Analysis Of The Movie Rita Ha By Noah Baumbach

Chosen Clip: Clip 1 from Frances Ha (2012) Dir Noah Baumbach Directed by Noah Baumbach in 2012, Frances Ha follows young New Yorker Frances Halliday (Greta Gerwig) who, at age 27, is living with her best friend Sophie (Mickey Summer) whilst in an attempt to get her life heading in a succesful direction. The film examines and humanizes the importance of growing up in different cultures, experiencing the highs and lows of a sacred friendship, the realities of early adulthood and making sacrifices in order to get to where you need to be. The stand out aspect of cinematography used in this scene and Frances Ha as a film throughout is the careful choice by Baumbach to shoot digitally, but to edit the film as monochromic. Sam Levy (director of†¦show more content†¦Omtting colour and using natural lighting helps not only this scene but the entire story to develop as it provokes more concentration from the viewer into this raw dialouge and acting. The classical style of cinematography is used by Levy in shooting Frances Ha. The scene is shot with a steadycam – evident through a smooth pan following Dan from the couch to the kitchen. For the majority of the scene, the camera is fixed in one position on Frances and Dan through a mid shot as they are seated on the couch. This shot size is framed around the subjects for a measure of distance (Bordwell and Thompson, 2008). The pair are sitting very close together and the shot further outlines this by being close to the subjects – without being labelled as close up shot. It is a tight frame, with a tight fix on the subjects. This communicates to the audience that these two are a couple and they are very comfortable with eachother and have been for a long time. The depth of field and focus range is very slim. This is a result of the distance between the closet and farthest objects in the scene being very small. Baumbach wants to focus soley on the characters in this sc ene as the position of the frame is extremely neutral. The lens is level with the pair sitting down on the couch with no high or low angles used. For Baumbach, it was not a case of symbolic cinematography, but instead to provide a more a neutral perspective to develop the

The Effects Of Sleep And Sleep Deprivation On The Body

Michael Ly Professor Hayley Thayer COMM 130 28 September 2014 The Effects of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation Has on the Body. Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about why we need sleep and what happens if you are sleep deprived. Thesis: Sleep is crucial for any living creature and lacking an adequate amount of sleep is detrimental to health. Introduction Attention Getter: Many of us will spend about a third of our lives sleeping, yet don’t know why we need sleep or how important it is for the body. Did you know you can die faster from sleep deprivation than food deprivation. Credibility Statement: I am a person who suffers from sleep deprivation, I generally only have about 4 hours worth of sleep everyday. I am extremely fascinated about sleep and the impact it has on the body since it is something that affects all living creatures. Preview of Main Points: First, I will discuss why we get sleepy. Second, I will discuss why we need sleep. Third, I will discuss the effects of sleep deprivation. II. Main Point: Causes of Sleepiness Transition: We all know that sleep is important for the body but why do we get sleepy? The amount of light that our eye receives during the dusk and dawn creates or suppresses hormones that help us sleep. Our eye has intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) containing the photopigment melanopsin enable pupillary light responses, photic resetting of the circadian clock, and other sightless visual responses. When we see artificialShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On The Body798 Words   |  4 Pagestasks? Sleep is the answer to this question. What is sleep? Sleep is when the human body is unconscious. Once unconscious the body will restore the energy it needs for the next day. Sleep is vital to everyone. A human body needs sleep to restore the powers of the body. Some causes of being sleep deprived include a poor diet, stress, and hormonal imbalances. The effects of sleep deprivation include health problems, and depression. First of all, there are several causes of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivationRead MoreSleep Deprivation And Its Effects On The Brain And Body905 Words   |  4 PagesWhile loss of sleep must be required at times, sleep deprivation has become a problem worth addressing because it is a very common sleep disorder which can adversely affect the brain and cognitive function. However, It has many effects on a human brain such as depression, memory lapses or loss, and symptoms similar to ADHD. In order to identify what sleep deprivation is, it is necessary to understand how sleep is a necessity for the human brain and body. Sleep is the most important part of one sRead MoreSleep Deprivation Essay901 Words   |  4 Pages Most teens do not know what sleep deprivation is, it occurs when a person fails to receive enough sleep at night. A teen need nine hours of sleep to not feel sleep deprived also to be well alert and rested for the next day. Its more than important to manage enough sleep for the next day or experiences regarding the effects of sleep deprivation will occur. Many teens definitely have experienced sleep deprivation and may not have known how serious it is along with how bad it can affect them. TeenagersRead MoreSleep Deprivation Persuasive Speech1577 Words   |  7 PagesChronic Sleep Deprivation Introduction: A. Attention Getting Opening: Over the past ten to twenty years, academic demands placed upon college students have increased significantly, this has lead to an increase in workload and amount of time needed to study for a specific course. Today, college students represent the most sleep-deprived division of the population in the U.S. (Sleep and Memory). According to Gayla Martindale, 63% percent of the students who attend college do not get enough sleep, whichRead MoreSleep Deprivation And Health809 Words   |  4 PagesHow does sleep affect health? Studies show that the body needs to receive 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Many people especially in college, may only get half of this amount. Sleep deprivation is very common in the United States. What exactly is sleep deprivation you may ask yourself? Sleep deprivation is when you do not get a satisfactory amount of sleep. Effects of sleep deprivation are fatigue, weight gain/loss, and reaction time. Sleep deprivation is very common among teens and young adultsRead MoreThe Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Teenagers939 Words   |  4 Pagesextended schedule for teenagers can cause many problems such as sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation in teenagers can cause a lot of problems, in addition to that sleep deprivation is the leading cause of sleep disorders and depression. Sleep deprivation in teenager can have negative effects in their lives, especially academically and socially. There are different causes of sleep deprivation, two of the main causes are, Technology and Sleep Disorders. Teenagers in today’s society students are plagueRead MoreCause And Effect Essay Sleep Deprivation1134 Words   |  5 PagesEssay 4 Cause and Effect Essay Sleep Deprivation Cause and effect Essay Sleep deprivation Most people have at least stayed awake for the entire night once during their lifetime. This behavior is common amongst individuals enrolled in High School or pursuing University degree. One might wonder how lack of sleep for the night impact him/her. However, it has being proven that being awake for 24 hours has unpleasant effects on health.So why is sleep so important? How does lack of sleep impact one’s moodRead MoreEffects of Sleep Deprivation881 Words   |  4 PagesSleep is an essential part of life. Without sleep, the body does not get the energy that it needs to function. Yet a large amount of people do not get anywhere near the amount of sleep they need. Whether it is because of medical reasons or because there just is not enough time in the day, sleep deprivation is a major problem in todays society. The many people who do not get enough sleep usually end up suffering the consequences. No good can come from not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation hasRead MoreSle ep Deprivation : Symptoms And Treatments1417 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiencing sleep deprivation or not having enough sleep will cause one to be frustrated. It is not a decent experience to have. Whenever we have sleep deprivation or have little sleep, we become less productive and not concentrated the next day. As these things happen, bosses will scold us or we will fail our tasks. While we fail, or get scolded, the mood at that moment is always annoying and unsatisfying. People who encounter with lack of sleep will know that having not enough sleep is the mainRead MoreEssay On Sleep Deprivation801 Words   |  4 Pagesthe world sleep deprivation could be detrimental to people lives and health. Without sleep Im a angry person I get real snappy and grumpy. I would like to know more about the effects of the lack of sleep that effects people’s lives. I know that without sleep you can’t function properly. Why do people choose to push themselves to the limit when they ar e tired? Who do sleep issues mainly effect? These are some of the questions that I have pertaining to sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is a global

Product Development Management Conference

Question: Discuss about the Product Development Management Conference. Answer: Introduction: Performance management is a wide and a complicated process in the function of Human Resources (HR) team. It comprises of the activities such as complex setting of goals, constant review regarding the progress of the firm and an effective communication process involving the process of feedback. It also includes improvised performance concerning the mentoring of the employees, developing new programs to educate employees, bringing out the potential of the workers, and rewarding them for achieving more than the target goal (Van Dooren, Bouckaert and Halligan, 2015). Thus, it can be defined as the systematic process by which the entire organization benefits from the benefaction of the training that is received by the employees. A continuous communication process happens between the employees and the supervisors all the year round and is cyclical in nature (De Waal, 2013). Strategic Human Resource Management deals with the profitability of the firm. It is concerned with the identification of the internal as well as the external factors that enables the firm to have a competitive advantage over others. To achieve this feat, the firm needs to efficiently manage the costs and operate on lean or alternate resources, which will be beneficial for the firm in terms of profit. It depends on two resources, the first one is the human capital which deals with the knowledge, abilities and the skills of the employees. The second form of resource is the policies and the practices that are needed to support the human capital (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). It consists of development of the descriptions regarding the jobs and the plans to enhance the performance of the employees, which directly results in the key areas of actions. The selection process is very important because the right employees are needed to carry out the specific job that is given to them. The performance standards in regards to the outcome of the job need to be measured in an appropriate manner and a benchmark needs to be set so that the goal of the organization can be achieved. To enhance the performance of the employees continuous coaching needs to be given to the employees and a proper feedback is required during and after the mentoring process is over. The organization should discuss with its employees on a regular basis regarding the outcome of the employees and the factors that led to it. The employees should always remain motivated and the promotions in the organization need to happen on a yearly basis so that the driving factor does not leave the employees (Yawar and Seuring, 2015). When the employees want to quit the firm, certain interviews need to be conducted to identify the reason of their departure. The process of performance management helps an individual to identify its potential keeping in mind the missions and objectives that the organization sets and the rewarding practices that the employee gets after the completion of those. By setting clear-cut expectations regarding the performance such as the actions and the behaviors, it helps the individuals to understand the job expectations in setting the standards and eliminating the factors that are not required to carry out that specific job (Bridoux, Smith and Grimm, 2013). The main aim is to build the relationship between the individuals and the team of employers so that they can jointly take the responsibility in improving the process of business and at the same time upgrades the skills of the employees within a management structure. The objectives of the performance management are that to enable the employees achieve better standards regarding the performance of the work (Frederiksen and Knudsen, 2014). The employees need to be assisted to identify the skills and knowledge that are required to perform the activity in an efficient manner so that the focus can remain on the right task. The employees should be boosted by carrying out employee empowerment programs and implementations of the reward mechanisms. A good communication system needs to be maintained so that the employees can clarify any doubts regarding the tasks and proper feedbacks need to be followed so that the employees are aware of the performance enhancement techniques. The barriers that can hinder the performance of the individuals need to be identified through proper tutoring so that it does cause any problem to the performing factor. The personal knowledge of the employees needs to be promoted and enhanced so that they have proper goals in their career regarding their skills (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). There are also some concerns, which the organization needs to keep in mind. The organization needs to be fast in reviewing the results of the employees who have achieved their targets. They also need to chalk out the plans needed in the business in advance so that the future of the company is secured. Learning activities and programs needs to be developed on a regular basis so that the employees receive the best quality training that is present in the market. The superiors have to be free in mixing with the employees so that the communication process can be in two ways and not a dictatorial type of communication. The decision making process should be transparent and communicated to all the staffs so that they know in which way and how to proceed to the targets (Shields et al., 2015). The components of this system are divided in to six parts. Firstly, the performance planning process which is the most important process. It is done to ensure that the employees can have a proper view of the targets that are set and the areas on which they will be performing all the year round within a specific budget (Cummings and Worley, 2014). Secondly, the appraisals that are performed in an organization are twice a year in the form of mid review and annual reviews. The entire review process sees an active participation of the employees and the appraisers together and they discuss about the drawbacks in the performance and how it can be overcome. Thirdly, the process of communication and counseling is very important as it helps the organization in maintaining a free-flow of information between the management and the employees. The employees need to have an open and a transparent feedback process so that the top authorities can understand the problems that are faced by them in the organization and the allocation of proper training can be done only after that. The fourth process deals with the compensations that is given to the employees when they reach their targets in the form of rewards. In this process, the deserving employees are made to stand out in front of the whole organization and their efforts are recognized and rewarded. This has a direct influence on the self-esteem of the employees and it motivates them to work harder and achieve better things in life (Mone and London, 2014). The fifth process deals with the plans that are required in order to improve the performance strategy of the employees. This can happen through proper guidance and training that includes daily workshops conducted by experts to bring out the best from the employees. The sixth stage involves the appraisals that are required such as the vertical and lateral movements in the organization. This helps in identifying the potentials of the employees and the promotions that are gran ted are only to boost the morale of the employees and lose the monotonous habit of working in the same field (Cho and Korte, 2014). The Woolworths group in Australia is a classic example for the role they played in managing the performances of the employees. The company has promoted many individuals who have worked in the integral part of the organization. The growth rate is supposed to be more than thirty percent who have switched the roles in lateral movements and around eight percent of the executives have moved from one location to the other and in different divisions. The ability to retain the staffs is so high that most of the members present and past of around forty five hundred plus members is in the 25-year club. The employees in the firm have a flexible time frame as the company keeps in the mind the needs of the individuals and the balance between work and life is maintained thoroughly. The company also undertakes health programs such as the Weight Watchers and the Quit programs so that the employees are benefitted from these programs. The company also took the pain to vaccinate the employees against f lu, which was at one point widespread in certain parts of the country. The company also offers workshops on how to control stress and the health of employees and heart problems and how to tackle them (Woolworths.co.za, 2017). The remuneration of the company is also good as it gives proper incentives to the employees who have met their targets and achieved the goals that were allocated to them. The company offers remuneration in two structures such as the short-term incentive plan (STIP) and the long-term incentive plan (LTIP) respectively. The STIP is available to all the managerial employees who are on a salaried basis and the LTIP is offered to those employees who have a long-term interest for the benefit of the company. The company offers a variety of incentive policies to retain its employees and maintain a proper culture in their performance. The company reviews the performance of the employees on an annual basis from the managers and discusses the plans and targets that are se t by the company based on the key performance indicators (KPI). The company does this annual review to set the targets for the employees for the next financial year. The company also focuses on the training of the employees and provides day-to-day management training to its core employees and the forefront managers. Personal Leadership programs that are conducted by the company help the employees to find their inner potential and effectively manage the course of the work in a systematic manner (Woolworthsholdings.co.za, 2017). Another example is the Qantas Airlines which is an Australian company serving in the airlines sector. The workforce in the company is very diverse and includes the multicultural and the contemporary aspects of the nation. The employees are mainly indigenous to the nation, they receive proper training, and guidance through a firm called CareerTrackers, which is in a partnership with the airlines company. The company provides flexibility in regards to the workplace and the arrangement of the workplace related to the corporate and operation areas. The HR team selects and appoints the best candidates based on their merits and develops them through intense training programs so that the candidates are ready to join the team as soon as possible. The company also creates an environment of work that supports the employees and enables them to bring out the best work possible. The employees are reviewed on the basis of the performance that they deliver on the workplace both at the individual an d the team levels respectively (Eqextportal.qantas.com.au, 2017). The company undertakes certain programs and workshops to let the employees identify their talents and to enhance their work according to the qualifications that they were hired for. The remuneration that the company pays to its employees are all based on the qualifications and the role they play in the company according to their basis of performance. The amount needs to reasonable and competitive to enable people to get attracted, motivated and to retain the employees that are currently working in the company. The company also organizes various internal programs so that the employees are congratulated when they achieve their targets. The employees are encouraged to compete with each other so that they put their best foot forward irrespective of the race, gender and the disability factor if any (Qantas.com, 2017). Therefore, to conclude performance management strategy the human resource team of a company needs to be well informed and updated on the daily proceedings of the company. The team needs to actively participate in the recruitment process of the company so that the best workers are hired in the company to get the output that the firm desires. The team should organize proper programs that will indicate the potential that the employees have and apply it in to the work place (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). When some of the employees want to leave the firm, the HR team needs to find out the causes that are responsible for the people to quit the organization and the solutions needs to be provided to prevent the future extermination of the employees. This gives a competitive advantage over other firms to the company. The competition to get inside the company is very fierce due to the best remuneration rate it provides in the entire market and due to the training and practical methods that is done for the welfare of the employees keeping in mind that the employees reciprocate them with the best efforts in the work place. The reward systems that the company uses are also advantageous in the market because it gives an upper hand to the employees that are working and striving to get those rewards (Barney, 2014). Therefore, it pushes the employees to its maximum limit to bring out the best in the interest of the firm. Reference List Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., 2014.Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Barney, J., 2015. 15 Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage.International Business Strategy: Theory and Practice, p.283. Bridoux, F., Smith, K.G. and Grimm, C.M., 2013. The management of resources temporal effects of different types of actions on performance.Journal of Management,39(4), pp.928-957. Cho, T. and Korte, R., 2014. Managing knowledge performance: testing the components of a knowledge management system on organizational performance.Asia Pacific Education Review,15(2), pp.313-327. Cummings, T.G. and Worley, C.G., 2014.Organization development and change. Cengage learning. De Waal, A., 2013.Strategic Performance Management: A managerial and behavioral approach. Palgrave Macmillan. Eqextportal.qantas.com.au. (2017). Workforce Performance Management Overview (Oracle HRMS). [online] Available at: https://eqextportal.qantas.com.au/OA_HTML/help/state/content/navId.2/navSetId.iHelp/vtAnchor.sintwpm/vtTopicFile.iHelp%7CHelpServlet%7CUS%7Cper%7C@sintwpm/ [Accessed 12 Jan. 2017]. Frederiksen, M.H. and Knudsen, M.P., 2014. An Empirical Assessment of the Links between Creative Actions and Performance in Innovation Projects. InProceedings of the 20th International Product Development Management Conference. European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014.Quality management for organizational excellence. pearson. Mone, E.M. and London, M., 2014.Employee engagement through effective performance management: A practical guide for managers. Routledge. Qantas.com. (2017). Corporate Governance | Qantas. [online] Available at: https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/governance-structure/global/en [Accessed 12 Jan. 2017]. Shields, J., Brown, M., Kaine, S., Dolle-Samuel, C., North-Samardzic, A., McLean, P., Johns, R., Robinson, J., O'Leary, P. and Plimmer, G., 2015.Managing Employee Performance Reward: Concepts, Practices, Strategies. Cambridge University Press. Van Dooren, W., Bouckaert, G. and Halligan, J., 2015.Performance management in the public sector. Routledge. Woolworths.co.za. (2017). Make your performance appraisal matter | Woolworths.co.za. [online] Available at: https://www.woolworths.co.za/store/fragments/article/article-index.jsp?contentId=cmp202030 [Accessed 12 Jan. 2017]. Woolworthsholdings.co.za. (2017). Woolworths Holdings Limited. [online] Available at: https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/investor/annual_reports/ar2011/sustainability/governance/values.asp [Accessed 12 Jan. 2017]. Yawar, S.A. and Seuring, S., 2015. Management of social issues in supply chains: a literature review exploring social issues, actions and performance outcomes.Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-23.

The Opal free essay sample

I watched the buildings pass by my window. They were the same, never changing buildings I had seen before, but because it was October, the colors were just that much greyer. The giant navy blue middle school doors were propped open by an uninterested boy in baggy pants and his heavy backpack resting on the floor beside him. The doors had just been opened, meaning it was just after 7:30 that morning. The usual florescent lights were noticeably dimmer, but that may have just been me. There was a natural smell, familiar to public schools that my nose was especially sensitive to. The conversations I’d usually hear in the hallway were blocked by the rising feeling I kept getting in my throat. I walked with my head down, which was weird for me, but since I didn’t have any close friends, nobody noticed. I walked into the cafeteria and got my usual breakfast: eggs, sausage, and a gritty substance that I would never call grits. We will write a custom essay sample on The Opal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I sat at a table alone and ate without a word to anyone, my mind fully focused on sending mental messages to my ill grandmother, who was being prepped for surgery. It wasn’t long until my daily irritants showed their faces to mock my size, my face, and my other physical issues, but I didn’t really care anymore. I picked up my extra bag, holding my school basketball jersey- number 55- and hauled it, along with my court shoes, to my locker. Though my disposition was different, the day seemed to be pretty normal. My feet hit the floor following my usual path, which I was sure was going to become a pit, like in the cartoons. I went to my locker, then my first class, which became more of a blur than a lesson, and then to the bathroom. I didn’t have to go like I usually would, but I went to sit and think, where I could be away from the guys that picked on me. I opened the small King James Bible I used to carry to gaze lovingly at an old picture of my grandmother when she was a teacher. It always made me smile. She had on a pale green, loosely fitted dress and matching shoes. The picture had heavy sepia, meaning it was probably o lder than my mother. The chalk board behind her was blank, but it had a residue that was hard to see unless you were fond of studying it, like I was. Her handwriting was beautiful, and always had been, just like her spirit. The picture and my hand holding it were starting to become a blur. I could feel a deep pain in my stomach, like I was going to be sick. I dried my face quickly, not wanting to lose the picture I cherished the most. My eyes were crying, but I couldn’t make a sound. The only sound in the bathroom was my deep and shallow breaths mixing together into a cacophony of breaths, like the aftermath of a 500 meter dash. I ran through the situation over and over again in my head. â€Å"She’ll go in, get the surgery, and I’ll go see her tomorrow. She’ll be fine. She promised she’d be at my graduation after all. Only five years to go.† I repeated the same things over and over again until I forced myself to believe them. The bell rang and the next few classes went by without me ever noticing. Lunch didn’t serve a purpose for me. My stomach went on empty. I spent the rest of the day with my eyes focused on the brown floor tiles, which were yellow in some classrooms. I went over what I knew about my grandmother again in my head: She’s 71. Her birthday is October 20, three days before mine. She’s been sick since before I was born with heart disease. I see her more than I see daddy, since we’re in different states. She meant a lot to a lot of people. She hated breaking promises, especially to me or Tia. She never got her driver’s license. I could feel myself starting to tear up again. I put my head down and faked a headache to avoid the laughs of my peers. It was my last class and I didn’t need ridicule or this lurking feeling that someone was watching over me, right over my shoulder. I watched the other kids head home from the gym door, where my teammates were getting ready for our second game of the season. I was the last one on the bus, and I sat as far away from the others as I could. I went back to my bible to look over the picture one more time before tucking it away. The bus arrived at Clarenceville Middle school with a half hour to spare. The team was rushed into the locker room to go over plays and things, but my mind was racing. I couldn’t focus on anything. There was one thing in my head: What if she didn’t make it? What would I do? Who would I talk to? What would I do with myself? Who would I be able to trust? I realized just how underappreciated she had been. I rushed into the nearest bathroom stall and hugged my knees as close to me as I could. I was the one person she saw every day, but I treated her so poorly. I remembered lightly wrestling with her, just kind of rolling around with faked punches and how her body must have hurt, but she put on a big smile for me. I never once thought about how she must have been feeling. I would fight with her, if you could call it a fight, then I would spend an hour doing whatever I wanted while she waited for the coffee I promised her I’d make. I felt like a huge rock had dropped on my shoulders and knocked a noticeably large chunk out of my shoulder. My mind went blank. I tried to remember the last thing she said to me, the last time I saw her smile, nothing. The game for the A team started and ended without me giving the slightest bit of a care about whether they won or lost. The game ended in an upset, 54 to 52. I looked over to the bleachers where my mother was resting her behind on the second row and waiting patiently, a straight look on her face. I could feel my stomach in the back of my throat. The usual shine I saw in her eyes was dim. She wasn’t happy. I could feel tears welling up, but I forced them back, not wanting my mother to see me cry, a trend that would continue for a very long time. The game started without much notice from me, but it doesn’t take long to realize the people around you are running at top speeds after a bouncing ball. I was the team’s best defense, so I spent most of the game watching my opponent’s waist, the core of all movement. If anyone I was guarding got the ball, there was almost always a turn over, but this time was different. The Trojans weren’t as good as us, but I wasn’t the only one off my game. We lost our game by the same two points that had eluded our better half. We all packed up our things and headed to the bus, but I headed home with my mom. The car was silent. She drove looking straight ahead, but before we could get to far away from the parking lot I asked a question I already knew the answer to. â€Å"Did she make it?† Her big dark brown eyes paned over to me before she responded, eyes with a deep sadness, they said what she didnt want to say, only they werent as modest. â€Å"No she didn’t.† Though I knew it was coming, I physically felt my heart drop. I wanted to scream, but I knew no sound would come out. The pain was so deep my young mind couldn’t comprehend. We both sat in silence, wishing we could have saved the only person we both cherished more than we did each other. I watched the building pass by my window. They were the same never changing buildings I had seen before, but because it was October, the colors were just that much greyer. My outlook was as different as every day would be without her bright smile to lighten my dark nights, but there was something different. Riding home, the silence flooding both our ears just as much as the sound of our truck gliding over the pavement, the sheet of night thinker that the sheep that birthed it, she handed me a ring. The ring my grandmother always wore was too big for my mother’s skinny fingers. The light gold wiggled around my right ring finger and held on tight, but not too tight. The opal resting in the heart shaped ring front shined just like her smile. The ring she was probably wearing the only time she was ever behind the wheel of a car, the night she wrecked four cars just going down the block to her house, the ring that saw her through her miscarriage and her ten births, the ring that held our shared birth stone. The ring was light, but the responsibility behind it was enough to crush a building like a wrecking ball. I gazed into the hypnotizing opal till the car stopped in the garage. I went into her room, packed full of fragrances, clothes, furniture, and knick knacks. I laid on her hospital like bed and thought about the smiling face I would never see again, the laugh that would eventually fade from my memory, the scratchy voice I’d loved since before I’d left my mother’s stomach. My grandmother always pushed me to be stronger, but it took her passing to drill it into my head. My sadness awakened a lurching desire to want to be better. I wanted, more than anything to make my grandmother proud of the baby that she couldn’t help bit spoil to bits and pieces. I wanted to be less of a burden on my mother, take her away from the pain and anguish I caused by not cleaning my room or not being the best I could be in school situations, but I’d end up putting more stress on her before I could put her in a stress free environment. Making the people that love me proud became my highest priority. I decided to take my pain and use it to bring smiles to the faces of others, just like she did for me. It was a hard change to make, after getting thin skin from all the bullying. I had to learn to make fun of myself so I could out talk my bullies without bring myself down. I basically invented the â€Å"I’m so fat† jokes. I found if I was strong enoug h in me to make fun of myself the bullies didn’t have much else they could say, the rap battle at the end of 8 mile. I decided to make as many people love me as she had around her. The hidden tears than scraped down my face, leaving a trail of their remains behind, would soon fade into a brisk smile that all would see. Being shy would no longer plague me, and I wouldn’t need a bubble to keep me safe. I opened up, slowly, and became the person I always wanted to be, with a few minor flaws, I even cleaned my room. Just like my grandmother, I aim to have wonderful kids and a wonderful family, and maybe I could even have a smart mouth granddaughter that I would spoil to bits, just like her.

George Clinton - Fourth U. S. Vice President

George Clinton - Fourth U. S. Vice President George Clinton (July 26, 1739 - April 20, 1812) served from 1805 to 1812 as the fourth vice president in the administrations of both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. As Vice President, he set up the precedent of not bringing focus to himself and instead simply presiding over the Senate.   Early Years George Clinton was born on July 26, 1739, in Little Britain, New York, a little more than seventy miles north of New York City. The son of farmer and local politician Charles Clinton and Elizabeth Denniston, not much is known of his early educational years although he was privately tutored until he joined his father to fight in the French and Indian War.   Clinton rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant during the French and Indian War. After the War, he returned to New York to study law with a well-known attorney named William Smith. By 1764 he was a practicing attorney and the following year he was named the district attorney.   In 1770, Clinton married Cornelia Tappan. She was a relative of the wealthy Livingston clan who were wealthy landowners in the Hudson Valley that were distinctly anti-British as the colonies moved closer to open rebellion. In 1770, Clinton cemented his leadership in this clan with his defense of a member of the Sons of Liberty who had been arrested by the royalists in charge of the New York assembly for seditious libel.   Revolutionary War Leader Clinton was nominated to represent New York at the Second Continental Congress which was held in 1775. However, in his own words, he was not a fan of legislative service. He was not known as an individual who spoke up. He soon decided to leave the Congress and join the war effort as a Brigadier General in the New York Militia. He helped stop the British from gaining control of the Hudson River and was recognized as a hero. He was then named a Brigadier General in the Continental Army.   Governor of New York In 1777, Clinton ran against his old wealthy ally Edward Livingston to be Governor of New York. His win showed that the power of the old wealthy families was dissolving with the ongoing revolutionary war. Even though he left his military post to become the states governor, this did not stop him from returning to military service when the British tried to help reinforce the entrenched General John Burgoyne. His leadership meant that the British were unable to send help and Burgoyne eventually had to surrender at Saratoga.   Clinton served as Governor from 1777-1795 and again from 1801-1805. While he was extremely important in helping with the war effort by coordinating New York forces and sending money to support the war effort, he still always kept a New York first attitude. In fact, when it was announced that a tariff was to be considered that would greatly impact New Yorks finances, Clinton realized that a strong national government was not in his states best interests. Because of this new understanding, Clinton was strongly opposed to the new Constitution that would replace the Articles of Confederation.   However, Clinton soon saw the writing on the wall that the new Constitution would be approved. His hopes shifted from opposing ratification to becoming the new Vice President under George Washington in the hopes of adding amendments that would limit the reach of the national government. He was opposed by the Federalists who saw through this plan including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison who worked to have John Adams elected as Vice President instead.   Vice Presidential Candidate From Day One Clinton did run in that first election, but was defeated for the vice presidency by John Adams. It is important to remember that at this time the vice presidency was determined by a separate vote from the President so running mates did not matter.   In 1792, Clinton ran again, this time with the support of his former foes including Madison and Thomas Jefferson. They were unhappy with Adams nationalist ways. However, Adams once again carried the vote. Nonetheless, Clinton received enough votes to be considered a future viable candidate.   In 1800, Thomas Jefferson approached Clinton to be his vice-presidential candidate which he agreed to. However, Jefferson eventually went with Aaron Burr. Clinton never fully trusted Burr and this distrust was proven when Burr would not agree to allow Jefferson to be named President when their electoral votes were tied in the election. Jefferson was named president in the House of Representatives. To prevent Burr from re-entering New York politics, Clinton was once again elected Governor of New York in 1801.   Ineffectual Vice President In 1804, Jefferson replaced Burr with Clinton. After his election, Clinton soon found himself left out of any important decisions. He stayed away from the social atmosphere of Washington. In the end, his primary job was to preside over the Senate, which he was not very effective at either.   In 1808, it became obvious that the Democratic-Republicans would choose James Madison as their candidate for the presidency. However, Clinton felt it was his right be chosen as the next presidential candidate for the party. However, the party felt different and instead named him to be Vice President under Madison instead. Despite this, he and his supporters continued to behave as if they were running for the presidency and made claims against Madisons fitness for office. In the end, the party stuck with Madison who won the presidency. He opposed Madison from that point on, including breaking the tie against the recharter of the National Bank in defiance of the president.   Death While in Office Clinton died while in office as Madisons Vice President on April 20, 1812. He was the first individual to lie in state in the US Capitol. He was then buried at the Congressional Cemetery. Members of Congress also wore black armbands for thirty days after this death.   Legacy Clinton was a revolutionary war hero who was immensely popular and important in early New York politics. He served as the Vice President for two presidents. However, the fact that he was not consulted and did not truly affect any national politics while serving in this position helped set a precedent for an ineffectual Vice President.   Learn More George Clinton, 4th Vice President (1805-1812), US Senate BiographyKaminski, John P.  Ã‚  George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic.  New York State Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, University of WisconsinMadison Center for the Study of the American Constitution (Rowman Littlefield, 1993).

College Essay Online

College Essay Online College Essay Online Sure, there are many students who post their college essay online. There are many sites that sell custom written college essays. However, you should be aware thatcollege essay writing posted online is not custom written by its essence because numerous students have access to the same essay. Imagine the situation when your tutor receives five identical essays. It is not enough to say that your tutor will be very surprised. You will get an F. Are you ready to get an F? If you are not, you should either spend some time writing college essay yourself or you are welcome to order custom college essay writing at our site. Free college essays can be used as samples, as the starting point for your own writing. Free essays cannot reply your homework. Free College Essays What are the advantages of ordering custom college essay writing service at .com? First, you receive custom written college essay that is free of plagiarism and meets all of your requirements. Second, you can request free plagiarism report and claim unlimited number of revisions. Third, you can always ask the writer to rewrite your college essay and proofread it for mistakes. Fourth, you can communicate with writer and ask for help. Finally, custom college essays are free of plagiarism and are not posted online. Thus, you receive college essay that is written especially for you and is not resold to other students Free Essays Free essays are not a solution to your academic challenges. Free essays do not answer an essay question set by your tutor. Free essays are usually poorly written and do not meet academic level requirements. Free essays are accessible by other students. College essay online help is customized and your assignment is accomplished from scratch. Do not hesitate to place an order on our site! All of your rights are protected! We do not ask you to provide any private information and we guarantee full refunds in the case of late delivery. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our writing services, you are welcome to contact us. College essay online help is an effective way to get your assignment done professionally and prior to deadline. We guarantee adequate support and timely feedback. We guarantee originality and unlimited revisions. We value your choice and guarantee qualitative assistance! We can help you to make your academic experience more enjoyable. Read also: History Thesis Write a Term Paper Non-Plagiarized Term Papers University Research Proposal Argumentative Research Paper Topics

Research Paper on a selected Multinational Company and it's foreign Essay

Research Paper on a selected Multinational Company and it's foreign Direct Investment - Essay Example The companies making direct investments have ample control and influence over the company in which the investment is made. Countries foster open economies in order to utilize the resource of skilled workforce and explore growth prospects by attracting foreign investors, so FDI becomes an obvious choice for developing countries for economic growth and development (Gilroy, Gries, & Naudà ©, 2004, p. 50-55). According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), FDI facilitates companies to make investments with the expectation of establishing lasting relationships with the target countries. FDI was considered to be one of the major drivers of continuous growth and globalization, before the financial crisis. However, as revealed by UNCTAD in the World Investment Report of 2009, about 85 percent of the Transnational Corporations got affected by financial crisis in 2008-09. USA tops the list of FDI inflow, but many other countries have joined this list (Breitfeld, 2010, p. 1). Nowadays, we stay in one global country. This is said because there are trade and commerce taking place among all the countries. People staying in any country can make use products of different countries. From this very concept the term global marketing has come up. Now, when we say that the world has become one market, we can also say that the economies of individual countries also affect the global economy, especially the international trade. There is a lot of capital involved in international trade and commerce. Products and services costing billions of money are traded everyday among nations in the world market. So the price of currency exchange and fluctuations also significantly affect the profit and income of the marketers (Baker, Epstein, & Pollin, 1998, p. 117-120). Multinational corporations (MNCs) and FDI are complex expression that illustrates two separate but correlated concept. The MNCs or multinational enterprises (MNEs) manage their production, organization, and deliver

Presentation Essentials Mary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Presentation Essentials Mary - Essay Example In every country, there are laws that govern the relationship between employees and employers including reporting mechanisms and channels. This paper seeks to compare the rights of employees and responsibilities of employers in the United States and Europe in relation to Mary’s case study. In the United States, employees are subjected to things like, benefits, breaks, vacations, leaves, pay, and safety. These elements stabilize employees in any given company. The employment law in the United States requires that employees be given equal opportunities without any form of discrimination. This makes employees feel protected and safe in the workplace. Employees also enjoy freedom of expression. This ensures that the opinions and ideas are considered so as to keep the company activities moving smoothly and fairly (David, 2010). Employees and employers are obligated to one another to uphold each other’s rights. The responsibilities and rights of employers and employees respec tively relate to such things as the provision of employment terms and conditions, health and safety, rights to minimum wage, and equal opportunities. ... These bodies also set number of hours that employees are expected to work in a week. The form of relationship existing between employers and employees in United States is that of master to servant, employees are obligated to recognize their employer’s authority. However, employers also have the responsibility to protect their employees and treat them fairly as dictated by employment. Some of the obligations that both employers and employees are expected to observe towards each other include: regard and respect, health and safety, working hours and pay, loyalty, and fairness. Therefore employees should feel respected, honored and valued by their employers. On the other hand, employers are expecting their employees to work and perform their duties as stipulated in the terms and conditions of the job description. On the other hand, Europe has labor laws and regulations that determine the rights of employees and responsibilities of employers in the European countries. The European employment law governs employment in terms of working conditions, health and safety, and consulting and informing employees. The rights of employees and responsibilities of employers are very important in the European nations. They uphold laws of minimum wage, disability, pensions, work opportunities, medical insurance, and retirements. This is similar to the United States which plays a significant part in the process of hiring. Some employment specific laws that are common to Europe and the United States include the following: Anti-discrimination Working time and employment contract Equal treatment of all employees at workplace Protection of personal data Informing and consulting employees Social security and right to pension Fixed, part, and posted workers Parental leave and

Rate of cooling Essay Example for Free

Rate of cooling Essay The problem for this experiment is to investigate the rate of cooling in three different types of cups. They will be used as typical coffee cups for commercial purposes. The cups a polystyrene cup, a paper cup and a plastic cup. Water has a high specific heat capacity. This makes it a very useful material for storing and carrying heat energy. Its heat capacity is 4200 joules per kilogram per i C (4200J/kg i C). Heat tends to flow away from a hotter object to a cooler surroundings. Heat is mainly lost I conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. For this experiment I will be only using convection, radiation, evaporation because conduction is mainly in solids. Convection Convection mainly occurs in gasses and liquids gases and liquids are very poor conductors so convection is usually dominant process. When convection cant occur, the heat transfer by conduction is very slow. Convection only occurs when the more energetic particles move from hotter region to a cooler region and take their heat energy with them. Convection doesnt happen in solids because there are no particles movement. Radiation Radiation travels through anything transparent. Heat radiation is given out by anything warm or hot. The amount of it that is absorbed or released depends on the colour and texture of the material. Heat radiation is also called infra-red radiation. It consists purely of electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency. All objects continually absorb and release heat radiation. The hotter the object the more heat radiation it release. Dark surfaces absorb more heat radiation than bright surfaces. Silver surfaces reflect nearly all heat radiation falling on them. Evaporation Evaporation is when water vanishes without boiling it to change into gas. This is because some liquid molecules move faster than others and the ones close to the surface may escape and form a gas. Variables These are things that may change during an experiment The independent variable: These are things that I will decide to change e. g. the material of the cup, replacing equipment. The dependent variable: This is the measurement that is effected by the independent variable e. g. the rate of cooling. The control variable: These are the things that I will try to keep the same so I can make sure that its a fair test e. g. volume of water, room temperature, size of the cups etc. Hypothesis I predict that the polystyrene cup would cool down the slowest because it has thick walls and when you go to restaurants and ask for a hot drink they give it in polystyrene cup. I think the paper cup will cool down the quickest because its made out of paper and paper has thin walls and it absorbs water.

The Liability of Tobacco Makers Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essa

The Liability of Tobacco Makers Cigarettes have an affect on almost everyone, even if a person does not smoke. A man name Charles Green was affected by cigarettes, even though he never smoked a cigarette in his life. Green is 39 years old, and he used to be a very athletic person. That is, until he began working for a company full of smokers. Green worked behind a desk in an office building where everyone around him smoked. He was shoved in a little cubicle where smoke was thick in the air from his coworkers. After a time, Charles needed medication to help control his asthma from all of the smoke in his lungs. When he began to complain about the smoke, he was told to â€Å"Live with it.† When Charles decided to sue the company and the tobacco industry, he was awarded $60,000 for worker’s compensation. Green was not the only worker to sue tobacco companies, and he will not be the last (We’re Fighting). Is it right that people are allowed to put tobacco companies at fault for illness due to smoking? Each year there are hundreds of court cases in the United States against tobacco companies just like Charles Green’s case. Long term smokers and nonsmokers like Green are suing large tobacco companies for injuries from smoking. They feel that tobacco companies should be punished for making a product that millions of people use everyday. Although studies show that smoking cigarettes may cause cancer, tobacco companies claim that there is not a direct link. If the tobacco companies start losing the court cases, the price of cigarettes will increase. This increase is designed to keep people from buying cigarettes because of the high prices (Olsson). Even though tobacco companies have only lost one case, the link between smoking c... ...ere are also warning labels on every product with tobacco in it that is sold in the United States. Although there has only been one case where a tobacco company has ended up paying a settlement, I feel that as more people get cancer, more people will find new ways to sue. Works Cited â€Å"Highlights of the Tobacco Settlement.† 26 June 1997. Facts on File: World News Digest. 30 October 2004 . Olsson, Johan. â€Å"Product Liability in the Tobacco Industry. A Contemporary Issue.† 29 April 1994. Times Square. 2 November 2004 . â€Å"Tobacco Litigation Documents.† 27 September 2004. Galen: Digital Library of UCSF. 29 October 2004 . â€Å"We’re Fighting Big Tobacco.† 2000. JEL Iowa. 30 October 2004 .

Planning marketing activities Essay

Conduct a situation analysis for your organization, or an organization you have researched, by preparing a report with the following sections: Organizational analysis The first component is the expansion of the gaming audience and drawing in new people. The company’s most recent endeavour, the Wii console has been very successful in attracting user who traditionally would not have played video games. Another example of how they have expanded their audience is through the Nintendo DS. They were able to appeal to the female audience through the Nintendo’s game, and were able to appeal to an older audience through the Brain Training game. The second component of the vision is devotion to the entertainment business. This is reflected by the company’s attitude to the collaboration of its employees. The company is a strong advocate of allowing different employee groups, such as engineers and programmers. The result of this collaboration is that groups work on products and no single person takes credit for product. The third aspect of the company’s vision is risk and the encouraging of employees to make creative decisions to c hallenge the notion of what a video game is capable of being. Customer analysis: Identify the major customer segments by preparing the following analysis (for each complete only the section relevant to your organization and add any others you feel are relevant). What does the customer buy from the organization? Demographic characteristics a) Age b) Gender c) Income Where does the customer come from? a) Local b) Regional c) National Psychographic characteristics a) Social class b) Lifestyle c) Values Benefits are sought by the customer a) Safety b) Performance c) Aesthetics d) Social Has the customer purchased the product from the organization before? a) Yes b) No How frequently does the customer buy? a) Daily b) Weekly c) Monthly How much does the customer buy each time? New releases Is the customer loyal to the brand? Yes How does the customer decide which brand to buy? For technology and History Where does the customer prefer to purchase the product or service? Retail Store Competitor analysis: Analyze each major competitor against the following criteria. Name of competit-or Current or potential competit-or Direct or indirect competit-or Product/service offerings Market position/brand image Size, growth and market share Competi- tive advantage Brand image and market position Xbox Current Direct Games 28% connectivity Online games Sony Current Direct Games 33% Resolution State-of-art graphics Apple Current Indirect Tablets & iPhones 3% Integrated w/ mobile Practical & useful Political analysis Filibustercartoons.com state that Nintendo’s previously had strict policy in relation to video game violence and sexual reference. In the early 1990’s Nintendo had a strict no blood policy and refused to publish violent video games. This policy has since been relaxed and video game censorship is now run by independent boards which give games appropriate age rating depending on their content. These include The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system. The system was established in 2003 to guide parents in making informed decisions when purchasing video games for their children (Pan European Game Information, 2007). Nintendo still does not publish graphical violent games themselves, but allow third party publishers to release the games on their systems. Economic analysis If a country’s economy is performing well, people will generally have a higher level of disposal income. In order to be successful a high disposal income is not enough there needs to be an interest in the market. Nintendo selling their products at the lower end of the price scale makes their product affordable to large audience including those who do not enjoy a strong disposal income. This is not the case for Sony who products tend to be quite expensive as seen with the â‚ ¬630 price tag on the Playstation 3, which is possibly too expensive for the average person. Nintendo on the other hand, sold the Wii at a more affordable â‚ ¬270 price tag. The same applies for the games for the system. The Wii games range from 45-60 Euro and the PS3 games can cost up to â‚ ¬75. Social analysis Video games have been part of adolescent life world wide now for several years. Many teenagers play video games together both online and at home together. In some cultures especially Japan, video games formed a significant part of young people’s lives. Nintendo is using this to appeal to a wider audience with the Wii and the DS by providing an online community where friends can link up and play games together free of charge anywhere there a Wi-Fi hub. Nintendo is also trying to make video games an activity that an entire family can take part in and for the most part have been  successful. Technological analysis Web Browser for the Nintendo DS: InternetAdSales.com (2006) writes that a Wed browser for Nintendo’s DS was launched in Europe on 6th October 2006. The browser is powered by software from the Opera Company. The device is designed in a similar fashion to a standard DS game cartridge and is available in two versions; one is compatible with the classic Nintendo DS and the other is designed for the smaller DS Lite. The browser utilises the DS’s two screens for navigating the web in addition to providing the touch capabilities unique to the DS. Users may access the Internet via wireless networks at home, at one of Nintendo’s free Wi-Fi Connection Hotspots, or at any public access hotspot. Wii Remote (â€Å"Wiimote†): BBC (2006) states that the remote for Nintendo’s Wii console resembles a television remote control and provides users with the means of interacting with a game environment. It can be utilised to stab like a sword, steer like the steering wheel of a car, and swing like a tennis racket. Nintendo have created this new controller in the hope that it will allow for the broadening of the console’s appeal. The device functions through a three-axis accelerometer, i.e. a motion sensor, which is capable of detecting the angle at which the controller is being held at and how fast it is being moved. It interfaces with the Wii console in a wireless manner via Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology. This interface is achieved through a senor bar, which is generally mounted on top of the user’s television. Nintendo DS Wireless Technology: Mobile Technology News.com (2007) writes about how the Nintendo DS allows users to interact with games in an unprecedented way via the dual screens and touch screen technology. In addition to this, the wireless technology feature of the DS permits users to experience real-time multiplayer gaming. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which is free, allows users to compete against other users from around the world. SWOT analysis: Complete a SWOT analysis using the diagram below Internal analysis STRENGTHS †¢ Strong network of game licensees †¢ Strong global market position †¢ Had strict policy in relation to video game violence and sexual reference †¢ Innovation in Remote in Blu-ray WEAKNESSES †¢ Nintendo’s policy of having a large number of its game titles designed by the company’s own game designers †¢ Wii doesn’t play DVDs/Blu-rays External analysis OPPORTUNITIES †¢ Opening up its software to a wider audience. THREATS †¢ The company claims that the motion-sensitive controller can be copied. †¢ The Wii controller resembles a television remote and has a trigger under the front end. Market analysis: Market definition Market size and growth rate. Nintendo’s contenders in the portable market are the Game Boy and the DS. Over the years, the Game Boy has faced competition from companies such as Sega, Atari, SNK, Bandai, Nokia and now Sony. Even with rival’s machines been technically superior, Nintendo’s handhelds have come out on top time and time again. Nintendo proved with the Game Boy and now the DS that it is not what you have it is how you use it that counts i.e. instead of adding fancy graphics and numbers of additional unnecessary features, Nintendo spent its time securing key franchises such as pokemon and Tetris. They also greatly increased their machines’ battery life. Nintendo’s handhelds  over the years have boasted battery life of up to 15 hours depending on how the machine was used compared to 3 hours or less form Sega’s and Atari’s machines. This was due to the unnecessary battery hogging feature competitors’ machine featured. This has helped Nintendo domin ate the portable market for close to 18 years. Today the Nintendo DS out sells the Sony PSP in all regions. Part B 1. Prepare a report analyzing the marketing activities, policies and procedures of your organization or an organization you have researched. Price The price of games is quite interesting. Nintendo uses a series of pricing strategies throughout the product life. As the product becomes adopted they will begin to reduce the price of competitive parity, and as you reach the end of their life cycle games will be priced promotionally until they hit the bargain bucket. Place The product is distributed in a number of ways. Nintendo manufactures and distribute it to retailers through wholesalers for you. Some very large national accounts will be handled directly because of the huge volumes they buy. Nintendo is available on the street in all major electrical retailers and games, as well as being sold online by known retailers like Amazon.com and play.com, and you can find one or two second-hand bargains on eBay. with.Distribution is ripe for Nintendo and there are few avenues for the market they do not pursue. Promotion When Nintendo launches new products. For example, when the company launched the Nintendo 3DS, a series of special days of release, and even some launch events at midnight. Fans of Nintendo product has a chance to have a go at the new Nintendo system, first buyers get a free box of transportation, and there is always free gifts such as shirts and caps. The launch campaign demonstrates a great effort by Nintendo. For example, over 85% of audience  in the UK saw the Nintendo 3DS called campaign believe his eyes. The campaign itself was emphasize the benefits of 3D experience. The campaign was a mash up of consumers who experience the product and innovative advertising. 2. Analyze the previous marketing activities of the organization and evaluate the effectiveness of each activity. Previous marketing activity Effectiveness Launch of SuperNintendo Highly effective. It put Nintendo in the first positions of videogame console makers Launch of Nintendo 64 Highly effective. The console and its control were considered great innovations. Launch of Nintendo Wii Highly effective. Nintendo Wii was a true innovation in the world of games with its blu-ray technology and the idea of making people move their bodies rather than just their fingers. Launch of Nintendo DS / DS 3D Effective. Nintendo DS was seen by some as a reformulation of the previous GameBoy and therefore not so effective. However, Nintendo DS 3D was considered highly innovative as it allowed the users to enjoy the 3D effects without having to use any other gadgets (i.e: 3D glasses). Intercommunication among Nintendo DS 3D Effective. It allowed different users to connect their videogames and share data as well as interact. 3. Classify the organization’s current marketing strategy as either a cost-leadership, differentiation or focus strategy. Differentiation 4. Explain how this strategy affects the marketing activities the organization will use in the future. Instead of competing for lower prices, Nintendo seems to continuously search for new usages and technologies, in order to maintain its position as a leader and innovator. 5. Analyze the current marketing mix. Marketing mix element Analysis Product Feature Benefit/s Wii Console In two different colors (but it can be customized if wanted) Smaller than its competitors Considered fashionable Wii Remote Blu-ray technology It allows motions and real activity Games No violence or sex-related topics are allowed A wide range of choices Price Prices charged for the organization’s products and services Around AU$190.00 Organization’s prices strategy Nintendo’s strategy is in differentiation, always trying to bring something new for their costumers and therefore, their price strategy conveys with it. Promotion Promotional tools used by the organization Internet, Printed media, Television, Outdoor Media, Promotions and Events, etc. Organization’s promotional strategy Nintendo uses all range of media to promote their products. Placement Type of distribution channel – direct or indirect Mainly indirect, via retailers, shops, department stores, etc.

Night World : Daughters of Darkness Chapter 7

Finding Todd and Vic turned out not to be easy. It was late afternoon by the time Mary-Lynnettewalked into the Briar Creek general store, which sold everything from nails to nylons to canned peas. â€Å"Hi, Bunny. I don't suppose you've seen Todd orVic around?† Bunny Marten looked up from behind the counter. She was pretty, with soft blond hair, a round, dimpled face, and a timid expression. She was in MaryLynnette's class at school. â€Å"Did you check over at theGold Creek Bar?† Mary-Lynnette nodded. â€Å"And at their houses, andat the other store, and at the sheriff's office.† The sheriff's office was also city hall and the public library. â€Å"Well, if they'renot playing pool, they're usuallyplinking.† Plinkingwas shooting atcans for practice. â€Å"Yeah, but where?† Mary-Lynnette said. Bunny shook her head, earrings glinting. â€Å"Yourguess is as good as mine.† She hesitated, staring down at her cuticles, which she was pushing back with a little blunt-pointed wooden stick. â€Å"But, you know, I've heard they go down to Mad Dog Creeksometimes.† Her wide blue eyes lifted to Mary Lynnette's meaningfully. Mad Dog Creek. . . Oh, great. Mary-Lynnette grimaced. â€Å"I know.† Bunny raised her shoulders in a shiver.†I wouldn't go down there. I'd be thinking about that body the whole time.† â€Å"Yeah, me, too. Well, thanks, Bun. See you.† Bunny examined her cuticles critically. â€Å"Good hunting,† she said absently. Mary-Lynnette went out of the store, squinting in the hot, hazy August sunlight. Main Street wasn'tbig. It had a handful of brick and stone buildingsfrom the days when Briar Creek had been a gold rush supply town, and a few modem frame buildings with peeling paint. Todd and Vic weren't in any of them. Well, what now? Mary-Lynnette sighed. There was no road to Mad Dog Creek, only a trail that was constantly blocked by new growth and deadfall. And everyone knew more than plinking went on there. If they're out there, they're probably hunting, she thought. Not to mention drinking, maybe using drugs. Guns and beer. And then there's that body. The body had been found last year around thistime. A man; a hiker, from his backpack. Nobody knew who he was or how he'd died-the corpse wastoo desiccated and chewed by animals to tell. But people talked about ghosts floating around the creek last winter. Mary-Lynnette sighed again and got into her station wagon. The car was ancient, it was rusty, it made alarming sounds when forced to accelerate, but it was hers, andMary-Lynnette did her best to keep it alive. She loved it because there was plenty of room in back to store her telescope. At Briar Creek's only gas station she fished a scrolled fruit knife from under the seat and went to work, prying at the rusty gas cap cover. A little higher up . . . almost, almost . . . now twist †¦ The cover flew open. â€Å"Ever think of going into the safecracking business?† a voice behind her said. â€Å"You've got the touch.† Mary-Lynnette turned. â€Å"Hi, Jeremy.† He smiled-a smile that showed mostly in his eyes,which were dear brown with outrageously darklashes. If I were going to fall for a guy-and I'm not-itwould be for somebody like him.Not for a big blond cat who thinks he can pick his sisters' friends. It was a moot point, anyway-Jeremy didn't goout with girls. He was a loner. â€Å"Want me to look under the hood?† He wiped his hands on a rag. â€Å"No, thanks. I just checked everything last week.† Mary-Lynnette started to pump gas. He picked up a squeegee and a spray bottle and began to wash the windshield. His movements were deft and gentle and his face was utterly solemn. Mary-Lynnette had to swallow a giggle herself, butshe appreciated him not laughing at the pitted glass and corroded windshield wipers. She'd always had an odd feeling of kinship with Jeremy. He was the only person in Briar Creek who seemed even slightlyinterested in astronomy-he'd helped her build a model of the solar system in eighth grade, and ofcourse he'd watched last year's lunar eclipse with her. His parents had died in Medford when he was justa baby, and his uncle brought him to Briar Creek in a Fleetwood trailer. The uncle was strange-alwayswandering off to dowse for gold in the Klamath wil derness. One day he didn't come back. After that, Jeremy lived alone in the . trailer in the woods. He did odd jobs and worked at the gas station to make money. And if his clothes weren't as nice assome of the other kids', he didn't care-or he didn't let it show. The handle of the gas hose clicked in MaryLynnette's hand. She realized she had been daydreaming. â€Å"Anything else?† Jeremy said. The windshieldwas dean. â€Å"No †¦ well, actually, yes. You haven't, um, seenTodd Akers or Vic Kimble today, have you?† Jeremy paused in the middle of taking her twentydollar bill. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I just wanted to talk to them,† Mary-Lynnettesaid. She could feel heat in her cheeks. Oh, God, hethinks I want to see Todd and Vic socially-and he thinks I'm crazy for askinghim. She hurried to explain. â€Å"It's just that Bunny saidthey might be down by Mad Dog Creek, so I thoughtyou might have seen them, maybe sometime this morning, since you live down around there†¦.† Jeremy shook his head. â€Å"I left at noon, but I didn'thear any gunshots from the creek this morning. Ac tually, I don't think they've been there all summerI keep telling them to stay away.† He said it quietly, without emphasis, but Mary-Lynnette had the sudden feeling that maybe evenTodd and Vic might listen to him. She'd never knownJeremy to get in a fight. But sometimes a look came into his level brown eyes that was ..: almost frightening. As if there was something underneath thatquiet-guy exterior-something primitive and pure and deadly that could do a lot of damage if roused. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette-I know you probably think thisis none of my business, but †¦ well, I think you should stay away from those guys. If you really wantto go find them, let me go with you.† Oh. Mary-Lynnette felt a warm flush of gratitude. She wouldn't take him up on the offer †¦ but it was nice of him to make it. â€Å"Thanks,† she said. â€Å"I'll be fine, but †¦ thanks .† She watched as he went to get her change insidethe station. What must it feel like to be on your own since you were twelve years old? Maybe he neededhelp. Maybe she should ask her dad to offer him some odd jobs around the house. He did them for everyone else. She just had to be careful-she knew Jeremy hated anything that smacked of charity. He brought back the change. â€Å"Here you go. And, Mary-Lynnette †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked up. â€Å"If you do find Todd and Vic, be careful.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I mean it.† â€Å"I know,† Mary-Lynnette said. She had reached for the change, but he hadn't let go of it. Instead hedid something odd: He opened her curled fingers with one hand while giving her the bills and coins with the other. Then he curled her fingers back over it. In effect, he was holding her hand. The moment of physical contact surprised herand touched her. She found herself looking at his thin brown fingers, at their strong but delicate grip on her hand, at the gold seal ring with the black design that he wore. She was even more surprised when she glanced up at his face again. There was open concern in his eyes-and something like respect. For an instant she had a wild and completely inexplicable impulse to tell him everything. But she could just imagine what he would think. Jeremy was very practical. â€Å"Thanks, Jeremy,† she said, conjuring up a weak smile. â€Å"Take care.† â€Å"Youtake care. There are people who'd miss you if anything happened.† He smiled, but she could feel his worried gaze on her even as she drove away. All right,now what? Well, she'd wasted most of the day looking for Todd and Vic. And now, with the image of Jeremy's level brown eyes in her mind, she wondered if it had been a stupid idea from the beginning. Brown eyes †¦ and what color eyes did the bigblond cat have? Strange, it was hard to remember.She thought that they had looked brown at one point when he was talking about his old-fashioned family. But when he'd said he liked a girl with spirit, she remembered them being a sort of insipid blue. And when that odd knife-glint had flashed in them, hadn't they been icy gray? Oh,who cares?Maybe they were orange. Let's just go home now. Get ready for tonight. How come Nancy Drew always found the people she wanted to interrogate? Why? Why? Why me? Ash was staring at a yellow cedar weeping into a creek. A squirrel too stupid to get out of the sun was staring back at him. On a rock beside him a lizard lifted first one foot, then another. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. He didn't even believe it. He'd always been lucky. Or at least he'd alwaysmanaged to escape a hairsbreadth away from disaster. But this time the disaster had hit and it was a total annihilation. Everything he was, everything he believed abouthimself †¦ could he lose that in five minutes? For a girl who was probably deranged and certainly more dangerous than all three of his sisters put together? No, he concluded grimly. Absolutely not. Not in five minutes. It only took five seconds. He knew so many girls-nice girls. Witches withmysterious smiles, vampires with delicious curves, shapeshifters with cute furry tails. Even human girls with fancy sports cars who never seemed to mind when he nibbled their necks. Why couldn't it have been one of them? Well, it wasn't. And there was no point in wondering about the injustice of it. The question was, what was he going todo about it? Just sit back and let fate ride over him like an eighteen-wheeler? I'm sorryfor your family, Quinn had said to him. And maybe that was the problem. Ash was a victim of his Redfern genes. Redfern never could stay out of trouble; they seemed to tangle with humans at every turn. So was he going to wait for Quinn to come backand then offer that as an excuse? I'm sorry; I can't handle things here after all; I can't even finishthe investigation. If he did that, Quinn would call in the Elders and they would investigate for themselves. Ash felt his expression harden. He narrowed his eyes at the squirrel, which suddenly darted for thetree in a flash of red fur. Beside him, the lizard stopped moving. No, he wasn't just going to wait for fate to finish him off. He'd do what he could to salvage the situa tion-and the family honor. He'd do it tonight. â€Å"We'll do it tonight,† Rowan said. â€Å"After it's fully dark, before the moon rises. We'll move her to the forest.† Kestrel smiled magnanimously. She'd wonthe argument. â€Å"We'll have to be careful,† Jade said. â€Å"That thingI heard outside last night-it wasn't an animal. I think it was one of us.† â€Å"There aren't any other Night People aroundhere,† Rowan said gently. â€Å"That was the whole pointof coming here in the first place.† â€Å"Maybe it was a vampire hunter,† Kestrel said.†Maybe the one that killed Aunt Opal.† â€Å"If avampire hunter killed Aunt Opal,† Rowansaid. â€Å"We don't know that. Tomorrow we should look around town, see if we can at least get an ideawho mighthave done it.† â€Å"And when we find them, we'll take care ofthem,† Jade said fiercely. â€Å"And if the thing you heard in the garden turnsup, we'll take care of it, too,† Kestrel said. She smiled, a hungry smile. Twilight, and Mary-Lynnette was watching thedock. The rest of her family was comfortably, settledin for the night; her father reading a book about World War II, Claudine working conscientiously on a needlepoint project, Mark trying to tune up his oldguitar that had been sitting in the basement for years. He was undoubtedly trying to think of words to rhyme with Jade. Mary-Lynnette's father looked up from his book. â€Å"Going starwatching?† â€Å"Yup. It should be a good night-no moon till aftermidnight. It's the last chance to see some Perseids.† She wasn't exactly lying. It would be a good night, and she could keep an eye out for stragglers from the Perseid meteor storm as she walked to Burdock Farm. â€Å"Okay; just be careful,† her father said. Mary-Lynnette was surprised. He hadn't said anything like that for years. She glanced at Claudine, who jabbed with her needle, lips pursed. â€Å"Maybe Mark should go with you,† Claudine said, without looking up. Oh, God, she thinks I'm unstable, Mary-Lynnette thought. I don't really blame her. â€Å"No, no. I'll be fine. I'll be careful.† She said it too quickly. Mark's eyes narrowed. â€Å"Don't you need any help with your stuff?† â€Å"No, I'll take the car. I'll be. fine. Really.†Mary Lynnette fled to the garage before her family could come up with anything else. She didn't pack her telescope. Instead, she put a shovel in the backseat. She looped the strap of her camera around her neck and stuck a pen flashlight in her pocket. She parked at the foot of her hill. Before she gotthe shovel out, she paused a moment to look dutifully northeast, toward the constellation Perseus. No meteors right this second. All right. Keys inhand, she turned to open the back of the station wagon-and jumped violently. â€Å"Oh, God!† She'd nearly walked into Ash. Mary-Lynnette's pulse was racing and her knees felt weak. From fear, she told herself. And that's all. â€Å"You nearly gave me a heart attack!† she said. â€Å"Doyou always creep up behind people like that?† She expected some smart-ass answer of either the joking-menacing or the hey-baby variety. But Ashjust frowned at her moodily. â€Å"No. What are you doing out here?† Mary-Lynnette's heart skipped several beats. But she heard her own voice answering flatly, â€Å"I'm starwatching. I do it every night. You might want to make a note of that for the thought police.† He looked at her, then at the station wagon. â€Å"Starwatching?† â€Å"Of course. From that hill.† She gestured. Now he was looking at the camera looped around her neck. â€Å"No telescope,† he commented skeptically. â€Å"Or is that what's in the car?† Mary-Lynnette realized she was still holding the keys, ready to open the back of the wagon. â€Å"I didn't bring a telescope tonight.† She went around to the passenger side of the car, unlocked the door, reached in to pull out her binoculars. â€Å"You don't need a telescope to starwatch. You can see plenty with these.† â€Å"Oh, really?† â€Å"Yes,really.†Now, that was a mistake, Mary -Lynnette thought, suddenly grimly amused. Acting as if you don't believe me †¦ just you wait. â€Å"You want to see light from four million yearsago?† she said. Then, without waiting for him to answer: â€Å"Okay. Face east.† She rotated a finger at him. â€Å"Here, take the binoculars. Look at that line of fir trees on the horizon. Now pan up †¦Ã¢â‚¬ She gavehim directions, rapping them out like a drill sergeant. â€Å"Now do you see a bright disk with a kind of smudgeall around it?† â€Å"Um. Yeah.† â€Å"That's Andromeda. Another galaxy.But if you tried to look at it through a telescope, you couldn't seeit all at once. Looking through a telescope is like looking at the sky through a soda straw. That's all the field of view you get.† †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†All right. Okay. Point taken.† He started to lower the binoculars. â€Å"Look, could we suspend the starwatching for just a minute? I wanted to talk toyou â€Å"Want tosee the center of ourgalaxy?† Mary -Lynnette interrupted. â€Å"Turn south.† She did everything but physically make him turn.She didn't dare touch him. There was so much adrenaline racing through her system already-if shemade contact she might go supercritical and explode. â€Å"Turn,† she said. He shut his eyes briefly, then turned, bringing the binoculars up again. â€Å"You have to look in the constellation Sagittarius.† She rattled off instructions. â€Å"See that? That's where the center of the Milky Way is. Where all the star clouds are.† â€Å"How nice.† â€Å"Yes, it is nice. Okay, now go up and eastyou should be able to find a little dim sort of glow†¦.† â€Å"The pink one?† She gavehim a quick look. â€Å"Yeah, the pink one.Most people don't see that. That's the Trifid Nebula.† â€Å"What are those dark lines in it?† Mary-Lynnette stopped dead. She forgot her drill sergeant manner. She stepped back. She stared at him. She could feel her breath coming quicker. He lowered the binoculars and looked at her. â€Å"Something wrong?† â€Å"They're dark nebulae. Lanes of dust in front of the hot gas. But †¦ you can't see them.† â€Å"I just did.† â€Å"No. No. You can't see those. It's not possible, notwith binoculars. Even if you had nine millimeter pupils †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She pulled the flashlight out of her pocket and trained it full in his face. â€Å"Hey!† He jerked back, eyes squeezing shut, hand over them. â€Å"That hurt!† But Mary-Lynnette had already seen. She couldn't tell what color his eyes were right now, because the colored parts, the irises, were reduced to almost invis ible rings. His eye was all pupil.Like a cat's at maxi mum dilation. Oh, my God †¦the things he must be able tosee. Eighth-magnitude stars, maybe ninth-magnitude stars. Imagine that, seeing a Mag 9 star with yournaked eye. To see colors in the star clouds-hot hy drogen glowing pink, oxygen shining green-blue. To see thousands more stars cluttering the sky .. . â€Å"Quick,† she said urgently. â€Å"How many stars doyouseein the sky right now?† â€Å"I can't seeanything,†he said in a muffled voice, hand still over his eyes. â€Å"I'mblind.† â€Å"No, I meanseriously,†Mary-Lynnette said. And she caught his arm. It was a stupid thing to do. She wasn't thinking. But when she touched his skin, it was like completing a current. Shock swept over her. Ash dropped hishand and looked at her. For just a second they were face-to-face, gazes locked. Something like lightning trembled betweenthem. Then Mary-Lynnette pulled away. I can'ttakeany more of this. Oh, God, why am Ieven standing here talking to him? I've got enough ahead of me tonight. I've got abody to find. â€Å"That's it for the astronomy lesson,† she said, holding out a hand for the binoculars. Her voice was justslightly unsteady. â€Å"I'm going up the hill now.† -240She didn't ask wherehe was going. She didn't care, as long as it was away. He hesitated an instant before giving her the binoculars, and when he did he made sure not to touchher. Fine, Mary-Lynnette thought. We both feel the same. â€Å"Goodbye.† â€Å"Bye,† he said limply. He started to walk away. Stopped, his head lowered. â€Å"What I wanted to say †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well?† Without turning, he said in a flat and perfectly composed voice, â€Å"Stay away from my sisters, okay?† Mary-Lynnette was thunderstruck. So outragedand full of disbelief that she couldn't find words. Then she thought: Wait, maybe he knows they're killers and he's trying to protect me. Like Jeremy. Around the sudden constriction in her throat she managed to say, â€Å"Why?† He shook his drooping head. â€Å"I just don't thinkyou'd be a very good influence on them. They'rekind of impressionable, and I don't want them getting any ideas.† Mary-Lynnette deflated. I should have known, shethought. She said, sweetly and evenly, â€Å"Ash? Get bent and die.†

Factors Affecting the Success of Mega

Factors Affecting the Success of Mega Introduction In the recent past, the popularity of events management and related projects has increased. According to Bladen (2010), the phenomenon involves the application of project management concepts to the administration of events and occasions. In this paper, the author will analyse a number of contemporary issues affecting the management of these undertakings.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Factors Affecting the Success of Mega-Events specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To this end, the author will review 6 articles reporting on various issues in this field. A key theme affecting the operations of a manager operating in this field in each of the articles will be identified and critically reviewed. Contemporary Issues in Events Management Media Representation of Volunteers at the Beijing Olympic Games (Charles Richard Bladen) Volunteers play a major role in the management of activities related to many events. Bladen (2010) explores how the media represents volunteers in sports. Bladen analyses this issue from the perspective of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The major theme in this article is the portrayal of volunteers in mainstream media. According to Bladen (2010), the Chinese and foreign media houses varied in their coverage of assistants involved in the Olympics. The local media portrayed these individuals as the force behind the success of the mega-event. The foreign media, on the other hand, treated volunteers as a ‘front’ for the Chinese government. According to Bladen (2010), Chinese media tended to glorify the parties, while foreign media focused on their shortcomings. The media is a very influential force, especially in gauging the success of managing an event like the Olympics. In some cases, media outlets can distort the outcomes of an event. Such distortions can occur in situations where there are conflicting representations, like in the Olympics Games. Bla den (2010) feels that the reporting of volunteering in sporting events lacks sufficient research. The media pays more attention on the individuals engaged in the sports and the actual games, ignoring the parties that provide their services for free. In future, the media can be harnessed to manage mega-events, such as the Olympics. The success can be achieved by acknowledging the individuals behind the preparation and execution of such activities. Beijing Olympics Games would have been depicted as a success if the conflicting representation of the volunteers did not give rise to extraneous issues, such as politics. Bladen (2010) addresses the problem of differing representation of volunteers in the games by analysing the major issues revolving around their roles. The motives behind the activities of these individuals are established by focusing on their duties and how they are treated by the media.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if w e can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The misrepresentation of volunteers in the Olympics Games had negative impacts on Chinese legacy. The misinformation raised questions about China’s sincerity and competencies in managing such events. The Chinese were depicted by the media as friendly and accommodating hosts. However, their government was regarded as ‘Big, Bad China’ (Bladen 2010). The biased reporting in the media cannot be ignored. Such skewed representation extends to the treatment of volunteers by local and international news agencies. As an events manager, the author of this paper feels that the media plays a significant role in the success of events. In addition, the invaluable contribution of volunteers cannot be ignored, irrespective of their skills. However, the coverage of events by the media should be independent from popular themes and attitudes surrounding the culture or politics of the people. The Conceptual isation and Measurement of the Legacy of Mega Sporting Events (Holger Preuss) The legacy of any event significantly influences the management of similar occasions in the future. In their article, Preuss (2007) reviews the nature of the legacies left behind by large scale sporting affairs. The impact of such events is the major theme in this article. Definition of the term legacy, especially in relation to events, is not clear cut. As a result of this, the International Olympic Committee has made efforts to clarify sporting activities and their impacts. The value derived by communities or sports organisations from games, as well as the value of the sporting facilities, constitutes the legacy of sports events. According to Preuss (2007), the effects of any sports undertaking on the community and on other stakeholders can either be positive or negative. They can also be planned or unplanned. The impacts of the event on sporting structures may persist for a long time. As an events manag er, it is important to note that the intended and unintended legacies of a mega sporting undertaking determine the management of the entire undertaking. In addition, the benefits that members of the community derive from the occasion determine its success or failure. Considering the massive investments made in large scale sporting events, the manager should take the lasting legacy very seriously. The impacts are part of the occasion’s return on investment.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Factors Affecting the Success of Mega-Events specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gauging the lasting impression of sports is very important in the management of these undertakings in the future. For instance, the manager should determine the extent to which the event benefits members of the society. To this end, those undertakings that have positive impacts on the community should be prioritised. There are several met hods used in measuring the legacy of large scale sporting affairs. They include the benchmark, the top-down, and the bottom-up approaches (Preuss 2007). As an event manager, the author of this paper agrees with Preuss that the bottom-up approach is more comprehensive, effective, and adequate compared to the rest. It is important to determine the structural changes brought about by ‘super-events’ (Preuss 2007). In addition, the manager should gauge the emotional impacts of the occasions, as well as their impacts on the image of the country. For instance, the enhancement of the country’s image as a result of hosting the Olympics is a major aspect of the event’s legacy. In the opinion of this author, the future of such large scale sporting organisations as the FIFA World Cup depends on their legacies in relation to the hosting nation. With regards to the current global economic turmoil, countries are taking the issue of the impacts of events very seriously. A s a manager, this author will strive to enhance the effects of large occasions using the pre-event, event, and post-event legacy framework. Hosting Business Meetings and Special Events in Virtual Worlds: A Fad or the Future? (David M. Pearlman Nicholas A. Gates) The contemporary world is characterised by significant developments in relation to information and technology. Today, technology is emerging as an essential aspect of almost all human undertakings. Events management is one of the areas in the modern world where technology is utilised. The application of technology in managing events is the major theme in this article. Pearlman and Gates (2010) carried out a study to determine virtual reality and its significance to contemporary organisations. The two sought to examine the adoption of this technology in businesses, special parties, and meetings. The viability of virtual reality applications in today’s business world was also analysed. According to Pearlman and Gates ( 2010), the term ‘virtual reality’ is used in reference to computer-simulated environments. The technology is used to ‘imaginarily’ replicate the real world. A number of computer applications are used to generate 3D visual environments that constitute the virtual world.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most professionals lack information on virtual reality applications. However, in spite of these inadequacies, the use of this technology in the business world is on the rise. Some of the applications available in the market include WebEx, 3D SL, and ON24 (Pearlman Gates 2010). The most significant contribution of virtual reality to the profession is the development of virtual events. They are gaining popularity because of several factors. Users are becoming used to online platforms. Maturation of virtual technologies and the availability of high bandwidth are some of the other factors enhancing virtual events. Holding virtual conferences and such other undertakings reduces operational costs in the organisation. Such reduced expenditures have increased the popularity of these kinds of meetings and conferences. In spite of the economic benefits associated with this technology, Pearlman and Gates (2010) note that some organisations are reluctant to adopt virtual reality. The study ill ustrates uncertainties about the future of this technology as one of the reasons behind the reluctance. However, considering the advantages associated with virtual events, these doubts are unjustified. Reports of similar undertakings hosted virtually by such organisations as IBM and American Cancer Society highlight the reliability and usefulness of these applications (Pearlman Gates 2010). Global pandemics, such as Influenza, and an increase in travel costs, have led to reduced physical participation in conventions and such other business gatherings. Virtual events have little or no carbon footprint. Such an attribute is important in the contemporary world where people are concerned with global warming. It is important to note that holding large scale events on the virtual platform is a difficult undertaking. In spite of these difficulties, it appears that the growth of these undertakings will increase in the future. Furthermore, simulating mega-events enhances the success of actu al ground occasions. The Effects of Facebook Users’ Arousal and Valence on Intention to go to the Festival: Applying an Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (Woojin Lee, Lina Xiong, and Clark Hu) The influence of social media platforms on marketing is a force to reckon with in events management. Large groups of people and corporations come together on social media sites. The link between Facebook as a social medium and management of activities is the main theme in the report cited above. Lee, Xiong, and Hu (2012) acknowledge the influence of social media on events marketing in the contemporary world. The sites make it possible to communicate directly with potential event attendees or the target audience. In addition, the gathering of first hand reactions and suggestions regarding events is made easy. Lee et al. (2012) sought to determine whether Facebook users actually respond to events communicated through the social media site or not. Lee et al. (2012) used the tech nology acceptance model (TAM) to assess how arousal and valence influenced the response of Facebook users in relation to events marketed via the site. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) forms the basis of TAM. It explains the construction of behaviours by individuals (Lee et al. 2012). According to Lee et al. (2012), individuals’ reaction to technology is informed by its perceived ease of use and applicability. Using TAM, Lee et al. determined that emotions are a major factor as far as responding to a Facebook marketing event is concerned. The importance of Facebook as a marketing tool is undeniable. For instance, every month, approximately 3.5 million events are advertised on the site (Lee et al. 2012). The sheer volume of users makes the site a prime tool for managers keen on wooing attendees, especially in relation to mega-events. However, ensuring that the users respond to the advertisements is a different matter altogether. Lee et al. (2012) found that users who experie nce high levels of arousal and valence from the advertisement are more likely to access Facebook pages than their counterparts. Such users are also more likely to respond to the events marketed there compared to other individuals. Technology advancements give rise to new marketing options. Organisers adopt the most effective of these alternatives. Understanding the factors influencing these options will ultimately determine the success of marketing. Social media marketing is important in reaching out to those users that are technologically savvy. Facebook is one of the most popular platforms used in relation to this form of marketing. To determine the future responsiveness of these users, managers should focus on the perceived value of this social site. The event page should be easy to navigate. Updating the content on such pages will also enhance the success of future events. The Development of Competitive Advantage through Sustainable Event Management (Stephen Henderson) The artic le by Henderson (2011) revolves around the theme of sustainable event management. Henderson (2011) emphasises the need for organisations and event organisers to meet their projected desires. The managers can achieve this through sustainable application of both human and physical resources. Sustainability implies a form of development that meets the present human needs. The development also makes some compromises to help future generations meet their own needs. The definition of sustainable events encompasses several issues. In a broad sense, the definition brings together both the process and the outcome or product of the event. The two aspects imply undertakings organised to meet sustainable standards to enhance the benefits accrued to the audience (Henderson 2011). To this end, a sustainable event should be beneficial to the people and the planet as a whole. In addition, it should meet the interests of the investors. Public and private sector occasions differ in relation to sustai nable management. The former are more concerned with the public welfare. Organisers of such undertakings strive to help the people and to safeguard the environment. On the other hand, management of private sector events mainly focuses on profit generation at the expense of the people and the planet (Henderson 2011). Sustainable coordination of activities may be compromised when competitive advantage is sought. However, cost leadership and focus and differentiation strategies can be used to enhance sustainability without negatively affecting the profitability aspect of these investments. Differentiation and focus approach is people oriented. The event organiser focuses on the delivery of unique utility to the audience. Both approaches enhance profits since the consumers are drawn to the event by the qualities they desire. As such, they are likely to contribute generously to support the process. Conflicts are likely to occur between sustainable management and cost leadership, especial ly with regards to the creation of competitive advantage. It is noted that most of the strategies used in lowering costs disregard the sustainability aspect of the event. For instance, generation of green energy to support the activities associated with Olympics may be costly compared to the use of fossil energy. Such an event addresses the issue of sustainability, but negatively impacts on profitability. To realise sustainability, future event organisers should try to combine the various competitive elements of management. An event geared towards differentiation and focus is more likely to achieve the sustainability target. The same is not guaranteed when a competitiveness strategy is adopted. Sustainability is an important element in contemporary business management. Managers should realise the importance of upholding sustainability in their undertakings. Sustainability-oriented societies will most likely respond to sustainable events, irrespective of the price they are required t o pay to enjoy such undertakings. Relationship Marketing of Services: Growing Interest, Emerging Perspectives (Berry 1995) Berry (1995) addresses the theme of relationship marketing of services in the context of events management. The author views the concept as a collection of activities involved in the attraction, maintenance, and enhancement of client relationships. It is noted that most mega-events are products of multiple services organisations. As such, the importance of relationship marketing in this field is irrefutable. The analysis of Contact Theatre relationships and marketing of services by Berry (1995) brings to light some essential aspects of relationship marketing. The interaction between the theatre and the various stakeholders reveals the framework adopted by this organisation in promoting its services. Berry (1995) regards the nature of interactions as a vital element in the success of the theatre. The success is especially determined by the response to the convent ions and other gatherings held. Contact Theatre nurtures relationships with various individuals involved in the running of the business. They include, among others, teachers and youthful workers. The interactions with local, national, and international arts organisations highlight this connection. The link between arts directors and members of staff, for example, indicates internal relationships. According to Berry (1995), marketing differs depending on the nature of relationships exhibited in an organisation. The differences are inevitable since the roles of the individuals or groups in the interaction also differ. For instance, the marketing of internal engagements should focus on attracting and developing qualified employees (Berry 1995). Internal employees and the audience are the most important stakeholders with regards to the activities carried out at Contact Theatre. As such, internal marketing is essential since the services produced involve performance. To this end, the emp loyees are the performers (Berry 1995). Collaboration with the audience is the only means through which the theatre can achieve its objectives. The success of Contact Theatre is measured using the status of the relationships it has with stakeholders and the response of the audience. The more people respond to artistic events, the more the success of the managers. Contact Theatre is a non-profit organisation. In the opinion of this author, management in this entity differs significantly with the coordination of activities in private commercial organisations. The objectives of the latter involve the establishment of relationships geared towards the generation of revenue. On the contrary, Contact Theatre focuses on sustainable relationships with the society and other stakeholders. The internal and external stakeholders regard their relationship with Contact Theatre positively. The former regard this engagement as an open undertaking, leading to high levels of satisfaction and mutual in terest. The external stakeholders view their interaction with the theatre as representative of all groups. References Berry, L 1995, ‘Relationship marketing of services: growing interest, emerging perspectives’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 23. no. 4, pp. 243-245. Bladen, C 2010, ‘Media representation of volunteers at the Beijing Olympic Games’, Sport in Society, vol. 13. no. 5, pp. 728-796. Henderson, S 2011, ‘The development of competitive advantage through sustainable event management’, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, vol. 3. no. 3, pp. 245-257. Lee, W, Xiong, L Hu, C 2012, ‘The effect of Facebook users’ arousal and valence on intention to go to the festival: applying an extension of the technology acceptance model’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 31. no. 1, pp. 819-827. Pearlman, D Gates, N 2010, ‘Hosting business meetings and special events in virtual worlds: a fad or the future?’, Journal of Convention Event Tourism, vol. 11. no. 1, pp. 247-265. Preuss, H 2007, ‘The conceptualisation and measurement of mega sport event legacies’, Journal of Sport Tourism, vol. 12. nos. 3-4, pp. 207-227.