7 Tips for Writing a Film Review

7 Tips for Writing a Film Review 7 Tips for Writing a Film Review 7 Tips for Writing a Film Review By Mark Nichol At the point when I composed for my school paper, one of the assignments I appreciated most was composing film audits. Also, I was awful at it, as I before long figured it out. Why? I was composing what could be compared to book reports: film reports. Luckily, I woke up and understood that assessing movies and plays and so forth (and, truly, books) is increasingly convoluted, yet all the more fulfilling, that that. Here are a few hints not really in the request where they would be applied in your composition for making film audits (which are pretty much relevant for checking on different kinds of arrangement, or even items like programming or devices): 1. In the event that conditions grant, see the film more than once. It’s not entirely obvious key components, or even the general purpose, after only a solitary review. 2. Express your assessment of the film, however bolster your analysis. In the event that you are annoyed or frustrated or humiliated, give a legitimate explanation, regardless of whether you think it is self-evident. A movie audit that appears to be an individual assault on an on-screen character, executive, or screenwriter or a harangue about a sort is a bombed survey. 3. Change the style of your audit for the readership. In the event that you’re pitching audits to a customary distribution, you’re expected to be genuinely fair (however even standard film pundits are allowed nay, expected to delicately ridicule especially maladroit filmmaking). On the off chance that your intended interest group is fanboys (and fangirls) on a film nerd Web webpage, however, don't hesitate to take the gloves off. In any case, however, bolster your analysis with legitimate perceptions; throwing denunciation isn't a similar thing as assessment. 4. Dodge spoilers. One of the most malicious genuinely ongoing improvements in the audit type is the reckless, negligent disclosure of key plot focuses. It’s an indication of polished methodology to cease from parting with such data. Special case: Reviews of recently discharged movies don’t essentially cling to this standard, however it’s still viewed as donning to caution perusers or site guests to jump to the following section on the off chance that they don’t need to understand something. Some tasteful locales really code spoilers to be imperceptible except if the guest looks over the clear zone to feature that section in the audit. 5. Judge the story. Are the character’s activities legitimized, and are their thought processes conceivable? Is there an interior consistency to the manner in which every individual acts, or do a few words, contemplations, or activities ring bogus? Does the plot bode well? Is the story line consistent? Is the story curve very much molded, with an economy of structure, or is it overweight or drawn out, with time-killing pointlessness? 6. Rate the on-screen characters. Do they meet the desires directed by the plot and other story components? If not, is it their own actor inadequacies, would they say they are hampered by a poor content, or is there something about their exhibitions that causes you to accept the executive is to blame? What could the entertainers, the screenwriters, or the producer have done another way to make the film work better? 7. Assess the specialized components. How do the cinematography, altering, lighting, sound, and different segments bolster or diminish the film? Is music suitable and successfully utilized? You needn’t know film-innovation language to share your contemplations about how these components added to or brought down the entirety. Composing film surveys is in one manner an unpleasant undertaking: Often, perusers will differ with you, and numerous individuals will head out to see motion pictures without your savvy direction. How to dodge dissatisfaction? Expounding on motion pictures, such as expounding on pretty much whatever else, ought to be essentially an activity in happiness: You do it since you like doing it. In the event that any other individual out there appreciates the consequence of your activity in self-amusement, that would be preferable yet you’re your own essential crowd (and your most noticeably terrible pundit). Need to improve your English quickly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities day by day! Continue learning! Peruse the Freelance Writing class, check our mainstream posts, or pick a related post below:Spelling Test 1Top 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)Threw and Through

13 Cool and Creative Ways to Say I Love You

13 Cool and Creative Ways to Say I Love You That clumsy second when you believe you love somebody yet don't have a clue how to communicate it. Sounds recognizable? Everything deteriorates as the Valentine’s Day comes and it is relied upon to be an opportunity to proclaim love. Clearly, you need to make the second uncommon. You need to place genuine significance into the standard expression I love you. Or on the other hand you need to follow the rule an activity is worth one thousand words. Anyway, here are the absolute most remarkable approaches to show your unique somebody that they are so imperative to you. Also, not just on the Valentine’s Day. 1. Love Soundwave No, we’re not looking at sending a singing wire. Rather, consider getting a ring, emblem, or painting of the soundwave of a unique expression. A few organizations can take your adored one’s name (or even a sentimental inside â€Å"code word†) and transform it into a wonderful image of your dedication. 2. iPhone Style Love Message In our iPhone age it’s likely that your adored one invests more energy in their telephone than flipping through photograph collections. Things being what they are, the reason not give the person in question a steady token of you, each time they go to check their Facebook? There are numerous organizations like Casetify or Spreadshirt that permit you to transform your Instagram photographs into a token case for iPhone, so your cherished one generally has a close by token of the amount you give it a second thought. 3. Enchantment Beans In the event that you have an accomplice that doesn’t mind the expectation of hanging tight for your Valentine’s message, look no farther than the Talking Beans. After only a couple of long stretches of delicate consideration, this genuine bean plant shoots from its blessing wrapped bundling with an individual message cut into the bean itself. It’s charming, however it’s path more advantageous than candy! 4. A Toast to Remember Breakfast has never been the most sentimental supper of a day. Time to break generalizations. The economical silicone toast-topper permits you to print your adoration message straightforwardly onto the morning meal treat. Nothing can beat this for a beginning to the ideal day. 5. The Art of Love Why not transform love rub into bit of adoration? It might appear to be somewhat gooey however it was some time in the past when the sonnets were composed and representations were painted for the sake of affection. Be unique and resuscitate the convention. You may utilize increasingly current works of art. There are instant Love Is Art packs with white canvas, red and dark paint, and body scrubber. Antiquated pencil and paper will likewise do as long as you utilize those to communicate your emotions. 6. Love Puzzle Who can leave behind a chance to endeavor to finish a riddle? Presently, you can show your affection the amount you care by giving them the endowment of puzzlement notwithstanding the sweet love message. The alternatives are various †make a riddle out of your preferred photograph or purchase an instant riddle, similar to a Sweet Talk Valentine’s Rubik’s Cube. 7. Computerized Style On the off chance that you need to have a major effect on a little financial plan, this is perhaps the best experience you can give your accomplice. All you need is to however helium-filled inflatables and pack them into your paramour’s condo. At that point, transform your messages of affection into one of a kind QR codes and tape them to each dangling string. It’s a great method to share the individual reminders you’ve been yearning to let them know. 8. Double Language of Love Why settle for letting him know or her how you feel in English? Step into the future by sharing your sentiments in double code. Despite the fact that you can purchase a jewelry or ring with â€Å"I Love You† written in the language of PCs, you can likewise set aside some cash and make something all your own. QBit can assist you with interpreting your message so you can transform it into craftsmanship, food, or a tattoo to intrigue your adored one. 9. For Those Who Are Daring Enough Show that your adoration is unceasing and you are not reluctant to catch it foreveron your skin. Plan a tattoo for you and your cherished one and recommend to go to the tattoo salon together. In the event that your sweetheart isn't much into tattoos, you can do it all alone. Simply ensure you spell her(his) name right or better pick some unique image of your connections. 10. Level Up Your Love In the event that you have a gamer darling, they will go Donkey Kong all over you when they understand what this blessing can do. The 8-Bit Dynamic Light Shirt is intended to be bought two by two, with each shirt demonstrating six hearts at half-life. At the point when the shirts get into vicinity of one another, full wellbeing is reestablished. How’s that for a game-changing Valentine’s blessing? 11. The Way to His Heart†¦ It just wouldn’t be a revelation of affection without a bundle. Be that as it may, this year, flavor it up by making a Bacon Bouquet. All you need is a bunch of plastic rose stems, a container (or brew stein), and a bundle of bacon. Wrap each piece like a blossom bud and fry for 8-10 minutes. This is an imaginative option in contrast to exhausting old roses, and unquestionably progressively tasty! 12. Go Old Fashioned There was an old decent convention to make blended tapes for the dates. Sentimental as hellfire. On the off chance that you are into vintage and youll discover the best approach to make a blended tape or a vinyl in with great music †make certain to do it. It will be acknowledged without a doubt. Be that as it may, there is a simpler and increasingly current approach to do it †CDs, mp3 players or some other approaches to make a play show you may consider. 13. Simply Say It Nothing is progressively sentimental a true and nothing can communicate your emotions better than saying the words I love you. Ensure the second is unique. Presumably itll be a poorly conceived notion to state it in the stuffed open vehicle, however its your choice when the second is compose. Recall †your sound and eye to eye connection are significant. In the event that you get apprehensive about the thought †take a stab at rehearsing it before the mirror. Be that as it may, regardless of how you state it and where you state it †in the event that you are with the correct individual youll never lament saying it so anyone can hear. We are sitting tight for your criticism! Which thought did you like the best? What is your own particular manner to innovatively communicate your sentiments?

SATs Should I Take Before the Actual Test TKG

How Many Practice ACTs/SATs Should I Take Before the Actual Test Jennifer Lawrence was supposedly discovered by chance. Legend has it that the young Lawrence was on a trip to New York with her family when a talent agent stopped them on the street and asked Lawrence to come read for a part. Sylvester Stallone, on the other hand, worked as a dirt-poor struggling actor for many years. Stallone worked tirelessly to get the film “Rocky”--a film that he wrote-- made. Some say he pitched the script to producers 150 times before it got picked up and though he finally fulfilled his dreams, it is said that he was forced to sell his dog to make ends meet in the process.We all wish we could be like Jennifer Lawrence, but when it comes to ACT/SATs, assume that you are Sylvester Stallone.Going In One More Round When You Don’t Think You CanMany students ask us how many practice tests they should take before sitting for the real thing. We suggest taking as many as you can. There is no exact science here. You should take as many practice tests as it takes fo r you to feel comfortable. Notice that we did not say you should “take as many practice tests as it takes for you to get a perfect score.” It’s all about progress. So before you start your prep work, we recommend setting a goal and sticking with it until you consistently get there, or at least get consistently close.It Ain’t About How Hard You Hit. It’s About How Hard You Can Get Hit and Keep Moving Forward Let’s say you get an 1100 on the first practice SAT and you set a goal of 1400. You’ve taken several practice tests at this point and you keep hitting a 1350. Even though you haven’t quite hit the 1400 mark, it’s time to take the test. Putting it off for another two months isn’t going to raise you to a perfect score.It’s Your Right To Listen To Your Gut A lot of people ask us how they decide between the SAT and the ACT. So, should you prep for both?No.A championship boxer doesn’t need both the hamburger and the cheeseburger. Choose one. Take a diagnostic t est online. Whichever test you do marginally better on or whichever one makes you more comfortable, go with that one and never look back.If You’re Willing To Go Through All the Battling You Got To Go Through To Get Where You Want To Get, Who’s Got The Right To Stop You?Well, the truth is, the university has the right to stop you if your scores aren’t great. This day and age, a lot of schools, namely liberal arts colleges, are going test-optional. If you’re trying for an Ivys, however, your test scores are really going to matter and there is no minimum. High GPAs are no substitute for poor test scores, so explore a diversity of tutors until you find the right one and keep on hitting those practice tests.Just don’t take the real thing more than three times.Applying to schools is a team effort. If you need a coach during the test-taking process, you can find us here.

Compare Contrast Lincoln and Jfk - 1762 Words

Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. Much of his childhood was a struggle; his mother dying when he was just ten years old, and with his father being a frontiersman, money was scarce. He had to strive for a comfortable living, and he spent his days working on a farm and keeping a store. Education was also something of limited resources, but because of his hunger for knowledge, he was able to read, write, and cipher. Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846 where he played part of the Illinois legislature for eight years, and for many years he also rode the circuit of courts. His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest, stated one of his law partners. He ran for the position of†¦show more content†¦He suffered many illnesses growing up, most of which were undiagnosed, and spent most of his time rejuvenating. He attended Harvard University, and while in England with his Father (the ambassador of the United Kingdom) he wrote his senior essay on the lack of readiness England had for World War II. His essay was later published and became the best seller, Why England Slept. After Kennedy graduated from Harvard, the United States soon entered the Second World War. He gave many efforts to join the U.S. Navy, but most were turned down due to his poor health. With the help of his father, he was finally admitted to serve in the South Pacific where he would command a motor-torpedo boat. For rescuing his crew, he earned the Medal for Valor, and for the many injuries and illnesses he sustained, he earned a Purple Heart. In 1946, after the war, Kennedy was elected into Congress, where he served three terms in the House of Representatives. He represented the working-class Boston district, and earned the reputation of being a conservative Democrat. In 1952, he ran for U.S. Senate, and defeated the Republican from Massachusetts, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. In 1956, he was hopeful for a vice presidential position, but lost to Estes Kefauver, a senator from Tennessee. However, in 1960, he won the Democratic nomination for the 1960 presidential election. He ran against Republican Richard Nixon. Despite manyShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast Lincoln And Jfk Essay1745 Words   |  7 PagesAbraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. Much of his childhood was a struggle; his mother dying when he was just ten years old, and with his father being a frontiersman, money was scarce. He had to strive for a comfortable living, and he spent his days working on a farm and keeping a store. Education was also something of limited resources, but because of his hunger for knowledge, he was able to read, write, and cipher. Lincoln was elected to CongressRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagestransformations in where humans lived, how they earned their livings, and their unprecedented ability to move about the globe. Moya and McKeown set the patterns of migration in the twentieth century against those extending back millennia, and they compare in imaginative ways the similarities and differences among diverse flows in different geographical areas and across ethnic communities and social strata. They consider not only the nature, volume, and direction of migrant movements motivated primarilyRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesstudents can hone their analytical skills and also their persuasive skills—not selling products but selling their ideas—and defend them against critical scrutiny. This is great practice for the arena of business to come. NEW TO THIS EDITION In contrast to the early editions, which examined only notable mistakes, and based on your favorable comments about recent editions, I have again included some well-known successes. While mistakes provide valuable learning insights, we can also learn from

Frequencies and Relative Frequencies in Histograms

In the construction of a histogram, there are several steps that we must undertake before we actually draw our graph. After setting up the classes that we will use, we assign each of our data values to one of these classes then  count the number of data values that fall into each class and draw the heights of the bars. These heights can be determined by two different ways that are interrelated: frequency or relative frequency. The frequency of a class is the count of how many data values fall into a certain class wherein classes with greater frequencies have higher bars and classes with lesser frequencies have lower bars. On the other hand, relative frequency requires one additional step as it is the measure of what proportion or percent of the data values fall into a particular class. A straightforward calculation determines the relative frequency from the frequency by adding up all the classes frequencies and dividing the count by each class by the sum of these frequencies. The Difference Between Frequency and Relative Frequency To see the difference between frequency and relative frequency we will consider the following example. Suppose we are looking at the history grades of students in 10th grade and have the classes corresponding to letter grades: A, B, C, D, F. The number of each of these grades gives us a frequency for each class: 7 students with an F9 students with a D18 students with a C12 students with a B4 students with an A To determine the relative frequency for each class we first add the total number of data points: 7 9 18 12 4 50. Next we, divide each frequency by this sum 50. 0.14 14% students with an F0.18 18% students with a D0.36 36% students with a C0.24 24% students with a B0.08 8% students with an A The initial data set above with the number of students who fall into each class (letter grade) would be indicative of the frequency while the percentage in the second data set represents the relative frequency of these grades. An easy way to define the difference between frequency and relative frequency is that frequency relies on the actual values of each class in a statistical data set while relative frequency compares these individual values to the overall totals of all classes concerned in a data set. Histograms Either frequencies or relative frequencies can be used for a histogram. Although the numbers along the vertical axis will be different, the overall shape of the histogram will remain unchanged. This is because the heights relative to each other are the same whether we are using frequencies or relative frequencies. Relative frequency histograms are important because the heights can be interpreted as probabilities. These probability histograms provide a graphical display of a probability distribution, which can be used to determine the likelihood of certain results to occur within a given population. Histograms are useful tools to quickly observe trends in populations in order for statisticians, lawmakers, and community organizers alike to be able to determine the best course of action to affect the most people in a given population.

Ernest Hemingway An Influential Writer - 2132 Words

Ernest Hemingway is considered one of the most influential writers of his time. His fictional stories contain a great deal of information surrounding his life, letting his readers in without saying that it is about him. Hemingway grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where after high school he decided to forgo college and begin his career as a journalist, an unexpected move after having a successful high school career. However, even without any formal college education, he became a significant writer that was well respected around the world. The question of how remains even decades after his death. Hemingway, a sheltered suburbanite, branched out and gained a better understanding of the world through numerous life experiences such as his contributions to several wars, his years as a journalist as further travels. This allowed Hemingway the insight he needed to become the renowned author that is still well received today. A year after graduating high school, Hemingway d ecided to put forth his efforts into joining the war after becoming inspired when he saw men he knew joining. However, he was skeptical, believing his poor eyesight would leave him unaccepted. It wasn’t until engaging with fellow Kansas City Star reporter, Theodore Brumback, that Hemingway learned he could still help the war effort by becoming an ambulance driver for the American Field Service. Leaving behind his disapproving father, the rest of his family and reigning from the Star afterShow MoreRelatedErnest Hemingway s The Lost Generation885 Words   |  4 PagesErnest Hemingway was a famous modernist writer during the 20th century. Hemingway was part of what was known as â€Å"The Lost Generation† this name arose post-World War 1. The modernist movement was a drastic change in numerous things such as art and literature. Ernest contributed much to this movement with his literary works. World War 1 played a major role in not only modernism, but also Hemingwayâ€⠄¢s writing. Ernest Miller Hemingway was a modernist writer who took his experiences from World War 1 andRead More Ernets Hemingway Essay example1287 Words   |  6 Pages Ernest Hemingway I.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Introduction to Ernest Hemingway II.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Life and Times A.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Early Life 1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Birth 2.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Parents 3.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Influences 4.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Siblings 5.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hobbies B.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Adulthood 1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;War 2.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Influences 3.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MarriageRead MoreErnest Hemingway, the Writer of Lost Generation Essay1322 Words   |  6 PagesLiving in the overwhelming burden of the war, the â€Å"Lost Generation†, which Ernest Hemingway was a part of, was a group of people spending their spring of life in warfare and aftereffect of war (Lost Generation). He was a laureate of the Novel Prize in Literature in 1954 as an influential American novelist. Ernest Hemingway expressed his experience and sentiments in his writings, exerting profound impact on American Literature (Nobel Prize). His birth, upbringing, employment, literary works, and effectRead MoreAn Analysis Of Ernest Hemingway s The Old Man 1678 Words   |  7 PagesErnest Hemingway?s The Old Man in the Sea is one of his most memorable books. He was trying to send us all a message about the struggles of everyday life. He wrote the book with minimal amounts of characters but with many examples of symbolism. The way Hemingway wrote this novel he left it open for interpretation despite his claim that there no hidden messages. Hemingway?s use of symbolism was very evident in this book. Many of us can interpret each symbol differently. Some critics believe hisRead MoreErnest Hemingway: A Brief Biography 1210 Words   |  5 PagesErnest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1899. He was a writer who started his career with a newspaper office in Kansas City when he was seventeen. When the United States got involved in the First World War, Hemingway joined with a volunteer ambulance unit in the Italian army. During his service, he was wounded, and was decorated by the Italian Government. Upon his return to the United States, he was employed by Canadian and American newspapers as a reporter, and sent back to EuropeRead MoreAnalysis Of A Farwell To Arms By Ernest Hemingway1490 Words   |  6 PagesErnest Hemingway was a great American writer that accomplished many pieces of work including short stories, novels and journals. Hemingway was born in 1899 and raised in Illinois; he first started writing in high school for his schools newspaper cover things such as the local orchestra and working for the school year book. After graduation from high school he started his first job as journalist in Kanas working for the Kansas City Star newspaper. Hemingway soon left Kansas to serve in WWI as anRead MoreThe Influence Of Heroism In The Old Man And The Sea By Ernest Hemingway754 Words   |  4 Pageson how to be a man (at least to me). The Hemingway’ way is different from most writers but it might just be the most influential. That is just my opinion. Out of all his works, we take three stories and one from Tim O’Brien whose work is influenced by the man himself. Our stories all tie in with one another and a trait they all share or the ones we will discuss are bravery/pressure and one look at antiheroism. Bravery is one main influence amongst Hemingway characters. The old man, Francis MacomberRead More hemingway Essay1427 Words   |  6 Pages Ernest Hemingway was an American writer. He was born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois. He committed suicide in 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho (Burges 17). Even today Hemingway is one of the most recognized authors in the world. Hemingway’s experiences during World War I are directly shown in many of his works. His general outlook on life is reflected in the adventures of his characters. It is clear that Hemingway had a desire to be part of the war even though, due to bad vision he was unable to enlist in theRead More Earnest Hemingway Essay3001 Words   |  13 Pages Earnest Hemingway nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As one of the 20th centurys most important and influential writers. His writings drew heavily on his own experiences for his writing. His writing reflected his trouble with relating to women and his tendency to treat them as objects, as he had four marriages and countless affairs, highlighting his theme of alienation and disconnection. Now here is why he is what he is by writing about what he was. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ernest Miller HemingwayRead MoreThe Struggle of Life and War in Ernest Hemingway’s Writing 1071 Words   |  5 PagesErnest Hemingway was one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century. His simple style, lucid depictions, and relatable narratives propelled him into a world of literary fame. These unique attributes are inimitable; Hemingway relates to the reader on a deeper level that even the best imitators cannot achieve. For this and many other reasons, critics praise Hemingway for the indefinable work of an exceptional writer. One of his most well-known novels, A Farewell to Arms, is notorious for its

Recording Industry and the Digital Age Essay Example For Students

Recording Industry and the Digital Age Essay In this essay, several studies are examined that illustrate the economic impact of digital piracy on the music industry and the U. S. economy. Also examined are the changes made in copyright laws, as well as the recording industry’s strategies designed to deal with this growing problem. The first study, done for California Management Review in 2010, shows steady industry growth throughout 1990’s quickly eroded with Napster’s rise in popularity in 1999. A second study, completed in 2009 for the International Science Review, backed up earlier claims made by the recording industry in Federal Court that they account for a significant portion of the U. S. Gross Domestic Product. The study also shows a direct correlation between increases in file sharing and decreases in sales. The final study examined was completed in 2009 for Contemporary Economic Policy. It offers evidence that the recording industry’s partnerships with digital content providers, is having a positive effect on consumer’s willingness to pay for low priced premium content. Further research is required in order to measure the impact these partnerships have in reducing online piracy. Keywords: digital piracy, music piracy, file sharing, economic impact, U. S. Copyright Law Captain Crook: Why the Recording Industry must Adapt to the Digital Age According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, the Entertainment Industry accounts for 6% of the United States Gross Domestic Product (Bender Wang, 2009). Since 1999, the RIAA has seen sales of recorded music drop from $14. billion in 1999, to $7 billion in 2011 (Scope of the Problem, n. d. ). The source of the recording industry’s dramatic losses since 1999, are the pervasive number of sites that offer free uploaded music available for downloading and sharing. These sites have crippled a music industry that many felt had been too slow adapting to changes in the way music was being sought after and ultimately consumed. The act of making music available on-line , and/or copying said music , for free, without compensating the copyright holder, is called piracy. Piracy is a form of copyright infringement. No matter what name it is given, piracy is a criminal act that is wrong and is impacting the Recording Industry and this country’s economic recovery. A major issue that must be addressed is the overall attitude of indifference towards illegal downloading. This is especially true with the generation that came of age at the turn of the Millennium. The role of technology in their lives, and its ability to provide instant access to information, informs how they perceive information and its uses. It’s not to say this generation condones theft; they simply don’t see it as stealing. To them, downloading and sharing digital music files without paying, is nothing more than an exchange of information. Traditionally, this is the very demographic that has always been the recording industry’s bread and butter. There are those who would argue that the current copyright laws are outdated and no longer apply in the 21st century. In the opinion of some, the rules have changed; and so must the very definition of what constitutes copyright theft. Regardless, there is no denying the legalities of this issue must be addressed. In the meantime, the recording industry and lawmakers have pro-actively sought to adopt more pragmatic policies and legislation enabling them to compete with illegal file sharing. By pursuing partnerships with Digital Service Providers and utilizing digital media marketing strategies, the recording industry can create value and demand for their products; making illegal downloading less and less attractive. Background and Brief History Piracy, as it pertains to this subject, is defined as â€Å"the act of illegally reproducing or disseminating copyrighted material, such as computer programs, books, music, and films† (Hosch, n. . in Encyclopedia Britannica). Music piracy, or bootlegging, has been a problem for record companies for as long as the recording industry has been around. However, since the advent of personal computers and the rapidly expanding digital age, digital piracy has become a major problem for the music industry. By the late 1990’s, readily available computer software made it even easier to copy music in many formats and compress it into a digital file, or MP3 format, that is easily transferrable. Music could then be shared by simply uploading it to a file sharing site where anyone could download it for free. These sites became known as P2P sites (Napster, n. d. ). The Sound Recording Act passed by Congress in 1971, allowed for an array of reforms to copyright laws. The three biggest reforms were the lengthening of copyright terms, first in 1976, and then again in 1998. In 1984, Congress banned the rental of sound recordings around the time that cassette tapes were beginning to overtake vinyl albums as the primary from of music distribution. Congress also made it illegal to even attempt to circumvent these anti-piracy measures (Cummings, 2010, p. ). In 2001, as a reaction to changing technologies, the Supreme Court ruled against P2P sharing networks and criminalized sites that allowed its users to share and/or exchange digital audio files without the expressed consent of those who owned the copyrights. It seemed that this ruling was a reflection of a broader consensus. Sharing these files without compensating the copyright holders, as the Supreme Court saw it, was illegal. They also saw it as detrimental to the U. S. economy (Cummings, 2010, p. ). The most notorious of these file sharing sites was Napster. It is estimated that at its highest volume in 2001, there were 1. 5 million people sharing and downloading music for free using Napster’s P2P software (Napster, n. d. ). In 2001, the Recording Industry Association of America was successful in receiving a court ordered injunction against Napster, effectively shutting the site down. It seems, however, that it may have been too little too late. The seed had been planted. Other sites began filling the void left by Napster. The idea of file sharing had taken off The Economics of Piracy The word piracy usually brings to mind images of buried treasures, Caribbean islands, and Johnny Depp In recent years however, another form of piracy has increasingly become the bane of the music industry. It is known as on line, or digital piracy. In the late 1990’s, rapid advances in technology, access to information, and ever advancing software, began to re-shape the way music was listened to and consumed. On-line music piracy, in the form of file sharing, quickly became the most prevalent form of copyright infringement. The music industry’s inability to adapt to these rapid changes had cost them dearly. It is because of the digital piracy’s negative impact, that an immediate response to this problem is needed; the survival of the recording industry and its artists depend on it. The 1990’s were good for the music industry. It enjoyed continued growth throughout the decade. CD sales and shipments saw steady increases from $7. 5 billion in 1990, to $14. billion in 1999 (Goel, Miesing, Chandra, 2010, p. ). But, as the decade began to draw to a close, trouble was looming just on the horizon. The introduction of Napster in 1999 was a sign of things to come. It is no coincidence that shortly after the launch of Napster, sales quickly began to decline. By 2008, sales for the recording industry had dropped to $8. 5 billion (Goel, Miesing, Chandra, 2010, p. ). Initially, the entire entertainment industry seemed to be caught off guard by the file sharing phenomenon; but soon enough, a strategy for litigation had been developed. By 2001, the music and movie industries had joined forces and were successful in getting an injunction against Napster. Their strategy was simple, but effective. It was their position that, because their products consume so much of America’s disposable income and leisure time, it impacts a very valuable percentage of this country’s Gross Domestic Product The U. S. Department of Commerce statistics cited to make this claim showed that the entertainment industry actually accounts for 6% of the United States Gross Domestic Product was also able to show that the entertainment industry is one of a few that still enjoys a positive trade balance globally. These statistics, obviously, weighed heavily in the court’s deciding in their favor (Bender Wang, 2009). A study done for the International Social Science Review published in 2009 concluded that the RIAA’s argument did have statistical merit. In fairness, the study does acknowledge that file sharing could actually be a more efficient way for the recording industry to market their products. Doing so would allow customers to sample an artist’s work prior to purchasing it. But in its conclusion, the study estimated that for every 1% increase in file sharing, music sales decreased by . 6% (Bender Wang, 2009). That is almost a 1 to 1 ratio. To put it in monetary terms, the recording industry loses $6 million every time digital piracy increases by a percentage point. And while 1% may not seem like a lot, when dealing in billions of dollars, it adds up quickly. Grammy Winner Promotes the Virtues of File Sharing Surprisingly, some of the most vocal opposition to the theory that digital piracy hurts the music industry comes from the artists themselves. One of the first artists to come out in opposition to the theory was Janis Ian. In 2002, the Grammy winning singer, songwriter, author and poet, offered a different, and more personal perspective on file sharing. Her position is that file sharing does little to harm the multi-billion dollar global recording industry. In fact, as she sees it, file sharing actually benefits the artists by increasing demand for their music; at least that’s been her experience. According to Soundscan statistics there were 32,000 new releases in the U. S. by the major labels in 2001. This figure does not include the smaller independent labels that do not report sales to Soundscan. Conservatively, it is estimated that about 100,000 titles were released that year. To her, that seems like â€Å"an awful lot of releases for an industry that’s being destroyed† (Ian, 2002). Currently, Janis Ian’s website still averages about 75,000 hits per year even though her last charted hit on Billboard was in 1975. Pressures Of Industry On Education EssayHowever, the No Electronic Theft Law act of 1997 specifically addresses digital copyright infringement. In fact, the United States vs. LaMacchia case was one of the primary reasons the law was enacted. It would only be a matter of time before the merits of the law would be put to the test. It finally happened in 2006. At age 28, Jammie Thomas, a single mother of 2 from Brainerd, Minnesota found herself facing multiple lawsuits from several music industry organizations for allegedly using a file sharing service called Kazaa to illegally download music. The case achieved notoriety because, unlike others facing similar lawsuits, the now married Mrs. Thomas-Rassert, refused to settle her case out of court (Browning, 2012). And because of extensive media coverage, the case has essentially become the face of the recording industry’s war on piracy. After several court battles, rulings, reversals and appeals, her case still remains far from settled. In October 2007, a jury awarded the plaintiffs $222,000 in damages However, Chief U. S. District Judge Michael Davis concluded that he erred in his instructions to the jury, and awarded Mrs. Thomas-Russert a new trial. His position was that simply making a copyrighted work available to the public may not necessarily constitute distribution under the law However, the second trial ended with the jury finding in favor of the plaintiff again. This time the plaintiff was awarded $1. 92 million Judge Davis found that amount to be excessive, and reduced the damages amount to $54,000 The recording industry refused to settle for that amount and successfully argued for a third trail. So after a third trial in November 2010, the jury again sided with the plaintiff and awarded them a $1. 5 million judgment. This time, Mrs. Thomas-Russert’s attorneys appealed the decision; arguing that amount violated her rights of the due-process clause in the constitution. Judge Davis sided with the defendant, and reduced the amount awarded back down to $54,000. However, upon review, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision and remanded the case back to Judge Davis, and ordered the original $222,000 amount reinstated in September 2012 (Browning, 2012). The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision clearly represents a broader consensus as well as upholds the merits of the No Electronic Theft Act. No matter the legal nuances, digital piracy is illegal and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Solution While issues with the legal definition of what constitute theft in the digital age continue to persist, one solution adopted by the recording industry has been to partner with Internet Service Providers and use a warning and throttling system. This method can identify and then issue a warning to the most egregious violators. If those progressive warnings are not heeded, the ISP will then begin to throttle the connection This method can also include ISPs blocking certain URLs, and shutting down the individual’s internet connection all together. From a public relations standpoint, this method of deterrence has gained a wider range of acceptance than the previous method of prosecution/litigation (Nakashima, 2008, n. p. ). Perhaps the most effective solution has been the recording industry’s willingness to market and create value for their products by finally embracing the very technology that once was being used against them. This is evident in the rise in popularity and profitability Digital Service Providers like iTunes and Amazon. Sites like these offer ever expanding catalogues of music for every taste imaginable. Between the two, there are over 40 million songs available download, most for . 99 cents per song, as well as entire albums for as little as $5. 00 (Google Music Has a Lot of Catching, 2011) (MP3 Music Download, n. . ). Purchased music can be downloaded and even streamed to almost any enabled device. Now, purchasing high quality sounding music online, legally, has become so convenient and cost effective that it rivals illegal file sharing sites. With that in mind, and to further illustrate the point, review the results of a 2009 study titled â€Å"Estimating the Willingness to Pay for Digital Music† conducted for Contemporary Economic Policy. The study concluded that simply reducing file sharing through legal means would not necessarily be enough to lead to an increase in revenue (Chiang Assane, 2009, p. 12 522). The consumer’s â€Å"Willingness To Pay† must also be considered. In other words, offering a convenient high quality product, at a low price, can sway one’s decision to purchase said product. This study took controlled samples of students from diverse social and economic backgrounds nationwide and surveyed them. Their study indicates that the rise in popularity and availability of fee based services such as iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify does have a positive influence on consumer’s WTP. By continuing to partner with digital/online music services, the recording industry can now offer a viable alternative to peer-to-peer file sharing (Chiang Assane, 2009, p. 512 522). The study determined that an individual’s willingness to pay is largely influenced by two things. One would be the level of disposable income. The second would be the perceived risk of getting caught. Obviously, the perceived level of one will undoubtedly influence the other. While the study doesn’t directly address the attitudes towards file sharing in the digital age, it does demonstrate that, government policy in conjunction with effective marketing, does have a positive influence. In its conclusion, the â€Å"Willingness To Pay† study determined that the two pronged approach does seem to be working. Increasing the perceived risk of music piracy, and the perceived value and convenience of legal music downloads, can reduce illegal downloading (Chiang Assane, 2009, p. 512 522). The study concedes that there will always be an underground market for illegal file sharing. But, by continuing to build on its momentum, the recording industry has begun to make up some ground (Chiang Assane, 2009, p. 512 522). To put this all in perspective, Jeff Beck, an Accounting Manager for Saddle Creek Records, offers insight into how the recording industry has had to adapt its business model in order to stay competitive in the digital age. Because of the popularity of Digital Service Providers like iTunes and Amazon, music is now available instantaneously (Beck, personal communication Saddle Creek Records, January 8th, 2013). Jeff summed up the new business â€Å"mantra† that record companies have begun to follow, â€Å"the proliferation of these services means we have dozens, if not hundreds of more revenue streams, albeit very small revenue streams in a lot of cases. The industry mantra is to put out as many buckets to collect as many pennies as possible. It eventually will add up. † In Conclusion The law is clear. Digital piracy is a criminal act. Not only is it a criminal act that must be prosecuted, there is also clear evidence that it is detrimental to a U. S. conomy that continues to struggle. Remember, the entertainment industry accounts for 6% of the United States Gross Domestic Product. Digital piracy adversely affects economic recovery. It also adversely affects one’s personal economy as well. Take a moment, and do some simple math. Spend . 99 cents for one song downloaded legally, or $750 for downloading the same song illegally. Which of these options makes more financial sense? With all the low cost music readily available for legal downloading and streaming, why risk breaking the law as well as breaking the bank? Bibliography: Bender, M.T. Wang, Y. (2009). The impact of piracy on music sales: A cross country analysis. International Science Review, 84(3/4), 157-170. Browning, D. (2012, September 12). Ruling revives music sharing case. Retrieved January 22, 2013, from http://www.startribune.com/local/169320686.html?refer=y Chiang, E., Assane, D. (2009). Estimating the willingness to pay for digital music. Contemporary Economic Policy, 27(4), 512-522. Retrieved January 22, 2013, from Academic Search Premiere database. Cole, T. (2012, April 21). Eulogy for a record store. Retrieved January 25, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/04/21/151103039/eulogy-for-a-record-store Copyright law of the United States of America and related laws contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2013, from U.S. Copyright Office website:http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html Cummings, A.S. (2010, December). From monopoly to intellectual property: Music piracy and the remaking of American copyright, 1909-1971 Journal of American History, 97(3), 659-681. Dolfman, M. L., Holden, R. J., Wasser, S. F. (2007, October). The economic impact of the creative arts industries: New York and Los Angeles. Monthly Labor Review, 130(10), 21-34. Goel, S., Miesing, P., Chandra, U. (2010). The impact of illegal peer-to-peer file sharing on the media industry. California Management Review, 52(3), 6-33. Google music has a lot of catching up to do iTunes by the numbers. (2011, November 18). Retrieved February 7, 2013, from http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/11/18/google-music- has-a-lot-of-catching-up-to-do-to-itunes-by-the-numbers/ Gorry, Anthony G. Many People Do Not View Online Music Sharing as Wrong. Internet Piracy. Ed. James D. Torr. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Rpt. from Steal This MP3 File. Chronicle of Higher Education 23 May 2003. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Retrieved Web. 25 Jan. 2013. Hosch, W. (n.d.). Piracy. Retrieved December 16, 2012, from Encyclopedia Britannica at http://www.britannica.com Ian, J. (2002, May). The internet debacle: An alternative view. Retrieved January 23, 2013, from http://www.janisian.com/reading/internet.php MP3 music download. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2013, from http://www.amazon.com/ MP3-Music-Download/b?ie=UTF8node=163856011 Nakashima, R. (2008, December 20). Music industry drops effort to sue song swappers. Hanford Sentinel. Retrieved February 7, 2013, from SIRS Issues Researcher database. Naptster. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2012, from Encyclopedia Britannica at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/754550/Napster Scope of the problem. (n.d.) Retrieved December 16, 2012, from the Recording Industry Association of America website at http://riaa.com/ Statement of Marybeth Peters the Register of Copyrights. (1997, September 11). Retrieved January 25, 2013 from http://www.copyright.gov/docs/2265_stat.html

Copywriter QA Getting Social With Dana Robinson - The Writers For Hire

COPYWRITER QA: GETTING SOCIAL WITH DANA ROBINSON Our resident social media guru Dana Robinson has provided businesses with blog and social media content for nearly a decade. Her career much like a social campaign or Instagram account grew organically, starting with newsletter and blog and social content for a single nonprofit client. Today, she manages blogs and social media campaigns for a variety of businesses. For this installment of Copywriter QA, we asked Dana to share some of her tips, strategies, and best practices. A few key takeaways: do your homework when it comes to choosing a management platform, and make sure you have a rock-solid social media policy in place. TWFH: For many companies, the most challenging part of social media is staying organized. Do you have any recommendations for management tools? DR: With social, there’s no â€Å"one-size-fits-all† solution. In general, the best platform depends on things like your goals and the size of your company. For small and medium sized businesses Hootsuite and Sprout Social are good choices: They’re affordable, and they’re a great starting point if you only need a handful of users for one or two platforms. On the other end, you have â€Å"enterprise tools† like Hubspot that are more appropriate if you’ve got 10 platforms and 100 users. The price point is quite different, too: An enterprise tool will cost $1,100 to $1,200 per month. Something like Hootsuite starts at $20. My advice is to do research on different platforms. Look at the price point, the number of users allowed, and the available features. Shop around based on what you’re trying to do. If you’re trying to grow a following, your platform needs to help you search for influencers. Or maybe you want a tool to help suggest content for sharing. They don’t all do those things. If you’re managing social media for multiple clients, you need something that has a robust client management support. If your main goal is to engage with your current audience or customer base, you need a good scheduling tool to make sure you’re reaching the right people at the right time with the right content. TWFH: Speaking of â€Å"the right content,† how do you figure out what, exactly, that is? How do you ensure that you’re driving traffic and creating engaging content? DR: I use algorithms to find out what keywords are trending. Answerthepublic.com is fantastic. You can type in something like, â€Å"downtown Houston† and it’ll give you all these fabulous ideas. It gives you the exact keywords so potential readers will find you.   Ã‚   You also have to know what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes, it’s trial and error; putting out a couple of different kinds of content and see what your customers are reacting to. Once you know that, give them more of that. Knowing when to say â€Å"no† to content is also a strategy. That’s a way to lose your audience: If six times out of ten, your content is something they’re not interested in, they’re going to stop paying attention. TWFH: What about reaching the â€Å"right people† on social media? How can you identify them and make sure you’re speaking to them directly? DR: This is another reason that you should have a good social media management tool. You want to choose a tool that offers good analytics; something that lets you extract the data and see who is interacting with your content and even when they’re interacting with it. This is especially important if your company has a marketing department you can use the data to sort users into groups and work hand-in-hand with marketing and develop content that appeals to each group. And a good calendar tool can help you deliver that content at right time. TWFH: Is there anything you try to avoid in social media campaigns? DR: I’d say to keep politics out of it. Also, social is very meme-heavy, and you have to be careful with that. Sometimes as a social media manager, you can think something is funny and put it out there and then find that it wasn’t perceived the way you meant it. My advice: Take a moment and ask, â€Å"Will this have good purpose if we post it?† In general, smaller businesses have a bit more freedom in this area: since the company is more closely tied to one owner or a few specific people; there’s more of a personal relationship there. But larger business really have to â€Å"stick to the script† social media is an extension of their advertising. All posts should be heavily researched and approved by your marketing department. TWFH: And what about employees and social media? How can companies make sure that everyone in the company not just marketing is sticking to the script where social media is concerned? DR: While your employee base can be wonderful tool, you also want to have fairly good control over how and where they use it. The last thing you want is someone from your company doing something on social media that damages your company’s brand or reputation or reveals trade secrets. Part of this can be eliminated by only allowing a couple of people the ability to post on your behalf. And of course, you need a social media policy. In the event that you can’t control what an employee does on social, you’ll at least have legal recourse. Your policy should be very specific, and it needs to be in writing. You should have your employees sign something, and even provide a half-day training session on your social media policy. You also need to provide training on company image and customer service. We’ve all seen what can happen when a customer has a negative experience. TWFH: Right, because you also have to think about how your customers are using social media. DR: Customers have phones in their pocket, and they can record a negative interaction and post it to YouTube. Everyone remembers seeing that doctor getting dragged off of that United flight. People are going to remember things like that and they’re not going to remember that expensive ad campaign you spent six months developing. This is why customer service has never been more important: TWFH: Are there any legal issues companies should be aware of when developing a social campaign? DR: Copyright laws. If you were to only ever post original content and images content that belongs to your company, you’d be safe. But no one does that everyone gets caught up in sharing social content. So you need to be aware of copyright laws and rules about attribution and permission. For example, if you’re using images from web sources, you always need to read license restrictions even if it’s labeled â€Å"Creative Commons.† A lot of people see Creative Commons and think, â€Å"Okay, I can use this.† But there are different licensing levels even within Creative Commons. Some of my favorite sites for images are Pixabay and Flickr. You can find great images, but they don’t all the same license. You absolutely have to read the license restrictions on each image to see if you have permission to use it and what kind of attribution is required. You also have to be careful with Instagram. On Instagram, all images are assumed to be proprietar y. So if you post an image to Instagram, it’s presumed to be owned by you. If it’s not your image, you need to have permission to use it. Another legal issue that’s kind of new: If your company does sponsored posts or works with influencers, you have to be aware of disclosure laws. The FTC has cracked down on those recently. Ads have to disclose themselves. That was not always the case, but it is now. So, for example, if an influencer is advertising your product they have to say, â€Å"This was given to me for free,† or they have to explain how they benefit from the sale of your product.

Benefits of Uniforms Within Schools essays

Benefits of Uniforms Within Schools essays Uniforms are commonplace in many important areas within society and are a source of affiliation and pride for those who wear them. Sport teams from house league to the professional level have uniforms. Medical professionals wear uniforms, as do public safety workers. Every school is a learning institution which imprints upon its students strong morals and values. They strive to create an environment in which all of this can be achieved. The philosophy of St. Marys Catholic Secondary School is to develop in all its members, a genuine self-love, love of thy neighbour morale. It is believed that to achieve this dynamic, the individuality of each student must be respected by allowing for the development of the whole person to his or her fullest potential. Effective schools are characterized by a sense of pride on the part of the students. The presence of uniform clothing within an educational institution is undoubtedly beneficial to the school and its students. Uniforms are a concrete wa y to successfully accomplish this. Not only do they significantly increase the safety of the institution, but they also positively influence classroom behaviour, and curtail the effects of peer pressure. A safe and disciplined learning environment is paramount in educating students. The quality of education today is being hampered as a result of the rising presence of gang violence within schools. Uniform dress, however, has combated this problem. As a result of the implementation of uniforms, teachers no longer have to be concerned with student apparel and can devote more time and effort to instructing students. A uniform policy prohibits clothing that bears gang colour or insignia. This protocol significantly reduces the risk of gang related violence within educational institutions. Not only do uniforms virtually eliminate precarious gang confrontations within schools, they also make it possible for staff and students to easily identify intruder...

Mergers and Acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mergers and Acquisition - Essay Example On the other hand in the level of operation the managers make the decisions. So in the real world the objective and mode of action differ from the theoretically proved ones. So the optimal strategies have also been driven through the modification. So there are different strategies such as merger, acquisition, research and developments etc are adopted. In this text we will discuss the merger and acquisition policies and their effects through some examples in Europe. In the lexicon of economics the word merger refers to the combination of two or more firms to form a single firm. This takes over all the assets and liabilities of the merging firms: shares in the new firm are divided among the shareholders of the original companies on an agreed basis. On the other hand acquisition refers to the situation when one large firm takes over or better we can say purchase of smaller firms for the sake of expansion. If these are unincorporated the owners agree to the terms. If the other business is a company its shares are purchased. Where some, but not all, the shares of other company or companies are purchased, special rules governs the treatment of the existing shareholders those are not willing to sell their share to the purchaser company. Hence we can say that the merger and acquisition are similar as well as dissimilar. In merger the merging companies continue to hold their ownership rights and the right of decision-making regarding the objective of the collaboration. But in the case of acquisition the company, the shares of which have been sold, possesses the ownership right no more. Nor the acquired firm possesses the power to make decision. The entire ownership remains in the hand of a single firm. The similarity between the two is that both of the strategies have the same aim. The main objective is the expansion of firm. The level and range of production would increase. These have some common benefits, which are given below: Economies of Scale: It

Current Environmental Problem Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Current Environmental Problem - Research Paper Example Global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon and has, thus many advantages to offer. Had there been no such phenomenon, the Earth would have lost all heat, thus getting frozen. However, the global warming also exposes life on the Earth to innumerable threats. The constantly accumulating heat is sufficient to make the Earth unusually warm so that life on Earth would extinguish. First the immense heat would directly cause death of animals and plants. Secondly, deaths would occur because of lack of food. Ultimately, global warming when increased to dangerous extent, would cause death of all living beings. Humans are considered as the cardinal source of global warming, because their activities result into increase in the extent of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Scientific evidence of global warming: There is sufficient amount of scientific evidence to show that humans have played a big role in aggravating the global warming. According to the report about the change in climate generated by the Intergovernmental Panel (Liloia), human activities are the biggest contributors towards global warming. Many people tend to reject this truth thinking it is nothing more than a fake scientific theory. This, however, is a very wrong interpretation and usage of the term â€Å"theory† because science does provide objective evidence to render it much more than just a theory. One of the most important discoveries of science that speak of humans as the main contributors towards global warming is that there has been a rise in global temperatures along with the increase in CO2 rate in the atmosphere. There has been a tremendous increase in the level of water in rivers, seas and oceans since the past few decades. Glaciers have started to melt away as a result of increased global temperatures. This has resulted into frequent floods, cyclones and tsunamis. According to (Eilperin), 72 per cent Americans believe that global warming is truly happening. Applicability of eco logical knowledge to the problem of global warming: Various types of ecological factors are applicable to this problem. Why the ecological factors are applicable in the discussion of global warming can be explained with the help of a case study. There has been a significant change of climate in the Nilgiri hills of Southern India. Nilgiris and the areas near it make part of the peninsular India’s continental block. This block consists mainly of metamorphic rocks like charnockites, gneisses and schists (Chhabra). â€Å"The characteristic ecological features of the upper Nilgiri plateau at above 1200m are the shola-grassland ecosystem† (Chhabra). It is referred to as the climax ecotype. It has essentially resulted from the balance caused by three main reasons: 1. Firing done by inhabitants of the region. 2. Tough climatic controls in the region. 3. Climatic alterations happened in the Pleistocene era (Chhabra). Each of these three factors played its part in the developme nt of shoal-grassland climax ecosystem in Nilgiri. These factors are explained below: Firing done by inhabitants of the region: Todas, who are the indigenous people of Nilgiri set the area on fire immediately after the frost season starts, and migrate to the western side of plateau. When it is monsoon, they get back to the burnt area because it has by then, sprouted fresh grass. Tough

Greek Shipping Competition

Greek Shipping Competition Introduction: During the 20th century Greek shipping eventually developed as one of the most competitive players globally. Greek shipowners managed to establish their reputation as dominant players based on a well-structured positioning mix that has supported their efforts throughout the years. A variety of studies has been developed aiming to define what precisely supported Greek owners to build this successful entrepreneurial structure and which factor allowed them to obtain and sustain the competitiveness of the Greek shipping. According to M. Porter ‘’competitiveness†¦.’’ The definition for the competitiveness of Greek shipping has been studied by a respectful number of mostly Greek academics. The majority of the studies, focused mainly in specific sectors (e.g. dry bulks) or factors (e.g. Greek shipping network) as to analyse the competitive advantage of the Greek fleet. However, the aim of this paper is to evaluate if Greek shipping can sustain its competitive character. Thus, from the point of view of the writer, it will be more realistic to analyse a range of factors and sectors that contribute to the success of Greek shipping. It would not be simplistic to say that at the end of the day the competitiveness is defined by profitability. (2) From the referred range of studies and publishes, the writer believes that the competitive strength Greek shipping companies is summarised into careful selection of Business (cost control) and investment (timing) strategies. (1) Thus, in this paper we are going to investigate to what extent Greek shipowners will be able to sustain their competitiveness in the long-run based on the above principles. Specifically, the paper is about to concentrate on analysing the fleet on the basis of: Managerial Structure (business strategy) and Investment (timing) strategy. Once again, the aim will be the overall evaluation of the long-term prospects of Greek shipping to sustain its competitiveness. Fleet Analysis: General Information: Historically, shipping has played crucial role for Greek people and it has characterised some of the most important moments of their history: during the Persian Wars and the battleship of Salamina, in the Greek revolution against Ottoman Empire in 1821, the Balkan Wars and the World War I the Greek ships played significant role and affected the citizens of the Greece and (in some occasions) the global status quo as well. Figure 1, Source: BCG Impact assessment of Greek shipping on Economy and Society However, in our days when we refer to the Greek shipping we mean the great presence of the Greek shipowners to the global market. This presence was firstly established in dry bulk and the tanker (oil, products) sectors but lately we have strong signs of diversification into more sectors such as the container ships and the gas tankers. Statistical Analysis: It is better to set clear, in this paper when we refer to the term of ‘’Greek shipping’’ we actually discuss the Greek-controlled ships irrespectively of the company’s headquarters and the flag under the ships sail. (3) The reason of this choice reflects on the following table which describes the attitude of the owners to flag out their ships. Figure 2, The 35 countries and territories with the largest owned fleets, as of 31st January 2013 (DWT) Thus, according to the UNCTAD (2013 Report), only the 22.3% of Greek ships sail under the national flag when the remaining 77.7% sail under international flags. Hence, for the aim of the paper we will analyse the wider Greek-owned fleet instead of only focusing to the ship that are registered in Greece. Under that basis we can present the following statistical figures (which will be commented on the following part of this paper): The Greek-owned fleet is consisted of 4573 vessels and managed by 690 companies. Figure 3, Number of Greek-owned vessels, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The 65.07% of the companies possess less than 5 ships while fleets with 25+ ships represent the 5.07% of the total. Figure 4, Fleet distribution of Greek Companies, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The average age of the fleet has declined recently and at the end of 2013 was about 14.05 years. Figure 5, Average age of Greek fleet, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 Greek Orderbook (end of 02/2014) corresponds to 496 vessels (approximately 11% of existing fleet) of several types. Figure 6, Type of Orders by type, SOURCE: SIN database The majority of the new buildings have been ordered in Chinese shipyards while Republic of Korea follows with a slight difference: Figure 7, Greek Orderbook by country of builder, SOURCE: SIN database Greek shipping status Analysis: Management structure: Company Structure: As it has been referred, there are 690 shipping companies (Petrofin) mainly under tight family management. In Figure 4 we observe that the majority of the Greek companies possess a small fleet of ships. This can be a result of taxation strategy or mainly can be driven by the attitude of shipowners globally to not risk the viability of their whole business if one of their ships faces problems with regulation or capital cost. In the case of Greek shipping, the fragmentation of the market probably takes place for an extra reason: the majority of Greek shipping companies are family companies. Thus, there is a tendency that, after some years of experience in the family business, some members decide to build their own start-up business. This effort is supported by the knowledge gained previously and to the available capital. However, this attitude may contribute to the pluralism of the market and to promote Greek entrepreneurship but at the same time may trigger problems for the new companies which sometimes struggle to survive due to market reasons. More importantly, however, the new firms may be treated as undermining efforts against the family operations (4 Theotokas). Furthermore, it should be mentioned that small firms may be forced out of the business if they cannot attract sufficient financing.(5) The most significant advantage of the traditional form of Greek shipping companies is the philosophy of cutting costs passed from one generation to other.(6) However, family members ought to be quite qualified to perform their duties and not placed in businesses exclusively for reasons of heredity. (7) Another significant factor which has come under intense debate is the listing of Greek Companies to exchange markets. At the moment only the 6% of the total is listed, mainly in foreign exchanges (8,Petrofin).Listing can be used as a way of financing. However, Greek companies seek to find the ideal chemistry between a family-run company and a public outlet (9,Tsakos). As a third-generation shipowner A. Martinos quotes â€Å"a stock listed company has no head but a family company can move quickly with decision and authority† indicating a factor of flexibility for the Greek companies. People (human resources) The positioning of the Greek shipowners has been outstanding throughout the years. The reason behind this success can amongst others be the human factor. The fact that the first generation shipowners had been in the sea gave the sophisticated know-how to the industry which has been transferred throughout years and generations.(Theotokas). The referred know-how enables the ability to minimise costs and the dare to invest when the market is low. Particularly, the ability of achieving good timing and good choices has allowed the Greeks to perform excellent the asset play, to turn negative momentum into fleet expansion and to obtain market share and huge capital.(A fleet for the†¦THAN 10) Investment Strategy: Orderbook: The Greek Orderbook is one of the largest at the moment and as it is illustrated in Figure 6, there have been investments to multiple sectors. Specifically, we comment on the most interesting investments: Dry Bulks: Gas Tankers: Containers: Financing: What is the propeller for a ship is finance for a shipping company.(Petropoulos 11) Greek shipping has been significantly affected by the debt crisis which hurt violently the credit system and especially Greek banks which has been funding shipping business for decades. However, Greek shipowners managed to finance the modernisation of the Greek fleet (Navigating the financing storm 12) as it is presented in Figure 5. Obviously, once again Greek shipowners followed their tradition into anti-cyclical investing. During the period we are going through, investments in shipping have been mitigated. While investors around the world were selling vessels, Greeks were buying second-hand ships and they were placing orders to renew the fleet cheaply.(John Psychas 12). Probably, Greek owners took advantage by the capital gathered from previous successful years. Moreover, the recent years they have been using a combination of traditional and latest methods of financing, following sometimes hybrid solutions. (Syriopoulos 13) Another way of financing is listing. The majority of Greek shipowners realise the advantages of listing but seem reluctant to dare the change. It seems that this attitude is at last another point of strength for Greek shipping as traditional companies are based in their own capital to invest instead of raising financing in stocks market.( John Psychas 12) It is important to be highlighted that during crisis Greek shipping created a ‘’major ally’’ which is the Chinese Banks which they gave financial motivation for construction of ships in Chinese shipyards.(Petropoulos Shipping and ship finance 14). Chinese lenders decided to promote local shipping industry and Greek shipowners took advantage of a $10 billion fund for funding Greek orders in Chinese shipyards under competitive terms and interest (Bardounias 15). This trend is also illustrated in Figure 7. Conclusions and Recommendations: It seems that once again Greek shipping followed the traditional attitude of anti-cyclical investment which can probably guarantee long-term competitiveness in terms of capital cost. Specifically, in the dry bulk sector Greeks will be able to play the asset game which has supported their success so far. The renewal of the whole fleet is a strong signal of an operationally healthy industry for the years to come. However, the exposure of the owners to the container ship and gas tanker sector is a question mark which is not easy to be answered. If the market in these sectors will follow an upward in the near future then it is possible that in a few years we will discuss the diversification of the Greeks as another one outstanding strategic positioning. If not it is possible that this decision will be a very costly one and the diversification strategy will probably be abandoned in the future. The human factor will continue to be on the forefront of the Greek fleet as the heritage of the market sense seems to have been successfully developed by the third generation of the shipowners’ families. On the contrary, what has been built throughout all these years has to be protected. Hence, the new generations have unavoidably to be well-educated and strict evaluated as to be able to manage the business. Nepotism has to be scrutinised I order to guarantee evolution and success. The long-term competitiveness of the Greek shipping can be a reality under the optimum proportion of low-cost operation, sustainable management of traditional family businesses, targeted strategy towards financing and repeating of asset play. The diversification into new sectors can be the next competitive advantage of Greek shipping under the condition that the shipowners monitor the market closely and are adequately flexible and adoptable as to realise the different function of the multiple sectors.

My Most Memorable Teachers Essay -- essays papers

My Most Memorable Teachers For some reason or another certain students are drawn to particular teachers while other students are more fond of others. In my life I have studied under three memorable teachers. Teachers with which I was able to connect, to laugh, to share my misgivings. While I may have been close with each of these teachers, it is very clear, in retrospect, that each was very unique, and represented an entirely different class of teacher. The teacher that stands out most in my head is my eleventh grade English teacher. She had a liberal arts background, and enjoyed the classic American writers; Hemingway, Steinbeck, what have you. She was in the class of teachers who was more impressed by actions and honesty than suck-ups and homebodies. She was the kind of teacher who was proud when you informed her that you had skipped her class to go fishing at the river and play bluegrass music with your buddies. She was the kind of teacher who preferred that her students wrote what they truly felt, and not what they truly felt she would like to hear. She was in the rare class of teachers who tried to prepare her students for life after school, not life for school. She was a part of a small class of note-worthy teachers. Another important figure from my eleventh grade year was my eccentric psychology teacher. She represented a class of teachers who are interesting enough to be committed to a loony bin. She fell into what I believe to be the largest class of t...

Favourite Food Essay

Recently, I was visiting a tiny village in Germany, about 80 km from Berlin. It was like going back in time — it was a quiet old European village, just like I had imagined. We went to a little restaurant run by a family in their cottage. Traditionally, the family belonged to the blacksmith community, but they shifted to cooking 200 years ago and had set up a cozy restaurant in their own house. The cottage was lovely and had all the rustic old-world charm of European countryside. It was surrounded by woods and our host told us we would be going into the forest to pick our own mushrooms. I had never Picked mushrooms before and didn’t even know how to begin. The host, Volker, showed me how to tell the good mushrooms from the bad ones. When you turn the head of the mushroom, it should be smooth and flat — if it’s serrated or horned, it’s likely to be bad. We spent quite a bit of time looking for mushrooms and got so hungry picking them, we were really looking forward to eating. Anybody will agree that hunger is the best spice to any hearty meal. We sipped on some cold beer while the mushrooms were cooked in wine and white sauce and then baked into pizza-style bread. That was just wonderful. They also served plum cakes and apple pie along with another chicken preparation. They also gave us some homemade wine to go along with the food. It was a sumptuous country meal. I remember the restaurant and the delicious food well, but what I remember most is the warmth of the hosts. The usual impression about Europeans is that they are cold and indifferent but my hosts in Germany were very welcoming. I also remember it as a day I learned so much about mushrooms and I had to go forage for my own meal. This was by far my most memorable food experience in all these years.

Symbols, Setting, and Ironies of Joseph Conrads Heart of...

Symbols, Setting, and Ironies of Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrads novel, Heart of Darkness, is about many things: seafaring, riverboating, trade and exploration, imperialism and colonialism, race relations, the attempt to find meaning in the universe while trying to get at the mysteries of the subconscious mind. Heart of Darkness is a vivid portrayal of European imperialism. The book in other words is a story about European acts of imperial mastery (1503)-its methods, and the effects it has on human nature-and it is presumable that Conrad incorporates much of his own experience in the Congo and his opinions about imperialism into the story. Beyond the shield of civilization and into the depths of a primitive,†¦show more content†¦The light image associates London with civilization. However, this illusion is cut short when Marlow states, And this also, has been one of the dark places of the earth (pg. 67). This implies that London, the pinnacle of structured life, only became enlightened and sophisticated after the Romans forced light on the native savages (Heart of Darkness: A systematic evaluation). He describes how England was once a place of war and bloodshed during the time of the Roman conquest; thus, the civilized connotation of modern England is contrasted with a barbarous era of Englands history. Later on in the journey, Marlow comes upon a native dressed in patches of bright colors. Marlow views the bright colors as a symbol of civilization, especially in the Congo where everything is brown or dark. The boy is standing under the sun looking extremely gay and wonderfully neat. (pg. 126). This illusion t o light makes the boy seem attractive to Marlow, not because he is a native, but rather because his persona of light associates him with civilization (Perfect Native). 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