Monday, September 30, 2019

Kingfisher

Visa Malay inducted professional management and implement different methods and theories to develop the company to globalize the company. Since then Kingfisher has gone on to become the undisputed ‘king' in the Indian beer market. Kingfisher today has impressive spread of manufacturing facilities throughout the whole country. Quality and hygiene are the key elements for its marketing philosophy success. Its flagship brand ‘Kingfisher', has achieved international recognition consistently, and has won many awards in International Beer Festivals. KingfisherPremium Lager beer is currently available in 52 countries and leads the way amongst Indian beers in the International market. It has been ranked amongst the top 10 fastest growing brands in the I-J. Today each one of the 32,000 Beer outlets in India sells one brand or the other from United Breweries. United Breweries limited has a 48% share in the Indian beer market. S. W. O. T (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Thre ats) Analysis A SOOT analysis is a structured approach to evaluating the strategic position of a business by identifying its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.It provides a simple method of synthesizing the results of the marketing audit. Strength Kingfisher is a true global Indian icon and is also known today as a premium worldwide brand. It has the strongest worldwide distribution system and is available in 52 countries worldwide. It is a worldwide known brand with sponsorship in Formulae, Indian Premier League and title sponsors of England and Wales Cricket Board's National Championship knock out competition due to this it has excellent brand visibility. It also has huge financial backing from PUB Group. WeaknessKingfisher usually focuses on strong beer market as it is mostly favored in India but not in other countries and thus market growth is slow. Due to the current high demand and worldwide distribution system many opportunities are lost as there is less availa bility. Opportunity Due to the current trend of beer among the young people Kingfisher has a lot of benefit by global market expansion. The changing culture and lifestyle of Indian people has also increased the beer consumption. Threats The alcohol industry is highly taxed and has certain regulations thus has a lot of impact on Kingfisher.Advertising for alcohol has been banned in India as it is considered to be a taboo. Negative perceptions about alcoholic beverages are widely common. Kingfisher faces huge competition from international companies like Heinlein, Scrabbles and Budweiser. P. E. S. T. L. E Analysts 2 PESTLE stands for political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental. PESTLE analysis is a process, to help understand the overall market environment for a particular industry, business, product, or project. It is often a key part of strategic marketing and business planning.PESTLE allows an organization to go in depth into heir current status and weakness es. Political factors:- Minimum drinking age The minimum drinking age in India is 21 years whereas in European countries is 18 thus minimum drinking age affects the alcohol business in an important way. People below the permitted age cannot consume alcohol even if they want to. Kingfisher beer is adversely affected in terms of sales. Banned advertisements India is a youth country thus advertising of alcohol products has been a subject of continuous debate between the government, the alcohol industry, health groups, policy makers and the public.Advertising in alcohol industry is done for brand choice and also it is a fair tool but banning advertising reduces market entry of new firms and thus also reduces awareness among the consumers about the product. Economic factors:- Taxation and Policies India has a very large youth population and strong beer is mostly favored but still growth of beer has some restrictions and complications which are in the form of taxes and policies implemente d by the state governments.Taxes and policies are different from state to state and some states do not allow alcoholic products brewed and manufactured from other states. The highest taxes are mostly levied by northern states such as Attar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharajah's and Delhi. All of this has a great impact on the sales of United Breweries and other brands but there are also many obstacles such as the government has banned the advertisements of any sorts for alcoholic products. Economic growth and per capita income With more than 60% of Indians younger than age 25 consumption of alcohol is likely to increase in the coming years.Due to continuous growth rate and growing economy people are getting richer day by day and also are their preferences as more people re drinking beers and spirits which is a very good sign for the growing alcohol industry. With the growing middle class and modern retail formats, taxation policies adopted by the state governments will act in favor of the gro wing beer industry in the coming future which will help united breweries and other brands in achieving their desired goals. Socio-cultural factors:- Cultural restriction India is a country with many religions and some of the religions prohibit drinking alcohol.This has a huge impact on the sales of alcohol brands. Violence through alcohol There is strong association between violence and drinking. Violent behavior is occurred in all communities it is caused mainly due to over consumption of alcohol. Alcohol abuse and violence is caused mainly due to poor parental modeling and mental stress. Drunken driving cases are some of the main causes of highway accidents. But through proper social norms and public education, violence and alcohol abuse can be tackled. Individual factors also play a very important role.Population India is the second largest country in terms of population and PUB group has a unique rand name thus people tend to consume their products. PUB group has a 48% share in the beer market that's why it is known as the king of beer market in India. Technological factors:- Scientific studies In a recent scientific research it has been confirmed that people who drink moderately have a lower risk of premature death as compared to people who do not drink at all. Consumption of alcohol moderately leads to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity whereas people who drink in excess have a negative impact on their health. Distillery effluent treatment Compared to western countries where concentration of spent wash and its usage as an animal additive is a common practice, this process is not followed in India because Indian spent wash contains a higher level of inorganic substances which are found to produce a laxative effect if the consumption of feed is not monitored. Environmental factors:- Pollution A lot of water pollution is caused when the beer is made, the manufacturing of beer consists of three processes namely preparation of malt, beer wo rth and fermentation.These processes involve a lot of rinsing and cleaning as beer is made of barley and alt is prepared from it for brewing. The wastewater contains a lot of solids, detergents, soluble and insoluble organic materials. The wastewater is almost three times more concentrated than sewage but there are no toxic contaminants and most of the water is biodegradable. To meet the quality of discharge standards anaerobic biological treatment is done so that the organic concentration of wastewater is reduced.Legal environment:- Age factor In most European countries the age of drinking is 18 but in India where people are allowed to vote at this age are not permitted to drink. In India the alcohol consumption is allowed after 21 years but in some states it is 25. Despite the number of people who are below the ages of 25 years the beer industry has a huge potential if the current drinking age is lowered. Alcohol is considered a taboo in India as the culture and traditions are dif ferent than that of western countries. 5 Market Analysis:- The beer industry is still growing in India and it is estimated to be over 30 billion (in rupees).Overall annual consumption of beer is around 23000 million elites (fugues of 2011) the beer industry is growing at a yearly rate of 7% to 9%. The major players of beer industry are Gabrielle and United Breweries. The beer industry is likely to face more competition from foreign brands such as Scrabbles, Heinlein, Budweiser and Corona. Beer markets like USA and Europe have seen a flat growth whereas consumption in the Indian market has increased tremendously. In India beer sales have seen a rapid increase as compared to other alcoholic drinks.International beer companies like Budweiser, Scrabbles and Heinlein are well established in western countries but are still facing tough competition from Kingfisher which is the king in he beer industry of India with a 48% share. With more than 80% of market controlled by united breweries an d Gabrielle, foreign brands are yet to find their feet on the ground. Kingfisher posted a profit before tax of RSI. 1475 million in the first quarter of this year ending on 30th June 2012. Strong beer continued to dominate with a growth of 23% in sales volume.Intensity of rivalry The intensity of rivalry competitors is quite moderate as in case there is quite a rise in regulatory and legal burdens, manufacturers get together so that competition between them is lowered as they have to ensure their profit. Threat of new competitors The Indian beer industry is currently growing thus it is attractive for new players but with the dominant force of United breweries and Gabrielle already established it has been very difficult for foreign brewers to expand and overthrow Kingfisher which is currently leading in beer consumption.Threat of substitute Brands like Kingfisher face further competition from substitutes like wine, vodka and whiskey, which are mostly favored in India as beer industry is still developing, it still has to get a bigger consumer base which spirits do have but due to the changing rend and growing Indian youth population beer industry best is yet to come.Suppliers bargaining power Barley which is the most important product for brewing is quite cheaper and available in plenty and other inputs used to brew are also cheaper as there is a huge number of suppliers thus suppliers have less bargaining power. 6 Customers bargaining power It has been seen that customers are more powerful when their purchases form a large portion of seller's sales but if there are less number of players in the market people don't look at the quality but the product and thus they have less control over rice.Classification of beer Lager Ale Stout Creamy Ale Malt Plainer Porter Age Kingfisher mild For young people Just for fun People who drink for the first time mainly for experience Kingfisher strong People who drink regularly Those who want beer to be stronger mostly favored by people 25 and above ‘THE KING OF GOOD TIMES' As the punch line suggests Kingfisher has positioned its brand for people who want to socialize, party or have fun. 7 Customer Analysis:- The beer industry in India has a wide consumer base and people rink alcoholic beverages mostly for celebrating an event or socializing.Unlike western countries people in India are allowed to consume alcohol after the age of 21 in most states and spirits are given more preference. United breweries have a strong base in spirit and beer industries. Kingfisher is at the top of the list in consumption of beer. Consumer behavior India is a developing country with a large population of middle-class people thus people tend to consume beer occasionally. Whiskey, vodka and wine were given more preference but the beer industry is yet to reach its potential and is growing at a very cast rate.Products like Kingfisher and Harvard's 5000 have shown excellent progress so far as they are already established in th e beer industry. International brands like Budweiser, Heinlein and Scrabbles are still struggling to establish their brand among the people as they are expensive than Kingfisher and Harvard's products, this is mainly due to taxes and regulations by the state governments which usually are hard on alcoholic companies. In a recent survey it was shown that one in three beers drunk in India were of Kingfisher's. Consumers always prefer the cheapest product ND good value which Kingfisher effectively delivers.Recommendations:- Kingfisher is famous for its marketing and sponsorships in major sporting events and spends a lot of money on it per year. It should concentrate on innovation and development of new products which will help it increase its brand value in other western countries where there is even a larger market for its product and there are no restrictions on advertising. Retailing its beers with more number of large departmental stores. Advertising its brand ‘Kingfisher' by entering into different industries like water, soda of which advertising is allowed. This will lead to more brand awareness.Developing innovative and new packaging for its beer. It should concentrate on innovation of a new product which has elements of a spirit and a beer. 8 Conclusion:- Kingfisher has a huge potential of expanding the beer market in India as the per capita income of the people is rising and so is the consumption. Kingfisher also has a kind of monopoly over other brands as it is already well established and sells its product at a cheaper rate than the new competitors entering the Indian beer industry. The negative perceptions about alcohol consumption have gone down and he beer industry will definitely show a lot of growth in the coming years.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Blue Streak Essay

What suggestions would you offer to Art to improve his operation? It seems as though, Art prematurely opened the two locations in neighboring states. Because Art was a constant figure in his other locations from inception, the vision that he had for those locations were taught and able to be practiced to his standards. There are at least three areas in which this operation can be improved. It is clear that art believes that the common denominator in the success of all his other locations is his presence. At the locations in neighboring states his managers feel as though, he frequents the locations too much. There is a clear disconnect in his intent and their out look of the situation. His manager likely believe that he doesn’t trust them to effectively manage, and do the job in which they were hired. They likely seem his as a micromanager. I believe that this problem can be solved with simple communication. He explains the reasoning behind his constant visitations and I’m sure his manager will be able to understand his reasoning and that will relieve some of the tension. Also, his managers do not seem to know what Art is expecting of them as managers. This problem can be handled with training. Art may want to think about closing down his locations for a limited period of time in order to teach his managers what is expected of them. When Art visited these locations, it seems as though he never effectively What management skills must Art master if he is to resolve his problems and continue to grow? Conceptual skills may help him to understand that in order for the company to succeed he needs to plan and organize his goals. Using these skills increases the ability to see the organization as a whole. It would help Mr. Benton to understand the relationships among the different offices and see how the organization fits into its broader environment. These skills are cruel for the top management and will the company will grow and it will also allow Mr. Benton to grow as a person. Mr. Benton can apply the skills mastered in his company by realizing how the out-of-state offices are connected to the other offices. By understanding this he can understand the business as a whole and decide on the objectives and then proceeding to plan and organize management task. Therefore, mastering conceptual skills are recommended to learn since it will help the CEO understand the company as whole making better decisions and resolving the problems at ease.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Belonging Strictly Ballroom

Lack of a sense of belonging is portrayed in the ‘mockumentary’ film â€Å"Strictly Ballroom† through the character Scott Hastings as he is treated as an outcast because he refuse to conform to the mainstream way of ballroom dance. The opening scene portrays the false, fairytale feeling of the world of ballroom dance through the motif showing big red curtains opening with matching theatrical music. The over the top fakery is shown through the fluffy costumes and over the top hair of the dancers in the opening scene. They are shown hugging and exchanging high fives, portraying that they belong because they have conformed to the mainstream way of dance presented by Barry Fife. â€Å"You can dance any steps you like but it doesn’t mean you will win. † This quote spoken by Barry fife shows the power he holds because he controls who wins. Unless you perform his steps that are shown in the video ‘The right way to dance’ you are not going to win. In the extreme close up of his mouth, we see the crooked rotten teeth because symbolically he is a crooked rotten person. When Scott dances his own steps the scene is shown in slow motion with a freeze frame, beautiful music with a pleasing crowd reaction to match shows that everyone including Scott was enjoying the dance. The camera switches to the furious faces of Shirley and Barry fife showing that everyone loved the new steps except for everyone who had confirmed that sat on the federation leaders table. The Table is situated higher than the dancers and audience depicting how they are in charge. Liz’s lack of understanding for Scotts love for his own steps is shown when she threatens Scott to conform to the federation steps for Ballroom dancing. I’m not dancing with you until you are supposed to† Barry has programmed the dancers like robots to follow his ‘Right steps’ â€Å"what did you think of the steps? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. â€Å"I don’t think! † Fran as a beginner dancer does not belong in the ballroom dancing world. Her frizzy hair, acne covered skin, thick unattractive glasses and covered figureless body makes her a target for nasty comments. The Slapstick humour when Liz and Scott knocking over Fran when she is trying to comfort them shows how she is not respected and over looked. Understanding however can give a person a sense of belonging in society or within themselves. Fran and Scott both feel like outcasts because they love to dance their own steps and not conform to the federation â€Å"I want to dance with you your way†. When the song â€Å"time after time† plays while Scott and Fran are dancing, Fran shows Scott what she is capable of proving that she is not a hopeless dancer like everyone stereotypes her to be. Scott tells her to dance without her glasses and we notice throughout the movie the tighter clothing she wears to reveal her toned elegant body structure, portraying as she feels a sense of comfort and understanding towards Scott, she starts to gain her own identity. Belonging Strictly Ballroom Lack of a sense of belonging is portrayed in the ‘mockumentary’ film â€Å"Strictly Ballroom† through the character Scott Hastings as he is treated as an outcast because he refuse to conform to the mainstream way of ballroom dance. The opening scene portrays the false, fairytale feeling of the world of ballroom dance through the motif showing big red curtains opening with matching theatrical music. The over the top fakery is shown through the fluffy costumes and over the top hair of the dancers in the opening scene. They are shown hugging and exchanging high fives, portraying that they belong because they have conformed to the mainstream way of dance presented by Barry Fife. â€Å"You can dance any steps you like but it doesn’t mean you will win. † This quote spoken by Barry fife shows the power he holds because he controls who wins. Unless you perform his steps that are shown in the video ‘The right way to dance’ you are not going to win. In the extreme close up of his mouth, we see the crooked rotten teeth because symbolically he is a crooked rotten person. When Scott dances his own steps the scene is shown in slow motion with a freeze frame, beautiful music with a pleasing crowd reaction to match shows that everyone including Scott was enjoying the dance. The camera switches to the furious faces of Shirley and Barry fife showing that everyone loved the new steps except for everyone who had confirmed that sat on the federation leaders table. The Table is situated higher than the dancers and audience depicting how they are in charge. Liz’s lack of understanding for Scotts love for his own steps is shown when she threatens Scott to conform to the federation steps for Ballroom dancing. I’m not dancing with you until you are supposed to† Barry has programmed the dancers like robots to follow his ‘Right steps’ â€Å"what did you think of the steps? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. â€Å"I don’t think! † Fran as a beginner dancer does not belong in the ballroom dancing world. Her frizzy hair, acne covered skin, thick unattractive glasses and covered figureless body makes her a target for nasty comments. The Slapstick humour when Liz and Scott knocking over Fran when she is trying to comfort them shows how she is not respected and over looked. Understanding however can give a person a sense of belonging in society or within themselves. Fran and Scott both feel like outcasts because they love to dance their own steps and not conform to the federation â€Å"I want to dance with you your way†. When the song â€Å"time after time† plays while Scott and Fran are dancing, Fran shows Scott what she is capable of proving that she is not a hopeless dancer like everyone stereotypes her to be. Scott tells her to dance without her glasses and we notice throughout the movie the tighter clothing she wears to reveal her toned elegant body structure, portraying as she feels a sense of comfort and understanding towards Scott, she starts to gain her own identity.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Business path way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business path way - Essay Example Income inequality may either benefit an economy or derail the economic growth. The extent to which income inequality negatively affects the economic growth is debatable. This essay provides an elaborate argument about the degree in which income inequality may affect the economy. Overview This essay provides an overview of some of the ways in which income inequality may influence an economy. It contains several ideas regarding the degree in which income inequality may affect growth of an economy. It provides thorough analysis of possible positive effects of income inequality and the negative effects of income inequality on an economy. This essay covers an elaborate debate which clearly points out at risks that may be imposed on an economy due to income inequality. 2.0 Main Body: Effects Analysis Income inequality is instigated by supply and demand for labor caused by imperfect competition and uneven distribution of information. Income inequality may have different effects on economy. It may either drag or catapult growth of economy. The central theme of this analysis is to make an evaluation about the degree in which income inequality may negatively affect economic growth. 2.1 Positive Effects on Economic Growth High income inequality may be vital for economic growth. ... Excessive money in circulation may have extremely negative effect on the growth an economy due to inflation. Foreign trade may be very expensive especially when a country tries to import raw materials. Moreover, low income earners may tend to borrow money from financial institutions and this can be used as a tool for controlling money circulation (Castello-Climent 2010, 293-315). Additionally, there income inequality may result into wide gap between the rich and the poor. Wider gap between the rich and the poor can be very helpful in promoting competition and innovativeness. There is a high level of social stratification which prompts competition for status thus spurring growth of the economy due to hard work (Judis 2013, n.p). Also high income inequality may decrease efficiency because of low incentive to work. Because of income inequality, the rich will always get richer and save money for investment (Allen 1999, 143-150). Furthermore, high income earners may enjoy all the faciliti es such as the recreational facilities present in the country thus increasing revenue earned from these facilities. Happiness which is associated with high income contributes a lot in predicting the future behaviors such as productivity in the labor market and happier people also tend to be healthier and live longer (Shin 2012, 2049-2056). 2.2 Negative Effects on Economic Growth Nevertheless, income inequality has an adverse effect on the growth of an economy. Equal income inequality reduces the gap between the rich and the poor thus leading to distributive efficiency within a country. Distributive efficiency reduces marginal utility of resources and further lowers personal utility. An extra dollar consumed by a low income earner is automatically directed to necessities which are

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Gender Preference in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gender Preference in Nursing - Essay Example Descriptive (frequencies, means and SD) and nonparametric inferential statistics (Spearman correlation, Kruskal–Wallis test, chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-test – large sample z approximation) were performed on the data collected from the questionnaires. All data were handled using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 6†¢1 for the Macintosh. A result was accepted as significant if the probability level was This form of statistical analysis was implemented because it was the most practical for this type of research study. The analysis of variance model (or "ANOVA model") examines the association between nominal predictor variables (e.g., gender, experimental condition, whether or not treatment was received or not) and a continuous outcome variable (e.g., depression, health quality of life). The predictor variables are sometimes called "factors" or "independent variables." The outcome variable may be also referred to as the "dependent variable." The ANOVA model is a univariate model, in that interest is in how the predictors affect a single outcome variable. (Chur-Henson) Using the results that were obtained through this type of statistical analysis revealed that in both 1984 and 2000, no effects due to the respondent answering the nurse or doctor items first was found. Nor did the time or day on which the questionnaire was completed have any bearing on answers.

Business Economics Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business Economics Paper - Essay Example It was founded on July 1, 1981 by Sim Wong Hoo. Sim Wong Hoo started off initially as a small computer repair shop, developing memory boards. Later, customized PCs were developed. The success spurred Sim Wong Hoo on and his inquisitive nature asserted itself. He found himself asking questions related to technology and the world found itself a market leader for multi media products. After decades of innovation, Creative Technology Limited is considered to be a market leader in the market for entertainment, IT and multimedia products. It offers a wide range of differentiated products including MP 3 players, pocket cameras, webcams, X-Fi audio sound cards, earphones, headphones, headsets, keyboards and multimedia speakers. According to Creative Companies (2009), Creative Technology was initially located only in Singapore. At present it has headquarters in Singapore, subsidiary in USA and branches in Europe and Asia. The advent of technology has allowed the company to operate as a virtual online store as well. Creative Technology Limited believes in creating value for all of its customers; those who are technical savvy and for those who are not. The aim is to provide satisfaction to any one who enjoys entertainment. The core values of customization and innovation are embedded in their culture and reflected in their user-friendly and well designed products with multiple features. Hence, Creative, which is their brand name, is reflected in each of their products. Determinants of Demand Demand is the desire and willingness to purchase a product. It is affected by a number of factors. According to Bamford et al. (2002), the shifts in the demand curve are caused by the financial ability to pay, attitudes towards the products, the price, availability and attractiveness of substitute products, marketing,

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Ohio Prison's Reform Plans and Recidivism Research Paper

Ohio Prison's Reform Plans and Recidivism - Research Paper Example Ohio has a record of being the highest state having a huge number of prisoners and maintaining a larger number of people who are into the prisons. The state has been effectively planning their reform programs and maintaining a proper system of taking reformative programs but it has been a failure at large. The reformative measures are highly affected by the increasing rate of recidivism among the prisoners. Review of the available structures reflects on the failure of the reformative actions that are being taken within the jurisdiction of Ohio. However, the changing needs of the society maintaining an effective system is one of the major needs of development and enhancing the overall approach of jurisdiction. Commendably, the state has incorporate effective measures to enhance the prominence of the same and develop the overall security that is prominent. Notably, with the effective enhancement of the different needs of developing a proper plan has in turn enhanced the value of the overall need for development of prisoners. Furthermore, to reduce the chances of recidivism the jurisdiction system that is prominent in Ohio is enhancing its individual capacity to perform and develop the overall system of jurisdiction. Prison Reform plans acts as a sole development that could be incorporated within the system, ensuring a prospective projection of different social development initiated by any state or secular republic to develop the transparency of the jurisdiction and ensures that larger number of people are incorporated within the society. Reform programs are most important for a country to ensure that more people are able to lead a normal life by developing their ability to work and live as normal citizens. Mostly all the countries of the nations are inclined towards developing a pilot plan that would successfully meet the essentials to get back to the mainstream society. With the effective development of

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Lake Havasu Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lake Havasu - Assignment Example Boating and fishing form an inherent part of Lake Havasu as most people go there in order to catch bass fish, however it is said that a large number of these fish died due to the construction of the dam and their movements along the water body. Despite this, some 3.5 million people visit Lake Havasu a year for not only its floral beauty but also the fauna in the form of fish. The waters are very clear and provide for great amount of fun while fishing and scouring for basses especially with other friends and family members. Small boats may be hired by people for the purpose of carrying out the activity privately, or people may even make groups with others and venture into the waters in larger ships. The world famous London bridge has been constructed on Lake Havasu as well which proved to be one of the main tourist attractions. The bridge is beautifully constructed with a number of arches for ships and boats to sail through. During the time of our visit, a number of fishing tournament s were also underway on the waters, making the atmosphere even more exciting. Most people were quite amazed at the sight of the splendour of the lake, not imagining it to be as wondrous as it actually was. The waters at Lake Havasu are crystal blue and the weather is quite breezy and nice all year round as well. The environment is very serene and calm and had a very cooling and positive effect on everyone present there. There are a number of activities that one can take up and do in this portion of Arizona, including outdoor excursions, planning camping trips, biking or hiking, doing a jeep tour of the entire area. Most people are also attracted by hot air balloon rides over the damn and Lake which are even more overwhelming than looking at the fresh waters of the water body from afar or the from the London Bridge. A large number of water sports including scuba diving, as well as aero sports like parasailing and sky diving are some of the other main attractions that have slowly come up in order to attract more tourism to this beautiful area. Most people are not aware about the awe inspiring view of Lake Havasu and thus have not ventured out, however once there; the impact of the cleanliness and purity within the environment and atmosphere that surrounds the entire place is enough to get the better of everyone. In modern culture, Lake Havasu is quite connected to the American roots. The London Bridge on Lake Havasu was purchased by an American entrepreneur by the name of Robert Paxton McCulloch, who literally founded the city of Lake Havasu and moved the bridge there in the 20th century. Thus, in actuality, the entire city around Lake Havasu that has begun to develop over the last few decades is because of the brainchild of this very entrepreneur and his big American dream of providing a pleasing scenic view to other people around the country. In the year 2007, this area around Havasu was also one of the top hundred places to live in, if one were residing in Am erica. This is because of the kind of beauty the place possesses, and in comparison, no other region has the kind of varied climate like it does. The Lake Havasu City is almost arid with a breezy spell throughout the year, setting it apart from the dam and lake area which is full of a chill in the air around it. On travelling around the city, most people enjoyed the climate and surroundings thoroughly because it is a kind of place almost all kinds of people can enjoy. Mostly, it is filled by

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Case of Coca Cola Gaining a Stake in Innocent Drinks Assignment

The Case of Coca Cola Gaining a Stake in Innocent Drinks - Assignment Example The management body of Innocent however confided that in terms of consumer responsibility they would remain the same in terms of generating natural and healthy products to the consumers while rendering valuable information as to the contents on the product packages and also working in terms of rendering charitable funds. They further mentioned that gaining of funds through the selling of a certain portion of the company’s stake would contribute in enhancing the potential of the concern to fulfill responsibilities related to the consumers and the society in general (Sweney, 2009). Evaluation of the Selling Activity of Innocent’s Stake to Coca Cola The evaluation of the impact of the corporate sell out of Innocent’s Stake to Coca Cola on Innocent’s own image can be made based along certain views and ideologies related to marketing and consumer philosophy. Firstly it needs to be understood that the current age of consumption does not only relate to customer s atisfaction at the subsistence level. Rather it tends to stream out from the level of subsistence to the level of maximization of consumer benefits and other parameters related to leisure, comfort and luxury. This era of change in consumer’s demand patterns has greatly emerged owing to the abundance of resources not only relate to the physical and economic level but where such resources relate to the sociological and cultural triggers that in turn is governing the changes in consumption ideologies. This era of abundance in terms of psychological, sociological and physical resources has also led the consumers to gain a breakthrough from the traditional notions where a move to gain luxurious and comfortable products was taken on an erroneous note. Changes in the economic and societal lifestyle of the consumers act as potential triggers in making them gain interest in new product categories that would help them gain new taste and rise along their social status (Lazer, 1969, p.8) . The case of selling of Innocent’s Stake to Coca Cola relating to the above discussion holds a positive outlook for it would assist Innocent in enhancing its brand and product portfolio. Enhancement of the product portfolio of the juice and smoothie manufacturer would in turn assist the company in penetrating a larger consumer base in the existing markets. Further in addition to gaining funds the above decision of Innocent would largely contribute in its market development activities in foreign markets relating to European regions. Consumers of Innocent through the above change would also gain the chance of earning a taste of other beverages from under the same brand umbrella. The management body of Innocent in the light of selling of a certain portion of the company’s stake to Coca Cola also worked largely in the dimension of public relation activities to help in enhancing and sustaining a positive relationship base with the consumer sphere. Richard Reed, Co-Founder of Innocent through public relation activities tended to reassure the consumers that in spite of the sell-off of the company’s stake every other thing related to product attributes, packaging and

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Oedipus and the Sphinx Essay Example for Free

Oedipus and the Sphinx Essay Know Thyself is sage advice. All Things in Moderation is also a wise saying. King Oedipus, subject of the most tragic story ever written, brought about his own downfall because of his excessive obsession to know himself. And, try as he might, the more he tried to escape his tragic Fate, the closer it got Thus, some say that the moral of the story is, Even if you try to thwart your destiny, you wont succeed. The concept of predestination plays a large role here. For example, if the gods know what will happen, and events are pre-ordained, how can people make free choices or have any semblance of free will? If the gods put challenges in our way that we fail to rise to, are we responsible for the consequences? Would knowing the future, as Oedipus does, cause us to act or behave any differently? The ancient scribe Sophocles wrote Oedipus the King (between 441-427 B.C.E.) for the annual festival where playwrights competed for prizes. These festivals were major civic occasions, with attendance expected of all noted writers. In his play Sophocles goes out of his way to present Oedipus as an extremely capable, beloved ruler. It should be noted that Sophocles never suggests that Oedipus has brought his destiny on himself by any ungodly pride (hubris) or tragic flaw (hamartia), common themes in Greek tragedies. Sophocles also makes a special effort to explain that Oedipus killed King Laius in self-defense, and a major theme in the tragic play is whether one can believe in oracles and seers. The title of the play, from which is derived the story, is often given in its Latin translation (Oedipus Rex), rather than in its original Greek (Oedipus Tyranneus), since the Greek term for king is the English tyrant, which means a monarch who rules without the consent of the people. THE TRAGEDY BEGINS Laius and his wife Jocasta (or Iocasta) were King and Queen of Thebes, a prosperous and famous city state in ancient Greece. King Laius, as many people did those days, consulted Apollos revered oracle of Delphi for advice and to find out what the future held for him. What the oracle announced shocked the royal couple The Delphic oracle said that the Kings son would grow up and kill him! To make matters worse, it was prophesized that the son would marry his mother and produce offspring by her. King Laius and Queen Jocasta were understandably aghast! A short time later Queen Jocasta became pregnant and gave birth to a darling little baby boy. Remembering with fear the oracle of Delphis words, the royal couple of Thebes had the infants feet pierced and tied together thats the meaning of the name Oedipus, swollen feet. (Myth Mans note: this mythical detail makes no sense. It must have been introduced to explain the heros name. (Hold everything, I stand corrected. Here is an informative note sent by reader Adam Johnston on July 1, 2011.) Hey there, Just thought Id let you know that the pointless mythical detail about Oedipus feet being pierced and tied together actually has dual function. It was to ensure that the baby would not survive when exposed to the wilderness. But, more importantly, it is a detail that helps him decipher the answer to the sphinxs riddle later in life. He is a crippled man who walks with a cane, and scholars see this as the assistance he needed to understand the part of the riddle regarding the 3 legs. Just thought you should know! ~Adam (Many thanks to Adam for taking time to bring this to my attention.) Laius and Jocasta knew that their baby son had to be destroyed, but they didnt have the heart to do so themselves. They instructed their most trusted slave to expose the hapless baby on Mount Cithaeron, a wild and beast-filled place where the infant surely would perish. In those days, it was usual to leave an unwanted or defective baby in the wilderness. However, the slave glanced down at the innocent child and took pity on it. Knowing that the royal couple of the nearby city state of Corinth was childless, and desperately desired a son, the slave left the crying infant, its feet still pierced and bound by a pin, in a place sure to be found. Sure enough, a kindly shepherd discovered the baby and brought the foundling for adoption to King Polibus and Queen Merope of Corinth. Oedipus was raised as a son by Polibus and Merope and grew to be a handsome, clever and brave young man, even though he walked with a slight limp from the wounds he suffered when his real parents pierced his feet. One day, while playing with his adolescent friends, he got into an argument with them. They insisted, as mean children sometimes do, that he was a fake son, and not the real child of Polibus and Merope. When Oedipus confronted his parents about this, they denied that he was adopted and swore that he was their legitimate child. They told Oedipus to forget what the mean kids had said, but now he was intrigued. To discover the truth for himself, Oedipus journeyed to Delphi and asked of the oracle, Who am I? The oracle, cryptic as always, replied: You are the man who will kill his father and breed children by his mother. Confused and devastated, the young man started to head back home. Nearing the crossroad, Oedipus decided never to return to Corinth and go to Thebes instead. He dearly loved his parents and thought that by never returning home he would keep them safe and thus overcome his Fate according to Apollos oracle. As he was approaching the crossroad between Delphi, Thebes and Corinth, distraught and deep in thought, Oedipus came upon an old man in a chariot, escorted by a few attendants. It was a narrow passage between two rocks and hard to navigate safely. The crabby old man in the chariot shouted: Get lost! Go away! Get off this road!, striking Oedipus with his long scepter. Adding further injury, the rude, regal old man ran over the young mans sore foot with his chariot wheel. Oedipus angrily grabbed the staff from his tormentors hands and hit him on the head, killing the old man. The same fate befell the attendants, who tried to attack and arrest Oedipus he valiantly fought and killed them too, save for one servant, who ran away in panic when the battle broke out. Hey, he just wanted to cross the narrow passage, thats all! Besides, Oedipus was simply defending himself, and he got there first! Little did Oedipus suspect that the old man he had just slain was his own father, and that the first part of the oracles prophecy had come true

Friday, September 20, 2019

Arab Nationalism in the Modern Context

Arab Nationalism in the Modern Context ‘Arab Nationalism’ was an important part of anti-colonial struggle. A generation on it has little meaning today. Discuss. This essay will examine to what extent Arab nationalism as an ideology was of significance to the anti-colonial struggle and the influence of Arab nationalism in present times. A prominent question of interest in this study will be: was western domination eliminated due to the might of Arab nationalism? Certainly there has been a debate surrounding the significance of Arab nationalism today, this essay will highlight central issues surrounding the debate such as whether Arab nationalism has terminally declined or has just become a lessened force. A further question of concern will be: If Arab nationalism has gone into political remission could it be revived or gain appeal in present times? Furthermore this study will analyse when Arab nationalism was at its strongest and when the greatest expression of Arab nationalism were evident. Arab nationalism is considered to be a nationalist ideology which objective is to achieve a unified Arab nation encompassing the entire territory which is categorised as â€Å"the Arab World† from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf (Karsh Karsh, 1996). The assertion of Arab nationalism is that there should be political unity within the Arab world. Arab nationalism is an ideology that stresses solidarity of the Arab people which is entrenched in a common language, history and culture. The Arabic language is considered to play a significant unifying role. Certain scholars such as al-Hursi deem that the Arabic language is a central element of Arab nationalism (Suleiman, 1994). In addition, the end of Western hegemony and domination in the Middle East and North Africa region was a prominent objective of Arab nationalism. The notion of unity was believed to be a method that could be utilised to overcome colonisation. Arab nationalism was considered to be the sole vital method capable of providing an avenue away from colonialism and imperialism and a means to eliminate colonialism altogether. It was regarded to have the potential to provide larger regional unity as it offered the foundation of establishing an amalgamated nation that could be capable of resisting colonial powers and ultimately attaining independence. Various forms of long lasting grievances were caused by colonial occupation such as political oppression and marginalisation plus excessive economic profits and resources were continuously seized and exploited by the colonial powers. Furthermore a foreign unfamiliar culture was forced upon the Arab populaces; Arab nationalism and the set of beliefs surrounding the ideology were believed to have the capability to dissolve such matters in order to redeem and revert back to an indigenous culture and heritage. Most of the Arab world experienced colonial suppression and were ruled by western powers such as Britain and France. Was Arab nationalism vital in the struggle against colonialism? It is deemed that â€Å"†¦through the imperial world during the decolonizing period, protest, resistance, and independence movements were fuelled by one or another nationalism† (Said, 1993). The end of the Second World War caused vast political, social and economic transformations to the world order subsequently certain colonised nations gained their independence. In spite of this, the end of explicit or direct colonialism obviously did not equate to the termination of colonial dominance. European powers sought to retain their power across the Middle East and North Africa and colonialism still dominated large parts of the region. European imperialist presence was still evident as certain monarchies were under their rule and were still well disposed to them. For example, Egypt had been granted independence by the British in 1933 however Britain still played a direct role in Egyptian affairs and exercised a huge influence over the nation. It would be in this context that Arab nationalism would serve to provide a compelling set of beliefs and gain ground as a robust force in opposition to foreign occupation. Rafik Asha deemed that â€Å"(Arab) nationalism constitutes the v ital soul-force of our people, the bloodstream of Arab life and political vitality, the spirit which guides a resurgent people towards freedom from domination, servitude and patronage† (Pfaff, 1970). The Arab nationalist movement was immensely advanced by Gamal Abdel Nasser whom attained power in Egypt and became the nation’s president. In 1956, Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal which had still been occupied by the British. Furthermore, he fought against British, French and Israeli hostility and attacks towards Egypt later on that year. Both these forms of action exhibited a defiant attitude towards the Western powers and inevitably forced them into submission. During this epoch, Arab nationalism gained immense support and popularity throughout the Middle East and North Africa due to Nasser’s leadership furthermore many people in other Arab nations believed that they shared a common struggle against colonial powers. Furthermore the establishment of the United Arab Republic in 1958, which was the fusion of Egypt and Syria into one nation, was a bold experiment of Arab unity. Arab unity is one of the principal goals of Arab nationalism and it had been finally achieved. Even though it was a short lived political union it was distinguished to be a significant triumph over Western imperialism and emphasised that Arab nationalism and Arab unity did have the potential to be a distinct reality instead of being a mere ideological dream. The Arab defeat of the 1967 war had an implicit impact on Arab nationalism and led to the questioning of the secular ideology which had dominated Arab politics during the 1950s and 1960s. â€Å"It took some time for the light to go out on Arab nationalism, but its power generator went down in June 1967. After the Six-Day War, the slide of Arab nationalism toward political marginality became irreversible† (Dawisha, 2003). It is important to note that there was a considerable amount of other challenges which hindered the accomplishment of Arab unity, the principle goal of Arab nationalism. For instance there were evidently competing fidelities to tribes, sects region and religion â€Å"the Arabs were divided into sub-states identities such as tribe, religion and sect† (Dawisha, 2003). Furthermore there were different interpretations and clarifications of Arab nationalism. â€Å"Variations on Arab nationalism multiplied sometimes even inspiring separate classifications su ch as Nasserism and Ba’thism, and even more arcane subclassifications, such as neo-Ba’thism. Many of these became rivals, even to the point of bloodshed† (Kramer, 1993). Certain scholars stress that nationalist sentiment in the Middle East has significantly declined as a consequence of contesting ideologies such as Islamism (Myhill, 2010). Since 1967, Islamism has increasingly been perceived as an alternative discourse to secular Arab nationalism. In particular, it is deemed by some to be a form of response to significant failures such as the defeat of 1967 and the failure of the Arab nations to unite politically. The dissatisfaction of the people permitted Islamist groups to mobilise further recruits. During the period in which Nasser’s Arab nationalism was in power, Islamist ideologies had been marginalised and had been repressed from the political arena. For instance Egypt and Syria constrained the actions of the Muslim Brotherhood. Such circumstances as the defeat of 1967 and the on growing disillusionment of Arab nationalism led to the return of Islamist movements to the political field as such experiences of loss allowed Islam to offer a discourse that would provide the assurance of restoring the Arab region to a condition of fullness and glory. Therefore as an outcome of the decline of Arab nationalism, Islamist ideology began to fill the political void. It is claimed that Islam is the solely authentic ideology native to the Arab people, in particular Islamists contented that the secular nationalist phase was â€Å"untrue to Islam and lacking ‘authenticity’† (Fuller, 2004). In a similar vein it is argued that â€Å"Arab soldiers would have fought more bravely and effectively under the banner of Islam then they did under that of Arab nationalism†. Taking all of this into consideration, it is noticeable that the notion of that Islamism has replaced secular Arab nationalism particularly since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war is widely held. â€Å"In the 1980’s and 1990’s, radical Islam had become for the Arab regimes what Arab nationalism was in the 1950’s and 1960’s† (Dawisha, 2005). A question of relevance here is: Does Arab nationalism have any importance or significance today? It is evident that Arab nationalism went into decline following the 1967 War and that Islamist movements have been deemed as an alternative ideology however is it past the point of resuscitation? Some scholars advocate that Arab unification is completely over with and has no significance in any form (Ajami, 1978). However some judge that Arab nationalism is still in existence but will unlikely to be a potent influence. â€Å"But the Arab world today is so complex and fragmented, with such a maldistribution of population and resources (with a result that exploitation is also skewed in its local intensities) that it seems unlikely that Arab qawmiyya nationalism will survive as a major formative force† (Leiden, 1979). Arab nationalism can no longer hold the assertion that it retains an absolute grip in the mentality of the Arab people. All this, however, should not diminish the potential importance for the future course of Arab politics and culture. â€Å"Yet the idea is not dead; it still possesses force and it is possible that it can be resurrected at some later time† (Leiden, 1979). In a similar vein, it is deemed that â€Å"the fact of Arab nationalism cannot be argued away. It is a major political and social phenomenon as well as a mobilising ideology that has shaken the whole region since the last years of the nineteenth century† (Nafaa, 1983). It cannot be denied that attempts and experiments of Arab unity have been endeavoured and have not produced sincere effective outcomes. For instance notably the United Arab Republic highlighted the disagreements between Egypt and Syria. Furthermore in terms of carrying out collective aims the Arab League which was formed in 1945 was meant to bring into line meaningful cooperation plus social and economic unity. However the Arab League failed to achieve any substantial outcomes. Arab nationalism as an ideology and political movement was meaningless if its ultimate goal, the organic unity of all Arabs was unrealisable (Dawisha, 2005). On a more individual level, at present many Arabs doubt the certainty of the belief in an Arab nation and are significantly less confident on whether there now is an existing collective Arab pursuit or objective (Kramer, 1993). However, does the prosepect of attaining Arab untity really hold no weight in present times? It is important to recognise that at present unities amongst certain nations in the world are prevailing and effective. Undoubtedly, nations gain more power in numbers and that a group of nations united will certainly be more potent than a group of nations separated and split. In recent times, some may deem that the Arab population strongly requires Arab nationalism in order to gain influence in international issues. Long lasting divisions and discords have caused certain Arab nations to be less prominent in international affairs even though the Arab populace represents a considerable amount of people in Middle East and North Africa. For instance, nation states such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are utterly reliant on the West (Khashan, 2000). From the time that they were established, individual Arab states have continuously given precedence to their individual interests. In present times the notion of Arab unity which is the ultimate goal of Arab nationalism may not be as inadequate as many perceive it to be. Undeniably, the accepted wisdom and thinking surrounding Arab nationalism has be subjected to certain setbacks leading to a great sense of dissatisfaction and stunted ambitions. However the notion of Arab unity holds a certain weight and is still of relevance at the current moment in time. If one is to analyse this line of thought on a pragmatic level a coherent political community would stand to serve significant purposes. Some deem that Arab nations should in spite of everything still work towards unity in order to attain constructive entities. This could be regarded to be entities such as an economic market that guarantees free movement of trade, goods and labour, a cohesive stand when handling with foreign powers in concern with economic and political matters. Unity could also serve to provide rapid assistance to an Arab nation intimidated b y a foreign power and to resolve internal Arab disagreements. Additionally an entirely Arab military authority could even be utilised to prevent potential foreign invasions (Khashan, 2000). An innovation Arab awareness should be established on the values of solidarity and constructive cooperation so that nations can associate with one another beneficially. Furthermore, some deem that the decline of Arab nationalism and its lack of influence now are due to the diminishment of imperialism as the perceived enemy. It must be recognised that by the 1960s the threat of imperialism had diminished and the issue had become less pertinent. In specific instances in Egypt and Iraq the British presence had been removed, Algeria had gained independence from the French colonial power; the Baghdad pact had been beaten (Dawisha, 2003). Without the significance of the â€Å"anti-imperialist† or â€Å"anti-colonial† resonance had Arab nationalism deteriorated to be nothing but a meaningless slogan which has run its course? Furthermore the opposition to western domination presented an opportunity and motive for unity, divisions intensified once Western imperialist domination had been removed. â€Å"So long as the greater part of the Arab polities were under the domination of their British, French or Italian overlords, the Arab nationalist c ould cooperate with those espousing a more parochial nationalism in a common effort to expel the colonial power. But once these fragmented parts attained their political independence, the efforts made to unite politically the several parts of the Arab world foundered on the shoals of parochial consideration† (Pfaff, 1970). However, undeniably in more recent times the Arab world has found itself struggling to resist foreign domination yet again in terms of international interference in the forms of Western militaries and United Nations sanctions particularly since after 1990s. On one hand this may be interpreted to have pushed Arab nationalism to retreat virtually to its state of origin however on the other hand this may be seen as to be a potential catalyst for a revival of Arab nationalism. For instance, the 2003 invasion of Iraq evoked a reaction of a certain Arab nationalist rhetoric (Taylor, 2003). All of this points to the conclusion that even though in the present day the set of beliefs relating to Arab nationalism are not as widely held as they were in the epochs of the 1950s and 1960s furthermore many claimed that the Arab vision for unity was irrelevant and exhausted especially after the Arab defeat in 1967 and overshadowed by Islamist movements. In spite of this the existence of Arab nationalist ideas are still prevailing in the Arab world and unification and political amalgamation is still required. â€Å"Nationalism will always exist when one group feels exploited by another† (Leiden, 1979) therefore in the future Arab nationalism may become more appealing due to prevailing international interference in the region and western domination. It has become evident in this study that Arab nationalism was considered to be a force implemented against colonisation and imperialism in this line of thought Arab nationalist ideas could still be utilised today in order to atta in solidarity to deter foreign intrusions. Bibliography Ajami, F. (1978). End of Pan-Arabism. Foreign Affairs, 355-373. Dawisha, A. (2003). Requiem for Arab Nationalism. Middle East Quarterly, 25-41. Dawisha, A. (2005). Arab nationalism in the twentieth century : from triumph to despair. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Fuller, G. (2004). The future of political Islam. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Karsh, E., Karsh, I. (1996). Reflections on Arab nationalism. Middle Eastern Studies, 367-392. Khashan, H. (2000). Revitalizing Arab Nationalism. Middle East Quarterly, 49-56. Kramer, M. (1993). Arab nationalism: mistaken identity. Daedalus , 171-206. Leiden, C. (1979). Arab Nationalism Today. Middle East Review, 45-51. Myhill, J. (2010). The islamization of arab nationalism. Critical Review: A Journal of Politics and Society, 19-43. Nafaa, H. (1983). Arab Nationalism: A response to Ajamis Thesis of the End of Pan-Arabism. Journal of Arab Affairs, 173-199. Pfaff, R. (1970). The function of Arab nationalism. Comparative Politics, 147-167. Rubin, B. (1991). Pan-Arab nationalism: The ideological dream as compelling force. Journal of Contemporary History, 535-551. Said, E. (1993). Culture and imperialism. London: Random House LLC. Suleiman, Y. (1994). Nationalism and the Arabic language: A historical overview. In Y. Suleiman, Arabic sociolinguistics: Issues and perspectives (pp. 3-23). New York: Routledge . Taylor, P. (2003, April 04). War Spawns New Arab Nationalist Mood, Pride. Retrieved April 04, 2014, from Arab news: http://www.arabnews.com/node/230249

Thursday, September 19, 2019

gas prices :: essays research papers

Your paycheck is buying less for several reasons. For starters, if you plan on going to the gas station these days you better bring along the checkbook. Gas prices have been on the rise since it bottomed out back in May of last year when we were only paying $0.64 a gallon compared to today’s $1.54.9 per gallon. So that raise you received, just throw it right out the window because it is not doing anything for you now. Not only can you not drive anywhere, but flying is more expensive these days too. My theory is, that the oil companies are preparing for the mass amounts of money they are going to lose in the future, because oil will soon be exhausted from our mother earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we arrived, we were surprised at the wedding being quite traditional. The church, set in the back of their small community. Followed by the reception, which took place at a hall near by. Not like the previous wedding I went too, which was outside right along Lake Michigan, and the reception took place inside the mansion that stood near by. But I guess some people like to be traditionalists and that will do the job as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before a player can be considered â€Å" Most Valuable† in his or her league, some basic areas are to be considered. Did that player lead the league in goals, points per game, home runs, or any major category that would lead his team, if not the league? Was that person on a winning team, or was he the triple crown winner, which is having hit the most homeruns, R.B.I.’s, and base hits. These are all things to consider when choosing an MVP. Since there are so many great athletes these days picking an MVP can be quite difficult, and that is why they look at so many different areas of the game to choose the â€Å"Most Valuable Player†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Home† is not an easy term to define. Most of us being community college students, look at it as being a place for comfort and familiarity. gas prices :: essays research papers Your paycheck is buying less for several reasons. For starters, if you plan on going to the gas station these days you better bring along the checkbook. Gas prices have been on the rise since it bottomed out back in May of last year when we were only paying $0.64 a gallon compared to today’s $1.54.9 per gallon. So that raise you received, just throw it right out the window because it is not doing anything for you now. Not only can you not drive anywhere, but flying is more expensive these days too. My theory is, that the oil companies are preparing for the mass amounts of money they are going to lose in the future, because oil will soon be exhausted from our mother earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we arrived, we were surprised at the wedding being quite traditional. The church, set in the back of their small community. Followed by the reception, which took place at a hall near by. Not like the previous wedding I went too, which was outside right along Lake Michigan, and the reception took place inside the mansion that stood near by. But I guess some people like to be traditionalists and that will do the job as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before a player can be considered â€Å" Most Valuable† in his or her league, some basic areas are to be considered. Did that player lead the league in goals, points per game, home runs, or any major category that would lead his team, if not the league? Was that person on a winning team, or was he the triple crown winner, which is having hit the most homeruns, R.B.I.’s, and base hits. These are all things to consider when choosing an MVP. Since there are so many great athletes these days picking an MVP can be quite difficult, and that is why they look at so many different areas of the game to choose the â€Å"Most Valuable Player†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Home† is not an easy term to define. Most of us being community college students, look at it as being a place for comfort and familiarity.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Industry and Competition of the Bus Industry :: Buses Transportation Automobiles Essays

The Industry and Competition of the Bus Industry Several large companies have focused on the multi-occupant vehicle market, specifically school bus production, in North America. Competitors within the school bus manufacturing industry consist of the Henlys Group PLC, a British based company, and two U.S. bus companies, Collins Industries Inc. and Navistar International. Henlys consists of Blue Bird Corporation, Prevost Car Inc., Nova Bus and TransBus International Ltd. Collins Industries operates seven vehicle companies including Collins Bus Corporation and Mid Bus Corporation that make up their school bus line. And finally, Navistar International, which also produces school buses, is divided into three principal industry segments. These segments are trucks/buses, engines, and financial services. In October 1999, Henlys acquired Blue Bird Corporation. This horizontal acquisition gave Henlys a competitive advantage in the North American school bus market. Currently, Blue Bird has increased its market share to over 47% making the bus market Henlys core business. Blue Bird, financially, accounts for 59% of total corporate sales and 81% of Henlys profits. Within Blue Bird, school bus sales accounted for 83% of total sales. Blue Bird offers three styles of small buses and three different large buses, all designed to meet customer needs. They have also teamed up with the Southwest Research Institute to develop the bus of the future, Envirobus. The joint venture was commissioned by the Department of Energy in response to increased pressure from various environmentalist groups to develop buses that are safer and environmentally conscious. This acquisition makes Henlys the largest company in sales of school buses in the North American Market. Besides school buses, Blue Bird a lso produces commercial buses and recreational vehicles. Henlys is also able to take advantage of Blue Bird’s extensive network of distributors. These areas complement Henlys other areas of operations by building on their core competencies. Prior to the Blue Bird acquisition, Henlys Group used the cooperative strategy of equity strategic alliance to expand its bus and coach operations outside of its borders. With this one acquisition, the Henlys Group has achieved economy of scale and now controls 47% of the school bus market in North America. Henlys equity alliance partner profile includes a partnership with Volvo that jointly owns Prevost car Inc. and Nova bus. This joint venture accounts for a 25% market share in North America’s coach market and is the market leader in bus shells for motor homes supplying 80% of that market.

The Disabling Effects of Selective Mutism Essay -- Disorder Mutism Chi

The Disabling Effects of Selective Mutism Among the vast range of anxiety induced disorders that exist, Selective Mutism may be the most disabling to its victims. It has been estimated that approximately one in a thousand children suffer from this presumed psychiatric ailment wherein the ability to speak is limited to the household or other areas of comfort. (2) Public places and schools elicit so much anxiety within these children that their natural capacity to speak is suppressed. Once a child under five years of age exhibits the behavior described, for over a month, and without having other speech impeding barriers affecting them such as autism or a second language, he or she will most likely be diagnosed with selective mutism. (2) Many hypotheses have been posed as to what causes selective mutism, however, no determinate conclusions have been made. In most cases it has been proven that anxiety disorders are hereditary, thus, nearly all children who become selectively mute have family members who were afflicted with the same or more serious anxiety disorder, like obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, or social phobia. The fact that anxiety disorders pass through generations implies that brain chemistry is perhaps genetic or that serotonin levels are inherited. Other suggested causes of selective mutism have been speculated upon, however, little research has been instated. Abuse, neglect, extreme shyness, extremely embarrassing experiences like vomiting or having diarrhea in a classroom setting, or living in a home environment with exceptionally nervous parents may also lead to become selectively mute. These theorized causes tend to describe the background of children who have no similar disorders r unni... ...e Mutism Foundation, a support sight to better understand the disorder http://www.cisinternet.net/errorpages/404.shtml 3)Philadephia Page, a site with excerpts about selective mutism from the Philadelphia Inquirer https://registration.philly.com/reg/login.do?url=http://www.philly.com%2Fmld%2Finquirer%2Fliving%2Fhealth%2F3939354.htm 4)Selective Mutism UK, an interesting article about the seriousness of selective mutism http://www.selectivemutism.org/smg/ukarticle.htm 5)Anxiety-Panic Website, a site which describes several other anxiety disorders http://anxiety-panic.com/dictionary/en-dicts.htm 6)Mental Health web page, a helpful site providing several articles about selective mutism http://www.mental-health-matters.com/ 7)Anxiety Network, illustrates well the treatment available for those selectively mute http://www.anxietynetwork.com/spsm.html The Disabling Effects of Selective Mutism Essay -- Disorder Mutism Chi The Disabling Effects of Selective Mutism Among the vast range of anxiety induced disorders that exist, Selective Mutism may be the most disabling to its victims. It has been estimated that approximately one in a thousand children suffer from this presumed psychiatric ailment wherein the ability to speak is limited to the household or other areas of comfort. (2) Public places and schools elicit so much anxiety within these children that their natural capacity to speak is suppressed. Once a child under five years of age exhibits the behavior described, for over a month, and without having other speech impeding barriers affecting them such as autism or a second language, he or she will most likely be diagnosed with selective mutism. (2) Many hypotheses have been posed as to what causes selective mutism, however, no determinate conclusions have been made. In most cases it has been proven that anxiety disorders are hereditary, thus, nearly all children who become selectively mute have family members who were afflicted with the same or more serious anxiety disorder, like obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, or social phobia. The fact that anxiety disorders pass through generations implies that brain chemistry is perhaps genetic or that serotonin levels are inherited. Other suggested causes of selective mutism have been speculated upon, however, little research has been instated. Abuse, neglect, extreme shyness, extremely embarrassing experiences like vomiting or having diarrhea in a classroom setting, or living in a home environment with exceptionally nervous parents may also lead to become selectively mute. These theorized causes tend to describe the background of children who have no similar disorders r unni... ...e Mutism Foundation, a support sight to better understand the disorder http://www.cisinternet.net/errorpages/404.shtml 3)Philadephia Page, a site with excerpts about selective mutism from the Philadelphia Inquirer https://registration.philly.com/reg/login.do?url=http://www.philly.com%2Fmld%2Finquirer%2Fliving%2Fhealth%2F3939354.htm 4)Selective Mutism UK, an interesting article about the seriousness of selective mutism http://www.selectivemutism.org/smg/ukarticle.htm 5)Anxiety-Panic Website, a site which describes several other anxiety disorders http://anxiety-panic.com/dictionary/en-dicts.htm 6)Mental Health web page, a helpful site providing several articles about selective mutism http://www.mental-health-matters.com/ 7)Anxiety Network, illustrates well the treatment available for those selectively mute http://www.anxietynetwork.com/spsm.html

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

P&G and SK-II Essay

Paolo de Cesare heads to Japan to make a decision on one of P&G’s most successful and fast growing products – SK-II. SK-II was a high end product that had developed a strong following among Japanese women, who were increasingly conscious about skin care and willing to spend a significant amount of their income. Cesare must decide among three options: continue to focus on the Japanese market, introduce the product in china, or introduce it in Europe. Decision After careful consideration and analysis, I would recommend that Cesare pursue a strategy that prioritizes a focus on the Japanese market and eventually transitions into China. SK-II is a proven product in a market that is has yet to be fully tapped. With a penchant for numbers and analysis, Japan’s consumers are some of the most sophisticated easiest to target in the world. However, China’s expected prestige-beauty segment growth cannot be ignored. Intense rivalry from companies that have already set up camp in China is to be expected, but core cultural similarities can be extracted from the success of SK-II in the Hong Kong and Taiwanese markets. A table with pros (+) and cons (-) is listed below for each country: CAGE Analysis of the Decision A CAGE (cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic) analysis was performed to support this decision. Cultural – As far as cultural distance, staying in Japan poses the least amount of threat as P&G would be staying in a market that they are familiar with and have established a strong understanding of consumer needs through massive amounts of market research. China has close ties to Hong Kong and Taiwan, which are countries where SK-II has also been established strongly, however, the European cosmetics market is still in an infancy stage for P&G. Administrative – P&G is a global company with administrative support available in various regions. The brand in Japan is well established and makes distance visible for managers. P&G’s presence in European also well established and would not pose much administrative difficulties in setting up. China is still a new market to P&G in terms of political/governmental systems and building administrative support would be difficult. Geographic – Geographically, Europe is the closest to P&G’s headquarters in the US, however, a strong establishment of R&D facilities in Japan would arguably remove any worries about physical remoteness. Again, China is still a new market and has only recently accepted foreign retailers. Economic – Japan’s economic climate is in stagnation, however, Japan’s target market for SK-II is strong as women are willing to spend up to $1,000 of their yearly income on the product. While the economic climate of European markets is strong, a high concentration of high-end cosmetics producers are already established and create high bargaining power among buyers. China is the most attractive in terms economy and the prestige-beauty segment is growing significantly faster than that of Japan and Europe. However, high economic trade costs do slightly offset China’s potential. Based on the CAGE analysis, Japan is clearly the best choice as it provides the least distance for P&G. China is attractive as it can take advantage of the cultural similarities to the established markets in Hong Kong and Taiwan and provides the most robust growth opportunity in terms of economic prowess. Adding Value Scorecard Analysis In order to establish a more robust analysis, an Adding Value Scorecard was used to evaluate Japan, China, and Europe. Adding Volume – In terms of value creation and economies of scale, adding volume may very well reduce product costs when expanding into all three markets. Further information such as proximity to inputs and raw materials would provide a better view of this perspective. Decreasing Costs – In terms of decreasing costs, China would have the highest integration costs as P&G would have to set up a business in a completely new market. Japan and Europe are already well established. Differentiating – Differentiating SK-II in Japan is one of the leading reasons for the product’s success. Consumers value the analysis of scientifically proven benefits that the product provides. Establishing this ideology in China will be difficult for P&G but the success of the product in Hong Kong and Taiwan may help alleviate the issue. European markets are saturated and have a high level of competition with various established products, and thus, differentiation in this market will be difficult. Improving Industry Attractiveness – De-escalating or escalating the degree of rivalry will be a crucial factor when deciding which market to prioritize. Focusing on Japan will further strengthen P&G’s foothold among competitors such as Shiseido, Lion, and Kao. Companies have already been in China for three years (at the time the case was written) and a quick entry for SK-II would foster early entry benefits. European markets are too highly competitive – prioritizing this market may induce price wars. Normalizing Risk – International operations can provide geographic risk reduction but can also create new sources of risk. While China will provide a new market to diversify P&G’s portfolio, it has still only recently opened its borders to foreign retailers. Strict governmental regulations and lack of transparency in economic predictability may actually increase risk. Europe and Japan’s economies, while slow in growth, are established and can be considered low risk. Generating and Upgrading Knowledge/Capabilities – Utilizing Japan’s strong R&D foundation, SK-II’s proven success can help the product line as it expands to capture more market share. For Europe, P&G does not have the expertise to deal with the perfumeries in Germany and France, two of the largest markets in the region. Developing SK-II in China may very well provide additional research findings in a new and growing market. Based on the above Adding Value Scorecard analysis, P&G can capitalize on its competitive advantage and enter the Japanese market in full force. Further research and developments in Japan may possibly fuel a new strategy for entering the Chinese and European markets.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Life at a Medieval University Essay

Life at a medieval university for clerics was in many regards similar to our present day college experience. When college was in session, life was basically split into two categories; life in the books, and life outside the books if you will. Scholars needed to focus their attention to the tasks at hand during learning hours. As we know today, the more time you spend studying, the better grades you’ll achieve. On the other hand, scholars needed a release from the daily grind of constant academic involvement. This may have included some popular pastimes such as drinking, gambling, and wreaking havoc downtown (nothing a modern student would do). The scholars experienced many of the problems that modern day collegians deal with as well. Some of these issues included finding the college that fits you best, shortages of funds, arguments with local residents, feuds with fellow clerics, and finding the path that would be fulfilling to them in their lives. There were only a few major differences being a life centered on religion and discussions based on theology, the fact that only males were accepted to study and the clothing that scholars wore. All in all, being at a university was for the betterment of the individual. Students back then had a similar motivation to go to school. By completing university study, you would achieve a higher status in society and live a better life. Another was to get out of a home town to see what else the world had to offer. College is the best time to explore because you’re housing and food are all accounted for. Wandering scholars took best advantage of this by traveling to different universities and getting a diverse education. One reason not many people went to school was because most were not privileged at this time (the literacy rate was very poor). Academic life was structured fairly well. Rules and rights were clearly laid out by the institution itself. Students were protected from harm by any member of the faculty, as they should be. In the â€Å"Royal Privileges Granted to the University of Paris by the King of France,† it is stated that â€Å"†¦neither our provost nor our judges shall lay hands on a student for any offence whatever; nor shall they place him in our prison, unless such a crime is committed by the student that he ought be arrested. † The article goes on to talk about how under the circumstances that the scholar is found to have committed a crime, he be handed over to an actual judge for further investigation. This shows that the university has governing powers within itself to a certain extent. If an encroachment can be resolved without going to the local or state government authorities, the scholar’s image can be protected. Even today we have University Police on campus who held regulate behavior on campuses, but do not have jurisdiction outside of the college campus. Clothing was another major aspect of scholarly life. Clerics wore long cloaks with nothing fancy that would make them stand out. Master teachers wore cloaks with the addition of a white stole. The stole was used to show status and authority over the rest of the student body. This seems to hint to the fact that all the scholars were on a level field of play, and it distinguished them from the rest of society. Typically our graduates of today’s colleges and universities adorn the traditional gowns when they receive their diploma. On a side note, I attended a private religious elementary school which enforced a policy of uniforms (shirt and tie for the guys, skirts for the girls). I believe that by wearing the same clothing as fellow students, people aren’t so concerned with what each other is wearing, and focus on learning. Religion played a major factor in medieval universities. As in my elementary experience of mass being part of the weekly routine, medieval universities had a major emphasis on religion. Robert de Sorbon tells us in his regulations that religious holidays will be followed strictly in the academic life. No meat would be allowed to be consumed on Advent and other days designated by the church. If you were at a university at this time, you would follow the religious standards, just as I could never get out of going to Friday mass at HGA. Nowadays, religion is a touchy topic. It is left to the discretion of the individual whether or not he or she wants to follow the practices and how closely. Church and state are now separated as to avoid major conflicts. Peter Abelard questions the theological teachings of medieval universities and is criticized for it. He says â€Å"Is God one, or no? † At this time scriptures were not to be questioned and were considered to be true. As we know now, science has become a major source of answers in society. Anyway, Abelard brings a whole new dimension to the table when he questions god’s existence and some of the things that the church stands for. The whole basis is to use logic and reason to ponder things in a philosophical fashion. This faith vs. reason debate involved Abelard and others who felt that god was in a persons being, or heart. Academia took up most of the students daily and weekly lives. Scholars took full advantage of down time to relax and enjoy themselves. Social life was the second major aspect of a cleric’s university experience. As we know, the student body greatly impacts the surrounding town’s economy; however social issues arise as well. When students and townspeople are in the same atmosphere, and drinking, fights are bound to break lose. These battles came to be known as â€Å"town and gown† ordeals. These were actually small wars where people would be killed! As many as three thousand students armed with weapons would flood the streets and begin fighting with townspeople, also armed with weapons. Students were also held fairly high in terms of their rights. This is what fueled most of the battles. The fact that a scholar was in progress of obtaining a degree made many seem untouchable, after all, they were going to make the world a better place with their elevated knowledge. Students were warned ahead of time by their proctors that there was a tension between the people of the town and the student body. Heavy drinking and gambling occurred frequently and poems were written as evidence. This served as a social release where students could let lose for awhile. Even today student go to the bars downtown and mix with the locals. There are rarely any incidents of deaths or injuries because of it though. The money generated by pizza shops, bars, taxi services and businesses due to the student influx is what keeps them afloat. On a lighter note, clerics needed some of the same things that modern students need. Money was a big necessity among students as it is today. In a letter home one student tells his sponsor that he is working very hard in school, and studying often, but he needs some money to pay for food, rent and other â€Å"unspecified† things (possibly beer money?). The way he words his letter makes it sound like he will not be able to go on learning without the timely delivery of some funds. The sponsor’s response shows that he knows the truth behind what the student has said. It humors me how students today do the same thing through emails and phone calls home. â€Å"I’m working so very hard in school, but the weekend is coming†¦ † Its all part of growing up and learning responsibility. In the end, life at a medieval university was not that much different from today’s experience. The focus on religion was very important, but reason came into play as well. Scholars were taught to question everything in order to get to the roots of a topic. Over time, there was a major shift from the theological answers to the scientific explanations of today. We test things in science with facts to find if they are true instead of looking toward God and scripture. As in life, there is a time for work and a time for play. We go to college because we know it is good for us, plus it gives us a little extra time in our lives to figure out what we want to be.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Indian English Literature Essay

History of English language and literature in India starts with the advent of East India Company in India. It all started in the summers of 1608 when Emperor Jahangir, in the courts of Moguls, welcomed Captain William Hawkins, Commander of British Naval Expedition Hector. It was India’s first tryst with an Englishman and English. Jahangir later allowed Britain to open a permanent port and factory on the special request of King James IV that was conveyed by his ambassador Sir Thomas Roe. English were here to stay. As East India Company spread its wing in southern peninsula, English language started to get newer pockets of influence. But it was still time for the first English book to capitalize. Late 17th century saw the coming of printing press in India but the publication were largely confined to either printing Bible or government decrees. Then came newspapers. It was in 1779 that the first English Newspaper named Hickey’s Bengal Gazette was published in India. The breakthrough in Indian English literature came in 1793 A.D. when a person by the name of Sake Dean Mahomet published a book in London titled Travels of Dean Mahomet. This was essentially Mahomet’s travel narrative that can be put somewhere between a Non-Fiction and a Travelogue. In its early stages, the Indian writings in English were heavily influenced by the Western art form of the novel. It was typical for the early Indian English language writers to use English unadulterated by Indian words to convey experiences that were primarily Indian. The core reason behind this step was the fact that most of the readers were either British or British educated Indians. In the coming century, the writings were largely confined to writing history chronicles and government gazettes. In the early 20th century, when the British conquest of India was achieved, a new breed of writers started to emerge on the block. These writers were essentially British who were born or brought up or both in India. Their writing consisted of Indian themes and sentiments but the way of storytelling was primarily western. They had no reservation in using native words, though, to signify the context. This group consisted likes of Rudyard Kipling, Jim Corbett and George Orwell among others. Books such as Kim, The Jungle Book, 1984, Animal Farm and The man-eaters of Kumaon etc were liked and read all over the English-speaking world. In fact, some of the writings of that era are still considered to be the masterpieces of English Literature. In those periods, natives were represented by the likes of Rabindra Nath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu. In fact, Geetanjali helped Tagore win Nobel Prize for Literature in the year 1913. There was a lull for more than 3 decades when India was passing through the era of aspiration and reconstruction. Some sporadic works such as ‘A Passage to India’ by E M Foster, ‘The Wonder that was India’ by E L. Basham and ‘ Autobiography of an unknown Indian’ by Nirad C Chaudhuri though set the stage on fire but were unsuccessful in catalyzing and explosion. It was in late seventies that a new breed of Convent, boarding school educated and elite class of novelists and writers started to come on block. The likes of Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Amitabh Ghosh and Dominique Lepierre set the literature world on fire. Rushdie’ s ‘ Midnight Children’ won Booker in 1981 and send the message loud and clear that Indians are here to stay. Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai repeated the feat when they won Man Booker in the year 1997 and 2006 respectively. In the mean time, a new crop of authors such as Pankaj Misra, Chetan Bhagat, Jhumpa Lahiri, William Dalrymple, Hari Kunzuru have arrived on the international scene and their writings are being appreciated round the globe. India became independent from Britain in 1947, and the English language was supposed to be phased out by 1965. However, today English and Hindi are the official languages. Indian English is characterized by treating mass nouns as count nouns, frequent use of the â€Å"isn’t it?† tag, use of more compounds, and a different use of prepositions. With its distinct flavor, Indian English writings are there to stay. With he surge of English speaking population, the future looks anything but bleak.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

New World vs. Old Essay

Global Wine War 2009: New World versus Old 1. How were the French able to dominate the worldwide wine trade for centuries? What sources of competitive advantage did they develop to support their exports? The wine production of France goes all the way back to being part of the first niche market for premium wine. Factor conditions of France, such as land and climate, were well suited for wine-production compared to other European countries. Since the early 19th century cross-border shipping was very expensive, France was able to cluster the related and supporting industries of wine production within their domestic borders. As a result, France increased its competitive advantage throughout other sources without much impact from other countries. As the industry became France’s second largest export, side by side with a culture of rich food, the demand conditions got affected, as consumers were expecting a certain quality. The French government provided the classification systems, which increased the rivalry and domestic competitiveness and raised the entry barriers so that entry of foreign competition was kept at a minimum. 2. Given the longstanding dominance of Old World wine producers, how were the New World producers, such as the Australians, able to expand their market share so rapidly in the 1990s? As postwar increased demand for wine rapidly, factor conditions of the New World producers, such as widely available suitable land and it being less expensive, made it possible to meet the new demand and boosted the New World industry. The new demand conditions demanded higher quality wines and as new generations were born, the consumers got more price-conscious and convenient oriented. New World producers met these changes in demands by introducing a completely new firm strategy, structure, and rivalry compared to the Old World producers, who were constrained by tradition. Innovation was the key word in the New World strategy; suddenly, mechanical technology reduced labor cost and pushed down prices, packaging innovations made distribution easier and provided convenience to the consumers, and technology ensured vintage-to-vintage consistency etc. As well, branding and marketing skills were performed on the basis of vintage-to-vintage consistency, which gave the consumers further preferences and strengthened the position of the New World producers globally. This made them capable at expanding even more rapidly. The New World producers changed the traditional patterns of related and supporting industries, which used to being long value-chains, as the big producers now controlled the full value chain, able to extract margins and control quality at every level. The size now gave them bargaining power – a power, which made them have a strong grip on the importing countries. The New World producers had created a strong innovative company culture; a culture that could easily adapt to the changes of consumer culture and government regulations. New generations were born and so was the rise of fashion in a completely different culture of lighter consumption. The New World producers responded to the swings of fashion by taking advantage of the factor conditions: much capacity and regulatory freedom. This was the complete opposite to what the Old World producers were able to do – still constrained by the long history of wine-making tradition and lack of innovation. By that, the New World producers were always a few steps ahead of the Old World producers when the global patterns changed.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Data Encryption and Authentication Methods Term Paper

Data Encryption and Authentication Methods - Term Paper Example The recipient's identity is usually established online through digital signatures or certificates. Under this encryption, the user has to manually select the files and folders to be encrypted and run special command/ menu item to encrypt and decrypt the selected objects through certain software. Thus, the user must always remember to encrypt the relevant data before logging off. This gives scope for human errors, where the user might forget to encrypt the data before leaving the system. However, manual encryption is technically more reliable and simple than other forms of encryption.[Cryprite.com] In this form of encryption, encryption is compulsorily done permanently on the disc during every read and write task. The encrypted data is stored in the transparently encrypted volumes. In this type of encryption, encrypted data can only be transferred from computer to computer through diskettes. For the purpose of low level encryption, transparent encryption is the safest way to secure one's data. However, in this type of encryption, there are problems in implementation as it doesn't generally fit into multi-user networks. This kind of encryption involves encrypting the data before and after certain read /write functions are completed or certain confidential files are accessed. When a file is copied or moved, it is ciphered in a secret folder and when it is opened through a standard application, it is deciphered. Again, when the application is to be shut down, the files are enciphered. Thus, at Start up, the encrypted files/folders are deciphered from specified folders/files and enciphered again during shutdown. A disadvantage is that when the data to be encrypted is too large, it may lead to loss of data and reduction in efficiency of the computer. 1 Protection and authentication of data can be also be achieved at three levels : Email and file-encryption The use of passwords while accessing e-mails provides the first level of security. These mails could be encrypted and sent over a secure network by the sender and again decoded and read by the receiver. However, with the use of internet expanding to unlimited proportions, files can be intercepted and sensitive information can be accessed by hackers. It is also possible to hack or send phishing mails through e-mails. Data encryption during transmission using VPNs Transmission encryption technologies include DES (Data Encryption Standard) or AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) .This is a relatively safer way of transmitting information over the internet. A virtual private network cannot be easily accessed by intruders or hackers and information is encrypted using standard procedures like DES or AES. Password encryption on public interfaces An example of asymmetrical key provision; this type of encryption involves the use of a plug point that has to manage keys, decide the algorithm to use for encryption and protect the master key or secret. Classification based on keys : Cryptography is the process of disguising data as cipher text before sending it over a network. This disguised data is encrypted by applying an algorithm to a