Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C Essay Example For Students

Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C Essay Transportation in the 19th CenturyDuring the first half of the 19th century, improvements in transportation developed rather quickly. Roads, steamboats, canals, and railroads all had a positive effect on the American economy. They also provided for a more diverse United States by allowing more products to be sold in new areas of the country and by opening new markets. Copied from ideas begun in England and France, American roads were being built everywhere. In an attempt to make money, private investors financed many turnpikes, expecting to profit from the tolls collected. Although they did not make as much money as expected, these roads made it possible for cheaper (not cheap) domestic transportation of goods. It still cost more to transport a ton of freight a few miles over land than it did to send it across the Atlantic Ocean. We will write a custom essay on Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now But because of turnpikes, for the first time, goods were able to make it over the formidable Appalachian mountains.The steamboat was the first economical means of inland transport. It was faster and cheaper then the rafts used before them. Additionally, the steamboats made it possible to travel back up the Mississippi, allowing farmers and lumbermen to come down by raft, and travel home in the luxurious comfort of a steamboat after selling their goods. This also made the northwest less self-dependent because it was now able to purchase southern goods.While steamboats sparked the economy on the western frontier, canals became increasingly popular on the east coast. Although expensive ($25,000 per mile), and difficult to build, canals were an important source for those farmers and merchants who needed a cheap method of inland transportation. The water allowed horses, once only able to pull a ton of materials, to now pull over a hundred tons with the same amount of work. These canals were not only economical for exporters, but also for the state. Tolls alone collected from the Erie Canal had, by 1825, already paid for the entire project ($7,000,000), and now was making a substantial amount of profit.Even though it had not totally expanded yet, the cheapest, most economical method of transportation was the railroad. Speed, durability, and safety all contributed to the success of it. State legislatures and the national government all provided aid to the railroad companies by decreased the tax on rail iron.During this time period, manufacturing also boomed. New ideas and inventions made it faster to produce products. However, it is because of these new modes of transportation that this was ever able to occur. The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, would never have been able to develop fully if the transportation system did not make it easy to obtain cotton from the south.With these new technological breakthroughs, American economic growth was significantly increased. By allowing cheaper importation and exportation of goods, manufacturers were able to produce more of these products. Also, it opened new markets to different places. In the northwest, where coffee was an expensive luxury (costing almost seventeen cents per pound), it was now a common item. The steamboat reduced the price by over thirteen cents. Also, our new transportation system helped other regions work together. And aside from material items, our country benefited economically from tourism. Any tourist to the New York area would not miss The Great Western Canal.So although manufacturing did have a significant role in developing the American economy, it is because of transportation that manufacturing could have ever improved.

Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools

Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools Introduction William Shakespeare was an English poet. His exact birth date is unknown but estimated to be 23 April 1564 and he died on 23 April 1616. He is one of the greatest writers of English and the world’s preeminent dramatist. He is also known as â€Å"the Bard of Avon or just â€Å"the Bard†. He wrote most his works well known between 1590 and 1613.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He wrote plays, sonnets, poems and narrative poems. His plays are available in many languages and they have been staged several times. His reputation as a writer rose in the nineteenth century. During the twentieth century, scholarship movements adopted his works. Today his works are still very popular and are studied in schools. Importance of studying Shakespeare Studying Shakespeare is important because his works are rich and they ca n enrich a reader’s life in many ways. For instance, his works are very rich in the English language and are a good source of learning the language. Shakespeare contributed many words to the English vocabulary and they are still in use (Forrester 17). The works makes one sensitive to the English language. Moreover, his works are a challenge because they are not very easy but once a person is able to study them and understand there is a feeling of accomplishment. The language is powerful and through it, one experiences the power of drama. Shakespearean works address various ethical dilemmas. The ethical dilemmas help us in becoming morally sensible as they show the consequences of making bad judgments in life. For example in the play The Hamlet, Shakespeare addresses the issue of greed for power. He shows how it causes instability in a country â€Å"or thinking by our late dear brother’s death/our state to be disjoint and out of frame† (Shakespeare (a) 1.2.19-20) . Claudius kills King Hamlet, rises to power, and possesses the former queen Gertrude. Consequently, Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s death and sadly losses his life. In addition, the play addresses revenge and shows that sometimes the obsession with revenge can lead to one’s downfall. Through his plays, Shakespeare provided sources for debating human conduct. The plays offer good examples of how human beings should treat matters such as power inheritance and shows that there is no shortcut to power as those who come to power illegally do not succeed such as in Macbeth. Their evil deeds are punished as Macbeth noted â€Å"bloody actions return/To plague th’ Inventor† (Shakespeare (b) 1.7. 9-10).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The messages in his works are relevant even today. He talks of things such as power and shows how corrupting power can be especially to greedy people. He shows how people in power find it difficult to balance their private and public lives and shows how the people in power manipulate the masses for selfish interests. The plays are very good in studying murders and conspiracy. His works explore other issues such as gender, sexuality, love and war among others. These issues show the kind of relationships people have in the society (Forrester 18). In addition, his plays contain wit and humor and are very entertaining besides being educative. Therefore, Shakespeare’s works help college and school students to have a deeper literary appreciation (Lund 1; Forrester 18). His works opens up our imaginations and radical thinking. He addresses issues such as the relationship between rulers and their subjects. He gives us an opportunity to enter the minds of the characters in his plays and thus enlarges our experience. For instance, in Macbeth he lets us see how Macbeth’s conscience dis turbs him for killing King Duncan yet he ignores it and continues to commit murders to protect his throne. The plays carry a universal message and are easy to relate with as they address human issues that one can identity. The universality of the messages in the play and there relevance make the plays important. It means that one can interpret the meaning of the plays according to their context and Terence Hawkers puts it this way â€Å"Shakespeare does not mean; we mean by Shakespeare† (Why study Shakespeare 5). The culture of the English is well documented by the Shakespeare dramas. Through the plays, one is able to know how the society was together with its attitude towards its members. For instance, the play Taming the Shrew shows that men were considered inferior to men during the Elizabethan age but it also shows that the women were powerful in their own way as proved by Kate.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why it is important to teach Shakesp eare in schools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another play like the Merchant of Venice shows the relationship between people from different religions such as the Christians and Jews. The plays also show that the people valued religion as Shakespeare uses biblical allusions in most of his plays to address issues (Lund 1). Shakespeare and modern day drama Shakespeare in his work addressed human issue so articulately with his genius use of words. The works are timeless and form the basis of modern drama. The modern dramas such as The Fences address human issues that affect people in the society such as issue of unwed pregnancies. The modern day dramas differ from the Shakespeare drama because they rely on visuals while the later relied on words to pass messages. Moreover, the heroes in Shakespeare dramas are aggressive unlike those in modern drama (Lukas and Baxandall 150-151). The dramas are not in the same category as Shakespeare who is cl early in a class of his own. Conclusion Shakespeare is relevant today and has stood the test of time. Readers can resonate with the universal message his works pass. The works are a good source for the English literature and thus one cannot claim to understand without understanding Shakespeare. He is the foundation of the English literature and thus it would be unwise to banish him and important for students’ studies. Forrester, Ann. Why teach Shakespeare? Or any other dead white male? Literary Canon, Shakespeare, (1995). A paper presented to the Community Colleges Humanities Association Washington DC Nov. 1995. Lukas, George and lee Baxandall.†The sociology of modern drama.† The Tulane Drama  Review, 9.4 (1965), 146-170. Lund, Norman J. Why study Shakespeare? 11 Jun. 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Shakespeare, William (a). The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. n.d. Web. Shakespeare, William (b). The Tragedy of Macbeth. n.d. Web. Why study literature? n.d. Web.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Recipe for Success

Chicken Soup for the Soul Recipe for Success Whether you consider yourself a detail-oriented plotter, or a fly- developed strategies that work for you. Some writers can toss a few words together and write a great story with  little effort, but many of us need a formula. I have been published in 23 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Each true story had universal appeal, a beginning, a  middle, and an end. My stories had unique angles whether via the message, writing style, or level of adventure. A Chicken Soup for the Soul story reads like youre speaking to a friend, but writing one is not as simple as   sitting in your best friends living room, sharing a life event. You must follow a basic recipe and then season  it your way. Imagine this scenario: Youve just discovered a recipe on line for the perfect chocolate cake. You would like to  win the blue ribbon in a baking contest. You gather necessary tools and ingredients, mix, bake, and create what  you hope will be a prize winner. You discover that half the entrants have also found the same recipe and baked  the same cake. Lined up on a countertop, they all resemble one another. Exactly what is it about your masterpiece  that makes it unique? Is it how you decorate it? The elegant presentation? What is your attention-grabber? What  leaves a delightful lingering taste for more? Chicken Soup for the Soul receives more than 1,000 submissions for each book title. Editors whittle selections  down to 200, then select 101 stories for publication. Selected submissions go through several editorial rounds  and are read   Ã‚     Choose the preparation technique that works best for you. Do you free-write and then edit, or edit as you go? Always, before hitting the SEND button, edit one last time.   Ã‚     Every cook adds her own touch, something special which distinguishes her product from the rest. Season carefully. Adding a shot of bourbon (expletives) or a dash of cayenne pepper (wisecracks) to a Chicken Soup story  wont necessarily spice it up. Use metaphor, analogy, and/or humor. Add sensory details to make your reader see  and feel. Inspire. Aim for the goose bumps.   Ã‚     Your title must have immediate appeal. Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Tingle, which recipe heading is more  creative and interesting?   Ã‚     Even if its good, your story may not be chosen. Sometimes editors receive too many of the same type of  story submissions, so not all of them can be chosen regardless how many of them are good. Rejection has little to  do with you and your product, and more to do with editorial needs. Unfortunately, Chicken Soup for the Soul does  not send rejection letters, but they do keep stories on file for consideration for other upcoming books.   Ã‚     The last morsel of your finished product should be as tasty as the first bite. Your story ending should  be as delectable as your opening. Leave the reader with a relatable memory, a powerful, inspirational, take-away  message in no more than 1,200 words. Many writers think there’s a certain magic to landing a Chicken Soup contract. Others liken selection to the  lottery. In reality, it’s common sense and a splash of whimsy.

The Free-Trade Area of the Americas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Free-Trade Area of the Americas - Essay Example For the past few years, diplomats from 34 nations have been working hard to push for the establishment of a free trade area. The following are reasons why governments across the Americas are pushing for the free trade area. First, a country will only specialize in selling goods and services which it can do be and trade with other nations for its wants. This is a representation of actual supply and demand of free trade market. This is because when a certain country concentrates the products that it can do best, such a country takes economy of scale advantage and manufactures their products at reduced production costs. Secondly, these governments argue that free trade area will lead to increased imports and exports, thus increasing the availability of products in the involved nations, therefore, bringing healthier competition. Another reason why governments across the Americas are pushing for a free trade area is that it will reduce living costs, thus increasing economic growth. This i s because it will do away with governmental interventions such as taxes and tariffs thus enabling consumers to purchase products at reduced costs. This will also bring good bond between the involved countries leading to healthier governance and diplomatic global ties. Anti-FTAA group claims that free trade agreement extends treaties that were already adopted (NAFTA and FTA) from the acute North of Tierra del Fuego, Canada, and NAFTA had noxious outcomes with Mexico and the impacts negatively workers in the United States and in Canada. Therefore, the protests argue that from this example, it is evident that the FTAA will bring disastrous effects on Latin America. From the protests point of view, the accords of Free Trade are Globalization masterpieces and thus they will allow deregulation as well as the opening of new markets through the elimination of trade barriers such as worker rights and environmental protection. Additionally, these accords will contribute to commodification and privatization of things such as education and healthcare services and due to globalization, Free Trade aims at enriching â€Å"world masters† called big capitalists and financiers.

Management concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management concepts - Essay Example According to CEO James Thompson, operations management within Concept Design Services â€Å"totally transformed our outlook, our resources, and our prospects† over a ten-year period, resulting in a phenomenal unanticipated financial success (Chambers, 2003, p. 46). Management assessed Concept Design Services original growthelement, industrial plastic components, and noted the decrease in sales and the unreliability of the market in both purchasing the product and requesting larger orders. As Concept Design Services diversified into household goods and plastics, the demand for inexpensive household products expanded. At this time Concept Design Services was faced with the issue of an increasingly competitive pricing market from smaller manufacturers that could produce a duplicated item within a tightly controlled overhead. Even while these items appeared to be duplication, they were not the quality of the Concept Design Services items. Concept Design Services evaluated their pr oduct line, deleted the less profitable industrial enterprise, and developed a niche market with a new designer and a new concept. Designer household plastics became the â€Å"it† item for new homebuyers and those with a desire for fashionable home decoration. While developing the new product line, Concept Design Services created a new distribution network that brought the product closer to the consumer and the point of purchase. Placing their designs and color coordinated products at eye level in retail markets and chain stores, Concept Design Services launched their products with enhanced publicity by providing visible merchandise on television cooking shows, color magazine advertisements, newspaper articles and advertisements, and point-of-sale color brochures and self-service displays (Chambers, 2003, p. 48). As a first step in transformation, Concept Design Services changed their inputs, by changing the direction and gaining control of the process that transforms resourc es. Next in the transformation process, Concept Design Services changed the physical design of their product, changed the customer base for their product, and changed the information available to customers to market a chic, new product. At this time Concept Design Services changed the distribution process, or output, so that the customer had better service and a quicker turnaround time for product availability. While enacting the new focus for Concept Design Services, operations management utilized the four dimensions, of operations management in the following ways: Volume-The company concentrated on providing a high volume product (plastic housewares) and abandoned the low volume product (industrial plastics). The new high volume product required an entire new division of designers, colors, marketing, and increased the cost per unit of the new plastic housewares. This change was capital intensive as it required paying royalty payments to Italian designers in return for the endorsem ents and designs, an operating cost that was not previously anticipated (Chambers, 2003, p. 53). Variety-The Company moved from a low variety (only specific models of industrial plastics) to a high variety (plastic housewares with multiple colors and designs). The higher variety brought a more complex set of circumstances requiring more mouldings, more tooling changes, more color changes and more waste of the product

Taliban vs Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Essay Example for Free

Taliban vs Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Essay Afghanistan is a mountainous land-locked country, which is one of the central Asian countries. In addition, it is an Islamic country that Islam religion has played a significant role in governing it. In Afghanistan Many governments had been changed in past several decades. For instance, the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan, the Kingdom of Mohammad Nadir Shah, Mohammad Zahir Shah, The Communist Regimes, the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Taliban Regime, Interim Government, Transitional Government, and the Islamic Republic Governments. As most of us agree that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan changed very much in contrast to passed governments, especially Taliban Regime. This piece of writing concentrates on similarities and differences of Taliban Regime and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The similarities are fewer among the mentioned governments; however, the differences between them are several. First the similarities will be discussed; secondly the differences will be pointed. The first similarity between these two governments is that in Taliban Regime laws and regulations of Islam was implemented and maintained in according with Sharia’s laws. It always tried to carry on the Islamic laws on people and disputes. There were three types of courts such as, Primary Court, Appealing Court, and Supreme Court. In a similar way, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is also trying to implement Islamic rules and regulations. It is also seeking to help people by solving the disputes by carrying on the rules of Islam. For solving the cases and disputes, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is structured three types of courts, for instance, Primary Court, Appealing Court, and Supreme Court. Another likeness between Taliban Regime and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the centrality of government in Kabul. From the first invasion that Taliban did, they had the plan take the control over Kabul, after capturing the Kabul City, Taliban decided to establish their central government in Kabul City. For all of their time in government, their central government was located in Kabul. Similarly, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, from the beginning of its government, the central government organizations are located in Kabul City. The third similarity between those two mentioned governments is the patronage of some foreign countries of both governments, Taliban Regime and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. When Taliban came to the power, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and reportedly United States of America were the strongest supporters of Taliban Regime. The first country that supported them was Pakistan. Pakistan always announced their support of Taliban Regime. Furthermore, it also provided the Taliban Regime an enormous amount of money and military equipments. Likewise, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is also supported by some countries, such as, USA, some European Countries, Japan, India, Turkey, and many others. They all give any kinds of support for the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The most obvious difference among these two governments is in education. For example, in Taliban Regime, there were no education facilities for females. Females were not allowed to attend schools and universities. They were all far from education. Taliban’s thought was that if a girls or a woman go to school, they would learn not Islamic principles. In contrast, in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, females are allowed to join schools, universities and other education centers to have education. Moreover, the government is also trying to provide opportunities for both males and females to get educated and even to complete their educations outside Afghanistan. The next very important difference between these two governments is entertainment. In Taliban Regime there was not any kind of entertainment for pleasure and enjoyments. There was just one TV and one radio station by the name Islamic State TV and Radio Station that showed and played just all the fundamental issues of Islam. There were no music, movies, cinemas, and parties. Even in wedding and other parties if someone played music, he or she would be punished and sent prison. On the other hand, In the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, there are more than twenty TV channels and almost eighty radio stations that bring enjoyments and pleasure in people’s lives. People can have music in their weddings and parties. They can play music, watch TVs, and listen to radios. Another distinction between these two mentioned governments was the governing system of each. For example, in Taliban Regime, the government was just over several provinces. They did not have control all over Afghanistan although they had a central government in Kabul. Their government was always in risk that one day it would be collapse. Some of the important offices were not run properly. There was not good management in ministries. Corruption was in most ministries, especially in courts. Instead, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan contains a good and proper governing system. It is trying to offer chances of development for its employees and offices. It has got line by line authority of command. It is a selective government. There is National Assembly of Afghanistan. Furthermore, members for National Assembly of Afghanistan are selected by people. There are appropriate procedures of doing something in government offices. The other difference between Taliban Regime and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is that in Taliban Regime women were not allowed to get out of their houses lonely. And they were not allowed to walk lonely in the markets and streets. If a woman found alone in anywhere in the city, one of her family member would be punished. Conversely, there is no one that people would afraid of them in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan women are free to go anywhere like restaurants and markets. The economical perspective is another difference among Taliban Regime and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In most of the provinces of Afghanistan during the Taliban period were wars happening. Therefore, people lift their homes and went to other countries. There were no farmers, no engineers, no doctors, overall no professionals that could help Afghanistan’s economy to develop. The government income was very less but the prices for goods were so high. No one invested in Afghanistan because being insure about the future of government. In contrast, in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, countries are hardly trying to invest in Afghanistan’s infrastructures. The government by itself is seeking to provide job opportunities for Afghan people. Professionals who lifted Afghanistan in Taliban Regime are coming back to their country to bring new ideas of development. In conclusion, it is now clear to most of us that Afghanistan had a very old history. Furthermore, the above facts show and indicate that Afghanistan passed a very difficult situation. The hardest situation that Afghanistan crossed through is the Taliban Regime. Although, some people are in support of Taliban Regime in past, but now some people are against them because of some difficulties in compare to this government, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Although there are some similarities between these two governments, but there are several differences between them.

Why Miller Included the Character of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge :: Papers

Why Miller Included the Character of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge The character Alfieri has a very important role in the play " A View From The Bridge." Alfieri acts both as a narrator and commentator but his main function is to offer ideas to the audience to set them thinking about the message of the play. Alfieri is a character in the play and yet his advice is objective and sympathetic. Alfieri is the first character to speak in the play; he therefore sets the scene and informs the audience the background to the action. He is a lawyer but in this area of Brooklyn the people distrust the law, he tells us "A lawyer means the law, and in Sicily, from where their fathers come, the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten". This speech immediately sets up tension between Alfieri, a representative of written law and the Italian immigrant community, who prefer to follow their own 'law', the Italian law of natural justice! Alfieri was born in Italy and tells us in his first speech that "I only came here when I was twenty-five." Because he grew up in Italy, Alfieri understands the other characters very well. They are all Italian immigrants and have a very similar background. The audience understands how fatalistic Alfieri is when he says "another lawyerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course." He is telling the audience that he can sense that a terrible event is about to happen but knows he is powerless to prevent this. He understands that in such a community it is better to "settle for half." Alfieri is a realist who is prepared to make a compromise between two cultures. He knows that there will always be injustice no matter how hard he tries to help the citizens of Red Hook. He is happy that he "no longer needs to keep a gun in my filing cabinet." Alfieri acts as a witness to the events as they happen and he makes comments

Panera Bread Case Study Essay

INTRODUCTION: Panera Bread is one of the great American success stories of breaking trends, and shaking up the market with complete innovation. Not only were they successful, but they were able to achieve this success while doing things their own way. Product and Service differentiation were the keys to this bakery-cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s success. Before Panera Bread’s creation in ___, never had a business combined the relaxing environment of a cafà © with the fresh aroma of an artisan’s bakery. This proved to be a gold mine for its owner and stakeholders, and the analysis of this period from 2001 to 2003 shows exactly why. In this analysis, we will examine the success factors of Panera Bread and explain why they were able to achieve some of the goals they had accomplished thus far. We will also explain some alternatives and opportunities that Panera Bread may look forward to taking advantage of in the future. Panera Bread’s mission was to create the bakery-cafà ©; a place the combined the welcoming atmosphere of coffee shops, the food of sandwich shops, and the quick service of fast food restaurants. They named this type of service â€Å"fast-casual† dining and the term fits because of the atmosphere and quality of service they were able to provide. Panera Bread targeted 5 key consumer dining needs which include the following: SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS: CURRENT SITUATION The company’s revenues rose from 350.8 million to 977.1 million between 2000 and 2003 as a result of new unit expansion, with 419 stores opening between 1999 and 2003. In 2000 system wide comparison sales and annualized unit volumes increased 9.1% and 12%. The growth of these two metrics decreased in the years following with system wide comparable sales and AUVs increasing only .2% and .5%. GENERAL ENVIRONMENT The fast-casual dining market consists of those companies that seek to fill the gap between fast-food chains and full-service restaurants. These companies offer speed, efficiency, inexpensiveness, hospitality, quality and ambiance. These restaurants fall under fast casual when they offer self-service, a check between 6 and 9 dollars, slightly more expensive than fast food but cheaper than full service restaurants. Other requirements include that the food be made to order and the dà ©cor being upscale. This market of restaurants experienced significant growth between 1999 and 2003. Continued growth was expected with sales projected to reach 50 billion in the following decade. This growth was expected to come at the expense of fast food chains. The industry’s growth started with high profitability and diverse dining avenues, with concepts such as Mexican, Chinese, and bakeries. Opening costs for these establishments in relation to annual sales was minimal, allowing more new players to get into the market with fresh concepts and menu items. Also the maturing of baby boomers and their children contributed largely to the growth of the fast casual market. This demographic expressed insufficient time for cooking while growing tired of fast food and desiring a high-quality, fresh, healthy dining experience, without the time consumption of a full dining restaurant. This market has effectively emerged itself into a legitimate trend in the restaurant industry. Modern day customers seek establishments that combine qualities such as a casual atmosphere, quality, and quick service. Panera Bread focuses on these aspects of their bakeries by offering breakfast, lunch, daytime â€Å"chill-out, lunch in the evening and take home meals; in alignment with consumer dining  needs. The company’s customer base included seniors, matinee-goers, shoppers, business professionals, and students. The company focuses on delivering high quality foods, targeting suburban dwellers and workers as a premium specialty bakery and cafà ©. Panera Bread was a pioneer in the cafà ©-bakery segment with unique concepts and operation strengths, which has led the company to its current position in the fast casual dining market. The company designed its concept in meeting the consumer’s needs of efficiency and the desire for high quality dining, which aren’t met by traditional fast food chains. The company strived to establish Panera Bread as a leading national brand, with its operation quality, real estate strategies, and design being integral to their success Each company-operated bakery had computerized cash registers to collect point of sale transaction data, used in generating marketing information. Product prices were programmed into the system from the corporate office. The company’s in-store information system was designed to assist in labor scheduling and food cost management, to provide corporate and retail operation management fast access to data, and to reduce administrative time. These systems supplied data to the company’s accounting department daily, enabling them to use the data to generate weekly reports on sales and other important elements. The company also monitored the average check, customer count, product mix, and other sales trends. Also, facilities had systems that allowed the dough facilities to accept electronic orders from the bakery and deliver orders to the bakeries. TASK ENVIRONMENT Employees consisted of full time associates in administrative or general positions, commissary operators, bakers, and associates at the bakeries. As of December 2003 the company had 3,924 full time associates, of whom 344 were employed in general or administrative roles principally at or from the company’s support centers. The company also had 4,078 part-time hourly associates at the bakeries. The company’s priority was staffing its bakeries, fresh dough facilities, and support centers with skilled associates, investing in training programs to ensure quality. The company  offered incentive programs and bonuses to salaried employees, with the addition of product discounts and employee stock options. Panera Bread believed that providing bakery-cafà © operators the opportunity to participate in the success of the company would enable the company to attract and retain highly motivated and experienced personnel, resulting in a better customer experience. The company targets mostly those individuals in urban areas, focusing on white collar workers who seek a fast and healthier alternative from fast food burgers and other common establishments of fast service. With a large focus on individuals seeking a fast, quality bakery product, the company seeks to give its target customers a stylish ambiance to dine in. Panera Bread’s competition derived from sources within its trade areas. The stores competed based on consumers need for breakfast, lunch, daytime, lunch in the evening, and take home bread sales with the competitive factors being location, environment, customer service, price, and quality of products. The company also competed for leased space in desirable locations where certain competitors had capital resources that exceeded those available to Panera Bread. Those primary competitors included specialty food and casual dining restaurant retailers, including national, regional, and locally owned concepts. Panera Bread had a fresh dough facility system that supplied fresh dough to the company owned and franchise operated bakeries daily. The company had 16 commissaries that prepare the fresh dough. These commissaries assured product quality and consistency, headed by the company’s master artisan baker, Mile Marino, who has been with the company since 1987. The company also entered into five year contract with a company named Bunge for its supply of frozen dough. The company also signed an agreement with Dawn Food Products to prep and deliver the frozen dough; structured as a cost-plus agreement. Franchised bakery’s operated under individual contracts with either the company distributor or other regional distributors, with three companies serving as the primary distributors for Panera Bread. The company has had increasing stock holder’s equity between 1999 and 2003, with its most recent total stockholder’s equity equaling 195,937 in December of 2003. Total incurred liabilities of the company equaled $46,235 in December of 2003 which made for a total liabilities and stockholder’s equity of $245,943  for the year. INTERNAL ANALYSIS The company strategy centered around a conceptual focus on the specialty bakery category with a focus on artisan attention bread made with all-natural ingredients. The strategies implemented by the company focus on meeting the important consumer trends met by fast food chains, while striving for a more upscale environment. In an effort to make Panera Bread emerge into a nationally dominant name, the company framed its menu, operating systems, prototype, and strategies around effective competition within sub-level business targets. This helped to company to increase profits between 2002 and 2003. The unique character of Panera Bread’s quality in its cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s, menu options, distinguished bakery design, along with the valuable locations of its stores contributed to its success. The company planned to combine company and franchise efforts in order to achieve its growth. Franchising proved to be a key factor in the company’s success, allowing the company to expand mo re rapidly due to increased resources to outfit the strategies and concepts produced by Panera. At the closing of the 2003 fiscal year, the company had 429 bakeries in operation and documented intention of opening an addition 409 bakeries. The company has 8 key executive officers with extensive experience, both with Panera Bread and also with other major corporations and organizations including Starbucks, Fidelity Investments, and other companies. All of these officers obtained their position with Panera between 1999 and 2003. The company derives its culture from the pre-existing chains of fast food and full service dine-ins. In an effort to supply consumers with a third option that combined the attributes of both of these markets, the company, through many stages of conception, effectively identified a niche within urban consumers. The company pioneered a new market segment of food service trends and through constant growth and innovation has built a successful company. The company is structured with top management and board executives establishing and updating views goals and visions for the growth and target of the restaurant chain. The company has both corporate and franchise operated bakery’s that adhere to the vision and direction of company management and consumer trends. STRATEGY FORMATION: Panera Bread has maintained its business strategy over its lifespan and they continue to employ a product/service differentiation strategy to sustain their competitive advantage as a fast-casual dining experience. This strategy has enabled them to grow very swiftly over the past 15-20 years and has given them a substantial hold on the market for fast-casual dining. Panera Bread’s decision to employ this differentiation strategy correctly, gives them the best opportunity to succeed for their target market. They are in a market where there are many ways to differentiate the products and services they provide. Buyers often perceive these differences as the product/service having value. Fortunately, few rival firms are following this distinct differentiation approach. Ron Schaich and his team were correct when concluding that this differentiation strategy would attract patrons which gave Panera Bread every reason to employ this strategy. To differentiate themselves from the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King, or Pizza Hut; they focused on an extremely high quality of food products. This played into their game plan of becoming a specialty cafe and they continued to choose the best and most natural ingredients for their products. Every loaf of bread is baked with the four ingredients, water, natural yeast, flour and salt, no chemicals or preservatives are ever used. Another practice they employ to provide first class products is within their supply chain. To provide fresh dough to their locations every day, they have many regional fresh dough facilities. These facilities would go through a 48 hour process to prepare bread and bagel dough for shipment, which provides consistent quality and efficiency to all the locations. Panera Bread also found that many customers were more health conscious which prompted them to introduce a full line of whole grain breads. Other improvements that they instituted included new artisan sweet goods, egg soufflà ©s and natural anti-biotic free chicken all to meet the customer’s ever changing preferences. These are the practices upon which Panera Bread has continued to provide an exceptional distinct product line to its customers in hopes of sustaining a competitive advantage. Panera has also implemented change in other areas to provide their customers with a differentiated service experience. They have employed a cafe design which created one of the most comfortable and warm environments to dine in. This has been very successful for their strategy of distinguishing themselves and their offerings to customers. Like Starbucks, they wanted to create an environment in which consumers would identify Panera Bread as a neighborhood meeting place. As a result, patrons would continuously use a Panera Bread location for all sorts of gatherings whether they are for business or pleasure. One of the greatest benefits that Panera Bread provides to its customers is free wireless high-speed internet and since they were one of the first to do so, this created a competitive advantage for them. The fast-casual dining industry is generally a new concept. At this point, Panera needs to sustain its leadership and competitive advantage in this industry to continue to grow and fend off competitors. One of the best defensive strategies that they can employ is the leverage gained by economies of scale. With these economies they can continue to offer their products on their terms, which give them an advantage over the competition. This in turn gives them more control over the market and the suppliers in this industry. Here they can block avenues for current competitors as well as new entrants. If they can continue to stay on the top of the industry they can continue to employ this defensive strategy. One of the main reasons that Panera Bread is relevant is because of its size. At this point they are one of the largest fast-casual dining businesses and they use this size to stimulate further growth. Continuing to grow gives them the opportunity to generate more revenue if executed well with the right buyers. Revenue is always a great reason for expansion and Panera Bread knows this. They are one of the best in the restaurant industry at recognizing shifts in consumer preferences and being able to make the proper adjustments to satisfy their customers. This is crucial especially in today’s world where change is continuous and rapid. As Panera Bread consistently strives to be a leader in product and environmental offerings,  it’s crucial that they continue to be aware of and progress along with the changing world. Even though they can employ some of these strategies in the future, they can’t lose track of their business model for fast-casual dining restaurants in the process. Though Panera Bread has been very successful during this period, there are some strategies which they can enact to stimulate a growth in profits. Unfortunately, with each benefit from an alternative there is always a cost that Panera Bread may or may not be willing to incur. Firstly, Panera Bread could try to vertically integrate their products. This would call for them to pre-pack some of their bread and sandwich products and sell them in local grocery chains across the United States. This strategy would make their products more accessible to the general public even where there are no Panera Bread cafà ©-bakeries nearby. One of the key risks with strategy would be the possibility that product quality would diminish because the products are not being made fresh within the actual bakeries. The second strategic alternative would be the use of mini cafes within retail stores. This strategy has already been implemented by Starbucks with their mini cafes inside of Target retail stores. This would also make the products more accessible to the general public, thus giving Panera Bread more exposure. This strategy would require Panera Bread to train managers within the retail store to be able to handle the proper preparation of their products. Lastly, the third alternative would be acquiring local cafes and transforming them into new cafà ©-bakery locations. This strategy would essentially eliminate competition and create new areas where these products can be accessed. On the other hand, if Panera Bread is unable to conduct full takeovers, there is a risk that they could lose some of the authenticity of their products/services.

Abortion: What Is the Reaction of the Society Essay

In today’s society moral standards of society, are becoming more & more justified. Abortions are becoming a controversial issue in the American society. It should be supported because of woman rights, rape & incest and health in women that could be a life and death situation that they may not be able to carry their unborn babies to full term. First, not to mention 1920 changed everything giving woman the right to vote and make their own choices and decisions. Woman now have rights to be able to get pregnant & not have to carry their babies to full term. Women also, are able to make choices about their bodies & reproductive lives without having a law placed on it. (Roe v. Wade 1). Secondly, woman who has been raped should have a choice. The woman is going through enough stress and trauma. So, carrying a baby for nine months is going to put a lot of stress on the mother. It will break her down physically, mentally and emotional. She just went through terrible act of injustices. The woman would be reminded of the committed violence against her that she won’t be in a good state of mind to take care of the child properly. So, that case abortion will be the best option. See more: Homelessness as a social problem Essay In addition, my girlfriend was a victim of rap and she has a daughter who doesn’t live with her, but her grandmother decided to take her in. My girlfriend isn’t able to take care of her daughter as she would like too. The father isn’t in the child’s life since she’s been born. Also, my girlfriend is having a hard time finding a way to tell her daughter who’s her father and why he isn’t in her life. This is a case abortion would be acceptable. Third, some women aren’t always that successful carrying their baby to full term. The health of the woman can cause her to have to terminate her pregnancy. It is very rare when abortion is required to save the mother’s life. When two lives are threatened and only one can be saved, doctors must always save that life. There are many more ways a woman that has health problems that would need to terminate her pregnancy. For example, a woman with HIV, a woman who’s on drugs really heavy, an STD that caused the amino fluid to leak out etc. To conclude, abortion is a controversial manner it has its pro’s and con’s on how a person should go about trying to have an abortion. It’s a widespread topic that can be justified by three main areas, rape, the health of the woman who’s not able to keep their child full term, also women having rights and choices about their own body. Many people today have their own personal beliefs on how abortion should be used in today’s society.

Free Essays on Case of Philosophy

Occasionally down the corridor of history, a solitary individual, through dint of his own leaps of logic and intuition, produces a work so astounding and compelling that it shakes an entire community of scholars, indeed the entire human village. We reserve such honors for a Plato, for a Kepler, or a Newton or an Einstein. But consider for a moment the following scenario. What if a great mind, one of the most profound in human history, completes what he considers his penultimate achievement, the acme of his spiritual and intellectual searching; but alas, the revelations presented in his works fall on deaf ears. He arrives at greatness, but has arrived too soon. Meanwhile, in the century and a half following his death, the concepts presented by the aforementioned great mind gradually occur to a number of other people, the likes of Albert Einstein and George Lemaitre. Unfortunately, the scenario describes the singular contributions, then subsequent neglect of the writer Edgar Allan Poe, who intuited the current modern cosmic theories, yet has never been properly credited for his discoveries. Even today, most people who thrill to Poe's masterfully told tales have never heard of Eureka, the work which Poe believed represented the full flowering of his mind, the precocious prose poem which delivers more modern cosmological theories than any work of the Newtonian era. And beyond scientific import, Poe composes a unified cosmic theory based on his spiritual insight. Unlike many scientific descriptions of the cosmos as a mathematically based machine set in motion, Poe's view of astro-physics resides within, and as a part of God. Eureka, Poe's essay on, and explanation of the universe, represents his last major work. It is a seldom-read masterpiece, quite scientific in content, especially scientific to have been composed by a writer of short stories and poems. It grew out of a lecture entitled "The Universe," delivered at the Society Li... Free Essays on Case of Philosophy Free Essays on Case of Philosophy Occasionally down the corridor of history, a solitary individual, through dint of his own leaps of logic and intuition, produces a work so astounding and compelling that it shakes an entire community of scholars, indeed the entire human village. We reserve such honors for a Plato, for a Kepler, or a Newton or an Einstein. But consider for a moment the following scenario. What if a great mind, one of the most profound in human history, completes what he considers his penultimate achievement, the acme of his spiritual and intellectual searching; but alas, the revelations presented in his works fall on deaf ears. He arrives at greatness, but has arrived too soon. Meanwhile, in the century and a half following his death, the concepts presented by the aforementioned great mind gradually occur to a number of other people, the likes of Albert Einstein and George Lemaitre. Unfortunately, the scenario describes the singular contributions, then subsequent neglect of the writer Edgar Allan Poe, who intuited the current modern cosmic theories, yet has never been properly credited for his discoveries. Even today, most people who thrill to Poe's masterfully told tales have never heard of Eureka, the work which Poe believed represented the full flowering of his mind, the precocious prose poem which delivers more modern cosmological theories than any work of the Newtonian era. And beyond scientific import, Poe composes a unified cosmic theory based on his spiritual insight. Unlike many scientific descriptions of the cosmos as a mathematically based machine set in motion, Poe's view of astro-physics resides within, and as a part of God. Eureka, Poe's essay on, and explanation of the universe, represents his last major work. It is a seldom-read masterpiece, quite scientific in content, especially scientific to have been composed by a writer of short stories and poems. It grew out of a lecture entitled "The Universe," delivered at the Society Li...

Attitudes to Language Essay Example for Free

Attitudes to Language Essay Language clearly plays a major role in all aspects of society. The most obvious is its social role of allowing people to relate to each other in all facets of their lives: to share information, emotions and ways of life. We use language as a means of navigating our daily lives and it plays an integral role in most of our interactions. Perhaps for this reason, French is regarded as an elegant and romantic language, while German is considered to be guttural. Additionally, ever since mankind evolved into different language communities, it is commonplace for people to adopt various attitudes towards the language(s) spoken by others, as well as towards the dialects of the language they speak. These attitudes are motivated by different factors, including pride in or shame regarding one’s own language, confidence or embarrassment about how one sounds, nationalism and a sense of personal dignity, one’s status and values as well as the prestige some languages are given in international interactions. A well known attitude is the desire for foreign speech patterns; another is the rejection of certain dialects. People form impressions of your personality, emotional state, geographic origin, education, experiences, age or socioeconomic status from the language you use and the way you use it. We often witness the amusement of an audience when someone speaks in the creole, for not only does the system of sound evoke laughter, but the assumption that the speaker is an uneducated serf is then made. Ridicule and contempt for the vernacular, creoles and dialects are common responses from some members of society, even within the Caribbean society, where dialects are rich, strong and the first language. Dialects develop under various circumstances as well as geographical locations and are varieties of languages. A creole could be a dialect within a language. Because of our history, people of the region tend to place a high premium on the standard languages (the language of power and economic might). Many  people believe that upward mobility is largely dependent on one’s ability to fit in with the predominant socioeconomic class, and language is the main signifier of this fit. Many Caribbean writers have described scenarios of people who went overseas, were generally expected to return with a new command of the target language and often demonstrated their new found ‘status’ by emphasizing their foreign accent of ‘twang’. While some might be impress ed by the ‘twang’, others view such pretensions with derision. Attitudes to language may vary from one sector of the society to another and some people demonstrate self-conscious behavior when speaking the standard language. This is largely a result of the fact that in most societies one is often judged on the basis of the variety of language that one speaks. This is even more prevalent in societies with a colonial legacy, like the Caribbean, where certain dialects are associated with the institution of slavery or conquest. Increasingly, educators are becoming aware that a person’s native language is an integral part of who that person is and marginalizing the language can have severe damaging effects on that person’s psyche. Many linguists consistently make a case for teaching native languages alongside the target languages so that children can clearly differentiate among the codes ( a term used synonymously with language or dialect but generally refers to a linguistic system of communication. A code can also be non-linguistic such as a dress code or code of conduct) and hence be less likely to mix the two. This approach has been adopted in Haiti, where schools teach both Standard French and French Creole (Haitian) and children are expected to be fluent in both. Additional prominence has been given to Caribbean Creoles with the publication of Creole dictionaries and with the translation of the New Testament from the Christian Bible into French Creole in St. Lucia. A similar project is under way in Jamaica. While attitudes to local dialects have been slowly changing, many people still associate the use of Creole with negative images and believe that its use should be relegated to specific circumstances and occasions. However, the fact that non-standard language varieties are the most widely spoken in the Caribbean makes them the choice of persons trying to get information to large sections of the society. For example, many advertisers use the Creole language to ensure that their message appeals to most people. At the same time, because of the prestige attached to the standard language, it tends to be the language of choice on formal occasions, like church services. A language variety is usually chosen because of its perceived social functions. You may have noticed that, the more formal the occasion, the more likely the use of the standard language, while for everyday interaction, popular music or emotional appeals, people tend to gravitate towards the non-standard varieties. You would have noticed that, even in a formal situation, non-standard dialect might be used for anecdotes, to inject humour or in a quotation. In the Caribbean, people switching from one code of language to another, often without thinking. However, there are times when the use of standard langue would seem totally out of place and would even interfere with semantics. For example, folk stories, folk songs and proverbs seem to lose a certain essence when translated into standard. The role of language as a vehicle for sharing culture is indisputable. Caribbean writers, singers and oral poets have played a major part in fostering acceptance of the Creole languages of the region, by incorporating them into their work and exposing them to the world. Nonetheless, negative attitudes to these languages persist in the minds of many. Attitudes to Language. (2018, Oct 28).

Art Apprecition IP Week Four Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art Apprecition IP Week Four - Essay Example This essay compares and contrasts three artworks from famous Baroque artists: Peter Paul Rubens’ â€Å"The Crucified Christ,† Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio’s â€Å"Flagellation of Christ,† and Rembrandt van Rijn’s â€Å"The Raising of the Cross.† These paintings are works of realism, where painters focused on using light, shadows, neutral colors, spatial composition, and vivid themes to depict dynamic spiritual actions in a religious event through somber dramatic effects. The artworks are similar in form because of the use of light, neutral colors, and shadows to interpret different aspects of the Crucifixion. Rembrandt painted images of mythology, religion and landscapes, using generally broad brushstrokes. He maximizes light, shadows, and spatial layout to portray his images and characters, enriching their emotions and personalities (Durham, 2004, p.115). â€Å"The Raising of the Cross† uses luminous light to focus on Christ†™s body. The whiteness of the light symbolizes his purity. The darkness around him conceals the people. Their shadows depict the heaviness of their sins, either as active or passive participants. The direction of the painting is slanting, and most of the lines slanting as well. The same slanting lines are seen in Caravaggio’s â€Å"Flagellation of Christ.† Caravaggio’s style of painting is known for his realism, intense chiaroscuro and the importance placed on co-extensive space. His portrayal of religious themes tends to be somber and dark, and his peers criticized his work for being too realistic, showing the grimmest of human features. In â€Å"Flagellation of Christ,† Christ’s body looks perfectly white, but the people who are crucifying him look like demons with their veined faces, arms, and legs. It seems that they are in extreme pain, when Jesus is the one being flagellated. They are concealed in dark shadows too, like in â€Å"The Raisin g of the Cross.† Aside from having the same light and shadow techniques, these paintings share the same neutral colors- white, black, and brown in different shades. â€Å"The Raising of the Cross† has some cool colors because of the color found in the dress of the white turbaned man and the man in blue beret. Rubens’ â€Å"The Crucified Christ† shows Christ in a vertical position, but his arms and legs are slanted too. Rubens is arguably one of the most central Flemish painters of the 17th century. His style defined the sensual and dynamic techniques of baroque painting. Rubens mixes bold brushwork, glowing colors, and play of light to depict vibrant energies (Spielvogel, 2012, p.480). In â€Å"The Crucified Christ,† the slanted lines connote human pain and misery. There are no people at the background, but the shadows of the clouds and faraway buildings are evident. Sunset presents itself in orange hues at the lower part of Christ’s body too . Like the other two paintings, the light is casted on Christ’s body in â€Å"The Crucified Christ.† His purity is highlighted against the darkness of the world. The luminous light highlights the humanity of Jesus and the pain on his face marks his human anguish. Aside from the same style used on light, color, and shadows, these three paintings maximize spatial layout for dramatic effects. In â€Å"The Crucified Christ,† Christ is put in the middle of swirling dark clouds. Beneath him are dark human structures. The main impact is that Christ is the