High Luxury Fashion Management Essay

High Luxury Fashion Management Essay High Luxury Fashion Management Essay High Luxury Fashion Management Essay This paper compares two high-end fashion stores based on various aspects. The fashion stores chosen are Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. For better comparison, a shoe brand and a handbag brand have to be chosen and compared respectively. The shoe brand chosen is Valentino sneakers. Both Saks and Bergdorf offer Valentino sneakers in their stores. However, Bergdorf offers more floor space to the shoe brand compared to Saks. For the type of counter space employed, both stores are the same. Each store uses the shoe-in-glass design of counter space. Given the higher amount of floor space given to Valentino sneakers by Bergdorf, the store offers more types of the sneakers than Saks. In fact, Bergdorf offers all the available types of Valentino sneakers . The materials and fabrications used in both stores more or less depend on the brand of shoes. The standard materials used include soft leather, synthetic leather, and canvas. There are more types of shoes in Bergdorf than Saks. To be specific, Bergdorf offers all types of low-top sneakers as opposed to Saks. Saks mostly offers rockrunner sneakers. While Saks favors bright colors of sneakers such as white and gray, Bergdorf offers sneakers of all colors in equal amounts. The prices of the shoes are similar in both stores. However, each store seems to have a different price structure depending on demand for a specific type of shoes. The low-top sneakers are the most favored given that they are light and comfortable to wear in the city. In summary, Saks and Bergdorf are direct competitors as far as sneakers are concerned. They offer similar products to the same group of people. However, Valentino sneakers are more demanded in Bergdorf as evidenced by the bigger space provided to the bra nd. As for the handbags, Bottega Veneta handbags were chosen for comparison purposes. Bottega Veneta is a premium brand offering a wide range of fashion items. When comparing the two stores, it was found that Bergdorf Goodman offers 142 types of handbags compared to only 50 by Saks Fifth Avenue. Bergdorf, therefore, gives more space to the handbag brands. Like in the case with the shoes, Bottega Veneta handbags in both stores are put behind clear glass to be easily viewed by customers. Bergdorf presented all the major product presentation styles including giving of offers on certain handbags. The only type of offer given in Saks was that of buying three bags at the price of two. The bags found in Bergdorf are made of faux fur, leather and suede, linen, polyester fabrics and their blends, rayon, silk, tapestry, velvet, and velveteen. Saks did not have bags made of rayon and velvet. Bergdorf offered, among many other styles, A-shaped woven tote bags and small pillow woven cross body bags. Saks focused more on hobo bags. Both stores, however, focused on the major feminine colors such as pink, beige, blue and black in their various versions. The color emphasis did not make a big difference between the stores. The price structure was based more on the manufacturer (or designer) than on a particular store. However, given that both stores offered products to the upper class, the prices were relatively higher than bags of other brands offered in other stores. Both Saks and Bergdorf offer high-quality products and customer services. They also ship goods to locations outside the United States. They both record high levels of customer demand given that New York has the highest concentration of high-class people. Besides the differences in the amount of floor space given to each premium brand, both stores have almost similar methods of presentation of their products. Having visited the two stores, it was concluded that Bergdorf had a bigger selection of both Bottega Veneta Handbags and Valentino sneaker shoes as compared to Saks. However, Saks had better customer service. First of all, Bergdorf Goodman has a bigger store in general in New York. Thus, it can afford to give more space to both Bottega Veneta Handbags and Valentino sneaker shoes. Besides, the two brands are among the most sought after in the luxury fashion realm. Though not based on facts, Bergdorf can be said to be making more from its sales of Bottega Handbags and Valentino sneakers. Of the two items selected, the most demanded items in both stores are Bottega Veneta handbags. The handbags are favored for their high quality and unique design. In both stores there were more loyal and return customers in regard to handbags as com pared to Valentino sneakers The presentation of the two products, as stated above, is almost similar. Bottega Veneta handbags and Valentino sneakers are placed in glass stands. An interested customer can ask to touch the products as a way of deciding whether he/she wants to buy them or not. Besides, some highly-priced handbags had offers attached to them to encourage customers to buy them. During a conversation, a department manager stated that Valentino low-top sneakers were highly favored for various reasons. First of all, they were fairly priced. Secondly, they were light as city life requires brisk walking. Thirdly, they lasted long and could be used for various purposes such as jogging and days out with families. The reason why Saks is considered to have better customer service was that while at the store, a sales associate approached the author asking if she could be of any help. The author took that opportunity to gauge the real quality of customer service in the store. First of all, there were no signs of discrimination against customers in the store as far as their appearance was concerned. In some other luxury stores, prejudgment is made based on the customers` appearance; if a customer is poorly dressed, it could be assumed that he/she is not be able to afford items being sold. Saks (as well as Bergdorf) had none of that. The sales associate in Saks asked questions and answered mine in the politest manner possible. The author endeavored to ask about the types of celebrities who frequented the store regularly. The sales associate stated that they served some famous people including hip hop musicians like Jay-Z and J Cole. They also serve movie actors and actresses the most recent of whic h were Idris Elba and Kate Beckinsale starring at the Pacific Rim and Underworld respectively. Given the chance to improve the two stores, the author would majorly increase the campaign advertisements to have a bigger customer base. However, these advertisements should be made cautiously given that premium fashion brands are cheapened whenever they are advertised too much. Besides, it is advisable that the two stores expand their international reach given that rich people have no problem spending a lot of money as long as the product is of high quality. Saks should also endeavor in offering more products either by replacing the poorly-performing brands or opening more stores to offer all the products available. In conclusion, both Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue are among the best fashion stores around the world. Valentino Garavani was born on May, 11th 1932 in Voghera, Italy. Fashion design was his passion from a young age. He studied it until he started his personal line of clothes in 1959 in Rome. A few years later, thanks to his distinctive talent he became one of the most recognized cloth designers in the world. He became the most favorite designer of many women around the world. One of his most famous customers was Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the 35th president of the United States (John Fitzgerald Kennedy). Others include Elizabeth Taylor, Marie-Helene de Rothschild, Queen Paola of Belgium, Begum Aga Khan, and Audrey Hepburn. One of Valentino’s early influencers was his aunt Rosa under whom he worked. Besides her, Valentino worked under several other local designers before his formal training in Paris (Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and Ecole des Beaux-Arts). His had an apprenticeship with Guy Laroche and Jean Desses before he embarked on a personal career. Howev er, Valentino`s first choice for an apprenticeship was Jacques Fath and then Balenciaga. He attested to have learned a lot from his masters as observed from his borrowing of a few ideas from his teachers. Valentino is famous for a distinctive shade of red color known as â€Å"Valentino Red†. Valentino left Jean Desses under controversial circumstances and endeavored to make a name for himself in 1959 in Rome. A part of his success is attributed to his first partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Giametti was an architecture student who helped Valentino build his brand and distinctive â€Å"Valentino Red†. Valentino gained popularity after having participated in a show in Florence in the Pitti Palace. The show made him famous among the rich and the famous. He quickly became the summit of Italian fashion design. When Valentino moved to New York in the 1970s, he had effectively expanded into the American market following his high profile clients in America. Before his retirement, Valentino had various names under his original house. They included Valentino R.E.D., Valentino Roma, Valentino and Valentino Garavani. All names represent a part of his line of wares serving a specific mark et. Currently, Valentino is interested in shoes, bags and belts. As a result, Valentino is a household name. Valentino’s life is very interesting. Now aged 82, Valentino met his wife in 1950 but separated from her in 1972. However, they remained close and maintain homes in various countries including France, Spain and Switzerland. Valentino and Giammetti have filed their homes with art given that it is their ultimate passion. In 1998, Giammetti and Valentino announced their retirement from the fashion industry. They did this by selling off their company for around $300to HdP, an Italian conglomerate. Four years later, HdP sold the company to Marzotto Apparel. The changes in ownership were overseen by Valentino himself since his advice is considered invaluable. As a special way to say goodbye to the fashion industry, Valentino organized a final haute couture in Paris at the Musee Rodin in January 2007. It featured such household names as Eva Herzigova, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell. All in all, Valentino’s lines of clothes and shoes have become a household name among the rich and the famous all around the world. Italy is famous for luxury. To make a name in such a market in the same way as Valentino did requires talent and dedication.

Free Essays on Who Killed Percy Boyd Staunton

The supernatural has been a topic of discussion since before time. Sometimes it’s even referred to â€Å"powers beyond our control.† There have always been mysteries to the human mind that still have not yet been explained. Fifth business shares this theme of the supernatural several times within the novel itself. It shows itself to Dunny, Percy and Paul. Paul Dempster killed Percy Boyd Staunton. This is proven by the fact that Paul was an escape artist. As well, hypnosis could have played a part in the killing. Finally, Paul had made the statement: â€Å"I have everything I need.† Paul was an escape artist. He shoed his appearance illusion on his magic show. â€Å"He began his show by appearing in the middle of the stage out of nowhere; he plucked a wand from the air, and wrapping himself in a black cloak, suddenly became transparent†¦then, after another flourish of the cloak, he was present in the flesh again.† (203-204). This was the Pepper’s Ghost illusion. Paul had also performed several escaping tricks such as â€Å"†¦From ropes and straps bound on him by men from the audience who fancied themselves as artists in bondage.† (205). The grand escape was being in the metal container, in the water. â€Å"Eisengrim, wearing only a pair of bathing trunks, was handcuffed and pushed upside down into a metal container like a milk can. The top of the milk can was fastened shut with padlocks, some of which members of the audience had brought with them. The milk can was lowered into a tank of water, with glass windows in it so that the audience could see the interior clearly. Curtains were drawn around the tank and its contents, and the audience sat in silence to await events. Two men were asked to time the escape; and if more than 3 minutes elapsed, they were to order the fireman who was in attendance to break open the milk can without delay. The three minutes passed. The fireman was given the word and made a very clumsy business of ge... Free Essays on Who Killed Percy Boyd Staunton Free Essays on Who Killed Percy Boyd Staunton The supernatural has been a topic of discussion since before time. Sometimes it’s even referred to â€Å"powers beyond our control.† There have always been mysteries to the human mind that still have not yet been explained. Fifth business shares this theme of the supernatural several times within the novel itself. It shows itself to Dunny, Percy and Paul. Paul Dempster killed Percy Boyd Staunton. This is proven by the fact that Paul was an escape artist. As well, hypnosis could have played a part in the killing. Finally, Paul had made the statement: â€Å"I have everything I need.† Paul was an escape artist. He shoed his appearance illusion on his magic show. â€Å"He began his show by appearing in the middle of the stage out of nowhere; he plucked a wand from the air, and wrapping himself in a black cloak, suddenly became transparent†¦then, after another flourish of the cloak, he was present in the flesh again.† (203-204). This was the Pepper’s Ghost illusion. Paul had also performed several escaping tricks such as â€Å"†¦From ropes and straps bound on him by men from the audience who fancied themselves as artists in bondage.† (205). The grand escape was being in the metal container, in the water. â€Å"Eisengrim, wearing only a pair of bathing trunks, was handcuffed and pushed upside down into a metal container like a milk can. The top of the milk can was fastened shut with padlocks, some of which members of the audience had brought with them. The milk can was lowered into a tank of water, with glass windows in it so that the audience could see the interior clearly. Curtains were drawn around the tank and its contents, and the audience sat in silence to await events. Two men were asked to time the escape; and if more than 3 minutes elapsed, they were to order the fireman who was in attendance to break open the milk can without delay. The three minutes passed. The fireman was given the word and made a very clumsy business of ge...

Planning Group Policy Software Deployments Assignment

Planning Group Policy Software Deployments - Assignment Example And as the systems advance, so do their working limits. 1. Efficient Installation of Software Using Each Phase of System Development Life Cycle A software installation for the security of Intellectual property is an uphill task in lieu of the complexities associated with the installation phase. System administrators are normally expected to be literate about the software and know what they are doing and thus most often no restrictions are imposed even by the most protected systems during software installs. To perform new software installations for several hundred users at a Californian firm as a junior network administrator, the problems and ambiguities faced during the installation phase cannot be over looked as they can stream in to extra costs. The threats imposed by the installation can be governed if certain strategies are employed at execution phase which includes assurance of no interference between the processing of un trusted/new software and existing packages, restriction o n the execution of new/un trusted software’s access to the operations other than that of the sand box and new/ un trusted software should be easily uninstall able if the need persists (Sun, Sekar, Liang, Venkatakrishnan, 2009 (Bender RBT Inc., 2003) (Eric Chien, 2005) (Ke Min Gu, 2009) (Russ Johnson, 2000) (Abbas Rajabifard, Ali Monsourian and Ian Williamson, 2004)). For the efficient installation of software at controlled costs and keeping in view the above requirements of maintaining a control on installation phase, System Development Life cycle (SDLC) has to be incorporated. It finally is a solution introduced by software engineering that has been evolved from the understanding of improvement needed in the development process of creating system. It basically is an abstract model that describes the stages involved in project management as it paves the methodology right from the beginning of suitability operations to the overhauling of complete performance. It is based upon the objectives of ensuring the delivery of high quality systems, strong management and control systems for projects and capitalizes on the system staff for productivity and efficient yield (Bender RBT Inc., 2003). It comes with guidance and instructions for how to install it, staying in line with its objectives of system security. It offers a very user friendly installation that can be of great help for the junior network administrator as it has the ability to support many different kinds and scopes of systems and projects, providing support to the incorporation of technical activities, providing support and coordination for all of the management activities and being user friendly and highly useable. In general, System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) has seven phases. As a Californian firm Administrator, I can incorporate them for the safe and low cost working of my systems. 1. Conceptual Planning: It is the first step to guarantee end state solutions for user’s requirements. I t assesses the expected cost and risks, project feasibility, needs for the enhancement of the system and different project planning advances s are discussed. Two major parties designated during this phase of SDLC are System Support Agent (SSA) and System Development Agent (SDA) which are updated through the system’s cycle. 2. Planning and Requirements Definitions: After the Californian firm’s Information Technology administrator has assessed the feasibility of the project

Ask week 1 m9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ask week 1 m9 - Essay Example Elaborate on the importance of each of the processes. In order to ensure that the governance framework functions as expected in every company, these processes must be followed. There is a need for concern over the ABC’s external stakeholders due to diverse cultural setting. How important is such a concern? There tends to be conflicts when people from different cultures interact due to differences in their customs and beliefs (Badaracco 1992). However, this should not deter a company from achieving its goals. What are ways through which issues of individual morality and organizational ethical responsibility can be managed? Badaracco (1992), Holt (2006) and McDonald (2010) provide four spheres on how to handle such issues. For example, development of a moral character can be used by managers to adjust morals and ethics to suit the situation prevailing in their environment. What are ethical problems in your organisation? These problems could relate to social cultural, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (Mele 2011). Any commercial oriented organisation can expect to face such challenges. In the effort to find solutions on how to create a high performance teams, there is a need to identify ways to manage and solve ethical problems. What are some of the issues would you focus on towards this effect. This is important because achievement of a certain goal needs a clear framework of how to achieve it. Why is the selection and recruitment of executives an important workplace-based problem? According to McDonald, 2010, ethics have been considered on different levels among them being the individual level. In addition, the ethical behaviour of leaders is rooted in their personality (Mele 2011). In this regard, recruitment and selection of leaders is one of the many considerations to take in order to ensure a correct individual is hired. Your workplace-based problem involves ethical relativism. Why do you think this

North Korean Authoritative Government Essay Example for Free

North Korean Authoritative Government Essay In this paper, I will attempt to explain why authoritarianism regimes such as the one in North Korea, still continues to govern even though the government is one of the more corrupted types of government still in existence today. The word authoritarianism is defined as, â€Å"a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc. )†(Word Net) There are currently many countries in our world that are not democratic societies. There are authoritarian regimes that still exist today. Probably one of the more well known authoritarian regimes is the government in North Korea. North Korea gained its independence from Japan in the year 1945. Kim Jong Il is currently the leader of North Korea. The mismanagement of economics through the 1990’s has made North Korea rely heavily on international aid to feed its population. North Korea has expanded their resources to help develop a military of about one million soldiers. Central Intelligence Agency) â€Å"North Korea’s long-range missile development, as well as its nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and massive conventional armed forces, are of major concern to the international community. † (Central Intelligence Agency) The government in North Korea is a big part to blame for the economic struggles. In President Bush’s first State of the Union Speech he declared North Korea as part of the â€Å"Axis of Evil. † President Bush also went on to say his goal was, â€Å"to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends with weapons of mass destruction. He singled out Iraq, Iran and North Korea, claiming these states and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil arming to threaten the peace of the world. (Fact Sheet) â€Å"The United States must act against these regimes by denying them the materials, technology and expertise to make nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and provide them to terrorists, Bush said. † (Fact Sheet) North Korea is currently a communist-state one-man dictatorship. Under a communist-state one-man dictatorship elections are held but there is nobody to run against the leader. For instance in September of 2003 there was an election held in North Korea. Kim Jong Il and Kim Yong Nam were the only nominees for the positions and nobody opposed them. (Central Intelligence Agency) The government controls the people. The government rules a lot of what the people of North Korea can do or say. For the executive branch in this country, Kim Jong Il has been the ruler since July of 1994. Kim Yong Nam is the president of its Presidium and he also has the responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials. Central Intelligence Agency) As for the legislative branch, the ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition, but some seats are held by minor parties. (Central Intelligence Agency) The judicial branch of North Korea consists of a central court, and the judges are elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly. The way this government is set up is very different than the way the democratic states are set up. In a democratic society the people get to vote for leaders and high ranking officials. While in these authoritarianistic regimes, the people have no say in who is going to run their country. There have been many North Koreans that have tried to escape either to China or South Korea. Few people have made it across the boarders safely. However, if they fail to escape and they are captured by the North Korean military they will be tortured or even executed in some cases. (Pearson Education) â€Å"North Korea, one of the worlds most secretive societies, has been accused of egregious human-rights violations, including summary executions, torture, inhumane conditions in prison camps, which hold up to 200,000 prisoners, and denial of freedom of expression and movement. Access to the country is strictly limited and North Koreas domestic media is tightly controlled, making it difficult to substantiate the accusations. † (Pearson Education) I believe a huge part of why North Korea is actually still in existence is because the military has so much control on the people. Of course no country wants to start a war with North Korea because of their military strength and their nuclear weapons. â€Å"A number of stabilizing elements assist the regime’s efforts to maintain internal order. The society seems united in popular support for the party, and the people have a strong sense of national pride. Kim Il Sung, by all indications, truly is admired and supported by the general population. † (Federal Research Division Library of Congress: Pg 275) It is difficult for people that are from a democratic government to actually understand why authoritarianism governments work. Most all of the authoritarianism governments that I know have a strong following from their people. Whether the masses like the leader because he is helping the economy or helping a food shortage situation is another story. Personally I think these people in these countries are so afraid of what the leader might do to them or their family that they just do what they are told. Of course these people have never had it any other way. They don’t know what it is like to have a democracy. They don’t know what it is like to voice their opinion. The people in North Korea didn’t get to choose where they wanted to be born. If we had a free world I’m sure when some of those people realized that there are better governments in the world that won’t control your every move then they would leave the country. It is just not that easy for anyone to just get up and go to China or South Korea. People born into democratic societies should be thankful that they can enjoy the freedoms that they have, because there are other parts of the world where the idea of having rights is completely out of their control. There is no possible way the people can over throw the government in North Korea. North Korea has too strong of a military. One way the government will get overthrown is if it is done internally. The second way it will get overthrown is if they go to war with another country and they lose their power. â€Å"Indeed, research on Korean communism has become the pursuit of an avocation, meandering off the mainstream of contemporary social science. Most students of Korean communism have come under the influence, in varying degrees, of the lingering legacy of Kremlinology and the advancing model of Chinese studies. Following the general lines of development in Chinese studies in the 1960s and 1970s, research on Korean communism has shown an uneven advancement. On balance, research and knowledge concerning North Korea’s domestic politics and economy have developed more rapidly and significantly than the study of its foreign policy, which has remained neglected and underdeveloped. (Kim Pg:282) The economy in North Korea is struggling. Due to flooding and the lack of arable land, the people in North Korea are at a food shortage. Massive amounts of international food aid have allowed people of North Korea not to starve. Central Intelligence Agency) Mal-nutrition and poor living conditions still exist heavily in North Korea. As with everything else in the country, the government has the right to control the food and economic conditions. The religions that are practiced in this authoritarianism government are traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, with some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way. ) â€Å"Autonomous religions activities now are almost nonexistent; government sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom. (Central Intelligence Agency) Like other authoritarianistic governments such as Cuba, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq until not to long ago, the regimes will last until somebody does something about it. The United States ended the authoritarianism regime in Iraq because we had enough military power to overtake Sadaam Hussein. The U. S. troops are still over in Iraq trying to force the Iraqi people into having a democracy. The Iraqi people that have voted so far on the new leader of their country is not a man that the United States wants t o have them run their country. Sadaam Hussein would still be in power and have complete control of Iraq if the United States didn’t take him out of power. The military balance in South Korea is much stronger then North Korea. In case of another North Korean invasion, the South Korean military only has about 600,000 people while the north has around one million. However these numbers are misleading because of the fact that these numbers don’t include the superior training, equipment, and logistical support that the south has. Kang: Pg 262) â€Å"The South has outspent the North on defense in the last 15 years, if not longer. † (Kang: Pg 262) North Korea’s nuclear threats are a grave concern for South Korea and the rest of the world. The Soviets were building bombs in the 1950’s and China developed a nuclear bomb in the early 1960’s. North Korea didn’t start trying to assemble nuclear weapons until South Korea became a threat to them because they were overtaking North Korea in a lot of areas during the 1970’s. Kang: Pg 266) â€Å"North Korea’s significance to the world with a bomb is much greater than without a bomb. † (Kang: Pg 266)In conclusion, there are many reasons why the authoritarianism regime in North Korea is still up and running to this day. There is simply no way that anyone can overthrow the government unless it is done internally. The people located in these authoritarianism regimes usually like the leader, and agree to what he says. These people didn’t choose where they wanted to be born just like nobody in a democratic state had an opinion as to where they would like to be born. It is sad that most all of the money spent in North Korea is aimed toward building up a better military and not helping out with the economy or the food shortages. The only way these people know how to live is to be ruled by a dictator. Until the United States or some other world power takes down North Korea, the authoritarianism regime will continue to govern.

Ramayana: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa Essays -- Valmiki, Rama, Lakshmana

One of the most striking relationships throughout the entire RÄ mÄ yaá ¹â€¡a is that between India's epic hero RÄ ma and his half-brother Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a. What is interesting about this affair is Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a's pure fidelity toward his brother and all his goals. While RÄ ma is the king on leave throughout most of the Hindu epic, Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a acts more or less as his royal servant and bodyguard of his most prized possession, that being RÄ ma's wife, SÄ «tÄ . Interestingly enough, Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a is very much an intelligent being himself, and one who revels in the longevity of his brother's interests and aims. This paper will deal with how these Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a creates himself as the most loyal of companions within the first book of the RÄ mÄ yaá ¹â€¡a. In the BÄ la KÄ Ã¡ ¹â€¡Ã¡ ¸ a, VÄ lmÄ «ki sets forth the ideal relationship between the brothers, which only grows stronger and allows the story to finish at the termination of t he Uttara KÄ Ã¡ ¹â€¡Ã¡ ¸ a. In order to understand Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a, we have to understand that he, like RÄ ma, is an avatar of Vishnu, and again, like RÄ ma, is sent forth into the forest with the sage ViÅ›vÄ mitra in order to conquer the demons that inhabit the land. Therefore, Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a is a royal and legitimate heir to the throne, although he is the youngest of all of the King of AyodhyÄ 's sons. Seemingly, his most striking characteristic is that of not only loyalty to RÄ ma, but to dhà ¡rma as well. Dhà ¡rma, aside from being the "right course of conduct in every dilemma," is a social contract for all human beings to follow. With the rise of the demon RÄ vaá ¹â€¡a and his dispensation from BrahmÄ  of a boon of invincibility, RÄ ma and Laká ¹ £maá ¹â€¡a vow to help save the kingdom and the world from this evildoer and henceforth, to promote and uphold dhà ¡rma. This, although truly heroic indeed, is le... ..." Works Cited Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online, s.v. "Dharma-shastra," http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/160730/Dharma-shastra (accessed May 3, 2011). V. Raghavan, The Two Brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, (Madras: Raghavan, 1976), 5. V. Raghavan, The Two Brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, (Madras: Raghavan, 1976), 5. G.S. Ghurye, The Legacy of the Ramayana, (Bombay: Popular Prakashan Private Ltd., 1979), 98. Swami Venkatesananda, THE CONCISE RÄ€MÄ€YAá ¹â€ A of VÄ lmÄ «ki, (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1988), 13. G.S. Ghurye, The Legacy of the Ramayana, (Bombay: Popular Prakashan Private Ltd., 1979), 98. V. Raghavan, The Two Brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, (Madras: Raghavan, 1976), 21. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, s.v. "adharma," http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adharma (accessed May 4, 2011).

Belonging: Travel and Word Boulevard

The song ‘boulevard of Broken Dreams’ is performed by Green Day. The song expresses a person’s struggle in finding where they belong in the journey of life. The titles of the song is ironic to what we would normally associate with the word ‘boulevard’ with something pleasant, glamorous and full of life it’s a direct contrast to what we many initially expect. There is no presence of life, apart from the solitary individual who walks the ‘lonely road’. The boulevard is paved with ‘broken dreams’ of darkness, of being isolated and cut off from the rest of the society ‘the city sleeps’ and not belonging to the outside world. The notion of belonging to a place is explored in the poem 10 Mary Street by Peter Skrzynecki and in Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green day, 10 Mary Street the metaphor that marked by stability, routine and familiarity; and adapting to Australia, ‘we became citizen of soil, that was feeding us’ and in the process adjusting to their adaptive home. The song opens with the declaration ‘I walk alone’ this means that on this lonely journey that it has been the ‘only’ road that he has ‘ever known’. Essentially the traveler is aware of his reality of being ‘alone’ and not knowing ‘where the road goes’ and that he recognizes that the boulevard has become his ‘home’. the co-relation between these two text is that over a long period of time they get used to the customs, in the song they get used to ‘I walk a lonely road, the only on that I have ever known’ the traveler adapted to the road and how the road has formed his ‘home’ also this song is about someone who wants to find a place where they belong and someone they trust, a safe place. The notion of not belonging to a place is explored in the poem Migrant Hostel by Peter Skrzynecki and in Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green day. line 22-23 in Migrant Hostel ‘A barrier at the main gate Sealed off the highway’ illustrates the migrants feelings of being separated and alienated, as it cuts them off from the outside the world. The road represents the road to the future were they will start a new life and their new home. The barrier represents their incarceration which is ironic considering they come here or freedom. The simile in line 25 ‘As it rose and fell like a finger pointed in reprimand or shame’ illustrates that the migrants were not wanted, stresses the lack of tolerance that they encounter the criticism that faces them and their own negative shame about leaving everything behind in order to start a new life. The reprimand and shame that faces them are obstacles to their integration. As the song indicates the traveler had dreams but the y have not come to fulfillment. But instead being ‘broken’ and the boulevard which he aimlessly travels which no one knows his existence or where he belongs. In the song Boulevard of Broken Dreams not belonging to a place is expressed in the repetition of ‘I’ throughout the song emphasizes that the traveler is alone ‘I walk a lonely road’, ‘I walk this empty street’ also ‘Where the city sleeps’ demonstrates that the traveler is isolate during his journey to find his home where he belongs, being excluded from the society. The repetition of the ‘Ah-Ah’ resonance throughout the song represents the traveler’s confusion of walking alone with the breakdown of the electric guitar in the song emphasizes that the traveler is frustrated of being segregated from the rest of the world. The frustration is emphasized as the tone consistently changes. The song highlights a sense of despair that an individual may suffer when isolated from others and when dreams fail ‘I walk alone’ confirms the traveler’s solitude and human need to walk together and to belong The contrast of not belong to a place between Migrant Hostel and Boulevard of Broken Dreams is that they both talk about having a dream of belonging to a place, the poem illustrates that they came here to start a new life with a new home and to be free but they are incarcerated by a gate that separates them from freedom and isolation and the song demonstrates the traveler is being ignored as the ‘city sleeps’

Belonging: Narrator and Sense

Humans are constantly in search for belonging, it is something vital to our existence. A sense of belonging emerges from our ability to establish connections with place, people and culture. However when these aspects are challenged, we find out if we truly belong or not. Such ideas are explored in the texts, ‘The Ride of Zhu Bao Sheng’, a third person short story by Nick Long, and ‘Big World’, a first person short story by Tim Winton, which both explore the idea of belonging being challenged and how this affects one’s sense of belonging. Our sense of belonging is derived from the connections to the places around us. One’s sense of belonging is challenged when changes or barriers arise between our connection with place, people and culture. In both ‘The Ride of Zhu Bao Sheng’ and ‘Big World’, we see the protagonists’ sense of belonging being challenged. Nick Long asserts that Zhu does not belong in the place he is in by using irony, making it clear Zhu feels a lack of belonging. This idea is shown through the line, â€Å"He was alone in this place. True, the town is full of people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Here the obvious use of irony is used to emphasize Zhu’s detachment from the rest of the town caused by his sense of belonging being challenged after he moved from his ‘hometown’. Inevitably with effort, he makes a connection to the place. This is evident by the line â€Å"almost drunk with the scent of the acacias, and of the dust, and of this new landscape. † This dreamy state implies that a sense of belonging comes after we establish healthy connections with place. The unnamed narrator in ‘Big World’ tells of the differences between himself and his best high school friend in a confessional tone, saying â€Å"Unlike him, I’m not really from here. It’s not hosing blood that s**ts me off – it’s Angelus itself; I’m going nuts here. Unlike Zhu, the narrator chooses not to build a connection to the place, instead he intends to escape Angelus, evident in the line â€Å"f**k it, we’re outta here†. The use of the hyperbole, ‘I’m going nuts here’ shows that even after spending years in a place, one may never establish a strong connection with place to develop a healthy sense of solidarity with a community. We learn that when one’s sense of belonging is challenged, one can face the challenge and still establish a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging to place is closely intertwined with the people within that place. The relationships formed around an individual are the cornerstones of their sense of community and belonging. A sense of belonging is often reliant of the relationships we build; these connections may determine our own self-perception on how we fit the world around us. We see the importance of relationships in ‘The Ride of Zhu Bao Sheng’ as he felt no sense of belonging. Zhu was challenged by not knowing anyone, evident in the line â€Å"Who will I talk to? There was nobody to answer the questions. † The rhetorical question reinforces the idea that he could only talk to himself. However, after speaking to a girl, he felt a sense of a relationship, which is reinforced by the change in tone and the use of a simile. â€Å"Zhu didn’t understand the words, but was amazed by the sound of them. Her voice was airy and light, like the song of a small bird†. Throughout the text, the language had been pessimistic, this contrast in tone, was the direct result of a relationship formed, in essence, a sense of belonging had been formed. Similarly in ‘Big World’, the importance of connection to people is clear. The narrator felt a strong sense of belonging when around his best friend, Biggie, shown by the constant anaphora of the inclusive pronouns that runs throughout the entire text, ‘we’ and ‘us’. An example of this extensive use is â€Å"We fried. We’re idiots of a different species but we’re both bloody idiots. The repetition of inclusive pronouns shows the narrators strong connection with Biggie, which displays a strong sense of companionship when he is around biggie. It is only when this sense of companionship is challenged, that the narrator will know how strong this companionship actually is. We learn that challenges that arise in many forms and can be overcome to see what lies ahead for one’s sense of belonging. Belonging is derived from our sense of connection with people and place. It is also derived from one’s culture. It is harder for those of a minority in a dominant culture to thrive in terms of their sense of belonging. A minority must conform to the dominant culture in order to establish a healthy sense of belonging with the dominant culture. Zhu’s culture and ethnicity is considered to my a minority. Zhu experiences a barrier to belonging with the dominant culture. It writes, â€Å"But they were not Chinese people, and he could not speak to people who were not Chinese. Nobody ever taught him. † Zhu’s culture has restricted him from communicating with those outside his culture. Being in a situation where one is a minority, one will find it very difficult to build connections with those of the dominant group. Conformity is needed, which Zhu gives in to, eventually attempting to speak English, the dominant language. In contrast to Zhu, the narrator of Big World’ does not have such issues with culture. The narrator’s culture is tightly bonded with that of the dominant culture allowing his sense of belonging to excel. Such connections with culture can be seen through heavy Australian idioms as Winton writes, â€Å"Mag wheels, a lurid spray job like something off a Yes album and a filthy great mattress in the back, a chick magnet, that’s what we want . The heavily idiomatic language suggests a strong sense of association with the dominant culture, in effect, provides a strong sense of belonging. We learn that society will force you to conform in order to belong. When a person conforms to a culture, a sense of belonging to place and people will come with it. From the reading of ‘The Ride of Shu Bao Sheng’, we learn that one’s attachment to place is essential to their sense of belonging due to the human condition to want to form connections with place. This has been reinforced by ‘Big World’, where the narrator is challenged and could not form a connection with the place, resulting in a lack of belonging in that aspect. Both texts have shown me the degree at which the people surrounding and individual will influence their sense of belonging and when barriers arise, with effort, these challenges can be overcome to establish a stronger sense of belonging. In addition to these notions of belonging, both texts have solid but contrasting views on belonging to place, however serve the same purpose as important aspects of belonging. In conclusion, the notions of belonging such as place, people and culture are all intertwined and are thus the cornerstones of ones sense of belonging.

Farmers Suicides in India †A Bane To Agriculture

Farmers Suicides in India – A Bane To Agriculture Free Online Research Papers Agriculture is India’s lifeline. We must work towards strengthening it.The Indian Farmers should live long and prosper. Their families shall flourish in all aspects of life.We should contribute our efforts and life experiences to bring out the best in them and improve their quality of life. In the 1990s India woke up to a spate of farmers suicides. The first state where suicides were reported was Maharashtra. Soon newspapers began to report similar occurrences from Andhra Pradesh. Suicides in general, including farmers’ suicides, are a sad and complex phenomenon. Hence, their Underlying causes need to be addressed within an equally complex societal framework. In recent years, a large number of suicides have been reported, mostly resulting from the consumption of toxic pesticides by farmers in some cotton-growing districts of central and southern India. According to some official statistics, between 2001 and the summer of 2007, more than 4,500 cases of farmer suicides were reported in the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra (Mukherjee 2007). Other sources have reported much higher figures: in particular, the National Social Watch, a coalition of civil society organizations, reports 11,387 farmer suicides in the same period in India, almost all in those four states (The Statesman 2007), while the National Crime Records Bureau reports more than 16,000 farmer suicides every year. In most cases, male farmers committed suicide after experiencing failed crops and increased indebtedness. The largest number of reported cases was concentrated in districts of northeast Maharashtra (Vidharba District), northwest Andhra P radesh, and northern Karnataka, where cotton was increasingly planted in the 1990s in response to demand generated by the large textile industry in Mumbai (Saunders2007). Over a lakh has been accounted and one in every eight hour is taking place. These numbers may look like the statistics of clientele build up of an upcoming BPO company, but unfortunately are the statistics of farmers suicide in India, the other side of an emerging Global economic giant. Excuses like Globalization, economic transition corrections and world economic scenario etc are surreal. The problem is our urban and neo urban ruling class and their laptop economic plans, whose agenda can never grow beyond statistics and stimulations. The crisis small farmers in India face as a result of globalization and government apathy. For the past ten years farmers have been committing suicide in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka as in many other parts of India. More than 1.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide across the country in the last decade due to financial distress, as per government’s report to the Parliament of India. The main act of this tragedy started in mid 60s with the introduction of the Green Revolution. Earlier, farmers saved their own seeds and practiced organic farming. The money they invested on their farms was very little. But with Green Revolution farmers were asked to buy seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, forcing them to borrow, mostly from private money lenders at exorbitant interest rates. With every farming season their debt increased and over the course of years it led to a loan trap. The second phase of this tragic situation can be directly attributed to globalization. Under the WTO (World Trade Organization) regime, which favors wealthy industrialized countries, the Indian government has eliminated or reduced its support to farmers, while Indian agriculture is invaded by multinationals. In April 2007 an NGO named Green Earth Social Development Consulting brought out a report after doing an audit of the state and central government relief packages in Vidarbha. The reports conclusions were: Farmers demands were not taken into count while preparing the relief package. Neither were civil society organizations, local government bodies, panchayats etc consulted. The relief packages were mostly amalgamations of exiting schemes. Apart from the farmer helpline and the direct financial assistance, there was scarcely anything new being offered. Pumping extra funds into additional schemes shows that no new idea was applied to solve a situation where existing measures had obviously failed. The farmer helpline did not give any substantial help to farmers. The basis for selection of beneficiaries under the assistance scheme was not well-defined. Also, type of assistance to be given led to problems like a farmer needing a pair of bullocks getting a pump set and vice versa (or a farmer who has no access to water sources being given pump sets) Awareness regarding the package was also fairly low. Thus, suicides are supposed to be the last steps of desperation, apparently driven by growing burden of debt. Its time that we, the people call up on the power for solutions. We do not want anymore farmer suicide. By: Prof.Jasmeet Kaur MBA VNS (IT) Research Papers on Farmers Suicides in India – A Bane To AgriculturePETSTEL analysis of IndiaArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeEffects of Television Violence on Children

Stop looking and start writing - Emphasis

Stop looking and start writing Stop looking and start writing Conducting endless research can make you depressed and not just because you miss all your deadlines. According to psychologist Barry Schwartz, we often find it hard to make up our minds when faced with a surplus of possibilities. And this can make us miserable. Its not surprising writers are prone to falling into this trap. If theres one thing the internet offers us, its everything. And the wealth of information online means it can be tricky knowing when to stop looking, and to start writing. Less is more We tend to assume the more options, the better. But in his book The Paradox of Choice, Schwartz points out that our obsession with freedom of choice, fuelled by our consumer culture, has led to the increasing complexity of everyday decisions. For example, think about going online: whether its selecting a salad dressing or material for your report, we are subjected to an overload of promising links, images and information. And even when we pick a path, we are often only too aware of the alternatives we had to forego. No matter the genuine benefits our actual preference may bring us, the imagined superiority of the roads not taken can make us feel like weve missed out. Schwartz illustrates this decision-making paralysis with an anecdote about a company giving its employees the opportunity to invest in voluntary retirement plans. For every ten options on offer, participation dropped by two per cent. So one in 50 people effectively passed up $5,000 a year in contributions from their employers rather than make a choice. The problem was that they were offered too many ways to invest. Time out Adrian Hon, a neuroscientist and founder of online games company Six To Start, believes the only way to regain some control is to artificially limit our choices, by way of a secular Sabbath: a day without technology. Although he had the expected initial pang when disconnecting, he also found it liberating. After all, he says, It wasnt worth worrying about work or chores because there was nothing I could do about them for the next 24 hours. Were not suggesting you corner your boss and announce your own weekly secular Sabbath starting on Monday (although that would be nice). But switching off all your gadgets every now and then could not only give you space and time to finish that report it could also improve your wellbeing.

Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Diversity - Research Paper Example Festivals function to meet particular needs, on top of providing amusement. These occasions of celebrations present a feeling of belonging for social, religious or geographical groups. A hobby refers to a habitual interest or activity, which is embarked on for joy, customarily done in one’s leisure. A mix of vegetables and meat and several kinds of white bread comprise the main diets. There is custom for baking white bread, which is flattened (tandyr, lavash,churek). Kuftebozbash (potatoes and meat in a reedy sauce) is also a widespread dish. Crammed pepper leaves, as well as soups likewise form a part of everyday meals. The broth borsch as well as other Russian food is part of the cookery too. Azeri’s restaurants offer numerous varieties of kebabas an international cuisine (WTG, 2013). At ceremonial occasions, steamed rice (Pulov) adorned with raisins and apricots are main dish during ritual festivities. It is taken alongside onions, meat and fried chestnuts. In the holiday of Novruz, wheat is sautà ©ed with nuts and raisins (gavurga) (Azer-embassy, 2012). Every homestead should have seven kinds of nuts upon a platter. Sweets like paklava (a rhombus-shaped finely coated pastry covered with sugar and nuts) as well as shakarbura (a pastry of thin bread covered with nuts sugar and nuts) are an essential part of festivities. On weddings, various kebabs and pulovare supplemented byshyra (a sweet nonalcoholic drink) as well as alcohol too. At burials, the major dish is usually meat and pulov, dished up with shyra and then followed with tea. The most observed traditional Azerbaijani festival is Novruz Bayram that is the customary festivity of the primordial New Year. Bayram Novruz is a festival celebrated by family. During the evening, a fore the feast the entire family assembles around the feast table arranged with numerous dishes to

Long Term Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Long Term Care - Essay Example t is not that easy to get a long-term –care insurance so late, because the cost of insurance may be quite huge or insurers will reject applicant at age 60 for health reasons. Therefore, the best age to buy a long- term –care insurance is mid 50s. One of the reasons is that the price for insurance keeps growing from 3 to 4% each year. For example, a price for the long –term care insurance annually for a 55 year old man nowadays is approximately 1,032$. But, if he will wait until his 65s he will purchase insurance that will cost 2,770$ as it grows 5% per year. The other benefit of buying a long-term – care insurance at age 50s is that with time the risk of health problems increases. The insurers are quite strictly in writing their policies. The statistics from the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance shows that 25% of applicants at age of 60 to 69 were not offered an insurance cause of their health worsened. (American Association for Long-Term C are Insurance, 2014) Inflation protection. All long-term-care insurance must include a 5% compound per year to protect from the inflation. This is a quite important option as it helps to insure all benefits of insurance with the rising cost of living. Alternative plan of care benefits. This option allowed insuring of all additional requirements of the patient. This feature helps for patients receiving alternative supplies or services that were not included in benefits booklet. Benefit period. Accordingly, to the statistic from the US Department of Health and Human Services a person spends approximately 2.4 years in the nursing home. Therefore, patients are able to choose the duration of the benefit period accordingly to their health. 1. American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.(2014). Whats The Best Age To Buy Long Term Care Insurance. American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance Online. Retrieved from