The Ins and Outs of Othello Essay Example For Students

The Ins and Outs of Othello Essay A tragedy without meaning Othello is not, as the very genre of tragedy seeks to imitate action and life, both of which have an inherit meaning. In some ways, Shakespeares work can be considered didactic as in the case in classical tragedy, the heros falls arises as fault of a hamartia on his part, a fault which plagues humanity. In fact, throughout the work, Othello is revealed to have many more faults and weaknesses than a man of his stature should posses, providing a reason for his downfall. The works main protagonist, the scheming Iago, ultimately has his own reasons for his actions; actions, which on surface value, might appear to be inherently evil and motiveless. A third variable here, the role of the setting, and its part in the tragedy also helps to explain the reasons for it. Through Iagos motives, and Othellos inherit weaknesses, the tragedy of the play is meaningful for the audience. We will write a custom essay on The Ins and Outs of Othello specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now By examining Iagos actions and his soliloquies the audience is able to discern that Iago does indeed have motives for his actions, however weak they may be. Despite Iago recognizing that indeed the moor is of a free and open nature Oth Act 1 Sc. 3, he still does despise him. Iago has to be examined closer to discover his motives: of course, he is jealous of Cassios appointment as Othellos lieutenant and this is an ultimate irony in itself as he later mocks Othello for his own jealousy, having succumbed to the green-eyed monster. There is also of course Iagos blatant racial slurs and hatred towards Othello, and his paranoia regarding the supposed infidelity of his wife, And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets hes done my office Oth Act 1 Sc. 3. However, the latter excuse may seem less reasonable, considering that Iago also utters later that he believes that Cassio has also slept with his wife. Iagos attitude to the subject, contrasting with Othellos view of sex as a unifying for ce, is that it is something inherently dirty and revolting, increasing his paranoia. Iagos main vice however is his lust for power. Ultimately, his aim is not to rise to the rank of lieutenant, but to go as far as he is able to. This point is justified by his plotting not only against Cassio, the man who holds his coveted position, but Othello, the general of the Venetian army himself. Ultimately, Iago is surprised by how easy it becomes to manipulate Othello and by the end of the play is even a little sorry for the ease at which his plan has come to fruition. No man without a clear motive, as has been often suggested for Iago, could have devised such a plan, that struck the victim blow by blow, with no time to recover to rational thought in between. Iagos main motive then becomes a classic case of tall-poppy syndrome as he seeks not only to dethrone the god of war and the goddess of love,  but to also make them suffer. The setting in the play also plays a significant role in the explanation for the reasons for the tragedy. The play opens in Venice, the epitome of western civilization and culture in Shakespeares time Tillyard 113. Under the influence of Venices culture, there does exist imaginary bonds of control and order, which keep characters emotions in check. In Act 2, following the move to Cyprus, these bonds are gradually released, freeing the way for chaos to rule over order in a way not possible in the first Act. The characters have now reached the frontier. Evidence of this is found with reference to the poor weather encircling Cyprus at the time. In this case there is both a literal and metaphorical storm brewing, as Iagos plot begins to shape in his mind. The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds; The wind-shaked charge, with high and monstrous mane, Seems to cast water on the burning Bear And quench the guards of thever-fixed Pole. Oth Act 2 Sc. 1 .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .postImageUrl , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:hover , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:visited , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:active { border:0!important; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:active , .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038 .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u31a2802565410bb0553edd5a6e969038:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analysis of The Tempest EssayThe fact that Othello fails to note the power of the brewing storm condemns him to his fate. It must be noted that Othello is a soldier, a general, by profession. In war, rules and conventions apply, but once these bonds of control are taken away, he does not know how to react or behave, considering he has lived his life as if he were fighting a battle. Indeed, these bonds of control are released even further as Othello orders celebration and revelry to mark the destruction of the Turkish fleet. Little does he know that nearby, Iago is using the occasion to plot a destruction of a different kind. The faults that are found in Othellos character are sufficient to demonstrate that, although he may not be deserving of his eventual fate, there is some justification for what has happened. At the start of the play, Othello is portrayed as the god of war, his wife the goddess of love Emert 77. However, during the play it is proved that Othello has too many flaws, and has the basic hamartia of the classic tragic hero. He is not a god, but merely a man, which enables the audience to feel sympathy and pathos towards the lead character. From the very beginning of the play the audience is told that Othello is an outsider. He does not seem to belong to our world, nor do we know how he managed to arrive. He is not even a European, much less an Italian. This racial and cultural difference is explored throughout the play, mainly in the opening Act. Eventually, his lack of knowledge regarding the customs of Venetian women helps to contribute to his downfall. In short, Othello seems to suffer from an acute form of virgin/whore dichotomy, a condition which means in practice that he is only able to see women, in particular his wife, as either absolutely pure and holy, or otherwise foul and wretched  depending upon their fidelity or lack of it. Othello is unable to accept the fact that his wife can make mistakes, and if she does, she can only be considered whore: there proves to be no middle ground. In fact, at the time, although Venice was considered Europes cultural capital, it was seen to have certain drawbacks, especially regarding promiscuity and the diminished role of fidelity in marriage Tillyard 134. Add to this the fact that Iago is dealing with a man who has only recently been engaged in wedlock and therefore is less certain when questioned about his wifes character. Othello has seen the way in which Desdemona has deceived her father and eloped, what is to say that such a consummate actress could not be using the same skills to exploit her own husband? Othellos weakness in his communication skills and his expression of inner feelings is further testament to his lack of perfection. Although he is being modest before the Duke and Brabantio regarding his limitations with his speech, these very qualities are evidenced later in the play. Rude am I in my speech And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace Oth Act 1 Sc. 3 and, And little of this great world can I speak More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; Oth Act 1 Sc. 3 Othello knows how to communicate with men, through obvious and direct means, but lacks the subtle charms to persuade women Emert 80. In Act 1, we discover this as his biggest weakness so far. Michael Cassio is in fact made a model of how Othello should behave in front of, and when referring to women, through his charming of Desdemona and unwillingness to give in to Iago, as he tries to tempt him with Desdemonas virtues in Act 2. Cassio make no illusions of perfection, in contrast to Othello. He admits his vices such as his weakness for drinking, proving he knows his own human qualities. One of the main reasons therefore for Othellos downfall and Cassios realization of power at the end of the play is that whilst Cassios own view of him and that of others are aligned, Othellos are askew. Cassios communicational behavior contrasts strongly with Othellos. .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .postImageUrl , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:hover , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:visited , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:active { border:0!important; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:active , .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190 .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8dad7345544c5528620266ebe29fc190:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Is Macbeth a man or a monster? EssayWhen Othello ultimately cannot cope with women, he reverts to the only way he knows how: violence: revenge through blood note this contrasts with Iagos wife for wife revenge mentality. This point is proof that eventually Othello is not able to cope with playing more than one role at the same time: in Cyprus he is forced to play both the passionate lover, and governor at various times, whilst his wifes personality proves much more flexible. At various times Desdemona plays the role of the seductress, loving daughter, the sexually aware woman, and the caring wife Emert 82. All along there are signs appearing that Othello can anticipate his fall, and Iago will have his way. Othellos gullibility also proves a reason for his downfall.  He places absolute trust in Iago, believing in his past virtues and his supposed devotion to his wife Emilia. This all-or-nothing approach ultimately transpires to accentuate his jealous rage. He is not prone to introspection, to examining himself from within, but instead is lent to blindly believe the foibles of others, especially Iago. His gullibility enables his self-control, once so evident, to unravel, and be placed in the hands of others. For example, Lodovico cannot believe the changes in his character: Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue The shot of accident nor dart of chance Could neither graze nor pierce? Oth Act 4 Sc. 1 The fact is that although Othellos passionate emotion helps to fire his imagination; it ultimately leads to blind all reason and rational thinking take 1:3 as Othello recounts the stories of his adventurous past in order to win Brabantios daughter from him. Ultimately the reason behind all the madness is demonstrated in the last scene of the play. What Othello plans to commit is not a murder, but instead a sacrifice. He does this through love for Desdemona, to save her from herself, and for his own honor. This act helps establish a new Othello, an Othello even nobler and braver than the Othello of Act 1, an Othello that arrests his previous decline. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword! One more, one more! Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee and love thee after. One more, and this the last. Oth Act 5 Sc. 2 The audience is left not with a feeling of rage for a senseless, meaningless tragedy, but knowledge that this has taken place for a reason, for a hamartia on the part of the lead character. As Othello dies upon a kiss, briefly we are left with no pain, but with only a feeling of redemption. The reasons for the tragedy are all too plain to see. Iago has his own motives for bringing down Othello and Desdemona, and ultimately he is surprised by how easily he is able to pry apart two people so completely in love with each other. The role of the setting contributes towards the lead characters downfall as the bonds of continuity are broken with the shift to Cyprus Emert 70. Othellos own imperfections are evident from early on in the play, from his gullibility, to his jealousy, to his limited communication skills. It is here where, as in all tragedy, the play contains a certain didactic element as the author seeks to explain the reasons that a great man such as Othello can fall. As Iago ultimately recoils with the ease at which he attains his foul ends, there comes a warning for us all: for if Othello was the greatest the world had to offer, then what hope do we all have?

The Saint Patricks Battalion (Los San Patricios)

The Saint Patricks Battalion (Los San Patricios) The St. Patricks Battalion- known in Spanish as el Batallà ³n de los San Patricios- was a Mexican army unit comprised primarily of Irish Catholics who had defected from the invading US army during the Mexican-American War. The St. Patricks Battalion was an elite artillery unit which inflicted great damage on the Americans during the battles of Buena Vista and Churubusco. The unit was led by Irish defector John Riley. After the Battle of Churubusco, most members of the battalion were killed or captured: most of those taken prisoner were hanged and the majority of the others were branded and whipped. After the war, the unit lasted for a short time before being disbanded. The Mexican-American War By 1846, tensions between the USA and Mexico had reached a critical point. Mexico was enraged by the American annexation of Texas, and the USA had its eye on Mexicos sparsely populated western holdings, such as California, New Mexico, and Utah. Armies were sent to the border and it didnt take long for a series of skirmishes to flare into an all-out war. The Americans took the offensive, invading first from the north and later from the east after capturing the port of Veracruz. In September of 1847, the Americans would capture Mexico City, forcing Mexico to surrender. Irish Catholics in the USA Many Irish were immigrating to America at about the same time as the war, due to harsh conditions and famine in Ireland. Thousands of them joined the US army in cities like New York and Boston, hoping for some pay and US citizenship. Most of them were Catholic. The US army (and US society in general) was at that time very intolerant towards both Irish and Catholics. Irish were seen as lazy and ignorant, while Catholics were considered fools who were easily distracted by pageantry and led by a faraway pope. These prejudices made life very difficult for Irish in American society at large and particularly in the army. In the army, the Irish were considered inferior soldiers and given dirty jobs. Chances of promotion were virtually nil, and at the beginning of the war, there was no opportunity for them to attend Catholic services (by the end of the war, there were two Catholic priests serving in the army). Instead, they were forced to attend Protestant services during which Catholicism was often vilified. Punishments for infractions such as drinking or negligence of duty were often severe. Conditions were harsh for most of the soldiers, even the non-Irish, and thousands would desert during the course of the war. Mexican Enticements The prospect of fighting for Mexico instead of the USA had a certain attraction for some of the men. Mexican generals learned of the plight of the Irish soldiers and actively encouraged defections. The Mexicans offered land and money for anyone who deserted and joined them and sent over fliers exhorting Irish Catholics to join them. In Mexico, Irish defectors were treated as heroes and given the opportunity for promotion denied them in the American army. Many of them felt a greater connection to Mexico: like Ireland, it was a poor Catholic nation. The allure of the church bells announcing mass must have been great for these soldiers far from home. The St. Patricks Battalion Some of the men, including Riley, defected before the actual declaration of war. These men were quickly integrated into the Mexican army, where they were assigned to the legion of foreigners. After the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, they were organized into the St. Patricks Battalion. The unit was made up of primarily Irish Catholics, with a fair number of German Catholics as well, plus a handful of other nationalities, including some foreigners who had been living in Mexico before war broke out. They made a banner for themselves: a bright green standard with an Irish harp, under which was Erin go Bragh and the Mexican coat of arms with the words Libertad por la Republica Mexicana. On the flip side of the banner was an image of St. Patrick and the words San Patricio. The St. Patricks first saw action as a unit at the Siege of Monterrey. Many of the defectors had artillery experience, so they were assigned as an elite artillery unit. At Monterrey, they were stationed in the Citadel, a massive fort blocking the entrance to the city. American General Zachary Taylor wisely sent his forces around the massive fortress and attacked the city from either side. Although the defenders of the fort did fire on American troops, the citadel was largely irrelevant to the defense of the city. On February 23, 1847, Mexican General Santa Anna, hoping to wipe out Taylors Army of Occupation, attacked the entrenched Americans at the Battle of Buena Vista south of Saltillo. The San Patricios played a prominent part in the battle. They were stationed on a plateau where the main Mexican attack took place. They fought with distinction, supporting an infantry advance and pouring cannon fire into the American ranks. They were instrumental in capturing some American cannons: one of the few pieces of good news for the Mexicans in this battle. After Buena Vista, the Americans and Mexicans turned their attention to eastern Mexico, where General Winfield Scott had landed his troops and taken Veracruz. Scott marched on Mexico City: Mexican General Santa Anna raced out to meet him. The armies met at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Many records have been lost about this battle, but the San Patricios were likely in one of the forward batteries which were tied up by a diversionary attack while the Americans circled around to attack the Mexicans from the rear: again the Mexican Army was forced to retreat. The Battle of Churubusco The Battle of Churubusco was the St. Patricks greatest and final battle. The San Patricios were divided and sent to defend one of the approaches to Mexico City: Some were stationed at a defensive works at one end of a causeway into Mexico City: the others were in a fortified convent. When the Americans attacked on August 20, 1847, the San Patricios fought like demons. In the convent, Mexican soldiers three times tried to raise a white flag, and each time the San Patricios ripped it down. They only surrendered when they ran out of ammunition. Most of the San Patricios were either killed or captured in this battle: some escaped into Mexico City, but not enough to form a cohesive army unit. John Riley was among those captured. Less than a month later, Mexico City was taken by the Americans and the war was over. Trials, Executions, and Aftermath Eighty-five San Patricios were taken prisoner in all. Seventy-two of them were tried for desertion (presumably, the others had never joined the US army and therefore could not desert). These were divided into two groups and all of them were court-martialed: some at Tacubaya on August 23 and the rest at San Angel on August 26. When offered a chance to present a defense, many chose drunkenness: this was likely a ploy, as it was often a successful defense for deserters. It didnt work this time, however: all of the men were convicted. Several of the men were pardoned by General Scott for a variety of reasons, including age (one was 15) and for refusing to fight for the Mexicans. Fifty were hanged and one was shot (he had convinced the officers that he had not actually fought for the Mexican army). Some of the men, including Riley, had defected before the official declaration of war between the two nations: this was, by definition, a much less serious offense and they could not be executed for it. These men received lashes and were branded with a D (for deserter) on their faces or hips. Riley was branded twice on the face after the first brand was accidentally applied upside-down. Sixteen were hanged at San Angel on September 10, 1847. Four more were hanged the following day at Mixcoac. Thirty were hanged on September 13 in Mixcoac, within sight of the fortress of Chapultepec, where the Americans and Mexicans were battling for control of the castle. Around 9:30 a.m., as the American flag was raised over the fortress, the prisoners were hanged: it was meant to be the last thing they ever saw. One of the men hanged that day, Francis OConnor, had both his legs amputated the day before due to his battle wounds. When the surgeon told Colonel William Harney, the officer in charge, Harney said Bring the damned son of a bitch out! My order was to hang 30 and by God, Ill do it! Those San Patricios who had not been hanged were thrown in dark dungeons for the duration of the war, after which they were freed. They re-formed and existed as a unit of the Mexican army for about a year. Many of them remained in Mexico and started families: a handful of Mexicans today can trace their lineage to one of the San Patricios. Those who remained were rewarded by the Mexican government with pensions and the land that had been offered to entice them to defect. Some returned to Ireland. Most, including Riley, vanished into Mexican obscurity. Today, the San Patricios are still a bit of a hot topic between the two nations. To Americans, they were traitors, deserters, and turncoats who defected out of laziness and then fought out of fear. They were certainly loathed in their day: in his excellent book on the subject, Michael Hogan points out that out of thousands of deserters during the war, only the San Patricios were ever punished for it (of course, they were also the only ones to take up arms against their former comrades) and that their punishment was quite harsh and cruel. Mexicans, however, see them in a vastly different light. To Mexicans, the San Patricios were great heroes who defected because they could not stand to see the Americans bullying a smaller, weaker Catholic nation. They fought not out of fear but out of a sense of righteousness and justice. Every year, St. Patricks Day is celebrated in Mexico, particularly in the places where the soldiers were hanged. They have received many honors from the Mexican government, including streets named after them, plaques, postage stamps issued in their honor, etc. Whats the truth? Somewhere in between, certainly. Thousands of Irish Catholics fought for America during the war: they fought well and were loyal to their adopted nation. Many of those men deserted (men of all walks of life did during that harsh conflict) but only a fraction of those deserters joined the enemy army. This lends credence to the notion that the San Patricios did so out of a sense of justice or outrage as Catholics. Some may simply have done so for recognition: they proved that they were very skilled soldiers -arguably Mexicos best unit during the war - but promotions for Irish Catholics were few and far between in America. Riley, for example, made Colonel in the Mexican army. In 1999, a major Hollywood movie called One Mans Hero was made about the St. Patricks Battalion. Sources Eisenhower, John S.D. So Far from God: the U.S. War with Mexico, 1846-1848. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1989Hogan, Michael. The Irish Soldiers of Mexico. Createspace, 2011.Wheelan, Joseph. Invading Mexico: Americas Continental Dream and the Mexican War, 1846-1848. New York: Carroll and Graf, 2007.

Analysis of Unilever operating in Brazil

Analysis of Unilever operating in Brazil As given in the case study, Unilever in Brazil has a strong 81% market share by means of its three brands: Omo, Minerva and Campeiro. Question at hand is whether or not to market detergents to lower income consumers in North-Eastern Brazil and how to go about it. It was believed by many in the company itself that Unilever should not fight in the lower end of the market where even small local entrepreneurs with a lower cost structure struggled to break even. So is the opinion of Fernando Machado, category manager for detergents who believes that Unilever shouldn’t divert money from their premium brands and invest in a low price brand. But since the lower income segment isn’t tapped by any of the giants of the detergent industry in Brazil it provides ample opportunity to the company for growth in this segment. Also there is a need for good products matching the flagship brand Omo but something which is affordable at the same time to the Northeastern women as clearly seen by the example stated about Maria ConceiÇà £o. TREND IN BRAZIL: As per case study it is known that Northeasterners believe bleach is a must for removal of stains, they prefer scrubbing clothes; addition of bleach for stain removal is an important factor followed by a little use of detergent powder only in order to make the clothes smell good. Thereby we can see that use of detergent is restricted only to giving a favorable smell. For the Northeasterners frequency of clothes washing is more due to more time at hand and lesser number of clothes owned. Also cleanliness is perceived as important despite of their low income survival. Cleaning of clothes for them is also seen as a measure of dedication of the woman of the family. Hence Unilever faces the challenge of changing few of the age old perceptions and yet successfully making a mark in the lower income segment. For this Unilever will have to convert the laundry soap users into an Omo class user. This is a long term strategy but yet a feasible one   [ 1 ]    WHY CHOOSE LOWER INCOME GROUP: Enter lower income group segment before P&G penetrates there Detergent market in this segment will always be a cash cow Need gap analysis shows that there is an existing need for good detergents in this market IMPLICATIONS OF MOVE: SHORT TERM IMPLICATIONS: First mover advantage, shift of investment of money in low price brand from premium brands LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS: Market leader in low income detergent market, without a shift in Omo customers the new brand will be able to attract lower income customers WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? There are various options with Unilever. Namely, Launch a new product in the market targeting the lower income consumer without cannibalizing its own premium brands extensively – Reposition one of its existing brands Have a cheaper version of Omo/Minerva Carry out an extension of one of the existing brands I believe that Unilever in Brazil should carry out PRODUCT LINE EXTENSION. Hereb y they should introduce an additional item in the same product category. Unilever should have an extension of its brand Minerva named Minerva Progress (similar to Omo Progress which removes difficult stains without bleach and laundry soap). Minerva Progress should be positioned between Omo and Minerva

Would you let this man be a role model for teenage boys Research Paper

Would you let this man be a role model for teenage boys - Research Paper Example If you have teenage boys, who like music or have a talent in music then they would probably have someone like Dr. Dre as their role model. The question is would you allow him to be a role model to teenage boys? To help us answer this question, let us first look at Dr. Dre’s life and judge his values from his success and flaws. Currently, Dr. Dre is associated with a lot of success following his popularity in the music industry as a rapper, producer, and a businessperson. He has been labelled as hip-hop’s first billionaire having successfully signed a billion-dollar deal with Apple Inc. for the acquisition of â€Å"headphone maker and music-streaming service provider Beats Electronics† (Gittleson, par. 4). On the negative side, Dr. Dre has had his share of flaws but most of them are associated with his past. Most of his problems with the law happened in the 1990s, including being arrested for battery of a police officer, involved in a high-speed chase while intoxicated, and assault on fellow producer Damon Thomas (A&E Television Networks). Looking at the brief analysis of Dr. Dre’s values as a role model it is clear that he can be a good role model to teenage boys. His personal character has significantly changed over the years and so has his success. The two seem to have progressed synchronously, which can be used as a good learning point to teenage boys. The fact that his hard work has been a great contributor to his success can also be used as a motivator for teenage boys who would rather be inspired by his success than his

The Requirements For Army Officers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Requirements For Army Officers - Essay Example I endeavor to dedicate myself to a life of public service and leadership in the army. To be a successful army officer, one must have strong communication and interpersonal skills. My work and school roles, responsibilities, and activities have honed my communication and interpersonal skills. In high school and college, I served leadership positions, where I served the interests of my groups and community. My work experiences also gave me the opportunity to be a good communicator. As an Internet Sales Associate, I learned how to convince people about our products. Being an army officer also requires â€Å"selling,† specifically selling the importance and urgency of different unit assignments. I also worked as a Certified Nursing Aide. In this job, I was able to interact with different kinds of personalities, people with different and complex needs and interests. I learned how to understand and deal with them so that we can attain our health care objectives. I also worked as an Operating Room Specialist and Production Technician, where verbal and written communic ation skills were critical. As an enlisted soldier, I learned the importance of listening to and following my superiors and learning from formal and informal sources of knowledge and information in the army. These experiences have enhanced my communication and interpersonal skills that are needed to act as an army officer. An army officer entails leadership and responsibility. I want to take an active role in leading an army unit so that we can attain any goal or objective assigned to us. In high school, I developed my leadership skills by becoming the Boys Prefect at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School in Legon, Ghana. During this time, I enjoyed the ability to exercise discipline on myself and other people. My need for challenging leadership experiences thrived until college.

Lamb to the slaughter by Roal Dahl Essay Example for Free

Lamb to the slaughter by Roal Dahl Essay Detective mystery fiction started in England in the 1790s. Then later in the 1850s to 1860s authors started writing melodramatic thrillers known as sensation novels perhaps one of the best known of the melodramatic thrillers is the stories written by Wilkie Collins who wrote The woman in white. By the late 1800s Conan Doyle wrote stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, this type of story was called mystery fiction, and is undoubtedly the most influential mystery fiction novel of the 1970s. These mystery fiction novels were based on Sherlock Holmes who is a detective in murder cases and has a side kick called Watson who very much admires Sherlock Holmes as being very clever in solving crimes by gathering the evidence. In the book he narrates the story and makes clear Hes admiration for Sherlock Holmes, this is what influenced other writers in the 20th century to writing mystery fiction stories based on the structure of the Sherlock Holmes. And you can still see the work of Conan Doyle being used as structure for modern day stories and film series, such as the well known CSI crime which is set in America and involves a group of homicide detectives who have an important role in using state of the art forensic techniques in order to work out the murders and accomplices, with a twist to the story to make it more interesting. However in replacement to where Conan Doyle uses cunning detective work the makers of CSI use the forensic science more as the way of catching the murderess. Law and Order uses the same concept as CSI crime but is set in a different part of America. The Bill is a popular TV series about a police force that use cunning police work by working together to solve all crimes. Unlike in the stories of Sherlock Holmes or CSI crime The bill uses more then one detective just like in Sherlock Holmes. Another detective story based on the stories of Sherlock Holmes is the TV series called Colombo who is a homicide detective and is very cunning just like Sherlock Holmes. Colombo however unlike other modern detectives is a very unconventional detective because when hes on a case he acts very senseless and seems as though he isnt a very good detective, however towards the end he solves the murder very cunningly. Another modern but unconventional detective story is the TV series Diagnoses murder the main character of this series is a doctor who works at the hospital and like Sherlock Holmes has nothing to do with the local police so he works alone solving murder cases, which are brought in buy the people he treats at the hospital where he works this therefore makes this detective story very unconventional and is not like Sherlock Holmes in that respect. The detective story The Speckled band is conventional as the settings are normal for a murder story if you take in to account the detective who is cunning with a side kick Watson and the victims you can see that the setting and atmosphere are very conventional for a murder detective story. However Holmes is responsible for the death of DR Grimsby Roylott which is unconventional. However the structure is conventional, the readers realize this as the The Speckled band works backwards from the discovery of Mrs. Helen Stoners death. Helen stoners sister goes to meet Sherlock Holmes and Watson to bring to their attention the murder of Mrs. Helen Stoner. Then later we read about the investigation that Holmes and Watson undertake at Stoke Moran. The narration in The Speckled band is two linear which we find out when Helen stoners sister tells Holmes and Watson about the murder It is of her death that I wish to speak to you, and when Watson narrates I was early.fair play. However in the story Lamb to the slaughter the settings are very unconventional and instead seem like an ordinary familys life but the story has a cunning twist and Mary Maloney (the wife) murders her husband (Mr. Maloney) who is a detective. This is most unusual for a murder detective story and so is unconventional considering a detective got killed, the atmosphere and settings along with the detectives who are the police but in the story seem very half-witted and ironic as they eat the evidence and drink the whiskey in the middle of the murder case whilst Mary Maloney gets away with the murder. The structure of the Lamb to the slaughter is unconventional because the pinnacle of the story is when Mary Maloney kills her husband. This makes the storey we read about the crime being committed and not very much of the investigation as we had seen earlier in The Speckled band. The story The Speckled band begins with Watson (Sherlock Holmess side kick) narrating, he brings in to account the case of the Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, the story continues to the murder of Mrs. Helen Stoner who had just recently been engaged but before her death she said that It was the band! The Speckled band. However the readers are kept in to suspense of the murderers identity, but Sherlock Holmes is called in he finds later long thin marking on Mrs. Helen Stoner indicating that if an animal is involved then it must be long and thin. When Sherlock Holmes was first called in for the case he proved to be a very observant detective and starts to suspect that Mrs. Julia Stoners recent engagement is a threat to her life and that the murderer of Mr. Helen Stoner will kill her as she also like Helen is engaged, so the murder of Helen must be linked to her recent engagement, During the story Watson continues to narrate, later Sherlock Holmes and Watson check out the house were the murder took place and Watsons narrative tells the reader how observant Sherlock Holmes is and creates an image of him as being a detective who never leaves a stone unturned. As Sherlock Holmes checks the house he find out that DR Grimsby Roylott had added some peculiar things about the house like a ventilator and a dummy bell rope. After a while Sherlock Holmes pieces up the clues and realizes that there is something wrong about the crime scene. Sherlock Holmes arranges with Mrs. Stoner to shine her lantern through the window from her bed room at the house in Stoke Moran when DR Grimsby Roylott gets in to his bed room at night, when Sherlock Holmes and Watson saw the signal from outside they climb in to the house through the window through to Mrs. Stoners bed room. After a while in Mrs. Julia Stoners bed room they finally hear a dark lantern being lit later they hear what Watson describes as a Soothing sound and then a cry which Watson explains was a The most horrible cry I have ever listened, Sherlock Holmes tells Watson that they should go into DR Grimsby Roylott room where they had heard the sound, when they entered DR Grimsby Roylott room they find that he is dead and appears to be wearing a sparkling chain around his neck but when Sherlock Holmes approaches him they find that it is a live snake which bittern DR Grimsby Roylott and caused his death, Its a swamp adder Sherlock Holmes explains, and then continues to say that . It is the deadliest snake in India and comes to the conclusion that the snake was the speckled band which Helen Stoner said just before she died. So in the end it becomes apparent to Sherlock Holmes that DR Grimsby Roylott was the murderer and his motive was greed over money which his daughters would inherit from him in the event of their marriage which is why Mrs. Helen Stoner was killed as she was engaged. It becomes apparent to the reader that DR Grimsby Roylott was trying on that night to kill Mrs. Stoner but failed as the snake he put through the ventilator was blocked so the snake turned round and attacked DR Grimsby Roylott.

Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia Essay -- Essays Papers

Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia "The world is in trouble/Anytime Buju Banton come/ Batty boy get up and run/ ah gunshot in ah head man/Tell dem crew†¦ it’s like/ Boom bye bye, in a batty boy head, rude boy nah promote no nasty man, them hafi dead." The average member of the reggae dancehall culture knows the message that this song is sending to its listeners. However, without a translation these lyrics do not mean a thing to someone who is not familiar with this culture and the vocabulary of dancehall artists. Translated the lyrics read: "The world is in trouble/When Buju Banton arrives/Faggots have to run/Or get a bullet in the head /Bang-bang, in a faggot’s head/Homeboys don’t condone nasty men/They must die." These lyrics from the song "Boom Bye Bye" by Buju Banton personify the manner in which the reggae dancehall culture of Jamaica views homosexuals. These lyrics will always be part of dancehall history because of the controversy they started amongst the homosexual North American community, who were offended by Buju Banton’s lyrics. The controversy brought about the question of whether this was a problem due to cultural differences or a hate crime against a group that is considered a minority, homosexuals. This song brings forth issues and different beliefs that are present in the Jamaican culture that contradicts those of the North American culture. The lyrics of dancehall reggae music in Jamaica seem to encourage the taunting and violence towards homosexuals. Of course it is normal for most reggae songs to deal with the social concerns and religious beliefs of Jamaicans because it is a big representation of the Jamaican culture. Homosexuals are looked down upon as outcasts because of their sexuality. Homop... ...ut his culture. I believe anyone, not only musicians, but any artist should be able to express themselves and their beliefs through their work. If it is the norm in your society to believe something is wrong then how can you expect a prominent artist to express himself in a manner that goes against the norm of his society. Personally I believe that he is signing about his culture and no one, no matter what the situation, should be criticized for expressing his or her beliefs. In conclusion the deeply rooted homophobia that is mistakably reflected in Banton’s lyrics and that, more importantly, pervades the Jamaican society, is a very controversial issue. Not only is there the question of whether Banton is correct because he is singing about his culture but despite the fact that he is expressing his beliefs does he have any right to threaten the lives of human beings.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 6

Chapter 6 When we got back to Nazareth we expected to find Joshua's mother hysterical with worry, but on the contrary, she had gathered Joshua's brothers and sisters outside of their house, lined them up, and was washing their faces and hands as if preparing them for the Sabbath meal. â€Å"Joshua, help me get the little ones ready, we are all going to Sepphoris.† Joshua was shocked. â€Å"We are?† â€Å"The whole village is going to ask the Romans to release Joseph.† James was the only one of the children who seemed to understand what had happened to their father. There were tear tracks on his cheeks. I put my arm around his shoulders. â€Å"He'll be fine,† I said, trying to sound cheerful. â€Å"Your father is strong, they'll have to torture him for days before he gives up the ghost.† I smiled encouragingly. James broke out of my embrace and ran into the house crying. Mary turned and glared at me. â€Å"Shouldn't you be with your family, Biff?† Oh my breaking heart, my bruised ego. Even though Mary had taken position as my emergency backup wife, I was crestfallen at her disapproval. And to my credit, not once during that time of trouble did I wish harm to come to Joseph. Not once. After all, I was still too young to take a wife, and some creepy elder would swoop Mary up before I had a chance to rescue her if Joseph died before I was fourteen. â€Å"Why don't you go get Maggie,† Joshua suggested, taking only a second from his mission of scrubbing the skin off his brother Judah's face. â€Å"Her family will want to go with us.† â€Å"Sure,† I said, and I scampered off to the blacksmith's shop in search of approval from my primary wife-to-be. When I arrived, Maggie was sitting outside of her father's shop with her brothers and sisters. She looked as frightened as she had when we first witnessed the murder. I wanted to throw my arms around her to comfort her. â€Å"We have a plan,† I said. â€Å"I mean, Joshua has a plan. Are you going to Sepphoris with everyone else?† â€Å"The whole family,† she said. â€Å"My father has made nails for Joseph, they're friends.† She tossed her head, pointing toward the open shed that housed her father's forge. Two men were working over the forge. â€Å"Go ahead, Biff. You and Joshua go on ahead. We'll be along later.† She started waving me away and mouthing words silently to me, which I didn't pick up. â€Å"What are you saying? What? What?† â€Å"And who is your friend, Maggie?† A man's voice, coming from near the forge. I looked over and suddenly realized what Maggie had been trying to tell me. â€Å"Uncle Jeremiah, this is Levi bar Alphaeus. We call him Biff. He has to go now.† I started backing away from the killer. â€Å"Yes, I have to go.† I looked at Maggie, not knowing what to do. â€Å"I'll – we – I have to – â€Å" â€Å"We'll see you in Sepphoris,† Maggie said. â€Å"Right,† I said, then I turned and dashed away, feeling more like a coward than I ever have in my life. When we got back to Sepphoris there was a large gathering of Jews, perhaps two hundred, outside of the city walls, most I recognized as being from Nazareth. No mob mentality here, more a fearful gathering. More than half of those gathered were women and children. In the middle of the crowd, a contingent of a dozen Roman soldiers pushed back the onlookers while two slaves dug a grave. Like my own people, the Romans did not dally with their dead. Unless there was a battle ongoing, Roman soldiers were often put in the ground before the corpse was cool. Joshua and I spotted Maggie standing between her father and her murderous uncle at the edge of the crowd. Joshua took off toward her. I followed, but before I got close, Joshua had taken Maggie's hand and dragged her into the midst of the crowd. I could see Jeremiah trying to follow them. I dove into the mass and crawled under people's feet until I came upon a pair of hobnail boots which indicated the lower end of a Roman soldier. The other end, equally Roman, was scowling at me. I stood up. â€Å"Semper fido,† I said in my best Latin, followed by my most charming smile. The soldier scowled further. Suddenly there was a smell of flowers in my nose and sweet, warm lips brushed my ear. â€Å"I think you just said ‘always dog,'† Maggie whispered. â€Å"That would be why he's looking so unpleasant then?† I said out the side of my charming smile. In my other ear another familiar, if not so sweet whisper, â€Å"Sing, Biff. Remember the plan,† Joshua said. â€Å"Right.† And so I let loose with one of my famous dirges. â€Å"La-la-la. Hey Roman guy, too bad about your getting stabbed. La-la-la. It's probably not a message from God or nothing. La-la-la. Telling you that maybe you should have gone home, la, la, la. Instead of oppressing the chosen people who God hisownself has said that he likes better than you. Fa, la, la, la.† The soldier didn't speak Aramaic, so the lyrics didn't move him as I had hoped. But I think the hypnotic toe-tappiness of the melody was starting to get him. I plunged into my second verse. â€Å"La-la-la, didn't we tell you that you shouldn't eat pork, la-la. Although looking at wounds in your chest, a dietary change might not have made that big a difference. Boom shaka-laka-laka-laka, boom shaka-laka-lak. Come on, you know the words!† â€Å"Enough!† The soldier was yanked aside and Gaius Justus Gallicus stood before us, flanked by two of his officers. Behind him, stretched out on the ground, was the body of the dead soldier. â€Å"Well done, Biff,† Joshua whispered. â€Å"We're offering our services as professional mourners,† I said with a grin, which the centurion was eager not to return. â€Å"That soldier doesn't need mourners, he has avengers.† A voice from the crowd. â€Å"See here, Centurion, release Joseph of Nazareth. He is no murderer.† Justus turned and the crowd parted, leaving a path between him and the man who had spoken up. It was Iban the Pharisee, standing with several other Pharisees from Nazareth. â€Å"Would you take his place?† Justus asked. The Pharisee backed away, his resolve melting quickly under the threat. â€Å"Well?† Justus stepped forward and the crowd parted around him. â€Å"You speak for your people, Pharisee. Tell them to give me a killer. Or would you rather I crucify Jews until I get the right one?† Iban was flustered now, and began jabbering a mishmash of verses from the Torah. I looked around and saw Maggie's uncle Jeremiah standing only a few paces behind me. When I caught his eye he slipped his hand under his shirt – to the haft of a knife, I had no doubt. â€Å"Joseph didn't kill that soldier!† Joshua shouted. Justus turned to him and the Pharisees took the opportunity to scramble to the back of the crowd. â€Å"I know that,† Justus said. â€Å"You do?† â€Å"Of course, boy. No carpenter killed that soldier.† â€Å"How do you know that?† I asked. Justus motioned to one of his legionnaires and the soldier came forward carrying a small basket. The centurion nodded and the soldier upended the basket. The stone effigy of Apollo's severed penis thudded to the ground in front of us. â€Å"Uh-oh,† I said. â€Å"Because it was a stonecutter,† Justus said. â€Å"My, that is impressive,† Maggie said. I noticed that Joshua was edging toward the body of the soldier. I needed to distract Justus. â€Å"Aha,† I said, â€Å"someone beat the soldier to death with a stone willie. Obviously the work of a Greek or a Samaritan – no Jew would touch such a thing.† â€Å"They wouldn't?† Maggie asked. â€Å"Jeez, Maggie.† â€Å"I think you have something to tell me, boy,† Justus said. Joshua had laid hands on the dead soldier. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I wondered where Jeremiah was now. Was he behind me, ready to silence me with a knife, or had he made his escape? Either way, I couldn't say a word. The Sicarii did not work alone. If I gave up Jeremiah I'd be dead by a Sicarii dagger before the Sabbath. â€Å"He can't tell you, Centurion, even if he knew,† said Joshua, who had moved back to Maggie's side. â€Å"For it is written in our holy books that no Jew shall rat out another Jew, regardless of what a weasel one or the other shall be.† â€Å"Is that written?† Maggie whispered. â€Å"Is now,† Joshua whispered back. â€Å"Did you just call me a weasel?† I asked. â€Å"Behold!† A woman at the front of the crowd was pointing to the dead soldier. Another screamed. The corpse was moving. Justus turned toward the commotion and I took the opportunity to look around for Jeremiah. He was still there behind me, only a few people back, but he was staring gape-jawed at the dead soldier, who was currently standing up and dusting off his tunic. Joshua was concentrating intently on the soldier, but there was none of the sweating or trembling that we had seen at the funeral in Japhia. To his credit, Justus, although he seemed frightened at first, stood his ground as the corpse ambled stiff-legged toward him. The other soldiers were backing away, along with all of the Jews except Maggie, Joshua, and me. â€Å"I need to report an attack, sir,† the once-dead soldier said, performing a very jerky Roman salute. â€Å"You're – you're dead,† Justus said. â€Å"Am not.† â€Å"You have knife wounds all over your chest.† The soldier looked down, touched the wounds gingerly, then looked back to his commander. â€Å"Seems I have been nicked, sir.† â€Å"Nicked? Nicked? You've been stabbed half a dozen times. You're dead as dirt.† â€Å"I don't think so, sir. Look, I'm not even bleeding.† â€Å"That's because you've bled out, son. You're dead.† The soldier began to stagger now, started to fall, and caught himself. â€Å"I am feeling a little woozy. I was attacked last night sir, near where they are building that Greek's house. There, he was there.† He pointed to me. â€Å"And him too.† He pointed to Joshua. â€Å"And the little girl.† â€Å"These boys attacked you?† I could hear scuffling behind me. â€Å"No, not them, that man over there.† The soldier pointed to Jeremiah, who looked around like a trapped animal. Everyone was so intent on watching the miracle of the talking corpse that they had frozen in place. The killer couldn't push his way through the crowd to get away. â€Å"Arrest him!† Justus commanded, but his soldiers were equally stunned by the resurrection of their cohort. â€Å"Now that I think of it,† the dead soldier said, â€Å"I do remember being stabbed.† No outlet from the crowd, Jeremiah turned toward his accuser and drew a blade from under his shirt. This seemed to snap the other soldiers out of their trance, and they began advancing on the killer from different angles, swords drawn. At the sight of the blade, everyone had moved away from the killer, leaving him isolated with no path open but toward us. â€Å"No master but God!† he shouted, then three quick steps and he leapt toward us, his knife raised. I dove on top of Maggie and Joshua, hoping to shield them, but even as I waited for the sharp pain between my shoulder blades, I heard the killer scream, then a grunt, then a protracted moan that ran out of air with a pathetic squeal. I rolled over to see Gaius Justus Gallicus with his short sword sunk to the hilt in the solar plexus of Jeremiah. The killer had dropped his knife and was standing there looking at the Roman's sword hand, looking somewhat offended by it. He sank to his knees. Justus yanked his sword free, then wiped the blade on Jeremiah's shirt before stepping back and letting the killer fall forward. â€Å"That was him,† the dead soldier said. â€Å"Bastard kilt me.† He fell forward next to his killer and lay still. â€Å"Much better than last time, Josh,† I said. â€Å"Yes, much better,† Maggie said. â€Å"Walking and talking. You had him going.† â€Å"I felt good, confident, but it was a team effort,† Joshua said. â€Å"I couldn't have done it without everyone giving it their all, including God.† I felt something sharp against my cheek. With the tip of his sword, Justus guided my gaze to Apollo's stone penis, which lay in the dirt next to the two corpses. â€Å"And do you want to explain how that happened?† â€Å"The pox?† I ventured. â€Å"The pox can do that,† Maggie said. â€Å"Can rot it right off.† â€Å"How do you know that?† Joshua asked her. â€Å"Just guessing. I'm sure glad that's all over.† Justus let his sword fall to his side with a sigh. â€Å"Go home. All of you. By order of Gaius Justus Gallicus, under-commander of the Sixth Legion, commander of the Third and Fourth Centuries, under authority of Emperor Tiberius and the Roman Empire, you are all commanded to go home and perpetrate no weird shit until I have gotten well drunk and had several days to sleep it off.† â€Å"So you're going to release Joseph?† Maggie asked. â€Å"He's at the barracks. Go get him and take him home.† â€Å"Amen,† said Joshua. â€Å"Semper fido,† I added in Latin. Joshua's little brother Judah, who was seven by then, ran around the Roman barracks screaming â€Å"Let my people go! Let my people go!† until he was hoarse. (Judah had decided early on that he was going to be Moses when he grew up, only this time Moses would get to enter the promised land – on a pony.) As it turned out, Joseph had been waiting for us at the Venus Gate. He looked a little confused, but otherwise unharmed. â€Å"They say that a dead man spoke,† Joseph said. Mary was ecstatic. â€Å"Yes, and walked. He pointed out his murderer, then he died again.† â€Å"Sorry,† Joshua said, â€Å"I tried to make him live on, but he only lasted a minute.† Joseph frowned. â€Å"Did everyone see what you did, Joshua?† â€Å"They didn't know it was my doing, but they saw it.† â€Å"I distracted everyone with one of my excellent dirges,† I said. â€Å"You can't risk yourself like that,† Joseph said to Joshua. â€Å"It's not the time yet.† â€Å"If not to save my father, when?† â€Å"I'm not your father.† Joseph smiled. â€Å"Yes you are.† Joshua hung his head. â€Å"But I'm not the boss of you.† Joseph's smile widened to a grin. â€Å"No, I guess not,† Joshua said. â€Å"You needn't have worried, Joseph,† I said. â€Å"If the Romans had killed you I would have taken good care of Mary and the children.† Maggie punched me in the arm. â€Å"Good to know,† Joseph said. On the road to Nazareth, I got to walk with Maggie a few paces behind Joseph and his family. Maggie's family was so distraught over what had happened to Jeremiah that they didn't even notice she wasn't with them. â€Å"He's much stronger than he was the last time,† Maggie said. â€Å"Don't worry, he'll be a mess tomorrow: ‘Oh, what did I do wrong. Oh, my faith wasn't strong enough. Oh, I am not worthy of my task.' He'll be impossible to be around for a week or so. We'll be lucky if he stops praying long enough to eat.† â€Å"You shouldn't make fun of him. He's trying very hard.† â€Å"Easy for you to say, you won't have to hang out with the village idiot until Josh gets over this.† â€Å"But aren't you touched by who he is? What he is?† â€Å"What good would that do me? If I was basking in the light of his holiness all of the time, how would I take care of him? Who would do all of his lying and cheating for him? Even Josh can't think about what he is all of the time, Maggie.† â€Å"I think about him all of the time. I pray for him all of the time.† â€Å"Really? Do you ever pray for me?† â€Å"I mentioned you in my prayers, once.† â€Å"You did? How?† â€Å"I asked God to help you not to be such a doofus, so you could watch over Joshua.† â€Å"You meant doofus in an attractive way, right?† â€Å"Of course.†

Organizational behavior and development Essay

Organizational change or development has evolved overall meaning of business. The set of market-driven, financial and technical changes which, in the eighties, faced better-informed consumers demanded the best and cheapest products accessible worldwide; producing these goods requisite the assimilation of both resources and knowledge on a global scale; at the same time, it became probable to transport information around the world at immensely reduced costs. s multinational organizations had leaned to pursue one of the three basic strategies attaining economies of scale through the centralized management of resources, having a strong (decentralized) national presence, and sharing universal a central pool of skills and experience the predicament for the new ‘transnational’ corporations was to unite these three, often conflicting, approaches into a single strategy: â€Å"To participate effectively, a company had to develop global competitiveness, international flexibility, and worldwide learning competence simultaneously†. Freivalds, J. 1995, 24-28) All these changes need a consummate degree of language interdependence and individual communication something which the usual structure of a multinational (the head office hub surrounded by satellite subsidiaries) is not intended to accommodate. Control has to give way to synchronization, and corporate culture becomes an issue of central significance. But, so as to understand how language functions in an organization, we require going beyond the framework. We also require understanding the points at which management myths stop working or cease to be useful; we require to look for discontinuities and uncertainties (Halcrow, A. 1999, 42-47). To turn language into a really competitive weapon in practical business, we require to start being more conscious of the language we, our colleagues and our competitors use and see it for what it actually is visionary myths, power struggles, group limits, discontinuities, auguries of changes to come or vestiges of changes past. And, when we recognize more about the limitations of organizational language, we will be better located to develop its potential. Discourse is variously used in the gender and language field. It maybe used in a linguistic sense to refer to language beyond that of words. Or it may be used in a post-structural sense to refer to broad systems of meaning discourse is not restricted to spoken language but also refers to written language (Weatherall, 2002, pp. 76–7) Available At: www. palgrave. com/pdfs/023000167X. df What does it mean for an organization to communicate in a particular, national language? A company might and most do have the corresponding of dialects, but a common native language has significant implications which supersede ‘regional’ differences such as these. To appreciate such implications, we require looking first at the role which communication and language particularly, plays in an organization. At the most simple level, communication provides two functions gathering and disseminating information. As, the eventual purpose of both functions is to precipitate action: a head office might act in response to feedback from customers channeled via its field sales force; workers on an assembly line might transform their working practices in accordance with new guiding principle from the operations management. Such actions are not limited to those formally sanctioned by the organization: information, and the actions which consequence from its transmission, can be official or unofficial. Indeed, every organization consists of subgroups who have diverse information needs and channels, and whose reactions to the similar set of stimuli differ. Language is not just the means by which people converse (that is, the medium in which items of information are spoken); it is also the purveyor of meaning. Data is simply information while it has meaning, and data without meaning cannot impetuous action. Language therefore provides a means by which we understand the relative implication of any information and decide how we will respond. Within an organization, the role of language is consequently analogous to other and more well-known aspects of cultural behaviour such as myths, practices and stories. They all offer a context from which we can conjecture meaning; they therefore mainly determine how we interpret information, and this in turn determines how we act. Take for instance the manager who comes in and strangely closes his or her office door. How people interpret this will depend on, amongst other factors, the representation of a closed door in that particular environment (problems? privacy? and myths (‘Smith did that just after being fired’). Just as with myths and stories, individuals in an organization (or organizations as a whole) might seek to persuade the way in which both conversion processes take place by managing the meaning of the language used: the greater the vagueness of the language, the less convenient or conventional the resulting action (Korn, L. B. 1990, May 22, 157-161). Starting with the similar basis of meaning which sharing a common language gives is obviously fundamental to this process, though the success with which this can be attained also depends on many other factors. Anthropologists and philosophers have argued that a national language characterized a ‘contract’ within society which underpins its common culture. Though, some countries are reluctant to have contact with other cultures due to cultural and religious conflicts. It is the lack of understanding that is at the root of all exclusiveness or prejudice, distrust or hatred (Allan, G. 1993, pp. 1-25). There are many examples of countries that are unenthusiastic to have contact with other cultures. For instance, relationship between Israel and Islamic countries, Pakistan and India etc The disparity between the diverse cultures in the world today on reflection is seen to be one of language or appearance more than anything else. The entire of mankind forms a single species; and external diversities of feature and color, stature and deportment, behavior and customs notwithstanding, man ubiquitously is but man, a certain human quality supplying the relation of unity in the middle of all diversity. Humanity is one, and human culture as the appearance of an aspiration, an Endeavour and an attainment, is also one. The countries that are unwilling to contact with other cultures are losing permutations and combinations of the same or similar basic elements of human culture. Basically, the physical urge for getting and begetting, for living and spreading, is everywhere present, as also is the aspiration for a state of permanent happiness for â€Å"all this, and heaven too†. This desire, which is roughly as forceful as the physical urge, is shared by the entire of mankind and has raised men above the level of the simply animal. Religion, with its Janus-face of fear and hope, attempts to untangle the mystery of life and being. These attempts, leading to science and philosophy and nurturing of the emotions (opening up the limitless joys of art and mysticism), are general to mankind in all ages and climes, and they spring all over from the pursuit of what the sages of India regarded as the only end for which man is actually striving cessation of suffering and achievement of an definitive and abiding happiness. And in this common striving, there has never been any segregation of a particular people or group of men from other peoples or groups, whenever contact between them either direct or indirect was made probable (Lane, H.  W. , DiStephano, J. J. , & Maznevski, M. L. 1997). The mainsprings of human culture are thus the same, they are common; and assured ideals, values, attitudes or behaviors, whether good or bad from absolute or relative points of view, have constantly been found to be transmissible. These ideals, values, attitudes or behaviors form patterns comparable to languages. All provide to meet the minimum needs of man, but those which state most adequately and most skillfully the aspirations, the endeavors and the achievements of man naturally have a predominant place in the affairs of men. Certain patterns of culture thus stand out pre-eminent; and, becoming feeders and sustainers of weaker or less complete ones, they attain an international and comprehensive status (Beck, U. and Beck-Gernsheim, E. 1995). This play of action and communication in the cultural sphere is going on for ever. The opposing forces of centrifuge and centripetence are also constantly operating and strife with infrequent violent modification of one pattern by another, or harmony deliberately or instinctively brought about is also in evidence (Allan, G. 998). With the hope of one world, one mankind and one happiness for all inspiring our men of learning and wisdom to find a path that can be followed by all, this contemplative readiness for a single world culture was never greater than now. We leave aside, of course, men of narrow viewpoint whose intransigent support of one particular prototype is merely an unconscious expression of a blind selfishness which has its roots in both ignorance and a ye arning for domination. The time is certainly ripe, and the stage is set, for a correct understanding of the diverse patterns of culture and for exploring the methods for their harmonizing, taking our stand on the essentials and not on the accidentals, on the agreements and not on the divergences. While this is achieved, and mankind everywhere is trained to recognize the fundamental agreement based on the individuality of human aspirations, a new period in the history of humanity will instigate. Besides, as every global organization has its own language for talking concerning strategy: certainly it is possible to track the way in which the organization is developing by the words it uses to illustrate its strategy. If the language of strategy has any single source, it perhaps lies in classical warfare: our plans for expansion and competition remain heavily if unconsciously influenced by ideas of winning wars, beating our enemies, securing our position. However, management strategy first evolved a characteristic language of its own in the sixties and was focused on the decisions taken by management and the types of analysis requisite to ease them: decision-making was the essential activity of management, as decisions led to actions (Hays, R. D. 1974; 25-37). By the mid eighties, the analogies were architectural: strategies were the infrastructure, people the consumable building blocks. The respect principally since the late 1980s that the perimeters of organizations were no longer strong walls has given us a rather diverse vocabulary, drawn from biology and evolutionary theory: our strategic vocabulary is more and more drawn from the natural, rather than the man-made, world: ‘webs’, ‘porous boundaries’, business ‘ecosystems’, and those words which disguised a rigid framework or clear demarcation are starting to fall from favor. Linked to this trend is the idea that thriving organizations efficiently go beyond language they do not need to communicative their strategy because everyone already knows it. However, if we believe that strategy has its own, distinctive language, then this trend is just the most modern development in its evolution: rather than being precise and analytical, the language of strategy is becoming less specific qualitative instead of quantitative. What matters most is that the language is diverse. If the language is different, then the organization can do something different: if the language is that which the organization already uses, then the strategy cannot transform the status quo (Lester, T. 1994, 42-45). The richest sources of new language frequently lie within an organization, but among those people hardly ever asked to put in to its strategy, such as people on the customer front line, new recruits, and many more. Who these people are specifically varies from organization to organization and is a function of the way in which an individual organization manages language. Thus, to recognize ways in which you can incorporate a new language into your own organization’s strategy, you first require understanding how language is managed across your organization as a whole. Language plays a key role in this process: when we think of an organization, the model we tend to have in our minds is one in which those at the top talk, as those at the bottom do. Flatter organizations and the empowerment of those who work in them can mean that the sharing of talking and doing has changed, but I think most of us would still have difficulties in finding a company where this division has totally disappeared, particularly when it is applied to internal processes such as developing a strategy (Nurden, R. 997). Taking the words from the bottom of your organization, rather than from the top, reverses this state: it means that the doers start talking. The effect is less suspicion about language (from the doers) and a diverse way of using language (for the talkers): both ways, it moves the goalposts in terms of what the strategy sounds like, making it more likely that the organization as a whole will listen more efficiently.

Brackets (and how to use them) - Emphasis

Brackets (and how to use them) Brackets (and how to use them) So, those emoticon smiles: what else can they be used for? Round brackets Imagine the contents of round brackets (or parentheses) as an aside that might be said behind your hand (an actor on a stage might anyway). These punctuation marks come in handy to: include optional information You dont have much time left to finish your Christmas shopping (only six shopping days!). introduce an abbreviation or explain a term At this time of year, many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); although equally problematic during December is pogonophobia (a fear of beards). cross-refer If youre wondering where to put punctuation around brackets, youll soon find out (see below). To learn more about pogonophobia, see The Big Book of Phobias (p92). add authorial commentary (if appropriate to the context) The effects of SAD can be quite debilitating (believe me). cover several possible eventualities The Christmas e-bulletin should be well-received by its already tipsy reader(s). Square brackets But parentheses are not to be confused with square brackets. These can be used to: add an editors note or direction Emphasis staff will be required to wear Santa hats to work throughout December [Catie to purchase these]. clarify meaning in a quote without changing any of the original words She said, If you make me wear that thing [the Santa hat] to work, Im quitting. In these cases, you can just replace the word(s) being clarified eg I said: if you make me put on [the Santa hat], Im quitting. Humbug! Punctuating brackets It can be confusing working out where to put the punctuation around brackets (but were here to help): The first rule is quite straightforward. (If you are writing a full sentence inside them, the full stop or alternative should be inside the brackets.) But the full stop will be on the outside if the brackets contain only part of the full sentence (as these do). Put a comma outside the brackets (as demonstrated here), when those brackets appear at the end of a clause within the sentence. If the bracketed aside needs a question mark or exclamation mark, youll still need to add a full stop on the outside to complete the sentence (like this!).

Impacts of College Freshmen Dropout Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Impacts of College Freshmen Dropout - Essay Example Graduation rates have become an important feature in the landscape of college reforms and within the larger world of educational policy. For decades, getting more students into college has been the top priority of America's higher education leaders. But Studies conducted over the past several years have repeatedly demonstrated that far fewer American students are completing high school with diplomas. A growing consensus has emerged that only about seven in 10 students are actually successfully finishing high school. Graduation rates are even lower among certain student populations, particularly racial and ethnic minorities and males. 57 percent of White students finish their degree, compared with 44 percent of Hispanics and 39 percent of Blacks (federal figures 2008). A quarter of schools have graduation gaps between Whites and Blacks of 20 points or more. (Education Trust 2004) In the first half of the 20th century, growth in high school graduation was the driving force behind increased college enrolments. The decline in high school graduation since 1970 (for cohorts born after 1950) has flattened college attendance and completion rates as well as growth in the skill level of the U.S. workforce. The origins of this dropout problem have yet to be fully investigated. The main purpose of this study is to conduct a research and understand what people think are the impacts of college freshmen dropouts on our educational system, on our economy and on our society. This report takes a descriptive approach to the issue of college completion, specifically, examining graduation rates in the U.S, the increase in college dropout rates and its reasons. The graduation rates are considerably lower in the nation's largest cities than they are in the average urban locale. Further, extreme disparities emerge in a number of the country's largest metropolitan areas. The increases in college dropout rates are very atrocious for us as a nation. Background In the '60s we saw college dropout rates of one in five. In the '90s this increased to one in three. Thirty percent of the college students leave in the first year (Department of Education 2000-2006). The number of college freshman dropouts is typically cited between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5, with some sources positing arguments that nearly half of all college students fail to graduate. The U.S only earns 17 degrees for every 100 students enrolled, which places it 16th internationally. Surveys of high school students show no lack of interest for a college degree, in fact 95% of high school students when asked about college indicated a very strong desire to complete a degree program. On the average, 1 in 4 students drop out of college their freshman year. The exact number varies widely from 1 or 2 percent at top 4 year private institutions to 50 or 60 percent at others. 2 year institutions have the worst drop out rates. For a few, it is a mismatch (the wrong location, too much snow, difficul t roommates, difficulty being away from home, culture clash, or change in career goals). For many others, it is a lack of preparation. Nearly half of entering college freshmen surveyed lack confidence in their math and science skills. 33% say they have

Questions&Answers. Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Questions&Answers. Business ethics - Essay Example The author claims that a worker that constantly follows some strict working conditions without any opportunity to express one’s personality and bring it into the product feels like the life has no meaning (2008). The reason is that people need to bring some part of them into the product they make, so they want to use their potential as much as possible. Thus, modern companies often don’t need the workers that want to express themselves, that are active, enterprising, and initiative, because such people can bring problems into the process of production that requires precise instructions followed and maximum of obedience. Although, it is impossible to say that production doesn’t work for people because for many workers their jobs actually help them to express their personalities and apply their skills. 2. In order to justify the production that destroys both personality and human value enterprisers have to change their approach to both their workers and the people who are supposed to use their production. The fact that enterprisers treat their workers as tools of production is the typical tendency in modern capitalistic world. During the process of production, where a worker can’t express one’s personality and use one’s talents, the worker is being assaulted by the process of manufacturing itself and becomes alienated from both the work one does and his life itself where it is impossible for him to get self-assurance. Another aspect of production that destroys human value is actually the results of production and producers’ treatment of those who will buy the product. Buyers are considered to be the objects where enterprisers get their money from. Thus, the only thing enterprisers are concerned about is in what way they can lure their buyers but not how can they please their customers as personalities and equal human beings. In order to justify production and avoid such humiliating