Wednesday, October 30, 2019

How has Stokoes work impacted the field of deaf education Essay

How has Stokoes work impacted the field of deaf education - Essay Example Such people who contributed much in the establishment of sign language include Stokoe who encountered myriads of challenges in learning the language and developing it. For many years pope considered sign language as a primitive form of language compared to the spoken one, but stoke has managed to change this mentality possessed by many members of the society. Stokoe (1993) with his colleagues learnt to communicate in sign language and they wrote a first dictionary of sign language Stokoe made the deaf people in America to be recognized and by celebrating their culture with them, which made the society to accept them. Additionally, Stokoe and his team made communication between the deaf people and the normal people to be simple after they explained the meaning of the signs and expressions used by the deaf in their dictionary. Fischer (2000) commented that the linguistic experts were able to show that spoken language and sign language are equal. Apart from Stokoe, several other linguistic experts chipped in their efforts in to form American Sign Language. Carl and Dorothy, who were colleagues of stoke learnt the sign language of the deaf and dumb students and used them to compose a sign language dictionary. Dorothy typed a copy of the sign language while Stokoe worked on the symbols. Karl, Kodak, and Moviola assisted Stokoe to collect form materials for the writing from different deaf centers (Stokoe, 1993). The deaf editors and other deaf and dumb people from all walks of life supported Stokoe and his colleagues by providing labels that provided the meaning to the words used in that dictionary. There was a formal agreement between the deaf editors and Stokoe’s team on the convenience of the labels used. Making the American Sign Language was not an easy task to Stokoe and his colleagues as they faced severe resistance from both the deaf and the hearing communities. Carl, who assisted him information about ASL, had a challenge in learning a doctorate in

Monday, October 28, 2019

Ggr252 Notes Essay Example for Free

Ggr252 Notes Essay To gain a better understanding of the retail and commercial activity in the Toronto area, two different types of retail will be evaluated in the following report. The character, market orientation and location of a retail space all play crucial role in contributing to the success of the business. All three aspects of the retail spheres will be carefully assessed in order to make direct comparisons between the two types of retail businesses. The two retail systems that will be contrasted includes the ancillary retail system in downtown Toronto and the Retail Strip on Spadina, south of Baldwin. Part A – Ancillary Retail (First Canadian Place) The ancillary retail system in downtown Toronto is one of the most unique retail systems in the world. It is an underground shopping center that connects all the major banks and towers in the core of the city. The specific area that we investigate is called â€Å"First Canadian Place† and it is located on King Bay St. This geographic region is one of the most densely engaged regions in all of Canada and this is because of the large skyscrapers that are located on top of this retail center. Its primary customers are upper-middle class workers that are working in the surrounding banks and institutions. Most of the consumers are not wearing jackets and this suggests that they were able to access this center without going outdoors. This is a significant advantage because people are more willing to go to areas that are easily accessible. The retail center is easily accessible by many different types of transportation. There are two subway stations that are located within this area and there are also buses on the street level. As well, it is very accessible by foot because the retail center is connected to many other different shopping centers in the core of Toronto. There are many different types of stores in this retail center but they are all focused on â€Å"white collars†. Most of the customers are workers in large firms and they want quick access to different types of stores. This is why there is a large amount of fast-food/food court stores that allow workers to have their lunch quickly and efficiently. The busiest time of the day for this retail center is during lunch hour and rush hours because it is very convenient for all the workers to access this center. A 15 minute pedestrian count during lunch hours (around 1:30pm) indicated that approximately 1993 people access this ancillary retail system. This system  is in private property because it is under many large skyscrapers which are owned by private firms. This system is not very easy to navigate because of the complex connections of different shopping centers. Part B – Spadina, South of Baldwin (China Town) The retail strip on Spadina, south of Baldwin (known as China Town) is a completely different type of retail center. This retail is located outside and it is very easy to navigate since the arrangement of the retail stores is not complex. The streetcar track on Spadina helps people to identify the directions more easily (North ↔ South). This area is accessible by public transportation as a result of the frequent availability of streetcars and subway. There are also parking spots on either side of the road that can accommodate for cars. The area surrounding this retail strip consists of schools, university, and small houses. There are a wide variety of stores within the retail strip, offering customers many selections to choose from. Most of the retail spaces consist of restaurants, fashion and accessories stores, and family health services. However, there are also other services being offered, such as banking services, furthermore, there are meat shop and supermarket. This retail space is considered to be public as the entire business strip is not managed or controlled as a whole by any rules and regulations. And most evidently, the retail strip itself is located on a public street. It is possible that the city planners may have designed the street and the retail area to accommodate for the needs of the surrounding residential area. However, the actual stores and their specific styles and characteristics that each retail business offers are mainly unplanned (there might be some planned aspects). In the pedestrian count that was conducted during lunch time (around 1:30pm), a total of 327 pedestrians were counted during the 15-minute count. Chinatown is geared toward the market segment of low to mid-income individuals. Thus, most of the pedestrians are dressed in casual wear and jackets (Note: stores are located outside – winter period). The majority of consumers in this retail strip are Asians who speak Cantonese or mandarin and large portion of them are seniors. Part C – Compare and Contrast After careful analysis of the above two retail spaces, many similarities and differences can be drawn. First and foremost, both business entities consist of multiple retail stores that offer a vast variety of goods and services. This allows customers to have and opportunity to be exposed to a great selection of goods and services, and also creates convenience for the shoppers. In considering the physical location and layout of the two retail spaces, it is evident that both are located where a large amount of traffic can be found. People arrive at these areas by cars, transit (streetcars in China Town/buses in First Canadian Place, subway, cars for both), and walk, etc. This brings more customers to the businesses, and also helps accommodate for large amounts of traffic, which may be created as a result of it. Therefore, in terms of accessibility, both locations are very convenient to customers everywhere because of public access. The Ancillary Retail System is located in one of the most important commercial centers in Canada. There is a large population working above this system and this allows the system to have many customers during the weekdays. The disadvantage is that workers do not work during weekends would cause the system to have less customers, or the stores in the system might not be even opened during the weekends. The major disadvantage to the retail strip is that since the strip is located outdoors, many people would not be willing to shop outdoors in the cold winter. It is possible that the number of customers in the summer would be greater than the numbers in the winter, but it is more likely that customers would prefer the PATH since the system would have the air conditioning turned on in the summer. In both of the retail areas, we can see their different layouts. In First Canadian Place, most of the food services are centralized in the food court, whereas in the retail strip there are no spe cific patterns or layouts. This might be because it is a public space and the retail center is unplanned. The two different types of retail vary in their composition. The PATH system has more chaining retails than those in the retail strip. The stores’ degree of speciality in the strip is higher, this is because the stores are independent and owned by individuals that has the freedom to decorate the store and sell as they wish, without rules and regulations. Through the evidence from my observations, I believe that the retail strip  is less managed than the Ancillary System, because of the nature of the area. The retail strip is located on a public road, the city planners at most are doing their jobs setting out this area as retail but not as much as planning each store and how many stores of different types for this strip to be successful. The Ancillary Retail though, is a planned center, the land is owned as private property, and therefore, the stores run under rules and regulations. Before the stores can open in this planned center, marketing would have been done to see if th e center can accommodate another such shop in there. I believe that everything that goes in the PATH is carefully monitored and managed by a department under its private owner. Although own is private and one is public, one is planned and one is unplanned, despite these differences, they also have many similarities that kept them both running; their styles and selections attract different kinds of customers. The different specialty stores on the retail strip would attract customers that are looking for uniqueness and those that are looking for Oriental-style cuisines, and the stores in the Ancillary Retail would provide customer with convenience to their everyday needs and quick services such as the fast food services to customers who work nearby. Overall, these two different retail areas have their own qualities that attract customers, and everyday there are changes in the market and changes are made in those types of retail everywhere to suit out changing needs.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

History of the Mandan Indian Tribe Essay -- American History, native a

The Mandan are an indigenous tribe native to North America. The Mandan’s are known for being one of the earliest tribes to live on the great plains of the Midwest. Unlike other plains Indians the Mandan were a settled tribe who lived along the Big Bend of the Missouri River in what is now called North Dakota. While most tribes that lived in the plains were hunter/gatherers who lived a nomadic lifestyle following their food, the Mandan were planters living mostly off their crops. Warriors left once a year in hunting groups to go out into the plains in search for Buffalo, which was not only their major meat source, but was also used for clothing and shelter as well. Although the Mandan may differ from other Plains Indians in the fact that they live in a rooted community, they share many traditions with the neighboring tribes. They believe in a great spirit, they use medicine bundles, sacred pipes, have a sweat lodge and conduct many religious and spiritual ceremonies. The Mandan have a ceremony like no other recorded that is exclusive to their tribe called the Okipa or Okeepa. The Okipa is a four-day ceremony that is held annually in spring or summer. According to George Catlin, a painter, who spent time with the Mandan tribe in 1832, because the Mandan tribe had no official record or way to mark specific days, once the Willow leaves reached full size it was time for the ceremony. The purpose of the Okipa was to reaffirm the bond between the people and the natural world.(). More specifically the ceremony was held as a celebration of the Mee-nee-ro-ka-ha, it was for the dancing of the Bel-lohck-na-pic and for initiating young men into manhood. Mee-nee-ro-ka-ha translated means the sinking down of settling waters. One of the majo... ...hed the last race and made his way home the end of the ceremony may begin. The Okipa will enter the medicine lodge alone and will bring out with him all of the offerings Mohk-Muck-a-nah collected from the villagers on the first day. Then, along with the entire village he walks up to the top of a cliff and throws the tools into the water. The tools are offered as a sacrifice to the water, exactly at sun down on the fourth day, closing out the Okipa ceremony. In 1837 a smallpox epidemic almost completely wiped out the Mandan tribe leaving only 125 out if 1600 Mandan’s alive. In 1845 the surviving members of the Mandan tribe moved to Fort Berthold Reservation. The last Okipa ceremony was held in 1890, after that the army officer in charge of the Fort Berthold Reservation banned the ceremony and although it was lifted in 1934 the Okipa ceremony was never held again.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

King Lear †Denial, Rage, and Isolation

Throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, the audience is subject to differing emotions and sentiments for the main character. The changes in King Lear’s demeanor, state of mind and even beliefs throughout the play are constantly changing and subject to so many different factors that the audience cannot help but be swept up in the transformations. The contradictions and inconsistencies in the play have frustrated some and intrigued others. (Lynch, 2007) Despite this, King Lear continues to stand as one of the greatest literary pieces to have been written up to this very day.The aim of this essay is to examine the transformation in King Lear’s demeanor and person throughout the course of the second act. It is here where the audience can find a seemingly assorted array of emotions as caused by the unexpected circumstances faced by the king. It is this essay’s purpose to define and discuss the transition of the king from denial to rage and then to complete is olation all of which occurred within the span of a single act. The events, characters and development that transpires in the said act will be used as instruments to analyze the king’s steady transition in character.In Lear’s first appearance during the second act, he finds one of his servants in the stocks. His disbelief at discovering that someone could treat one of his own so badly is compounded by his discovery   that it was in fact Regan, his daughter, who ordered it done. This is the onset of Lear’s phase of denial. It is unbelievable to him that his own daughter would show disrespect for him in such a manner as evidenced by the following lines:King Lear:What's he that hath so much thy place mistook to set thee here?Kent: It is both he and she; Your son and daughter.King Lear: No.Kent: Yes.King Lear: No, I say.Kent: I say, yea.: No, no, they would not.Kent: Yes, they have.King Lear: By Jupiter, I swear, no. (Shakespeare, 1986)The king’s continuous refusal to Kent’s assertions is a clear indicator of his denial of the truth.King Lear’s denial is stressed even more with the news that his daughter and son-in law refuse to talk to him even upon his request. This was unheard of to the king and despite the obvious, he denies himself the realization that his daughter has betrayed him. His words show this denial clearly when he exclaims, â€Å"Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches; The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer.† (Shakespeare, 1986)The king’s phase of denial turns to anger, however, when Regan comes to talk to him. She stresses Lear’s impotence as a leader and father with her continuous repetition of his being old as seen in Regan’s comment, â€Å"O, sir, you are old. Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine: you should be ruled and led.† (Shakespeare, 1986) She also says he is weak and tries to convince him to return to Goneril and stay there.This reaction to the king’s arrival as well as the earlier incident of finding his servant in the stocks fuels King Lear’s rage. This is seen with his exclamation of curses on Goneril, who maltreated him during the first act of the play.King Lear: Never, Regan: She hath abated me of half my train; Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue, Most serpent-like, upon the very heart: All the stored vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, You taking airs, with lameness!Cornwall: Fie, sir, fie!King Lear: You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun, To fall and blast her pride! (Shakespeare, 1986)Despite the many words of protest from Regan, the king continues to pour out his anger for his other daughter not knowing that Regan is in fact of like mind as Goneril and is already awa iting the latter’s arrival.Anger turns to isolation, however, when King Lear is confronted by both Regan and Goneril, who has just arrived. It is now clear to Lear that the two have betrayed him. They abuse their newfound power by requiring him to give up half of his knights, which was then lessened until it was required that he give up all of his knights. (Dominic, 1997) Unless he agreed, he would not be allowed to stay with them. This indicated Lear’s complete loss of authority as king and also as father to both his daughters.When the two daughters become of one mind in their demands from their father, King Lear is isolated emotionally and in power. He can no longer fight the demands of his daughters as he has bequeathed all he had to them and as such is empty-handed by himself. Also, the demand of withdrawal of all his knights indicates a future isolation even if the king does agree to the conditions of his daughters. He is isolated from them because of their betray al and agreeing to their demands will yield only a life of another kind of isolation, isolation from those loyal to him.The phase of isolation is final when the king runs out into the storm. Instead of looking for him, the two daughters order the door to be shut, leaving their father to fend for himself in the dark rainy night. Thus the transition from denial to rage and finally to isolation is made complete in the setting of the second act.ReferencesDominic, C. C. (1997). Shakespeare's characters for students. Detroit: Gale PublishersLynch, J. (2007). Classics revisited; the brutal power of ‘King Lear'; difficult and sadistic, the play still fascinates, especially in dark days.  Los Angeles Times, p.  E.1.   Retrieved 14 January 2008 from Los Angeles Times  databaseShakespeare, W. (1986). King Lear. William Shakespeare: the Tragedies, the Poems. Ed. John D. Wilson. Cambridge: Cambridge UP

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Generally Accepted Auditing Standards

Generally Accepted Auditing Standards Paper Madeline Cates ACC/491 Contemporary Auditing 1 November 7, 2012 Thomas A. House Auditing is extremely important to our businesses, our state and federal government, investors, banks, and our overall economy. Without auditing there would be plenty of room for mistakes. Boynton & Johnson (2006) define auditing as the following, â€Å"A systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence between those assertions and established criteria and communicating the results to interested users† (p. ). To break it down auditing follows a certain process of steps using financial statements and tax returns to evaluate an organization in an unbiased way. Once this is done a written report is made by the auditors to give the organization the credibility they deserve. This credibility is passed on to interested users such as; banks, stockh olders, and management. The purpose of this paper is to explain the nature and functions of auditing, and relate them to an organization in which we are familiar. The organization is which I am familiar with is Chili’s Bar and Grill where I have been an employee for over 4 years.Chili’s is owned by Brinker Nation, which is publically traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EAT. Brinker Nation is audited by independent auditing committee with no relation to the company, they follow the standard of the NYSE as well as the Securities and Exchange (SEC). The Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) are a set of standards that public accountants are required to use. All together there are 10 different GAAS that are used to establish the quality of performance and the overall objectives to be achieved in a financial statement audit. Boynton & Johnson, 2006) The Generally Accepted Accounting Standards apply to financial, operational, and compliance audits. Typically a CPA preforms a financial audit by evaluating a firm’s financial position to see if they are using GAAP. The results are then distributed to the general public. A compliance audit focuses on whether or not a firm is following rules and government regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that requires duel-purpose auditing and compliance audits.Operational audits focus on activities in relation to objectives. This is also known as a management audit. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) affect publically traded companies. The PCAOB is a private sector that was created by the SOX Act of 2002. Basically the PCAOB oversees auditors of publically traded companies to protect investors, creditors, and the general public. According to Boynton & Johnson (2006), the PCAOB was given authority in 5 major areas including, 1.Registering public accounting firms that audit the financial statements of public companies. 2. Setti ng quality control standards for peer review of auditors of public companies and conducting inspections of registered public accounting firms. 3. Setting auditing standards for audits of public companies. 4. Setting independence and ethics rules for auditors of public companies. 5. Performing other duties or functions to promote high professional standards ? for public company audits, and enforce compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.With the help of the SEC, PCAOB, SOX Act, and GAAS we can ensure investors and creditors that publically traded organizations are presenting honest, fair, and straightforward financial information. Auditing is vital to the growth of our businesses, our local and federal government, and our economy as a whole. Resources Boynton, W. C. , & Johnson, R. N. (2006). Modern auditing: Assurance services and the integrity of financial reporting. (8th ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Louwers, T. , Ramsay, R. , Sinason, D. , & Stawser, J. R.. (2007). Auditing a nd assurance services. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Why do people watch reality TV

Why do people watch reality TV Are people dangerously disillusioned with their livelihoods such that they have to keep watching others on TV? This is a question that many scientific papers try to unravel as these programs continue to undo our civilized society. The shows are continuously attracting a large audience every new day. There are mixed reactions that explain such a rise. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why do people watch reality TV? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The great quantity of the programs looks like they are as reliable as the seasons, with shows like the â€Å"American Idol† and some Soap Operas being more popular than any other time ever. Their imitations are proliferating the cable channels at an alarming rate. In the entire world, people are fascinated by the rising popularity of reality TV programs. This paper explores the reasons behind the popularity of reality TV programs. Advantages of reality TV programs To understand the reason why many people watch reality TV, it is imperative to analyze the advantages of these programs. Firstly, these programs can be informative and thought provoking (Hill, 2005). For instance, programs that deal with crime can educate people on the dangers that policemen deal with on a daily basis. Other programs that deal with health issues can help people, especially pregnant women, depict early signs of complications. It is possible for viewers to learn of the disease symptoms through the information gotten from some of the reality programs like Dr. OZ, for example. In these programs, viewers also identify themselves with the celebrities in the view that they will one day become ones. These programs provide people with an opportunity to showcase their natural gifts and make people aware of social causes. What is so appealing about reality TV programs? The greatest appeal that makes these programs so popular is that viewers feel as though they are real participan ts. Secondly, the suspense created by these programs makes viewers anticipate the next episodes. Especially the Soap Operas create a high level of suspense that makes viewers remain glued to their TV sets wishing to see the next move. Other programs, such as the American Idol, give their viewers toll-free numbers to participate by making their remarks. This has a great appeal to the viewers who would always want to make recommendations. Thirdly, most of these programs deal with the real life situations that people are facing. Thus, other individuals watch them as a way of trying to find means to come out of their flabbergasting circumstances in life (Hill, 2005). For instance, married men may watch reality programs that deal with cheating to find out tactics to deal with their cheating wives. Another appeal is that viewers are given a chance to compare their lives with those of the shows’ protagonists (they are able to blend fantasy with reality).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, some reality shows promote poor behavior such as emphasizing just sexual aspects of dating as opposed to developing mature and loving relationships. This is a detrimental effect of the programs. At times such detrimental aspects can contribute to some social problems in the society. Conclusion Different people watch reality programs for various reasons, but the greatest of all seems to be the fact that these programs make the viewers feel as if they are part of the action. The above article explores the peoples behavior and the manner in which the programs affect their livelihoods, either positively or negatively. Reference Hill, A. (2005). Reality TV: Factual Entertainment and Television Audiences. London: Tailor Francis group.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Johnson & Johnson Ethics

Ethics of Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson is engaged in the manufacture and sale of a broad range of products in the healthcare field. The Company's worldwide business is divided into three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices & Diagnostics. It was founded in 1887, currently employs 110,900 people in countries all around the world. At Johnson & Johnson there is a â€Å"credo† versus a mission statement. It is a one page document that was created in 1943 by Robert Wood Johnson termed as a â€Å"new industrial philosophy†. The credo essentially outlines the corporation’s responsibilities, in order. It begins with the primary responsibility, which anyone who uses its products and services. It outlines how the company must strive to keep costs reasonable, and that suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit. Second, the credo goes into its responsibilities to its employees. It outlines how each person is considered an individual, who must feel secure with their jobs, with fair compensation and a clean and safe workplace. Further, it emphasizes how an employees’ primary responsibility is to its families. It emphasizes that management must be fair and ethical. The third responsibility is to the community. The credo indicates the employees must be good citizens, support good works and charities and bear our fair share of taxes. Emphasis is given on donations and improvements to the community. Only does the final part of the credo address stockholder responsibi lity, and go into detail on the importance of profitability. Even with money aspect, the credo goes into research and development, new ideas, and innovations. â€Å"When we operate according to those principles, the stockholders should realize a fair return.† The two models that could be ruled out with Johnson & Johnson’s credo are the libertarian model and the Simon, Powers and Gunnemann â€Å"Moral Minimum† model. The l... Free Essays on Johnson & Johnson Ethics Free Essays on Johnson & Johnson Ethics Ethics of Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson is engaged in the manufacture and sale of a broad range of products in the healthcare field. The Company's worldwide business is divided into three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices & Diagnostics. It was founded in 1887, currently employs 110,900 people in countries all around the world. At Johnson & Johnson there is a â€Å"credo† versus a mission statement. It is a one page document that was created in 1943 by Robert Wood Johnson termed as a â€Å"new industrial philosophy†. The credo essentially outlines the corporation’s responsibilities, in order. It begins with the primary responsibility, which anyone who uses its products and services. It outlines how the company must strive to keep costs reasonable, and that suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit. Second, the credo goes into its responsibilities to its employees. It outlines how each person is considered an individual, who must feel secure with their jobs, with fair compensation and a clean and safe workplace. Further, it emphasizes how an employees’ primary responsibility is to its families. It emphasizes that management must be fair and ethical. The third responsibility is to the community. The credo indicates the employees must be good citizens, support good works and charities and bear our fair share of taxes. Emphasis is given on donations and improvements to the community. Only does the final part of the credo address stockholder responsibi lity, and go into detail on the importance of profitability. Even with money aspect, the credo goes into research and development, new ideas, and innovations. â€Å"When we operate according to those principles, the stockholders should realize a fair return.† The two models that could be ruled out with Johnson & Johnson’s credo are the libertarian model and the Simon, Powers and Gunnemann â€Å"Moral Minimum† model. The l...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Original Jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court

The Original Jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court While the vast majority of cases considered by the U.S. Supreme Court come to it in the form of an appeal to a decision by one of the lower federal or state appeals courts, a few but important categories of cases can be taken directly to the Supreme Court under its â€Å"original jurisdiction.† Original jurisdiction is the power of a court to hear and decide a case before it has been heard and decided by any lower court. In other words, it is a court’s power to hear and decide a case before any appellate review. The Fastest Track to the Supreme Court As originally defined in Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and now codified in federal law at 28 U.S.C.  § 1251. Section 1251(a), the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over four categories of cases, meaning parties involved in these types of cases can take them directly to the Supreme Court, thus bypassing the usually lengthy appeals court process. In the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress made the Supreme Courts original jurisdiction exclusive in suits between two or more states, between a state and a foreign government, and in suits against ambassadors and other public ministers. Today, it is assumed that the Supreme Courts jurisdiction over other types of suits involving the states was to be concurrent or shared, with the state courts. The categories of cases falling under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction are: Controversies between two or more states;All actions or proceedings to which ambassadors, other public ministers, consuls, or vice consuls of foreign states are parties;All controversies between the United States and a state; andAll actions or proceedings by a state against the citizens of another state or against aliens. In cases involving controversies between states, federal law gives the Supreme Court both original- and â€Å"exclusive†- jurisdiction, meaning such cases may be heard only by the Supreme Court.   In its 1794 decision in the case of Chisholm v. Georgia, the Supreme Court stirred controversy when it ruled that Article III granted it original jurisdiction over suits against a state by a citizen of another state. Both Congress and the states immediately saw this as a threat to the sovereignty of the states and reacted by adopting the Eleventh Amendment, which states: â€Å"The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.†Ã‚   Marbury v. Madison: An Early Test An important aspect of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction is that its Congress cannot expand its scope. This was established in the bizarre â€Å"Midnight Judges† incident, which led to the Court’s ruling in the landmark 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. In February 1801, newly elected President, Thomas Jefferson - an Anti-Federalist - ordered his acting Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver commissions for appointments for 16 new federal judges who had been made by his Federalist Party predecessor, President John Adams. One of the snubbed appointees, William Marbury, filed a petition for a writ of mandamus directly in the Supreme Court, on the jurisdictional grounds that the Judiciary Act of 1789 stated that the Supreme Court shall have power to issue †¦ writs of mandamus ... to any courts appointed, or persons holding office, under the authority of the United States.† In its first use of its power of judicial review over acts of Congress, the Supreme Court ruled that by expanding the scope of the Court’s original jurisdiction to include cases involving presidential appointments to the federal courts, Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority.  Ã‚   Few, but Important Cases Of the three ways in which cases may reach the Supreme Court (appeals from lower courts, appeals from state supreme courts, and original jurisdiction), by far the fewest cases are considered under the Court’s original jurisdiction. On average, only two to three of the nearly 100 cases heard annually by the Supreme Court are considered under original jurisdiction. However, many are still important cases. Most original jurisdiction cases involve border or water rights disputes between two or more states, meaning they can only be resolved by the Supreme Court. For example, the now famous original jurisdiction case of Kansas v. Nebraska and Colorado involving the rights of the three states to use the waters of the Republican River was first placed on the Court’s docket in 1998 and was not decided until 2015.   Other major original jurisdiction might involve lawsuits filed by a state government against a citizen of another state. In the landmark 1966 case of South Carolina v. Katzenbach, for example, South Carolina challenged the constitutionality of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 by suing U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, a citizen of another state at the time. In its majority opinion written by revered Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court rejected South Carolina’s challenge finding that the Voting Rights Act was a valid exercise of Congress power under the enforcement clause of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Original Jurisdiction Cases and Special Masters’ The Supreme Court deals differently with cases considered under its original jurisdiction than those reaching it through its more traditional â€Å"appellate jurisdiction.† In original jurisdiction cases dealing with disputed interpretations of the law or the U.S. Constitution, the Court itself will usually hear traditional oral arguments by attorneys on the case. However, in cases dealing with disputed physical facts or actions, as often happens because they have not been heard by a trial court, the Supreme Court usually appoints a â€Å"special master† to the case. The special master- usually an attorney retained by the Court- conducts what amounts to a trial by gathering evidence, taking sworn testimony and making a ruling. The special master then submits a Special Master Report to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court then considers the special master’s ruling in the same manner as a regular federal appeals court would, rather than conducting its own trial. Next, the Supreme Court decides whether to accept the special master’s report or to hear arguments over the disagreements with the special master’s report. Finally, the Supreme Court decides the case by voting in its traditional manner, along with written statements of concurrence and dissent. Original Jurisdiction Cases Can Take Years to Decide While most cases that reach the Supreme Court on appeal from lower courts are heard and ruled on within a year after being accepted, original jurisdiction cases assigned to a special master can take months, even years to settle. The special master must basically â€Å"start from scratch† in handling the case. Volumes of pre-existing briefs and legal pleadings by both parties must be read and considered by the master. The master may also need to hold hearings in which arguments by the lawyers, evidence, and witness testimony may be presented. This process results in thousands of pages of records and transcripts that must be compiled, prepared and weighed by the special master. For example, the original jurisdiction case of Kansas v. Nebraska and Colorado involving disputed rights to water from the Republican River was accepted by the Supreme Court in 1999. Four reports from two different special masters later, the Supreme Court finally ruled on the case 16 years later in 2015. Thankfully, the people of Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado had other sources of water.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Why were the framers of the Constitution concerned about the central Essay

Why were the framers of the Constitution concerned about the central government having too much power How did they address that issue Include proper in-text citations in APA format to support your answer - Essay Example The government was divided into three arms: the legislative, judicial and executive. Each arm had its specific and separate powers bestowed on it. In order to monitor the powers of these divisions, each arm was granted capacity to monitor the other two arms of the government. This would check that no arms gains excessive power. To make sure that the powers of the national government did not override the powers of the state governments, some powers were delegated to the federal government while some was reserved for the state government. Other power was shared between the two governments. This was termed as federalism. This made kept the balance that the central government did not have extreme powers while the state government powers were not dwarfed (Hames & Ekern,

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Reasons for War in 1898 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Reasons for War in 1898 - Essay Example The vision of the United States as an Asian power originated in the post colonial period. The U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838 described three great island nations in the Pacific. These ports, Pago Pago, Manilla, and Pearl Harbor initiated the vision of America's quest for a presence in the Pacific. In 1878 the United States acquired a naval base in Pago Pago through an agreement with Great Britain and Germany, and by the end of 1898 the U.S. government controlled all the above mentioned harbors.2Frederick Jackson Turner‘s analysis that liberty and individualism had depended on the existence of a moving frontier into contiguous land. Turner believed that an ever-expanding frontier was necessary for the growth of the nation. Stromberg contends that, "With the disappearance of the frontier in the 1890s, a substitute frontier had become necessary to preserve the American way of life"3. Foreign markets became the frontier that had been exhausted on the mainland. Using Turner's arg uments, proponents advocated looking beyond our shores for new frontiers and expanding markets.The vehicle to make large scale saltwater imperialism possible began with the publication of Alfred Thayer Mahan's 1890 book "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783". Mahan proposed the theory that great nations rode upon great naval power. As Mahan laid out in his book, "The motive, if any there be, which will give the United States a navy, is probably now quickening in the Central American Isthmus. Let us hope it will not come to the birth too late"4. Mahan's book was greeted with great acceptance and resulted in an appropriations bill to build a strong naval fleet in the 1890s. The naval appropriations act of 1890 was a strong endorsement of Mahan's philosophy and changed our naval approach from defensive to offensive. According to Musicant, "The battleships were a giant stride, as Tracy and his allies frankly admitted, toward creating a fighting fleet to seize command offen sively of the open sea and destroy the enemy in blue water"5. The new naval strategy would enable the coming decade to foment the beginnings of war and enable the interested factions to make a case for imperial expansion. By 1898, Cuba was central to our nation's attention and was the jumping off point to the war with Spain. Cuban rebels had been fighting for independence from Spain for 30 years. The main impetus for the rebellion was the unacceptable conditions in Cuba. In 1868, Cuban Nationalists fought a ten-year war that left the insurgents exhausted. Spain promised reforms, but most were never materialized and in 1895 the rebels staged a more concentrated effort for Cuban independence. The war from 1895-1898 would devastate Cuba, its economy, and its people. As Offner describes the devastation, "They sought to turn Cuba into an economic desert, thereby making the island unprofitable and convincing Spain to leave. Insurgents burned sugar cane fields and mills and destroyed railroads, telegraph lines, and other property"6. These atrocities would capture the attention

Tesco in the Chinese Food Retail Market Dissertation

Tesco in the Chinese Food Retail Market - Dissertation Example Most importantly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my parents who offer me the greatest support and encouragement. Table of Contents Table of Contents 5 List of Tables 7 List of Figures 8 1.0 Introduction 9 1.2 Research Question 13 2.0 Literature Review 14 2.3.1 PEST 21 2.3.2 SWOT 26 2.3.3 The Five Forces 27 2.4 Sustainable competitive advantage 32 2.5 Factors influencing strategies for achieving a competitive advantage in China 35 3.0 Methodology 40 4.0 Result 51 4.1 Carrefour Supermarkets 54 Organisation Overview 54 Operations and Business Strategy 55 Domestic Competition 57 Competitive Advantage 58 4.2 Wal-Mart 58 Organisation Overview 58 Operations and Business Strategy 59 Domestic Competition 60 Competitive Advantage 60 5.0 Discussion 62 Organisation Overview 62 Operations and Business Strategy 63 Domestic Competition 65 Competitive Advantage 65 6.0 Conclusion 68 7.0 References 70 List of Tables Table 1. The amount of sales and the amount of chain stores of Carrefour in China Page 33 List of Figures Figure 1.0 Porter's Five Forces Model (Porter 2001). Page 20 1.0 Introduction China's admittance into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 opened up the Chinese market to the rest of the world. From the end of 2004, the Chinese government began lifting restrictions on foreign retailers, which enabled retail operations that were 100% foreign owned to operate (LaSalle 2005, Chen 2006, Tao 2006). This opportunity was obviously seized upon by retailers like Tesco, Carrefour and Walmart who dominate the foreign-owned food retail market. The Chinese market is particularly attractive as it is not... Introduction China’s admittance into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001 opened up the Chinese market to the rest of the world. From the end of 2004, the Chinese government began lifting restrictions on foreign retailers, which enabled retail operations that were 100% foreign owned to operate (LaSalle 2005, Chen 2006, Tao 2006). This opportunity was obviously seized upon by retailers like Tesco, Carrefour and Walmart who dominate the foreign-owned food retail market. The Chinese market is particularly attractive as it is not homogenous and encompasses numerous target markets which represent purchasing power for retailers. This is particularly true of the markets based in the urban areas, as it is reported that there is an income disparity between rural and urban customers. The urban per capita income is three times more than that of rural areas (LaSalle 2005, Chen 2006, Tao 2006), which presents profit to the food retailers. The opening up of the markets in China has also introduced competitive advantage to the Chinese market. Prior to 2004, foreign owned companies had to form joint ventures with Chinese companies and were limited to owning a 65% stake in the business (LaSalle 2005, Chen 2006, Tao 2006). They also had restrictions on the number of stores that could be opened in a geographical region, which gave the domestic retailers a competitive advantage. Domestic retailers had access to the entire Chinese market, and as a result they also had the monopoly on the knowledge.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Major American employment-related laws and regulations Case Study

Major American employment-related laws and regulations - Case Study Example Harassment in the workplace is any form of discrimination that violates Age discrimination in employment Act 1967, American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Pregnancy Discrimination Act and other regulations that aim at prohibiting harassment in workplace (Hemphill & Haines, 1997). Covey (2007) asserts that harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on color, race, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, disability or age and leads to discrimination and unequal opportunities in employment matters. Harassment is outlawed when enduring the offensive conduct is a condition for employment or when the conduct creates a hostile work environment that is considered as intimidating, abusive and hostile to the employee (United States Department of Labor, 2013). Sexual harassment in the workplace includes ‘quid pro quo’ harassment that occurs when employment decisions or treatment is based on submission to unwelc ome sexual conduct or hostile work environment that leads to unwelcome sexual conduct of customers, supervisors, and contractors (Dale, 2005). Some behaviors that perpetuate unlawful sexual environment include commenting on the physical attributes of the employee, unnecessary touching, discussing sexual activities and displaying of sexually suggestive pictures.   In this case, the Department of Labor (DOL) policy prohibits all forms of harassment in the workplace and the employer must implement a harassment policy. that facilitates reporting and investigation of instances of the unlawful behaviors that contribute to harassment (LeMoncheck & Hajdin, 1997). Harassment hinders employee productivity through increased turnover and absenteeism. In addition, harassment negatively affects the organizational reputation and may lead to costly legal suits (Weizer, 2002). Pamodoro Ltd must ensure the workplace is free from any materials that are sexually offensive such as graffiti and nude po sters. The management must implement a strong anti-harassment policy and provide training to the employees, customers and suppliers. The policy must prohibit sexual jokes, comments on person’s body or sex life, sexually demeaning comments, sexually suggestive gifts, touching or patting in a sexual manner, or blocking a co-workers movement (Badgett & Frank, 2007). According to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2013), the management must pr

EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963 Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963 - Thesis Example The Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John Kennedy on 1963 and it sought to bring about an end to the pay disparities based on sex that were prevalent in the United States at the time. The passing of this law was done because of the belief that sex discrimination went against the constitution of the United States because it depressed the living standards of employees because equal pay was needed to ensure that they were capable of not only increasing the efficiency of these individuals but also their health. Furthermore, it was believed that wage disparities brought about a situation where there was no maximal use of available labor. In addition, it was found that pay disparities based on sex often led to considerable labor disputes which were detrimental to commerce because they interfered with commercial activities (Bhasker and Kleiner, 1998). There was concern that as a result of women getting paid less than their male counterparts, there would develop a situation whe re commercial activities, mainly the free flow of goods and services, would end up being disrupted. Finally, it was believed that the lack of equality in pay constituted the development of unfair competition and this situation had to be corrected to ensure that all individuals in American society had equal opportunities when employed. The signing into law of the Equal Pay Act was one of the numerous steps which have been taken over several decades to ensure that there is gender equality in the workplace. In order to eliminate the pay gap, new legislation must be created and passed, specifying equal pay requirements and employers need to implement this legislation in order to correct their pay practices. . Before the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women had faced pay discrimination for many years and this was despite women forming a significant part of the American

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Major American employment-related laws and regulations Case Study

Major American employment-related laws and regulations - Case Study Example Harassment in the workplace is any form of discrimination that violates Age discrimination in employment Act 1967, American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Pregnancy Discrimination Act and other regulations that aim at prohibiting harassment in workplace (Hemphill & Haines, 1997). Covey (2007) asserts that harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on color, race, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, disability or age and leads to discrimination and unequal opportunities in employment matters. Harassment is outlawed when enduring the offensive conduct is a condition for employment or when the conduct creates a hostile work environment that is considered as intimidating, abusive and hostile to the employee (United States Department of Labor, 2013). Sexual harassment in the workplace includes ‘quid pro quo’ harassment that occurs when employment decisions or treatment is based on submission to unwelc ome sexual conduct or hostile work environment that leads to unwelcome sexual conduct of customers, supervisors, and contractors (Dale, 2005). Some behaviors that perpetuate unlawful sexual environment include commenting on the physical attributes of the employee, unnecessary touching, discussing sexual activities and displaying of sexually suggestive pictures.   In this case, the Department of Labor (DOL) policy prohibits all forms of harassment in the workplace and the employer must implement a harassment policy. that facilitates reporting and investigation of instances of the unlawful behaviors that contribute to harassment (LeMoncheck & Hajdin, 1997). Harassment hinders employee productivity through increased turnover and absenteeism. In addition, harassment negatively affects the organizational reputation and may lead to costly legal suits (Weizer, 2002). Pamodoro Ltd must ensure the workplace is free from any materials that are sexually offensive such as graffiti and nude po sters. The management must implement a strong anti-harassment policy and provide training to the employees, customers and suppliers. The policy must prohibit sexual jokes, comments on person’s body or sex life, sexually demeaning comments, sexually suggestive gifts, touching or patting in a sexual manner, or blocking a co-workers movement (Badgett & Frank, 2007). According to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2013), the management must pr

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Supply Chain Management - Essay Example The UN through the World Health Organization ensures that the malaria drugs reaches its intended destination by coordinating with the local governments to enable an efficient and effective supply chain that is less costly (Chopra & Meindl, 2007). A system is developed that assists in coordination between pharmaceutical manufacturers and procurement agents. The system ensures cost-effectiveness and transparency in the shipment, procurement and drugs delivery. The local government develops capacities including warehousing, distribution and delivery of the drugs to patients. So as to reduce the amount of inventory being held, the just in time (JIT) approach is used and it ensures problems do not come up because of managing large inventories. Inventory management is important in the reduction of the cost of running the supply chain. The malaria supply chain faces a number of challenges in its operation ranging from missing coordination, Inventory management, expiration of drugs due to delays and order management problems. The above mentioned operational challenges facing the supply chain are costly. So as to eliminate or reduce this cost, emphasis must on the implementation of a strategic cost management. It enables the carrying out of cost analysis techniques. The strategy should be focused at standardization of supplies, reduction of inventory, centralized purchasing, and labor automation (Turney,

Monday, October 14, 2019

How Did the Decision to Conduct an ROI Study Influence the Design of Coaching Program Essay Example for Free

How Did the Decision to Conduct an ROI Study Influence the Design of Coaching Program Essay How did the decision to conduct an ROI study influence the design of coaching program. Nations Hotel Corporation is one of the reputed USA based hotel company, with an international presence in 15 countries worldwide. Hospitality industries are quiet competitive in nature and today’s success rule of hospitality includes knowledge, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency which provides pleasure of stay and departure to their guests. Any addition or subtraction in these components can increase or decrease the rating of any organization. Nations Hotel with 98% brand awareness and 72% as customer satisfaction ratio were still far from the race of preferred choice amongst the customers. Hence there, arose a need to identify the gap , so a study was conducted by the Nations hotel learning organizations (NHLO), as a result need for high leverage training program (Chapter 1-Introduction to employee training and development- High Leverage Training Program) was determined, which can improve the operational efficiency, help in retention of high performing employees and increase the level of customer satisfaction, so a structured coaching program was proposed in front of senior executives, which can have impact on business . (Chapter 1-Introduction to employee training and devlopment -ASTD Competency model, this model shows the role of training and how it will impact the business strategy). Since these strategic trainings, are expansive in nature , senior executives of Nations hotel were concerned with the calculation of Return on Investments (â€Å"Chapter -6, Training Evaluation-ROI) on coaching project, calculation of direct and indirect cost and benefits achieved through the coaching program became crucial factor in designing the program. Instead of directly going ahead with the coaching program for all employees , Nations hotel selected 25 employees randomly for the training( chapter 6-Training and evaluation-Pilot Testing, random assignment). This small selection of team was an effective decision , as identifying the strength and weakness of the coaching program brought an opportunity to make changes before ,this coaching program became available to all employees, besides this factor, another strong reason was individual coaching was a huge investment for Nations hotel, so through pilot testing evaluating the effectiveness of training and cost , and conducting need assessment was better approach to calculate the ROI for the coaching program, so that finally while evaluating the results and business impact after conducting the coaching program for the executives, Nations hotel can make a decision on further expanding this coaching program for rest of the employees. Hence the coaching program was designed in 14 steps, which comprised of the following steps. 1. Voluntary participation 2. Need for Coaching 3. Self Assessments 4. Commitment for data 5. Roles and responsibilities 6. The match 7. Orientation session 8. The engagement 9. Coaching session 10. Goal setting 11 . Action planning 12. Active learning 13. Progress review 14. Reporting. These steps helped in calculating various components of ROI which includes both the calculation of tangible and non tangible benefits, evaluation of confidence level amongst the newly trained employees, monetary value gained or lost, impact on turnover, measurement of service improvement, and last but not the least job satisfaction amongst employees after this coaching program, which will finally have impact on business. (Chapter 6-Training Evaluation-Results Return on Investment). Question 2. Discuss the importance of getting participants committed to provide quality data. Determining the effectiveness of training program is referred as evaluation. Kirkpatrick’s four level framework measures the outcomes of an effective training program, which includes following four levels of evaluation, also there is a fifth level of evaluation, which is out of the Kirkpatrick’s framework of evaluation, and is known as Return on Investment. (Chapter 6-Training Evaluation-Kirkpatrick’s four level of framework of evaluation criteria) Level 1 Reaction: It provides feedback about the content of the program, participant’s engagement, data gathered in this level helps in improving the training program Level 2. Learning: Knowledge and skills of trainees are tested through norm referenced test, criterion referenced test or quizzes, observations and work samples, and data collected at this level, helps to judge the skill based outcomes of trainee from the training. Level 3. Application: These are also known as affective outcomes, which are measured through collection of data via interviews and attitude surveys, to measure the skill enhancements after training. Level 4. Results or Business Impact: How much training program has paid off for the company, such as improvement in customer care inclined or declined on turn around time after the training, measuring such outcomes falls, under this level, which is measured by collecting data through performance records, observation, information system Level 5. ROI: This step compares the monetary benefits to the organization with the cost of training, such as by collecting data for both tangible and intangible benefits, which includes direct and indirect cost , level of confidence , job satisfaction , cost benefit analysis etc.. Result of one level of evaluation, becomes the benchmark for the next level of evaluation, this can be best explained by the example of Nations Hotel, where careful and quality data recorded in action plan and company records by executives helped the NHLO team in making of convincing ,coaching business impact program. The ROI process in Nations Hotel, involved gathering data through out the coaching, so that evaluation result can be evaluated in all the above mentioned five levels. Since participants (executives, senior executives, coach) provided data at every level of evaluation, which helped in further clubbing of all the data, that was collected at all five levels separately, were than integrated to provide an overall evaluation of the program, and measure how effectively the program is impacting the strategic goals of the company, careful and accurate data collection at all levels helped the NHLO team to measure the result of coaching program at every step, so that any flaw at one level , can be rectified easily before moving to the next step, for example the benefit cost ratio of NHLO was 3. 21, that is it, suggests that on every dollar spend,$3. 21 was returned, but in absence of accurate data this figure would have been misleading , and could have resulted in fiasco. Not only Nations Hotel, infact most of the companies follows similar process for evaluating the levels, by collecting data at every level, and than utilizing the data for moving ahead with the next level. These data’s were further converted into monetary value, through various ways, which was further utilized in analyzing the ROI on training. In absence of quality data, training will have no impact neither for an individual in terms of cognitive, skills application, and affective outcomes nor for any organization in terms of positive business impact and ROI, which an organization aimed for. Hence quality data from the participants has a huge impact in determining the credibility, reliability and relevance of the training program ,so active participation from the trainees and providing reliable data, is essential for an effective training program (Chapter 6-Training evaluation-Outcomes used in evaluating training programs)

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Brand and company analysis of Titan

Brand and company analysis of Titan In early 80s, it was identified by the Tata Group that the watch industry is a huge potential consumer market for the group to enter. A Tata veteran, Xerxes Desai who was the MD of Tata Press was chosen to head this initiative. Titan was conceived in Tata Press in 1984- a joint venture between Tata the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation. Like most consumer markets in India during the pre-liberalization era, the watch industry was way behind the rest of the world. The technology at that time was reliable, but outdated. Tata Group entered the watch market with Quartz technology and the brand Titan. Brand identity-Kapferers Model Physique is an exterior tangible facet conveying brand qualities, form, physical specificities and colour. Physique is the starting point of branding. TITAN: Elegant corporate wear, Life-style watches Personality is an internal intangible facet which forms the character, brand personality and soul which are relevant for brands. TITAN: A complement to dress than just a time showing machine Relationship is an exterior facet with tangible and intangible areas, and defines the behaviour that indentifies the brand the way the brand connects to its customers. TITAN: Watches as a practical luxury with a function other than beauty Culture is an internal intangible facet to integrate the brand into the organization which is essential in differentiating brands. TITAN: Indian, traditional and premium quality Reflection is an external intangible facet reflecting the customer as he or she wishes to be seen as a result of using a brand. TITAN: Lives life to the fullest, multi-faceted, revives aspirations Self-Image is an internal intangible facet reflecting the customer attitude towards the brand. These inner thoughts connect personal inner relationship with the brand. TITAN: Be whatever you want to be and extract more from life Stage in the PLC Xylys Fastrack Sonata 1984 Extension of Maturity phase through REPOSITIONING Sales Time Titans winning story began in the year 1984 when there was a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation. Introducing Titan quartz watches which donned an international appearance, Titan Industries completely transformed the Indian watch industry. After the launch of Sonata, a value-for-money brand which offered functionally styled watches at reasonable prices, Titan Industries aimed to reach the youth of the nation with its third trendy and chic brand Fastrack. Till date, Titan has sold 100mn watches worldwide and it produces 12mn watches per annum. Steps taken by brand at each stage At Product Level Stage I: Introduction Titan offers a broad variety of choices to numerous segments across taste, gender, age and economic status. in the early days, Titan used this approach path as the cornerstone of its leadership strategy. Their former range had discrete offerings for specific requirements: Gold plated cases having fine leather straps were Formal watches launched specially for the executive Gold plated cases having ornamental bracelets were Dress watches launched for those who prefer jewellery All steel watches with functionality were the Rugged watches for those whose usage demanded more durability Stage II: Growth Launched Aqura In 1989, the trendy range for the youth Raga in 1992, the ethnic range for the sophisticated Indian woman Insignia in 1993, typical and international appearing high-end watches, for those who seek exclusivity Launched psi 2000 in 1994, the rugged, sporty and masculine watches with serious sports features for those who seek adventure. Dash in 1996, the bright and colourful collection for kids Launched Sonata in 1997, the affordable, good quality range for the budget-conscious Stage III: Maturity Titan came out with Fastrack in 1998, the cool, fashionable and funky range for the young Nebula in 1999, the solid gold and diamond-studded range of luxury watches for affluent people Steel in 2001, the smart and contemporary collection for the young 21st century executive In 2006, launched its premium watch brand Xylys Also in 2008, Titan came out with unique collections like the Octane, Diva, WWF and Zoop At Communication Level Stage I: Introduction Titan decided to invest to a great extent into exhibiting all its innovations to the prospective consumers using advertising. From the very first day, the catalogue advertising of Titan was used and it turned out to be its hallmark as it was applied regularly and was very effective in merchandising new models. These catalogue ads were also very helpful to the customers in shopping off the newspaper page, almost deciding which model they were interested in picking up. Retailers also got used to viewing customers who would walk into shops with newspaper cuttings, specifically asking for the models depicted there. The same approach is continued till this day, with almost the same effect. The most persisting part of the Titan advertising has been its music track. It was a segment from Mozarts 25th Symphony which was chosen for its class and western vibes and has become Indian Advertisings most unforgettable track. It started in 1987 in its pure classical versions with only one violin playing the melody and over the years, this piece of music has been delivered in innumerable innovative versions. Stage II: Growth In the early 90s, Titan focused on building up the Gifting market. Watches had always been favourite things to gift and Titan benefited from that. A set of 3 films were developed in 1991 around 3 relationships, where the gifting of a Titan climaxed in a touching personal moment and strengthened the bond between the protagonists. All these films were very big hits and they created a separate genre of advertising films lasting around 8 years. During these years, a series of films involving a variety of characters such as a father, a daughter, a teacher, a boyfriend etc.; with local flavour were created and released. These helped in building a huge gift segment for Titan and also became Titans Theme Campaign. Another flourishing customer-facing aspect about Titan has been its stores. In a pioneering attempt which drastically altered the industry standards, the World of Titan was born. Located in the newer parts of a city, the showrooms immediately stood out on the street and ended up in attracting a lot of walk-ins. One could get a better idea about the collection through a contextual presentation and could make up his mind which collection was right for his requirement. Stage III: Maturity Titan Industries decided to revamp its flagship watch brand with the purpose of making it more youthful and relevant to the changing times. The brand underwent a major repositioning exercise in 2005, when Hindi film actor Aamir Khan was appointed brand ambassador and it was followed by the tagline Whats Your Style? campaign. It tried to increase watch consumption per person, by suggesting the use of different watches for different occasions. In 2008, Titan moved from style statements to personality statements. With the explosion of options in a persons life, their core consumer was changing. Titan has evolved and adopted the tagline Be More. It denotes the aspirations of consumers to make more of their lives and be whatever they want to be. Market Scenario/Challenges Majority of the watch customers tend to prefer Titan because of the appealing designs and supreme quality of Titan watches. However, there is a misconception in the minds of the consumers about the prices of Titan products as they find them to be pretty expensive. Titan is now trying to get hold of newer customer segments and are attempting to target all the adults in SEC A and SEC B. Titan is also considering advanced retail strategies and is projecting to launch modern product collections. Summary Titan is the 5th largest branded watch producer in the world with four major brands in the market namely Titan, Sonata, Fastrack and Xylys, all having several sub-brands and collections. Titan Industries commenced operations with groundbreaking offerings, i.e. Quartz watches which altered the look of the Indian watch industry. Ideas which were ahead of their times at Titan Industries led to substantial accomplishments such as Single Point Solutions to each and every Original Equipment Manufacturer customer. Titan watches are available at exclusive World of Titan outlets, Fastrack outlets, multi brand dealers, Multi brand outlet Helios and multi brand stores. Taking the forecast of brand fatigue earnestly, the brand recreated itself with the flawlessly styled Euro watches collection. In the near future, Titan can introduce an exclusive assemblage for Executive men and women which is contemporary and goes well with both the traditional as well as western wear. Also, the brand needs to spread more awareness about the availability of its lesser-priced watches in lower segments of the society as most of the consumers feel that Titan brand is synonymous with premium watches.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Old Navy and the Infantilization of the American Consumer :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Old Navy and the Infantilization of the American Consumer It is certain that the Old Navy store is full of clothes and accessories for all shapes, sizes and genders. Its presupposition, however, is that all shapes, sizes and genders will be of one primary inclination: that of the infant. In front of me as I peruse the Old Navy is a pink purse with metallic flecks infused into its plasticine construction. I find this purse in the "Woman's" section, next to the display rack full of puffy-sleeved t-shirts, whimsically cut blouses, flare pants and lo-rider blue-jeans embroidered with alarmingly cute curlicues. All this is, appropriately enough for a consumer juggernaut like Old Navy, sized to fit the adult woman. What is revealed in the Old Navy is an ideology, objectification of the self-as-consumerist entity, indeed of the child-as-consumer to a patriarchal Capitalism. Althusser asks it this way: Why do [people] "need" this imaginary transposition of their real conditions of existence in order to "represent to themselves" their real conditions of existence? (241) In the case of Old Navy, the answer lies in the combined natures of Capitalism and the infantilist regression it engenders. Capitalist objectification of the self, the subjectification of Althusser, begins with the Old Navy ad. Here, kindly old mother-figures or warm and attractive young women assure us in their slightly lobotomized ways that shopping at the Old Navy is "fun," that their cargo pants are all the rage, that their carpenter jeans are the perfect thing. The representation of the self as Platonic form in the person of the model on the television screen recreates the self as consumer object: [I]t is not their real condition of existence, their real world that "men" "represent to themselves" in ideology, but above all it is their relation to those conditions of existence which is represented to them there. (Althusser 242) Ideology is created by the double-movement of idealization and desire. The model, the idealized Capitalist figure for the self, creates its own ideological structure as a means to selfing, as an objectified desired on the official apparatus of the communication and creation of Capitalist ideology, the television screen: [H]is ideas are his material actions inserted into material rituals which are themselves defined by material ideological apparatus from which derive the ideas of that subject, (Althusser 243) that subject of ideology, that objectified self. Thus the consumer is removed from the self by the ideological system of the Old Navy ad.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Chapter 54 Essay

Chapter 54: Community Ecology Concept 54.1 Community interactions are classified by whether they help, harm, or have no effect on the species involved. 1.What is a community? List six organisms that would be found in your schoolyard community. 2.This section will look at interspecific interactions. Be clear on the meaning of the prefix! To begin, distinguish between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition. Give an example of each. Type of Competition Explanation Example Intraspecific competition Interspecific competition 3.What is G. F. Gause’s competitive exclusion principle? Give one example. 4.Define ecological niche. 5.Several species of Anolis lizards live in the same types of trees and have a similar diet. Discuss resource partitioning to explain how interspecific competition is reduced. (Study Figure 54.2.) 6.What is the difference between the fundamental niche and the realized niche? 7. Study Figure 54.5, and then explain what is meant by character displacement. (To do this, you will have to learn or review the difference between sympatric populations and allopatric populations. You will find this information in Chapter 24.) 8.Predation is a term that you probably already know. Can you give examples of some predator-prey combinations as listed below? Predator Prey Animal Animal Animal Plant Fungus Animal Bacteria Animal Fungus Example Plant 9.List three special adaptations that predator species possess for obtaining food. 10.List three ways prey species elude predators. 11.Compare the two types of mimicry. Type of Mimicry Batesian MÃ ¼llerian Description Example 12.What is herbivory? 13.Did you list any special herbivore adaptations for predation in your response to question 9? Or plant adaptations to avoid herbivory? List two adaptations for each category here. 14.Describe and give an example of each of the following interactions: Type of Interaction Description Example symbiosis parasitism commensalism mutualism 15.Which category above includes the other three? Note that other texts may define this term more narrowly. 16.Your text uses +/– symbols to indicate how interspecific interactions affect survival and reproduction of the two species. Use this notation for each of these interactions. Type of Interaction predation commensalism mutualism parasitism interspecific competition herbivory +/+, +/–, –/–, +/0 17.What is species diversity? What are its two components? Why is it important? 18.What does an ecologist summarize in a food web? 19.Know the levels of trophic structure in food chains. Give a food chain here, including four links that might be found in a prairie community, and tell the level for each organism. 20.Name every organism in the pictured food chain, and give the trophic level in the box. 21.According to the energetic hypothesis, why are food chains limited in length? How much energy is typically transferred to each higher level? 22.What is a dominant species? For the area where you live, what would be considered a dominant tree species? 24.Name one keystone species, and explain the effect its removal has on the ecosystem. 25.Explain facilitator or foundation species and give an example. You may omit bottom-up and top-down controls. Concept 54.3- Disturbance influences species diversity and composition 26. What is the intermediate disturbance hypothesis? Give an example of a disturbance event, and explain the effect it has on the community. 27.Ecological succession is the changes in species that occupy an area after a disturbance. What is the difference between primary succession and secondary succession? Concept 54.4 Biogeographic factors affect community biodiversity 28. Explain latitudinal gradients in terms of species richness. Where is species richness greatest? 29.There are probably two key factors in latitudinal gradients. List and explain both here, and put a star next to the one that is probably the primary cause of the latitudinal difference in biodiversity. 30.Explain what is demonstrated by a species-area curve. 31.Renowned American ecologists Robert MacArthur and E. O. Wilson developed a model of island biogeography. While the model can be demonstrated with islands, any isolated habitat represents an island. What are the two factors that determine the number of species on the island? 32.What two physical features of the island affect immigration and extinction rates? 33.Why do small islands have lower immigration rates? Higher extinction rates? 34.Closer islands have 35.What is the island equilibrium model? 36.Use this model to describe how an island’s size and distance from the mainland affect the island’s species richness. extinction rates and immigration rates. Concept 54.4 Community ecology is useful for understanding pathogen life cycles and controlling human disease 37.Let’s pull a couple of ideas from this section: What is a pathogen? 38.What is a zoonotic pathogen? List three examples. 39.What is a vector? List three examples.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Water Pollution Is the Contamination of Water Bodies

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e. g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater). Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.Millions depend on the polluted Ganges river. Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases,[1][2] and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. [2] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day. 3] Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[4] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. [5] In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, industrialized countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well.In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bay and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted. 6] Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, like serving as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. [edit]Water pollution categories Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are interrelated. 7] Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin. [edit] Point source pollution Point source pollution – Shipyard – Rio de Janeiro. Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway through a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain. The U. S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines point source for regulatory enforcement purposes. 8] The CWA definition of point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as industrial stormwater, such as from construction sites. [9] [edit] Non–point source pollution Non–point source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. The leaching out of n itrogen compounds from agricultural land which has been fertilized is a typical example.Nutrient runoff in stormwater from â€Å"sheet flow† over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS pollution. Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point source. However where such water is not channeled and drains directly to ground it is a non-point source. [edit] Groundwater pollution See also: Hydrogeology Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex.Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water pollution. [7] By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that may not dire ctly affect surface water bodies, and the distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant. A spill or ongoing releases of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into soil (located away from a surface water body) may not create point source or non-point source pollution, but can contaminate the aquifer below, defined as a toxin plume.The movement of the plume, a plume front, can be part of a Hydrological transport model or Groundwater model. Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on the soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. [edit] Causes of water pollution The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water include a wide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and physical or sensory changes such as elevated temperature and discoloration. While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be naturally occurring (calcium, sodium, ron, manganese, etc. ) the concentration is often the key in determining what is a natural component of water, and what is a contaminant. Oxygen-depleting substances may be natural materials, such as plant matter (e. g. leaves and grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances may cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs the gills of some fish species. [10] Many of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animal hosts. 11] Alteration of water's physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), electrical conductivity, temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases in the primary productivity of the ecosystem. Depending on the degree of eutrophication, subsequent negative environmental effects such as anoxia (oxygen depletion) and severe reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and other animal po pulations. [edit] Pathogens A manhole cover unable to contain a sanitary sewer overflow.Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of water pollution, although not an actual cause of disease. Other microorganisms sometimes found in surface waters which have caused human health problems include: †¢Burkholderia pseudomallei †¢Cryptosporidium parvum †¢Giardia lamblia †¢Salmonella †¢Novovirus and other viruses †¢Parasitic worms (helminths). [12][13] High levels of pathogens may result from inadequately treated sewage discharges. [14] This can be caused by a sewage plant designed with less than secondary treatment (more typical in less-developed countries).In developed countries, older cities with aging infrastructure may have leaky sewage collection systems (pipes, pumps, valves), which can cause sanitary sewer overflows. Some cities also have combined sewers, which may discharge untreated sewage during rain storms. [15] Pathogen discharges m ay also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations. [edit] Chemical and other contaminants Muddy river polluted by sediment. Photo courtesy of United States Geological Survey. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances.Organic water pollutants include: †¢Detergents †¢Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform †¢Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease †¢Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds †¢Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from stormwater runoff[16] †¢Tree and bush debris from logging operations Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as industrial solvents, from improper storage. Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), may fall to the bottom of reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and are denser. †¢Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products Inorganic water pollutants include:†¢Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants) †¢Ammonia from food processing waste †¢Chemical waste as industrial by-products Fertilizers containing nutrients–nitrates and phosphates–which are found in stormwater runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use[16] †¢Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban stormwater runoff)[16][17] and acid mine drainage †¢Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites Macroscopic pollution—large visible items polluting the water—may be termed â€Å"floatables† in an urban stormwater context, or marine debris when found on the open seas, and can include such items as: †¢Trash (e. . paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, and that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters †¢Nurdles, small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets †¢Shipwrecks, large derelict ships Potrero Generating Station discharges heated water into San Francisco Bay. [18] [edit] Thermal pollution Main article: Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence.A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill fish) and affects ecosystem composition, such as invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may also elevate temperature in surface waters. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers. [edit] Transport and chemical react ions of water pollutants See also: Marine pollution Most water pollutants are eventually carried by rivers into the oceans.In some areas of the world the influence can be traced hundred miles from the mouth by studies using hydrology transport models. Advanced computer models such as SWMM or the DSSAM Model have been used in many locations worldwide to examine the fate of pollutants in aquatic systems. Indicator filter feeding species such as copepods have also been used to study pollutant fates in the New York Bight, for example. The highest toxin loads are not directly at the mouth of the Hudson River, but 100 kilometers south, since several days are required for incorporation into planktonic tissue.The Hudson discharge flows south along the coast due to coriolis force. Further south then are areas of oxygen depletion, caused by chemicals using up oxygen and by algae blooms, caused by excess nutrients from algal cell death and decomposition. Fish and shellfish kills have been repo rted, because toxins climb the food chain after small fish consume copepods, then large fish eat smaller fish, etc. Each successive step up the food chain causes a stepwise concentration of pollutants such as heavy metals (e. g. mercury) and persistent organic pollutants such as DDT.This is known as biomagnification, which is occasionally used interchangeably with bioaccumulation. A polluted river draining an abandoned copper mine on Anglesey Large gyres (vortexes) in the oceans trap floating plastic debris. The North Pacific Gyre for example has collected the so-called â€Å"Great Pacific Garbage Patch† that is now estimated at 100 times the size of Texas. Many of these long-lasting pieces wind up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This results in obstruction of digestive pathways which leads to reduced appetite or even starvation.Many chemicals undergo reactive decay or chemically change especially over long periods of time in groundwater reservoirs. A noteworthy class of such chemicals is the chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (used in industrial metal degreasing and electronics manufacturing) and tetrachloroethylene used in the dry cleaning industry (note latest advances in liquid carbon dioxide in dry cleaning that avoids all use of chemicals). Both of these chemicals, which are carcinogens themselves, undergo partial decomposition reactions, leading to new hazardous chemicals (including dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride).Groundwater pollution is much more difficult to abate than surface pollution because groundwater can move great distances through unseen aquifers. Non-porous aquifers such as clays partially purify water of bacteria by simple filtration (adsorption and absorption), dilution, and, in some cases, chemical reactions and biological activity: however, in some cases, the pollutants merely transform to soil contaminants. Groundwater that moves through cracks and caverns is not filtered and can be transported a s easily as surface water.In fact, this can be aggravated by the human tendency to use natural sinkholes as dumps in areas of Karst topography. There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a derivative condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic plants. [edit] Measurement of water pollution Environmental Scientists preparing water autosamplers. Water pollution may be analyzed through several broad categories of methods: physical, chemical and biological.Most involve collection of samples, followed by specialized analytical tests. Some methods may be conducted in situ, without sampling, such as temperature. Government agencies and research organizations have published standardized, validated analytical test methods to facilitate the comparability of results from disparate testing events. [19] [edit] Sampling Sampling of water for physical or chemical testing can be done by several methods, depending on the accuracy needed and the characteristics of the contaminant. Many contamination events are sharply restricted in time, most commonly in association with rain events.For this reason â€Å"grab† samples are often inadequate for fully quantifying contaminant levels. Scientists gathering this type of data often employ auto-sampler devices that pump increments of water at either time or discharge intervals. Sampling for biological testing involves collection of plants and/or animals from the surface water body. Depending on the type of assessment, the organisms may be identified for biosurveys (population counts) and returned to the water body, or they may be dissected for bioassays to determine toxicity. [edit] Physical testingCommon physical tests of water include temperature, solids concentration like total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity. [edit] Chemical testing See also: water chemistry anal ysis and environmental chemistry Water samples may be examined using the principles of analytical chemistry. Many published test methods are available for both organic and inorganic compounds. Frequently used methods include pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus compounds), metals (including copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury), oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and pesticide

The Crucible – Rivalries Exposed in Act Three

The play is centred on the witch trials that actually took place in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote about the event as an allegory for McCarthyism which occurred in the United States in the 1950s. McCarthyism was a time of great anti-communist suspicion in the late 1940s and 1950s. The key connections in the two occurrences were that many people were accused on little or no evidence and all of it was inconclusive.Also, characteristic was the hysteria in all the places where the problems struck. ‘The Crucible’, is structured around four main themes which are, hatred, feuding, revenge and conflict of authority. All these add equal twists in the play. Hatred is a strong theme throughout the Salem Witch Trials. The strictness of Puritan laws meant people were bound to break them, whether on purpose or by accident, and the strong religious views shared in Salem aroused suspicion for the most trivial of matters. As a result of this, feuding was inescapa ble.Petty rivalries caused many arguments in varying situations, and the resulting tense atmosphere in Salem resembled a rumbling volcano just waiting to erupt. The subsequent controversial court hearings would bring out the worst in some people and possibly the best in others. Before the play began many rivalries were already in existence. Adultery had been committed and aggressive disputes over land had occurred. Personality clashes and ancestral feuds had set families at loggerheads with one another.Consequently, when opportunities arose to make accusations, which could result in hangings, many villagers jumped at the chance with glee; thus setting up the third main theme of the play – revenge. The final main theme of ‘The Crucible’ is conflict of authority. In Salem, Massachusetts, the people had no official, outright ruler of their lands; so trials were bound to spark a dispute about authority. Salem’s folk had a reclusive leader of their Puritan chur ch, the Reverend Parris. He called in the learned Reverend Hale to investigate the witchcraft accusations.There were many officials of the court as well, including Cheever and the overall judges of the court, Danforth and Hathorne. All these characters had their own reasons to think themselves the deserved rulers of Salem. With many wise people living in the village, you could be sure that lots of heated discussions about who should be leader would occur. In the play, many characters are revealed to the audience, but one character we are familiar with from the start, is the village’s church leader, Reverend Parris.The whole chain of events could have easily been avoided had he been prepared to take a bit of criticism from the villagers, but Reverend Parris was too paranoid to allow that. This is ironic because the more he tried to stop trouble from arising, the more it actually happened. His main fear was that people were trying to uproot him and make him lose his place in th eir society. He was insecure. This is shown throughout the play, for example, in Act Three he says: Parris {in a sweat}: â€Å"Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court! This is an example of many different devices. The staging says he was ‘in a sweat’ because he was worried and this shows he was not a strong character. Also this comment is the first example of dramatic irony in Act Three. It was ironic because he was talking about Proctor lying, and Proctor wasn’t lying, however Parris was. This was also an exclamatory line. It was meant to persuade Danforth to believe Parris and not Proctor. This was the first of many dramatic techniques used to highlight Proctor’s and Parris’ rivalry. Its demonstration of Parris’ insecurity remains a key feature for the duration of the play.An insecure leader would not exhibit strength, allowing bolder characters to be able to affect his decisions concerning the comm unity. It also means he was swayed by others opinions. He didn’t have a definite mind of his own because of his paranoia of being uprooted. Before the start of the play, a strong dispute between Reverend Parris and John Proctor already existed. Although the rivalry was a key part of the entire play, it was highlighted in Act Three, as I have already shown. It’s the first rivalry to be exposed in this act.The rivalry reached its peak when John Proctor was falsely accused of compacting with the devil and Reverend Parris was trying to condemn him. This caused consternation throughout the village since John Proctor was portrayed as, and regarded as, a very intelligent man throughout ‘The Crucible’. He realised that the people accusing citizens of Salem of witchcraft were the guiltiest of all. This was one device Miller often used in this play – dramatic irony. When John Proctor was forced to defend himself he was quick to turn the accusations upon Abiga il Williams and Reverend Parris.As Parris was so bothered about the family’s good name, he could not let anything stand that might affect his reputation, and as Abigail was part of his family, he had to start defending her too. At this point in the play, both characters were trying to make the other look bad. A lot of facts were revealed to the court about both Proctor and Parris. As Proctor was being questioned about compacting with the devil, he was quick to point out that Parris had not mentioned the fact that he caught the girls dancing naked in the forest at the start of the play.Proctor [Taking it right up]: â€Å"Abigail leads the girls to the woods, Your Honour, and they have danced there naked -† Parris: â€Å"Your Honour, this -† Proctor [at once]: â€Å"Mr Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night! There’s the ‘child’ she is! † At this point in the play, Reverend Parris was forced to be very defensive. The fact tha t Proctor interrupted Parris showed how desperate each character was to get their point across first. With the staging saying ‘[at once]’ it conveyed the fact that Proctor did not want Parris to be given the chance to speak.Also, Proctor was very impolite in saying ‘child’ in the way he did since this would certainly offend Abigail. In the same act, Proctor also admitted the strength of his hatred for Parris. Parris once again questioned him on his attendance and Proctor was very truthful in his reply. The language Arthur Miller used at this point in the play revealed the degree of the mutual loathing and the putting of child in inverted commas showed Proctor’s disgust at the trust being invested in Abigail whom Parris regarded as ‘young’ and ‘innocent’.Parris: â€Å"Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month! † Danforth [restrained – he is curious]: â€Å"Not come to church? † Pro ctor: â€Å"I-I have no love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. But God I surely love. † Parris was the first person to come out with an exclamatory line. He accused Proctor of not being a true Christian because of his poor attendance at church, but this only provoked Proctor to come back with an honest yet harsh reply, and he couldn’t be clearer in what he was saying.Even though throughout the play, their hatred for each other was made clear, this line was still key because it showed that Proctor was not afraid to admit, in court, that he did not like the clerical leader of Salem. I think this provides evidence that their rivalry was based on hatred. Proctor may have felt that Parris should rightfully be Salem’s church leader, but he did not agree with his policies and he did not believe he would be a good leader. Whilst their rivalry reached its peak in Act Three, their argument had, as noted, been ongoing throughout the play.For instance, in Act Two, as soon as Reverend Hale arrived, he was told to investigate the accused people’s household and it was clear that Parris was extremely quick to inform him that John Proctor attended church rarely compared to most. Proctor once again expressed his opinion in full and did not water it down. He was very truthful. Hale: â€Å"Good, then. [He makes himself a bit more comfortable. ] In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day. † Proctor: â€Å"No, sir, you are mistaken. † Hale: â€Å"Twenty-six time in seventeen month, sir.I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are absent? †¦.. † This instantly showed that Parris had asked Hale to enquire about Proctor’s lack of attendance at church. Later in the conversation Proctor gave his foremost reason. Hale: â€Å"Mr. Proctor, your house is not a church; surely your theology must tell you that. † Proctor: â€Å"It does, sir, it does; and it tells me that a Minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar. † This made it clear why Proctor disagreed with Parris’ power, as he did not believe he was focussed on God.It was ironic that Proctor just wanted to simply praise the Puritan way, whereas, the Puritan Minister had controversial ideas that went against a key part of his faith of keeping things simplistic. This was again a use of dramatic irony – a technique continued throughout the play. It was not spoken dramatic irony but its effect was nonetheless profound. Not only did Proctor and Parris have a rivalry, but so to did Proctor and Parris’ niece, Abigail. This rivalry was also set-up before the play began. Before the beginning of the play Abigail and John Proctor had had an affair. This all happened whilst Proctor had a wife.We discover in the play that only Abigail, John Proctor and Elizabeth knew of the affair and Elizabeth had found it in her heart to forgive John f or his wrong-doing. Although, John Proctor sincerely regretted the affair, there remained a complication in that Abigail still loved him. Abigail was blind to Proctor’s feelings; so she kept trying to rekindle their relationship, with no regard for Elizabeth. She wanted John for herself. Her desperation became so great that she stabbed herself in the stomach with a needle and tried to frame Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She says: Abigail: â€Å"Goody Proctor always kept Poppets! †In reality, Abigail had planted the poppet on Elizabeth Proctor to try and get her arrested and hanged. This exclamatory line was aimed at the court, and said thus because it had a greater dramatic effect. No other information was given to lend focus to that single point. The court took this very seriously as Abigail, ironically, had become the most trusted person in all Salem and effectively directed the court proceedings. Returning to the important exclamatory line spoken, in Act Three, by Proctor regarding Parris and Abigail, his two biggest rivals: Proctor [at once]: â€Å"Mr. Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night!There’s the ‘child’ she is! † Proctor’s exclamation aimed an attack at Abigail by referring to her as a ‘child’. This language exposed Proctor and Abigail’s rivalry. He said this because children were seen as innocent and reliable and knew Abigail was regarded as such by most of Salem. The exclamatory line was intended to put in bad light Abigail’s pretence of child-like innocence as a mask for her manipulative behaviour. It also reflected badly upon Reverend Parris since he was part of the same family. ‘Child’ is put in inverted commas in the script to emphasize its pejorative use as the main point of his exclamation.Throughout the play, Proctor wanted Abigail to be exposed for the ‘whore’ she truly was. In doing this he was even willing to ruin the exc ellent reputation that he had in Salem. When he admits to having an affair with Abigail, he loses the people’s respect, because he is considered to have sinned within a Puritan community. But, as we see during the entire play, John is not afraid to address unpalatable truths. John Proctor also physically attacks Abigail in the court, unable to keep a level head when he sees the trouble her lies are causing.The staging says, [Without warning or hesitation, Proctor leaps at Abigail and, grabbing her by the hair, pulls her to her feet. She screams in pain]. . . . [and out of it all comes Proctors roaring voice. ] Proctor: â€Å"How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore! † As we witness throughout the whole play, Proctor kept his temper well and for him to physically attack someone comes as a shock to the audience. It really shows how much he hated Abigail and how enraged she has managed to make him. His roaring voice shouts ‘Whore! Whore! ’ He is saying this becau se of their affair. It is in fact an accusation.Abigail actions seem to be motivated by a desire to seek revenge on John Proctor because he doesn’t love her. This is pathetic, for in doing this, she makes John Proctor’s feelings of loathing for her only the stronger. In the same act Proctor exclaims: â€Å"†¦She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He knows Abigail’s wish but does not agree with it and this exclamatory line lets everyone know he is against her. Abigail effectively takes the lead in making accusations although it is an unofficial role. She can accuse whoever she wants and the blind people of Salem are hooked on her every word.They never question her judgments or decisions until Proctor provokes Danforth to do so. Even then she avoids the question by quickly faking the sensing of a spirit, a device she frequently employs to get out of awkward situations; especially when Mary Warren finally stands up to her. But M ary is not at all confident in her accusations against Abigail. She has a really strong case, but as she doesn’t really want to accuse Abigail: aware of her strong character, she weakens and Proctor does more talking than Mary. Mary and Abigail’s is the shortest-lived rivalry. It actually only appears in Act Three and no other.Mary is acting as Proctor’s puppet and in the end the rivalry affects nobody except John Proctor who eventually is accused of compacting with the devil: Mary Warren [terrified, pleading]: â€Å"Abby! † Mary at this point is pleading. The staging shows she is terrified of Abigail. She is screaming Abigail’s name. It is not only the staging that shows Mary Warren’s fear but also the use of the exclamation mark. This reveals it is an exclamatory line and so adds to the tension because it is screamed. Act Three is a point in the play where Abigail has to be defensive.She does as she usually does and accuses Mary Warren of sending her spirit on the girls. You can see by the staging how fearful Mary is, not just of the court, but also of Abby. She screams Abby’s name, begging her not to accuse her and to stop lying, but Abigail’s character is too uncaring, too cruel, too persistent, too determined and too deeply committed to back out at this stage. She, Abigail, is such an amoral person, that she will see people hang rather than be told off for the dancing that occurs at the beginning of Act One. Another rivalry that centres on Act Three is that between Reverend Hale and Danforth.Throughout the Act, there is a clear conflict of authority. Reverend Hale, being a learned Church leader, knows Abigail is lying, and that the court is corrupt. We see Hale introduced in the first Act because Parris feels that such a clever man will put his village to rest. However, being a member of the church, Hale believes strongly in witchcraft and so it takes him a while to work out what is actually going on . When he eventually discovers the truth, the town has gone into hysteria, and with no official standing, he is powerless to stop it. In Act Three, he is treated by the court as a superfluous character.No-one wishes to listen to his point of view, and he holds no authority. Danforth is prominent in the court proceedings. He is only introduced in person in Act Three for the trials. His character is a very officious one. He is seemingly unconcerned by the fact that he is killing innocent people. He is just interested in following official court proceedings. He hates his trials being interrupted and so, he seeks to dismiss any inconvenient information likely to disrupt his foregone conclusions and therefore, ends up executing unfair trials. Hale notices this and is bitterly annoyed.The two of them have many arguments. In the arguments, they are always interrupting each other and shouting each other down. Each one of them always wants to get their point across first and though Hale has the more valid arguments, the fact that he has no power shows. Hale: â€Å"But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not – † Danforth: â€Å"That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity? † Hale [defeated]: â€Å"I surely do not. Sir. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  There are many examples of dramatic techniques that are used in this section.One can see how Danforth interrupts Hale. He also asks Hale rhetorical questions. He knows Hale cannot express his doubts about him in court without the likelihood that Danforth would try him for contempt. Hale knows that ultimately Danforth is in power. Additionally, Hale makes his final remark in a ‘[defeated]’ way realising there is no point in his arguing any further. Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams have a very indirect rivalry. They don’t have any face-to-face arguments, but they talk about each other, or carry out actions to hurt the other.As already noted, Elizabeth’s husband previously had an affair with Abigail. Naturally she is bitter and possibly jealous of the girl. But that is not shown in the play. Abigail’s hatred for Elizabeth is a lot clearer. She accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, and of harming her. When she sees Mary Warren, Elizabeth Proctor’s maid, putting a needle in a poppet she is going to give Elizabeth, Abigail stabs herself in the stomach just to get Elizabeth into trouble. This reveals her determination to be rid of Elizabeth. Giles Corey and Putnam have an enduring rivalry between.Their hatred for each other has been passed down through generations. Their disputes are always concerned with ownership of land. Giles: [over Proctor’s shoulder at Putnam]: â€Å"I’ll cut your throat, Putnam, I’ll kill you yet! † This quote shows Corey’s hatred for Putnam. The staging shows Corey was about to hit Putnam but Proctor res trains him. His exclamatory line says that Corey wants to kill Putnam. There is resentment between these characters because they can’t settle who owns what land. The dispute carries on into court and Corey is eventually tried for contempt of court.At the time in which ‘The Crucible’ was set if a man was condemned to death by law his family had no rights to his possessions. As Giles was a learned man, who had been to court many times, he knew that if he was pressed to death without pleading innocent or guilty, the trial would not have been complete. This would prevent his land from being taken from his family by Putnam. So, when he is having stones laid upon him to try and force him to plead innocent or guilty, he says nothing but ‘more weight’ and consequently dies.So, although Giles Corey loses his life, he keeps his land in within his family and thus succeeds in his aim to prevent it falling into Putnam’s grasp. In conclusion, Arthur Millerà ¢â‚¬â„¢s play ‘The Crucible’ has many dramatic devices used throughout its duration, but these become particularly prominent in Act Three. They are very effective in conveying the sense of hatred and tension between many of the characters. There are clear parallels to the society in which Arthur Miller found himself and through the vehicle f the play he expresses his disagreement with the court procedures, adopted by McCarthyism, which were in many ways similar to the ‘Salem Witch Trials’. There was a huge amount of paranoia within 1950s American Government, causing members to believe that innumerable communist people were trying to undermine their political ideas and destroy the American way of life by introducing communism. This paranoia and obsession grew, leading Senator Joe McCarthy to pass laws to restrict the activities of communists. This led to trials which resembled in many aspects the witch hunts which proceeded in Salem.Indeed the McCarthy era t rials came to be known as ‘witch hunts’. Highly visible investigations were conducted with much publicity, supposedly to uncover subversive political activity and disloyalty, however, they were really to harass and weaken the entire political opposition. The witch hunts in ‘The Crucible’ were similar in that they were also corrupt and weren’t really used to search for witches, but to accuse innocent people within Salem for ulterior motives, e. g. long-standing rivalries and feuds. Although set in the past, Arthur Miller’s play is a poignant reflection on the times in which he lived.