The Destruction Of Steroid Use - 2088 Words

The Destruction of Steroid Use Ever see those people on television or the internet and think that you want to be just like them because of how big and muscular they are, well not all of them you want to be like. Body builders or even some professional athletes are not honest about how they really got so big and strong. The case behind this is due the widely known illegal drug known as steroids. Steroids have been used by a enormous group of people throughout the century and have brought along with them huge and devastating problems. The reason for these major problems that comes along with the use of steroids are that users will take advantage and abuse these drugs. Due to such negative effects that steroids bring and the addictions, the†¦show more content†¦Steroids have been around since the early 20th century, later they were then illegalized due to many factors, one of these factors being that they are addictive. Although, steroids might have been banned from the United States due to its side effects and addictiveness it did not stop people from abusing these drugs. Steroids compared to other sorts of drugs such as heroine, do not have the same side effects due to the fact that steroids do not provide the same â€Å"high.† NIDA states that, â€Å"The most important difference is that steroids do not trigger rapid increases in the brain chemical dopamine, which causes the high that drives people to abuse other substances† (NIDA 2). This shows that other drugs such as heroine gives users effects that draws them back to the drug, unlike steroids, which draws users back due to the urge to want to get bigger and better. Also, â€Å"Studies have shown that animals will self-administer steroids when they have the chance, just as they do with other addictive drugs† (NIDA 2). Not only does this show that animals too will abuse steroids, but studies show that other drugs might also be similar to steroids and that leads back to the fact on why they were illegalized. Ma ny groups of people are drawn to steroids due to the fact that they are not happy with their current standards with themselves in life. Not

By night in chile Free Essays

This is the story of a boy who yearned to be a poet but became an Opus Dei priest Father Sebastian Urrutia. His love is for the literary arts and continues writing poems even as he continues his work as a priest. He is challenged to preserve churches in Europe and encounters odd priests who have a prejudice for pigeons, maintaining falcons in order to keep the pigeons away. We will write a custom essay sample on By night in chile or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of the priests posits that falconry is the destruction of the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Father Urrutia is sent to teach Marxism to General Pinochet and his Junta secretly. He occasionally goes to the house of a literary lady Maria Canales who has a penchant for hosting parties to artists and authors. As the story progresses, it is revealed that the American husband of the hostess collaborates with the Chilean secret service so that they can detain and imprison suspected subversives. They are kept in the basement of the house where his Chilean wife had these parties. The author masterfully weaves the story and exudes the creative and destructive forces of Chilean politics and literature. He uses magical realism in order to stimulate readers’ minds using graphic style of writing as well as satire and sarcasm. This paper looks at the entity of Urrutia who remains indifferent of the plight of man as well as the destructive apathy of Chilean literature amidst corruption and literary collapse. Bolano uses this narrator to point out the air of complacency that pervades the artists, officials and other people who are accountable to history because of the show of indifference. Father Urrutia is not interested in politics at all since he is basically a priest and literary critic and a priest first and foremost but the political events at that present time seem to get a hold at the upper class circles of literati whom he associates with. His has a comical reaction to the election of Allende (and Pinochet’s subsequent coup) since as the people of Chile march to the streets in sweeping social change, Urrutia indulges himself in classical Greek literature so that he is able to escape the political confusion that may derail him from his own personal pursuits. Pinochet succeeds and restores some kind of order. Urrutia is able to breathe as he senses peace at hand. Thus the priest seemingly has distantiated himself from this kind of responsibility and escapes in his own world. He thinks that it distracts him from his art. He is of the thinking that he needs to find something if he does indulges in the confusion of politics if he is to pursue it at all. Thus, he is alienated from the times. Basic to being an effective person is the fact that we are able to make decisions and freely choose from among alternatives. One’s likes and dislikes are partly the wisdom of one’s organism, partly the result of helpful learning that protects one and keeps one out of trouble, and partly the result of harmful learning. Harmful learning includes certain kinds of accidental learning brought about by chance circumstances, as well as conditioned responses that were once appropriate but are no longer so. These obsolete ways of thinking and feeling make it hard for one to act in healthy and satisfying ways now. But when one pays attention to one’s liking and disliking, one naturally becomes more fully aware of likes and dislikes of what one wants to do and do not want to do. One discovers that these sometimes contradict with what one should like and dislike, if one is aware of what is happening inside him. As Urrutia refuses to recognize the kind of apathy that he has for being involved with the exigencies of the times then, he cannot identify with the people around him. The author states that Urrutia maintains that â€Å"One has a moral obligation to take responsibility for one’s actions, and that includes one’s words and silences, yes, one’s silences, because silences rise to heaven too, and God hears them, and only God understands and judges them, so one must be very careful with one’s silences. I am responsible in every way. My silences are immaculate. Let me make that clear. Clear to God above all. † (Bolano, 1) Thus, his silence can be a kind of cowardice and stubbornness that characterize his motives. Maria Canales’ house is the host of a soiree and a few of Chile’s well-bred and worldly poets gather to drink cocktails. There is a kind of denial about the urgency of the times as one guest accidentally discovers man manacled who has been tortured because he was an anti-Pinochet dissident. The guest discovers this was done by Canales’ husband, Jimmy Thompson. Urrutia thus looks deeply at the implications of this and how it reflects on the inappropriate choice of Canales as the party is done in the same house. â€Å"Because, normally, when she had a soiree, the basement was unoccupied. I asked myself the following question: Why then, on that particular night, did a guest who lost his way find that poor man? The answer was simple: Because with time, vigilance tends to relax, because all horrors are dulled by routine. I asked myself the following question: Why didn’t anyone say anything at the time? The answer was simple: Because they were afraid. I was not afraid. I would have been able to speak out but I didn’t see anything, I didn’t know until it was too late. Why go stirring up things that had settled down after a few years? † (Bolano, 122). Every guest in the party ignores and dismisses this as people get to know about the tortured man at the basement of the house where the party was being held. It is a pity that a priest like Urrutia could justify this inhumanity saying that this is some sort of a goal of literary history, â€Å"That is how literature is made, that is how the great works of Western literature are made. You better get used to it. † (Bolano, 128). Urrutia as an indifferent man is like that of the tortured man and the symbolism that this entails is replete all throughout the story because other people are also indifferent to the plight of the people. Bolano is able to create Urrutia as a pessimistic embodiment of the moral apathy of the writers during the regime of Pinochet. The kind of true responsibility is lacking in Urrutia because response-ability according to Perls, is often a misused word that refers to â€Å"the ability to respond: the ability to be alive, to feel, to be sensitive. † (GTV, 100). It does not mean â€Å"obligation. † It does not mean â€Å"duty. † It is actually a trait that directs a person to do a task without asking why. One does it automatically and because he has been committed to doing that no matter what happens. Discretion is a trait that characterizes the career of Urrutia and his views become distorted as guilt overwhelms him. Author Eder of The New York Times maintains that â€Å"His avowals fall suddenly mute; his omissions blare revelation. † (Eder). WORKS CITED Bolano, Roberto. By Night in Chile. New Directions Publishing Corporation (December 2003) Eder, Richard. Books of the Times: A Priest who Lived Trhough the Grim Pinochet Era. The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2008 at: http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9B00E2DB1030F935A25752C0A9629C8B63n=Top%2FFeatures%2FBooks%2FBook%20Reviews How to cite By night in chile, Papers

Nitun Kundu from Art to Enterprise Essay Sample free essay sample

1. Sum up the instance.2. ‘Entrepreneurs use left-brain accomplishments to reap right-brain ideas’ . Explain the statement analysing the life narrative of Nitun Kundu. 3. Which term is appropriate for the originative activities of Nitun Kundu – ‘Windows’ or ‘Corridors’ ? Justify the sentiment. 1. Summary of the Case ( Nitun Kundu – from Art to Enterprise ) The celebrated creative person Nitun Kundu was born in a lower in-between category household on December 3 at Barobandar. Dinajpur in 1935. He was non merely a celebrated creative person but besides a dynamic interior decorator. fervent painter. freedom combatant every bit good as a successful enterpriser. By born he was originative minded and in this effect. after finishing his school matriculation. he acquire admitted Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University in the section of picture. The diligent and dedicated Kundu passed a mensurable clip in his pupil life. so his professors loved him and excused him to take leave to gain excess money by painting film postings. The immature Kundu neer lamented on his fiscal state of affairs ; instead became determined to make something creative through the inspiration of Zainul Abedin. Quamrul Hassan and Abonindo Thakur. This mastermind completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts and stood 1st in his section. He wished to fall in as a module member of Fine Arts Institute but he took up the place of Chief Designer for cultural activities in the United States Information Service ( USIS ) . After 12 old ages of service at USIS. he left the organisation and one time once more hoped to go a faculty member of Fine Arts Institute. But the dream remained unrealized to the nationalist Kundu because during the seventiess. he immersed himself in the Liberation war. He used to paint streamers and postings for the war and one of his iconic postings of that clip was â€Å"Shodajagroto Banglar Muktibahini† . After Independence of Bangladesh. Kundu married in 1972 and became a male parent in1974 with birth of his girl Amiti Kundu and subsequently his boy Amitesh Kundu. The responsible Kundu realized that he had a household of his ain to take attention of. He turned his life room into his studio where he made little wooden and clay ornament pieces- which he sold and gain plenty to run his family. Subsequently the endowment Kundu joined with BTOPI as a interior decorator and the company was really pleased with his work. He gained experience and expertness in this field and decided to open his owned company named OTOBI and rented a topographic point on Elephant Road and a little mill on Tophaka Road. OTOBI grew big ger and bigger. but even so Kundu made certain that he taught some accomplishments and techniques to his employees by manus. He visited carnivals and mills all across the universe to familiarise himself with the latest designs and engineerings. Now his girl Amiti caputs OTOBI as the manager and his boy Amitesh is the pull offing manager. Kundu had taught them good about the societal duty of a concern organisation. He was a superb enterpriser and ever prioritized client satisfaction. but made no via media in footings of aesthetics. This advanced creative person did a batch for our state. He designed National Film Award trophy. Asia Cup Cricket trophy. BTV-Natun Kuri. Ekushey Padak. President Gold Cup and so on. He was besides the Godhead of ‘Shabash Bangladesh’ statue at Rajshahi University. ‘SAARC Fountain’ at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. historic ‘Indira Mancha’ at Suhwardy Uddyan. ‘Sampan’ at Chittagong Airport etc. Before his decease he won a figure of awards and rubrics. including ‘Ekushey Padak’ in 1997 and Bangladesh Business Award with OTOBI as the Enterprise of the twelvemonth in 2001. 2. â€Å"Entrepreneurs use left-brain accomplishments to reap right-brain ideas† : Explanation of the Statement on the footing of life narrative of Nitun Kundu. The persons who are able to utilize left-brain accomplishments to reap right-brain thoughts or creativeness are successful enterpriser. But unluckily. many persons are merely gifted at one or other. The left-brain properties are consciousness. reason. analytical ability and logic. On the other manus. right-brain properties are unconsciousness. non-rationality. intuitiveness and synthesis. Here we discuss about how Nitun Kundu used left-brain accomplishments to reap right-brain thoughts. Right-Brain Left-BrainUnconscious Conscious: : After birth of Amiti in 1974. when Nitun Kundu had no occupation so he decided to do little wooden and clay ornament pieces. with the assistance of local crafts-men. which he sold in his closely knit circle to gain plenty to run his family. Then he joined with BITOPI as a interior decorator and he gained expertness and experience in this field. and finally decided to open his ain company OTOBI. Now it is really clear that foremost Kundu was incognizant and unfocussed on furniture concern and so bit by bit he became more cognizant and focused about the concern. Non-rational Rational: : When Nitun Kundu joined with the BITOPI so he had no desire to establish such sort of concern i. e. he had some spatial imaginativeness without way. But after geting the concern cognition and experience. he decided to establish a new venture i. e. he found some kind of assurance of witting mold of furniture concern. Intuitive Analytic: : In the late seventies. when Nitun Kundu started OTOBI. he had some thoughts and experiences which were gained from BTOPI. But to do the OTOBI bigger and bigger. Kundu visited carnivals and mills all across the universe to familiarise himself with the latest designs and engineerings. Here it is clear that he used cognition in distinct applications to measure the furniture concern. The right-brain accomplishments are important for the vision necessary to be originative. but invention does non happen until left-brain rationalisation take topographic point. Integrating sensitivities from both encephalons is the critical behaviour needed to be a successful enterpriser like Nitun Kundu. to utilize left-brain accomplishments to ‘harvest’ right-brain thoughts. 3. Justification of Opinion:‘Windows’ or ‘Corridor’ – which term is appropriate for the originative activities of Nitun Kundu? A ‘window’ is a clip skyline during which chances exist before something else happens to extinguish them. A alone chance. one time shown to bring forth wealth. will pull rivals. and if the concern is easy to come in. the industry will quickly saturated. On the other manus. another facet of many successful ventures is called ‘corridor’ rule. It suggests that chances evolve from enterprisers being positioned in similar work or holding had experience with related ventures so that when a ‘window’ opens. it is easy for them to travel rapidly into a new venture. So. the term ‘window’ is appropriate for the originative activities of Nitun Kundu. He introduced OTOBI in the late seventies. During that clip. he had no rivals except BITOPI. For this ground. it was a really alone chance and really easy to come in in the market. Besides. BITOPI imported furniture from abroad but OTOBI trades with autochthonal accomplishments. constructs and engineerings. The furniture of OTOBI was designed harmonizing to the originative constructs of Nitun Kundu. He took advantages of â€Å"windows of opportunities† . He visited many carnivals and mills all across the universe to familiarise himself with the latest designs and engineerings. and implemented those in OTOBI. Nitun Kundu had no wise mans for usher his venture. He generated the thoughts A ; constructs. and rectify them harmonizing to his ain manner.

My Mothers Daughter free essay sample

I remember the Christmas of ‘98. My mother was weeping by the christmas tree. My sister was still a baby then and did not know what was happening. I was confused; shouldn’t Christmas be a happy time? That was the first time I realized that my family was imperfect. I later found out that my mother’s reason for weeping was because my father was spending Christmas night with another woman, and many other nights with her as well. The image of my mother crying on that fateful night still makes me sad.I was born to a gangster father and an ill-fated but intelligent mother; it was romantic enough but traumatizing as well. My father was comparative to a big bee; he pollinated the flower and left the flower and two buds alone with only their thorns to defend themselves in a vast and dangerous world. My parents were divorced after my father showed abusive behaviors towards my mother. We will write a custom essay sample on My Mothers Daughter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He would hit her and call her â€Å"ugly† and â€Å"fat†. He would borrow money from shady groups and put her name on their hit list of people they should go after in case he never returned the money. When he did that, it was like he was signing my name on that list. It made me very sad. when I was very young, my father took away everything that my mother and I could have lived on (our money and our home) and decided not to be in my life in any fashion. He left us without any child support or any financial support. So, I was raised fatherless by my mom.I was five and waving good-bye to a man who was almost a distant reality behind a glass panel at the airport. I did not know where I was going. And that was the last I saw of my father. I was crying then. Times were difficult after my mother and father seperated.There were times when we had to go to garage sales to get our clothes and Goodwill to get canned food. We transferred to and from numerous temporary homes whose rooms were filled with worried voices late at night; filled with conversation I could not yet understand. Dinner was often a little piece of bread that we got off food stamps. I would look at my mother and know that she suffered and sacrificed so much just so I could live. The thought would fill me with guilt.I was too young to feel embarrassed by our situation, but looking back, I imagine how embarrassed my mother must have felt. Still, I believe it is better that we left my father. my mother would have gone through so much more needless suffering. Time away from him would distance us from the chaos allow us to grow, to accept the brokenness and distance ourselves from the chaos and violence. Without him, love between a broken family could blossom again. Despite how she was treated by my father, my mom always taught me to treat others with respect and kindness. My mother, despite being beaten and abused, did not become callous but remained compassionate. She was always ready to give to those who were as unfortunate or even more unfortunate than us. When time and time again, I saw my mother (almost penniless) stop her car and roll down her window in the rain, just to give the homeless the very little she had, I chose to be a learner, a giver and a believer. Several years later, with her words echoing in mind, I traveled to deprived Ghana, Africa to attempt to be my mother’s daughter; to care for orphans and show them that somebody in the world loves them. I was scared and lonely, without my family and without comforts like running water. Still, I went beyond myself and way outside my comfort zone to reach out to children who feel traumatized as I did before and showed them somewhere in the world, somebody cares about them. I found out that they were being physically and emotionally abused and pleaded with the director of the voluntee r program to take them to a real home. I wanted them to have a home, something I’ve never I’ve had. I wanted to be like my mother, who, after enduring so many hardships because she had to support me, didn’t abandon me and showered me with love and warmth.Though there was no running water, internet, and food was scarce, I was repaid in full every early morning when the African school children greeted me the moment I walked into the school with smiles and excitement on their faces. â€Å"Yifu, yifu,† they would say. That was African for â€Å"white people.† I was happy and I felt so in touch with the world when I was able to teach these children simple math, English, and health information, including instruction regarding HIV. These were subjects that I was well acquainted with because the U. S. mandates that all children attend school. These were subjects that only a couple of these underprivileged children knew at all because quality education in Africa is reserved for children whose families can afford it. While the experiences I had at the school for underprivileged kids made me painfully aware of how little these children had, the conditions at the orphanage I was staying at broke my heart. The woman who ran the orphanage was extremely abusive and starved the children, beat them with closed fists, and forced them into child labor. I had several children tell me this verbally and I knew they were being truthful by the thinness of their bodies. Some children were kept from going to school to tend to the shop this woman was profiting from. Whenever I returned to the orphanage from school or play, the orphans would gather around me and follow me happily and I never knew why. Gradually I realized the reason why they were so happy whenever I was home was because this woman couldn’t beat them in front of me. For those two weeks until I left for home, I stayed by the children’s side at all times, and made it a point to record every single event in my journal. I would take them on walks and carry the littlest on my shoulders. I fed them my food during meal times. I would use my spending money to buy them the food they deserved but never received from their caretaker. I wanted them to know so badly that this Yifu from a distant land loved them. And I think they knew that judging from the smiles on their faces.My experience in Africa opened my eyes. One, it opened my eyes to how lucky I am to live in the U.S. and have people who care about me; to have someone care for you and love you is truly a luxury that not all of us can say we have. Two, and more importantly, I realized that that there’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of help to be given. My dream is to be a psychologist to help people with my conditions. College will help me get there.When I was young and immature, a kind woman taught me to treat others with respect and kindness. When I was hurt, a kind woman put a bandaid on my wound. When I was little and sick, a kind mother was there beside me to check my temperature and hold my hand. Now, it is my turn to be brave. It’s my turn to hold on to the hands of those in the dark and reassure them that they will again see the light of day. I am not the product of a chaotic and violent relationship; I am my mother’s daughter. My Mothers Daughter free essay sample There are many responses to the question, what are you? I am short; I am pretty. I am a student; I am a teacher. I am a sister; I am a grandmother. If you were to ask me that question, I would simply say: I am my mother’s daughter. I have her hair, her face, her skin, her passion. I have her writing ability, although probably not to the same extent. All of this is mine, but I do not have her. My mother died on April 21st, in 2007. I was naive and twelve years old that day. I had no idea about all of the pain I would have to come to accept as I walked into that hospital room. There had been rough times, as all children and their mothers have, but I now know that all of that was mainly due to medicine and stress. My mother was the only person in this world that truly saw who I was, and loved me more than anything despite my downfalls. We will write a custom essay sample on My Mothers Daughter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page How does this describe who I am? I want to be a shorter replica of my mother. My ultimate hero in life, this person that was so small compared to the rest of the world, was the light in my life and my most loving nurturer. Thus, I am, or strive to be, who my mother was. My mother was kind. Her kindness was so genuine and raw, so naive and beautiful, that I do not if I will ever reach her level in that aspect. She was loving, unendingly loving. And in return, everyone loved her, even though I do not believe that she saw this. Going to teachers’ retirement parties with her, I saw how everyone seemed to revolve around her utter grace and beauty. Her kindness and graciousness shown like a light. She was, quite literally, the sun that pulled everyone in and shown a light on them too. She was polite without fail, always gracious and considerate. She tried so very hard for me. Besides her diseases that I had no knowledge of, her age held her back from being one of the active, young mothers that I saw. I can see all of this now because hindsight is, indeed, always 20/20. I know so many more facets of my mother now than I did when she was alive. Her unlimited kindness, even to those that she did not like, was one facet. Her sense of family and love for them is another. I saw this with how much she tried to show indifference to my grandmother, but how much she really just wanted approval. The week that my grandmother passed my mother cried and became like a small girl again, the loss hitting her hard. The way that she spoke of her father, my grandfather that died before I could know him, was like she was talking about the world’s greatest hero. Her kindness came from him, I am sure of this. Her most acclaimed facet was her teaching. I saw this in letters that her students sent her, thanking her for her guidance and wonderful presence. Her sweetest facet was her love for my father. I saw this when they would kiss or hug in the kitchen, and I see it now in the few photographs that I have of her. Her facet that I like to think I have inherited was the kindness and love she had with her friends. She knew the real from the fake, and each one could truly see how wonderful she was. She was the voice of reason, and she always knew when they should stick up for themselves, and she was very protective. I like to think that I follow this path with her help in my friendships. My favorite facet was her love for me. I can see it now in her eyes; hear it in her voice, how much she tried and how much she loved me. She tried to live for me, and I see that now. She taught me everything that I would have to know if she was to leave, and for that I am grateful. She hid things from me, and while sometimes I wish that I had known, I know that it was her care for others that kept her from telling. She wanted to break down, but she did not want me to see her lose her strength, and she did not want me to be afraid. I am not afraid. My mother taught me this . She taught me more valuable lessons than she probably knows. She taught me to be kind, polite, and a good person to everyone. She taught me to look people in the eye when I spoke to them. She taught me to always hold my head up high, and to have self-respect and to never lose it. She taught me that I am beautiful, and that I should not settle for something that I do not want. She taught me how to love, and how to see how hard others try, and how to try hard for them in return. She taught me that you do not get things handed to you in life, and that you have to chase after your dreams if you ever want to reach them. She taught me how to be strong, how to look pain in the face but still be happy. My mother is still teaching me things, everyday. I feel closer to my mother than to anyone that is living on this earth. I have a strong connection with her, and I try to let her guide me like she would if she were still here. I miss her more with each day, but I try to live for her, and to bring her life back to this world for others to see. Most importantly, my mother taught me to never give up hope. The one thing that she said to me that I will never, ever forget was this: â€Å"Never give up hope, because when that’s gone, you have nothing left†. I will never give up hope, and I will never give up my mother. So you ask me, what am I? I am simply this: my mother’s daughter.

Former Schools of Bill Gates and 90 Other Celebrities

Former Schools of Bill Gates and 90 Other Celebrities Many celebrities, including Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft,  have attended private high schools. including For some- including the children of politicians, diplomats, and royalty- security was an issue and attending private school kept the paparazzi at bay. For others, private school was a matter of pursuing academic excellence. For these and other reasons, private schools all over the world have educated many famous alums. So, which school did Bill Gates attend? He attended the Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. Here are some other famous private school alums and the schools they attended. Adlai Stevenson Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTAlbert Gore, Jr. St. Albans School, Washington, DCAlexandra Ripley Ashley Hall, Charleston, SCAli McGraw Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTArchibald MacLeish The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CTArthur Golden Baylor School, Chattanooga, TNBarbara Bush Ashley Hall, Charleston, SCBenicio Del Toro Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PABette Davis Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MABill Gates Lakeside School, Seattle, WABill Fritz Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TNBrandt Snedeker Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TNBruce Weitz Ransom Everglades, Coconut Grove, FLChelsea Clinton Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DCChristian Bale, Bournemouth School, Charminster, Bournemouth, Dorset, EnglandCole Porter Worcester Academy, Worcester, MACondoleezza Rice St. Marys Academy, Englewood, CODaniel Radcliffe City of London School, London, EnglandDeWitt Wallace Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MADiana, Princess of Wales Riddlesworth Hal l, Diss, Norfolk, England Senator Edward Kennedy Milton Academy, Milton, MAEliot Spitzer Horace Mann School, New York, NYEnrique Iglesias Gulliver Preparatory, Miami, FLGlenn Close Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTFarrah Forke The Hockaday School, Dallas, TXFrank Shorter Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MAGeorge Carlin Cardinal Hayes High School, New York, NYGeorge Prescott Bush Gulliver Preparatory, Miami, FLGeorge Herbert Walker Bush Phillips Academy, Andover, MAGeorge Walker Bush Phillips Academy, Andover, MAGore Vidal Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NHGwyneth Paltrow The Spence School, New York, New YorkHoward Baker McCallie School, Chatanooga, TNHumphrey Bogart Phillips Academy, Andover, MAIan Kiernan The Armidale School, NSW, AustraliaIvanka Trump Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTJacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Miss Porters School, Farmington, CTJames Stewart Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PAJames VanDerBeek Cheshire Academy, Chesire, CTJamie Lee Curtis Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wall ingford, CT Jane Fonda Emma Willard School, Troy, NYJennifer Anniston Rudolf Steiner School, New YorkJodie Foster Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTJohn Dos Passos Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTJohn OHurley Kingswood-Oxford School, West Hartford, CTJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTJohn Irving Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NHJohn Kerry St. Pauls School, Concord, NHJohn McCain Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VAJon Meacham McCallie School, Chatanooga, TNJulia Louise-Dreyfus Holton-Arms School, Bethesda, MDKathleen Kennedy Townsend The Putney School, Putney, VTLaura Linney Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MALisa Loeb The Hockaday School, Dallas, TXLouise Fletcher All Saints School, Vicksburg, MSMadeline Albright Kent Denver School, Englewood, COMadeleine LEngleAshley Hall, Charleston, SCMadison Smartt Bell Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TNMario Van Peebles St. Thomas More School, Oakdale, CTMary Higgins Clark Villa Maria Academy, Bronx, NYMel Gibson St Leos College, Waitara, Sydney, Australia Michael Douglas Choate-Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTMinoru B. Makihara St. Pauls, Concord, NHMorgan Entrekin Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TNNatalie Cole Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MAOliver Stone The Hill School, Pottstown, PAParis Hilton The Dwight School, New York, NYPatricia Richardson The Hockaday School, Dallas, TXPeter Cousens The Armidale School, NSW, AustraliaPrince Harry Eton College, Windsor, EnglandPrince William Eton College, Berkshire, EnglandQueen Noor Concord Academy, Concord, MAReggie Love Providence Day School, Charlotte, NCReese Witherspoon Harding Academy, Nashville, TNRichard Speight Jr. Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TNS. Presley Blake Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MAShepard Smith Marshall Academy, Holly Springs, MSSky Dayton Delphian School, Sheridan, ORSunny von Bulow The Chapin School, New York, NYStephen Crane The Pennington School, Pennington, NJSteve Forbes The Brooks School, North Andover, MAStewart Mott Deerfield Aca demy, Deerfield, MA Stockard Channing The Madeira School, Mclean, VAStrobe Talbott St. Albans School, Washington, DCTed Danson Kent School, Kent, CTTed Turner McCallie School, Chatanooga, TNTim Russert  Canisius High School, Buffalo, NYTommy Lee Jones St. Marks School of Texas, Dallas, TXTucker Carlson St. Georges School, Newport, RIUma Thurman Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MAWill Ackerman Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, MA

Find an Antipode on the Opposite Side of Earth

Find an Antipode on the Opposite Side of Earth An antipode is the point on the opposite side of the Earth from another point - the place youd end up if you were able to dig directly through the Earth. Unfortunately, if you try to dig to China from most places in the U.S., you would end up in the Indian Ocean as the Indian Ocean contains most of the antipodes for the United States. How to Find an Antipode When locating your antipode, recognize that youll be flipping hemispheres in two directions. If youre in the Northern Hemisphere then your antipode will be in the Southern Hemisphere. And, if youre in the Western Hemisphere then your antipode will be in the Eastern Hemisphere.   Here are some steps to manually compute an antipode.   Take the  latitude  of the place for which you want to find the antipode and convert it to the opposite hemisphere. Well use Memphis as an example. Memphis is located at approximately 35 ° North latitude. The antipode of Memphis will be at 35 ° South latitude.Take the  longitude  of the place for which you want to find the antipode and subtract the longitude from 180. Antipodes are always 180 ° of longitude away. Memphis is located at approximately 90 ° West longitude, so we take 180-9090. This new 90 ° we convert to degrees East (from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere, from degrees west of Greenwich to degrees east of Greenwich) and we have our location of Memphis antipode - 35 °S 90 °E, which is in the Indian Ocean far to the west of Australia. Digging Through the Earth From China So where exactly are the antipodes of China? Well, lets compute the antipode of Beijing. Beijing is located at approximately 40 ° North and 117 ° East. So with step one above, we are looking for an antipode that is 40 ° South (converting from Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere). For step two we want to move from the Eastern Hemisphere to the Western Hemisphere and subtract 117 ° East from 180 and the result is 63 ° West. Therefore, the antipode of Beijing is located in South America, near Bahia Blanca, Argentina. Antipodes of Australia   How about Australia? Lets take an interestingly named place right in the middle of Australia - Oodnadatta, South Australia. It is the home of the highest recorded temperature on the continent. Its located near 27.5 ° South and 135.5 ° East. So were converting from Southern Hemisphere to Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere to Western Hemisphere. From step one above we turn 27.5 ° South to 27.5 ° North and take 180-135.544.5 ° West. Therefore the antipode of Oodnadatta is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical Antipode The antipode of  Honolulu, Hawaii, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is located in Africa. Honolulu is located near 21 ° North and 158 ° West. Thus the antipode of Honolulu is located at 21 ° South and (180-158) 22 ° East. That antipode of 158 ° West and 22 ° East is in the middle of Botswana. Both locations are within the tropics but Honolulu is located near the Tropic of Cancer while Botswana lies along the Tropic of Capricorn.   Polar Antipodes Finally, the antipode of the North Pole is the South Pole and vice-versa. Those antipodes are the easiest on the Earth to determine. Dont want to do the math yourself? Check out​ this  Antipodes Map.

Home alone part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Home alone part 1 - Essay Example It is on one morning he finds himself alone in the house, but the family did not leave him intentionally. His dream comes true, but, unfortunately, some thieves attempt to rob the house but they get arrested in the end. (Bettig, 145) In Home Alone movie, Kevin is struggling to get his freedom in this family full of bullies. He feels that he does not belong to the family and even he gets to a point whereby he wishes that he did not have a family at all. Kevin is left behind by the family after they are rushing to catch the aircraft to Paris for vacation. Kevin was left in his bedroom that is in the third floor because he quarrels with his brother. Unfortunately, he is forgotten and left him in the house alone. However, Kevin is very happy and feels free as he once wished. He feels very good to be alone, having all the pizzas for himself, messing around and also jumping and playing on his parent’s bed. Kevin family is seen to leave their home to Paris for Christmas holiday. As as result, he is left alone in the house unintentionally by his family that he wishes that he never had. Unfortunately, Kevin does not know the real importance of it, or he does not consider it important as the rest of the family members. It is because, even after he learns that he is alone, to him feels like an absolute relieves from his bullying family. Kevin finds his house a difficult place to leave because of his other siblings and cousins too. Kevin is bullied by almost in the house. For instance, he feels that his cousins are bullying him making him do things he does not want to do. On the other hand, Kevin was forced to stay in his bedroom because his brother and he had an argument. In this case he feels bullied. Another theme that evolves the entire movie is the aspect of injustice. For instance, Kevin is forced to go to his bedroom that is on the third floor. He feels that he is not treated equally as the other members of the

Who is responsible for an airline crash Should familes be compensated Research Paper

Who is responsible for an airline crash Should familes be compensated - Research Paper Example Air Crash Litigation. The Liability Environment in which the NTSB Operates. Web. Rand.org. Web. 01 April. 2014. . Annotation: The complexity of compensating victims has challenged legal practitioner and airline manufacturers as well as airline owners. This has resulted to the establishment of an independent body; the NTSB to investigate the causes of air plane crashes to ensure that there is fairness in arbitration and litigation of whom should compensate survivors and victim families. The NTSB is an important body because it carries out investigation into the causes of airline accident so as to lay claims on the right party. Response: The article ensures help us understand the parties involved in the process of litigation and also ensures that all parties understands their role in circumstances of an air crash. This helps prevent lawyers and insurance companies to swindle out or take advantage of the ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding compensations. Allen, Peter. Revealed: Pilot of Air France jet that crashed in Atlantic Ocean killing 228 people had just ONE HOUR sleep before the flight. Web. Dailymail.co.uk. 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 02 April. 2014. . Annotation: Allen reported that the Air France jet crashed in the Atlantic Ocean after the Pilot left the co-pilot to take charge of the Plane. The pilot had excused himself because he had had only an hour of sleep before taking the flight. This demonstrates the high level of negligence that is exposed to innocent lives while travelling to and from their destinations. The article helps us understand one of the causes of plane crash. Pilot negligence and mistakes has claimed the life of many passengers and this is

Investigating Castle Mall management Essay Example for Free

Investigating Castle Mall management Essay The castle mall is a shopping centre located in the centre of Norwich. It is owned by the insurance company Friends Provident. Friends provident employ a whole managerial team who run the centre. This is called Castle Mall Management. This is what I will be investigating in my project. E1 Public and Private Limited Companies (PLC) Castle mall management Ltd is a private limited company (ltd). A private company is a business with limited liability whose shares are not available to the public. A Public limited company (PLC) is a business with limited liability whose shares are not available to the public. PLCs are required by law to publish their accounts. This means that they are available for scrutiny, not only by the owners (shareholders), potential investors, and bankers, but also, by competitors. The Memorandum of Association must state clearly that the business is a public company and it must be registered as such. The term plc must appear after its name. The differences between the two, private and public limited companies are; A public company can raise capital from the general public, while a private company is prohibited from doing so. The minimum capital requirement of a public company is à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50,000. There is no minimum for a private company. Public companies must publish far more detailed accounts than private companies. Advantages 1) The shareholders have limited liability. 2) It is easy to raise capital by issuing more shares. 3) It is much easier to raise finance because the banks are much more willing to lend money to a large, well established, as they see it as much less of a rise. 4) This all makes it easier for the PLC to grow and expand. 5) The shareholders will appoint specialists to manage and runt the company for them. Disadvantages 1) Setting up a public limited company is expensive. There is a lot of administration work involved and at least à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50 000 has to be raised before a PLC can be set up. 2) The PLC has to issue much more information about itself and this again is very expensive to produce. It has to prepare and annul report as well as Annual Accounts and these have to be printed and sent to all the shareholders. They also available to the general public and competitors to see. 3) The extent to which any one individual, or group, can maintain control of an organisation is severely limited by the sale of its shares on the stock exchange. A family may find their influence on a business diminished when a listing is obtained. In turn, this means that publicly quoted companies are always vulnerable to take over bid. This may affect the decisions taken by directors. For example, they may be more inclined to cut back on staffing during a recession, whereas a private firm would want to hold on to experienced staff for when the economy starts to recover. E6 Communications There has to be communication between each member of staff for the company to function properly. I will now look at how this can be done within the company. Uses of communication To contact each other To make deals To give instructions To give or receive information To exchange ideas To announce plans or strategies To compare actual results against a plan To lay down rules and procedures Job descriptions, organisation charts or manuals Direction of communication Formal Informal Vertical Vertical * Downwards Between peers, friends or -From superior to subordinate. Colleagues. * Upwards Could be given as From subordinate to superior emotional support. Or to organise a function Horizontal or lateral or party. People of the same rank, (In the same section Or in different sectors) Diagonal Interdepartmental communication by people of different ranks. Methods of communication A) Face to face communications Formal meeting Word of mouth Interviews Informal contact B) Oral communication The telephone Public address system C) Written communication Letters, external mail systems Memorandum, internal mail system Reports Forms Notice board News letters, bulletins, house journals Organisation manual, handbook, leaflet D) Visual communication Charts Films, PowerPoint Presentation E7/A3 Quality Control * Quality is one of the ingredients in the purchasing decision of consumers, who demand ever-increasing levels of quality * Any firms that ignore the quality aspect of both inputs and outputs risk losing market share to those firms who make it a priority. Quality is defined by the Customer W E Deming (American Quality Guru) Quality Defined * It is difficult to provide a single definition for quality as it means different things to different groups of people. Certainly the perception of the customer is a key element. Here are some of the minimum requirements for customer satisfaction: * Fitness For Purpose The product can do what is it meant to do. This is a useful definition as it can be applied to a wide variety of products, including cheap products such as disposable pens. * Meeting the minimum standards prescribed by acts of parliaments Health and Safety, Weights and Measures and Trade Description Legislation provides a legal framework for minimum standards across a wide range of goods. * Meeting trade association standards Some industries have self regulating bodies that guarantee their members work, e.g. the national house building council. In final analysis it is the customers perceptions of quality that really matter, firms must strive to convince the market that their product/service is the best value for money. Quality Control Systems In the past, Quality Control in the UK meant inspecting the product after production has taken place. In other words it was a faultfinding exercise. Today quality control it is all about building in quality at each stage of production. Such a preventative approach reduces the high costs of rejects and re-working. The Japanese perfected this is known as: Total Quality Management (TQM) Basic features of TQM are: * The establishment of culture of quality among all employees * The recognition of quality chains where each stage of production is treated as a separate customer to be valued and looked after * The use of Quality Circles * Empowerment of workforce * The emphasis on after-sales service as well as quality manufacture. TQM is not a management tool but a Philosophy. Requiring a complete mind shift on behalf of the entire company (Managers and employees) Quality Initiatives In recent years these have been many initiatives introduced to assist firms to achieve Assurance.Quality Quality Assurance Refers to all of the activities that ensure the satisfactory delivery of goods and services to end customer. Quality Assurance refers to all of the activities that ensure the satisfactory delivery of goods and services to the end customer. Key factors include: * The quality of inputs such as raw materials and components * The quality of the design process so that the products meet customer requirements whilst still being economic to manufacture * To appropriate skill level of the workforce and its commitment to quality assurance * The quality control methods used in the production process * The quality of advice at the purchasing point and after-sales service The Main Initiatives Have Included: TQM A philosophy of quality QUALITY CIRCLES An informal discussion group drawn from all parts and levels of the business that meets regularly to discuss quality problems KAIZEN An approach to advocates continuos improved in small steps rather than a competitive overhaul of the production system. BENCHMARKING Identifying the best practice of the leading firms and using that as a yard stick with which to measure ones own performance ISO 9000 An international quality certification procedure ZERO DEFECTS A philosophy that encourages all employees to strive for the ultimate goal of a perfect product TRAINING Where management has recognised that for quality to be assured a quality culture must be implemented at each stage of the process; it is imperative therefore to train all employees to have the requisite skills, both for their direct tasks and for quality monitoring Quality can be achieved in diverse ways but the ultimate goal is to satisfy the customer, which of course is a constantly moving objective. The thing is that Castle Mall Management does not sell anything. This can be a problem when trying to implement quality control. To overcome this they have to vet the stores they have in the centre and make sure that they use quality control. This would help castle mall management reach their objectives especially the main objective to make a profit. As Castle Mall management do not sell anything they cant run certain procedures. This means that the design and production side is out of their hands, but is it? If they want to be really sure of what they are getting into they can agree with the firm or business to have an input into what they are selling. For example, they could check the production side of a chocolate shop making sure that their production line is of a high standard and that they are not breaking any laws. Another thing they could check, although not directly liked with quality is where the product is made. If a product is made in a small 3rd world country with the st aff getting paid for example 50p a day they might disagree with this and not allow the shop to trade in their centre. I believe that one of their objectives should be to help the customer in buying a quality product. The use of quality control to add value. * Adding value For landlord * Increase foot fall * Increase spending * Operate a profitable environment City * Investment in the city * Precence Population * Provides jobs * Provide social outlets * Sponsorships * Castle Mall is the only underground shopping centre in Western Europe. This makes it a landmark E2/E3/C1 The objectives of Castle Mall Management Objectives: A statement of what an organisation wants to achieve Objectives are a statement of what an organisation wants to achieve through its operation. A firms formal objective is given in its memorandum of association, and larger firms may publicly state their general philosophy and values in a list of objectives. For most PLCs profit is only one goal among others. Objectives provide criteria for decision-making. Most firms harden these general objectives into more dynamic aims, which are intended to drive the organisation forwards in the chosen direction. Mission statements are focused declarations of intent, designed to energise staff at all levels to work in common cause. In practice the overall objectives of a large firm need translating into terms that have meaning for each operation or function. This may mean that one objective is particularly highlighted. 1) The Main objective is to make a profit. They have to make a profit in order to ensure that the investors i.e. Friends Provident get return on their investment. This is the main objective of most businesses; they set out to make money. If they do not then they are considered a failure. 2) To provide a Safe and secure environment for their customers. In order to make a profit people have to come in to the centre. If possible customers feel that the centre is secure and they will be safe then they may visit and return for all their needs. If they consider the centre and car parks not to be safe then they will not visit as they feel that they or their property is not safe. 3) To increase footfall per year. The footfall is the amount of people that visit the centre in a measured time. The more people that come in the more chance of them buying items and the Castle Mall making a profit. Even if a non-customer walks through the centre everyday on the way to work then they may see a shop or an item in a window, which they may come back and buy it when they want it. 4) To increase amounts of visits per person. This is not the same as footfall as footfall is the amount of people who visit the mall, whereas the 4th objective is to increase how many times one person visits in a measured period. Again more visits means potentially more profit. 5) To increase visits from within a large catch-ment area. Trying to gain custom from shops in a large catch-ment area. This means trying to get potential customers from other places of Norfolk up to a 1-hour drive away. 6) For customers to stay longer when they get there. The longer the customer stays the more money they are likely to spend. Also with plenty of food restaurants in the mall if people are there a long time then they may get hungry and buy food. This will help increase profit. The overall objective all the objectives lead to is to Make a profit. E4 The Functional areas of Castle Mall management Ltd The main functional areas of Castle Mall Management Ltd are; * Marketing * Accounts * Administration * Security * Human resources * Food Court * Customer service Each area has its own responsibilities and objectives. Next I will explain each areas responsibility; * Marketing Public Relations Advertising -Briefing the creative/media buying agencies -Approving copy and schedules -Ensuring targets and deadlines are met Web Site Christmas Decorations Promotions -Events -Displays -Activities Research Sponsorship Buying -Maintaining stock levels -Existing literature -Briefing in new requirements -Checking prints quality -Distribution Health and Safety checks on displays * Accounts The accounts section of Castle Mall Management Ltd looks after the money side of the company. This can involve checking and counting all the money side of the centre. This can range from making sure people have paid their rent and how much they should have paid to counting the money that is put into the car park pay machines. This is a very important side of the company as without them they would not get any money in and staff would not get paid etc. * Administration Admin look after the paperwork side of the company. This can involve writing to perspective clients and customers with information about the centre. Also it can involve internal communication helping the company run. Without the admin department the company could not run, this is because they basically sort everything out. If a letter needs to be sent, a contract needs to be singed or a delivery needs to be taken admin are there, if they cannot sort it out then they can contact a someone who can. * Security The security department is a very important in the Castle Mall. Weather you see them or not they are always there. There are a team of highly trained security staff patrolling the Mall 24/7. This offers a visual presence for the customers, making them feel safe and secure. What the customers dont see is the main control room where the operation is run from. Here they control over 50 cameras. Some of these are visual to the customer, some a hidden Matchbox cameras which can be hidden basically anywhere. The CCTV system is very important in the mall, if a situation is spotted then the security guards can be contacted by radio and told any information they need to sort it. The security staffs also are called into action when there is a fire alarm. When this happens the mall is evacuated and the fire service is called, when they arrive its the security guards job to show them to the area where the alarm is. When the all clear is given it is the guards job to let everybody back into the m all. From shoplifters to lost customers the security guards are helping the mall function properly. * Human Resources The human resources department is in charge of the employment side of the company. This can involve placing adverts in the paper for a new position, looking at the application forms. Deciding on candidates and then interviewing them. They would then have to decide on a new employee with their experience and knowledge. * Food Court The food court has a different sort of agreement with Castle Mall Management, they are directly accountable to Castle Mall Management Ltd as there targets are set by them. If they are struggling to meet this Deadlines Castle Mall Management will intervene and try and sort the problem. As they have this relationship the profits they make are shared with Castle Mall Management. This is a pre-arranged agreement, which was sorted when the mall opened. As the food court is a large part of the mall and is closely linked with Castle Mall Management they have their own manager within Castle Mall Management. It is their job to make sure that the food court are meeting their targets and are running with no problems. * Customer Service The customer service desk and team have a large area to cover. They basically look after the customers of the mall. Here are some of the areas they cover. Information services for the mall and local area. Security Car parking Disabled parking and access Disability service Shopmobility Information leaflets Public relations informing public about evens Baby changing facilities Good signage and directions First aid Directory leaflets Also the customer service desk is also the first place to make a complaint. It depends on the nature of the complaint as to how it is dealt with. However, all that make a complaint will get a letter of some kind of response from the centre manager. All complaints are dealt with as soon as possible. If necessary clients/customers will be invited backs and helped. One example is when a fire alarm went off and a mother with a toddler with a pushchair had to carry the pushchair down flights of stairs because she had taken the wrong turning. She aired her concerns to CMM Ltd who invited her back to show her that there was an access/ exit especially for disabled/pushchair access. This alleviated her concerns and she is more than likely to return to the shopping centre because her concerns were dealt with efficiently and effectively. Complaints cam be made either through the information desk or by post. Customer fills in form They will then be sent to the management suite where the corresponding manager will deal with it. Investigation carried out And acted upon E5/C2/A1/A2 Organisational structures When you look at the structure of Castle Mall Management it looks, as it is hierarchical (See additional page 1). This is not 100% true, when I asked Erik Kirk the manager of Castle Mall management Ltd he described them as having elements of all structures and cultures. Organisational structures can be described as flat, hierarchical or matrix shaped. Where decision-making is decentralised, the structure tends to be flat. This means that managers and the staff are given wide ranging responsibilities in deciding what to buy, what prices to charge and which staff to employ etc. An organisational structure where decision-making is decentralised it can be described as flat because it does not have many layers. A disadvantage of this type of organisation is that decision-making can be slow. For example any decision that is made this way can take a long time. However, the decision-makers have the advantage of being close to the others day to day activities. In other words there is not along line of communication between the decision-maker and the work to be done. The most extreme version of this is the sole trader who does all the work and carries out all the decisions of the business. Some organisations have in recent years cut out layers in the middle management with the aim of improving communication and decision-making. It can be called de-layering this has had the effect of widening the span of control of the managers who are left. This means that managers can become overwhelmed by the information coming to them and the quality of decision-making suffers. The managers start to loose control over practices and procedures. Narrow Span of control Wide Span of control An alternate way to run the business is to centralise operations. This approach takes decision-making power away from junior staff. This resulting structure is described as hierarchical. Senior staff makes all-important decisions. Below is an organisational chart showing a centralised structure it has several layers of command and is pyramid shaped, i.e. wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. Most large businesses are organised in a hierarchical structure. The senior managers are responsible for taking decisions affecting the whole, or large parts of the businesses whilst shop floor workers mainly carry out decisions made by others. Manager Senior supervisor Senior supervisor Junior Supervisor Junior Supervisor Junior Supervisor Junior Supervisor Shop Floor Workers Shop Floor Workers The Key advantage of a hierarchy is that it allows strong leadership and centralised decision making. It ensures that the organisation has a consistent policy, approach or activity. A problem with hierarchy is that the line of communication between top and bottom might be quite long. There are layers of people who to receive and pass on information and at each stage the Information can be reinterpreted or misinterpreted. One way of avoiding this problem is to delegate decision-making. This means that people within the organisation are given the authority to make decisions themselves rather tan wait for instructions from the top. Advantages and Disadvantages of centralisation Advantages * Bulk buying reduces costs * Fewer staff are required in the whole operation. * The scope for specialisation increases * Producers such as ordering and purchasing can be standardised * Planning and control tends to be more effective * Decisions are made for the good of the company rather than the branch * Leadership is likely to be stronger and more consistent Disadvantages * Middle managers may be less motivated because they have less responsibility * Local needs are less likely to be met * There is less flexibility * There may be more administration * Communications between different sections might be poor * The burdens of management is more concentrated to the centre More example of Structures Location Allied Breweries Ltd Calsberg/ Allied Breweries Allied Tetley UK Netherlands Breweries Trading World-wide Product Allied Lyons PLC Spirits Retailing Brewing Food + Manufacturing Wholesaling Some organisations have structures that cannot be described as flat or hierarchical. They use tears that cut across traditional departmental boundaries. Sometimes the tears are permanent, in other cases the are brought together for a specific purpose. Project tears are increasingly being used by businesses to develop new products. Such tears have MATRIX STRUCTURES. In that the have members drawn from several departments. One example of a project team is the one Rover used to develop the 600 series. From the start of the project, stylists, manufacturing, production engineers, production line operates and suppliers all worked together. All team members had the authority to act without consistent referral to senior management. Stylists Engineers Team Leaders Production line Operates Suppliers How does the organisational structure affect its performance The organisational structure of Castle Mall Management (or as they call it the Family Tree) has a hierarchical shape. This means that there is one main centre manager. The centre manager Eric Kirk then goes directly to a deputy centre manager. They then lead directly to four other managers of separate divisions. The marketing, food court, security and administration manager all then head a team in that department except the marketing manager who has no team and works closely to the deputy and main manager. The structure shows that the centre manager has direct input to the four division managers. I believe that having a structure of this sort will be successful. This is because everyone has a link with everybody else. If there is a problem then there is always someone there to sort it. Also as the main manager has close links with most of the staff under him so if he makes a request they may not mind carrying it out. I think that the structure helps Castle Mall Management meet and exceed its objectives because they work well as a team. This is because everyone is linked with everyone and there is always someone to help you out if need be. You see how important they find these as they call there structure the Family Tree. This can help with all objectives, especially the objective, to make it a safe and secure place for the customers to shop. If the employees believe they are doing a important job and feel wanted as a part of a team then they may put more effort. This means that they may make the extra little bit of effort to clean a spillage etc. The management culture The management culture of a business is how the people very high on the hierarchy act to the lower down employees and their associates. It depends on how managers act, if they tell people what to do or if they leave it up to them to make their own decisions. A good model to show this is the leadership continuum. Autocratic style Participative style Free-Rain Style Consultative Consensus Democratic Autocratic style An autocratic leader maintains most of the authority by issuing orders and telling what to do without consulting them. To the autocrat, the basis for leadership is formal authority. Autocratic leaders may have a few favourite subordinates but they usually regard close interpersonal relationships with group members as superfluous. The autocratic style of leader is generally in disfavour in modern organisations. Participative style A participate leader is one who shares decision-making authority to the group. Participative leadership occupies enough space on the continuum to warrant dividing it into three subtypes: Consultative, Consensual and democratic. A Consultative leader solicits opinions from the group before making a decision, yet does not feel obliged to accept the groups thinking. A standard way to practice consultative leadership would be call a group a group meeting to discuss an issue before making a decision. A Consensual leader encourages group discussion about an issue and then makes a decision that reflects the general agreement of group members. Consensual leaders thus turn over more authority to the group than consultative leaders do. The consensus leadership style results in long delays in decision making because every party involved provides input. Free-rain style or laissez-faire style A Laissez Faire or Free Rain leader turns over almost all authority to the group members and does as little leading as possible. Given a situation in which the work to be done by each employee is clearly defined, weather it is sorting coupons or cutting gears with laser beam, such leaders maintain a hands-off policy. They make few attempts to increase productivity or to coach their employees. At times the free-rain leader is a abdicator who cares very little for productivity goals or developing subordinates. Erik Kirk of Castle Mall management is certainly not like this as he has very high targets and standards. As with any leadership style, there are some situations in which an autocratic style is appropriate. One example is a high-accident work area where the employees are not particularly knowledgeable about the potential risks. Many autocratic leaders have been successful as high-level leaders in the private and public sectors. One good example of this is taken from Management and organisation by DuBrin, Ireland and Williams. Jack Traimiel, the controversial executive who has occupied key positions at both Commodore and Atari. A co-worker of Tramiels said, Commodore was the house that jack built, and when he left the company, so did the spirit, the aggressiveness and the drive. Decision making also went by the wayside Castle Mall Management are democratic and laissez-faire at times but are autocratic at times of: * New Employees New employees may not know about certain parts of the business so if they make decisions however small they could make curtail mistakes, which could cost money or customers. Also if they are not taught they may never learn a certain technique and carry on using the wrong way forever. * Health and safety Health and safety is very important as it involves the welfare of workers and customers. If they want to meet their objective of proving a safe and secure place for people to shop they will have to be very strict on this subject. This means that precise decisions need to be made which are in lines with all guidelines set by the governments of the world. * Security Is very important, again if they want to meet their objectives they will have to be very strict and precise on security matters. This may involve making decisions based on laws and keeping information form other employees lower down the hierarchy. Erik Kirk and his associates like to have a team of workers who are loyal and work hard. He also likes to make them feel part of something, a team. He has an open door attitude when it comes to this. He likes to feel that if there is a problem it can be sorted. No matter how small the problem is he feels that he can help providing answers and privacy. On paper the structure appears hierarchical but it does have elements of a flat structure. Overall the culture is: * Philanthropist in attitude * Good work ethics * Relaxed * Productive * Efficient * Good and open communication channels * Clear objectives * Safe and secure working environment E6 The use of ICT in communications Castle Mall management would be severally impaired without ICT. The main use of ICT is communication. There are many areas of communication featuring ICT, these are: * E-mail Internal External * Web site * Alarm System (2 way communication) * Reports * Telephone (external + between departments) * CCTV + Mini cameras E-mail Castle Mall Management uses E-mail to communicate between department, level and centre. E-mail is a very good way of communication as it is virtually instant. Also you can send designs, graphics and programs as attachment files. This is very helpful as it saves in paper costs and also cannot be lost as with paper. Castle Mall Management uses E-mail to communicate with each other no-matter where they are in the building or country. For example a admin worker could e-mail his supervisor to alert them of a problem or just to book holiday. Another example is Erik Kirk the main centre manager E-mailing another manager of another centre alerting them of a security problem. Web site Castle Mall Management help run the castle-mall.co.uk web site. Some Castle Mall Management staff has been trained to update and redesign the web site. The web site can be used to make customers aware of events and new promotions. It can also give customers information about what shops are in the mall and what services are available. Alarm systems The alarm system in the mall has a communication system built in so if there is an emergency most people in the mall can contact each other through the alarm system to find out whats happening. It can also pinpoint where a person is so if they are in danger then they can quickly be located and helped. Reports Reports are written by all sections of management so that other people in other positions know what is happening, why and when. They are written about special events to inform people what is happening and how successful something was. Also reports are written once a week, month and a major one written each year. These reports are read by managers and then sent to Friends Provident or FisPam. To let them know how they are getting on. If there is a problem with the reports then friends provident will try and suggest ways to rectify it.

Book Report :: essays research papers

Chapter 5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is exactly one month until my eighth grade graduation, and at that point I thought eighth grade would never end! It soon became 2 weeks... 1 week... and before I knew only two days to go and I’m graduating from St.Matthew School.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two days before graduation my dad and I went to the Tuscola Outlet Mall and shopped for my graduation clothes. Since I procrastinated a lot before I finally decided it was time to buy some clothes, it was really hard to find admirable clothes that fit me! So my dad and I both decided that we would try our luck over at Polo Ralph Lauren. Finally, we found some really nice clothes that fit me. I wore Khaki pants with a matching blue shirt. As we were walking out the door, I wondered if I would look good in a tie. My dad agreed that I would look good in a tie, so we drove back home, dropped off the clothes that I bought and went to another store that sells a whole bunch of ties. I found this awesome red and blue tie that looked really good with the blue shirt that I bought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During school the day before graduation, I thought that school was very fun and zestful! In first half of school, all we did was return our books to the teacher and talked about what we were going to do over the summer. The second part of the day was even more fun because we just relaxed and did completely nothing! Once school ended some, a few my friends and I rode our bikes to Greg Broeren’s house. We just played catch and basketball. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was so anxious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next morning I woke up extremely early so that I could have enough time to get dressed with my new clothes. I didn’t really eat that much breakfast, because the seventh graders were preparing us a graduation breakfast. The food was sensational except for the green-watery scrambled eggs. The principal and the head priest both gave a speech on how much the school was going to miss us.( Yeah Right!) As soon as everyone finished their breakfast, we all walked to the gym for the graduation ceremony. I received two certificates, but that’s alright! After the ceremony, we had to sing a song in front of the whole school.

Engage in personal development in health

Engage in personal development in health, social care or children's and young people's settings (SSH 32) Outcome 1 1 _ Wealth my role as a support worker It Is my duty to support an Individual to complete everyday tasks. This can be activities such as food shopping. House chores, preparing food and drinks, making and attending appointments, attending college or day centre facilities, or participating in clubs for people with special needs.I have a responsibility to ensure the activity is achievable for the client and that I am roving the right support to achieve this. 2. As a support worker I have a duty to adhere to the codes of practice set out by my employers and also to ensure I adhere to the regulations set out by law. National occupational standards (NOSE) ensure I give the appropriate support and care to an individual. Outcome 2 1 . Reflective practice means thinking about and evaluating what I do and discussing any changes which could be made.Thinking about how I could have d one something differently, what I did well and what I could have done better. It also means reflecting our own values, beliefs and experiences which shape our thoughts and ideas. By continuously evaluating my performance I am able to ensure I am providing the expected level of service set out within the company's guidelines. 3. Everyone has different values, beliefs and experiences. We are more likely to be friendly and welcoming to people that share the same values and beliefs as us and less friendly to those that do not.However within my role it is expected that I provide he same level of care to every individual. Identifying your own beliefs and values will enable you to be aware of your reactions to others and enable them not to impact on the way you work. This is an important part of personal and professional development. Outcome 3 1 . Codes of practice are put in place to enable you to understand your role and your responsibilities. Care plans are in place for each individual and the support I am required to provide is person-centered.I have a duty to ensure I am aware of each individual's needs and to highlight any area I believe needs refocusing. Training ensure I adhere to regulations set out by law and the policies and procedures in place adhere to the current NOSE guidelines. Outcome 4 1 . Planning and reviewing my development usually takes place during planned supervision with my manager and my yearly appraisal. However I can approach either of my team leaders if I believe I require further training that is relevant to my role, they will speak with management on my behalf.Outside sources of support such as care managers, learning disabilities team or ICQ may also highlight areas they feel further training is required if it is relevant to an individual I am to provide support too. Outcome 5 1 . Attending training courses has enabled me to provide a level of care that is specific to the needs of the individual I am providing support too. During team meetings we may discuss service users and their needs. If a colleague has found something that works for them they will highlight it and it may be something I can use when working with that individual.

American Luxury Brand Case Studies Essay

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

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice When it comes to education, conservatives believe that American families should have the flexibility and the right to a variety of school options for their children. The public education system in the United States is both expensive and under-performing. Conservatives believe that the public education system as it exists today should be an option of last resort, not a first and only choice. A majority of Americans believe that the education system is broken. Liberals say that more (and more and more) money is the answer. But conservatives argue that school choice is the answer. Public support for educational options is strong, but powerful liberal special interests have effectively limited the options many families have. School Choice Shouldn't be Just for the Wealthy Educational options should not only exist for the well-connected and wealthy. While President Obama opposes school choice and props up the education-affiliated labor unions, he sends his own children to a school that costs $30,000 per year. Though Obama likes to portray himself as having come from nothing, he attended the elite college prep Punahou School in Hawaii, which today costs almost $20,000 per year to attend. And Michelle Obama? She attended the also-elite Whitney M. Young Magnet High school. While the school is run by the city, it is not a typical high school and it closely resembles the way a charter school would operate. The school accepts less than 5% of applicants, highlighting the need and desire for such options. Conservatives believe that every child should have the educational opportunities that the entire Obama family has enjoyed. School choice should not be limited to the 1%, and the people who oppose school choice should at least send their kids to the school th ey want the regular folks to attend. Private and Charter Schools School choice would allow families to choose from a number of educational options. If they are happy with the education that the government provides, and admittedly some public schools are excellent, then they can remain. The second option would be a charter school. A charter school does not charge tuition and it survives off of public funds, however, it operates independently from the public education system. Charter schools offer unique educational opportunities but they are still held accountable for success. Unlike with the public education system, a failing charter school will not remain open. A third main option is private schooling. Private schools can range from elite prep schools to religiously-affiliated schools. Unlike with the public school system or charter schools, private schools do not run on public funds. Typically, expenses are met by charging tuition to cover part of the cost, and reliance on a pool of private donors. Currently, private schools are the least accessible to lower-income families, despite the per-pupil cost to attend typically being less than both the public school and charter school systems. Conservatives favor opening up the voucher system to these schools as well. Other educational opportunities are also supported, such as home-schooling and distance learning. A Voucher System Conservatives believe that a voucher system would be the most effective and efficient way to deliver school choice to millions of children. Not only would vouchers empower families to find the best fit for their children, but it saves taxpayers money as well. Currently, the per-pupil cost of public education is close to $11,000 across the nation. (And how many parents would say they believe their child gets an $11,000 per year education?) A voucher system would let parents use some of that money and apply it to a private or charter school of their choosing. Not only does the student get to attend a school that is a good educational fit, but charter and private schools are typically far less expensive, thus saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars every time a student leaves the status quo educational system in favor of a parent-chosen school. The Obstacle: Teacher's Unions The biggest (and perhaps only) obstacle to school choice is the powerful teachers unions who oppose any attempts to expand educational opportunities. Their position is certainly understandable. If school choice were to be embraced by politicians, how many parents would choose the government-run option? How many parents would not shop around for the best fit for their children? School choice and a publicly-supported voucher system would inevitably lead to a mass exodus of students from the public school system, thus endangering the currently competition-free atmosphere that teachers currently enjoy. It is also true that, on average, charter and private school teachers do not enjoy the salaries and benefits that their public counterparts do. This is a reality of operating in the real world where budgets and standards exist. But it would be unfair to say that lower salaries equal lower quality teachers. Its a valid argument that charter and private school teachers are more likely to teach for the love of teaching, rather than for money and benefits offered as a government employee. Competition Could Improve Public Schools and Teacher Quality It is likely true, similarly to how capitalism promotes private programs and diminishes public programs, a competitive private school system would require fewer public educators, but it would not mean a wholesale firing of public school teachers. Implementing these school choice programs would take years, and much of the reduction in the public teacher force would be handled through attrition (the retirement of current teachers and not replacing them). But this could be a good thing for the public education system. First, the hiring of new public school teachers would become more selective, thus increasing the quality of public school teachers. Also, more education funds would be freed up because of the voucher system, which costs thousands less per-pupil. Assuming this money is kept in the public education system, it would mean that struggling public schools could financially benefit as funds become more available.