Global Shopping Trends Essay Example

Global Shopping Trends Essay Example Global Shopping Trends Essay Global Shopping Trends Essay stores, catalogs, online, call centers, social networking, ddigital displays, mobile). Few, however, truly understand how consumers are using and shopping across each of their channels (e. g. , using social media sites to get discounts, going to the store to test the product and then purchasing the product online), and even fewer have a seamless, consistent and comprehensive multichannel strategy. However, having a comprehensive multi channel strategy will become more important than ever. As consumers become sawier, they are increasingly taking charge of their shopping experience, dentifying and leveraging many different sources of information and channels to optimize the different elements of their shopping Journey. As of this writing, 71 ppercent of respondents to the Deloitte U. S. 2011 Annual Holiday Survey were planning on shopping multiple channels in some manner viewing or researching products in one channel and purchasing in another, for exam ple. Since customers do not distinguish between channels, retailers will have to support seamless integration among and between each of them, including access to assortment, customer informa tion and order information. Within the next few years, it is likely that onsumers will expect to use a mobile device to get realtime inventory information about the closest stores or to order a product while in a store and have it delivered to their home. Therefore, in 2012 it is likely that retailers will continue to develop and launch innovative multichannel solutions. Retailers will need to have a clear understanding of the shopping Journey and how consumers move across channels, from mobile to social networking, the web and in store. Understanding how they go through the prepurchase, purchase, and post purchase process will be key to retailers identifying opportunities that both nhance their bottom line and actually make sense to consumers. For example, most large retailers in developed multichannel markets like the United States and the U. K. 2 of 14 no longer operate in silos but have become brand and product showrooms that drive revenues across all channels and are destinations for consumers to do more than Just simply browse and transact To support ssimilar iintegrated, seamless and consistent multichannel experiences, many retailers will need to reevaluate their business and make fundamental changes across their organizations in all functions. With the incredible speed t which the iPhone 4S sold one million units in 24 hours, four million the weekend it was launched and ssmartphones emerging as the most dominant consumer technology platform, one cannot mention multichannel without also discussing mobile. Moreover, since a significant population of mobile users has not even reached shopping age, one can anticipate that moDlle, ana all tne capaDllltles ana opportunltles It OTTers, will De top 0T mina among retailers in 2012. Mobile consumers are no longer Just early adopters: They represent a broad range of consumer segments and have become part of the ainstream population. For retailers looking to remain relevant in this connected consumer environment, the ability to leverage mobile to deliver an improved customer experience will be a critical success factor. To be sure, there is a great deal of aactivity in launching mobile solutions focused on the preshopping experience. However, many retailers are diving in without a clear strategy and few have launched an iintegrated multichannel experience. Retailers that can deliver an iintegrated customer experience demonstrating a clear understanding of consumer preferences and behaviors across the urchase process will have an advantage over the competition. In the race to put out a cool app, retailers must not neglect three important factors: Usability and the user experience, including integration points between mobile and other channels. A poor customer experience is worse than no app at all. Security and privacy. A mobilerelated security or privacy breach could severely damage a retailers reputation and hamper adoption of mobile capabilities. Access for employees and business partners. Sales associates need access to the same information as the connected super user consumers who walk hrough the door. Providing suppliers realtime visibility into the location and estimated arrival time of shipments can ultimately benefit consumers as well. From data to personalization Data analytics and personalization will continue to be critical success factors in 2012 and beyond. Indeed, personalization has become the norm for growing numbers of consumers. Given all the new channels through which retailers are interacting with consumers, from pointofsale to mobile to social media sites, the sheer volume of data that can be collected about consumers and their shopping behaviors continues to row. The industry is evolving quickly in its data analytics capabilities and in its ability to develop personalized marketing campaigns and customer experiences. Still, the ongoing challenge for retailers will be how to best analyze all this rich data and derive from it valuable insights about what consumers want and need. While technology is bringing radical changes to how people shop, the bricks andmortar store remains the core of retail. The physical store, however, is no longer the final shopping destination; increasingly, it is becoming a piece in a larger, more connected customer experience. This transition will require retailers to innovate and rethink their operating models in ways many couldnt even conceive of five years ago. In this, we shall be understanding the behavior, pattern, shopping trend in global m arket. 3. Major findings/lssues PreTerences over aeslgner products : SIX out respondents in the AsiaPacific 3 of 14 10 online survey region said they are willing to pay extra for designer products, exceeding the global average by 17 ppercentage points. Affinity for buying famous brands is highest among respondents in the AsiaPacific (55%) and Middle East/ Africa (56%) markets, exceeding the global average of 47%. Source http:// www. marketingprofs. com Chinese consumers are the most willing to pay more for designer products (74% of respondents), and fondness for famous brands is highest in India (74%).. Preferences over designer products: Six out of 10 online survey respondents in the Promotions: 78% of global respondents say quality is their most important product concern, with respondents in Latin America (83%) and Asia Pacific (82%) exceeding the global average. Price is key as well, with 65% of global respondents ranking it as important. % of global shoppers are aware of promotions and discounts and say products wit h free gifts are good incentives (58%). In particular, a large ppercentage of shoppers in the Philippines (77%), Vietnam (75%), Greece (74%), and Turkey (72%) find free gifts apealing. 4 of 14 Source marketingprofs. com . Shopping Around: Latin Americans are the most likely to shop around, to have preferred brands in mind before shopping, and to sample first before making a purchase. North American respondents put the least trust in products recommended by profes sionals (35%). Respondents in the Latin America and Middle East/ Africa rely the most on the advice of 5 of 14 professionals. Source marketingprofs. com Multichannel Shopping: With the ability to shop anywhere at anytime with any device, consumers are demanding excellence and consistency at every turn and are challenging retailers and brands to keep up. The key The increasingly sophisticated online shopper One of the findings that stands out and one heavy with implications for retailers was the selfdescribed sophistication of the online shoppers we surveyed. Many of considered themselves to be highly capable in terms of researching and purchasing nline. In fact, 72% of US respondents consider themselves to be either confident or experts in this regard, slightly besting the 69% of global respondents that consider themselves to De at tnls same level. 0T tne overall gr owtn In onllne sales In 2012 came from existing shoppers simply buying more online The popularity of online shopping is rooted in many factors What is it that is so attractive about online shopping, regardless of nationality or geography? Theres a great deal of global consistency in the top five factors cited. The conventional wisdom is that the issue of price is the driving force or the growth of online shopping, and indeed, it does feature among the top three reasons cited by our survey respondents Insights for the US Retail Industry, retailers can gain an additional margin oopportunity of 8% to 12% by offering free shipping, yet of retailers charge for shipping products. Perhaps even more impactful is the fact that 2 out of 3 US consumers say they are likely to cancel a purchase without free shipping The desired multichannel purchase Journey Online shopping has opened up huge new choices for consumers, not Just in terms of what they buy, but how they buy it. The Internet 6 of 14 has empowered the consumer in three ways: during the decision making process leading to the purchase; at the actual moment of purchase; and tthroughout the product owinership period, including product delivery, maintenance, and return. The challenge at least for some retailers is that consumers are starting to behave in far more sophisticated ways, whether theyre buying expensive items or weekly groceries. Because most retailers havent yet created efficient multichannel models, consumers are working it out for themselves, using different channels in ways hat best suit them. Consumers may choose to research a product in the store † a shoe perhaps † then use their mobile phone to find a better price online, and then call into the retailers customer service line to order and have the shoe shipped to their home. In essence, consumers are creating their own multichannel experiences by leveraging multiple retailers across a single category or product Keeping up with multichannel shoppers is getting more complex Take the clothing category. Almost onethird of our respondents said they prefer to research and purchase clothing nline, and this puts an onus on the retailer to manage the return process The role of the physical store is changing A key issue for all retailers with large numbers of physical stores is the role those stores should be playing in a multichannel world and how that differs by country. Chinese online shoppers, for example, are embracing the online medium more quickly than shoppers from other countries, replacing the need for physical retail outlets. But no matter the country, retailers should consider the roles of their stores now and in the future. Are they flagships for the brand? Are they a combination of flagship and technology emporiums, such as the Apple stores? Are they showrooms for product display, as is increasingly the case with white goods? What is the role of the retail store in the Tuture Ine world Is getting smaller: Local players Deware our survey results show that within individual territories there exists a sthrong bias towards the most wellknown, incountry, or homebased retailers. For example, the survey shows that the top ten retailers shopped across channels in the last 12 months include Walmart in the US (41% of local online hoppers) Argos (39%) and Tesco (30%) in the I-JK, and Taobao in China (34%). Source: wc. com/en_us/us/retailconsumer/publications/assets/pwcus multichannelsh oppingsurvey. pdf 7 of 14 2. Strategy Adopted Trend watching analysis and study Global Multi Channel consumer surveys and reports by PWC etc. Global shopping trends and behavior pattern Understanding evaluating multi channel shopping trends Data analyzed and studied by various sources providers including PWC and Nielson Critically evaluating the challenges and oopportunity for global shopping trends in fut ure of 14 3. Critical Evaluation of the Strategy Adopted Multichannel shopping is here to stay with the ability to shop anywhere at any time with any device, consumers are demanding excellence and consistency at every turn and are challenging retailers and brands to keep up. The key question retailers must now answer is How will multichannel shopping behavior continue to evolve? and What investments must be made to meet consumer expectations? Reason why consumers buy directly from a brand / manufacturer Source: pwc. com/gx/en/retailconsumer/retailconsumerpublications/ lobalmultichannelconsu mersurvey/countrysnapshots. html 90f14 Source: http://about. datamonitor. com/sectors/retail/om/luxuryretailmarketsize strategiescompetitor/ 100f14 Source: giovannicappellotto. it/4248globaltrendsonlineshopping/ To help understand this evolving retail marketplace, I undertook PWC global study of consumers which was focused on addressing the habits and preferences 0T onllne snoppers. snoppers Trom elgn t OITT erent terrltorles (us, cnlna, Hong Kong, Germany, France, I-JK, Switzerland, and The Netherlands) were iincluded Key findings from their study revealed: Twenty ppercent of survey consumers made their first online purchase within the last year, suggesting great upside oopportunity for retailers with an online presence Many more global online shoppers are following brands using social media, but only 3% have used the network to shop Researching products online is a critical element of multichannel shopping Consumers are leading the way in multichannel shopping, with many retailers lagging behind when it comes to meeting consumer need i have leveraged the insights from data and research to make several observations about how etailers can better support their online customers and attract new ones with three themes as . Multichannel shopping as a major force, Multichannel shopping consolidation and Global retailing in 2020. I have also highlighted several actionable items that 11 of 14 can help retailers keep up with and adapt to the changing multichannel retail landsc ape: Become far more innovative with their online websites and other ddigital offerings Improve bricks and mortar formats to emphasize quality and customer satisfaction as opposed to price and selection Align themselves with he growing middle class in emerging markets who are shopping more online and using multi channels to a greater degree than shoppers in developed mar kets Focus on satisfying customers across all channels, instead of viewing ddigital channels as a competing channel Today, global retailers have a huge oopportunity to enhance the experiences necessary to stay ahead of shoppers who are demanding more customization in terms of product choice, delivery, return policies and the number of retail channels for shopping 4. Lessons Learnt Global retailing in 2020 The complete embrace of ddigital technology As lobal world, and in turn, increasingly multi channel shopping world evolves, there are several trends that will permeate global shopping behaviors in the future: Complete embrace of ddigital technology: By 2020 retailers will have fully embraced the use of ddigital technology, including mining consumer data to better understand purchase behavior, fully employing social media, and leveraging twoway communication channels with the workforce, whether infield, instore, or during travel. Heightened influence of social media: Social media will influence a larger proportion of sales,

Quotes by Simone de Beauvoir, Feminist, Existentialist

Quotes by Simone de Beauvoir, Feminist, Existentialist Simone de Beauvoir was a writer on feminism and existentialism. She also wrote novels. Her book The Second Sex is a feminist classic. It is based on the idea that, while men and women may have different tendencies, each person is unique, and it is culture which has enforced a uniform set of expectations of what is feminine, as contrasted to what is human which is equated with what is male. Beauvoir argued that women can free themselves, through individual decisions and collective action. Best Quotes One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman. To emancipate woman is to refuse to confine her to the relations she bears to man, not to deny them to her; let her have her independent existence and she will continue none the less to exist to him also; mutually recognizing each other as subject, each will yet remain for the other another. Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female- whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male. This has always been a mans world, and none of the reasons that have been offered in explanation have seemed adequate. Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth. The most sympathetic of men never fully comprehend womans concreted situation. Society, being codified by man, decrees that woman is inferior; she can do away with this inferiority only by destroying the males superiority. When we abolish the slavery of half of humanity, together with the whole system of hypocrisy it implies, then the division of humanity will reveal its genuine significance and the human couple will find its true form. If her functioning as a female is not enough to define woman, if we decline also to explain her through the eternal feminine, and if nevertheless we admit, provisionally, that women do exist, then we must face the question: what is a woman? To catch a husband is an art; to hold him is a job. Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day. Defending the truth is not something one does out of a sense of duty or to allay guilt complexes, but is a reward in itself. I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for the truth; and truth rewarded me. Thats what I consider true generosity. You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing. I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. Ones life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion. The word love has by no means the same sense for both sexes, and this is one cause of the serious misunderstandings that divide them. The writer of originality, unless dead, is always shocking, scandalous; novelty disturbs and repels. However gifted an individual is at the outset, if his or her talents cannot be developed because of his or her social condition, because of the surrounding circumstances, these talents will be still-born. To show your true ability is always, in a sense, to surpass the limits of your ability, to go a little beyond them: to dare, to seek, to invent; it is at such a moment that new talents are revealed, discovered, and realized. Since I was 21, I have never been lonely. The opportunities granted to me at the beginning helped me not only to lead a happy life but to be happy in the life I led. I have been aware of my shortcomings and my limits, but I have made the best of them. When I was tormented by what was happening in the world, it was the world I wanted to change, not my place in it. From the hour youre born you begin to die. But between birth and death theres life. Change your life today. Dont gamble on the future, act now, without delay. There is no justification for present existence other than its expansion into an indefinitely open future. If you live long enough, youll see that every victory turns into a defeat. Since it is the Other within us who is old, it is natural that the revelation of our age should come to us from outside- from others. We do not accept it willingly. Retirement may be looked upon either as a prolonged holiday or as a rejection, a being thrown on to the scrap-heap. Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself; if all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying. It is not in giving life but in risking life that man is raised above the animal; that is why superiority has been accorded in humanity not to the sex that brings forth but to that which kills. Its frightening to think that you mark your children merely by being yourself. It seems unfair. You cant assume the responsibility for everything you do- or dont do. The ideal of happiness has always taken material form in the house, whether cottage or castle. It stands for permanence and separation from the world. Society cares for the individual only so far as he is profitable. In the face of an obstacle which it is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is stupid. One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius. I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation. All oppression creates a state of war. In order for the artist to have a world to express he must first be situated in this world, oppressed or oppressing, resigned or rebellious, a man among men. Art is an attempt to integrate evil. No matter what happened afterward, nothing would take those moments away from me; nothing has taken them away; they shine in my past with a brilliance that has never been tarnished. [About Liberation Day] Quotes About Simone de Beauvoir She had opened a door for us. – Kate Millett I had learned my own existentialism from her. It was  The Second Sex  that introduced me to that approach to reality and political responsibility... [and] led me to whatever original analysis of womens existence I have been able to contribute. – Betty Friedan I wish her well. She started me out on a road on which Ill keep moving... We need and can trust no other authority than our own personal truth. – Betty Friedan More than any other single human being, shes responsible for the current international womens movement. – Gloria Steinem

Urban economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Urban economics - Essay Example For instance, there are 2 the automotive parts, accessories and tire store business. Compared to other cities around, Calabasas is not performing that well economically compared to Culver City and Los Angeles which records a number of 5 and 462 of such stores respectively. Los Angeles is leading compared to other cities in terms of motor vehicle numbers, recording a number of 63 compared to 1 in Calabasas, CA. It is so unfortunate that other cities like the Malibu, CA and the Culver City, CA do not have any motor vehicle dealer. According to the NAICS 2014 statistics, Calabasas, CA has a total of 7 automobile dealers, this is far away behind the Los Angeles, CA which had a recording number of 282. Sales of motor vehicles has really contributed to the economic growth of the cities in USA. In 2014 alone, the sales from motor vehicle was 238m dollars in Calabasas, CA, 24.737 m dollars in Culver City, Ca, and 10216067000 dollars in Los Angeles, CA, This is a quite encouraging revenue for the states. Other variables attached to the economic growth finding is the revenue from motor oil and the gasoline. Malibu, CA recorded an amount of 16.583 million dollars, 28.526 m dollars for Calabasas, CA, 24.737 m dollars for Culver City, CA, and 3748190400 dollars for Los Angeles, CA. Based on the household number, Malibu, CA has household number of 5178, Calabasas, CA has household number of 8527,Culver City, CA has a number of 39844, while Los Angeles, Ca recorded a household number of 3881954. The population density per square mile for Malibu, CA was 373, 1423 for Calabasas, Ca, 6489 for Culver City, CA, and 8257 for Los Angeles, CA. Finally, the net outlay for the purchasing the vehicles was 23.031 m dollars for Malibu, CA, 39.544 m dollars for Calabasas, CA, 65.343 m dollars for Culver City, CA, and 4527330600 for Los Angeles, CA. From the above statistics it is so evident that Los Angeles is performing well

The ban on smoking in public places Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The ban on smoking in public places - Essay Example Even then researchers had concerns about the hazards of smoking as they pertained to second hand smoke and people who inhaled it(Comfort pp 14). Commonly referred to as passive smoke, those who were around smoke without actually smoking themselves soon proved to have several definitive health risks associated with being near the smoke and inhaling it through passive (second hand methods). â€Å"Medical concerns about the dangers of passive smoking--inhaling other peoples tobacco smoke--can be traced back to the 1920s, and there is also now a widespread consensus that such passive smoking can cause disease. Other peoples tobacco smoke, either from the burning tip of a cigarette or the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker, is classed as a known human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency(Comfort pp 14). â€Å" For the most part public place for the purpose of legislative ban incorporated any â€Å"enclosed or semi-enclosed area that members of the public have access to which provides a business or a service including workplaces, buildings and public transport(Comfort pp 14). â€Å" â€Å"Direct benefits revolve mainly about respiratory health, and regular exposure to smoke may trigger asthma in infants and young children. The indirect benefits to young peoples health associated with smoke-free policies is seen to relate to the general reinforcement of the messages that non-smoking is now increasingly the norm within the community and would thus help to promote non-smoking lifestyles in future adult generations(Comfort pp 14).†

Psychology Reflective Essay Example for Free

Psychology Reflective Essay After having various lessons, I would like to have a deeper evaluation of the chapter â€Å"Behavior in Social and Cultural Context† especially the concept of attributions . It is known that there are two types of attributions which are internal attributions and external attributions that we generally use to explain our own or other’s behaviors. Internal factors concern a person’s traits while external factors concern the external environment. In addition, I am actually shocked by the fact that there is a fundamental attribution error when we are explaining others’ behaviors. There is a real-life example that I would like to share. Last Monday, I was stuck in a traffic jam for half an hour on Nathan Road. I had a lesson at 8:30 am in Core A and I reached the pedestrian bridge at 8:25 am, so I was rushing to the classroom. At that moment, a scene annoyed me most and stopped my way to school. A boy who was around six years old was too energetic. He dashed and rushed around on the footbridge that disturbed others’ way. He also guffawed and touched or played with anything and everything he saw. Suddenly, he paced around and glared at his mum. Don’t walk like a stupid pig! Do you know how to walk? I have been waiting for you for so long! †He shouted at his mum. At that moment, I was very angry and strongly believed that the boy was so naughty and disrespectful that he showed his emotions with no restraint and did whatever he likes without regard for consequences. Based on the above case, the correspondence bias leads me to explain the boy’s behavior by ignoring the influence of situation on behavior. For example, actually he is a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, so he cannot be patient and always dash around. However, we tend to emphasize the dispositional attribution that the boy is so naughty and disrespectful. Apparently, we tend to overestimate internal factors and underestimate external factors when explaining others’ behavior. After understanding the concept of fundamental attribution error, I have an enquiry related to it. Is there an error too when we explain our own behaviors? In order to find out the answer of it, I do some researches on it. Afterwards, I found out that the concept of actor-observer bias which is proposed by E. E. Jones and R. E. Nisbett in 1971 gives a clearer picture on the error of explaining our own and others’ behaviors. It states that we as an actor are more likely to attribute our own actions to the particular situation than to a generalization about our personality while the reverse asymmetry held for people being an observer and explaining others’ behaviors. Nevertheless, I have doubts about both the fundamental attribution error and the actor-observer bias. In my opinion, I think that both of the ideas only firmly established when describing negative events. For instance, on the one hand, as an actor, when we get bad result on an exam, we usually attribute the reason to the difficult exam (situational). On the other hand, as an observer, when our friends get bad academic result, we usually attribute the reason to his or her lazy character (dispositional). If the event is positive, the reverse error occurs. With the same example but with the condition that both we and our friends get high marks in the exam, we will attribute the reason to hard-working (dispositional) and easy exam (situational) to explain behaviors respectively. Malle (2006) agrees that a reverse asymmetry held for positive events after conducting a mental-analysis. He states that the discrepancy may indicate a self-serving pattern in attribution that we attribute success to internal factors and failure to external factors. Therefore, I believe that we are explaining others’ by using both the self-serving bias and fundamental attribution error. Overall, the lessons build up my foundation for the psychological concepts and theories and we need to explore the psychological world by ourselves in order to find out more details, conflicts about and relationships between different ideas. For instance, in order to finish this reflective journal, I used Google scholar to search about the actor-observer bias and the criticisms about it that I did not learn on the book and in lessons. By experiencing the searching process, I have deeper understanding on it and it strongly impresses on my memory. The process also enhances my analysis skill, to determine which sources are useful and which sources are not related to my topic. Therefore, I enjoy the process of exploring the psychological knowledge by ourselves.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice Essay -- Macbeth essay

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice    Shakespeare's Macbeth has been the subject of scholarly research in terms of ambition, politics, and sexuality. The most predominant analysis is that of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This relationship in theory is full of sexual innuendo, maternal power, gender transgression, and violence. In reading multiple essays on the psychological nature of the relationship one question came to mind: to what extent are the characters aware of the psychological effect they have on each other in performance? In contrast to the various essays by literary scholars, Sinead Cusack wrote with Carol Rutter in Shakespeare's Late Tragedies about her process in preparing for the role of Lady Macbeth for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Although her choices are not the only choices that can be made by an actor in that role, her experience contrasted the theoretical models written by so many scholars. Her relationship with Macbeth was real, not a theoretical analysis of the psychological effect the characters have on one another. Through her written process and the analysis of the scholars mentioned above I will outline the dichotomy between theory and performance and the relationship between Macbeth and his Lady.    Lady Macbeth and the Witches Jane Adelman summarizes the psychoanalytic interpretation of the relationship between Lady Macbeth and the Witches (ibid 140). Lady Macbeth and the Witches signify for Macbeth the role of both temptress and mother, an issue that will be explored more fully below. Adelman claims that the Witches tempt Macbeth on the cosmic plain, whereas Lady Macbeth tempts him on the psychological plain (ibid 139). All of the female figures r... ...ber, Marjorie. "Macbeth: The Male Medusa." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1996, 74-103. Keirnan, Victor. Eight Tragedies of Shakespeare: A Marxist Study. London, NY: Verso, 1996. Nelson, T.A. ENGL 533 lecture February 18, 1999. Rutter, Carol and Sinead Cusack. "Lady Macbeth's Barren Sceptre." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pretnice-Hall, Inc. 1996, 119-133. Stallybrass, Peter. "Macbeth and Witchcraft." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc. 1996, 104-118. Staunton, Howard, ed. The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare. New York:   Gramercy Books, 1979. Watson, Robert N. Shakespeare and the Hazards of Ambition. Cambidge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984

The USPS Problem

It has come as no surprise that the United States Postal Service lost money in the first two quarters of 2010. $8. 5 billion to be exact. Next year they, plan to lose even more. Somewhere in between $9 billion to $10 billion dollars. The problem will not be as simple to fix, but it is a problem that can be resolved with a few simple implementations and cost cutting options. Overspending and undercharging has led to needing to cut cost and raise prices. The USPS is trying to do both, but it requires Congressional approval and some simple economics. Here is what should be done in solving this problem. 1. Raise prices.  Allow modest price changes without Congressional approval. If the prices change within the cost of living change or close the USPS should be able to implement them without wasting time and taxpayer money on a Congressional approval. The United States Postal Service does not charge enough for the service they provide. It does not cost 44 cents to move a letter from San Antonio, Texas to Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. It does not cost 44 cents to move a letter to the next town let alone cross country with today’s raising fuel cost. Even with today’s new Postal pick up service the cost of fuel outweighs the cost of flat rate packaging. 2.  Service. Service is part of the United States Postal Service name. End the Casual implantation of temporary workers. To many times customers complain to me that they saw a worker delivering mail without a uniform, and do not trust them in picking up the mail or package. Mail carriers should promote the business and make every interaction with its customers a positive one. I do many routes at my station and time and time again customers complain of the grumpy old letter carrier acting rude when approached, this has to come to a halt and management should be more involved in implementing ways to improve customer interaction and promote it. If a station manager gets complaints on a mail carrier, the station manager should make a note of it and speak to the mail carrier at the end of day or first thing in the morning. Allow private business to run kiosk machines. Co-location works, and it is what the customers want, pay flat rate prices and do so fast and quickly, not waiting 20 to 30 minutes in line at the local Post Office. 3. Either end the retirement and health care pre-funding or make all government agencies abide by the same rule the United States Postal Service does. Although this has little impact on mail delivery, it has a huge impact on postal profitability. The United States Postal Service officials think if given the same approach as other government agencies, they would save $5. 6 billion a year in revenue. If it weren’t for the cost of pre-funding future retiree’s health care benefits the service would have seen a profit of more than a quarter billion dollars. In other words, from an operational standpoint, the United States Postal Service made money. Understanding that the United States Postal Service is to break even, and any profits gain are to be made into the retirement and health care fund. Pre-funding is a Congressional candy jar anyway. 4. Cut money wasting ideas. Management time and time again has cost the United States Postal Service revenue. Looking at some ideas management came just make no sense, like the idea to emplace a GPS system in every United States Postal Service vehicle. This idea was implemented to track and follow where the letter carrier goes during his delivery route. Along with that comes the idea to emplace 12 barcode scan points along the delivery route which the carrier must scan in increments of 45 minutes. Rather than spend that kind of money and ways to spy on the letter carrier, someone in upper management should have suggested the idea that most of the United States Postal Service competitors have, which is continuous visibility of parcels. A idea that can make the United States Postal Service prove to their customers and competitors, that the United States Postal Service can provide the same service if not better than the other agencies. Currently the United States Postal Service cannot show the time of delivery of any package until the letter carrier returns to the office and downloads the information into the system. Also batteries on the scanners fail and data is lost as well as the cost of a scanner brought to the letter carrier to be replaced. Instead of a GPS in every truck it would wise to spend revenue on something the United States Postal Service can improve its operational needs and improve visibility for every parcel scanned. After all it is what the business side of customers wants to see. The United States Postal Service is established so that every citizen could have an affordable means to move packages, and letters and to ensure timely delivery of mail to each home is delivered. The Postal Service has tremendous business potential in the future, but Congress has to allow the United States Postal Service to use its own money in a businesslike fashion to get over the short term challenges,† NALC President Fredric Rolando said. With the ever-changing market the United States Postal Service must focus on the parcel side of business mailing, and ensure every interaction with its customers is a positive one. After all it is the United States Postal Service customers that can fix the revenue problem the service is having.

Play Critique of Cabaret

Cabaret takes place in the years 1929 to 1930 Berlin before Hitler’s appointment as chancellor. The play follows Cliff Bradshaw, an aspiring American writer, and Sally Bowles, a performer at the Kit Kat Klub and their friends through the trying times before the Nazis. The story shows the struggles of those torn between what they want, and what is acceptable and how blind some were to the problems staring them right in the face. In the words of the emcee: â€Å"Leave your troubles outside! So-life is disappointing?Forget it! In here, life is beautiful-the girls are beautiful-even the orchestra is beautiful! Willkommen im Cabaret! † As the story unfolds, we see how this blindness affects those who would rather not see. Cabaret is the first professional play that I have seen. I did not know what to expect and told myself that no matter what, to just make the most of it. There was no need, it was a truly captivating show that had me laughing and crying and dancing along the whole way through. I even talked a few of my friends into going so I could see it a second time.The story was easy to follow and I thought the characters, the costumes and the performance as a whole were good, but there were a few problems that I thought needed work. The first thing that caught me was, of course, the emcee, played by Lee Ernst. He immediately got my attention with his flamboyant costume and held it with his charismatic and energetic attitude. When he first came out on stage, he addressed the audience directly, asking us to leave our troubles outside and enjoy the wonders of the cabaret.It made me feel like I was actually sitting in the club, and not out in the audience of a play. Throughout the entire production he would pull us in and even brought audience members on stage to do a dance with him. He had an excellent ability of setting the mood for the audience and keeping us wanting more. The rest of the characters were also very well played and the actors did a g ood job of portraying their respective personalities. They were believable and real, and truly made me feel for them.The only one I thought was a little awkward in his role was Geoffrey Hemingway, who played Cliff. There were times in the play where he seemed to know his line, but didn’t quite use the right inflection, as if he knew the words, but forgot what his character was supposed to be feeling. Other than that, I think that the actors were great. The second thing that impressed me was how simple the sets were. There was usually only one or two pieces that told you where the scene was taking place, but along with the lighting and sound, it was easily put together and it worked very well.The one problem I had with it was during the play I was under the impression that the room with the couch was some kind of common room for the building, but while reading the study guide, found out that it was supposed to be Fraulein Schneider’s room. This confused me because I don ’t get why Fraulein Kost would be bringing her sailors through Fraulein Schneider’s room, but I guess they needed some place to show that part of the story.Also, there were times when there was just too much happening on stage and I got dizzy and confused as to what I should be paying attention to. Over all, I was impressed with their use of space and simplicity. Cabaret was performed on a thrust stage which also added to the feeling of unity and closeness between the performers and the audience. I think that in a play that is meant to make you feel like a part of the show, which Cabaret definitely is, this is important. It was one more way of pulling the audience in and making us â€Å"part† of the show.With this stage the action was happening within almost arm length of the front row and there was even a point at the beginning right before the show that actors were talking to the audience. It helped us relate more to the story then if they used a proscenium st age and told the story â€Å"at us†. Next, I think that the costumes were perfect, they did a wonderful job of depicting the many characters. They were sexy and scandalous for those at the Kit Kat Klub, yet did not hinder the actors from doing the many dance numbers, and showed the modesty and decency of characters like Fraulein Schneider.Along with the scenery, the costumes helped so there was no guess work as to where and when the story took place, the lifestyles lived by the various characters, their personalities and who they were as people. I have to add that after seeing the show, me and some of my friends, even one of the guys, wanted to dress up as dancers from the Kit Kat Klub for Halloween. I think they did a terrific job and instead of distracting, they made the story that much more entertaining, especially the guys in fishnets!Lastly, I thought all the singing and dancing really enhanced the show. I was worried that it would be hard to follow the story line with t hem singing parts of the script, but not at all. I think that it livened up the show and made scenes that would have been boring really great. One example of this was the scene where Fraulein Schneider sings â€Å"So What? †. It was a fun way of her character giving us a little history, without just going into a biography.Also, songs like â€Å"Two Ladies†, â€Å"Tomorrow Belongs To Me† and â€Å"If You Could See Her† express the feelings, viewpoints and ideas of the play in a manner that would have been much more difficult to do in conversation. All in all I thought it was a wonderful show and I think that everything worked well and flowed nicely. The few problems that I did have were minor and didn’t take away from the overall experience. The actors, director, and everyone else who had a part in this show should be proud, they made me truly enjoy myself and am looking forward to seeing more.

Speech on a english project Essays

Speech on a english project Essays Speech on a english project Essay Speech on a english project Essay One thing that I have been cooperative in is the marching band. Cooperation is the most important skill to have in band. It is needed to make all the formations to be in the correct shape. I also need cooperation with others so that we all watch the drum majors and stay in step, play at the right time, and do dynamics correctly. One of the last major aspect cooperation is used for in the marching band is agreeing on new ideas for what to do during the show. Cooperation is the key aspect for any marching event whether it is a football game or a competition. It is a important that we all watch the drum majors for many reasons. The drum majors direct the beat of the music and by watching them we can flow them and stay in step. We can also know when to start and stop playing at the proper times. Lastly the the drum majors show us when we have to play major dynamics. Dynamics are the louds and softs played in the music. Without the drum majors the cooperation in the band would be much harder to control. Another important aspect need with cooperation for marching band is to get into the correct formations. It is everybodys Job in the marching band to be in the right lace at the right time. If one person is out of place the whole formation looks wrong, which is why cooperation with the other band members is so vital in this sport. The last major reason cooperation is necessary for the band is coming up with new ideas to do during the show. If the band is standing in a formation for a little while we need to do a visual. This involves the members agreeing on an idea and making sure it is practical idea. After it gets approved it is required that everybody learns the move and can preform it with the right technique. This is sometimes very ifficult because of one group of members doing one thing and other doing nothing, then they both switch what they are doing. I believe that cooperation is the most important aspect and characteristic needed for marching band. Watching the drum majors for playing the music at the right times, staying in step, and doing correct dynamics is important. Agreeing with other band members on the new ideas for the marching show. One of the most important things of all is getting to the proper formation at the right times for the entire show. Speech on a english project By SirCeasar

William Blake - Visionary Pre-Romantic Poet, Printer and Artist

William Blake - Visionary Pre-Romantic Poet, Printer and Artist William Blake was born in London in 1757, one of six children of a hosiery merchant. He was an imaginative child, â€Å"different† from the beginning, so he was not sent to school, but educated at home. He talked of visionary experiences from a very early age: at 10, he saw a tree filled with angels when he was wandering the countryside just outside town. He later claimed to have read Milton as a child and he began writing â€Å"Poetical Sketches† at 13. He was also interested in painting and drawing in childhood, but his parents could not afford art school, so he was apprenticed to an engraver at the age of 14. Blakes Training as an Artist The engraver to whom Blake was apprenticed was James Basire, who had made engravings of the work of Reynolds and Hogarth and was official engraver to the Society of Antiquaries. He sent Blake to draw the tombs and monuments at Westminster Abbey, a task which brought him to his lifelong love of Gothic art. When his 7-year apprenticeship was complete, Blake entered the Royal Academy, but did not stay long, and continued to support himself making engraved book illustrations. His Academy teachers urged him to adopt a simpler, less extravagant style, but Blake was enamored of grand historical paintings and ancient ballads. Blakes Illuminated Printing In 1782, William Blake married Catherine Boucher, an illiterate farmer’s daughter. He taught her reading and writing and draftsmanship, and she later assisted him in creating his illuminated books. He also taught drawing, painting and engraving to his beloved younger brother Robert. William was present when Robert died in 1787; he said that he saw his soul rise through the ceiling at death, that Robert’s spirit continued to visit him afterwards, and that one of these night visits inspired his illuminated book printing, combining poem text and engraved illustration on a single copper plate and hand-coloring the prints. Blakes Early Poems The first collection of poems William Blake published was Poetical Sketches in 1783 - clearly the work of a young apprentice poet, with its odes to the four seasons, an imitation of Spenser, historical prologues and songs. His most loved collections were next, the paired Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794), both published as handmade illuminated books. After the upheaval of the French Revolution his work became more political and allegorical, protesting and satirizing war and tyranny in books like America, a Prophecy (1793), Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793) and Europe, a Prophecy (1794). Blake as Outsider and Mythmaker Blake was definitely outside the mainstream of art and poetry in his day, and his prophetic illustrated works did not garner much public recognition. He was usually able to make his living illustrating the works of others, but his fortunes declined as he devoted himself to his own ideas and art rather than to what was fashionable in 18th century London. He had a few patrons, whose commissions enabled him to study the classics and develop his personal mythology for his great visionary epics: The First Book of Urizen (1794), Milton (1804-08), Vala, or The Four Zoas (1797; rewritten after 1800), and Jerusalem (1804-20). Blakes Later Life Blake lived the last years of his life in obscure poverty, relieved only a little by the admiration and patronage of a group of younger painters known as â€Å"The Ancients.† William Blake fell ill and died in 1827. His last drawing was a portrait of his wife Catherine, drawn on his deathbed. Books by William Blake Blake: Songs of Innocence and Experience (facsimile edition with introduction by Richard Holmes, Tate Publishing, 2007)Songs of Innocence and of Experience (CD-ROM edition, pages embellished with pop-up commentary and annotations, narrated by Stuart Curran, Octavo, 2003)William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books (reproductions from the Blake Trust, with introduction by David Bindman, Thames Hudson, W.W. Norton Co., 2001)The Complete Poetry Prose of William Blake (ed. David Erdman, with commentary by Harold Bloom, revised edition, Anchor, 1997)Blake’s Illustrations for the Book of Job (Dover Publications, 1995)The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: A Facsimile in Full Color (Dover Publications reprint, 1994)

Synoptic Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Synoptic Problem - Essay Example in terms of the birth of Jesus, his life, ministry, death and resurrection (Linnemann 43). However, some people claim that since the three gospels are similar, the authors must have used each other’s gospels, or possible another common source. According to Hayes (20), the similarities in the three gospels are many and close including the material presented, as well as a wording of texts. For this reason, some form of literary dependence has been assumed where some believe that one author copied texts that were previously written by someone else. According to Griesbach hypothesis, the canonical order in which the gospels were written was Matthew, Luke, and Mark. Thus, the gospel of Matthew was written first, and then Luke; hence, Luke used the gospel of Matthew as his source to write his gospel. This hypothesis attempted to explain the unique features of the gospel of Luke and why the gospel was written. Also, this hypothesis states that Mark used both Matthew, as well as Luke as sources for his own gospel. Luke was a well educated man whose primary language was Greek, but also studied Latin and could speak quite well. For this reason, Luke was able to obtain a copy of Mark’s gospel in Latin, which explains the similarity between Mark’s gospels and Luke’s gospel. However, there are some minor agreements of about 6% between Matthew and Luke that are not found in Mark, which shows that they did not come into Luke’s Gospel through Mark (Linnemann 45). The Griesbach hypothesis is a solution to the synoptic problem in which the gospel of Matthew was written first, and Luke used it to write his gospel. Luke is said to have dismantled collections of periscopes from Matthew and placed some of them in other contexts. This shows that, since Matthew was the first gospel, Luke borrowed some material from him, which Mark did not use (Hayes 22). How Luke used Matthew as a source for

Listening skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Listening skills - Essay Example The two most difficult areas where I was not able to focus on core issues were classroom lectures and my interaction with my peer group in the college. So I had tried applying three techniques: asking questions; focusing on content; and using the gap between the speech of lecturer and rate of my thoughts. The surrounding chosen were classroom where participants are students and lecturer at a daytime lecture. The other place chosen was the cafeteria where I normally interact with my peer group during class breaks. The classroom lecture by XX was specially chosen because he teaches social science but has irritating habit of lapsing into silence and using lot of hand gestures. I get distracted when my chain of thoughts and focus is broken by silence and I often find myself going off track. Moreover the excessive hand gestures tend to be funny and sometimes downright confusing which make me forget everything! So learning becomes difficult, resulting in low grade. Cafeteria is another area where it is most convenient to interact with peer and seniors to get important tips and gain tacit knowledge from their experience. I have always had problems in focusing on people and content as I easily get distracted by minor inconsequential acts in the surrounding. As such, cafeteria was hugely distracting because of the crowd, noise and tempting smell of food. But it was also the only place where it is easy to interact with seniors and other peer group. So communicating effectively during afternoon tea with seniors was really challenging. Asking questions in the classroom was very successful because it helped me to be alert and use questions to clear doubts and concepts. I also found that this technique helped me to get attentions of not only the lecturer but also other students where my image as student considerably improves and gave me impetus to become more conscientious student.