Alex Alampi Jr. essays

Alex Alampi Jr. essays Alex Alampi Jr., a watercolor artist from Gloucester County, New Jersey, features the people of the Mid-Atlantic region. "Working Portraits," as he refers to them, are images reminiscent of a simpler time. Although Alex enjoys painting a wide variety of subjects from the Delaware Bay region and the pastoral countryside where he grew up, his inspiration comes from the people; those individuals who still make a living from the land and waterways in the traditional method of their forefathers. Preserving this timeless way of life is the essence of his art. A professional artist since 1993, Alex has received many awards for his realistic, transparent watercolors. The past two years he exhibited in the Tidewater Gallery of Easton, Maryland for the Annual Waterfowl Festival. He is an artist member of the American Society of Marine Artists and a member of the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association in Philadelphia, PA. His artwork is in private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. Being from New England, Ive always been a fan of lighthouses, because theyre all over the coasts of the region. But when I think of lighthouses, I dont normally think of the New Jersey bays and coastline. However, after seeing some of Alampis work, I feel as though I have already been there and seen them. He captures the shape and environment of the lighthouse and its surrounding so well, it is as though Im looking out a window rather then at a watercolor painting. ...

Famous Christmas Quotes

Famous Christmas Quotes There is something about Christmas that makes everyone feel spirited, happy, and excited. Christmas brings out the child within. The festive air is contagious; even the most despairing soul cannot help but feel enthused by the vibrancy of the season. Famous Christmas Quotes Happy holidays! Enjoy your eggnog while you read these famous Christmas quotes. Deborah WhippLike snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance each beautiful, unique and too soon gone. Mary Ellen ChaseChristmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. John Greenleaf WhittierFor somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through,The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. Charles DickensI will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Janice MaeditereChristmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. W. J. CameronChristmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority. Henry Wadsworth LongfellowI heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men! Shirley TempleI stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph. Walter Scott, Sr.Heap on the wood! the wind is chill;But let it whistle as it will,Well keep our Christmas merry still. Helen KellerThe only blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart. Norman Vincent PealeChristmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Alexander SmithChristmas is the day that holds all time together. Hamilton Wright MabiBlessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. Christina G. RossettiLove came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign. Calvin CoolidgeChristmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Managing Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing Information - Essay Example Leibold et al. (2002) assert that during last three decades the world has gone through the important turning period in its economic, political and social history, which is related to the increasing appreciation of new values, such as openness, freedom, interdependency, networking and collaboration. It is accompanied by the acceleration of technological changes and impetuous development of computer and electronic communications. In the organisational context these processes entailed significant shifts in strategic management thinking and implementations: from information to knowledge and wisdom; from bureaucracies to networks; from training / development to learning; from local / national to transnational / global and meta-national; from competitive to collaborative thinking; from single and multi-connective relationships to bio-corporate relationships (Leibold et al. 2002: p.14). All these changes clearly reveal that the current era of the global economy is primarily based on knowled ge and intellectual assets rather than on material and financial assets. This era is often called New Economy or Knowledge Economy (Drucker 1994; Davenport & Prusak 1998), where knowledge is considered as a key organisational asset, which ensures sustainable competitive advantages for companies (Alavi & Leidner 2001). Companies in its turn also represent a new form of organisations, which exploit specific organisational structures and new information technologies, and base their business upon a development of core competencies through knowledge and expertise sharing and organisational learning. This paper is aimed to discuss modern concepts and approaches related to management of knowledge in organisations, and critically assess the role of Knowledge Management in creation of sustainable competitive advantages of enterprises. 3.0 Key Findings 3.1 Supporting Knowledge Management Understanding Knowledge in Organisations Knowledge in organisations is considered as â€Å"any text, fact , example, event, rule, hypothesis, or model that increases understanding or performance in a domain or discipline† (Liebowitz & Beckman 1998: p.49). Another useful definition of knowledge is â€Å"a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insights that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. In organisations, it often becomes embedded not only in documents and repositories but also in organizational routines, processes, practices, and norms† (Davenport & Prusak 1998: p.5). Allee (1997: p.62) explains that when information is involved in the larger context of meaning, when it is analysed and linked with other information, when it is referred to existing patterns, social and cultural biases and interpretations – then it becomes knowledge. So, evidently, knowledge can be organised and classified, having the properties of an object. At the same time, â€Å"knowledge can be viewed as a process of transformation through creation, adaptation, enhancement and application† (Allee 1997: p. 47). Or, in other words, â€Å"knowledge is the process of knowing, a reflexive process that takes data and information, in a social context, mixes the ingredients and factors [experience, judgment, common sense, rules of thumb, values and beliefs, basic truths, context, best practices, emotions, desires] to generate new data, information, and/or knowledge†

PACS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PACS - Essay Example A PACS consists of at least one or more image acquisition devices (like Computed Tomography Scanners, Ultrasound Scanners, MRI), communication network, a long term storage device and an image review and/or post processing workstation, in other words PACS is used to run medical digital images. All these components enable following processes: image acquisition, image  communication, image storage, image display and image processing. All these processes act as pathways for PACS to improve the quality of diagnosis, extend the reach of services of an expert radiologist, higher efficiency and cost savings (Reiner and Siegel, 2002, 3). Since healthcare is a safety as well as security intense domain, these parameters cannot be compromised. Hence saving and archiving medical images without loosing quality (or information) has been a compelling need of the users of various users dealing with medical images. This concern of the clinicians have been appropriately addressed by a universal standard pertaining to digital medical imaging, this standard is termed as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (popularly called DICOM). DICOM provides all the tools required for diagnostically correct processing and presentation of medical imaging data (Pianykh). DICOM takes care of data transfer, storage and display protocol that contains sets of standards. DICOM incorporates the following processes: Information Management System  Storage, Query/Retrieve,   Study Component, Query/Retrieve, Results Management, Print Management, Media Exchange. The DICOM Standard takes care of levels of the ISO OSI network model and enables the exchange of information on interchange media. DICOM currently defines an upper layer protocol (ULP) that is used over TCP/IP (independent of the physical network), messages, services, information objects and an association negotiation mechanism. These definitions ensure that any two implementations of a compatible set of services and

A critical assessment of 2 pieces of drama around the theme of Space Essay Example for Free

A critical assessment of 2 pieces of drama around the theme of Space Essay In this essay I will be writing about how I performed to pieces of improvised drama based around the subject of space. One of the pieces had to be done in a realistic style and the other an abstract. Initial Reaction to Stimulus When we were first told that are stimulus would be space, we all sat down I and had what could be called a brain storming session. This was to consider how such a broad subject could be perceived in two pieces of drama. First of all we had to consider how space could be identified. There are many kinds of space, which can be made into forms of drama, and we would need to select one that could produce the most gripping. For this we identified just how space could be used, and came up with the following ideas for realistic or abstract piece (we could the ideas into abstract drama later): Space, as in the final frontier, could be used to great effect. Space and the entire notion of the great beyond could be used. Maybe having characters interacting with character not of this planet, maybe contrasting views or morals. Maybe having the outsider coming to earth from space. Using space in this way opens the door to all sorts of personification of space using a science fiction spin. This could be done in some sort of Star Trek, thought provoking scene involving space. Personal space, or the lack of it. For a realistic piece, maybe something to do with the prison system or freedom infringements. If we set it in a cell (an area where there is little space), not only would there be a direct physical relation to space but also the characters will be able to show space in there speech and movements. Taking this idea further, we could show how the lack of space mentally. Instead of the characters talking about space directly, it could be implied indirectly by their psychological flaws. These psychological flaws would have been caused by space, either too much of it or not enough. These are all ideas in their early stages and all need developing. But even at the early stage, the idea of psychological flaws caused by space was very appealing. For the abstract piece of drama, these initial ideas will have to be developed in an entirely different way. It will need other dramatic techniques to fit the criteria A surreal piece would allow us to incorporate more style and personalization in to piece. When thinking about abstract and surrealism in drama, the first thing that comes into my head is to have situation of drama instead of a continuous story. This would allow us to show the subject matter, space, in a number of different ways. Freeze-frames could be used while each character explains information about them and their situation (character monologues). This would show to the audience character depth that could not be seen in just a one short scene. As for the content of this abstract piece, I had some ideas of separate pieces revolving around the subject space. This would allow us to put a lot of imagination in each piece without needing to worry about what would follow it. Groups For the first piece I worked with the following people: Alain Branson Stuart Mulrany Chris Jones Hussian Kerian For the second piece, we decided to split up and work with different. The main reason for this was to keep all the drama fresh with fresh ideas. Although we thought that we were capable of producing another piece drama, tensions were building in the group and we agreed to spilt. For the second piece I worked with: Alain Branson Plot The first piece we worked on had a plot that I think was well structured. It allowed character depth and development. The first two lessons after we formed are group were spent on structuring a plot which could show off are acting talents and incorporate the idea of space. First we decided that it should be based around a main character. An idea that has always interested me was personifying a character subconscious. This might sound a little far fetched but it would give the character more substance and the audience something to relate to. This would not be his conscious or a good or bad angel but a version of himself that is not usually seen. With that starting point we went ahead and considered how the space theme would fit into this idea. We thought a family clash about space would put this character in the right frame to create good drama around him. This could be mirrored with a character that is in a way opposite him. We all thought that it would be a good idea to have a visual conscious for him like with the other character. This would allows us to show the differences in these characters and it would fit in with the number of people in are group. How these conscious would look actually on stage would be greatly influenced by Stuart, who put in a lot to the actual conscious theme. Taking all this we constructed a story which we split up into scenes. This is the first draft of the scenes and what they would contain: Scene 1: This scene would contain an argument between the main character and his Dad. It has to be his Dad because I do not believe any of us could pull of a convincing woman. This argument would be about space, and the childs lack of it. This will end in the character storming out to see his friend. This will show the trouble space has already caused. This will be set in the house. Scene 2: This would be an interlude where the audience gets some in sight into the relationship between him and his conscience. It will be the main character complaining to himself with the conscience talking around him. This will show how the character relates to something, which in essence, him cannot see or hear. This will be set in the walk between his house and the park. Scene 3: This will be conversation between the main character and what appears to be his opposite. This conversation will uncover some back round information about each character and will explain their personality faults. It will also set up the events for the next scene that involves criminal activity brought on by conversation. This will show the parallels between two characters who see and treat space in different ways and how it has effected them. This will be set in a peaceful place, a park Scene 4: In this scene the two main characters will get involved in major arson. This will result in an explosion off stage and the two running off. This shows what space problems can result in. This will be set in the other end of the park. Scene 5: This will be like the first scene, with an argument between the Dad and the main character. This will be a lot fiercer than the first and will increase in tension as it progresses. This is the finale of the drama and will bring out all the aspects of space we have been trying to portray. This will be set back in the house. In terms of evaluating the plot, I am proud of it. I played a big part in crafting it and personally I feel happy with it. Problems with it may be finding enough for the consciences to say and do since they are simply other version of the characters that already present. Casting We found casting very difficult, particularly a part for Hussian. First of all, we thought it would be best if he had the role of the Dad. But we found a stern sort of character wasnt suited for him. We then had the idea of changing the Dad to a Mum. But Hussian playing a woman in my opinion, and on previous acting experience, seems to be type cast and contrary to some people opinion he was cast in a role that would highlight his acting talent. The other characters were relatively easy to cast. Here was the final cast list: Leigh Turner The Dad Alain Branson Gary (the main character) Stuart Mulrany Gary conscience Chris Jones Damien (the character opposite to Gary) Hussian Kerian Damien conscience Set Above is the set we choose to use. It is fairly basic with the stage being split into three sections, one representing the house, one the park and the other the journey in between. The props were also very simple, with a table and chairs representing the house interior and a bench representing the park. Lighting Area of lighting for scenes 1 and 5 Area of lighting for scenes 2, 3, and 4 Costumes The costumes we used were authentic of the parts we played. I played the Dad, so I wore clothes that represented a Dad. I just wore a black T-shirt and jeans, which is what my Dad would wear. Gary wore typical teenage clothes, a bit scurfy to help show the difference between him and Damien. Damien will also were typical teenage clothes, but nothing like Garys. The consciences wore suits. This would show how they different from the other characters and yet still an important part of the drama. We would also be able to visual show aspects of there personality. This means Garys conscious is good, so he wore a white suit and Damiens conscious a black suit. Rehearsals Rehearsal started well with Alain and myself going though the first argument many times. The first argument we thought needed to build in aggression as it went on. We found this hard at the beginning because we found that we got very angry very quickly and needed to take it slower. This was a small problem and was easily overcome. After we had the basic of this scene, we moved on to the bench scene. This scene was hard to rehearse, and certain members of the cast did not help. Small arguments in the group made rehearsing slow and grinding. Out of all scenes, this one was the one that never really was rehearsed to maximum affect. Chris and Stuart, to major parts in this scene, had moments of inspiration that helped give a fuller picture of are story. About half way though the rehearsal time the group came to a discussion that the story needed a more conclusive ending. We needed to change the story and keep the scenes the same so it would not interrupt rehearsals too much. We decided that in scene 4 that Gary would die in the explosion and the final argument would be between Damien and the Dad about the blame. This would show the consequences of space and add to the drama. The explosion would be a red strobe light operated of stage and Damien and Gary would be blown on stage, with only Damien getting up and running any. This means we would have to put in new spin on the final argument so Damien would fit into the ending. We decided that if Damien were to come to see the Dad so it would be Damien trying to explain himself. This would allow Chris to show of his talent (which may not get shown in previous scenes) and allow me to say something different to a different person. The more rehearsal went on, the more we touched up the scene. Stuarts contribution to the way consciences move and talk was a big help. Hussian, Alain and Chriss determination helped finish the scenes kept it all going. Still, I dont think we really got the park scene nailed. Piece 2 After we changed groups, the first thing we did was to decide how to make this piece abstract and surreal. Most of these ideas were covered in the Initial Reaction to the Stimulus. Sam and Alain played a major part in deciding how the play would actually work. We wanted to consider all the ways we could show space in a surreal way so this took quite a bit of time. Instead of just repeating what I said at the beginning the essay, basically we decided to have pieces of drama (with monologues and freeze frames) linked by a tableaux. Admittedly, I would have liked to try something a bit more, well adventurous but this seemed to fit the bill and with the right characterization would create gripping drama. The pieces of drama would involve to 2 conflicting character. The third person in the group would give a monologue while the others are in a freeze frame. After this the characters would return to a platform at the back of the stage and do a tableau reflecting what has just happened. There were 4 pieces if drama and to save confusion, we named the characters with one name, no matter what scene there in. Alain Branson Tony (Gangster, Brother, Teacher) Sam Jordan Harry (Gangster, Dad, Pupil) Leigh Turner Jack (Barman, Brother, Son) Scene 1: Jack is arguing with his Dad (Harry) about space. Jack is child that has had his own way most of his and it is only recently that his Dad had not been allowing him to go out. This sparked the argument. His dad is not over protective, but wants the best for his son. Jack is a typical teenager that is over emotional and arrogant. Sam played the Dad with depth and sternness, just like a real Dad and dominated the scene. I think I played the teenager well, remembering my constant arguing with my folks. The problems with playing a teenager is that in and argument they have limited vocabulary and generally say the same thing over and over. Anyway, I think this was a strong scene that set the standard for the rest of the play. Scene 2: Harry (a schoolboy) is arguing with his teacher (Mr. Tony) about a detention. Harry has been having a few family problems at home and this has crossed over into his schoolwork. This has lead to Mr. Tony having to give him a detention. The argument consisted of Harry trying to explain the situation to the teacher. Sam once again pulled of a very good portrayal of character, but due to the nature of the role was not the dominant character. Alain played an excellent teacher character, really showing talent a presence on stage. Once again, teachers are stubborn so not repeating yourself would have been hard, but Alain was very believable. Scene 3: Tony starts an argument with this brother, Jack. This is over how Jack gets more space and time off of their dad. This is the first time they have had an argument like this one and Tony is unsure how his brother will react. This leads to an argument, which neither of them gain the upper hand until the end, where Jack hits Tony. Alain was very convincing as the somewhat confused Tony, adjusting to the tone of the argument accordingly. I was not so good. I had trouble adapting to the level of aggression I should use in the argument. Scene 4: Two rival gangster have an argument over, wait for it, space and end up shooting each other. The two have a violent history and this is the final straw. The initial meeting takes place in a bar where Tony is enjoy a drink with barman. Harry walks in and the argument between the two eventually leads then to a shot out. Once again Sam and Gary where very convincing drawing on there past experience of gangster roles. I really took a minor part in this scene, letting the gangster create the drama. I did show a friendship with Tony, but this was short lived and explored. This I think was the weakest of the 4 scene and was performed for the wrong reasons (i.e. they were both involved in gangster related drama during the writing stage). Set As you can see, we used a very Brecht set, with very few props to speak of. This minimalist stage meant we had more space for acting and movement. Brecht played a part in designing the stage because we all felt that a performance like this one needed a strong style so it separates it from other abstract pieces. Special lighting was not needed, so full house lights were used. Costumes We all decided to wear suits in all the pieces. This would make it more abstract and they a very versatile to the parts we played (teacher, gangster etc.) Rehearsals We had many rehearsals, which we managed to fit into a very short time space. We went through every scene in order constantly with very little variation. I would like to put a lot more detail into this but there was little else we did. We looked at the tableaux and changed them a few times till they represented each scene perfectly. The monologues were rehearsals a lot till everybody knew what everybody what going to say. Evaluation (of both) Both the performances went very well and very few mistakes. In comparison the two piece are different but with one on going theme. This is that they all show a single characters problem with space. This allowed us to show how different people can react to space. This, however, lead to some of are character sounding the same. I terms of actual work, I think the last group I worked was dedicated than the first and wanted to get the work done more. As is said earlier, some scenes in the first performance I would have liked to go over a few more times. This I think can be related to the size of groups. Think you can get more work done if there is a smaller number in your group. You can concentrate more and work more in a complete group. In terms of plot, I think are first piece was better. This is not that the second piece had no plot, but I think the first performance was more gripping and kept attention better.

Love in Andrew Marvell in To His Coy Mistress and John Donnes The Sunn

Love in Andrew Marvell in To His Coy Mistress and John Donne's The Sunne Rising These two poems, "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Sunne Rising" are similar poems, they are both metaphysical (metaphysical means more than physical) poems written around Shakespeare's time. The main theme of these poems is the same; it is romance and the love of a woman. Yet the two poets have very different opinions on these two things. Within both poems are arguments, in "To His Coy Mistress" it is with the woman and in "The Sunne Rising" it is with the sun. "The Sunne Rising" is about a mans argument with the sun over how important it is compared to his woman. "To his Coy Mistress" is about a man trying to seduce the woman. The main theme of the two poems is love. There are other themes in the poems which are linked to love, in "To his Coy Mistress" the theme time and how it is passing by is introduced> The three stanzas develop the theme, in the first stanza the narrator in the poem talks about how they could be together forever, "Till the conversion of the Jews" this is saying how they have all the time in the world so they can take it slow, in the second stanza time speeds up, "The grave's a fine and private place, But none, I think do there embrace." This means that he will not be able to love her when she is dead and alone. In the third stanza the man is saying they can't stop time, they should take things fast and make time try and keep up with them. "The Sunne Rising" has a very different theme, it is the sun and the world, instead of the argument being with the woman about them being together, in "The Sunne Rising" it is about how the sun think... ...entre is, these walls, thy sphere." This is saying that if you shine here sun you are shining on my whole world, this room is my world and my woman is the centre of it. This shows how Donne uses imagery to illustrate the mans love for the woman and how he feels about her. This shows how both writers feel that imagery is a good way to get feelings across within a progressing argument. These two poems have similarities in structure, poetic voice, use of imagery, tone and in the use of themes. Yet both poems also have difference in these same areas. In "The Sunne Rising" he already has his woman and in "To his Coy Mistress" he is trying to seduce the woman. I believe "The Sunne Rising" by John Donne was the more successful poem because I thought the author got the mans feelings for the woman across to the reader better.

Purpose of a SWOT Analysis Essay

Every business to include the largest ones that control their areas of industry–has a limited supply of manpower, production capacity and capital. Evaluating the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats helps it determine how to allocate these resources in a manner that will result in the highest possible potential for revenue growth and profitability. The management team examines where the company can compete most effectively. The company more times than not discovers competitive strengths that have not been fully utilized in the past in addition to critical areas that needs to be improved in order for the business to more effectively compete. A realistic assessment also prevents strategic blunders like entering a market with products that are clearly inferior to what well-entrenched competitors are offering. Continuous improvement in all areas of a company’s operations is an important aspect of staying ahead of competitors. Weaknesses and opportunities can–and must–be turned into future strengths. PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 3 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis is a necessary, straightforward standard that assists in direction and serves as a foundation for the development of business’s marketing strategy. It brings about this process through assessment of the organization’s strengths (what it can do) and weaknesses (what it cannot do) in addition to opportunities (potential favorable conditions for the company) and threats (potential unfavorable conditions for it). SWOT analysis is also an important step in the planning process but sometimes its value is often minimized in spite of how simple it is in creating it. The role of SWOT analysis is to take the information from the environmental analysis and separate it into internal issues (strengths and weaknesses) and external issues (opportunities and threats). Once this is completed, SWOT analysis determines if the information indicates something that will assist a business in meeting its objectives (a strength or opportunity), or if it identifies an obstacle that must be overcome or minimized to achieve desired results (weakness or threat). The purpose of a SWOT analysis is to get managers into the mindset and thinking about everything that could possibly be an impact to the success and failure of a new project. Failing to acknowledge an essential strength, weakness, opportunity or threat could and usually does lead to terrible management decisions. Take for example, a software company that might hold a patent for a new computer processor failed to recognize a threat from its competitors who were also developing comparable products, it might overestimate conceivable sales of its new processor and assume debt to finance the growth of its project only to notice down the line that the company’s promising product will not make enough money to make a profit or even pay off the assumed debt. A SWOT analysis could have helped this company’s management avoid expensive mistakes early on and alerted them to which products were more likely to succeed. PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 4 With SWOT’s origins dating back to the 1960s with Albert Humphrey, it is as useful now as it was back then. Businesses utilize the process in two different ways-as an easy icebreaker assisting individuals come together to â€Å"kick off† strategy development or as a more serious strategy tool. A great SWOT analysis case study is Starbuck’s Coffee. By 2010, the company was losing money and had a major drop in its stock price. Its stock price had dropped to around $10 in 2009 from its high of $35 a few years earlier. The economic crisis throughout 2008 and 2009 really hit Starbucks’ stock price hard (â€Å"SBUX Basic Chart | Starbucks Corporation Stock – Yahoo! Finance,† 2011). Even though Starbucks’ stock price took a huge hit, its net revenues did not. Starbucks’ profits went from $7. 8 billion in 2006, to $10. 4 billion in 2008, down to $9. 8 billion in 2009, and back up to $10. 7 billion in 2011 (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). The amazing thing here is that the company endured an economic crisis and still come out stronger than when its stock price was at its highest. Lauren Roby (2011) performed a well researched SWOT analysis of Starbucks covering this time frame and identified the following strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths: #1: Market leader in the coffee industry including almost 17,000 stores as of the end of the 2010 (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). #2. Starbucks is recognized by customers worldwide due in part to its high quality products and consumer friendly environment. #3. Starbucks is on good footing financially. Its stock price might have fallen in the late 2000’s, but its profits barely took a hit (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). Weaknesses: PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 5 #1: One of Starbucks’ biggest weaknesses is what its customers have to pay for the product. McDonald’s uses Starbucks’ high price directly against the company in their attempts to lure customers away from the company and into the arches. #2: 75% of the company’s profits come from its coffee products and other specialty drinks (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). This means that when global coffee bean prices fluctuate, the company will take a direct hit every time the price of coffee rises. Opportunities: #1. International Markets. With Brazil being one if not the world’s largest coffee consumer in the world, it offers a huge market for Starbucks to enthusiastically enter and develop (Murphy, 2011). #2. Starbucks has joined forces with Tata coffee in India, which is the fifth largest exporter of coffee, to begin selling their coffee worldwide (Bose, 2011). This gives Starbucks more access to coffee. Threats: #1. Competition. One of Starbuck’s biggest competitors, McDonald’s, can open their McCafe brand beverages in current franchise stores globally to include Europe. This gives McDonald’s an upper hand on Starbucks who has to invest over $300,000 to open a brand new store in Europe while McDonald’s investment would run around $100,000 (Liu, 2009). If McDonald’s continues down this path, it could greatly reduce the geographic scope advantage that Starbucks currently has over McDonald’s. These days, It is not enough to just recognize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a business. In exercising a SWOT analysis it is essential to reduce or avert both PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 6 weaknesses and threats. Weaknesses should be viewed as something to be turned into strengths as threats should be turned into opportunities. Strengths and opportunities should be allied to optimize the business’s potential. Utilizing SWOT in this manner can help a company gain the leverage most so desperately need these days. (Ferrell, Hartline, Lucas, Luck, 1998).

Dunkin Donuts Marketing Plan Essay

Founded first as a restaurant called Open Kettle, it was later renamed to Dunkin Donuts in 1950 by William Rosenberg and Stephen So in Quincy, Massachusetts. Dunkin Donuts has become most famous for its donuts over the years, as well as their coffee. They have approximately 3,000 restaurants in the US and around the world, and sell 2.5 million donuts every day. Dunkin Donuts has evolved into one of Forbes magazine â€Å"Top 10 Global Fast-Food Chains†, and tops the lists of other noted industry websites and magazines. Recently, Dunkin Donuts has changed the way they want customers to think about them by incorporating the tag line â€Å"America Runs On Dunkin†, and adding new menu items, to their marketing strategy. This tag line was introduced to focus on their coffee being a cheaper, down home alternative to the more expensive competitor, Starbucks. This tagline focuses on the fact that Dunkin Donuts is a broader â€Å"beverage company† and gains most of it†™s profits from beverages. Read more: How many words in a 10-minute speech. A.Market Description While all of the food choices and beverage choices offered at Dunkin Donuts can appeal to any age, we feel it’s best to focus on college students at the University of Iowa right now. College students are known for pulling â€Å"all-nighters† to cram for their hardest midterm the next morning, or to write their 20-page research paper the night before it’s due. What’s more appealing than being able to get their cup of coffee, or favorite beverage to help stay awake than from Dunkin Donuts? Another reason we want to focus on targeting college students is because they are known to have unique schedules. They eat at odd times of the day, and are also looking for a range of snack foods, rather than full meals, to satisfy their cravings. There are currently no Dunkin Donut franchises on campus, but there was one just built in Coralville (neighboring town, 10 minute drive to the DD). This Dunkin Donuts only has a smaller target market, since it is not right in the college town and only students who have cars can travel to get their drinks and snacks. We want to integrate our franchise into one of the main buildings on campus to show students that purchasing our coffee is a better option; it is more affordable, easily accessible and offers a range of menu choices, something that competitors don’t do as well today. B.Benefits and Product Features The Iowa campus has offers many benefits of why Dunkin Donuts should open a store here. One of the key benefits that Dunkin Donuts offers is the diverse set of menu offerings. They have created an appealing menu for any time of year. For example, Dunkin’s coffee is served hot, frozen, or iced, every day of the year. Another key benefit that would help Dunkin Donuts be successful in Iowa City is the affordability. Dunkin Donuts is known to have different promotions going on that makes their products cheaper, and even when their promos aren’t happening, their coffee is still more affordable than Starbucks’s coffee (also located on campus). Now I want to talk about some of Dunkin Donut’s products. Product features are what sets your company apart from another, and it is important to point out that Dunkin Donuts has a wide variety of products. They serve hot, iced, frozen, and at home brewing products so that their products appeal to every type of customer. On the food side of products, there are both breakfast sandwiches and bakery sandwiches, bakery cooked goods, and even hash browns and oatmeal. Dunkin Donuts features many different products, which makes it a good place for any consumer to take their business. C.Product Review Dunkin Donuts provides a wide range of beverages and food items on their menu. First off, their beverages range from hot beverages, to iced beverages, to frozen beverages, and even to at home brewing beverages. In the humid, hot summers in Iowa City, students will be able to purchase their iced coffee or iced tea to cool off before class. In the freezing cold winters, students can warm up by purchasing their large latte or warm apple cider. If consumers in Iowa City are not coffee drinkers, they are able to opt to frozen â€Å"coolattas† in a variety of fruit flavors. Dunkin Donuts also offers a wide variety of bakery items and sandwiches on their menu. The bakery items are sure to capture any consumers taste cravings by offering their famous donuts, bagels, muffins, hash browns, and more. The sandwiches on the menu can be for breakfast, or lunch sandwiches. On the sandwiches, you can choose if you want your meat to be bacon, sausage, ham, Angus steak, or turkey sausage. They are served on any type of bakery item included on their menu. This shows there are so many options for sandwiches, and even ranging to a few vegan sandwiches with just eggs or spinach. As for lunch sandwiches, you can choose from ham, turkey, grilled cheese, chicken salad, chicken, and tuna salad. This proves that Dunkin Donuts will satisfy any college student’s food craving by appealing to everyone’s appetite and drink needs. D.Competitive Review On campus, competition is fierce for student business. The biggest competition in Iowa City is Starbucks. Starbucks appeals to students in the area because of their well-known, national brand name. They like to appeal to consumers by offering a premium blend of coffees, as well as smoothies, teas, and bakery items. Also, Starbucks is a known hotspot with free wireless Internet, which tends to bring in the typical college student looking for a place to study. On the other hand, Iowa City is well known for their local coffee shops. One of these locally owned competitors is The Java House. The Java House attracts older customers rather than students, but a good amount of students still take their business there. They are similar to any other coffee shop, offering different blends of coffees, as well as bakery items to eat. The Java House is known for their artwork and interesting atmosphere in their shops, which makes it stand out to a chain company. Two other local coffee shops are TSpoons and Capanna. They both attract a fair amount of students as well. Both of these shops offer students a refuge to study instead of going to the library and a good cup of joe, along with a quick snack. A last form of competition Dunkin Donuts would be competing with in Iowa City would be other fast food restaurants. Places like The Pita Pit, Jimmy Johns, and Which Wich all offer breakfast and lunch sandwiches for on the go college students. Jimmy John’s catch phrase is â€Å"Freaky Fast†, for example. When it comes to coffee and sandwiches, Iowa City has a good amount of competition in the area for Dunkin Donuts to compete with. III.SWOT Analysis A.Strengths Dunkin Donuts has many strengths in the way that they market their food and drinks. First, Dunkin Donuts has a wide variety of items for customers choose from. Not every coffee shop in the area has their range of drinks on their menu, as well as the amount of breakfast sandwiches and famous donuts on their menu. This aspect of Dunkin Donuts is a definite internal strength to help the company reach their objectives. Another strength Dunkin Donuts has is that they are a major global company. They have franchises in numerous other countries other than the United States, and most people around the world know the company’s name. This strength also helps the company be able to market on the television and signs on the street, which is a major advantage from competitors. Another strength is that there is strong brand loyalty within their customers. Just like their biggest competitor, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts has customers who love their service and products so much that they refuse to go elsewhere for their cup of coffee in the morning or snack in the afternoon. This sense of loyalty is what Dunkin Donuts has accomplished over the years and is a major marketing strength. B.Weakness Dunkin Donuts has a few internal weaknesses that have interfered with the company’s ability to reach their objectives. First: they have not developed into emerging economies. Introducing their franchises into emerging economies could make the company more profitable than they already are. A second weakness Dunkin Donuts has is limited market share growth due to increased competition from other sales in the industry. This limited market share growth shows that Dunkin Donuts is very competitive with others in the industry and is not growing their revenues as fast as others in the industry. One last weakness facing Dunkin Donuts is the struggles with franchise owners in different parts of the world. There have been numerous instances where Dunkin Donuts franchise owners have been sued by the company because of disagreements. These fights make the company look dysfunctional internally, and take their focus and dollars away from their customers. C.Opportunity Dunkin Donuts has many opportunities to make their company even more successful than it already is. One major opportunity Dunkin Donuts could do is introduce low calorie snacks to their menu. In recent years, consumers have started to feel the need to eat healthier and not eat at fast food restaurants as often as in past years. If Dunkin Donuts introduced a healthier side to their menu, they could gain many more customers. Another opportunity is to increase their market to newer countries and economies. The world is growing exponentially right now and a great thought to create more revenue would be to open franchises in these new, uprising countries. Another opportunity in today’s market to increase customers is to start using effective online marketing strategies. Life today is all about the cyber world, and almost every country around the world has access to the Internet or computers. As effective as television commercials and advertisements on billboards are, Dunkin Donuts could further their marketing plans by extending advertisements to cyber space. D.Threats In every market, there are external threats in the world that companies cannot control. One of the largest threats in the fast food world is the threat of customers moving to healthier ways of eating. The world has finally realized that greasy fries and sugary drinks are not going to keep you healthy. Dunkin Donuts has a fair amount of healthier options on their menu, but the majority of products are greasy, sugary, and calorie filled treats. If Dunkin Donuts realizes this threat, they could change their menu for the better to attract the health conscious customer. Another threat for this company is the recent increase in raw materials. Pricing is very important in a company, and with this increase in materials, the company has had to increase prices. This is not Dunkin Donut’s fault, but customers may see it in that way. Another huge threat is the constant competition from other cafes and local joints. In the Iowa City area, specifically, the number of local coffee shops outnumbers the large chain shops. Many consumers like the thought that they aren’t giving all their money to large franchises and prefer to take their business to the locally owned spots. If Dunkin Donuts finds ways to decrease these external threats, they could make their company even more successful than it already is. Strengths Wide range of products for consumers to choose from Global company Strong customer brand loyalty Opportunities Introduction of lower calorie menu Expand market to new countries and emerging economies Use of effective online marketing strategies Weaknesses Have not developed into emerging economies Limited market share growth due to competition Fights/suits with franchise owners Threats Trend of people eating healthier Increase in prices of raw materials makes menu prices higher Constant competition from local coffee and cafà © joints

Proved vs. Proven

Proved vs. Proven Proved vs. Proven Proved vs. Proven By Maeve Maddox Several readers have asked for clarification on the words proved and proven. Both are forms of the verb prove: â€Å"to demonstrate or establish as true.† As a regular transitive verb, prove has the following principal parts: prove (present) proved (simple past) have proved (past participle) proving (present participle) The form proven is an irregular past participle form. One can say either, He has proved his theory, or He has proven his theory. According the OED, proven is â€Å"the usual form [of the past participle] in Scottish English and also the preferred form in current North American English.† That’s not to say that it doesn’t appear in British publications: James Milner says that Manchester City have proven that they can win ugly The Daily Mail Here is a sampling from the Web. It’s not always possible to discern the country of origin: We’ve proved that we can’t be trusted with setting passwords. [Pope] Francis has proven to be a crowd favorite for many young people. Women have proved that they can win the race. Barry Beach has proven himself an asset to community, deserving of clemency Brandon High has proven to be the community’s leadership institute Quality early education has proven economic benefit for community The Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook advise against the use of proven as a past participle, but Paul Brians (Common Errors in English Usage) opines that, â€Å"For most purposes either form is a fine past participle of prove† Proven as an adjective preceding a noun is standard in both British and American usage: Five Proven Facts that Make Yoga Awesome This Politician is a Proven Liar Capaldi [the new Dr. Who] is a fine actor, who has a proven track record in comedy and drama To sum up: Proved is the past tense of the verb prove. Both proved and proven are are acceptable as past participle forms. British and some American style guides recommend proved as the only past participle, admitting of established set phrases like â€Å"innocent until proven guilty.† Proven as an adjective preceding a noun is standard usage in both British and American usage. Pronunciation note: Americans pronounce the adjective proven with the same â€Å"oo† vowel as prove: [PROOV-n]. British speakers pronounce proven with a long o: [PRO-vn] Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to KnowRunning Amok or Running Amuck?Testimony vs. Testimonial

The 11 Best Performing Arts Colleges in the US

The 11 Best Performing Arts Colleges in the US SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Attending a performing arts college is a big decision- you’re committing to focusing exclusively on your art for four years. Once you’ve made this choice, you need to find a school that'll allow you to accomplish your career goals. In order to help you find the right school for you, I’ve compiled a list of the best performing arts colleges in the US.Keep reading to see what these are! How Is "Performing Arts College" Defined for This List? This list includesschools that exclusively offer drama and dance degrees.Since music schools tend to differ dramatically (I’m so punny) from drama and dance schools, I’ve left themout of this article; if you want to read more about the best music schools in the US, here is place to find that information. Furthermore,I’ve focused on schools where drama and/or dance is a priority.These schools only offer performing arts degrees or have specialized performing arts schools at the larger university. Going to a performing arts college has many advantages for students. You will be surrounded by like-minded artists who will inspire you, help you with your creative pursuits, and also likely be your colleagues when you graduate.Additionally, you’ll be at a school that doesn’t view your art as a mere extracurricular activity. Althoughit's possible toget a performing arts degrees from other colleges,this list of best performing arts colleges is focused on students who know 100% they exclusively want to study acting or dance and are looking for an environment that fully supports them in their ambitions. How Did I Decide on These Top Performing Arts Colleges? Don’t ever take rankings of the top performing arts colleges as absolute fact- not even those from Backstage or The Hollywood Reporter. Instead, you should use these articles as a starting point for your own research.Whenever you look at a list of the best performing arts colleges, try to see how the rankings were determined. Here, I’ll explain how I came up with this unscientific list of schools.I started by limiting my search to schools that prioritize dance and drama by only offering performing arts degrees or by having a specialized program within the larger university. I then took the following three criteria into consideration: Ranking:I used a variety of ranking lists from respected industry sources such as Backstage and The Hollywood Reporter as a starting point for my research. On-Campus Off-Campus Extracurricular Opportunities:It’s important as a performer to have the chance to actually perform. Does the school provide opportunities? Do you have the option to intern off-campus with a local theatre or dance group? Can you study abroad at premier programs? Do you get to perform in an industry showcase? Notable Alumni:How many alumni have risen to the top of their fields? If there are a lot of notable alumni, the program they attended likely contributed to their success, either by providing them with superior skills or superior resources (such as internships, industry connections, etc.). I split this list into tiers instead of rankings since rankings are usually not that meaningful. Tier 1 schools are the cream-of-the-crop performing arts colleges; they provide students with the most extracurricular opportunities and have the longest lists of notable alumni.Tier 2 schools are still excellent but don’t have the same opportunities or as many notable alumni as the Tier 1 schools do. Note that not all of these schools are excellent for both dance and drama.Actually, some of these schools only offer a dance or a drama program.Within each school description, I’ve noted whether it’s a top school for dance, drama, or both. At Tier 1 schools, you can perform in first-rate productions. Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 1 We'll start our list with the Tier 1 schools, orthe best performing arts colleges in the country. The Juilliard School- Drama and Dance Always listed near the top of both drama and dance rankings,Juilliard boasts an unbelievably long list of notable alumni who altogether have won more than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26 Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts. The school is extremely exclusive, selecting only eight to 10 students for the BFA Acting Program, eight to 10 students for the MFA Acting Program, and about 24 students for the BFA Dance Program. Outside the classroom, the dance program holds 15 public performance each year, and the drama program puts on many plays and senior showcases in both New York and Los Angeles for industry professionals such as casting directors, agents, and managers. NYU Tisch School of the Arts- Drama and Dance Like Juilliard,NYU Tischis also always near the top of the rankingsfor both drama and dance. And for good reason: the school hasa long list of notable alumni, many of whom have performed on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and in movies and on TV. Tisch offers incredible extracurricular opportunities, such as dancing in the Jack Crystal in front of live audiences. The school takes advantage of its NYC environment by partnering drama students with professional acting studios where they canperform in a wide array of productions led by world-famous theatre artists and faculty. Tisch allows drama students to specialize in either Theatre or Musical Theatre. Carnegie Mellon University- Drama Carnegie Mellon is a drama powerhouse with a faculty of working theater professionals and well-known alumni, including Holly Hunter, Ted Danson, and Zachary Quinto. This school offers separate acting and musical theatre degrees as well, giving students the option to specialize. There are 20 shows per year, allowing for many performance opportunities. Additionally, the school cancels classes for a week each year to let students engage in performances of any kind (such as original works or adaptations of movies). Seniors get to perform in showcases in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh in front of industry professionals. Theatre schoolhas fun costumes! Boston Conservatory- Dance One of the top dance programs in the US, the Boston Conservatory boasts a faculty of world-class artistswho have worked with notable choreographerssuchas Antony Tudor, Robert Joffrey,Josà © Limà ³n, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and Agnes de Mille, and with dance companies such as Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of New York, and Limà ³n Dance Company. There are many performance opportunities throughout the year,the most prestigious being the ability to perform as a member of the Boston Conservatory Dance Theater.Alumni perform with dance companies around the globe as well as on Broadway. Yale University- Drama (MFA) No best performing arts colleges list would be complete without the Yale School of Drama. This school isworld renowned for its MFA Acting program; however, I'd advise against doing the more general BA program,which doesn’t give you access to the same faculty or performance opportunities. The MFA program boasts a long list of famous alumni, including Meryl Streep and Lupita Nyong’o. In the final year, students act in showcases in both New York and Los Angeles in front of industry professionals. In the past 10 years, 100% of graduates have landed agents or managers within the first month out of school. Express yourself. Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 2 In this section, we take a look at other great performing arts colleges that I've classified as Tier 2. Northwestern University- Drama Northwestern is one of the few drama schools that doesn’t require an audition for admission. However, getting accepted is tough because drama students are held to high academic standards, and the current university acceptance rate is around 8%. Students have many opportunities to perform in both school-sponsored and student-run shows. Seniors are invited to participate in showcases in New York and Chicago in front of industry professionals. The school also has a handful of famous alumni, including David Schwimmer, Stephen Colbert, Anna Gunn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Zach Braff. UNC School of the Arts- Drama and Dance UNCSAis home to exceptional drama and dance programs. Alumni of the dance program have gone on to perform with the American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. Others have danced with performers such as Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncà ©. Drama and dance students at UNCSA have many performance opportunities including a senior showcase for industry professionals in New York. Drama students also perform their showcase in Los Angeles.In 2013, 17 out of 25 UNCSA drama students signed with an agent or manager after the showcase.Notable drama alumni include Mary-Louise Parker and Dane DeHaan. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)- Drama and Dance CalArts is considered thebest dance school on the West Coast and one of the top drama schools in the country. The School of Dance boasts distinguished faculty and guest artists (as well as choreographer alum Jacques Heim). Meanwhile, the drama school offers several performance opportunities, such as in American College Dance Festivals; it also has an International Exchange program with the London Contemporary Dance Center. The drama school is a great choice for actors who know they want to pursue film or TV acting since,during the final year, students enroll in Acting Studio for the Camera. This course specifically trains students foracting and auditioning for film and TV.Additionally, at the end of the final semester, students get to perform in an industry showcase in Los Angeles.The drama school has a bunch of famous alumni including Don Cheadle, Ed Harris, and Alison Brie. Take the leap and apply to a performing arts school! Rutgers University- Drama and Dance Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts has world-class drama and dance programs. Thanks to its proximity to New York City, the dance program offers students opportunities for master classes and workshops in world dance forms with international artists. It alsohas two tremendous programs abroad, DanceJerusalem in Israel and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Rutgers' drama program is unique and well rounded.Classes run the gamut from Shakespeare to modern TV.Students spend their third year at the Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, which culminates with a performance on the Globe stage.The final semester is focused on an effective transition into the professional acting world with classes in On-Camera Technique, Auditioning, and Introduction to the Life of a Working Actor.The drama program has some famous alumni, including Kristen Davis and Calista Flockhart. Fordham University- Dance Known primarily for its partnership with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Fordham offers students a liberal arts education and collaboration with a world-famous dance company. Additionally, the program and company call Lincoln Center home,which is pretty amazing. Many alumni continue to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater after graduation, while others have gone on to dance for prestigious companies and on Broadway. Syracuse University- Drama Syracuse offers separate degrees in acting or musical theatre, allowing students to specialize in a particular field.Students have the opportunity to study "abroad" in New York, Los Angeles, and London. They can also perform with the Syracuse Stage, an outstanding Equity theater company, and gain Equity points while still in school. Some well-known alumni include Aaron Sorkin, Frank Langella, and Taye Diggs. So many schools, but where should YOU apply? Which of the Top Performing Arts Colleges Is Best for You? Just because Juilliard is an incredible school doesn't mean you should want to go there. It’s a tiny school with a very intense program; that might not be the best fit for all students. Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to pick one of these bestperforming arts colleges. What Do You Want to Specialize In? If you’re interested in dance, do you want to do ballet or contemporary?If you’re interested in acting, do you want to perform in plays, musicals, or TV and movies? Look into the programs and see what courses are offered.Try to avoid picking a school specializing in ballet if you want to do contemporary dance. Similarly, avoid picking a musical theatre program if you want to act in TV (and vice versa). Hip-hop is awesome. What Opportunities Are There Outside the Classroom? I touched on this above, but be sure togo to a performing arts school where the opportunities align with your interests. For example, if you want to do Shakespeare, then Rutgers, which offers a year abroad in London working at the Globe Theatre, might be a better fit for you than CalArts or Northwestern would be. Extracurriculars are where you get your experience, so make sure you’ll be getting experience in your chosen specialty. What’s the School Like? Is it a big school or a small school? Is it a conservatory or is it at a larger university?If you hate large schools, just don’t choose one.You don’t want to dread being surrounded by tons of students or being forced into cheering for the basketball team. If you get overwhelmed by intensity, a conservatory, such as Juilliard or the Boston Conservatory, might not be a great choice for you, since they're both very small programs where competition is fierce and there's no break from your art since you're surrounded exclusively by other artists. On the other hand, at a school like Syracuse, you could take breaks from your theatre community by hanging out with otherstudents whoare majoring in journalism, engineering, pre-med, etc. In short, pick a school where you will be most comfortable so that you can thrive. What’s Next? Are you interested in pursuing a performing arts degree in a specific region? Check out our lists ofperforming arts colleges in New York and performing arts colleges in California. Most of the schools above require ACT or SAT scores with your application. Get help studying for these tests with our ultimate SAT/ACT study guides. Taking the ACT or SAT really soon?Then take a look atour guide to cramming for the SAT or our guide to cramming for the ACT.

Analysis - Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day Essay

Analysis - Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day - Essay Example Love baffles definition, as each lover sees a new horizon; one may cross the moon, beat the stars but probe one must the tiny heart engulfed in love which is mysterious and fantasises of challenging time to remain forever young.† The generous use of figures of speech Shakespeare is generous in introducing many figures of speech in this poem. He refers to the sun as â€Å"the eye of the heaven.† He is fascinated about youth of the beloved of the young man which he ardently hopes that it shall not fade, by stating, â€Å"But thy eternal summer shall not fade.† He is greatly impressed and believes that it will remain permanent and it will challenge to withstand the vagaries of the nature. His fondly hopes that her beauty will outgrow the normal growth and decay that is evident in nature. Shakespeare through this sonnet glorifies and takes love to unimaginable, rather impossible heights. The challenges of summer are many. The young man is aware of all the tough issues related to the summer, the wear and tear effect it will have on the human body and yet hopes that his beloved will successfully challenge all such adversaries and will retain her youthful bloom. Summers are shaken by â€Å"rough winds† and the sun is â€Å"too hot.† But as for the beloved, his trusts that â€Å"Thy eternal summer shall not fade† and the beauty shall remain preserved forever â€Å"as long as men can breathe or eyes can see.† Poetry and art—the ladders to the divine kingdom Wise people say that poetry, art and music are closest to the heart of God. The best words of love are spoken in simple and hearty language. Simplicity oozes out through the lines of this sonnet and one experiences the loveliness of praise of the beloved and how intelligently Shakespeare keeps the two hearts engaged. Figures of speech are the delicate tools with which he chisels the beauty of the poem. He emphasises the harshness of the summer and admires the mil d and temperate (cool) looks of his beloved. He describes the transition in nature by stating â€Å"darling buds of May,† paving way to the â€Å"eternal summer.† That is the assurance of the young man to his beloved. The power of the poem is in its defiance of time and natural processes of decay and the young man is confident about the youth of his beloved that will last forever, and it will be transmitted to future generations to experience and appreciate. The poet may praise time, taunt it or plead with it, but time will not stop its game. Nature, art and time are great contenders but time is the ultimate victor. The sonnet establishes the inevitable connection between the passage of time, the fleeting, transient life, beauty and the ageing process. Shakespeare’s fervent desire is love should conquer age and time, and at the same time he understands well the futility of his desire. Some backgrounder information relating to sonnets, and this sonnet in particul ar Sonnets are generally associated with romantic love to express feelings for the beloveds and the patrons of poets. Noblemen of the yore loved self-praise and they took the support of poets through their talents to satisfy their inflated ego. Addressing young men in sonnets was prevalent in Elizabethan England and this sonnet falls into that category. Such sonnets, with their idealised love provided the welcome relief to the readers

Hyperactive Sexual Desire Disorder Research Paper

Hyperactive Sexual Desire Disorder - Research Paper Example In addition, their symptoms and treatment can also be deduced. This project, however, only focuses on hyperactive sexual desire, giving its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Hyperactive sexual desire, also known as ‘sex addiction’, is a regular and strong sexual illusions, sexual desires, and sexual actions. One can be said to have the disorder if they engage in compulsive sexual behaviors more than others. Some of the signs of sex addiction include an uncontrollable masturbation, cybersex, engaging with prostitutes, cheating on their partners, pornography and uncontrollable use of internet sex sites to view adult-rated content. Such a person claims that it is impossible to withhold the urge when it comes. Therefore, they end up engaging in dangerous sex behaviors, risking their lives and that of their partners (Schwartz, 2008). For one to be considered to have such a disorder during a diagnosis, they must have gone through the same for over six months. In addition, the act should be distressing them, causing anguish and unhappiness, and apparently causing an interference in their day to day activities. Furthermore, the conditions must not come due to drug use or as a result of mental disorientations. According to the National Council on Sexual Addiction Compulsivity research, about six to eight percent of people in America have a sex addiction. In addition, a study by Stanford University revealed an estimate of about 4.7 million individuals taking at least eleven hours weekly on the pornographic site on the internet. Another evidence of the sex hype is the fast growth of the twelve-step program on the internet such as Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous and Sexaholics Anonymous (Grossman, 2014). Research indicates that testosterone hormone is responsible for sexual urges in both males and females. In that regard, each person feels a sexual urge at a point in