Einstein And Life Essays - Albert Einstein, Sigma Xi,

Einstein And Life When I was a fairly precocious young man I became thoroughly impressed with the futility of the hopes and strivings that chase most men restlessly through life. Moreover, I soon discovered the cruelty of that chase, which in those years was much more carefully covered up by hypocrisy and glittering words than is the case today. By the mere existence of his stomach everyone was condemned to participate in that chase. The stomach might well be satisfied by such participation, but not man insofar as he is a thinking and feeling being. As the first way out there was religion, which is implanted into every child by way of the traditional education-machine. Thus I came - though the child of entirely irreligious (Jewish) parents - to a deep religiousness, which, however, reached an abrupt end at the age of twelve. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true. The consequence was a positively fanatic org y of freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies; it was a crushing impression. Mistrust of every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude toward the convictions that were alive in any specific social environment-an attitude that has never again left me, even though, later on, it has been tempered by a better insight into the causal connections. It is quite clear to me that the religious paradise of youth, which was thus lost, was a first attempt to free myself from the chains of the merely personal, from an existence dominated by wishes, hopes, and primitive feelings. Out yonder there was this huge world, which exists independently of us human beings and which stands before us like a great, eternal riddle, at least partially accessible to our inspection and thinking. The contemplation of this world beckoned as a liberation, and I soon noticed that many a man whom I had learned to esteem and to admire had found inner freedom and security in its pursuit. The mental grasp of this extra-personal world within the frame of our capabilities presented itself to my mind, half consciously, half unconsciously, as a supreme goal. Similarly motivated men of the present and of the past, as well as the insights they had achieved, were the friends who could not be lost. The road to this paradise was not as comfortable and alluring as the road to the religious paradise; but it has shown itself reliable, and I have never regretted having chosen it. History Essays

not a usual case essays

not a usual case essays Some critics have ever commented that Willa Cather was one of the few uneasy survivors of the nineteenth century. Holding traditional values tightly, she rejected modernity and tried to escape into the shelter of the past as she made her solemn statement that the world broke into two. Most of her works are a fictional projection of her crisis in life. So is Pauls Case. Having deep abhorrence for the drab school life, dull life in his residence, Paul refuges himself to the local theatre and Carnegie Hall as an usher, where he felt a sudden zest of life and resurrects from spiritual deadness, where he passionately works, steeped into music , forgetting the mundane disturbance. From the very beginning of the story, it is introduced that Pauls case is not a usual one because his teachers make their charges against Paul with such a rancor and aggrievedness... In fact, Paul himself is absolutely not a usual boy because you will find that he is in possession of the strong air of artist, extraordinary, imaginative, always dreaming of perfect, splendid, brilliant and poetic things and picturesque life as well. Therefore, he is not well accepted by the reality, deep in the conflicts of individual and society, of his self in reality and in illusion. After he is aware that what he is facing is insoluble and implacable, he takes ending his life as solution t o his dilemma. Though tragic, I still think he completes his seeking for real self in a certain sense. It is sufficiently evidenced that Paul is depicted as an artist-like young man in the story. For instance, and Paul thought it very becoming-though he knew that the tight, straight coat accentuated his narrow chest, about which he was exceedingly sensitive. At this point, I believe Paul shares with artist one thing that is to fix attention to ...

Practical 6-Liquid preparations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Practical 6-Liquid preparations - Essay Example Asphyxiating effects noted. Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Teratogenic and Developmental toxicity not identified. (7) Follow written procedure as laid down by EPA and Material safety sheet. Proper usage of splash goggles, lab coat and gloves (PPE) and work in the fume cupboard when dealing with the chemicals. Correct wearing of Self containing breathing apparatus. Eye contact: In case of eye contact with irritant, harmful or corrosive chemicals eye should be rinsed with water for at least 15 minutes or Dipoterine (found at the first aid point . Diphoterine wash is available for treating exposure of skin or eyes to hazardous chemicals), make sure to carefully part the upper and lower eyelids without rubbing the eyes. Staff will be immediately consulted and medical aid will be followed consulting a physician. Skin contact: In case of skin contact with chemicals, the areas of contact will be carefully washed with water and soap for at least 15 minutes. If necessary cloths and shoes will be removed and destroyed. A physician will be consulted for further advice and treatments. Ingestion/Inhalation:Â  In case of ingestion or inhalation best thing to consult a physician for further advice. If chemicals are swallowed, mouth should be rinsed with water without inducing vomit. If vomiting occurs naturally, make the victim lean forward. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious

Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Midterm - Essay Example In this case, laptop is the product being offered to consumers in the market. The manufacturing of this design of laptops should include all the features available in the market together with other new ones that have been designed by the firm. Secondly, place is an element that encompasses a collection of all strategic choices which pertains to either accessibility or convenience of the products offered to the consumer (Tyagi and Arun 27). Places encompass making the products being offered available to the target consumers at the location and time they prefer. After the laptops have been manufactured, the marketers should make use of the available channels of distribution to avail them to the consumer. Price of the product measures the actual product’s value to consumers. Charging a high price for the particular type of laptop suggests the quality of the product and the status of the consumer who buys it. Price affects consumer choices, especially when the product is being introduced in a new target market. This is mainly because most consumers in this target market will make their choices based on the cost of the products. Finally, promotion entails the use of tools such as advertisement, personal selling, sales promotion and public relations that the marketer of a product uses when communicating the product’s benefits to the consumer with the aim of convincing them to buy the products they are offering in the target market (Tyagi and Arun 58). Marketers must clearly describe the features and specifications of the laptops t hey are selling in order to influence the consumers’ choices. Personal motivations and the role played by people’s perceptions vary from one person to another. This because different people forms different individual opinions regarding the stimuli they receive. People continuously receive messages through their five senses. Using of these senses in stimulating the consumers to test

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 15

Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example However, in his current state of protection and subsidy, his son sees no sense of money and therefore seems to have no tolerance for this kind of protection and its associated benefits. Far above, this writing seems to be an elementary textbook on global fiscal and governance issues from the viewpoints of international south community as well as the West’s double standards actions in their dealings and proposals for open trade and free market. Chang looks into perspective the operations of global international institutions like the World Bank and World Trade Organization and their inconsistency and partiality when it comes to dealing with the Southern communities through regulations and unfair conditions, which in his opinion he feels the Northern communities never use in championing their routes for economic prosperity. He uses a variety of examples and narration derived from international trade to bring forth a convincing and straight to the point argument calling for sincerity in global trade while at the same time pin pointing in what he believes are the wrongful things being meted in the process of trade liberation and economic development especially towards developing nations. His assertions are that developed countries argue that free trade in developing countries is essential and therefore industries in developing countries need to be exposed to competition in order for them to survive, and that protection offered to infant industries in developing countries is not desirable. Suggesting that the issue of economic development seems to be a subject of liberalization and pure free trade True to the point, Chang clearly illustrates that this situation is misleading. He rhetorically points out that the concept of â€Å"infant industries† is a creation of the developed nations, and singles out Alexander Hamilton who is one of the early crusaders of the

Internal and external factors affecting Starbucks

Internal and external factors affecting Starbucks Introduction This report will provide a critical review of Starbucks and its place in the coffee house market in the UK using three well tested approaches to strategic market analysis: SWOT, Porter’s Five forces and PESTLE analysis. A brief history of the coffee house market is provided in addition to some background to the company in question, Starbucks. Then the company is analysed using the three frameworks. Finally a few conclusions are drawn. History of the coffee shop The coffee house is not a new idea – they were established in Britain in the 17th century, the first opening in London in 1651 (Wilkes Group, 2012.). Some elements of the Coffee House clientele worried the establishment of the day, causing King Charles to speak of them as resort of ‘idle and disaffected persons’ producing ‘very evil and dangerous affects’ due to the fact people met there to discuss the politics of the day (Ibid, no page no.) 300 hundred years later coffee shops are just as popular, with an estimated 5,700 in the United Kingdom in 2013 (Ibid.); the market is fiercely fought, with Costa Coffee being number one brand in the market (in terms of the number of stores), followed by Starbucks (Figure 1). Third is Cafe Nero and there are a number of smaller companies joining the market, including Cafe Ritazza and a joint venture between Tesco and an Australian coffee company called Harris Hoole (Ibid.) Figure 1 – Coffee House UK market share (number of stores) Source: The Wilkes Group, 2012. Starbucks Company background The company was founded in Seattle, Washington State in 1971; the name was inspired by the mermaid in the novel Moby Dick, and the mermaid also inspired the company logo. It is now a very successful coffee house using ethically sourced Arabica coffee beans (Starbucks n.d.) Howard Schultz, now the company CEO, first visited a Starbucks store in 1981; he subsequently travelled to Italy where the coffee bars inspired him to bring the concept back to the United States (Starbucks website, n.d.) In 1987 Schultz purchased Starbucks with investment from local businesses. The ethos of the firm is to create a welcoming place for conversation: a third place between work and home. Today there are 15,000 Starbucks stores in 50 different countries (Starbucks website, n.d.) SWOT Analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) This section presents a SWOT analysis for Starbucks; SWOT is a method of market analysis; this familiar acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. These four words represent the major constructs firms need to consider to make the most of their internal set up and the external marketplace characteristics. Its major value is in the identification of those business critical factors which provide opportunity for the firm, but also any threats from competitors and the changing business environment. These need to be weighed up against the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) of the business to develop the best business solutions and strategies, both short term and long term (Meek Meek, 2003). (i) Strengths ~ One of the major strengths of the company is the strong Starbucks brand and it’s stylish image; this has made it very popular with young people, particularly students. According to Alderman (2012, no page number) â€Å"laptop-wielding young people embrace the coffee chain as an avatar of American popular culture† ~ Starbucks has a very modern website which is attractive to users and easy to navigate. This is so important in this digital age when the majority of people rely on the Internet to gather information about goods and services. ~The loyalty scheme introduced by Starbucks is another major advantage, a strategy adopted early on in the firm’s development. Encouraging consumers to increase their frequency of purchase through the use of loyalty cards is now a marketing tactic successfully adopted by many companies in different sectors. ~ The fact that Starbucks beans are ethically produced is a strong advantage to the company as consumers are increasingly concerned about sustainable production and corporate responsibility. A recent large-scale survey on social responsibility (Nielsen, 2014) shows that around 50% of consumers will choose to buy socially responsible brands. This includes going so far as to check packaging for claims about sustainability. (ii) Weaknesses ~ Starbucks has been experiencing financial difficulties in recent years, even recording a loss (Wilkes Group, 2012.) putting it at a disadvantage in terms of having the capacity to invest in developing new products or expanding its network of stores. ~ Perhaps as a result of poor performance Starbucks has experienced some decline in its stock values which also can result in reduced investment. ~ As students and the youth market is one of the main market segments for Starbucks, this is one age group in the UK demographics which is declining and projected to continue to do so over the next few years (ONS, 2011). ~ The tax avoidance scandal of recent years, when Starbucks avoided paying corporation tax in the UK (Bergin, 2012), temporarily dented the company reputation. However, in the long term it does not appear to have affected the popularity of the firm with consumers still patronising the stores. (iii) Opportunities ~ The taste for coffee houses and coffee consumption, particularly as part of the working day routine is continuing (Wilkes Group, n.d.) and showing little sign of slowing down. ~ This is supported by a recovering economy and signs that consumers are finding they have more discretionary income to spend (CEBR, 2014). ~ The relaxation of the licensing laws has provided an opportunity for firms like Starbucks to broaden their offering in coffee houses to include alcohol. This will attract new market segments. ~ There are further potential niche markets or segments to target, for example developing a caffeine free alternative for those consumers concerned about the health risks of too much caffeine. ~ Increased interest in corporate responsibility, ethical trading and sustainable coffee growing techniques for reducing the carbon footprint provide Starbucks with a competitive advantage as it has always adopted ethical business strategies. ~ The enduring trend for ‘drive thru’ premises and kiosks on railway and bus stations as a valid and popular way of delivering products in the food and drink sector provides good, relatively low cost, ways for Starbucks to increase sales and raise brand awareness and loyalty further. ~ An extension of this might be ‘pop-up shops’; temporary occupation of premises as part of for example, music and cultural events. This would also be an ideal vehicle for reaching the target market segments particularly young adults and students. ~ The increasing globalisation of markets provides wider opportunities for Starbucks to expand into new markets; some authors maintain that young people in different countries have more in common than people of different age groups in the same country (Usunier and Lee, 2013). This presents â€Å"an opportunity to target consumers sharing a common set of values, needs, habits and preferences† (Usunier and Lee, 2013 p. 131). (iv) Threats ~ The increasing emphasis on healthy lifestyles and reducing caffeine intake for people with certain health conditions is a potential threat to coffee house companies (Lopez-Garcia et al, 2008). The secret will be finding suitable alternatives for those consumers who cannot or choose not to drink caffeinated coffee. A quality decaffeinated alternative will provide access to this sub-segment of the market. ~ Climate change may well represent a threat to coffee production and hence make the raw materials more expensive. ~ There is very strong competition in the coffee house market with Costa Coffee firmly in the number one spot (Wilkes Group, n.d.) It is important for Starbucks to maintain relationships with its customers; the loyalty card is a good way of doing this as is two way communication with consumers via social networking sites (SNS). However, Starbucks must be careful to ensure not all messages it sends out to consumers are sales promotions; according to (Cohen, 2011) nine out of ten communications should be sharing information not sales pitches. Porter’s five forces This represents an equally important activity for any firm competitor analysis; in a rapidly changing world and such a fiercely contested marketplace a scientific view of the competition is key to success. This particular approach being described was designed by Michael Porter and is a systematic approach to identifying and assessing the relative strength of the ‘five forces’ influencing the nature of competition in the coffee industry. Figure 2 below illustrates the five forces which include competitors, new products, new entrants to the marketplace and the bargaining power of consumers (Porter, 2008). Figure 2 – Porter’s five forces Source: Porter, 2008 1. The potential threat of a new competitor and/or a new product in the already crowded coffee house marketplace is high, with strong contenders such as Cafe Ritazza on the fringes. The barriers to entry to the market are quite high as any company wanting to compete with Starbuck or Costa would need to open a large chain of shops. However, the example of the coffee house joining forces with Tesco (Poulter, 2013) is a case in point and could have disastrous consequences for Starbucks. 2. Secondly, the bargaining power of suppliers and the costs of raw materials is another strong force for any firm. In the case of Starbucks and its commitment to only using ethically sourced coffee beans, prices are at a premium anyway for fair trade goods. This will squeeze profit margins if the company is not able to pass the increased costs on to the customer. Other coffee houses may get their raw materials, particularly the high cost coffee beans, elsewhere and non-fair-trade meaning the price is most likely lower. 3. The third of Porter’s forces is the increasing bargaining power of customers; most decisions are influenced to a considerable extent by on-line peer reviews and recommendations. This can influence which product consumers will buy, with a bandwagon effect applying i.e. consumers buying the brand which is most popular (Kastanakis Balabanis, 2012). The power of the consumer is not to be underestimated and smart firms invest in nurturing relationships and communication with consumers. This can ultimately result in co-production e.g. of new products. There is clear appreciation of the value of social media to communicate with consumers who want to feel engaged with their favourite brands. Such engagement cancels out the ‘us and them’ culture of corporation-consumer relationships; now customers feel closer to brands (Engeseth, 2005). Yan (2011, p.695) describes this phenomenon as â€Å"consumers want to know they have some influence over the brands that they connect with†. 4. Fourthly is the force resulting from substitute products entering the marketplace; this might be in the form of an innovative new product for an established competitor e.g. a new flavour coffee from Costa; or a coffee house offering from a non-coffee house company. This might be considered the case when McDonalds introduced the concept of ‘McCafe’ providing a coffee house concept within the traditional burger house (Petersen, 2014). 5. Finally, Porter’s fifth force is the way any combination of the four other forces may influence the strength of competition provided by rival firms and products. There is strong competition from rival companies in the coffee house market, particularly Costa Coffee which dominates the number one spot in the market (Wilkes Group, 2012). PESTLE Analysis This represents the marketing audit angle and those companies which are most thorough in their analysis of the internal and external marketplace are the best placed to exploit any opportunities and protect against any threats. The analysis is based on clarity around the following questions: 1. Where is the company now? 2. How did the company get where it is today? 3. Where is the company heading and what are the corporate objectives? Jobber (2010) defines a marketing audit as the process of examining marketing in a business in a systematic way, including the environment, corporate objectives, strategies and any activities to assist in identifying any factors that may impact on the company and its products. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM 2013) explains that the business environment is in a constant state of flux, hence a regular audit is necessary to provide any intelligence needed to inform sound decision-making. Such decisions have to take many aspects of current and future influences in the external environment into account in a process widely termed a ‘PESTLE’ analysis. The acronym stands for: 1. Political 2. Economic 3. Social 4. Technological 5. Legal 6. Environmental This method assesses the impact on the firm of macro-environmental factors (Kotler and Armstrong 2010) and may well include those PESTLE elements listed in Table 1 below. Some factors will be more relevant to the coffee house market than others and these will be drawn out in the analysis. Table 1 – examples of PESTLE analysis components Political Economic Social Technological Pressure to strengthen environmental regulation. Hangover from recession still limits discretionary spending. Income distribution: coffee houses tend to sell premium priced products which people on lower incomes cannot afford. New inventions, including advanced roasting techniques can provide advantage. Employment law –pressure to increase the minimum wage Interest rates will increase soon. Coffee drinking is enduring as a popular ‘fashion’ New product development, including flavoured coffees and improved decaffeinated coffee for those concerned about the caffeine content. Political stability – general election in May 2015. Uncertainty and unemployment is commonplace. Lifestyle changes, including longer working hours are making a coffee ‘pick-me-up’ a regular part of the working day. Energy use and costs are key with ethically sourced coffee beans adding to raw material costs. Inflation rates are on the up. Health consciousness with coffee having advantages and disadvantages: Consumer confidence is improving slowly. High caffeine intake raises pulse rate and hence is not recommended for certain groups e.g. those with hypertension (van Dam, n.d.), but doesn’t increase risk of death (Lopez-Garcia et al, 2008) -But coffee does contain high levels of anti-oxidants which are beneficial and may protect against diabetes, Parkinson’s and liver disease (Ibid.) Legislation Environment New/extra legislation around sustainable coffee production will impact. Consumers in the UK are conscious of the ethical implications, with increasing consumption of Fairtrade coffee (Blacksell, 2011). Biodegradable packaging is key to reducing waste. Tax evasion scandal – this has legal implications for the company and damages the corporate reputation. Organic production of coffee is also on the rise due to consumer demand for naturally produced goods (Blacksell, 2011) Source: After Kotler and Armstrong, 2010 Market segmentation â€Å"The purpose of business is to create customers† is a definition by the business guru Peter Drucker (Swaim, 2010, p.14) who recommends that the best way to do so is to look at the company from the customer’s viewpoint. There are also a number of questions which need to be asked about segmentation of the market; specifically â€Å"what products does the customer buy† and â€Å"what does the customer value†? Research provides an indication of the market segments which are of importance to companies such as Starbucks. (i) Students represent a clear and well defined segment which can assist in promoting and recommending the brand through social networking. (ii) Young professionals and white collar workers: picking up a coffee on the way to work is a growing trend in the UK; the provision of Wi-Fi and newspapers in the stores assists the professionals to use Starbucks as a second office. Crookes (2014) observes that this has been so for a lot longer than many people realise, citing a London coffee shop opened in 1688 where ship-owners, insurance brokers and merchants would drop in to drink coffee but also to trade. There has been a long history of connecting coffee with work in terms of the introduction of the concept of the coffee break, first introduced in 1902 by Barcalounger, an American furniture manufacturer (Crookes, 2014). And the fondness for coffee amongst workers was the cause of a strike at Chrysler in 1964 when the management tried to stop company coffee breaks in an effort to increase production (ibid.) (iii) Young adults may well be an increasing segment attracted by the availability of alcohol at Starbucks coffee shops (Crookes, 2014), hence providing an alternative to pubs and clubs for socialising. Marketing mix The marketing mix incorporates the traditional concept of the four Ps (product, price, promotion and place) and is integral to marketing strategy development. Some authors have expanded the mix to seven Ps (Kotler et al. 2012) encompassing three more criteria of ‘people’, ‘physical evidence’ or ‘environment’, and ‘process’; these might be considered to better describe any influences on the marketplace. Kotler (2012, p.31) explains that it â€Å"recognizes and reconciles the scope and complexities of marketing activities†. However, this report will focus on the four Ps and how they might apply to Starbucks. (i) Product: Lower caffeine content options may attract more health conscious consumers; plus emphasis on ethically produced coffee beans. (ii) Price: In a high price, premium market Starbucks might consider offering a value option to broaden the market, particularly for the student segment. (iii) Promotion: Maximizing the social media promotion of Starbucks and its good works in ethical and responsible coffee production will improve the firm’s reputation (Berry, 2000). A constant and interactive presence on social networking sites will build relationships with consumers and can encourage co-production of new products and services, through electronic word of mouth (Chu Kim, 2011). (iv) Place: Starbucks has introduced around 200 ‘drive-thru’ coffee shops in the UK over the past couple of years enabling consumers to access coffee 24 hours a day (Smith, 2014). There may also be scope for pop-up shops at events or kiosks at railway and bus stations (e.g. the new mini-shop at Birmingham New Street station). Conclusion Starbucks is a well established part of the coffee house culture in the UK, well regarded for its ethical approach to sourcing and buying coffee beans. There are global opportunities for the firm as well as niche markets within the UK to exploit. Although not the number one firm in the coffee house market (a position held by Costa Coffee) Starbucks has developed a strong following amongst the youth and student segments; whilst continuing to provide the requisite products for the working population in their busy working day. Having weathered the temporary storm of bad publicity over the income tax evasion scandal, Starbucks has worked hard to improve its position in the eye of the consumer by emphasising the ethical and sustainable principles the firm has always maintained. Such communication and relationship marketing is key to long term brand loyalty. Despite fears that coffee may be bad for health there is also evidence to support drinking coffee in moderation to have preventive value against certain diseases. Starbucks is well placed to continue to trade competitively in the UK market, particularly as it continues to find and exploit new and innovative ways to get their product out to the consumer in the form of drive-thru’s and kiosks in high footfall areas. There seems little sign of the trend and fashion for coffee houses to diminish any time soon and it continues to be part of the UK culture just as it was over 300 years ago. Word count: 3191 References Alderman, L. 2012. In Europe, Starbucks adjusts to a Cafà © Culture. [On-line]. Available @ [Accessed 23/10/14]. Bergin, T. 2012. Special Report: How Starbucks avoids UK taxes. [On-line] Available @ http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-britain-starbucks-tax-idUSBRE89E0EX20121015 [Accessed 23/10/14]. Berry, L. 2000. ‘Cultivating Service Brand Equity’. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 28 (1): pp.128-137. CEBR, 2014. Disposable income increases. [On-line] Available @ http://www.cebr.com/reports/asda-income-tracker-july-2014/ [Accessed 23/10/2014]. Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). 2013. Marketing Planning Tool [On-line]. Available @ http://www.cim.co.uk/marketingplanningtool/tech/tech5.asp. [Accessed 10/10/2014]. Chu, S-C. Kim, Y. 2011. ‘Determinants of consumer engagement in electronic word of mouth (eWOM) in social networking sites’. International Journal of Advertising, 30(1): pp.47-75. Cohen, H. (2011) ‘Is your social media marketing myopic?’ [On-line] available @ http://heidicohen.com/is-your-social-media-marketing-myopic [Accessed 16/10/2014]. Crookes, D. 2014. Thirsty Work – the coffee shop as office. [On-line] Available @ http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/thirsty-work-the-coffee-shop-as-office-2290725.html [Accessed 16/10/2014]. Engeseth, S. 2005. One: A consumer revolution in business. London: Cyan-Marshall Cavendish. Blacksell, G. 2011. How Green is your coffee? [On-line] Available @ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/04/green-coffee [Accessed 16/10/2014]. Jobber, D. 2010. Principles and Practice of Marketing. 6th Edition. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill. Kastanakis, M. Balabanis, G. 2012. Between the Mass and the Class: antecedents of the ‘bandwagon’ luxury consumption behaviour. Journal of Business Research: Vol. 65 (10); pp. 1399-1407. Kotler, P Armstrong, G. 2010. Principles of Marketing. 13th Edition. Harlow, Essex: Prentice Hall. Kotler P., Keller, K., Brady, M., Goodman, M. Hansen, T. 2012. Marketing Management (2nd Ed). Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Lopez-Garcia, E., Van Dam, R., Rodriquez-Artalejo, F. Hu, f. 2008. The relationship of coffee consumption with mortality. Ann. Intern Medicine; 2008; 148: pp.904-914. Meek, H. Meek, R. 2003. CIM Course book – Strategic Marketing Management. Oxford: Elsevier Nielsen. 2014. Global consumers are willing to put their money where their heart is when it comes to goods and services from companies c

Tortilla Curtain Essay -- essays research papers

Tortilla Curtain: Jack Jardine Jack Jardine is a very interesting character in the story Tortilla Curtain. He has a very strong influence on Delany Mossbacher, one of the central characters in the story. His influences, along with the tragic string of events concerning Delany and Candido, produce a complete turn around in the ideals of Delany by the end of the story. At the start of the story Delany is a 'liberal humanist';, albeit a hypocritical one, but by the end of the story Delany is carrying a gun looking for Candido. It is easy for readers to categorize Jack as a cruel, cold hearted, upper class bigot considering his actions and words. I have to admit I think he comes off that way sometimes. But he also is a lot more than just that. He isn't stupid. In many ways his reasoning about illegal immigrants makes a lot of sense. Illegal immigration does hurt the economy. Illegal immigrants do take away jobs from citizens. But Jack takes it to such an extreme that it is hard for one to feel that his views of illegal immigrants and his sentiments about them are purely a result of his concern about the economy and the state. 'Don't be surprised, because this is only the beginning. We're under siege here-and there's going to be a backlash.';(pg. 146) Jack acts like citizens are in some kind of war with illegal immigrants. With sentiments like this it is hard to deny that he has a bit of paranoia. It is very interesting that he says citizens are under siege from illegal immigra...

Media Influence Essay

The Mass Media is a unique feature of modern society; its development has accompanied an increase in the magnitude and complexity of societal actions and engagements, rapid social change, technological innovation, rising personal income and standard of life and the decline of some traditional forms of control and authority. There is an association between the development of mass media and social change, although the degree and direction of this association is still debated upon even after years of study into media influence. Many of the consequences, either detrimental or beneficial, which have been attributed to the mass media, are almost undoubtedly due to other tendencies within society. Few sociologists would refute the importance of the mass media, and mass communications as a whole, as being a major factor in the construction and circulation of social understanding and social imagery in modern societies. Therefore it is argued that the mass media is used as â€Å"an instrument†, both more powerful and more flexible than anything in previous existence, for influencing people into certain modes of belief and understanding within society. The question of medias influence on society and its cultural framework has often been debated upon from leading theorists to anyone with any form of media connections, but to contemplate that a character in Coronation Street or Eastenders can have an influence on an audience members attitude, beliefs or interpretations of society is a very simplistic and debatable version of the truth. The media does influence, but using more diverse and subtle roles of impact. Some theorists suggest that it is even a case of society influencing the media and not the more widespread and presumed version. History In the early 1930’s, the Payne Studies study took place into the effects and influences of the mass media on the society as a whole using, at times, theories or beliefs that dated back to the late nineteenth century. This is regarded as one of the first in the area of or notion that the mass media has an affect on the societal attitudes and beliefs of that time. This was soon follow around about a decade later in 1941 by Katz, Berelson, and Lazarsfeld who also decided to research into the topic of media effects, a research which produced the now commonly known ‘Minimum Effects Model’. The main aspect of this research being to investigate any possible link or factor that may influence voting behaviour. As has been described in numerous literature it’s ‘discovery’ was that the mass media played little or no part in the process of the formation of any political opinion, attitude or preference. They came to the conclusion that the biggest factor influencing people was not the media, but other people. By the 1960’s, there was a revival of Marxist attitudes, and so the work of Katz, Lazarsfeld, and Berelson was largely dismissed in favour of re-examining the model of research into media effects, due to the modifications the mass media had undergone in the post 1941 period, to consider another way in which to investigate the influence and the effects of the media. Influence, society and individuals As Jane Root wrote in the book â€Å"Open The Box†, which delves into the possibilities of media influence, â€Å"It has a role in defining what we think of as a natural†¦it helps to map out who we think we are†. To look at the medias effect and influence, there is an underlying need to define influence as we understand it in relation to society and it’s overall effect. Media is a major piece within society that is often linked to the notion of social influence. Society understands the notion or concept of being influenced as an â€Å"external force† (the media) linking itself or connecting with a personal action or viewpoint of the recipient. (John Corner: 2000: 378) The forces of influence that have been described as a major power in media effects are those that are circumstantial and directed, those which can be placed within a framework or model, for example â€Å"uses and gratifications†,  those of a generic function but ultimately those which state perspectives, interpretations, and measurements which can lead to evidence and proof. Uses & Gratifications Model A systematic and widely used model in social sciences study of media influence over the effects on an audience concerning behaviour, attitudes and beliefs, is the theory of uses and gratifications. This theory can be linked to the notion of social belonging and how an audience can be deceived into believing that this concept can be achieved. The tenet underlying this approach to studying audiences was that individuals actively consume and use the media in order to meet certain needs. In reality, with the power belonging in the focus of the media, it can be defined as a tool of subliminal persuasion. (O’Sullivan, Dutton, Raymer: 1998) Blumler and Katz (1974) concluded that audience’s fulfilment of needs came within the broad generalisation of four desires: * Diversion – a form of escape or emotional release from  everyday pressures. * Personal Relationships – companionships via television personalities and  characters and sociability through discussion about television with other people. * Personal Identity – the ability to compare one’s life with characters and  situations within programmes, and hence explore personal problems and perspectives. * Surveillance – a supply of information about what is going on in the  world. It is believed that this need to gratify its audience with the pursuit of an idealistic social fulfilment provides the media the opportunity to convey subliminal messages that may influence our opinions, interpretations and understanding of societal factors. The thought that the media is an overwhelming force that influences their audiences through the means of appealing to their desires and needs, must be examined in contrast with the notion that â€Å"every one is free†. Meaning that the mass media’s audience can resist being controlled, simply through choice. An individual always has the option of simply not watching that programme or not reading that particular newspaper. An individual makes the choice, and the selection that is made will merely underpin the views and inclinations that they already have. Television Violence It is believed that the most prominent sign of the mass medias influence is the link to violent programmes and violence within society. Some, technological determinists extend to the belief that the television has altered the world, and it is an â€Å"evil thing that rots the minds of youth†. Television characters are repeatedly recognized as heroes, due to the gaining of respect and numerous other rewards through their actions, they are especially likely to be imitated. For instance at the height of it’s British dominance of children’s television, The Power Rangers were the cause of a large number of accidents, injuries and quarrels that its young audience endured due to the imitation of the characters movements and actions. It may also act as a cue to aggressive behaviour, through desensitisation, uninhibitedness and stimulation. Scenes of violence in a horror film allegedly influenced the two accused ten year olds involved in the infamous James Bulger murder, in which a young boy was abducted and killed. It is  said that they undertook the resulting actions after becoming intrigued and excited by the violent scenes within the horror movie Childs Play. At the accused’ trial the defence made an attempt to present an argument that their actions could be explained through their fascination to television and films which distorted their understandings of society, reality and moral values. Also, it has been noted that naturally aggressive people may simply choose and prefer to watch more violent programmes than of any other nature. Friedrich and Stein found that aggressive-prone children are likely to become even more aggressive after watching violent television. A report made by the United States Surgeon General concluded that television violence is influential, as many as 25% of child viewers may be affected. But what it doesn’t take into account is that other research undertaken had shown, that from over 300 studies using numerous amounts of children, there was no direct effect of the violence portrayed through the mass media on the youth of contemporary society, though there is considerable disagreement between different studies. For instance it could be concluded that violence can never be considered the sole cause of delinquent behaviour, it may possibly just act to reinforce or affect those that are already prone to such tendencies. These examples have been noted as possible indications of the effects of the mass media through the means of expression of television violence, but the media is accused of also acting in more subliminal ways when looked at through the vehicle of the print based and television news. News The mass media present a stereotyped picture of life, which can often lead to undesirable prejudices within not just national, but international, society. The mass media and in particular the television and print based news are often accused as being a significant source, in wide ranging and varied ways, of enhancing common stereotypes. It is argued now that in the case of women, ethnic groups, the disabled, certain professions, the old, the  physically unattractive and even nationalities are all presented according to accepted stereotypes. As â€Å"the war on terrorism† in Afghanistan rages on the news that has come from that region has had exactly the same type of subliminal messaging that was continually occurring in the Gulf War press. The aim of that journalism was to distinguish the language concerning both sides that were at war. During the Gulf War the descriptions given to the opposite sides were of a distinct nature as to enhance the British reputation and to condemn the Saddam regime. British troops â€Å"took out†, â€Å"suppressed† and â€Å"eliminated† their opposition because of an â€Å"old fashioned sense of duty† because they are â€Å"professionals†, â€Å"brave† and â€Å"lion-hearted†, whereas Saddam’s army simply â€Å"killed† and â€Å"destroyed† because they â€Å"feared Saddam† and were â€Å"cowardly† and â€Å"Bastards of Baghdad† (O’Sullivan, Dutton, Rayner: 1998:80). These binary oppositions are used as a form of media propaganda, the conscious manipulation of information in order to gain political advantage. By using the media as a tool of manipulation the Conservative government of the Gulf War era and the Labour government of the present day have effectively stereotyped the opposition in order to provide national unity and enhance their own political agendas. Studies have also been carried out to study the effects of television on political behaviour, with Blumler (1970) as just one, concluding that television had little or no discernible influence over the viewer. Construction of the news is another way in which the mass media can have an influence over the masses. Through the placement of certain aspects of, for example, a news feature or the selective process made by editors it preserves the notion of media influence continually. Television and print based news, due primarily to their fixation with crime and violence arguably has a pessimistic impact upon our societal behaviour. The news can be described as being an oxymoron; giving us the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie. I personally do not concur with this as I consider that generally news does not lie, except it does not inform the audience of the entire truth by omitting the less interesting and dramatic parts. A news program is  primarily focused on the facts, but for the purposes of television and the print based media they tend to emphasise on the dramatic, generally violent stories and images to capture and sustain its audience, under the facade of keeping it informed. The med ias influence through the news is that it affects the public both consciously and subconsciously, and in some cases sends us about our lives unnecessarily fearing the remote dangers that we see excessively portrayed in the news. Stereotyping Children’s programmes especially have a tendency to amplify stereotypes, presenting â€Å"goodies† and â€Å"baddies† within episodes. The confirmation of their stereotypes may makes children feel more comfortable with themselves if they can place someone within a group. Also some children often only have their contact with some minority groups through the television. Greenfield (1984) found that Sesame Street’s use of ethnic and disabled minorities has had positive affects on children, particularly those from the minority groups who feel greater cultural pride and self-confidence. Certain events are over-reported, such as violent or sex crimes, and this acts to alter public opinion. Cohen (1965) suggests that the media creates moral panics by widely reporting an initially minor event, which leads to further comprehensive reports, detection of causes or troublemakers. Radio Cantril (1940) is often referred back upon as a classic example of how the mass media can influence through the gaining of trust. It refers to an incident in the late thirties that caused a widespread public panic in America after a radio station broadcast of H.G.Wells’ fictional narrative War of the Worlds. The production involved a series of news bulletins in which the reporter gave a â€Å"live† account of a Martian invasion. A lot of listeners had tuned in a few moments after the show had begun and so, apparently unaware that the program was of a fictitious nature, believed what they were hearing was the truth and so began becoming hysterical, with some taking to the streets and others even packing up their belongings as  quickly as they could and driving off in order to avoid the attacks. Cantril’s study was the documentation of media-social relations at the time and so the â€Å"invasion† pointed towards the influence that the radio had over the masses, as they truly believed the broadcast. The primary factor in the â€Å"invasion† was the trust that the public had in radio journalism being unwittingly extended to a practical simulation. What was evident from this episode was the steady, gradual and routine influence that the mass media as a whole had exerted, led to the radio broadcasts listeners faith that they were being attacked (Corner: 2000: 385). This case has been cited as being an excellent example of the â€Å"Hypodermic Needle Model†, a hypothesis which asserts that the media are dominant agents of influence, capable of â€Å"injecting† ideas and behaviours directly into fairly inert audiences of isolated individuals. It could also be marked down as not only showing the behavioural changes that can arise from a single piece of media output but also the underlying example of media influence that experts have looked for through experiments or fieldwork. Conclusion In closing, there are perceived to be constantly changing views on the influence that is exerted by the mass media. At first there was the attitude that the media was forcing itself upon us in such a way as to exert its influence and shape our beliefs, actions and values. Now though as time has moved on, theorists are thinking about this area of research in other ways and through diverse approaches. There was a shift in the perspective of researchers within audience reception in the seventies and is evident none more so than in the statement made by James Halloran (1970): â€Å"We must get away from the habit of thinking in terms of what the media do to people and substitute for it the idea of what people do with the media.† The technological determinist view, which states an overemphasis on the part of the mass media as the major, if not solitary cause of societal and  cultural changes, which have effected actions and beliefs, is not the view that I personally would concur with. In my opinion the mass media is an incredible tool of persuasion and could influence somebody undoubtedly. Mass media audiences are arguably on the whole not passive, and so the amount of influence that is exerted upon the recipient depends entirely on the individual. As most pieces of media output are â€Å"polysemic† in nature, meaning that it is capable of having different meanings and readings from person to person (O’Sullivan, Dutton, Rayner: 1998:327), the way in which, or by how much, an individual is influenced is entirely through choice. Bibliography * O’Sullivan, Dutton, Rayner: (1998): Arnold Publishers â€Å"Studying The Media: Second Edition† The following authors were cited from â€Å"Studying The Media: Second Edition† James Halloran (1970) Blumler and Katz (1974) James Curran & Michael Gurevitch: (2000): Arnold Publishers â€Å"Mass Media And Society: Third Edition† Chapter 19: John Corner: (2000) Within Chapter 19, written by John Corner the following authors were cited: Cantril (1940) Blumler (1970) * John Eldridge, Jenny Kitzninger, Kevin Williams: (1997): Oxford Uni. Press Inc â€Å"The Mass Media & Power In Modern Britain† The following authors were cited from â€Å"The Mass Media & Power In Modern Britain†: Greenfield (1984) Friedrich and Stein United States Surgeon General Report Cohen (1965) * Jane Root: (Unknown): (Unknown) â€Å"Open The Box†

physic essays

physic essays Metamorphosis: In biology, striking change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth. Hormones called molting and juvenile hormones, which are not species specific, apparently regulate the changes. These physical changes as well as those involving growth and differentiation are accompanied by alterations of the organism's physiology, biochemistry, and behavior. From animal development. Metamorphosis, the transformation of the larva into an adult, is a more or less complicated process depending on the degree of difference between the two forms. The transformation may be gradual, extend over a long period, and involve a number of intermediate stages; alternatively, the transformation may be achieved in one step. In the latter case, especially if the difference between the larva and adult is great, large parts of the body of the larva, including all the specifically larval organs, disintegrate (necrobiotic metamorphosis). Critical mass: Én nuclear physics, the minimum amount of a given fissile material necessary to achieve a self-sustaining fission chain reaction under stated conditions. Its size depends on several factors, including the kind of fissile material used, its concentration and purity, and the composition and geometry of the surrounding reaction system. History ...

Trench Foot essays

Trench Foot essays It was General Sherman who coined the phrase, War is Hell. To most people when the World War I is mentioned images of destruction and casualties come to most peoples minds. Wars are fought because two sides believe that one side is right and the other side is wrong on a particular issue. When men believe these things to be true they fight with a fury most people cant imagine. World War I was such a war, when men believed in a cause, and fought very hard for that cause. A hatred was formed between the two sides, countries hating other countries, men hating men. Millions of men died because of what they believed to be right. During World War I soldiers died in many different way. Not all died with dignity and honor like most people would think. Some soldiers died in battle, while others suffered through long battles with disease, illness and hunger. Men left for the Great War proud to serve their countries, only to go into battle and be treated to some of the harshest condit ions known to man. One soldier wrote I dont know who is better off at times, my fallen comrades, or myself, I still have to live through this Hell. (Callon, www) It is amazing anyone ever lived through this terrible war, between the sniper, trench rats, dysentery, gas attacks, and many other ways a soldier could be killed. The picture quality was not always the best, but you can get an idea of what these soldiers went through. The images where so hard to look at, so graphic, but so real. War is not pretty by any stretch of the imagination. Picking just one of these images was the hardest part. The image that I did decide to choose was a simple picture, but in this photo you see so much. Its not what the picture is showing you, its what the picture isnt showing you. The picture is of a soldiers feet. The feet of this particular soldier are deformed, and look like they have b...

Safety program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Farewell my concubine Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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