Nick Carraway Essay Example

Nick Carraway Paper In the light of these quotations, explore the uses Fitzgerald makes of his narrator, Nick Carraway, in the novel. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, introduces himself to the reader as a person to trust and he aims to assure the reader of his decent character. Talking of his father and his own personal issues from the very beginning, allows the reader to feel at ease with his comments and that they are what Nick feels to be the truth. Tony Tanner discusses Nicks introduction, When Nick is introducing himself to us, he speaks about his family with such casual, disarming honesty that it is easy to overlook the implications of what he reveals. It is true that it is easy to concentrate on what Nick tells us about other characters, however this novel is more about Nick and it is important not to overlook Nicks character whilst reading about the other characters. We will write a custom essay sample on Nick Carraway specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nick Carraway specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nick Carraway specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Nick sees himself as a guide, as narrated in the opening chapter when he directs somebody to the West Egg village. Fitzgerald labelling Nick with this description at an early point in the novel, prepares the reader for Nicks role: I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler. He had casually conferred on me the freedom of the neighbourhood. In the first few chapters of the novel, Nick remains a spectator on the other characters lives, as he is a newcomer to this vast world of wealth. He detaches himself from their wealth and situation and tries to keep his involvement with them to a minimum. He observes in the nature of this pathfinder, watching every movement and examining it. In the very first few lines of the novel Nick quotes from his father: Whenever you feel like criticising anyonejust remember that all the people in this world havent had the advantages that youve had. Nick uses this in the introduction, which suggests it is something he thinks about daily and follows consistently. However, he doesnt. He criticises many of the characters throughout the novel and picks up on their faults and downfalls. This lack of tolerance is surprising considering his own fathers advice, and as he points out just a few paragraphs on, it has a limit. Nick describes the East and West Egg villages with graphic images and details to emphasise the wonder of his surroundings. He also uses a lot of reference to light, linking with the green light, which Gatsby sets his life around: With fenders spread like wings we scattered light through half Astoria.. Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water. The use of this language shows Nicks feelings about the landscape. He is biased in the way he narrates throughout the novel, which reminds the reader that it is being narrated from one mans point of view. Once Nick has introduced himself to the reader, he moves on to talk about significant events in his life. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are old acquaintances of Nicks. Daisy is his second cousin once removed and he knew Tom from college, and so when they invite him over for dinner he feels obliged to accept the invitation. The reader is immediately made aware of the importance of the Buchanans role and the change that they make on Nicks life, the history of the summer really begins on the evening I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans. At first Nick finds it hard to understand Tom and Daisy. Daisy has a singing compulsion in her voice, which is used to compel Nicks attention. Tom physically takes control of Nick swinging him around by one arm. At this point Nick is passive and malleable. However, as the novel moves on, we see changes occurring in Nicks relationships with the other characters. In Chapter IV Gatsby calls on him: Good morning, old sport. Youre having lunch with me today and I thought wed ride together. Here Nick is being moved to the edge of other peoples lives at their command. This allows excellent narration from him. If their lives had no relevance with his own morals and experiences, there would be no significance of these events. Wealth and money are issues introduced early in the novel. They play an important role in most of the characters lives (fantasies). It is what brought them to where they are now, drawn by the style, beauty and glamour. After the war Gatsby goes to New York, the centre of wealth. It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to do that. Wealth is something that Fitzgerald, through Nick, often revisits throughout the novel. Tom, Daisy, Jordan and Gatsby are all very wealthy and Myrtle craves this lifestyle. The characters are morally blind. They fabricate reality, they fantasise, gossip, misread themselves and others, they lie and they betray. Nick implies this to the reader when talking about Doctor T. J. Eckleburgs eyes. Those blue and gigantictheir retinas are one yard high.brood on over the solemn dumping ground of the valley of ashes, but they see nothing. The characters see what they want to see, living their own fantasies the way they want. Gatsby becomes a strong interest of Nicks before they even meet. The gossip and rumours that Nick hears increase the intrigue of the character. At the party Nicks companion whispers to him: Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. These small details stimulate Nicks curiosity. When he finally meets Gatsby, he picks up on Gatsbys use of terrible clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s and that listening to him was like skimming through a dozen magazines. This suggests that Gatsby has fabricated his past in order to make it seem full of wonder, beauty and glamour. He relives the past and lives the dream. However, Nick also comments on how Gatsby does appear to be telling the truth when talking about the war, with his distinguished and heroic war record. Gatsby continues to talk about his childhood, and Nick knows it is an unoriginal fantasy, but he does want to believe him. Throughout the novel Nick is morally critical of Gatsby and his comment, I disapproved of him from beginning to end supports this. However, despite this, Nick continues to be drawn to Gatsby. Nick perceives two sides to Gatsby. One side is a romantic person with a rare charm, and the other is an uncultured man who adopts a stiffly formal manner to conceal his social faults. He struggles to criticise Gatsby, when through his own morals he knows he should feeling a certain shame for Gatsby. Throughout the novel Nick provides some powerful visual impressions of Gatsby. Nick talks again and again about Gatsby standing in a formal pose with an arm raised against a background of light and shade. These gestures show Gatsbys romantic cravings and are strongly characteristic. Nick is drawn in by this mysterious figure, which seems almost without substance. He is unable to understand Gatsby and his gazes, which frustrates Nick: Involuntary I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of the dock. Nick also has difficulty grasping Gatsbys parties: Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission When Nick himself receives an invitation to Gatsbys little party, his intrigue for the man increases. He finds it difficult, at first, to understand why a man would put so much effort and money into producing such a marvellous event so frequently, and yet not attend himself. Being a neighbour of these events, Nick is able to witness the amount of input, and yet he seems blind to all the servants and caterers who make it the event it is. To Nick, Gatsby is almost like a magician who creates these parties by himself. We understand towards the end of Nick and Gatsbys relationship that it was all done for Daisy. His love for Daisy stimulated his want for wealth and success. However, when the dream of Daisy materialises into the shape of a real woman, the world of Jay Gatsby vanishes, as the reality of his wealth is revealed. You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of the dock Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Gatsbys passion for Daisy takes over his entire life and self-image. It is the depth of that feeling which holds Nicks fascination. Nicks feelings towards Gatsby change constantly though the novel as a result of such different perspectives. When Tom takes Nick to see his girl, he comments that Toms determination to have my company bordered on violence. Tom is described to have talked to Mr Wilson coldly, showing his wealth and power. The images are deeply unpleasant. Nick doesnt seem to think very highly of Myrtle: She smiled slowly and, walking through her husband as if he were a ghost, shook hands with Tom, looking him flush in the eye. Nick is also aware of Myrtles falseness and her longing for the dream. She likes to feel she is of higher class and wants the chance to be someone else. Myrtle lacks the character and intelligence of a woman of higher class. She thinks herself above her husband, Wilson, which both Nick and Tom know isnt true. Her attempts to be a real lady fail: At the news-stand she bought a copy of Town Tattle and a moving picture magazine. I want to get one of those dogs. Gatsbys death is an important part of this novel. Until this point Nick has been living his life through the eyes of the other characters, but keeping a certain amount of detachment to enable him to judge them critically. Gatsbys life intrigued Nick the most, and once Gatsbys dream world is smashed, Nick is able to sympathise with Gatsby, rather than admire. From the very first word Nick hears of Gatsby, he starts piecing together information to develop an understanding. After Gatsbys death Nick is in full command of the outline of his life. It is also at this point where we see Nick moving to the centre of the narrative: .it grew upon me that I was responsible, because no one else was interested interested, I mean, with that intense personal interest to which everyone has some vague right at the end. Morals seem to be an important issue throughout the novel. Through his own morals, Nick rejects Gatsbys offer to, pick up a nice bit of money. The novel challenges his morals by the use of the diverse characters. Nick picks up on the moral failures of the Buchanans, beneath their wealth and power: Tom and Daisy they smash up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess that had made. Kathleen Parkinson states that: Fitzgerald allows Nick to claim authorship of the book. I agree with this comment, and even at one point Nick is said to be, Reading over what I have written so far. Many of the events written about in the novel are not what Nick has experienced, but what others have recounted and what he has retold. It seems at the start that Nick has been untouched throughout his life. The war hasnt left any marks on him as he enjoyed it so much: I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly that came back restless. It isnt until Nick meets Gatsby that he makes an emotional commitment. He commits himself to a belief in Gatsby even though he is aware of the ugly factors of the mans life. Nicks intuition provides a valuable insight into Gatsbys identity and his vulnerability. It is easy to underestimate the importance of Nicks role in the novel. The title automatically turns our attention to Jay Gatsby, the handsome, wealthy, dreamer who conducts other peoples lives in order to bypass his own. However, it is Nicks narration and interests that direct the novel in the direction it takes. Tony Tanners comment about the writer of the book, clearly evaluates the entire novel: Fitzgeralds book is Nicks book, but Nick is not Fitzgerald.

Graduation essays

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1894 Cripple Creek strike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

1894 Cripple Creek strike - Essay Example America was in the throes of an economic depression. Banking institutions, businesses and factories closed, and â€Å"as a result, millions of laborers were idle† (Rastall, 9). The country was rocked by strikes in various parts. The situation was exacerbated at Cripple Creek by the closing of Colorado’s silver mines. Workers, desperate for jobs, came to Cripple Creek, creating a labor surplus. The mines had no uniform working-hours, with some having a ten-hour day and others an eight-hour day. â€Å"The wage at all the mines was uniformly three dollars per day, irrespective of the length of the shift† (Rastall, 19). Citing the economic condition, the owner attempted to increase the working day from eight hours to nine and 10, with no increase in pay. The alternative offered was that Workers could keep the eight-hour day, but for a reduction of 50 cents in their daily pay. The dissenting miners formed the Free Coinage Union No. 19, which was part of the militant W estern Federation of Miners (WFM). The battle lines for the conflict were drawn. Attempts at compromise failed and, on February 7, 1894, all mines with eight and ten hour days were closed. The miners went on strike, and set up roving picket lines. In a show of solidarity, the miners who were still working in the eight-hour mines contributed 10 percent of their wages to support the strikers. A relief fund was organized and soup kitchens were set up. John Calderwood was elected President of the Union. The owners attempted in vain to open the mines. When the County Sheriff, Frank Bowers, sent a team of six deputies to defend a mine, they were captured by the local marshals â€Å"special police,† who were on the side of the strikers, but were later freed. Several miners were arrested and subsequently freed. A second crisis developed when the ranks of the hitherto law-abiding union were swelled by large numbers of rough elements. Order deteriorated with the

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Leadership - Essay Example Regarding educational qualification, Mulally pursued his graduation from University of Kansas. He also possesses educational certificates of Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. He also pursued Master’s degree in Management and Fellowship from MITs Sloan School of Management (Hoffman, 2012). Alan Mulally began his professional career as an engineer in Boeing. He was also the President of commercial Airplane Development in Boeing. One of the major contributions of Mulally is with regard to Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ (BCA) renaissance against the major competitor Airbus. The renaissance of BCA in 2000 has signified the effective leadership skill of Mulally. Moreover, the effective leadership of Mulally is evident from his contribution to Ford Motor Company. Mulally joining Ford Motor Company has transformed the organisation into one of the leading automakers in the world. He has provided a compelling vision to the organisation as an effective leader. He has also incorporated several strategies in the business process of the organisation that signifies his effective leadership skill (Hoffman, 2012). Alan Mulally started his professional career as an engineer in Boeing. In addition, effectiveness and efficiency he has as an engineering professional in the organisation has led him to achieve several milestones in the professional world. In this regard, one of his assets that greatly assisted him in several milestones is his effective leadership skill. His leadership is also notable as the CEO of Ford Motor Company. Mulally became an effective leader through his collaborative approach of work. Mulally at the beginning of his career at Boeing had shown effective collaborative approach. This has influenced him to be an effective team-man. Moreover, another attribute of Mulally that has influenced him in becoming an effective leader is the accountability in his work process. From the beginning of

Employee's Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employee's Review - Assignment Example I use my strengths in accomplishing the above results through working hard and attending training programs. Deviation in the working place is crucial because it enables an individual to accomplish the required goals of an organization. Dedicating one’s elf in the work enables one to work hard with an aim of achieving better results in the final work. Additionally, training programs enable one to learn various way through, which an individual may achieve the required goals of an organization. The goals or duties that were not met include unclear order maintenance of products, and unclear pricing. These are some of the duties that were not met the way it was required something that affected the performance of the company. Although, sales increased during the past year, some customers experienced the problem of poor order maintenance and pricing problem from their customers. The difficulties encountered after the goals were not were decreased number of customers and reduced profitability. This is because some customers left making the order from the company because of poor order maintenance of products and the pricing affected them too. My short term career interests include sales and marketing of products. My long term career interests is business administering. These careers are crucial, but they require one to work hard in order to satisfy customers’ needs. This will lead to improvement in the performance level of an

The Introduction And History Of Istanbul Tourism Essay

The Introduction And History Of Istanbul Tourism Essay Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey. It is the financial capital of Turkey, making it the busiest city in Turkey. It is located in the northwestern side of Turkey. In the Marmara region having a total area of 5,343 square kilometers (2,063 sq mi). The Sea of Marmara is connected to the Black Sea by the Bosphorus strait, which divides Istanbul into European that is the Thracian side, which is the economic and historic side, and Antolian side that is the Asian side. It has a population of 13.5 million due to which it is listed in one of the largest cities in the world for population in city limits. In the year 2008 in the terms of gross domestic product Istanbul was ranked 34th because of its GDP being US$182 Billion. 27 percent of Turkeys GDP is contributed by Istanbul. Two- fifths of the Turkish economy of the nations tax revenue, is contributed by Istanbul. INTRODUCTION TO THE DESTINATION The university of California, Berkley in the year 2008, September said that Istanbul is the Cultural capital of Europe. In the year 2010, The New York Times rated Istanbul on number 19th for the list of The 31 places to go in 2010. In the year 2010 around 7 million foreign tourists visited Istanbul, which made it worlds tenth- most visited city in the world. Istanbul itself has 17 palaces, 49 churches and 64 mosques, which makes it the most ideal place for cultural tourism. Istanbul is the city of history, culture and diversity. It is now being considered even as a place for educational tourism, as it has one of the worlds oldest universities. The administrative capital of Turkey has always been Istanbul. The worlds busiest waterway is Bosphorous, which is in Istanbul. It is located between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Sarayburnu had found Istanbul around 600 BC. Istanbul is a muslim dominated country. After the end of Ottoman Empire this city has become for cosmopolitan. A fter muslims this city is dominated by orthodox Christians. This city has always been considered as the cultural hub. In the 19th century it was considered the artistic center for regional purposes. Istanbul has a lot of shopping centers from the modern period as well as the historic period. The city has a Mediterranean climate. The northern part of the city has a lot of humidity due to the water bodies and the sea. Fog is a common site in the city. Winters are very cold. During winters black sea faces lake effect snow.Exhibition conducted in Tate Modern in the city of London on Global Cities on 27th August 2007 had Istanbul featured along with London, Cairo, Shanghai and Los Angeles. In which it was compared to all these cities for their size, speed, form density and diversity. The slogan that the Tourism board of Turkey uses to promote Istanbul is also Historically Dynamic. Making it the most apt city for foreigners to feel close to the culture and history. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the entire world, cultural and historical heritage and tourism have had many links throughout. According to the economic justification given by people tourism is a tool used for the preservation of heritages, artifacts and the folk life of the destination (Hall, 1994). This report summarizes and focuses on the kind of tourism in Istanbul. It is known for its cultural tourism, since the government of Turkey also promotes Istanbul as the most historically sound city. LITERATURE REVIEW OF ISTANBUL John Cleave in the year 2008 described Istanbul as the city of two continents. The mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas explains that Istanbul is a country not a city. In the year 1980 Istanbul did not even have enough electricity supply for the famous skyline. Few years back Istanbul had midnight curfews and even the supply of Turkish coffee had gone down. Today Istanbul is not just an immigrant city, it is much more than that, says Murat Guvenc, city planner and curator of Istanbul 1910- 2012. Kirsten Stamn in his online blog carry on in the year 2011 describes that, when some one thinks of Istanbul, people only think of the mosques, the bazaars and the architecture. But he discloses a fact that Turks love jazz. The biggest Jazz Festival every year is held in Istanbul. It is Istanbul where 15 million people come and visit the Grand Bazaar every year (Appleton. K, 2012). Istanbul has always had an East meets west history, due to the Bosphorous strait. The main selling point of Istanbul h as always been bridge between Asia and Europe. According to a survey done in April 2012 by PortTurkey.com the nationalities that visit this city the most re Germans. They took the top spot with 10.4 percent. According to Istanbuls Culture and Tourism Director Ahmet Emre Bilgili, Istanbul is a city, which has a very old history, culture and art, which a lot of people want to experience. It has a very diversified tourism, which makes it the most visited city by the tourists. PART 2 MAIN FORM OF TOURISM Tourism in Turkey mainly focuses on the various historical sites that the city has. In 2011 Istanbuls mainly attracted form of tourism was for culture, spa and health care, which helped it rank the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world. Istanbul just does not have vacationers tourist but even visiting professional literates, for its cultural grounds on literature. Istanbul even caters to the leisure travellers. The shopaholics can have a feast in this city, as Cevahir mall is the biggest mall in Europe and the seventh largest shopping center in the world. Peter Sommer describes that while describing Istanbul it is very hard for people not to speak in superlatives. Istanbul has one of the most finest architectural and art around the world. Istanbul is Turkeys commercial hub, which is also the social, and art capital. In the year 1970 the population of this city was 3 million, which has grown to around 11 million today. The head of Cultural and Social Affairs Department, Nu man Guzey shares that Istanbul has been the capital for three empires in the past that is Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, which makes it a center of history and culture having a history that is 3,000 years old. The mission statement of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipalitys Directorate of Tourism is that it is the city that has a lot of vibrancy, since a lot of cultures here have crossed and encountered in the centuries that have passed by. Their mission is to promote Istanbul more as a cultural destination known for its heritage making it the most visited and vibrant tourist destinations in the world. CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISTS In the year 2012 the number of tourists that visited Istanbul increased at a very large scale. Istanbul Culture and Tourism Directorate released the figures of tourists visiting the city has increased by 18 percent compared to the year 2011. Around 4.2 million tourists visited Istanbul. Around 4 million tourists visited Istanbul by plane and the rest by ferries or ships. Wizard Istanbul is a travel guide developed by the Ministry of Culture and tourism is an online website which is available 24 hours to help the foreign tourists. Istanbul had a whooping number of 4,231,000 tourists. Around 26.8 percent of the tourists that entered Turkey visited Istanbul. 4,052,908 tourists arrived by plane and the rest 178,511 came by sea. The majority of tourists who visited Istanbul were from Germany, which was then followed by Russia, America, France, England and Iran. This year there was a decline in the tourists form Israel. Since the year 2007 Spaniards have visited Istanbul a lot more frequen tly. Istanbul has made Turkey the top 10 biggest revenue generators in the world due to tourism. Spending Capacity The Turkish Lira was not stable for quiet some years; euros and dollars are a common currency in most of the hotels and tour operators. Earlier it was a bargain destination, it still has a god value for money when it comes to travelling. A room for two people in three star hotels would cost around $80 per night in Sultanahmet. A decent meal would cost around TL20 to TL25. Public transportation is very cheap and efficient and some of the citys historical places people can visit for free. If the non-residents buy any expensive item from Istanbul they can participate in the national Global Refund. This means that at the time of departure the tourist can present the refund receipt at the airport tax return. This way the tourists get their tax back. DURATION OF STAY Tourists, who generally visit Istanbul, prefer staying there for 5 to 6 days. Tourists, which travel to Istanbul even travel to Cappadocia, which is not very far from Istanbul. The cultural tourists travel for 10 days since they visit the blue mosque. TIME AND SPACE Specific type of Tourist In the year 2004, the maximum people who visited Istanbul were travelling only for cultural perspective. Hence Istanbul had a very high amount of cultural tourism. In more recent years the cultural tourism in this city has increased to 30 percent. 40 percent of the tourists visit the museums and the mosques. The major target markets for Istanbul are cultural tourists. The total amount of visitors every year to the Istanbul museum is 3,932,852 (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2008). Lot of tourists visit this city for the festivals as well. After the year 2000 the government has taken important steps to celebrate festivals publically, so that not only the residents can take part but also the tourists can be a part of it. The European Union supports the cultural tourism, making this city more convenient for the culturally inclined tourists. The cultural tourists are generally rich and highly educated. The cultural tourists are generally known as upper level tourists. Cultural tourists who travel to Istanbul are dived into two groups according to the attractions they visit. The first groups of attractions are monuments, museums. Theme parks, architectural and sculptures. The second group of attractions is music and dance, events, theatre language, festivals. CONTRIBUTION TO GDP Turkey has become the 15th greatest economy of the world in the year 2012. Having a GDP of $729 billion. Istanbul has always been the economic center for Turkey, contributing a GDP of $174 billion. It generates 22 percent of the GDP just through tourism and 40 percent is generated through the travel and tourism tax. Istanbul has made carved a niche for itself and is now listed in the Global cities of the world. Due to the high GDP in Istanbul, it has started creating more jobs, further improving the countrys balance overall. THE GLOBAL CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY TOURISM Travelling is something that everyone enjoys. Travelling makes life interesting, and can bring a new view of living life. The purpose of everyones travelling can be different like some people travel for rich culture, history and some to meet and come across interesting people. A lot of people travel and yet they would not be able to travel the whole world, as they might not have the correct resources. Travelling around the world gives people a better understanding of what is going around in the different parts of the world, and how different is every countries culture and heritage. Traveling even changes a persons perspective towards life. Travelling broadens a persons mind and soul. In basic words it has always been a human desire to travel to different places. Travelling changes a person inside out. Travel for people will always be an invaluable asset. Most of the common reasons why people travel is to try out new things. Different places have different things to see and try, and t his is the motivation which most of the people have. GLOBALIZATION- EFFECT ON TOURISM

Pfizer Industry Analysis

An Economy and Industry Analysis Focus Industry: Pharmaceutical Industry Focus Company: Pfizer, Inc. (PFE – NYSE) Pharmaceutical Industry Classification The pharmaceutical industry seems to be an intermingling of growth and expansion stage. This is mainly due to the fact that there are so much research and development (R&D) work being conducted in the industry, creating growth in the industry. At the same time, various players in this industry have started to acquire or merge with their respective competitors, in order to expand and diversify product line, market share, or new markets. The worldwide pharmaceutical sales has continued to grow faster than most segments of the world economy – driven by strong demographic trends of the world population: aging population in many countries, lengthening of average life expectancy, and rising incidence of chronic diseases. This industry is a non-cyclical industry, as the products, drugs and medication, are geared towards consumers and markets that are not prone to price changes, inflation, or economy fluctuations. Consumers in the market might lean towards product lines in the lower end of the affordability spectrum, rather than higher end – purchasing generic products in the market. Pharmaceutical Industry Application of Porter’s Five Forces Industry Competitors and Intensity of Rivalry In general, the main competitors for the pharmaceutical industry are Pfizer ($45. 2B in 2003 sales), GlaxoSmithKline ($35. 2B), Merck ($22. 5B), Bristol-Myers Squibb ($20. 7B), Abbott Laboratories ($19. 7B), and Johnson & Johnson ($19. B). However, with the recent spur in mergers and acquisition (M&A) activities in various industries, the pharmaceutical industry had a significant merger in August 2004 between two France competitors – Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis – creating Sanofi-Aventis, one of the top three pharmaceutical companies with Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. The rivalry among the current competitors in this industry is intense due to the competitive nature of product develo pment and patent profitability. Each competitor is spending billions of dollars in their respective R&D efforts to discover new products and patents to continue the stream of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs produced and sold to consumers in the market. The rivalry is also intense due to the regulation set forth by Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in US and other governmental regulators in various countries of the world, where stringent requirements and scarce allocation of patents are given out to companies developing new drug products. However, due to such intense rivalry, numerous companies have started to merge (like Sanofi-Aventis), or form alliances or joint-ventures in creating new products, to compete with other competitors. Bargaining Power of Buyers In the world of pharmaceutical, the buyers are basically wholesale distributors such as Cardinal Health Inc. , McKesson, and AmeriSourceBergen. These wholesale distributors play the middle-man role in selling and distributing all pharmaceutical products to various buyers like pharmacies, hospitals, HMOs, clinics, and mail-order companies. The concentration of buyers are high due to the fact that there are only a select few key buyers that make huge purchases from all the players in the pharmaceutical industry. As such, buyers do have above average bargaining power that allows the wholesale distributors to dictate the price of the products. However, all the pharmaceutical companies have distributor agreements that help curb the bargaining from being overzealous. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers to the pharmaceutical industry players are in abundance. The industry does not suffer from scarce resources as the raw materials (both active and inactive ingredients) are always available from various drug ingredient makers and distributors. As such, the suppliers are low in concentration and without much bargaining power. Most of the suppliers are similar and as such, easily interchangeable, without much risk or hassle. With the globalization of economy, the market of available suppliers is even bigger than it used to be – resulting in even lower concentration of suppliers and giving the pharmaceutical industry more power in bargaining for the prices of drug ingredients. Threat from Substitute Products For the brand prescription drugs, the main substitute would be the generics or competitors’ similar prescription drugs. However, this internal threat between competing products does not change the dynamics of drugs that are produce in the safety of patent. The larger threat that the pharmaceutical industry faces is from alternative medicine such as herbal medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, massage therapy, homeopathic medicine, and other growing fads of self-remedy. The effect of alternative medicine is limited however to the critical and chronic degree of the diseases and illnesses that could be treated or prevented. Threat of Potential Entry The threat of potential entry for this industry at this stage (growth and expansion) is definitely low. This is mainly due to the enormously high barrier to entry in obtaining capital and resources for R&D efforts to produce patents. Due to the scarcity of patents and large amount of capital required for the numerous years of research and development, it is close to impossible for new smaller companies to enter this industry at this time. Each of the players in this industry is spending billions of dollars each year just to conduct researches and perform studies, which hopefully will result in the development of an effective and efficient drug that can be patent. Other than that, there are also legal and regulatory obstacles that prevent new competitors, from the FDA and other governmental structures. Other Influencing Forces Due to the nature of the drug products, there is intensive regulatory and legal implication that affects this industry. A good example of how the government and political environment influence and dictate the direction of the pharmaceutical industry is through various regulations by the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), involving patent protection, product approvals, pricing controls, and product liability. The demographic evolvement in the world is another factor that should be considered. As the baby boom generation ages and life expectancy rises, demand for pharmaceuticals are soaring. In the US, seniors aged 65 and older currently represent only 13% of the population but account for 34% of all prescriptions written and more than 40% of drug sales. Approximately 80% of seniors in the US use prescription drugs on a regular basis. According to a United Nations study, the number of people worldwide aged 60 or older will grow from 593 million in 1999 to close to 2 billion by 2050. Recent technological developments and breakthroughs have changed the way new drugs are discovered, how they are tested, the precision that it affects the diseases, and how the drugs are being delivered or distributed to patients. The recent development in stem cell research will definitely create more opportunity for growth in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the European Union a

Israel Palestine Conflict

Israel-Palestine Conflict Two films, Zero and 5 Broken Cameras, explain the ideologies, policies, and practices in the OPT and Israel. These films show how these ideologies are perpetuating the Israel-Palestine Conflict and suggest ways to end the occupation and problem. Zero looks in depth at the Israel education system and society and 5 Broken Cameras looks at the nonviolent resistance movement in the OPT. Both films suggest that this conflict will be never-ending If something does not change soon.This Is because the films show what children learn from the conflict, and how It will continue on both ides because of what is seen and taught by and to children in Israel and the OPT. Zero teaches that ideologies in Israel need to change because children are taught that the violence is Justifiable. 5 Broken Cameras teaches that nonviolent protests and filming are productive ways to help end the occupation. These films together show that It Is extremely necessary for conditions to change because If they do not then the conflict will be carried on and Intensified by future generations. Zero, Slaves of Memory looks into the Israeli society.For a month out of the school ear children in Israeli schools are taught to remember their history. Children of all ages are taught about Passover, the Shoo, and Independence Day. They are taught that horrible things have happened to their people. Through this education all children learn the importance of the Israeli state, army, and a nationalist identity to prevent atrocities from happening to them again. The filmmaker suggests that educators In Israel focus too much on the Holocaust. At one point the Interviewer asks a teacher if Israelis are â€Å"slaves to memory' (Zero, Part 7, 9:20) because of the education system.The teacher vehemently opposes that statement but the footage speaks for itself. The children who are interviewed seem programmed to answer in certain ways, even though one student argues â€Å"It's not brainwash ing. It's more part of a tradition† (Part 9, 4:15). This film suggests that education in Israel Is perpetuating the conflict more than anything else. From kindergarten to the army, children of all ages are taught that it is their duty to be willing to die for their country. They are taught that Jews must have an army and independent and sovereign state to fight heir enemies (Part 6, 9:55).The problem with the ideology and education system in Israel is that the most important value taught to children is â€Å"Be a good soldier† rather than â€Å"Be a good person† ((Part 7, 8:12). Dry. Liability suggests that it should not be the Jews who are working hard to remember the tragedies that have happened to them. It Is those who committed the acts. If people define themselves as victims It diverts the mind from all responsibility. He sarcastically says, â€Å"We can kill Arabs in refugee camps because of the terrible things that were done to us† (Part 5, 1:33).Co mmitting so much education to victimized allows Israelis to justify the violence toward the Palestinians, thus allowing the conflict to continue. Billing. The footage shows the men of Billing nonviolently protest Israel's Wall. He is proof that not even Journalists are safe from Israeli soldiers. His camera was fired at and broken by soldiers multiple times. One reason his cameras are broken is because Israeli soldiers are very uncomfortable with Dam's filming. Deep down the soldiers seem to know that what they are doing is morally wrong, and so they don't want the world to see the violence.There is a lack of knowledge about the conflict around the world, and Dam's footage of tear gas, arrests, shootings, and even the murder of his friend Phil helps spread the truth of who the victims are. Edam parallels the protests with the birth and growth of his son, Gabriel. He shows how children in Billing are affected by the conflict and how they will carry it on when their fathers are gone. Gabriel says he wants to hurt the Israeli soldiers for killing Phil (Cameras, 13). Even after a violent act happens, the anger remains and the children will remember the injustices against their fathers (Cameras, 12).Because of the violence of Israeli soldiers against Palestinians who did not do anything wrong, the conflict is perpetuated by creating more anger and hate between the two sides. Many aspects of these films built on my understanding of what Eve learned about the conflict in class. Zero made me think of the Refusing, or the men who refused to join the army. They were seen as traitors but really they were some of the few who could see that they should be angry at the system for brainwashing children instead of angry with the Palestinians.The system â€Å"perverts the children† (Part 7, 6:57) cause it teaches that nationalism and violence in the name of protecting Israel is the most important value rather than being a decent human being. 5 Broken Cameras built on my understanding of life in the OPT. I have previously learned about and seen footage of the occupation and the horrors that come with it, but this film was the most effective. This is because Dam's footage lets the experiences speak for themselves instead of an interviewee sharing their political viewpoints. In this way, 5 Broken Cameras is about human beings rather than the politics of the conflict.I have learned many statistics about the OPT but it was instrumental to my understanding to see how a family lives and keeps moral up in the OPT. 5 Broken Cameras teaches that nonviolent demonstrations can be very valuable. It takes a lot of bravery to protest against people with weapons when you do not have a weapon, and it shows who the true victims are. Nonviolent demonstrations show that Palestinians are peaceful and willing to cooperate. It Just does not make sense to fight for peace by using violence. Violent protests by Palestinians allow Israelis to call Palestinians â€Å"terror ists† and make Israelis seem like the victims.If Israeli soldiers are harming peaceful Palestinians, it is more obvious to outsiders who the victim in the situation is. The â€Å"outsiders† aspect is why filming is an important model of nonviolent resistance. Filming is important because it gets the word out more and so more people are able to help and know the truth (Cameras, 15:20). Edam says that people come from all over the world to protest with them and they are treated the same way as Palestinian protestors. Filming does not only show the world the realities of life in the OPT; it also encourages more nonviolent resistance. When Edam shows the nonviolent ways too (Cameras, 34).Methods of nonviolent resistance such as peaceful protests and filming have a higher potential to help end the occupation than violent resistance, but they might not be enough to completely resolve the conflict. The best solution I can see to solving this conflict is to end U. S. Funding to Israel. However, because of Israeli lobbyists that does not seem to be a realistic possibility. Because of this, there needs to be something that forces the United States to end funding to Israel. The UN has not done anything that's worked for decades so Hereford it is the international community's duty.Public opinion in America and the rest of the world needs to be strongly anti-lesser funding. A way to do this is to spread the truth of the horrors committed by Israel. Articles written by Journalists visiting the OPT and films like 5 Broken Cameras that show what is happening in the OPT need to get more attention. However, because of American media it is difficult to spread the truth in these ways. Upon doing some research of 5 Broken Cameras, I was surprised to read that the Israeli co-director, David', said that he thinks that abbey more Israeli activist blood needs to be spilled by Israeli soldiers in order to get the point across.This shocked me because in general I think that nonviolent solutions are best, but it made me consider the validity of this idea. Israel values its own citizens and should not want to harm them. Maybe if more Israeli citizens opposed the wall then Israel would reconsider its practices. However, 5 Broken Cameras shows that the soldiers treat Israeli activists the same as they do the Palestinians. Because of this, I am taking Davit's idea a step further. When even one American tourist or Journalist dies abroad at the hand of another country soldiers or police, people know about it because it is highly publicized.If more activists from around the world and particularly from America went and protested with the Palestinians in the OPT then maybe the United States government would stop funding Israel because it is killing American citizens. If more Americans were dying at the hands of weapons funded by America, the public would be furious. I think the best way to help end this conflict is to end funding to Israel, and maybe the best w ay o force funding to stop is for tons of people to be really angry about it. It is not a pleasant solution, but highly publicized deaths of citizens of powerful countries could be a way to force the U.S. To stop Israel's violence. Another potential way to help end the conflict is Israeli-Palestinian cooperation. 5 Broken Cameras is co-directed by an Israeli, therefore making it a Palestinian-Israeli film. This film shows teamwork between Israelis and Palestinians. This makes the film successful because it shows that Israelis and Palestinians are not natural born enemies and that cooperation is Seibel and productive. If the two communities started working together and were willing to compromise then the conflict could be solved without outside influence.This solution would work in a perfect world but it is unlikely to happen. Zero and 5 Broken Cameras are very different films about the Israel-Palestine conflict but the theme is the same: something needs to change and soon. Actions n eed to be taken by both sides to help end the conflict. Palestinians in the OPT must focus on nonviolent resistance and filming their experiences to help bring an end to the hat â€Å"There is no lesson to be learned from the Shoo† (Part 8, 2:1 1) and that if Israeli education continues the way it is then they are headed towards destruction.Israeli soldiers are taught that they are doing the right thing in the name of nationalism, but violence by soldiers in the OPT promotes anger among Palestinians and a lessening chance of cooperation. Children on both sides will grow up and continue the fight of their parents. These films show that this conflict is a vicious cycle and if a solution is not found soon the situation will intensify and worsen.

Barong and Rangda An Exhibit at the Spurlock Museum

Barong and Rangda An Exhibit at the Spurlock Museum The Spurlock Museum, also known as the William R. and Clarice V. Spurlock Museum, is one of the most famous ethnographic museums in Illinois. It contains numerous collections and exhibits from other different museums and campuses. In addition, this museum presents the historical objects donated by private individuals, such as Professor John Garvey.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Barong and Rangda: An Exhibit at the Spurlock Museum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The peculiar feature of this museum is its variety of exhibits of different nations and cultures. There are five galleries, which represent the cultures of Europe, America, Ancient Mediterranean, Egypt and Mesopotamia, Africa, East and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. These galleries underline the diversities of each culture and their changes through different periods of time. East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania is considered to be one of the most c aptivating galleries in the Spurlock Museum; it presents a lot of interesting and clear information that provides visitors with opportunities to learn more about such Balinese historical creatures like Rangda and Barong, which are two opposites, evil and good, and analyze deeper the history of Balinese people and their culture. The Balinese culture exists more than 2  000 years. Of course, their customs develop from time to time, however, its origins, which came from Hindu religion, still play a very important role and remain unchangeable. Balinese people try to preserve their own culture from different influences of other countries, and this is why their traditions deserve respect and gain recognition in many cultures. The Spurlock Museum presents different kinds of exhibitions that help people be closer to the customs they prefer or just want to examine. The Balinese culture is really captivating and amazing due to many reasons. People prefer to believe in numerous things and ev en allow them to control their lives. In the East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania gallery, the exhibits of Barong, a mystical creature in Bali mythology, and Rangda, a widow witch, take very important places and attract lots of visitors. When you enter the Spurlock Museum, you find yourself in a big captivating room with four resource centers, which present all the facilities of the museum and mention all the necessary information about each gallery.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This visit to the Spurlock Museum may be compared with the one of James Clifford. When Clifford describes his visit to Paradise, he tries to pay attention to each detail in the museum. â€Å"You follow the arrows into a light, open gallery with curving walls and raised display platforms, several spaces flowing into one another.† (193) The same things happen to the visitors o f the Spurlock Museum and have already happened to me. I open huge doors of the museum and enter another world, full of historical events and secrets. Gray-and-white colors considerably expand the first room. It looks like you are in a big holding alley and searching for the necessary door to enter. You are not distracted by the variety of colors, which are inherent to different cultures and different epochs. This calm light allows to make the right choice and approach to the gallery needed. The East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania gallery is full of different objects, which present their own histories and tell more about the nation. This very gallery attracts my attention right now, and this is where I should enter in order to know more about the culture preferred. What do we know about Asia cultures, for example the Balinese one? A lot of information is presented about the two mythological creatures, which played an important role in the Balinese culture – Rangda and Baro ng. â€Å"Rangda takes her name, meaning â€Å"widow† in Balinese, from a legendary Javanese-Balinese tale, the twelfth-century Calonarang.† (Spurlock Museum) This is the way of how the museum represents one of the most famous characters of the Balinese mythology. This information is clear enough to get a clear understanding of what this mythology creature is. Rangda and Barong (the barong ket), a dragon-like exhibit, came from Bali. These two objects were donated by Professor John Garvey at the beginning of 2000s. These characters have a long history and play a considerable role in the history of Bali. In Paradise, Clifford pays a certain attention to the history of the objects under discussion and the colors used by the historians in order to represent the chosen time: â€Å"large color photographs†, â€Å"images are in bright, living color†, and â€Å"black-and-white records†. (201) The colors of the exhibits in the Spurlock Museum and the light ning of the rooms itself deserve not less attention. Lots of people can hardly understand that it is very captivating to â€Å"read† the history of the nation by means of the colors used. Rangda and Barong are both presented in red and golden colors. However, to my mind, the colors of Rangda and Barong symbolize quite different natures of these characters. Rangda is considered to be a symbol of evil. She is angry, she is eager to take revenge, and punish each being, which may hurt her. Her long, unkempt hair, terrible claws, and pendulous tongue evoke some kind of aversion to this character.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Barong and Rangda: An Exhibit at the Spurlock Museum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In her article, Margaret Coldiron (227) compares Balinese and Japanese masks and underlines that â€Å"the Balinese Rangda mask appears to be thoroughly alien and evil, but she is nonetheless reg arded as a beneficent protector.† She also mentions that Barong mask exists â€Å"in several forms.† It is necessary to emphasize that, in different regions of Bali, Barong has a face of different animals: a lion, a tiger, a dragon, and a boar. The masks of lion and dragon are the most popular ones. In Spurlock Museum, I had a possibility to admire Barong in the mask of golden dragon with huge bulging red-and-black eyes. The point is that unkempt hair and bulging eyes are inherent to both Rangda and Barong, however, the attitude to these creatures is rather different. Good Barong is respected by the people of Bali; this mythological creature is a symbol of humankind protector, sun glory, and white magic. Evil Rangda is Barong’s opponent; she is able to rule all evil spirits, who appear at graveyards at nights. She is one of the brightest representatives of black magic and the consequences of destructive forces. The story of these two mysterious creatures is the s tory of constant fight between good and evil, between black and white, between life and death. People want to believe that they have a kind of protector, this is why they create Barong. This creature should fight against something that is materialized as well, this is why Rangda is considered to be a human in past, who joined the black side in order to revenge. In the Spurlock Museum, Barong and Rangda signify the belief that was so inherent to any Balinese. â€Å"The people of Bali are well-know for their vibrant and complex ceremonial life and arts†¦ Balinese ritual and everyday life are concerned with the relationship between the visible universe and an invisible realm.† (Spurlock Museum) Barong dance is probably one of the most popular ones in Bali. This is one of the ways of how Balinese act out mythology and comprehend their traditions and history. I have read that this dance may be rather dangerous for people: it may not only lead to body injuries, but also kill p eople. People say that if Rangda casts too dangerous and strong spell, weak people cannot resist it, and even powerful Barong cannot help them to avoid death. To my mind, it is just one more way to lay the blame on somebody else. Balinese people cannot just believe that it is time to leave this world, and nothing can prevent it. However, they still try to present Rangda as the only creature who is guilty. When I move from one exhibit to another in the East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania gallery of the Spurlock Museum, I try to imagine how these characters may fight with each other, hurt people, and save them. The colored figures of Barong and Rangda can easily alive in my imagination and take me away, where all those fights took place. Silence that is typical for the Spurlock Museum allows visitors to use their imagination and fancy the flow of events in accordance with their personal preferences.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"As you examine the Barong Ket, think of it not just as a dramatic and colorful aspect of cultural expression, but as a valuable point of contact with a certain way of experiencing and understanding the world.† (Spurlock Museum) This is how the museum give a hint to its visitor to comprehend and enjoy its exhibits. Barong and Rangda’s masks – this is what attract my attention most of all. Just look at these faces: they are angry and happy, mad and calm, kind and evil simultaneously. It is necessary to spend some time in front of each of them in order to comprehend why they look this way, what makes them angry or happy, and why they are so similar and different at the same time. At first, Rangda’s angry face and long tongue make lots of people close their eyes and hope that her evil spirit never curse them. But if you look at her face closer, it is possible to see a faint note of fear and even a bit of resentment. Her long tongue may be just a means o f defence, the defence against this cruel world and its traditions that helps to survive. The image of Barong should be also examined deeper. People get used to think that dragons and lions are dangerous for people. However, these very masks were chosen for one of the most sacred images, Barong. Barong’s mask is rather kind and attractive. He looks at this world and smiles. In order to make this world happier, it is better to smile and think about something good. Even if Barong has to fight against Rangda, he finds time to give a smile to the world and assuage his people. Tours to museum always provide people with an opportunity to learn more about their history and traditions. When you decide to visit the Spurlock Museum, the East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania gallery in particular, you get a chance to perceive old traditions of people of Bali. Such exhibits as Rangda and Barong are one of the most famous representatives of the Balinese culture. They represent a constant fight between good and evil. Unbelievable combination of red and gold colors attracts the attention of viewers and helps them to realize that the same color may call different reactions and represent different characters. Calm atmosphere, proper lighting, and reliable information about each exhibit captivates the visitor and gives him/her a chance to make a wonderful trip to Bali and be a participant of their customs, at least for several minutes. Not every museum can provide people with such opportunities, and the Spurlock Museum should be proud of the facilities, it presents to its visitors. Clifford, James. â€Å"Paradise.† Reading Context. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005, 193-222. Coldiron, Margaret.  Lions, Witches, and Happy Old Men: Some Parallels between Balinese and Japanese Ritual Masks.  Asian Theatre Journal  22.2  (Fall 2005):  227. Spurlock Museum. University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Feb, 2003. 23 April, 2009. https://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/ index.html

Free Essays on Symbolism In A Rose For Emily

The Symbolism in A Rose For Emily Authors have always used symbolism as a way to represent the restrained qualities of the characters, places, and events in their stories. In William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† he uses symbolism to compare the Grierson house with Emily Grierson’s physical decline, her shift in social standing, and her unwillingness to accept change. When compared, the Grierson house is used to symbolize Emily’s physical attributes. In its prime, the Grierson house is described as â€Å"white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies.† This description suggests that the house was built to impress the townspeople. Also, the wealthy women back then, Emily not withstanding, were dressed in noticeable style. This is because their appearance was seen as a direct hint on their husbands and/or fathers. This display of luxury was especially designed by men to give a sense of wealth to onlookers. Her father regarded Emily as property. Her importance to him was strongly showy, just as their luxurious home was. As the plot progresses, the reader is clearly made aware of the physical decline of both the house and Emily. Just as the house is described as â€Å"smelling of dust and disuse,† evidence of Emily’s own aging is given when her voice is similarly said to be â€Å"harsh, and rusty, as if from disuse.† Eventually, at the time of Emily’s death, the house is seen by the townspeople as â€Å"an eyesore among eyesores,† and Emily is regarded as â€Å"a fallen monument.† Both are empty and lifeless; neither is even remotely thought of as their former magnificence. Just as their physical characteristics, Faulkner uses the Grierson house as a symbol for Emily’s change in social status. In the beef of the story, the house was described as â€Å"big,† â€Å"squarish,† and located on Jefferson’s â€Å"most selected street.† This... Free Essays on Symbolism In A Rose For Emily Free Essays on Symbolism In A Rose For Emily The Symbolism in A Rose For Emily Authors have always used symbolism as a way to represent the restrained qualities of the characters, places, and events in their stories. In William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† he uses symbolism to compare the Grierson house with Emily Grierson’s physical decline, her shift in social standing, and her unwillingness to accept change. When compared, the Grierson house is used to symbolize Emily’s physical attributes. In its prime, the Grierson house is described as â€Å"white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies.† This description suggests that the house was built to impress the townspeople. Also, the wealthy women back then, Emily not withstanding, were dressed in noticeable style. This is because their appearance was seen as a direct hint on their husbands and/or fathers. This display of luxury was especially designed by men to give a sense of wealth to onlookers. Her father regarded Emily as property. Her importance to him was strongly showy, just as their luxurious home was. As the plot progresses, the reader is clearly made aware of the physical decline of both the house and Emily. Just as the house is described as â€Å"smelling of dust and disuse,† evidence of Emily’s own aging is given when her voice is similarly said to be â€Å"harsh, and rusty, as if from disuse.† Eventually, at the time of Emily’s death, the house is seen by the townspeople as â€Å"an eyesore among eyesores,† and Emily is regarded as â€Å"a fallen monument.† Both are empty and lifeless; neither is even remotely thought of as their former magnificence. Just as their physical characteristics, Faulkner uses the Grierson house as a symbol for Emily’s change in social status. In the beef of the story, the house was described as â€Å"big,† â€Å"squarish,† and located on Jefferson’s â€Å"most selected street.† This...

Confusing Harder with Better by Alfie Kohn Essay

Confusing Harder with Better by Alfie Kohn - Essay Example The paper throws light on the essay â€Å"Confusing Harder with Better† which expresses that the more schools commit themselves to improving performance on these tests, the more that meaningful opportunities to learn are sacrificed. He also said that there is an inverse relationship with high scores and the quality of the standards that the schools want to achieve. Though schools are aiming to be competitive with other schools, they are also aiming for their students to be competitive not just on the scholastic world but also when they step out of the academe and into the real world. Most of the students are now being educated through the book and by the book. There is a certain scare that one’s talent and creativity will be shadowed by the books. As the educational standards are being raised, there are points that are being shadowed and overlooked upon. There is nothing wrong with raising the standard of education especially when there are a lot of things the country i s facing now which the students of today may answer in the future. All things should be done in moderation. Raise the standard of education moderately that the students still have the freedom to choose other activities where they can excel. It is not all about the books. A well-educated person knows how to apply what he have learned in the academe to his daily life. There are a lot of things beyond what are written in the books. Tests are not just in the school but also in real life. There are things in life that are not taught in schools.

Managing Performance in Turbulent Times Research Paper

Managing Performance in Turbulent Times - Research Paper Example This paper examines how Google competes in the world of the internet and e-commerce. It examines the various points which Google uses to gain an advantage of its competitors and remain at the top of the industry. Barrows & Nechy (2011 p85) identify that the brain behind the success of Google lies in its ability to innovate. As compared to its competitors, Google spends more time and effort to identify new communication systems and methods at different points in time. Although Google started as a search engine company, it spent time and money to research and identify the true needs and desires of customers. In 2005, they launched personal email services which they believed was in demand by the markets. â€Å"They pursue a strategy that aims at increasing the capacity of computers and communication† (Png & Lehman, 2007 p3). This means that research and development are a fundamental part of Google. They put in more effort to find out what consumers need at every point in time and work to provide that specific service according to the highest standards and expectations possible. Google, therefore, sets out to organize the world's information rather than just make a profit for the sake of getting money from the consumers (Carter et al, 2011 p147). They, therefore, try to find ways of satisfying consumer needs at specific times. Google, therefore, has competitors not only in the normal internet companies but also, traditional publishers and other outlets. Google is aware that it operates in one of the most turbulent industries in the world. They, therefore, appreciate the fact that consumer needs change at a regular interval. Google, therefore, changes regularly to meet these demands. On the average, Google makes major changes to its strategy each month (Carter et al, 2011 p148). The internal structures of Google support its vision of leading in innovation. Googles workers are grouped in teams  of 20 – 50 employees under a single manager.