a ruling party. By voting for other parties and helping elect a different government, citizens demonstrate that they possess ultimate author ity.Political participation: Elections open the door for new issues to be raised in public. If a citizen of India wishes to introduce reforms that are not the agenda of any of the parties, he or she is free to contest the elections either independently or by forming a new political party. Self-corrective system: Because elections are a regular exercise, occurring every five years in India, the ruling parties are kept in check and made to consider the demands of the public. This works as a self-corrective system whereby political parties review their performance and try to appease the voters. With a population of over 1.2 billion (according to the 2011 census) spread across 28 states and 7 union territories, India has a system of elections that is both daunting and praiseworthy.

American Luxury Brand Case Studies Essay

Arrowood Times are not promising for boutique American wineries, with many closing, plowing under their fields, or selling | | | |out to larger interests who have the resources to survive the down market. The worldwide glut of wine grapes from a | | | |succession of bumper harvests, increased competition from bottom tier and lower cost imports (among them Chile, Australia and| | | |South Africa) has California in a tailspin. There is also a Californian producer nicknamed â€Å"Two Buck Chuck† selling wines at | | | |US-3/bottle, 10 million bottles sold in the USA so far this year alone. Another indicator is the fall in demand for organic | | | |produce. During the boom years, consumers were prepared to pay premium prices for certified organic fruits and vegetables. | | | |Only the most efficient and well-managed farms will survive the collapse of that segment of market, which also supplies | | | |grapes to the organic winemakers. | | | | | | | |Arrowood typifies the small boutique Sonoma winery: in business 15 years, their name made on well-regarded wines in low | | | |production from a beautiful state-of-the-art facility. The brand is always fully subscribed for its yearly limited edition | | | |bottlings. The company cannot surrender its premium cachet by backing off on pricing, which begins at /bottle from the | | | |winery, higher at retail. Two years ago Arrowood unsuccessfully attempted to position high-end Syrah as a new trend, charging| | | |prices comparable to high-end Cabernets. The public was not so easily convinced. Demand is down for their commercial | | | |production, and today they have inventory of Syrahs, which can’t be offered at less than originally asked, without devaluing | | | |the brand. | | | | | | | |Best & Co. | | | | | | | | Best & Co., originally a multi-storied department store on Lower Fifth Avenue, New York City, stayed in business for nearly a| | | |century before closing its doors in the 1960s. Oriented exclusively for children, Best relaunched two years ago under the new| | | |stewardship of Susie Hilfiger. The legacy brand was renowned for its fine quality merchandise and exceptional customer | | | |service, founded upon the idea that children are important. Hilfiger opened a Connecticut store, resurrecting the original | | | |logos and interior design, and subsequently added a high-end boutique in Bergdorf Goodman’s Manhattan location. In addition, | | | |the company has both online and catalog channels for offering their fine line of house brands and imports. | | | | | | | |Blackglama This Seattle-based fur cooperative established its brand with the highly regarded â€Å"What Becomes a Legend Most? † | | | |campaign, almost thirty years ago. A spinoff of the parent brand named American Legend Mink, Blackglama created its brand | | | |perception by associations with personalities of international stature, among them Callas, Dietrich, Garbo, Hepburn, Loren | | | |and Pavarotti, captured in artistic black and white photography. Since 2002 the brand has reinforced its franchise with the | | | |relaunch of its classic campaign featuring an international supermodel. Throughout its brand life, Blackglama has been | | | |uncompromising in price, sophistication and quality, always holding to the top tier. A true American luxury brand. | | | | | | | |Cadillac Cadillac Motors, which later became a division of General Motors, dates from the early days of mass-produced | | | |automobiles. It is the oldest surviving American luxury car brand. Once a synonym for the highest quality in vehicles, by the| | | |1950s the brand had become the favorite of Texan oil millionaires, Arab potentates and Elvis Presley, who habitually gave | | | |them away by the dozens to his entourage. Cadillac began to lose market share in the 70s with increased competition from | | | |Ford’s Lincoln division, and the introduction of other luxury vehicles –primarily of Japanese manufacture- who marketed to a | | | |younger, newly-affluent demographic. Cadillac unsuccessfully responded by attempting a downsized model, Cimarron, 1982-88, | | | |driving brand perception lower. Today, Cadillac is perceived as retiree’s car, while it retains some small segment of the | | | |limousine business. A partnership with Pininfarina 1987-1993 produced a visionary prototype, Alante, intended to compete with| | | |the Mercedes SL. Cadillac launched the Escalade, a hybrid SUV in 2000. In today’s hyper-competitive environment with a | | | |climate of weakened sales on all fronts, the glory days of a top-tier luxury brand seem to be history. In an attempt to | | | |recapture the magic, this summer Cadillac released a ,000 limited-production 2-seat sportscar, the XLR. | | | | | | | |Callaway Clubs This manufacturer of high end golf clubs since 1982 has a reputation as the best in the business. They scored | | | |a major product success story in the 1990s with their signature top-of-the-line â€Å"Big Bertha† titanium driver, a technological| | | |innovation which transformed the game through its distance-enhancing features. They continue to expand their line of clubs, | | | |but low-end brand extensions such as active wear, luggage and footwear prevent Callaway from reaching the highest luxury | | | |tier. | | | | | | | |Harley-Davidson The iconic American motorcycle sustains a proud history, enduring product quality and a high price point. In | | | |the face of increased competition in 1987, Harley sent a management team to Japan to learn about superior production | | | |techniques. Today’s median customer is 55 years old, a buyer who recognizes that the brand personifies the outlaw | | | |sensibilities, romance of the open road, and the American Dream of unbridled freedom. However, numerous brand extensions and | | | |licenses, many of them downmarket, i. e. cigarettes and clocks, have kept Harley in the middle levels of the luxury category. | | | | | | | |Hamilton An American watchmaker, founded in 1892 in Lancaster, PA, known for innovative case design and watch technology. | | | |Hamilton today is a member of The Swatch Group, the largest watch producer and distributor in the world, thus losing some of | | | |its uniquely American imprint. Association with Hollywood movies like â€Å"Men In Black†, and an entry level price point of under| | | |0 keeps the company short of luxury. But superior collectible designs and a high historical profile, including introducing | | | |Pulsar, the world’s first digital watch, suggest a brand occasionally skirting the luxury franchise. | | | | | | | |Hummer A classic instance of brand hijacking, where consumers attach attributes to a product that its manufacturer never | | | |intended. The Humvee originated as a government contract vehicle, designed for the military. Survivalists, conservatives, and| | | |yuppies adopted it as their signature icon vehicle, with some cachet attached to its 0,000 price tag. It has since become the| | | |Rapper car of choice, and a popular status vehicle. After unexpected market demand, Hummer – an Indiana-based division of GM-| | | |recently introduced two low-cost, downsized models in the ,000 range, thus moving the brand below its prior designation as | | | |premium luxury. | | | | | | | |Hyatt An interesting attempt in progress to enter the luxury lodging space in Europe. Hyatt’s new five-star Park Hyatt | | | |Paris-Vendome hotel hopes to compete with properties such as the Ritz, Georges V, and Au Duc de Lorraine. They break from the| | | |tradition of Belle Epoque style, relying on ultramodern design, younger staff, while continuing to emphasize first-class | | | |service. It’s a brave undertaking, what with their existing perception as a middle-level American hospitality brand. It takes| | | |several years to establish a hotel property, so the jury will be out for some time. | | | | | | | |Kiehl’s A family-owned pharmacy, in business since 1851 at the same single NYC location, manufacturing its own vast, | | | |proprietary line of skin care products. The company has built some distribution at other retail outlets. Brand image relies | | | |on generic style packaging and no advertising, a high service and satisfaction proposition, product integrity and community | | | |involvement. Kiehl’s narrow product focus, body care products, occupies a space at the mid-level price point, thus holding | | | |it, perception-wise, a tier below the luxury category, despite department store outlets in the luxury cosmetics area. In | | | |recent history the brand has gained a cult following in the entertainment industry, and stars have consequently promoted the | | | |product line. In response to improved demand, Kiehl’s recently began a retail expansion in 8 cities with their own | | | |storefronts, designed to resemble a traditional pharmacy. Kiehl’s also created an equine line of show-quality standard | | | |grooming products for horses and ponies. The association with the equestrian world adds some higher value perception to the | | | |brand, despite its mid-range price point and no-image packaging. | | | | | | | |Lincoln This ubiquitous sub-brand was created by Ford to compete with Cadillac’s luxury franchise. It has since supplanted | | | |Cadillac as preferred limousine brand and is now primarily associated with the ‘town car’, on which most high-end car service| | | |fleets are built. Two years ago Lincoln attempted to create a hybrid fusion vehicle called the Blackwood, which one critic | | | |called â€Å"neither practical pickup nor luxury-car stand-in†, and the model was in release only one year before being | | | |discontinued. Lincoln has benefited from the launch of a successful SUV called Navigator. | | | | | | | |NetJets This company is the premier provider in the private jet transportation category, with the largest market share, over | | | |fifty percent worldwide. NetJets sells partial or full shares in new jet ownership to corporate clients and individuals with | | | |a high net worth of million or more. The business model is a unique one, with a number of avenues for tax advantage, and with| | | |a system of buyback and plan conversion guarantees starting at the low end for about 5,000 per year. NetJets is wholly owned | | | |by Berkshire Hathaway, whose boss Warren Buffet was originally a satisfied NetJets customer. He eventually purchased the | | | |entire company, and his deep pockets back the undertaking. NetJets dominates the category, with a fleet of over 450 new, | | ||luxurious aircraft of varying capacities and distance capabilities, a sister company in Europe, in-house safety and training | | | |programs and its own team of meteorologists and dispatchers. No other jet transportation provider in the world can compare. | | | |In fact, competing firms are struggling with older aircraft and anaemic balance sheets. As a strategy to take more business | | | |from the smaller charter companies, NetJets adopted the Marquis Jet Card, a lower price point, lower minimum dollar | | | |entry-level commitment available in units as small as 0,000. The card has performed significantly better than projected. The | | | |company markets itself as the utmost in safety, comfort and security, partnering with Ritz Carlton for service staff | | | |training, and the Mayo Clinic for on-demand medical resources. Advertising and brand messaging are quite confused, delivering| | | |multiple concepts often at odds with each other. But advertising probably does not figure greatly in NetJets’ success. The | | | |most frequently heard challenge to their sales people concerns high cost; an inflexible and uncompromising pricing policy has| | | |stood the brand well. Plus, Buffet’s ownership is enough to convey the distinction and premium luxury prestige conferred by | | | |association with the world’s second richest man. | | | | | | | |Panavision This company has an unblemished 50 year reputation for providing the finest quality cameras and lenses for the | | | |motion picture industry. While not widely known to the general public, Panavision’s reach is universal and international in | | | |the film community, regarded as the best in its category. | | | | | | | |Ritz Carlton The respected hotel chain was acquired in 1998 by Marriott, after a period of expansion into new locations and | | | |properties. The original Boston hotel was immortalized by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the short story â€Å"The Diamond As Big As The | | | |Ritz†. Upholding a standard of excellence in service, the company motto is â€Å"We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and | | | |Gentlemen. † The company prides itself on its Gold Standards, a highly refined system of directives which each employee must | | | |know and understand, a proven technique developed to sustain the brand’s preeminence. Ritz Carlton partners with NetJets in | | | |flight service training, an indication of the exacting standards this fine business model upholds. | | | | | | | |Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Founded in 1987 by Caroline Rose Hunt of Dallas, Texas. â€Å"The moment guests set foot in one of our | | | |hotels or resorts they enter a private world of rare and refined luxury. At the heart of each property is our dedication to | | | |uncompromising quality and exemplary personal service. † The winner of numerous industry and media awards, Rosewood has trophy| | | |properties in the USA, the Caribbean, Asia and the Middle East. A solid premium luxury brand. | | | | | | | |St. Regis The premium luxury division of the Starwood Group, who also run the Westin and W brands, among a range of niche | | | |hospitality groups. Another division, called The Luxury Collection, falls lower in the actual luxury category, bringing | | | |together over 70 international properties, many from the Sheraton Group. St. Regis is a good example of a counterfeit brand, | | | |who bases its reputation on a single legacy property built in 1904. The actual property was acquired by Starwood in 1998, and| | | |the parent company soon added properties under the St. Regis brand name in nine other cities. The flagship NY property and | | | |its affiliates worldwide do reflect the highest standards of hospitality, and so far in their short history deserve the | | | |luxury designation. | | | | | | | |Technicolor The company rose to prominence providing the highest quality in celluloid film stock and processing in an 80-year| | | |franchise, as unchallenged category leader. Technicolor has high associations with the Golden Age of post WWII cinema. The | | | |company has adapted much of its business to new technologies, but it may be the end of their brand domination owing to | | | |inroads made by competitive digital imaging providers. | | | | | | | |Tiffany The quintessential American brand, with old world style and Beaux Arts luxury associations dating back to 1837. | | | |Tiffany’s first store opened in NYC with a policy that every article be marked with a non-negotiable selling price, | | | |accompanied by a guarantee of exceptional quality and customer satisfaction. The company soon innovated the signature blue | | | |bag and sales by catalog. Towards the turn of the century Louis Comfort Tiffany further grew the brand’s prestige with | | | |breathtaking Art Nouveau experimentations in lamps and glasswork. Robber barons relied on Tiffany for everything from fine | | | |china, leaded glass windows, silver goods and engraved stationery to opulent gems. During his 30 year tenure, the legendary | | | |Jean Schlumberger added to the company’s lustre with his elegant and sophisticated jewelry, which combined brilliant | | | |craftsmanship and superior taste in materials. Tiffany’s democratization began in the 1950s when Truman Capote’s story, | | | |â€Å"Breakfast at Tiffany’s† turned the brand into a household word. As Schlumberger’s career began to wane in the 1970s, | | | |Tiffany’s classical glamour began to fade, and the firm sought renewal by releasing a signature fragrance, a puzzling and | | | |incongruous brand extension which seems at odds with the original franchise. Other attempts to create new magic for the brand| | | |include the licensing of designs by Paloma Picasso, whose family name carries the cachet of fine art; but her designs for | | | |silver earrings brought brand perception downmarket, as did comparable designs by Elsa Peretti at a similar low price point. | | | |Tiffany’s history barely reconciles today with its current state: a brand gone slightly south, with a faint memory of a | | | |company who once popularized the iconic myth of The Tiffany Diamond. However, Tiffany’s recent financial performance is a | | | |success story. The stock price has gone from to in the last 12 months, validating the mass-merchandising strategy with | | | |bottom-line results. | | | | | | | |Wolfgang Puck A gradual downmarket slide. Puck’s origins as a celebrity chef in California led to his first brand extension | | | |as author of a best-selling cookbook. Excerpted from his web site, â€Å"†¦the culinary empire he has built since the early 1980s | | | |consists of: the group of fine dining restaurants through which he first rose to prominence; his extensive catering and | | | |events business, which gains international attention through its flagship event, the annual Governors Ball following the | | | | Oscars; and Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc., the corporation that controls the Wolfgang Puck ® brand in areas as diverse as | | | |casual and quick-service dining, consumer packaged foods, cookware, book publishing, television, radio and internet | | | |programming, and other franchising, licensing, and merchandising activities. † Puck’s presence in packaged frozen food | | | |products, his industrial-sized Las Vegas location and 75 fast food airport franchises weigh heavily on his former luxury | | | |cachet. He is no longer luxury, simply a high-end mass-market conglomerate. | | | | | | | |Harry Winston Sparse, well-chosen high-ticket, high-visibility advertising and promotion has helped this premium luxury brand| | | |maintain its associations with opulence, new money, and decadence. While Winston has the biggest and most valuable stones, | | | |its designs are no longer considered the most remarkable artistically, simply extravagant, perhaps a bit vulgar. Harry | | | |Winston Ultimate Timepieces, founded in 1998 and based in Geneva, has introduced the new ,000 Opus One Tourbillon watch, | | | |enclosed in a platinum casing, garlanded in gold and diamonds, with Swiss movement. The parent company will always be | | | |associated with the Hope Diamond, which it acquired in 1949 and later donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Could it be | | | |that the brand is tainted or dragged downmarket by associations with rappers, celebrity athletes, Texan oil millionaires and | | | |curvaceous film starlets on Oscar night?