Visit the Ringed Planet Saturn

Visit the Ringed Planet Saturn The Beauty of Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and among the most beautiful in the solar system. Its named after the Roman god of agriculture. This world, which is the second largest planet, is most famous for its ring system, which is visible even from Earth. You can spot it with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope fairly easily. The first astronomer to spot those rings was Galileo Galilei. He saw them through his home-built telescope in the year 1610. From Handles to Rings Galileos use of the telescope was a boon to the science of astronomy. Although he didnt realize the rings were separate from Saturn, he  did describe them in his observing logs as handles, which piqued the interest of other astronomers. In 1655, Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens observed them and was the first to determine that these odd objects were actually rings of material circling the planet. Before that time, people were quite puzzled that a world could have such odd attachments.   Saturn, the Gas Giant The atmosphere of Saturn is made up of hydrogen (88 percent) and helium (11 percent) and traces of methane, ammonia, ammonia crystals. Trace amounts of ethane, acetylene, and phosphine are also present. Often confused with a star when viewed with the naked eye, Saturn can be clearly seen with a telescope or binoculars. Exploring Saturn Saturn has been explored on location by the Pioneer 11 and Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, as well as the Cassini Mission. The Cassini spacecraft also dropped a probe onto the surface of the largest moon, Titan. It returned images of a frozen world, encased in an icy water-ammonia mix. In addition, Cassini has found plumes of water ice blasting from Enceladus (another moon), with particles that end up in the planets E ring. Planetary scientists have considered other missions to Saturn and its moons, and more may well fly in the future.   Saturn Vital Statistics MEAN RADIUS: 58232 kmMASS: 95.2 (Earth1)DENSITY: 0.69 (g/cm^3)GRAVITY: 1.16 (Earth1)ORBIT PERIOD: 29.46 (Earth years)ROTATION PERIOD: 0.436 (Earth days)SEMIMAJOR AXIS OF ORBIT: 9.53 auECCENTRICITY OF ORBIT: 0.056 Satellites of Saturn Saturn has dozens of moons. Here is a list of the largest known ones. PanDistance (000km) 134 - Radius (km) 10 - Mass (kg) ? - Discovered By Year Showalter 1990 AtlasDistance (000km) 138 - Radius (km) 14 - Mass (kg) ? - Discovered By Year Terrile 1980 PrometheusDistance (000km) 139 - Radius (km) 46 - Mass (kg) 2.70e17 - Discovered By Year Collins 1980 PandoraDistance (000km) 142 - Radius (km) 46 - Mass (kg) 2.20e17 - Discovered By Year Collins 1980 EpimetheusDistance (000km) 151 - Radius (km) 57 - Mass (kg) 5.60e17 - Discovered By Year Walker 1980 JanusDistance (000km) 151 - Radius (km) 89 - Mass (kg) 2.01e18 - Discovered By Year Dollfus 1966 MimasDistance (000km) 186 - Radius (km) 196 - Mass (kg) 3.80e19 - Discovered By Year Herschel 1789 EnceladusDistance (000km) 238 - Radius (km) 260 - Mass (kg) 8.40e19 - Discovered By Year Herschel 1789 TethysDistance (000km) 295 - Radius (km) 530 - Mass (kg) 7.55e20 - Discovered By Year Cassini 1684 TelestoDistance (000km) 295 - Radius (km) 15 - Mass (kg) ? Reitsema - Discovered By Year 1980 CalypsoDista nce (000km) 295 - Radius (km) 13 - Mass (kg) ? Pascu - Discovered By Year 1980 DioneDistance (000km) 377 - Radius (km) 560 - Mass (kg) 1.05e21 - Discovered By Year Cassini 1684 HeleneDistance (000km) 377 - Radius (km) 16 - Mass (kg) ? - Discovered By Year Laques 1980 RheaDistance (000km) 527 - Radius (km) 765 - Mass (kg) 2.49e21 Cassini 1672 TitanDistance (000km) 1222 - Radius (km) 2575 - Mass (kg) 1.35e23 - Discovered By Year Huygens 1655 HyperionDistance (000km) 1481 - Radius (km) 143 - Mass (kg) 1.77e19 - Discovered By Year Bond 1848 IapetusDistance (000km) 3561 - Radius (km) 730 - Mass (kg) 1.88e21 - Discovered By Year Cassini 1671 PhoebeDistance (000km) 12952 - Radius (km) 110 - Mass (kg) 4.00e18 - Discovered By Year Pickering 1898 Updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

No More Conventional Antonyms

No More Conventional Antonyms No More Conventional Antonyms No More Conventional Antonyms By Maeve Maddox One of the innovations of Newspeak, the version of English used by the totalitarian government in Orwell’s dystopic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, was the elimination of antonyms. A writer at the Oxford Dictionaries site explains: By choosing which words the populace can use, The Party can choose to shift thought in a more positive or negative direction to suit their needs;  ungood, for example, makes the populace feel less negative than  bad  would In 2015, some of the populace seem to be choosing to add un- to adjectives like good and rich rather than look for conventional antonyms: The Rich Are Less Ethical Than the Unrich [A Resort] Like Palm Springs, only for unrich people The government is clearly pandering to the masses, i.e. the unrich people. Few fanfic writers actually write good stories. Some are unrealistic, unplanned, ungood stories.   I was all set to move to Erdington until last night [when] I found some  ungood stories about the area I will be living in. In the end, the good outweighed the  ungood and Im happy I chose this  place. Ill be traveling light when it comes time for me to cross, when I cross†¦ This unwide road†¦ (song lyrics) . Abercrombie Fitch chief executive Mike Jeffries [issued] a half-baked apology for his incendiary comments on why the unthin, the unyoung and the unbeautiful dont belong in AF clothes. As a stylistic device, words like unthin and unbeautiful can be used to humorous effect. Adding un- to words in an effort to obscure meaning or avoid thought, on the other hand, is not an option for writers who wish to be taken seriously. 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 Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesIs There a Reason â€Å"the Reason Why† Is Considered Wrong?Prepositions to Die With

Models of Competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Models of Competition - Essay Example e are just a few sellers in collusion (strategically interactive) with the main aim of minimizing competition to provide products and/or services to a large number of customers. A perfect example is the OPEC which controls the price of oil internationally. Perfect (pure) market is broadly an assumption that describes structures in which no player is so enormous as to wield those powers to set the price of a homogenous commodity (Brakman, pg 13). It is always used as a benchmark. In the ideal world, the market is in between the monopolies and perfect market structure. Monopolies do exist especially in the provision of very sensitive public utilities like in the provision of medical services, and public utilities such as gas, electricity, sports e.g. Super sport etc while perfect markets are rather theoretical. The stock markets are near perfect markets due to their composition but not very perfect as it is (Brakman, pg 106). The overarching issue is that competition in most if not all markets are imperfect and even though the goods and services may be differentiated, the firms would still face a down ward sloping curve trend. Markets assuming perfect competition do provide insufficient insight on how markets behave and respond to various factors. Even though the perfect market assumption provides a benchmark, the assumption is that they are pareto efficient. They are assumed to be controlled by such forces that even the government has no control over. This m arket has some limitations among the most crucial being the fact that all people are similar or identical for that matter. But through such models as the Dixit-Stiglitz model the element of the people’s welfare can clearly be examined. The result however gives us a false view of how the market is but for that reason, policies affecting the degree of diversity of merchandise differentiation are having markedly diverse effects on diverse individuals. This to a great extent complicates the analysis of the

Debenhams Strategy of Consumer Buying Behavior Essay

Debenhams Strategy of Consumer Buying Behavior - Essay Example Cultures keep on changing, and marketers need to be aware of cultural changes. Core values are the values that are most pervasive in a society. They must be enduring, and with respect to marketing, they must be consumer-related so that marketers can use them to understand consumption (Luna and Gupta, 2001, P.50). Culture is manifested by society in different forms and includes heroes, rituals, symbols and cultural values. Values are integral to the expression of culture. This stems from the verity that values are collectively shared by most people in a certain society. One of the noteworthy organizations that have a British heritage and with operations in the United Kingdom is the Debenhams. Debenhams has a global presence in more than twenty-five nations and operates more than 200 stores across the globe. Debenhams is known for its wide-ranging and unique brands that offer an immense deal of gratification to its customers. The corporation has diverse business ranging from clothing w ear, electric products, beauty products, as well as health products. This diversification has made Debenhams a market leader with yearly earnings surpassing the ?2 billion mark. To further its operations, Debenhams has embraced the concept of e-commerce through its online presence across nations. The online presence has attracted many online shoppers, ranking the corporation among the largest online retailers in the UK. The Company has over the years invested in British design through its portfolio of brands. This paper explores the cultural aspect of consumer behavior evaluating ways in which Debenhams can use them in its marketing mix (About Debenhams, 2013, para2). 1.2 Analysis of Debenhams’ strategy of incorporating culture into its marketing mix The aspect of culture is indispensable in any marketing endeavor as it heavily influences consumer buying behavior. Hofstede; a culture researcher held that culture refers to the social glue that keeps people of a certain group t ogether. Every culture has its manner of doing things, and this is what distinguishes in-group and out-group people. Culture provides a lens through which people shape reality. Culture acts as a reference guide when one intends to take a certain course of action such as buying a product (Luna and Gupta, 2001, p 50). Heroes In every culture, there are some behaviors and attributes that are highly regarded as role models. Individuals who observe and portray those behaviors to society are considered as heroes. One of the strategies that Debenhams uses in assimilating culture into its marketing operation is using such cultural heroes to influence consumer behavior. This is done by associating cultural heroes with certain brands or products (Arnould, Price and Zinkhan, 2005, P.76). Debenhams recently launched an ad campaign starring paralympian amputee Stefanie Reid in an effort to show diversity in its advertising. The campaign also features three models over 40, an elderly lady and a s ize 18 swimwear model. The company aims to turn the industry standard of young thin models. The company argues that the campaign is a reflection of its customers and demonstrates a broad range of body and beauty ideals. The company spokesman asserted that the company’s customers are not the same size or shape and thus the new lookbook celebrates diversity. The campaign aims to make people more comfortable with their bodies.

Cultural Differences between China and the U.S.A. Essay Example for Free

Cultural Differences between China and the U.S.A. Essay China and the United States have different cultural backgrounds, different values and national conditions, it determines the Sino-US education idea, education mode and method is put in the difference with bigger. Chinas basic education and basic education in the United States were compared, the majority of people believe that education is the foundation of China, the basic education, learn more understanding and less; American education is to cultivate innovation ability education, learning more than studying. What is the science or Enlightenment? In twentieth Century, the famous British mathematician, philosopher, educator Whitehead once said: education is a complicated problem On this issue there is only a little I can be sure, that is not generally applicable and simple way. Each student in the school s development, it is not only the educational mode, education content, education system and method to decide, because in the growth of the students, society, family, school education and individual four together play. Therefore, we can not only with the part of the students development, to assert that the entire education system rationality, so it is unreasonable. Two the difference of basic education between China and America Basic education between China and America merits, different people hold no point of view. For example, if the comparison is the mathematical curriculum, China s basic education must exceed the United States; but if the comparison of students practical ability especially the practice ability and innovation ability, the American basic education is certainly more than chinese. Elementary education between America and why there is this discrepancy? First, the two countries have very different educational tradition, Chinese basic education pay attention to the accumulation of knowledge and indoctrination, pay attention to the cultivation of students knowledge of their master, pay attention to the cultivation of students the same thinking. While the United States is to pay attention to the training of students to use the knowledge to solve the actual problem ability, pay attention to the cultivation of the students knowledge of development and innovation, pay attention to the cultivation of students critical thinking and divergent thinking. We can see, China Education focused on knowledge static acceptance, and the United States of America education focuses on knowledge of the dynamic control; China is a mode of education, while the United States is a kind of elite education. As the Nobel winner professor Chen Ning Yang said, China and the United States educational philosophy is quite different, the United States of America education philosophy on the former 30%-40% student is good, because they do not need to follow the prescribed order of learning, can jump in learning, the students through training can quickly achieve success. While Chinese education philosophy on 30%-40% student is good, because these students follow the prescribed order, has a solid foundation of the process, have become the opportunity. Secondly, different country on the foundation stage of Education Foundation has different understanding. Take mathematics as an example, the educational circles of China have historically considered, the basic concept and the basic operation is the foundation of mathematics in middle school, so we need to remember a lot of formulas and theorems. While the United States that know where to find these theorems and formulas are more important, they think that can be found in these formulas and theorems, there is no need to worry effort to memory, the brain can be saved to think about other things, such as the theorem has applications? If I need to learn? Wait. Chinas education is the basis of that, the brain in a computer independent premise, the reserve knowledge as much as possible, as quickly as possible to extract knowledge, so Chinese students of the brain in these two aspects are fully trained ( on the end game wood, 2002). American education is the basis of that, the brain to make full use of the computer under the premise of development, give up those belonging to the computer work area required capacity, only those belonging to the computer cannot work areas required capacity ( on the end game wood, 2002). Therefore, when by virtue of classroom achievement scholarship, American students often than Chinese students, but can make full use of information tools, in specific practice areas, do some research work, Chinese students often than American students. Hence, in the development of brain underlying function, Chinese education better, but in the use of a variety of information tools to solve problems and make innovation, the United States educational advantage is self-evident. Moreover, from the value tropism, the American basic education from the perspective of individualism, individual supreme is the traditional value pursuit, American basic education of cultivating the students personality and creativity. Basic education in China is from social interests, collectivism and patriotism values is its tradition of the pursuit of value, which determines that Chinas basic education carried by the individual ability and the training of creative ability are also and values related to. This and the American individualism education a fundamental distinction. For example, the concrete teaching activity, the United States to encourage students to have their own ideas, teachers in the teaching process, pay attention to the students independent personalized thinking habits, pay attention to the students divergent thinking and critical thinking of the culture, politics, religion, history and many other aspects of the many problems teachers are prohibited to provide the only correct the answer, encourage a variety of different views exist, against the teacher instead of students thinking. China education focusing on the same thinking, when the examination, assessment focus is often the students knowledge, objective test almost flooded in the sciences, inspects the student to answer whether the test standard and consistent answers, the side guide students and teachers to set the only answer to be consistent, so the result is the most students rely on Teachers thinking and teaching. This and the United States banned from providing the only answer is quite different. The United States of America education emphasizes individual, Chinese education emphasizes respect love others. The ancients cloud, respect for nature love herself, not nurture. So we think, Chinese basic education relative to the United States of America s individualistic education, superior and more. Chinese basic education should be guaranteed in the standard of society under the premise of the pursuit of individual students and innovation ability the development of maximization. Finally, China s basic education attaches importance to the sound of the United States, and a plurality of Chinese education; education pay attention to the longitudinal depth, while the United States Education attention span; the United States of America education pay attention to cultivate students self-confidence and self-reliance spirit, Chinese education pay attention to cultivate students strict and rigorous academic attitude. The United States of America corresponding, a loose, free atmosphere, can fully take care of every student interest and the hobby; while the Chinese basic education is dull. Basic education in China is characterized by fast speed, high degree of difficulty, knowledge of many points, the high degree of abstraction, often the United States a week about the content of China, ten minutes can be finished, and students have the pressure of the college entrance examination, relative to foreign countries, students by pressure, quoting professor Chen Ning Yang s words Chinese education narrow stiff. From the above we can see, China, in the education idea, education mode and method, there is a great difference. China s education is more a model of education; and the United States of America focuses on emphasizing the innovation spirit, individualism, is a kind of elite education. In essence, focusing on innovation or focus on the foundation is an American basic education and basic education in China the fundamental difference. As the Nobel winner professor Chen Ning Yang said, China and the United States of America Education Foundation, cannot tell which one is good, which one is not good, be it differs from man to man. In the teaching process, for Chinese students, they should have more innovation, for American students, should let them lay a good foundation, it can compensate for each other, is the most appropriate. Three thinking American education is to the East, began to seize a base. In 2001 June, the United States President Bush proposed an education reform bill, $24000000000 in primary and secondary schools to strengthen the education investment and management, requires that all schools must hold the reading test ( approximate Chinese examination ) and math exam, students must pass the examination before graduation, only students meet the eligibility requirements, the school to receive federal extra government funding. If 3 consecutive unqualified, principals and teachers to leave. The bill got through to absolute advantage. Comparison of reference only, can only draw lessons from, in order to improve. The United States has acted, we should also take action. As can be seen, the United States of America s elementary education reform focuses on the basis of innovation in bridge foundation. China s basic education traditionally focus too much on the cultivation of students Collectivism, patriotism and common thinking, without adequate attention to the cultivation of students personality and creativity, so the education of our country should be based on the basis of the increase in innovation. ( a ) curriculum and course requirements We should give full consideration to the child and adolescent students physical, mental and psychological development stage, progressive. Different students should have different learning tasks, can not be one-sided pursuit of knowledge and too many courses, to know that knowledge is endless, the source of knowledge is very rich, cant put the eye only to lock in the textbook, should give students leave enough space for development, to those who have expertise students with adequate development of individualized freedom, as they provide sufficient superior conditions and the necessary learning guidance, so that more of Qian Zhongshus birth. The United States is not the national curriculum standards, but states, counties or districts can compile curriculum standard. From look on the whole, the United States of America curriculum is quite flexible, mainly including compulsory courses and elective classes two categories. Required courses for credit is more, content is wide but not deep, emphasize the students practical ability, thinking ability and awareness of the problem, to solve the question ability. Elective course of many types, are based mainly on students, employment and social life of the actual need, students according to their own interest in free to choose, to obtain the required credits. So we think, our country in the setting of curriculum time completely should learn from the American experience, emphasize the foundation of life, pay attention to life experience, guide multivariate development, more from the needs of society and students survival needs to consider, setting conforms to our country national curriculum standard. ( two) teaching material Chinese teaching material relative to the United States, is boring. Take the United States of Literature, the contents of the article are novels, short stories, essays and other kinds of themes, but, each subject by a number of different age, different types of styles of different articles. The article, with background reports, authors and other related content. In addition, each lesson has special column has associated the literature Web site, thereby facilitating students extracurricular reading. Many foreign genre, content is wide, it is domestic Chinese textbook can match. Therefore, we can draw lessons from the United States of America teaching material on knowledge widen, the contempt of the depth of knowledge of excessive mining; attach importance to the students practice ability, practical ability training, the contempt of the knowledge of the rote learning; pay attention to students learning autonomy, independence and creativity cultivation, despise the same thinking too much training, so as to our teaching materials, arrangement of reform. At the same time, the United States of America textbook illustrations, vivid image, in our textbook layout can also absorb it to this experience. ( three) the classroom teaching Our classroom teaching, classroom capacity, demand is high, the classroom atmosphere more serious. Although this gives students lay a solid system foundation, but also brought inactive classroom, teacher, student thinking less defects, typical teacher-centered teaching mode, and the United States of America free, relaxed classroom atmosphere, students can walk freely during the class, free discussion, to express own viewpoint, is a typical student centered teaching mode. Therefore, we can draw lessons from the United States of America s absorption of education mode, form Chinese characteristic education pattern, which is put forward by Professor He Kekang dominated subject education mode, to improve the traditional classroom teaching, improve the students enthusiasm and initiative, to cultivate the students creative thinking and divergent thinking. The specific measures are as follows: First of all, optimize the teaching goals. According to the needs of social development, developed to meet the needs of social development, meet the future employment needs of specific teaching objectives, and formulate the corresponding evaluation scheme, to ensure the teaching objectives of the implementation. Secondly, adjust the structure of classroom. Outstanding students as the main body, autonomous learning, free development idea, overcome students hello eat teaching phenomenon. Then, strengthen teaching methods. To follow through induction, guide correctly, improve students questions, the practical ability to solve problems, teachers should change their roles from the traditional preaching, impart knowledge and solve doubts are transformed into organizer, promoter, by management as a guide, the relationship between teachers and students should be converted to partners. At the same time, the teacher in the teaching process, pay attention to the use of suitable for the courses of various teaching mode of application, such as inquiry-based learning, Blended Learning. Finally, to create a good teaching environment. To establish harmonious relationship between teachers and students, to the students to create a good, harmonious, free study atmosphere. To encourage the learning and the use of modern information technology, the research and production of computer auxiliary teaching courseware, improving the quality of teaching, at the same time, make full use of the school to provide the digital learning environment, in the teaching process can realize the information technology and curriculum integration. ( four) other aspects In strengthening the above aspects at the same time, but also to improve the treatment of teachers, strengthening the teachers team construction; increase the investment in education, improve school conditions; at the same time regular teacher training, improve the quality of teaching. Four summary Through the above on the United States and China basic education after comparing, we can see, actually the most ideal education is the two kind of education modes advantages of integration, this will have solid foundation and innovation. But as a result of these two kinds of educational models are based on different cultural traditions and social background, so together with considerable difficulty. Chinas basic education and higher education, there exist some problems and shortcomings, the United States of America education it has many advantages and advanced education in China, worth learning. But this does not mean that the Chinese education reform must complete to American education as an example, the overall absorption, to know the Sino-US education system is rooted in the cultural tradition, historical background and value orientation, whoever can not fully absorb each others essence. To sum up, we can see, different education reflects the different social and cultural connotation of the United States now, suitable teaching methods may not be entirely suitable for the Chinese education. Therefore, China s education must be based on suitable for Chinas national conditions based on the, it reflects the Chinese social and cultural connotation. So, how to explore with Chinese characteristics, in line with Chinas national education method and the education system, is our future education

St. Johns Wort and Depression :: Psychology Health Essays

St. John's Wort and Depression What is St. John's Wort? St. John's Wort scientifically known as Hypericum Perforatum, an herbal remedy generally used to treat depression, is making a rise throughout Europe and the United States. St. John's Wort is a perennial plant that produces abundant yellow flowers and grows naturally throughout much of the world, including specifically in northern California, southern Oregon, and Colorado. It usually flowers on â€Å"sunlight hills and forest edges† during the summer, between June and August. It was named after St. John the Baptist and is often harvested and in full bloom around St. John's Day, June 24. History of St. John's Wort St. John’s Wort has been in use for about 2400 years and has been utilized for many different purposes throughout history. Some of these less modern uses have been nerve tonic, painkiller, including effectiveness for relieving arthritis pain and menstrual cramping, and relief for gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, nausea, and more serious problems like ulcers. Now it is becoming more common as a remedy for depression and anxiety but is simultaneously being tested as a possible type of assistance for AIDS patients because it appears to help the immune system combat viruses. St. John's Wort as an antidepressant One out of every 20 Americans will become depressed this year. This is obviously a very major and serious problem. St. John’s Wort’s main ingredient, hypericin, is what appears to help alleviate mild to moderate depression, although not much is known about whether or not it proves helpful in severe depression. Hypericin is the red pigment of the plant and it seems to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and the breakdown of the brain’s neurotransmitters and is also a SRI, serotonin reuptake inhibitor. However, according to Jean Carper in Miracle Cures, â€Å"recent research finds hypericin less potent an antidepressant than the whole plant extract itself, suggesting the herb’s complex mixture of chemicals, including xanthones and flavonoids, also are critical in the plant’s pharmacological benefits†. St. John’s Wort is becoming increasingly popular mostly due to the lack of side effects. Other prescription antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil often produce effects like weight loss, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia. In a controlled study of St. John’s Wort, only 2. St. John's Wort and Depression :: Psychology Health Essays St. John's Wort and Depression What is St. John's Wort? St. John's Wort scientifically known as Hypericum Perforatum, an herbal remedy generally used to treat depression, is making a rise throughout Europe and the United States. St. John's Wort is a perennial plant that produces abundant yellow flowers and grows naturally throughout much of the world, including specifically in northern California, southern Oregon, and Colorado. It usually flowers on â€Å"sunlight hills and forest edges† during the summer, between June and August. It was named after St. John the Baptist and is often harvested and in full bloom around St. John's Day, June 24. History of St. John's Wort St. John’s Wort has been in use for about 2400 years and has been utilized for many different purposes throughout history. Some of these less modern uses have been nerve tonic, painkiller, including effectiveness for relieving arthritis pain and menstrual cramping, and relief for gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, nausea, and more serious problems like ulcers. Now it is becoming more common as a remedy for depression and anxiety but is simultaneously being tested as a possible type of assistance for AIDS patients because it appears to help the immune system combat viruses. St. John's Wort as an antidepressant One out of every 20 Americans will become depressed this year. This is obviously a very major and serious problem. St. John’s Wort’s main ingredient, hypericin, is what appears to help alleviate mild to moderate depression, although not much is known about whether or not it proves helpful in severe depression. Hypericin is the red pigment of the plant and it seems to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and the breakdown of the brain’s neurotransmitters and is also a SRI, serotonin reuptake inhibitor. However, according to Jean Carper in Miracle Cures, â€Å"recent research finds hypericin less potent an antidepressant than the whole plant extract itself, suggesting the herb’s complex mixture of chemicals, including xanthones and flavonoids, also are critical in the plant’s pharmacological benefits†. St. John’s Wort is becoming increasingly popular mostly due to the lack of side effects. Other prescription antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil often produce effects like weight loss, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia. In a controlled study of St. John’s Wort, only 2.

New Generation of Jails

New generation jails â€Å"seek to manage human behavior positively, consistently and fairly.† (Sullivan, 2007, â€Å"Major changes†) Goals include maximizing the interaction between the staff and prisoners, subjecting the latter to more direct and continuous supervision, and enhancing safety for both parties, by making the jail more manageable and organized. The design is based on a philosophy that accused or convicted offenders must be treated in a humane manner while being incarcerated. (Allen et. al, 2007, p. 101) New generation jails are constructed using a podular design, where housing areas are divided into smaller and more manageable pods or units. A typical unit contains single occupancy cells to avoid triggering aggressiveness among inmates that may occur when they share a cell. Each unit has a secure control booth where the staff can directly and constantly observe and supervise inmate activity. (Nelson, 1998, â€Å"New Generation Jails†) The houses are designed to imitate a â€Å"normalized environment,† where inmates can enjoy visiting, programming, recreation, and related activities. Carpeting, wood, upholstered furnishings, paint color, and considerable natural light are incorporated into the housing unit to encourage better moods and interaction. Educational facilities, telephones, exercise machines and other recreational equipment are also available. Unlike the traditional prison cell which contained only a bunk, faucet and toilet, cells now have a desk and seat, running water, intercoms, and large windows. (Law Library, 2007, â€Å"Jail structure and design characteristics†) So far, assessment of new generation jails have shown that they help alleviate problems of tension and violence, noise inside the prison, idleness, vandalism, discipline and jail costs. Staff morale, inmate control, and communication/relaying of information have also greatly improved. (Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, 2007, â€Å"The New Generation Direct Supervision Jail.†) New generation jails have been successful in alleviating and minimizing future problems, thanks to the combination of a dedicated and satisfied supervision staff and new facility designs. References Allen, H. E., Latessa, E. J., Ponder, B. S., and Simonsen, C. E. (2007). Corrections in   Ã‚  Ã‚   America: An introduction, eleventh edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. â€Å"Jail structure and design characteristics.† (2007) Law Library – American Law and Legal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Information. Retrieved April 12, 2007 Nelson, W. R. (January 5 1998). â€Å"New generation jails.† Prop1.org Web Domain. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   April 12, 2007, from http://www.prop1.org/legal/prisons/97jails.htm Sullivan, P. M. (March 21, 2007). â€Å"Influencing juvenile justice architecture.† The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Corrections Connections. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.corrections.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=15338 â€Å"The new generation direct supervision jail.† (February 28 2007) Corrections Center of    Northwest Ohio Online. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.ccnoregionaljail.org/newgenerationjail.htm   

GCSE Macbeth Assignment Essay

Shakespeare wrote â€Å"Macbeth† around 1606. This was a very violent time for the newly recognised British Isles. Just three years earlier, after nearly half a century in power, Queen Elizabeth I had died. She was succeeded by James I (or James VI of Scotland). James was of Scottish heritage and his style of rule was very different to that of Elizabeth who had been strong and imposing character. It would seem that James was a weaker monarch and in 1605, just two years after being crowned, there was a plot to destroy the houses of parliament, a symbol of his power. This is famously known as the Gunpowder Plot and is still commemorated every year on the 5th of November. Most agree that Shakespeare wrote â€Å"Macbeth† (or â€Å"The Scottish Play†) to comment on the underlying mood of the time. He sets his play in Scotland to try and win favour with King James and furthermore, makes the subject matter that of assassination and regicide ending in overall failure, to try and warn other possible plotters against the king. King James was renowned for his fascination and hatred of witches and during his reign tens of thousands of â€Å"witches† were killed. Shakespeare thus makes all the carnage and murder in the play the result of the witches’ prophecies. Our first impression of Macbeth is a very good one. In only the second scene, before we even meet Macbeth, we hear him referred to as â€Å"brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name.† Again, before Macbeth is even introduced to us, King Duncan remarks (with regard to Macbeth and Banquo) â€Å"they smack of honour both.† Although we are also told that Macbeth’s sword was â€Å"smoked with bloody execution† this is most definitely seen as a positive attribute and not as grounds for worry for the other characters. It could however, be a hint from Shakespeare that things are not completely as they seem. Initially, we see Macbeth as valiant and honourable and the man who, almost single-handedly, has saved the battle for his country. At this point, there is no finite indication of the madness that is to follow. In my opinion, right from the scene where we first meet Macbeth, Shakespeare makes it perfectly clear that he is not completely emotionally or psychologically stable. Whilst returning from the battle, Macbeth and his good friend Banquo encounter the three withes that commenced the play. They tell him, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter.† Macbeth is clearly startled by this, but he tries to reason with himself that what has been said cannot possibly be true. After a short jovial interlude with Banquo – Angus and Ross arrive and congratulate the two on their victory. Then they endow Macbeth with the title of â€Å"Thane of Cawdor,† and I believe that this is the turning point of the whole play. Macbeth seems almost entranced by this and speaks almost the whole of the rest of the scene to himself. He tries to reason what had just taken place but now, he seems changed. As the play develops, we get a closer insight into Macbeth’s mental instabilities and nowhere more so than before the murder of Duncan. Shakespeare has purposefully orchestrated a situation to show Macbeth’s true personality and inner feelings. Macbeth, however bloody and deranged he may seem after his encounter with the witches, is still a respectable man, and killing his king is a very large decision for him to take. Lady Macbeth has completely pressured him into this situation and this in itself shows us that Macbeth is not a strong person at all. We can see this clearly by the fact that Macbeth says â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business,† supposedly putting his foot down. However, by the end of Lady Macbeth’s response Macbeth is already asking the question â€Å"If we should fail?† This indicates that Lady Macbeth has no respect or fear for Macbeth who, only three scenes earlier was being described as bloody, valiant and honourable. He reminds his wife that â€Å"Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th’inventor,† pondering whether he would be killed if he were to be found out. Possibly in another act of cowardice he never directly tells Lady Macbeth about what he thinks will happen. But instead tells her, â€Å"This blow might be the be-all and the end-all here.† However, Lady Macbeth’s influence and determination is far greater than his and she forces Macbeth into the committing the deed. Macbeth tells his wife that it would be inhumane to kill King Duncan, â€Å"I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.† We can also see that there is a definite element of fear in Macbeth, as when speaking, he refrains from using the word â€Å"murder.† Instead he uses euphemisms, â€Å"done† or â€Å"it†: â€Å"If it were done when’t is done.† He uses other words such as, â€Å"surcease† and â€Å"blow,† because Macbeth cannot even bear to say the word â€Å"murder.† Throughout the scene we see flashes of the â€Å"honourable† Macbeth described at the beginning of the play. For instance Macbeth displays a degree loyalty to Duncan when arguing with Lady Macbeth because he tells her, â€Å"as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself.† The words â€Å"who should† mean that although Macbeth accepts that he should have said no to his wife, her influenced has forced him otherwise. In fitting with the times, Shakespeare uses Biblical imagery in his writing. Macbeth says â€Å"That is virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off.† Apart from showing us that Macbeth is fearful of the immediate consequences of his actions, this also reveals his paranoia over the effects it will have on his after-life. The belief that someone would either go to heaven or to hell was virtually taken for granted in the early 17th Century. By using religious imagery in his play, Shakespeare makes sure that his intended audience are able to relate to the play fully. Finally, a stronger side of Macbeth then comes out and he says â€Å"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition.† Meaning that the only thing â€Å"spurring† him on is his ambition and nothing else, not even the pressure being exerted by his wife. He tells her that she is not affecting his actions, and in doing so, attempts to reassert him authority on the conversation. Shakespeare investigates many different aspects of Macbeths psyche in this short scene. On the one hand, contradictory to the picture of Macbeth that we have built up, Macbeth seems to be very weak. This is shown by the way Lady Macbeth has easily manipulated him and in some ways poisoned his mind. In this scene we also see shades of a more gentle Macbeth coming through, with his reluctance and doubt about killing Duncan. This whole scene leaves the audience very confused. Should they feel sympathy for Macbeth as they watch him try to defend himself against Lady Macbeth’s barrage of out-downs? Or should they dismiss his reluctance to kill Duncan as a symptom of his schizophrenia (and not that his conscience is catching up with or his more humane side coming out)? I am not even sure that Macbeth quite knows what to think, something that works perfectly for Shakespeare – as this layer of uncertainty creates suspense within the audience and forces them to carry on listening. After the murder, we are given yet more insight into Macbeth’s character. Fleeing from the scene of the crime he shows signs of paranoia. After hearing someone in the distance he shouts â€Å"Who’s there? what, ho!† He is clearly not thinking as, having just committed a terrible crime; he should have tried to have stayed undetected. The murder has definitely had an effect on him. He then discovers that luckily, it is only his wife and when he meets her anxiety clouds his thoughts. The first thing that he asks is â€Å"Didst thou not hear a noise?† To calm himself down he persistently asks Lady Macbeth whether she heard noises â€Å"When?†, â€Å"As I descended?† trying to reassure himself that he was not detected and there is nothing to worry about. His speech is edgy and uneasy. It that shows that he has not managed to calm down. Shakespeare usually wrote in iambic pentameters and these short one-word questions distort the flow of this pattern and are meant to indicate the paranoia and nervousness of Macbeth and his wife. Macbeth must have been extremely perturbed when he was in the room with Duncan. He says â€Å"this is a sorry sight,† whilst he is looking at his hands. This indicates that the killing was messy and later, Macbeth describes them as â€Å"hangman’s hands.† This could mean that Macbeth is disgusted and sorrowful for committing such a disgraceful crime and that he is showing signs of remorse. He continues to use euphemisms, such as â€Å"deed† to block out and forget the murder as much as he can. Shakespeare tries to give the audience the impression that Macbeth is sorry for his actions and not a cold-blooded person. Shakespeare also gives Macbeth another human element whereby he has him looking down at his hands, something that many people can identify with. Macbeth then goes on to talk about the â€Å"deed.† He mentions that when the two grooms were in the room with Duncan one cried, â€Å"Murder!† As Macbeth has refrained from using this tabooed word throughout the passage he must be very unstable to finally use it. Shakespeare also uses an exclamation mark which is meant to startle the audience and create suspense with a short pause. The short pause here is in start contrast to Macbeths other words which are written to be spoken very quickly. This is to give the audience the idea that Macbeth wants to forget his experience and get it off his chest as quickly as possible. A good example is when Macbeth is again talking about the two grooms, â€Å"That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them; but they did say their prayers, and addressed them again to sleep†. What Macbeth says next can also tell us much about his inner feelings. He does not respond to Lady Macbeth’s remark â€Å"There are two lodged together,† but instead carries on as if she were not there. This is a sure sign, as if it were needed, that he has been deeply affected by the prior events. He speaks in a jumbled fashion but yet his flow is uninterrupted. He refers to the Biblical terms used by the guards, â€Å"G-d bless us!† and â€Å"Amen.† He then says that he could not respond to the statement â€Å"G-d bless us† with the traditional â€Å"Amen.† This is probably because, looking at his blood soaked hands and thinking about what he has done he feels that he has badly dishonoured his religion Muddling his sentences, once more reveals the volatile state of his mind and his inability to think straight. Obsessed with the betrayal of his religion, he continues to talk about his inability to say â€Å"Amen.† He also mentions, â€Å"I had most need of blessing.† Here, Macbeth must be thinking about what will happen to him in the afterlife and whether he will be eternally damned for his actions. Macbeth then carries on to talk about sleep. He tells us that sleep is â€Å"innocent,† hinting that whilst he is asleep, he does not feel the guilt of whatever cruel actions he has taken during the day. He says that sleeps is â€Å"great nature’s second course,† referring to his life as a meal and saying that his â€Å"innocent sleep† is the best course. Then his words take on a dark tone. Again, completely ignoring what Lady Macbeth has said, he carries on in an entranced state. He says â€Å"Macbeth does murder sleep†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.’ The fact that he can no longer escape to his â€Å"innocent sleep† because â€Å"Cawdor† and â€Å"Glamis† (he does not mention his own name or talk in the first person, probably through guilt) have murdered it evidently disturbs Macbeth. In my opinion, Shakespeare uses makes Macbeth say â€Å"Cawdor† and â€Å"Glamis† to remind the audience of the significance of the prophecy by the witches to the plot of the play – and specifically the murder. Finally, the audience are shown that Macbeth is broken and hysterical. Macbeth has given up and is reluctant to carry on. â€Å"I’ll go on no more: I am afraid to think what I have done.† Macbeth believes that he cannot carry on through fear of being discovered and that he would be constantly reminded of this great sin. This scene reiterates to the audience Macbeth’s insanity and shows us many of his emotions that we have already seen such. However, we see yet another side to Macbeth’s persona in the form of his religiousness. The audience is now confronted with someone who initially was the archetypal hero, but now is the complete antithesis. During the play the audience have seen his rationality and his insanity, his treachery and honour and both his bravery and cowardice. Now furthermore, we see his spirituality. Again, the audience cannot help but be bemused about who the real Macbeth is – and at this point in the play, which signals Macbeths psychological demise, this serves a brilliant dramatic purpose in that the audience really do not know what to expect next. The final act regards Macbeth’s demise. After hearing that Macbeth has murdered his entire family, Macduff (who has had his doubts about Macbeth ever since the murder of Duncan) joins forces with Prince Malcolm (Duncan’s son who fled to England after hearing of his father’s death).Meanwhile, Macbeth has visited the witches again – paranoid of Macduff’s challenge to his crown. They told him that he has nothing to worry to about â€Å"for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth† and that he was alright â€Å"until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane shall come against him.† At the beginning of Act 5 Scene 3, Macduff is already advancing on Macbeth. Macbeth seems confident and he insists, â€Å"bring me no more reports: let them fly all.† He is obviously not worried, however desperate the situation may seem because he truly believes that what the witches have told him is true. Shakespeare is possibly hinting this when he uses the word â€Å"fly† which has connotations of witchcraft. We are then reminded of Macbeth’s valiant side we were told about at the beginning of the play. He shows fearlessness by describing his servant as a â€Å"cream-faced loon,† meaning that he is pale faced and fearful. Macbeth therefore tells the servant to â€Å"prick thy face, and over-red thy fear.† Here telling him to cut himself and cover his face with the blood to look less pale. The Macbeth speaking now able to talk about subjects like shedding blood and feels no need to replace such words with euphemisms. This could be a sign that either Macbeth has lost all the guilt and remorse for his past murders, or that he is completely insane and no longer has any humanity left. We see flashes of this valiant Macbeth throughout the act. An example of this is when he says â€Å"I’ll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked.† Macbeth is then greeted with the news that – in the words of his messenger – â€Å"The wood began to move† He wonders whether the witches have deceived him, and he sets out fighting even though it may be in vain. He crosses Siward’s son. Macbeth is very arrogant about his clash with Siward’s son, because the witches’ predictions have proved correct so far, and they have told him not to fear any human born of a woman. Siward’s Son asks him his name, and as if a man assured of victory he replies â€Å"Thou’lt be afraid to hear it.† He finally answers â€Å"My name’s Macbeth,† this short phrase shows how self-assured Macbeth is. It also carries alliteration when spoken. The conflict concludes with Siward’s Son’s death. Macbeth makes a speech in soliloquy after killing Siward, â€Å"But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.† The rhyming couplet gives his image a boost by convincing the audience that he is invincible. He assures himself that he has power and control over fate. When Macbeth meets Macduff, he tries to take the same tone as with Siward’s Son. He tells Macduff that â€Å"I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born† Macduff replies â€Å"Despair thy charm†¦ Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripp’d.† At this Macbeth is clearly startled and he curses the witches accusing them of being â€Å"juggling fiends,† because they have tricked him through â€Å"juggling† their words. When Macbeth accepts Macduff’s challenge, even though he knows the end is near, the valiant and honourable side of his character shines through again. Macduff calls Macbeth a â€Å"coward† and tells him to â€Å"yield.† Possibly in one final maniac act of desperation he accepts the challenge and does not yield. He says that he cannot be dishonoured, â€Å"to kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet.† This is very clever as it uses distinct imagery that is easy to relate to. He goes on to say â€Å"I will not yield†¦ to be baited with the rabble’s curse†, saying that if he yields even common people will tease him. He goes forth to battle with Macduff and is killed. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is on of the classic tragic figures in literary history. He personifies a man’s corruption as a result of power. From our initial view of him, as what can only be described as a hero, we see him fall into an abyss of mental instability and eventually insanity. Shakespeare investigates many ideas such as, things not being as they seem, feminine influence and the overall result of regicide. He uses many cleverly crafted semantic fields such as clothes (â€Å"why do you dress me in borrow’d robes†) and a man’s face (â€Å"There’s daggers in men’s smiles†). These all work as clever imagery to further entice the audience. Apart from being a tragic hero, Macbeth is also one of the most complicated of all of Shakespeare’s characters. He goes through almost every emotion that we have a word for, and his feelings always contradict. First we think he is a fearless warrior, and then we see him bullied by his heartless wife. This serves a superb dramatic purpose for Shakespeare as the audience are never sure what to think or what to expect next. The conclude, the play â€Å"Macbeth† is undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s greatest masterpieces and is a timeless piece of theatre – with its core, being the dramatic enigma that it the character, Macbeth.

Free Essays on Concepts Of Marketing

The first lesson deals with setting priorities when dealing with money. First, you must narrow your goals and realize which are more important then others. You must also start early, the sooner you begin taking control of your finances the more time you have to achieve your goals. You should make a list of your goals and rank them from most important to least important and it is also important to include other members of your family in your plans. Other important things to remember are not to sweat the small stuff, but worry about the bigger things and be prepared to alter your lifestyle to achieve your new financial goals. The second lesson focuses on making a budget. The most important thing to know about making a budget is the three steps that are used to create one. You must identify how you spend money, evaluate your current spending status and set goals, and lastly track your spending to stay within the budget you set for yourself. Furthermore, you must beware of unnecessary purchases however, you don’t have to be too obsessive. A good budget would be to only spend 90% of your income. The third lesson deals with banking and saving. It is important for people to realize that their money is safe in banks and benefits from being there. When choosing a bank it is also good to know that not all banks are the same. Some have different interest rates so it is a good idea to shop around for a good bank before you sign up for an account. Also, there are alternative methods of banking like certificates of deposit however, they’re more risky. ATM’s are also something to watch out for as some carry a service charge. The fourth lesson talks about strategies used for investing. There are two main types of investments stocks and bonds. Bonds are more safe however usually don’t turn as great of a profit. Stocks on the other hand are more of an all or nothing investment and usually the riskier the stock the more profit you will gain... Free Essays on Concepts Of Marketing Free Essays on Concepts Of Marketing The first lesson deals with setting priorities when dealing with money. First, you must narrow your goals and realize which are more important then others. You must also start early, the sooner you begin taking control of your finances the more time you have to achieve your goals. You should make a list of your goals and rank them from most important to least important and it is also important to include other members of your family in your plans. Other important things to remember are not to sweat the small stuff, but worry about the bigger things and be prepared to alter your lifestyle to achieve your new financial goals. The second lesson focuses on making a budget. The most important thing to know about making a budget is the three steps that are used to create one. You must identify how you spend money, evaluate your current spending status and set goals, and lastly track your spending to stay within the budget you set for yourself. Furthermore, you must beware of unnecessary purchases however, you don’t have to be too obsessive. A good budget would be to only spend 90% of your income. The third lesson deals with banking and saving. It is important for people to realize that their money is safe in banks and benefits from being there. When choosing a bank it is also good to know that not all banks are the same. Some have different interest rates so it is a good idea to shop around for a good bank before you sign up for an account. Also, there are alternative methods of banking like certificates of deposit however, they’re more risky. ATM’s are also something to watch out for as some carry a service charge. The fourth lesson talks about strategies used for investing. There are two main types of investments stocks and bonds. Bonds are more safe however usually don’t turn as great of a profit. Stocks on the other hand are more of an all or nothing investment and usually the riskier the stock the more profit you will gain...

How to win more work with your bids and tenders

How to win more work with your bids and tenders 9 ways to win more work with your bids and tenders In sport, there’s often a fine line between being hailed as the champ or dubbed an also-ran. For every Olympic 10,000m gold medallist there were probably dozens of potential champions. But no matter. Whoever crosses the line first, even by a fraction of a second, takes the spoils. Coming out on top is often about good preparation and the little things your competitors failed to take into account. It’s the same when bidding for work. And you probably know from experience that the competition to edge ahead can be as fierce there as on the race track. So here are nine ways you can get your nose in front to consistently be the champ, and not end up an also-ran chump. 1. Write fewer bids Ironically, it’s sometimes easier to win more work by focusing your energies on fewer bids and tenders. Alarm bells should be ringing if you find yourself winging it when answering half a dozen key questions in an invitation to tender (ITT) or pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). Newcomers, especially, can be tempted to bid for contracts that don’t actually suit their capabilities. So concentrate on the bids and tenders where you are most likely to succeed. 2. Get under their skin †¦ †¦ in a good way, of course. When you do identify a suitable opportunity, ask yourself this crucial question: how can I find out what the potential client really wants? Sometimes it’s obvious. A good ITT will make their priorities clear from the outset. Sadly, the reality is that most are poorly written. For example, you may need to read carefully to spot key needs that aren’t even mentioned in a list of ‘essential requirements’. In any case, always broaden your research beyond the ITT to get the bigger picture of what matters to them right now. Check out their website, news stories about them and blog posts by the CEO. And if you are looking to renew ongoing business with a customer, speak to your sales team or client relationship managers. They’re best placed to give you crucial insights into the challenges the client faces, or their preferred method of working. 3. Put your win themes in the spotlight Once you understand your potential client, focus on the factors most likely to win you their business – your ‘win themes’. For example, your prospect might be an eco-friendly organic food producer looking for a supplier of cardboard packaging. Your win theme here may be that you source all your cardboard products via certified sustainable forest management. Use every relevant opportunity to drive home that message, such as in the executive summary, case studies and even in project team CVs. It’s vital to back up win themes with facts, though. In the case above, this might be how many trees you’ve had planted, or how you helped another client achieve their carbon emissions target six months early. 4. Remember it’s not about you Win themes are firmly focused on the client’s needs. And your entire bid or tender should be, too. It’s easy to come out all guns blazing, singing the praises of your own organisation – but doing thats likely to just alienate the reader. Far better to make it clear, early on, that you understand their issues and needs. And when referring to the features of your product or service, make clear the benefits for that particular client at the same time. So, avoid the old-school, in-your-face sales pitch approach. And adopting the right tone can be crucially important in other ways, too. 5. Keep it positive A delegate on one of our bid-writing courses couldn’t understand why so many of their submissions for event-management contracts met with only a lukewarm response, and ultimately a rejection. He told us: ‘We know we can match our competitors on price. We have masses of experience, too, and plenty of good case studies to back us up.’ A review of their ITT responses revealed the root of the problem – a worryingly negative vibe. Statements such as ‘We believe we can deliver the contract to a satisfactory standard’ were unlikely to inspire confidence. Better to use positive phrases such as ‘We will ensure that †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and a stronger adjective than a mere satisfactory. Likewise, they referred to ‘trying to’ or ‘aiming to’ achieve goals, rather than saying there were ‘confident’ of doing so. And when describing a prospective client, avoid being overly deferential in a way that is likely to make them cringe (‘We would be honoured to build a relationship with your prestigious research establishment ’). It can sound like you feel lucky to even be in with a chance of working with them. They’re going to be putting their trust in you. So its far better to position yourself as an equal or high-level adviser. Remember, too, that referring to competitors is generally frowned upon in bid writing as much as in other areas of sales, and with good reason. For one thing, your response should be strong enough to sell itself, without taking potshots at the opposition. (Plus, do you really want to give over valuable space in your bid to name-checking alternative suppliers?) 6. Favour simple over waffle It can be tempting to include everything you can think of when responding to a question in an ITT, in the vain hope that your singularly comprehensive answer will impress the reader. That’s rarely the best idea. Let’s look at two potential responses from a reader’s point of view. Question: ‘What are your proposed delivery timescales?’ Answer 1: ‘Four months.’ Answer 2: ‘Given the emphasis you have placed on achieving your ambitions within a relatively short timeframe, we have carried out an in-depth assessment of the global effects of leveraging the synergies we can achieve through our involvement in this project. This substantive evaluation has given us the confidence to predict a delivery period of 16 weeks, in line with your expectations.’ The first answer is straightforward and its lack of waffle makes the writer sound more confident. Only give detail that’s helpful to the reader, using clear, concise language that avoids unnecessary jargon. Remember, though, that it can sometimes help to mirror some of the language the prospective client appears comfortable with – they may refer to ‘service users’ rather than ‘customers’, for example. In which case, you should too. 7. Help them to help you Where the bidding process allows it, do communicate with prospective clients. It can help you build a rapport with them. And don’t be afraid to seek clarification on important points, such as budget. Doing so, far from being a sign of weakness, will show your dedication to genuinely fulfilling their needs. It will also give you a chance to build your working relationship even before they hire you. (Note though that in formal tender processes, both questions and responses from the client may well be made public to all suppliers tendering.) 8. Beware of ‘the stupids’ Your submission is finished ahead of the deadline. You’ve even double-checked it against a compliance matrix to make sure you’ve included a solution for everything the ITT asked for. Almost time then to breathe a sigh of relief and get on with all those everyday tasks you’ve had to put off. But not so fast. It’s so easy to blow it in the final stages. First, watch out for silly mistakes that undermine your credibility. Years ago, we were working closely with a key decision-maker whose role at the time was to award contracts to run entire rail franchises. As you can imagine, such decisions are far from simple and involve assessing a huge amount of technical detail. Yet he told us that his first action when assessing any bid was to quickly leaf through it and circle silly mistakes, which he called the ‘stupids’. These could include, say, instances where the writer had made a common spelling mistake in the name of a station. (For example, writing ‘Bridgewater’ instead of ‘Bridgwater’, when referring to the town in Somerset, UK.) Though these might seem trivial, collectively they call into question just how well the supplier knows the area. He and his colleagues would take the total number of silly mistakes into account when weighing up competing bids. In fact, his non-orthodox technique has a sound basis in social psychology. That’s because we are all hard-wired to look for cues that suggest we would be wise not to put all our trust in what we’re reading. The cues we rely on most (even if we do so unconsciously) include those that are easy for the people we’re assessing to get wrong if they don’t know what they’re doing. Failing to spell key place names correctly is a good example. The impact of stupids may be far greater than you think, as they can lead decision-makers to quickly lose confidence in your document and, by default, you and your organisation. So, ensure your document has been edited carefully and then proofread properly. Pay particularly close attention to the executive summary – a stupid mistake there really can make all the hard work of putting a bid together utterly futile. 9. Don’t fall at the final hurdle Finally, presentation. It’s more important than you may think. Your document needs to look approachable and professional – and be sure to check for any specific requirements such as the number of copies they need and whether the bid or proposal should be bound. And if you submit your bid electronically, do make sure it’s been safely received. After all, it’s impossible to win a new piece of business if you actually fail to deliver your bid at all. Try these 9 steps to finish first Its a competitive world out there, and in sales – unlike in sport – theres no prize for coming second. But apply these nine steps to all your bids and tenders, and you will be odds-on for a win every time. hbspt.cta.load(2645537, 'bcc87e53-f3f4-4632-9e9d-ecd393514f70', {}); Image credit: Halfpoint / Shutterstock

Moral Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Moral Project - Essay Example In the similar manner, ethical practices are also important for a company. From the perspective of an organization, ethics is concerned about the judging what is right and wrong. The decision making process of a company is also greatly influenced by its ethical guidelines and culture. Nevertheless, ethical practise help companies to attract new customers, satisfy employees, and attract investors for making investments in the company. On the other hand, unethical behavior may damage the reputation of a company and will hardly appeal to stakeholders. As a result of that the profit levels of the company may also decline (Tillotts, 2011). This study aim to shed light on the moral challenges or ethical dilemmas faced by Monsanto and evaluates the viability of the decisions made by them to deal with the prevailing scenario. It has been observed that the company has been experiencing ethical issues for a long period of time mostly due to its product portfolio, business models and the leader ship styles. Monsanto Company is a multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation based in US. The company is currently headquartered at Creve Coeur, Missouri. It was founded in the year 1901 by John Francis Queeny. The company is known as the foremost producer of genetically engineered (GE) seeds. However, during its early days, the company was also known as one of the leading producers of plastics which include synthetic fibers and polystyrene. Some of the best selling products of the company are herbicides, pesticides, and crop seeds. The company has earlier produced a number of controversial products such as Agent Orange, PCBs, DDT, and recombinant bovine somatotropin (Yahoo Finance, 2013). With its strong research and development (R&D), and engineering department Monsanto has been able to achieve several acclamations. It is also the first company to have produced light emitting diodes or commonly known as LEDs. The current employee strength of the company is 21,000 (Monsa nto, 2013). As of the financial year end 2011, the net revenue of the company was US$ 11.822 billion and operating income of Increase US$ 2.502 billion. The figure clearly portrays the stable financial position of the company. Despite of its strong financial position and well developed market, there are several allegations against the company in terms of its unethical leadership. In addition, ethical questions were also raised against the company because of their unscrupulous products. For example, the model of the company pertaining to seed patenting was also criticized and was regarded as biopiracy and moreover it was also a threat of the biodiversity. It has been observed that the activities of the company are unethical and devious at any angle. This is because of the company’s nature to control every thin they are involved into. For example, they strongly administer the production system, the distribution channel as well as the activities of the employee. Up till this pra ctise, there is no scope of raising issue against the company pertaining to ethical guidelines. However, the ethical issues come up when the company tries to control even the consumption pattern of their products. This becomes more evident when the farmers were deceived while making contracts with the company. This forced the farmers to but seeds from the company at a higher