Free Essays on The BFG

The B.F.GBY ROALD DAHL This book is about a girl named Sophie who was taken from her orphanage by a giant named the B.F.G. This giant isn’t an ordinary giant who eats human beans, no he is a Big Friendly Giant. This giant blows dreams into little children’s bedrooms so they can have a good nights sleep. There is nine other giants that are twice as tall as the B.F.G that eat the people. All these giants are going off to a country to eat little kids or adults. Once when the B.F.G was catching dreams he caught a very bad dream. He said it was worse than a nightmare. When the B.F.G and Sophia got home they had an idea. The B.F.G took the frightful dream and blew it into the Fleshlumpeater giant’s face. The giant started to toss and turn vividly and furiously. Then after the dream started a fight happened between the giants. Then Sophia had an idea. She wanted the B.F.G to make a dream about giants eating kids , and about him and her for the queen of England. The B.F.G did what Sophia had as! ked and started to the dream. When he finished the were off. The B.F.G blew the dream into the window of the queen’s room. In the morning she saw Sophia in the window. Then a few minutes later she saw the B.F.G. They had a breakfast that the B.F.G loved. They made a plan to stop the giants from eating more people. They sent helicopters and other war type things. They dug a huge hole for the giants so they wouldn’t eat any more people. They put a sign up that said , â€Å"IT IS FORBIDDEN TO FEED THE GIANTS!!!†... Free Essays on The BFG Free Essays on The BFG The B.F.GBY ROALD DAHL This book is about a girl named Sophie who was taken from her orphanage by a giant named the B.F.G. This giant isn’t an ordinary giant who eats human beans, no he is a Big Friendly Giant. This giant blows dreams into little children’s bedrooms so they can have a good nights sleep. There is nine other giants that are twice as tall as the B.F.G that eat the people. All these giants are going off to a country to eat little kids or adults. Once when the B.F.G was catching dreams he caught a very bad dream. He said it was worse than a nightmare. When the B.F.G and Sophia got home they had an idea. The B.F.G took the frightful dream and blew it into the Fleshlumpeater giant’s face. The giant started to toss and turn vividly and furiously. Then after the dream started a fight happened between the giants. Then Sophia had an idea. She wanted the B.F.G to make a dream about giants eating kids , and about him and her for the queen of England. The B.F.G did what Sophia had as! ked and started to the dream. When he finished the were off. The B.F.G blew the dream into the window of the queen’s room. In the morning she saw Sophia in the window. Then a few minutes later she saw the B.F.G. They had a breakfast that the B.F.G loved. They made a plan to stop the giants from eating more people. They sent helicopters and other war type things. They dug a huge hole for the giants so they wouldn’t eat any more people. They put a sign up that said , â€Å"IT IS FORBIDDEN TO FEED THE GIANTS!!!†...

An Introductory History of Zambia

An Introductory History of Zambia The indigenous hunter-gatherer occupants of Zambia began to be displaced or absorbed by more advanced migrating tribes about 2,000 years ago. The major waves of Bantu-speaking immigrants began in the 15th century, with the greatest influx between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. They came primarily from the Luba and Lunda tribes of southern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola Escaping the Mfecane In the 19th century, there was an additional influx by Ngoni peoples from the south escaping the Mfecane. By the latter part of that century, the various peoples of Zambia were largely established in the areas they currently occupy. David Livingstone at the Zambezi Except for an occasional Portuguese explorer, the area lay untouched by Europeans for centuries. After the mid-19th century, it was penetrated by Western explorers, missionaries, and traders. David Livingstone, in 1855, was the first European to see the magnificent waterfalls on the Zambezi River. He named the falls after Queen Victoria, and the Zambian town near the falls is named after him. Northern Rhodesia a British Protectorate In 1888, Cecil Rhodes, spearheading British commercial and political interests in Central Africa, obtained a mineral rights concession from local chiefs. In the same year, Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively) were proclaimed a British sphere of influence. Southern Rhodesia was annexed formally and granted self-government in 1923, and the administration of Northern Rhodesia was transferred to the British colonial office in 1924 as a protectorate. A Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland In 1953, both Rhodesias were joined with Nyasaland (now Malawi) to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Northern Rhodesia was the center of much of the turmoil and crisis that characterized the federation in its last years. At the core of the controversy were insistent African demands for greater participation in government and European fears of losing political control. The Road to Independence A two-stage election held in October and December 1962 resulted in an African majority in the legislative council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties. The council passed resolutions calling for Northern Rhodesias secession from the federation and demanding full internal self-government under a new constitution and a new national assembly based on a broader, more democratic franchise. A Troubled Start for the Republic of Zambia On December 31, 1963, the federation was dissolved, and Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on October 24, 1964. At independence, despite its considerable mineral wealth, Zambia faced major challenges. Domestically, there were few trained and educated Zambians capable of running the government, and the economy was largely dependent on foreign expertise. Surrounded by Oppression Three of Zambias neighbors – Southern Rhodesia and the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola- remained under white-dominated rule. Rhodesias white-ruled government unilaterally declared independence in 1965. In addition, Zambia shared a border with South African-controlled South-West Africa (now Namibia). Zambias sympathies lay with forces opposing colonial or white-dominated rule, particularly in Southern Rhodesia. Supporting Nationalist Movements in Southern Africa During the next decade, it actively supported movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO). The Struggle Against Poverty Conflicts with Rhodesia resulted in the closing of Zambias borders with that country and severe problems with international transport and power supply. However, the Kariba hydroelectric station on the Zambezi River provided sufficient capacity to satisfy the countrys requirements for electricity. A railroad to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, built with Chinese assistance, reduced Zambian dependence on railroad lines south to South Africa and west through an increasingly troubled Angola. By the late 1970s, Mozambique and Angola had attained independence from Portugal. Zimbabwe achieved independence in accordance with the 1979 Lancaster House agreement, but Zambias problems were not solved. Civil war in the former Portuguese colonies generated refugees and caused continuing transportation problems. The Benguela Railroad, which extended west through Angola, was essentially closed to traffic from Zambia by the late 1970s. Zambias strong support for the ANC, which had its external headquarters in Lusaka, created security problems as South Africa raided ANC targets in Zambia. In the mid-1970s, the price of copper, Zambias principal export, suffered a severe decline worldwide. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief, but as copper prices remained depressed, it became increasingly difficult to service its growing debt. By the mid-1990s, despite limited debt relief, Zambias per capita foreign debt remained among the highest in the world. Source Text from Public Domain material, US Department of State Background Notes.

Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of John Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of John - Essay Example Gospel of Matthew reveals the substance of Teaching.Here Jesus' image is of a Messiah King,Anointed One, Son of God, Kingdom of God, etc.with an emphasize on Jesus' kingly rule and divine authority. Jesus' image is drawn through His authority over nature with the means of miracles, authority over sin by forgiving, and authority over death through the resurrection. This starts with the depiction to be as descendant of King David with the miracle birth story. The historical correctness about the lineage presents Jesus more with human aspects and less with the incarnation. The most apparent is the factthat Jesus' image is consistent with the Gospels of Mark and Luke with a dependency upon history. "Matthew collected the sayings of Jesus in the Hebrew tongue." Taking liberty with the historical framework, the Gospel of John,presents a unique perspective varying not only from the Gospel of Matthew but also from theother remaining gospels. The interpretation is presented with spiritual theme rather than the historical events. With differentiation this provides with John's unique record of his first hand accounts of experiences with Jesus during His life on earth beginning with His identification as "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Just in the second chapter Jesus performs His first miracle by converting water into wine; and also He predicts His resurrection. Jesus' image is built with vivid lessons, instructions, and the priorities of life using many parables tolearn from effectively. Jesus explains the significance of having a relationship with Him with true difference in life, in addition to the importance of living life on earth and determining our eternal destiny after death. Here, He is a Jewish Messiah. John subs tantiates His purpose and the reason He was sent to earth by God. Jesus' persona clarifies the truth about God, eternity, and making a choice to accept Him as our personal Savior. He becomes flesh and makes His dwelling among us. He came to earth in human form by stooping to the human level with a vision of dying a physical death for taking away our sins. From the beginning John's Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus is the key to membership in God's family. Matthew's ministry of Jesus is restricted only to Galilee with Jerusalem trip in the end; whereas for John that is full of traveling with diverse locations. John's Jesus issupposed to be questioned; some explanation is released upon question. Whereas Matthew' Jesus is the preacher with the conclusion without a need of clarification. Both depictions conjure up Jesus to be the God; but Matthew's Jesus reflects a journey from human to God, while John's Jesus remains God throughout. Matthew's presentation is of a human form, initially, that later on develops into the vast personification of God; Johns' presentation is of the God Himself since the onset taking birth as a human to help and save the people. The scenepresented in Gospel of Matthew exhibits a tendency of "no question" because He is the God. Jesus in Gospel of John, though being a divine power, helps people with explanation. Iftheformer is just a Teaching, then the later is a kind of Learning. If the former is a story of Reali zation, the later is a story of Incarnation. However, the illustration by Matthew is believed to be more correct due to being in accordance with the "original voice" and the historical actuality. The illustration of John is

Christianity. What Went Wrong Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Christianity. What Went Wrong - Research Paper Example The conflict between Christianity and modern thought has been one of the intriguing parts that happened in those times. People know that modern thought is not really welcome in terms of Christian practices. Christianity has always been traditional and known to remain like that for years. Modernity, on the other hand, affects Christianity in a sense that it gives new ideas and raises questions that can influence the dignity of Christianity. There are studies which intentionally provide other meanings and interpretations of the Christian faith. In connection, these studies provide confusions to some Christian believers. Modern thought causes other people to have a different understanding of the Christian teachings. Modernity, in relation, had taken over the minds of the people in the nineteenth century. People started to transition themselves to a modernized world. Thus, giving them the new perspective that they have the freedom to redesign themselves and not just to stay in what seems to be the traditional way. There are many scholars who study the mystery behind Christianity. However, despite their efforts in making Christianity stand firm, these studies even led to rising of conflicts in Christian world. With all the modernity during the nineteenth century plus their studies regarding Christianity, everything went puzzled and confused causing people to start criticizing and questioning. In relation, one of the scholars who made a name in terms of theology during the nineteenth century is Friedrich Schleiermacher. He is said to be very influential during the nineteenth century. His influence has marked the history of theology. ... Hence, Schleiermacher has been named as the father of liberal theology. His study created many conflicts with regard to Christianity since he has a different view for religion. Roger Olson affirmed that, for Schleiermacher, Christianity and religion are all about deep and inner awareness (1999, 544). All religions, specifically Christianity, are based mainly in the experience of every human being. Roger Olson states that, for Schleiermacher, â€Å"it is distinctly human awareness of something infinite beyond the self on which the self is dependent for everything† (1999, 544). Schleiermacher cleared that in terms of principles, the two should not be in questioned: Christianity and science. In addition, Roger Olson notes that to Schleiermacher, any mystical divine interventions were not true. In his own viewpoint, these things do not exist at all (1994, 544). He even changed the traditional belief on the doctrine about the two natures of Jesus Christ. For him, instead of having this belief, it should merely focus on the experience of Jesus with the God-consciousness. The person who is known as the father of modern liberal theology proposed that spiritual feeling results to a true religion. Schleiermacher convinced people that to obtain true religion, one should submit a relationship to the source of life as stated by Gary Dorrien (1997, 12). In addition, Schleiermacher affirmed that one cannot have true religion if it is mainly based in morality, as well as doctrines. Gary Dorrien stated that knowledge, in terms of morality and science, should be taken away so that one can experience true religion and creates a relation with the source of life (1997, 13). Schleiermacher firmly believes that a person’s feeling plays a

Relationship-Driven Leaders Focus on People, Not Power Essay Example for Free

Relationship-Driven Leaders Focus on People, Not Power Essay My article talks about the behavioral theories, as the author discussed the new stream in leadership orientation. To be more specific, he believed that as the industry is now facing globalization and rapid change, leaders must adapt this changing landscape or risk losing high-potential employees. Younger employees prefer relationship-driven leaders and a sense of community. So in other words, they value relationships and leaders who respect their ideas and consult them on decisions. Bobbie (2010) took an example of a general counsel who successfully led a group for years before hiring a vice president to help manage a growing workload. Because this leader spent his career in the traditional model, he found it difficult to delegate work to the new vice president. The issue was not about power, but an Inability to let go and trust the new vice president to complete the work well. If the general counsel had formed a stronger personal connection with the vice president nd built trust based on that relationship, he could have empowered the vice president Instead of constraining her performance. Relationship-driven leaders are more empathetic, patient and tolerant. They approach decision-making subjectively, using personal values as a guide and examining how each option will impact others. Yet, while they are adept at listening and forging personal connections, they can sometimes appear too concerned about what others think or too weak to make tough decision. While leaders cant change their innate personalities, they can change their behavior. Adopting these best practice behaviors will enable leaders to be more effective in an increasingly diverse workplace 1. Open yourself to different viewpoints. 2. Balance empathy with strong decision-making. 3. Collaborate on issues management. 4. Champion employee development. 5. Dont mistake silence for agreement. By adopting a relationship-driven approach, leaders can earn the trust and confidence of an increasingly diverse workforce and improve long-term retention.

Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay -- The Story of an Hour 2014

In the era in which this short story was written, marriage was viewed differently as people view it today. Chopin is probably expressing her view on marriage through the character of Mrs. Mallard and her actions upon discovering that her husband had just past away. This was a time where woman were considered second hand citizens compared to men and where men may have voiced their authority and influence on their wife, not really giving them a chance to have their own opinion. Where in Mrs. Mallard's case may have caused her to bottle up her negative feelings of her husband. Chopin does not write much on how Mrs. Mallard felt during the marriage but she hinted that she was not very happy with it, she mentioned, "And yet she had loved him sometimes" (Chopin 537). It seemed that they had a rocky relationship, if she had only loved him sometimes, and in a time where divorce was practically unheard of and considered an abomination, the only way out of an unstable marriage was through the death of a spouse. So when she had received the message of her husbands accident, she acted w...

Essay 2

The Changes of Life Love, relationship, and sacrifice are very common in a relationship between two people. In the short stories of â€Å"Tommy† by Kelly Ruth Winter and â€Å"The Night of Oranges† by Flavius Stan shows these themes that the characters go through. However, there are also differences between the two stories and how they interact with their loved ones. For instances, Winter continued in love with Tommy throughout her life and Stan shows his love for his brother by buying a gift for him on Christmas.It shows their sacrifice they made to prove their love for them. Winter and Stan both expresses their love and sacrifice yet they displayed it in a different way. The stories â€Å"Tommy† and â€Å"The Night of Oranges† are about love and relationships. However, in both stories the characters have a different relationship. In â€Å"Tommy† the relationship between the characters are a boy and a girl love. When Tommy was eight years old, he e xpresses his feelings toward Winter by tapping his shoes to make the sound â€Å"I love you† (Winter 27).In â€Å"The Night of Oranges† the relationship between the characters are fraternal. Stan shows his love for his brother by buying oranges for him as a gift for Christmas. When Stan hears that there were oranges that are selling at the market he thought he wanted to do something important and give his brother a big surprise (Stan 31). The characters in both stories are very loving towards their loved ones and would do anything to make them happy.

Black Hawk Down Movie Essay

When the movie â€Å"Black Hawk Down† was first released I immediately wanted to watch it. Once I had the opportunity to see this film I was not disappointed and it instantly became one of my favorite movies. I particularly liked this film because I found it to be a captivating movie that provided a glimpse into the minds of American military leaders, especially the elite forces during a controversial conflict. In the years leading up to the conflict portrayed in â€Å"Black Hawk Down† the country of Somalia had been involved in a civil war. Rival clans headed by vicious warlords were rutted against one another. They maintained their power by controlling the weapons and food. By late 1993 over 300,000 civilians had been starved to death by these warlords. When the United Nations could no longer keep the peace and distribute food to those in needs, the United States sent in an elite group of military forces to the region. Ridley Scott directed Black Hawk Down, which was released in 2001. The movie tells the story of 24 hours in the life of American elite soldiers in a clear, focused, and honorable manner. The movie begins with the capture of a man named Mr. Otto who General Garrison, the American commander of forces in Somalia believes to be the main supplier of weapons to the areas primary warlord, Aidi. With the help of inside Intel General Garrison decides to dispatch Army Ranger and Delta forces into Bakara Market area of Mogadishu in order to capture two of Aidi’s key personnel: Omar Salad, his top political advisor and Abdi Hassan, a militia minister. When the U.S. forces left, they were arranged in four chalks. Army Rangers were assigned to evacuate black hawks by the use of fast ropes, and then to secure the corners around the target house where Aidid’s men would be arrested by Delta Force who were dropped in the target site by small birds. The prisoners were then supposed to be transported by a convoy of Humvees back to the U.S. base during which time the black hawks would circle the sky  to provide over head cover. The entire mission was scheduled to take an hour. The codeword â€Å"Irene† was use to start the mission. When the birds reached their target area Rangers began to file down the fast ropes. After the first bird had let its men out, the mission went wrong. As the black hawk maneuvered to miss an RPG, Private First Class Todd Blackburn missed the rope as he departed the black hawk and fell nearly 70 feet. Private First Class Good, the chalk medic came to Blackburn’s aid. Unfortunately, Blackburn’s injuries were far more severe than he was equipped to handle. Blackburn needed to be extracted immediately. As Blackburn was loaded onto a stretcher to await the arrival of the medevac the firefight intensified and the Rangers were forced to branch out. With eyes on the battlefield from a screen located at the command center, General Garrison observed the deteriorating situation. Within minutes thousands of Somalis began to erect barricades, start fires, and maneuver themselves towards the American forces. These barricades caused the Humvees to alter from their original course in an attempt to make it to the pick up site. At the same time, the Ranger and Delta forces had successfully captured Aidi’s key men. When the Humvees finally arrived, Blackburn was near death. The chalk leader decided that three Humvees would break from the convoy and take Blackburn back to base; however, while in route to the base their gun man was killed. The city was filled with Somalis shooting at the force from every possible direction. While this was taking place, the helicopters continued to circle the city. They provided aerial support for the ground forces. While providing aerial support one of the black hawks (Super Six One) piloted by Wilcott was hit by an RPG. Initially Wilcott believed the damage was minor, but his bird quickly began to spin out of control and proceeded to crash; which quickly changed the American forces mission. Now the American forces had to reach the fallen bird before the Somalis did. With a chopper leading the way, ground forces along with Humvees began to make their way to the crash site, but fate struck again. While leading the convoy, the chopper manned by Mike Durant was shot down by an RPG. A new plan was then created in order to secure the second fallen black hawk. The new plan was for the Humvees to continue on to the first crash site, secure it, recover the wounded as well as dead, head to the second crash, site secure it, and then finally head back to the base. However, before the Humvees where able to make it to the first crash site they had taken so many casualties that they were forced to return to base; leaving the Delta force and Ranger forces to fight the growing mob. As night fell the remaining forces settled into fallen homes where they proceeded to take care of their wounded and fire at advancing Somalis. Meanwhile the convoy returned to base, unloaded their wounded, rearmed and headed back out to rescue the American forces. Additionally, small birds darted through Mogadishu firing down upon the Somalis in an attempt to provide fire support. By 9:30 that night a rescue plan was in place. The U.S. forces would hook up with the Malaysian and Pakistani forces, form a convoy and bring the remaining forces back to base. There task was a long and tedious process as the convoy was constantly under fire. However, by 5:45 the following morning the convoy had reached the troops and was heading back to base. The only problem with this was that there was not enough room for all of the soldiers. Due to this fact, some of the soldiers were forced to run back to the base amid the continued shooting. The movie concluded as a large forced prepared to return in an attempt to find Mike Durant. In conclusion, Black Hawk Down is an excellent, must see movie. In my opinion the movies accomplished three main goals. First, it informs the viewers of the events that occurred in Somalia. Second, it brings the audience deep into the heart of battle by showing a realistic portrayal of combat and the brave actions of numerous American soldiers. Consequently, the movie gives its viewers a sense of the fellowship that was felt among the American forces that were apart of this conflict as well as a deeper appreciation for the sacrifice that so many American’s make even when not involved in a major war. Finally, throughout this movie Ridley Scott highlights one of the principle warrior ethos used by the fighting forces  and lived by many American Soldiers: â€Å"Never leave a fallen comrade†.

Concept of Niche Marketing

Concept of Niche Marketing Introduction Niche in French directly translates to nest. Niche marketing thus has the connotation of being cagey meaning it’s focus is on a minute portion of the larger product and service market whose needs are not met in a satisfactory manner (Groucutt, 2004), (Armstrong, et al., 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of Niche Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most businesses, that are market leaders nowadays, began with an interest in serving a particular small composition of people and developed into bigger outlets with improvements in their products (Moore and Paree, 2009). Niche marketing, however, does not mostly apply to big companies but rather medium to small enterprises that produce specialty products not available in the mainstream markets (Dalgic, 2006). The market size can be geographically chosen, targeting an age group or ethnic community or it can also be a variation of a com mon product not produced by any other firms. There is no difference between identifying potential business ventures with identifying niche markets. In fact, most people who have successfully ventured into the niche market business do so accidentally. The guaranteed way to success lies in persistence and recognition of vacuums in product and service markets. For anyone starting a business, there are several factors they have to consider. First, there is a need to identify the particular niche market you intend to serve and its characteristics. Secondly, one should ensure that the business they are venturing into rhymes with the specific professional goals they harbour. Another factor that should be considered is resources at hand and those that lack and need acquiring. Lastly, one should develop a business plan that details extensively the way they intend to start, run and market the business. A description of the business, an analysis of the niche market, a mission statement, strate gies and objectives of the business, plan of marketing, description of operations, expected sale figures, risk analysis, a financial plan and the expected source of assistance are all details that should be considered and detailed in a business plan.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Case study In the United States, there are immense opportunities that are associated with agriculture guaranteed by the diversity that the population possesses, in terms of the different cultures, hence different staple diets. For example, food that is the staple diet for African-Americans in Harlem is not the same as that consumed in China town, both of these areas being in New York City. Quality, adaptability and novelty are the key factors that determine success in the agricultural industry. As niche marketing is mostly done by small to medium enterprises for a specific market, we wil l discuss Rockridge farm in Seattle, US (DePhelps et al., 2005). The farm is about 41acres in size and specializes in the growth of Asian pears, Japanese and Chinese cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes and bamboo. These four are their specialty crops. However they also grow wasabi, ginseng, lettuces, Asian greens, shiso and a range of over fifty other niche market products that target the Asian community in the region. Their products are marketed using a wide range of methods and they have a solid business plan that they follow strictly. They have also ventured into many different kinds of farm products and this strategy is aimed at spreading risks. Rockridge farm is structured as a sole proprietorship enterprise and is owned by Wade Benett. He has created a model that allows him to market his products using a wide range of avenues. This, he says is aimed at reducing the over reliance on a single market, which may be counterproductive. His products are sold through farmers’ markets, farm stands, grocery stores and restaurants. He began by selling their products in the Seattle farmers’ markets as an experiment and has since diversified in a period of the last 20 years. Having built a good reputation from his top quality products, he has the luxury of choosing which market to serve and he prefers the markets that sell food products only; unlike those that sell both food products and crafts. This, he claims, is because he likes his customers to be solely focused on his products so that they are in good quality when they are purchased by the eventual consumers. He adds that he likes to reduce damage resulting from over handling of his products and prefers markets that are well regulated with clearly laid boundaries for engagement and with fair competition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of Niche Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are two permanently employed staff mem bers at his farm that are charged with marketing. Together with his wife, wade monitors profitability of his operations while gauging customer satisfaction and the competition. Uniqueness, he claims has been the reason he remains competitive coupled by the fact that he deals with products that are not in oversupply. Wade has also been marketing his products to specific restaurants and most of the other restaurants access his products at the farmers’ markets. There are also those who request that specific products be grown for them, which he sells at a retail price. The products are identified by the farm name and hence a reputation has been built out of this. Most repeat customers in big restaurants are attracted to the food because they know it is grown locally, with care and in the best conditions. Selling to restaurants is more stringent with more boundaries unlike marketing to farmers’ markets. There are more expected in terms of delivery times and the quality and quantity required. However, with this increase in expectations come better responses about product quality. With restaurants, wade argues that he could not afford to fail to deliver in case there is crop failure. He thus asserts that in order to avoid this, he is forced to over plant which curtails production of other products hence a reduction in expected sales figures. Wade markets his products through community supported agriculture. Members of his community usually pay a subscription fee and are given priority whenever they require a product. He has however capped this subscription to only 21 people as he points out the fact that more subscriptions could lead to delivery failure whenever a product is in short supply and hence loss of customers and a negative reputation. Customers with these subscriptions can pick their products either on-farm or in the farmers’ market. Of all the families he has accorded subscriptions, 90 percent have one spouse being of Asian descent and are in a high income bracket.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The program is labour intensive as products have to be packaged specifically for these clients. He also points to the fact that this program is not as profitable as his other ventures but says that since the subscribers pay for the products during the month of April, he is capable of accurately crafting a budget during this otherwise slow period. Another avenue for marketing the products is with the use of farm stands. This entails displaying his products on his neighbours’ farm stands and it gives him the exposure needed for his products and also adds to his diversification policy. He says that due to insurance liabilities and expense in logistics, he stopped operating his own stand and preferred other people’s as it was ultimately cheaper and boosted his products sales. Displaying his products, which are labelled with his farm name, on other farms’ stands helped market his products and build a reputation. He has, however, decreased the number of stands he sell s his products from; to four, as he says that operating from many stands floods the market and this could drive prices down. There is also the intrinsic value of selling through other people as they benefit financially from the sales. This is part of community building that Wade takes pride in. Grocery stores also market Wade’s products and nearly 50 percent of his total production is sold through this avenue. He sells through â€Å"Mom and Pop† stores that are primarily frequented by Asians as well as in Seattle’s international district. It was illegal, several years back, to import fresh bamboo shoots and hence a large untapped market for them was available, as they comprise the Asian staple diet. It is now legal to import bamboo shoots but Wade says that this has not stunted his sales in the product as he had already carved a reputation for himself. As a last result, Wade frequently sells to distributors although he claims it does not please him as he cannot control what wholesalers do to his products. The figure below shows Gross Income from Sales, 2003  iversification as a Strategy in the Business. Diversification as a Strategy in the Business Rockridge farm markets its products through a number of different channels. The major factor that makes this diversification model successful is cost cutting. The farm saves on transportation costs and also on delivery. It is possible to avail the products to different outlets at the same time. They also use the same packaging to deliver to the different markets. Where uncertainties occur in the market causing prices to go down, the firm is somewhat cushioned against excessive losses in comparison to other businesses that take all their products to wholesalers. Wade avoids advertising as he says it is unnecessary because his niche market is not that large (Bose, 2010). He however gets published at least once every month on the local newspaper, magazine articles and also through letters to the editor. The greatest tool for his success in promoting his product comes from his many years of consistently availing to customers top quality products. He, on occasion, requests feedback from his customers and interrogates them on how they came to learn about the farm. Most people get to know about his farm since his packaging is unique and it bears the brand name which has acquired a good reputation. Grocery stores focus on products that have a long shelf life and look good on the outside which according to Wade are tasteless. He however recognizes that those products generate more money for store owners (Economist, 2006). The people that care about taste are particularly home owners and restaurants that are judged according to the quality of the meal. These are the people that Rockrigde is interested in and strives to keep loyal. Marketing Strategies versus Production Techniques Rockridge emphasizes good customer relations which are reflected right from the production stage. The re is reduced usage of chemicals on the farm and use of sustainable techniques that are fundamental to the longevity of the farming practice. Other practices aimed at building confidence around their brands include not raising animals that may increase the risk of pathogen contamination and encouraging customers to visit their farm frequently in order to understand the mode of operations first hand. Wade further explains that he has never held any Food Alliance certificates but rather depends on the reputation he has built by being in the market for product promotion. Growth of the various exotic and lower return crops is both labour intensive and engages extensive research on the best practices. There are many factors considered that make the difference between good and bad products. In order to consistently produce the best products, Wade has adopted the best practices that include possession of agricultural know how which focuses on the optimum conditions needed by every crop gro wn, at different stages of growth and during the diverse seasons in a year. Since 1992, the farm has been making decent profits and not once did it incur a loss. The gross sales from all markets have been steadily growing each year. The plan that Wade has is to increase his markets by one or two each year so that he consistently gets returns on his investments. He attributes his current state to the reception he has received by diversifying and by focusing on the customer. He has also endeavoured into other Asian cultural practices that go beyond diet in a bid to strengthening his relations with the community since they are his primary target. Wade continues to experiment with different crops in order to remain profitable. He has, in the same light, dropped some of the products he used to produce when their reception diminished. The factor that determines whether he farms a specific type of crop or not is whether the customer needs it and is willing to pay a premium for it. Another factor he considers is whether the product elicits interest from him or not. He says that he would not like to farm a crop he does not care for. In order to reduce wastage of products that are over flooded in the market, Wade has invested in equipment that juices certain fruits e.g. pears that are popular but also common. This is another source of revenue that he has ventured into. The farm acquired a license, 1n 2004, meant for the production of hard cider and vinegars. This made it possible for the conversion of lower value plants into high value end products. When prices for pears rapidly decreased in 2003, he juiced them adding raspberries into the juice and sold it at a premium and this proved to be very successful. He points out the fact that, for any business to grow and remain profitable, it must consistently adapt its products to the niche market (Joshi, 2005). This has been very essential at Rockridge as it has helped the business stay afloat even in the most adverse condi tions. Impeccable record keeping, constant involvement and consultation with staff members and experts have assisted Wade’s business immensely. Additionally, his close contact and involvement in the business on a daily basis has also played a major part in its success. He forecasts his sales trends for even up to two years while training a keen eye on other market factors. He can know if and when there is going to be a flood in the market for a particular product and thus predicts the tanking of prices. This information he acquires by making sure he knows what his competitors (Ries and Trout, 2006) have planted and when those crops will be in the market. Conclusion For Wade, his business is his lifestyle which he then translates to a source of revenue. He has passion for the work he is engaged in and this, he says, is what makes the difference between success and failure. He has segmented his market by Geography as he serves a small part of the larger Seattle market. His mark et has also been selected using ethnicity as a factor reflected by the fact that his primary clients are of Asian descent. This has made him focused solely on providing products that are reflective of the staple diet of the Asian people. He has employed a number of techniques that enable him to consistently produce only those products that are not flooded in the market and elicit interest from this segment. In our discussion earlier, we identified niche marketing to be focused on a vacuum in the market where the mainstream marketers do not have products to satisfy that particular market. Rockridge farm can thus be considered to have capitalized on this opportunity and has consistently continued to produce only goods targeting this vacuum. They have, therefore, carved a niche market for themselves and are excelling at satisfying it (Chaston, 1999). Consistency over the years and the possession of a solid business plan, have been the major contributors to the success story at Rockridg e. Employee engagement and use of other labour intensive methods have ensured that the crops harvested in the farm are of the best quality. To have the perfect market mix is the utmost important rule of marketing (Belohlavek, 2008) and Wade seems to have gotten his mix right. The place he chose to market his products is both fertile and large enough to sustain his business. It is also close to the target market hence little costs are incurred in shipping. Wade has done a good job in selecting his target market, ensuring that he has repeat customers and has a secured future. He has, consequently engaged in a number of promotion mechanism suitable for his business without incurring extra expenses. Lastly, for any business to be successful, one must get a premium for his products. Wade only farms crops he believes will fetch the best price in the market. He, therefore, endeavours into other methods like juicing and production of vinegar in order to raise the value of those products tha t are flooded in the market. There are many success stories in the world today; arising from the successful identification of the niche market and Rockridge seems to be doing a great job towards success. References Armstrong, G. M. et al. (2007). Marketing an introduction. New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall Belohlavek, P. (2008). Unicist Marketing Mix.nd. Blue Eagle Group. ISBN 978-987-651-011-0 Bose, C. (2010).Modern Marketing Principles Practice. New Delhi: PHI learning private limited Chaston, I. (1999). New marketing strategies. London: Sage Publications Dalgic, T. (2006). Handbook of niche marketing: principles and practice. New York: Haworth Press DePhelps, C. et al. (2005). Profitable Niche Marketing on Rockridge Farm. Idaho: Rural Roots and University of Idaho Research Team Economist, (2006, November 11). Swarming the shelves: How shops can exploit peoples herd mentality to increase sales. The Economist, p. 90. Groucutt, J. et al. (2004). Marketing: essential principles, ne w realities. London: Kogan Page Limited Joshi, R. M. (2005). International Marketing. New Delhi: Oxford University Press ISBN 0195671236 Moore, K. and Paree, N. (2009).Marketing: the basics (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. Ries, A and Trout, J. (2006). Marketing warfare. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan Over the centuries, various would-be conquerors have thrown their armies against the sere mountains and valleys of Afghanistan. In just the past two centuries, great powers have invaded Afghanistan at least four times. It has not turned out well for the invaders. As former US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski put it, They (the Afghanis) have a curious complex: they dont like foreigners with guns in their country. In 1979, the Soviet Union decided to try its luck in Afghanistan, long a target of Russian foreign policy. Many historians believe that in the end, the Soviet War in Afghanistan was key in destroying one of the Cold War worlds two superpowers. Background to the Invasion On April 27, 1978, Soviet-advised members of the Afghan Army overthrew and executed President Mohammed Daoud Khan. Daoud was a leftist progressive, but not a communist, and he resisted Soviet attempts to direct his foreign policy as interference in Afghanistans affairs. Daoud moved Afghanistan toward the non-allied bloc, which included India, Egypt, and Yugoslavia. Although the Soviets did not order his ouster, they quickly recognized the new communist Peoples Democratic Party government that formed on April 28, 1978. Nur Muhammad Taraki became Chairman of the newly-formed Afghan Revolutionary Council. However, infighting with other communist factions and cycles of purging plagued Tarakis government from the start. In addition, the new communist regime targeted Islamic mullahs and wealthy landowners in the Afghan countryside, alienating all of the traditional local leaders. Soon, anti-government insurgencies broke out across northern and eastern Afghanistan, aided by Pashtun guerrillas from Pakistan. Over the course of 1979, the Soviets watched carefully as their client government in Kabul lost control of more and more of Afghanistan. In March, the Afghan Army battalion in Herat defected to the insurgents, and killed 20 Soviet advisers in the city; there would be four more major military uprisings against the government by the end of the year. By August, the government in Kabul had lost control of 75% of Afghanistan - it held the large cities, more or less, but the insurgents controlled the countryside. Leonid Brezhnev and the Soviet government wanted to protect their puppet in Kabul but hesitated (reasonably enough) to commit ground troops to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The Soviets were concerned about the Islamist insurgents taking power since many of the USSRs Muslim Central Asian republics bordered on Afghanistan. In addition, the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran seemed to shift the balance of power in the region toward Muslim theocracy. As the Afghan governments situation deteriorated, the Soviets sent in military aid - tanks, artillery, small arms, fighter jets, and helicopter gunships - as well as ever-greater numbers of military and civilian advisers. By June of 1979, there were approximately 2,500 Soviet military advisers and 2,000 civilians in Afghanistan, and some of the military advisers actively drove tanks and flew helicopters in raids on the insurgents. Moscow Secretly Sent in Units of the Spetznaz or Special Forces On September 14, 1979, Chairman Taraki invited his chief rival in the Peoples Democratic Party, Minister of National Defense Hafizullah Amin, to a meeting at the presidential palace. It was supposed to be an ambush on Amin, orchestrated by Tarakis Soviet advisers, but the chief of palace guards tipped off Amin as he arrived, so the Defense Minister escaped. Amin returned later that day with an Army contingent and placed Taraki under house arrest, to the dismay of the Soviet leadership. Taraki died within a month, smothered with a pillow on Amins orders. Another major military uprising in October convinced the Soviet leaders that Afghanistan had spun out of their control, politically and militarily. Motorized and airborne infantry divisions numbering 30,000 troops began preparing to deploy from the neighboring Turkestan Military District (now in Turkmenistan) and the Fergana Military District (now in Uzbekistan). Between December 24 and 26, 1979, American observers noted that the Soviets were running hundreds of airlift flights into Kabul, but they were unsure whether it was a major invasion or simply supplies intended to help prop up the tottering Amin regime. Amin was, after all, a member of Afghanistans communist party. All doubt vanished over the next two days, however. On December 27, Soviet Spetznaz troops attacked Amins home and killed him, installing Babrak Kamal as the new puppet-leader of Afghanistan. The following day, the Soviet motorized divisions from Turkestan and the Fergana Valley rolled into Afghanistan, launching the invasion. Early Months of the Soviet Invasion The Islamic insurgents of Afghanistan, called the mujahideen, declared a jihad against the Soviet invaders. Although the Soviets had vastly superior weaponry, the mujahideen knew the rough terrain and were fighting for their homes and their faith. By February of 1980, the Soviets had control of all of the major cities in Afghanistan and were successful in quashing Afghan Army revolts when army units marched out information to fight the Soviet troops. However, mujahideen guerrillas held 80% of the country. Try and Try Again - Soviet Efforts to 1985 In the first five years, the Soviets held the strategic route between Kabul and Termez and patrolled the border with Iran, to prevent Iranian aid from reaching the mujahideen. Mountainous regions of Afghanistan such as Hazarajat and Nuristan, however, were completely free of Soviet influence. The mujahideen also held Herat and Kandahar much of the time. The Soviet Army launched a total of nine offensives against one key, guerrilla-held pass called the Panjshir Valley in the first five years of the war alone. Despite the heavy use of tanks, bombers, and helicopter gunships, they were unable to take the Valley. The mujahideens amazing success in the face of one of the worlds two superpowers attracted support from a number of outside powers seeking either to support Islam or weaken the USSR: Pakistan, the Peoples Republic of China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Withdrawal From the Quagmire - 1985 to 1989 As the war in Afghanistan dragged on, the Soviets faced a harsh reality. Afghan Army desertions were epidemic, so the Soviets had to do much of the fighting. Many Soviet recruits were Central Asians, some from the same Tajik and Uzbek ethnic groups as many of the mujihadeen, so they often refused to carry out attacks ordered by their Russian commanders. Despite official press censorship, people in the Soviet Union began to hear that the war was not going well and to notice a large number of funerals for Soviet soldiers. Before the end, some media outlets even dared to publish commentary on the Soviets Vietnam War, pushing the boundaries of Mikhail Gorbachevs policy of glasnost or openness. Conditions were terrible for many ordinary Afghans, but they held out against the invaders. By 1989, the mujahideen had organized some 4,000 strike bases across the country, each manned by at least 300 guerrillas. One famous mujahideen commander in the Panjshir Valley, Ahmad Shah Massoud, commanded 10,000 well-trained troops. By 1985, Moscow was actively seeking an exit strategy. They sought to intensify recruitment and training for the Afghan armed forces, in order to transition responsibility to local troops. The ineffectual president, Babrak Karmal, lost Soviet support, and in November of 1986, a new president named Mohammad Najibullah was elected. He proved less than popular with the Afghan people, however, in part because he was the former chief of the widely-feared secret police, the KHAD. From May 15 to August 16, 1988, the Soviets completed phase one of their withdrawal. The retreat was generally peaceful since the Soviets first negotiated cease-fires with mujahideen commanders along the withdrawal routes. Remaining Soviet troops withdrew between November 15, 1988, and February 15, 1989. A total of just over 600,000 Soviets served in the Afghan War, and about 14,500 were killed. Another 54,000 were wounded, and an astonishing 416,000 became ill with typhoid fever, hepatitis, and other serious diseases. An estimated 850,000 to 1.5 million Afghan civilians died in the war, and five to ten million fled the country as refugees. This represented as much as one-third of the countrys 1978 population, severely straining Pakistan and other neighboring countries. 25,000 Afghans died from landmines alone during the war, and millions of mines remained behind after the Soviets withdrew. The Aftermath of the Soviet War in Afghanistan Chaos and civil war ensued when the Soviets left Afghanistan, as rival mujahideen commanders fought to enlarge their spheres of influence. Some mujahideen troops behaved so badly, robbing, raping, and murdering civilians at will, that a group of Pakistani-educated religious students banded together to fight against them in the name of Islam. This new faction called itself the Taliban, meaning the Students. For the Soviets, the repercussions were equally dire. Over the previous decades, the Red Army had always been able to quash any nation or ethnic group that rose in opposition - the Hungarians, the Kazakhs, the Czechs - but now they had lost to the Afghans. Minority peoples in the Baltic and Central Asian republics, in particular, took heart; indeed, the Lithuanian democracy movement openly declared independence from the Soviet Union in March of 1989, less than a month after the withdrawal from Afghanistan finished. Anti-Soviet demonstrations spread to Latvia, Georgia, Estonia, and other republics. The long and costly war left the Soviet economy in shambles. It also fueled the rise of a free press and open dissent among not only ethnic minorities but also from Russians who had lost loved ones in the fighting. Although it was not the only factor, certainly the Soviet War in Afghanistan helped to hasten the end of one of the two superpowers. Just over two and a half years after the withdrawal, on December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union was formally dissolved. Sources MacEachin, Douglas. Predicting the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The Intelligence Communitys Record, CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence, Apr. 15, 2007. Prados, John, ed. Volume II: Afghanistan: Lessons from the Last War. Analysis of the Soviet War in Afghanistan, Declassified, The National Security Archive, Oct. 9, 2001. Reuveny, Rafael, and Aseem Prakash. The Afghanistan War and the Breakdown of the Soviet Union, Review of International Studies, (1999), 25, 693-708.

Hollywood Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hollywood Cinema - Essay Example cal implication of women getting more and more involved with cinema during the classical period of Hollywood, it is important to have a brief and a close grasp at the classical period of Hollywood cinema. In the film history, classical period refers strictly to a style of cinema that involved a particular visual and audio mode in production of cinema during the period between 1927 and 1963 in the American film industry. A very unique and identifiable style evolved in the cinema during this period and that style actually came to be known as classical Hollywood style. Developed on the principle of continuity editing which is also known as â€Å"invisible style†, the American cinema started gaining more popular grounds amid the masses. In a modernist or postmodernist works, visual arts did witness the call of attention between the camera and the sound recording. In the classical periods, these two main facets of the cinema making were placed completely at peace with each other ma king the presentation smoother and eloquent. It would be very unjustified action, if the cinemas produced during the classical period of Hollywood are judged under the light of feminist film theories. The movement of feminism in the cultural arena of America gained its strong grounds during 70s and the transition of silent cinema into a complete audio-visual mode was over by 60s itself. Yet, to trace the importance of women to cinema going during the classical period of Hollywood cinema, a thorough study of feminist interpretation of the cinema would definitely guide to the platform upon which the social importance of women to cinema going could be traced naturally. Theoretical film criticism developed on the matrix of feminist politics and feminist theory and an approach to cinema analysis of... As discussed in the introductory part of the essay, to comprehend the thesis pertaining to the sociological implication of women getting more and more involved with cinema during the classical period of Hollywood, it is important to have a brief and a close grasp at the classical period of Hollywood cinema. In the film history, classical period refers strictly to a style of cinema that involved a particular visual and audio mode in production of cinema during the period between 1927 and 1963 in the American film industry. A very unique and identifiable style evolved in the cinema during this period and that style actually came to be known as classical Hollywood style. Developed on the principle of continuity editing which is also known as â€Å"invisible style†, the American cinema started gaining more popular grounds amid the masses. In a modernist or postmodernist works, visual arts did witness the call of attention between the camera and the sound recording. In the classica l periods, these two main facets of the cinema making were placed completely at peace with each other making the presentation smoother and eloquent. This report makes a conclusion that cinema over the years have faced transition but irrespective of any gender, class or age Hollywood cinema have been able to enchant and engross millions of spectator across the globe. It is evident that the role of cinema into the life of women is far reaching. Once, who were captivated inside the four walls of their household, got their foremost chance of tasting liberty of thought process and a scope to gaze out to the world beyond the four walls of their house and watch the world with a new vision and perspective.

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, Essay

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, analyze, and interpret - Essay Example Without evaluating the self, one’s own abilities, individual races after secular achievements, thinking that there is no world beyond the external world, the world as interpreted by the power of one’s intellect. Many are not willing to accept that the inner world exists within every human being. God, call Him the Omniscient Power, All-pervading Reality, Light-Consciousness or any other name that various religions hail him, can not be comprehended by one’s intellect. Howsoever great may be one’s intelligence, one can not understand him through the mind-apparatus. The mystery of Nature is beyond description and intellectual arguments. The final frontier of logic and reasoning is mind. The primary duty of the mind is to confuse the human being. The scale of materialistic civilization has two measuring points-success or failure. It eulogizes the successful and condemns the failure! But it ignores the process of living by an individual. How one has faced life i n is trails, tribulations duty and beauty. The protagonist of the novel, introduced to the readers at the age of mid-forties, has the wrong start and finds it difficult to cope up with the challenges of life. He is unable to join the mainstream of society and finds himself a loner. †¦then some thing happens on a particular day, about which his mind has forewarned him! How Tommy Wilhelm encountered the predicament and made efforts to meet the cumulative pressure that has been building up within his inner self? â€Å"As a young man he has rejected his father’s profession, medicine, tried for a career in Hollywood, been tricked by a phony talent scout, ended up in sales and lost his sales district due to nepotism.† (Cronin, 2003†¦.)A college dropout, married and divorced, with two children, his finances are in a mess. He somehow wishes to recover the lost ground and