Romeo And Juliet Essays (159 words) - Characters In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo And Juliet What would have happened had our trust remained? Would the death of Juliet never been proclaimed? Would Juliet still be here laughing away? No I don't think so cause I am to pay. Oh dear heavenly father it's all my fault. I put her there locked in the vault. I should never have told her to marry Count Paris. For her dear Romeo is the fairest. Heaven should curse me for what I have done. For having her dead is not really much fun. Should I have known that it was coming? Could I have heard the death drums drumming? What should I do I'm out of a job. And my heart feels like it has been robbed. I feel sorry for Romeo's family and mine. How could I've been so carelessly blind. Though Romeo deserves just what he gets. Cause now Tybalt and Juliet lye my pit. My Juliet is gone and not on good terms. I know now that my lesson is learned.

Philadelphia Experiment essays

Philadelphia Experiment essays The Philadelphia Experiment did happen. It was an attempt by the US Navy to make a ship that could not be detected by magnetic mines or radar. There is much controversy and misinformation about the experiment, and it appears that the government has tried to make it appear that the experiment never happened. The Eldridge (the ship) left New York for Bermuda on Sept 16th. From September 18 to October 15, it was used as a training vessel and used for sea trials. On October 18, it left for New York and remained there until November 1st. On November 1st to the 2nd, it left and traveled to Norfolk, and on November 3rd it left for Casablanca. The Eldridge arrived in Casablanca on November 22 and stayed there until November 29th when it left go to back to New York. The Eldridge arrived in New York on December 17. From December 17th to December 31st it traveled to Norfolk. This is all the history of the ship while the experiments were going on. The Navy said they never did experiments on the Eldridge at any time, but the government sometimes covers up things that go wrong. The government covered up much about the secretManhattan project? which kept the development of the atomic bomb secret.. One source of information about the Philadelphia Experiment is Carlos Miguele Allende, who was born on May 31, 1925 in Pennsylvania. On July 14, 1942 he joined the Marine Corps and was discharged. After being discharged he joined the Merchant Marines and was assigned to the SS Andrew Furuseth. On the SS Andrew Furuseth, Carlos Allende saw the Eldridge with his own 2 eyes. His story is bizarre. He stated that he watched the Eldridge transport instantaneously to Norfolk from Philadelphia and back in only a few minutes. He was amazed and wanted to know more about the Eldridge. When searching for Information about the ship he learned about the extremely odd occurrences. Allende wrote a let...

Reaching the Top Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reaching the Top - Case Study Example Churchill has successfully used the postmodern displacement of time to dramatize the sacrifices made by women in business and in the society. The first scene opens with a dinner party at a restaurant to celebrate the success of Marlene, the central character , in her profession. Many legendary women including Pope Joan, the world traveler Isabella Bird and the Japanese courtesan Nijo attend the party. Marlene is a highly successful career woman who has become the General Manager of an employment agency called 'Top Girls' Acutely ambitious, she has achieved power and prestige in a male dominated territory by abandoning her social responsibilities. In this, she is like Isabella, who is a world traveler in an age where traveling abroad was mostly a male prerogative. Traveling the world, Isabella too has sacrificed her social responsibilities. Isabella wears trousers because she "feels like it".(Churchill 29) , and refuses to "live the life of a lady".(Churchill 29) Marlene too does not' live like a lady' as her choice of food and her dominating attitude indicate. Marlene's story has a parallel with the stories of Pope Joan, Griselda and Nijo, all of whom had to give up or abandon their children. While Marlene does it voluntarily, the other women are forced to do it. Joyce is Marlene's supposedly sterile sister who has adopted Marlene's daughter Angie. There is a troubled relationship between Joyce and Angie, with the latter hating her supposed mother and the former nursing a resentment against Angie. Joyce thinks that she lost her unborn child because of the difficulties of raising Angie. Joyce can be compared to Pope Joan who was stoned to death with her child. In scene three of Act I, Angie is hiding from Joyce with her friend Kit when Kit says,"Do you want to watch the Exterminator'" (Churchill 45) The Exterminator can be linked to Joyce who is hated by Angie. Joyce's story has a parallel in the story of Nijo, who had to give up her own children to please the Emperor, whom she hated. Motherhood, which is the natural right of a woman,is sacrificed by these women. The sixteen year old Angie is a troubled adolescent . Both her adopted as well as natural mothers consider her to be less than intelligent. Marlene says, "She is not going to make it" (Churchill 66), while Angie idolizes her aunt Marlene. Angie can be compared to the inarticulate Dull Gret, who, clad in an armour and apron, leads an army of women to battle. Angie, though considered dull, manages to go to her aunt's office. This shocks Marlene, who asks in astonishment, "How did you get past the receptionist '" (66) Angie has sacrificed her whole career by giving up her intelligence. Success comes to woman only through sacrifice. Only those women who give up something very valuable can become 'Top Girls'. To achieve power and position, a woman might have to sacrifice her relationships, even her identity as a woman as evidenced in the case of Marlene and Isabella. A top girl might have to renounce her ability to procreate. She can achieve her goal in a negative way by sacrificing her intelligence . To accomplish anything, be it professional or social, the top girl has to give up a part of herself in a male dominated society. Works Cited Churchill, Caryl. Top Girls : London: Methuen Student Edition

Business Environment Demand and Supply Assignment

Business Environment Demand and Supply - Assignment Example 2. If the price of Snickers increases, then the substitute for the Mars bar has become more expensive. As a result at each price, people will buy more Mars bars. Therefore, at each price there will be a higher quantity demanded of Mars bars. So the demand for Mars bars will increase. In figure 2 suppose the initial demand curve at the old price of Snicker bars is D0. This curve shows at price ?0.6 per unit of Mars bars, Q1 units are demanded. Now if the price of Snickers bars goes up, at the same price of Mars bars, more units are demanded. So, the demand curve shifts up to D1. In this new situation, at the old price of Mars bars Q2 units are demanded. Figure 2: Effect of increase in the price of substitutes 3. In figure 3, D0 is the initial demand line for Strawberries. If the price of cream fell, then a unit of Strawberries and cream together is less expensive. Since Strawberries and cream is consumed together, the quantity demanded of strawberries and cream together rises. As a re sult, at each price, the quantity demanded of Strawberries is now higher. So, the demand curve for Strawberries shifts out to the right to D1. Figure 3: Effect of fall in price in cream on demand for Strawberries 4. If the interest rate increases, then people have to pay more to repay the same amounts of loans. As a result, the income falls. If income falls, given the same price of cars, people can afford to buy fewer cars. Therefore, at every price, the quantity demanded of cars falls. As a result, there is a decline in the demand of cars. This is shown in figure 4. The demand for cars drops from D0 to D1. Figure 4: Effect of rise in interest rates on demand for cars 5. If the cost of production of Mars bars falls, then every unit of Mars bars can be supplied at lower price. Therefore, at each price the quantity supplied increases. This leads to an outward shift in the supply on the Mars bars. The effect is shown in figure 5 below. The initial demand and supply curves are D0 and S0 respectively. The equilibrium occurs at point A where these two curves intersect one another. Note from the vertical axis that at the initial equilibrium the price is 0.6p. Now, suppose the production cost falls. As a result, the supply curve shifts out to the right to S1. The new equilibrium is point B. Note from the vertical axis, the new equilibrium price of Mars bars is lower than the initial equilibrium price. Figure 5: Effect of reduction in producing costs 6. In figure 6, the effect of a reduction in a tax on the sales of the product is shown. Suppose initially, the tax is ‘t’. The relevant supply curve is S0+t. If the tax is taken off, the cost of the firm goes down, as a consequence the firm can supply more at each price. The supply curve without the tax is S0. Observe, if a tax is charged, then to supply an output of Q1 the firm has to charge a price of P0+t. But if there is no tax, the firm can supply the same output at a lower price of P0. Therefore, the ef fect of a reduction in tax is to shift the supply curve out to the right. Figure 6: Effect of a reduction in tax on the supply 7. If there is an increase in technology, the inputs become more productive. As a result, at the same per unit cost, the firm can now produce more. Therefore, at each price, the firm now is able to offer a higher quantity supplied. Therefore, due to the improvement in technology, the

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Ethics - Essay Example Many religions make claims in the ethics department, but the fact that religion does this is only a coincidence. Many religions address issues of ethics, but many also have directives that go contrary to this universally acceptable concept of ethics. Being religious is not synonymous to being ethical, as evidenced by the many instances in history where extreme violence was spurred by religious motivations, such as the Crusades and the Inquisition, the Muslim jihads, and the violence in Jerusalem. The advocates of different religions are forever squabbling over the superiority and correctness of their own religion, whereby we can conclude, if we are to be rational, that any one of the ethical systems that they advocate are just as contentious as their religion. Religious institutions have vested interests in many areas that may not be ethical. The human experience is largely self-determined, and does not depend on the supernatural. There is a universal morality that transcends such exclusive institutions as religion; solutions to our ethical dilemmas cannot be based upon religion. As Ambrose Bierce puts succinctly, religion is â€Å"a daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.† Today many people are not religious, are atheists, even, but their lack of religious affiliation does not exclude them from the realm of ethics. Atheism, agnosticism, or any such lack of religious conviction is often associated (by the religious, no less) with a corresponding lack of morality. But this is not so; although religion does address some ethical issues, this is merely a coincidence; religion, in general, also espouses some profoundly unethical beliefs. Hence religion can, and should, never be a foundation of ethical behavior. Throughout history man has constantly assumed the existence of metaphysical forces that provide a set of rules on

Greek Roman Athletic

Greek Roman Athletic Greek and Roman sports Introduction Ancient Greek and Roman civilization have made many enduring contributions to western civilization. Such as politics, sports, and trade are present in western society because of Greece and Rome. The Ancient Greeks and Romans have engaged a everlastingly nebulous place in our psyche, and have hence assumed a powerful place in our fantasies about many things. Running the gamut from wrestling to boomerang, Sports and Games of the Ancients spans the world to bring us collection of athletic and spirited pastimes, rituals, and contests. In Ancient Greek and Romans Sports, athletic contested very hard and it was a public display that was a trait of the religious and social life of ancient Greece and Rome (Osborne 15). The ancient athletes were untainted in mind and body and they trained and participate for no other reason than the passion for physical exercise, fair competition and to honor their gods. In this article I will to discuss the Greek and Roman attitudes toward sports. Attitudes of the two Societies The Greek society was unique in way because it was the first to put man at the center of the universe. Unlike the creature deities of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the gods of the Greeks are human in form. Man was there source of inspiration and thus loved they he would be competitive in all fields specially sports. The Roman society did not had the time or inclination to turn to softer, lazier, and altogether more debauched things such as sitting around and talking or writing books. Nevertheless, the Romans, unlike the Greeks, were illustrious by practicality and common sense, not by a love of abstract thought. The Roman societies imagination has too often been regarded as, at worst, deficient and derivative, and, at best, pragmatic rather than sophistic (Osborne 74). The similarity between Greek and Roman thought has I think by and large been over-simplified in modern accounts, and has not often been considered to be an interesting subject. Still both had similar paths of creation, conquest, and destruction. How brutal were Greek sports The ancient competition, physically, was poles apart from our modern games. There were far fewer events and only free Greek speaking men (and sometimes boys) were allowed to compete because of severity and brutality. There was no team competition, and the emphasized on individual achievement through public competition was related to the Greek ideal of excellence, called Arete. In Greece the games served at first as a constituent in various spiritual observances: Some were held in admiration of the gods, some as offerings of thanksgiving. Others, in later times, were held in honor of living people. The Greek games where brutal but with their attendant processions, feasts, and music, played an important role in developing the approval of physical beauty that is typical of Greek art and literature. The four main cycles of games were the Olympic Games, the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games, and the Nemean Games (Kyle 48). Was Roman sporting even more brutal then the Greek sports The Roman games, like those of the Greeks, were partially religious in nature. However, corrupt politicians used the games to win the errands of the populace and vied with one another in the lavishness and profligacy of the games, which were held on the flimsiest of pretexts and eventually lost their original religious meaning and purpose. Certainly warfare familiarized Romans with violence, and violent spectacles escalated with, and symbolized, the territorial expansion of the empire and the blood sports acted as a surrogate for war. Public spectacles were of various kinds. They included a gladiatorial combat, stage-plays in every quarter of Rome performed in every language, chariot races in the Circus, athletic competitions, and a mock naval battle. Without a doubt, the Greek games depended for their entertainment value primarily on rivalry among athletes; while the Roman games were often describe by the staging of battles fought to the death and involved large numbers of human beings and also beasts (Kyle 184). The Roman sporting was crueler because in Greece the people were often participants, whereas in Rome they were mere spectators, and only professional athletes, slaves, and prisoners usually took part. Conclusion The Greek and Roman cultures truly transformed the art of civilization. We can clearly see the love for sports in Greek and the Romans. It was through Justinians code, Roman law influenced civil law codes throughout much of Western Europe (Kyle 26). We learn that the ancient Greeks and Romans shaped their own idea about the meaning of life. The Roman games were radically different from the Greek games in several respects. But still it shows the mindset of the people of that time. Without a doubt the modern Americans would find much of that sports awfully violent; particularly the hundreds of gladiator contests and animal fights, with their many public deaths of both people and wild animals. We surely learn that some upper-class Romans were dismayed at the brutality of the games but defended them as a means of directing popular anger away from the elite. The useful lessons we learn I think is of bravery and courage in the face of death. Works Cited Osborne, R. Studies in Ancient Greek and Roman Society. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Kyle, Donald G. Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World. New York: Blackwell Pub, 2007.

Beowulf - Changes In People :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

The tale of Beowulf is one of constant transformation. Great warriors and leaders are turned into cowering peons. Faithful Christians convert to devil worship. Devout followers flee at the sight of trouble. Many people’s morals change quickly and drastically at the sight of change. Personal turmoil abounds with changing values brought about by changing times. People can remain content as long as nothing challenges them, however at the mere sight of change personal chaos abounds. One case of how change causes people to forsake their values happens when Grendal makes his first appearance at Herot. â€Å"Then Hrothgar, taking the throne, led/ The Danes to such glory that comrades and kinsmen/ Swore by his sword, and young men swelled.† (64-67) Hrothgar was a mighty leader of the Danes, but at the sight of a different foe, a change, Hrothgar turned tail and ran. He did not once try to face Grendal (although his attempt would have been insignificant), but would rather let his people live in terror. The Hrothgar describe before the arrival of Grendal was a completely different person, mentally, than the Hrothgar that was terrorized by the monster. He knew only one type of enemy, humans, and once that changed he lost all his leadership power. A true man of values would have kept them no matter what change takes place. Fate does not play a role in Hrothgar’s actions. He is caught up in pride about all his achievements that makes him vulnerable to being caught by change. He becomes too comfortable in his station that he narrows his comfort zone to such a level that any amount of change will throw his off tremendously. Everything that happens is by his own doings. Hrothgar is a perfect example of how people cannot mentally fight evil. Without the constant attack of evil, one will not be able to deal with it when it comes up. Beowulf is constantly battling evil, which makes him more able to battle it when it is encountered. Hrothgar was not exposed to evil, so when it reared its ugly head his only reaction was to flee. If someone lives in a perfect society and leaves, they will not be able to deal with the evil they find because they have never had to deal with it before. Good cannot combat evil if it has never known evil. The only way to resolve Hrothgar’s situation is to bring in someone who has known evil and faced it well, is not prideful, and can adapt to change well.

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 7

â€Å"More Timbits?† I shook my head for the third time. If I'd learned anything about the Satanists-excuse me, the Army of Darkness-in my breakfast meeting with them two days later, it was that they really liked donuts. A lot. They kept trying to force food on me and seemed particularly fond of the aforementioned Timbits, which were like donut holes except with a cuter name. â€Å"No thanks.† After the donuts, a large part of the meeting focused on me. They all wanted to know who I was, where I'd come from, how my own group operated, etc. I spun lies out as fast as I could, rapidly building up a backstory for my Seattle Satanist group. The Army listened eagerly, and I hoped I'd be able to remember everything I was saying if quizzed afterward. â€Å"You'll just have to come visit us sometime,† I said, hoping to allay the questions. â€Å"That's the only way you'll really understand. For now, I mean, Kristin wanted me to come here to talk about you guys.† The mention of Kristin sobered them up. Evan nodded. â€Å"Georgina thinks we maybe need to expand our activities.† There were six total gathered here, the truly â€Å"active† members. They ranged from 20s to 40s in age, and like Evan, they had that same sort of pleasant demeanor that was more suited to helping you pick out a DVD player or lawn mower than sacrifice a goat. Maybe it was just a Canadian thing. One of the members, a tiny blond college student named Allison, frowned. â€Å"But why? We're already doing what the Angel wants.† They all looked at me, and I saw conflict on their faces. I'd slept with a man far more moral than Dante last night and was in the full throes of succubus charisma. I could tell it affected them. It was part of why they were so intrigued by me, and it would give me leverage here. Yet, I also realized, no matter how powerful they thought Kristin was and no matter how much they respected her endorsement of me, I was still an outsider and not necessarily to be trusted, appealing or not. Again, I marveled at the strength of their conviction. â€Å"Well, I don't want you guys to stop†¦Ã¢â‚¬  That was, of course, exactly what I wanted. â€Å"But most of what you're doing is scaring people.† That wasn't exactly true, but how else could I describe it? â€Å"It seems like now that you've established yourselves, you should use that strength to start influencing people toward the Angel's will. Surely you'll best do his- her bidding by actually leading people into darkness.† I made eye contact with each person as I spoke, smiling and putting as much coaxing charm as I could into my voice. A guy with a shaved head, whose name I'd forgotten, popped a chocolate glazed Timbit into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. â€Å"That makes sense.† Allison didn't agree. â€Å"If that's what the Angel wanted us to do, we would know. Right now, we need to keep doing just as we have. We are getting strong, and we need to make sure that strength doesn't wane in the face of our enemies.† I forced myself to keep smiling. These people didn't understand anything, let alone their so-called enemies. I turned toward Evan and looked at him through lowered lashes. â€Å"Why settle for one goal, though? Evan, I thought you of all people really wanted to make this group great. I thought you wanted to bring more souls to the Angel's side.† â€Å"That's what we're already doing,† argued Allison. She didn't seem to like me using the come-hither eyes on Evan. For his part, Evan didn't like being caught between us. He started to stammer out something but was interrupted by the shaved-head guy. â€Å"How?† he asked Allison. She frowned. â€Å"What do you mean, Blake? How what?† â€Å"How are we bringing more souls to the Angel's side?† â€Å"By striking out at those who deny her greatness.† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Blake frowned and finished eating another Timbit. â€Å"But I don't think doing that is bringing more souls to our side.† â€Å"Are you questioning what we've done?† â€Å"No, I stand by it all. It's just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Blake shrugged. â€Å"It seems like the things we're doing aren't really swaying souls toward the Angel. If anything, it's just making them take a harder stand against us.† Finally! Finally someone got it. I could have kissed Blake. Maybe I would later. â€Å"I mean, I'm not really sure the Zamboni plan is really going to darken souls. It'll just make people want to defend themselves against us. Maybe it's time to do the Angel's will through more subtle means.† â€Å"Yes,† I cried. â€Å"That's exactly what I-Zamboni?† With much enthusiasm, they explained an idea they'd come up with to spray-paint a Zamboni with Satanic messages right before it came out on the ice during a hockey game. Still keeping that idiotic smile on my face, I said in a level voice, â€Å"I think maybe you should reconsider that.† Debate went on for the next hour or so. I was a bit dismayed that I hadn't swayed them all to my point of view immediately, but I'd sent enough ripples through them to make a difference. No matter what they claimed, none of them were really sure what exactly the Angel did want, of course, and while some were comfortable in their rut, others were starting to grasp my logic. I took it as a great sign of victory that when we finally got up to go, they'd decided against taking any action-say, like, the Zamboni plan-until they'd met again. As we walked out of the restaurant, I caught up with Blake. I'd decided Evan was a lost cause. Blake seemed to be the smartest of the group, and I thought it might be time for a leadership change. With a little help, it wouldn't take much to topple Evan. â€Å"Hey,† I said, beaming at Blake. â€Å"I really liked what you had to say. Are you busy right now? Maybe we could talk some more.† He smiled back at me, genuinely interested. I probably wouldn't have even needed any succubus glamour to convince him. â€Å"I wish I could†¦but I have to go to work. Are you free later tonight? Like after dinner?† â€Å"Sure.† We swapped numbers, and as we were about to part, I asked in a low voice, â€Å"You don't think they'll do something anyway, do you? Despite what they said about†¦you know, putting the Zamboni plan on hold?† His grin broadened. â€Å"No, they won't do the Zamboni plan. I'm sure of it.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"Because they're out of spray paint.† â€Å"So they'll get more.† He shook his head. â€Å"Not without me. I'm their supplier. I work at Home Depot.† I again found myself with time to kill in Vancouver. It was a beautiful day, and the temperature was unseasonably warm for April. So, I went and walked along the waterfront. The water seemed bluer than our own Puget Sound back in Seattle, but maybe that was just because the weather tended to be sunnier here. I wandered through Stanley Park afterward and then finally meandered back to my hotel. As I did, I again passed one of the T-shirt shops. They'd changed their display and now showed a shirt with a U.S. map on it that read: Dear Canada, Please Invade . Back in my room, I booted up my laptop to check my e-mail. There were a few from the bookstore's mailing list that I ignored, as well as the usual spam. Along with those messages, I had one from greygoose. com's mailing list, a picture of a cat with some nonsensical caption that Cody had forwarded me, and a letter from Maddie. It was a mass e-mail she'd sent out this morning. It read: Hey, guys! I decided to start a blog. Check it out. A link followed. Even though every instinct told me not to, I clicked it. Should have listened to those instincts. Pictures of her and Seth bombarded me. They'd gone to the Seattle Aquarium last night and taken assorted photos posing by puffins, squids, and other sea creatures. Worse, Seth's nieces were with them. That nearly killed me. Seth had five adorable blond nieces, ranging from four to fourteen. I loved them to pieces, and breaking up with him had been like breaking up with them too. The girls all looked reasonably happy, and I wondered if they even remembered me. Well, of course they did. It hadn't been that long. But I knew I'd keep fading from their minds until eventually, I was just some vague memory of their uncle's ex. I shut down the laptop and decided to head down to the hotel's bar. It wasn't quite dinnertime, so the place was fairly deserted. I took a seat at the bar near the television and promptly made friends with the bartender. Three gimlets later, I'd also made friends with an older couple visiting from San Francisco and some businessmen in town from Winnipeg. We were laughing about a recent movie when the TV suddenly changed from a curling match to static. The bartender pushed buttons on the remote ineffectually. â€Å"What's going on?† he demanded. A few moments later, the picture returned, but this time it was on a different channel, one showing a local news program. My smile faded, and my stomach sank. â€Å"No,† I breathed. The camera crew was reporting from Queen Elizabeth Park, another gorgeous area in the city that I'd briefly considered going to after Stanley Park. I wondered if I might have seen this atrocity and been able to stop it if I had visited. The Army of Darkness had staged a demonstration there late that afternoon. I counted about ten of them, so they must have recruited some of their auxiliary members. They were clothed in robes and hoods made out of cheap black and purple velvet, but I recognized two figures that looked suspiciously like Evan and Allison. Some of them held signs with pentagrams and assorted â€Å"evil† slogans while they walked around chanting something I couldn't make out. One of them had stuck a pole in the ground with a giant rubber goat mask on top of it. The mask wasn't affixed very well and kind of hung off to the side, making it look more like a mutant goat than an emblem of Hell. The footage showed a crowd gathered around and, later, police coming to break everything up. I quickly charged the drinks to my room and sprinted off, pulling out my cell phone as I did. â€Å"Blake? This is Georgina.† He groaned. â€Å"I know, I know. I just found out.† â€Å"What the hell happened? They said they weren't going to do anything. You said they weren't going to do anything.† â€Å"I didn't think they would!† He sounded sincerely upset. â€Å"I was at work until about a half-hour ago. I had no idea-honest. They did it on their own. I guess a bunch of them got arrested. Evan, Joy, and Crystal made it out, though.† I sighed and canceled our plans for tonight. I had to do damage control before Cedric or one of his associates came after me-and I knew for a fact they would. I drove over to Evan's house. He answered the door, still wearing the robe but not the hood. His face was radiant and excited. â€Å"Georgina! Did you see the news? Did you see what we did?† â€Å"Yes!† I pushed him back inside, closing the door behind me before any of the neighbors could see him. â€Å"What happened? You said you wouldn't do anything else until we met again! What happened to influencing people for the greater goo-evil?† He finally caught on that I didn't share his excitement. â€Å"You don't think we influenced people?† â€Å"I think you influenced some people to think you were freaks. A bunch of churches are probably going to have sermons tomorrow about staying pure and true or something like that.† Evan flounced onto his couch, speculative but still glowing with the rush of their stunt. â€Å"No, this was powerful. Its effects will be far reaching.† Far reaching enough to get me smote, no doubt. â€Å"What happened? What made you decide to do it? Had you been planning it all along?† â€Å"No. It was just decided-a couple of hours after we met.† â€Å"But why?† I asked, frustrated. â€Å"Because the Angel told us to.† â€Å"But you said you wouldn't!† He looked at me like I was crazy. â€Å"But the Angel told us to. We had to obey her.† I started to argue the idiocy of that and then paused to reconsider something I hadn't given credence to before. â€Å"Are you saying the Angel actually spoke to you?† â€Å"Yes, of course. How else would we know what she wants?† An uneasy feeling came over me. This whole time, when they'd spoken of doing what the Angel â€Å"wanted,† I'd assumed it was in the way so many religious zealots presumed they understood their deity's desires. Those who said their deity spoke to them were usually crazy. â€Å"Does she, like, speak to you in dreams?† â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"She appeared to me. Right here. Well, over there, actually. By the TV.† â€Å"The Angel appears to you,† I said flatly. â€Å"In the flesh. Shows up and tells you what to do?† â€Å"Of course. How else do you think we'd know?† That uneasy feeling increased. â€Å"What does she look like?† Evan sighed, a dreamy expression filling his features. â€Å"Oh, Georgina. She's beautiful. So beautiful. She glows-she's almost hard to look at. Her hair-it's like a cloak of gold, and her eyes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed again. â€Å"I can't describe them. Like all the colors in the rainbow.† My phone rang just then, interrupting his similes. I didn't recognize the number, but it was a Vancouver area code. â€Å"Hello?† It was Cedric. â€Å"If you are not in my office in ten minutes,† he said. â€Å"I will come and bring you here. And you won't like it.† I shoved my phone into my purse and stood up. â€Å"Evan, I've gotta run. Look, if the Angel talks to you again, can you give me a heads up next time?† He turned hesitant. â€Å"Um, maybe.† I paused at the door. â€Å"What's that supposed to mean?† â€Å"Well, you see†¦Don't take this the wrong way, but she told us not to tell you. She said to keep this to the inner circle. Probably she just needs to get to know you better.† That sent my mind reeling, but Cedric's words had a greater impact at the moment. I had no time to argue against an entity that might or might not be real. â€Å"We'll talk about this later.† I sped over to the Financial District, not bothering to count the minutes for fear of what I'd find. Nothing happened to me by the time I reached Cedric's office, so I assumed I'd made it. Kristin wasn't in the reception area, but his door was open. â€Å"Get in here,† Cedric barked. My heart pounding, I walked into his office. His face was filled with rage, and if I'd had any thoughts that his mild manner made him seem undemonlike, that idea was immediately banished. He clenched his fists as he glared at me, and I thanked whatever luck I had that he had remained sitting and didn't throw me across the room. Meekly, I slid into my usual chair. â€Å"What are you doing?† he demanded. â€Å"Or rather, what aren't you doing?† He pointed to his computer screen. It didn't have Wikipedia on it for a change. Instead, it showed pictures of the demonstration for a local paper's website. â€Å"You were supposed to stop this kind of thing! Did Jerome send you here to sabotage me and spy?† â€Å"No! They did this without telling me. I'd actually convinced them this morning not to do this other thing with a Zamboni, and then they went behind my back because their Angel of Darkness allegedly spoke to them.† As quickly as I could, I recapped the day's events and conversation. When I finished, his glower hadn't changed. He still clearly didn't believe me. â€Å"Jerome said you were good, but I had no idea you were this good. You manipulated this group right under my nose.† â€Å"No,† I repeated. â€Å"I'll swear to you by whatever you want. I tried to stop them.† He continued as though I hadn't spoken. â€Å"I am going to get shit for this from everyone. Our own people are going to come down on me-in addition to making me a laughingstock. And eventually, the other side is going to raise an eyebrow too. They don't like this kind of overt attack.† The other side. Heaven. The angels. Angels†¦ â€Å"Who's your counterpart here?† I asked. â€Å"Among the angels. There must be an archangel here too, right?† The question caught him off-guard enough that his pissed-off look momentarily lifted. â€Å"Of course. Her name's Isabelle. Why?† â€Å"Well†¦Evan and the others keep saying they're directed by an angel. All this time you thought they were just worshipping some all-purpose Satanic ideal. But what if a real angel is controlling them? I mean, Jerome's given up the fight with you. If anyone had reason to give you shit, it wouldn't be our side. It'd be theirs.† Cedric was silent for several moments. â€Å"This isn't their style. It's not Isabelle's either. I've known her for a long time.† When greater immortals said â€Å"a long time,† they usually weren't kidding. â€Å"Is she blond?† â€Å"Yes, but that doesn't mean anything. We can look like anything we want. Someone appearing to this group-and I don't think anyone is-could easily make themselves blond or bald or whatever. I think you're trying to shift the blame off yourself and Jerome.† â€Å"I'm not! Look, I don't want to get mired in any of this. I just want to finish my job and go home. And if you ask me, I think someone's trying to work you over and send you looking in the wrong places.† Good Lord. I sounded like everyone else now. Soon I'd be telling him he was â€Å"getting played.† â€Å"Isabelle wouldn't do it,† he maintained. â€Å"We're friends†¦well, kind of.† It was funny that demons lied and betrayed each other all the time, yet he somehow stood by the character of someone who was technically his enemy. I understood it, though. Jerome maintained a similarly bizarre friendship with Seattle's archangel, Carter. â€Å"Can you get me in touch with her?† Cedric regarded me in amazement. â€Å"You're really going to run with this?† â€Å"I'm not sabotaging you-but I want to find out who is.† â€Å"That's a lot of work just to take the attention off yourself.† I simply looked at him, maintaining as determined a look as I could in the hopes that he'd believed me. I also hoped the taboo demons maintained about messing with the employees of other demons would hold. Apparently it did because he said at last, â€Å"I'll show you how to contact her, as pointless as that is.† I exhaled the breath I'd been holding. â€Å"Thank you.† He shook his head. â€Å"But don't think you're in the clear. I'm still going to be watching you.†

Management at J.C. Penney Company, Inc

Management at J.C. Penney Company, Inc Introduction J. C. Penney Company Inc., (JCP) like other chain of companies in the US, has a history of changing its management strategy to suit the growing demand for good governance (Nafziger, 2012). JCP deals in clothing lines and retail business in various countries of investment. Its position in Texas provides it with an opportunity to serve the suburban community and other metropolises around the world. With over 11, 000 stores across US States, JCP sold its merchandise through personal selling.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Management at J.C. Penney Company, Inc specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2013, the company indicated interest in Seattles Best Coffee and Portrait Studios. This explains its business strategy that focuses on a variety of products and services for people through the numerous convenient stores distributed in the country (Talley, 2012). Since the 1960’s, JCP has used a similar manag ement style until the 21st century when it realized the importance of incorporating technology in the new democratic style of management. This paper intends to explain the company’s management style including the advertising technique that helps it achieve a competitive advantage. Changes in J.C. Penney’s Management Style Management strategies have direct impacts on organizational performances since inception. JCP incorporated different management styles owing to the changing consumer environment. Two most common strategies adapted by the company include: Acquisitions and Expansion Since 1960, the company acquired The Treasury outlets, but JCP experienced losses by the end of 1962. This involved an agreement between JCP and a General Merchandise Company that offered the company the stores it needed during the period. Within the same period, JCP extensively accessed about 10 stores through a Milwaukee acquisition contract. This provided the company with an opportunity t o venture into the market in Alaska and other states in the US. Besides these acquisitions, JCP equally purchased Supermarkets Interstate. Normally, an independent organization rarely involves the managing director actively in most house businesses. This enables it to grow even in the absence of the founder. At JCP, it was impossible to operate since 1971 following the death of JC Penny (James Cash). For 30 minutes, all stores across the US closed down in honor of JC’s departure. Instead of accruing losses, the company made huge profits since most suppliers and clients paid tribute to the founder of JCP.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Two years later, the company used its profits to increase the number of stores by over 2000. The company’s lack of autonomy ensured that the top management made most decisions. It was difficult to project future outcome s of an action unless an employee had close relations with the top managers. In 1974, the company faced huge losses because of the inflation. Democratic management styles enable people to share ideas in order to avoid the effects of natural occurrences such as inflation. However, this could not happen at JCP. Online Retail In the early 19th century, JCP began direct marketing by merchandizing its products through the internet. Globalization made it easy for JCP to acquire customers and mergers through the internet. It used this platform to sell shops to established brand names, such as Firestone. Its Viewtron Videotex catalog helped the company to acquire new stores and to market its products. The JCPenney National Bank allowed customers to use credit and debit cards for withdrawal and deposits. These automated cards had the company’s name making it possible for JCP to reach out to many clients through virtual techniques (Nelson, 2005). It had to reduce the number of stores i t opened for automotive purposes. Instead, it directed most people to the online portal. The innovative transition displayed JCP’s change strategy. The company reduced dependence on the founder because of his demise. It adapted a new management style that would help it in increasing profits while it remained competitive. Current Management Style JCP’s current management style focuses on e-commerce, endorsement of celebrities for adverts, and diplomacy in business operations. Myron Ullman, the current CEO, uses technology to enhance interpersonal skills. He seeks to improve a management environment created by his predecessor, Ron Johnson. Its website (JCPenneyBrands.com) creates easy accessibility to products and services making information flow fast and effectively (Hellriegel Slocum, 2007). JCP recognizes the efforts of different designers in their clothing industry. This boosts their self-esteem while motivating them to improve. JCP managers realized that democratic leadership was essential for team building and collective growth of the company. A change in strategy began in 2007 when the management sought to introduce innovative and interactive strategies of communicating with clients. The company expected to increase its profit margins after introducing Ron Johnson from Apple Inc. According to experts, the CEO did not offer a guarantee for success in a company that dealt in completely different products and services from Apple Inc. Opinion JCP’s current management strategy includes generation of creative ideas for overall organizational development. However, it uses radical measures including the ability to lay-off workers and reduction of store acquisition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Management at J.C. Penney Company, Inc specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though these strategies contribute towards profitability, they reflect the opinions of the top managemen t. There is a high possibility that JCP will experience a similar style of management as the era of JS Penny. The CEO seeks to make a general overhaul in the company by assuming the status of a â€Å"start up† organization. Senior Management’s Role Senior managers at JCP including the CFO, CEO, and the creative designer often encourage people to make popular decisions. Ron Johnson played a significant role in transforming the organization from a catalog-based retailer to an internet retailer. According to the CEO, each employee needs to be responsible for his/ her actions within the company. The senior managers ensure that employees develop innovative ideas, which the senior team approves. Johnson has the ability to approve the release of company annual reports. This explains why the senior manager laid-off 600 workers in 2013. Johnson equally supports establishment of virtual stores through the internet. In 2012, the company managed to freeze 100 shops and transformed their business transactions to online techniques (Nafziger, 2012). Today, clients consult the company online platform; they make orders, get shipment, and pay through JCP MasterCard. The transition cost the company many resources, acquisition of a CEO with a successful record from Apple, and loss of stores and workers. In essence, it was not a seamless process and JC’s senior staff had to endure many challenges between 2012 and 2013. Among the decisions made by Johnson, change of designs and pricing strategies took precedence. Even as the transition became a success, employees and clients sought for Johnson’s retirement following the radical strategies he used to change the management of the company. This led to a forceful eviction from the company in 2013. It led to a reinstatement of former CEO, Myron Ullman (Talley, 2012). Celebrity Endorsements During marketing, creative designers sometimes use celebrities since they have the ability to create credibility through their charisma. In 2008, JCP used Ralph Lauren Kimora Lee Simmons to brand position the new clothing line for men and children. The two had a significant impact on sales and expansions for JCP. Kimora Lee provided professional advice to consumers and this contributed to one the highest annual sales of Decree and Fabulosity clothing lines. By the end of 2012, the company profit margins increased to 32.5% (Nafziger, 2012). Celebrities have a natural allure for the audiences they command. Similarly, they are likely to influence sales when used for advertising, or selling. There are several avenues of sales promotion, which Johnson never explored. Instead, he concentrated on innovation, and Ullman has the duty to restore the company image, which he initially created during his tenure.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Innovation JCP needs to implement an automated communication system that makes it easy for customers and employees to exchange ideas. Previous innovative strategies failed since the over ambitious Johnson rarely included employees in rational decision-making procedures. Through video-conferencing and virtual messaging, employers and employees will know all activities in the company and contribute towards its collective development. Instead of laying-off workers, the company will employ competent graduates who will increase organizational performance through technological assistance (Talley, 2012). JCP needs to redeem its brand image by increasing the number of employees and enhancing effective communication with clients. Adaptation JCP displays inability to make a rational decision when choosing organizational leaders. It changes its management strategies quickly and makes it difficult for employees to adapt to a single style of management (Nelson, 2005). The continued alteration of CEO’s delays the achievement of organizational goals, and this affects pricing in the company. After reinstating Ullman, JCP should not interfere with his leadership until 3-5 years elapse. Normally, most organizational strategies function for 3 to 5 years making it impossible to replace the CEO even when he/she has a poor management style. References Hellriegel, D., Slocum, J. W. (2007). Organizational behavior. Mason, Ohio: Thomson/South-Western. Nafziger, E. W. (2012). Economic development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Nelson, B. (2005). The Management Bible. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons. Talley, K. (2012, April 5). J.C. Penney Trims Headquarters Staff. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/

Top 15 upcoming jobs to look out for this fall

Top 15 upcoming jobs to look out for this fall The summer is almost over, and it’s time to start thinking about packing away the swimsuit and pulling the business-wear back out of the closet. If you don’t already have a job lined up for this coming fall- or are thinking that it might be time for a career change- you don’t have to worry that nothing’s out there. Quite a few industries are thriving, and looking to hire this fall. Here are 15 of them. 1. HealthcarePeople are always going to get sick or injured- that’s just a fact of life. The upside of this unfortunate reality is that the healthcare industry will always need people to help treat the constant inflow of patients. Registered nurses are currently needed more than any other healthcare professionals, but there are also plenty of openings for licensed vocational and practical nurses, as well as physical therapists. For those who have nursing degrees, the job market is pretty rich at the moment.2. SalesYou don’t need a degree to go into sales, just a strong drive to serve customers and the ability to make whatever you’re selling desirable. If you have a knack for convincing consumers that they simply cannot live without Apple’s latest iPhone, you’re in luck, because telecommunication sales is particularly hot right now. The best positions offer both an hourly wage and commissions.3. ManagementSalespeople and other business associates need some guidance to do their jobs. That’s where management comes in. Of course, management is not only needed in the retail sector. Medical managers, health services managers, and marketing managers are also very much in demand at the moment.4. Office and administrative support workIt’s a good time to be in administration. New positions for office and administrative support workers are opening at a break-neck pace, especially in big cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Customer service representatives, executive secretaries, offic e-worker supervisors, and executive administrative assistants are in high demand to keep business rolling smoothly. Monster.com recently added more than 388,000 listings for admin professionals, so it’s a great time to be one.5. AccountingAccounting may not be the most exciting profession in the world, but these cagy number crunchers are needed in a number of industries this fall. One reason for the high number of accounting positions is the abundance of new companies that started up in the wake of the economic collapse a decade ago. Those relatively new companies are still on the lookout for help in their accounting departments, and brand new companies are kicking into gear all the time, which means that accounting jobs should be abundant for some time.6. Personal financial servicesAlthough we’re a decade removed from the financial collapse, the economy is still working its way onto its feet and people are still very much in need of advice regarding the most sensible way to handle their money in the current climate. Financial planners help people at all economic levels to manage their money. They help the rich stay rich and the less fortunate to keep their heads above water, and they are very necessary these days.7. ConsultingThe rise in new businesses has also increased the demand for consultants. They’re the people who offer sage advice for running businesses as efficiently as possible. They offer suggestions on making the most of personnel, managing clients effectively, and other key moves.8. Call centersAnother industry on the rise is the call center business. More and more, customer service is being handled over the phone. Call center workers both help customers with problems and handle sales. Initially, this kind of work tended to get outsourced, but public outcry has resulted in call centers opening up in the United States. Those with traditional sales and customer service experience may decide to put their skills to use at one of these new domestic call centers. The jobs are definitely out there.9. TransportationThe popularity of online sales is one reason that call center work is thriving these days. The online retail industry has also created a high demand for the delivery people who transport the products purchased through Amazon, Fresh Direct, and other online companies. That means truckers and other drivers should have a fairly easy time getting work these days. Those who are interested in transporting people instead of goods may find work for companies such as Lyft and Uber.10. Computer supportThe twenty-first century’s decisive move to an online environment means that all manner of computer-related industries continue to enjoy boon times. Like call center work, computer support work used to be outsourced to high degree, but this is also changing. IT is coming home again.11. SoftwareOur reliance on the Internet also means that the demand for new software developments is constant without any sign of decline in the near future. With new computing systems, devices, apps, and gadgets popping up on a seemingly daily basis, those who can develop new software for such technologies are vital.12. Food preparation and serviceWhile industries such as transportation, accounting, and personal financial services are on the rise because of specific contemporary factors, the strength of the food industry is pretty constant. However, certain areas of the industry are certainly in a growth phase this fall, such as supervisors and servers. The fast food industry may be less mighty than it once was, but food preparers and servers are still very much needed at McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Wendy’s. Cooks are needed too.13. Repair and maintenanceHere’s another old-fashioned industry that also continues to deliver the jobs. Those who are great with their hands and have a knack for installing appliances and performing automotive maintenance or general repairs will find a ver y welcoming job market. Supervisors for mechanics, installers, and repair people are also necessary in today’s market.14. EngineeringOne of the greatest crises facing the United States at the moment is its crumbling infrastructure. Roads, bridges, dams, and airports are in dire condition, creating safety hazards that could turn tragic without serious work. Civil engineers are responsible for redesigning our infrastructure, and the demand for them is definitely on the rise. However, engineers do not just rebuild the physical structures on which we drive. Biomedical engineers work on our bodies, and the rising healthcare industry has opened a great need for them as well.15. ConstructionEngineers are not alone in reviving our infrastructure. Once they have redesigned our roads and buildings, construction workers are then needed to do the physical labor. The explosion in real estate that has seen new apartment buildings and condominiums spring up all over our nation’s citi es has made way for a lot of construction opportunities too. Supervisors and workers who extract old materials before new construction can begin are also benefitting from the construction boom that is making this fall a hot time for the job market.

Retail Merchandising & Store Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Retail Merchandising & Store Operations - Essay Example Marketers need to come up with new strategies to attract and hold on to their customers and one of these promotional strategies is visual merchandising and store design and layout. Walters and White have defined visual merchandising as the activity, which coordinates effective merchandising selection with effective merchandising display. (D Walters and D White, 1987). It involves communicating a positive product image to the customer and also ensuring that the customer decodes it well thus leading to positive behavioral outcome leading to purchase. The basic aim of the retailer is to trigger a customer to make a purchase. For this three major steps are to be followed. The first one should cause the customer to enter the shop. This can be caused by the shops exterior including both the exterior landscape, the board and the window display. The second effort is made to retain the customer in the store for as long as possible which is attained by making the ambience pleasing and the store comfortable. The third and the decision making process of buying is greatly affected by the product display and availability which is ensured by clean products on display in an efficient manner. The interior design of the store can greatly affect the customers psychologically, lowering their defenses and removing their doubts, encourage them to make purchases and maintain interest in the store. (Kotler, 1974). Thus all marketers are unanimous in agreeing with the fact that store design is one of the main factors behind customer store choice decisions. Other factors include pricing, distance and size of the outlet. Previously the emphasis was on the display of the products but now marketers also have to lay emphasis on the elements which excite the senses of the shoppers. Frequently used elements are smells, lighting, flat screen videos and

Cb2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cb2 - Assignment Example This, therefore, means that the social class can be based the objective of classification, how people think of others and the reputation that an individual claims or deserves. This is different from income in that a person may have high-income levels and yet his or her reputation is low within the society. Therefore, a person’s income is just one of the factors that can determine the social class but it is not the social class itself. An achieved status refers to the status that is acquired through struggle and merit. This could be the status related to educational status or research achievements. It is therefore related to skills, abilities and efforts. On the other hand, an ascribed status is considered to be beyond the person’s control. This is based, therefore on attributes of a person that are fixed and natural. The classes related to sex, race and deformity are ascribed rather than acquired. Income is just one of the factors likely to be considered in describing the social class. However earning more money does not always lead to a change in social class (Wood, 2012). This is because influence, success and the impact that a person has in the society are always stronger indicators of social class than income. Therefore, a person may be earning a lot of money but his or her reputation and influence remain the same. Rich consumers can be grouped as old money or nouveau depending on how they display their wealth. For old money rich consumers, their wealth remains unseen. They are rich but do not care to display conspicuous consumption in any way. The Nouveau, on the other hand, are those rich consumers who display their spending and consumption with the motive of getting a reputation and a social class upgrade (Wood, 2012). They have symbolic self-completion such as flashy cars to display their wealth. In most contexts, the term social class is controversial. This means that different