Romeo & Juliet Essays (635 words) - English-language Films

Romeo & Juliet Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's plays about tragedy. It is about two lovers who commit suicide when their feuding famillies prevent them from being together. The play has many characters, each with its own role in keeping the plot line. Some characters have very little to do with the plot but some have the plot revolving around them. Friar Lawrence does not have very much time on stage but the time he does have is crucial to the plot line. Through his words Friar Lawrence demonstrates the he is a good intentioned, yet sometimes short-sighted, man who is not afraid to take risks to help others One of Friar Lawrences most favourable traits is how good intentioned he is. He may do something out of the ordinary if he thinks the outcome will help someone he cares for. For example, when he says "In one respect I'll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households rancour to pure love."(Act 2, Scene 3), he is saying that the only reason he will marry Romeo and Juliet is because he hopes that the marriage will end the hostilities between the two houses. When he says "Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, and hither shall he come; and he and I shall watch thy waking, and that very night shall Romeo bear thee to Mantua." (Act 4, Scene 1), he tells Juliet how everything will be all right. Unfortunately, for all his good intentions the play still ends in tragedy. Friar Lawrence is a man who is not afraid to take risks when he feels it is neccesary to help someone. For example in Act 2, Scene 6, when he marries Romeo and Juliet, he is risking his reputation as a Friar so he can help the two lovers. Also, when he says "Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink though off;" (Act 4, Scene 1), he is suggesting that Juliet drink a potion so that she might feighn her own death and avoid marrying Paris. This is an extremely risky thing to do because anything might happen to Juliet while she unconscious. Even after all Friar did to help Romeo and Juliet the play still ended in tragedy because of Friar Lawrences' short sightedness. When the Friar married Romeo Juliet in secrecy, he did not think of all the complications that would arise but instead went on with the marriage because at that time he thought it was the right thing to do. In Act 4, Scene 1, he gave Juliet a sleeping potion without thinking of the possible outcomes of such an outrages plan. He admits that much of the fault of the tragedy lies in his hands when he says "And her I stand both to impeach and purge myself condemned and myself excused", and when he say "Her nurse is privy; and, if aught in this miscarried by myself..." (Act 5, Scene 3). Although Friar Lawrence does not have an especially large role, his role is none the less important. It is because of his good intentions that he was willing to help his friends that Romeo and Juliet were married - a key event in the play. It is because of his willingness to take risks for his friends that Juliet aqquired the sleeping potion - another key event in the play. Finally, it was the shortsightedness of his actions that in part led to the deaths of the two lead characters. This demonstartes that Friar Lawrence was a man who was a man with good intentions who was willing to take risks to help his frieneds. If he had been any other way, the play might not have turned out the way it did.

Biography of Artist Romare Bearden

Biography of Artist Romare Bearden   Overview Visual artists Romare Bearden portrayed African-American life and culture in various artistic mediums. Bearden’s work as a cartoonist, painter, and collage artist spanned the Great Depression and post-Civil Rights Movement. Following his death in 1988, The New York Times wrote in its obituary of Bearden that he was â€Å"one of America’s most pre-eminent artists† and â€Å"the nation’s foremost collagist.† Achievements Established the 306 Group, an organization for African-American artists in Harlem.Co-wrote the jazz classic, â€Å"Sea Breeze,† which was later recorded by Billy Eckstine and Dizzy Gillespie.Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1966.Elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1972.Elected to the National Academy of Design as an associate member in 1978.Awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1987.Established the Bearden Foundation to provide support to young visual artists.Listed as one of Molefi Kete Asante’s 100 Greatest African Americans. Early Life and Education Romare Bearden was born on September 9, 1912 in Charlotte, N.C.   At an early age, Bearden’s family moved to Harlem. His mother, Bessye Bearden was the New York editor for the Chicago Defender. Her work as a social activist allowed Bearden to be exposed to artists of the Harlem Renaissance at an early age. Bearden studied art at New York University and as a student, he drew cartoons for the humor magazine, Medley. During this time, Bearden also freelanced with newspapers such as Baltimore Afro-American, Collier’s, and the Saturday Evening Post, publishing political cartoons and drawings. Bearden graduated from New York University in 1935. Life as an Artist Throuhgout Bearden’s career as an artist, he was heavily influenced by African-American life and culture as well as jazz music. Following his graduation from New York University, Bearden was attending the Art Students League and working with expressionist George Grosz. It was during this time that Bearden became an abstract collage artist and painter. Bearden’s early paintings often depicted African-American life in the South. His artistic style was influenced heavily by muralists such as Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco. By the 1960s, Bearden was innovative art works that incorporated acrylics, oils, tiles, and photographs. Bearden was heavily influenced by 20th century artistic movements such as cubism, social realism and abstraction. By the 1970s, Bearden continued to depict African-American life through the use of ceramic tilings, paintings and collage. For instance, in 1988, Bearden’s collage â€Å"Family,† inspired a larger artwork that was installed at the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building in New York City. Bearden was also heavily influenced by the Caribbean in his work. The lithograph â€Å"Pepper Jelly Lady,† portrays a woman selling pepper jelly in front of a wealthy estate. Documenting African-American Artistry In addition to his work as an artist, Bearden wrote several books on African-American visual artists. In 1972, Bearden coauthored â€Å"Six Black Masters of American Art† and â€Å"A History of African-American Artists: From 1792 to Present† with Harry Henderson. In 1981, he wrote â€Å"The Painter’s Mind† with Carl Holty. Personal Life and Death Bearden died on March 12, 1988 from complications from bone marrow. He was survived by his wife, Nanete Rohan. Legacy In 1990, Bearden’s widow established The Romare Bearden Foundation. The purpose was to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of this preeminent American artist.   In Bearden’s hometown, Charlotte, there is a street named in his honor along with a collage of glass tiles called â€Å"Before Dawn† at the local library and the Romare Bearden Park.

Philosophy of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Education - Essay Example It should also teach to students general knowledge and skills that they will be able to broaden later in their higher education as well as apply in everyday life. School should also develop problem-solving and decision-making skills, and educate physical, emotional and social needs. The Purpose of Education Herbert Spencer once said: â€Å"Education has for its object the formation of the character† and â€Å"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action†. These two quotes reflect my beliefs about education. The purpose of education is to prepare young generations to be able to fully function in the society, to teach them morals and skills to be able to make right decisions that will benefit them and society overall. Another purpose of education is to teach young generations to act upon those decisions and contribute to personal growth and society overall. I believe that education starts with family, in particular parents. They are responsible for raising a ch ild into a rightful citizen. They are the ones who help the child make first steps, say first words, and make first decisions. They provide the direction that determines the lives of their children. The saying goes â€Å"It takes a village to raise a child†. That is where the school community comes in. They help children grow academically, socially, and morally. The education should help reveal the potential of the child. As Jean Piaget believed, intellectual ability is not something that is taught to children, it is something that children develop naturally as they grow. So schools have to provide the framework for that growth. I think schools should provide basic education that is consistent across the country, but at the same time take an individual approach to adjust or add to the curriculum to meet the needs of children of various racial, ethnical, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. For example, children should be able to learn history and geography of t he world to be well-rounded individuals, but at the same time they should have an opportunity to study their cultural and ethnical heritage in more detail. This would help them appreciate their roots as well as respect people of other cultures and backgrounds. I think that currently the system of education is lacking the ability to provide a solid education for children and young people of various backgrounds. Unfortunately, the quality of education youngsters receive is still determined by the amount of money parents have. Even though President George Bush has made an attempt to give the equal opportunities to children of less privileged backgrounds through his landmark legislation â€Å"No Child Left Behind†, still this legislation has failed to achieve its goals in full. President Obama has recently raised the issue of quality of education and the very questions whether the education should be the same for everyone. He advocated for better schools and better education, esp ecially considering the fact that American schools lose to schools in most developed countries in the world. Educational Philosophers: The Power of Logic I believe in logic. I think people who think logically

The Indian Historical Period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Indian Historical Period - Essay Example Varghese, (2008) argues that the Arabic language became a medium of literary communication throughout the areas which the Arabs conquered and in a relatively short time, Arabic displaced other tongues as the everyday speech of the population over most of North Africa and the Near East. Thought and learning flourished; trade and industry prospered; a brilliant and graceful civilization arose beside which Western Europe seemed barbarous and even Byzantium paled. According to McNeill (1986), the immediate stimulus to the Arab expansion was the appearance of a new religion; Mohammed was a native of the city of Mecca and as a young man, he made his living as a camel driver and petty trader and on his travels he picked up a smattering of Jewish and Christian religious ideas. He acknowledged the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth as worthy predecessors of his own prophetic mission and as such prophets that he recognized had received divine plans for men but with time misunderstanding and corruption crept in. As one of the renowned leaders, Mohammed simply claimed to correct and restore the revelation of God and just after his death; his teachings were set forth, cast in poetic form, written down and became the Koran – a sacred book of the Moslem re ligion. ... After his death, the expansion continued at a rapid rate and a series of prophetic successors united the Arab tribesmen for great raids into Syria and Mesopotamia. It was within an amazingly short time that they stripped the Byzantine empire of its eastern provinces and completely conquered the Persian empire; during the following generations, (Sowell, 2004). In the east, the Arab expansion continued at a similarly rapid rate extending into India and the oases of central Asia.

His clc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

His clc - Essay Example â€Å"From the beginning, Islam was for obvious reasons closely tied to Judaism and Christianity. The Koran evolved over more than three decades, during which Muhammad was engaged in discussion with adherents of both religions. There is an abundance of documentation on this subject in the Koran, including †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ narratives with a biblical background and various traditions, both written and oral, of Jewish and or Christian origin† (p.1). Moreover, a fundamental element of the interrelationship between these three faiths was the intolerance of other religious practices and originated from Abraham. To this end, Peters (1990) comments that whilst alternative polytheistic religions are characteristically tolerant of other religious practices, â€Å"the Children of Abraham, on the other hand, though grudgingly accepting of each other, were professedly and actually intolerant of other religious systems. The One True God of Abraham was, on his own witness a jealous deity who brooked no rivals† (p.xxi). Therefore, whilst the origins of the three faiths share the same roots; the formation of Islam, Christianity and Judaism as separate religious systems has resulted in different belief systems and the focus of this paper is to evaluate the development of Judaism from its historical roots to the contemporary manifestation of the religion. In contrast to the assumption that Judaism’s origins are traceable to Moses; the roots of Judaism are found in the Old Testament with numerous references to the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and YAHWEH (the Hebrew name for God) prior to Moses. This is referred to in Ben Sira’s deuterocanonical book Sirach in the â€Å"Praise of the Elders†: Moreover, a central underlying foundation of Judaism’s development is the covenant relationship with Abraham (approximately 2,085 BC); where God decreed to Abraham and decreed that the Israelites were the chosen people by the

Change Management Plan For McDonalds

Change Management Plan For McDonalds McDonalds came into existence in the year 1940 when two brothers Mac and Dick applied their mind in opening a series of world class restaurants all over the world. The two brothers came up with new and innovative ideas to attract a large base of customers. The restaurant focused on giving limited food items with fast services, and at a reasonable price, which in the future could increase their market. Their dream turned into a reality and today, McDonalds is doing exceptionally well in its field by providing the customers with quality products. The mission of the company is to provide quality service, hygiene and value, and the customers, while leaving the restaurant, should have a smile on their face (A brief history of McDonalds). The operations of McDonalds began when Ray Kroc opened its first restaurant under McDonalds corporation in USA in 1955. With the passage of time, McDonalds achieved great heights. The business of McDonalds expanded globally in 1967 when the restaurant was opened in different parts of the world like Canada, Puerto Rico, etc. Today, it has become a leader in the fast food industry world wide. The main aim of the company is to understand the needs of the customers and provide them with the best services. This has been done by the company by applying strict standards of food and service quality. McDonalds is operating at a global level, and giving best services to the customers has helped the company in retaining them as the customers do not face problem with the services and quality given by McDonalds. The major competitors of the corporation are Burger King, Yum Brand, KFC and Wendys International Inc. McDonalds has always given its customers prompt services and have paid due attention to their desired needs. Thus, it is working well in its field by fulfilling all the desired objectives of the customers in the best possible manner (Bloemer, Ruyter Wetzels, 1999). Force Field Analysis Force Field analysis carries a major importance in the organization as it is a useful technique of analyzing all the forces, which are working in favor or against the organization. In other words, it is a specialized method of measuring the pros and cons of the company. The force field analysis, if done in a proper manner, can help the company in strengthening the forces, which support a decision and minimize the errors, which have a negative impact on the company. With the help of this analysis, the company can decide whether the project designed in feasible or not. Force field analysis helps in identifying those changes, which hamper the growth of the organization and focuses on improving the same (Force Field Analysis, 2010). Forces for Change: Intense Competition: There is a huge competition in the fast food chain company. In a highly competitive world, McDonalds needs to have a pace with its competitors and develop new products, which are behind the reach of its competitors. McDonalds, in order to have an edge over its rival companies, should make such products, which have quality and are affordable to the masses. Competition is becoming fierce and there is a need that new products should be launched in the market by the company, which makes the company remain on top with the maximum profit. Customers: The taste of the customers keeps on changing. There is a need that the taste and preferences of the customers should be understood by McDonalds so that they are retained in the organization and do not shift to the competitor companies. New changes in the product should be brought so that the customers do not get bored having the same meal over and over again. It is a fact that the customers are the king of the market and their needs should be satisfied in the best possible manner. This will help the company in attracting a large number of customers towards itself. Technology: Technology plays an important role in a fast food restaurant. Latest and innovative tools should be applied by McDonalds so that they are able to give product to the customers. Obsolete product will not only hamper the growth of the organization, but the company can lose its customers in the coming time. Obsolete use of machines will make workforce disturbed and they will not carry out their work with enthusiasm and zeal. Hence, the company should always use latest technological tools, which will prove beneficial for the organization in the long run (Carter, Ulrich and Goldsmith, 2005). Health consciousness among the customers: Todays customers have become health conscious and they want that the product provides them with energy, rather than giving them any kind of suffering. As McDonalds is a fast food chain company, its priority is providing the best meal to the customers by including those ingredients, which do not affect the health of the patrons. If the company focuses on this aspect, more loyal customers will get attracted towards the organization as they will come to know that the company takes care of its customers health in the best manner. Forces against change: Cost of Implementation: Implementing a change in the organization is not an easy task. An organization having a size as McDonaldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s would find difficulties in implementing a change since it has to be done uniformly over a wide area. The large size of McDonalds is a major deterrent of implementing the change management process. Time Requirement: The implementation of change in McDonaldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s would consume a lot of time since it is spread to many locations. Large time implies that it would require manpower as well as capital to make the change for a long time. Management Support: Concern of the management plays an important role in the organization. At times, it is seen that management does not provide its support for implementing new methods in the organization. They are against adopting any kind of new method in their workplace. This not only hampers the overall growth of the organization, but the strategic objectives of the company are also not achieved due to this. Organization Dynamics of McDonalds: As already stated above, McDonalds is one of the largest food service providers, which satisfies the needs of the customers globally. It is currently operating in more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries. The company has a team of skilled and experienced managers, which have helped in making the company a recognized brand name all over the world. Excellent operating system and global infrastructure make the culture of McDonalds strong and sound. The managers and assistant managers get their training from Hamburger University so that they can provide best quality, service, convenience and value to the patrons. The corporate culture of McDonalds has a shared value system, which helps in forming the company decisions (Kincheloe, 2002). Training is given to around 55,000 employees every year at McDonalds. Expenses of around 10 million are spent on the overall training of employees. There is a need that experienced and trained employees should lead the organization so that they can provide the best ingredient of success for the organization. On the job vocational training is provided to the employees in the corporation, which teaches them high set of skills, which they can apply in the near future. The new recruits are provided with an induction program so that they understand the workplace as well as the culture properly. The trainers always provide a helping hand to the trainees so that they not only learn the operating skills, but also understand the workplace where they are going to spend most of the time. In addition to this, step by step manual and video tapes are provided to the employees, which cover minute details of how to deliver outstanding services to the customers. When McDonalds started from scratch, it focused on building a reputation based on trust and dependability among the employers and employees. The company has achieved great heights because it has always understood the problems of the employees and provided them with the best possible solution. There is a great amount bonding between the employers and employees as the company has its own Human Resource Management program, which fosters the employee loyalty and keeps them satisfied by making the employees work as a team. For example, all McDonalds employees in Singapore are entitled to receive in house medical benefits, which motivate them to perform better in the organization and develop a feeling of mutual trust and confidence among the employers and employees (Royle and Towers, 2002). Changes required: McDonalds offers various kind of uniform menu in its fast food products. It is one of the top sellers and innovative companies. It has entered various segments so that the needs of every class of customers could be fulfilled. In spite of being an established brand, it has always remained into controversies due to the meal offered to its customers. To remain a world class company and achieve high profits, there is a need that management should redefine its image in terms of health and nutritional products to be provided to its customers. Today, the people have become conscious regarding their health and figures. They want to have that food, which can keep them healthy and fit in the long run. The problem with McDonalds is that it has already gained a reputation of being a fast food chain company where junk food is provided to the customers, which affects their health. There is a need that the company should keep in mind that those products should be made, which measure the health safety. There is a need that the company should do something for avoiding the rising health problems among the customers and regain its image back. The corporation should introduce new marketing communication plan, which attracts the attention of the customers, who are health conscious. A campaign should be launched under the brand image of the company, which offers the products that are irresistible and also provide significant information that the product is fresh and healthy (Whats Wrong with McDonalds, n.d.). For example, the company can write the ingredients in its menu so that the customer can go through it and can see that the items will not harm their health anyhow. If the company is not able to do so on time, it will not only lose its customers, but its market image will also be dropped down in front of its competitor companies. McDonalds, to regain its positive image again, should implement the aforesaid changes as soon as possible by implementing Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC). A lot of advertising and promotion campaign should be performed by the company by focusing on healthy products introduced in their meals, especially for those customers, which are health conscious. This will create a new image among the health conscious customers and will create awareness among the growing children about obesity and also among the target market. This will act as a driving force for the company by retaining the customers in the organization. Model for change Management: At times, there is a need that the organization should bring some changes, which are beneficial for the company in the long run. The organization can improve its actions by conducting a thorough research in advance and then implementing the best possible measures, which provide the company with maximum benefits. For this, Kurt Lewins introduced a three step change process, which would help McDonalds in implementing positive changes in its working. The action for change consists of three basic steps, which are unfreezing, changing and refreezing. (Kurt Lewin Three Step Model, 2010) Unfreezing: It is a process where an individual sets aside his old behavior, which can cause harm to the growth of the company. Under this step, McDonalds should identify its internal operations and diagnose where the company is lacking behind in terms of the product provided to the customers. The manager of the firm should help the employees in clearing out their old roles and purposes. For this, the managers can analyze the working of their employees as whether they are carrying out their responsibility with due sincerity or they are facing any other kind of problem in hampering the operations. Diagnosing the situation properly will help the company in implementing new models of behavior, which can be explored and tested in advance. This will help the employees in casting aside their old behavior and they will be motivated to introduce the new model (Robbins, 2009). Changing: In this step, the organization should develop individual employee so that he can learn new behavior and methods of working and apply new roles into the working. There are some guidelines for the organization to follow so that change could be managed effectively. The first guideline is that that McDonalds should recognize that the change introduced is to improve the overall performance results. The second guideline is that the workforce should be made responsible for those changes, which are brought by them. The last guideline is that the employees should be motivated on time so that they work as a team and initiate coordinated efforts. Refreezing: It is the last stage in the model for change, which states that whatever the individual has learned in the workplace should be integrated in his actual practice. At this stage, the employee has to follow new beliefs, feelings and behavior, which he has learned from his superior at the time of changing phase. Thus helps them to adopt a new behavior, instead of reverting back to their old behavior. Therefore, it is essential that reinforcement should be carried out by the company for the incorporation of new behavior. Road map for change implementation plan: Bringing new technology and introducing innovative products have always helped the organizations whether they are operating on a small scale or a big one. The organizations, while considering for bringing a small change or a systematic change have to face many problems in implementing the change. Same is the case with McDonalds. The organization knows that the change needs to take place, but how to deliver the change is a difficult task. For this, John Kotter, who is a change management guru, has introduced an eight step process, which can help the organization in leading the change. The eight steps for leading change are as follow: To create urgency: The management should motivate the employees that the change will not only benefit the company, but will also attract the customers towards itself. The organization with the help of this model can identify potential threats and develop a picture as what can happen in the near future and how to cope up with the challenges in the best possible manner (Kotters 8-Step Change Model, 2010). Develop a strong coalition: The organization in order to bring change should develop a team of effective leaders, which can develop team building and identify the weak areas so that a strong mix of people is developed within the company. Develop a vision for change: McDonalds should develop a vision that identifies a value, which is central to change. It should implement the vision in an effective manner so that the company can achieve its strategic objectives. Communicating the vision: After creating a vision, the management should communicate the vision to all the levels of management so that the workforce can work accordingly and always has an edge over its competitors. Eliminate obstacles: If McDonalds follows the above given steps properly, the changes can take place in the organization without any problems. Also, if there are any kinds of hindrances in the path of the company, a proper lay out of the structure and joint effort of the team members will help in eliminating the obstacles, which can create hindrance to the profits of the company in the long run. Develop short term success: Short term win will help McDonalds in achieving success, leaving no room for failure. If the team members apply best of their knowledge, targets will be achieved and each win will boost their morale and next time they will achieve the target with minimum cost. Build on change: the organization should keep on building new changes and bring improvements so that the work is carried out in a right manner without giving any failures. For example, Kaizen approach should be adopted by the company so that continuous change improvement can take place. Implement the changes in the corporate culture: McDonalds should identify what specific changes are required in the working and its vision and values must be seen in day to day operations. For this, the organization should talk about its success with the workforce and motivate them by telling how the organization has received success in the change process (Watson, Gallagher and Armstrong, 2005). It is therefore necessary that McDonalds should plan each of its steps carefully and build proper function so that the changes are implemented effectively. Critical Analysis: Change management plan plays an important role in the organization and the tools and techniques applied above will give the company a competitive edge against its rivals. The force field analysis, if applied in the company, will help in knowing its driving forces as well as those forces, which are acting against it. On the other hand, the disadvantage of this factor will be that implementing this analysis can be costly and its success can also not be guaranteed in the long run (Fiske, Gilbert and Lindzey, 2010). Other than this, the Kurt Lewin model for change management can bring various improvements in the working of the employees as well as give an idea where the organization is actually standing and what measures it can take to cope up with the problem. It also proves to be an effective method of improving decision making ability of the employees. However, applying this method can be a drawback as this method depends more on theoretical approach than on a practical one. It totally depends on the skills and capabilities of the individual carrying out the work. Finally, Kotters eight step methods will help in knowing every minute detail of the company in the best possible manner, but for this approach to be implemented in the company there will be a requirement of additional cost and time for the management. They will have to understand every step properly, as the wrong implementation of one step can result in the whole plan going in disarray (Sofo, 2000). Conclusion Hence, it can be summed up by saying that McDonalds is doing exceptionally well in its field by providing the customers with the best possible products. It has taken various steps to increase its responsiveness by introducing new e-mail response system to address the queries of the customers. On the other hand, there are some shortcomings, which are not only hampering the image of the company in the eyes of its customers, but it is also loosing its costumer base. There is a need that the company should introduce health conscious meals in its menu so that the customers are provided with the best products. This will help the company in achieving success in the long run. Also, the customers will be retained with the company in the near future.

Competition Vs. Monopoly Essay -- essays research papers

1. Analyze the fast food industry from the point of view of perfect competition. Include the concepts of elasticity, utility, costs, and market structure to explain the prices charged by fast food retailers. Firms within the fast food industry fall under the market structure of perfect competition. Market structure is a classification system for the key traits of a market. The characteristics of perfect competition include: large number of buyers and sellers, easy entry to and exit from the market, homogeneous products, and the firm is the price taker. Many fast food franchises fit all or most of these characteristics. Competition within the industry as well as market supply and demand conditions set the price of products sold. For example, when Wendy’s introduced its $.99 value menu, several other companies implemented the same type of changes to their menu. The demand for items on Wendy’s value menu was so high because they were offering the same products as always, but at a discounted price. This change in market demand basically forced Wendy’s competition to lower prices of items on their menu, in order to maintain their share of the market. The previous example illustrates the elasticity of the fast food industry. Supply and demand set the equilibrium price for goods offered by franchises within the industry. Competitors of Wendy’s must accept the prices established by the consumer demand for the value menu. If consumers didn’t respond so positively to Wendy...

Poetry – Love in Vain

When I first laid my eyes on her, I thought I May never see again: she emitted Such a blinding light from her appearance A mastermind criminal she was to Steal the stars and trap them in her eyes which Left the earth in a starless blanket. A glance towards her would leave memories Worth remembering forgotten I was Swallowed by her heavenly features which With ease would take you. The red painted sky At sunset was reflected in her cheeks And the crimson of rage locked in her lips. She was the food on my plate and the drink In my glass, the water in the lake and The pump of my blood. She was the scent of A flower, the fire in a furnace, the Glow of a light, the words in a poem She was everything and all revolved Around her. Lavishly sweet was the taste On her lips, which only a touch will leave You dazzled and the stress which you once had Would diffuse into nothing. Just with a wink In our sight, she'll have anything she wants For you'll be pampering to her needs. It is better to say ‘stay away from Such devils' you would give them your life and They'll leave you lifeless; you'd make them happy But experience it? No you will not. They'll strip you of your wealth; to think you were In love would be the notion of a fool. Hell would upsurge if you deprive her of A single thing; such creations of God, Beautiful in stature, should not have hearts Of fiery temper like a volcano. Unless you obliterate her from your Mind from the first sight, you'll be ensnared. Censor her from your mind and you'll be free. Generous was god, when he let me be Free from this trap, like a fly from a web. And now I am free as a bird in the sky, And like the bird I watch below at those That fall into the similar hole to Me but to deep for them to climb back out. Those sorrowful memories play in my Head, but the pleasurable time I will Never forget. But was my love in vain? Or was it her playing me with her games? I find it hard to believe that I was Merely a pawn in the grasp of such a Woman, but was she ever a woman?

Ancient Greek Eroticism - An Introduction

Ancient Greek Eroticism - An Introduction Our knowledge about ancient Greek eroticism changes constantly, as more literary and artistic evidence is found and analyzed and as contemporary scholarship puts a new spin on old data. The Concept of Eros in Greece Ancient Greek society had different words for different kinds of love. Eros, for the most part, denoted love that had a sexual component. It could refer to the ideal marital affection between men and women, but also encompassed homosexual relationships. The concept of pederasty, which involved an older man who was both lover and mentor to a young man, also was connected to the idea of eros. This was not uncommon across all the varied Greek city-states. Sparta had homosexual relationships built into the structure of the training all young Spartan men received, although there is some disagreement among historians about whether the relationships were more paternalistic mentorships or primarily sexual. In other Dorian areas also homosexuality was widely accepted. Thebes saw in the 4th century the creation of a battalion of homosexual lovers- the Sacred Band. In Crete, there is evidence of ritualized abduction of younger men by older men. Contrary to popular belief, eros was not solely a sexual institution. In the case of pederastic eros, the relationships were considered educational above all else. Plato also theorized that eros could be directed towards mathematics and philosophy, rather than sexuality, in order to harness that driving energy towards improving ones mental and spiritual state. Sexuality, Myth, and History By the end of the 5th century BC, the concept of erotic and/or romantic homosexual love was enshrined in myth and art. Poets told stories in which male gods had relationships with young, beautiful human men, while myths also depicted similar relationships between human men or tweaked existing myths to fit this dichotomy of lover and beloved. One of the better-known myths of this sort is that of Achilles and Patroclus. According to the myths, Achilles, hero of the Trojan War, had an older and wiser companion named Patroclus. When Patroclus was killed in battle, Achilles completely broke down. The original Homeric texts did not specify a sexual relationship between the men, but later authors firmly interpreted their bond as romantic and sexual. The myth of Achilles and Patroclus was said to have inspired Alexander the Great in his relationship with his closest companion, Hephaestion. Again, however, the true nature of that relationship is unknown: whether they were lovers or had a non-sexual close companionship. In general, homosexual relationships between men were predominantly between an older and a younger partner. The idea of an adult male being the beloved of another man would have been frowned upon or outright stigmatized, since adult men were supposed to become dominant and not passive. Restrictions on Greek Women Women were considered the guardians of Athenian citizenship, but that didnt confer any rights. A citizen of Athens had to make sure all his wifes children were his. To keep her away from temptation, she was locked away in the womens quarters and accompanied by a male whenever she went outside. If she were caught with another man, the man could be killed or brought to court. When a woman married, she was a piece of property transferred from her father (or other male guardian) to her husband. In Sparta, the need for Spartan citizens was strong, so women were encouraged to bear children to a citizen who would sire well if her own husband proved inadequate. There she wasnt so much her spouses property as the states- as were her children and her husband. Because of this emphasis on the need for citizens, however, Spartan women had higher social standing, and the city-state honored the institution of marriage and the marital bond. Same-sex love between women was less recorded due to the role of women in society as a whole, but did exist. The most famous evidence of this is the poetry of Sappho, who wrote romantic poetry directed at women and girls. However, love between two women did not have the same usefulness as the educational/military bond of male-male relationships, and was therefore not supported socially. Plato and Current Theories of Greek Sexualities In Platos Symposium (a treatise on Athenian eroticism) the playwright Aristophanes offers a colorful explanation for why all these sexual options existed. In the beginning, there were three types of double-headed humans, he said, varying according to sex: male/male, female/female, and male/female. Zeus, angered at the humans, punished them by splitting them in half. From then on, each half has forever sought out his other half. Plato himself had a very wide range of views on homosexuality: early texts show him praising such relationships as preferable to heterosexual ones, but he also wrote later texts denouncing them. Scholars also continue to debate whether or not erotic love and sexual preferences were considered defining personality categories in ancient Greece. Current scholarship, including feminist and Foucauldian, applies a variety of theoretical models to the literary and artistic evidence we have about ancient sexuality. To some, sexuality is culturally defined, to others, there are universal constants. Application of Athenian literary evidence from the fifth and fourth centuries to preceding or succeeding generations is problematic, but not nearly so hard as trying to extend it to all of Greece. The resources below reflect a variety of approaches. Sources and Further Reading Cullhed, A, Franzen C, and Hallengren A. (editors). Pangs of Love and Longing: Configurations of Desire in Premodern Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014.Dover, KJ. Greek Homosexuality. 3rd editon. London: Bloomsbury Press, 2016.Ferrari, Gloria.  Figures of Speech: Men and Maidens in Ancient Greece. University of Chicago Press, 2002.Foucault M. The History of Sexuality. Volume 1: An Introduction. Vintage Press, 1986.Foucault M. The History of Sexuality. Volume 2: The Use of Pleasure. Vintage Press, 1988.Hubbard, Thomas K. A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.Skinner, MB. Sexuality in Greek and Roman Culture, 2nd edition: Wiley Blackwell, 2013.

The Schlieffen Plan and World War One

The Schlieffen Plan and World War One As the crisis which began World War One was developing from assassination, through calls of revenge round to paranoid imperial competition, Germany found itself facing the possibility of attacks from east and west at the same time. They had feared this for years, and their solution, which was soon put into action with German declarations of war against both France and Russia, was the Schlieffen Plan. Changing Heads of German Strategy In 1891, Count Alfred von Schlieffen became German Chief of Staff. He had succeeded the wholly successful General Hellmuth von Moltke, who together with Bismarck had won a series of short wars and created the new German Empire. Moltke feared a great European war might result if Russia and France allied against the new Germany, and decided to counter it by defending in the west against France, and attacking in the east to make small territorial gains from Russia. Bismarck aimed to prevent the international situation from ever reaching that point, by trying hard to keep France and Russia separated. However, Bismarck died, and Germanys diplomacy collapsed. Schlieffen was soon faced with the encirclement Germany feared when Russia and France allied, and he decided to draw up a new plan, one which would seek a decisive German victory on both fronts. The Schlieffen Plan The result was the Schlieffen Plan. This involved a rapid mobilization, and the bulk of the entire German army attacking through the western lowlands into northern France, where they would sweep round and attack Paris from behind its defences. France was assumed to be planning – and making – an attack into Alsace-Lorraine (which was accurate), and prone to surrendering if Paris fell (possibly not accurate). This entire operation was expected to take six weeks, at which point the war in the west would be won and Germany would then use its advanced railway system to move its army back to the east to meet the slowly mobilizing Russians. Russia could not be knocked out first, because their army could withdraw for miles deep into Russia if necessary. Despite this being a gamble of the highest order, it was the only real plan Germany had. It was fed by the vast paranoia in Germany that there had to be a reckoning between the German and Russian empires, a battle which should t ake place sooner, while Russia was relatively weak, and not later, when Russia might have modern railways, guns and more troops. There was, however, one major problem. The ‘plan’ was not operational, and wasn’t even really a plan, more a memorandum briefly describing a vague concept. Indeed, Schlieffen may even have written it just to persuade the government to increase the army, rather than believing it would ever be used. As a result their were problems: the plan required munitions in excess of what the German army had at that point, although they were developed in time for the war. It also required more troops on hand to attack than could be moved through the roads and railways of France. This problem was not solved, and the plan sat there, seemingly ready to use in the event of the great crisis people were expecting. Moltke Modifies the Plan Moltke’s nephew, also von Moltke, took over Schlieffen’s role in the early twentieth century. He wanted to be as great as his uncle, but was held back by not being anywhere near as skilled. He feared that Russia’s transport system had developed and they could mobilize quicker, so when working out how the plan would be run - a plan that was possibly never meant to be run but which he decided to use anyway - he altered it slightly to weaken the west and reinforce the east. However, he ignored the supply and other problems which had been left due to the vagueness of Schlieffen’s plan, and felt he had a solution. Schlieffen had, possibly accidentally, left a huge time bomb in Germany which Moltke had bought into the house. World War One When war looked likely in 1914, the Germans decided to put the Schlieffen Plan into effect, declaring war on France and attacking with multiple armies in the west, leaving one in the east. However, as the attack went ahead Moltke modified the plan even more by withdrawing more troops to the east. In addition, commanders on the ground also veered away from the design. The result was the Germans attacking Paris from the north, rather then from behind. The Germans were halted and pushed back at the Battle of the Marne, Moltke was considered to have failed and replaced in disgrace. A debate over whether the Schlieffen Plan would have worked if left alone began within moments and has continued ever since. No one then realised how little planning had gone into the original plan, and Moltke was vilified for having failed to use it properly, whereas its probably right to say he was always onto a loser with the plan, but he should be vilified for trying to use it at all.

Strategic Deterrence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Deterrence - Essay Example Clearly analyzing the effect of the multipoint contact on firms strategic moves change according to the level of competition of the rival firm. Strategic deterrence may sound somewhat negotiating between the companies or the firms but ideally speaking it really reduces the risk of incurring losses. Not only that it also helps reduce excessive manpower used if deterrence is not abided. The concept of Strategic deterrence all begins with the primary intention of saving the market from multi market competition battle, which can ultimately bring stability among multi markets. Strategic deterrence is not accepted the moment the multi market contact start to encroach the others market but it is just an understanding that too mutually agreed up activity, which after incurring substantial amount of losses from the companies involved. This situation comes when firms start loosing customer base, profit on sales and the business tending to break-even point, which is generally referred as no profit and no loss point. This position comes when the situation is from a very long time. Though Strategic deterrence is mutually agreed concept is in deed an unwilling act on behalf of the companies involved. It ensures no loss concept but never promises profits out of the deterrence. Strategic deterrence may be a positive attitude but is accepted only by small or medium companies but not by large multi national companies. Its implications on the multi markets are not only largely understood but are but are being analyzed to overcome the disadvantages due to the market encroachment. The markets un touched by this phenomenon is the monopoly market which stands high on sales and profit yet not letting any one step into its market. This is the only market, which does not... The researcher states that today, many companies may compete in some other field, but try to avoid competing in the respective fields. This deterrence is only to avoid incurring losses, unnecessary from his competitor. The competitor may be a weak party, but still would be unwilling to compete. This strategy is primarily to avoid losses during industry shake out for any particular product. It is also stated that some firms compete while others forbear from competing with their ‘multipoint’ rivals — those faced in more than one market or market segment. According to the study it is clear that multi point contact may effect only within the same products or services but not between the strategic groups. There are many speculations that whether multipoint contact deters competition depends on strategic objectives. These predictions are often supported by estimates made by market exit rates. There are many indications and proofs that weak competitors can out survive st rong competitors due to forbearance. This essay aims to presents such proofs. The researcher then concludes that he had a concern that is deeply rooted towards competitive dynamics perspective support the mutual forbearance and resource dissimilarity theories of competitive behavior. Hence, from the essay detailed discussion the concept of mutual forbearance and strategic deterrence is clearly analyzed, theorized and to the possible extent gave enough validations which can bring these concepts and implications to a better understanding.

Political development and the international political system Research Paper

Political development and the international political system - Research Paper Example Martinussen (1997) found that political development is essential to process inputs into such outputs that can be implemented for the benefits of the society. Any country needs development of a proper political system in order to run the government institutions in an appropriate manner because it is very difficult to manage those institutions without having a well-structured political system. Such countries face political decline where there are no signs of political development because political problems cannot be solved easily without development of a proper political system in a country. Kingsbury (2007) found that political development reflects a process of change that is away from archaic political forms, such as feudalism, through to authoritarian or oligarchic political systems, or on the extreme end, a totalitarian or parasitic form of government (p.17). Bringing democracy in a country and then strengthening the roots of democracy is one of the main motives of political develo pment. The main goal of political development is human freedom, which is vital for pursuing capabilities, and realizing rights (Kingsbury, 2007, p.17). Political development not only results in implementation of laws but also brings considerable changes in the social and political dimensions of a society. Political development is also necessary to strengthen the economic system of a country. It is because there is a strong link between the economic development and political system of a country. Political development involves such characteristics and variables, which not only changes the attitudes of the political culture but also carries out considerable institutional reforms. Models of political development play an important role in setting the dimensions of a desired political system. There is no single model for political development. The two models presented by the political development literature include unilinear and monolithic models. Both of these models provide assistance i n the proper political development in a country. Is Democratization Equivalent to Political Development? Democratization is one of the trends in modern political science and it can be a transition from an authoritarian political regime to a democratic political regime. â€Å"Democratization is important because of one of the most widely (but not universally) accepted trends in international relations, known as the democratic peace† (Hauss, 2003). Democratization is not equivalent to political development because democratization is a process by which a country adopts a democratic political regime whereas political development refers to the concept of developing a political structure for implementation. Hauss (2003) states, â€Å"There is less agreement among political scientists about how that process occurs, including the criteria to use in determining if democratization has, in fact, taken place†. â€Å"Democratization relates specifically to a programmatic agenda of state reform promoted by transnational actors† (Burnell, 2006, p. 24). Political development means to form an authoritarian, oligarchic, totalitarian, or parasitic type of government whereas democratization is the transition of autocratic form of government into a democratic regime. Political development is very broad concept related to development of a political attitudes and values in order to form a political system whereas democrati