Importance of Slavery to the Caribbean Essay - 2863 Words

Importance of Slavery to the Caribbean The significance of the role played by slaves in the history of the Caribbean cannot be overemphasized. Nearly everything that defines the Caribbean today can be traced back to the advent of Africans to the sugar plantations several centuries ago. For this reason it is impossible to ignore the issue of slavery when studying the history of the Caribbean, as we are doing in this class. Through our numerous readings on the status of slaves and their treatment by the societies in which they lived, we have learned much about the sufferings and ordeals of these people. The following is an attempt to organize my own particular feelings and reactions, which I have previously posted on-line throughout the†¦show more content†¦They were constantly being tested and lived very tough lives. Only the strongest survived, as they were forced to live completely independently of colonial communities and thus had to fend for themselves. They were also hampered by their lack of women in the ear ly stages, and it was not uncommon for a group of Maroons to raid another village in search of more women. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, did not have as many such problems, though they did not exactly have it easy either. They were more or less social bandits and gained international fame for their attacks on the Spanish and Spanish possessions. This was a huge help to the French and English, who did not have the power to do this themselves but were subsequently better able to establish colonies of their own in the New World. The main difference between the Buccaneers and the Maroons is that while the former clung to the European culture and society with which they were familiar, the latter attempted to create their own. The transition to sugar plantations in Puerto Rico came a bit later, while Cuba experienced this change a few years earlier. There are a few reasons why this is so, given that both islands were closely ruled by Spain. One of the main reasons given is ...the rate of prior capital accumulation and the attendant existence (or lack) of a capital reserve to invest in sugar once the demand arose. (Beckles and Shepherd, 1991, p. 58) For Cuba, the capital reserveShow MoreRelatedBook Report: Capitalism Slavery, Eric Williams1513 Words   |  7 PagesHIS294Y Thursday February 7th 2006 Book Report: Capitalism Slavery, Eric Williams Capitalism Slavery, (published by The University of North Carolina Press, 1994) was written by Eric Eustace Williams and first published in 1944. Eric Williams book, was at the time of its publication, considered years ahead of its time. It should be noted, early on within this report that, literary works on the history of the Caribbean or slavery for a matter of fact, was done by Europeans. 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Building a radio empire

Building a radio empire-chancellor media Essay Media do not simply present cultural products for consumption; they provide much of the stuff of every day life through which we construct meaning and organize our existence.Michael R. Real, Super MediaDEFINING MOMENTS IN MASS MEDIANewspapers. Media began with the written word . . . To date, the oldest existing written document dates back to 2200 B.C. By 500 B.C. Persia had developed a form of pony express and the Greeks had a â€Å"telegraph† system consisting of trumpets, drums, shouting, beacon fires, smoke signals, and mirrors; transmitting a form of communication to the masses. In 200 B.C. the Chinese circulated the first â€Å"newspaper,† the Tipao gazette, to government officials. Newsletters began circulating in Europe by 1450. Over 150 years later, in 1609, the first regularly published newspaper was circulated in Germany. Advertising began to shape the media industry by 1631 with the first classified ads featured in a French newspaper. And, in 1833 a New York newspaper was sold for one penny, enabling this media to reach a mass market.Radio. At first there was the print, and then there was sound . . . In 1821 an English man named Wheatstone reproduced sound. However, the future of radio didn’t really begin until 1890 when Branly transmitted the first radio waves in France. In 1901 the American Marconi Company, the forerunner of RCA, sent radio signals across the Atlantic. And five years later, â€Å"a program of voice and music was broadcast in the United States.† In 1907 DeForest began a regular radio broadcast featuring music. In 1909 the first talk-radio format, covering women’s suffrage, was broadcast. And in 1912, the United States Congress passed a law to regulate radio stations. In 1917 the first radio station, KDKA, was built; and in 1920 the first scheduled programs on KDKA were broadcast. The going rate for ten minutes of commercial airtime was $100. By 1924, the first sponsored radio program, The Eveready Hour, began. In that same year there were two and a half million radio sets in the United States. The 1930’s are characterized as the â€Å"Golden Age† of radio. In 1929 automobile manufacturers began installing radios in cars. In 1933 Armstrong discovered FM waves. And in 1934, the government passed the Communications Act, creating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In that same year, half of all American homes had at least one radio set. In 1935 A.C. Nielsen began to track radio audiences. And by 1954, radio sets outnumbered newspapers printed daily.This signified the death of one mass medium and the creation of another. â€Å"By 1996 there were about 12,000 radio stations in the U.S., drawing millions of listeners and more than $12 billion in advertising revenue.†1996 also saw the deregulation of the mass media industry with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, thereby opening up the market for mass mergers and acquisitions and creating â€Å"electronic barons.†One half of all radio stations are owned by corporations that have three or more stations, and there are 1,100 fewer station owners today than before the creation of the Telecommunications Act. Even more alarming, the top three radio operators, Chancellor Media/Capstar, CBS Radio/Infinity, and Clear Channel/Jacor, control almost 35 percent of industry revenues.Television. And then there was light . . . In 1907 a Russian named Rosing developed the theory of television. By 1928, three television sets were put in homes. And in that same year, the first scheduled broadcasts evolved in Schenectady, New York. In 1939 the New York World ’s Fair premiered the television to the public. That same year, regular television broadcasts began. By 1941, NBC and CBS began commercial transmissions, and by 1949 network television resonated throughout America. By 1951, there were one and a half million television sets in the United States. In 1954, regular color television broadcasts began. And, in 1963 television news â€Å"came of age† with the broadcast and reporting of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. By 1965, almost all broadcasts were filmed in color, and the FCC regulated cable television. In 1968 there were 78 million televisions in American homes, and approximately 200 million sets around the globe. A new mass medium was coming of age. MASS MEDIA TODAYMass media began with the circulation of local newspapers, and then transformed with the discovery of radio. Today, mass media has been taken to new heights with the technological advances of the television. Some may argue that both newspapers and radio are dead, and that the only true mass medium left is television. But that too is dying. What will be the next medium? Will it be the Internet? Or digital radio? Or is it something that has yet to be created?The beginnings of mass media saw heavy regulations with the Communications Act and the Creation of the Federal Communications Commission. Media was heavily tied into our government, into democracy. It is the only industry protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. However, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed the marketplace. â€Å"The goal of the new law was to let anyone enter any communications business?to let any communications business compete in any market against any other.†However, th is new law did not decrease the barriers to entry. In effect, it allowed mega-mergers and acquisitions, which led to mega-corporations, and effectively raised the barriers to entry in such a way that it is almost impossible for new companies to compete. â€Å"The Telecommunications Act lifted the national restrictions on how many stations one company can own, and, ever since, the big operators have been in a feeding frenzy.†Today, massive corporations control each step in the media chain, effectively and collectively owning everything from the creation of content to the redistribution of delivery. In essence, these mega-corporations are monopolies. â€Å"In 1996 the TV industry saw $8.6 billion worth of mergers and acquisitions, and radio saw $14 billion. Would-be media barons are everywhere, including investment company Hicks, Muse, Tate Furst, which is building a radio empire.† CHANCELLOR MEDIA CORPORATIONâ€Å"If Chancellor were a baby, its parents would have it checked out for hormone problems. This Texas-based radio company has grown faster than a jackrabbit on hot tar since it was founded in 1993.†With the approval of the Capstar merger, Chancellor Media will be the largest radio empire in the United States. Chancellor Media is a public corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has over 129 different offices across the United States.Sales in 1998 totaled $1,273.9 million, a 118.8 percent growth increase from 1997. Chancellor trades on the NASDAQ as AMFM, with a 52-week low of $18.625 and a 52-week high of $59.375 per share.Chancellor employs approximately 5,700 full-time and 1,000 part-time individuals, up 10% from 1997 and up 192.5% from 1996. Chancellor Media Corporation is a diversified media company with operations in radio broadcasting, outdoor advertising, and media representation.†Subsidiaries of Chancellor Media include: AMFM Radio Networks, Christal Radio Group, Eastman Radio Inc., Katz Media Group, National Cable Communications, Seltel Inc., and Sentry Radio Sales. RADIO BROADCASTINGTo date, Chancellor Media owns 125 (92 FM and 33 AM) radio stations in the top 30 markets in the United States and Puerto Rico. Chancellor â€Å"owns superduopolies (clusters of four or five FM stations) in 11 of the nation’s 15 largest radio markets?New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Washington, D.C., Houston, Puerto Rico and Phoenix and in five other large markets?Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Denver, Cleveland and Orlando.† â€Å"Chancellor Media’s portfolio of radio stations is geographically diversified and employs a wide variety of programming formats, including adult contemporary, contemporary hit radio, urban, jazz, country, oldies, news/talk, rock and sports. Each of Chancellor’s stations targets a specific demographic audience within a market, with the majority of the stations appealing primarily to 18 to 34 or 25 to 54 year old men and/or women, the demographic groups most sought after by advertisers.† OUTDOOR ADVERTISINGChancellor is the fifth largest outdoor advertising company in the United States. Chancellor Media owns over 42,500 billboards and outdoor displa ys in 38 states. MEDIA REPRESENTATIONâ€Å"Katz is a full-service media representation firm that sells national spot advertising time for its clients in the radio and television industries throughout the United States. Katz is retained on an exclusive basis by radio and television stations in over 200 designated market areas (DMA’s), including at least one radio or television station in each of the 50 largest DMA’s. Katz is the exclusive representation firm for over 2,200 radio stations, including radio stations owned and operated by the company, Jacor Communications, Inc., CBS Radio, Inc., Capstar, Cox Radio, Inc, and Heftel Broadcasting Corporation, among others. Katz is also the exclusive representation firm for over 365 television stations, including television stations owned and operated by Paramount Communications, Inc., Hearst Argyle Television, Inc., The E.W. Scripps Company, Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Allbritton Communications Company, and Sinclair Broadcast Group, In c., among others.† CORPORATE TIMELINE Evergreen Media was founded in 1988 with 6 radio stations, half of which were in the top ten markets and 90% of which were concentrated in Chicago. In 1989, Evergreen purchased KFAC-FM (later renamed KKBT) in Los Angeles; changing the formatting from classical to urban contemporary and thereby increasing the ratings from last to first. â€Å"In 1992 the FCC relaxed radio station ownership regulations to allow broadcasters to increase both the total number of radio stations they could own nationwide and the number they could own in a single market, paving the way for the advent of duopolies. Evergreen Media continued to build its presence in major markets with station acquisitions in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.†In 1993 Hicks, Muse, Tate Furst along with Steven Dinetz formed Chancellor Broadcasting. 1993 proved to be a monumental year for Evergreen as well. Not only did Evergreen Media finalize its initial public offering, b ut they also became the first radio broadcasting company in the United States to form a duopoly. â€Å"In 1994 Chancellor Broadcasting completed its first station acquisition by purchasing two stations from American media Group for $150 million.†In 1995 Evergreen Media purchased Pyramid Communications for $316 million and Broadcasting Partners for $259 million, gaining a total of 23 stations. Homelessness EssayIn 1998 Chancellor Media entered the outdoor advertising business with the acquisition of Martin Media L.P. and Whiteco Industries, Inc. for $610 million and $930 million respectively. These acquisitions launched Chancellor into the number five spot in the outdoor market, owning over 42,500 billboards and outdoor displays in 38 states. However on June 1, 1999, due to management issues, Chancellor struck a deal to sell its outdoor business for $1.6 billion in stock and cash to Lamar Advertising.In return, Chancellor will receive a 30 percent stake in Lamar.The sale comes just months after Chancellor cancelled a consolidation with LIN Television. â€Å"Hicks said that because Jim McLaughlin, president of the outdoor group, has elected ‘not to stay with the company for very long,’ its been difficult to consolidate its billboard holdings.†This sale will enable Chancellor to redirect its attention to its current and prospective radio holdings. CEO, Tom Hicks stated â€Å"The agreement enables Chancellor’s senior operating management team to focus on our industry-leading radio station portfolio.† FUTUREOn May 19, 1999, Chancellor Media announced that it will change its name to AMFM, Inc. subject to shareholder approval.Chancellor â€Å"has formed three new business untis: AMFM Interactive, Inc. (AMFMi), AMFM.com and AMFM Equities, which are intended to position AMFM’s E-commerce web sites as highly trafficked Internet destinations, stream online broadcasts of AMFM’s on-air programming and other media, and promote emerging Internet and new media concerns.†Chancellor intends on benefiting from the perceived loyalty of their 66 million listeners. Steven Hicks commented â€Å"AMFM is redefining radio as a feedback-driven, user-controlled, value-sharing medium. The visual, interactive capabilities of the Internet will ‘close the loop’ with radio audiences, transforming loyal but large ly anonymous listeners into active members of communities and e-commerce buying clubs.† â€Å"AMFM.com’s revenue will mostly come from audio and video commercials and sponsorships, along with the sale of video conferencing and other Webcasting business services to a variety of media and corporate clients. Chancellor says it’ll exchange radio advertising inventory and promotional sponsorships for stakes in ‘promising companies whose value can be materially enhanced’ by its marketing efforts.†In essence, Chancellor intends to trade advertising space for shares in promising Internet companies. CONCLUSIONRadio as a source of advertising is alive and well, however, radio as a medium for news is rapidly dying. As defined by Charles Davis, mass media is a product containing news delivered to a zoned or regionalized audience. The key word in this definition is news. But what is news? Webster defines it as new information about anything; information previously unknown.So then can music or advertisements be news? Perhaps a more precise, societal definition would be more suitable. Certain factors, not mentioned in the above definition, are imperative characteristics of news. Factors such as conflict, closeness to home, prominence, numbers, information, and educational significance depict a more detailed description of news.Radio news is virtually dead. It has been killed by the Telecommunication Act of 1996. For news to be profitable and to flourish as an independent entity, it must be competitive. The Telecommunications Act, striped radio news of its competition. The days of loca lly owned radio stations are long gone. Right before our very eyes radio stations are being bought up by mega media corporations, such as Chancellor Media, and with these mergers come virtual monopolies. No longer are the owners concerned with producing quality programming that entertains and informs consumers, but owners are now corporations concerned with the bottom line, the almighty dollar. With decreased competition and the desire to please shareholders, stations are being consolidated to save costs. News production is the number one expense of radio stations, and media moguls are cutting local news to cut expenses. News departments are being replaced with a top-of-the-hour generic broadcast with no local ties. Media interest is shifting from Libertarian view points, that of news being the fourth state, to intense corporate interest of the bottom line. Radio stations are moving from self-interest to investor interest. It is no longer how many listeners you have, but how many ad dollars can you pull. These mega corporations are overwrought with debt. Chancellor alone is $6.4 billion in debt. To decrease this debt, media corporations must increase revenues and reduce expenses. This prompts these mega companies to acquire more to increase revenues and reduce expenses through consolidation. However, media acquisitions are grossly over priced. Stockholders took Chancellor to court because of inflated acquisition prices. These costly acquisitions to reduce debt create a viscous cycle of more debt. This mentality is fueling the consolidation of media companies. So, I pose the question, is television the last true mass medium?BIBLIOGRAPHY1. ABCNEWS.com. Business. Chancellor Media Buying LIN TV: Radio Buys into Television. The Associated Press. July 7, 1998. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/DailyNews/chancellor_lin980707/index.html2. Chancellor Media. http://www.chancellormedia.com/ch†¦/207e7bceccc53e0a85256681007a42a2?OpenDocumen3. Deloitte Touche. h ttp://www.dttus.com/us/what/indprac/teleco/teleco21.html4. Fang, Irving. The Media History Project. Timeline of Communication History. University of Minnesota. 1995-1996. http://www.mediahistory.com/time/alltime.html5. Federal Communications Commission. Telecommunications Act of 1996. http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html6. Hoover’s Company Capsule. Hicks, Muse, Tate Furst. http: www.hoovers.com/capsules.40216.html7. Hoover’s News. Chancellor Buyout of Capstar Receives Regulatory Approval (AMFM). News Traders. June 9, 1999. http://www.hoovers.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=Cn13MWdKbmJaWotyFQ=c%25CRB%20Title=Headlines%20for%3A%20CRB%0A8. Hoover’s Online. Industry Snapshot. TV Radio. http://www.hoovers.com/features/industry/nonav/tv_radio.html9. Hoover’s Quote. Patrick Spain, CEO of Hoover’s, Inc. http://www.hoovers.com/hoov/press/media.html10. Media Awareness Network. http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/indus/main/htm. 11. Neufeldt, Victoria and David B. Guralnik. Webster’s New World Dictionary of American English: Third College Edition. Cleveland. 1991. Page 913. 12. NewsAlert. Chancellor Media to be Renamed AMFM Inc.; Shareholder Meeting Date Set for July 13th to Vote on Name Changed and Proposed Merger with Capstar. Dallas Business Wire. May 19, 1999. http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=Cn0i3qbKbyte1mdmPrint=1. 13. NewsAlert. BIA’s State of the Radio Industry Reports on an Industry Transformed; BIA’s New Study Indicates Considerable Future Gains for the Radio Industry. June 3, 1999. http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CnYAhWbKbyta1nJCFQ=Chancellor%20and%20MediaSymHdl=1Nav=na-search-StoryTitle=Chancellor%20MediaOrderoption=reverseED=04/29/9914. SeattleTimes.com Business News. Chancellor in $2.3 billion radio-empire deal for Capstar. The Associated Press. August 27, 1998. http://www.seattletimes.com/news/business/html98/altchan_082798.html15. Securities and Exchange Commission. Washington D.C. Chancellor Media Corporation. Form 10-K Annual Report. Commission File No. 0-21570. http://www.edgar-online.com/bin/edgardoc/Docmain.pl?doc=A-1043102-0000950134-99002302fmt=nad=x=43y=616. Vault Reports. http://www.jobvault.com/vstore/snapshots/SnapShotHome.cfm?Product_ID=68917. Veronis, Suhler Associates Inc.http://www.vsacomm.com/top50/index.html. 18. Wilkerson, David B. and Steve Gelsi. CBSMarketWatch. Chancellor forms Internet units: Radio giant to leverage streaming, portal opportunities. May 19, 1999. http://cbs.marketwatch.com/archive/19990519/news/current/amfm.htx?source=blq/yhoo19. Wilkerson, David B. CBSMarketWatch. Billboard sale is only latest twist for Chancellor. June 1, 1999. http://cbs.marketwatch.com/archive/19990601/news/current/amfm.htx?sour†¦/yhoodist=yho20. Yahoo! News. May 19, 1999. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/en/story.html?s=v/n†¦industry-chancellormedia_1.html21. Yahoo! News. June 1, 1999. Chancellor Sells Billboard Unit. Seth Sutel. June 1, 1999. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/financial/story.html?s=†¦/chancellor_outdoor_2.thm22. Yahoo! Finance. Market Guide. Chancellor Media Corp. Web Site. http://biz.yahoo.com/p/

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The book, The Alchemist, can be described as a metaphor of life. It is funny how dreams can mould a person’s life. It is a paradox such that people consider other lifestyles as better than theirs thereby striving to get that life that belongs to other cultures, through that lives are transformed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Dreams can also be seen as the driving forces behind an individual’s life, they bring about desires that mould an individual’s destiny because through them, then fate ceases to be the determinant of happenings in an individual’s life time. Santiago, a young shepherd, the main character in the story The Alchemist is portrayed by Paulo Coelho, as a go getter to some extent. He repeatedly gets a dream that haunts him and pushes him to follow it and thus his expedition in the story; he wants to achieve t hat dream (Coelho 34). Santiago gets the simple lessons of life of believing in the signs that one gets in life, even if it is just through dreams and following them till he achieves them. The crossing of cultures leads him to following his dreams which he finally achieves. The boy, Santiago is driven to search for the hidden treasure in Egypt making him cross many countries and even the wide Sahara desert whereby he meets different characters, both deceitful and truthful who shape his life, the same way the young Chinese man and other international students cross the borders to get to Melbourne to study, their treasure in this context, education. When the young man shows up in the author’s office with scratchy English (Coelho 45), it is evident that there is a bit of transformation from his past self to his present self. The young Chinese appreciated the author’s message that she had given him the first day he visited her office because she says so. In the same sprit of appreciation, the boy Santiago appreciated the advice given to him in the story which leads him to acquire the treasure that he set out to look for. For instance he gives the old man a share of his sheep, that is, a tenth of his flock and promises to give a tenth of his treasure to the old woman. The Chinese student on the other hand brings the tutor a painting of a well embroidered Chinese woman (Coelho 61). This therefore gives the importance of appreciating those who help us in our endeavors to acquire our different treasures in life.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through the harsh experiences that he faces, the boy learns the value of being strong, patient, and persistent and being a hard working person. Regardless of the setbacks that he encounters a long the way, he does not give up. Just like Rachael, no potential was seen in her as a nurse, she was discouraged by her tutors that she could not make it as a children’s nurse, but her so many visits to the Occupational Health Department which convinced the tutors that she was capable of becoming a nurse saw her through (Coelho 25). It took a year to convince them, and about fifteen visits and in the long run she was allowed to take up the career path that she had dreamt of and desired to do. Her desire and persistence to follow her dream made her accomplish her heart desires. Following a dream can sometimes seem too hard and expensive but the determination in it tells all about the conviction that one has. The boy in the story The Alchemist is portrayed by Coelho as humble and a brave character. The king tells him that when he wants something, the world will always conspire to help him achieve it, and now that he wants to get the treasure then he is going to get it as long as he is ready to face the challenges (Coelho 24). The challenges he faces in foreign lands can be likened to the challenges faced by those living in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. We are told that the further one lives away from the city, the more harsh life is for them because life there is a bit depressing and that there is little or even no amenities at all. The public transport system is also poor. The kinds of houses that are there are in a sorry state just like street lights are not in proper functioning conditions. Fitting into a new culture can be demoralizing more especially after relocation to a new place, but regardless of this, accepting the prevailing conditions in order to achieve one’s heart desires is reason enough to go on, the international students face problems of housing but with perseverance they the can achieve their ultimate goals and desires. The boy Santiago takes up every opportunity that comes his way, he wallows through so much problems that he encounters along his path of getting to the treasure, he worked hard towards his destiny because no problem was t oo big for him to deal with. We find that dreaming is one thing and following that dream is another, Rachael had a dream of becoming a nurse, she felt that she really needed to give back to the community and serve the people who had made a great difference in her life and that is why she really wanted to be a children’s nurse, she was laughed at told on several occasions that it was never going to happen because a nursing course was not suitable for her and that she was fit to a desk job (Coelho 25).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, her desire to follow her dream was the driving force that led her to achieving it in the long run. Had she given up a long the way due to the words of discouragement from even her tutors she could not have become a voice to reckon to the parents of the sick children that she attended to at the Children ’s Out-patient Department (Coelho 25). In the story, we are also brought to a level ground where freedom to choose what one wants to do should be embraced and given room to drive us. Freedom is the ability for one to do what he or she likes and that entails following one’s heart. Through this one is capable of exploiting his or her own potentialities and doing something that is self fulfilling, if one is made to do something that dictates his or her destiny in a forceful way then the end results will always be bitter. The boy chooses to travel the world because this is his inner calling other than studying theology and becoming a priest. He enjoys the life of adventure and travelling to new places. On her part, Rachael could have been forced to do a desk job because of her health something that she could have done regretfully thereby ending up a slave in a career path that on the contrary should have brought her inner peace and happiness. The boy was allowed to follow his heart which led him later on to acquire his life experiences that are worthwhile, even more than he could have achieved material treasures. The challenges faced by adapting to a new culture can some times be too much to bear, but how ready is a person to bear with the challenges that come with it? At the same time, it can be hard to make a dream a reality but how persistent that can one be to catch up with that dream (Coelho 89)? Both parties therefore should equip themselves with the communication gear which most definitely is the vehicle that will enable one to get to his or her destiny. The individual will get room to express him/her self thereby appreciating each other as well as compromising with each other’s feelings where possible, that way the joy of learning will have come into play. Once a dream has been hatched then the determination and persistence that will be employed in making it a reality is what will determine whether it is going to be the destiny of an i ndividual and that is what brings in the difference between destiny and fate. Though not sure of his destiny, he strives to get it no matter the challenges, and his life experiences show that everyone needs to work hard to achieve success, one need to strive for the good things in life. This simply inspires people to put effort in order to achieve our goals, for one to make his or her dreams become a reality, he or she is not just gong to sit there and wait for dreams to fall into place, one needs to risk the good things in life in order to achieve better ones (Coelho 100).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Coelho simply intends to bring to our attention that if one dreams and wishes for something then one should be persistent about it and be patient for long enough, one might loose an opportunity by getting tired at the last minute and give up so easily, and see the fruits after somebody else has achieved the fruits of our long suffering. Just like Santiago ones wishes can come in both material objects and life experiences, as for the case of Santiago, his journey to the Pyramids in Egypt, is his treasure. Works Cited Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York. Harpertorch. 1993. pp. 1 – 163. This essay on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was written and submitted by user CharlieCampion to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The eNotes Blog Blind Date With aBook

Blind Date With aBook While a blind date with another human being on Valentines Day is on par ideas-wise with tattooing your significant others name on your chest, a blind date with a book is not. This is what librarian and tumblr user alethiosaur, inspired by  Worthington Libraries, sought to prove with her local library event, in which she paired browsing library-goers with titles unknown to them except for the few characteristics she listed on their sealed-up covers. Fortunately, she was able to avoid those overused dating site catchphrases, Im tired of all the games, and If you like moonlit walks on the beach. Heres a few examples of what she came up with instead: Recognize the titles above? How about these ones: Happily, most of the books got hot dates with more than thirty readers. We started with ~40 books. Two hours later, all but four had found homes with library patrons (sorry,  Flush,  Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,  Persepolis, and  The ThingsThey Carried, they don’t know what they’re missing). See if you recognize any more of the books looking for love below. Which one would you choose, or what book would you set up a fellow reader with for a blind date? What would you tell him or her about it? Have a love-filled Valentines Day! We hope it involves a book somehow, or at least a little recitation of our top ten love poems.

Analysis Of Environmental Conditions Marketing Essay

Analysis Of Environmental Conditions Marketing Essay Analysis of environmental conditions is based on the framework put forward by Lynch (2009) that assesses the general degree of turbulence in the environment. This can be done by using the two measures of ‘Changeability’ and ‘predictability’ (Lynch, 2009, p80), which can be subdivided into complexity and novelty (changeability), and rate of change and visibility (predictability). Establishing a level of turbulence in the environment allows us to know with how much confidence we can predict the future (Lynch, 2009). In the fourth quarter of 2009 the UK GDP rose by 0.1% (www.statistics.gov.uk, 2010) which means Britain is officially out of recession. While this means recovery is under way, many analysts remain sceptical of the extent of recovery. Andrew Sentance of the Monetary Policy Committee has claimed that ‘pace of recovery would remain uncertain’ (Sentence in the Telegraph Newspaper, 2010). So, as far as predictability and visibility go, it appears very difficult to predict with confidence the extent to which the UK economy will recover in 2010, with many anticipating a slow process because ‘the economy remains weighed down by a still fragile banking sector and high consumer and government debt levels’ (Seager, 2010). With regards to Changeability and complexity, there is a general election expected in May this year and there is a strong possibility of a change of Government (www.yougov.co.uk, www.ipsos-mori.com, 2010), which will bring about a change in Government policy towards businesses, for example, the Conservative Party are pledging a cut in corporation tax. (www.conservatives.com, 2010). Adding to the complexity is the recent return to a 17.5% VAT rate that adds more financial pressure to consumers in an already struggling market. The recession may have ended but analysts are not expecting too much change in spending as ‘economic downturn is squeezing spending power and that pressure will con tinue into 2010’ (Mintel, Oct 2009). Given the reasonably turbulent conditions, organisations must change its strategies, and possibly its beliefs if it is to maintain its ability to handle changes in the environment (Thompson, 2005). So strategy cannot be made for years into the future because of the uncertain nature of the environment. Strategy should focus on the upcoming year until the turbulence reduces. 4.2 PEST Analysis PEST Analysis is a focus on the macro environment and which factors will change the external environment in the years to come. Johnson et al (p.54) states â€Å"The environment is what gives organisations their means of survival. However the environment is also a source of threats.† â€Å"The macro environment is the highest-level layer. This consists of broad environmental factors that impact to a greater or lesser extent on almost all organisations.† Therefore a good analysis of the macro environment is critical to success but should als o be as general and non-specific as possible, this leads to one of the down falls of PEST that it can be a very useful tool when analysing the macro environment but also its general nature can be its downfall if it becomes little more than a huge list of factors in a shopping list fashion.

Mechthild of Magdeburg Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mechthild of Magdeburg - Essay Example Mysticism is the experiential core of spirituality, contrasted with religion, which is an organized assembly of rituals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mechthild’s level of spirituality is god-ordained. With this perspective, she is eminently suited to tread the path of spirituality. She gives up the secular comforts with the intention to become a Beguine at Mageleburg in 1230. She is trained in spirituality by Dominicans, who excel in austerities, engage in extensive prayers and hard mortification. She has profound divine experiences often, and she is totally free from the secular confusions and her inner self is one with Divinity. In 1270 she associates with Cistercian nuns at Helfta, and continues with them for the rest of her life. She has written a great book that contains the details of her inner experiences and visions. The name of the book, as ordained by God is "Light of my divinity, flowing into all hearts that live without guile". Mechthild begins writing it in 1250 and completes the 6th volume at Magdeburg in 1264.She adds the 7th volume at Helfta. That Mechthild, one of the greatest medieval mystic, was marginalized in her times by a male-dominated Western Culture was true. Women were marginalized in all sections of the society and spirituality was no exception. Carol L.

The Brand Strength of easyJet Plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Brand Strength of easyJet Plc - Essay Example Removing extras from the service model such as establishment of first-class seating and meals allows a firm to cut costs all throughout the entire value chain (Thompson 2008). easyJet recognises that the majority of its customers are going to be price sensitive, thus in order to maintain market interest easyJet cannot deviate from its value model. The original marketing concept for easyJet in the last decade has been to â€Å"make flying as affordable as a pair of jeans† and where the company attempts to persuade consumers to cut out the travel agent role in booking and vacation planning (easyJet 2012). The TV series, Airline, created by LWT was a UK television series surrounding the dramas of actors employed with easyJet that ultimately made easyJet a household name in the UK (easyJet 2012). In order to establish brand recognition in key markets during initial marketing strategies, product placement and logo presentation in highly-valuable television markets built the ability of the company to have its logos and colours recognised instantaneously. easyJet has yet to deviate from this strategy of using logo and design characteristics associated with the organisation (e.g. orange and black) to differentiate the organisation from competition. The aggressive product placement strategies have built the brand equity currently experienced by easyJet. According to the company, â€Å"orange is one of our greatest distinguishing features. It is an essential part of our brand heritage and brand identity† (easyGroup 2011, p.5). When attempting to create brand recall using logo presentation, it is necessary to use consistent colour representations in order to appeal to consumers’ psychological characteristics... In the essay the business strategy of easyJet is about the original marketing concept for easyJet in the last decade has been to â€Å"make flying as affordable as a pair of jeans† and where the company attempts to persuade consumers to cut out the travel agent role in booking and vacation planning. Then goes the exploration of the brand strength of easyJet. easyJet has maintained its positive market position by using strategies that are not only aligned with budget-conscious consumers, but also those that promote convenience as part of market positioning strategy. easyJet is also able to rely on sponsorships and alliances throughout the entire business model in order to gain even more brand credibility and establish a set of values that are expressed positively to consumer markets. easyJet partnered with VisitBritain, a government sponsored marketing effort designed to lure more domestic and international tourism for the UK. easyJet also conducts considerable market research analyses both on internal processes and on what is driving consumer-centric trends in the external environment. Strengths for easyJet are the advantages that are provided the business as it relates to the tangible industry market. After the analysis of findings, we know the ability to achieve significant, record revenue gains in a market environment that has moved into maturity is a notable accomplishment for easyJet. At last, easyJet is a benchmark for using efficient brand enhancing activities in which promotional focus gives the brand more visibility.