Beowulf Is Steeped In A Pagan Tradition That Depicts Nature As Hostile

Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate picks random victims; man is never reconciled with the world. Beowulf ends a failure. There is some truth in this conclusion, but for the most part, someone who didn't have a well-lived life has most likely portrayed it. Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition, but not one that depicts nature as hostile. The setting in the beginning is portrayed as, "...these beautiful plains marked off by oceans, then proudly setting the sun and moon to glow across the land and light it..."(8). This doesn't sound like anything hostile to me; on the contrary, what is being described creates an image of delectation. "The corners of the earth were made lovely with trees..."(11) is said. When reading these words, the last thing on my mind would be hostile. Forces of death and blind fate picking random victims may have some truth to them, but fate is something that's very disputed. "...Snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds..."(37) This may seem like fate had decided who was going to die, but it probably wasn't so. Grendel, "...slipped through the door..."(36) and snatched himself whomever he could get his hands onto. He most likely came in and killed the first thirty that were sleeping closest to him. He undoubtedly didn't creep over all those men in risk of waking them up and start slaughtering on that side. What if, while he was massacring the group, they would have woken up? The he would have been trapped in the mead hall and would have surely found his death. I imagine Grendel being smarter that that. It wasn't fate that decided who would die that night, but simply those who had slept near the door. Making smart decisions and thinking things over can control your fate, if such a thing exists. Beowulf did not end in failure. How could a man who was known as a hero and King be considered a failure? He can't. He, after defeating Grendel's mother, became King of the Geats and was admired by his people. He was showered in gifts as was said. "...Laden with gifts given him by Hrothgar..."(pg. 34, prologue) He lived in peace for fifty years before having to face the dragon; fifty years of peace and prosperity to rejoice over. Many men did not make it to fifty in those days and he was past that and still well off. When he did face the dragon, he knew he wasn't going to come out alive. "...With glory denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword..."(228) He was an old man and had done everything he had wanted to do. His life had been a complete one and death would be a welcome overpass. How can one who has long completed his journey in success be a failure? Beowulf defeated Grendel. Beowulf defeated Grendel's mother. Beowulf became King of the Geats. Beowulf lived for fifty years in peace. Beowulf defeated the dragon. Beowulf died a man of honor, loved and respected by his people. He was a noble leader and lived the life of a King. His body was defeated on earth, but his soul and spirit lived on for many years to follow. Beowulf was not a failure.

USS New York (BB-34) in World War II

USS New York (BB-34) in World War II USS New York  (BB-34) - Overview: Nation:  United States Type:  Battleship Shipyard:  Brooklyn Navy Yard Laid Down:  September 11, 1911 Launched:  October 30, 1912 Commissioned:  April 15, 1914 Fate:  Sunk July 8, 1948 as a target ship USS New York  (BB-34) - Specifications: Displacement:  27,000  tons Length:  573  ft. Beam:  95.2  ft. Draft:  28.5 ft. Propulsion:  14  Babcock and Wilcox  coal-fired boilers  with oil spray, triple expansion steam engines turning two propellers Speed:  20  knots Complement:  1,042  men​ Armament (as built): 10  Ãƒâ€"  14-inch/45  caliber guns21 Ãâ€"  5/51 caliber guns4 Ãâ€" 21  torpedo tubes USS New York (BB-34) - Design Construction: Tracing its roots to the 1908 Newport Conference, the  New York-class of battleship was the US Navys fifth type of dreadnought after the earlier  -,  -, -, and  Wyoming-classes.   Key  among the conferences conclusions was the requirement for increasingly larger calibers of main guns.   Though debate ensued regarding the armament of the Florida- and  Wyoming-class ships, their construction moved forward using 12 guns.   Complicating the discussion was the fact that no American dreadnought had entered service and designs were based on theory and experience with pre-dreadnought ships.   In 1909, the General Board advanced designs for a battleship mounting 14 guns.   The following year, the Bureau of Ordnance successfully tested a new gun of this size and Congress authorized the construction of two vessels. Designated USS  New York  (BB-34) and USS  Texas  (BB-35), the new type featured ten 14 guns mounted in five twin turrets.   These were placed with two forward and two aft in superfiring arrangements while the fifth turret was situated amidships.   The secondary armament consisted of twenty-one 5 guns and four 21 torpedo tubes.   Power for the  New York-class ships came from fourteen Babcock Wilcox coal-fired boilers driving vertical triple expansion steam engines.   These turned two propellers and gave the vessels a speed of 21 knots.   Protection for the ships came from a 12 main armor belt with 6.5 covering the vessels casemates.    Construction of  New York  was assigned to the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn  and work commenced on September 11, 1911.   Proceeding over the next year, the battleship slid down the ways on October 30, 1912, with Elsie Calder, daughter of Representative William M. Calder, serving as sponsor.   Eighteen months later,  New York  entered service on April 15, 1914,  with Captain Thomas S. Rodgers in command.   A descendant  of Commodore  John Rodgers and Captain Christopher Perry (father of Oliver Hazard Perry and Matthew C. Perry), Rodgers immediately took his ship south to support the American occupation of Veracruz. USS New York (BB-34) - Early Service World War I: Arriving off the Mexican coast, New York became the flagship of Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher that July.   The battleship remained in the vicinity of Veracruz until the end of the occupation in November.   Steaming north, it conducted a shakedown cruise before arriving at New York City in December.   While in port, New York hosted a Christmas party for local orphans.   Well-publicized, the event earned the battleship the moniker The Christmas Ship and established a reputation of public service.   Joining the Atlantic Fleet, New York spent much of 1916 conducting routine training exercises along the East Coast.   In 1917, following the US entry into World War I, the battleship became flagship of Rear Admiral Hugh Rodmans Battleship Division 9.    That fall, Rodmans ships received orders to reinforce Admiral Sir David Beattys British Grand Fleet.   Reaching Scapa Flow on December 7, the force was re-designated the 6th Battle Squadron.   Commencing training and gunnery exercises, New York stood out as the best American ship in the squadron.   Tasked with escorting convoys in the North Sea, the battleship accidentally rammed a German U-boat on the night of October 14, 1918 as it entered Pentland Firth.   The encounter broke off two of the battleships propeller blades and reduced its speed to 12 knots.   Crippled, it sailed for Rosyth for repairs.   En route, New York  came under attack from another U-boat, but the torpedoes missed.   Repaired, it rejoined the fleet to escort the German High Seas Fleet into internment following the wars conclusion in November.    USS New York (BB-34) - Interwar Years: Briefly returning to New York City, New York then escorted President Woodrow Wilson, aboard the liner SS George Washington, to Brest, France to take part in the peace negotiations.   Resuming peacetime operations, the battleship conducted training activities in home water before a brief refit which saw a reduction in the 5 armament and the addition of 3 anti-aircraft guns.   Transferred to the Pacific later in 1919, New York began service with the Pacific Fleet with San Diego serving as its home port.   Returning east in 1926, it entered Norfolk Navy Yard for an extensive modernization program.   This saw the coal-fired boilers replaced with new Bureau Express oil-fired models, the trunking of the two funnels into one, installation of an aircraft catapult on the amidships turret, addition of torpedo bulges, and the replacement of the lattice masts with new tripod ones.   After conducting training with USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) and USS Arizona (BB-39) in late 1928 and early 1929, New York resumed routine operations with the Pacific Fleet.   In 1937, the battleship was selected to transport Rodman to Britain where he was to serve as the US Navys official representative at the coronation of King George VI.   While there, it took part in the Grand Naval Review as the lone American vessel.   Returning home, New York commenced a refit which saw the expansion of its anti-aircraft armament as well as the installation of XAF radar set.   The second ship to receive this new technology, the battleship conducted tests of this equipment as well as transported midshipmen on training cruises. USS New York (BB-34) - World War II: With the beginning of World War II in Europe in September 1939, New York received orders to join the Neutrality Patrol in the North Atlantic.   Operating in these waters, it worked to protect the sea lanes against encroachment by German submarines.   Continuing in this role, it later escorted American troops to Iceland in July 1941.   In need of further modernization, New York entered the yard and was there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7.   With the nation at war, work on the ship moved quickly and it returned to active duty four weeks later.   An older battleship, New York spent much of 1942 aiding in escorting convoys to Scotland.   This duty was broken up in July when its anti-aircraft armament underwent a major enhancement at Norfolk.   Departing Hampton Roads in October, New York joined the Allied fleet to support the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. On November 8, in company with USS Philadelphia, New York attacked Vichy French positions around Safi.   Providing naval gunfire support for the 47th Infantry Division, the battleship neutralized enemy shore batteries before steaming north to join Allied forces off Casablanca.   It continued to operate off North Africa until retiring to Norfolk on November 14.   Resuming escort duties, New York shepherded convoys to North Africa into 1943.   Later that year, it underwent a final overhaul which saw further additions to its anti-aircraft armament.   Assigned to the Chesapeake as a gunnery training ship, New York spent from July 1943 to June 1944 engaged in educating sailors for the fleet.   Though effective in this role, it badly reduced morale among the permanent crew. USS New York (BB-34) - Pacific Theater: Following a series of midshipmen cruises in the summer of 1944, New York received orders to transfer to the Pacific.   Passing through the Panama Canal that fall, it arrived at Long Beach on December 9.   Completing refresher training on the West Coast, the battleship steamed west and joined the support group for the invasion of Iwo Jima.   En route, New York lost a blade from one of its propellers which necessitated temporary repairs at Eniwetok.   Rejoining the fleet, it was in position on February 16 and commenced a three-day bombardment of the island.   Withdrawing on the 19th, New York underwent permanent repairs at Manus before resuming service with Task Force 54.    Sailing from Ulithi, New York and its consorts arrived off Okinawa on March 27 and began bombardment of the island in preparation for the Allied invasion.   Remaining offshore after the landings, the battleship provided naval gunfire support for the troops on the island.   On April 14, New York narrowly missed being struck by a kamikaze though the attack resulted in the loss of one its spotting aircraft.   After operating in the vicinity of Okinawa for two and half months, the battleship departed for Pearl Harbor on June 11 to have its guns relined.   Entering the harbor on July 1, it was there when the war ended the following month. USS New York (BB-34) - Postwar: In early September, New York conducted an Operation Magic Carpet cruise from Pearl Harbor to San Pedro to return American servicemen home.   Concluding this assignment, it shifted to the Atlantic to take part in Navy Day festivities in New York City.   Due to its age, New York was selected as a target ship for the Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946.   Surviving both the Able and Baker tests, the battleship returned to Pearl Harbor under tow for further examination.   Formally decommissioned on August 29, 1946, New York was taken from port on July 6, 1948 and sunk as a target. Selected Sources: DANFS: USS  New York  (BB-34)NHHC: USS  New York  (BB-34)MaritimeQuest: USS  New York  (BB-34)

Assignment 6 Strategic Planning Process - Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 Essay

Assignment 6 Strategic Planning Process - Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 - Essay Example t dynamics and how the firm can basically tailor its strategies to take benefit out of the opportunities arising while at the same time successfully meeting the challenges. In order to effectively implement the SWOC it is critical that the firm must give due weight age to the external as well as internal environment. It is therefore critical that the assessment of both these environments shall be perfected in order to ensure that all the relevant factors are comprehensively identified and understood before making policy initiatives. The development of snow card techniques in order to clearly identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities as well as the challenges shall be more simpler in the sense that it must allow the firm to distinguish between the various complexities in order to achieve clear picture of what is required and what needs to be done in order to successfully achieve the desired outcomes from the overall strategic management process. The implementation stage of this step also must address the important question of how the firm will be able to utilize its strengths to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities. Once the SWOC is completed, the next issue involved is the identification of the strategic issues that an organization may face owing to the factors identified in the SWOC Analysis. What is critical to note that the organizations must be able to comprehensively identify the above factors and must be able to map the impact of these variables on the on the intended objectives of the firm. (Bryson, 2004) In order to complete this step, the organization is therefore first required to clearly categorize the outcomes into operational as well as strategic depending on the nature of the issue. Once issues and their actual classification is achieved, next step involve the assignment of all such issues to the concerned for solving purpose. This step is probably the more detailed one as it involves a constant and comprehensive

Information Technology Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Information Technology Security - Essay Example Some of the dominant means of managing confidentiality on systems encompass access control lists, traditional Unix file permissions, and file and volume encryption. Encryption guarantees that only the right people deserving access can read the information (Bidgoli 2006, p.40). Discussion The integrity of information refers to safeguarding information from modification by unauthorized parties and ensuring that the information is complete and authentic. The key to this component entails safeguarding data from adjustment or deletion by unauthorized parties, and guaranteeing that when authorized parties effect changes that should not have been made; the damage rendered can be readily undone (Andress 2011, p.17). In line with data confidentiality, cryptography plays a central function in guaranteeing data integrity. Some of the dominant methods employed to safeguard data integrity entail hashing the data received and comparing the received data with the original message. Better convenient methods may entail utilization of existing schemes such as GPG to sign the data digitally (Bishop 2004, p.26). Availability of information details ensuring that authorized parties can gain access to the information if need be. ... Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability, found in a retail bank with an online banking service In safeguarding data privacy/confidentiality, banks utilize cryptography, which details the art of storing and transmitting confidential information. Similarly, in guaranteeing assurance of data non-alteration, banks employ digital signatures and hash algorithms to avail data integrity (Calder and Bon 2009, p.4). In pursuit of timely and reliable access to data service for authorized access, banks employ high availability protocols, system hardware devoid of any single points of failure, and fully redundant network architectures to guarantee system reliability and robustness (Sarlak and Hastiani 2011, p.40). Other ways to guarantee information confidentiality encompass enforcing file permissions and access control list to limit access to sensitive information (Bidgoli 2003, p.427). Underlying the objective of confidentiality entails authentication methods such as user-ID and passwords t hat distinctly highlight a data system’s users, and supporting control methods that restrain each identified user’s access to the data system’s resources. Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability, found in an online retailer Encryption is widespread in contemporary business environment and manifest in almost every protocol, in use. SSL/TSL details a security protocol for communication over the internet has overtime been employed, in conjunction with a broad range on internet protocols, to guarantee security (Whitman and Mattord 2012, p.501). A second firewall, which remains heavily fortified, connects e-commerce servers. The online retailer can

AN310 Cultural Anthropology Assignment 5 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

AN310 Cultural Anthropology 5 - Assignment Example There is no denial in the fact that every aspect of living has faced a change due to the evolution that includes transportation, ways of banking, communication techniques and many others. In every home, there is an accumulation of technological elements that are essential for the home life and for the workplace and at times combine both. Due to the evolution of technology, it has become easy to approach anyone that has its own benefits and pitfalls. Through the mobile phones, one can simply access the other family member. Although, it has resulted into lack of security and space and due to this, family rules are formed related to the technology punishments. The task of workplace can be assigned through mobile phone at any time thus, dividing the family time into the work time. I personally believe that technology has changed the structure of family and family life. With the advent of technology people have started giving less time to their family and more time to people who live far away from them. Even when family members sit together they tend to ignore those who are with them and rather communicate with those who are far away. Molitor, Graham. "Communication technologies that will change our lives. - USA Today Magazine - Nbr. 1312692 - Author: Molitor, Graham T.T. - Id 54521417 - vLex." News and Business - United States - vLex. N.p., 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

Amines Functionalized Upconversion Nanoparticles Synthesis

Amines Functionalized Upconversion Nanoparticles Synthesis Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction To cure deadly disease such as cancer, significant endeavors have been done in synthesizing nanomaterials (Xue et al., 2011). Ideal nanoparticle system will own multimodality for imaging and therapy. It will carry out as an excellent bioprobes to find disease site and as a carriers to target cells. In biomedical field, they have been demonstrated to be useful in immunoassays, gene assays, and photodynamic therapy. For this application, utilization of upconversion luminescence (UCL) emission is favorable (Zhou et al., 2013). Upconversion luminescence is a process where low energy light is converted to higher energy light through sequential absorption of multiple photons induced by low power continuous wave laser. The utilization of near infrared (NIR) laser to induced the multiple photons energy transfer impart to the minimization of auto-fluorescence, less damage to cells, and larger penetration depth compete with ultraviolet (UV) excitation (Shen et al., 2012). Inorganic rare earth (RE) (lanthanide) nanomaterials lately have been exposed to be most preferred luminescent biolabels, due to the rigid crystal host lattice maintain the emitting RE dopants from environmental effects. Furthermore, lanthanide ions are acknowledged to show efficient upconversion luminescence. Inorganic crystals do not exhibit upconversion luminescence at room temperature. The upconversion phenomena particularly takes place in singly or multiply doped host systems. Therefore, researches focus on materials that composed of a crystalline host and RE dopants attached to the host lattice in low concentration. Behave as multipurpose bioprobes implemented in nanomedicine, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) should be come up with uniform size and morphology, water soluble, and appropriate surface functional group for bioconjugation as well as high luminescent efficiency (Sun et al., 2014; Li et al., 2010). To fulfil these requirements, many attempts have been allocated to the controlled synthesis. Previous Study Kramer et al. (2004) reported the successful preparation of hexagonal sodium yttrium fluoride based green and blue emitting upconversion phosphors. The acquired phosphor materials reveal no deterioration under high-power infrared laser excitation. Li et al. (2008) prepared hexagonal phase NaYF4:Yb, Er/Tm nanocrystal with a â€Å"user-friendly† method by constructing small solid-state crystal nuclei and further growth and ripening of the nuclei. All the nanocrystals revealed strong upconversion fluorescence. Li et al. (2008) reported successful preparation of multicolor core/shell-structured upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles. This was the first report in the field using such nanoparticles for bioimaging. In this work, uniform hexagonal-phase NaYF4 nanospheres with strong upconversion fluorescence and core/shell silica/NaYF4 structures are produced, with uniform silica coating on the surface. Jalil et al. (2008) synthesized uniform silica coated hexagonal phase NaYF4 nanocrystal with strong NIR to visible upconversion fluorescence. The results from this study revealed that the silica coated NaYF4 upconversion nanocrystals displayed good in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility, demonstrating their potential applications in both cellular and animal imaging systems. Hu et al. (2009) prepared uniform silica-coated NaYF4: 20 mol% Yb, 2 mol% Er nanocomposites with good dispersibility, containing organic dye incorporated in the silica shell and folic acid conjugated on the surface of the shell. The core–shell nanocomposites are 20–22 nm in size, water soluble, and buffer stable, with good photostability and biocompatibility. Garcia et al. (2012) prepared a novel strategy for the therapeutic delivery of nitric oxide to physiological target. They demonstrated the use of upconverting nanoparticles to facilitate NO uncaging from a well characterized precursor by 980 nm irradiation from a simple NIR diode laser operating in the continuous mode. Chien et al. (2013) formulated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the NIR-triggered targeting and drug delivery vehicles that successfully deliver in vitro and in vivo for near-infrared light photocontrolled targeting, bioimaging, and chemotherapy. Problem Statement As described previously, UCNPs are considered as useful biomaterials in biomedical application. The unique properties of UCNPs have given interest to many researchers to functionalize the surface for biological usage. A sort of method to synthesize UCNPs have been evolved. There are three common methods usually used, co-precipitation (Yi et al., 2004), thermal decomposition (Li et al., 2008), and hydro(solvo)thermal (Liu et al., 2007). Thermal decomposition is the best technique to obtain highly monodisperse UCNPs. In this method, rare earth (RE) trifluoroacetates are heated to attain thermal equilibrium in the presence of oleic acid and octadecene. Here, oleic acid function as a stabilizing agent to terminate particle agglomeration, while octadecene behave as a high boiling point solvent (Boyer et al., 2006). The oleic acid forms a coordinate bond to the surface of particles, so causing it hydrophobic. UCNP prepared via thermal decomposition is well dispersed in organic solvents such as cyclohexane but insoluble in aqueous solution. If employed in biosciences, UCNPs particularly are implemented in aqueous solution. Therefore, they have to be dispersible in water. To make it water dispersible, we need to modify the surface of upconversion nanoparticle. A common method to make it water dispersible is by coating with silica layer (Li et al., 2008). In order to be applicable in affinity assays and bioassays, the surface of UCNPs has to be functionalized to facilitate covalent immobilization of appropriate biomolecules. Such surface chemistry is expected to be versatile to facilitate immobilization of proteins, receptors, enzymes, or nucleic acid oligomers. Therefore, here we studied about the surface functionalization of upconversion nanoparticles for biological usage. Research Objectives In this study, amines functionalized upconversion nanoparticles were synthesized using stober process with hydrothermal treatment to enhance the amines stability on the surface. The size and zeta potential of particles are characterized by using dynamic light scattering in various solvent. The morphology of particles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The amines substitution level and amines stability on the surface is characterized by using fluorescamines assay in various solvent.

The Role of Educational Institutions in New Business Trends Essay

Jon-Arild Johannessen, a professor of Management and Innovation at Harstad University and Bjà ¸rn Olsen, a professor of Management and Organizational Behaviour at Bodà ¸ Graduate School of Business, Norway (2010) asserted â€Å"with this economic landscape, knowledge itself became a key factor of production—specifically, knowledge related to identifying and exploiting new ways to establish temporary competitive advantage† (p. 502). However, consider today’s company that conducts and performs business in a global level. Under globalization the environment also creates a higher level of competition in business. Therefore, how such a company enable itself to win in at business in the global game. A company needs accurate information for analyzing and evaluating business trends and the competitive environment in such markets for producing the right decision. Meanwhile, such a company needs talents who obtain leadership skills to play the role of decision-making. A s a result, educational institutions may need to prepare graduates to be able to use information effectively relevant to business strategy. Accordingly, these new business trends would affect a company’s strategy in human resources management, especially in the area of staffing. Because the new business strategy requires the use of these elements for achieving results, such as information, knowledge, and competence combined with technology, which focuses on the customer (customer centric) (Johannessen & Olsen, 2010). Meanwhile, the new business strategy would require certain personal talents as a leadership to use those elements to perform corporate tasks. Consider the elements of the new business trends that function as the business process, which identifies talents in using an in... ...alents to be ready for business practices. Works Cited Badke, W. (2009). How we failed the net generation. Online, 33(4), pp. 47-49. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. doi: 2010356030 Johannessen, J., & Olsen, B. (2010). The future of value creation and innovation: Aspacts of a theory of value creation and innovation in a global knowledge economy. International Journal of Information Management, 30(6), pp. 502-511. Retrieved from Science Direct database. doi: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.03.007 Rusell, P. (2009). Why universities need information literacy now more than ever. Feliciter, 55(3), pp. 92-94. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. doi: 41553415 Turusheva, L. (2009). Students’ information competence and its importance for life-long education. Problem of Education in the 21st Century, 12, pp. 126-132. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. doi: 42742862

Indian Ocean Trade Essay

During the time period between 300 CE and 1450 CE the Indian Ocean Trade was consistent of its spread of goods, religion, and the growth of trade route under different empires. On the other hand, the significant changes were the ways of trade, diffusion of religion, and empires controlling the trade route. Economically, the Indian Ocean Trade stayed the same in the way of spreading goods, but changed in the means of trading. Around the fifth century CE long- distant trade by land was mostly used. Trade of exotic products for the elite, such as; silk, spices, and gems, were spread all throughout the trade network and were incorporated into local markets. This is because there were new markets being built and goods spread. Methods of trade changed for the better. Land travel was no longer the only method of transporting goods. Ships in the thirteenth century could only travel by monsoon winds. With the introduction of maneuverable sails, ships like the dhow and junk were able to move goods under many wind conditions. This helped a great deal because the people would not have to wait as long for the delivery of trade goods. Culturally, the Indian Ocean Trade was consistent in the spread of religion and ideas, a change was the diffusion of cultures by religion. The Muslims were a prime example of this continuity. They were a big religion, and as their merchants traded, their religion spread as well. On the other hand, Islam is a great example of the change. Islam came into regions that didn’t have a big religious base. As people converted, their old culture diffused. From this, regions lost their identity because people were converting, whether it was by force of new leaders or by choice. Politically, a continuity of the Indian Ocean Trade is growing while under different empires, and a change in which empires controlled the trade  network. An example of the continuity would be the Mongols, how they made trade much easier and made it grow. Many merchants benefited from the Yuan Dynasty, around the fourteenth century. This ties to the change, because from 300 CE to 1450 CE there were different empires, such as, Sui and Tang Dynasty, Swahili States, Mongols, and Islamic Caliphates. The different empires made trade grow and spread. As the empires grew the routes changed, connecting trade routes to the; Trans- Sahara, Silk Road, South Asian, and Mediterranean routes. During 300 CE and 1450 CE changes involving the Indian Ocean included how goods were transported, cultures were diffused due to new religions, and the empires that controlled. Trade on the Indian Ocean steadily increased the spread of goods and religion even though it was controlled by different empires.

History of Hospitals Essays

History of Hospitals Essays History of Hospitals Essay History of Hospitals Essay Hospitals originated in the 17th century primarily as an institution to provide housing and basic healthcare for the poor. It provided a haven to quarantine individuals to prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases. The technologies and vaccinations available did not allow for the comprehensive care we rely on today. Those who could afford clinical care would pay doctors and nurses to provide services in their home. In the early 19th century, as industrial cities became more populated, the demand for clinical and institutional care grew. Medical technology and scientific innovation made ambulatory healthcare available, yet there was not enough capital to support building large institutions viable to facilitate it. Religious organizations, philanthropists, and local governments built private and public institutions designed to deliver ambulatory, inpatient, and emergency care to local populations. By the beginning of the 20th century, hospitals became capable for research, development, and scientific discovery. Facilities became very large, housing and treating patients as well as facilitating medical research. Modern hospitals now provide clinical care to the most complex and critically ill patients while researching, innovating, and advancing medical technology. With increasing demand for treatment of chronic care, as well as the advancements in acute ambulatory care, modern hospitals have integrated vertically and horizontally to diversify their brand and provide an umbrella of accountability as an Integrated Delivery System. After World War II, managed care entered the marketplace. Insurance companies began to contract with hospital groups and Integrated Delivery Systems to provide comprehensive insurance and healthcare delivery, all centered around a hospital or group of hospitals. Hospitals have become a catalyst to the industry, providing the most intensive and critical care to the people who need it most. These institutions have provided a refuge for the sickest and poorest individuals in the community who would be left without care otherwise. Integrated Delivery Systems have been established, promoting corporate investment by mitigating risk, easing the burden on non-profit public hospitals funded by government entities and religious organizations. Vertical integration provides a wide range of delivery rather than one specialty, assuming greater risk leading to innovative relationships with patients and payers. Horizontal integration streamlines processes, provides greater economies of scale, and provides a solid foundation for larger delivery systems. Hospitals have been invaluable to the industry since the 17th century. However, the cost of hospital care has grown dramatically in the past 50 years, and the sources of revenue have shifted from private funding and health insurance to federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare accounts for nearly a third of all hospital expenditures, whose fee schedules and DRG payment model do not promote quality, preventative care. The decrease in the number of large hospitals over the past few decades has yielded to a growth in smaller, for-profit specialty hospitals which places a greater burden on community hospitals that provide costly emergency and complex care. The Hill-Burton Act of 1946 provided federal funding for hospitals in middle and lower class areas with caveats and regulations for how care was delivered. Hospitals that received funding were required to provide uncompensated care to those who could not afford it, placing a large burden of risk to the facility. The Public Service Health Act reinforced these regulations by broadening the scope of â€Å"inability to pay†, leading to an increase in lawsuits and administrative costs to the already large hospital budgets. Lean management with implementation in information technology are key to hospitals’ future success as a cornerstone to integrated delivery systems. In order for hospitals to be effective as we progress into the 21st century, a building structure should facilitate individual doctors in performing their various activities. But at the same time, it must not complicate the indispensable cooperation and communication between specialists and multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of patients. Structure must contribute to efficiency and transparency of processes involving different patient categories, but without fragmenting the work processes of doctors too much and decentralizing technology to an unmanageable scale (Geisler et al 158). References Geisler, Eliezer, Koos Krabbendam, and Roel Schuring. Technology, Health Care, and Management in the Hospital of the Future. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003. 158. eBook. Williams, Stephen J. Introduction to Health Services. 7th ed. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning, 2008. 183-97. Print.

Brand Marketing and Communication Challenges for Mercedes

Brand Marketing and Communication Challenges for Mercedes Branding, marketing and communications are critical aspects of any business. These elements carry the message that a company hopes to send to its potential and existing clients. These three aspects of business are vital for successful relationships with clients.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Brand Marketing and Communication Challenges for Mercedes-Benz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The purpose of this paper is to examine the fundamentals of branding, marketing and communications in an effort to identify the challenges businesses face in their implementation. Based on this examination, the paper will investigate how Mercedes-Benz handles the associated challenges, and the lessons that other businesses can learn from Mercedes-Benz. Fundamentals of Branding Branding refers to the effort an organization puts towards differentiating itself and its products from its competitors. On the other hand, a brand is a specif ic product, organization, or item. Any misconception about these two concepts can lead to strategic blunders. Building a brand is not necessarily the same as branding, but it involves branding. Effective branding requires the use of several elements. These elements include a logo, sounds, colors, and a slogan of a brand. Branding is about using these elements, alongside others to create a unique set of attributes for a product. Collectively, the brand elements can help a product to achieve brand personality. One of the important issues to consider during the branding process is developing the brand definition. A brand definition is a succinct expression of what constitutes the brand. It is important to develop a brand definition early in the branding process because it helps the team dealing with the process to choose the elements they need to emphasize. The final concept for consideration in the branding process is brand focus. Many branding efforts fail because of lack of focus. B rands with a high level of focus tend to have greater success in the market. Whenever organizations use a single brand to represent a wide range of products, the brand fails to form a lasting impression in the minds of consumers. In other words, it lacks focus. The challenges associated with branding vary from business to business. In the context of the analysis presented above, these challenges fall into four categories. The first category of challenges relates to the challenge of distinguishing between brands and branding. Essentially, all products are brands.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, not all products have undergone branding. In the first case, firms spend money on RD and come up with a product that meets perceived consumer needs. All efforts that go into product development build the brand. However, branding requires the firm to take this message to the consumer. The second challenge arises from the choice of brand elements needed to communicate the features of the brand. The choice of colors, logos, taglines, and sounds associated with a brand can mean the difference between successful branding and poor branding. Many firms fail to find ways of developing brand elements that stand out because of the failure to appreciate their impact on branding. The third challenge that firms face when carrying our branding exercises is failure to define their brand. The basis for this failure is the inability or unwillingness to choose the most important aspects of the brand. Products can meet several needs, and the creators usually want consumers to understand all these capabilities. However, communicating all the features of the brand at once results in blurry communication. The final challenge that firms face when carrying out branding exercises is lack of focus. Many firms believe that developing new brands from scratch is expensive. Therefore, they create new product lines under established brands. However, splitting the focus of a brand can lead to erosion of the value of the brand. Mercedes-Benz handles its branding effectively. Anyone who hears of the name Mercedes-Benz thinks about a stylish high-end car that will cause heads to turn. The branding success of Mercedes-Benz can help other firms make branding decisions. Mercedes-Benz is a respected brand because of its long history. The company has a very strong brand reputation based on superior performance, and stylish designs. The choice of brand elements for the Mercedes-Benz reflects the clarity of thinking in the branding process. The company decided to use the three-pointed star as its logo early in the twentieth century, and still uses it to date. In addition, the company’s tagline, â€Å"the best, or nothing† clearly shows it is intentionally positioning itself as a top-of-the-range product. From the onset, the makers of the Mercedes-Be nz were keen to have a clear definition of their product. Mercedes-Benz did not start as a low-end model. From inception, its makers were targeting the high-end market even when the motor industry was nascent. This means that the brand definition for the Mercedes-Benz automobiles has not changed since its inception.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Brand Marketing and Communication Challenges for Mercedes-Benz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fundamentals of Communication Communication in business is a sensitive component of service delivery. With the advent of the internet, the number of communication channels has increased. In addition, the traditional channels have also become more efficient at delivering large quantities of information. For instance, television channels nowadays have news anchors reading the news as ribbons run at the bottom of the same screen. In many instances, the item the anchor reads is usua lly not the same as the items on the ribbons. The amount of noise in communication channels is also on the increase. TV commercials are too many. Advertisements on billboards compete with those in newspapers and magazines, as well as those on branded accessories. The bombardment of commercial messages is so high that people have adapted by filtering adverts out of their minds. The internet on the other hand has created new communication channels within the last two decades. Social media is the most popular form of communication today. Email is still used by many businesses to communicate with clients, and for marketing. In addition, the internet has made it possible for people to communicate using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) through services such as Skype. Instant communication is also available via both text and video chat. All these options are available to small and large firms. The challenges that many firms are facing include getting through to potential customers, publ ic relations (PR), and choosing an effective mix of communication channels. The challenge of getting through to potential clients arises from information overload. The ease of communication facilitated by technology is overwhelming people with information. An analysis of the information sources that people deal with on any day shows that a typical consumer must distinguish from thousands of messages on a daily basis. Consumers have developed defense mechanisms that enable them to switch off messages that do not stand out. The impact of this on advertising is that if a communication medium fails to capture the attention of customers, it is a total waste. The second challenge that firms face is PR management. PR is an important component of business communication. The increasing influence of social media platforms and the increasing ease of online publishing have complicated the work of PR managers. A firm’s reputation may suffer irreparable damage if it fails to monitor the is sues clients raise in the social media. This is even more challenging for small firms because they cannot afford to retain full time PR professionals to monitor their online reputation. Bigger firms either hire the services from PR firms or employ people to manage their social media activities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The third challenge associated with communication that many firms must deal with is determining an effective mix of communication channels. There is a multiplicity of channels, and the level of effectiveness of each channel varies. The lessons that other firms can learn from Mercedes-Benz when it comes to communication include the following. First, Mercedes-Benz advertises its vehicles in niche markets. This reduces the wastage associated with untargeted advertisements. The company advertises its cars through its website, in car magazines, and on high-end television channels. The communication channels chosen by Mercedes-Benz are based on the brand positioning of the vehicles. Secondly, the company manages its PR activities internally because it can afford to hire PR professionals. The lesson here is that even if a firm cannot hire PR professionals, it can outsource online monitoring to PR firms. Thirdly, Mercedes-Benz uses an optimized list of communication channels. Mercedes-Benz has a strong social media presence, with YouTube channels, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts. In addition, Mercedes-Benz publishes information in conventional media such as car magazines, business magazines, and television. The lesson here is that every firm must strive to find the best mix of communication channels in order to communicate effectively with all its clients. Fundamentals of Marketing Marketing is making the consumer aware of the presence of a product, with the aim of making a sale. Making sales is not the immediate concern of a marketing effort. However, the marketing cycle ends with the successful conversion of prospective customers, to paying customers. Marketing approaches vary depending on the products on offer. The two main choices in terms of overall strategy are whether a company should use mass marketing or niche marketing strategies. Mass marketing usually applies to fast moving consumer goods. Niche marketing on the other hand concentrates on specific mar ket segments. The role of marketing is to inform consumers about the availability of products that can meet a need in their lives. This is the informational attribute of marketing. However, marketing also aims at turning uninformed consumers into potential customers. The work of a marketer is to ensure that when the consumer needs the product, he will turn to the brand that the marketer introduced. The development of marketing strategies usually depends on the four Ps. The four Ps are product, price, placement, and promotion. The Product is the brand sold to consumers. Price is the cost a consumer will pay to acquire the product. Setting a price is a process that involves an evaluation of the value customers attach to the product, against the cost that it takes to produce the product. Pricing is an experimental process aimed at making the most, without scaring off customers. Placement is the location customers find a product. Mass marketing usually goes hand in hand with mass availa bility of a product. Niche marketing on the other hand goes hand in hand with niche placement. Promotion refers to the element of marketing that encourages consumers to make a purchase. Marketing is very challenging because of the limited data available to marketing professionals at the beginning of marketing campaigns, especially when introducing new products. The projections developed by marketers depend on past trends. Fundamental shifts in the market can erode the value of reasonable projections. Many firms also face challenges associated with how to position their products. At time is it unclear which strategy will yield the best results. If a firm is capable of reducing manufacturing costs to a minimum, then it can survive as a low cost producer with a mass-market orientation. This position has risks associated with competition because competitors can copy the business model. On the other hand developing a product that consumers will be willing to pay a premium requires more r esources for RD, and very strong branding. Firms that try to get into premium markets without a strong financial base run the risk of making huge losses. Many firms also struggle when it comes to placing their products. Product distribution is very challenging especially for startups. It is expensive to set up distribution points and it is very difficult to get shelf space in existing retail avenues without a product that has a proven record of accomplishment. The challenge of promotion relates to making the appropriate choices in regards to promotion tactics. Often, a good strategy needs time and money to develop. The lessons that firms can learn from Mercedes-Benz are as follows. First, focusing on developing a strong brand can be costly in the short term but is a very good strategy for generating long-term growth. Secondly, marketing needs to be aligned with the overall strategy of the business. Mercedes-Benz vehicles have always been developed for the high-end market and the mar keting strategies used reflect this choice. Priority Areas for Action In the context of the above discussions and the lessons derived from the business practices of Mercedes-Benz, the following are the priority areas that all firms need to prioritize. On branding, any firm that does not have a branding strategy needs to think about it. In this regard, there is need to define the attributes of the brand. This requires making a deliberate choice when picking the brand element such as logos and taglines to ensure that they reflect the central message the company want to send to consumers. On communication, the challenges that firms must deal with have increased in tandem with the growth of the IT sector. The first communication priority area for firms is defining the central message of the brand. Secondly, firms must choose the right mix of communication channels to handle communication. PR management is also a priority area because of the high impact of bad press on a company. In the area of marketing, the priority areas are as follows. First, every firm must define its marketing target, and the best pricing. Novel items work well in the high-end market, while daily use items work well in the mass-market, where price may be a key factor for consumers. The second area of interest for firms in marketing should be the application of the four Ps of marketing. These four Ps will help every firm to determine the specific issues needed to make the marketing effort a success. The firms must realize that the best long-term approach to marketing is the development of a strong brand. Reference List Ferrell, OC Hartline, MD 2008, Marketing Strategy, Cengage Learning, New York, NY. Holmes, D 2005, Communication Theory: Media, Technology, and Society, SAGE, London, UK. Mercedes-Benz 2013, Mercedes-Benz, https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/. Thomas, A 2011, Strategies for Branding Success, eBooklt.com, New York.

The best sister in the world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The best sister in the world - Essay Example The researcher will begin with the statement that sometimes he thinks that it is amazing that while we look for companionship and friendship, outside the confines of our home, our best sources of support and joy are placed by providence right at the place we live and love. At least it happened to him. The author’s sister Fatimah is 25 years old and they are more of friends than merely being siblings. Fatimah is his best friend and whenever he feels lonely or alone, she turns out to be a constant source of companionship. Though the author prefers solitude over socializing, still he must say that he never like to be alone. Fatimah has a beautiful way of making him feel loved and cherished. The researcher feels really wonderful and happy, whenever he is with her. She always makes the author feel that somebody is there for him, who will stand by him whenever he is stressed and lonely. Both of them share fond memories of the experiences we had while we were traveling in Lebanon, th e country where she was studying for her degree. Fatimah is a biologist. She graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB).   There is no denying the fact that Fatimah happens to be one big influence on the author’s social skills and interpersonal communication. Having a stable relationship with his sister and being able to convey to her all that the author thinks or feels has made him an independent and confident person. The researcher feels really easy to open up with others while he is moving in the outside world. It was owing to Fatimah that a lot many things turned out to be better and beneficial for the author. It had been solely owing to Fatimah that the author had been able to get over his juvenile hesitations and have learned to open up to other people. The biggest delight that Fatimah holds for the author is the opportunity he gets to share his ideas with her. The researcher has many dreams and goals, and Fatimah has always encouraged him in whatever ende avor he engage in by extending her true and honest opinion. The researcher shares such a sense of camaraderie with Fatimah that even during our childhood, they used to dress up alike. The researcher must say that both of them share a salubrious and benign relationship with each other. He is always there, whenever Fatimah needs him and she receives the author’s help and advice not only as a brother but also as a worthy an imitable role model. They both harbor much ambition in their hearts. Besides, both of them love their family a lot and do their best to make their family happy, especially their parents. The researcher does believe that good idea are of no use if they are not put into practical action. So Fatimah always diligently encourages him to weave goals and aspirations around the good ideas that the author share with her. This brings in a kind of accountability into the researcher’s life and always stimulates him to work to the best of his capacity. Besides, the author does know that Fatimah is always there to help him sort out the problems that he comes across in his academic life.

3M Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3M - Essay Example Contemporary academic settings have acknowledged the need to develop and recognize cultural intelligence as the ability to interpret and understand diverse cultural underpinnings. In this regard, not because the way things are done in Russia are different from what 3M is accustomed to, it should already mean that the organization should not do business there – most especially if there are vast opportunities in the Russian market that could be tapped and ventured on. 3M must simply understand which cultural practices must be respected and could not be changed in their entirety. As a multinational organization that operates in other parts of the world, it already has vast experience and understanding of cultural diversities and how they can adapt and adjust to the way of life to succeed in Russia. Honestly, I strongly believe that 3M could do business in Russia provided that they respect the cultural values and traditions of its people. Being an organization that promotes ethical behavior, I am sure that they have acknowledged which cultural beliefs need to be accepted and could not be meddled with. As such, by respecting the cultural norms and beliefs of the Russians, including business practices, 3M could be assured that they will proceed with smooth business interactions within the ethical standards and moral codes of discipline. The moral codes of conduct, as well as ethical standards in business are more or less universal in perspectives. 3M, as the investing organization in Russia, has the obligation to adhere to moral, ethical and social responsibilities as employer and therefore, could expect employees to conform to these obligations. In so doing, by the rules of being role models, 3M could improve the ethical climate in foreign countries where it does business with. It is one’s contention that a practical middle ground could be established by finding an effective and acceptable balance between American and Russian ways