Human Relations and Communications: Theories Present in Education Today Essay

Human relations, interactions and communication are the foundation of educational leadership. As with most businesses, the need for strong leadership and communication is more important than ever, especially because of the growing accountability of schools and school systems. In order to work well within the organizational environment of a school, superintendents, coaches, teachers, parents, community members and students must be able to communicate in a variety of effective modalities (Razik & Swanson, 2010). Behind these modalities are human relationship concepts and communication theories that help leaders to make decisions based on research that can help improve their organizational communications systems. Over time, the theories have developed and the ways of effective communication have changed along with the technology that promotes them. There are many communication and human relations theories that can still be applied today given the effective and efficient ways that educational leaders can now communicate. Hill: Interactional Conventional Theory and Modern Forms of Communication A theory on communication that looks at how society continues communication or may even change the ability to communicate is the Interactional Conventional Theory (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 132). Society continuously evolves throughout history. With these changes the ability to communicate also has to change. Over the last twenty years technology has redefined our idea of how to communicate. As students become more comfortable with chatting, texting and other new forms of communication this has lead teaching to evolve its forms of communication as well. If communication is based on cultural norms then as technology changes the norms of society so must the ability to communicate (Razik & Swanson, 2010, pp. 132-133). New forms of communication are created all the time. Technology has enhanced communication from the traditional face to face or group conversations to e-mail and social media. Written letters as communication have transformed into instantaneous e-mail communication, which can be received at a moments notice from a smartphone. One of the most widely used forms of communication for college and high school students is social media like Facebook (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational leaders have accesses to technology of e-mail and social media, which make communication more accessible than ever before. One of the modern challenges of educators is how to use technology like Facebook as an  educational tool (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational sites have emulated the flexibility of sites like Facebook in order to make learning and educational communication more accessible for students (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational cites such as Edmodo and Web 2.0 can be used to further student education in an off campus capacity (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 2). These sites also provide opportunity for students to communicate with teachers during non-school hours where they can ask questions about homework or that day’s lesson. This is no different from the traditional face-to-face contact or calling by telephone (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 2). A study done on twenty college students showed that they preferred to use text based communic ation to face-to-face communication (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 6). Just as how students use text-based communication for recreational communication they also feel more comfortable with this form of communication with educators. A useful educational tool used by teachers is the Edmodo website. This site is designed to have the same make up as Facebook but it allows teachers and student to communicate about educational topics. Teachers can create groups for students to join where communication can take place at their convenience (Harper, 2010, p. 19). From these groups students can post responses to questions posted by the teacher. Edmodo also allows students access to lessons that they may have missed from being out of school (Harper, 2010, p. 20). The site reinforces educational skills of writing, which students have to do in by posting responses, and having them use higher order thinking skills to develop personal responses (Harper, 2010, p. 21). Edmodo is also a great way to assign paperless homework for students. Kristianson: McClelland’s Social Motives and Intrapersonal Relationship Theories One of the prominent human relation theories that are still evident in schools today is the McClelland Social Motives theory. McClelland noted that there are three main social motives that exist within organizations: power, achievement, and affiliation. â€Å"Achievement refers to the desire for people compete against a standard of excellence† (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 112). This is clearly evident within most school sites, because successful educational leaders have the natural desire to achieve and set goals, visions, and missions for their district or school. There is always a bar set and leaders are motivated to reach that percentage of student mastery. At Granada Primary  School, in Phoenix, Arizona, there is a sign posted on every single door: A- 152. Our leaders expect that we will â€Å"Build a Legacy† and continue to achieve â€Å"A† status with 152 overall points needed to maintain that goal, an increase of nine points from the previous year. This is an excellent example of an achievement goal. The leaders at our school use their positional and personal power to influence others, as outlined by McClelland as a power motives for leaders. Lastly, the affiliation motive is also quite evident. The need for affiliation, or a need for positive relationships within an organization, is one of the most evident theories. Leaders, teachers, students, and community members all desire positive relationships, and that puts leaders in power by building positive relationships. Those that have positive relationships tend to have bet ter communication, and as a result, better job performance (Razik & Swanson, 2010). In addition, interpersonal relationship theories are highly evident within this school site. Positive interpersonal relationships are key for building a climate of trust in which a principal must be consistent with their words and actions (Green, 2013, p. 142). When this occurs, stakeholders will begin to approach the leader and communicate directly. This is evident in many principals â€Å"open door policy† in which staff members can come freely, without fear of superiority or negativity, but a reciprocal relationship. This is not limited to the relationship between teachers and leaders at a successful school site, but all stakeholders. It is evident that those who maintain positive interpersonal relationships with everyone around them have more success in the classroom. This past year, a teacher that responded negatively to lack of student achievement was reciprocated in the students’ abilities and motivation to perform for that teacher. Conversely, the teachers that responded positively to the same situation had more student growth. This is seen in Fig.2 of Weiner’s interpersonal relationship theories and motivation of both parties involved in said communications (Weiner, 2000, p.8). The beliefs about the responsibility of other stakeholders, and their subsequent reactions, are very similar as seen in Granada Primary’s school achievement data for the 2012-2013 school year. This is important in leadership because the same attitude can be applied for principals and their staff. McAdams: Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Social  Exchange Theory, and Theory â€Å"Y† Communication and human relation theories are very important in the success and operation of a school. At the school where I work communication is foggy most of the time with people playing the guessing game. The administrator (principal) constantly says one thing and does another. This is the Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Lamourex, 1996). This theory makes for a chaotic environment. He also says he is going to ensure that the school dress code is adhered to by the teachers but his actions allow the dress code to be violated without consequences. He is so indecisive that people don’t know whether to take him seriously or not. In the midst of a meeting, he will change what he beliefs to match other actions. He also seeks reassurance from others after making a difficult decision. He often feels that more seasoned people have more to offer than he does so he looks at them for approval. If he were confident in his ability to lead he would not waver so much. This makes him an ineffective leader. Presently, the Social Exchange Theory is also used. This theory requires the leader to compare benefits and costs of actions. This is beneficial because it forces us to think things through carefully before acting on anything. It also helps to ensure we use instruction al time wisely in order to make the most of our teaching abilities. Time on task is stressed at our school. When we have staff meetings the administrators are constantly tell us to put in the time it will take to produce the outcome we desire. Teachers work extra hours (before and after school) to make sure students have the extra intervention needed to pass the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Along with Communication Theories there are Human Relation Theories present within the school system. Administration has the belief that staff will do the job they are supposed to do. This causes them not to micromanage us. This is an example of Theory â€Å"Y† of the human relations Theories. They believe â€Å"Individuals will exercise self-direction and self-control in the service of objectives to which they are (Green, 2013).† This allows the teachers to feel free to be creative and do what’s best for the students. Operating under the â€Å"Y† theory puts my administrator under the facilitator of information category. He allows the staff to accomplish the tasks as they see fit as long as it is productive and in the best interest of the students. This theory is a demonstration of Standard 2, which states: â€Å"An education leader promotes the success of every student by  advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth (Green, 2013).† McClary: Organizational and Pygmalion Leadership Theories At William J. Clark Middle School organizational theory is used. They do a lot of individual and group interaction with the ultimate goal of every student can learn and be successful in mind. â€Å"A focal interest of organization theory must be inevitably be the understanding of how to organize people and resources in order to collectively accomplish desired ends† (Greenwood, 2010, 78). Within the school several meetings occur weekly. Every Tuesday is team and faculty/departmental meetings. The administration uses the team leaders and department chairs to relay messages to other faculty members. Furthermore, the administrators will sit in on the meetings if there is something they would prefer to personally state on their own or to monitor to make sure that these meetings are being conducted. Tuesday Academy meetings are the whole school meetings that are conducted by the administrators. Then, they have grade level content are meetings on Wednesdays and grade level content area data meetings on Thursdays. The administrators are involved in these meetings on a weekly basis. They often sit and participate to make sure they are communicating in an effort to effectively plan for the students. They participate in these meetings as well by providing suggestions, materials, and resources that will allow them to possibly reach every to increase student success. In every meeting, you have no choice but to communicate and get the job done. Emails are used to communicate frequently communicate. Also, monthly calendars are printed with important dates on them as a reminder. The school uses different aspects of mass communication to reach the people within the school and the public. The school has various school meetings and events that allows the public to be involved such as the â€Å"Back to School Bash†, Open House, Parent-Teacher Conference Day, Parent/Academic Nights, Honors and Awards Banquets, PTA, Athletic Banquets, Winter and Spring Musicals, and etc. However, in order to inform the school and the public about what is happening at the school they use various means of communication. They send out emails. The school’s website is used to display information. Memo letters are sometimes sent home but not as often in an effort to save paper. Information is displayed on the school’s bulletin board. Also, Parentlink is used. The purpose of Parentlink is to inform parents through telephone. This is a great tool for those people who are not tech savvy, don’t have access to a computer or the Internet. You can set Parentlink to call all numbers that are stored in the database and the receiver will hear an automated or recorded message informing them about something pertaining to the school. The good thing about this source is that it lets you know who received the message, if it went to voicemail, or if the number was not a working number, therefore, it needs to be updated in the system. The Pygmalion leadership theory is frequently used at William J. Clark Middle School. Weekly the administrator is required to perform a minimum of 10 observations. Therefore, that means they are always in the classrooms monitoring instruction. These frequent observations allow the administrator to see strengths and weaknesses in a person. It allows them to see if there is any room for growth. After every observation is done the administrator provides immediate feedback. An individual meeting with each person is scheduled. In these meetings positive feedback is given and negative feedback if necessary. If weaknesses are observed the administrator provides suggestions, resources, and materials for them to improve. The administrators provide themselves as a resource as well. The administrator will model for them what she expects to be done in the classroom from start to finish. She will send them to different teachers to observe. Also, a Support Institutes for Teachers (SIT) is implemented at the school to serve as a lifeline for new and struggling teachers. Rogers: Miles’ Resource Model, Likert’s Supportive Model, and Theory â€Å"X† Saltonstall viewed human relations as the study of people in action. (Razik, & Swanson, 2010, p. 105) Davis explained the term by referring to the interaction of people in all types of endeavor- in business, government, soc ial clubs, schools, and homes. (Razik, & Swanson, 2010, p. 105) Although human relationships have existed since the beginning of time, the art and science of trying to deal with them formally in the work setting is relatively new. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 103) It is important to note the different human relation theories and how they are displayed in schools in order to better understand human relations and communication. Miles’s human resource model assumes that work is not inherently distasteful and that people want to contribute to a  meaningful goal. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 104) At Plymouth high school, this theory is displayed by teachers’ willingness to go the extra mile for students to achieve the goal of improving test scores. Many teachers say they are not in education to become a millionaire. They teach because they want to make a difference. Sure we have teachers that dislike the current state of education, but for the most part teachers focus on achieving the goal of educating the youth of tomorrow. Likert’s supportive model emphasized the more the members of an organization feel supported, the more they will feel a sense of personal worth and importance in all their interactions and relationships with the organization. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 104) The new administrator displays this theory at Plymouth high school. She is very conscious of her efforts of making sure everyone feel valued and supported. She has an open door policy. Teachers can talk to her about their concerns without being afraid of any consequences. She makes sure the teachers concerns are addressed in a timely manner. During staff meetings, she praises teachers for various accomplishments. She has encouraged teacher’s collaboration. She has even gone as far as allowing teachers to recreate the vision of the school. The new administrator has changed the culture of the school. Teachers are now taking ownership in the school and in the process of achieving its goals. The support that was generated from the principal has now improved the interaction of colleagues throughout the building. Theory X assumes that average human being has an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it if he can. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 106) Most people that are like this must be coerced, controlled, directed, and threatened with punishment to get them to put forth effort to achieve objectives. At Plymouth high school, we are struggling with test scores in the CTE department. Many of the students do not take the class seriously. The teacher has become complacent, and avoids working hard at all cost. He allows the students to control the classroom. The principal walked in on his class watching a movie that did not have any relation to his CTE course. Administration had no choice to put him on an action plan. The action plan spelled out what it would take in order for him to keep his job. He responded by completing the entire list of task on the action plan. He  actually planned meaningful lessons. The students are actually learning. It took the threat of him losing his job to get him to actually begin putting forth maximal effort. In conclusion, a variety of human relations and communication models must be implemented at school sites to have an effective, efficient organization. Modern communications play a large role in the implementation of these theories. Many different modalities of communication must be used. Face to face interactions need to remain interpersonal and motivated. Leadership must carefully weigh the benefits and costs of different conversations in order to communicate more directly and positively. Communication must be backed through careful observation and proactive, frequent feedback. Barriers to effective communication must be broken down at all costs to the well being of the school site. When these theories are combined, it is evident that schools are progressing towards new and exciting achievements that will continuously improve education. References: Eden, D. (1988). Pygmalion, goal setting, and expectancy: Compatible ways to boost productivity. Academy Of Management Review, 13(4), 639-652. doi:10.5465/AMR.1988.4307530 Green, R. L., (2013). Practicing the Art of Leadership: A Problem-Based Approach to Implementing the ISLLC Standards, Fourth Ed. Boston: MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Greenwood, R., & Miller, D. (2010). Tackling design anew: Getting back to the heart of organizational theory. Academy Of Management Perspectives, 24(4), 78-88. doi:10.5465/AMP.2010.55206386 Harper, A. L. (2010). Social Networking with Edmodo: Let your digital footsteps lead the way. Kentucky English Bulletin, 59 (2), 19-21. Lamoureux, E.R. (1996). An experiential approach to teaching communication theories: Incorporating contemporary media to clarify theoretical concepts. Razik, T. A. & Swanson, A. D. (2010). Fundamental Concepts of Educational Leadership and Management, Third Ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. VanDoorn, G. & Eklund, A. (2013). Face to Face book: Social media and the learning and teaching potential of symmetrical, synchronous communication. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 10 (1), 1-2. Weiner, B. (2000). Intrapersonal and interpersonal theories of motivation from an attributional perspective. Educational Psychology Review, 12(1), 1-14.

Environmental Scan Paper Essay

A business environment is made up of both internal and external factors. The environment of a business must be scanned to be able to determine what factors the company can use to determine the development and forecasts that will help in the success of the business. The definition of Environmental Scanning, as per managementstudyguide.com, is the â€Å"possession and utilization of information about occasions, patterns, trends, and relationships within an organization’s internal and external environment†. Scanning is used to identify the threats and opportunities that exist in the business environment. Some of the internal environment factors that a company must observe include; employee interaction with each other, with management, manager interaction with other managers, and manager interaction with shareholders, brand awareness, organizational structure and the main staff (managementstudyguide.com, 2012). The company may use other resources to gain this information as in group discussions, surveys and interviews. This information than may be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the company. External environment plays an important role as a company starts to become more competitive and changes start to occur. As these changes start to occur, it becomes essential for the company to identify what their competitors are doing. These changes may also affect the internal environment, so it is important that the company update its core competencies as per the external environment. Because external environments are always changing, the company should be ready at all times to be able to accept and adjust to the environmental changes. External monitoring could include the original forecasts of raw materials, which may affect the credibility of the original source. This will force the company to be more focused on scanning, forecasting and analysis to create a more trustworthy prediction and the input costs (managementstudyguide.com, 2012). The external environment scan should include three areas; immediate/industry environment, national environment, and the broader socio-economic environment/macro-environment. Companies The two companies that will be used in this paper will be Apple and Target. Both of these companies have survived a tough economy over the years by having to adjust to many external and internal environmental factors. Apple, as most of us know, is a successful producer of computer hardware and software. Target, is one of the largest retail companies, right behind Wal-Mart, in the U.S. The environmental scan is used to evaluate the threats, opportunities, strengths and weakness of both Apple and Target. This will help identify external and internal areas that may need help and the areas that have been successful. Strengths There are many strengths that have made Apple a success. Apple is known to offer superior products such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod and many others. They control both the manufacturing of its products as well as its operating system (http://www.slideshare.net/edbiy/swot-analysis-for-apple, 2012). Apple also produces its own internal components for the core of their products. They also set a high standard for the quality of their products to make sure that the customer is extremely satisfied. Apple is always evolving and creating new and updated products. Apple has a very loyal customer base that will buy the new and updated product regardless of what it costs. The company stock is also the highest in their personal history. Target is a monster of a company as well. As of 2011, the diversification of its store chain was at 1,750 stores. The stores are big; anywhere between 95,000 to 135,000 square feet is size. As of 2011, Target has a presence in all states except Vermont. Due to the competition with Wal-Mart to keep their product prices low, Target has seen increases in revenue year after year, with their 2011 revenue equaling $67 billion. Target has adapted to their specific demographic locations and offer three different types of stores; Target Green Lands, Super Target, and their urban stores. And most important, Target offers a wide variety of goods; clothing, electronics, beauty, and home furnishings to just name a few. Weaknesses As being the leader in the electronic industry, Apple is faced with having to ensure their product is consistent and quality is number one. Not all of Apple’s products are without flaws. With their competitors making similar devices, Apple must continue to invest in research and development, to make sure any flaws don’t hamper future success. With Apple being a financial stable company, any lack of debt could be seen as a weakness for their infrastructure as it may pose a risk for stock acquisition by other companies (http://www.slideshare.net/edbiy/swot-analysis-for-apple, 2012). As for Target, their lack of an internal presence is a weakness. Though their products are considered low cost, the quality of their product is better than Wal-Mart, which makes Target’s products a higher price than their competitor. Employee wages have also been considered low, forcing some employees to look for work elsewhere. Threats With Apple products saturating the market, Microsoft has still be able to hold a consistent share of the market as well. Within the industry, there are many competitors that appeal to the economic conscience. Companies such as HP and Dell are offering low-budget computers that are appealing to customers that cannot afford the Apple product. Apple must be able to produce their products and set a financial standard so they do not lose out on a certain market of people. Target has their threats as well. Kmart and Wal-Mart both offer similar products but at a lower cost. With today’s economy, customers may sacrifice the quality of a product to get a lower price. Target may have to restructure their product base to keep from losing out to the competition. Opportunity With Apple being a technological leader, they are known for their originality and innovative thinking. iLife is a new product that allows users to link up multiple programs through one central application. Apple has found a way to simplify a person’s â€Å"life†, by consolidating what that person needs into one little package. That is innovation at its finest. Apple will continue to develop new opportunities through innovation and breaking new ground in different markets. Target introduced that the company will expand into Canada, this being the first step into the international market. The company will focus on reducing operational cost and increasing their revenue ratio. Target will continue to push the private labled products to customers, to focus on low cost products. These companies are creating value by offering a product that is made up of tangible and intangible attributes that the customer values. These companies are able to obtain money for the costs which then generates benefits that it values. Apple and Target create products that offer many solutions for their customer. This creates a competitive advantage for these companies. Creative advantage is the â€Å"advantage that a company has over its competitors, allowing it to generate greater sales or margins and/or retains more customers than its competition† (Investopedia.com, 2012). Both companies have shown that they offer a product that has been superior to their competition, which in turn has generated greater sales for these companies. The mission statement of a company is a way to evaluate how a company may measure their effectiveness. Apple states, â€Å"Apple computer is committed to protecting the environment, health and safety of our employees, customers and the global communities where we operate. We recognize that by integrating sound environmental, health and safety management practices into all aspects of our business, we can offer technologically innovative products and services while conserving and enhancing resources for future generations. Apple strives for continuous improvement in our environmental, health and safety management systems and in the environmental quality of our products, processes and services†. Target states, â€Å"Our mission is to make Target your preferred shopping destination in all channels by delivering outstanding value, continuous innovation and exceptional guest experiences by consistently fulfilling our Expect More. Pay Less. ® brand promise†. Both Apple and Target have shown continued success, both following their mission to create a better experience for their customers. References Answers, W. (2012). Answers. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from WikiAnswers.com: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_mission_statement_of_apple_inc Investopedia. (2012). Competitive Advantage. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from Investopedia.com: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/competitive_advantage.asp#axzz28k4ujJ6x Managementstudyguide.com. (2008-2012). Environmental Scanning-Internal & External Analysis of Environment. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from Managementstudyguide.com: http://www.managementstudyguide.com/environmental-scanning.htm Mixx, M. (2012). Targer SWOT Analysis. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from MarketMixx.com: http://marketingmixx.com/marketing-basics/swot-analysis-marketing-basics/177-target-corporation-swot-analysis.html Target Brands, I. (2012). Mission & Values. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from Target.com: http://corporate.target.com/about/mission-values Unknown. (2012). Slideshare.net. Retrieved October 08, 2012, from SWOT Analysis for Apple: http://www.slideshare.net/edbiy/swot-analysis-for-apple

Heart of darkness Essay

   It is a description of Marlow’s initial impressions and observations of the Outer Station, and all the slave labour going on. As he sees the land around him, he notices many ‘mounds of turned up earth’, and ‘wastes of excavations’, he speaks of the land as if it has been ‘raped’ of all its resources, and left as a barren wasteland. His first impressions of the African slave workers seems racist, as he compares there black, naked bodies to ants, however, it is more likely that this is just a reference to the futility and uselessness of the work that is going on. His next observation is a boiler, and an undersized railway-truck. He describes them as ‘dead’ like the ‘carcass of some animal’. There are several interpretations for this scene. One is that he has ‘personified’ the machinery, giving them similar qualities to the slaves, describing the machinery as though it has been allowed to rest, and have its job taken over by slaves. Another interpretation is that the machinery is a symbol for the empire, as the machinery is slowly decaying and rusting, the empire is also declining. Another reference to the futility of this work appears a few lines down. ‘The cliff was not in the way or anything; but this objectless blasting was all the work going on’. It is as if the slaves have just been given something to do, to keep them from sitting around. As Marlow walks further on, he sees a guard carrying a gun, and wearing a ‘jacket with one button of’. This is a very deliberate observation, though the empire seems perfect from the outside, it has imperfections. On seeing Marlow, the guard raises his gun, and tries to see who Marlow is; Marlow is sarcastic at this point, joking about how white men all look the same at a distance, referring to how black people all look the same to him from a distance. As the guard recognises Marlow and smiles, there is more sarcasm from Marlow, describing the guards trust as being ‘exalted’, and describing himself as being a ‘part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings’. Marlow then descends down the hill, towards some trees. At this point, Marlow starts commenting some more on his pity for the slaves, and the pointlessness of the work going on. The first technique used to relay this to us is Conrad’s use of short sentences, like we are part of Marlow’s thought process. His first thoughts are about how futile and pointless all the work that is going on is. He describes one of the pits that has been dug, as ‘just a hole’. As he goes towards the trees for shade, he instantly regrets it, making a direct reference to ‘Dante’s Inferno’. Dante’s Inferno is one perception of what hell would be like. His vision of hell consists of seven rings, each ring containing people who have sinned a particular way, with the rings varying degrees of punishment. He looks around, noticing the slaves, ‘objectifying’ them as ‘black shapes’. He makes an ironic comment, calling the slaves ‘helpers’ and stating how they have ‘withdrawn to die’. He talks about how they have been abandoned in a very understating way. There is another reference to Dante’s Inferno here, as he notices the ‘black shadows of disease and starvation’. Marlow then leaves the trees, but looks down to see a black slave, who has a white thread around his neck. He is startled at how strange and out of place it looks on the black skin. This is symbolic of the white men of the empire being out of place in Africa. To conclude, the ‘Heart of Darkness’ within the play refers to the inner capability to commit evil acts in all men, and the evil of the empire underneath the front of ‘spreading civilisation and the light of Christianity’. The two sections of the novel which I have chosen to examine are full of symbolic imagery, referring to the title, and raising questions in the readers mind about the greatness of Britain.

How the Battle of Saratoga Changed the Course of the War Research Paper

How the Battle of Saratoga Changed the Course of the War - Research Paper Example How the battle of Saratoga changed the course of the war The Battle of Saratoga changed the course of the war because it was the first main fight which proved that the Americans can win the revolution. First of all, the battle ignited revolutionary spirit among the American revolutionaries who fought for freedom. The battle proved that large army and navy cannot win a battle. Instead, revolutionary spirit and cohesion among the fighters can be helpful to win a battle like the Battle of Saratoga. Before the Battle of Saratoga, the scope of Americans to win the American Revolution and the American War of Independence was under doubt. One can easily identify that the defeat of the British colonizers during the American Revolution helped the Americans to gain confidence and fight for their ultimate freedom. The American victory in the Battle of Saratoga forced France to help the revolutionaries in America. Besides, other European nations like Spain and Holland followed the decision of Fr ance. â€Å"Many generations of American historians have referred to the two battles in Saratoga as the turning point of the American Revolution because they prompted France’s entry into the war (Starbuck 1999, 20).†1 Within this context, international support accelerated the revolutionary spirit of the Americans and it ultimately led to the victory in the American War of Independence. From a different angle of view, the Battle of Saratoga spread the spirit of nationalism and democracy. â€Å"The surrender of an entire British army and the capture of a large slash of military supplies, arms, and munitions came just at the critical juncture, right after General Howe had completed the takeover of Philadelphia, to boost sagging American morale (Morton 2003, 58).†2 For instance, the victory in the Battle of Saratoga eventually led American colonies to the victory in American Revolution. Besides, it led America to the American War of Independence and it ignited the s pirit of nationalism in France. For example, victory in the Battle of Saratoga and the American Revolution deeply influenced the French Revolution. From a different angle of view, the French intervention in the British colonies in America changed the course of the American War of Independence. For instance, France opened warfronts in British colonies other than America. This movement forced the British forces to give less importance to the revolution in America. Besides, it eventually led to the American victory in the revolution. To be specific, expanded war reduced the British victory in the war. The meeting between Benjamin Franklin (American representative) and Charles Gravier (say, the foreign minister in France) can be evaluated as a turning point in France’s support and involvement in the war. Charles Gravier’s opinion influenced Louis XIV and France decided to support America. In the year 1778, France intervened in the war between the British forces and the Ame rican colonies and it changed the course of the war. The British authorities considered the American colonies as an unending source of revenue. So they exerted heavy tax on the colonies. This infuriated the people in America and they decided to revolt against this injustice. General John Burgoyne’

Marketing Strategy of Toyota Energy-Saving Vehicle in UK Market Essay

Marketing Strategy of Toyota Energy-Saving Vehicle in UK Market - Essay Example The researcher states that alternative energy news gives a range of definitions of energy-saving vehicles indicating that an energy saving vehicle has one or more of the following qualities. A stop-start engine, with is a standard internal combustion engine which turns itself off when the car comes to a stop. A hybrid vehicle which combines a standard internal combustion engine with battery-powered technology, allowing the car to select the most efficient source of power through an onboard computer. Finally, there are cars which run entirely from an electrical source based upon current battery technologies. At present Toyota produces and markets two models of energy saving vehicle in the UK each of which has a slightly different marketing mix. The Prius is Toyota’s original hybrid model and is aimed at the mid-upper end of the market for family cars. The car is marketed as a product which is environmentally friendly and gives the consumer long-term cost savings with low MPG co nsumption rate. The car is currently marketed in four specifications ranging in price from  £21,000 to  £27,000. While the performance figures for the car in terms of fuel consumption are a significant selling feature of the model and see the cost of running far lower than many other vehicles on the market. Critics indicate that there are also other energy saving vehicles on the market which far higher levels of performance when it comes to the issue of cost savings. With the Toyota Prius now entering its fourth generation, one may consider that the product is entering the maturity stage of the product lifecycle. Consumers no longer see the Toyota Prius as a radical innovation but a practical way of enjoying low-cost motoring from the perspective of running costs. Toyota Auris represents the second model of energy saving vehicle to be introduced to the UK market by Toyota. Like its predecessor, the Toyota Prius the car makes use of hybrid engine technology to deliver a vehicle w ith low running costs and other financial benefits such as low tax duties. However, the marketing mix and target audience for the Auris model is slightly different to that of the Prius.

What are variables Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What are variables - Essay Example A variable is anything whose value can vary. For instance age is a variable as age varies for different persons. Variables need not be numerical always. Gender is a variable as it consists of two text values ‘male’ and ‘female’. An attribute refers to specific values of the variable. For example, the variable gender has two attributes- male and female. The variable agreement may have five attributes- (a) strongly agree, (b) disagree (c) neutral (d) agree and (e) strongly agree (Trochim, 2006).Every variable has some attributes.For studying cause- effect relationship, the distinction between independent variable and dependent variable must be clear. The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates. The dependent variable is that which is affected by the independent variable. The independent variable is the cause or treatment and the dependent variable is the effect or outcome. For example, while studying the effects of traffic rule awareness campai gns to reduce accidents, the program is the independent variable and the achievements are dependent variables. A variable should be exhaustive and mutually exclusive. Exhaustive means that a variable should include all possible responses. For this purpose, list all the important attributes and use a general category like â€Å"other† to represent remaining ones. Also, variables should be mutually exclusive. It means that no one should be able to have two attributes simultaneously. Operationalization The meaning of a research study depends on how objectively the phenomena under consideration are observed. So developing a reliable and valid set of procedures for measuring the variables is crucial for the validity of research study (Operational Definitions, 2005). The first step for an operational definition is to specify the constructs. How observations are made, what is observed, how observations are to be recorded have to be specified accurately. Sample Sampling is the proces s of selecting units from a population so that by studying the sample, it would be able to generalise results back to the population. Related to generalisation is the concept of external validity. Validity refers to the approximate truth of conclusions (Trochim, 2006). External validity refers to the degree to which conclusions in the study would hold for other persons in other places at other times (Trochim, 2006). There are two major methods for selecting sample for generalisation. One is called sampling model. In it, the population to be generalised is identified and a fair sample is drawn to conduct the research. Since the sample is representative of the population, the generalisations are applicable to the population. The second approach is called proximal similarity model. The term proximal similarity was suggested by Donald T. Campbell. In this approach, several generizability contexts are considered and theories are developed as to which situation or context is more similar to the study and which are less similar. By doing so, it is possible to generalise the results of the study to other persons, places or times that are more like the study (Trochim, 2006). The population to be generalised is called theoretical population. The population that is accessible to the study is called accessible population. The list of accessible population from which sample is drawn is known as sampling frame. For example, if a phone survey is to be done with a phone book, the phone book is the sampling frame. The sample is the group of people, who are selected for the study. But, the group that actually completes the study is the sub sample of the sample only. There is a distinction between random selection and random assignment. Random selection refers to how sample is selected. Random assignment refers to how different treatments are assigned to the sample selected for study. In sampling, the units are usually people and they supply responses. A response is a specific m easurement value. A statistic is used to look at the responses of the entire sample. Mean, median,

Localisation of the prostate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Localisation of the prostate - Essay Example The prostate is one of the organs in the male reproductive system responsible in releasing a fluid to alkalinise the semen (Hugging, Scott & Heinen, 1942) in order for the sperms to survive in the acidic environment of the female vagina. It is divided into four zones, namely the peripheral, central, transition and anterior fibromuscular zones (Meyers, 2000), while it can also be divided more commonly into four lobes, namely the anterior, posterior, lateral and middle lobes. The prostate is located superior to the anus, anal sphincter, bulbourethral gland, testes, penis and the urogenital diaphragm. It is inferior to the urinary bladder and the seminal vesicle. It is anterior to the rectum, coccyx, common ejaculatory duct and also the seminal vesicles. It is posterior to the symphysis pubis. On the medial part of the prostate lies the prostatic urethra. Its proximity to the rectum allows the prostate to be palpable in rectal examinations. Among those structures commonly harmed by ineffective localisation of prostate radiotherapy is the rectum, bones (symphysis pubis, pubic bones, and the coccyx) and the seminal vesicles. The veins where the blood flows away from the prostate are the prostatic venous plexus, pudcordal plexus, vesicle plexus and the internal iliac vein. Lymph nodes around the prostate are the external iliac lymph nodes, internal iliac lymph nodes and the sacral lymph nodes. These venous and lymphatic structures are responsible for the possible metastasis of malignant prostate cells to the surrounding structures beyond the prostate. Radiotherapy beyond the prostate, especially to the lymph nodes is necessary as the cancer reaches beyond stage 2, while the venous system will allow the predictability of metastasis to other organs. The cancer of the prostate begins with genetic changes within the prostate cells triggered by different possible risk factors such as genes, aging, race, environmental, increased

Experiences with Pop Ups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Experiences with Pop Ups - Essay Example These pop-ups take ages to get loaded and ultimately open in different windows of the browser which makes me feel incapable of doing anything to remove them from my computer system. These pop-ups consume quite a lot of bandwidth and at times display obscene images on my screen which makes me feel really bad (Rohan 2003). I really cannot do anything worthwhile whenever these pop-ups appear and I just do not understand what to do with them. My experience with pop-ups suggests to me that I am wasting my time in different zones where I must not have gone at all in the first place. I become shocked to see how these pop-ups make all of us feel so stupid and dumb at times. Â  I am of the view that these pop-ups are immoral and these advertise things which are in bad taste and spirit. They mean business, however in a very negative way. These must not be allowed and all efforts should be undertaken by the anti- pop up makers to keep away these pop-ups which bring tension and a sense of wrath for the users. The unethical nature of these pop-ups suggests that the makers of these pop-ups and similar advertising messages are people who lack morality within their folds and hence they have little or absolutely no respect for the privacy of computer users. It is important that some legislation is passed under the cybercrime act which takes care of these pop-ups and their manufacturers so that they do not play havoc with our lives as and when they wish (Cowan 2004). The morality or the lack thereof could be gauged from the fact that these pop-ups have nude images, obscene gestures and illicit messages embedded within them, irrespective of the fact who is sittin g on the computer screen and what kind of usage is he employing as far as the computer system is concerned (Thompson 2006).

ERP Implementation and Readiness Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ERP Implementation and Readiness Process - Essay Example tegic plan that provides the context and the reasons for implementing the ERP, it proceeds to the readiness assessment, vendor selection and solution implementation; and ends with the post implementation assessment (Cornelius, 2006). From the above process identified each of those stages involves a lot of issues in order to successfully implement the ERP. The readiness assessment process is the most important stage in the entire process and will predict whether a company will successfully implement the ERP or not. The virgin Atlantic Airways is one such company that has successfully implemented the ERP using the readiness process. The company’s strategic plan advised the implementation of the plan. This is because of the complexities that involved the daily transactions of the company. This forced the management to think of something that could help them achieve their target objectives as well as fulfilling the strategic plan objectives. The company has a lot of stakeholders most of who require information in real time. This led to the introduction of the ERP program to the company in order to integrate all the information and help in quick decision making. A second company that has implemented the ERP program is Kenya Airways in Africa. There strategic plan running for ten years was behind the introduction of the ARP program. To successfully serve its customers and other stakeholders the company thought it best to implement the program by initiating the readiness process before implementing the entire program. To be pride of Africa it had to do something that was not being done by others in the continent and this led to the introduction of the ERP. The readiness process should be considered in the following seven key areas: communication, leadership, Culture, project management, technical, functional and resources and Effort (Higgins, 2006). There are various people who will be involved in the entire project and therefore they all need information on how the

Mussoliniss Foreign Policy Essay Example for Free

Mussoliniss Foreign Policy Essay How consistent was Italian foreign policy between 1922 and 1943? Mussolinis main aim through foreign policy was to exalt Italys pride, which was seen severely deteriorated after the First World War. By the statement My objective is simple. I want to make Italy great, respected and feared Mussolinis objectives are clearly can be clearly deduced. However, historians still disagree over Mussolinis conduct of foreign affairs, in the years between his assumption of the premiership and the conquest of Ethiopia in 1935-6. Some support the view, once he acquired strong dominance on the communists, that the imperialism of 1930s was the unplanned response to domestic problems of a dictator whose main concerns where the internal consolidation of his regime. More recently, however, the balance of opinion has tended towards the belief in the underlying consistency of Mussolinis foreign policy. Mussolinis foreign policy operates along fairly well-worn paths, and his main areas of interest remained the Mediterranean, Africa and the Balkans Mussolinis foreign policy operates along fairly well-worn paths, and his main areas of interest remained the Mediterranean, Africa and the Balkans. As these two aims were, to some extent achieved during the 1920s, Iitalian foreign policy became increasingly expansionist in the 1930s, aiming not only to control the Mediterranean but as well, the African Empire. In the course of 1922-3 the weakness of Italys position became all too clear to Mussolini. He first failed to gain any substantial concessions in Africa or in the middle East from Britain and France when, at the Lausane, the negotiated a new peaceful treaty with Mustapha Kemal after his successful resistance would avoid the Treaty of Sevrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s to be applied on Turkey. Secondly, he was also unsuccessful in exploiting in the interests of Italy the international crisis caused by the French occupation of the Ruhr in January 1923. Mussolini changed his role from mediator between France and Britain, who opposed the occupation, to opponent of at one point of a potentially anti-British building bloc, composed of the main Continental States. He was mistrusted by both, London and Paris and was set aside from the European stage. The incident in Corfu, in 1923 gave Mussolini the reputation of being a dangerous firebrand. In 1923 Mussolini seized the chance to occupy Corfu, a strategically important island guarding the Southern entrance into the Adriatic, given that the Greek government seemed to refuse to pay the 50 million lira compensation they asked for the assassination of an Italian general and his staff, who were mapping out for an international inter-allied Commission the new Greek- Albanian frontier on Greek territory. Mussolini not only rejected the Leagues intervention but began to build a military base in the island. The incident was celebrated as a great success for Mussolini however, in reality it was a diplomatic defeat for Mussolini, since he had been forced to leave Corfu by Anglo-French pressure. However, Mussolini felt obliged into adopting a more conventional foreign policy. Mussolini could not run the risk of isolating Italy from the rest of Europe, therefore seeked for to establishing closer relationships with Britain and France. Mussolini, in order to maintain an independent state, cultivated the friendship of Austria and Hungary and in 1930 a similar treaty with similar treaty with Austria. Relations with Austria became ever closer after Hitler came to power in Germany after Hitler came to power in Germany and Mussolini provided the arms and money for the Austrian chancellors private army. In 1924 the Pact of Rome was signed with Yugoslavia, by which Italy received the long-disputed town of Fiume, though a part of it, Susak, went to Yugoslavia, along with port Barros. Two treaties with Alabania were signed in 1926 and 1927, firmly established Italian influence in Albania. This marked the first stage in Mussolinis efforts to establish Italy in the Balkans where Czechoslovakia, Roumania and Yugoslavia were tied to France, Italys like enemy, ver closely. During the 1920 Mussolini realised that he needed the friendship of France and Britain in view that he could not yet attempt to have the Versailles treaty revised in his favour. He went to Locarno thus in 1925 he went to Locarno and signed the treaties which guaranteed the frontiers between France and Germany, as well as the ones between Belgium and Germany, and in 1928 he signed. In particular, he drew closer to Britain, and though he privately resolved to end British power in the Mediterranean, he saw her as a possible friend in any future conflict. The frontier between Libya and Egypt was reached through an agreement, and there was a possibility of British aid for the railway building in East Africa. During the 1920 therefore, Italy remained a member of the League of Nations and acted as good citizen of Europe. Mussolinis foreign policy therefore followed a peaceful path. However, the peaceful pattern which Mussolinis foreign policy followed during the 20s was to be changed suddenly in the 30s, and thus also the slight consistency it had been following so far. This was mainly caused by Hitlers advent to power, what obviously altered things considerably. Mussolini saw the potential of a German alliance against Britain and France to revise the 1919 settlement; on the other hand he took care of having Germany too close. In April 1933 Goering and Papen visited Rome, however, all what Mussolini could achieve was German agreement to the Four Power Pact (between Italy, Germany, France and Britain) to keep peace in Europe, thus replacing the League. It was even signed actually by Germany and Italy (on 15 July 1933). A crucial meeting with Hitler took place in his visit to Venice in 1934. The meeting went bad unfortunately, since Mussolini refused to have an interpreter despite his German being very poor, so the meeting meant little to either. Things became worsened by the crisis following the death of Dollfuss a month later, so that Mussolini was far from being an ally of Hitler in 1934-5. Mussolini even attended the Stressa conference in April 1935, which was called by France, and in which it had to be considered what action to take in order to guarantee the independence of Austria. Italy joined to the declarations and protests, partly in genuine hostility to Germany, but mainly to avoid British and French hostility. In the 1920s the Italian empire was hardly promising. In Lybia, which was the territorially the heart of the Empire , but only some 2000 Italians had settled there and by 1930 it was costing over 500 million lire per annum, compared with 107 million in 1921. There were two smaller Italian colonies which looked more promising, for they bordered on to Ethiopia (Abyssinia), one of the few remaining independent kingdoms of Africa. Italy therefore took special interest in Abyssinia, sponsoring her membership on the League in 1923 and signing a treaty of friendship in 1928. However, in view that Haile Selassie (the ruler) did not intend to allow his country to be dominated by a modern power (signature of a treaty with Japan in 1930) Mussolini considered the possibility of war to force Abyssinia under Italian control. The clue incident which brought war about was the Ual Ual incident, in which the Italians claimed the right to use this oasis, which was located in the border of Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland, which was marked in the maps as being part of Abyssinia. Italians in Ual Ual were therefore murdered in the oasis in December 1934. Mussolini demanded an apology as well as compensation from Abyssinia, while the Abyssians claimed investigation from the League of Nations, and were pleased in May 1935. Mussolini made preparations for his attack, by either building up forces and sounding out the attitude of Britain and France. In June, Enden, on behalf of the British government offered the Abyssinians a corridor to the sea through British Somaliland if they gave Mussolini part of Ogaden, offer however rejected by Mussolini. In the summer Italian troops under generals de Bono and Graziani arrived at Eritrea. Mussolini continued to make noises about his intentions, feeling disastified by the League resolutions in which it established that neither part was to be blamed by the Ual Ual incident. Italians brought war about provided that the meeting the held with British and French, in which Italy was offered the opportunity to develop Abyssinia provided that the Abyssinians agreed, did not satisfied Mussolini, since he foreshadow that it would be unlikely to obtain such agreement. The conquest of Abyssinia was regarded as a major triumph in Italy, ranking alongside the Concordat of 1929. Mussolini had said the Italian character has to be formed through fighting, and he stuck at this idea definitely between the 30 and until the 40s, completely contrasting the peaceful means through which Mussolini had been able to achieve good foreign relationships, by the 1920s. When the Spanish civil war broke out Mussolini supported immediately Franco and the Nationalists by providing them with men and equipment, on the grounds that he could not allow a communist government to be formed in the Mediterranean. It deepened the rift between Italy and Britain and France, and aligned Mussolini more firmly with Germany. In 1936, exalting the new closeness between Italian-German relationships, the October Protocols were signed. Italy conceded German predominance in Austria, while Germany recognised the Italian empire in East Africa. Both governments agreed on the danger of Communism and the need to keep a careful watch on alleged British plans for encirclement. There was also to be close co-operation between the two powers in Spain. The axis however was not a formal treaty and Mussolini was by no means committed to German alliance. Mussolini, on his visit to Berlin in September 1937, seemed more convinced than ever that Nazism was an invincible force in Europe and Italy had no choice but to ally herself with it. He thus distanced himself further from Britain and France, and joined with Japan and Germany in the Anti-Comitern pact on November. In 1938 Italys weakness was underlined by the fact that neither Shuschnigg nor Hitler bothered to contact Rome, when the Anshluss was signed. Mussolini also was powerless to back Schuschnigg in his attempt to renounce the ultimatum for the Anshluss. . Mussolini was to pay the price for his break with Britain and France in 1935. Mussolini therefore decided to retake Italys traditional policy of equidistance between the Western powers and Berlin. By the Munich agreement Musolini could effectively stop Hitler plunging Europe into war before he judged Italy to be ready for it. It was a considerable diplomatic succes for Musolini and was praised as the man who saved the world. However, Italys policy of equidistance did not last for long. Since Mussolini decided a full military alliance with Germany, since he considered than a German alliance was intended to be more an instrument of diplomatic pressure than a prelude to war. Mussolinis Foreign policy was therefore inconsistent in the sense that Mussolini not only switched his ideas rather frequently (aiming first to align with the Four powers, and then switching to establish closer relations with Germany, and at the end again with Britain and France), but as well in terms of its degree of aggressiveness, since through the 1920s Mussolinis foreign policy can be said to had been quite peaceful (foreign affairs were mainly solved through Treaties and Agreements), switching in the 1930s to a more aggressive foreign policy with the advent of Hitler. Between the 1930s and 1940s he used war mongering (e.g. The Spanish Civil War, the Abyssinian incident, and the Corfu incident).

Music in Marjane Satrapis Persepolis

Music in Marjane Satrapis Persepolis How music as a motif illustrates the developments of the central character in the graphic novel Persepolis 1 and 2. Persepolis a well acknowledged work by Marjane Satrapi represents the protagonist’s life.Persepolis represents music as a way to show one’s feeling and character. It depictsthe alteration of taste of music of the central character throughout Persepolis. It shows how music helps in blending the personality of the writer. This essay will discover how music as a motif developed the central character throughout the work. To begin with, music is much more than a source of entertainment for Marji. In the oppressing atmosphere of with all the restrictions in place it was a source of relief. It helped the writer to connect with the western world and express herself. It helped the writer in expressing her thoughts in every situation which came up to her. The author’s joy, sorrow, enjoyment were all expressed through music. The journey of music began right from her childhood. The first exposure to music was in the form of Pink Floyd. This is proven by the writer when she quotes ‘‘I knew Pink Floyd my parents listened to them whenever we went on a trip’’ (186 Satrapi). Pink Floyd has an American origin and they sing rock music. Rock music a symbol of aggression and Pink Floyd connotes that. The impact of Rock music on the writer was seen as the level of aggression in her started to rise. It made her react to situations aggressively. It also shows her penchant for the music a nd the impact of the music on her life and behaviour. This also leads to the development of the writer’s character over time. The music in her life kept on budding. Musicians like BEE GEES did not had a great impact in her life as she was more influenced by other musicians which were present during that time. The presence of BEE GEES is proved through instance where her maid’s boyfriend is seen to be wearing BEE GEES shirt (37 Satrapi). BEE GEES were an American pop music group. It symbolized the pop culture. Pop culture stands for all the unconventional practises and it motive is to go against the rules. This shows that at that time other teens were attracted to pop music whereas the writer had a liking for rock music. This makes us realize the state of mind of the writer at a young age. The musicians in writer’s life kept on approaching writer’s life as she grew up. KIM WILDE and MICHAEL JACKSON (131 Satrapi) were the ones who next came into the author’s music life. Kim Wilde was a pop singer. She gave the world a series of pop music. Marji considered her as an inspiring figure . It is shown through when the writer looks at KIM WILDE’S poster and trying to replicate her (131 Satrapi). The writer wanted to sing like her, dance like her, look like her in short she was an idol to her. Kim Wilde influenced the writer to the most extent more than any other singers. Michael Jackson also known as the king of pop also has given a great number of pop hits. Michael Jackson himself promotes the idea of breaking the rules which the writer followed to a great extent. Writer’s liking towards Michael Jackson is shown through the instance where she wears the Michael Jackson badge (131 Satrapi).Life with restrictions was not writer’s cup of tea and she always wanted to live her life to the fullest. There was one more musician who influenced Marjane was IRON MAIDEN. Iron Maiden the group has an American origin too. It brought heavy metal songs to the people which were well recognized throughout the world. Heavy metal songs were a symbol of high level of aggression. It led to an increase of aggression in her. The one and only thing which is similar in all the singers that they all belonged to the western world. There is no mention of Iranian music throughout the book which signifies the attraction of the writer towards the western world. The writer always dreamt of living in a western country and through the western music she tried to gain a temporary sense of satisfaction. It made her express her emotions. These instances led to a change in the character of the writer. The singers and the musician’s nature influence the writer in each and every decision of her life. In order to begin with, each singer’s style of singing and there personality had a different impact on writer. Iron Maiden’s heavy metal songs increased the level of aggression in the writer. It made Marjane deal with situations more aggressively. Whereas Michael Jackson’s motive of breaking the rules and achieving freedom is seen through her behaviour and the actions which writer takes. This is proved through the instance where writer wears a denim jacket and a Michael Jackson badge in spite of it being prohibited (131 Satrapi).Kim Wilde influenced Marji the most as compared to other singers. In the difficult atmosphere of Iran the music of Kim Wilde was a source of relief, through which Marjane could express her sentiments and her emotions which were subdued by the Islamic rule. The liking for Kim Wilde is proved when she sings â€Å"we’re the kids in America† (132 Satrapi) when she is walking on the streets. This shows her fondness towards the Kim Wilde. The character of these singers evinces the inner personality of the writer and shows the complete development of the writer, as she moves from heavy metal to pop music which implies a change from violence to unconventional practices. The writer’s choice of music has always changed as she moved from her adolescence to adulthood. In her young age she likes to listen to Iron Maiden, Kim Wilde and Michael Jackson. These various artists bring a separate set of emotions to author’s life. On one hand where Iron Maiden brings aggression, on the other hand Michael Jackson and Kim Wilde motivate her to live life without restrictions. They are a source of expressing her emotions for the writer. Kim Wilde especially inspire her and becomes an idol to the author. But these emotions were limited to her young age. When writer returns from Austria she has liking only for pop music left in her. This is proved through the instance when the author desires to hear the songs of Kim Wilde (250 Satrapi).Her stay in abroad had made her forget all the rock and heavy metal songs. This shows that the tough moments which came up to her in Austria made her realize what music really meant to her. The writer tends to forget the s ingers which influenced the writer most in her adolescence. This is proved through the instance where she states that ‘‘ In any case I no longer liked the idols of my adolescence†(251 Satrapi).The author wishes to listen pop music which clearly states that she still wants the freedom but the aggression in her has disappeared over time. The change in her taste of music also has led to her growth. The young age aggression had been downcast and there was a development of maturity in her. This shows how music led to the development of the writer. It stimulated the change from adolescence to adulthood which signifies the importance of music in her life. Author-Marjane Satrapi Title-Persepolis Translated by- Published by- Vintage Published year-2008

The International Market Audit And Kangaroo Meat Products Marketing Essay

The International Market Audit And Kangaroo Meat Products Marketing Essay The Report Covers an International Market Audit and a Marketing plan for the export of Kangaroo meat products in the German market by Ace Corporation. The Companies main objective is to sell Kangaroo meat products like (sausages, diced meat, fillets and mince meat) in the German market to broaden its market space. The Vision of the company is Creating an edible product for human consumption which will be so tempting and full of nutrition that all would just want to say Lets eat Kangaroo. The Kangaroo Industry is in operation in all states of Australia except Victoria and NT. Its reasonably big industry collecting revenue of $270 million per year. Every state has to operate under the Kangaroo Management plan which is controlled by the Conservation authorities within the state and when overseas its controlled by the Federal authority. Germany is one of the worlds largest economies. Having a market share of 33.5 per cent in the European meat market. The Meat markets make a lot of profit reaching nearly $7.8 billion in the year 2007, and are mostly likely to touch $9.5 billion by 2012. (Frozen Food Global Industry Guide, 2008). The Germans are adapting to the new culture surrounding and are becoming more and more health conscious with passing time. After having understood the market trends and successfully completing the economic and socio-cultural analysis Ace Corporation has chosen Germany for the international export of Kangaroo meat products, which is very healthy , high in protein , iron and very low in fat perfect for our target market being families. (Phillips, C., n.d.). The Product Kangaroos are very high in number and are stated as an iconic animal and are known for their uniqueness in Australia. They give off one third as much methane as ruminant animals, like cows o goats. They are responsible for 60 per cent of the global methane emission. They whole idea behind entering into this industry was to reduce the highly populated number of Kangaroos creating a healthier environment and provide a cuisine which the consumers enjoy to eat as a part of their meals.( Kangaroo meat, n.d.). Below is the chart showing the population of Kangaroos in Australia 2009 Population estimates for kangaroos within the commercial harvest areas State Red (Macropus rufus) Western Grey (Macropus fuliginosus) Eastern Grey (Macropus giganteus) Wallaroo/Euro (Macropus robustus) South Australia 1,031,000 658,000 465,000 Western Australia 904,506 1,653,464 New South Wales 2,456,795 722,255 3,909,270 114,966 Queensland 5,004,684 7,714,654 2,405,729 Grand Total 9,396,985 3,033,719 11,623,924 2,985,695 Source: Kangaroo population estimates Kangaroo Meat which we will be exporting from Australia is meant for Human Consumption only, as 70 per cent of kangaroo meat is exported to different countries around the world. It is considered as ideal meat for maintaining a balanced diet. It is also low in cholesterol and has 24% of protein and minerals. The fat contain is less than 2%. Nutrition Content as Compared to other meat Protein (%) Fat (%) Kilojoules (per 100g) P/M/S ratio Cholesterol (mg/100g) Iron (mg/100g) Kangaroo 24 1-3 500 1.5(1)1 56 2.6 Lean Lamb 22 2-7 530 0.1(0.9)1 66 1.8 Lean Beef 22 2-5 500 0.1(0.9)1 67 3.5 Lean Pork 23 1-3 440 0.2(1.3)1 50 1.0 Lean Chicken Breast 23 2 470 0.4(1.5)1 50 0.6 Rabbit 22 2-4 520 0.8(0.5)1 70 1.0 Source: Food GL Fogerty AC. 1982. The fatty acids of Kangaroo and wallaby meat. CSIRO Food Research Quarterly, 42, 57-61. Kangaroo Meat is available in various shapes and sizes for human consumption a chart of different types of kangaroo meat cuts has been put up in the Appendix 1. Evaluate the Product as an innovation as it is perceived by the intended market. Relative Advantage People of Germany have adapted to new food habits and have become more calorie and cholesterol conscious in their intake. Percentage of protein in Kangaroo meet is high in comparison to beef and pork. People of Germany like game meat, as well are always ready to try different types of meat products. (Flannery, n.d.). An added advantage of Kangaroo meat is that it is 30% cheaper than beef, which simultaneously increases the scope of opportunities to sell our product into the German market. (More Aussies dining on Skippy, 2008). The relative advantage of our product is more as compared to other products. Compatibility Kangaroo meat is one of the healthiest red meat, available for human consumption. The fat levels in kangaroo meat are less than 2% which creates a positive mind set for the consumer to buy our product as these days consumer are very health conscious. Kangaroo meat can be used exactly like other red meats; its also available in a wide range of cuts. (Kangaroo Meat for Human Consumption,n.d.). Complexity Our Kangaroo meat is produced under high strict hygiene legislation and has an even healthier disease free status than domestic animal meats. The method of cooking kangaroo meat is easy and not to complex. One thing which needs to be kept in mind is overcooking which will dry out the meat. Trial ability As Kangaroo meat falls under the category of game meats and is one of the rarest breed of animal found for human consumption it is also very inexpensive to purchase, this automatically encourages the consumers in Germany to try this product for a minimum expense from their pockets Observability Kangaroo meat is easy to cook and contains high levels of protein, iron, zinc, B-group vitamins namely riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. A variety of dishes can be cooked from kangaroo meat. German Consumers cab be rest assured that our kangaroo meat is safe to eat and is processed to meet the strict Australian and export Standards. (COOKING TIPS.n.d.). Major problems and resistance to product acceptance based on the preceding evaluation. The Main issue or the area of concern for Kangaroo Meat is the method of cooking as it is low fat content, can easily dry out during the cooking process. Therefore it is recommended to follow some simple cooking steps to retain moisture and the meat flavour. Kangaroo meat should be handled and cooked like any other lean low fat red meat. (COOKING TIPS.n.d.).The Haziness of cooking kangaroo meat discourages many consumers. Also another problem with Kangaroo meat is that Kangaroo is the national animal of Australia. The consumers which are fond of meat products are very taste sensitive, they are aware of kangaroo products being available in the market but havent got the right approach and means to try it out. The Market Describe the market(s) in which the product is to be sold. The country that we are focusing on selling our product is Germany. The market audit and plan will be based on strategically approaches used to introduce our product into the market, specifically looking at the culture, political and economic environment. 1. Geographical region(s) We are focusing on Berlin being the capital of Germany, as it is not possible to cover the entire market of Germany in the first year of business. Berlin is the most important state in Germany out of the 16 states. It has a total population of 3.5million. Berlin is one of the most significant centres in European politics, culture and science. Berlin is also a working capital city and a province of Germany. It is also famous for its cultural institutions and a highly visited tourist destination.(Berlin ,Germany,n.d.) Forms of transportation and communication available in that region. Germany is well known as the nation of car lovers. Public Transport is excellent in Germany. Their rail network is very comfortable, reliable and fast. All major cities have an impressive public transport system like Tube, Tram and Busses which are very reliable. Many cities in Germany encourage cyclists with elected bicycle lanes. ( Getting Around in Germany,n.d.). For Transportation and communication when exporting and selling (in the Target market) our product, we will be using only Air Transport and Road Transport. Consumer buying habits. Product-use patterns The German cuisine is very different from region to region, Aswell we have discussed this in ou socio-cultural analysis which gives a clear understanding of the audience in the target market. As the Germans is health conscious and very particular about their calorie intake. There are more than 1500 varieties of sausages available.(Cuisine,n.d.). As our kangaroo meat is very healthy, light in consumption less in fat and easy to cook, it fits right as a part of their meals keeping in mind the health factor. Product feature preference According to a survey by GfK whose studies and analyses are based on consumer shopping behaviour state that the German consumers have a per capita retail purchasing power of around à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5,201 in 2009. GfK GeoMarketing has understood and calculated the Germans purchasing power by region, categorizing the results according to around 60 food- and non-food product lines.(New study on Germans regional consumer preferences,n.d.). As the Consumers in Germany have high purchasing power , it gives us a green flag to enter their market and sell our chosen product. Untitled.png As seen in the above chart the German consumers spend round 12.6% on health and hygienic products. In which they are mainly looking for nutritious and healthy intake of food. In that case kangaroo meat which we want to sell meets their demands and expectation levels. Shopping habits Shop till you drop is the tag line which is fixed to the Germans shopping habits. Shopping is called as a national pastime for the Germans. Malls are not that well- developed in Germany so there are more of Out Malls which have been opened up. Place lile Big Box, hyper-stores, discounters, Marktstrassen or market streets are very popular to buy their products on daily needs.(Shopping in Germany,n.d.). Specialization shops are very popular and easily recognized in food stores. The Metzgerei (butcher), Backerei (bakery) and Konditorei (pastry shop) are in business by people of their own profession. Germans basically buy their meat from local butchers instead of buying it from supermarket. Their preference is quality, comfort, prestige, convenience and price when buying consumer durables. alternatively, price dominates other factors in case of everyday goods.(Shopping in Germany,n.d.). Distribution of the product Typical retail outlets The German market is the biggest and the most important part of Europe, the retail market is very competitive and segmented for most of the products. The highest level of importance is given to the Quality and service of the products. ( Germany MARKET ACCESS,n.d.). The German retail market is distributed into large Independent shops, having a high proportion of distribution in city centres and urban areas. Also they are quite a few numbers of hypermarkets followed by discounted stores which are the main attractions to customers. The market also gives high importance to distance selling which are mail order, e-commerce and teleshopping.( Germany MARKET ACCESS,n.d.). Our strategy here will be the approaching the specific shops which will sell our products to the consumers at a reasonable price, which specially assures good quality and taste. Product sales by other middlemen For selling a variety of products in Germany, the best approach is to involve or appoint an independent regional agent who understands the surrounding and culture, having a clear understanding of the situation. Also taking into consideration that Germany holds the ranking for organising the worlds largest trade exhibitions and fairs, proving very important for companies to build their image and status in the surrounding and simultaneously understand who its competitors are, how the market operates and how to create goodwill amongst the bigger guns. (Distribution, n.d.). Advertising and Promotion Advertising media usually used to reach your target markets(s) Advertising is one of the most evident forms of communication. The types of advertising most used in Germany are Televisions, Print ads( Newspapers), Outdoor, Radio, Online and Magazines, for any product to be introduced in this target market these types of adverting media are highly recommended.. (Germany Marketing Strategy,n.d.). As mentioned in our earlier economic analysis report that 51% of citizens obtain new through the medium of television, 22% get the information from newspapers or Magazines and 6% make use of the radio. Advertising is given the utmost importance in any company or to any product before getting itself introduced to the world and especially in Germany for us to introduce our Kangaroo Meat we will need to approach the right medium to give us the right push in to the target market. Sales Promotions customarily used Sales Promotions acts as the key factor in adding value to the sale. Sales promotions are usually used in the B to B Market, where the consumer goods move fast in sales. Germany on the other hand has some interesting strategies to take from, and undoubtedly these promotional strategies have proven to work in the current market trends. (Phillips, C., n.d.). The Tools used for the promotion of any product have to be taken into effect by understanding the customer sentiments and the way of purchasing, because the need and want are two separate things when it comes to buying a product. Tools like Consumer goods Coupons, Price reduction, Premiums, data base/ direct marketing, are the main sections given high priority in Germany when introducing a product. (Phillips, C., n.d.). Pricing Strategy Pricing is one of the most critical factors when pricing in the International market. Pricing is that element that generates revenue; the remaining elements are driven by cost. The thought that we as exporters need to be cautious when pricing in the Global environment is Counter Trade Requirements, Regional Trading, Increased Competitive Levels, and Standardisation against Localisation Issues etc. (cite text) Customary Mark-Ups The Normal pattern used by most of the retailers for the mark-up is the customary mark-ups which is a 100% .e.g. If our product cost is 12$ it will be sold in Germany for 24$ keeping in mind the conversion cost between the two countries.(Pricing Strategy,2007). In the case of our product we have kept the Customary mark- up price for our retailers as 60% for only the reason being our product is new in the market and even though our competitors exist we have to match the standard Quality and Taste of our product , keeping in mind the affordability factor Types of Discounts Available Discount types are many and have various purposes depending on the situation, the location, the time period or even the market trend. Types of discounts available in the target market are: Paper Coupon Online Coupon Direct Discounts Premiums Reward points Rebates Percentage of total Purchase Cash of total Purchase As for our Kangaroo meat we will only be using the Coupons, Premiums, and direct discount strategy as it is not possible to introduce all types of discount in the first year of production/export. Compare and contrast your product and the competitors product The Main competitors who export Kangaroo meat from Australia are: Macro Meats- Leading producer of kangaroo and wild gourmet game meat Southern Game Meat- Export Kangaroo meat to Europe. DGroot International Food Marketing Exports Kangaroo Meat to the USA. Game meats Australia- Export Kangaroo and Wallaby meat. Ace Corporation main objective is to export Kangaroo Meat. The idea and the purpose behind selling kangaroo meat is that, its low in fat intake and free from chemicals, hormones and pesticide. Its basically an ultimate free range meat which is very high in protein and iron content. Our Tag line says it all Lets Eat Kangaroo our motive being Healthier Kangaroo meat for Human Consumption. One of our major competitors is Macro Meats Competitors Product Macro Meats is our biggest competitor. Macro Meats was established in 1987 with a vision to develop kangaroo meat not only as another meat for human consumption, but to promote kangaroo meats healthy and 100% natural features. The Company Director and Owner Ray Borda has been the man behind this industry for over 22years. Some of the Products sold by them are: Kanga Bangas (Kangaroo Sausages) Kangaroo Mince-1kg Marinated kangaroo steak Kangaroo Mince- 500g Kangaroo Steak Kangaroo Fillets Kangaroo mini roast Kangaroo marinated kebabs. (Products, n.d.). Brand Name They export their product under the name- Macro meats-Gourmet Game. Is a certified meat exporter and is EU accredited. Features Some of their Features which give them a higher advantage are : Chemical free Processed as per Quality assurance program Gluten free 98% fat free High in Iron High in Protein Package Macro meats-Gourmet Game have a standardised packing pattern for all their products as they have a number of products which they export as mentioned above. Their packaging is done by the Australian Supermarkets and the kangaroo meat is approved by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and many of its products have a Kangaroo fillet Tick Approval. (A Growing Industry, n.d.). Competitors Prices Product Per kg (In AUD) Kanga Bangas ( Sausages) $13.00 Kangaroo Fillets $17.00 Kangaroo Mince 500g $10.00 Diced Kangaroo Meat $12.00 ACE Corporation will be only selling four products in the first year of production/export, for the same reason we have compared prices with only four of our competitors products. Competitors promotion and advertising methods. Macro Meats Slogan is Good for you good for the environment The Advertising methods used by them are mainly through newspapers, Television, radio and the weekly specials booklets distributed by the supermarkets.(Environment, n.d.). Competitors Distribution Channel The Distribution channels used by Macro meats are as follows: Air Transport Distributors Retailers Storage at the arrival airport Truck Transport Custom Duties Freight Forwarder Storage Importers Storage in Processed Chillers Macro Meat Processor Market Size The Australian Kangaroo Industry started exporting Kangaroo meat to Europe in 1959 having a high response to the European game meat. Kangaroo meat which is processed and exported is checked by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).( The kangaroo industry2008). The market size for this type of industry is massive and is spread in Germany, Russia, USA, Africa, China, France, and Netherlands. Estimated Industry sales for the Planning year As there are a few organisations already exporting the same product as ours it will be a bit difficult to gain an 100% profit margin. Looking at it from all aspects of the market we have an estimated target of 65% to achieve. Estimated sales for your company for the planning year. The Estimated sales for our first year being in business. Selling Kangaroo meat in the Germany will be approximately % 750,000.00 With an estimated Gross Profit of 16.4% Government participation in the marketplace The German federal government plays a vital role in the German economy, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly through the effects of other policies on the economy. Germany being a part of the European Union (EU) which assures a Liberal Movement between European countries. Germany is a leader in export thus the entire European union is its Primary trade partner with 47.8% of the German imports and 53.1% of its exports are made with 15 original members of EU.( Foreign trade in figures, n.d.) Agencies There are two Australian Government that have been set up and will be helpful for us to export. They also provide grants to exporters that assist with business development activities. They are listed below: Austrade (Australian Trade commission). Overseas Business Development Grants from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Regulation The government regulations and list of documents that we will have to comply with, when exporting our product: Kangaroo Harvester accreditation requirements are that each State has a TAFE course which harvesters must pass in order to gain licences. A permit issued by the department will generally be needed to legally export kangaroo products. The export and import of wildlife and wildlife products is regulated under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Following the Code of Practice for the Humane Harvesting which ensures humane welfare. Outcomes of kangaroos. (Exports, n.d.). Insurance Certificate Commercial invoice Packing list Freight insurance Freight documents Customer value declaration Certificate of origin Customs Import declaration (Special certificates, 2009).

The Truth About The War In Iraq :: Film Movie Iraq War

The Whole Truth about the Iraq War For my first peace paper I went to the Ritz East movie theater on September 30th to watch the movie "Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War." This is a movie whose mission was to reveal the lies that have been told to the American people by the Bush Administration. The majority of the audience seemed to me to be democrats or at least people who opposed the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration. There were a lot of people who are antiwar and they were easy to pick out. On the other hand, there were a few strays thrown in who seemed to be pro-war and a Bush backer. Most of these people ended up leaving the theater in hatred and claiming that it is all lies and speculation, and even some left the theater before the movie was finished. I continually saw and heard people becoming uneasy and shaking their heads in disgust. Their was a wide variety of people there. The ages ranged from about late teens to about late sixties or early seventies. I would say that there was p retty much of an even split between male and female, but the majority of the people look to be middle aged and middle class people. The Truth About The War In Iraq :: Film Movie Iraq War The Whole Truth about the Iraq War For my first peace paper I went to the Ritz East movie theater on September 30th to watch the movie "Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War." This is a movie whose mission was to reveal the lies that have been told to the American people by the Bush Administration. The majority of the audience seemed to me to be democrats or at least people who opposed the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration. There were a lot of people who are antiwar and they were easy to pick out. On the other hand, there were a few strays thrown in who seemed to be pro-war and a Bush backer. Most of these people ended up leaving the theater in hatred and claiming that it is all lies and speculation, and even some left the theater before the movie was finished. I continually saw and heard people becoming uneasy and shaking their heads in disgust. Their was a wide variety of people there. The ages ranged from about late teens to about late sixties or early seventies. I would say that there was p retty much of an even split between male and female, but the majority of the people look to be middle aged and middle class people.

Aggression in Middle School Girls Essay examples -- Personal Narrative

Aggression in Middle School Girls It was eight o'clock on a cold night in January. Our house rang with giggles and whispers and the occasional shriek of laughter. In the family room the latest teenie-bopper flick was amusing a crowd of pajama-clad seventh-graders. The sound of pounding feet from above betrayed that others were having an impromptu dance party/ pillow fight. The phone book was missing. My little sister, Lily, was having a sleepover. Mom had rushed to the store when it was discovered that there was no more ice cream in the freezer. My father had wisely retreated to the parlor to read. I was in charge. Suddenly, from upstairs I heard a door slam and raised voices. I gritted my teeth and went to investigate. Another door, further down the hall banged closed. I found Lily, standing in the middle of the hallway, one tightly shut door on her left, another on her right. The sounds of muffled sobbings came from within. Erica and Ashley were fighting again. Both parties were at an impasse. Lily, tired of being peacemaker, burst into tears on the floor. There was nothing to be done; Lily had been telling me the soap opera of Erica and Ashley's friendship for months. The next morning, Erica and Ashley were brushing one another's hair, whispering about the other girls, and drinking orange juice from the same cup. The fight and its rapid treaty weren't exactly new to me. Any female who has ever been in middle school or junior high can attest to the truth of the story of Erica and Ashley. But explaining the reasonings, emotions, and justification for the girls' actions is much more difficult. What goes on in the twisted, inner-workings of the thirteen-year-old female mind? Why do girls make their friends fee... ...ion in boys- it's considered natural, inherent, ingrained. What might help more than anything, however, is increased recognition that girls are not always sweet, innocent, and nice, that they do, in fact, get mad, that they can, and very often are, quite nasty towards one another. It is seven o'clock on a warm July morning. I am out for a quick jog before going to my summer job at a doctor's office. As I run by my old middle school, I see that students in the summer program have already been dropped off and are milling around in the parking lot. A gaggle of twelve-year-old girls with high ponytails and higher-pitched squeals is flocked around the basketball hoop. Another clique in t-shirts and sneakers is playing tetherball. One lone girl sits on the school steps immersed in a book. A dozen heads turn and stare at me as I run by. I shudder and pick up speed.

Spring Break Essay

Dylan Farmer 1/24/2012 English 101 Spring break is mainly a time of partying for most teenagers that go to my high school, but I was off to California with my girlfriend’s family to pretty much explore a whole other side of the U. S. California is the place that every person and the world wants to go for their spring break. I was very happy that my girlfriend’s mom is a travel agent, so we got a pretty good deal for the prices of our flight and on the hotel prices. Just for extra fun we drove to Chicago and stayed there for two nights. We explored downtown Chicago, all the amazing buildings.We even got to go into the old Sears Tower, which was something that I think everyone needs to see. It's probably one of the best sights I've ever seen, other than the fact I've only seen a good view going down Quincy hill near my hometown. I forgot to mention that when we left for our flight to California that was going to be my first time ever flying on an airplane. It was very exc iting to fly, especially since it was going to be a long three hour flight. I felt like a little kid again when the flight attendant gave me my wings for flying for my first time.Not all people in the world get to experience flying, so I thought I was pretty lucky to get to enjoy this experience. We arrived in Los Angeles, California. The hotel we stayed in was one of the best hotels I've ever been in. This hotel was so big and fancy, and the weight room that was there was bigger than the fitness center back home. This hotel also had two pools. The outdoor pool looked really beautiful, because it had a giant water fall leading into the pool, but it was closed down while we were was staying there, so I just used the normal everyday hotel pool, which was indoors.It was very incredible to see something like this on how beautiful a single hotel could be, and look. Exploring the streets of California was really fun. I adventured through the fashion district, which has a lot of cheap item s. There was some kid trying to sell me copyrighted DVDs, which I actually bought, but out of the three I bought, but only one of the movies worked. One of the obvious reasons of why I went to California was that I got to see all the amazing sites that all normal tourists go and see.We all walked around the Sanna Monica Pier, Manhattan Pier, and also to the great Venice beach. It was very pretty place to see all the people walking around and all the little gift shops on the beach. However, out of the three piers I went to, the Manhattan Pier was one of my favorites, because I got to see my first dolphin, which was pretty awesome, and I never thought I’d actually have the chance to see one with the little time that I was there. Later in that week our last trip was to Hollywood Boulevard, which was a crazy place to meet some weird people.There was a lot of people singing, dancing, selling stuff, or any other random ways to make a dollar. Hollywood Boulevard was still a very int eresting place, seeing all the stars on the ground with some hand print in it or their writing. One pretty interesting thing that I noticed is that Muhammad Ali’s star was the only one that was hanging up, because all the other stars where just on the ground, but I guess he was the fighter of America. When it was about time to leave California, I was feeling something different than usual, like I didn't want to go back home just right yet.I just wanted to stay there and enjoy the sun. I knew that my spring break had to end at some point, though It was just amazing how different the society was here than Michigan. I think I liked it better here, but that is probably because I’m not living here 24/7 like I am in Michigan. I thought to myself how I would rather go on vacations than partying for my spring break. Spring break is where one can actually learn about a different state and see new sightings for the first time. It was a great experience to go on this trip to Cali fornia.