History of Somali Piracy Crises in 2009

History of Somali Piracy Crises in 2009 Somali has stirred up and attracted global interventions to address various problems that have a common origin. Among many problems resulted from Somalia piracy, its coastline is more pronounced. Case problems do not give answers but gather different opinions, which should be integrated to come up with the best remedy.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on History of Somali Piracy Crises in 2009 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper will outline two forms of case problems in relation to how a natural resource would dynamically relate with human activity. This will show how different interactions would result in highly negative impact both nationally and globally. Case problem could be in the form of a given situation that would require different opinions. Consequently, it could be in the form of a report prepared and presented to be reviewed by a government official to see its relevance and seek for possible solu tions (Gardner et al, 2008). Somali piracy crises in 2009 led to devastating effects in different sectors both nationally and globally. The case study is a typical example of the interaction and dependency that exist between human activities and natural environment. Despite the fact that humans are in control of the environment, their interaction can result in impacts that cannot be predicted. The Somali coastline has many shores so fishing industry is well pronounced in the region. Political instability in 1991 was associated with unregulated fishing and dumping of waste along the coastline by foreign states. Uncontrolled fishing was associated with trespassing and increased minor crime rates later transformed into major piracy attacks (Beeton et al, 2006). The piracy crises affected social, political and economic factors in Somalia and other states. Military deployment by twenty four countries was done with the aim of suppressing piracy. The most directly affected organizations ad opted tolerance approach. For example, shipping factories avoided the routes that had a high risk of piracy. Ships sailed at a higher speed when around Somali, that was a strategy associated with increased expenditure on fuel.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The London conference held to tackle piracy issue considered collaborative approaches in reduction of the threat. Long-term solutions discussed included international interventions that would donate funds to ensure that state boundaries would be under tight security (Daly, 2007). The threat of security was specific on the Shabab terrorists that had both long-term and short-term impacts on the entire world. Recently, Kenya has succeeded in suppression of the threat that involved military action deployment in Kismayu where the Shabab culture is rooted. Eritrea has been reprimanded by the neighbor states due to the postulations that it supplied Somali with weapons (Garnaut, 2008). Interventions should be addressed towards reducing the influence of Eritrea and boosting the efforts of Kenya and Somali in overcoming the Shabab. Food insecurity as a result of maltreatment from the Shabab claimed lives of about 80000 residents through famine and drought. International organizations have stepped in with relief aid for the victims. It should, however, be noted that this form of relief should not be overemphasized so as to reduce dependency. Sustainable and long-term interventions like income generating activities need to be encouraged among the residents so as to solve the problem permanently. In the business field, interventions would include adoption of international monetary fund. Credit facilities allocation in Somali would positively impact many fields both locally and globally. Collaboration with pirates would involve diplomatic actions that would settle the long dated dispute between So mali and foreign states. Adoption of this strategy would mean that Somali would voluntary stop piracy. Consequently, the foreign states would stop dumping waste along Somali coastline (Daly, 2007). References Beeton, RJS, Buckley, KI, Jones, GJ, Morgan, D, Reichelt, RE Dennis, T 2006, Australia State of the Environment 2006: Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Paragon Printers Australasia, Canberra, Australia.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on History of Somali Piracy Crises in 2009 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Daly, H., 2007, Ecological economics and sustainable development, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. Gardner, G, Prugh, T, Assadourian, E Starke, L 2008, State of the World 2008: Innovations for a sustainable economy, Norton Company, New York. Garnaut, R., 2008, Climate change review: Final report, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, Australi a.

Is Your Job Exempt From Overtime Pay

Is Your Job Exempt From Overtime Pay Are you wondering if you’re exempt from overtime pay? Thanks to the U.S. Labor Department and President Obama, there is a new overtime pay threshold for people working more than 40 hours per week.  By the current rule,   you would only be eligible for guaranteed time-and-a-half overtime pay if you made less than $23,660 per year. The new threshold is much higher: $47, 476 per year. This is part of a planned Fair Labor Standards Act update, the details of which have been in the works since 2014. Previous regulations made most white collar workers making a set salary, even a low one, ineligible for overtime pay.To quote the President, â€Å"It doesn’t make sense that in some cases this rule actually makes it possible for salaried workers to be paid less than the minimum wage†¦ If you’re working hard, you’re barely making ends meet, you should be paid for overtime. Period.†The only catch is that your employer might be reluctant to shell out. B e on the lookout for a pay raise that puts you at, say, $47,477 per year. Or a pay cut to compensate for the amount of overtime you would be making. As long as you’re making the state-regulated minimum wage, there’s nothing legally you can do to counter that sort of sneaky move.But, look on the bright side! Starting December 1 of this year, if you make less than $913 a week before tax, your employer is legally required to start paying you time-and-a-half overtime for any hour you work above 40. This rule will be due for an update again in 2020.Here’s hoping for more overtime protection for more workers, this year and in the future.

Jazz documentaries, racism and segregation Essay

Jazz documentaries, racism and segregation - Essay Example One of most popular documentaries on Swing Jazz was released during 2000. The name of this documentary was Jazz and directed by Ken Burns. This documentary was broadcasted in a series of 10 episodes and offered information regarding the chronological history of jazz and its prominent musicians. The documentary studies various aspects of  jazz,  including drugs and  racial segregation (Burns, 2000). Racial segregation was one of the most serious issues during the peak popularity of Swing Jazz. Although, the Black community had contributed greatly in World War I and II, the society continued to discriminate against them. Even in jazz, the musicians as well as the audience during a jazz performance  was  seated separately.   â€Å"Due to the racism found in many states, clubs throughout the country were often segregated. Just a few bands were racially mixed, of which Benny Goodman’s was possibly the first† (Swing and Racism, 2015). Part 7 of documentary and chapter 18, â€Å"These Things cant happen† offers bleak information about the Black soldiers, who fought to defend the ideals of their country, liberty and equality. Swing and Racism observes: â€Å"Hollywood films handled the race issue by including the African-American swing jazz band performances in films such a way that these sections could be easily removed from the movie reels that were to be distributed to Southern States without disturbing the storyline† (Swing and Racism,

Statement of purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Statement of purpose - Essay Example background has heightened my awareness of ethnic diversity, and, at the same time, shown me the basic similarities in thought and values which characterize all people, whatever be their nationality. I am very alive, especially in these tumultuous economic times, to the role that the economy plays in the everyday life of every individual. In this scenario, I am confident that my pursuit of Psychology and Economics will equip me to meld my interest in people, and in the economy, into a set of skills which will enable me to contribute my own share towards the betterment of society. Sometime in the future, I see myself using the English language proficiency I have gained in the USA to make a difference in the lives of Korean children. Despite my time in Korea being confined to summer vacations with my family, I am deeply conscious of my identity as a Korean. I even attribute my love for golfing (I was varsity at golfing for three years at High School), to my ethnic identification with Tiger Woods! I am inordinately proud of the technical prowess, dedication and hard work, which have gone into the making of Korea’s enviable reputation on the world stage as an economic power house. My own parents’ success as business entrepreneurs is living proof of Korea’s strengths. Above all this, I love the culture of personal and family relationships, and the feeling of belonging. Very simply, Korea is home to me! It is where I plan to spend my life after my academic career. That said, I must confess to a deep regret that my knowledge of Korea - its culture, history, art, people, cuisine - is very superficial. I am passionate about my desire to discover myself and my country anew, and explore every facet o f my nationality. Seoul National University’s direct international exchange program is the perfect opportunity for me to continue my academic pursuits in my field of choice and, at the same time, discover my roots as a Korean. SNU’s acknowledged position as the most

The Time Machine Essay Example for Free

The Time Machine Essay The narrator recounts the explanation of two difficult ideas by a man he refers to as the Time Traveller to an after-dinner group. The group includes a Psychologist, a Medical Man, a Provincial Mayor, and a few other men. The Time Traveller shows them a smaller prototype of the time machine, and when he pulls a lever, it disappearsinto the future, he claims. At the next weeks dinner, the Time Traveller comes in midway through the meal, haggard and limping. He tells them of his eight days of time travel. He uses the Time Machine that morning and speeds forward through time. The Time Machine lands in a garden and the Time Traveller sees a statue of a White Sphinx and he notices robed figures in a nearby house who are watching him. One approaches him and speaks in a strange tongue. When the creatures feel the Time Machine, the Time Traveller adjusts the levers to render it inoperable. The Time Traveller is stunned to think these creatures from 802,701 AD could be fools. The creatures bring him to a huge nearby building, where they invite him to devour exotic fruit with them. At first, he explains, he was confused by the strange fruits and flowers he saw, but he later came to understand their significance. The Time Traveller tries to learn the creatures language, but they soon lose interest in teaching him. He marvels at their laziness and lack of curiosity. He goes outside and is confused by the repositioning of the worldthe Thames River has shifted more than a mile. As he explores and sees only huge buildings, he arrives at a conclusion: Communism. However, he explains he was later to find out that his initial assumptions were incorrect. He believes he has happened upon the end of humanity. He also believes their population checks have possibly been too effective, accounting for the abandoned ruins. However, he admits, his explanation turned out to be wrong. The full moon comes out, the creatures go into buildings, and the Time Traveller finds someplace to sleep. When he reaches the garden of the White Sphinx, he finds the Time Machine is missing. Fortunately, without the levers, the Time Machine is inoperable. The next day he finds hints that the machine was dragged into the hollow bronze pedestal under the White Sphinx. However, he does not know how to open the pedestal, and when he indicates to some of the creatures that he wishes to open it, they seem deeply offended and leave. Over the ext couple of days, the Time Traveller learns some more of the creatures simple language and tries to forget about his missing Time Machine until he has gained enough knowledge to recover it. The deep, circular wells continue to puzzle him, as does the vacuum they produce and the thudding sound from below. He connects the presence of the wells with the tall towers spread about and concludes t hat there is a subterranean ventilation system, an idea that will prove to be wrong. He believes the society is run by automatic organization. On his third day, the Time Traveller saves a young female creature from drowning in the shallow river. Her name is Weena and she soon follows him around like a puppy, giving him flowers, and grows distressed when she cannot keep up with his explorations and is left behind. The Time Traveller learns that her only fear is of the dark, and that after dark, the creatures sleep only inside in groups. Still, the Time Traveller continues to sleep away from the groups, eventually with Weena. The Time Traveller resumes talking about the night before he rescued Weena. He awakes at dawn, and twice sees white, ape-like creatures running alone up a hill, and once sees several of them carrying a dark body. Once the sun rises, he sees them no more. On his fourth morning, while seeking shelter from the heat in one of the ruins, the Time Traveller finds a dark, narrow gallery. Entering it, he comes across a pair of eyes watching him in the darkness. A small, white ape-like creature then runs behind him in the sunlit space. He follows it into a second ruin where he finds a well. Lighting a match, he peers inside it and sees the creature climbing down metal foot and hand rests on the wall. The Time Traveller realizes that man has evolved into two distinct animals, the Upperworld creatures and the nocturnal ones below. He comes up with a new theory of how the world operates: the new species he has found are subterranean and live in tunnels ventilated by the towers and wells, and work to ensure the functioning of the Upperworld. He believes the human race has split as a result of the widening gap between the Capitalist and the Labourer, and that the poor have been increasingly relegated to underground areas. The lack of interaction between the poor workers and the rich has cut down interbreeding and created two distinct species who have adapted to their own environments. The Time Traveller is not sure if this is the correct explanation, but it seems the most plausible. He wonders why the Morlocksthe name of the Underworld creatureshave taken his Time Machine, and why the Eloithe Upperworld creaturescannot return it to him, if they are the masters, and why they are afraid of the dark. Weena cries when he asks her these questions. The Time Traveller cannot muster the courage to go underground and confront the Morlocks about his stolen Time Machine. Instead, he explores the Upperworld more, one day happening upon a huge green structure which he calls the Palace of Green Porcelain. Finally he descends into the well, greatly distressing Weena. He rests in a tunnel inside it, and is woken by three Morlocks. They flee when he lights a match, and the Time Traveller cannot communicate with them, as they speak a different language from the Eloi. He finds his way into a large, dark, machine-filled cavern where the Morlocks eat meat. Soon the Morlocks grope him. He shouts at them, then lights a succession of matches as he escapes. The Time Traveller instantly despises the Morlocks. As the moon wanes and the nights have longer periods of darkness, Weena talks about the Dark Nights. The Time Traveller begins to understand why the Eloi fear the darkness, though he does not know what kind of foul villainy the Morlocks practice at night. He revises his hypothesis: while the Eloi and Morlocks may have once had a master-slave relationship, now the Morlocks are growing in power while the Eloi are fearful. The Time Traveller decides to defend himself against the Morlocks. First he must find weapons and a safe place to sleep. The only place he can think of is the Palace of Green Porcelain. He starts off the long trek with Weena, and comes up with a new theory about the Morlocks: they breed the Eloi like cattle for food. He sympathizes with the plight of the Eloi. The Time Traveller decides to use a torch as a weapon against the Morlocks, and then acquire some kind of battering-ram to break open the pedestal under the White Sphinx, where he imagines the Time Machine is still kept. He also plans to bring Weena back to his own time. The Palace of Green Porcelain turns out to be a ruined museum with objects from the Time Travellers time and beyond. The Time Traveller finds an enormous room with huge, strange machines, and wonders if he can use them against the Morlocks. He notices that the gallery slopes downward into darkness. When he hears noises in the darkness similar to those from the well, he breaks off the lever of a machine. He restrains his desire to kill the Morlocks. He finds a box of matches and a jar of flammable camphor. The Time Traveller treks with Weena through the woods, hoping to reach the White Sphinx by the next morning. They gather sticks for a fire that night. At night, about a mile before a safe clearing, the Time Traveller spots some hiding Morlocks. He distracts them by setting fire to the sticks and leaving them there. He takes Weena through the woods as the fire spreads behind them. Soon, the Morlocks are on him and Weena. The Time Traveller scares them off with a match. Weena seems to have fainted, and he carries her. The action has disoriented him, and he is now lost. He camps out, gathering more sticks for a fire. He fends off the Morlocks with the light from his matches. The Time Traveller nods off, and wakens when the Morlocks are on him again. His matches are gone and his fire has gone out. He grabs his lever and strikes them. They flee, but the TT soon realizes the forest fire he previously set is the source of their fear. Unable to find Weena, he takes his lever and follows the Morlocks until he finds an open space. He strikes the Morlocks until he sees that they are incapacitated by the fire. He does not locate Weena among them. In the morning, when the fire dies down, he cannot find Weena, whose body he believes was left in the forest. He limps on to the White Sphinx, feeling lonely and vengeful. He discovers some loose matches in his pocket. Back with the Eloi, the Time Traveller reflects on how wrong his initial assumptions were. He thinks the human intellect had committed suicide by creating a perfect state in which the rich had wealth and comfort and the poor had life and work. Such a perfect balance can exist for only so long, he believes, before it is disruptedin this case, by the Morlocks need for food, which they find only in the Eloi. At the White Sphinx, he is surprised to find the bronze pedestal has been opened, and the Time Machine is inside. He throws away his weapon and goes inside. Suddenly, the bronze panels close up, and the Time Traveller is trapped. Morlocks laugh as they a pproach him. The Time Traveller feels safe, knowing he has only to reattach the levers on the machine to make his exit. However, his matches require a box to light. In the darkness, he fights them as he gets into the machines saddle and reattaches the levers. Finally, he pulls a lever and disappears. The Time Traveller notices that, in the confusion of his fight with the Morlocks, he accidentally sent himself into the future, rather than the past. Time Traveller observes the reddish landscape and the moss-like vegetation everywhere. There is no wind, the water of the sea barely moves, and the air is rarefied. He sees a huge, crab-like thing crawling toward him. The Time Traveller pulls his machines lever and watches more of the giant crabs crawl along the beach as he shoots forward through time. The sun grows larger and duller. After thirty million years, all life save the green vegetation ceases to exist, and it starts to snow. The Time Traveller stops the machine. He feels sick and confused and incapable of facing the return journey. He sees a black creature crawl out from the sea, and his fear of remaining in this environment compels him to climb back into the Time Machine. The Time Traveller relates to the men his travel back to the present time. The men imply that they do not believe his story, and soon leave. The narrator thinks more about the Time Travellers story, unsure if it is true. He goes to the laboratory the next day and asks the Time Traveller if his story was true. He promises it was, and says he will prove it in half an hour when hes done working on the machine. He leaves, and the narrator realizes he has to meet someone soon. As he goes into the laboratory to tell the Time Traveller, there is a gust of wind and some odd sounds, and neither the Time Traveller nor the Time Machine is present. When a servant tells him he has not seen the Time Traveller outside, the narrator understands he has travelled into time again. Three years later, the Time Traveller has yet to return to the present. The narrator wonders where the Time Travellers adventures may have taken him. While the Time Traveller saw that mankinds progress turned out to be destructive, the narrator believes human civilization may still do some good as it matures. The narrator also chooses to view the future as largely unknown. He now owns two white flowers given to the Time Traveller by Weenaproof, he says, that even when mind and strength had gone, gratitude and a mutual tenderness still lived on in the heart of man.

machiavelli Essay -- essays research papers

The Church accused Niccolo Machiavelli of being Satan for writing his book The Prince. Machiavelli completed The Prince in 1513. He wrote it as a gift to Lorenzo Medici, called the Magnificent, ruler of Florence. The political views Machiavelli expressed in his book went against the theology of the Church, specifically the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. Machiavelli wrote to gain control of a principality one must be brutal. (I)f you are a prince in possession of a newly acquired state and deem it necessary. . . to annihilate those who can or must attack you. . . . , you must do so to protect your principality. He gave the example of Duke Valentino's slaying of his nobles to maintain order, saying if Valentino had not killed his men, Valentino would have lost power. The Bible strongly forbids the killing of anyone. The Sixth Commandment states You shall not murder. In what is known as the Beatitudes, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Bible also says those who are meek shall inherit the earth. A meek person certainly does not kill others for standing in his or her way like Machiavelli is suggesting to be done. Another verse from the Beatitudes says those who are peacemakers will be called sons of God. Peacemakers do not kill either. For Machiavelli to say if killing a person is for the betterment of your principality, then to do so went against God's rule and the Church's. True followers of the Church abide by the Church beliefs, because if you are not for God, ...

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According to Hector Avalos, religions might preach peace, love, and harmony, but establishing a textual canon or sacred site which only some have privileged access to also establishes an illusory â€Å"scarcity† which causes people to fight. This is the intent of religious leaders, but it's an inevitable outgrowth of their actions — and we can see this occurring in the context of Islam with its holy sites and cities: Mecca, Medina, the Dome of the Rock, Hebron, and so on. Each city is holy to Muslims, but while Muslims focus on what they regard as the positive aspects, they cannot pretend that the negative aspects don't exist.Moreover, even the positive aspects can be criticized as often inaccurate. The holiness of each site is associated with violence against other religions or against other Muslims and their importance has been as dependent on politics as religion, a sign of the degree to which political ideologies and parties make use of the religious concept of â₠¬Å"holiness† to further their own agendas. Mecca Islam's holiest site, Mecca, is where Muhammad was born. During his exile in Medina, Muhammad had his followers pray in the direction of Mecca instead of Jerusalem which was the original orientation site.Going on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a person's life is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Mecca is closed to non-Muslims because of a revelation Muhammad allegedly received from God, but some outsiders have entered while disguised as Muslims. Even before Muhammad, Mecca was a pilgrimage site for pagan polytheists and some argue that the Muslim practice of pilgrimage was borrowed from those ancient rituals. Some scholars argue that because Jews and Christians rejected Muhammad's message, ancient pagan practices had to be incorporated into Islam in order to more easily capture the allegiance of local polytheists.Christianity did much the same throughout Europe in order to convert pagans there. Located in the courtyard o f the Great Mosque in Mecca is a windowless cube known as the Kaaba, believed by Muslims to have been built by the prophet Abraham In the southeastern corner of the Kaaba is the â€Å"Black Stone,† an object which Muslims believe was given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel. Reports of local pagans worshipping gods in the form of stones go back centuries and Muhammad probably incorporated this practice through the Kabaa itself.Pagan rituals were thus re-told through the lives of biblical characters and so that local practices could continue under the guise of Muslim tradition. Medina Medina is where Muhammad was exiled after he found little support for his ideas in his home city of Mecca, making it the second holiest site in Islam. There was a large Jewish community in Medina which Muhammad had hoped to convert, but his failure eventually led him to banish, enslave, or kill every Jew in the area. The presence of non-believers was at first an affront to Muhammad's claims that his religion superseded theirs; later, it was an affront to the holiness of the place.Medina was also the capital of the Muslim empire until 661 when it was moved to Damascus. Despite its religious status, this loss of political power caused the city to decline precipitously and it had little influence during the Middle Ages. Medina's modern rise to prominence was again due to politics, not religion: after Britain occupied Egypt, the Ottoman occupiers of the region funneled communications through Medina, transforming it into a major transportation and communication center. Thus the importance, decline, and growth of Medina was always dependent upon the political situation, not on religion or religious beliefs.Dome of the Rock The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is a Muslim shrine which stands where the first Jewish temple is believed to have stood, where Abraham tried to sacrifice his son to God, and where Muhammad ascended into heaven in order to receive God's commandments. For Muslims this is the third holiest site for pilgrimage, after Mecca and Medina. It may be the oldest surviving example of early Islamic architecture and is modeled after the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located nearby. Control of the site is a hotly contested issue for Muslims and Jews.Many devout Jews would like to see the mosques torn down and the Temple reconstructed in their place, but this would destroy one of the holiest sites of Islam and lead to a religious war of unprecedented proportions. True Believers have gathered together in a variety of Third Temple societies in active preparation, even going so far as to prepare the precise clothing, coinage, and sacrificial implements needed for use in a rebuilt Temple. Stories have spread among Muslims that the creation of Israel was the first step in an apocalyptic process which will culminate in the total triumph of Islam over all the world.The Dome of the Rock is thus one of the best examples of Avalos' argument about how reli gions create false scarcities which encourage violence. There are no natural resources on this site which humans might be expected to fight over — no oil, water, gold, etc. Instead, people are willing to launch an apocalyptic war simply because they all believe that the site is â€Å"holy† to them and, therefore, that only they should be allowed to control and build upon it. Hebron The city of Hebron is holy for both Muslims and Jews because it contains the â€Å"Cave of the Patriarchs,† supposedly a tomb for Abraham and his family.During the Six Day War of June, 1967, Israel seized Hebron along with the rest of the West Bank. After this war, hundreds of Israelis settled in the area, creating conflict with thousands of Palestinian neighbors. Because of this, Hebron has become a symbol of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities — and thus of interreligious strife, suspicion, and violence. It's not possible for both Jews and Muslims to have exclusive control of Heb ron and neither group is willing to share control. It's only because of the insistence of both that the city is â€Å"holy† that they fight over it at all, though.Mashhad Mashhhad, Iran, is the site for the burial places and shrines for all twelve of the imams revered by the Twelver Shia Muslims. These holy men, believed to be a source of sanctity, are all martyrs because they were murdered, poisoned, or otherwise persecuted. It wasn't Christians or Jews who did this, though, but other Muslims. These shrines to the early imams are treated by Shia Muslims today as religious symbols, but if anything they are symbols for the ability of religion, including Islam, to encourage violence, brutality, and division among believers. QomQom, Iran, is an important pilgrimage site for the Shi'a because of the burial sites of numerous shahs. The Borujerdi mosque is opened and closed each day by government guards who praise Iran's Islamic government. It is also the site of Shia theology trai ning — and thus also of Shia political activism. When the Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile, his first stop was Qom. The city is thus as much a political shrine as it is a religious one, a monument to authoritarian politics and the authoritarian religion which provides politics with existential justification. –>

Shower Gel Marketing

Soap, Bath and Shower Products Issues in the Market The soap, bath and shower category straddles two worlds – at once it falls into the arena of must-have consumer goods, which consumers see as integral to their everyday wellbeing, while at the same time it has an opportunity to tap into a consumer desire for escapism and fantasy. Close to half of women who use bath additives, for instance, cite a long bath as their ultimate pampering treat. How many fast-moving consumer goods segments can claim to satisfy such lofty needs with such a low ticket price?The beauty industry often cites the resilience of the colour cosmetics category in times of crisis – otherwise known as the lipstick index. It is time for the beleaguered bath additives segment to do the same and position their products as a luxury indulgence at prices accessible to most. Q: How is the economic environment impacting sales of soap, bath and shower products? A: Value sales of SBS products grew in single digi ts between 2006 and 2011 (with the exception of 2010 when year-on-year growth was more or less flat). The category is buffered somewhat from he inclement economic climate because of the must-have nature of daily cleansing products. At the same time, consumers are clearly under pressure to keep a close eye on household budgets. A third of adults who use shower products are paying more attention to how much they spend on such items because of the economic situation and the same is true for four in ten bath product users and three in ten soap users. Looking ahead, Mintel forecasts the SBS category will grow by 11% between 2011 and 2016, while in real terms (excluding inflation) sales will slip very slightly.Q: Which segments have most potential for growth? A: There is a clear divide between two promising segments – liquid soaps and shower gels – and two less buoyant ones – bar soaps and bath additives. Mintel expects liquid soap and shower gel sales to grow by 28% and 17%, respectively, between 2011 and 2016, whereas we expect bath additives to slump by 4% and bar soaps by 15% in the same timeframe. The differing performances come down to consumer preference. Adults are much more inclined to use shower gels and creams over bath additives, for instance, likely because showering is uch more convenient and is a quicker option for today’s time-poor consumer. In addition, half of soap, bath and shower product users have switched to taking showers rather than baths in an effort to save water. Meanwhile, liquid soaps have an edge over the more traditional bar format with 89% of women using liquid soaps compared to 77% who use bar soap. While they potentially offer a cost saving over liquid varieties, Brid Costello Senior UK Beauty Analyst [email  protected] com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7606 4533 A self-confessed beauty junkie, Brid tracks the UK’s fast-moving beauty market.Before joining Mintel in 2010, she spent a decade as a beauty editor f or fashion and beauty trade newspaper Women’s Wear Daily. Based in the Conde Nastowned title’s Paris office for five years before transferring to its London bureau, Brid acquired expertise across the beauty spectrum. Brid studied Journalism at Dublin City University (DCU).  © 2012 Mintel Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Confidential to Mintel. Soap, Bath and Shower Products Issues in the Market bar soaps suffer from a somewhat old-fashioned image. With no sign of consumers’ habits changing in the hort term, there is unlikely to be any reversal of these sectors’ performance. A third of bath and shower product users buy whatever product is on special offer, while half stock up when their favourite brands are on special offer. Q: What are consumers’ primary concerns when it comes to buying soap, bath and shower products? A: While the basic premise of SBS products is to cleanse, such items now go above and beyond that call of duty. More than three qua rters of adults who use shower products, for instance, want their gels and creams to moisturise or soften their skin, while just over half are looking or an invigorating or refreshing showering experience. When it comes to bath additives, pampering and relaxing are the key concerns for two thirds of bath product users. Women are particularly keen on luxurious soaks, with just over half considering a long bath to be their favourite pampering treat. Soap, meanwhile, has a much more pragmatic bent. Close to half of liquid and bar soap users say that cheap or good value products are their top priority, while suitability for the whole family comes second. Q: Which consumer demographics are most important to the category and how will opulation changes impact sales going forward? A: Changes in the UK’s population make-up will impact the SBS sectors to differing extents between 2011 and 2016. Shower product and liquid soap sales will likely be buoyed, for instance, given that these s ectors’ highest volume users – adults aged 25-34 – will grow in number by 872,000 in the period. Population changes are less favourable for bath additives and will do little to bolster the category, which is already in the doldrums (sales dipped by 2% in 2011). In general, however, the country’s population will increase y more than 3% (or 1. 7 million) between 2011 and 2016. Given the high penetration rates of soap and shower products, this is some good news for the category in general. Q: What influence do promotions have on the market? A: The SBS category is highly promotional with multi-purchase offers and discounts top priorities for consumers. For instance, a third of bath and shower product users buy whatever product is on special offer, while half stock up when their favourite brands are on special offer. It is little surprise then that the multiple-door grocery hains dominate the retail landscape and account for close to half of category retail sa les. With large chains – such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons – frequently basing advertising on their commitment to low pricing and vying with each other to offer headline-grabbing discounts, it’s unlikely the situation will change anytime soon. This will continue to put pressure on the category vis-a-vis growing value sales as consumers have become accustomed to finding their preferred goods at preferential prices.  © 2012 Mintel Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Confidential to Mintel.

A Room with a View Essay Essays

A Room with a View Essay Essays A Room with a View Essay Paper A Room with a View Essay Paper Italy Enables Lucy to Change and Become Her Own Individual in A Room With a View Lucy is presented with an opportunity to become her own person and look at things differently in Italy. This concept is used throughout the novel A Room With a View by E. M. Forster, in which a young girl named Lucy is able to see the world with a different eye and become a new person. She is surrounded with a culture and way of life that is much different than the one she is used to back at home. The free and open Italian setting enables Lucy to start a new life and find her love. In Italy, the city of Florence shows Lucy a life with much more freedom. This is illustrated throughout Lucy’s stay in Florence, Italy. She is unfamiliar with the new setting and all of the new culture overwhelms her. According to the Twayne Author series, â€Å"†¦ the ‘magic city’ of Florence elicits all that is unpredictable. Passionate, vibrant, violent Italy all but overwhelms Lucy. † (304) This emphasizes that this new setting is influential for Lucy because of all the new ideas surrounding her. It makes her aware of the possibility of this new kind of life that she can decide what she wants to do. Another example of Italy showing Lucy a more open life is when she arrives at the hotel, she was promised a room with a view, but instead she was given a room that did not have a view and she became angry showing her anxiousness for a new world. For instance Lucy says, â€Å"The rooms the Signora promised us in her letter would have looked over the Arno. The signora had no business to do it at all! † (Forster 3) This illustrates that Lucy becomes distressed by the fact that they did not get a room with a view and this supports the idea that she was excited to get free of her old childhood home and experience a new setting in Italy. The Italian landscape also helps Lucy experience a more free life by enabling her to become her own person and not having to conform to restrictions. This is observed when Forster says, â€Å"Italy was offering her the most priceless of all possessions – her own soul. † (90) The Italian setting took Lucy away from all the restrictions she had in her life before. She was free to think whatever she wanted about something and she could truly be her own person. Italy’s free and open setting clearly influences Lucy to change and become her own person. Lucy is held back by many social restrictions but Italy shows her around them and helps her become independent and find her love. To illustrate, in England, Lucy found that social classes were significant in society while she finds that in Italy, they are not significant at all. This is acknowledged when Forster says, â€Å"But in Italy, where anyone who chooses may warn himself in equality, as in the sun, this conception of life vanished. She felt that there was no one whom she might not get to like, that social barriers were irremovable, doubtless, but not particularly high†¦She returned with new eyes. (Forster 90) This is to say Lucy is able to see things with a new perspective in Italy. She sees that social restrictions and levels are not necessary. She realizes that people from all social classes should interact and that she doesn’t want to only interact with people in her social class. Similarly, Italy is free of discrimination while in England there was much discr imination. Lucy realizes she was taught many different views. A literary critic says, â€Å"Italy and the English countrywide encourage a free and open existence as compared to the cramped, stereotyped, middle-class British life. (Twayne 302) This confirms that when Lucy is in Italy, she discovers that there is no discrimination and people are a lot more open towards each other in the sense that they do not form false opinions about people by their background. She realizes that many of the distorted views she learned back in England about this are false. Furthermore, Italy gives Lucy the opportunity to become her own true self because there are no more restrictions that were there in England. For instance, Mr. Beebe says, â€Å"There was simply the sense that she had found wings, and meant to use them. (Forster 75) This asserts that in Italy Lucy’s ‘wings’ are now open and she has a lot more independence to do whatever she wants or think whatever she wants unli ke in England where they could be considered ‘clipped’. It is clear that Lucy’s progress of becoming more open and free is aided by the reduced amount of social barriers in Italy. Lucy is able to experience things she has never before in Italy with its more opportunistic culture. Technological advances in Italy enabled different social classes to intertwine and become more uniform. The creation of the trams enabled people to go out in other places where only higher-class people had gone. This is determined when critic Jeremy Hubbell says, â€Å"While in Florence, Mr. Eager notes the way in which trams enable people of the lower classes to take outings in the countryside†¦ Still, trams enable the â€Å"poor† to walk where only the rich had previously† (301) Lucy is able to experience life to the fullest, as she isn’t limited to a lower standard of living with the newer technology in Italy. The tram is only one of the many examples of how Italy greatly helped Lucy to her full potential. Next, we see Lucy’s affect to experiencing music. Forster illustrates the scene with Lucy going through a dramatic phase while listening to music. While Lucy listens, Forster articulates, â€Å"†¦Nor was she the passionate young lady, who performs so tragically on a summers evening with the window open. Passion was there, but it could not be easily labeled; it slipped between love and hatred and jealousy, and all the furniture of the pictorial style. † (Forster 23) Music in Italy introduces Lucy’s actual feelings inside of her, which are concealed by a fake personality. She is a completely different person with music bringing out her real self from her heart. Another thought is that Italy has brought Lucy to witness murder and also experience love. These experiences have caused her to change greatly. Cecil explains, â€Å"But Italy worked some marvel in her. It gave her light, and – which he held more precious – it gave her shadow†¦She was like a woman of Leonardo da Vinci’s, whom we love not so much for herself as for the things that she will not tell us. † (Forster 72) He describes how Lucy has changed so much because of her experiences in Italy. A person that has been kissed passionately and witnessed a murder is bound to change significantly. With aspects of Italy ranging from the arts to technology, Lucy has greatly been affected by the distinct culture of this new environment. When Lucy arrives in Italy, she is bewildered by its distinctive nature. Lucy utilizes Italy’s entirely different lifestyle to achieve her independence and find her love. She is able to transform her self by experiencing many new things, one of them being, finding her love. Often, a person’s life can be completely altered by the environment in which they reside in. A Sense of Deities Reconciled: A Room With a View in Twaynes Authors Series: Twayne English Authors (Twayne, 1999); excerpted and reprinted in Novels for Students, Vol. II, ed. Elizabeth Thomason (Detroit: Gale, 2001), pp. 302-308. Hubbell, Jeremy. Critical essay on A Room With a View. Novels for Students. Ed. Elizabeth Thomason. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2001. 299-302 Forster, E. M. A Room With a View. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1995.

General Braxton Bragg in the Civil War

General Braxton Bragg in the Civil War Braxton Bragg - Early Life: Born March 22, 1817, Braxton Bragg was the son of a carpenter in Warrenton, NC. Educated locally, Bragg yearned to be accepted by the higher elements of antebellum society. Often rejected as a young man, he developed an abrasive personality that became one of his trademarks. Leaving North Carolina, Bragg enrolled at West Point. A gifted student, he graduated in 1837, ranked fifth in a class of fifty, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery. Sent south, he played an active role in the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) and later traveled to Texas following the American annexation. Braxton Bragg - Mexican-American War: With tensions heightening along the Texas-Mexico border, Bragg played a key role in the defense of Fort Texas (May 3-9, 1846). Effectively working his guns, Bragg was brevetted to captain for his performance. With the relief of the fort and the opening of the Mexican-American War, Bragg became part of Major General Zachary Taylors Army of Occupation. Promoted to captain in the regular army in June 1846, he took part in the victories at the Battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista, earning brevet promotions to major and lieutenant colonel. During the Buena Vista campaign, Bragg befriended the commander of the Mississippi Rifles, Colonel Jefferson Davis. Returning to frontier duty, Bragg earned a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and an obsessive follower of military procedure. This reputedly led to two attempts on his life by his men in 1847. In January 1856, Bragg resigned his commission and retired to the life of a sugar planter in Thibodaux, LA. Known for his military record, Bragg became active with the state militia with the rank of colonel. Braxton Bragg - Civil War: Following Louisianas secession from the Union on January 26, 1861, Bragg was promoted to major general in the militia and given command of forces around New Orleans. The following month, with the Civil War about to begin, he was transferred to the Confederate Army with the rank of brigadier general. Ordered to lead Southern troops around Pensacola, FL, he oversaw the Department of West Florida and was promoted to major general on September 12. The following spring, Bragg was directed to bring his men north to Corinth, MS to join General Albert Sidney Johnstons new Army of Mississippi. Leading a corps, Bragg took part in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862. In the fighting, Johnston was killed and command devolved to General P.G.T. Beauregard. After the defeat, Bragg was promoted to general and, on May 6, given command of the army. Shifting his base to Chattanooga, Bragg began planning a campaign into Kentucky with the goal of bringing the state into the Confederacy. Capturing Lexington and Frankfort, his forces began moving against Louisville. Learning of the approach of superior forces under Major General Don Carlos Buell, Braggs army fell back to Perryville. On October 8, the two armies fought to a draw at the Battle of Perryville. Though his men had gotten the better of the fighting, Braggs position was precarious and he elected to fall back through the Cumberland Gap into Tennessee. On November 20, Bragg renamed his force the Army of Tennessee. Assuming a position near Murfreesboro, he fought Major General William S. Rosecranss Army of the Cumberland on December 31, 1862-January 3, 1863. After two days of heavy fighting near Stones River, which saw Union troops repel two major Confederate attacks, Bragg disengaged and fell back to Tullahoma, TN. In the wake of the battle, several of his subordinates lobbied to have him replaced citing the failures at Perryville and Stones River. Unwilling to relieve his friend, Davis, now the Confederate president, instructed the General Joseph Johnston, commander of Confederate forces in the West, to relieve Bragg if he though it necessary. Visiting the army, Johnston found morale to be high and retained the unpopular commander. On June 24, 1863, Rosecrans initiated a brilliant campaign of maneuver which forced Bragg out of his position at Tullahoma. Falling back to Chattanooga, insubordination from his subordinates worsened and Bragg began to find orders being ignored. Crossing the Tennessee River, Rosecrans began pushing into northern Georgia. Reinforced by Lieutenant General James Longstreets corps, Bragg moved south to intercept the Union troops. Engaging Rosecrans at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20, Bragg won a bloody victory and forced Rosecrans to retreat to Chattanooga. Following, Braggs army penned the Army of the Cumberland in the city and laid siege. While the victory allowed Bragg to transfer out many of his enemies, dissent continued to foment and Davis was forced to visit the army to assess the situation. Electing to side with his former comrade, he decided to leave Bragg in place and denounced those generals who opposed him. To save Rosecrans army, Major General Ulysse S. Grant was dispatched with reinforcements. Opening a supply line to the city, he prepared to attack Braggs lines atop heights that surrounded Chattanooga. With Union strength growing, Bragg elected to detach Longstreets corps to capture Knoxville. On November 23, Grant opened the Battle of Chattanooga. In the fighting, Union troops succeeded in driving Braggs men off of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The Union attack on the latter shattered the Army of Tennessee and sent it retreating towards Dalton, GA. On December 2, 1863, Bragg resigned from command of the Army of Tennessee and traveled to Richmond the following February to serve as Davis military advisor. In this capacity he successfully worked to make the Confederacys conscription and logistical systems function more efficiently. Returned to the field, he was given command of the Department of North Carolina on November 27, 1864. Moving through several coastal commands, he was at Wilmington in January 1865, when Union forces won the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. During the fighting, he was unwilling to move his men from the city to aid the fort. With Confederate armies crumbling, he briefly served in Johnstons Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Bentonville and ultimately surrendered to Union forces near Durham Station. Braxton Bragg - Later Life: Returning to Louisiana, Bragg oversaw the New Orleans Waterworks and later became chief engineer for the state of Alabama. In this role he oversaw numerous harbor improvements at Mobile. Moving to Texas, Bragg worked as a railroad inspector until his sudden death on September 27, 1876. Though a brave officer, Braggs legacy was tarnished by his severe disposition, lack of imagination on the battlefield, and unwillingness to follow-up successful operations. Selected Sources Civil War: Braxton BraggCivil War Trust: General Braxton BraggGeneral Braxton Bragg

Fashion Related Museum Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fashion Related Museum Response - Essay Example The Museum exhibition by Yves Saint Laurent and Halston is the premier exhibition to a clear sight into the contribution of Saint Laurent and Halston in the fashion industry (Mears 3). The vibrant nature of their careers exemplifies the dynamism of fashion, and mood and style dictate menswear collections. A look at the exhibition works from the two presents an opportunity for a student’s like me to explore the wealth of the 1970s fashions. The exhibition allows an in-depth understanding of fashion as the cultural landscape of a sexy and glamorous outlook. The main display aims at celebrating the achievements of Saint Laurent and Halston. By virtue of their exemplary designs, the two designers play the pivotal role in the definition of an indolent fashion in the 1970s. When I attended the fashion event, the works of both artists with approximately 100 exclusive collections from the FIT Museum stood thematically with a sense of style. Style evokes the qualities of individualism and displays a level of self-esteem. For Saint Laurent and Halston, the fashion of the 1970s meant the relaxation to the codes of fashion. Evidently, all the works at the exhibition display a combination of modernity and the economic mood that formed the moral fabrics of the early societies. The history of modern fashion emanates from the fashion transition pioneered by the advent of design from Saint Laurent and Halston. During their era, the two designers dominated the fashion industry with their creativity and artistry. However, as the years passed, the two grew in the making of distinct designs that were on display at the exhibitions. By shear entrance into the show, one is fascinated by the adventurous nature of the careers of Saint Laurent and Halston from works of their mind and hand. Their exhibits look dynamic and conform to the ways of modern fashion despite them being more than two decades old.