Cosplay

Cosplay Subculture Rachael Driver Bowling Green Technical College Abstract This paper will be discussing the cosplay, or costume play, subculture. In this paper, it will also go over who makes up this particular subculture, what it takes to be a cosplayer, what this subculture does for society, how society sees those who participate in it, how and when it came to be, most famous cosplay costumes, and what this subculture provides for those who take part in it. Keywords: Cosplay, Costume Play, Sociology, Subculture, Japanese cosplay, costumes, cosplay conventionsCosplay, short for â€Å"costume play†, is a type of performance art in which the participants make and wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. This is also considered a type of role playing. Favorite sources for these costumes include manga , anime, books, TV shows, comic books, video games, and films. In cosplay, even inanimate objects are given life and personalities, and it is not un usual to see genders switched, with women playing male characters and vice versa. This is called crossplaying.There is also a group of cosplay culture centered around sex appeal, with cosplayers specifically choosing characters that are known for their attractiveness and/or revealing costumes. Often cosplay is most remembered for this because of all of the skimpy female outfits, but really there is so much more to cosplay than that. (Cosplay, 2012) Cosplay has been called many things over the years: a hobby, an art form, a youth clique, a fashion movement, a social event, a designing process, a detachment from society, or even just something to do out of pure boredom.All of these things can be considered true, in some way, depending on the situation, but the essence of cosplay is that it is a form of expression for young people in the subcultures that practice it. (What is Cosplay? Understanding Cosplay and its many definitions. , 2007) The cosplayer's purpose for dressing as a cert ain character may be sorted into one of three categories, or a mixture of the three. The first is to show adoration for a character, or they pick one that they have matching personalities with, hoping to become that character or at least close to it.A few major characteristics of this type of cosplayer may be an enthusiastic attitude and the tendency to pay less attention to detail and quality. Such cosplayers are also known to criticize other cosplayers for not having a full knowledge of their character, or not also adopting character personality. This can cause a lot of conflict between cosplayers. (Cosplay, 2012) The second is those people who enjoy the attention that cosplaying a certain character brings. They have to dress as the most popular character so they can have the most attention.Within the cultures of anime and manga specifically, there is a certain level of dishonor that is attached to cosplayers with this type of attitude. Such cosplayers are usually characterized by paying close attention to detail in their garments and their choice of popular characters. They are also noted by participation in cosplay competitions. (Cosplay, 2012) The third category is those who enjoy the creative process, and the sense of personal achievement upon completion of the costume and character details.Such people are more likely to have a greater budget dedicated to the costumes, more complicated and better quality outfits with access to more materials. They are also more likely to engage with professional photographers and cosplay photographers to take high quality images of the cosplayer in their garment posing as the character. (Cosplay, 2012) Some of the most popular shows to dress as are Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, Avatar, Sailor Moon, and even the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Top films and television shows that inspire cosplay, 2010) The most famous and worlds largest cosplay convention is Comiket, also known as Comic Market, is still held in the Odaiba Area of Tokyo, Japan bi-annually. (Cosplay in Japan, 2011) A few others are The San Diego Comic-Con. The biggest event in the UK is the London MCM Expo at ExCeL London, while the biggest event in Europe takes place in France at Japan Expo in Paris, with an attendance of over 200,000 in 2012. (Cosplay, 2012) Some costumes can take months to even years to create.A lot of people will go through so much just to look like their chosen character. They will do crazy make up elaborate make up. They will buy wigs to match the charcters hair, or simply dye their own and style it the exact same way. Some characters have tattoos, which some cosplayers will have done to themselves. However, others will simply draw their own on rather than having the tattoo permanently. In every anime comic or show that you see, everyone has the signature â€Å"anime eyes†, the large, round, oddly colored eyes.Cosplayers who want the look just right will actually purchase contacts to help them achieve thi s unique animated look. Some cosplayers choose to hire a cosplay photographer to take high quality images of them in their costumes posing as the character. This is most likely to take place in a setting relevant to the character's origin, such as churches, parks, forests, water features and abandoned/run-down sites. Such cosplayers are likely to exhibit their work online, on blogs or artist websites. They may also choose to sell such images or print the images as postcards and give them as gifts. Cosplay, 2012) When at a cosplay convention, cosplayers tend to carry pictures of the character they are mimicking with them. Some societies see cosplay as unusual, but when you really think about it, is it that odd? People dressing up as something or someone they love, getting together with people who have a common interest in these things, and bringing many nations together at these conventions. Works Cited What is Cosplay? Understanding Cosplay and its many definitions. (2007). Retrieve d september 26, 2012, from thecosplayproject. om: http://www. thecosplayproject. com/what-is-cosplay. html Top films and television shows that inspire cosplay. (2010, August 31). Retrieved September 26, 2012, from citypages. com: http://blogs. citypages. com/dressingroom/2010/08/top_films_and_t. php? page=2 Cosplay in Japan. (2011, Nember 15). Retrieved September 26, 2012, from allinjapan. org: http://www. allinjapan. org/cosplay-in-japan/ Cosplay. (2012, september 24). Retrieved september 24, 2012, from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Cosplay

Betrayal in Shakespeare Essay

Breaking the bond of trust in a relationship, and deceiving another person is considered betrayal. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, betrayal can be seen as the base of the whole story, and throughout the play between other characters. Due to the anger of Cassius, the whole of the play deals with the betrayal of Caesar by Cassius, and there are examples of this before and after his death. The first betrayal of Caesar can be looked at in the very beginning of the play, when Flavius and Marcillus sends the commoners away, and then proceed to take scarves off of the statues celebrating Caesar. They make the comment, â€Å"These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch,† (Act 1, Scene 1). In other words, the two conspirators feel that by sending away Caesar’s followers will give Caesar a reality check of sorts, and to bring his ego down a peg. The next example of betrayal can be seen by Cassius working to get Brutus to his side, away from believing in Caesar. He does this by first sending him a fake letter, and then proceeds to tell him about why he is so upset, and that he feels betrayed by Caesar. He tells Brutus about a time before when they were swimming across the Tiber river and Caesar was almost drowning, calling out, â€Å"Help me, Cassius, or I will sink! † (Act 1, Scene 2). He describes how he saved Caesar’s life, then tells Brutus, â€Å"and this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature and must bend his body,† (Act 1, Scene 2). This would be describing Cassius bowing down to Caesar as a king, even though he had saved his life. Most of the betrayal in this story is fairly upfront, until Act 3, after Caesar is killed. His friend Mark Anthony acts as though he is betraying Caesar, in order to take his later revenge. When he first arrives at the murder scene, he shakes hands with all of the conspirators that have killed Caesar, even though their hands are covered with blood. He then comments, â€Å"Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death to see thy Anthony making his piece, shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, most noble! In the presence of thy corpse? † (Act 3, Scene 1). He is actually speaking to the spirit of Caesar. Anthony plays this part of fake betrayal to Caesar, continuing by agreeing to Brutus that he will not say anything bad about him after Brutus gets done speaking at the funeral of Caesar. Yet, the true betrayal happens when Anthony begins to discount everything Brutus has just said to the citizens, and he turns the citizens against Brutus and the other conspirators. The citizens become enraged as they feel that their leader, Caesar has been betrayed by the killers. The last example of betrayal can be seen as family betrays family. In Act 5, there is a conversation between Lepidus, Octavius, and Mark Anthony. The first family betrayal is when Lepidus consents to have his brother killed along with the other conspirators. Octavius asks Lepidus, â€Å"your brother too must die; consent you Lepidus? † to which Lepidus answers, â€Å"I do consent,† (Act 5, Scene 1). The next family betrayal is when Mark Anthony then agrees that his sister’s son, Publius will be killed too. Anthony replies without hesitation, â€Å"He shall not live; look with a spot I damn him,† (Act 5, Scene 1). There are other examples of betrayal in Julius Caesar, but betrayal is a concept that the whole story is based on, interweaving between almost all the characters of the story. From the major storyline of the betrayal of Caesar, to the minor betrayals between characters which cause Caesar’s death, or betrayal that is because of it, this is ultimately the theme of the story itself.

Food Pyramid Essay

A healthy diet is composed of several groups of foods. The United States government developed the food pyramid in 1992 to suggest nutrition guidelines and intake endorsements for each of the food categories. The foods that we consume on a daily basis fall into food groups. The United States Department of Agriculture recognizes six major food groups. These groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, meat and beans, milk and fats. The foods in these groups all play important roles in nutrition and health. In April 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture released the MyPyramid food guidance system, a restructure of the older food pyramid focused on making healthy food choices and leading an active lifestyle. Any food made from wheat, oats, rice, cornmeal, barely or a cereal grain is considered a grain product. Grains are also known as carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source, which is the reason why grains are so important for our health. Foods such as pasta, oatmeal, cereal, bread and rice are grains. There are two types of grains, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains are made from the entire grain. They are good sources of fiber, which help to reduce cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. Refined grains are processed to remove parts of the grain known as the bran and germ, which strips the grain of most of its fiber and nutrients. Refined grains are then enhanced to add back iron and B vitamins. It is suggested at least half of grains eaten to be whole grains. Imagine there was a medicine that could reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower high blood pressure, prevent vision and digestive-system problems, and possibly lower the risk of cancer. There is no real medicine that can do all that, but according to the Harvard School of Public Health, you can get all of those health benefits just by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Despite their health benefits, only 10 percent of people in the United States consume the correct amount of fruits and vegetables. Those that eat fruits and vegetables are much healthier. The primary reason you should consume enough meat and beans each day is because these foods supply you with a healthy dose of protein. Protein supports healthy growth and development, including the correct formation of muscle and tissue. Eating sufficient amounts of protein is a healthy way to boost your energy so you can be physically active as well. One of the most notable vitamins present in meat and beans is niacin, a B vitamin that helps turn food into energy. Niacin has also been noted to have an increase in good cholesterol. The primary mineral in meat and beans is iron, which you need to produce healthy red blood cells that are able to transport oxygen throughout your body. Beans supply more iron per serving than meat, but both foods are healthy sources of this mineral. Milk has a rich source of calcium and minerals that our body needs to build and maintain strong bones and teeth and assist in the proper contraction of our muscles. It also provides a large amount of vitamins A, B, and D, all of which help proper growth and development. The main reason why milk is so important to the human body is because of how much calcium it carries with it. Fat is frequently criticized as a cause of rising obesity rates and problems associated with extra weight, making many people think they need to avoid fat. In fact, fats are important in your diet for a number of reasons. Fats provide your body with energy and provide storage spots for energy in the body. Because your body can’t make certain essential fatty acids, it relies on your diet to provide them. In conclusion, the primary food groups are very essential to your body in order for it to be healthy. At the looks of it, if humans weren’t consuming any of these food groups on a daily basis, in the long run it would cause a very large number of health problems. The reason why the food Pyramid was created was to show people a healthier life style to live so they can hopefully improve their health and lifespan. In general, eating healthy foods like this makes your body feel much better and you are generally much happier.

Documenting the Media Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Documenting the Media Revolution - Essay Example Broadband Policy and Competitiveness†). One of the leading US associations, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), stated that 49% of US households are delicately assuming the use of console through playing various computer games and it is not only affecting the teenagers but also the other varied age groups. Contextually, it also needs to be highlighted that the Internet is not only influencing the use of television simultaneously – it is becoming a great challenge for other mass communication media, i.e., newspaper, journal and books, to cope with the ever-increasing reach of the Internet (â€Å"Who is Playing†). Thesis Statement The paper intends to shed light on various factors regarding how the continuous increase in the use of computer as well as the Internet has vastly affected the habits of watching television. This is not only a concerning issue for the US but also has posed a great challenge to the other communication media throughout the world, e specially in developed and developing countries. Through the enormous effort of the World Wide Web (WWW) and with the emergence of a number of technological marvels created by a few software developers, it has resulted in significant changes in terms of the process of traditional TV viewership by providing various interesting ways of spending leisure time. Question 1 With regard to the first question in terms of the decreasing amount of viewership of TV by the teenagers and other age groups and enormous development of the Internet usage, various scholars and researchers have worked dedicatedly to find out the actual reason behind it. In relation to this crucial aspect, The New York Daily News (NYDN) provided a statistics of Nielsen’s research report on 19th September, 2012, showing that Americans spend around five hours a day watching TV. However, the report also has shown a significant concerning factor that the teenagers in between the age group of 12-17 are not interested in traditional TV watching. As a result, they are only spending around 3 hours for entertainment purposes among which most of the time they are watching videos via smartphones (â€Å"People Watch More Television†). The enormous indulgence in computer and the Internet has not only touched the teenagers but also has shown a significant spread amid various age groups till sixty years. This is because as per the obtained figures, it has come into light that only people belonging to the age group more than sixty spend approximately eight hours a day watching television. On the other hand, as per the report publication of The Telegraph of the United Kingdom, it is quite apparent that the Americans are in the number one position in terms of Internet surfing in the worldwide context (â€Å"Americans Spend Most Time on the Internet†). Besides Internet surfing in terms of video game playing, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) provided a report showing that the average age group is 30 in

2-5 paragraphs on the history of the broadcasting of the U.S. open and Essay

2-5 paragraphs on the history of the broadcasting of the U.S. open and then 2 other seperate ones on the history of the broadcasting of the masters golf tournament - Essay Example n able to broadcast the tournament live in HD in fact, in the year 203, both NBC as well as ESPN planned an unprecedented total of over 35 hours of combined live coverage of the U.S open. The Masters Golf tournament can be said to be a long time spring stable when it comes to the sports TV calendar. The Augusta National Golf club has over the years partnered with CBS and they can be said to have a unique relationship (Gomery, 18). This is because CBS often pays lower than market value for the broadcasting rights. The first time the Masters were televised was in the year 1956 (Gomery 5). CBS has been able to provide the coverage for the masters since it was first gotten in the year 1956. ESPN has, however; also taken the rights doe broadcasting the masters and it has expanded its coverage to around 5 hours each day. The scheduled live team has increased from 2.5 hours to around 18

Multinational Corporations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Multinational Corporations - Essay Example Multinational Corporations have now become an integral part of the international society. Whether these multinational giants are beneficial or damaging to the society as such is a question which is debatable. There are opinions for and against the multinationals depending upon one’ perspective and social position in this world. We shall discuss the impact of multinational corporations in detail and present views for and against them in the following paragraphs. One major factor to be considered when one talks about multinationals is that most of them are from the developed countries like the USA, Japan, UK, France and Germany (International Labour Organization {ILO} website). Other countries are almost non participants or have just started making their presence felt as exemplified by the Daewoo Corporation of Korea and Venezuela (oil company), according to ILO. No doubt that multinationals have been in existence from the very beginning ever since companies and corporations came into being and looked beyond their horizons for business. The British Empire which ruled most parts of the world in the last two centuries is an example of a multinational temperament and presence. The multinationals do cover up some of the essential requirements of the human race and strive to fulfil every need but at the same time they tend to obliterate any small enterprise which attempts to launch similar products or services.

Marketting Analysis of Usitrip Travel Company Essay

Marketting Analysis of Usitrip Travel Company - Essay Example a procuratorate official website to verify), has been always get the federal business bureau (BBB) certification for grade A highest reputation ratings. 1) Tourism is a growing industry (4% annually). The United States tourism market is large and the U.S. visa is one year multiple entry visa, as long as the period of validity of the visa, tourists can visit the United States for many times, it also makes the United States tourism demand to be strong. The companys target customers are high-income earners (min. $75,000 for a single person), health-conscious individuals interested in popular overseas tour. These are lawyers, bankers, executives, doctors and business owners. The major purchasers are located in urban areas within major China cities. There is fast development in the business sector and expanding interest. Additionally, more specialty markets are developing. At first, it will be hard to rival experienced suppliers, particularly the business pioneers. However, target market is an exploitable niche, and our service is differentiated. Target market individuals will have comparative activity premiums, more disposable income and less effect on cost. We will provide luxurious service with prestige value. Our prices will be out of reach for the majority of overseas travelers. Administration will be valued based upon luxury contender costs and the quality included of our advertising. Suppliers that offer offering luxury services like our own do as such at costs like not ours. We are intensely evaluated in the luxury market. Since we engage luxury and hence a littler business, volume will be restricted. Notwithstanding, we will have the capacity to accrue a higher profit margin. Abroad visit has been working for a while now. The treks have been generally welcomed, and advertising is presently critical to its proceeded with achievement and future benefit. The fundamental business need is hard adventure trips for the affluent customer. This target market

Integrated Marketing communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Integrated Marketing communication - Assignment Example have to be included to create space or new roles and responsibilities brought in by the new concept brought about by the Girls next-door TV show (Clow & Baack, 2012). The external stakeholders include customers, those who watch the TV show and those who are against it. All these people will be affected by the new events because some customers will like the idea and some may not want to be associated with it. The show lovers could be attracted to the Olive Gardens’ restaurants while those who are against the show may decide to cut their link with the restaurants (Clow & Baack, 2012). For casual observers of media, the Sexiest Girls of Olive Garden will appear to be a sponsorship because of several factors. First, the show will feature the name of the restaurant, which to them will mean that it is sponsored by Olive Gardens. Secondly, Olive Garden had not accepted or denied whether it funds the show or not. Therefore, for casual observers of the media, they would ride on the notion that the show is funded by the restaurant. This event is an instance in which damage-control programs were in order. Olive Garden is understood through a brand and image of family, friends and fun. However, despite the fact that Kendra Wilkinson mentioned Olive Garden as a genuine fan and with sincerity, it came as a promotion strategy. This is the damage that the Sexiest Girls of Olive Garden show seems to control. This show is a follow up event of what had already occurred (James, 2007). I agree with Kendra Wilkinson that Olive Garden could afford to appear a little edgy without detracting from its family friendly brand. Olive Garden is not just about family but also about friends and fun. Therefore, appearing edgy would center on the fun part of its brand. Olive Garden will be able to attract the people who watch The Girls Next Door who are not its customers yet. They could join the Olive Garden fraternity as friends or even family because these groups exist among the watchers.

Shane and Winters Bone opening scene Movie Review

Shane and Winters Bone opening scene - Movie Review Example The film creates an aspect of concern especially in consideration of how she is undergoing hardest moment with the prevailing world bleak economy as administered on the opening scene Debra Graniks â€Å"winter’s Bone.† Looked at a definite way, the whole story of "Shane" is simply a milieu against which the superman as well as a hero can play out his own individual repression and repentance. The movie is predictably seen as the story of farmers positioning up to the wicked law of the gun in the Old West, with isolated provision helping a settler embrace onto his land in the face of hired thugs (Schaefer 2-9). The music in the two films suggest about the bittersweet and emotional qualities respectively as far as. As administered from the two films, that there is â€Å"unanswered question on how Ree Dolly grew up in this world and became strong, self-reliant and proud within the winters bone articulation. This comes at hand especially when we learn from observation that Ree Dolly didnt learn it from her parents. Within the second film, there is the use of the ancient form of an odyssey to ascertain the norm and articulation of emotional qualities. There must be a deep current of fear, enlivened by masochism within the Shane movie clip (Ryzik 42-47). 3. What do you learn about the characters introduced in the beginning? Which of the characters are point of view characters (characters with whom we identify and though whose eyes we experience the film)? Which of the characters will we end up viewing more objectively, from a distance? From the beginning as the character they are introduced, there is a hazard of caricature within the story line. One of the perspective events to be taken into consideration within the storyline and as a learning lesson is that, the two films categorically rests on counter-balanced aspects brought by Teardrop and characterized by

Analyze Abbott Laboratory's strategic response to compulsory licensing Article

Analyze Abbott Laboratory's strategic response to compulsory licensing - Article Example Abbott laboratory strategically responded to compulsory licensing by publicly announcing that it is going to withdraw the pending applications for selling current medicines in Thailand. Applications for seven medicines were withdrawn by Abbott. The medicines which Abbott withdrew their applications were Aluvia, Brufen, Abbotic, Clivarine, Humira, Tarka and Zemplar. It decided not to introduce new drugs in Thailand since the actions displayed by Thailand’s government did not respect patents. Several advantages and disadvantages can be associated with abbot laboratory’s strategic response to compulsory licensing (Baron, 2008). Strategic response employed by Abbot Laboratory proved to be advantageous since it created room for negotiation. Abbott’s strategic response made Thailand government to realize how important the organization is in pharmaceutical industry. Its strategic response made Thailand government to raise several complaints. This therefore made world health organization to intervene and discussed with Abbott on how to market its products in developing countries, including Thailand. Abbott’s strategic response also had some weaknesses. The response had a serious effect on patients. It deprived innocent individuals who seriously required lifesaving drugs. The strategic response also showed that Abbott laboratory lacks social responsibility and only mind about maximizing its profits. From the discussion, it is clear that Thailand easily issued compulsory licensing for Abbott laboratory product, causing the organization to angrily react. Abbott angrily reacted to the action by stopping introducing new medicines in Thailand. This strategic response created room for negotiation and caused serious effects on patients and company’s

Rapp Is Poetry Essay Example for Free

Rapp Is Poetry Essay Over the past several years, hip-hops/music standing has been tumbling. Criticizers of the genre often arguably point at the extreme cursing, degradation of women, and adoration of the gangsta lifestyle as major flaw in rap songwriting. However, it is important that these characteristics only describe a small section of hip-hop. Most rap songs are actually very poetic, as they feature the rhythms and verses, poetic devices, and themes that are crucial elements of traditional poetry. Many rappers use the rhythms and rhyme schemes that are characteristic of poetry in their songwriting. Today’s generation expresses of love, death, self-expression, personal, political, and social issues, poverty and riches, and life involvements. They entwine these thoughts artistically and creatively within strong rhythms and captivating tunes that capture the minds of the listener. The mind-set of today’s adolescence can be found within the lyrics of the music that they listen to. Both rappers and poets write about the same subjects. For example the rap unit NWA, and the poet Alice Walker, both talk about the topic of being from a compression race. Alice Walker writes in one of her poems that there is no planet stranger than the one Im from†. What she is saying is that the world is strange because people judge others by their skin color. The method NWA takes is a more arrogant one, but still expressive. In one of there most notorious the songs Fuck Tha Police, NWA says Young nigga got it bad cuz im brown, And not the other color so police think, they have the authority to kill a minority. Another common subject between poets and rappers is ghetto life. Allot of African American rapper and poets come from a life of struggle that they channel into their writing and poetry. When it comes to poets and rappers, the biggest similarities are their appeal to transfer a message. The substance may different, but the need to enduce an emotional response is the same. Its naturally focused by their view of the world or society and craving to show their point-of-view. There is repeatedly the use of metaphors in poetry and rap to express their message and some are written that allows readers or listeners to make their own analysis. Song and poetry, They both express emotions or a message in some way, And they both use a very similar method. The difference between rap and poetry is really just the message and the type off message. You will never here Shakespeare talking about bitches and hoes and you will never hear a song from Tupac about comparing thee to a summers day. So really, there is no difference between the two beside the content. At times music is viewed adversely because of the strong language and ideas. Nevertheless, there is a message fixed within that gives voice to the brilliances and troubles of the surrounding society and community in where we live. The musicians of today reproduce and repeat the works of famous legendary poets past and present mentioning on some of the same political and social issues that are still applicable today. Once these poetic pieces are researched and explored, any one can determine whether the message is relevant and effects change, good or bad, for the listener. Using poetic plans and litraure, one could create expressive and perceptive poetry that reflects their personal thoughts and thoughts and beliefs of their generation, which is what’s being done in todays music. This has been done perfectly by Accomplished Rappers such as Public Enemy, Lauren Hill, Queen Latifah and Tupac Shakur. Almost every rapper puts his soul into his work. They rap about their own original verses with their own style and they say it with passion that connects with audience. Most rappers freestyles and songs are unique, but some take lyrics from other artist so not all rap/hip hop is creative. Rap/Hip Hop is a Poetic art form that came up on new york street corners and ghettos, to what it is now. Most old school raps were just poetry with a beat behind it that gave it a flow. Just people Talking about their lives, poverties, loves, hobbies, and of course its evolved into just raw emotion and whatever was on their minds. Some people use it to write down their genuine secrets or desires, instead of just keeping them inside, or to let out some form of emotion like love for one another, love for a woman, anger, heartbreak, this showed who those people really are/ or who they want to be, dreams of being larger than life. To Some people poetry is an expression of a dream that is condensed in a method comprehensible and enjoyable to others and so likely to arouse close emotions. For others its a written expression of emotion or ideas in an arrangement of verses most often rhythmically. How can hip hop not be reflected as poetry? Beat, rhymes, metaphors, similes, economical use of language to get a point across. all poetic devices, all used in hip hop. Some of the famous poet Robert Burns most well loved poems were originally written as songs, but theyre still loved as poems. Every poem can be a good melody but every melody can not be a poetry. Song is built on the group of musical voices that would lead the auditors to forget the environments and even himself where the poem is based on the expressive letters and words, that would proceed information to the readers and is spread through educated people. Songs are worldwide that anybody can enjoy but poetry is bound to be for the educated. Most rap songs are actually very poetic, as they feature the rhythms and verses, poetic devices, and themes that are crucial elements of traditional poetry.

Theories of Development Essay Example for Free

Theories of Development Essay In my paper, on child development I will discuss three different points of view on cognitive, physical and emotional development. I will write about the three differences and similarities. I will discuss how they have an impact on the way they help in the development of children. I will explain how important child development is in regards to assisting in a child’s potential. I will show the relationship between the developmental domain and the developmental theory. I will focus on all three domains and how they influence each other. Child development is an ongoing process that goes through many complex changes. Children are in a constant state of change from the moment they are born all the way to being a young adult. They develop many characteristics and personalities such as, quantitative changes, and qualitative changes. They area key component in any childs development. There have been many scientific studies on early child development. Many theorists such as, Charles Darwin have studied and devoted a lot of time to the evolution of human development. Scientists, throughout many years have developed three separate domains. In our text, on page nine, they are listed as follows, physical development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development. Physical development is the growth of the body itself. Such as the brain, sensory capacity, and a childs motor skills. Cognitive development is the development of mental ability, learning, memory, language, thinking, moral reasoning, social and emotional growth. Psychosocial development is a pattern of changes in personality, emotions, and social relationships. Scientists categorize all of these different stages of development, but a child is constantly changing. The relationship of these developmental stages all has one common goal, and that is the development of a child into young adulthood. I prefer to use the analogy that a childs development is like a building being constructed. You start with the foundation and over time it grows into a tall, solid structure. As a parent you look at the finished product and you can be proud of the accomplishment. I don’t believe that there is one particular moment in a childs development where you can say it’s definable. It’s an ongoing process or a period of continuous development. Everything in life is a group of sequences and they are usually linked together. There are five major points of a childs development that was written in our texts on page ten. They are the prenatal period. This the period between conception and birth. Then there is the infancy to toddler hood (birth to 3yrs). Then early childhood (ages 3 to 6), middle childhood ages (6 to 11), and finally adolescence, (11 to 20 yrs). This is a very accurate process of the development and changes a child goes through. It really starts to get interesting around the middle childhood ages. This is where social construction comes in. Perceptions are created and assumptions are made by the childs peers. If the family is stable in the home, maintain a loving atmosphere and finances are stable then the child is usually well accepted. This brings me to the topic of the influences that this has on a childs development. Of course every child is an individual and has different family circumstances and environments. A childs maturation is a sequence of behavioral and physical changes. They say girls mature faster than boys. Measuring this process is a topic scientists have debated about for many years. Most believe genetics (heredity) have a lot to do with a childs maturation process. Heredity is basically inborn traits that influence the characteristics of just about every human being from conception to adulthood. Certainly the environment in which a child is brought up in has a considerable affect on a childs development. Socioeconomic status is an area we learned about in our text on pages 13 and 14; The focus was on certain factors such as, a families income, education and occupation. This part of the developmental process can be an advantage or devastating to a childs development. Many people believe if poverty is long lasting it can have a negative affect on a childs behavior and emotional state. In that aspect I agree to a certain extent. I have seen many children come from an impoverished back round and make something of themselves because there family life was strong. Parents can accept their situation or do something to make it better. If the parents are committed to the developmental process of their children it’s a matter of mental strength. Then you have children who come from an upper middle class or rich family and don’t appreciate what they have. Their parents lacked in parental skills and it showed in the way their kids developed. So I tend to think it has a lot to do with the commitment by the parents no matter what environment or socioeconomic status they are in on how their children grow up. I think it is a big mistake to assume or say it’s the norm for a child to develop properly or fail just because of their environment or parents financial status. Sigmund Freud, Erickson, Piaget, and many others have many theories on development. One thing that is perfectly clear is they a have a mutual interaction with each other. I believe the relationship is the evolution. They have many biological perspectives, theories and systems. In order to bring all of these theories together research, whether it is scientific or different perspectives must continue to be done. There are many research methods that are geared toward a childs development. We learned about two such methods and they are quantitative research, and qualitative research. One deals with measurable data and the other interprets nonnumerical data such as feelings and experiences. Research in both of these areas is widely used and provides great insight into a childs development. The difference between the two is that one is done in a controlled environment (quantitative), and the other is conducted in everyday settings, (qualitative). They both have the same common goal, which is to gather information, theorize and examine data. I personally feel like more than one mind is better. Hence the term collaborative research. This particular way of researching was talked about in our text on page fifty-one. Scientists put all their data into a pool and get different ideas and perspectives. This is a good idea and a good way to analyze and research on a broader scale. While going through this class we discussed the negative or positive affects of child care and if it was key in early childhood development. There seems to be a certain time between the ages of six and eleven where a child really starts to establish social skills. Being around other children and learning to implement their cognitive skills is essential to development. Watching how other kids react in certain situations and their behavior helps in the learning process. Piaget believes there are six stages of cognitive development and most environments a child is in all of these approaches can be implemented. Children use their brains to process information, they watch and store things in their memory for later use, and they learn from being stimulated. Processing and evaluating information is a skill they learn to hone as they continue to develop. Some say that even as an infant babies are born with an innate ability to casually reason. Infancy is a time where many emotions are being developed. Babies smile, frown, cry, laugh, and display certain temperaments. These are basic emotions, but these are the first real signs of development in a neurological sense. Infants show other signs of the way they are feeling from facial expressions motor activity and body language. In our text on pages 219 and 220 Carroll Izard wrote about these basic emotions and self conscious emotions. She and her colleagues believed facial expressions such as showing sadness, joy, fear, and interest went along way in understanding the emotional aspects of an infants development. I know as a parent that basic emotions from an infant are really a key component in understanding a babies needs and wants. Infancy is probably the time when development is a critical element. Infants need to be able to trust their caretaker. They have attachment issues and infants can easily become a little disorientated. They start to develop certain temperaments and it can have a direct impact on a parent or parents. Some of these effects can have long term results and lead to anxiety issues. Infants need to feel secure not only around his or her parents but they need the parents to maintain stability in their environment. Stability is important in the bonding process of an infants development. On page 228 and 229 of our text, stability, according to a study on 15 month old children conducted by (Jacobson Hoffman) stated that secure and less stressed toddlers were more varied and had a larger vocabulary. They also have more positive experiences with peers. On the other side of the coin the less secure toddlers showed more fear, anger, and stress. In a perfect world every parent would like the development of their children to go as smooth as possible and all of the researchers, scientists, and theorists will continue to do the best they can at giving parents the tools and knowledge to do the best they can in helping to develop their children. However, they cannot control the environment, social status, or financial status a child is born in to. Conditions change rapidly not only for children but parents as well. Sometimes there can even be internal problems that can affect the development and the relationships between all three domains of development. Yet, all or most of these potential problems can be fixed with one word and that word is stability. In this world we live in all we can ask for as parents is that our children always continue to grow and develop throughout their lifetime. Conclusion Conception all the way to adulthood is a period of great learning and development. Development is a never ending process. We are born, go through life, and then we die. It’s that simple. Life is a series of developments that never truly ends. It starts from infancy to early adolescence. Every stage is a journey, a learning experience, and a series of developments in the maturation of children. Developmental domains and developmental theories help scientists answer many questions in the development of children. As long as we keep making babies we will give theorists and scientists many more things to research and debate on, and as parents we can continue to help develop our children.

Coffee Shop Business Plan

Coffee Shop Business Plan Java Culture coffee bar is determined to become a daily necessity for local coffee addicts, a place to dream of as you try to escape the daily stresses of life and  just a  comfortable place to meet your friends or to read a book, all in one. With the growing demand for high-quality gourmet coffee and great service, Java Culture will capitalize on its proximity to the University of Oregon campus to build a core group of repeat customers. The company will operate a 2,300 square foot coffee bar within a walking distance from the University of Oregon campus. The owners have secured this location through a three-year lease with an option for extending. The have also provided $140,000 of the required $170,000 start-up funds. The remaining capital will be obtained through  Bank of America commercial loans. The company is expected to grow sales revenue from $584,000 in FY2001 to $706,000 in year three. As Java Culture will strive to maintain a 65% gross profit margin and reasonable operating expenses,  it will see  net profits grow from $100,000 to$125,000 during the same period. 1.1 Objectives: Java Cultures objectives for the first year of  operations are: Become selected as the Best New Coffee Bar in the area by the local restaurant guide. Turn in profits from the first month of operations. Maintain a 65% gross margin. 1.2 Keys to Success: The keys to success will be: Store design that will be both visually attractive to customers, and designed for fast and efficient operations. Employee training to insure the best coffee preparation techniques. Marketing strategies aimed to build a solid base of loyal customers, as well as maximizing the sales of high margin products, such as espresso drinks. 1.3 Mission Java Culture will make its best effort to create a unique place where customers can socialize with each other in a comfortable and relaxing environment while enjoying the best brewed coffee  or espresso and pastries in town. We will be in the business of helping our customers to relieve their daily stresses by providing piece of mind through great ambience, convenient location, friendly customer service, and products of consistently high quality. Java Culture will invest its profits to increase the employee satisfaction while providing stable return to its shareholders. 2.0 Company Summary: Java Culture, an Oregon limited liability company, sells coffee, other beverages and snacks in its 2,300 square feet premium coffee bar located near the University of Oregon campus.   Java Cultures major investors are Arthur Garfield and James Polk who cumulatively own over 70% of the company. The start-up loss of the company is assumed in the amount of $27,680. 2.1 Company Ownership: Java Culture is registered as a Limited Liability Corporation in the state of Oregon. Arthur Garfield owns 51% of the company. His cousin, James Polk, as well as Megan Flannigan and Todd Barkley hold minority stakes in Java Culture, LLC. 2.2 Company Locations and Facilities: Java Culture coffee bar will be located on the ground floor of the commercial building at the corner of West 13th Avenue and Patterson Street in Eugene, OR. The company has secured a one-year lease of the vacant 2,500 square feet premises previously occupied by a hair salon. The lease contract has an option of renewal for three years at a fixed rate that Java Culture will execute depending on the financial strength of its business. The floor plan will include a 200 square feet back office and a 2,300 square feet coffee bar, which will include a seating area with 15 tables, a kitchen, storage area and two bathrooms. The space in the coffee bar will be approximately distributed the following way1,260 square feet (i.e., 55% of the total) for the seating area, 600 square feet (26%) for the production area, and the remaining 440 square feet (19%) for the customer service area. This property is located in a commercial area within a walking distance from the University of Oregon campus on the corner of a major thoroughfare connecting affluent South Eugene neighborhood with the busy downtown commercial area. The commercially zoned premises have the necessary water and electricity hookups and will require only minor remodeling to accommodate the espresso bar,  kitchen and storage area. The coffee bars open and clean interior design with modern wooden decor will convey the quality of the served beverages and snacks, and will be in-line with the establishments positioning as an eclectic place where people can relax and enjoy their cup of coffee. The clear window displays, through which passerby will be able to see customers enjoying their beverages, and outside electric signs will be aimed to grab the attention of the customer traffic. 3.0 Products: Java Culture will offer its customers the best tasting coffee beverages in the area. This will be achieved by using high-quality ingredients and strictly following preparation guidelines. The store layout, menu listings and marketing activities will be focused on maximizing the sales of higher margin espresso drinks. Along with the espresso drinks, brewed coffee and teas, as well as some refreshment beverages, will be sold in the coffee bar. Java Culture will also offer its clients pastries, small salads and sandwiches. For the gourmet clientele that prefers to prepare its coffee at home, Java Culture will also be selling coffee beans. The menu offerings will be supplemented by free books and magazines that customers can read inside the coffee bar. 3.1 Product Description: The menu of the Java Culture coffee bar will be built around espresso-based coffee drinks such as lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, etc. Each of the espresso-based drinks will be offered with whole, skimmed, or soy milk. Each of these coffee beverages is based on a shot of espresso, which is prepared in the espresso machine by forcing heated water through ground coffee at high pressure. Such espresso shots are combined with steamed milk and/or other additives like cocoa, caramel, etc., to prepare the espresso-based beverages. Proper preparation techniques are of paramount importance for such drinks. A minor deviation from the amount of coffee in the shot, the size of the coffee particles, the temperature of milk, etc., can negatively affect the quality of the prepared drink. 3.2 Sales Literature: Two thousand flyers will be distributed in the adjacent neighborhood, on the University campus, at the malls and in the selected office buildings within two weeks prior to the opening of Java Culture. Subsequently, free postcards with Java Culture endorsement will be printed to increase the company visibility among the patrons. 4.0 Market Analysis Summary: U.S. coffee consumption has shown steady growth, with gourmet coffee having the strongest growth. Coffee drinkers in the Pacific Northwest are among the most demanding ones. They favor well-brewed gourmet coffee drinks and demand great service. Eugene, OR, with its liberal and outgoing populace and long rainy winter, has traditionally been a great place for coffee establishments. Java Culture will strive to build a loyal customer base by offering a great tasting coffee in a   relaxing environment of its coffee bar located close to the bustling University of Oregon campus. 4.1 Market Segmentation: Java Culture will focus its marketing activities on reaching the University students and faculty, people working in offices located close to the coffee bar and on sophisticated teenagers. Our market research shows that these are the customer groups that are most likely to buy gourmet coffee products. Since gourmet coffee consumption is universal across different income categories and mostly depends on the level of higher education, proximity to the University of Oregon campus will provide access to the targeted customer audience. The chart and table below outline the total market potential (in number of customers) of gourmet coffee drinkers in Eugene, OR. Java Culture will cater to people who want to get their daily cup of great-tasting coffee in a relaxing atmosphere. Such customers vary in age, although our location close to the University campus means that most of our clientele will be college students and faculty. Our market research shows that these  are discerning customers that gravitate towards better tasting coffee. Furthermore, a lot of college students consider coffee bars to be a convenient studying or meeting location, where they can read or meet with peers without the necessity to pay cover charges. For us, this will provide a unique possibility for building a loyal client base. 4.2.1 Market Needs: General trend toward quality among U.S. consumers definitely plays an important role in the recent growth in gourmet coffee. Additionally, such factors as desire for small indulgencies, for something more exotic and unique, provide a good selling opportunity for coffee bars. 4.3 I Industry Analysis: Coffee consumption has shown a steady 2.5% growth rate in the United States over the last decade. In 1994, total sales of coffee were approximately $7.5 billion with gourmet coffee representing 33% (or $2.5 billion) of that. The retail coffee industry is flourishing in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The local climate, with a long rainy season, is very conducive for the consumption of hot non-alcoholic beverages. At the same time, hot dry summers drive people into cafes to order iced drinks. Further, coffee has really become a part of the lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest. Its discerning coffee drinkers are in favor of well-prepared, strong coffee-based beverages, which they can consume in a  relaxing environment. 4. 4 Competition and Buying pattern: Competition: According to the 1997 Oregon Food service Statistics (NAICS 72), Eugene had 45 established snack non-alcoholic beverage bars (NAICS 722213) with total sales of $14.2 million. Among other establishments that offer coffee drinks to their customers are most of Eugenes limited- and full-service restaurants. Java Cultures direct competitors will be other coffee bars located near the University of Oregon campus. These include Starbucks, Cafe Roma, The UO Bookstore, and other Food service establishments that offer coffee. Starbucks will definitely be one of the major competitors because of its strong financial position and established marketing and operational practices. However, despite of Starbucks entrenched market position, many customers favor smaller, independent establishments that offer cozy atmosphere and good coffee at affordable prices. Cafe Roma is a good example of such competition. We estimate that Starbucks holds approximately 35% market share in that neighborhood, Cafe Roma appeals to 25% of customers, The UO Bookstore caters to another 10%, with the remaining market share split among other establishments. Java Culture will position itself as a unique coffee bar that not only offers the best tasting coffee and pastries but also provides home-like, cozy and comfortable environment, which established corporate establishments lack. We will cater to customers bodies and minds, which will help us grow our market share in this competitive market. Buying Patterns: The major reason for the customers to return to a specific coffee bar is a great tasting coffee, quick service and pleasant atmosphere. Although, as stated before, coffee consumption is uniform across different income segments, Java Culture will price its product offerings competitively. We strongly believe that selling coffee with a great service in a nice setting will help us build a strong base of loyal clientele. 5.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary: Java Cultures marketing strategy will be focused at getting new customers, retaining the existing customers, getting customers to spend more and come back more often. Establishing a loyal customer base is of a paramount importance since such customer core will not only generate most of the sales but also will provide favorable referrals. 5.1 Competitive Edge: Java Culture will position itself as unique coffee bar where its patrons can not only enjoy a cup of perfectly brewed coffee but also spend their time in an ambient environment. Comfortable sofas and chairs, dimmed light and quiet relaxing music will help the customers to relax from the daily stresses and will differentiate Java Culture from incumbent competitors. 5.2 Sales Strategy: Java Culture baristas will handle the sales transactions. To speed up the customer service, at least two employees will be servicing clientswhile one employee will be preparing the customers order, the other one will be taking care of the sales transaction. All sales data logged on the computerized point-of-sale terminal will be later analyzed for marketing purposes. In order to build up its client base, Java Culture will use banners and fliers, utilize customer referrals and cross-promotions with other businesses in the community. At the same time, customer retention programs will be used to make sure the customers are coming back and spending more at the coffee bar. 5.3 Sales Forecast: Food costs are assumed at 25% for coffee beverages and 50% for retail beans and pastries. Proximity to the University campus will dictate certain sales seasonality with revenues slightly decreasing during the school vacation periods. The chart and table below outline our projected sales forecast for the next three years. 6.0 Management Summary: Java Culture is majority-owned by Arthur Garfield and James Polk. Mr. Garfield holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of ZYX. Hes worked for several years as an independent business consultant. Previously, he owned the ABC Travel Agency, which he profitably sold four years ago. Mr. Garfield has extensive business contacts in Oregon that he will leverage to help his new venture succeed. Mr. Polk has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the XYZ State University. For the last five years he has worked as a manager of DEF Ristorante, a successful Italian restaurant in Portland, OR. Under Mr. Polks management, the restaurant has consistently increased sales while maintaining a lower than average level of operating expenses. However, because of the investors other commitments they will not be involved into the daily management decisions at Java Culture. A professional manager ($35,000/yr) will be hired who will oversee all the coffee bar operations. Two full-time baristas ($25,000/yr each) will be in charge of coffee preparation. Four more part-time employees will be hired to fulfill the staffing needs. In the second and third year of operation one more part-time employee will be hired to handle the increased sales volume. 6.1 Management Team: A full-time manager will be hired to oversee the daily operations at Java Culture. The candidate (whos name is withheld due to his current employment commitment) has had three years of managerial experience in the definitely industry in Oregon. This persons responsibilities will include managing the staff, ordering inventory, dealing with suppliers, developing a marketing strategy and perform other daily managerial duties. We believe that our candidate has the right experience for this role. A profit-sharing arrangement for the manager may be considered based on the first year operational results. 6.2 Management Team Gaps: Despite the owners and managers experience in the definitely industry, the company will retain the consulting services of ABC Espresso Services, the consultants who have helped to develop the business idea for Java Culture. This company has over twenty years of experience in the retail coffee industry and has successfully opened dozens of coffee bars across the U.S. Consultants will be primarily used for market research, customer satisfaction surveys and to provide additional input into the evaluation of the new business opportunities. 7.0 Financial Plan: Java Culture will capitalize on the strong demand for high-quality gourmet coffee. The owners have provided the company with sufficient start-up capital. With successful management aimed at establishing and growing a loyal customer base, the company will see its net worth doubling in two years. Java Culture will maintain a healthy 65% gross margin, which combined with reasonable operating expenses, will provide enough cash to finance further growth.

When I Consider How My Light is Spent Essay -- Literary Analysis, John

John Milton’s Sonnet XIX, known as â€Å"When I Consider How My Light Is Spent† is a poem considering one’s disabling affliction in light of a time-less truth that the Apostle Paul wrote of: all things work to the good who love God and one thereby learns to be content in all things. Milton’s disabling affliction was blindness and by most interpretative accounts he was blind when he wrote Sonnet XIX. Under God’s providence Milton â€Å"considers† his dark infirmity and writes (dictates?) in light thereof. In this darkness and in this light I will consider Milton’s Sonnet. First to consider is that the poem used in The Norton Anthology of English Literature is an edited version from The Complete Poetry and Major Prose of Milton, edited by Merritt Y. Hughes. The poem that will be considered here is the 1673 text printed in The Riverside Milton, edited by Roy Flannagan. The decision of Riverside was not to intervene into the text, but to leave as it was written. Hughes’ changes insert punctuation, capitalization and spelling to update it to a modern audience. By modernizing the poem Hughes has effectively changed the meaning to what he as the editor had in mind. Milton wanted good readers, readers that read deeper than surface meanings and by changing the text the art of Milton’s words are compromised for the poem was designed to confuse the reader. Milton as a wordsmith is preparing the reader for a spiritual confusion that leads one to a question. Hughes’ editing reinforces the binary aspects of the poem that sets up one speaker i n the octave and one speaker in the sestet, the problem in the octave then the solution in the sestet, if one likes. If one leaves out the editorial changes, the octave speaker and the sestet speaker become erased... ... is required of all humankind. In Milton’s voice of patience the voice of complaint was quelled and regardless of time spent working or what affliction besets one, God is generous and graciously provides all through the unction of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost’s works derive from one’s faith and by this spirit operates within one to the glory, purpose and will of God. This will of a holy God who sends forth his messengers to Godspeed in giving good success to forward his purpose in the talent or gift that he distributes by the operation of the selfsame Spirit. Milton acknowledges obedience to this one God that he puts himself at disposal to, and in all this Milton â€Å"charged [not] God foolishly† (Job 1:22 K.J.V.). John Milton’s darkness will in one day stand in the eternal unspent light as he waits to consider the words â€Å"enter in good and faithful servant.†

Images of Blood in Faulkners Light in August Essays -- Faulkner Light

Images of Blood in Faulkner's Light in August      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Blood" is considered by many to be one of the most important ties between human beings; it is therefore frequently used as an image that defines a character or a relationship between characters in a novel. For example, a prince might be defined by his "royal blood," or a weak man described as having "thin blood." Close friends may be "blood brothers," or families may have a "blood feud." In William Faulkner's Light in August, the image of blood permeates the themes of sexuality, race, and religion. Blood is common to all of these themes: it is evident in reproductive cycles and births, it is a medium for the genetic passage of race from one generation to the next, and it serves as a symbol of life or death in many religions. Faulkner centers these powerful images of blood around Joe Christmas, the main character, whose blood, as a force giving him the will to live, is strong despite his sins. Christmas associates physical blood with his impressions of women, defines races and genders by the smell of their blood, and is guilty and damned because of the darkness in his "black blood." Christmas's view of the world and of issues Faulkner intimately relates to him, in particular sexuality, race, and religion, is tinted by the images of blood revolving around him.    Blood is one of the most important elements in Christmas's view of sexuality. He has a twisted perception of women and his sexual role due to his traumatic first exposure to sexuality at the age of five, in which he perceived the sex act as violent and disgusting. Christmas overheard a sexual ... ...ng him lifeless both physically and spiritually, though his influence lasts beyond his years. Christmas's "mixed" blood and mixed ethnicity provide imagery for the themes of race and religion; his conception of himself and the world is strongly impacted by his confusion over these two issues. His ideals are further affected by the connections he draws between blood and sexuality: he views blood as an inherent part of femininity, and he sees sex as a violent struggle for dominance. Whether it is a definition of race, a definition of sin or godliness, or a definition of the essence of females, the image of blood influences Christmas's perception of the world around him.    Works Cited Faulkner, William. Light in August. 1932. Notes Joseph Blotner, Editor's note Noel Polk. New York: Vintage Books, 1990

The Dangers of Shirking Responsibility in Arthur Millers All My Sons

The Dangers of Shirking Responsibility  in Arthur Miller's All My Sons  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Arthur Miller's All My Sons is a well-made play in every sense of that term. It not only is carefully and logically constructed, but   addresses its themes fully and effectively. The play communicates different ideas on war, materialism, family, and honesty. However, the main focus, especially at the play's climax, is the issue of personal responsibility. In particular, Miller demonstrates the dangers of shirking responsibility and, then, ascribing blame to others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nearly every character in All My Sons, in one way or another, fails to take responsibility. The Keller family, as a whole, is severely dysfunctional in that they keep secrets and tell lies at every turn. Chris, the most reliable character, understands that his family has "made a terrible mistake with Mother . . . . Being dishonest with her" (Miller 620). He realizes that there are consequences to such behavior. Indeed, as a result, Kate is on the verge of being delusional. She clings to the unrealistic hope that her son, Larry, will return from the war and marry his childhood sweetheart, Ann. For these hopes to prove false would, in her eyes, show for certain that there is no God. She says, "'There's God, so certain things can never happen'" (627).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet Kate is not just a victim of this irresponsible behavior. She contributes to it. She, too, makes excuses for her actions, making it seem as though she cannot be any more culpable for her conduct than she already is. She tells Chris that she and Joe "'are stupid people. We don't know anything'" and tells Chris that he has to protect them (633). However, it is Joe who is the most irresponsible character within ... ...amily wanted money, he did it, and that's "got to excuse it! . . . [For] Nothin' is bigger," and he adds that "'if there's something bigger than that I'll put a bullet in my head!'" (649). That is what he does. Suicide is the sad, harrowing conclusion for him and his family because he had not faced up to his wrongs earlier.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Chris was, for the most part, the voice of wisdom in this play whose words of honesty and its importance should have been heeded. He states, "'That kind of thing always pays off, and now it's paying off'" (620). In the end, he does take his own words to heart that "there's a universe of people outside and you're responsible to it" (653). He begins to blame on himself for his father's suicide, and Kate tells him, "'Don't dear. Don't take it on yourself'" (653). Works Cited Miller, Arthur. ?All My Sons.? New York: Penguin Group, 2000.

Rap/Hip-Hop: The Effects on Today’s Youth Essay

Abstract Rap/Hip-Hop first became popular among African American and Latinos among youth in the streets of New York during the 1970’s. It was their way of expressing themselves in a friendly manner in the form of speech, fashion, and personal style. Rap/Hip-Hop music was a way for them to get their message out, by telling stories of their lifestyles. However, over the years Rap/Hip-Hop music has become much more popular for its explicit lyrics, reference of drugs, alcohol and sexual explicit videos. Many may ask â€Å"Could Rap/Hip-Hop music have a negative influence on today’s youth, because of its unhealthy messages†? This research paper will examine the effects of rap/hip-hop music on today’s youth and whether or not it has a negative influence. Brenda L. Williams-Capers Professor Dana Taylor English Composition II December 11, 2011 Over the year’s many researchers have conducted studies on the effects of rap/hip-hop on today’s youth. The results have been mixed; however there are indications that some forms of Rap/Hip-Hop music could have negative influence on today’s youth. This is due to the fact that youth start to adapt the negative aspects of the gangster rap, by displaying aggressive behaviors and committing crimes of violence. Rap gets a bad rap because some songs contain explicit lyrics, drugs, alcohol and sex. A study conducted by Ralph J. DiClemente (2003) indicated that teen girls who spend more than 14 hours per week watching the sex and violence depicted in the â€Å"reel† life of â€Å"gangster† rap music videos are more likely to practice these behaviors in real life. Also, this study suggested that those teens were also three times more likely to hit a teacher, over 2.5 times more likely to get arrested, twice as likely to have multiple sexual partners, and 1.5 times more likely to get a sexually transmitted disease, use drugs, or drink alcohol. This is an indication that today’s youth that listen to these songs over and over again for long period of times could have behavior and aggressive issues. Tanner (2009) indicated that there is a sense of injustice that rap is often said to involve young people with the police and courts. The study also indicates that youth who listen to rap music have a stronger connection to property crimes than the crimes of violence, and the likelihood of committing those crimes are probably increased by poverty rather than listening to rap/hip-hop music. In a radio broadcast, Ed. Gordon (2006) mentioned two studies which addressed the effect that rap music has on today’s youth. The first study conducted by The Prevention Research Center of the Pacific instituted for Research and Evaluation in Berkeley, Calif., indicated that rap songs were linked to alcohol addictions, drug use, and violence among youth. Also, a study conducted by The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Georgetown University, also suggested that youths are exposure to alcohol thought targeted marketing advertising for beer and ale by 66 percent for youth between the age of 12-20 and 81 percent market exposure to distilled spirits. Nearly two-thirds of rap songs mentioned illicit drugs and nearly half of rap songs mentioned alcohol compared to other types of music. The overexposure to alcohol was connected to cognacs and brandies, both which are linked lyrics in hip-hop and rap music, which rappers glorify and advertise in their songs. Rap music is also used to advertise clothing, sneakers, and cars. Rappers are walking billboards and today’s youth want that same swagger. Cited in The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter (2003), a study was conducted by a group of researchers from Iowa State University and The Texas Department of Human Services who examined over 500 students who had listened to seven violent songs and eight non-violent songs. This study measured student’s aggressive thoughts and their feelings. The results were that violent songs led to more aggressive interpretation of words that also increased the speed in which the students read aggressive vs. non-aggressive works and increased the proportion of word fragments that filled in to make aggressive words. Their study also indicated that the violent songs increased violent thoughts causing youth to act out. The popularity of Rap/Hip-Hop music and Hip/Hop styles has now reached the Middle East. Iraqis youth in are now starting to imitate hip-hop lifestyles of American soldiers. Youth have now started to adapt hip-hop styles such as, dancing, wearing baggy pants, slangy English, and cutting $ signs into their close cropped hair. Tattoos are now also becoming popular among Iraqis youth. This goes against Islam’s strictures on baring their skin. Not all Iraqis welcome the culture of the American Hip/Hop style, because they feel that Iraqis youth are now beginning to reject authority and other forbidden behaviors, like engaging in forbidden love affairs. Iraqis youth feel that their eyes are now open to the outside world since living under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. Iraqis youth are now also starting to use the internet and are watching satellite TV, which allows them better understanding of American cultures, both positive and negative aspects. In a book written by Michael Dyson, â€Å"Reflecting Black: African-American Cultural Criticism. He addressed the question† Is Rap music really as dangerous as many critics argue:† Michael Dyson (1993) states that Rap music is a form of profound musical, cultural, and social creativity. He also stated that Rap music expresses the desire of young black people to reclaim their history. He defenses the negative impact on Rap/ Hip-hop music, which the general public claims that Rap/Hip-Hop expresses and causes violence among youth. It is in his opinion that many rappers have spoken against the violence in Rap/Hip-Hop. Rappers KRS-One spoke against black on black crimes in a song titled â€Å"Stop the Violence† and â€Å"Self Destruction†. Rapper KRS-One wanted youths to realize that not all Rap/Hip-Hop music called for violence behavior among youth. Also, rappers such as Will Smith and his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff rapped positive messages to youth about having fun in the summer time, not glorifying drugs, alcohol or sex. Some feel that rap can be negative and positive on today’s youth. Michael Dyson (1993) feels that Rap/Hip-Hop music is getting a bad rap. Could that be true, or is Rap/Hip-Hop really unhealthy for today’s youth? Over the year’s research, books and studied have been conducted to determine if violent and explicit lyrics in Rap/Hip-Hop music really causes or promotes violence in today’s youth. Since it’s beginning in the 1970’s Rap/Hip-Hop has gone from being fun to listen to now being a explicit rated albums. In today’s time Rap/Hip-Hop glorifies drugs, violence, and sex at an alarming rate. Today’s youth are also embracing the lifestyles’ of rappers in their language and attitudes, with their want of money, cars, drugs and alcohol that rappers talk about in their lyrics causing them to become materialistic teenagers. What must we do as concerned parents? We must be aware of what our children are watching and listening to. Parents must be involved in what their children are purchasing and they must ask questions to understand what their children are experiencing. In the 1990’s C. Dolores started a crusade to stop the sale of offensive rap music to minors. Mrs. Tucker outspokenness earned her enemies, however she remained relentless with her crusade against what is called gangster rap. Her concerns were that the lyrics were misogynistic and threatened the moral foundation of the African American community. Conclusion Rap/Hip-Hop music became popular in the 70’s, since than it has changed the world; youth in every corner of the globe have adopted the culture, the speech and the style. Because Rap/Hip-Hop music has become so popular, many people think that this type of music is making today’s youth more violent, due to the glorification of violent, explicit language, sex, disrespect for authority, and disrespect towards women. Just as parents teach their kids not to do drug, they should also teach their kids that rapper is only for entertainment, it is a business for rappers to sale albums to make money. It is a business for them. It is all about album sales. We should all follow Mrs. Tuckers’ example by taking a stand against anything that could have a negative effective on our youth. Rappers should realize that they are role models to most of our youth and stop thinking about their pockets. References DiClemente, R.J., Wingood, G.M., Bernhardt, J.M., Robillard, A., Harrington, K., Davies, S.L., and Hook, E.W. A Prospective Study of Exposure of Rap Music Videos and African American Female Adolescents’ Health. American Journal of Public Health. (2003). Dyson, M.E., Reflecting Black: African-American Cultural Criticism. Minneapolis, MN, USA: University of Minnesota, 1993 p.38 Gordon, E., N News, News & Notes, 8 May 2006 Tanner, J.; Asbridge, M.; & Wortley, S. (2009). â€Å"Listening to Rap: Cultures of Crime, Cultures of Resistance.† Social Forces, 88(2): 693-722. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter 2003 www.newblackmagizine.com

The Literature of the Victorian Period

â€Å"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† by Stevenson Book Analysis â€Å"North and South† by Gaskell Book Report Example of Literature Review essay, Sample Paper Introduction The literature of the Victorian period is the synonymy of oppositions. Some of the oppositions introduced by this period are to be considered â€Å"vital† as they deal with the major human values. The list of the works known to be the best representations of the Victorian world outlook is very long; nevertheless some works are to be highlighted. Opposition is the core of Stevenson’s â€Å"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde†. Its outstanding resolution and the struggle of two forces has become the embodiment of duality. Another works to mention is Mrs. Gaskell’s â€Å"North and South†. Being based on a contradiction the book’s characters fight within the whole book in order to achieve the balance between the opposing sides. These two works do not speak only about the duality of the material world but of the spiritual world, too, which sometimes gives the impression of their insolubility. Both of the books deal with reconciling these oppositions, and their reconcile turn out to have a lot of common aspects. Being so different from each other, they therefore become a lot alike, for the message they are carrying is quite the same: a difference of a person from standard society representatives causes this person incredible sufferings. Both of the books are the fight of individuality against the society and the norms that it obtrudes but nevertheless there is something more to both of them†¦ The opposition between the desire to be different and the necessity to be like everybody create a perfect base for the struggle both in â€Å"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† and â€Å"North and South†. North and South† and â€Å"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† comparison Essay Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Stevenson’s â€Å"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† is a creation of the opposition of two spiritual essences. Basically, it goes about the â€Å"mutation† that Dr. Jekyll’s personality goes through. Through the story of Dr. Jekyll the author talks about the â€Å"unrev ealed† side of the society. The analysis of the deep context of the book brings the reader to the understanding that Dr. Jekyll’s duplicity is nothing but the personification of social issues. Everybody sees Dr. Jekyll as a fine scientist, a rich, respected man. He understands the impossibility to reveal his terrifying and horrible second personality. Society would not have approved Mr. Hyde, nobody would have loved him. Still, Mr. Hyde is a part of Dr. Jekyll. And that is the real tragedy. Dr. Jekyll’s attempts to control his â€Å"personality conditions† with a special drug is an attempt to reconcile these two oppositions that live inside of him. â€Å"Gentlemen like me have to be very careful of what we do or say†, says Dr. Jekyll and indeed he is right. The story of Dr. Jekyll is the story of an unsuccessful attempt to neutralize the opposing sides, as Dr. Jekyll dies. The novel also reveals that the upper society classes do also have â€Å"dark sides† and are not â€Å"socially perfect† as it was put in the period of the book creation. No matter what a person is in his life he still remains a simple human, no matter what a person seems to be – he will still have two sides of a personality, if he cannot be what he really is: good or bad. The society does not allow it and it produces a struggle! â€Å"North and South† Gaskell’s â€Å"North and South† has a lot to do with oppositions, too. The main heroine Margaret Hale has a pattern of everyday life that she has had while living in Helstone in the south of England. This is s story of the contradictions that the girl faces as she moves from agrarian Helstone to industrialized Milton. This is the contradiction between the life that she has known in the South and the life she faces in the North. This is also a fight of the values, which differ in two different parts of the country. The equality of the South converts into the absence of rights in the North. The book also opposes two different feelings of the heroine. Belonging to the class of workers she is against their poverty and the way they are treated at the mill, at the same time she is in love with the owner of the mill. This converts into the confrontation of two different social classes. The insolubility of all these oppositions makes the heroine want to come back to the old ways in Helstone. But when she does†¦ She realizes that everything changes and that her way of life is not the only possible and perfect one. She reconciles the oppositions with the awareness of achieving the balance through having the ability to help the â€Å"poor† people, even now belonging to the upper class. The reader also faces the opposition of the upper class cruelty and the understanding that there people inside the class that do want to be equitable. The nature of tensions of the books It is not surprising to see that both of the book have common aspects and the primary aspects of course the social one. The both deal with the basic Victorian â€Å"discoveries†. Stevenson’s: One person, being a solid creature may still have two different parts, two opposite identities, that struggle for obtaining power over the person. It is the opposition of what a person seems to be, fulfilling the social norms and what he is in reality. Gaskell’s: One country, being a solid territory may still have two different and even opposite ways of life, depending on the part of the country. The â€Å"North and South† also symbolizes the opposition of two different classes, belonging to these two opposing ways of life – the agrarian and the industrial one. Both of the books are definitely a part of the same society. It is a society in its attempt to reconcile from the oppositions that are tearing it apart, destroying its essence. These Victorian works are the product of the society understanding the weakness of its social aspects: class differences, social norms, and its desire to put everything in abutments, which are â€Å"sociable† or in other words acceptable for observing. The society opposes itself in both of the books. Both of the books are calls for achieving balance and harmony; Victorian calls for changing the perception of the world. Source: http://www. custom-essays. org/examples/Literature_Review_of_the_Victorian_period_essay. html

Estore at Shelll Essay

In recent years there has been shift in the fuels and lubricant marketplace that has resulted in more price-sensitive customers and a growing downward pressure on Shell Canada’s margins. Due to the financial pressure to reduce costs, Shell Canada launched an online, self-serve â€Å"eStore† to their agricultural customers in hopes of streamlining their business, cutting costs and salvaging their shrinking profit margins. The purpose of this case report is to address and analyze the issues surrounding eStore, identify the best alternative to solve the key issues and determine the most appropriate method of implementation. It is anticipated that these findings will illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of potential solutions, which will in turn lead to actual implementation of the best solution. Key issues encompassing Shell’s shrinking profit margins, communication and delivery and technology were identified and discussed. Using a SWOT analysis and the Porter’s Five Forces model, internal and external factors affecting the eStore business plan were analyzed. In accordance with the analysis, three alternatives were generated including the redesign of eStore website, abandonment of the online project and the generation of alternative self-serve strategies. After considering which solution would best serve the eStore initiative at Shell Canada, it was determined that continuing with the project and redesigning eStore would be most effective and a plan of implementation was established. It is recommended that Shell Canada follow the implementation plan in order to attain maximum success for eStore. Despite some reluctance of agricultural customers to adopt an online ordering system, there are clear opportunities for Shell’s eStore initiative to succeed in this market. Introduction As a leading manufacturer, distributer and marketer of refined petroleum products, Shell Canada limited is one of the largest integrated petroleum companies in Canada. With consolidated earnings of $810 million and $9. 5 billion in assets in 2003, Shell Canada was ranked the 14th largest company in the country. In recent years there has been a shift in the fuels and lubricant marketplace that has resulted in more price-sensitive customers and a growing downward pressure on Shell’s margins. The agricultural segment s specifically underperforming and because of this, Shell hoped to effectively implement an online ordering system that would decrease the need for costly rural sales representatives. After the initial launch in September of 2002, it was noted that eStore was not as successful in attracting and retaining customers as initially planned. This report will outline key issues, conduct internal and external analysis and prepare an action plan to implement the best solution to achieve success in Shell’s eBusiness initiative. Key Issues Shell has three key issues that need to be addressed before deciding how to best proceed with the implementation of eStore. Shrinking Profit Margins in the Agricultural Segment With the shift in the agricultural segment towards price-sensitive customers, Shell Canada is currently experiencing a growing downward pressure on margins and is thus faced with the need to minimize costs. The remoteness of Shell Canada’s agricultural customers provides unique challenges in managing communication, delivery and sales settlement, therefore there is a need for a more streamlined process in managing these customers. Using local sales representatives in the agricultural segment is costly, and thus Shell is faced with the need to move towards a more efficient, self-serve strategy for these customers. In order to effectively decide on an implementation strategy for eStore, Shell Canada needs to determine an optimal self-serve strategy to satisfy these customers. Communication and Delivery The second key issue is centered upon the lack of sufficient marketing of eStore. After the initial implementation of eStore, Shell Canada noted a pattern whereby customers had signed up for an account only to not use it again or use the system only perfunctorily. Feedback from the customers indicated a range of issues, including a lack of familiarity with eStore and a preference to use other options such as their local sales representatives, or the call center to place their orders. Some customers had not heard of eStore, and those who had, did not see the added value of eStore, and were concerned that an online solution was no better than either placing their orders directly through the 1-800 call center or faxing orders in directly. Many preferred to do business with their local sales representative as they valued the personal relationship of dealing with someone in their own community. Shell is faced with the need to develop a strong marketing platform that will attract customers to eStore in order to increase usage levels. Technology A user experience review of eStore by RareMethod consulting group also indicated a number of technological issues with the eStore website. While some customers saw the value, many found it cumbersome to use and experienced inconvenient interface-related issues. Some customers found the website cryptic and often encountered trouble when typing the Web address. If they failed to type the secure connection URL, it appeared as if the system was non-responsive. Also, the passwords automatically generated by eStore were often too complex for the customers to remember. They required the customer to remember a random sequence of letters and numbers in order to conform to the strict security guidelines. The log-in screen was confusing to customers as it presented what appeared to be two separate log-in panes, one for customers, and one for employees. As these two options were not clearly labeled, customers who chose incorrectly would be presented with an error notification, and would invariably stop trying to log on. The e-mails customers were receiving from eStore were also confusing. Instead of receiving e-mails from eStore, customers were receiving e-mails from eBusiness, and having no familiarity with eBusiness, would often ignore them. In order to enhance the user experience and retain customers on the system, Shell must eliminate these cumbersome interface-related issues and design a website that is more user-friendly. Given these key issues, the following ranking was created based upon their importance and urgency. Shell’s greatest strength is arguably the relationship they have developed with their agricultural customers. By taking advantage of the rapport the local representatives have built with their rural customers, Shell can effectively use these employees as distribution channels to promote eStore. By using Shell International, Shell Canada can also capitalize on considerable resources and expertise to develop an effective implementation strategy. The Electronic Customer Access to Shell (eCATS) initiative by Shell International to develop a generic electronic store can be used as the basis for the self-serve application needed in the Canadian marketplace. By using eCATS as their platform, Shell Canada is able to considerably reduce the development costs. Capitalizing on these strengths will allow Shell to effectively implement eStore in their target market. Weaknesses  Although assessed above as a strength, the relationship the local representatives have built with the rural customers is concurrently one of Shell’s weaknesses when considering the implementation of eStore. Because customers have been able to enjoy a personalized working relationship with members of their own community, they could be hesitant to adopt an impersonal online system that will remove the valued relationship they have with their local representatives. The lack of sufficient marketing for the eStore project is also one of the weaknesses Shell faces in implementing eStore. Many of Shell’s customers have never heard of eStore, and those have do not see the added value in using an online system. Even the local representatives are not fully on board as many feel their time is better spent dealing with client issues rather than promoting eStore. Other weaknesses pertain to technological and user-interface related issues. The customers that have tried eStore are not currently satisfied with the online system and as a result, eStore is experiencing low usage levels. Opportunities Due to the remoteness of many of Shell’s agricultural customers, there is an unfulfilled need to develop a system that makes communication, delivery and sales settlement easier and more efficient for these customers. An online, self-serve strategy provides customers with an easy, convenient way to place orders and gives Shell an opportunity to more effectively manage these customers and generate sales. Also, while a competitor analysis showed that there were many competitors in the market such as Imperial Oil, Irving Oil, UFA, PetroCanada and Federated Co-op, none was pursuing initiatives similar to eStore. Because these companies are likely experiencing the same margin compression, this gives Shell the opportunity to salvage profit margins and simultaneously increase their market share by providing customers with the innovative offering of an electronic store. Streamlining business using an online system would not only attract new customers, but it would also cut costs and relieve some of the pressure on Shell’s margins. Threats Although Shell Canada has few external factors that would seriously threaten the implementation of eStore, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. With the shift in the agricultural segment towards price-sensitive customers, Shell Canada must find ways to satisfy these customers in order to maintain their business. Shell must ensure that an online store is the most effective way to keep these customers, not deter them. Also, although no other company has currently developed an electronic store, there is nothing stopping them from developing one in the future. If Shell is unable to effectively implement their eStore, another competitor could easily learn from Shell’s mistakes, and develop a more effective online system that would satisfy the particular customers Shell was trying to attract. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis The ‘Porter’s Five Forces’ model was designed primarily to conduct industry analysis. It may aid a company to understand both the â€Å"strength of their current competitive position and the strength of the position that they are looking to move into. The model is used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable† (Porter’s Five Forces, 2010). Figure 2: Illustration of Porter’s Five Forces Model Source: http://www. quickmba. com/strategy/porters. html Supplier Power- Low  The supplier provides the input for the final product or service, and therefore the supplier for Shell’s eStore is the developer and platform owner. Although implementation of the online system requires the development of at least some the applications since they are not readily available in the marketplace, Shell has extensive resources to draw upon from within the organization therefore making the supplier power low. Members of the Calgary IT group were involved with the development of eCATS and Shell Canada has a strong information architecture already established to guide the implementation of eStore. Buyer Power- High With the shift in the agricultural segment from traditional based farming methods to business-class farming, the fuel and lubricant market currently consists of highly price-sensitive customers. As business-class farmers make up a vast majority of Shell’s agricultural business at 95 per cent, these customers control about 2 percent of Shell’s total market share, and make up a significant source of revenue. Since there are no associated switching costs, customers can easily choose to do business with any company offering the lowest price. As well, customers can decide which services best meet their needs and implementing an electronic store website is only as useful as the number of users. If few people make the transition, regardless of the services eStore can offer, the system will be virtually useless. Threat of Substitutes- High Although substitution is currently not a threat as no other companies have developed an eStore, it is likely that another company could easily develop the same initiative in the near future. While the internet is not heavily regulated in Canada, there is no way for Shell to develop a patent on their eStore system. Another company could not only follow suit, they could learn from Shell’s mistakes and make their own store more effective. Although Shell Canada had the cost-saving advantage of using eCATS as their platform foundation, technology is getting cheaper and companies may be easily able to buy better, more effective online applications off the shelf. Similarly, if Shell fails to satisfy customers with an online ordering system, ustomers may look to other companies that offer the representative relationship they prefer. Barriers to Entry- Low The marketplace in which eStore will conduct business is online, and therefore there are very few barriers to entry. Because there is little regulation online, other companies can easily enter this marketplace with similar initiatives. Moreover, it is often the case that the second version of an IT system is better than the first, therefore other companies can see what Shell has done with eStore, and make their version even more efficient. Competitive Rivalry- High  Taking into consideration the aforementioned factors, competitive rivalry can be considered high. With price sensitive customers in the agricultural segment occupying 2% of the market share, and many players in the market, the company that offers the lowest price will assume this customer base. Shell’s online initiative could potentially set them apart from the competition by offering an innovative, more efficient way of doing business. By reducing their own costs, the savings could then be passed on, at least partially, to the customer in the form of lower prices.