American Democracy Essay -- Government Politics US Essays Political Sc

American Democracy The American democracy is one of the most peaceful kinds of government in the world although it is a long way from utopia. The democracy in which we live has many strengths and weaknesses. Neither strengths or weaknesses out weigh one another, but it is necessary to have both due to the varying definitions. A democracy is a government that is run by the people. The politicians that we elect to run our government are human and they are susceptible to mistakes based on their own strengths and weaknesses. The strengths and weaknesses they possess are reflected into our government but at least â€Å"we the people† elect them and they are not chosen for us. We live in a representative democracy that means â€Å"we the people† are given the right to elect those who represent our beliefs and values. The political campaigns of the politicians allows us the freedom of who to elect by selling us their views on how they feel our government should function. Many of the campaigns seem to dispute the candidate running against the other(s) but it normally ties into what they believe is wrong. Sometimes a candidate's campaign will run according to one of the candidates mistakes that they have made in office or in life. The candidate may then promise they would never make a mistake of that sort. The campaigns now days tend to be more on the negative side but negativity sells in this country. While positive campaigns reflect more on the positive goals of the campaignee it ...

Impressionism Essay -- Impressionists Art Artists Essays

Impressionism Early in the twentieth century, Impressionism brought about the artistic revolution, which included the world’s finest painters. The art of Impressionism strives to create a sensation or evoke a mood that is significant to the artist. Although, developed chiefly in France during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the impressionistic movement was not exclusively French artists. Eugene Boudin, Jongkind, and Stanislas Lepine were among the forerunners of the Impressionistic movement. Eugene Boudin, one of the founders of the art, held a major role in the development of Impressionism. Through the many influences of Eugene Boudin, artists expressed themselves through the utilization of color and light, a technique still used today. World famous Impressionists were inspired by Monet, Manet, and Renoir. Through the advancements of the Realists, Impressionism became a state of mind, in which artists could convey their personal visual reality through the effects of color and light. The post-renaissance period is largely considered one of the most influential precursors to Impressionism. The founders of the Impressionistic society were animated by the will to break away from the traditional style of art. The influence was great out of France, especially in Germany, Liebermann, Corinth, and in Belgium. Impressionists were largely responsible for a major shift in the development of western art, influencing other artists who admired their work. Eugene Boudin began teaching artists such as Monet, Manet, Courbet, Bazille, Sisley, and Renoir how to observe the changing lights. Distinctive atmospheres in France that were afforded by the constantly changing nature of the landscape made ... ...rances. It was around this time that Impressionists were becoming appreciated. Monet’s famous Impressions: soleil levant is generally thought to have prompted the naming of the whole genre (Tucker, 1995, p.4). It was first used as a name of an exhibition, Exposition des Impressionnistes. Then impressionniste was printed in the Charivari after the exhibition. Through both many influences of Eugene Boudin and the advancements of the Realists, Impressionism became, not only an art form, but a state of mind. Through Impressionism, artists could convey their personal visual reality with the use of color and light. Among the inspired were Monet, Manet, and Renoir, who later became artists of world famous Impressions. Still utilized today, Impressionism strives to create a sensation or evoke a mood significant to each artist, and capture the audience.

Process Costing

A process costing system is a costing system in which the cost of a product or service is obtained by assigning costs to masses of like or similar units. Unit costs are then calculated on an average basis. Process costing systems are used in industries that produce like or similar units which are often mass produced. In these industries, products are manufactured in a very similar way. The companies usually use the same amount of direct materials, direct manufacturing labor costs and manufacturing overhead costs (CliffNotes Study Guide, 1999).Industries that use process costing systems are for example: chemical processing, oil refining, pharmaceuticals, plastics, brick and tile manufacturing, semiconductor chips, beverages and breakfast cereals. The  job order cost system  is used when products are made based on specific customer orders. Each product produced is considered a job. Costs are tracked by job. Services rendered can also be considered a job. Service companies consider the creation of a financial plan by a certified financial planner, or of an estate plan by an attorney, unique jobs.The job order cost system must capture and track by job the costs of producing each job, which includes materials, labor, and overhead in a manufacturing environment (Willkommen, 2000). The difference between job costing and process costing is the extent of averaging used to compute unit costs of product and services. The cost object in job costing is a job that constitutes a distinctly identifiable product or service. The quantity of manufacturing resources is different in any job. It would be incorrect to cost each job at the same average manufacturing cost.So, when like or similar units are mass produced, process costing averages manufacturing costs over all units produced (CliffNotes Study Guide, 1999). The costs of a product are important for inventory calculations, pricing decisions and product profitability analysis. It’s also important for measuring how well the management is done and if costs are reduced effectively. A company I worked for used a hybrid system that used mostly a process costing system and certain aspects of the job order cost system. The system broke down separate material costs, overhead and labor.The system was fairly accurate and helped us maintain a healthy profit and adjust certain aspects of the business as needed. References Accounting Principles II: Job Order Cost System . (1999). CliffsNotes Study Guides . Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/Job-Order-Cost-System. topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21222. html Process Costing Systems. (2000). Willkommen in Ralf KA ¶nigs Netzbehausung. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www. koenig-aalen. de/vorstellung/present/pcs. php

Black & Decker Power Tools Division

Module| Session| Course/Theme| Case| Who| When| Where| Case Leads/Due Date| T1| 8| Winning Through Marketing Management| Black & Decker – Power Tools Division| Joseph Galli, VP of Sales and MarketingNoran Archibald, CEO| January 1991| Towson, MarylandUnited States| November 28, 2012| What – Situation/Issues/Risks/ Decision| 1. B&D lost its market share of professional-tradesmen tools segment against Makita Electric of Japan 2.Makita held an 80% share in cordless drills, the single largest product category and a 50% professional-tradesmen tools segment share overall compared to 9% share of B&D 3. B&D maintained #1 market position in the Consumer and Professional-Industrial segments; and only 9% market share in Professional-Tradesmen segment| Company Business Model| SWOT| Competitors| PEST (political, economic, social, technological)| * B&D was the world's largest producer of power tools, power tool accessories, electric lawn and garden tools, and residential security har dware. Power tools market was categorized in three segments i. e. * Professional-Industrial Tools – commercial contractors working on large projects where corporation generally buy tools for their employees * Professional-Tradesmen Tools – individual contractors such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, roofers, framers, etc. bought from Home Depot, Ace Hardware †¦ etc. * Consumer Tools (35% market share) – consumers purchased tools for â€Å"at home† use from mass merchants e. . Wal-mart, Kmart and hardware stores * Nolan became CEO in 1986 with 1st profitable year (~$50 million) after 5 consecutive years of losses, growth continued year after year reaching to an operating of income of ~$500 million in 1990 * 1981 – 1985 company lost money with a $158. 4 million loss in 1985 * B;D $4. 8 billion sales in 1990 (50% revenues from US and 50% from outside world) * Substantial brand equity i. e. 7 in US and #19 in Europe out of 6000 brands * Acqu ired Emhart corporation in 1989 which doubled the revenue and also increased debt to $4. 2 billion i. e. 80% of the total capital| S * Brand awareness (98%) * Efficient distribution channels * Ranked #1 in two of the three segments * Market penetration in all three segments with separate product lines specifically targeted for each segment * Faster (9%) growth rate in weakest segment Some retailers regarded Makita as â€Å"arrogant and dictorial† * Very strong product quality for majority of the items| W * Poor reputation in Prof-Tradesmen segment * Product color scheme (Black ; Charcoal) * Only 9% mkt share in Prof-tradesmen segment * Profitability was near zero| * Makita electric, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Skil, Craftsman, Porter-Cable, Bosch| P * | E * | | O * Improve poor brand quality perception for tradesmen segment * Product color scheme * Reduce SG+A cost, currently at ~25% * | T * Increased competition.The top three manufacturers i. e. Makita, Milwaukee and B;D offer product lines at ~175 SKUs each| | S * Peer pressure, tradesmen laughed at if they use B;D gray things * | T * | Financials| Options ; Evaluation| * | 1. Option 1. Harvest Professional-Tradesmen Channels 2. Option 2. Get Behind Black ; Decker Name with Sub-Branding 3. Option 3. Drop the Black ; Decker Name from the Professional-Tradesmen Segment 4.Option 4. Launch new product line under DeWalt brand in addition to existing B;D product line for Professional-Tradesmen segment. This option is similar to option 3 except under this option a new brand is launched to compete with other suppliers for the targeted market segment. | Recommendation ; Rationale| Action / Implementation| See answer of Q2 below. | See answer of Q3 below. | Key Learnings ; Why is this important| * | Assignment Questions| 1.Why is Makita outselling Black and Decker 8 to 1 in an account that gives them equal shelf space? a. Makita provided a good baseline option in all major categories compared to other suppliers who had s trengths in particular product(s) e. g. Skil provided good circular saws. b. Home Depot strategy of stocking 30K items at prices 30% less compare to traditional hardware stores with superior customer service helped Makita to gain marketplace dominance. Makita offered lower prices i. e. ~5% lower on average compared to B;D products.This also helped Makita to gain good perception from Tradesmen segment buyers as their product quality was reasonably good. 2. What should Joe Galli do? Why? c. I suggest to go with option 4 and use market products under DeWalt’s brand in addition to existing B;D products. This would not hurt existing market share by much and there is great potential of taking away market share from Makita and other suppliers by launching products under a well reputable brand â€Å"DeWalt† in a different color. . Step back and take a big-picture view of the sort of â€Å"change process† that would accompany your recommendations. What would it take to m ake this successful? How about Galli's role — how would you evaluate his ability to be an effective change leader? d. To avoid internal conflict and loosing existing B&D market share, the recommendation is to use DeWalt brand to produce power tools for tradesmen segment in addition to existing B&D products.It would require designing and manufacturing power tools in different color, material and shape to differentiate from existing B&D products with a strong marketing & sales campaign with mass retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, †¦ etc. Dewalt already has a good brand recognition with top quality perception for the target market segment. Additionally, Galli has past experience of transitioning B&D saw blades to â€Å"Piranha by B&D† therefore it is safer to assume that he can lead this change to introduce new product line under DeWalt brand.

Harvard Guide to Happiness, Freakonomics, Can’t a Woman Be Einstein Essay

The methods suggested from a research conducted over 10 years on 1,600 Harvard students are relevant today more than ever. The global trend of shift in workforce from manufacturing to white collar work necessitates workers obtain higher degrees of education. Individuals with higher education degree are more equipped with the capacity to better manage given tasks of the service sector employing analytical thinking. Workforce comprised of such highly educated individuals enhances competitiveness in the increasingly complex global economy. Thus the value of individual academic pursuit is critical in sustaining economic development of a nation. Assuming that students furthering their studies decide based on freewill, keeping students motivated is the key to encouraging them to pursue higher education. Basing on the results from the study, increasing interaction among the various elements within the school system such as faculty and peer-students propel students to achieve higher grades, become more intellectually engaged and increase their overall happiness. An NBER study of a group of Kenyan girls in 69 primary schools comparing those who were randomly selected to receive scholarships to those who did not receive any surprisingly concluded that greater education does not in fact lead to greater democracy. However I believe the relationship between education and democracy can either be strengthened or weakened based on the content of the education received by the citizens and how it is famed in the classroom setting. Education systems that emphasize and value freedom of expression through heated discussion among peers inevitably provide an opportunity for the students to experience democratic way of handling things. The way information was given to the young girls in Kenya and its substance may have been the reason in the failure of increased education to result in greater democracy. The essay that demonstrated that biological difference exists between male and female but does not suggest a difference in aptitude pose an important issue in the field of education. I agree that the results hint a change in the education system but I hesitate to agree with Leonard Sax in his belief that â€Å"coed schools do more harm than good†. The fact that current coed schools might not provide an environment for boys and girls to learn at the pace of their maturing brains does not necessitate those students to be educated in single-sex schools. The problem, if there is any, would lie in the lack of division of classes based on the level of each subject. Division of class in coed schools based on proficiency, for instance beginners, intermediate and advanced seems an appropriate response that effectively deals with the problem embraces outliers at the same time.

Child and Marginal Places

In the short essay â€Å"In Praise of Margins†, Ian Frazier puts himself back to the place in time when he did activities just for the sake of doing them. As a kid, Frazier traveled to the woods behind his house without a real sense of purpose. His main goal for the day or afternoon was just to explore, whatever that word may mean to him. Frazier and his friends spent hours on end in the woods simply breaking thin ice sheets, â€Å"throwing rocks at a fresh mudflat to make craters, shooting frogs with slingshots, making forts, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Indian burial mound† (53).They weren’t doing anything important, but that was the point, to do something so insignificant but have it mean so much. Frazier explains that the activities he did as a kid â€Å"was a higher sort of unpurpose† (53), or in other words, marginal. I agree with Frazier about the important of marginality, because children in particular need to try out ideas for themselves and have some breathing room on their own. Marginal activities and places are important to kids, because they allow them to try out ideas or purposeless activities.As an example, Annie Dillard wrote a short essay called â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† in which she talks about receiving a microscope as a Christmas present and going down to her basement to play with it endlessly. Dillard received a microscope from her parents because she had wanted one ever since she read â€Å"The Field Book of Ponds and Streams† (82). She was utterly convinced that everyone needed a microscope. At first, Dillard failed and could not use the microscope correctly because the slides she saw were a â€Å"bust. † Eventually in late spring, Dillard succeeded and saw an amoeba.Proud of her accomplishment, she rushed upstairs to tell her parents, but they seemed more interested in their coffee than excited (83). From that point on she understood that you do what you do for pure enjoyment and love for the activity itself and that no one really cares, but yourself. The microscope was her marginal activity and the basement was her marginal place where she could do whatever she wanted. Dillard ends her short essaying stating: â€Å"Anything was possible. The sky was the limit. † (83). â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† and â€Å"In Praise of Margins† both have the similar idea of doing something for pure enjoyment.Dillard considers her work in the basement â€Å"play† because she enjoys it, but she didn’t actually realize that she was learning. This is a prime example of a marginal activity because she only used it for her enjoyment without a sense of real purpose. No purpose is needed because marginal activities allow you to be yourself and do something that you like to do, not because there is an end goal. Marginal activities like Dillard’s microscope allow children to try out ideas that they otherwise may neve r have found. A safe haven or a place to escape reality can be important to children.As a child, I lived in the typical two-story home in a typical suburbia neighborhood. I never really could keep much to myself or have ultimate freedom. My parents were typical over-protective parents who were scared that the world may danger and hurt their precious young boy. The only source of escape or get away I ever had was found in the play set in my back yard. It was just a little orange and blue play set that featured a slide and landing. Whenever I couldn’t be found, everyone knew that I was in my little play set in the back yard with my siblings and cousins.My play set was my marginal place because that was where I could come up with crazy imaginations and as soon as I stepped in my thoughts ran free. The play set was a get away from over bearing parents, homework, or even vegetable filled dinners. In that back yard, we could be anyone we wanted to be, think of the craziest adventur es, or even just sit and talk. The play set in the back yard didn’t consist of judgment or scrutiny; rather, it was filled with bliss and innocence. It was such an important part of my childhood and I honestly don’t know if I would be the same person I am today if my play set hadn’t exist.Frazier’s woods are equivalent to my play set in the back yard. It was our get away from reality, the pure pleasure of doing nothing and something at the same time. My play set was my marginal activity and place because it allowed me to explore thoughts and try out the craziest of ideas. It is important as a child to have a get away where you can do anything you wanted because sometimes children are brought up to be perfect. Expectations can get to a child and a safe haven from that is all that is needed.In the words of Ian Frazier â€Å" The margin is where you can try out odd ideas that you might be afraid to admit to with people looking on† (54). Marginal place s and activities are very important to children because it allows for breathing room. Not everything has to be purpose filled. Activities and places can be purposeless and just as satisfying as if it were purpose filled. Frazier took himself back to a time where everything was much simpler, and realized that marginal activities are very important. Marginal places and activities are important for everyone especially children. Child and Marginal Places In the short essay â€Å"In Praise of Margins†, Ian Frazier puts himself back to the place in time when he did activities just for the sake of doing them. As a kid, Frazier traveled to the woods behind his house without a real sense of purpose. His main goal for the day or afternoon was just to explore, whatever that word may mean to him. Frazier and his friends spent hours on end in the woods simply breaking thin ice sheets, â€Å"throwing rocks at a fresh mudflat to make craters, shooting frogs with slingshots, making forts, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Indian burial mound† (53).They weren’t doing anything important, but that was the point, to do something so insignificant but have it mean so much. Frazier explains that the activities he did as a kid â€Å"was a higher sort of unpurpose† (53), or in other words, marginal. I agree with Frazier about the important of marginality, because children in particular need to try out ideas for themselves and have some breathing room on their own. Marginal activities and places are important to kids, because they allow them to try out ideas or purposeless activities.As an example, Annie Dillard wrote a short essay called â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† in which she talks about receiving a microscope as a Christmas present and going down to her basement to play with it endlessly. Dillard received a microscope from her parents because she had wanted one ever since she read â€Å"The Field Book of Ponds and Streams† (82). She was utterly convinced that everyone needed a microscope. At first, Dillard failed and could not use the microscope correctly because the slides she saw were a â€Å"bust. † Eventually in late spring, Dillard succeeded and saw an amoeba.Proud of her accomplishment, she rushed upstairs to tell her parents, but they seemed more interested in their coffee than excited (83). From that point on she understood that you do what you do for pure enjoyment and love for the activity itself and that no one really cares, but yourself. The microscope was her marginal activity and the basement was her marginal place where she could do whatever she wanted. Dillard ends her short essaying stating: â€Å"Anything was possible. The sky was the limit. † (83). â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† and â€Å"In Praise of Margins† both have the similar idea of doing something for pure enjoyment.Dillard considers her work in the basement â€Å"play† because she enjoys it, but she didn’t actually realize that she was learning. This is a prime example of a marginal activity because she only used it for her enjoyment without a sense of real purpose. No purpose is needed because marginal activities allow you to be yourself and do something that you like to do, not because there is an end goal. Marginal activities like Dillard’s microscope allow children to try out ideas that they otherwise may neve r have found. A safe haven or a place to escape reality can be important to children.As a child, I lived in the typical two-story home in a typical suburbia neighborhood. I never really could keep much to myself or have ultimate freedom. My parents were typical over-protective parents who were scared that the world may danger and hurt their precious young boy. The only source of escape or get away I ever had was found in the play set in my back yard. It was just a little orange and blue play set that featured a slide and landing. Whenever I couldn’t be found, everyone knew that I was in my little play set in the back yard with my siblings and cousins.My play set was my marginal place because that was where I could come up with crazy imaginations and as soon as I stepped in my thoughts ran free. The play set was a get away from over bearing parents, homework, or even vegetable filled dinners. In that back yard, we could be anyone we wanted to be, think of the craziest adventur es, or even just sit and talk. The play set in the back yard didn’t consist of judgment or scrutiny; rather, it was filled with bliss and innocence. It was such an important part of my childhood and I honestly don’t know if I would be the same person I am today if my play set hadn’t exist.Frazier’s woods are equivalent to my play set in the back yard. It was our get away from reality, the pure pleasure of doing nothing and something at the same time. My play set was my marginal activity and place because it allowed me to explore thoughts and try out the craziest of ideas. It is important as a child to have a get away where you can do anything you wanted because sometimes children are brought up to be perfect. Expectations can get to a child and a safe haven from that is all that is needed.In the words of Ian Frazier â€Å" The margin is where you can try out odd ideas that you might be afraid to admit to with people looking on† (54). Marginal place s and activities are very important to children because it allows for breathing room. Not everything has to be purpose filled. Activities and places can be purposeless and just as satisfying as if it were purpose filled. Frazier took himself back to a time where everything was much simpler, and realized that marginal activities are very important. Marginal places and activities are important for everyone especially children.

Feasability assignment to establish a bakery deli in downtown

Feasability to establish a bakery deli in downtown Connellsville pa 15425 - Assignment Example But like a hit song that made its way to the top of the music billboard during the first weeks and months of release, foods and services have its own duration of a peak popularity and savoring public acceptance. This is one natural weakness in the trade that we seek to improve and consequently be on top. That is where we will venture out to be creative and consistently popular. In this feasibility study and research, we propose to meet the needs and challenges of Connelsville residents, who are as discriminating as the uniqueness and individuality of choices and lifestyle in this area of some 9,500 permanent residents and transient visitors and plain travelers from one city to another numbering by the hundreds every month. 2 Executive Summary. A number of reports, findings, sample survey questionnaires and other important considerations follow in the next pages of this presentation. Except for food, excitement and product acceptance has its own peak and climax. Foods and drinks stay forever so long as life itself permits. The more challenging task is how to keep customers eating and satisfied and remain on top. In such very competitive and diverse entrepreneurship as foods and beverages,, uniqueness in both taste and looks, cleanliness and customer-friendly services are the major considerations. They form part of every marketing strategies to start a food business and its eventual expansion. One of the main ideas of establishing this business or any similar endeavor for that matter, is by starting small and growing big. In that respect, quality control takes a primary role in the shelf and baking areas. We will create and introduce new-to-your-senses menus of panera bread style similar but more innovative than those casual-setting, low-priced, quick-service chains nationwide. In order to be different, we must take advantage of the potentials normally present in starting a business such as introducing a new tradition in creative, tasteful and healthy bread makin g Connellsville style. Ambitious as it may seem, but creative bread making is tantamount to a daily changing menu. We can follow through by remaining true and humble to our vision of customer satisfaction and value for money food provisions and services. 3 Introduction. Establishing the business in a strategic area in Connellsville takes so much preparations and planning to ensure a high rate of success. This includes choosing the right location and hiring of the best and creative people. This portion of the report will take a lot of problem solving by anticipating them and facing them ahead of time even before it can present itself as a problem. One of the most effective ways to solve a problem is to anticipate and discern them. In such important areas as human resources, snags can be prevented from setting in with periodic programs of business-family bonding, camaraderie, dialogue and constant communications. As much as time and finances permit, a reward and systems of recognition , no matter how simple and inexpensive can do a lot of magic to the morale and efficiency in day-to-day operations. What you give to them always have a good habit of returning back double in terms of loyalty, efficient and more productive services. Food business is issue-sensitive business. Some of the problems that we may find hard to overcome are negative comments from customers, real or