Good Morning, Vietnam; Good Night, Reality Essay

Good Morning, Vietnam; Good Night, Reality - Essay Example The film is fairly accurate in what it does portray: Croanuer is a hot-shot Deejay brought in to entertain (and thereby distract) the troops and is welcomed by his peers while several of his superiors are nervous about his lack of respect for authority. Cronauer blends well enough in his new environment, even taking on a class teaching Vietnamese - although this is to meet a love interest. He befriends the girl's brother, Tuan, fighting to get him into the locally owned G.I. Bar Jimmy Wah's. Cronauer is supended from the air when he ignores the censor by announcing the subsequent bombing of Jimmy Wah's. After his return to radio, Cronauer goes into the field to do remote interviews, unknowingly walking into enemy occupied territory. Tuan finds and rescues Cronauer, who returns to find that he is be reassigned to a different location, due to his involvement with Tuan, who proves to be a Vietnamese guerilla. After bidding farewell to all of his acquaintances, Cronauer departs, while a taped broadcast of his farewell show is played to the troops. Sadly, the focus of the film proves very limited. Despite the film's entertainment value, the narrow locality of it's story (primarily in the radio station) does not allow for a more comprehensive view of American soldiers in the field, the shifting political situation or the political history, and makes almost no effort to recognize Vietnamese history and concerns. Part of this is explained by Sergeant Joe P. Dunn, of the 199th Infantry Brigade, 1969-1970; who completed his tour with the 1st Air Cavalry. He observes that there are three primary methods today of studying the Vietnam conflict: 1) Asianists, who are specialist in the history, culture, and so forth of the Asia, who treat American involvement "as merely one stage, in the long history and series of conflicts", 2) Americanists, who are primarily historians and focus on various aspects of American issues that led to U.S. involvement (although the Asianists denounce the absence of Vietnam history and culture in this approac h), and 3) Literature/Pop-culture, which Dunn contends too rarely have "the analytical tools of the historian and the political scientist." Good Morning, Vietnam proves to have a slight leaning to this second category, but an overwhelming influence by the third. How then does the film attempt to justify it's blatant entertainment orientation It does this through a small inserts of liberal efforts of social equality. Cronauer seeks to equalize the military hierarchy by constantly lampooning the upper echelon. Likewise, Jimmy Wah's, a place where there has been a small measure of cultural acculturation in so far as the Vietnamese are benefiting from American presence (and exploitation), is the only real battleground in which Cronauer struggles for Vietnamese equality, i.e. the right to patron the bar. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese is only lightly touched upon by Tuan and his sister, and then only in lamenting the impact of America on an already war-torn culture.

Paintings in art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paintings in art history - Essay Example Fifteenth-century artist Sandro Botticelli is noted for his lyrical, flowing style, often decorative and showing a certain elegance. The Florentine Renaissance became a cult of beauty, love and gratification of the senses, and Botticelli in both The Birth of Venus and Spring (Primavera) reflected this delicate and romantic Renaissance style, with Venus rising from the sea on an open shell, unclothed but demure, and later clothed at her coronation. Because these two paintings are different sizes, it was thought they did not belong together, but further analysis shows enough similarities to make them a set (â€Å"Analysis;† â€Å"Allegory†) At a time in Italian history when Florentine artists were enamored of mythology, Botticelli captured the essence of the myth. The elements in any composition are line, shape, color, pattern, value, form, texture, space. Those specifically attributed to the Sistine Chapel are 1) lines – direction of lines leads eye to specific ar ea of painting; 2) shape – height and width of shape creates an illusion on the ceiling panels; 3) space – the relationship of positive and negative space affects impact and unity; 4) color – bright, dark, intense—implies texture through color, line, shading, repetition and pattern. Michelangelo began painting the Sistine Chapel in 1508 and completed it in 1512, almost single-handedly. The four main elements that define the vaulted ceiling of the Chapel are, as noted, line, shape, color, and pattern. The ceiling is painted in panels, with circles., squares, and triangles framing the different panels. Colors, bright and dark, lead the eye to the focus in each panel. The technique is fresco. There are nine central panels illustrating and interpreting stories from Genesis in a specific pattern ("Michelangelo"). Albrecht Drer Albrecht Drer was a painter and engraver who was best known for his woodcuts and prints. His etching work was meticulous with special focus on color in his paintings. He was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci's studies of the human figure and applied Leonardo's proportions to his own figures. Finished form and richness of conception, as well as perspective and proportion are characteristics of his work along with color and energy (Ponich). Rembrandt Rembrandt van Rijin is noted for his transfiguration of experience into art. It is his inner emotions as represented in his art that makes him unique. He was highly influenced by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titan in their depiction of the human form, but he is a multi-faceted artist, excelling as a painter and an inspired graphic artist and etcher. He painted, drew and etched portraits, landscapes, figures, and animals, but above all scenes of biblical and secular history and mythology. Although also known for his self-portraits, his most famous works show his ability to expand his subject matter. One of his best known paintings is called "Night Watch" although it has since been found to be a daytime scene. His art symbolizes a whole period of art history rightfully known as "Holland's Golden Age" ("Rembrandt"). Romanticism Romanticism (1800-1850) unlike its opposite, classicism, has a storytelling, epic quality that extends to music, painting, and literature. Richard Wagner's music evokes feelings of power and dread, with its emphasis on emotion and great freedom of form. It was his aim to offer a complete synthesis of the arts in his music. According to Alfred Einstein in "Music in the Romantic Era, A History of Musical Thought in the 19th Century (New York, 1947), "[Wagner] was the first to

An Analysis of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 Essay As a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States government established a separate agency within the federal system to prevent future terrorist activities. Hence, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created, along with the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA). The HSA identified and explained the principle, jurisdiction and duties of the Department of Homeland Security. The HSA also reinforced sentences for transgressing national security laws and expanded federal control of local law enforcement agencies. However, critics argued that the HSA instead promoted American global dominance at the expense of civil liberties. For instance, Title II pushed for the establishment of a Directorate of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, tasked with the creation and maintenance of a database containing public and private information on virtually any individual in the United States. Telephone records, banking transactions, school records, employment history – these can be gathered to piece together a profile that can be used against innocent people suspected as terrorists. In the HAS’ Title V: Emergency Preparedness and Response, there is no specific mandate of federal control over the â€Å"local first responders† – the police, the firemen and the emergency personnel. The provision simply called for â€Å"federal supervision, funding and cooperation. † (Van Bergen, 2002) Although centralization is perfect for emergency preparedness on a sufficiently large scale, it could also lead to the loss of local control and to potential federal militarization. (Van Bergen, 2002) According to the United States Northern Command (USNC), â€Å"Prohibiting direct military involvement in law enforcement is in keeping with long-standing U. S. law and policy limiting the militarys role in domestic affairs. † (Van Bergen, 2002) In addition, the Posse Comitatus Act (18 USC 1385) â€Å"generally prohibits U. S. military personnel from interdicting vehicles, vessels and aircraft; conducting surveillance, searches, pursuit and seizures; or making arrests on behalf of civilian law enforcement authorities. † (Van Bergen, 2002) The four statutory exceptions to this prohibition are the following: counter-drug assistance (10 USC 371-81); Insurrection Act (10 USC 331-34); crimes using nuclear materials (18 USC 831); and chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction (10 USC 382). (Van Bergen, 2002) One of the most serious consequences of the HAS is the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002 (CIIA). The CIIA offered corporations confidentiality and immunity from civil liability with respect to the â€Å"critical infrastructure information† (CII) that they submitted â€Å"voluntarily† to the DHS. CII may include virtually any information about physical or cyber infrastructure that can be useful to terrorists or other parties that intend to cause damage to the facility. (Steinzor, 2003) No one may use it in any civil action arising under federal or state law without obtaining the written consent of the company. Government officials who will violate the CIIA will face up to a year in prison. The CIIA is very dangerous, as it would immunize corporations and their employees from malfeasance in their operations, from racial discrimination to embezzlement, violations of environmental regulations and negligence that will harm the public physically and or financially. Hence, the CIIA might also end up granting immunity to enterprises that were guilty of negligence in the face of terrorist attacks, allowing them to escape accountability for putting other people’s lives in danger. Terrorist groups such as the Al Qaeda might use the CIIA to their advantage, because their operatives assume quiet and unobtrusive Western lifestyles and identities to avoid capture and to successfully carry out missions. But with the misleading nature of the HSA, the question ordinary Americans should be asking is: Who should they be afraid of, the terrorists or their own government? References Van Bergen, Jennifer. (2002, December 2-4). Homeland Security Act: The Rise of the American Police State. Retrieved January 2, 2008 from http://www. ratical. org/ratville/CAH/HSA_RoAPS. html. Steinzor, Rena. (2003, March 12). ‘Democracy Dies Behind Closed Doors:’ The Homeland Security Act and Corporate Accountability. PDF File. Retrieved January 2, 2008 from http://www. progressiveregulation. org/perspectives/secrecy_white_paper. pdf.

Describe The Strategic Alternatives Given Business Essay

Describe The Strategic Alternatives Given Business Essay We are shivering in our paints, as we grope against new competition from firms from USA and Korea. A very senior LT executive to the author at a Management Development Programme at IIM (Ahmedabad) in 1993 The competition we have faced till now is nothing is compared to what lies in store for us. Till now, the period (post-liberalisotion) was one of learning and assessment for the big global competitors Sudhakar Divokar Kulkarni, CEO. to the case author in April 1997. In 1997 Larsen and Tubro (LT), one of the largest engineering companies in India (and one of the top five private sector companies) posted yet again a growth rate of over 20 per cent. This happened for the fourth consecutive year despite acute liquidity crisis in the market, political instability, and uncertainty about execution of power projects of foreign companies (e.g. Enron), and so no. Since last few years, LT was becoming a lesson for companies worldwide in managing explosive growth and developing internal capabilities on a continuous basis. Simultaneously, it was setting new challenges for the academics in defining core competencies and core capabilities. An independent survey named LT to be one of the best managed companies in Asia and another by Business Toda, showed that the company was one of the most transparent and a leader on the issue of corporate governance. During 1995-96 and 1996-97, the company achieved an incredible growth in sales of nearly Rs. 1,000 crore per a nnum over the previous years, crossing the landmark turnover of Rs. 5,000 crore in the process. The Evolution L T was set up in 1938 as a partnership trading firm by two Danish engineers, Henning Holck Larsen and Soren kristian Toubro, who had quit their jobs. In 1946, it became a private limited company and by 1950 reached the status of a public limited company. Table 1 gives the evolutionary picture in brief. LT presently has a shareholder base of nearly 1 million and employee strength of over 24,000 As a company, this multi-dimensional engineering giant is actually the nucleus of a group of companies involved in building complexes, worksheets, offices and service outlets at different locations all over India and abroad. Over the years, LT has acquired a commendable reputation for capabilities for executing engineering related projects. Table 1 LT Business History: The Milestones 1938 Incorporation as a partnership firm 1946 Incorporation as a Private Ltd Co. I950 LT goes public Powai Works set up 1961 Audco India incorporated for manufacturing valves 1962 Retirement of Soren Toubro; EWAC Ltd. set up for manufacture of welding alloys 1963 TENGL founded to manufacture crawler undercarriage parts for caterpillars 1969 Agency business abolished, formation of LT Bottle Closure division 1971 LT McNeil set up for manufacturing Presses for tyre industry 1974 Management Organization Structure and Management Planning and Control System introduced LT Bangalore Works commences production of hydraulic excavators 1978 Larsen retires. LT Faridabad commences production of switchgear 1982 ECC merged with L&T; LT enters shipping business with two ships 1983 LT enters cement manufacturing with Awarpur plant commencing production 1987 LT enters computer hardware with floppy discs and printers; LT Gould for electronic test and measured instruments 1988 Cement capacity enhanced to 2.2 m tons per annum 1989 90 LT under DH Ambani (as chairman) 1990 93 Repeated takeover attempts by RIL 1993 95 Series of strategic alliances and tie-ups resulting in formation of LT-Niro. LT-Chiyoda, LT Sargent Lund9, LT Finance, and so on. The Takeover Attempt During 1991 93, as the country progressed towards liberalisation, the company just emerged from a not-so-welcome takeover threat from the powerful Ambanis of Reliance. The Ambanis were themselves embarking upon massive expansion in chemicals and petrochemicals business, and LT would have provided a real and logical synergy in terms of executing turnkey projects for construction, engineering, supplying machinery and of course, offering suppliers credit (to the tune of Rs. 1.000 crore). Through protracted investigation and litigation (in which the Reliance Industries Ltd. was found to have collected forged proxies), the company somehow remained in the hands of professionals. The big question mark as posed by an article in the Economic and Political weekly was Where does LT go from where it has reached now? However, it was obvious that a total new mindset and working culture would be required if LT was to grow and remain competitive. In 1993 94, the company started adopting the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) by becoming customer focused, reducing the costs and wastage, and adding value at all stages for maximising customer satisfaction. In 1994, Mr. S.D. Kulkarni took over as the CEO of LT and confidently promised that the company would reach its mission of being a Rs. 10,000 crore ($3 bn.) company by the end of the century. He also declared that the company would strive to maintain and develop leadership positions in all its businesses or else it will quit. Simultaneously, zero retrenchment was promised. The philosophy of TQM was embraced with added emphasis on customer delight, that is, delivering more value than expected by the customer. Vision, Core Values, and TQM Infrastructure being a key bottleneck for Indian industry was identified as the engine of Growth for the companys ambitious plans. But before that, the company needed an ambition statement, which every employee could own and share. A massive companywide exercise for finding out what the company stood for and what its core values were was embarked upon. The emergent statement though not sounding much different from several other organisations vision, however, came to be owned and understood by almost every employee because of the process of identifying the mission and peoples involvement. The key elements of LTs vision f focussed towards a world class company dedicated to: excellence and professionalism customer delight through service entrepreneurial leadership and creation of an organisation that is on the path of continuously learning by fostering teamwork, trust, and care Community service and environmental protection. Core Competencies According to a senior executive, today the core competence of LT lies in its ability to synthesise, integrate and harmonise its diverse world-class engineering, manufacturing, procurement, construction and fabrication skills around turnkey projects (in core economic sectors) and people. This is made possible through a world class vendor base and quality technological alliances, excellent IT infrastructure (CAD,/CAM systems, PMIS etc.) sophisticated fabrication facilities for plant and machinery in the core sector. Business Leadership LT holds a leadership position in India in most of the areas in which it operates. The first company to introduce hydraulic excavators in the country, it still maintains its leadership status in this and in the vibratory compactor segments. LTs switchgear products enjoy a dominant position in Indian as well as the international markets. It continues to be a leader in the manufacture of Z-Line petrol pumps and its cement is considered to be of high quality. LT has pioneered the manufacture and supply of critical nuclear reactors and space vehicles hardware in the country. It has to its credit many firsts in the Indian industry from the indigenously manufactured hydrocracker reactor, naptha run power plants, the worlds largest curing press, to the first vertical dairy in the country and so on. With the Project and Construction business in the country growing at a fast pace and expected to continue to do so with the country s emphasis on infrastructure, both LT ECC (Construction Group) and LT s Projects (EPC) businesses are being treated as thrust areas. The ECC construction group has been responsible for construction landmarks both in India and abroad, for instance, the Bahai house of worship in Delhi, an international airport terminal in Abu Dhabi, bridges in Malaysia, hotels in Uzbekistan, and so on. Its major projects have been building of cement plants for Grasim Industries, Gujarat Ambuja Cements, and ACC Ltd., construction of bridges and railway tunnels for the Konkan Railway project. In projects business, LT EPC group successfully executed orders from ONCC (for piping and oil platforms), Tata Chemicals {for captive co generation power plant) and Gandhinagar Dairy. In shipping and international business too, the company has made significant progress to become one of the leading players in their line of business. LT has a long and enviable record of high-tech fabrication. The workshops in Powai with CNC precision machines house large-size precision fabrication facilities. Its major heavy engineering complex at Hazira also caters to such needs. LTs units and its links with globally reputed organisations have contributed much in developing manufacturing excellence. Decision-making at LT Over the years, the company has implemented its vision through various approaches. Foremost is the emphasis on empowerment, teamwork, and continuous training of employees. In terms of structure, the company has decentralised decision-making, and according to Mr. Kulkarni, CEO, the concept of Strategic Business Units (SBUs) is being actively encouraged. The company is decentralised for all practical purposes. Budgets and allocations are made at the beginning of the year and SBUs undertake the responsibility for achieving the targets. Only in major decisions involving capacity augmentation, business divestment, diversification, and so on does the CEO personally involve himself. According to Mr. Kulkarni, only through empowerment and decentralised decision making can a highly diversified company like LT be managed. For example, though the decision to divest the Dot Matrix Printers (DMPs) business was first proposed by the concerned department, yet the decision was taken ai the MD/Board level as it agreed that product and technological obsolescence and synergy of DMPs with other businesses was indeed low. The Culture of TQM The TQM journey, initiated in 1993, has now taken firm roots in LT. The efforts put in training a large number of employees has resulted in the launch of many quality improvement initiatives. A large number of employees have participated in continuous improvement (Kaizen) and small group activities. Several cross-functional teams regularly function in the areas of manufacturing, design, marketing and services. LT has created an environment for increased empowerment to further improve customer services. The TQM Awareness Programmes have also been extended to the stockists and vendors to achieve improvement in the operations and customer service. LT strongly believe in the concept of internal customers. With TQM knowledge spreading widely inside the company, employees have realised that everybody in every department is a supplier to somebody in the organisation if not directly to an outside customer. One employee says, even though it is difficult to oblige everybody, I believe that we should go a step forward to understand the real requirements of the customer, which he himself may not be fully aware of, and delight the customer through total quality and service. Such an attitude should be our guiding force. A value strongly sought to be inculcated in the employees is that people can confront competition better by moving from a product-oriented philosophy to a customer-oriented philosophy. For this, employees are being trained in multi skills, including quality transactions and market engineering, besides product engineering. With people being regarded as the prime movers, a strong HRD culture pervades the organisations personnel policies, and HRD systems are designed to sustain motivation, encourage learning, and achieve higher levels of quality and productivity through job involvement. The embracing of TQM philosophy.and implementation of ISO 9000 systems by almost all divisions has led people to work towards common goals with a customer oriented approach. Social Commitments Corporate Citizenship The Mumbai Chamber presented the Good Corporate Citizen Award for the year 1994 -95 to Larsen and Toubro Limited for its contribution to Larsen and Toubro Limited for its contribution to the corporate world, but more importantly for its conspicuous achievements in improving the quality of life in the community. Award for most Outstanding Concrete Structure The ECC Division of LT received the ICI-Mc-Bauchemie Award presented by The Indian Concrete Institute for the most outstanding concrete structure for the year 1995 96 for Sree Kanteerava Indoor Sports Complex is Bangalore. The structure is considered to be an engineering marvel. The citation for the award reads Sree Lanteerava Indoor Sports Complex is designed in the shape of an ellipse using 120 V shaped precast folded plate elements. Each element is 43 m long and weighs 55. t. The thickness of the plate is just 40 mm, but strengthened by ribs throughout its length. Since the folded plate springs from the ring beam along the outer periphery and connected by the compression ring at the crown, the entire roof is self supporting, providing an unobstructed column-fee space of 119 m x 91 m with a playing arena of 65 m x 45 min the centre. Environment Upgradation LT has been showing its commitment towards corporate citizenship. As one goes around the works and offices of LT. one experiences a soothing and refreshing ambience because of the rich foliage and delightful floral blooms around these structures. LT has undertaken extensive tree plantation programme. Over three lakh trees were planted in and around the factory in 1993-94 under the programme Trees for Life. The villagers have been given grafted saplings of fruit-bearing trees and encouraged to plant them. The success of this ongoing effort led to LT being selected by the Government of Maharashtra for the prestigious Vanashree Award in 1990. Contribution to Academics LT set up LT Institute of Technology, a polytechnic in Mumbai. In a short period, it has come to be widely regarded as one of the best training institutions of its kind in the country, particularly for the full-fledged workshops and laboratories that provide a strong practical orientation to theoretical inputs. There is a good demand in engineering companies for the students passing out from this Institute. LT also contribute financially towards Upgradation of facilities in several polytechnics. It regularly interfaces with academic institutions to promote quality education and has established research chairs for faculty in several institutions including ai IIM, Ahmedabad. Within the company, one of the most invaluable and lasting investments made by LT is the establishment of a Management Development Programme Centre at Lonavala (near Mumbai). According to Mr. CM Srivastava, Joint General Manager (JGM) (HRD), the management development centre has been visua lized as a temple of learning where people would come with the sole purpose of enhancing knowledge, learning through experience, self-study, and introspection. The emphasis, therefore, is on providing an ambience for learning rather than training. The centre has modern learning facilities like computer-added packages, a library, and outdoor training facilities. Manufacturing Facilities Some important manufacturing facilities of LT are shown in Table 2. Table 2 Important Manufacturing Facilities of LT Location Product/Plants Powai, Madh (Maharashtra) Plant and heavy equipment switchgears, Petrol pumps, Bothell closures, control and automation, welding alloys, undercarriage components Thane (Maharashtra) Electronics and Inputs for undercarriage components Awarpur (Maharashtra) Cement Nashik (Maharashtra) Light-weight glass containers Faridabad (Haryana) switchgears Ankleshwar (Orissa) Welding Alloys Kansbajal (Orissa) Plant and equipment for steel paper and pulp, material handling and mineral processing industry Mysore (karnataka) Medical electronic equipment computer peripherals, telecommunications, test and measuring instruments Bangalore (Karnataka) Earth-moving and construction equipment, hydraulic equipment and diesel engines, Gen. Sets Hazira (MP) Heavy equipments Hirmi (MP) Cement manufacturing unit Chennai (TN) Valves, rubber and plastic processing machinery Kandla (Gujarat) Export oriented fabrication Pondicherry Transmission towers Kalol (Gujarat) Export footwear Jharsuguda (Orissa) Cement grinding unit The Future The financial results of LT far the year 1996 97 are not too encouraging as far as profits are concerned. The company has reported profits of Rs. 410 crore against the previous years profit of Rs. 390 crore, thereby achieving a slim growth of five percent. However, the turnover has recorded a sharp jump from Rs. 4249 dare to Rs. 5304 crore. From another perspective, the performance has been commendable considering the slump and intense competition in the cement industry and performance of other competitors during the period. LT is firmly consolidating itself in four major business areas engineering, construction cement, and equipment manufacture, Presently, cement accounts for 15 per cent of the total revenue. lt has embarked on a major expansion programme that will double the capacity to 12 m tons per annum, which will make it the largest cement manufacturer in India. A Euro-issue of $135 million has been planned to fund this expansion. Having defined EPC as a thrust business for t he future, it will be relevant to take a look into the competitive structure of the EPC business. In the domestic business, LT has a handful of competitors among whom BHEL. Punj and Lloyd, and RITES are the major ones. The peculiar nature of EPC business is that it is not a sector specific industry. The core infrastructure activities such as power, telecom, and roads will become key focus areas for the country. Most players in this industry have specific competencies which cater to specialised areas, LT is perhaps the only company which competes in almost every sector by virtue of its diversified technical competence and expertise. LTs EPC business takes the form of competitive bidding for executing projects from start to finish for third parties, part execution of projects as sub contractors to other bidders, and autonomous bidding for setting up its own projects in the core sectors. In the global EPC business, however the company faces stiff competition from the global construction and engineering giants like Hyundai, Saipern, Mcdermoft, Caterpiller, to name a few. In such a highly competitive environment with technology being a handicap (that most Indian companies suffer from), the logical step is to enter into strategic and technological alliances. Most Indian EPC players follow this route and LT is no exception. Some of its alliances are with its competitors, for instance, Caterpillar, Marubeni. Like most Indian EPC players going global, LT s overseas EPC operations are concentrated in the developing and developed countries of South-and Middle-East Asia such as Thailand and Malaysia, Vietnam, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Gulf countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, Oman, and so on. Though LT has attained impressive achievements, the productivity of several businesses are alarmingly low on the international benchmark level. In an environment of high interest rates and tight liquidity position, the efficient management of working capital will form the key to future LT successes. Some of the areas of concern for LT in the short-term would be: the need to attain faster delivery standards, customer satisfaction, continuous cost reduction, productivity improvement and operating with low working capital, and aiming at least to be a regional player of repute and recognition. Questions: (a) Carry out a SWOT Analysis of LT. (b) Explain the Decision-making process at LT and how does it contribute to performance of the company. (c) What are the various strategies that you recommend for LTs EPC division in domestic and foreign markets? Paper-2 Section-A 1. Strategy includes the determination and evaluation of alternative paths to an already established mission or objective and eventually, choice of the alternatives to be adopted. Explain the statement underlining the process of strategy formulation. 2. Technological factors represent major opportunities and threats, which must be taken into account while formulating strategies. Discuss. How can a firm build a sustainable technology based competitive advantage? 3. The low-cost leadership strategy at times enables the firm to defend itself against each of five competitive forces. Explain. 4. Briefly explain the factors which contribute towards the success of a strategic alliance. Illustrate with a recent example of strategic alliance. 5. Explain any three methods/techniques used in strategic control systems, giving examples. SECTION B 6. Read the case carefully and answer the questions at the end. Rupbani Beverage Limited Rupbani Beverage Limited entered the Indian wine industry in 1975 by acquiring the Mastana Wine Company of Shimla and two other smaller wine companies at Kalka for Rs. 50 lakh. Despite hostility expressed by other wine makers and predictions that Rupbani would very soon fail as other outsiders such as Parminder Wine Company had, the entry succeeded. Rupbani Limited performed the unheard of feat of establishing a volume of 30 lakh cases within two years and taking the market share away from premium brands such as the National Wine Company of Bombay, Pearl Drink Limited of Pune and Syndicate Cola Limited of Madras. Rupbani advertised heavily and incurred Rs. 10 lakh in one year and standardised the taste of its wines with considerable success. It also invested Rs. 48 lakh in a large, new winery at Ahmedabad. A Rupbani Executive said, By 1995, consumption of wine in India will be a liter per capita, compared with half a liter today. The industry reacted to Rupbanis presence by doubling and tripling advertising expenditure. ABC and Company began a costly campaign to market premium and varied wines while reducing marketing emphasis on its cheap wines such as Nahan Drinks and the Gola Beverage. ABC maintained its 25 percent market share but had to resort to some heavy price discounting to do so. In 1982 Pearl Drinks formed a special wine unit to combine efforts for all its brands. Mr. Sailesh Kumar former Vice President of the National Wine Company had directed a project to coordinate Pearls world-wide wine business and develop a world wide strategy. The new unit was, in fact, a result of his work. In1983, wine consumption changed from growth at a rate of 5 per cent to no growth. The government also lifted the ban on imports of wine. This presented an even greater challenge because imported wines were cheaper as well as superior in quality. In1984 Mr. Ranganathan took over as Managing Director of Rupbani. He reviewed the recent performance of the company and its competitive position. He noted that the company was losing its hold over the market and it was not getting the return as expected. He also found that the companys performance in the syrup business was excellent. He, therefore, thought of selling out the wine business to Pearl Drinks, He convened an executive meeting and apprised the executives of his proposal. He also informed them that Pearl Drinks had offered the company to recapture its investment in the wine business which was about Rs. one crore. Mr. Arun Mehta, General Manager, observed that Rupbani was in and out in the past six years and has joined different organisations in trying the wine business. The finance Manager, M. Subhash Ghai said, The return on assets in the wine business is not the 30 to 35 per cent, which Rupbani is used to getting in the syrup business. Gaining share and trying to compete with ABC and Company left Rupbani with, eventually, the number two position in the wine industry with profits of Rs. 60 lakh on Rs. 220 lakh in sales. The stockholders wanted immediate return and hence, the company could not afford to make long-term investments necessary to popularise the brands. Had they stayed for five more years, they would have been a key leader in a large and profitable industry. Pearl Drinks immediately went from the sixth position in the industry to a strong second place with an 11 per cent market share. The Chairman of Pearl Drinks stated: We believe you can make money in this business in two ways remain a small boutique winery or become large and achieve economies of scale. Mr. Harish, Marketing Manager of Rupbani said, It is no use selling out our business to Pearl Drink and get back what we have invested. We can compete with our competitors successfully and improve our market share if we manufacture wines of varying qualities to suit the varied preferences and pockets of diverse sections of society. We should also offer price discounts to attract the consumers. There should be wide publicity of our brands throughout the country. Questions: (a) Perform SWOT analysis of Rupbani. (b) In the light of opportunities and threats of Rupbani Beverage and its strengths and weaknesses, what strategy should it formulate to improve its performance and strengthen its competitive position? (c) Should Rupbani spend on advertising in line with its competitors? Discuss. (d) What other strategies would you suggest for Rupbani for increasing their share of the market? Paper-3 Section-A 1. Explain the various steps involved in Strategic Management process in a single business firm. 2. Explain the following: (a) Types of resources (b) Strategic importance of resources 3. Discuss the importance of differentiation strategy in the present competitive environment. Explain taking into consideration its advantages and disadvantages. 4. Every strategic alliance incurs certain costs and comes with a set of risks. Explain any five costs/risks of entering into a strategic alliance. 5. Corporate culture plays an important role in the success of an organization. Explain giving suitable example. SECTION B NEECO LIMITED At the end of the recent five-year plan, it was estimated that there would be a considerable demand in the manufacturing capacity of power transformers in the country. It was further projected that the gap between demand and the manufacturing capacity would be even larger in the subsequent plans. Thus, anticipating the countrys demand in future, Neeco Limited decided to set up a new unit for manufacturing transformers. This was in addition to the manufacturing capacity already built up at one of the existing factories. Formal Planning Process Formal planning was introduced in the very first year of the commencement of activities at the new unit. The planning process at Neeco Limited included the setting up of broad objectives and the preparation of the three-year forecast. In a letter addressed to departmental heads, the General Manager, Mr. S.K. Patel said, The time has come to put down on paper the objectives and goals of our organisation and to develop a proper framework whereby we can take a more systematic look at the future we are heading for. This, I believe, can be achieved by involvement and cooperation of all the departmental heads in putting into practice a culture of planning. The responsibility for developing a three-year plan was entrusted to the planning cell, which reported directly to the General Manager. There was a separate controllers office, which looked after budget preparation and the subsequent monitoring of actual performance. Goal Setting Process Planning began each year in the month of April with the establishment of goals by the top management. The top management group consisted of the General Manager and his various functional heads. The goals were set both in qualitative as well as quantitative terms. The quantitative goals were in terms of growth in sales and profits. Commenting on the quantitative goals, Mr. Patel observed that: Profit is the primary goal. The planning cell, after collecting dl the information, consolidated and integrated the data and prepared operating results and cash flow projections for the three-year period. Exhibit-I NEECO LIMITED Date Steps in planning 1st Week of April Planning call sends relevant formats to departmental heads, with detailed explanations. 4th Week of April By the fourth week, the various departmental send the formats back to the planning cell, duly filled. 1st Week of May Planning officer compiles all the data and puts it in an integrated form. 2nd Week of May The first draft of the plan is discussed in a management group meeting, wherein several suggestions emerge and the draft is thoroughly revised by resolving the conflicting objectives of various departments. 1st Week of June The final draft of the plan is ready and is sent to corporate headquarters. (b) Responsibility for Plan Preparation Segment of the Plan Responsibility Sale Plan (Order Book Position) Manager Marketing Production Plan Manager (Production) Materials Plan Materials Manager Manpower Plan Personnel Manager Township Development Plan Manager (Projects) Plan and Final Plan Document Planning Officer Before finalising the plans as prepared by the various functional/department heads, a detailed discussion was held. During these discussion was held. During these discussions various departmental heads explained the basis of their respective plans. The final plan was arrived after resolving the conflicting objectives of various departments. The Planning-Budgeting Linkage Immediately after the plan was approved b9 the Management Group, the process of preparing a detailed budget for the next year was initiated. The three-year plan set out the broad objectives for the first year and projections for the next two years. A detailed exercise had already been conducted in preparing the broad objectives, which served as a basis for the preparation of a detailed budget for the ensuing year. Thus the first year of the plan document, with necessary modifications, became the budget for the next year. The three year plan document and the budget were, therefore, closely inter-related. It was said that the preparation of a three year plan was, in a way, a process of creating an organisational climate for a rigorous and time consuming process of budgeting. Reactions of Executives

Where Are You Going? :: Literary Analysis, Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates’s â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† tells the tale of a fifteen year old girl named Connie living in the early 1960’s who is stalked and ultimately abducted by a man who calls himself Arnold Friend. The short story is based on a true event, but has been analyzed by many literary scholars and allegedly possesses numerous underlying themes. Two of the most popular interpretations of the story are that the entire scenario is only dreamt by Connie (Rubin, 58) and that the abductor is really the devil in disguise (Easterly, 537). But the truth is that sometimes people really can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Connie, a victim of terrifying circumstance will be forever changed by her interactions with Friend. Oates drew the character of Connie very well - she possesses many of the qualities that teenaged children share. According to developmental psychologists, adolescents become highly critical of siblings, and peer relationships take precedence over familial ties during these years (Feldman, 455). These traits are apparent in Connie’s unflattering description of her older sister June, â€Å"†¦she was so plain and chunky†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (209) and the fact that Connie spends many nights out with friends, but refuses to attend an afternoon picnic with her family (211). In addition, a teenager’s feelings of self worth are dependent upon the approval of others. Connie displays this as she practices â€Å"†¦checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right† (208). And of course there is also the explosion of hormones and corresponding sexual urges and fantasies. Oates makes all of these characteristics clear in her descriptions of Connie’s actions, thoughts and feelings. Rubin attempts to convey the idea that Connie falls asleep in the sun and has a daydream in which her â€Å"†¦intense desire for total sexual experience runs headlong into her innate fear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (58); and aspects of the story do seem dream like - for instance the way in which the boys in Connie’s daydreams â€Å"†¦dissolved into a single face†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (210), but the supposition that the entire episode is a dream does not ring true. There are many instances in which Connie perceives the frightening truth quite clearly; she is able to identify the many separate elements of Friend’s persona - â€Å"†¦ that slippery friendly smile of his†¦ [and] the singsong way he talked†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (214). But because of the lack of attachment with her own family, and her limited experience in relating deeply to others, â€Å"†¦all of these things did not come together† (214) and Connie is unable to recognize the real danger that Arnold Frie nd poses until it is too late.

By the end of the play Rita having a mind trained to think, has developed :: English Literature

By the end of the play Rita having a mind trained to think, has developed a confidence that enables her to make her own decisions. How far do you think that Frank was solely responsible for this development. By the end of the play Rita having a mind trained to think, has developed a confidence that enables her to make her own decisions. How far do you think that Frank was solely responsible for this development, or do you think that Frank was simply' the key that unlocked Rita's mind In Educating Rita, the audience sees the wilful struggle of a working class woman's thirst to be educated .A literature professor takes on the challenge, because she is like 'a breath of fresh air'with a totally uncluttered mind. He teaches her many things as well as instils in her the self confidence to relate to almost anyone. However; as she learns and grows, she not only becomes influenced by others, she loses that part of herself that makes her unique and individual; which makes her like all the rest. Our first impressions of Frank and Rita are that they appear to be complete opposites. They come from two contrasting social backgrounds; Frank is a well educated man of middle upper class. Rita is an uneducated working- class girl. Their jobs go from one intellectual extreme to the other. Frank being a university professor while Rita works as a hairdresser. Rita is discontented with her present life, she feels incomplete, like she's missed out on something. She feels that the so-called 'working class culture 'she was brought up in is hollow and meaningless. Rita is determined to get the education she never got, to raise the standards of living, and also to raise her from her state of ignorance to one of intellectual and social confidence. She looks down on herself and the culture she belongs to, but is optimistic that she can learn her way into a better way of life. She believes that freedom will come with education; therefore Frank can give her this freedom by educating her. Frank is also unhappy with his existence. He has everything Rita wants from life but wishes he didn't. He turns to drink to make living in the culture he hates more bearable. He doesn't want Rita to experience the same thing, which is why he doesn't want to teach her. He doesn't want to be the one to take away her simple, down-to-earth way of life and replace it with the kind of life he has. In my opinion this shows that Rita's determination played a greater deal in the development of

Bennidict Arnold :: essays research papers

My name is Benedict Arnold. I was born on January 14, 1741 in Norwich Connecticut. I led a very daring life, for I was a spy. My entire familial lineage was based in New England and was long established and well respected. As a child I worked with an apothecary, but that wasn’t what I planned to do for my life. During the French and Indian War, I enlisted in the militia and fought from 1754 to 1763. My father died toward the end of the war, and so I had no way of making money afterward, so I used my knowledge of potions and became a druggist in New Haven, Connecticut. My business soon expanded, and I began a trading company that shipped to Canada and the West Indies in 1764. After eleven years in this business, my success brought about my election to militia captaincy. Soon after I was made captain, I was once again upgraded to the status of colonel. At the start of the American Revolution in 1775, I joined Ethan Allen to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British. After the great success I had in New York, I decided to make an assault on Quebec. I was promoted to brigadier general after this invasion, even though I had to retreat to Lake Champlain. I was actually defeated there at Lake Champlain in 1776 by a British naval attack. This did diminish my perseverance somewhat, but I came back into full force in April 1777 when I was promoted to major general after the Battle of Ridgefield. If I do say so myself, I would definitely have you know that had I not relieved Fort Stanwix in the fall of 1777, an American victory at the Battles of Saratoga would not have been possible. By battlefield leadership allowed me to become the commander in Philadelphia in 1778, where I met my wide, Margaret Shippen. I became a bit obsessed with money once I became commander, and for a good reason! I served my country for many years, and I still feel that I had a right to some money. Well, that wouldn’t be too much of a problem had I not gone into debt. At that point, I had to begin begging for money. I came in contact with a British commander in chief named Sir Henry Clinton. This is where my devious actions began.

The Poverty-stricken Youth of America

America has been described as a â€Å"melting pot†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ a land full of diversity. With that diversity comes a full range of income levels and statuses of its inhabitants, from the very, very rich to the destitute. Ronald Taylor†s article entitled â€Å"African-American Youth: Their Social and Economic Status in the United States† focuses on the issue of polarization. Polarization occurs when an increase of the percentage of people in poverty coincides with an increase of the percentage of people with higher incomes. Fewer people are considered ‘middle class†, but are either rich or poor. This paper will focus on the poverty-stricken youth of America. How are today†s poor white and poor non-white youth alike? How do they differ? Sociologists and researchers have found evidence to justify both, and I hope to focus on major points for both issues. Whether you†re white, African-American, or Hispanic, poverty for today†s youth has many recurring themes. A recent article by Duncan and Brooks for The Education Digest points out some very discerning facts that face today†s poor youth. â€Å"Low Income is linked with a variety of poor outcomes for children, from low birth weight and poor nutrition in infancy to increased chances of academic failure, emotional distress, and unwed childbirth in adolescence.† (Duncan& Brooks, pg. 1). They also claim that low-income preschoolers show poorer cognitive and verbal skills because they are exposed to fewer toys, books, and other brain-stimulating items at home than their higher-income classmates. Low-income adolescents, in later years, will experience conflict between their economically stressed parents, as well as lower self-esteem than other teenaged children. An article from the Ojibwe News, a Native American Magazine, gives a startling statistic discovered by research analysts for the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation. They found that a child from a family earning $25,000 or less annually is only one-half as likely to enroll in college as a child from a family with an annual income of $50,000 or more. Both white and non-white youth in poverty experience a higher rate of teenage pregnancy, AIDS, and tend to live in single-parent homes. There are several differences that exist between white and non-white youth that live in poverty. Recent research for low-income youth has shown that the most important factor that contributes to the gap between employment rates of minority and white youth can be attributed to their social network. Three reasons were cited in lecture as to what lead to the declination of life chances among African-American youth in poverty. They are as follows: 1. â€Å"Affirmative Action† primarily helped better-educated, especially professional workers. 2. Relocation of industry to suburbs or abroad reduces â€Å"living wage† jobs for non-college educated. Lack of network contacts, plus continuing discrimination, puts minorities last in line. 3. Concentration of poverty in center cities. Higher income black families go to the suburbs for jobs. Therefore, loss of network contacts, community organizations, and the like. These reasons attribute to the starling fact that Black poverty rates and unemployment rates remain at approximately 3 times the white rate. Israel and Seeborg in their article entitled â€Å"The Impact of Youth Characteristics and Experiences on Transitions out of Poverty† state that â€Å"†¦being black increases the probability of exposure to adverse social and economic conditions (i.e. underclass environment)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which, in turn, reduces the chance that new generations can get out of poverty. This leads us to another point-if African-Americans experience the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, which perpetuates continuing generational poverty, will there ever be a time when African-American adolescents get out of poverty? It is not only African-Americans that feel a more pronounced state of poverty. The Ojibwe News, a native American newspaper, focuses on the plights of Native American youth in Minnesota, as well as statistical evidence of other minority students. â€Å"Divided We Fall: The Declining Chance for College Among Minnesota Youth From Low-Income Families and Communities of Color† is based upon information from the Census Bureau, the Minnesota Department of Education and other sources, and examined high school dropout and college participation rates and how they are affected by such socioeconomic factors as race, family income, and parental education (Laird, pg. 2). The Ojibwe News showed a strong correlation between education and earnings. Considering that the present funding system for public schools usually provides from two to five times as much money for wealthy school districts as for the poorest, and that whites are twice as likely to have good access to computers, it is no surprise that this correlation exists. According to projections by the Minnesota Department of Education, 62% of all black students and 56% of all Native American students who entered public high school in the fall of 1991 will drop out by 1995. Nearly 50% of Hispanic students and 21% of Asian students were projected to drop out as well. The rate for white students? Only 16%. The article also explains how those 18 to 24 year-old dependents with at least one parent who had completed four years of college were twice as likely to enroll in college than those peers who parents had no post-secondary education (Laird, pg. 1). In summary, there exist many similarities and differences between white youth and non-white youth in American cities. A recurring solution emphasized by researches and in lecture is the idea of socialization. By integrating poor minority and poor white students with their wealthier peers, as done in the Gautreaux program, the continuation of poverty can be decreased.

Aging Process

The first article I chose to read was about grief, and how to cope with it. The loss of a loved one cause’s great stress can temporarily interfere with concentration, decision making, and work performance. With enough support and help, grief can promote personal growth of all of those involved in the process. According to this article, grief can be triggered by extreme isolation, depression, or other additive behaviors. Other indicators that show one who is dealing with grief may include quick replacement of the lost relationship or avoidance of any reminder of or imitation of the deceased.Many people who experience these symptoms need some sort of intervention by health care professionals. According to this article, there are many different types of grief that one can experience. These types include chronic grief, delayed grief, exaggerated grief, masked grief, and disenfranchised grief. Chronic grief begins as â€Å"normal grief,† but instead of going away, it continu es for a very long time. Some people tend to define themselves by their losses, which leads to the development of chronic grief.Delayed grief is when a survivor consciously or unconsciously holds back their feelings in order to avoid pain, such as avoiding discussion of the deceased, or working too much. In masked grief, the survivor is not aware that their response to grief is getting in the way of them performing daily functions. One who is experiencing this may refuse help. Disenfranchised grief can occur when a survivor can’t fully acknowledge the loss of a loved one because the relationship may be considered unacceptable. Those who experience this type of grief may be those who are gay or lesbian partners.There have been many studies done on the effects of care giving to those who are going through grief and loss. In a recent study, 129 spouse care givers were asked to rate their levels of care giving. Those who had little or no involvement in the care of a terminally il l spouse were found to be at higher risk for complicated grief than those with greater involvement. The next article I read was also about coping with grief and loss. This article states that over the past 30 years, health care professionals have shown an increase in interest in the issues related to grief.There have been many different studies done on grief and loss, some of which have the same conclusions and others that differ in outcomes. However, in spite of these varied findings, it seems to be that following the death of a loved one, there tends to be an increase in headaches, dizziness, trembling, etc. It has been recommended that these symptoms can be signs of grief. There has also been an interest on whether or not people who are going grieving a loss require more psychiatric care during their mourning period. There have been few studies done to show some answers, but data is inconclusive.This article defines grief as one who was experienced the loss of a loved one to deat h. This article also explains that when someone experiences the loss of an important person, there is a tendency for that person to feel helpless, like they are unable to exist without that person. Some may also have mixed emotions of sadness and anger. Aside from the emotional responses to grief, there are also physical features that accompany grief. Some of these features are tightening of the chest, hollowness of the stomach, tightness in the throat, and lack of energy.This article states the order in which grief tends to happen; disbelief, confusion, preoccupation, sense of presence, and hallucinations. There are also a variety of different behaviors that are associated with grief reactions. These can go from sleep deprivation, and loss of appetite, to social withdrawal. Although these articles both discuss grief and loss, they differ in certain ways. The first article talked more about the different types of grief, and described the characteristics of them individually. The fir st article also discussed the effects of a person who is not involved in care giving to their loved on who is terminally ill.I felt that the second article talked more about the most basic type of grief in full detail. The second article, as opposed to the first article, went into detail about the physical features that also accompany grief. I also think that the second article talked about more broad concepts of grief, where as the first article was more specific in its focus on grief. I really enjoyed the articles that I read. I aspire to become a grief and loss counselor one day, so I felt that these articles really pertained to what I am interested in. I think that they explained things very easy, in words that I could actually comprehend.I believe that grief and loss counselors are very important in society; everyone at some point will lose someone they love, and may need the special support of a professional. I also found this topic to be of relevance because my best friendsâ €™ father just passed away about a month ago. I have been helping her mourn and go through the grieving process. Reading these articles made me realize things that I have been doing correct, and maybe some things that I could try to do better to help her through this very hard time. I think that these articles clearly defined grief, and all of the components that go along with it.I feel that everyone should read an article on how to help one cope with grief, just because mourning is a process that is all to common. Helping one get through these times is something that we can all improve upon. As much as I did enjoy both articles, I found my self more intrigued in the second article. It was a bit longer in length, and was very detailed. I think that the second article talked about a lot of different topics associated with grief and loss, where as the first article really just talked about the book definition of grief, and how to cope. Aging Process The first article I chose to read was about grief, and how to cope with it. The loss of a loved one cause’s great stress can temporarily interfere with concentration, decision making, and work performance. With enough support and help, grief can promote personal growth of all of those involved in the process. According to this article, grief can be triggered by extreme isolation, depression, or other additive behaviors. Other indicators that show one who is dealing with grief may include quick replacement of the lost relationship or avoidance of any reminder of or imitation of the deceased.Many people who experience these symptoms need some sort of intervention by health care professionals. According to this article, there are many different types of grief that one can experience. These types include chronic grief, delayed grief, exaggerated grief, masked grief, and disenfranchised grief. Chronic grief begins as â€Å"normal grief,† but instead of going away, it continu es for a very long time. Some people tend to define themselves by their losses, which leads to the development of chronic grief.Delayed grief is when a survivor consciously or unconsciously holds back their feelings in order to avoid pain, such as avoiding discussion of the deceased, or working too much. In masked grief, the survivor is not aware that their response to grief is getting in the way of them performing daily functions. One who is experiencing this may refuse help. Disenfranchised grief can occur when a survivor can’t fully acknowledge the loss of a loved one because the relationship may be considered unacceptable. Those who experience this type of grief may be those who are gay or lesbian partners.There have been many studies done on the effects of care giving to those who are going through grief and loss. In a recent study, 129 spouse care givers were asked to rate their levels of care giving. Those who had little or no involvement in the care of a terminally il l spouse were found to be at higher risk for complicated grief than those with greater involvement. The next article I read was also about coping with grief and loss. This article states that over the past 30 years, health care professionals have shown an increase in interest in the issues related to grief.There have been many different studies done on grief and loss, some of which have the same conclusions and others that differ in outcomes. However, in spite of these varied findings, it seems to be that following the death of a loved one, there tends to be an increase in headaches, dizziness, trembling, etc. It has been recommended that these symptoms can be signs of grief. There has also been an interest on whether or not people who are going grieving a loss require more psychiatric care during their mourning period. There have been few studies done to show some answers, but data is inconclusive.This article defines grief as one who was experienced the loss of a loved one to deat h. This article also explains that when someone experiences the loss of an important person, there is a tendency for that person to feel helpless, like they are unable to exist without that person. Some may also have mixed emotions of sadness and anger. Aside from the emotional responses to grief, there are also physical features that accompany grief. Some of these features are tightening of the chest, hollowness of the stomach, tightness in the throat, and lack of energy.This article states the order in which grief tends to happen; disbelief, confusion, preoccupation, sense of presence, and hallucinations. There are also a variety of different behaviors that are associated with grief reactions. These can go from sleep deprivation, and loss of appetite, to social withdrawal. Although these articles both discuss grief and loss, they differ in certain ways. The first article talked more about the different types of grief, and described the characteristics of them individually. The fir st article also discussed the effects of a person who is not involved in care giving to their loved on who is terminally ill.I felt that the second article talked more about the most basic type of grief in full detail. The second article, as opposed to the first article, went into detail about the physical features that also accompany grief. I also think that the second article talked about more broad concepts of grief, where as the first article was more specific in its focus on grief. I really enjoyed the articles that I read. I aspire to become a grief and loss counselor one day, so I felt that these articles really pertained to what I am interested in. I think that they explained things very easy, in words that I could actually comprehend.I believe that grief and loss counselors are very important in society; everyone at some point will lose someone they love, and may need the special support of a professional. I also found this topic to be of relevance because my best friendsâ €™ father just passed away about a month ago. I have been helping her mourn and go through the grieving process. Reading these articles made me realize things that I have been doing correct, and maybe some things that I could try to do better to help her through this very hard time. I think that these articles clearly defined grief, and all of the components that go along with it.I feel that everyone should read an article on how to help one cope with grief, just because mourning is a process that is all to common. Helping one get through these times is something that we can all improve upon. As much as I did enjoy both articles, I found my self more intrigued in the second article. It was a bit longer in length, and was very detailed. I think that the second article talked about a lot of different topics associated with grief and loss, where as the first article really just talked about the book definition of grief, and how to cope.

Output Devices

Output devices are things we use to get information OUT of a computer. Here are some examples of output devices:- Monitor George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty ImagesThe most common computer output device is the monitor or computer screen. Monitors create a visual display from processed data that users can view. They come in a variety of screen sizes and visual resolutions. There are two types of computer monitors, CRT and flat panel. CRT monitors use phosphorescent dots to create the pixels that make up display images. Flat panel monitors usually use LCD or plasma to create output. Light is passed through liquid crystals to create the pixels. All monitors rely on a video card that is located on the computer motherboard or in a special expansion slot. The video card processes the computer data into image details that the monitors can display.PrinterRyan McVay/Photodisc/Getty ImagesPrinters produce a hard copy version of processed data such as documents and photographs. The computer sends the image data to the printer, which then physically recreates the image onto an object. There are three types of computer printers: ink jet, laser and dot matrix. Inkjet printers spray tiny dots of ink on a surface to create an image. Laser printers use toner drums that roll through magnetized pigment and then transfer the pigment to a surface. Dot matrix printers use a print head to imbed images on a surface, using an ink ribbon. There are also colour printers which help to improve the appearance of a document or project.Speakers/HeadphonesZedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesComputers produce audio data that require output devices such as speakers and headphones to deliver the sound to the user. Audio data is created by the computer and then sent to the audio card, which is located in an expansion slot. The card translates the data into audio signals, which are sent to the audio output device.CD/DVD/Floppy DiscJupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesCD, DVD and floppy disc are output devices that can also be used as storage and input devices. The computer sends data to the disc, where it is embedded and can be later retrieved. Compact disc, or CD, is an optical device that stores audio and visual data in a digital format. Data is placed on the disc, using a laser writer that embeds the data into the disc’s coating. Digital Versatile Disc, or DVD, is an optical device that stores visual data in a media format. DVDs feature a dual coating system that allows audio and visual data to be written at the same time by using a laser. Floppy disc is a magnetic storage device. A layer of magnetized material is placed within a proactive plastic casing. The computer embeds the data into the magnetized material, using a writing head.ProjectorIT Stock/Polka Dot/Getty ImagesProjectors are display devices that project a computer created image. The computer sends the image data to the video card which then sends the video image to the projector. They are typically used for presentations or for viewing videos.PlotterStockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty ImagesPlotters create a hard copy rendition of a digitally rendered design. The design is sent to the plotter via a graphics card, and creates the design using a pen. Generally used with engineering applications, plotters basically draw an image using a series of straight lines.

buy custom Ethics of Indian Surrogate Mothers essay

buy custom Ethics of Indian Surrogate Mothers essay As one of the worlds leading outsourcing destinations, India has currently capitalized on among other things, its international surrogacy business. The business majorly serves foreign couples coming into India to seek for surrogate mothers. Surrogacy business flourishes in India because of three major reasons (Connell, 2011). First, most of these visitors prefer India because it offers surrogacy at a relatively affordable cost. It is argued that the lower cost is largely because of the increasing number of English-speaking Indians and the advancement in medical technology in the country. Second, India has loose legal restrictions which to a larger extent work to protect the rights of couples and not the surrogate mother (Connell, 2011). Finally, there is also an increase in the number of mothers registering in surrogacy business due to the high rates of compensation (Connell, 2011). However, there is still a debate concerning the bioethical implications surrounding the industry. The controversy is whether commercial surrogate motherhood is a form of oppression or an opportunity. It is still a common belief among many Indians that commercial surrogacy has mutual benefits that can change lives (Connell, 2011). Pros of Surrogacy in India Surrogacy as a Solution to Infertility Surrogacy has been a solution to most couples who disparately want a baby and face the issue of the woman not being able to carry the child. Through surrogacy most of the initially threatened marriage relationships have been revived (Rae, 2009). Surrogacy has provided such families with the best chance to carry on their own bloodline. This is possible because it enables the infertile parents to produce their own biological child. The parents use their own egg and sperm. Surrogacy also eases the conception process of women with difficulty in producing eggs or those who have lost their uterus to cancer (Rae, 2009). Surrogacy and relationships/bonding Studies have shown that surrogacy can be an instrument of tremendous bonding. This is especially so in cases where a friend or a family member offers a free surrogacy. Most surrogates also believe that surrogacy is an opportunity for them to show care and love for the unfortunate members of the society. They believe that it is the most extra ordinary gift a woman can ever give. Surrogacy allows for strong emotional bonds to form, making the infertile parents feel less alone in their infertility struggles. The practice has also answered the prayers of those interested in same sex parenting (Mason, 2010). Indian Surrogacy and Cost The major reason why Indian surrogacy is appealing to many couples is because of its lower cost compared to that of other countries. The cost of surrogacy in the U.S, for example, adds up to around U.S. $70,000. In India, it is offered at a lower cost with couples paying as low as $10,000 to 15,000 and sometimes even less (Maher, 2010). These low prices make the Indian surrogacy affordable by middle class Americans who influx the country. A part from benefiting the surrogate mothers, commercial surrogacy has become a major boos to the Indian economy contributing nearly $US6 billion annually (Maher, 2010). Surrogacy as an alternative source of employment Indian women from across the country are increasingly registering in surrogacy because of the tempting salary. To these poor mothers, surrogacy is understood simply as agreeing to carry and deliver a baby and to them, this can not be compared with the financial reward from the whole process. Several Indian women have build new houses, settled huge debts, while others have also heavily invested in the childrens future using their pay from surrogacy (Maher, 2010). Studies have shown that the six thousand dollars paid for just one successful pregnancy is equivalent to 15 years wages for some of these women. Surrogacy has therefore provided an easier way of escaping from poverty for these women and their families (Maher, 2010). Safety and Surrogacy Even though India is one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality, the surrogate mothers safety has been greatly improved. Most clinics screen the profiles of prospective surrogate mothers for potential birth related complications or mental instability (Rae, 2009). The practice has also addressed the issue of the surrogate mothers attachment to the babies by emphasizing on the use of eggs from a spouse or donor to create the embryo. This ensures that the babies being carried are not biologically related to the surrogate mothers and thus reduces the psychological impact on them (Rae, 2009). The clinics also offer counseling and a close medical monitoring throughout the pregnancy and childbirth. This has reduced the emotional issues related to pregnancy and childbirth. The surrogate women are also fully informed of the risks of the procedure (Rae, 2009). Surrogacy and the Childs Welfare The fears about the impact of surrogacy on the well being of children and families have been proved unfounded. Studies have shown that instead, the mothers of children born through surrogacy arrangement show more warmth towards their babies and are more emotionally involved than in the case of families where the child is conceived naturally (Mason, 2010). The studies revealed that both the mother and the father have better parenting skills than do the parents in non-surrogate families. At the same time the babies themselves have also shown no difference in their temperament and behavior compared with the non-surrogate babies (Mason, 2010). Surrogacy and legal issues Unlike the controversy witnessed in some countries, in India, it is clear that the surrogate mother cannot keep the child. Even in circumstances that the contract is not clear, the Indian women are clear that their main interest is the financial benefit from the whole process and not the child. The Indian law also prevents a surrogate mothers name from appearing on the birth certificate and denies her the right to keep the child. Such legal issues are well handled by a team consisting of an attorney versed in laws on surrogacy (Rae, 2009). The Cons of Surrogacy in India Even though it iis believed that the self-regulation of fertility clinics has resulted in more than adequate care for surrogate mothers, the future may be compromising. As the supply of fertility clinics increases to meet demand, the incentives to undercut competition in India may lead to unscrupulous treatment centers. This might compromise the well being of both the surrogate mothers and the children (Rae, 2009). According to Dr. Arthur, the surrogacy contracts are usually written to protect the wealthy people who are commissioning the baby (Mason, 2010). It fails to address situations in which the woman may suffer an injury, develop a health problem due to childbirth, or cases of a long-term chronic condition. Certain experts have also criticized the practice of implanting many embryos into the surrogate mother with the aim of enhancing the chances of pregnancy. They argue that this is done simply to save the wealthy couples the expenses of having to travel back to India. The surrogate mothers also risk not being paid if the pregnancy does not go to full term or the child does not live (Mason, 2010). A concern has also been raised over where the evolution of surrogacy might lead to. It may go beyond helping infertile couples to being a way for mothers who could carry a child to opt not to. This is already being practiced in many countries with women avoiding the normal pregnancy process. With the future advancement in genetic knowledge, surrogacy could be involved in fertile couples wanting to make what they think is the perfect child with perfect traits (Mason, 2010). The surrogate mothers have to move far away from her family for the entire period of pregnancy. This comes with such problems as language barrier and culture shocks. It may also be a frightening experience to live in the third world clinics where such issues as congestion in operating theatres still remain unresolved. Most of these clinics also lack neonatal intensive care facility close by for the baby after the birth. The situation in India is also different from that of the developed countries where couples are normally concerned about the medical safety of their pregnant surrogate mother and their unborn child (Rae, 2009). Surrogate mothers also suffer psychologically from giving birth to a child whom they will immediately be separated from. This whole process is seen as a western culture making some village residents to always want to disapprove any surrogacy pregnancy. The issue has caused divisions in most families and villages in India (Rae, 2009). Conclusion As much as this practice has its advantages, there is need for a law that adequately addresses regulation of fertility industry in this country. The current law is inadequate and guided by only a non binding suggestion from a medical research council. It to a larger extent works to protect the interest of the wealthy couples while leaving the life of the surrogate mothers and the children at risk. Such regulations should also be clear on who is allowed to seek the intervention of surrogate mothers to avoid the possibility of fertile women doing the same. Buy custom Ethics of Indian Surrogate Mothers essay

The Easiest Ways to Embrace Big Trends in Digital Marketing

The Easiest Ways to Embrace Big Trends in Digital Marketing Digital marketing  is predicted to change a lot in the coming years and its moving fast. Technology is disrupting the way people discover your brand and consume your content, and now is the perfect time to prepare. At the beginning of this year, Sujan Patel did a great article looking at the  biggest and most exciting marketing trends  to adapt to. Feeling inspired, I decided to follow up giving actionable tips on how we can actually embrace those trends using emerging marketing software that is there to help content marketers to innovate. Check Out ’s Entire Marketing Toolstack Before digging into these actionable tips, check out s own marketing toolstack. Voice Search Becomes More Prominent With the ever-growing market of smartphones, as well as with the fast adoption of smart speaker assistants, voice search is quickly making it way into the online marketing world. Voice search growth presents a few challenges to content marketers, including: Organic search discoverability: Being #1 is the only way to get any exposure from voice search. New content consumption journey: On-the-go voice searchers need solutions immediately, right now. Performance tracking: Too much is going on to be able to effectively analyze what helps and what hurts your organic search visibility. Luckily, there are tools for all three challenges: Competing for #1 on Voice Search By default, there's only one search result being presented to a voice search user. While we were previously competing for top 5 positions, we are now going to compete for one. The good news, where there's a challenge, there's an opportunity. The searching behavior is changing: Search queries are getting longer, more varied and less predictable. We previously knew pretty well what we were optimizing our content for (and so did our competitors). Nowadays marketers are dealing with a much wider variety of ways our content can be discovered via search. Spoken speech is less standardized than written text. When speaking a search query to a machine, we are less confined by the rules of grammar and we are less influenced by popular search suggestions. Thanks to voice search, SEO relies more on natural language and less on SERPs design and algorithmic matching. With that in mind, what can really be done? Unlike what you may have heard, SEO is not going to die any time soon, neither is  keyword research. You still need to research keyword queries people use when searching. The difference is: (Even)  more attention to long-tail, less popular queries  (Those are more likely to be generated by voice search users). A wider variety of keyword research sources  allowing you to aggregate data and dig deeper into possible searching behaviors. These should include both standard keyword research tools (  Spyfu,  Majestic,  Ahrefs,  Wordstream, etc.) and non-SEO sources, like Twitter monitoring and customer support emails. Recommended Reading: The Most Massive SEO Copywriting Guide That Will Make Your Traffic Soar So with a wider variety of queries and more keyword data sources, how to make sense of those lists and turn them into actual content plans? Keyword clustering (i.e. grouping) is the answer. Keyword clustering  means grouping your keywords by relevance. Serpstat  offers a unique  clustering feature  allowing you to submit long keyword lists and breaking those queries into categories based on how similar Google SERPs for each of them are. The logic is as follows: The more overlapping results (i.e. pages) Google returns for two queries, the more related those queries (i.e. keywords) are,  so there's no reason to create two separate landing pages to catch each of those. Put simply, clustering helps you optimize one content asset for a wider variety of keywords making it possible to cater to a wider variety of voice-search-driven queries. Recommended Reading: What Are Topic Clusters (And How Can They Boost Your Traffic)? Optimizing for the Immediate Need Another opportunity brought forward by voice searching is optimizing for "on-the-go" needs.   Google  claims that more than 90%  of their users turn to mobile devices and voice search for inspiration while in the middle of the task. New consumers need information "right here" and "right now". Those brands that optimize their content for these searching "micro-moments" satisfying an immediate need at any given moment will win the organic search game. Micro-moment content optimization involves: Optimizing for featured snippets  (news outlets can also use  Google Speakable  to record an audio which Google will read in response to a voice query). Optimizing for questions, lots of them (this includes using "People Also Ask" boxes for inspiration). Optimizing for  search intent. All of the three tactics above are not isolated: There's no need to create a separate strategy to hit each of them. Featured rankings depend on your overall organic rankings, answering questions helps you get featured, and whether your content is satisfying the query search intent determines how high you show up in Google. In other words, it's all inter-connected and luckily today's SEO software can help you on all those fronts. Text Optimizer  is one of my recent discoveries that uses semantic analysis to help you create content that: Matches the search intent Includes related and neighboring terms Answers popular questions on each topic Using TextOptimizer is easy: Run your core query you are creating content around (TextOptimizer runs your query in Google, extracts search result snippet and comes up with related terms to help you match Google's expectations better). Select 20-25 of the suggested terms you feel will fit your future content best and include them in your copy naturally. Use suggested questions to cover in your copy and structure it better (using subheads). Run the tool again, this time using your written content, to see how well you did optimizing your copy. Google  claims that more than 90%  of their users turn to mobile devices and voice search for...Monitoring Your Efforts Closely Finally, with mobile and voice search on the rise, it has become much more challenging to monitor all your content marketing assets and, more importantly, identify the actual impact of each new (optimization) tactic you have experimented with. I am still trying to figure that part out (content analytics is never a finished task really), but what I started doing differently recently is recording all my content and website updates on a micro-level to see a bigger picture over time. Rankedy  is an interesting tool allowing you to create a micro-journal for each of your important queries allowing you to track if any of your content marketing tactics is bringing the desired ranking growth. I am using it to record everything I am doing to the site to later see the impact. Rankedy tracks both mobile and desktop rankings helping you understand the impact of your content marketing efforts. Video Marketing is Still on the Rise Video content has been on the rise for a few years now bringing in new customers' expectations. Your audience expects  to find your brand on Youtube and for many queries they expect to engage with the video rather than text content. Youtube being the second biggest search engine in the world and Google giving more and more organic search visibility to videos (through video carousels and video featured snippets), failing to embrace video marketing means failing to get found  online. There are a few reasons why many brands still shy away from video marketing: Video production is hard to scale. Video market seems already over-cluttered. Video marketing requires solid investment (either in time or money or both). Last year I did a detailed  step-by-step tutorial  on how to overcome all those challenges using content re-packaging tactics. The video creation tools that I listed there include: Blue Jeans to put together video interviews  with influencers  and customers. Filmora to create screencasts and how-to videos. Animatron to create professional entertaining or instructional videos. All in all, there are many more video creation tools (as well as both  video footage  and  free image  resources) allowing you to launch your video marketing strategy on a low budget and helping you find your style and voice in this fast-growing industry. When it comes to researching your video marketing opportunities, there's a tool for that too!   Video SEO Tool  (Disclaimer: This tool has been developed by the company I work for)  grabs your domain’s most important queries and returns the list of videos that rank for each of them stealing your clicks from organic search results. Simply enter your domain and see video opportunities for each high-performing page of your site: Now use the tools above to create better, more up-to-date, videos than those currently ranking in Google and you are in the video marketing game. Personalization Finally, another big marketing trend that is disrupting digital marketing in general and content marketing, in particular, is advanced personalization. While there's a lot being said about personalized marketing, not many businesses clearly understand the concept. Personalized marketing is often confused with these two older (but still valid) marketing tactics: Segmentation Persona building If you are doing either (or both) of the above (which you probably should), it doesn't mean you are embracing personalized marketing just yet. To help you out: Personalized marketing is not making other â€Å"customization-based† marketing obsolete. You still need to segment your optin lists to send more engaging emails. And persona building is still a valid way to better understand your target audience and create more relatable and engaging content. But what about personalized marketing? Is there any way to adopt this more complicated trend? While personalized marketing seems a bit intimidating, it's what your target customer may be expecting from you. With the biggest digital marketing players (e.g. Amazon and Netflix) already offering artificial-intelligence-driven personalized shopping experience and many digital brands offering on-demand and  over-the-top  content, more and more customers are willing to see the same level of personalization from other (smaller) publishers. The good news is, marketing technology is catching up: With tools like  Alter  you can offer personalized marketing experience to your audience on a small budget, with no in-house technology investment needed.

buy custom Revolution in France essay

buy custom Revolution in France essay Even after the deadly revolution in France, the King who took power in France set up laws that favoured the rich at the expense of the weak in the society, up to the time when he was overthrown through a revolution. The third republic was set up to restore the lost rights, which the France citizens had fought for a long time. The third republic survived from the year 1870 to 1945 having lived with many trials and moves to destabilize. All obstacles for the republic led to a strong support of the government. Discussion The French third republic was a ruling body in France between the years 1870-1945. It was a republican democracy that was established after the decline of the reign of Napoleon iii during the Franco-Prussian conflict. It endured until the year 1940, when the Germans invaded France. This body was established as a democratic body by an act of parliament. The body was not intended to carry on for a long period. It, therefore, went through various conflicts until its final collapse, in the year 1940. The main act that led to the overthrow of Napoleon 111 was the Germans act that intended to make France a nation that tolerates might neighbours in its surroundings (Fortescue 67). In the year 1970s, France established a republic to take over after the death of Chambord. The president of the republic wanted a monarchical government which the parliament opposed. Democracy underwent a trying moment when the president fought for a Monarchy. He dismissed the prime minister, who belonged to the republican group, and dissolved parliament (Chapman, 222). This was a trying period for the republic. It was saved when the public voted heavily against a monarchical France and instead preferred a democratic nation that was in existence. In 1875, there was an act of parliament that aimed at enhancing democracy in the nation. The president had no permission to be in parliament. This aims at separating the executive from the legislature. This act ensured the survival of democracy. The presidential candidates also had to obtain 50% of the total official votes to be nominated. This gave people an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights. The elected president would, there fore, be a democrat and worked towards the survival of democracy. The Dreyfus affair was dangerous to the survival of democracy in the third republic. This happened when Dreyfus was convicted for the charges that he had not undertaken yet the top officials of the republiic knew that he was not guilty. The main reason behind Dreyfus conviction was because he was a Jew. This act was a challenge to the survival of Democracy in France. It was used as a learning moment for the French people who realized the nature of anti-semiticism that existed in France. It also ensured that the third republic were aware of the threats posed by the royal group for the people of France. In 1885, the political force fought to end monarchy in France completely. This was done through the sale of crown jewels that were a sign of monarchism. They were replaced by crowns with glasses which were kept. Various reforms were set up in the public sector that aimed at addressing the concerns of the citizens. There was an introduction of the 8 hours normal work day and the compensation act. These acts aimed at enhancing the democratic right of all French citizens (Smith 92). Conclusion Despite the obstacles that existed during the reign of the third republic, it is seen as the longest in service which came to an end after the conquering of France by the Nazis; an act that led to the split of France into northern and southern parts. It fought many battles to ensure the survival of democracy. Buy custom Revolution in France essay

The Amistad Case essays

The Amistad Case essays This case is a significant part of American history when it comes to slavery. In this particular case the Mendians have won a major victory for the abolitionists in the Americas at this time. It began on June 28, 1839 when Ruiz and Montez placed Mendians on board the schooner Amistad and set sail for the port down the Cuban coast. on the forth night of their journey, the Mendians broke free of there chains and seized Machetes, and waited until morning to attack the slave traders. At dawn they attacked the Captain and his crew. The leader of this group was given the Spanish name known as Cinque. He and his people killed all but the 2 members who escaped in the ships life boats and the 2 Cuban slavers on the condition that they would return the slaves to Africa. Instead of heading for Africa the slavers set there sails towards the United States hoping to sail to a friendly port. After the provisions on board the Amistad exhausted, the ship was apprehended off Long Island by a U.S. Coastal Survey brig and taken to New London, Connecticut. Immediately, Ruiz and Montez denounced the Mendians as revolted slaves, pirates, and murderers, and claimed them as their property. The Mendians could not speak the white man language so they could not defend themselves. On January 7, 1840, the Mendians trial began in the district court in Hartford, Connecticut. During the trial, a British commissioner stationed in Havana, uncovered that the documents establishing them as ladinos were forged. The judge persuaded by this evidence, concluded that even under Spanish law, the Mendians were free men, and ordered that president Van Buren to have them transported back to Africa. So the ruling of this case went in favor of the Mendians. It was so significant that it even went before the supreme court on February 22, 1841. Here lawyers argued that the Anglo- Americans had rights and li...

Free Essays on Hamlet... “I Hear Thee Speak..so Proceed You.“

displaying what Phyrrus must have felt during the murder of his father. This word usage of Hamlet shows the rage hamlet has against Claudius and also the distress of losing his father. For Instance, in the speech, Hamlet is so intrigued with this speech because it is very similar to the events in which his father was killed, and the aftermath of what happened in Denmark. Hamlet picking these particular lines from the play is not insignificant. Hamlet tries to point out that the story of Phyrrus is the way Denmark should have ended up. After Hamlets father died, Hamlet should have received the thrown and it should not have been given over to his uncle. When reading the story of Phyrrus you can easily assess that what Phyrrus was going through was very similar to what Hamlet was dealing with also. He was dealing with the loss of a father and was all of a sudden put into a position that he would never have thought he was face for many years. His guard was let down, and his inne r feelings just weren't the same. Throughout the course of this speech it talks about how Phyrrus went from being very influential and powerful to fragile and unaware after the death of his father. "The rugged Phyrrus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble." This indicates that before his father's death, he was in total control of himself and the country. However later in the speech it states Phyrrus's state after his father was murdered. "Hath now this dread and ... Free Essays on Hamlet... â€Å"I Hear Thee Speak..so Proceed You.â€Å" Free Essays on Hamlet... â€Å"I Hear Thee Speak..so Proceed You.â€Å" "I heard thee speak†¦So proceed you." At this time the players have just arrived and Hamlet begins to tell them what they will be performing. He asks the players for a passionate speech. He begins telling them about a speech he had ounce heard that he truly loved. The speech was that of Aeneid in which Aeneas tells Queen Dido the story of Phyrrus, whose father Achilles was killed at Rome. While telling the players this awful story, Hamlet uses powerful words displaying what Phyrrus must have felt during the murder of his father. This word usage of Hamlet shows the rage hamlet has against Claudius and also the distress of losing his father. For Instance, in the speech, Hamlet is so intrigued with this speech because it is very similar to the events in which his father was killed, and the aftermath of what happened in Denmark. Hamlet picking these particular lines from the play is not insignificant. Hamlet tries to point out that the story of Phyrrus is the way Denmark should have ended up. After Hamlets father di ed, Hamlet should have received the thrown and it should not have been given over to his uncle. When reading the story of Phyrrus you can easily assess that what Phyrrus was going through was very similar to what Hamlet was dealing with also. He was dealing with the loss of a father and was all of a sudden put into a position that he would never have thought he was face for many years. His guard was let down, and his inner feelings just weren't the same. Throughout the course of this speech it talks about how Phyrrus went from being very influential and powerful to fragile and unaware after the death of his father. "The rugged Phyrrus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble." This indicates that before his father's death, he was in total control of himself and the country. However later in the speech it states Phyrrus's state after his father was murdered. "Hath now this dread and ...