Keurig Case Analysis free essay sample

Keurig has been successful in selling its coffee brewing system to the office coffee segment (OCS) of the US market. This success led its leaders to ponder entering the consumer market. While making the move might seem like a reasonable next step in the development of the company core business, it also presents unique challenges. The biggest of those challenges concerns the danger of losing the existing OCS business due to a possible disruption of the unique distribution channels that the company relies on for OCS. The management also has to decide on the appropriate pricing scheme for its new brewer, which is further complicated by the proprietary nature of the coffee cup (aka K-Cup) that comes with it. Calculating the brewer price In calculating the price for the brewer we must consider the full picture. In particular, the proprietary nature of the company business inevitably ties the profits on the brewer and the profits on the coffee that comes with the brewer. We will write a custom essay sample on Keurig Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page More specifically, the total profit per customer: Profit=Profitbrewer+Profitcoffee It should be notes here that the aforementioned profit model is by no means unique to Keurig, and can be observed in other industries, like computers (where the profits are oftentimes split across hardware and software) or printers (where the profits are split across hardware and cartridges). Writing out the above formula further, we get: (1) Profit=Marginbrewer? Qbrewer+Profitcoffee (2) Profit=(Pricebrewer-Costbrewer)? Qbrewer+Margincoffee? Qbrewer (3) Profit=(Pricebrewer-(Costbrewer-Margincoffee))? Qbrewer The last equality (3), although follows immediately from the previous one (2), illustrates an important conceptual point, namely: profit margins gained on coffee sales can offset the costs of a brewer. Also, given the nature of their coffee business (royalties), the margins on coffee sales are virtually equivalent to profits (no â€Å"costs† are incurred in order to receive royalties). Calculating profit on coffee From the case we know that a typical customer consumes 2. 25 cups of coffee per day. This number multiplied by 365 gives us 365 ? 2. 25 ? 821 cups per year. Keurig receives $0. 04 in royalties per cup; therefore the total profit will amount to $32 per customer per year. Assuming the four year time horizon (N = 4) and the cost of capital, r=10%, the NPV value for the stream of income on coffee sales is NPV=i=1N321+ri = $101 per customer. Calculating brewer price elasticity To calculate the elasticity we use the market research data presented in Exhibit 6. A log-log regression of the 6-point data gives us an estimate of the price to share elasticity equal to ? -3. 2 (see Appendix A), which we shall round to -3 per this assignment’s instructions. The mark-up coefficient in the â€Å"optimal price† formula will therefore be equal to ? 1+? = 1. 5. the recommended brewer price Using the original cost estimate for the brewer ($200) and the mark-up factor of 1. 5 would give us the optimal price of $300. However, as was explained earlier, per equation (3) we can interpret Keurig’s profit on its coffee sales as a brewer cost reduction factor. Thus, the original cost of a brewer is reduced to $200-$101=$99; applying the mark-up coefficient of 1. 5 will give the recommended price of $99? 1. 5? $148 per brewer. Calculating the K-Cup price

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store As a writer, you’ve probably used a variety of different keyboards, and  know that they’re not all created equal. Keyboards come in many different styles and choosing the right one can have a big effect on your typing speed, comfort, and accuracy. Some have traditional solid, clicky keys with switches inside them, some have modern flat, silent keys, and some fall halfway in between. What kind of keyboard should you be using? In this article, we’ll look at the three main types of keyboards, what makes them different from each other, and which one is likely to be best for you. Membrane keyboards These days, most desktop keyboards are membrane keyboards. Their name derives from their construction. Rather than each key being independent with an inbuilt mechanical switch, all the keys sit on top of a single plastic membrane that houses the electronic circuitry. Between the keys and the circuitry is a rubber sheet with domes that give the keys their characteristic bounce-back when you type. They’re popular because they’re light, cheap to produce, are relatively spill-resistant and give you a bit of tactile feedback. Chiclet keyboards If you’re typing on a modern laptop, chances are you have an island-style keyboard, popularly known as a chiclet keyboard because the square keys with radial corners look somewhat like Chiclets chewing gum. While there’s usually a membrane beneath these keyboards too, the rubber domes that are present beneath higher-profile keys are either omitted altogether or replaced with scissor switches or butterfly switches, which enable the use of very low, flat keys that can fit into thinner and thinner devices. Mechanical keyboards The main difference with a mechanical keyboard is that each key is a separate component with its own switch and metal spring. There are many different kinds of switches that can be used in mechanical keyboards, and each type gives a different user experience with varying levels of travel (the distance you have to press the key for it to register a stroke), bump (the level of tactile feedback) and noise (the click the key makes when depressed). Most mechanical keyboards contain Cherry switches. While their patent for the switch design has recently expired, opening the way for other manufacturers to imitate it, Cherry is still considered the industry leader in keyboard switch technology. Their MX switch, which was first introduced to the market in 1983, is one of the most successful ever made. Cherry switches come in different colors, and each color has its own set of characteristics. The full range is wide, but there are three main variants. Cherry MX Blue These switches have a tactile bump and a loud click that occurs when the keystroke registers, and are favoured by those who like a more typewriter-esque experience. They only need to be depressed to the click point to activate the keystroke but require more force than the Red or Brown variants. Cherry MX Red These switches are favoured by gamers because they have no tactile bump or noise and require less force to press, which is an advantage when you’re engaged in a fast-paced cyber-battle. Cherry MX Brown These are an excellent all-rounder switch – they require the lighter actuation force of the Reds but have the nice tactile bump of the Blues. They lack the Blues’ loud click, however, making them perfect for use in offices or coffee shops where you don’t want to annoy those around you with a constant flurry of clacky keystrokes. Why mechanical keyboards are better for writers People who convert to mechanical keyboards often become lifelong fans because of the satisfying typing experience and range of benefits they get from using them. What makes mechanical keyboards so good for writers? 1. Accuracy There’s nothing worse than trying to type fast on a chiclet keyboard where all the keys are flat and close together, and you’re forever hitting the key beside the one you want with the edge of your finger. Like the keys on a traditional typewriter, mechanical keyboard keycaps tend to be nicely contoured to help your finger naturally hit the centre of the key as you type, resulting in fewer typos. 2. Comfort Mechanical keyboards require less force to type, and you don’t need to press the keys all the way down – only to the point of the click or the tactile bump. Membrane keyboards require you to â€Å"bottom out† each key complete the circuit, something that people often describe as a heavy, â€Å"mushy† typing experience, leading to fatigue in the fingers, hands and wrists. 3. Speed Contoured, more responsive keys naturally lead to faster typing. Another benefit of mechanical keyboards is n-key rollover. Rollover is a technical term for how many simultaneous keypresses a keyboard can register accurately. Membrane keyboards often have a much lower rollover which results in â€Å"ghosting†. That’s when you’re typing flat out, your keystrokes overlap, and your keyboard registers extra keystrokes, resulting in additional â€Å"ghost† letters. Keyboards with n-key rollover can accurately register every keypress, regardless of how many keys you strike simultaneously, meaning you don’t have to slow down to improve accuracy or stop to fix ghosting typos. 4. Durability Mechanical keyboards last a lot longer than their membrane counterparts. Rubber dome switches tend to lose their bounce after about five million keystrokes, and you’ll notice that some keys will become unreliable or stop working completely. In comparison, Cherry key switches are designed to last for fifty million keystrokes. 5. Customization If you’ve got Cherry switches on your mechanical keyboard, you can swap out the keycaps for other styles. Gaming? Change your W, A, S, D keys to red, so they’re easier to locate quickly. Swap your function keys or numeric keypad to a contrasting color for extra style and visibility. Want to modify the feel of the keys? Grab a dampening kit to reduce the travel and key noise. Ready to make the switch? If you’re raring to write your next novel, article or poem on a mechanical keyboard, have a look at The Freewrite by Astrohaus - a smart typewriter that incorporates an industry-leading full-size mechanical keyboard into a portable device with an E-ink screen that works perfectly outdoors as well as indoors. A stand-alone writing tool, it contains none of the distractions of your desktop or laptop, but still has the ability to save your work to the Cloud. Designed especially for writers, the mechanical keyboard contains Cherry MX Brown switches which means not only will you be distraction-free, but so will everyone around you. Check out the Freewrite 2nd Generation Smart Typewriter for more information. Related: Laptop vs. Freewrite    About the author: Claire Wilkins is a freelance copywriter and editor from New Zealand. She loves to write about travel, health, home, and proper punctuation. After a career in financial services spanning almost three decades, Claire left the corporate world behind to start Unmistakable - her writing and editing business. She creates website copy, blogs, and newsletters for creative agencies and small businesses, and  specializes  in polishing existing content until it shines. In her spare time, Claire enjoys cloud-spotting, singing in the car and editing video.

Secondary Data and Secondary Analysis - An Overview

Secondary Data and Secondary Analysis - An Overview Within sociology, many researchers collect new data for analytic purposes, but many others rely on secondary data- data collected by somebody else- in order to conduct a new study. When a research uses secondary data, the kind of research they perform on it is called secondary analysis. Key Takeaways: Secondary Data Secondary analysis is a research method which involves analyzing data collected by someone else.A great deal of secondary  data resources and data sets are  available for sociological research, many of which are public and easily accessible.  There are both pros and cons to using secondary data.Researchers can mitigate the cons of using secondary data by learning about the methods used to collect and clean the data in the first place, and by careful usage of it and honest reporting on it. What Is Secondary Analysis? Secondary analysis is the practice of using secondary data in research. As a research method, it saves both time and money and avoids unnecessary duplication of research effort. Secondary analysis is usually contrasted with primary analysis, which is the analysis of primary data independently collected by a researcher. How Do Researchers Obtain Secondary Data? Unlike primary data, which is collected by a researcher herself in order to fulfill a particular research objective, secondary data is data that was collected by other researchers who likely had different research objectives. Sometimes researchers or research organizations share their data with other researchers in order to ensure that its usefulness is maximized. In addition, many government bodies within the U.S. and around the world collect data that they make available for secondary analysis. In many cases, this data is available to the general public, but in some cases, it is only available to approved users. Secondary data can be both quantitative and qualitative in form.  Secondary quantitative data is often available from official government sources and trusted research organizations. In the U.S., the U.S. Census, the General Social Survey, and the American Community Survey are some of the most commonly used secondary data sets within the social sciences. In addition, many researchers make use of data collected and distributed by agencies including the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among many others at federal, state, and local levels. While this information was collected for a wide range of purposes including budget development, policy planning, and city planning, among others, it can also be used as a tool for sociological research. By reviewing and analyzing numerical data, sociologists can often uncover unnoticed patterns of human behavior and large-scale trends within society. Secondary qualitative data is usually found in the form of social artifacts, like newspapers, blogs, diaries, letters, and emails, among other things. Such data is a rich source of information about individuals in society and can provide a great deal of context and detail to sociological analysis. This form of secondary analysis is also called content analysis. Why Conduct Secondary Analysis? Secondary data represents a vast resource to sociologists. It is easy to come by and often free to use. It can include information about very large populations that would be expensive and difficult to obtain otherwise. Additionally, secondary data is available from time periods other than the present day. It is literally impossible to conduct primary research about events, attitudes, styles, or norms that are no longer present in todays world. There are certain disadvantages to secondary data. In some cases, it may be outdated, biased, or improperly obtained. But a trained sociologist should be able to identify and work around or correct for such issues. Validating Secondary Data Before Using It To conduct meaningful secondary analysis, researchers must spend significant time reading and learning about the origins of the data sets. Through careful reading and vetting, researchers can determine: The purpose for which the material was collected or createdThe specific methods used to collect itThe population studied and the validity of the sample capturedThe credentials and credibility of the collector or creatorThe limits of the data set (what information was not requested, collected, or presented)The historic and/or political circumstances surrounding the creation or collection of the material In addition, before using secondary data, a researcher must consider how the data are coded or categorized and how this might influence the outcomes of a secondary data analysis. She should also consider whether the data must be adapted or adjusted in some way prior to her conducting her own analysis. Qualitative data is usually created under known circumstances by named individuals for a particular purpose. This makes it relatively easy to analyze the data with an understanding of biases, gaps, social context,  and other issues. Quantitative data, however, may require more critical analysis. It is not always clear how data was collected, why certain types of data were collected while others were not, or whether any bias was involved in the creation of tools used to collect the data. Polls, questionnaires, and interviews can all be designed to result in pre-determined outcomes. When dealing with biased data, it is absolutely critical that the researcher is aware of the bias, its purpose, and its extent. However, biased data can still be extremely useful, as long as the researchers carefully consider the potential effects of the bias. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Corporate finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Corporate finance - Essay Example That means it is the theory between the shareholders & the company managers. This term includes the expense of solving the potential conflicts between the two relevant groups. According to this theory, because of incomplete information & uncertainty, two types of problem can arise. Such as- A potential agency problem arises whenever the manager of a firm owns less than 100% of the firm’s common stocks. However, if the owner-manager incorporates & then sells some of the stocks to the outsiders, a potential conflict of interests immediately arises. In most large listed companies, potential conflicts of interests are important, as those firm’s managers generally own only a small percentage of the stocks. In this situation, shareholder wealth maximization could take a back seat to any number of conflicting managerial goals. In addition to the conflict between stockholders & managers, there can also be conflicts between creditors & stockholders. Creditors have a claim on the part of the firm’s earning stream of payment of interest & principle on the debt, & they have a claim on the firm’s assets in the event of bankruptcy. Stockholders have a control of decisions that affect the profitability & risk of the firm. Creditors lend the firm on the base of – 1) Capital Structure: A firm’s capital structure is that mix of debt & equity that maximizes the stock price. At any point of time, management has a specific target capital structure. Capital structure policy involves a trade-off between risk & return:- Financial flexibility or the ability to raise capital on reasonable terms under adverse conditions. The greater the probable future need for capital, & the worse the consequences of the capital shortage, the stronger the balance sheet should be. Managerial conservatism or aggressiveness that refers some managers are more aggressive than others, hence some firms are more inclined

MARKETING YOURSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

MARKETING YOURSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL - Essay Example As a student in Cal State Fullerton, I have the privilege to absorb as much knowledge as I possibly can, especially since this school is the most famed of all of the business majors in this district. Taking more business courses could greatly increase my chances when competing with other applicants for job opportunities. MKTG353 Marketing Info Technology will be my first choice to take as a marketing course. This course requires students to learn the information tools and the databases for decision making. Also, it helps students to gain the knowledge of profit analysis, sales forecasting, advertising media selection, and market segmentation. Moreover, students will improve their skills in using electronic spreadsheets, which will improve my electronic technique skills for preparing accounting statements. Specifically, I will gain I.T skills that will enable me to gather a wide range of information on all aspects of business. For accountancy and other jobs, the course will give me a deeper understanding of the processes and the relationships between buyers and sellers. KTG465 Â   Managing Services Marketing will be a particularly important course for a business major student, giving the opportunity to expand knowledge and practice, something many students may not have experienced. This course mainly concentrates on the skills of communication with customers. With approximately 76% of our labor force working in the service sector, the chances are, we will be there, too. As entry level, front line employees of an organization, we will mostly deal with the customers directly. Therefore, communication skills will benefit anyone just entering working society. Service industries may have legal and financial strictures. They are highly competitive. I hope to learn to recognize and deal with specific challenges, such as understanding schedules, budgets, quality control and competitive strategies, a good background for my future career. The course will

Parenting Styles and Prosocial Behavior Essay Example for Free

Parenting Styles and Prosocial Behavior Essay Parents often play a large role in the development of their son’s or daughter’s morality, social behavior, education, habits, and many other areas. Therefore, parents contain tremendous power when it comes to shaping their offspring. Due to this tremendous amount of power, researchers had an inclination that certain parenting styles have effect on their child’s BMI. The evidence found in the study suggests that there is a possible relation between the type of parenting styles and the fluctuation of their children’s BMI. The researchers of this article, based upon past studies, hypothesized that the four major parenting styles they presented would should greater increases in BMI than other styles (Fuemmeler, 2012). The researchers funded by several government grants such as the National Cancer Institute Grant and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Grant found an effective way to carry out this study. First, the researchers gave the individuals (ages11-21) being tested a survey about their parents to determine the style the parent used. The survey was broke down into tests. One test determined acceptance of the parent, while the other determined control. Based on the answers given by the child, the parent’s styles were determined and were broken up into four categories. These four categories were permissive, authoritarian, disengaged, and balanced. As a result, the categories would serve as the independent variables in the study. Once the child’s parenting type was established, the researchers monitored the kids BMI over an eleven year span to watch for any increases or decreases. The BMI, the dependent variable in the study, showed greater increases in the kids who had a balanced style parenting. This result surprised the researchers because they believed that the authoritarian and disengaged parent types would show greater increases. Although, the authoritarian and disengaged parent types didn’t show increases in BMI more than the balanced style, they did associate to lees leveling off of trajectories over time (Fuemmeler, 2012). This study showed relation between the parenting styles and BMI’s of their children, but this study does not present a causal relationship between the two. It cannot show a causal relationship for a number of reasons. One reason is due to the fact that the study refuses to acknowledge factors causing association between parenting styles and BMI. For example, a parent that practices a disengaged style and lives in an obese home environment may encourage poor eating and exercise habits in their kid’s lives. Also in order for the study to demonstrate causation, the researcher would have had to alter the parenting styles and make greater changes to the weight and diet of the individuals being studied (Fuemmeler, 2012). Some things that should have been changed in the study would be the way the measurements were recorded. Instead of having a self-reported height and weight, the researchers should have had their own workers record the measurements for more accuracy. Another flaw in the study was that the style of parenting before adolescence was never examined. Which leaves the question of whether parenting styles in adolescence or pre adolescence has more of an effect on BMI. Fuemmeler, B. F., Yang, C., Costanzo, P., Hoyle, R. H., Siegler, I. C., Williams, R. B., Østbye, T. (2012). Parenting styles and body mass index trajectories from adolescence to adulthood. Health Psychology, 31(4), 441-449

Acid Rain Legislation :: essays research papers

Acid Rain Legislation Acid rain is a destructive force as a result of nature and man colliding. It is formed through harmful industrial emissions combining with contents of the earth's atmosphere; a dangerous combination. This prompted governments throughout North America to take action. Many laws and regulations have been implemented, yet the question still remains, "Should tougher legislation be implemented to force industries to reduce acid rain emissions?" To decide whether tougher legislation should be implemented, one must first understand the details of what exactly acid rain is. Acid rain is a result of mankind's carelessness. It travels a long one of the most efficient biogeochemical cycles on earth, the Hydrologic Cycle. This allows acid rain to distribute itself further away from it's source causing more than local problems. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is released by fossil fuels when they undergo combustion. Power plants and other fossil fuel burning industrial areas release various forms of nitrous oxides (Nox). These two chemical compounds combine with the water in the atmosphere to form what is known as acid rain. The main reason that has prompted legislation of industrial emissions from governments is because of the negative effects they can have on the environment. Acid rain is harmful to the environment because of it's low pH. It can harm the biotic components of earth, and also the abiotic components. It's high acidity degrades soil to the point where it cannot support any type of plant life. Trees in forests are killed over long-term exposure. When these trees are killed, an imbalance in the hydrologic cycle can occur. Without living trees to consume the precipitate, it must be consumed by the earth or any other plants. These will receive an excess of water, causing other problems in the hydrologic cycle. This in turn causes a chain reaction of death among our forests. Some regions are more susceptible to acid rain because they don't have enough Alkaline soil to "neutralize" the acid before it is able to destroy the rest of the soil or before it can run off into lakes or rivers. Aquatic environments can be greatly affected by soil runoff. Acidic soil may runoff into lakes and rivers due to erosion, causing acid rain to destroy more environment. Acid rain aquatic animals as well as aquatic plant life. When acid rain combines with water in major bodies of water, it not only destroys wildlife habitat, it destroys our drinking water. An aquatic ecosystem is very dependent on each and every aspect within itself. Once one species dies off, others that depend on it, will eventually begin to die off also.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

The invasion at the Bay of Pigs is an event that played a significant role in histories of both the United States and Cuba. It was a United States-supported attack on the regime of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in an attempt to stop communism. The attempt proved futile; many lives were lost for an objective that was not achieved. The invasion therefore served as a lesson in American politics. Since the Second World War ended, the United States was convinced that communism was a major problem (Sierra 2). Americans believed that communism was a major threat.When Fidel Castro arrived in the United States for the American Society of Newspaper Editors in April 1959, Vice President Richard Nixon was already determined to oppose his rule (Sierra 3). Earlier that year, the Cuban revolution occurred, and President Dwight Eisenhower realized the social implications of the said revolution (Sierra 2; â€Å"Wars†). The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had formulated a plan against Castro, wh ich Eisenhower approved on March 17, 1960 (â€Å"Bay†; Sierra 3). The relationship between the United States and Cuba began to break down; the diplomatic ties between the two nations were officially cut by the U.S. government on January 3, 1961 (â€Å"Bay†; Sierra 2). Seventeen days after the Eisenhower administration ended their relations with Cuba, former Senator John F. Kennedy assumed his post in the oval office as President (Sierra 2). Before being elected as President, with the given political climate, Kennedy knew that the only way he could win the presidency was to champion anti-communism. He then became fixated with Castro. The moment he became president, he had already promised Cuban exiles that he would fervently fight communism and support any effort to topple the Castro regime (Sierra 3).The invasion was planned in such a way that Cuban exiles would overthrow the Castro administration without exposing how involved the United States was to the operation (â €Å"Bay†). There had already been speculation that the officials of the United States had been planning to attack Cuba, but this was responded to with denials (Sierra 2). However, Raul Roa, the prime minister of Cuba, confirmed that Cuban exiles were being recruited, trained and paid for their contribution in the possible attack (Sierra 3). The initial plan of attack was to land in Trinidad City in the day (Sierra 3).However, this plan had two disadvantages. First, the city was located close to the Escambray Mountains; this would be an ideal place wherein Castro's troops would retreat into after the attack. Second, Kennedy realized that this would reveal to the public the involvement of the United States in the attack. The plan was then changed; instead, the landing would be at the Bay of Pigs, which was to occur at night. The bay presented a possible air-strip located on the beach wherein the bombing raids could be managed.After the area was secured, Cuban government created by the CIA would be established; its legitimacy would immediately acknowledged by the U. S. government. The installed government would then ask for military assistance, and there would be an â€Å"intervention† (Sierra 3). In a press conference five days prior to the attack, Kennedy claimed that the United States military would not interfere with the Cuban situation. He stated that it was a struggle amongst the Cubans, not a battle between the U. S. and Cuba (Sierra 3). On April 15th, B-26 planes simultaneously bombed four airfields in Cuba (Sierra 4).These bomber planes were transformed to look like Cuban planes operated by Cuban exiles. A few days before the actual attack was launched, people from the CIA arrived in Cuba to assist the invaders. They were tasked to commit terrorist attacks like bombing bridges; it is because by doing so, it would appear that the Cuban citizens were involved in the attack. However, the truth was soon unveiled. The difference between the nose s of a Cuban and an American plane gave it away. The former was made of Plexiglas, while the latter was opaque.Meanwhile, the forces arrived on April 16th; six battalions which consisted of 1,500 men arrived on the bay (Sierra 4). While the invasion was proceeding, the leader of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev sent a letter to Kennedy (Sierra 4). The letter stated that everyone already knew about the U. S. involvement in the invasion, and that Russia would not hesitate to aid Cuba in defending itself from invaders. This prompted Kennedy to stop the air strikes (â€Å"Bay†). However, the attack on land continued; the exiles wanted to proceed to Havana in hopes of getting support from the locals.The invaders failed to reach their destination, as Castro's troops stopped them. It was on April 19th when the fighting was halted, but many people had already been killed while others have been captured. Later on, the exiles were free on ransom by the Cuban government (â€Å"Bayâ⠂¬ ). The invasion was a failure; it caused great embarrassment to Kennedy and the U. S. government (â€Å"Bay†). The failure was attributed to insufficient and erroneous planning and execution. There was lack of preparation, while the intelligence gathered was not sufficient to guarantee the success of the invasion.That is the reason why Kennedy fired several CIA officials (Sierra 6). In addition, information about the impending attack also allowed Castro and his troops to prepare. Despite the numerous setbacks, Kennedy pushed through with the attack hoping that the citizens of Cuba would support it. They never did (â€Å"Bay†). The invasion at the Bay of Pigs was intended to crush communism by overthrowing Fidel Castro. The invasion was an attempt of the United States to attack Cuba under the guise of a local political dilemma. The invasion failed, resulting in the loss of lives and the humiliation of the Free World.The event has indeed proved that a noble intention does not guarantee success. Works Cited â€Å"Bay of Pigs Invasion†. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2008. Microsoft Corporation. 11 June 2008 . Sierra, Jerry A. â€Å"Invasion at Bay of Pigs. † History of Cuba. 30 July 2007. 11 June 2008 . â€Å"Wars and Battles: Bay of Pigs Invasion. † U-S-history. com. 12 June 2008 .

Uses of Genetic Recombination

Genetic Recombination Genetic recombination is the method in which a molecule of nucleic acid, usually a strand of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) but can possibly be RNA (ribonucleic acid) is broken and then combined with another different strand of nucleic acid. Overview Genetic recombination has occurred naturally since the very first bacteria and by our ancient ancestors although they didn’t know at the time. It’s only in the last few decades that we have begun to understand and develop our skill to use it to our advantages.Originally thousands of years ago our ancestors abandoned the hunter-gather lifestyle and started to pursue agriculture. By doing so they took the flora and fauna that showed the most desirable characteristics and cultivated them while at the same time killing those with less desirable characteristics. This method gave rise to various species such as the common dog. Such products like yogurt and wines were then produced although the reasons why they were produced remained unknown. This is a very basic example of Genetic Recombination/ Genetic Engineering.As our understanding of DNA and Genetics advanced especially in the 20th century this has led to advances into new fields of research and benefits. With better understanding it has allowed us to combat diverse and assorted problems that we face. Benefits Medical The benefits of genetic recombination are massive in relevance to medical Biotechnology and the Medical sector as a whole. It has allowed cures to be created for what was in previous centuries a death sentence. a) Genetic testing – Genetic testing allows doctor to determine if an unborn baby is at risk of a genetic abnormality or defect.This allows precautions to be taken to ensure the babies survival and possibly to form a treatment to minimise the impact of the defect. It can also be used to identify the causes of conditions in adults that are suffering from a genetic disorder. b) Gene Therapy – Gene The rapy has allowed physicians to treat several hereditary genetic and non-hereditary disorders such as HIV, Asthma, Neurodegenerative diseases, many forms of cancer, etc. Cancer: There has been much progress in combating cancer and oncogenes (tumour producing genes), several genetic therapies’ that have been discovered to actively combat cancerous cells. Replace mutated or missing genes with their normal healthy equivalents. * Improve immune system response to cancerous cells by inserting T-cell receptor (TCR) gene into white blood cells which attach to cancerous cells causing the immune system to target the cancer. HIV: Although there is no cure for HIV at the moment, research with genetically engineered viruses on knockout mice have prevented infection and the mice have shown to retain the protection after a full year, indicating that genetic manipulation could soon provide a vaccination to HIV. ) Prevention of Muller’s Ratchet – If genetic recombination did not occur it would lead to the build up of harmful genetic mutations which if allowed to go unchecked would eventually cause a species to go extinct. Genetic recombination allows the genetic material to be varied and diversified which prevents Muller’s ratchet from occurring in species who practise sexual reproduction and not asexual reproduction. (Kreuzer and Massey, 2008, 6, 19-24, 89-96) AgricultureGenetic manipulation of many sectors of agriculture has been the focus of attention from the public for some time over the production of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). However genetically modified organisms have many proven benefits which have been an advantage to the world. It has been used to increase yields, improve the nutritional value of the food, boost pest resistance and many others (Kreuzer and Massey, 2008, 6). * Certain GMO’s have been grown in areas previously hostile to certain species, increased cold/heat/water resistant have allowed these crops to be harvested instead of failing. Virus resistant GMO’s have prevented whole crops failing to common and lethal viruses in the countries they are grown. Soybeans which there is large demand for are easily susceptible to Pseudomonas amygdali pv Glycinea a common bacteria in United States which is the main producer of soybeans at 33% of the world production. However with the use of genetic recombined soybeans at 85% in the United States, the average loss has considerably dropped contributing to the prevention of starvation in certain countries. (GMO Compass, Soybeans, December 3rd 2008) In December of 2005 Zambia accepted GM maize to prevent a famine from occurring in the country, if the GM foodstuff had not been available at the time there would have been insufficient non-genetically modified food to prevent a famine. ( Industrial The industrial applications of Genetic recombination have been used for thousands of years but in recent years the applications have increased co untlessly. 1) Food – a. Genetically recombined bacteria have been used to produce cheese in vast quantities cheaply. b.Several different Vegetables and Fruits have been genetically altered to increase their size, shape and colour. Bananas have been changed so they stay green for longer until they reach their destination, while at the same time tobacco has been engineered so that it has little to no nicotine content. 2) Medical – Production of artificial insulin, vaccines and growth hormones have been used to treat some of the most common ailments in existence. Ethics of genetic Recombination The ethics of genetic recombination vary as there are many ethics viewed depending on a large number of factors all of which contradict each other.The potential of genetic recombination on humans has been debated and many arguments for and against have been formulated. They are based on somatic therapy and enhancement which only affects only one generation, the other is germ-line t herapy and enhancement which affect every generation after the one it is manipulated in. Manipulating human genetic make-up by somatic recombination allows repairs to be made to a human with damaged genes, a human with damaged genes could be theoretically cured, which has been achieved already in a limited scale.Manipulating human genetic make-up by germ-line recombination however will cause the modified genes to be passed on to any and all offspring which could have unpredictable critical or fatal consequences in the future. While therapy will only cure diseases, the possibilities of enhancement have many benefits but many more ethical issues. It would cause inequality as only the rich could afford it and religious persecution of it as â€Å"Playing God† and the changes could have unintended consequences later in life.These various effects have made it a hotly debated issue in which there is little middle ground for any party involved making the future of genetic recombinati on impossible to deduce. References Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Helen Kreuzer and Adrianne Massey, 3rd Edition, 2008, ASM Press, Washington DC GMO Compass, Soybeans, December 3rd 2008, Online, http://www. gmo-compass. org/eng/grocery_shopping/crops/19. genetically_modified_soybean. html THE ETHICS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING, David Koepsell, August 2007, Centre of Inquiry, Washington DC, http://www. centerforinquiry. net/uploads/attachments/genetic-engineering-ethics_2. pdf

University of Guilan Essays - British People, Consensus Reality

University of Guilan Essays - British People, Consensus Reality University of Guilan Department of English Language and Literature A Deconstructive Study of Moral/Unmoral and Male/Female Oppositions as Social Conventions in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming By: Mahsa Mokhtari January 2015 Contents Abstract Introduction 1 What Are Social Conventions? 2 Social Conventions as Rooms 3 Moral/Unmoral Opposition as a Social Convention 4 Male/Female Opposition as a Social Convention 9 Conclusion 11 Bibliography Abstract Nobel Prizewinning playwright Harold Pinter (b. 1930) is one of the most important literary figures in post war British era. Pintersque ' is the adjective that was coined to show the mysterious and baffling quality in his plays. This essay aims at reading Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (1965) in terms of challenges it creates for the social conventions and deconstructing two of those conventions which are moral/unmoral and male/female oppositions . The present study calls attention to the nature of social conventions and the ways by which they have affected our lives. Moreover, it examines moral/unmoral and male/female oppositions as two social conventions that are provided with the opportunity of being deconstructed in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming . This study traces these social conventions in the play, unmasks the privileged central term, and then subverts the center by foregrounding the borderline , that results in the dance of the both oppositional pairs in free play of non hierarchi cal and unstable meanings . Introduction From the early days of The Room (1957) and The Birthday Party (1958), the inability to place Pinter alongside his contemporaries ( followers of trends such as Kitchen Sink drama and Theater of Absurd) baffled critics. Subsequently, Pinter's works were dubbed comedies of menace,' thought to be dealing with "unspeakable terror," or an atmosphere that is "before all else, of terror " (Harman 2008). As Ronald Knowles remarks, "understanding Pinter involves understanding society as the twe ntieth century draws to a close " ( Knowles 1995: 18). Pinter's politics are premised on power-structured relationships and, in particular, how social relations involving authority and power threaten the autonomy a nd importance of the individual or in other words how these power relations and social conventions leave no place for individualism. Pinter's individuals struggle to retain their sen se of self, despite the social and political rel ations, which is doomed from the beginning although their effort is considerable and in fact they do as Samuel Becket says, " Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. The critic John Lahr describes the impact o f experiencing this play: "'The Homecoming' changed my life. Before the play, I thought words were just vessels of meaning; after it, I saw them as weapons of defence . Before, I thought theatre was about the spoken; after, I understood the eloquence of the unspoken. The position of a chair, the length of a pause, the choice of a gesture, I realised , could convey volumes" (Lahr 2007). In a sense The Homecoming is about all of these unspoken elements that give rise to the social conventions and about the individuals of this play that are unconsciously in the process of deconstructing them. They fail because their efforts lead to the development of new social conventions but their failure, and all of the other failures of this nature, function as delicate historical movements that form a process, a process that can one day lead to the downfall of the tendency of society toward conventions. The dichotomy between moral and unmoral has been and will be one of the most controversial concepts. What do we mean when we say that something is moral? A behavior is moral, when it goes in line with the purposes of the social convention that has the power at a specific time, and all other behaviors are unmoral. The power relations through morality, create the concept of self' and other' (to use Lacan's terms) in people, so that people automatically see the person with the moral behavior as self' and try to reach to this self' at any cost even at the cost of sacrificing their own individuality, and the person with the unmoral behavior as other' who should be avoided. The characters in this play (as well as other plays by Pinter) try

Abolitionism in William Blakes Works

Abolitionism in William Blake's Works William Blake’s Abolitionism â€Å"I know my Execution is not like Any Body Else I do not intend it should be so.† William Blake is arguably one of the most eccentric and enigmatic artists of the Romantic era. His ideas about religion, art and society are often considered anachronistic. In general, Blake’s vision is different from other Romantic era artists because of his lower-class background, his personal spirituality, and his interest in the visual arts. However, he does have similar opinions about the important issues of the time, especially concerning the French Revolution, abolitionism and the visionary imagination. In approaching Romantic literature with a global prospective, it is important to consider Blake’s unique contribution and influence, as well as his divisions. His oeuvre converges in fundamental ways with the literary art and the limitations of his time, including views on gender and racial equality. In this paper, I will focus on his ideas concerning slavery and the unique ways in which he expresses his abolitionism through an investigation of his poetry and art. I will examine the presentation of slavery and abolitionism through a close-reading of the poems â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, from Songs of Innocence, and â€Å"Visions†, from Visions of the Daughter of Albion. The literary analysis will incorporate analysis about various works of art by Blake, including the illustrations of these poems. The two poems demonstrate, through their abolitionist message, the oppressive forces of conventional religion and British moral and social expectations, and that they have corrupted natural relations between human beings. I will exhibit that although his poetry is highly progressive for its day, it still relays the underlying belief of his time that women and racial others are inferior. Blake is successful in exposing the problems of the conventional religion of Britain, but his highly spiritual and mythological vision makes his message less effective in causing any real change within society. Blake is worthy of academic attention and there is indeed an overwhelming amount of criticism on his works. I have learned a great deal from David Erdman’s article â€Å"Blake’s Vision of Slavery†, which outlines abolitionism in Visions. Saree Makdisi indicates the necessity of reevaluating the history of the Romantic-era when considering Blake’s works. Susan Fox also indicates Blake’s anachronistic role within the era, but argues that he exhibits the limitations of his time in utilizing women as metaphors for failure in his works. Anne Mellor indicates the argument of Visions, in terms of the human form and Blake’s spiritual beliefs, as a criticism of British morality for destroying the vitality of a true spiritual union. My analysis of abolitionism within the two poems will assert that Blake’s portrayal of slavery is linked to his larger program of addressing the injustice and false spirituality of power relations in British society. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates Blake’s beliefs concerning the power of parents over children and racial inferiority, while Visions illustrates his ideas about gender equality and sexual relations. Despite his progressive opinions about equal relationships and abolitionism, Blake exhibits many of the divisions and limitations of his time. His greatest limitation is the complex mythological system that renders his artistic message politically ineffective. In the collection Songs of Innocence and Experience, Blake explores and depicts an â€Å"age when God is fully manifest in man† and feels the spiritual and psychological comfort of God’s protection and love (Matlak, 274). The poetry is highly profound in its promotion of an equal society based on love and freedom, not simply childlike naivety. This book of poetry, like many of his others, is illuminated with several works of art. Blake is unique in this practice because his artwork does not simply serve as supplements to the verse; they amplify, complicate and, at times, contradict the poetry. This challenges notions of reading, interpreting and the relationship between the written and visual arts. His artwork is highly original, and often considered anachronistic, within the English artistic tradition. He chose to use uncommon mediums, notably relief etchings for producing his illuminated books of poetry. Blake also painted in watercolor, a medium which rejected the he avy and traditional method of using expensive oil paints. This medium creates artwork that emphasizes light, pure color and lightness, while also rejecting the orthodox artistic notions of the English Academy and encouraging all classes to produce artistic works. The poem â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, from Songs of Innocence, portrays the simple spirituality of a child who believes in God’s promise of love, while also indicating the spiritual equality of humanity. The boy sings of the lessons his mother has taught him about the perfect afterlife he will enjoy. In this heaven, he will experience pure joy, but also equality with the white English boy. This simply constructed, childlike verse holds many layers of meaning. The poem poignantly asserts the spiritual equality of all humans, alluding to the Christian argument against slavery of his time. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates the spiritual dignity and equality of the boy, therefore, valorizes him. Blake does this in multiple ways, most importantly through the assertion of the religious belief in heaven as a utopia where everyone is equal. The boy is taught that when in heaven he will be released from the oppression and subjugation encoded in his black body, become equal with the white English boy and be loved by God. His spiritual education provides the basis for the boy’s hope, while also promoting the notion of the equal spiritual union in heaven. Blake also promotes the boy’s dignity by referencing his mother and his education through her. The boy’s loving relationship with his mother (lines 7, 21) illustrates his youth and innocence, but also portrays him as more human and endearing. The boy learns diligently and quickly from his mother, who represents the voice of age and wisdom. Blake emphasizes learning as a significant part of childhood throughout his iconography and artwork. The title page of Songs of Innocence portrays two children reading a book lying on a woman’s lap, presumably their mother. The idyllic and bucolic scene indicates the spiritual growth of the children, which is in the hands of the older members of society. This illustration also exemplifies Blake’s vision of positive womanhood as natural and motherly, which was initiated in Songs of Innocence. Mellor and Matlak describe this iconography, â€Å"In Blake’s aesthetic world, the female is identified with nature, the physical body or matter, and the realm of the domestic. Blake’s positive females give birth, raise children, and offer sexual delight and supportive compassion to Blake’s males† (Matlak, 274). Another example of this scene of children learning is â€Å"Age Teaching Youth†, which portrays two children learning from an older figure through reading and verbal instruction. These two works illustrate the poem’s message that learning as an integral aspect of childhood and that children learn from the adults around them. The construction of the figures is similar to the second illustration of â€Å"The Little Black Boy†. Both compositions portray an adult figure sitting and addressing the small children at their feet. This construction emphasizes the authority of the adults, but also the eagerness and attentiveness of the children. They are willing to accept the ideas of the words of the adults. Blake’s promotion of the boy’s equality in â€Å"The Little Black Boy† has many complications and problems. Most importantly, the boy’s resignation to earthly subjugation and racism, as a result of his acquired belief in conventional religion, is problematic because of it is an acceptance of racial discrimination on earth and indicates that there is no need for real social change. The poem focuses on God’s light and heat, symbolizing Divine love, using the racial images of blackness and shadows. The third stanza portrays this clearly, â€Å"And we are put on earth a little space, / That we may learn to bear the beams of love, / And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face / Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove† (lines 13-16). Blake indicates the boy’s spiritual goodness, along the same racial lines, by associating his soul with whiteness; â€Å"And I am black, but O! my soul is white† (line 2). This imagery exhibits the comm on tendency of Blake’s time to associate physical darkness with intellectual depravity. Blake argues against the discrimination the boy suffers on earth, claiming that he will experience a spiritual union with God in the afterlife, where all humans are equal. This vision is highly problematic because despite Blake’s efforts to promote the equality of the little boy, the subjugation he experiences on earth seems to be justified or appeased by the idyllic vision of future equality in heaven. The boy resigns himself to the subjugation he experiences on earth as a result of his mother’s teachings. He believes in his corporeal inferiority, as it is taught to him, stating in lines three and four, â€Å"White as an angel is the English child: / But I am black as if bereav’d of light†. The boy focuses on the afterlife and hopes for a union with God, believing that he will be loved then. The last lines of the poem state, â€Å"To lean in joy upon our fathers knee. / And then I’ll stand and stroke his silver hair, / And be like him and he will then love me† (lines 26-28). Note the use of the word â€Å"then† to emphasize that he is not loved by God in this life. Blake presents a complicated argument for racial equality that seems to appease the injustice experienced on earth. By illustrating the boy’s belief and hope for the afterlife, Blake indicates the oppressiveness of conventional religion. English Christianity colludes in the subjugation of the boy, through the mother’s instruction, to accept his inferiority on earth. Indeed, Blake presents the oppressive morality and society institution of the conventional religion, but also the adult’s role in continuing the oppression through the education of the youth and promotion of the conventional ideas. The second illustration to â€Å"The Little Black Boy† illustrates this in a subtle, but important way. The Christ-like figure’s garment looks like stone. The heavy, flat and severe cloak is associated with Blake’s iconography with rationality and conventional religion. Another important message of the illustration is the use of light, an important motif throughout the poem. The sun is a prominent part of the composition’s background, but does not give off a g reat deal of light. In fact, the sun seems to be setting, as darkness creeps into the picture field. This seems to suggest a limitation in the heat and light of God portrayed in the poem, contrasting with the optimism of the verse. Finally, the composition portrays black boy standing behind the white child, who actually touches the God figure. This important placement, along with the fading sun, indicates the subordination of the black boy even in the afterlife. This is not explicitly explained within the composition, but one possible explanation is the oppressiveness of conventional religion. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates some of the limitations of Blake’s time concerning race and racial equality. Although Blake compellingly illustrates the spiritual equality of the afterlife, this is inherently limited because it seems to offer a justification or acquiescence to the racial injustices of English society, including the slave trade and slavery. The vision of an equalized spiritual utopia, and the criticism of conventional English religion, eclipses the abolitionist message of the poem. In representing this vision and the maladies of organized religion, Blake portrays his mystical view of human relations; they are ideally mutual spiritual relationships, while social standards and customs create unnatural power relationships that are oppressive and damaging. In â€Å"The Little Black Boy† this is demonstrated through the control that white, English society have over black populations, the influence that the mother has over her child which causes h im to believe he is inferior and, finally, the conventional God who dominates over the children in the second illustration. Blake’s important poem, Visions, also demonstrates his ideas about power relations and unnatural relationships. This poem describes Oothoon’s victimization by Bromion’s rape, and Theotormon’s belief that she is defiled and unacceptable, despite his love for her. Oothoon is enslaved by her condition as an exploited woman, while Bromion is trapped by his violent act, and Theotormon by the social constructions he abides by. The poem begins, â€Å"Enslav’d, the Daughters of Albion weep a trembling lamentation†, immediately connecting slavery with the subjugation of women in English society. This is influenced from Mary Wollstonecraft’s argument in A Vindication of the Rights of Women that women in England have the same political and civil status as slaves. Visions complexly portrays the repercussions of society and religion’s warped control over human interactions, addressing several different power relations, including the dominanc e of men over women, master over slave and organized religion over society. David Erdman states, â€Å"†¦love and slavery prove to be the two poles of the poem’s axis† (Erdman, 242). This poem promotes a more equal treatment of women by indicating Oothoon’s sadness and extreme despair. She grieves, â€Å"Are both alike: a night of sighs, a morning of fresh tears† (Plate 2, line 39). Her exploitation is obviously condemned in an interesting way because this oppression connects her to horrors of the institution of slavery, including sexual abuse and emotional despair. Blake presents quasi-feminist and abolitionist arguments against the sexual and economic exploitation of humans, because it distorts freedom and natural relationships. Institutionalized subjugation and enslavement does not simply destroy the victimized, such as Oothoon, but the entire society because it warps all human interactions. Bromion becomes enslaved by his violent act, while Theotormon is enslaved by his jealousy and inability to love Oothoon after she has been defiled. He is trapped by the standards of conventional religion and morality, specifically the notions of marriage. The frontpiece to Visions of the Daughters of Albion serves as a dramatic visual representation of the poem’s portrayal of mental and physical bondage. Oothoon is shackled to Bromion, facing opposite directions from one another. Bromion faces out towards the sea with a look of horror, while Oothoon directs herself towards Theotormon, bending downwards in despair and resignation. Lukacher states that, â€Å"her jealous and inhibited lover cowers and withdraws into himself on the cavernous ledge about the enchained figures† (105). Theotormon’s body language indicates his self-entrapment and despair because the social restrictions he believes in prohibit him from being with the woman he loves. This composition utilizes Michelangelo-esque nudes and opposing body languages to contain and reduce the complex drama of the poem. The landscape also conveys the bleak tone of the literary work. The entrance to the grotto frames the figures and the background including a blea k sea, clouds and a darkened sun. Visions clearly argues against the subjugation of women and the institutions that promote economic and physical exploitation on human beings, most significantly slavery and marriage. Blake promotes, instead, love as a equal spiritual and physical union. This notion of free love rejects the standards of Christian marriage in England, promoting an equal union between man and woman. The composition, Circle of the Lustful, exemplifies this notion well. This illustration portrays Virgil standing over the fainted Dante. Dante envisions his Paolo and Francesca released from purgatory and re-united together in the luminous orb. A whirling vortex of punished lovers rushes out of the river of purgatory. Blake liberates the lovers, freeing them from the sin that society condemns them for. The figures are mostly androgynous, indicating Blake’s vision of the ideal human form as containing both the male and female genders. This composition promotes free love, asserting the goodness of spiri tual love, while also overturning Dante’s tradition that imposes strict moral and sexual codes on society. Blake’s work, like Visions and Circle of the Lustful, deals with subjugation and exploitation as distortions of power and human relations. Blake condemned those who abused and exploited others through the misuse of power. His portrayals of this exploitation prompted Saree Makdisi to promote the reevaluation of his time. A specific example of Blake’s condemnation of the powerful is The Ghost of a Flea, a composition that portrays the profane spirit of this powerful man as a reptile-like creature. The comet indicates a supernatural event and the dramatic, stage-like setting emphasize the evilness of this creature. Although this composition is a specific condemnation of English industrialists, it demonstrates Blake’s view of the powerful that exploit and subject the rest of society. Blake’s mythological vision asserts their impending punishment. Visions condemns the mental and physical bondage promoted by the institutions of slavery and marriage. The poem is not, however, highly effective in promoting any real change. In a similar manner as â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, Visions addresses too many issues to be efficacious in directly promoting the feminism of Mary Wollstonecraft or the abolitionist cause. The poem is also rendered ineffective because the definition of slavery is blurred and turned into a multifarious term that applies any lack of freedom. In fact, the poem seems to deal more with spiritual and mental enslavement than with the political and economic practices of the slave trade and slavery. Blake concerns himself most greatly with the condemnation of the sexual limitations and moral codes of conventional religion. Susan Fox claims that Blake’s feminist agenda in Visions is ineffective because Oothoon lacks real assertiveness. â€Å"No woman in any Blake poem has both the will and the power to ini tiate her own salvation – not even the strongest and most independent of his women, Oothoon† (Fox, 513). Blake presents gender and sexuality in a similar way as many artists of his time; although he promotes the dignity and worth of women, the representation ultimately affirms feminine inferiority and lack of agency. Visions’ large and far-reaching messages about slavery, power relations, sexuality and religion addresses many issue in a liberal and progressive way, but these multifarious and complex issues render the poem unable to directly confront any one issue to prompting real change. Blake is most successful in directly promoting abolitionism through the illustrations of actual events and atrocities of the slave trade, such as A Negro Hung Alive by the Ribs to the Gallows. These etchings are politically subversive in a direct and real sense, because they specifically address the institution of slavery’s violation of human dignity. These images are clear criticisms of the atrocities committed by the slave trade, calling for real political action. These illustrations, however, are very simple artistic constructions that portray one figure’s suffering, asserting their humanity and dignity. Although they are not artistically complex or important, they do serve to directly promote the abolitionist cause during his time. In conclusion, abolitionism is not the main concern of â€Å"The Little Black Boy† or Visions. Slavery is the starting point of the poems, which is used to condemn the abuse of power and conventional religion. The other social ills addressed in the poems, such as gender and racial inequality, are similarly presented as aspects of the larger spiritual program. Although these aspects are highly progressive in promoting human equality, they include the underlying belief of racial and gender inferiority, common throughout the Romantic era. Blake’s overarching concern for his poetry and artistic illustrations is the portrayal of ideal mystical vision of natural, vital and equal human relationships. Makdisi states, â€Å"Blake must be seen to be trying to rescue against all odds the possibility of a political aesthetic of immortal joy, which we can understand as an affirmation of joyous unity and collective freedom. This amounts to a refusal of the very logic of domination, of warrior power over others† (Makdisi, The Impossible History, 258). The spiritual attention distinguishes the theme of slavery in Blake’s poetry from direct and bold abolitionist poetry of the Romantic era, such as the works by Hannah More and Ann Yearsley. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† and Visions are concerned with promoting the esoteric mythological vision, not with the instigation of real social change. The mystical investigation of bondage and slavery in these poems offers interesting artistic portrayals of human relationships and spirituality. Bibliography: Erdman, David V. Blakes Vision of Slavery. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 15 (1952): 242-252. JSTOR. 1 Dec. 2007. Fox, Susan. The Female as Metaphor in William Blakes Poetry. Poetic Form in Blakes Milton. Comp. Susan Fox. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1976. 507-519. Lukacher, Brian. Visionary History Painting: Blake and His Contemporaries. Nineteenth Century Art: a Critical History. Ed. Stephan F. Eisenman. London: Thames Hudson Ltd., 2007. 102-119. Makdisi, Saree. William Blake and the Impossible History of the 1790s. Chicago: The University of Chicago P, 2003. Makdisi, Saree. Romantic Imperialism. New York City: Cambridge UP, 1998. Mellor, Anne K. Blakes Human Form Divine. Berkeley: The University of California P, 1974. Townsend, Joyce H. Willaim Blake: the Painter At Work. Ed. Joyce H. Townsend. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2003.   www.blakearchive.org

Industry Analysis - Application to the Oil Industry Case Study

Industry Analysis - Application to the Oil Industry - Case Study Example Suppliers play an imperative role in the success of any business. As such, a supplier may affect the profitability of a company either positively, by boosting it or negatively, by reducing it. This is what forms the power of suppliers. A supplier has powers to determine the profitability of a company, and in the case of the oil industry, the suppliers of BP can either assist it to become more prosperous and productive or to lose their market and make losses. This stems from the fact that suppliers agree to supply their products to the company at a certain given market price. If they increase the price at which they sell their products to the company, this will reduce the profit margin of BP, and the lack of alternative suppliers, as well as the strong power of the suppliers will bring the profitability of the company down. On the other hand, these suppliers can equally boost the profitability of the company by supplying it with product at a low cost, thereby increasing the companyâ⠂¬â„¢s profit margin and hence boost its profit levels. As such, it is imperative for BP to make the right choices of suppliers in order to secure a significant profit margin. BP sells its products to a wide range of customers. These people bring profit to it by purchasing its petroleum products. Its major customers include airline companies, governments, as well as ordinary motorists and companies. The bargaining power of these buyers is not as strong enough as to influence the selling price as set by BP. BP has sales points in many regions across the world, bearing the fact that it is a global multinational, and it has control over its buyers in almost all of its markets. It is only in some minor occasions where the governments within the markets in which it operates step in to regulate the fuel prices in the country generally, thereby also setting the price limits for the petroleum products sold by BP. However, this only strengthens the bargaining power of these customers to a considerable level, not strong enough to affect the profitability of the company