Tuesday, December 31, 2019

What Makes A True Hero - 1546 Words

What inspires writers to create unique heroic figures in their fantasy stories and action movies? Is it from their own imagination or is from what they see in real life, and an addition of their own imagination? Well it is certainly what they see in real life and their imagination. However, it is reasonable to say those writers have used too much of their imagination, to communicate through a piece of writing or film, of who a true hero is and what a true hero does. The excessive usage of imagination gets to a point where many of us are deceived by those well-developed stories into thinking that people who deserve status as heroes are only brave and save lives, even though there is definitely more to a hero than just that. In fact, true heroes are aware of how they impact others, strives to persevere through challenges, and rarely make decisions that they would later regret. A true hero is aware of how their actions influence others. In other words, before a hero acts, he or she considers how a person’s outcome is determined by them, whether it is minor or major influence. This heroic trait is displayed in the poem â€Å"A Man† by Nina Cassian through an anonymous veteran, who had lost one of his arms in the war. The poem details the things he can partially do as well as the things he is totally incapable of doing. As can be seen in the text, his tone was discouraged and gave others a sorrowful feeling. However, suddenly the tone made an unanticipated transition to motivatedShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes A True Epic Hero?1313 Words   |  6 Pages What makes a true Epic hero? According to â€Å"From Legend to History† the main characteristics of an Epic hero would be that they would be fearless, larger than life, willing to defeat any evil creature and so much more. In the story of Beowulf all of these characteristics come to life in an epic battle with evil creatures in order to save a city and all the citizens inside of it. The story of Beowulf is set two places Geatland and Herot. The story begins long before Beowulf comes into theRead More Defining Heroism - What Makes a True Hero? Essay857 Words   |  4 PagesThis point of view can best be explained using three key points of focus. These points are as follows: The similarity of a higher guidance in times of need, the similarity of the code of honor that they live by, and the fact that no matter who the hero is, he or she is under pressure to be a successful role model.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The similarity of higher guidance in times of need is the easiest and most direct of all the three factors. Most heroes, but not all, live their lives in allegiance to God or anotherRead MoreWhat Makes a True Hero Across the World? Essay example774 Words   |  4 Pages A â€Å"True† Hero Is a hero universal, or are they subject to individual judgment? As a generalization, heroes are subject to the whims of a society. Consequently, a hero is bent and altered in relation to the mentalities of a culture. In extreme cases, a man who kills a murderer may be a hero in one culture, while in the geographical area only a few miles away; he could be viewed as a person equally as evil. Therefore, heroes will vary from culture to culture and can best be defined by their culturalRead MoreWhat s A True Hero?856 Words   |  4 PagesWhat s a True Hero is? A true hero is someone with courage and bravely to go beyond in order to help someone, because as a child to an adult it’s a very different view point and Joseph Campbell help us understand what it takes to be a true hero. For many years, many people have used the word hero for many situations that doesn t particularly consider being a hero. If we Google the definition for the word hero; A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualitiesRead MoreThe Importance Of A Hero796 Words   |  4 Pageswhen the hero within us is revealed ¨- Bob Riley. In other words, you are not born a hero, doing what you think is right in bad situations is what makes you a hero and makes a hero shed their true skin. Although most people think that a hero has a cape and tights, that is not always true because a hero can be anywhere or anyone. What really makes someone a hero is doing whats right to insure the safety and well being of others. What is a hero? As stated in Kendra Cherry ´s article, A hero is someoneRead MoreIliad by Homer1216 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is a hero, and what is a true hero? In the Greek society, as perceived in Homer’s Iliad, to be a hero is to be â€Å"publicly recognized for ones valour on the battlefield† and to have a prize with it (Sale). In other words, a hero is someone who fights for his own fame and glory. However, the modern perception of a hero is quite different. A hero is someone who do not endeavor to become a hero, but someone who act in admirable ways, often for the better of everyone else. The modern concept of heroismRead MoreIs Odysseus A True Hero1352 Words   |  6 PagesMccann Mrs.Carroll English 01 February 2016 Is Odysseus A True Hero In the story The Odyssey the main character Odysseus is not a true hero. A man with so much hatred and anger should not be someone to hold to a high prestige, or want to be. The needless killing and disrespect to other people s wishes is not part of what a hero should be, or is to endanger the people that he is in charge of. This is why odysseus is not a true hero. â€Å"A favorable wind brought us from the land of Troy to theRead MoreAnyone Can Be a Hero1524 Words   |  7 PagesAnyone Can Be a Hero By Jennifer L. Jefferson Com/150 July 8, 2012 Sonya Macon Anyone Can Be a Hero Everyone has heard through some type of media resource that there are no more heroes in the world today, that any or everyone we look up to has a bad reputation or not worth our time and eventually will steer us in the wrong direction. To our understanding this is not true there are heroes in our world, Webster dictionary defines hero as a male figure that displays superior courage and strengthRead MoreEssay about Heracles: From the Myth to a Disney Movie1627 Words   |  7 Pagesentertaining by audiences in a pop culture generation. Thus, my study will seek to compare mythological heros during their time to how they have been depicted in modern day. Moreover, my study will analyze the similarities and differences between the Greek hero Heracles and his replica character, Hercules, depicted in Disneys adaptation of this myth. Although there are few similarities between the two versions, the differences between Heracles and Disneys Hercules are prominent. These differences help mo dernRead MoreIN WHAT WAYS DOES KATNISS EVERDEEN CHALLENGE OR CONFIRM OUR UNDERSTANDING OF A TYPICAL HERO IN THE HUNGER GAMES?1104 Words   |  5 PagesHunger Games, confirms or challenges the idea of an archetypal hero is one debated worldwide. Throughout the novel, written by Suzanne Collins, Katniss demonstrates qualities and undertakes actions which are, without a doubt, heroic. However, whether or not this makes her a hero is dependent upon who you are asking; many characters in the novel would have very different ideas as to what a hero is. Also, although Katniss may come off as a hero many times in the book, she also challenges that title in countless

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Crime Of Police Brutality - 983 Words

Last year, there were 1,207 criminals killed by police officers alone, as in 2013, there were only 461 criminals killed by officers, this is a 261% increase in only two years. Many of these cases has been very controversial to if the criminal was rightly killed or if this is a case of police brutality. Some of the more well known cases include what happened at Ferguson or in Baltimore with Freddie Gray. These cases have not been videotaped and therefore was hard to collect evidence for a case when it went to trial, this limits the amount of trials that incorrectly sentenced. The only judicious resolution is to have body cameras on the officers, this could solve many controversial occurrences. This can also go beyond just police brutality, but with the high appearance of police officers everywhere, they could be available to see other incidents, that would also be seen by the cameras that the police officer may be wearing. Police officers should have body cameras attached to them to aid in preventing the grievous issue of police brutality. On August 9, 2014, Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown. This topic has caused a multitude of controversy and caused for riots around the country because the officers actions were seen by some to be unjust, and unjustifiable. In 2015, 1,207 people were reported dead. By the cause of the police officers. As some of these deaths are seen as justifiable, some of the deaths were seen as unjustifiable by the police officer, when theShow MoreRelatedPolice Brutality And Crime Brutality833 Words   |  4 PagesPolice Brutality Police brutality is defined as the use of excessive or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians (What Is Police Brutality?). Recently, there have been a surplus of incidents involving police brutality. Cases like Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice are examples of police brutality. All three of these victims ended up dead at the hands of police. Statistics show that, just this year alone, 1,013 Americans have been killed by cops (Cop Crisis). Social mediaRead MoreThe Crime Rate And Police Brutality Rate1178 Words   |  5 PagesThe crime rate and police brutality rate has increased in America in the recent years. A new law is flooding controversy across all 50 states. Should a police officer wear a body camera while on active duty? While many may argue that it is against privacy, I believe that wearing such cameras will lessen such police brutality claims, ensure truth in court scenarios, and protect both the officer and the civilian. The following is an example of a situation. A police officer who is out on patrol seesRead MorePolice Brutality : Crime Or Collateral Damage?1762 Words   |  8 Pages Police Brutality: Crime or Collateral Damage? Imagine riding home after a fun night out with your friends, but never making it there. This is what happened to a young man named Oscar Grant who was fatally shot by the police for a crime he did not commit. Police brutality is the use of excessive force, physically or verbally, by a police officer. In one year, how many incidents of police brutality or misconduct do you think have occurred? In the U.S. alone, statistics show that over 2,500 incidentsRead MoreCrime: Police Brutality and Conclusion A. Police Essay examples1706 Words   |  7 Pagesand the Police Part I: Outline Eileen Garcia CJA/344 Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice June 17, 2013 STEPHEN HUMPHRIES Police corruption and citizen complaints relative to ethnicity I. Introduction A. Police corruption Police corruption has become an international problem. This was initially a common practice during the period when the police institutions were being developed but the effect has been felt by many people, even affecting peacekeeping operations. The police abuseRead MoreThe Effects Of Police Brutality On Minority Communities1152 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Police Brutality on Minority Communities Police brutality thrives in the inner city regions where minority communities live and work. Police brutality is a crime punishable by law and is often instigated by law enforcement officers who are either racially biased or prone to authority abuse and violent (re)actions. Allegations abound concerning police brutality with police officers using unnecessary or excessive force, committing battery, conducting illegal body searches and bullyingRead MorePolice bruality essay for college class i guess1365 Words   |  6 PagesPolice Brutality Police brutality occurs daily across America. Police brutality can come in various forms, counting lethal and nonlethal force. Comprehending the exact commonness of police brutality is complex, because of the inconsistency in describing police brutality. The trouble in differentiating among justified and unjustified force. Police interactions often can be misconstrued, or sometimes turned around against an officer. Questionable behavior and complaints against officers can be filedRead MoreDr. Wolfe s Sociological Training910 Words   |  4 Pages1. In Dr. Wolfe’s statement on the recent events that have taken place in Baltimore he talks about police brutality, crime, racism, and inequality. Dr. Wolfe’s sociological training affects the way he looks at these events. In his statement he talks about how police brutality is not just happening among â€Å"a few bad apples† but instead how it is a systemic issue. He may be right but he also may be wrong. Dr. Wolfe is trained to study race, the criminal justice system and the relationship between bothRead MorePolice Brutality Research Paper1367 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 111 December 5, 2011 Police brutality Police brutality is one of the most serious and divisive human rights violations in the United States and it occurs in every community. The job of a police officer is to maintain public order, prevent, and detect crime. They are engaged in a dangerous and stressful occupation that can involve violent situations that must be controlled. In many of these confrontations with the public it may become necessary for the police to administer force to take controlRead MoreThe Social Problem Of Police Brutality1458 Words   |  6 Pagesproblem I would like to conduct sociological research on is the use of excessive force used by members of the police department in recent unconscionable shootings of unarmed civilians. With all the recent attention that the people of Ferguson Missouri and New York City have been able to rise on this issue, making it a media sensation, it seemed like a good topic to discuss. Police brutality is an egregious, ongoing problem in our society that, until just rece ntly, has been accepted as a sad fact ofRead MorePolice Brutality Is An Extremely Serious Offence885 Words   |  4 Pagesthe police for help,Considering their job is to protect you at all times. But, who Do you call when it s a police officer abusing his authority? Who do you call when the peacemakers are disturbing your peace and just adding to the crime rates in America? Police brutality is a crime very much present in today s society just as it was present during the civil rights movements of the 1960’s and years after that . It is a very big issue in our highly populated cities in america. Police brutality is

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Business Ethic Free Essays

MGT3201 / 3231: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND GRADING STRUCTURE Individual Case Study (20%) This assessment criteria and grading structure is used as the: 1. general guidelines for marking written coursework, and 2. feedback to the students for future improvement. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Ethic or any similar topic only for you Order Now |Content |Analysis |Evidence of Reflection |Achievement of Learning | | | | | |Outcomes | |20 |Excellent quality of |Extremely through analysis|Describes and evaluates all |Full synthesis of the | | |content; very wide range |of material given; high |events from multiple |module through the | | |of options considered, |level of self-awareness |perspectives; transfers |achievement learning | | |imaginative and creative |and aspirations; |concepts beyond that |outcomes and full | |17 |approach. Excellent range |convincing and lucid |particular setting; |understanding of the | | |of appropriate resources |justification of choices |recognizing and justifying |process. | | |used. |made. |the impact of a specific | | | | | |situation on learning. | | |16. |Very good quality content,|Very through analysis; |Describes ad evaluates some |Some evaluation of the | | |wide range of options |very good level of |events from different |Learning Outcomes. | | |considered, through |self-awareness an d |perspectives; transfers some | | | |approach. Very good use of|aspirations; through |concepts; can recognize | | |14 |resources available. |justification of choices |impact of specific situations| | | | |made. |on learning. | | |13. 9 |Good quality content, |Good analysis; good level |Describes and evaluates |Evidence of application of| | reasonable range of |of self-awareness; some |events but stays in one |the learning outcomes. | | |options considered. Good |justification of choices |domain. | | | |use of resources. |made. | | | |10 | | | | | |9. 9 |Satisfactory content with |Some analysis; some levels|Uses practical and simplistic|Evidence of understanding | | |few options considered. |of self-awareness, little |statements to describe |the Learning Outcomes. | | |May be less through |justification. Limited |events; some sense of cause | | | |approach. Some evidence of|explanation of choices |and effect; some sense of | | |6 |use of resources. |made. |transfer. | | |5. 9 |Meager quality of content,|Adequate analysis; little |Descries personal experience |Acknowledgement of the | | |only one or two options |level of self-awareness; |only; little sense of cause |Learning Outcomes. | | |considered. Very basic, |limited justification; |and effect; little sense of | | | |limited approach. Poor use|poor explanation of |transfer. | | |3 |of resources. |choices made. | | | |2. 9 |Very poor quality of |No evidence of analysis. |Describes personal experience|Few Learning Outcomes | | |content, no detail. No | |in a simplistic manner only. |achieved. | | |evidence’s of use of | | | | |0 |resources. | | | | ? 1500 word Report (excluding appendices) Content, relevancy to the topic title, authenticity of material provided and etc. ? Literature Review (Resources) ? Emphasis on Referencing (Harvard Referencing System) ? The Assignment should be of an analysis, evaluative, argumentative, synthesis of moral justifications, reasoning , concise lucid and excellent range of appropriate resources used rather than purely descriptive and should include a number of appendices, containing Supporting evidence for findings, analysis, conclusions and Recommendations Assessment Class:MGT3201 / MGT3231 Business Ethics Case Study: Group Members:1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1) Define the Issue ____ ______________________________________________________________ ) Analysis / Arguments __________________________________________________________________ 3) Evidence of reflection / Justification __________________________________________________________________ 4) Moral Reasoning / Achievement of Learning Outcome __________________________________________________________________ 5) Resources __________________________________________________________________ Total Score:_____ / 100 marks Final Percentage:_____ / 20% Guidelines for the Individual Report (20%) In order to facilitate processing of the Academic standard of report, please follow the general guidelines for the format and preparation of the individual report. Must have the following formatting: | |Spacing – double line paragraphs | |Font – Tahoma 10 or 11 point or Times New Roman 12 point | |Bolds – emphasis of paragraph titles or headings | |Margins set at 1† (top, bottom, left and right sides) | |Justification – left | |Page numbering: beginning on first page of report (not cover page) | |Headers or footers: name of student ID, programme of study, academic session | |Spelling and grammar checked | |Programs – Microsoft Word or Excel if you have tables is preferred. | How to cite Business Ethic, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

All Corners of the World free essay sample

Can one person unite the world? Is it possible for the short-term actions of one individual to make a lasting impression on the global community? Like every other human being, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a dream. A dream in which opened the door to many strong and personal beliefs that would soon lead to a world of healing and peace. His dream was born from the horror of WWII, wanting people to realize that while we are all very different, our values, goals, and desire for life are very much the same. In order to fulfill this dream, President Eisenhower, in January of 1956, started an organization called People to People. Simply, Eisenhower hoped the people of different nations would come together for cultural exchange. His mission was to give ordinary citizens the opportunity to talk face to face, share activities, and learn about each other’s cultures. As a young person who knew nothing about Eisenhower or his mission, but who is always looking to make a difference in the lives of others, I found the People to People Program to be a natural fit for me. We will write a custom essay sample on All Corners of the World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I joined this program looking to not only share the extraordinary experience of creating life-long bonds with my fellow ambassadors, but also with the families who would host me abroad. In summer of 2009, I made my first trip to Asia with a group of forty-three other delegates from different states throughout New England. In two weeks, we visited five cities in Japan, starting in Tokyo and ending our journey in Osaka. I had the pleasure of climbing Mount Fiji, despite the pouring rain (and no umbrellas allowed), visiting the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, and watching a Geisha girl perform a live, traditional dance. Towards the end of my trip, I spent three days with a local host family being treated as if I was one of them. On the first day, I carved my very own pair of chopsticks, using them at every meal throughout my stay. It was certainly challenging, but rewarding to be immersed in their everyday life. The impact of this trip was so great, I did it again the following summer, but t his time as a Junior Leader traveling to five different countries in Europe. Here’s the difference between myself and the forty-three other delegates that I traveled with. They come home with stories and souvenirs and new friends, while I came home with a completely new and exciting future ambition of wanting to be a global journalist. Looking back, this trip had a profound impact on me as it helped me shape what I want to do for the rest of my life. This personal ambition of mine consists of seeing and accepting all that the world has to then writing about those experiences and sharing them with whoever is willing to listen. This ambition was developed through the people I met, places I visited and events and activities I participated in. With wide eyes, I plan to travel to all the corners of the world, immersing myself in many cultures with the hope of creating intrigue and satisfying cultural curiosity. I want to make a positive impact both on my reads and on the personal relationships I will develop. It would be an honor and a privilege to play a role in helping President Eisenhower fulfill his vision of cultural unity in the world.

Friday, November 29, 2019

10 Ways to Challenge Your Brain

10 Ways to Challenge Your Brain Exercising your brain is arguably just as important as exercising the rest of your body. If you’re looking for ways that you can give your brain a nice little work out session, here are 10 ways you can challenge your brain to do more. Â  Source: [finotto.org]

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Interaction of Attractiveness and Style of Cri Essays

The Interaction of Attractiveness and Style of Cri Essays The Interaction of Attractiveness and Style of Crime Carter W. Daniels University of Kentucky Abstract Attractiveness has often been investigated as involving a leniency effect; however, in the context of a con based crime, it becomes the Achilles heel of the perpetrator. Previous research has, for the most part, demonstrated both effects as real and measurable. The present study recreates the con specifically; it is believed that an attractive defendant will receive a harsher sentence than an unattractive one, because a con requires the use of beauty/charm as a weapon. The study utilized psychology undergraduates from the University of Kentucky as participants, because at the time they were seen as representative of the university population at large. Students read a crime summary either accompanied by a picture or no picture at all, which was meant to influence their decision in how long the perpetrator stayed in prison. The results were inconclusive due to many extraneous variables that weren't controlled, thereby resulting in confounds and the inability to reject the null hyp othesis. Limitations are discussed as a foundation for expanded research that would produce conclusive data. The Interaction of Attractiveness and Style of Crime Attractiveness is something that our society hold s to a self-fulfilling standard; that is we often go easier or reward more attractive people because of their physical appearance , however sometimes physical appearances can be a detriment to an individual . There is a lot of research out there that tries to explain this phenomenon and most of it is conflicting because each study tries to measure attractiveness through a myriad of unequal measures. Each study redefines at tractiveness in a different way: a ttractiveness as a set of requirements ( Stewart II, 1985) , facial m aturity (Dumas Teste 2006), and they sometimes look at the relationship of one's self image to perceived beauty ( Darby Jeffers, 1988). Then other times the idea of attractiveness is complicated wit h the type of transgression . The attractiveness-transgression effect allows us to see that attractiveness isn't always the golden standard ( Stewart II, 1985; Schwibbe G. Schwibbe M., 1981; Sigall Ostrove, 1975). A study in 2006 looked at physical beauty as also containing the characteristic of fa cial maturity and researched it s persuasion over juridic decisions when related to offens e congruency and case ambiguity. Dumas and Teste (2006) investigated the "influence of face/offence congruency on such judgments, taking into account the strength of the case against the defendant and the maturity and attractiveness att ributes of the defendant's face " (p. 237 ) . The offense congruency hypothesis proposed stated that those with mature faces would receive harsher prison sentences if the ambiguity of the case was low than those with " baby faces " and low ambiguity. To test their hypothesis a sam ple of forty diverse people were selected to read case summaries accompanied by a questionnaire. Dumas and Teste paired each summary with a photo that was either incongruent or congruent with the case, determined by degree of facial maturity. After performing their analysis , Dumas and Teste concluded that maturity had a more profound effect on the severity of juridical decisions than perceived attractiveness. Physical appearance can also be determined through a list of characteristics; that is to say, one must meet certain criteria to be attractive. In the following research conducted by Stewart II (1985) , attractiveness was defined as having the following four characteristics , "physical attractiveness, neatness, cl eanliness, and quality of dress " (p. 373). Based on these four c haracteristics of appearance Stewart (1985) constructed a field study to test whether or not these components of attractiveness would have persuasion over juridic decisions. In the study eig ht participants went to a court house and observed court cases until sentences were determined . This occurred over a two-yea r period and consisted of sixty cases; ranging from murder, larceny, drug charges and other various felonies. Stewart provided each participant with an "attractiveness index," and filler questions to fill out for each case . After controlling for other influence s such as race, gender, ethnicity, etc ... Stewart found that, "In a series of actual criminal

Friday, November 22, 2019

Scholarly Book Review on Washington Lessons in Leadership Essay

Scholarly Book Review on Washington Lessons in Leadership - Essay Example However, most of the analysts of American history attest to the fact that, the probability of the war being unsuccessful was extremely high. An analysis of Carbone’s work contradicts this argument by indicting that, George Washington left an undying mark in the history of America. In this work, it is justified to argue that George Washington skillfully handled his political term, ultimately leaving a mark that would later be a permanent stamp on the American history through a portray of unpredictable results of an unplanned war against Britain. In response, Carbone is quoted to argue that, it is not the success of the war that is unanticipated2, but, the fact that, Washington came out intrepid with a, not rushed approach, but a short term skillful plan. In this context, therefore, Washington is credited for his skillful and greatness attributes. The work of Carbone has indeed brought out the issue of armies and their tactics. He argues that, for any form of the army to be successful, it is impossible to alienate the issue of skillfulness and expertise3. All forms of generalship must entails aspects of organization, temperance, charisma and the will to act as a team. In as much; Washington may have lost several battles; the major issue is that, he los all these battles fighting fit. In this context, therefore, it is justified to argue that, Carbone’s work is in line with the work’s title by an argument that Washington is indeed, the founding father of militarism in U.S.A. Carbone, clearly brings out the picture of Washington’s vigor and wittiness in planning on short term battle before embarking on it. On another angle, according to Carbone, success in the battle field can be related to the ability not win a particular battle but the ability to be strong willed and have the required character to handle all the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Transaction Cost Economics and Evolutionary Theories. Compare and Essay

Transaction Cost Economics and Evolutionary Theories. Compare and Contrast. (See Assignment Criteria) - Essay Example Management accounting is concerned in identification and provision of financial and economic information to managers within the organisation to enable them make proper decisions, maintain control over business operations, monitor budgets and profit performance and direct the organisation to success in the future.1 Management accounting is crucial for planning and the process of problem solving such as determining the most cost effective method of production, it is also important in that it involves the development of budgets that help in the forecasting on future production cost and levels of production and profits. Management accounting involves the preparation of budgets that aid in planning, coordination of the activities of various departments, budgets provide a means of communicating the organisations goals and plans, they act as motivation tools and they act as a tool of control where actual and activities are compared with the budget and any deviations are investigated and corrective actions undertaken. Transaction cost economics studies organisations in a way that different institutional arrangements are considered alternative ways of organising economic activities.3Transaction cost economics explains why certain transactions are associated with a certain form of organisation whereas other transactions are associated with other forms of organisation; specific institutional arrangements are chosen to govern specific transactions because they offer distinct sets of control devices which other forms do not offer, therefore institutional forms differ in their ability to solve problems and the form of control they offer.4 Evolutionary theory also referred to as the old institutional economics as Foss (1994) defined it, this theory tends to investigate the possibility of transforming the already existing structures of organisations, therefore the evolutionary theory observes organisation forms as having emerged from the already existing

Monday, November 18, 2019

Factors that Triggered the Collapse of Communism in Poland in 1989 Essay

Factors that Triggered the Collapse of Communism in Poland in 1989 - Essay Example The economy, politics, cultural and social lives were controlled by the state, which did not allow the establishment of free enterprise. Agriculture was conducted collectively. The system was fully totalitarian with the state controlling all aspects of life. The regime used propaganda to pressurize the people to accepting the policies concerning social issues such as marriage and child bearing. Under communism, it was not easy to divorce, and abortion was illegal. This was not welcome for to the people since they were denied a chance to make their own choice concerning private life. Social education in schools was controlled by the regime in order to ensure that the information that was offered in schools was in line with the communist policies regarding social life. Fees in the upper classes had been designed to reduce the number of children who could go for higher education since only some parents could afford it. The government ensured that important information about it was kept away from the public (Ka-Loc Chan K pp. 66-71). One of the major factors that led to the collapse of communism in Poland was the method which the regime used to govern. Intimidation and force were the common ways that were used on the people, and therefore communism could never get support from the majority. This was a political failure that caused the decline. This is because generally, a political party that lacks public support is politically weak. The failure was amplified by the fact that communism adopted an undemocratic ways of acquiring power and continued using them to enhance its stay in power. The labor strike of 1980 formed the beginning of anti-communism in Poland. This was facilitated by the formation of the trade union whose members were drawn the anti-communist leftists and from the Roman Catholic Church, as some of the members of the Solidarity (The Daily News - September 1981). The union became strong due to the support by rebellious

Saturday, November 16, 2019

National Flood Insurance Plan: Efforts in Reducing Flood Los

National Flood Insurance Plan: Efforts in Reducing Flood Los In this report, the City of St. Petersburg has several contingency plans set to reduce the risk of flooding. First and foremost, they advise through a statement of warning. According to the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library (section 16.40.050.1.6, 2017) states that although the Florida Building Code is considered the minimum. The city informs that larger floods are bound to happen and will. The citys ordinance code discusses that flood levels may depend on the intervention and or support of natural -vs- man-made causes. The city places emphasis on flooding outside of the zone areas is not impossible and that it could happen and not to assume that it will not. The designated flood zones are based on Global Information Systems (GIS) maps called Flood Insurance Rate Maps or (FIRM). Their requirements can be found on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. (FEMA), reserves the right to require city regulations to be revised as necessary as discussed in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 59 and 60 (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). According to (Adamides et al., 2016) the city code statutes of the City of St. Pete uses what is referred to as a Community Rating System or (CRS). Prior to; July 1st, 2010 NFIP CRS Section 553.73(5) of Florida Statutes are the following a) limitations on use of enclosures below buildings b) limitations on use of nonstructural and no compacted earthen fill c) limitation on installation of manufactured homes in certain flood hazard areas d) requirement to locate buildings at least 10 feet landward of the reach of mean high tide e) submission of operations and maintenance plans for dry flood proofed buildings A broad overview of the scope of the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library states in section 16.40.050.1.2. That provisions of the section including but not limited to subdivision of land; filling, grading, and other site improvements and utility installations; construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, improvement, replacement, repair, relocation or demolition of buildings, structures, and facilities that are exempt from the Florida Building Code (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). Other methods the City of St. Petersburg educates the populous to help reduce the risk of flooding is by passing out brochures, education of students of all ages and by amending if necessary any city ordinance codes or reform bills. Further education for the citizens of the city is on a detailed web page for the City of St. Petersburg. There is an in-depth overview of flood information including educational videos found on their website. The website resources also allow the community to access maps, contacts, and educational information on Biggert-Waters act and what it is. The City of St. Petersburg also allows access to mitigation strategy plans, the National Flood Insurance Plan or (NFIP) for the city; along with a Community Rating System or (CRS). Other relevant programs in Pinellas County on flood information, Floodplain Management for the city of St. Petersburg and its ordinance can be found on their main website as well as www.fema.gov. As a last measure of prevention, the city also alerts its citizens by the use of a public warning system. (Adamides et al., 2016). In order to enforce the minimum floodplain management regulations, the City of St. Petersburg employs building codes. Section 16.40.050.1.3 of the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library references this. The code states that its purpose is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. It also minimizes public and private losses due to flooding through regulation of development in flood hazard areas (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). The St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, states the following: Minimize unnecessary or prolonged disruption of commerce, access, and public service during times of flooding; Require the use of appropriate practices, at the time of initial construction, in order to prevent or minimize future flood damage; Manage filling, grading, dredging, mining, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, and other development which may increase flood damage or erosion potential; Manage the alteration of flood hazard areas, watercourses, and shorelines to minimize the impact of development on the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain; Minimize damage to public and private facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in floodplains; Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood hazard areas in such a manner as to minimize future flood blight areas; Minimize the need for future expenditure of public funds for flood control projects and response to and recovery from flood events; Meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for community participation as set forth in the Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, section 59.22; Protect human life and health; Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; Ensure that property owners are notified yearly the property is in a flood-prone area; Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; and Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands. So what is flood insurance the Biggert-Waters act? According to Harrington a journalist with the Tampa bay Times, it is a Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which removed the subsidies on about 20 percent of policies nationwide for homes that were built prior to 1975 (Harrington, 2016). Harrington writes that Congress after considering the damages that accrued after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy they needed to make the NFIP meet yearly criteria. Congress found that after the storms the program was more than $23 billion in debt due to claims in those years. Another drawback of the Flood Insurance Reform was that some of its recipients were grandfathered in at low flood insurance rates (Harrington, 2016). Harrington writes that Florida of all the other states was the most affected by the new reforms. In 2014 in hopes of improving the Flood Insurance Reform Act, Congress decided due to the losses to revise the cost of insurance. This act created a 20% hike in insurance rates. In consideration to the homeowners, the new rates would not be in play until 2016 and the homeowners were allowed extra time to prepare for the rates to go up. This ended with renewals beginning April 1st, 2016. Previously mentioned, GIS maps or FIRMS were drawn up to show Floodplain Zones. They were designated with letters such as A, B, C, V, and X. Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) or high-risk areas are designated with A and V; whereas low-risk zones are everything else. They are known as Non-Special Flood Hazard Areas (NSFHAs) (Harrington, 2016). Harrington notes that more than 50% of Floridas 2 million insurance policies are zones designated in the X area. Collected data over the past decades reflects a great deal on the City of St. Petersburg. The NFIP was able to project a 100-year plan. This plan shows coastal flooding inland as far as 10 miles in some areas where others are only a few (Boland, 2017). According to the significant flood events data on FEMA.gov Superstorm Sandy, on the other hand in October of 2012 paid 131,031 losses in policies with an estimated $8,494,205,096 in damages with an average loss payment of $65,00 Granted Superstorm Sandy minutely affected Florida and the City of St. Petersburg it still did its fair share of damages. Tropical Storm Debbie who sat on the coast of Florida in June of 2012, did do a great deal of damage. One thousand seven hundred and ninety-two policies were affected, with $42,694,074 in total damages paid out. Each with an average amount of payment at $24,000 (Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov, 2017). It is with this type of data that the City of St. Petersburg is able to compile projections of future disasters. According to the Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, Shore Acres represents a repetitive loss area within St. Petersburg which attribute to over 200 affected flood policies. Shore Acres alone attributed to $13.7 million in losses that were paid out. Before development in 1923 Shore Acres was designated as costal marshlands. It was later developed in the mid-1950s with land varying from 5 to 6 feet above sea-level (Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, 2016). The Repetitive Loss Area Analysis states that Shore Acres along with Belleair Shores and Clearwater Beach attribute to 21.95% of the State of Floridas pay out. The three totaled $67,976,750.33 in damages alone. These high loss areas in Pinellas County are considered Hot Spots for the county and are targeted areas for future mitigation programs (Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, 2016). Bibliography References Cited Adamides, D., Dunn CBO CFM, R., Frey PE, C., Holehouse CPCU, J., Kinsey, L., Seeks, A. et al. (2016). CITY OF ST PETERSBURG NFIP PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION REPORT (1st ed.). Saint Petersburg: St. Petersburg City Council. https://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/docs/NFIP-CRS%20PPI%202016%20Report.pdf Taylor CFM, N. (2017). Flooding St. Petersburg. Stpete.org. http://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/ Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov. (2017). Fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/significant-flood-events NFIP Policy Growth Percentage Change. (2017) (1st ed., pp. 1-3). Retrieved from Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov. (2017). Fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/significant-flood-events http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/even-with-shore-acres-st-petersburg-paid-8-times-more-into-flood-insurance/2150628 Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis. (2016) (1st ed.). City of St. Petersburg. https://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/docs/Shore%20Acres%20RLAA%20-%202016.pdf Boland, C. (2017). FEMA NFIP 100 Year Flood Zones in St. Petersburg. Arcgis.com. https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=489ebde40c834cf8b90a197b5cdc4d56 Harrington, J. (2016). Remember the flood insurance scare of 2013? Its creeping back into Tampa Bay and Florida. Tampa Bay Times. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/remember-the-flood-insurance-scare-of-2013-its-creeping-back-into-tampa/2288308 Federal Emergency Management Agency, (2013). Analysis of Floridas NFIP Repetitive Loss Properties using geospatial tools and field verification data (pp. 19, 25, and 26). Pinellas County: FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1711-25045- 7431/analysis_of_florida_s_nfip_repetitive_loss_properties_using_geospatial_tools_and_field_verrification_data.txt St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library. (2017). Municode.com. https://www.municode.com/library/fl/st._petersburg/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIISTPECO_CH16LADERE_S16.40.050FLMA_16.40.050.1.3INPU

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Jean-Paul Sartres Extentialism & Taoism and the Movie Fight Club Essay

Man had to believe in something. That something was an ordering principle. And this was essential; it appeared, because the scientific temperament appeared not to assure man but to trigger him to drift even more aimlessly. Mankind needed a new book of lessons and a teacher as well. Humanity required it. What had occurred to produce such a yearning? Where was Reason? Where was God? With all the gods dead and buried, with nobody to believe in, the existentialists turned to humanity itself to unearth new values. While they acknowledged the nihilistic tendencies of bourgeois civilization, they were not themselves nihilists. They preserved a faith in humanity; a faith that guided them to the belief that only man could comprehend and resolve the tribulations of mankind. Existentialism sketched on a number of earlier ideas and one of its lasting strengths was that it survived to take in nearly two centuries of European thought into one composition. It was a perennial philosophy. It was th e fundamental Nietzcsheanism. As Sartre once wrote, "existentialism is an attempt to draw all the consequences from a consistent atheist position."(Sartre, 1962) According to Sartre, it had been Dostoevsky who had created that if God did not exist, and then anything would be allowed. This, in a nutshell, is the starting point, not the consequence or objective, of existentialism. If one really comprehends the sense of modern godless man's plight, one is at first condensed to nausea and despair. All of the human kind must go through that awful sense of depression that escort’s ones’ insight into the human condition and ourselves. Man is alone because he cannot be in contact with others. He finds himself in a world in which he is completely alien to othe... ...re consistent. And if person can be neither correct nor incorrect, how will he be able to be admired or held responsible, and how can he be accountable? References Bell, Ross Grayson: Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club novel. Edward Norton Yale Interview on Fight Club. May 14, 2003 www.chuckpalahniuk.net official website Jean-Paul Sartre. Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le nà ©ant, 1943) Translated and quoted by Maurice Natanson A Critique of Jean-Paul Sartre's Ontology (1951) Sartre Jean-Paul  Existentialism is a Humanism (L’Existentialisme est un humanisme, Lecture given in 1946 Source: Existentialism from Dostoyevsky to Sartre, ed. Walter Kaufman, Meridian Publishing Company, 1989 http://members.aol.com/scissorside/jean.htm Boobbyer, Philip: Identity: Post Modernism Global Express UK. 1996-2003 http://globalexpress.initiativesofchange.org/issue6/inout.html

Monday, November 11, 2019

Children of a Lesser God Essay

This film is based on a stage play of the same title. It tells about James Leeds, a man who teaches children with special needs in a school for the deaf and those who are hard of hearing. He is a devoted and inventive teacher who shows a deep compassion for his students, applying teaching methods he could think of just to draw out the interest of his students to learn, do more and accomplish things to the fullest of their capacity. James meets and falls in love with Sarah Norman, a beautiful woman who works for the same school and has been deaf since she was a baby. At first Sarah avoids James until he is able to draw her out from her shell and eventually he is able to convince her to live together. Sarah is full of bitterness, hurt and other emotional scars over the mistreatment she experienced while she was growing up because of her impairment and this jeopardizes their relationship. Sarah has to come to terms with her personal issues and needs to feel that she is an independent woman. In due course, they are able to settle things amidst the difficulties they come across in communication. The movie made me realize the significance of communication among people and people who have communication disorders should be given special attention in order for them to be heard. Even individuals who are fully capacitated physically have a hard time in getting messages understood. I just hope that there will be more teachers like James Leeds in this world who loves what he does and changes the lives of other people. The movie, which focuses mostly on the hearing impaired, is very much relevant to this course. It gives us the glimpse of how they live and struggle to be understood and to understand others. It portrays the complexity of their lives and helps us appreciate how difficult things are for them and moves us to do something for them. WORKS CITED Children of a Lesser God. Dir. Randa Haines. Perfs. William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie, Phillip Bosco. VCD. Paramount Pictures, 1986.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

These Tips Will Help You Decide on the Company to Buy Papers From

These Tips Will Help You Decide on the Company to Buy Papers From Essay writing services offer students a chance to get high-quality assignments that are plagiarism free within a short time but at a price. The services are popular among students that do not have time or have several assignments they have to complete. Benefits from Command the Services of the Custom Writing Services: 1.  They get to work with professionals that have the experience at an affordable price. 2.  The service is totally confidential and private. The companies will not resell or share your information. 3.  The professionals have the ability to produce high-quality custom papers on tight deadlines and with quick turnaround. 4.  It saves the students time so that they can use it on more important classwork. If it is the first time you are looking to command these services, then you will be doubtful and uncomfortable with the whole arrangement. It is important that you do not go in blindly you must gather some information before you can make a decision. You might have friends that had bad experiences, and this might make you shy away from the whole idea, but this should not be the case. Some of the writing agencies do not pay much attention to the success of their clients, and you should avoid such companies. Read more here: Buy Research Paper Online Closer Look at Descriptive Essay Top Essay Writing Service Buying a College Paper: pros and cons Buy an Essay Online 10 Tips to Help You When Buying an Essay 1. Never make impulsive decisions Make sure that you have your research before you can settle on a writer. 2. Find a reliable writing service This might seem obvious but can be overlooked. To find a reliable company, you must take your time to check the reputation of the company. Reading reviews gives you an idea of what others are saying about the services they got. If in the reviews you find clients complaining of plagiarized papers and poor customer service then do not consider such a company. Remember cheap is expensive so do not rush for the cheapest offers. 3. Clear requirements You also play a role in determining the quality of paper you get. Ensure that you give crystal clear requirements. Always make an extra effort to be as specific as possible about the things you need from the writer. 4. Ensure that the service is fairly priced Do not go for those writers that ask for a very low price for their service; this should raise a red flag. The price they charge is an indication of the quality of work they will deliver. You either get low-quality work or plagiarized work. 5. Always check the paper for originality Do not blindly accept the paper and then submit it. Make sure you check if it is 100% original. You can either choose to purchase a plagiarism checker software and check the work yourself, or you can decide to let the writer check it and send proof of originality. 6. Proofread and edit your work This the only sure way to know the grammar in your essay is impeccable, and you hired a person that is attentive to every detail. 7. Ask for revisions till you receive an impeccable paper Dont be shy to ask for as many revisions as you need. Usually, revisions are free of charge so dont accept the paper till you see a perfect result. 8. Never give your bank login credentials This is to keep you safe from a scam. 9. As for a custom sample You can check the quality of writing and decide if it meets your standards before hiring the writer. 10. Talk to the writer Talk to him as often as possible throughout the project to make sure that both of you are on the same page at all times. By following the above ten tips, you will be safe from scams, and you will get the highest quality papers that will improve your grades. Order here and you are assured   to get the highest quality within the shortest time and at fair prices.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Brigadier General Albion P. Howe - American Civil War

Brigadier General Albion P. Howe - American Civil War Albion P. Howe - Early Life Career: A native of Standish, ME, Albion Parris Howe was born March 13, 1818.   Educated locally, he later decided to pursue a military career.   Obtaining an appointment to West Point in 1837, Howes classmates included Horatio Wright, Nathaniel Lyon, John F. Reynolds, and Don Carlos Buell.   Graduating in 1841, he ranked eighth in a class of fifty-two and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th US Artillery.   Assigned to the Canadian frontier, Howe remained with the regiment for two years until returning to West Point to teach mathematics in 1843.   Rejoining the 4th Artillery in June 1846, he was posted to Fortress Monroe before sailing for service in the Mexican-American War. Albion P. Howe - Mexican-American War: Serving in Major General Winfield Scotts army, Howe took part in the siege of Veracruz in March 1847.   As American forces moved inland, he again saw combat a month later at Cerro Gordo.   Late that summer, Howe earned praise for his performance at the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco and received a brevet promotion to captain.   In September, his guns aided in the American victory at Molino del Rey before supporting the assault on Chapultepec.   With the fall of Mexico City and end of the conflict, Howe returned north and spent much of the next seven years in garrison duty at various coastal forts.   Promoted to captain on March 2, 1855, he moved to the frontier with a posting to Fort Leavenworth.    Active against the Sioux, Howe saw combat at the Blue Water that September.   A year later, he participated in operations to quell the unrest between pro- and anti-slavery factions in Kansas.   Ordered east in 1856, Howe arrived at Fortress Monroe for duty with the Artillery School.   In October 1859, he accompanied Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee to Harpers Ferry, VA to assist in ending John Browns raid on the federal arsenal.   Concluding this mission, Howe briefly resumed his position at Fortress Monroe before departing for Fort Randall in the Dakota Territory in 1860. Albion P. Howe - The Civil War Begins: With the beginning of the Civil War in April 1861, Howe came east and initially joined Major General George B. McClellans forces in western Virginia.   In December, he received orders to serve in the defenses of Washington, DC.   Placed in command of a force of light artillery, Howe traveled south the following spring with the Army of the Potomac to take part in McClellans Peninsula Campaign.   In this role during the siege of Yorktown and Battle of Williamsburg, he received a promotion to brigadier general on June 11, 1862.   Assuming command of an infantry brigade late that month, Howe led it during the Seven Days Battles.   Performing well at the Battle of Malvern Hill, he earned a brevet promotion to major in the regular army.    Albion P. Howe - Army of the Potomac: With the failure of the campaign on the Peninsula, Howe and his brigade moved north to participate in the Maryland Campaign against Lees Army of Northern Virginia.   This saw it take part in the Battle of South Mountain on September 14 and fulfill a reserve role at the Battle of Antietam three days later.   Following the battle, Howe benefited from a reorganization of the army which resulted in him assuming command of the Second Division of Major General William F. Baldy Smiths VI Corps.   Leading his new division at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, his men remained largely idle as they were again held in reserve.   The following May, VI Corps, now commanded by Major General John Sedgwick, was left at Fredericksburg when Major General Joseph Hooker commenced his Chancellorsville Campaign.   Attacking at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg on May 3, Howes division saw heavy fighting.         Ã‚            With the failure of Hookers campaign, the Army of the Potomac moved north in pursuit of Lee.   Only lightly engaged during the march to Pennsylvania, Howes command was the last Union division to reach the Battle of Gettysburg.   Arriving late on July 2, his two brigades were separated with one anchoring the extreme right of the Union line on Wolf Hill and the other at the extreme left to the west of Big Round Top.   Effectively left without a command, Howe played a minimal role in the final day of the battle.   Following the Union victory, Howes men engaged Confederate forces at Funkstown, MD on July 10.   That November, Howe earned distinction when his division played a key role in the Union success at  Rappahannock Station during the Bristoe Campaign.          Albion P. Howe - Later Career: After leading his division during the Mine Run Campaign in late 1863, Howe was removed from command in early 1864 and replaced with Brigadier General George W. Getty.   His relief stemmed from an increasingly contentious relationship with Sedgwick as well as his persistent support of Hooker in several controversies relating to Chancellorsville.   Placed in charge of the Office of Inspector of Artillery in Washington, Howe remained there until July 1864 when he briefly returned to the field.   Based at Harpers Ferry, he aided in attempting to block Lieutenant General Jubal A. Earlys raid on Washington.    In April 1865, Howe took part in the honor guard that watched over the body of President Abraham Lincoln after his assassination.   In the weeks that followed, he served on the military commission that tried the conspirators in the assassination plot.   With the end of the war, Howe held a seat on a variety of boards before taking command of Fort Washington in 1868.   He later oversaw the garrisons at the Presidio, Fort McHenry, and Fort Adams before retiring with the regular army rank of colonel on June 30, 1882.   Retiring to Massachusetts, Howe died at Cambridge on January 25, 1897 and was buried in the towns Mount Auburn Cemetery. Selected Sources Find A Grave: Albion P. HoweOfficial Records: Howes Division at GettysburgAlbion P. Howe

Monday, November 4, 2019

Internal Environment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internal Environment - Coursework Example The company diversified from being limited to computers to offer unique products like iPhone, iPod etc. In addition, Apple has strong R&D that has enabled create a competitive edge over its competitors, due to constant innovation resulting from the ability of perceiving trends in behaviors, gathering points and development of high quality products (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2012). Further, Apple’s contemporary & unique design of its stores and excellent customer services from skilled and knowledgeable workers is another capability that has enabled Apple maintain a strong presence in the industry. That notwithstanding, Apple has internal weakness such as management changes, high products prices resulting from uncontrolled innovation, which does not consider consumer budgets, incompatibility of its OS with other OS etc. Therefore, to be able to maintain a strong position globally, Apple needs to incorporate consumer ability in terms of prices of products lieu of only focusing on satisfaction, when it formulates it R&D policies, which are the key pillars of innovation at Apple because in the past the company has only focused on developing high quality products which are too expensive for consumers to afford resulting to inability of the company creating customer

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Market Segmentation of Orbitz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Market Segmentation of Orbitz - Essay Example In relation to the study, the company which has been selected is Orbitz, one of the leading travel companies which were formed by an alliance between major airline companies; American, Continental and Delta Airline, Northwest, United Airline and Continental Airline companies in the year 1999. It is a leading travel company enabling customers and passengers to plan and book a broad range of travel products. This essay discusses that the parent company Orbitz worldwide own a series of brands like Orbitz, Cheap Tickets, ebookers, HotelClub and Rates to go, The Away Network and Orbitz for Business. The website was launched in the year 2001 and in the year 2004, the company was acquired by Cendant Co Ltd. The company is headquartered in Chicago and the company is listed on New York Stock Exchange. The paper tells that the IPO of the company occurred in the year 2007 and the investor of the company Travelport is one of the world’s largest networks in the world. Orbit offers travel s ervices like vacation packages, cruise and car rentals and other travel services. This paper illustrates that in the year 2012 the company was labeled as one of the best travel companies to work for by Forbes. Orbitz is one of the few travel companies which offers passengers and customers to reserve and book tickets through various technological modes. The company offers holiday packages and tickets at a relatively low price compared to the other travel companies.... Market segmentation requires several technological and modelling techniques for accurate analysis and performance. Some of the important methods of market segmentation techniques are Automatic Interaction Detector (AID) and Multidimensional Scaling Techniques (MSD) and conjoint analysis. We will now conduct a market segmentation of Orbitzs Travel Company to understand the target customer base and the techniques used for conducting market segmentation. Geographic Segmentation Marketers conduct segmentation as per the geographic criteria like nations, states, cities, regions, countries etc. The company presently offers more than 1.5 million flight options to customers since, Orbitz is a travel company it has not confined to its services to a particular geographical location and the services are available worldwide. Orbitzs travel packages, online reservation of tickets, online hotel booking, and car rental at a lower price comparatively than the other travel companies. The company offe rs the travels services and facilities at a lower price to target countries with high and low purchasing power. Demographic Segmentation The demographic segmentation is the most common and prevalent form of market segmentation. Demographic segmentation would be done based on the gender, age, income, occupation, household size and education. In this case the travels services are offered for individuals, corporate customers, school children, family and married couples. Age: Based of age profile the target customers of Orbitz would be individuals of all ages including infants and toddlers. Income: Although, the travel services are offered at an affordable prices (Orbitz, 2013d) some of the services like the hotel

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cuba Music and AfricanInfluence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cuba Music and AfricanInfluence - Essay Example The basis of Cuban music is the music of African settlements such as Araras, Bantu, Carabaliez and Jorubas. Such settlements have preserved their authentic cultural traditions, despite the fact that they were forced to take a catholic religion. At the same time the religion Santeria had been developing and soon it disseminated through the whole territory of Cuba. This religion depicted the music of Cuba as percussion instruments are a part of religion and its worship ritual. By the 20th century the Santeria element have penetrated deeply in the Cuban pop and folk music, and into the music of other countries such as France, the USA and Jamaica. The native inhabitants of Cuba were Indians that were eradicated by the Spanish colonizers and the Indians music trend â€Å"areito† disappeared as well. Certainly, the emigrants have integrated the peculiarities of their music into the Cuba music. To the famous Cuba composers belong Esteban Salas, Robredo Manuel, and Haspar Villet. â₠¬Å"A brier look into Cuba's unique history will provide us with some insight into these recordings. Cuba's particular cultural heritage is largely the result or two horrendous examples or inhumanity- the annihilation or the indigenous peoples or the island, and the institution or the abominable slave trade which endured for almost 400 years. Spanish colonization began at the end or the 15th century. The Indians or Cuba were exploited, enslaved, murdered and practically extinct within 35 years after colonization began. This explains why there is virtually no Indian in Huence in Cuba's traditional or popular music, unlike the countries or Central and South America, where the Indian heritage has played a major role in cultural development.† (Gills... This essay approves that the double-sided aspect of Cuban music, which consists of the folklore instruments and popular forms of expression as well as more abstract and complex form known as classical music, are typical for Cuban music. Speaking about classical music it is essential to mention that due to reason of the lack of its representation to the masses and the natural complexity, classical music is ignored by all the Cubans. As the music of the people, the culture of which has rich and diverse folklore, Cuban popular music, which was made out of many popular songs and dance music, overshadowed classical music. â€Å"African slaves brought to Cuba their national culture and ritual dances. This report makes a conclusion that having researched the influence of Cuban music by the African melodies, we can make a conclusion that the slaves brought to Cuba by Spaniards had their own culture, which was originated from slavery. They created many melodies and dances and managed to influence the culture of Cuba so deeply and strongly, that new styles of music appeared and became very popular. These styles were brought to other continents and help create popular musical styles. Cuban dances represent an original mix of classical and folk dances, which are unique and deserves attention. Everybody who comes to Cuba is first of all attracted by melodiousness of its inhabitants, which was brought to them by slaves and their own culture created in the oppressive conditions. This testifies that Africans have their own unique and very beautiful culture that was recognized in the whole world.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

A Study of Musical Theatre’s Gilbert and Sullivan Essay Example for Free

A Study of Musical Theatre’s Gilbert and Sullivan Essay Theatre, as we know it, always aims to provoke its audience through emotions, by invoking the muses of comedy and tragedy, and everything else in between. Many names are synonymous to the history and success of theatre, but none comes close to the iconic contributions of Britain’s most illustrious duo, collectively known as Gilbert and Sullivan. Sharp, clever wit and brilliant rhyme have found their rightful places in the theatrical masterpieces composed by renowned playwright William S. Gilbert, and his equally-profound partner, composer Arthur Sullivan. The 1870s marked the beginning of a new ideology in musical theatre, as the partnership brought to the fore previously unheard-of standards that were identified by a mix of intelligence in satire and silliness, as well as melodic instrumentations that complement the passion and creativity of the written word. Such was the success of the outcome that Gilbert and Sullivan managed to pioneer and influence generations of theatre innovations, and eventually, become a solid pillar in both British and American popular culture. Musical comedy writers, Broadway lyricists, literary authors and composers—and even important names in politics and government—are just some of those who have credited Gilbert and Sullivan for a number of their works. Through the excellent vision of production genius Richard D’Oyly Carte, the impressive collaborations of Gilbert and Sullivan were set to stage. The Savoy Theatre in London, Carte’s headquarters, became the setting for many of the duo’s memorable musicals. Innovative from the beginning, The Savoy was the first theatre in the world to utilize electricity, and summoned theatre-goers all over to sample this taste of technology as well as the brilliance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works, which were later aptly named â€Å"Savoy Operas† (Kenrick, 2000-2003). The Gilbert and Sullivan era spanned from 1871 to 1896, and between them they were able to create fourteen critically-acclaimed and hugely popular masterpieces—counting The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and H. M. S. Pinafore as the most widely-received. II. William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, The Beginning The young William Gilbert (1836-1911) was the son of a naval surgeon by profession, and a writer by interest. He jumpstarted his son’s juvenile career by allowing the boy to accompany his articles with illustrations; William soon found his own talent for writing, and came up with his own compositions. These writings, called Bab Ballads, would later find their way into some of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most acclaimed musicals. Gilbert’s Bab Ballads were known for their unique use of humor played out through logic (Classic Gilbert and Sullivan). Mike Leigh, English film and theatre director, concludes this style to be decidedly one that had Gilbert’s signature, where the establishment of the strange, absurd, and otherwise unacceptable concept would be expertly formed into perfect examples of reason and truth—all done with a bite of silliness metamorphosing into deadpan prose. On the other hand, the musical inclinations of Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) also had strong parental influences—his father was a bandmaster with the military, and the then 8-year-old Arthur had already become expert in all the band instruments. In 1856, after concluding his initial attempts of composing songs and anthems in school, Arthur proceeded to claim the first Mendelssohn Prize, and took further studies in composition and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, as well as in Leipzig. He performed his 1861 graduation piece, an ode to William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, at the Crystal Palace; this earned him the prestige of being heralded as the country’s most promising young composer. Among Sullivan’s applauded works early in his career were The Masque at Kenilworth (1842), The Prodigal Son (1869), On Shore and Sea (1871), and a ballet entitled L’lle Enchantee (1864) (Classic Gilbert and Sullivan). William Gilbert’s and Arthur Sullivan’s paths crossed as they attended a rehearsal of the play Ages Ago, where the composer Frederic Clay made introductions. A couple of years after that, Gilbert and Sullivan made their first foray as co-creators of what would be a uniquely wonderful style admired by the whole world. III. Gilbert and Sullivan and the Comic Opera A staple of English theatre during the Edwardian era, the comic opera’s origins come from 18th-century Naples, in Italy. Known as intermezzi, short comic routines were used to end the bigger acts, and enjoyed much popularity that they were later written to exist on their own. The final output was the comic opera, the concept of which was soon transported to Paris, where it easily claimed the approval of French dramatists and audiences. However, the same could not be said upon its arrival on English territory, for theatre professionals and enthusiasts at the time were still more interested in evolving the popular Ballad Opera and the newer form of Music Hall; the latter was introduced to fill the need for a lighter, less serious entertainment style. Finally, in 1871, the comic opera was launched in London’s Gaiety Theatre, through the production of Thespis; or the Gods Grown Old. This not only marked a new chapter in British theatre, but also the first entry of the long-running collaboration of musical theatre’s most prestigious partnership—Gilbert and Sullivan. It all started with the efforts of John Hollingshead, then manager of the Gaiety Theatre, who employed Gilbert’s expertise to write the libretto of his theatre’s 1871 Christmas musical. They had worked together once before, on the burlesque Robert the Devil which also ran in Gaiety. To complete the requirement for the musical, Hollingshead contacted Sullivan, who was then still inexperienced in stage production. This first encounter produced Thespis, but was initially given much criticism and low confidence in the team. Four years later, the producer Carte would bring them back together to create Trial By Jury; the resulting 300 performances declared it a resounding success, as well as a much-awaited approval of the partnership. Perhaps the foremost appeal of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works had much to do with their ability to poke fun and humor at establishment, as well as current social and political issues. This was a high time for patriotism in Britain, and the British audience’s validation of the comic operas sealed the career success of the duo. Much of the credit would also have to go to the newness of concept and execution of each piece, that even foreign audiences understood and appreciated the essence of every performance. To this day, comic opera will always be defined by Gilbert and Sullivan—they truly made it their niche, and those that attempted to surpass or equal their achievements failed to do so (Gillan, 2007). Of the fourteen collaborative works of the famed partnership, many were lauded as icons of comic opera. These were the celebrated productions of Thespis: or the Gods Grown Old, Trial By Jury (1975), The Sorcerer (1877), and of course, the previously-mentioned The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and H. M. S. Pinafore. Thespis: or the Gods Grown Old, being Gilbert and Sullivan’s first collaboration, had no real indications of the phenomenal future awaiting its two creators. Yet the classic Gilbert and Sullivan format was already applied in the work, by setting the opera in the mythical Mount Olympus. In the story, the gods have all grown old and the celestial buildings were all in a state of ruin. Then a group of actors and their leader named Thespis went up the mountain to have a picnic, and noticed the sad condition of the place. Thespis gets into a deal with Jupiter, agreeing that his group would take on the work of the tired gods, provided that Mercury would remain to brief them of their duties. But things do not go as planned, and Mercury only noted all complaints. When the gods on break finally return, they discover the unsatisfactory results and banish the group back to earth. 1875’s Trial By Jury made use of an old legal procedure as the main idea, specifically a ‘breach of promise’ trial. This often took place in earlier times, when a man could be summoned to court and sued for taking back a marriage proposal. The characters included a dashing, worldly bachelor and the woman who called for the hearing, a maiden dressed in wedding attire. An all-male jury and an unscrupulous judge round up the cast, with the woman directing her flirtations toward the jury but would end up receiving a proposal from the judge himself—as a way to resolve the case. The storyline established prevailing comic themes that would later be present in most of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works: (1) true and undying love may come from and end in unexpected sources and directions; (2) the existence of politicians who achieved their public status by charming and lying their way through, and (3) aversion for mature women, specifically those over 40—which is, in truth, a nod to patriarchy and sexism. Two years later, Gilbert and Sullivan produced The Sorcerer, which featured a man of magic who brings chaos and confusion to a tiny English village by creating a love potion. In many ways, The Sorcerer made a satire of class distinction and social propriety, which were standard elements in Victorian society. Yet in true Gilbert and Sullivan style, the output was of inimitable wit and class that the references were not declared offensive at all—so much was its success that aside from its own numerous showings, The Sorcerer was staged even as far as America, albeit unauthorized. And while the opera’s theme could have been translated by the French through a multitude of sexual innuendos and references played out by unreal, fantastic characters, Gilbert and Sullivan designed The Sorcerer with roles that were utterly believable and credible—the kind of people that actually exist in everyday life, that the British audience could identify. The penchant for poking fun at British social conventions became Gilbert and Sullivan’s running objective, and in 1878 they again succeeded in producing a successful show that audiences celebrated. H. M. S. Pinafore once again uses love as a theme, but a deeper reading would reveal that the opera tackles the discussion of England’s class society. With the narrative centering on the daughter of a naval captain’s rejection of the Secretary of the Navy—the highest-ranking man of uniform—for the affections of a common sailor, H. M. S. Pinafore showcases the reality of a person born into a particular class, and the availability of options based on this system. It is also a criticism of their society’s double standard on the issue of marriage; they patronize literature’s ideals about love conquering all, while in real life they disapprove of unions between people of different social classes. This time, audiences were not as forgiving as they were with The Sorcerer—the prevailing adherence and respect for the British class system caused low ticket sales. That, as well as the unrelenting hot weather pulled Gilbert and Sullivan’s celebrity down—for a moment. During Sullivan’s summer concerts, he came up with the smart strategy to include several medleys of his Pinafore score; the result was a revived interest in the opera, and eventually sales and attendance reached phenomenal heights. Such was the success of the opera that it encouraged Carte to involve Gilbert and Sullivan in the actual business, dividing all production expenses and sales profits among the three of them. From this point on, Gilbert and Sullivan were given decision-making authority in all their productions. However, because of the opera’s impact on the British audiences, many unauthorized production of Pinafore were staged, particularly in the United States, where international copyright laws were not yet in place. To assert ownership, Carte brought the production overseas where it enjoyed a brief yet successful run in Broadway, and made sure that Gilbert and Sullivan’s works were covered by copyright laws in the country. Carte had this foremost on his mind when Gilbert and Sullivan came up with yet another opera destined for iconic status, 1880’s Pirates of Penzance. This time, Carte protected the production rights both in Britain and New York, which established the legal precedents still observed today. The move has benefited playwrights and writers all over the world, with this initial case on intellectual property rights. Love as an ideal is again the running theme in Penzance, as the story explores the adventures of a young man named Frederick who, by no choice of his own, worked under the tutelage of a group of pirates. As luck would have it, he falls for the daughter of a Major General—a momentous experience that drove him to make up for his previous deeds by eliminating the pirates he used to be associated with. The pirates in question actually turned out to be noblemen who made the wrong choices in life; in the end, they, including Frederick, all take the Major’s many daughters as their wives. There was no stopping the success of Gilbert and Sullivan, and they forged on to firmly claim their place in popular culture. Several productions were created, among them Patience (1881), which told of the poet’s charm and magnetism, a surefire way to get his way with the women, except for the one he wants—who is but a simple milkmaid. Written as a comedy, Patience ultimately focused on aestheticism, which referred to an artist’s or writer’s obsession with beauty. Carte employed a brilliant marketing strategy to promote the production, with the assistance of famed writer Oscar Wilde. The writer was tasked to do the lecture circuit around the United States, to provide a full background on this new ideology, and to ensure public awareness of the opera. Not surprisingly, this tactic resulted in positive financial reaction. With Patience, Gilbert and Sullivan introduced another innovation, this time with the characters of the opera narrative and the songs assigned to them. In their previous works, the duo’s main goal to put a message across was met; the technical level of the story itself remained the way it was from their early projects. Not the kinds to stay within their comfort zones, Gilbert and Sullivan expanded their competencies as playwrights by integrating the characters with music—producing songs and personalities that were exclusive to each other, and the situations they were in. Comic opera was what people called the Gilbert and Sullivan theatre style; in reality, it was the birth of the integrated musical. The partnership, while perfect on an intellectual realm, was slowly revealing its cracks caused by the personal differences of the two artists. Gilbert was apparently so taken with the love potion plot—which he successfully delivered in The Sorcerer—and wanted to create another opera using the same idea. This was not taken positively by Sullivan, who soon decided, on impulse, to focus more on serious projects. Of course, Gilbert did not take this well either, and the beginning of what would be a personal feud between the two took its place. Carte tried to remedy the situation by staging a rerun of The Sorcerer, only as a stopgap measure for further rifts that may damage company existence and operations. Fate once again played a major role in the succeeding events, because the partnership was saved by a mundane object—a Japanese sword. It fell from the wall of Gilbert’s study and almost hit him, but instead of dismissing the incident, Gilbert took inspiration from it. This set the tone and plot for Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular opera to date. The Mikado, staged in 1885, carried the same elements that had made the duo famous: love, and social commentary; with a generous helping of humor and wit. The plot itself was hilarious—it was a scenario questioning what would happen when the Emperor of Japan, know as the Mikado, passes a decree declaring flirting as illegal, and punishable by law. The townsfolk of Titipu refused to follow the new ruling, and consequently appointed Koko, a condemned tailor, as Lord High Executioner. Strangely, the condition for this appointment was for Koko to be beheaded, as he was proven guilty of violating the new law, unless he finds someone to behead first. Koko manages to find someone to execute, and that was the traveling minstrel named Nanki-Poo, who actually agrees with Koko only if he is allowed to marry the beautiful Yum-Yum—Koko’s fiance. Nanki-Poo was given a month to enjoy the wedded life before he was beheaded and Koko can finally marry Yum-Yum. But soon an old woman named Katisha appears, a representative of the royal court, and announces that Nanki-Poo is really the crown prince—guilty of the crime, as he had flirted with her and tried to escape execution by hiding in the small town. Eventually, the Mikado himself arrives and declares that his goal for decreeing such an inane ruling was to let the punishment fit the crime. More misunderstandings and deceptions came afterwards, but in the end everyone lives happily ever after. Gilbert and Sullivan decided to use Japan as a setting to create a satire about the British penchant for all things Japanese, during the 1880s. And because it was brilliantly written and the references to British pretensions and petty customs subtle and discreet, audiences failed to make any negative observations and promptly applauded the performance. Exporting The Mikado to the United States was the right thing to do, for it replicated the success of H. M. S. Pinafore and drove Americans into a Japanese frenzy. The Mikado is the sole musical by Gilbert and Sullivan that had been performed in a variety of languages, and is also their only work that spawned a diplomatic controversy. In 1907, the Crown Prince of Japan came over for a state visit, and immediately the British government ordered a ban on The Mikado; only to discover that one of the Prince’s objectives in visiting Britain was to watch the musical. To this day, The Mikado is still widely produced and staged worldwide. However, the problem with having a major success in one’s name is the pressure to produce another one of equal or greater impact. In 1887, Gilbert and Sullivan staged Ruddigore, which entailed more melodrama than their previous collaborations. It truly was an accomplished piece, but audiences kept comparing it with The Mikado. Once more, Sullivan was disheartened by this turn of events and threatened to leave the industry altogether and focus on classical compositions instead. Gilbert tried to change his mind with a new libretto, one that was not an echo of their old work. With The Yeomen of the Guard, an operetta set during the reign of Henry VIII, romance was played out within the constraints of political controversies, as well as the possibility of execution. Sullivan, satisfied with the proposition, proceeded to create a score punctuated with melodrama and emotion, while Gilbert reinvented himself and his style by veering from his usual whimsical comic dialogue. Serious was the best word to use to describe Yeoman, and this became a personal favorite of Sullivan. The monarchy did not escape the sharp wit of the two, either. In 1889, Gilbert and Sullivan resurrected their signature comic style with the staging of The Gondoliers. A story of a couple of anti-royalist gondoliers from Venice who ironically discover that they have suddenly become kings of a country in the midst of a revolution, Gilbert and Sullivan once again mixed fun and comedy to discuss the idiosyncrasies of the royals and the issues of democracy. The Gondoliers became an instant international hit. No less than the public-shy Queen Victoria requested for several private performances of The Gondoliers, which validated the immense contribution of Gilbert and Sullivan to musical theatre. But the personal differences between the two icons continued to get in the way of their professional relationship. Some were serious concerns, yet some were downright trivial—such as the argument over the cost of newly-installed carpets in the Savoy Theatre. Carte and his wife ultimately chose to take Sullivan’s side, which resulted in their production of Ivanhoe, Sullivan’s grand opera. However, this project failed to achieve any semblance of financial success; which was a mirror of Gilbert’s own experience when he went back to writing his own plays. Several years later, the three business partners tried to put everything aside and reconcile, but sadly, they were never able to bring back their glory days. Still, they managed to produce Utopia Limited (1893), another satire of Britain’s unsuccessful efforts in its dealings with other countries; and The Grand Duke (1896), featuring a theatre group’s attempts to claim power in a problematic Germany. Both productions were of the same make and quality as their previous ones, but neither enjoyed substantial performance durations because of expensive production costs. More than that, it was already apparent that Gilbert and Sullivan no longer had the fresh and intriguing style and creativity that had earned them the respect of audiences worldwide (Kenrick, 2000-2003). IV. Reviews Interesting to note are the reviews made for each of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas, as made by many critics and journalists during the time. Some of the takes of these writers were documented and used as reference, in order to validate the creative contribution given by the duo. One review for Thespis on its opening night in 1871 commended Gilbert and the magnificent storyline he created, as well as the audience’s superb reception of the play. Credits were specifically given to the talent showcased (Perry, 2001). A Trial By Jury review was not truly exciting—while the critic commended the acting and singing done by the performers, it was the â€Å"lateness of the hour† that possibly accounted for the audience’s lackluster reaction (Perry, 2001). H. F. Frost reviewed The Sorcerer in 1877, and emphasized the effective combination of literary merit and dramatic consistency as created by Gilbert and Sullivan, except that their attempts to subtly mix burlesque and opera was not entirely acceptable. Points were given to the theme of exploring human nature’s weaknesses and imperfections (Perry, 2000). It is evident that H. M. S. Pinafore was a huge crowd favorite, as revealed by a review published in 1878. Pinafore was commended for the use of burlesque but had more humor and charm over Trial By Jury and The Sorcerer. The satire and libretto were both noted, and gave Gilbert and Sullivan credit for managing to pull it off without great offense to the public. The actors were also adjudged suited to their roles, and the musical one that will remain in the bills for a long time (Perry, 2001). A review made in 1880 of Pirates of Penzance saw it as having several allusions to H. M. S. Pinafore, particularly in the similarities of some of the characters. But the audience was not put off by that observation, and still applauded the cynicism and wit of Gilbert’s words as well as the charm of Sullivan’s music (Perry, 2000). V. The Final Years Though they never really regained their old camaraderie, Gilbert and Sullivan remained civil to each other until the end. In 1888, Sullivan was granted knighthood, and the former colleagues shared the same stage once more during revivals of their old classics were produced. Later, Sullivan collaborated with other writers to produce several critically-acclaimed operas, including The Emerald Isle in 1900. Sullivan finally passed away at the age of 58, due to a bout of severe bronchitis. Gilbert, on the other hand, got his second wind at the dawn of the new century, with a notable output of librettos and plays. He eventually received his knighthood in 1907, which was long overdue, but allowed him to experience being touted as a British national living treasure. At age 74, while saving a girl from drowning in his own estate, Gilbert was struck by a fatal heart attack. This happened in late May 1911. The great producer Carte succumbed to the permanent effects of illness in 1901, but his opera company was continued by Helen, his wife, and their son Rupert and his wife. They revived the most acclaimed works of Gilbert and Sullivan throughout the years, until the company closed in 1983 due to financial problems. But Bridget, Rupert’s wife, left a considerable amount of money to allow a new group of theatre producers to form a new company, which still stages revivals of the famous musicals of Gilbert and Sullivan to this day. VI. The Gilbert and Sullivan Legacy The achievements of Gilbert and Sullivan were nothing less than national milestones, particularly in the reality of class-conscious Britain. The brilliant wit, humor, and music created by the duo gained popularity with all class levels of society, which was a feat it itself. Apart from that, the team’s theatre philosophy transformed the standard musical preferences to be more attune to popular music, and less concentration on the obscure and exclusive. However, Carte’s company refused to grant performers and directors the freedom to modify each production—every staging had to adhere to the set guidelines of the original team. Critics and audiences could only imagine how fresh eyes and new voices would be able to interpret the tried-and-tested pieces (Wren, 2001). Britain respected the legacy of Gilbert and Sullivan, and their standards of musical theatre bore into all productions made in the late 1800s. George Edwardes, a producer of comic operas, proved to be the duo’s strongest competitor. He started with the success of Dorothy in 1886, which included a ballad entitled â€Å"Queen of My Heart†, that broke all records—even running longer than any of Gilbert and Sullivan’s musicals. But what made Edwardes a respected name was his discovery of a new technique with his production of The Gaiety Girls, a musical named after the famous London theatre. This musical comedy featured many of Gilbert and Sullivan’s standard elements, making it a manifestation of the partnership’s influence on the art. The Gaiety Girls, like most of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas, carried a theme of love gained and lost. But these musicals only had two general narratives—a poor girl in love with a rich man, and wins him in the end, even in the presence of adversities; and a poor girl who attempts to get out of a marriage she did not want, prompting her to involve other characters on a chase. The music and titles of these musicals all had the same essence, which were really just variations on a theme. Interestingly, the seeming monotony of these musicals were greatly appreciated by the audiences and critics, who preferred them exactly as they were. But these productions could never stand up against the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, particularly those that had traveled to the United States. This fact awakened the British audience from their stupor, as they had to acknowledge the international receipt of their own culture (Morley, 1987). Needless to say, the Gilbert and Sullivan operas consistently received much acclaim from their American audiences; the staging of H. M. S. Pinafore started a nationwide craze aptly called â€Å"Pinafore-mania†. Typical of Americans, the music and songs of Pinafore quickly entered the realm of popular culture, and were included in regular talk. The classic line â€Å"What never? Well, hardly ever! † from Pinafore became standard replies of people all over, and the phrase â€Å"short, sharp stock† that was used in The Mikado to mean â€Å"of severe punishment† was borrowed by various writers, artists, commentators and bands. Perhaps the most celebrated American production of a Gilbert and Sullivan original was Pirates of Penzance, which found its way to Broadway in 1981 and enjoyed a run that broke production and staging records. Gilbert, in particular, would often be cited by popular American writers, such as Johnny Mercer, Larry Hart, Alan Jay Lerner, and Stephen Sondheim. Mercer was even quoted as saying, â€Å"We all come from Gilbert†, and Sondheim made a tribute to the famous librettist in â€Å"Please Hello† from his work Pacific Overtures (1976). It is probably not far-fetched to assume that Gilbert and Sullivan’s work lent sophistication and class to the existing brand of musicals then; soon after, new generations of musical talents appeared, putting the USA on top of the list. The Boston Ideal Opera Company, more popularly known as The Bostonians, made the rounds of theatres all over the country, and were received well for their outstanding performances. They included in the repertoire several original American musicals, but were known for their productions of Gilbert and Sullivan works. A listing of American originals that took after the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition is as follows: El Capitan (1896) by John Philip Sousa The Begum (1887) and Robin Hood (1891) by librettist Harry B, Smith and composer Reginald DeKoven The Highwayman (1897), again by Reginald DeKoven (Gillan, 2007). VII. The Gilbert and Sullivan Influence The influence of Gilbert and Sullivan extended all the way to other forms of art ad communication, which included literary works of famous writers. References to their collaborations are found in the work of writer Isaac Asimov, who wrote a number of stories centered on the puzzles and mysteries of the duo’s operas. One such story was of time travel, where one had to go back in the 1800s to rescue the score to Gilbert and Sullivan’s Thespis (Asimov, 1978). â€Å"The Year of the Action† engaged a debate over the actual date of the action in Pirates of Penzance. A story in Asimov’s famous I, Robot, â€Å"Runaround†, had a character singing parts of songs from Ruddigore, Patience, and Pinafore. Cleverly, Asimov concluded his homage to the duo with his story â€Å"The Up-To-Date Sorcerer†, which was obviously a parody of The Sorcerer. Legendary British author P. G. Wodehouse was also known to cite Gilbert and Sullivan in his writings, and more often exclusively referred to Gilbert. His novels and short stories included numerous allusions to the team’s work, many to Gilbert’s early Bab Ballads (Robinson, 2006). The film industry also found the works of Gilbert and Sullivan great material for a wealth of movies. Many of their musicals were adapted into films, including the actors who originally performed in the theatre versions. The Mikado was adapted into a movie in 1939, in full color, for which it won several awards. Also, many films made use of scores composed for a number of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, including The Matchmaker (1958), I Could Go On Singing (1963), The Naughty Victorians (1975), The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978), Chariots of Fire (1981), The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1989), The Browning Version (1994), and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (1992). Television is also another medium that has embraced the Gilbert and Sullivan talent. From The Simpsons to Frasier, from Angel to The West Wing, the duo’s music has been showcased in a variety of scenes and episodes. There was even a show dedicated to spoofs of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, entitled The Star of Christmas. Video games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also had visual references of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works, particularly of Pirates of Penzance. Outside of media, many personalities in politics also found good material in the team’s celebrated works to promote their platforms and ideologies. A â€Å"short, sharp stock† remains to be a popular mainstay in many manifestos and debates. VIII. On A Personal Level Though their professional partnership was truly accomplished and proven time and again, it was the personal relationship of Gilbert and Sullivan that had suffered the most. Collaborations may or may not be successful if the participants are friends; however, artists like Gilbert and Sullivan probably see no boundaries between who they are and what they do. Sullivan was not rich, and as he grew up he mad it a point to mingle with the rich and influential. He met Gilbert, and immediately discovered the parallels in drive and talent in both of them. However, he also saw something else—that Gilbert’s friendship could be the means for him to make his career flourish. Sullivan had many other powerful friends, including Queen Victoria, who advi