Coco Chanel - Fashion Merchandising Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coco Chanel - Fashion Merchandising - Assignment Example The article Coco Chanel - Fashion Merchandising centers around the Coco Chanel and her procedures. Coco Chanel never flourished from a design foundation, yet hailed from a destitution stricken family. Coco was an entertainer in her initial life periods in the wake of pressing together a singing profession as a club vocalist. She was by all accounts alright with singing and the vocation seemed, by all accounts, to be her strength. In any case, Coco understood that her fortune lied somewhere else a long way from the music business. She consequently later moved to form industry, where she left an imprint before her death. It was not until 1920s that Coco stepped an enduring expert in the realm of design. In the years going before World War I, Women’s clothing types were prohibitive and would in general make them increasingly female. Ladies just dressed to satisfy men. Coco changed the style business by breaking that code by creating less difficult attire for ladies, which were in creasingly down to earth. Coco brought into reality female pants just as suits, which was odd inferable from the female clothing regulation in the first years. Coco got notable during mid 1920s for gaining practical experience in female pieces of clothing, yet in addition for the memorable â€Å"black dress†, which overwhelmed the style business. Coco propelled Chanel No. 5 scent in 1922 and furthermore start Chanel signature cardigan coat in 1925. Coco filled in as a medical caretaker in World War II, however needed to get into concealing after her issue with a Nazi officer. In 1954, she came back to Paris where she bobbed back to mold world.

The Management of Global Trade Distribution Coursework

Free Essays on Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche, a special logician had some fascinating thoughts regarding people’s human qualities and character types. In this paper I will clarify what I like and abhorrence about his Lord Morality and his absolute opposite to this, Slave Morality. As per Nietzche, all ethical quality is an appearance of the will to control. The other is driven by the will to control however endeavors to deny this. The expression ace profound quality alludes to all the estimations of the mentally solid willed individuals. They stress freedom, individual respect, self-endorsement and the will to succeed. For such individuals great alludes to whatever prompts self-satisfaction with qualities, for example, respectability, quality, mental fortitude, force and pride. The direct opposite to the ace profound quality is the slave ethical quality. This ethical quality interests to the individuals who are unsure of themselves, frail willed. They characterize great as what makes life simpler, mor e secure, with so much characteristics as persistence, lowliness, noble cause, unobtrusiveness and empathy. I concur and differ with Nietzsche. I concur with the will to control. That all people are driven by this will. I am living verification. I need to be responsible for my future. I have objectives in each part of my life that I need to satisfy, everybody does. Without these objectives there would be no inspiration forever. Specialists wouldn’t need to be craftsmen, researchers wouldn’t care about science, and individuals wouldn’t care about themselves. I likewise concur with the ace morality’s ethics not the ace profound quality as an ideal being. I think we need these temperances In request to prevail with regards to satisfying the objectives set out by the will to control. I feel that when an individual discovers oneself these ace profound quality ethics are clear. The slave profound quality on the otherhand, I think has a few temperances and a few defeats as Nietzsche recommends. Persistence, humility, noble cause and empathy are a portion of the excellencies that Nietszche accepts to be acrid grapes. I have confidence in these characteristics. The piece of the slav... Free Essays on Friedrich Nietzsche Free Essays on Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche, a remarkable rationalist had some exceptionally fascinating thoughts regarding people’s human qualities and character types. In this exposition I will clarify what I like and abhorrence about his Lord Morality and his absolute opposite to this, Slave Morality. As per Nietzche, all profound quality is an appearance of the will to control. The other is driven by the will to control however endeavors to deny this. The expression ace ethical quality alludes to all the estimations of the mentally solid willed individuals. They stress freedom, individual nobility, self-endorsement and the will to succeed. For such individuals great alludes to whatever prompts self-satisfaction with qualities, for example, honorability, quality, mental fortitude, force and pride. The direct opposite to the ace profound quality is the slave ethical quality. This ethical quality interests to the individuals who are dubious of themselves, powerless willed. They characterize great as what makes life simpler, more secure, with so much characteristics as tolerance, quietude, noble cause, humility and sympathy. I concur and differ with Nietzsche. I concur with the will to control. That all people are driven by this will. I am living confirmation. I need to be responsible for my future. I have objectives in each part of my life that I need to satisfy, everybody does. Without these objectives there would be no inspiration forever. Specialists wouldn’t need to be craftsmen, researchers wouldn’t care about science, and individuals wouldn’t care about themselves. I likewise concur with the ace morality’s excellencies not the ace ethical quality as an ideal being. I think we need these ethics In request to prevail with regards to satisfying the objectives set out by the will to control. I feel that when an individual discovers oneself these ace profound quality temperances are apparent. The slave profound quality on the otherhand, I think has a few ethics and a few ruins as Nietzsche proposes. Tolerance, humility, noble cause and empathy are a portion of the ethics that Nietszche accepts to be acrid grapes. I have faith in these characteristics. The piece of the slav... Free Essays on Friedrich Nietzsche Both, Friedrich Nietzsche in his â€Å"Thus spoke Zaratuthstra† and Imants Ziedonis in his â€Å"Epifanijas† investigate the subject of our reality. Nietzsche continually poses inquiries, while Ziedonis attempts to offer responses to the reasons for different issues. The two men allude to God, and in spite of the fact that Nietzsche denies him, still, it is clear that the two men are connected by a similar soul that is reflected in their work. Indeed, even with some distinction in accepts misused, the peruser appears to get a similar message from these two works: what is men significance in this world? Friedrich Nietzsche for an incredible duration put stock in agnosticism. Hence, the presence of men where God isn't included. This can be unmistakably found in the Prologue of his book â€Å"Thus spoke Zaratuthstra†, where Zarathustra denies God, â€Å"Could it be conceivable! This old holy person in the woodland not yet knew about it, that God is dead!† This situation is likewise investigated more remote more when Zarathustra addresses a dieing man, there is nothing of all that whereof thou speakest: there is no fallen angel and no hellfire. Thy soul will be dead even sooner than thy body; dread, along these lines, nothing anything else! Through this discussion plainly forever for Nietzsche additionally has stopped to exist, henceforth for him men is the main significance to the world. Nietzsche gets this thought and investigates it further, in the discussion among Zarathustra and the holy person, where Zarathustra strongly states, â€Å"I love mankind,† subsequ ently demonstrates that in his skeptic progressive system, man is better than God, for God essentially doesn't exist. By indicating this, Nietzsche appears to address himself, for in his book, he regularly utilizes suggestions to the good book, for example, some of Ten Commandments to some extent five of a Prologue: â€Å"Love thy neighbor as thy friend† and â€Å"Do not pine for what you don't have†, just as he additionally specifies that all men are rise to and have same rights and needs as others. In Ziedonis’s â€Å"Epifanijas,† the presence of God is ...

Research Paper on Explorative Study of Marketing Strategies Adopted By Fashion Retail Industry in the United Kingdom A Case Study of Mark and Spencer

Research Paper on Explorative Study of Marketing Strategies Adopted By Fashion Retail Industry in the United Kingdom: A Case Study of Mark and Spencer Company Overview Mark and Spencer Group(MS) is among the leading retailers of foods, clothing, and home ware in the United Kingdom. However, Mark and Spencer Group plc. enjoys a dominant market position in the clothing segment due to the factors such as the diversified range and quality of products in its product segment (Datamonitor Report, 2011). Primarily, the company’s operations are divided into both wholly owned stores and franchise stores. Mark and Spencer Group plc. operates 690 stores in the United Kingdom and another 320 owned and franchised stores in other international territories. Major products and services from the company include different assortments of clothes, food, and home ware and accessories. For purposes of this paper, the clothing section of the will be analyzed. Product offerings in the clothing retail segment include women’s wear, men’s wear, lingerie, footwear, and children wear. Other notable products include food, grocery items, and home ware and acc essories. Mark and Spencer Group plc. also offers services such as credit cards, insurance, and other financial services. Finally, major brands include Collezione, Limited Collection, Girls Boutique, Autograph, and Per Una among others (Datamonitor Report, 2011). Mark and Spencer Group distributes its products through channels such as flagship stores, retail park stores, MS outlets, MS Catalogue, Simply Food stores, and Simply Food franchised outlets. The Mark and Spencer Group online platform also plays a crucial role in distributing products and services to its clients. Statement of the Problem The current fashion industry in the UK is characterized by intense competition and increased adoption of marketing strategies aimed at increasing the level of competition and creating sustainable advantage within the market. The fashion industry is highly volatile and seasonal; hence, it is subject to vulnerabilities such as the ‘fading out’ effect on fashion items. Each fashion season is characterized by a new clothing design or style that has particular periods of remaining ‘hype’ among fashion lovers. Firms competing in the industry have devised unlimited strategies and resources into efforts aimed at reaching customer groups in all market segments. As such, success in the fashion industry is characterized by the ability of fashion retailers to keep up with the fast developing pace and the development of creative and innovative marketing strategies (Walter, 2011). Firms that fail to develop creative and innovative marketing strategies are high risk of lea ving the market. At this moment, it is forcefully crucial to explore the importance of marketing strategies adopted by retailers in the UK fashion industry. This research proposal limits itself to the exploration of marketing strategies adopted by retailers in the UK fashion industry. Particular focus will be placed on the marketing strategies adopted by Mark and Spencer in enhancing market dominance in the UK fashion industry. For the past several decades, Mark and Spencer’s mission has revolved around the delivery of quality, value, and service to consumers. Majority of marketing strategies adopted by the company revolves around five key principles that include the development of long-term relationships with suppliers, supporting the domestic (British) industry, the provision of value through the delivery of a selected range of merchandise delivered at affordable prices, utilizing the company’s brand, and capitalizing on promotional activities. Literature Review The research proposal aims to provide key insights concerning the strategies adopted by Mark and Spencer in expanding its marketing strategies and growth potential in the UK retail industry in addition to examining specific strategies that have enabled the company to enjoy a dominating market share. Other than the exploration of specific marketing strategies adopted by Mark and Spencer, this paper aims to provide recommendations regarding marketing strategies that could be adopted by other firms within the industry in efforts aimed at enhancing competitive advantage and market dominance. Furthermore, the research will analyze the current situation in the UK fashion industry with respect to the prevailing marketing strategies adopted by companies in the industry. In turn, it will review potential contributions of marketing strategies to the popularity of the UK fashion industry and subsequently, establish the principles for evaluating the application of marketing strategies in the gro wth of the industry. Owing to the complexity of strategies used by firms within the industry to attract customers, this study will concentrate in the examination and exploration of marketing strategies adopted by firms within the UK fashion industry with particular focus being directed to specific marketing strategies adopted by Mark and Spencer Group plc. Majority of research studies have been conducted in examining the fashion industry in the United Kingdom. Among the research studies relating to the application use of marketing strategies in the fashion and apparel industry, majority of them were concentrated in the study of the general application of marketing strategies on the industry wide perspective. For instance, Myers (2004) and Helen (2011) centered their studies in the examination of effects of globalization of the marketing activities of firms in the apparel industry while Ferguson (2004) based his research studies on factors contributing to the general growth and development of firms within the industry. Equally, the effects of internet marketing on the marketing activities of various firms is also another research topic that has received significant attention as far as the exploration of marketing strategies is concerned (David, 2011). Birtwistle, Nobbs, Fiorito (2003) examined the aspect of marketing strategies of firm s within the industry from the pricing strategy perspective while failing to touch on other marketing strategy factors. As such, my research analysis failed to single out a particular research study that had been conducted to explore particular marketing strategies from one retailer in the UK fashion industry. For this reason, I decided to conduct a research study that is specifically related to the identification of marketing strategies adopted by a single firm in the industry. I selected to concentrate on Mark and Spencer, in part due to its popularity and success in the UK fashion industry and as well, due to the diverse marketing strategies adopted by the firm in efforts aimed at maximizing its competitive advantage and dominant share in the UK fashion industry. During the past two decades, the UK fashion industry has undergone several transformations characterized by the increase in the number of retailers specializing in the sale of fashion apparels (Grete, Noreen, Fiorito, 2003). The UK fashion industry is concentrated by both established retailers of variety clothing and specialist retailers. Examples of specialist retailers in the industry include Wallis, Miss Selfridges, Dorothy Perkins, Top Shop, Warehouse, and Next. Established retailers of variety clothing include Marks Spencer, Bhs, Primark, New Look, Matalan, and George (in leading supermarket chains). Equally dominant are international chains such as Zara International, Gap, HM, Benton, and Kookai among others ((Grete, Noreen, Fiorito, 2003). The intense competition in the UK fashion industry can be attributed to the presence of such companies. Among these industry players, Marks and Spencer is the most dominant and controls the largest market share, approximately 15%. Andrew (1998) argues that the intense competition is dangerous to undifferentiated or inefficient retailers given that they will be unable to survive in the increasingly competitive market environment due to expanded product proliferation, and increased pressure to lower prices for products. Specific Marketing Strategies adopted by Marks and Spencer Marks Spencer has enjoyed a dominant market position in the UK fashion industry and this can be attributed to the application of creative and innovative marketing strategies. According to Mandy, Christopher, Karinna (2006), Marks and Spencer, for a long time, has adopted seemingly focused and direct marketing strategies that targets customers based on needs, demands, lifestyle, and cultures among potential customers. David 2011supports this idea by arguing that marketing strategies adopted by Marks and Spencer are based on informed, tactical, and high quality strategic goals and objectives of marketing. Of great significance is the strategic and unique style of promoting its products and services that is incomparable to other established competitors within the market such as The Gap, HM, Benton, and Kookai among others. Such established competitors have utilized multiple promotional strategies that are mostly targeted towards the elite class within the UK fashion industry. Other insightful research analysis identified a number of particular strategies that are commonly adopted by Marks and Spencer in the UK fashion industry. This includes market segmentation, targeting strategies, positioning strategies, and advertising. The increasingly uncertain and changing market environment calls for the design of innovative marketing strategies based on solid marketing information in order to capitalize the opportunities presented by the market. The analysis of these marketing strategies is presented below; Market Segmentation Marks and Spencer utilizes the segmentation strategy to promote its brand among to the consumers. Through the segmentation strategy, the company focuses on particular segmentation strategies to enhance the brand image of the company. The main target market for Marks and Spencer is the middle-aged person but it as well utilizes other segmentation variables to capture the largest market possible. Under the segmentation strategy are the following segmentation criteria: Psychographic Segmentation This segmentation strategy entails placing much focus on particular customer aspects such as lifestyle and personality. Amalesh (2011) defines personality aspect of segmentation as referring to the activity of defining a brand according to the personality traits of the targeted market. Marks and Spencer’s brand personality characterizes the personality of an educated middle-aged person with a relative and active sense of fashion. On the other hand, the lifestyle strategy entails placing focus on particular characteristics of individuals within the target market. For instance, Marks and Spencer targets middle-aged individuals with relative sense of fashion and active lifestyles. Behavioral Segmentation This segmentation strategy entails promoting products based on observable conducts of the target market. Such conducts of behavior include the types of benefits that clients look for in a product, the occasion of purchase, the usage of the product, and the beliefs and perceptions of the client (Amalesh, 2011). In terms of beliefs and perception, the Marks and Spencer brand is presented as traditional and standard clothing whereas the purchase occasion entails the availability of different varieties of clothing and apparels that are specifically designed for particular occasions. Concerning usage, a substantial volume of clothing sold by Marks and Spencer goes to heavy users. Last on behavioral segmentation are the benefits sought by clients, which are mostly associated with the high quality and affordable goods. Profile Segmentation This segmentation strategy entails promoting products based on the study of factors such as demographics, geographical location, and socio-economic variables. Regarding geographic factors, Marks and Spencer focuses on wealthy individuals who live in affluent locations and leafy suburbs within the UK. These locations include professional and prosperous metropolitan areas, and Home Counties. Regarding socio-economic variables, Marks Spencer mainly targets well-educated individuals who have excelled in their careers and individuals with substantial levels of income (Mandy, Christopher, Karinna, 2006). Demographic characteristics of clients targeted by Marks and Spencer involve middle-aged individuals within the 30-54 age group brackets. Most of individuals within this age group are have families, active in their lives and careers and have substantial income levels. Targeting Strategies Marks and Spencer utilizes a multi-segment target marketing strategy as compared to the focused targeting strategy that is common with different firms within the industry. Although middle-aged women have been identified as contributing to a significant percentage of total revenues for the company, Marks and Spencer designs, its marketing strategies to target other clients provided they fit the socio-economic class and other characteristics of the target population (Birtwistle, Nobbs, Fiorito, 2003). For instance, the company produces high quality products that targets men in the population, and these products are designed to enhance the company’s brand image within the clothing and apparel industry. For this reason, the company is not capable of following a differentiated approach due to differences associated with pricing strategies among clients within the fashion industry. Different individuals have different needs, demands, and luxuries and hence, Marks and Spencer target s individuals from the high-income class. Positioning Strategy Owing to the increased international presence of the company, Marks and Spencer has been forced to change its market positioning strategy to place the brand to meet the needs of a particular market segment. For instance, the strategic positioning of the company in the UK is different from that positioning strategy used to position the company in, say America (Alexander, 1995). The positioning strategy of the company in the United Kingdom is based on high-quality brand that is aimed at enhancing the company’s brand equity and attracting the loyalty of customers. Through the positioning strategy, Marks and Spencer has managed to establish itself as a distinguished company within the UK fashion industry. Online Shopping Technological advancements and the increased use of the internet have transformed the manner with which many organizations conduct their marketing transactions. The development of e-Commerce platforms has made it easier for Marks and Spencer to promote its products to clients. The increased online shopping preference among clients has promoted the online shopping platform by Marks and Spencer. Coupled with Marks and Spencer financials services, it has become increasingly possible for clients to conduct their shopping online and products delivered to agreed locations (Amalesh, 2011). How this proposal fits to the literature and Links with the Literature This research proposal is aimed at the exploration of marketing strategies adopted by Marks and Spencer to increase its market share in the UK fashion industry. The analysis of the literature has revealed a number of pertinent issues that not only relates to the significance of marketing strategies in the UK fashion industry but also the exploration of marketing strategies that have been utilized by Marks and Spencer to deliver products to the targeted market. Judging from the intense competition of companies in UK’s fashion industry, companies will most likely be forced to develop creative and innovative marketing strategies to enable them survive and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry. This research proposal aims to explore the above the practicability of the marketing strategies identified from the review of literature with reference to Marks and Spencer. The examination of past literature clearly identifies unique and creative strategies that have been adopted by Marks and Spencer in efforts to maintain its dominant position in the industry. As such, the aims of this proposal are directly linked to the factors examined in the review of literature. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework The analysis of the literature has identified key concepts of marketing strategies that are essential for enabling Marks and Spencer to maintain a dominant and competitive position in the UK fashion industry. Additionally, the review of literature has provided some key insights regarding marketing strategies that can be adopted by firms within the UK fashion industry to enhance their market share and attain competitive advantage. Although the process will involve the analysis and exploration of other marketing terms within the industry, the examination of the strategies identified in the literature review can provided a general concept for assessing and exploring the types of marketing strategies adopted by companies such as Marks and Spencer in the UK fashion industry. In turn, this will serve as guidance to the development of research questions and research hypotheses. Industry Background Majority of findings revealed in the review of literature were obtained from past studies and researches that had been conducted on earlier periods. Additionally, majority of such studies concentrated on the general marketing perspectives of firms within the UK fashion industry, and in situations where the studies were specific, a selected marketing strategy was investigated. No single research study was dedicated to the study of marketing strategies adopted by a particular company such as the case with Marks and Spencer. The UK fashion industry is growing at an increasing rate and it is characterized by intense competition among firms. Hence, there is the need for each firm to develop creative and innovative ideas and implement the identified ideas into their marketing strategies in order to increase its chances of survival within the industry. In light of such revelations, this research study aims to undertake a research study to explore the types of marketing strategies adopted by a typical firm in the UK fashion industry. Marks and Spencer is the selected company and hence, the research study will limit itself to the examination and exploration of marketing strategies adopted by Marks and Spencer to enable it increase its market share and enjoy a substantial share of the market. Findings from this research study will be of significance importance to Marks and Spencer, and other firms within the UK fashion industry. It will also provide insights to the market analysts in predicting the future directions and marketing strategies. Research aim This research proposal is aimed at the exploration of marketing strategies adopted by firms in the UK fashion industry. Particular focus is placed on the marketing strategies of adopted by Marks and Spencer to enhance its market share, to enhance its profitability, how it maintains its dominant position, and finally sustain its competitive advantage. Research Questions and hypotheses The following research questions have been designed to limit the study to a specific area of focus and as well, to promote easier handling of variables. RQ 1: Should a firm in the UK fashion industry such as Marks and Spencer adopt specific marketing strategies to enable it to compete effectively and attain a dominant market share? RQ 2: Does marketing strategies have an effect on the market share and growth of Marks and Spencer in the UK fashion Industry? Research Hypotheses The following research hypotheses were formulated based on the research questions above. RH 1: It is necessary for a firm operating in the UK fashion industry, such as Marks and Spencer to develop and adopt particular marketing strategies to enable it to enhance its competitive advance and improve on its market share. RH 2: Marketing strategies play a significant role in influencing the market share and growth of firms in the UK fashion industry such as Marks and Spencer Research Objectives RO 1: Identify and define marketing strategies as critical aspects in improving the market share and competitive advantage of firms in the UK fashion industry RO 2: Explore the factors that lead firms such as Marks and Spencer to implement and adopt differentiated or undifferentiated marketing strategies in the UK fashion industry RO 3: Identify specific or particular marketing strategies adopted Marks and Spencer to enhance its market share, and improve its dominant position RO 4: Scrutinize the impacts of marketing activities in the overall growth and market share of Marks and Spencer in the UK fashion industry. RO 5: Evaluate the contributions of the marketing strategies to the overall business strategy of Marks and Spencer Research Methodology Marketing strategies are fundamental aspects in any business organization and they play critical roles in determining the level of productivity and profitability, the level of competitive advantage, and in influencing the market share and dominance. It is through marketing strategies that organizations are capable of realizing its stipulated goals and objectives. Other than these factors, marketing strategies are necessary for shaping the overall picture of an organization and the manner it presents itself to the outside community. Over the past few years, the UK fashion industry has undergone tremendous transformations and new firms, both domestic and international, have rolled out operations with the aim of capitalizing on the available profitable opportunities. As such, the market has become increasingly competitive making it difficult for less competitive firms to survive. Although each firm utilizes its own marketing strategies, it remains unclear, in particular as efforts to un derstand the type of marketing strategies employed by firms in industry. This research proposal aims to explore the type of marketing strategies adopted by firms in the UK fashion industry with particular focus being given to the marketing strategies adopted by Marks and Spencer. Research philosophy This research proposal will utilize the positivist research philosophy based on the foundation of factors that can be observed within the UK fashion industry. Under this philosophy, such observable factors will be used in the generalization of issues just in the same manner as if the way physical and natural scientists used observable phenomenon to generalize on particular issues (Denzin, 2006). The researcher in this study will utilize the propositions of objective analysis to make generalizations based on the evidence or data collected from the field research. This philosophy will guide the research being proposed in this study to place focus on structured methodologies and objectives as a way of facilitating replication of information in addition to placing emphasis on much quantifiable features that can be related to statistical analysis of aspects. This philosophy is ideal because it enables the researcher to be distant and less influential on the outcomes of the research thereb y facilitating reliability. Research Approaches This research study will utilize both deductive and inductive research approaches. The deductive approach will be applicable given that the idea of marketing strategies of firms in the UK fashion industry such as Marks and Spencer will be examined and verified using data obtained from the study. The deductive approach will also be necessary to enable the study to follow particular sequences and stages before arriving at valid findings. Inductive approaches entail the process of collecting, analyzing, and refining data to provide future directions for further research. Research Participants This research will be undertaken in Westminster City, London and it will involve conducting interviews with a portion of employees, marketing managers, and customers at the main branch in Westminster. This region was selected because it is the headquarters of Marks and Spencer, and hence, a lot of information can be obtained from the selected participants. Other information will be obtained from secondary sources such as the review of literature to obtain general information relating to the industry. Research validity and reliability Validity in this research proposal will be obtained by ensuring accuracy in measurement processes, assessment instruments, and ensuring the realization of stipulated objectives. Concerning reliability, measures will be taken to ensure that repeated assessment or measurement will yield the same results provided the same conditions will be maintained (Blumberg, Cooper, and Schindler, 2005). Relationship among research items Research items in this proposal are designed in a manner that the main research aim will be addressed through the formulation specific research questions are supported by the formulated objectives and hypotheses (Yin, 2003). As such, all research items will be interrelated at one stage within the research process and they will all be critical addressing the aim of the study and providing answers to research objectives and questions. Appropriateness of triangulation As mentioned above, data reliability and validity will be some of the most significant aspects that will be allocated much priority in this research study. Realizing such objectives will involve the process of mixing different methods of data or data assessment methods in order to ascertain whether different results or viewpoints can be obtained from this study (Simon and Vosseberg, 2001). Additionally, the study will involve mixing different data collection strategies given that marketing managers, customers, and employees of Marks and Spencer will be interviewed. Majority of senior managers can only be reached through mail questionnaires. These factors calls for the adoption of a triangulation approach to facilitate the mixing of different research studies. Timescale The timescale for this research proposal is represented in the Gantt Chart below: Gantt Chart For purposes of facilitating this research study, specific resources and research materials will be

The Five Stages Of Social Penetration Theory - 1364 Words

The Five Stages of Social Penetration Theory In life as a human being you will encounter many people that enter into your life and exit it as well. Some of these people at times can leave a lasting attachment with you. After the two of you having a long relationship together. In Fact, there are many types of relationship titles that you may resort to when explaining a person that is in your life to other people. These relationships names that you may use at times to describe your relationship that person that is in your life at the moment can be an acquaintance, a friend, a family member(mom, dad, brother, etc.), or someone you are dating. Now you simply can not automatically create these certain relationships with someone off in just†¦show more content†¦Lasly, small talk is painless and cost -free for the two strangers. The reason this is because they will not be providing too much simply by exchanging their names and the major that they are learning with one another. 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The Shawshank Redemption Is A Legend Of The 1990s

Introduction The 1994 prison escape thriller The Shawshank Redemption is a legend of the 1990s. It has been acclaimed as the best prison movie to this date according to IMDb (Stenberg). Many movies following The Shawshank Redemption have tried and failed in their attempts to recreate this behemoth of a movie. Being the critically acclaimed movie that it is, The Shawshank Redemption is bound to have countless reviews critiquing and praising every aspect of the plot, director, setting, and countless other variables. Each of these selected reviews differ in their rating, plot rundown and discussion; and the resemblances and differences can be clearly seen between the reviews as well as the movie itself. Summary Based off of a Stephen King†¦show more content†¦Developmental Section Washington Post writer Desson Howe describes The Shawshank Redemption by saying, â€Å"It wanders down subplots at every opportunity and ignores an abundance of narrative exit points before settling on the aforementioned finale.† (Howe). However, The Hollywood Report writer Duane Byrge describes The Shawshank Redemption by saying, â€Å"In the lead roles, both Robbins and Freeman are outstanding, layering their performances with snippets of individuality: Their small, daily sustenances and minor triumphs are wonderfully inspiring.† (Byrge). Following in the same theme of Byrge’s review, another film reviewer, Janet Maslin of The New York Times, praises the delicacy of director Frank Darabont and the hard work of the actors Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are praised immensely (Maslin). Unlike the reviews of Maslin and Byrge, Howe paints The Shawshank Redemption in a bad light, and while a few other critics share the same views as Howe, those critics keep their reviews short and to the point without much reason. Having said that, Howe is one of few that does take his review and backs it up with reasonings from the movie, pointing out nuances that could go unnoticed unless otherwise stated. Even as Maslin points out the greatness of The Shawshank Redemption, she also relates to Howe’s review, as she points out some flaws, writing about the extreme length of the movie, as well as a complaint about the gentleness ofShow MoreRelatedRed’s Redemption- Shawshank Redemption1169 Words   |  5 Pages The Shawshank Redemption follows the lives of Ellis â€Å"Red† Redding and Andy Dufresne and their twenty-year stint at the Shawshank State Penitentiary. Red (a guilty man) is serving a life sentence for murder, Andy (an innocent man) is serving consecutiv e life sentences for the murder of his wife and her lover. Throughout the film, Red and Andy form an unlikely friendship that transcends age, race, and class boundaries that ultimately leads to Red’s spiritual redemption and freedom. The filmRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesor Russian oil company. One scenario is demand for oil dries up and drops to 5 percent of today’s demand. Should these companies begin to slowly invest in projects to develop and become experts in alternative energy sources? Another example: Around 1990 IBM changed focus from a hardware/software company to a service focus company. The impetus for the change was recognition that hardware and software products were moving toward â€Å"commodities,† which typically lead to increased competition and low margins

Impact Of U17 Women’s World Cup On The Jordan Economy And Tourism

Question: Discuss about the Imapact of U17 Women's World Cup on the Jordan Economy and Tourism. Answer: Introduction: Under 17 FIFA womens world cup was the biggest sporting event conducted in the Jordan ever (fifa.com 2017). Historically, no Middle East countries had conducted sporting events of such high interest and magnitude. For that reason, lot of expectations have been developed over the events that it will create positive impact on the overall economical condition of Jordan. It is also likely to enhance the popularity of football in the Middle East countries as well. In this study, the focus would be on assessing the kind of impact that U-17 womens world cup can have on the economical condition of the Jordan. Furthermore, the study would also focus on the kind analyzing the kind of impact womens U-17 world cup has made on the Jordans tourism sector. For that reason, the study would include clear aims and objectives in order to provide a proper direction about the research study. Research Aim: The study aims to analyze the kind of impact U-17 FIFA womens world cup can have on the overall condition of Jordans economy and tourism. Literature Review: Contribution of U-17 FIFA Womens World Cup in Enhancing the Economics Strengths Jordan: In the article published by the Jordan Times Womens World Cup to boost local economy has focused on highlighting the amount of positive impact U-17 FIFA womens world cup has created on the economical condition (jordantimes.com 2017). The article has mentioned that FIFA world cup has influenced Ministry of Finance to provide more amounts on the effective development of infrastructure. For that reason, several government and private projects has been conducted on Jordan economy, which has provided more earning opportunity for the local people (Williams and Chawansky 2014). The article has mentioned that around JD30 million was invested on the development of the infrastructure. On the other hand, Ministry of youth and sport and Jordan football association also has focused on developing the infrastructure of the stadiums for attracting more number of people to visit the nation. The article also has highlighted that U-17 FIFA womens world cup has allowed the economy to provide more job op portunity for both skilled and unskilled labour. Therefore, it has created positive impact on the per-capita income of the Jordan people. Moreover, development of effective infrastructure has also helped different foreign major organizations to focus on developing businesses in the Jordan market (Andrade-Souza, Moniz and Teoldo 2015). Therefore, it has also helped the economy to enhance the level of business conducted in the Jordans economy. The article has also mentioned that development of proper infrastructure has provided opportunities for different local businesses to enhance their reach in the Jordans market. As a result, it has also created positive impact on the overall condition of the Jordans economy. Impact of U-17 FIFA Womens World Cup on Jordans Tourism Sector: Jordan tourism board has also published an article regarding the level of impact U-17 FIFA womens world cup had on tourism sector (myjordanjourney.com 2017). It has been assessed that U-17 FIFA womens world cup has influenced domestic people to travel around the stadiums to watch all the matches. As a result, it has created direct positive impact on the overall condition on the tourism development perspective. Moreover, the study also mentioned that U-17 FIFA womens world cup had influenced people from all across the world to visit Jordan. For that reason, it has created positive impact on the foreign exchange rate, as more foreign money has included into Jordans economy. The article also has mentioned that increasing number of tourists also has created positive impact on the associated businesses with tourism sector. For instance, U-17 FIFA womens world cup has influenced hotel sector to increase the quality of structure. Moreover, different new hotels also have been developed on th e Jordans economy so that it can provide proper benefits to all the visitors in an appropriate way (Goldblatt and Williams 2014). The article has mentioned that around 5000 people have visited Jordan during the world cup. Moreover, around 500 players and supporting staffs also have visited the economy. As a result, it has increased the rate of success of the tourism sector in a major way. In addition, U-17 FIFA womens world cup has also provided a global platform for Ministry of tourism and antiquities to create awareness about the tourism sector. Therefore, it has helped the economy to attract more number of tourists even after the completion of the world cup, which also has created positive impact on the overall economic condition. Literature Gap: The above discussion has highlighted the fact that U-17 FIFA womens world cup has provided opportunities for the Jordans government to enhance the economical condition. On the other hand, it has also helped the economy to attract tourists from all across the world. However, U-17 FIFA womens world cup has also induced Ministry of Finance to invest huge amount on the development of infrastructure that can have different types of risks associated with the development perspective. Therefore, the study would focus on assessing the exact amount of impact on the overall development of the Jordans economy. Research Objectives: The study focuses on the following objectives: To analyze the kind of impact U-17 FIFA womens world cup has made on overall economic condition of Jordon To evaluate the impact of U-17 FIFA womens world cup on enhancing the popularity of Jordan tourism sector To critically evaluates the factors that had created barriers in enhancing the popularity of tourism and economic condition of Jordan Data Collection: Collection of necessary data is important for achieving success in completing a research study (Panneerselvam 2014). For that reason, the study would focus on utilizing different technique to ensure all aspects of the research study can be completed within the given period of time. In this study, the focus would be on the positivism research philosophy, as it would allow the study to cover all the areas. The study would consider positivism philosophy in order to develop clear aims and objectives, which would provide specific direction for fulfilling all the objectives. On the other hand, the study would also consider inductive approach, which would ensure that all the previously captured data by the Greater Amman municipalityand Ministry of tourism and antiquitiescan be used in an appropriate manner. It would also help the study to avoid development of any new perspectives about the topic. Finally, the study would also use exploratory research design for fulfilling all the objectives within the given time period (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). It has been assessed that not much data is available on the internet sources for covering all aspects of the research topic. For that reason, the study would utilize in-depth secondary research technique for capturing detailed information about the research topic. Here, the study would consider thematic analysis, as it would help to include different aspects in an appropriate manner. Here, the necessary information about the research topic will be collected from the different published articles by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of youth and sport, Jordan football association, Greater Amman municipalityand Ministry of tourism and antiquities. For that reason, the study would focus on understanding the process Ministry of Finance have planned to conduct the event in Jordan. In this study, the focus would be on the Greater Amman Municipality in order to identify the actions it has taken for successful conduction of the event. The study would focus on conducting comparative analysis c ollected data for fulfilling all the requirements of the research objectives effectively (Silverman 2016). Ethical Implication Of the Proposed Research: According to Miller et al. (2012) proper ethical implication within the research topic is required for fulfilling all the objectives in an appropriate manner. Ethical maintenance not only helps the study to collect actual data about the research topic but also help to avoid different types of issues associated with the research process. Moreover, it also help to eliminate different risks associated with the research process so that it can able to fulfil all the objectives in an appropriate manner. Level of risk associated with the Research: The research topic covers enormous area, as it would have to analyze the entire growth of the Jordans economy (Wiles 2012). Moreover, the tourism sector is also very big in Jordan, which requires lot of time. However, the study has limited amount of time, which will induce to neglect different areas. Therefore, it would increase the risk level regarding the actual outcome of the study. Types of Document Required: As mentioned earlier, limited amount of time has influenced organizations to focus on different secondary resources to have a clear idea about the research topic (Greaney et al. 2012). For that reason, the study would include report of Greater Amman municipality, Ministry of tourism and antiquitiesand Ministry of youth and sportto have clear idea about the impact of U-17 FIFA womens world cup. The study would also focus on capturing information published in different newspaper and business magazines to provide additional value about the research topic. References: Andrade-Souza, V.A., Moniz, F. and Teoldo, I., 2015. Relative age effect in FIFA U17 Emirates 2013 World Cup: analysis of players who effectively participated in the matches.Motriz: Revista de Educao Fsica,21(4), pp.403-406. fifa.com, 2017.FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 - Discover Jordan - FIFA.com. [online] FIFA.com. Available at: https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/destination/host-country/index.html [Accessed 9 Mar. 2017]. Goldblatt, D. and Williams, J., 2014. A History of the World Cup in 24 Objects. Greaney, A.M., Sheehy, A., Heffernan, C., Murphy, J., Mhaolrnaigh, S.N., Heffernan, E. and Brown, G., 2012. Research ethics application: a guide for the novice researcher.British Journal of Nursing,21(1), p.38. jordantimes.com, 2017.Womens World Cup to boost local economy organisers. [online] Jordan Times. Available at: https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/women%E2%80%99s-world-cup-boost-local-economy-%E2%80%94-organisers [Accessed 9 Mar. 2017]. Miller, T., Birch, M., Mauthner, M. and Jessop, J. eds., 2012.Ethics in qualitative research. Sage. myjordanjourney.com, 2017.2016 U-17 FIFA Womens World Cup. [online] Myjordanjourney.com. Available at: https://www.myjordanjourney.com/fifa-2016-womens-world-cup [Accessed 9 Mar. 2017]. Panneerselvam, R., 2014.Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Silverman, D. ed., 2016.Qualitative research. Sage. Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015.Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons. Wiles, R., 2012.What are qualitative research ethics?. AC Black. Williams, J. and Chawansky, M., 2014. Namibia's Brave Gladiators: gendering the sport and development nexus from the 1998 2nd World Women and Sport Conference to the 2011 Women's World Cup.Sport in Society,17(4), pp.550-562.

Irony in Hunters in the Snow and How I Met My Husband Essay Example

Irony in Hunters in the Snow and How I Met My Husband Paper Irony in Tobias Wolffs Hunters in the Snow and Diane Munros How I Met My Husband Irony in Tobias Wolff’s â€Å"Hunters in the Snow† and Alice Munro’s â€Å"How I Met My Husband† Irony expresses and often underlines the contrast between two opposite concepts creating an indirect, more sophisticated method of communication. Irony is as efficient in a literary work, as the reader can perceive it. Therefore, often times the reader must carefully analyze the material, reading it repeatedly if necessary, in order to fully understand the author’s message and intent. Tobias Wolff and Alice Munro employ irony in their short stories in attempt to surprise the readers, giving them an opportunity for discovery. In Wolff’s â€Å"Hunters in the Snow†, irony acts as a tragicomedy agent, but its role is mainly to reveal the true nature of the protagonists’ characters. On the other hand Munro’s use of irony gives her story, â€Å"How I Met My Husband†, a nice and funny finale, suggesting coming of age through epiphany and also the transition from phantasy to reality. Hence, irony is used differently in the two stories, such that in Wolff’s story it is a repetitive theme that keeps the reader engaged, while in Munro’s story irony provides the punch-line ending. In the short story, Hunters in The Snow, written by Tobias Wolff, the reader is presented with many elements of irony. The main characters of the story are three friends with personal issues that have a life-changing day in their lives. The three friends meet on a weekend to go deer hunting. It is the middle of the winter and the weather and environment they are in, which is upstate Washington state, is described as quite cold and inhospitable, which creates a slight discomfort in the reader. The author mentions that â€Å"two years in a row they’d been up and down this land† (87) in the same area they were heading. We will write a custom essay sample on Irony in Hunters in the Snow and How I Met My Husband specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Irony in Hunters in the Snow and How I Met My Husband specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Irony in Hunters in the Snow and How I Met My Husband specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer So one would think the three must know this area inside and out. At the end of the story though, they prove us otherwise: â€Å"They had taken a different turn a long way back† (99). They get lost and do not even notice it, probably causing Kenny’s death. The connection between the fact that they know the area and that they lose their way anyway is not very apparent, yet I consider it one of the biggest situational ironies of the story, partly because it is the most tragic one. The main character seems to be Tub, an overweight man with an eating disorder, since he was presented first and also in most detail. Even though Tub is being overly cautious with his rifle by taking the bolt out before he enters the truck, which is not a common practice among hunters, he later shoots Kenny in a blink of an eye. The author mentions that Tub â€Å"shot from the waist† (91), which means that this was an instinctive reflex in self-defense. The other two characters are Kenny, the prankster of the group and Frank, the intellectual of the group, who seems like the leader of the group in the beginning of the story. Both Kenny and Tub look up to Frank and show him what seems to be undeserved respect. As we find out later on he is clearly unworthy of the respect initially given to him. The irony of the situation is that Frank becomes quickly a subordinate of Tubs will. After Tub stands up to Frank and confronts him physically about the constant bullying, Frank instantly loses face and starts trying to please Tub in any way possible, completely ignoring the wounded Kenny. From being the leader of the group he becomes this puppy, doing everything he can to gain Tub’s approval, as his initial friendship to Kenny seems to have evaporated or never have truly existed. This situation is similar to an everyday occurrence in society of a person cheating on their spouse then eventually marrying the person they cheat with, yet it does not occur to that person they cheated with, that history might repeat itself. Tub accepts Frank’s apparent sensibility towards him instantly, without questioning his integrity and without realizing that he is most likely to become the next Kenny. In the beginning of the story Kenny puts Tubs life in danger by driving fast, halfway on the curb towards Tub. So one could say Kenny was playing with Tubs life. He then laughs uncontrollably at Tub â€Å"slapping his knees and drumming his feet on the floorboards† (86). And somehow this turns back against him, when he is the one shot by Tub later on in the story. When they stop to rest by the creek Kenny actually talks about choosing to be burned on the stake if â€Å"you ask me how I want to die today† (88), referring to the unpleasant cold weather they were having. This is yet another proof of Kennys ignorance towards the importance of life, and death for that matter. He is also presented as the best hunter in the group: â€Å"this will be the first season since I was fifteen I haven’t got my deer† (90), so it is ironic that Kenny is the one that probably dies at the end, but somehow it is expected. He seems like a strong character in the beginning, by driving the truck, getting permission to hunt from the owner of the land and he is assigned to kill the dog. Yet, ironically, he becomes the weakest character in the story at the end. Alice Munros How I Met My Husband is an autobiographical short story that presents a decisive moment in the author’s life. The main character is Edie, a â€Å"hired girl† that works in the house of the wealthy Peebles family. Even though the author is omniscient she still attempts to hide some elements of the truth I wouldnt have looked in her drawers Thats a lie. I would have looked but I would have felt worse (128). The story is told in the first person, yet from the fifteen-year-old Edies point of view. In spite of the fact that she does not have to reveal anything that she does not want the reader to know, ironically, her guilt determines her to admit to it in a humorous way. This is an example of situational irony, where we do not expect to see a corrective remark addressing the authors true feelings and yet it happens. The irony occurs outside of the story though, making the presence of the author noticeable. The character of Alice Kelling seems to be the antagonist of the story, as we read the scene where the ladies find out that Edie knows about Chris Watters leaving. However, this is a quite common way for an author to shift the sympathy of the reader, by building a main character, making him or her familiar and then creating a highly controversial scene or situation, where no matter what the reader roots for the main character. Alice Kelling is actually a victim just like Edie, even though most readers will consider Alice Kelling the antagonist. After reflection it becomes clear to the reader that despite his friendly behavior the antagonist is actually Chris Watters. The clearest sign that he was doing something wrong would be his own epiphany: â€Å"Oh, no† (136). In this case the irony occurs within the reader, a very interesting effect achieved by the author. Another ironic twist of the story occurs, as the reader realizes, that Edie married the mailman. She had waited by the mailbox for Chris Watters letter for months, and every time she saw the mailman she would smile. This of course confused the mailman, making him believe that he is the reason she was waiting at the mailbox every time. It is ironic and almost sad how the author lets the husband continue to believe that she â€Å"went after him by sitting by the mailbox every day† (140). Ironically, she does not even say the mailman’s first name, as opposed to Chris Watters who is the only adult character addressed by the first name throughout the story, a clear sign of affection. And mostly ironic would be how the author describes the beginning of her relationship with her husband in no less than one paragraph. It almost suggests that the story could have been titled How I Fell in Love, But Then Married My Husband, which would take a whole lot of fun out of the ending. A sign of her admitting to giving up on love is the passage where she talks about the two kinds of women: the ones that wait and the â€Å"busy† ones, that do not wait, referring to women who are looking for love and women that decide to just settle down. She then states that â€Å"even though there might be things the second kind of women have to pass up and never know about, it still is better† (140) , which shows she has no regrets about her decision. These two stories display irony in various ways. Tobias Wolff uses more graspable irony in â€Å"Hunters in The Snowâ€Å", which is very evident to the reader, while Alice Munro choses a more subtle way of being ironic in â€Å"How I Met My Husband†, but apparently both techniques are very effective in their own way. Also, another difference would be the amount of irony present in the two stories. Although not as effective as Munro’s usage of it Wolff’s story is abundant in irony which creates a constant entertainment for the reader. Munro chooses to make much less use of it, yet she still manages to create the surprise ending. When comparing the two stories one might consider Wolff’s story more interesting and maybe even more engaging, which could be considered slightly commercial. Munro’s story on the other hand requires more patience to read through, however, it might also offer more reason for contemplation. References: Wolff, Tobias. â€Å"Hunters in the Snow. † Perrine’s Literature Structure, Sound Sense. Eds. Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009. 86-99. Munro, Alice. â€Å"How I Met My Husband. † Perrine’s Literature Structure, Sound Sense. Eds. Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009. 125-140.

Whos for the game and Wilfred Owens Dulce et Decorum est and Disabled Essay Example

Whos for the game and Wilfred Owens Dulce et Decorum est and Disabled Essay Example Whos for the game and Wilfred Owens Dulce et Decorum est and Disabled Paper Whos for the game and Wilfred Owens Dulce et Decorum est and Disabled Paper Essay Topic: Jessie Pope War Poetry Literature Ross Gay Poetry At the start of the First World War, war was portrayed as a glorious and credible cause. Fighting in a war on behalf of your country was deemed as the duty of any credible man. The ability to represent ones country on the battlefield was one of the greatest honours a man could have. Through the interference of war there was an outcry of patriotism. Men were overwhelmed with ideas of being able to fight for their countrys prosperity. Men flocked to sign up and fight for their country. Women forced their husbands and sons to go and carry out what was believed as their duty. The newspapers and the pro-war journalists who wrote in them played a very influential part in convincing men to recruit. One such journalist for the Daily Mail was Jessie Pope who composed unsophisticated war poetry encouraging men to enlist in the army. The patriotic ideals and the concept of war were all dismantled when soldiers returned from war and spoke of the horrors of war leading to a change in peoples attitudes towards war. Wilfred Owen was a soldier who experienced war and showed his hatred of it through his poetry. But before joining the British army, Wilfred Owen was an English teacher who visited hospitals during the First World War and subsequently became acquainted with many of the wars wounded. These visits deeply affected him and consequently led him to enlist in the British army. He said that he joined the army to witness the suffering and to be able to speak out against it. Wilfred Owen felt enormous pity and sympathy for his fellow soldiers. His famous poetry was written to show his horrifying experience of war and also to bring people out of the disillusionment that they were under. He also wanted to obliterate the image of war created by war propaganda. Wilfred Owen particularly hated Jessie Pope because of her lighthearted attitude towards war portrayed in her poems. Wilfred Owen was finally machine-gunned to death a week before the armistice was signed. Whos for the Game? was a poem written by Jessie Pope used as a piece of propaganda telling men to recruit. It exploits the fact that it was every mans duty to fight on behalf of his country. It is a lyrical poem with a strong, yet simple, rhyming scheme, similar to that of a nursery rhyme. This simple rhyming indicates that Jessie Pope was trying to get her message across clearly to the common man rather than making it more sophisticated. She makes it apparent that the image she has of war is that it is just a big game. The strong rhyming scheme helps her to get this point across because it makes the audience feel as if they really are in a game. Whos for the game, the biggest thats played, The red crashing game of a fight? Right from the beginning of the poem she mentions war as a game and repeats it in the second verse as well showing that she is comparing war to a game. In the second verse she uses the word fight which plays down the significance of war and it makes war seem as trivial as a fight. Wholl grip and tackle the job unafraid? And who thinks hed rather sit tight? In these verses she glorifies the men who fight in the war while she infers that those who do not, are cowards. This is a very insinuating way to put pressure on men who arent fighting in the war. Once again she bears reference to a game by using the phrase grip and tackle. Anyone who wasnt fighting in war would feel intimidated when they read these two verses. Wholl toe the line for the signal to Go! ? Wholl give his country a hand? She is asking the audience who is always ready and waiting to fight for their country. By using the word his she makes the reader feel personal about their country, and if it is their country they should help it. Many people were very patriotic during the war and this one line would make them feel like joining. Who wants a turn to himself in the show? And who wants a seat in the stand? She is feeding peoples self-esteem with these verses because she refers to war as a performance and a chance for soldiers to parade their skills. She portrays it as a chance for people to show off their talent. The second line says that those who do not fight in the war will only be onlookers of the performance. She compares the men that dont fight in the war to the fans in the stands at a match (war like a game). Who knows it wont be a picnic-not much- Yet eagerly shoulders a gun? An understatement of the hardship faced during war is made during the first verse which shows that she really hasnt had any experience of war and that she is trying not to put people off going to war. It also tells us that the knowledge she has about war is incorrect. In the second line she is motivating men to join the army because she knows that the opportunity to hold a gun and be able to use it will attract many men (boys with their toys). Who would much rather come back with a crutch Than lie low and be out of the fun? The message Jessie Pope is telling us in these verses is that if a soldier goes to fight in the war and in the process attains an injury, they are better off than someone who didnt fight in the war, as they missed out on the so called fun. She is saying that an injury incurred during the war is like a souvenir, which these soldiers will have of war, which is a very relaxed way of looking at an injury considering that a soldier could die because of a wound that wasnt properly treated. Come along, lads but youll come on all right For theres only one course to pursue, She is prompting the men and telling them that there is really only one path that they should follow and that is fighting for their country. She infers that these men have no choice but to recruit. She uses colloquial language (lads) so that she appeals to the common man, who will be the majority of the readers of this poem. This sort of language makes men think that she is conversing on a more personal level with them. Your country is up to her neck in a fight, And shes looking and calling for you. She crudely uses the stereotype of men being the protectors of women in these verses. She personifies the country as being feminine by using words like her and she. She uses more colloquial language when she uses the phrase up to her neck in a fight. The stereotypical view being used here is that there is a woman in trouble and that every man should try to help her because that is what they are supposed to do. Throughout the poem Jessie Pope repeatedly uses the word Who? because she is questioning the audience to see who is willing enough to fight for their country. In the final two lines of the poem Jessie Pope tells us exactly who this Who? she refers to is, and its You. the readers. She uses the word You to clearly emphasise who she is talking to. As the poem was published in the Daily Mail it would have been read by tens of thousands of people. Throughout the poem she uses simple language so that everyone can understand it and therefore it will have a widespread effect on the people. The image Jessie Pope is trying to portray in this poem is that war is like a game. The atmosphere of the poem is cosy which is totally opposite to war. The poem is not threatening at all and is inviting men to go to war. The poem continuously praises men who fight in wars while it calls those who dont, cowards. This is part of the way in which she wanted to appeal to the people because she knew that men who read this poem would feel intimidated enough to join the army. I feel that Jessie Pope was misinformed about war and felt she could explain war without experiencing it. As war progressed the feeling of patriotism demised and this happened as the death toll was escalating. People came out of the idea war is all things great and glorious and began to take in the realities of war. When soldiers returned they spoke from experience and therefore the reality of war. Poetry was written to explain war and how it is. One of the soldiers who became a poet was Wilfred Owen. Wilfred Owen wrote the poem Disabled about a young man who enlisted in the army for all the wrong reasons, lost his limbs and now leads a pitiful and bitter life thinking of his past. These wrong reasons are the various influences Owen sees this man as a victim of. It is a narrative poem with a sophisticated structure. The structure is such that it reflects the sincerity and the seriousness of the poets message. The poem starts with the man sitting in his wheelchair, longing for the dark, which is the only thing he is capable of doing. The darkness helps him escape his pathetic life. He is fed up with life and is waiting to die. And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey, His face has gone grey showing how he is in between life and death (black=death, white=life) because his soul is dead but his body is living. The next verse says how he is legless and how the happy voices of children are saddening to him, which is the opposite of a reaction you would expect from a normal person. He is sad because he knows he can no longer be a part of it even if he wanted to. When night finally comes, sleep is like a mother to him because it the only thing that provides relief for him from this hell of a life. About this time Town used to swing so gay It is evening and he remembers the atmosphere and the fun he used to have dancing with girls. But this was all before he threw his legs away in the war and he knows that none of it is ever going to come back. Now no one comes to him and everybody treats him like a disease. He used to enjoy life and girls but now the girls dont like him and this makes him miserable. Now, he is old; his back will never brace; And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race He used to be good looking but in the time span of a year it looks like half of his life has gone. His back has become weak and he has lost the colour from his face. It looks like it drained while the blood was draining from his legs on the battlefields. He has become aged. One time he liked a blood-smear down his leg, After the matches, carried shoulder-high. He was a football star and had got cut once on his leg. He had enjoyed it because of all the attention he got. This contrasts to show that he has lost his legs now, but this time no one takes note of him. This shows that Jessie Pope was wrong to compare war to a football game because war can destroy peoples lives while a football game cant. If you lose a football match the consequences are insignificant in contrast to when you lose a war. He was drunk when he signed to join the army. He joined because a girl had said he would look good in the uniform (vanity) and also to please his girlfriend. These are the influences that Owen said this man was a victim of. Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts He asked to join. He didnt have to beg; Owen uses various styles of writing but in the above line he imitates everyday Northern speech. He was too young to join the army but when he asked to join the army the recruiting generals enlisted him despite knowing that he was lying because they needed men. This person had joined the army for the wrong reasons and wasnt interested in why the war was going on. He rarely thought of the Germans or the Austrians. The thoughts he had were of the weaponry and uniform he would receive and making smart salutes. He thinks of the Esprit de corps (army spirit) and pride in his unit. He hadnt bothered to think about the hardship that he would face during the war. He had always got a buzz when he was cheered for in a game and when they sent him off to war with all these cheers he felt very important like a hero. All this left him very optimistic about the war. Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal. The reception he gets when he comes back from war is in stark contrast to what he had imagined. Only a few people are cheering and this is ironic to him. The only one person that inquires about him is the priest. This makes him feel bitter and betrayed that they only cheered him when he was of use, but now that he is no use to them they disregard him. He now has to stay in an institute where the liberty for him to make his own choices has been taken from him. He will have to do what people at the institute tell him to do and pathetically take any sympathy that he may get. He noticed how all the women took no notice of him and paid all the attention to men who were complete. This is mental torture to him because he is used to being so popular and getting all the attention. How cold and late it is! Why dont they come And put him into bed? Why dont they come? His final thoughts of the poem are of total depression. He has become so dependent on others that it is becoming intolerable. All he looks forward to is being put into bed. This point was mentioned at the beginning of the poem emphasising how pitiful his life is. He feels like his life isnt worth living. The verse why dont they come? is used twice to accentuate how dependant he has become. In Jessie Popes Whos For The Game? she mentions that it is better to take part in a war and attain a crutch rather than take no part. In Disabled Wilfred Owen replies to this statement by showing a man who went to the war and came back with a crutch. He describes all the physical and mental hardships this person goes through and disproves Jessie Popes statement. Wilfred Owens main message in Disabled is that people arent joining the army for the right reasons because of poems like Jessie Popes. Dulce et Decorum est is another excellent war poem written by Owen describing his personal experience at war. It is structured such that it appeals to the audience and informs the readers of the realities of war. He depicts a first hand account of the harshness and also the hardships faced at war. This is vividly portrayed in the opening lines: Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, He uses very dramatic words to describe the soldiers. Words such as old beggars and hags wouldnt usually be associated with the glory of soldiers. The use of the word cursed also suggests that the soldiers are unhappy. Owen goes on to talk about how committed men were and also how brave they had to be to survive this horrific predicament. He says that the men were so tired that they could barely stand up and he mentions that they have none of their reactions to such an extent that they hardly realise the gas shells exploding. Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. He speaks of how everybody is stumbling to put their gas masks on and how one of the soldiers didnt have his mask on in time. He uses the word floundering to describe this scene. The word floundering is usually used to describe the state of panic a fish is when it is out of water. Dim, through the misty panes and the thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. He describes how he can hardly see anything as everything has a tinge of green because of the gas all around and this gives him the feeling that they are under a green sea. The use of the word drowning to describe the man contradicts his first description of the man floundering. In this section of the poem Owen uses his sensory style of writing to make us visualize the situation that he was in, and the images that come into our minds are striking as well as ghastly. He speaks of how helpless he was as the man was falling towards him. He uses three powerful words guttering, choking, drowning successively to emphasise the grotesque experience. As he remembers how they placed the man into a wagon he communicates with the reader on a more personal basis using the word you. His hanging face, like a devils sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the forth-corrupted lungs. Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud These four lines portray the man who had just died using very forceful and hideous words that make the reader cringe. He uses words such as devils sick of sin to compare the mans face to something unimaginable. These lines enlighten the audience of what soldiers have to go through and that not everything a soldier does is glorious, as it may seem. My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. In these final lines Owen assumes a relationship of friendship with Pope to get his message across in a polite manner. He makes her seem ignorant for promoting the message that war is all things glorious, without personally experiencing it. He makes it apparent to the readers and to Pope as well that the glory of war is a lie and that no one that would have experienced the situation Owen was in, would encourage anyone to go to war. In the final stanza Owens main message in the poem is evident and that is: people are joining the army for the wrong reasons because of poems like Popes. He concludes his poem by stating that the old Latin saying about war is a lie. The old Lie: It is sweet and fitting to die for ones country. In conclusion it can be noted that mass propaganda took place at the beginning of the First World War because of the need to recruit men into the army. Jessie Popes views towards war were light hearted and she exploited patriotism, which is why she contrasted so much with Wilfred Owens views. This led him to write truthful poem through personal experience because of how much he hated Popes fickle views.

International Human Resource Management - cultural management and Essay

International Human Resource Management - cultural management and diversity - Essay Example Research Topic The research topic that has been proposed by the author is "the importance of culture in the practice of international human resources management in the hospitality industry." This research will be carried out in the following manner. The author will first gain an in-depth understanding of the culture and the role it plays in any organisation. Next the author will study the practice of international human resources management in the hospitality industry. Finally the author will then study the impact of culture in international human resources management in the hospitality industry. Resources In this section the author will give a detailed description of all the different resources that she believes she would need to carry out the stated research study. In order to carry out this research the author will need access to an online library or for the secondary data that would be necessary for the literature review. Access to many different organisations in the hospitality industry. Since the author would like to be very specific in this study, the author will study four different international hotel chains such as The Sheraton hotels, The Hilton hotels, The Westin hotels and The Royal York Hotels. Ability to interview and survey mid level managers in the local and international locations of the named hotel chains. Ability to interview and survey human resources personnel in the local and international locations of the named hotel chains. Access to sufficient numbers of employees at human resources and mid level management in the hotels to the extent that the sample group will be demographically representative of the wider population. Resources such as stationary, availability to long distance phone services, email. Adequate time to carry...Research objectives are important because they will help keep the research on track and the author can use the set objectives and their achievement as a yardstick to measure the success of the research study To understand the best possible methods that can be employed by the management and the human resources personnel in an organisation and to make recommendations, suggestions and a framework of best practices that can be used in the organisation. Access to many different organisations in the hospitality industry. Since the author would like to be very specific in this study, the author will study four different international hotel chains such as The Sheraton hotels, The Hilton hotels, The Westin hotels and The Royal York Hotels. According to Porter's cultural determinants model, international organisations will be well off if they understand the social structure, religion, language, political philosophy, economic philosophy and education levels of the employees that they manage. The type of social structure that is seen consistently in a county or a region is very important to a business organization. This is because some social structures give priority to individualism, while others give priority to groups.

Critical analysis of Yemens current Military Capabilities Research Paper

Critical analysis of Yemens current Military Capabilities - Research Paper Example The Yemen military has demonstrated that it follows the basic doctrine of the Yemen armed forces. The military uses different weapons, artilleries and ballistic missile, during the wars and conflicts to reduce the strength and fighting capabilities of the rivals. The military doctrine of Yemen shows that the armed forces have compulsory reserve training for several specialist groups. After the civil war a series of proclamations was issues by the Councils of Ministers in 1994 that provide the guidelines for the organization of the armed forces and the allocation of the authorities to different personnel (Nation Master, 2010). The military of Yemen has been divided in two three branches including army, navy and air force. The warfare proficiency of these three branches of Yemen army is discussed below The Yemen air force has been given the name al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya. The army was created in 1926 however; the unified air force was created in 1990 after the unification of South and North Yemen. Since its establishment in 1926 the air force has received several weapons from different western and gulf region countries (Damen, 2008). The northern Yemen Arab Republic Air Force (YARAF) got MiG-15, MiG-17 MiG-21s from Russia and F-5E and F-5B and two C-130H Hercules Transport aircraft from Saudi Arab. The Southern air force got BAC 167 Strike master Mk81s, DHC-2 Beavers, Jet Provost Mk52As and Bell 47G helicopters from the British government. The Yemen air force employs 3500 personnel. An air defense force is also included in the Yemen air force. After the union of the south and north Yemen, the navy is more focused towards getting more MiG-29s. It has modified the MiG-29s that could attach air as well as land targets. These equipments have proved their significance in the fight against terrorism and Sah’da conflict. In 2004, Yemen received first MiG-29SMT whereas two MiG-29UBs are also modified to take them to the SMT standards. The

Virtue and Happiness Essay Example for Free

Virtue and Happiness Essay There are so many different circumstances under which someone will perform an action that it can be confusing when to determine if an action is virtuous. There can be factors of ignorance or factors of pressure to do certain actions. Pressure, ignorance, or reward can have a various affects on a person’s choices about virtuous acts but when it causes his or her moral actions to be compromised, then only certain situations can pressure or ignorance be an excuse. Courage is a virtue that can be determined by choices that a person can make. A person that only does an act because he sees some personal gain from the act such as saving a child from a fire may not have committed a virtuous act because of the motive behind it such as fame or honor. However, a person who has done a virtuous act can still be honored and glorified with the act still being virtuous. If that person were held at gunpoint and told to save the child, if he performed the act it would be hard to determine if it was truly virtuous. It does not mean that it was not a virtuous act, but it would be hard to tell what the motive was behind the action. Near the end of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle talks about the range of peoples characteristics. Aristotle states that the: â€Å"†¦of the moral states to be avoided there are three kinds-vice, incontinence, brutishness. † (Aristotle. Page 157.) Aristotle states that there are the opposites of these which are virtue, continence, and the super-virtue. Vice would mean the person knows what they are doing is wrong but does it regardless. Incontinence would mean that a person has an incorrect moral that they act on, causing them to act in a manner that was not virtuous. And brutishness would be a person acting purely on urge and having no emotional or rational or even irrational thought behind what they are doing. It would be primarily animalistic in nature. Looking at Aristotle’s view on â€Å"the best life† or a â€Å"happy life,† it can be seen that virtue is what he really believes will lead to a â€Å"good† life. The fact that there are many different ways in which someone may be virtuous or not shows that acting on desire can be right as well as wrong. And many different situations can determine this right or wrong act. Aristotle states that one must fulfill the desire for happiness by virtuous means and that our rational mind can lead us away from the correct way of fulfilling our ultimate desire.

A Passage to India:An Examination of the Work in a Historical Context :: essays research papers

A Passage to India by Edward Morgan Forster is truly one of the great books of it’s time. Written in an era when the world was more romantic, yet substantially less civil to the unwestern world than it is today; E. M. Forster opened the eyes of his fellow countrymen and the world by showing them the truth about British Colonialism. The novel aids greatly in the ability to interpret events of the time as well as understand the differences between the social discourse of then and now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To fully understand A Passage to India and its cultural and historical significance one must first understand the world in which it was written, and the man who wrote it. Forster published the novel in 1924 England, a place much different than the England of today. At the time the sun still didn’t set on the British empire and there were still serious societal influences form the Victorian Era.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forster was born on January 1st 1879; his family was part of London's upper-middle class. At the age of two Forster's father died, leaving only his mother to raise him. Their relationship was very strong and stayed that way up until her death in 1945. Forster was educated in Kent up until 1897, and then went on to King’s College at Cambridge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Immediately after his graduation from the University in 1901, Forster began to travel around the world, spending much of his time in Italy, Greece, and Germany. His first novel, Where Angels Fear to Tread was published in 1905 and was received with good reviews. By the publication of his fourth novel, Howard's End in 1910 Forster had become a member of what was known in writing circles as the Bloomsbury Group, a distinguished group of writers including Virginia Wolf, John Maynard Keynes, and many others. In 1912 Forster made his first visit to India; and in 1021 after having served for the Red Cross in Egypt during world war one, he returned to India to be the private secretary to the Maharajah of Dewas. Forster based A Passage to India on the experiences he had while working for the Maharajah.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The world of Colonial India was much different than that of England at the time, or of the India of today. The country was ruled by the British military. British patriots and ex-patriots living in India had a culture all there own; they were not at all oppressors but did have a completely different culture than the indigenous peoples of the country.

The Host Chapter 22: Cracked

Jeb put his hands behind his head and looked up at the dark ceiling, his face thoughtful. His chatty mood had not passed. â€Å"I've wondered a lot what it's like-getting caught, you know. Saw it happen more than once, come close a few times myself. What would it be like, I wondered. Would it hurt, having something put in your head? I've seen it done, you know.† My eyes widened in surprise, but he wasn't looking at me. â€Å"Seems like you all use some kind of anesthetic, but that's just a guess. Nobody was screaming in agony or anything, though, so it couldn't be too torturous.† I wrinkled my nose. Torture. No, that was the humans' specialty. â€Å"Those stories you were telling the kid were real interesting.† I stiffened and he laughed lightly. â€Å"Yeah, I was listening. Eavesdropping, I'll admit it. I'm not sorry-it was great stuff, and you won't talk to me the way you do with Jamie. I really got a kick out of those bats and the plants and spiders. Gives a man lots to think about. Always liked to read crazy, out-there stuff, science fiction and whatnot. Ate that stuff up. And the kid's like me-he's read all the books I've got, two, three times apiece. Must be a treat for him to get some new stories. Sure is for me. You're a good storyteller.† I kept my eyes down, but I felt myself softening, losing my guard a bit. Like anyone inside these emotional bodies, I was a sucker for flattery. â€Å"Everyone here thinks you hunted us out to turn us over to the Seekers.† The word sent a shock jolting through me. My jaw stiffened and my teeth cut my tongue. I tasted blood. â€Å"What other reason could there be?† he went on, oblivious to my reaction or ignoring it. â€Å"But they're just trapped in fixed notions, I think. I'm the only one with questions†¦ I mean, what kind of a plan was that, to wander off into the desert without any way to get back?† He chuckled. â€Å"Wandering-guess that's your specialty, eh, Wanda?† He leaned toward me and nudged me with one elbow. Wide with uncertainty, my eyes flickered to the floor, to his face, and back to the floor. He laughed again. â€Å"That trek was just a few steps shy of a successful suicide, in my opinion. Definitely not a Seeker's MO, if you know what I mean. I've tried to reason it out. Use logic, right? So, if you didn't have backup, which I've seen no sign of, and you had no way to get back, then you must've had a different goal. You haven't been real talkative since you got here, ‘cept with the kid just now, but I've listened to what you have said. Kind of seems to me like the reason you almost died out there was 'cause you were hell-bent on finding that kid and Jared.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Only why would you care?† Jeb asked, expecting no answer, just musing. â€Å"So, this is how I see it: either you're a really good actress-like a super-Seeker, some new breed, sneakier than the first-with some kind of a plan I can't figure out, or you're not acting. The first seems like a pretty complicated explanation for your behavior, then and now, and I don't buy it. â€Å"But if you're not acting†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused for a moment. â€Å"Spent a lot of time watching your kind. I was always waiting for them to change, you know, when they didn't have to act like us anymore, because there was no one to act for. I kept on watching and waiting, but they just kept on actin' like humans. Staying with their bodies' families, going out for picnics in good weather, plantin' flowers and paintin' pictures and all the rest of it. I've been wondering if you all aren't turning sort of human. If we don't have some real influence, in the end.† He waited, giving me a chance to respond. I didn't. â€Å"Saw something a few years ago that stuck with me. Old man and woman, well, the bodies of an old man and an old woman. Been together so long that the skin on their fingers grew in ridges around their wedding rings. They were holding hands, and he kissed her on her cheek, and she blushed under all those wrinkles. Occurred to me that you have all the same feelings we have, because you're really us, not just hands in a puppet.† â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"We have all the same feelings. Human feelings. Hope, and pain, and love.† â€Å"So, if you aren't acting†¦ well, then I'd swear to it that you loved them both. You do. Wanda, not just Mel's body.† I put my head down on my arms. The gesture was tantamount to an admission, but I didn't care. I couldn't hold it up anymore. â€Å"So that's you. But I wonder about my niece, too. What it was like for her, what it would be like for me. When they put somebody inside your head, are you just†¦ gone? Erased? Like being dead? Or is it like being asleep? Are you aware of the outside control? Is it aware of you? Are you trapped there, screaming inside?† I sat very still, trying to keep my face smooth. â€Å"Plainly, your memories and behaviors, all that is left behind. But your consciousness†¦ Seems like some people wouldn't go down without a fight. Hell, I know I would try to stay-never been one to take no for an answer, anyone will tell you that. I'm a fighter. All of us who are left are fighters. And, you know, I woulda pegged Mel for a fighter, too.† He didn't move his eyes from the ceiling, but I looked at the floor-stared at it, memorizing the patterns in the purple gray dust. â€Å"Yeah, I've wondered about that a lot.† I could feel his eyes on me now, though my head was still down. I didn't move, except to breathe slowly in and out. It took a great deal of effort to keep that slow rhythm smooth. I had to swallow; the blood was still flowing in my mouth. Why did we ever think he was crazy? Mel wondered. He sees everything. He's a genius. He's both. Well, maybe this means we don't have to keep quiet anymore. He knows. She was hopeful. She'd been very quiet lately, absent almost half the time. It wasn't as easy for her to concentrate when she was relatively happy. She'd won her big fight. She'd gotten us here. Her secrets were no longer in jeopardy; Jared and Jamie could never be betrayed by her memories. With the fight taken out of her, it was harder for her to find the will to speak, even to me. I could see how the idea of discovery-of having the other humans recognize her existence-invigorated her. Jeb knows, yes. Does that really change anything? She thought about the way the other humans looked at Jeb. Right. She sighed. But I think Jamie†¦ well, he doesn't know or guess, but I think he feels the truth. You might be right. I guess we'll see if that does him or us any good, in the end. Jeb could only manage to keep quiet for a few seconds, and then he was off again, interrupting us. â€Å"Pretty interesting stuff. Not as much bang! bang! as the movies I used to like. But still pretty interesting. I'd like to hear more about those spider thingies. I'm real curious†¦ real curious, for sure.† I took a deep breath and raised my head. â€Å"What do you want to know?† He smiled at me warmly, his eyes crinkling into half moons. â€Å"Three brains, right?† I nodded. â€Å"How many eyes?† â€Å"Twelve-one at each juncture of the leg and the body. We didn't have lids, just a lot of fibers-like steel wool eyelashes-to protect them.† He nodded, his eyes bright. â€Å"Were they furry, like tarantulas?† â€Å"No. Sort of†¦ armored-scaled, like a reptile or a fish.† I slouched against the wall, settling myself in for a long conversation. Jeb didn't disappoint on that count. I lost track of how many questions he asked me. He wanted details-the Spiders' looks, their behaviors, and how they'd handled Earth. He didn't flinch away from the invasion details; on the contrary, he almost seemed to enjoy that part more than the rest. His questions came fast on the heels of my answers, and his grins were frequent. When he was satisfied about the Spiders, hours later, he wanted to know more about the Flowers. â€Å"You didn't half explain that one,† he reminded me. So I told him about that most beautiful and placid of planets. Almost every time I stopped to breathe, he interrupted me with a new question. He liked to guess the answers before I could speak and didn't seem to mind getting them wrong in the least. â€Å"So did ya eat flies, like a Venus flytrap? I'll bet you did-or maybe something bigger, like a bird-like a pterodactyl!† â€Å"No, we used sunlight for food, like most plants here.† â€Å"Well, that's not as much fun as my idea.† Sometimes I found myself laughing with him. We were just moving on to the Dragons when Jamie showed up with dinner for three. â€Å"Hi, Wanderer,† he said, a little embarrassed. â€Å"Hi, Jamie,† I answered, a little shy, not sure if he would regret the closeness we'd shared. I was, after all, the bad guy. But he sat down right next to me, between me and Jeb, crossing his legs and setting the food tray in the middle of our little conclave. I was starving, and parched from all the talking. I took a bowl of soup and downed it in a few gulps. â€Å"Shoulda known you were just being polite in the mess hall today. Gotta speak up when you're hungry, Wanda. I'm no mind reader.† I didn't agree with that last part, but I was too busy chewing a mouthful of bread to answer. â€Å"Wanda?† Jamie asked. I nodded, letting him know that I didn't mind. â€Å"Kinda suits her, doncha think?† Jeb was so proud of himself, I was surprised he didn't pat himself on the back, just for effect. â€Å"Kinda, I guess,† Jamie said. â€Å"Were you guys talking about dragons?† â€Å"Yeah,† Jeb told him enthusiastically, â€Å"but not the lizardy kind. They're all made up of jelly. They can fly, though†¦ sort of. The air's thicker, sort of jelly, too. So it's almost like swimming. And they can breathe acid-that's about as good as fire, wouldn't you say?† I let Jeb fill Jamie in on the details while I ate more than my share of food and drained a water bottle. When my mouth was free, Jeb started in with the questions again. â€Å"Now, this acid†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jamie didn't ask questions the way Jeb did, and I was more careful about what I said with him there. However, this time Jeb never asked anything that might lead to a touchy subject, whether by coincidence or design, so my caution wasn't necessary. The light slowly faded until the hallway was black. Then it was silver, a tiny, dim reflection from the moon that was just enough, as my eyes adjusted, to see the man and the boy beside me. Jamie edged closer to me as the night wore on. I didn't realize that I was combing my fingers through his hair as I talked until I noticed Jeb staring at my hand. I folded my arms across my body. Finally, Jeb yawned a huge yawn that had me and Jamie doing the same. â€Å"You tell a good story, Wanda,† Jeb said when we were all done stretching. â€Å"It's what I did†¦ before. I was a teacher, at the university in San Diego. I taught history.† â€Å"A teacher!† Jeb repeated, excited. â€Å"Well, ain't that amazin'? There's something we could use around here. Mag's girl Sharon does the teaching for the three kids, but there's a lot she can't help with. She's most comfortable with math and the like. History, now -â€Å" â€Å"I only taught our history,† I interrupted. Waiting for him to take a breath wasn't going to work, it seemed. â€Å"I wouldn't be much help as a teacher here. I don't have any training.† â€Å"Your history is better than nothing. Things we human folks ought to know, seeing as we live in a more populated universe than we were aware of.† â€Å"But I wasn't a real teacher,† I told him, desperate. Did he honestly think anyone wanted to hear my voice, let alone listen to my stories? â€Å"I was sort of an honorary professor, almost a guest lecturer. They only wanted me because†¦ well, because of the story that goes along with my name.† â€Å"That's the next one I was going to ask for,† Jeb said complacently. â€Å"We can talk about your teaching experience later. Now-why did they call you Wanderer? I've heard a bunch of odd ones, Dry Water, Fingers in the Sky, Falling Upward-all mixed in, of course, with the Pams and the Jims. I tell you, it's the kind of thing that can drive a man crazy with curiosity.† I waited till I was sure he was done to begin. â€Å"Well, the way it usually works is that a soul will try out a planet or two-two's the average-and then they'll settle in their favorite place. They just move to new hosts in the same species on the same planet when their body gets close to death. It's very disorienting moving from one kind of body to the next. Most souls really hate that. Some never move from the planet they are born on. Occasionally, someone has a hard time finding a good fit. They may try three planets. I met a soul once who'd been to five before he'd settled with the Bats. I liked it there-I suppose that's the closest I've ever come to choosing a planet. If it hadn't been for the blindness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"How many planets have you lived on?† Jamie asked in a hushed voice. Somehow, while I'd been talking, his hand had found its way into mine. â€Å"This is my ninth,† I told him, squeezing his fingers gently. â€Å"Wow, nine!† he breathed. â€Å"That's why they wanted me to teach. Anybody can tell them our statistics, but I have personal experience from most of the planets we've†¦ taken.† I hesitated at that word, but it didn't seem to bother Jamie. â€Å"There are only three I've never been to-well, now four. They just opened a new world.† I expected Jeb to jump in with questions about the new world, or the ones I'd skipped, but he just played absently with the ends of his beard. â€Å"Why did you never stay anywhere?† Jamie asked. â€Å"I never found a place I liked enough to stay.† â€Å"What about Earth? Do you think you'll stay here?† I wanted to smile at his child's confidence-as if I were going to get the chance to ever move on to another host. As if I were going to get the chance to live out even another month in the one I had. â€Å"Earth is†¦ very interesting,† I murmured. â€Å"It's harder than any place I've been before.† â€Å"Harder than the place with the frozen air and the claw beasts?† he asked. â€Å"In its own way, yes.† How could I explain that the Mists Planet only came at you from the outside-it was much more difficult to be attacked from within. Attacked, Melanie scoffed. I yawned. I wasn't actually thinking of you, I told her. I was thinking of these unstable emotions, always betraying me. But you did attack me. Pushing your memories on me that way. I learned my lesson, she assured me dryly. I could feel how intensely aware she was of the hand in mine. There was an emotion slowly building in her that I didn't recognize. Something on the edge of anger, with a hint of desire and a portion of despair. Jealousy, she enlightened me. Jeb yawned again. â€Å"I'm being downright rude, I guess. You must be bushed-walking all over today and then me keepin' you up half the night talking. Ought to be a better host. C'mon, Jamie, let's go and let Wanda get some sleep.† I was exhausted. It felt as if it had been a very long day, and, from Jeb's words, perhaps that wasn't in my imagination. â€Å"Okay, Uncle Jeb.† Jamie jumped lightly to his feet and then offered his hand to the old man. â€Å"Thanks, kid.† Jeb groaned as he got up. â€Å"And thanks to you, too,† he added in my direction. â€Å"Most interesting conversation I've had in†¦ well, probably forever. Rest your voice up, Wanda, because my curiosity is a powerful thing. Ah, there he is! ‘Bout time.† Only then did I hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Automatically, I shrank against the wall and scooted farther back into the cave-room, and then felt more exposed because the moonlight was brighter inside. I was surprised that this was the first person to turn in for the night; the corridor appeared to house many. â€Å"Sorry, Jeb. I got to talking with Sharon, and then I sort of dozed off.† It was impossible not to recognize this easy, gentle voice. My stomach rolled, unstable, and I wished it were empty. â€Å"We didn't even notice, Doc,† Jeb said. â€Å"We were having the time of our lives here. Someday you'll have to get her to tell you some of her stories-great stuff. Not tonight, though. She's got to be pretty worn out, I'd bet. We'll see you in the morning.† The doctor was spreading a mat out in front of the cave entrance, just as Jared had. â€Å"Keep an eye on this,† Jeb said, laying the gun beside the mat. â€Å"Are you okay, Wanda?† Jamie asked. â€Å"You're shaking.† I hadn't realized it, but my whole body was quivering. I didn't answer him-my throat felt swollen shut. â€Å"Now, now,† Jeb said in a soothing voice. â€Å"I asked Doc if he minded taking a shift. You don't need to worry about anything. Doc's an honorable man.† The doctor smiled a sleepy smile. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you†¦ Wanda, is it? I promise. I'll just keep watch while you sleep.† I bit my lip, and the quivering didn't stop. Jeb seemed to think everything was settled, though. â€Å"Night, Wanda. Night, Doc,† he said as he started back down the hall. Jamie hesitated, looking at me with a worried expression. â€Å"Doc's okay,† he promised in a whisper. â€Å"C'mon, boy, it's late!† Jamie hurried off after Jeb. I watched the doctor when they were gone, waiting for some change. Doc's relaxed expression didn't waver, though, and he didn't touch the gun. He stretched his long frame out on the mat, his calves and feet hanging off the end. Lying down, he looked much smaller, he was so rail thin. â€Å"Good night,† he murmured drowsily. Of course I didn't answer. I watched him in the dull moonlight, timing the rise and fall of his chest by the sound of the pulse thudding in my ears. His breathing slowed and got deeper, and then he began to quietly snore. It could have been an act, but even if it was, there wasn't much I could do about it. Silently, I crept deeper into the room, till I felt the edge of the mattress against my back. I'd promised myself that I would not disturb this place, but it probably wouldn't hurt anything if I just curled up on the foot of the bed. The floor was rough and so hard. The sound of the doctor's soft snoring was comforting; even if it was put on to calm me, at least I knew exactly where he was in the darkness. Live or die, I figured I might as well go ahead and sleep. I was dog tired, as Melanie would say. I let my eyes close. The mattress was softer than anything I'd touched since coming here. I relaxed, sinking in†¦ There was a low shuffling sound-it was inside the room with me. My eyes popped open, and I could see a shadow between the moonlit ceiling and me. Outside, the doctor's snores continued uninterrupted.