Acorn Barnacles Facts

Acorn barnacles are crustaceans in the Balanidae family and Balanus genus that all share the same common name and can include any stalkless barnacle in the order Sessilia. They are part of class Maxillopoda, and their genus name comes from the Greek word balanos, meaning acorn. Acorn barnacles live along rocky shores and are filter feeders. They begin life as free swimmers like other crustaceans but attach themselves to rocks or bottoms of boats and spend the rest of their lives in this position. Fast Facts Scientific Name: BalanusCommon Names: Acorn barnacleOrder: SessiliaBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: from 0.7 inch (balanus glandula) to above 4 inches (balanus nubilus)Life Span: 1 to 7 yearsDiet: Plankton and edible detritusHabitat: Rocky shoresPopulation: Not evaluatedFun Fact: In just 2 years, as much as 10 tons of acorn barnacles can be attached to ships, causing enough drag to increase fuel consumption by 40% Description Acorn Barnacle Shells. Â  medveh / Getty Images Plus Acorn barnacles are crustaceans and not mollusks. They are joint-legged animals that live inside cone-shaped shells, standing on their heads and grabbing food with their legs. Acorn barnacles are also sessile, or fixed in place, and remain in the place they attach themselves to as larvae. Due to their stationary lives, there is no discernible separation between the head and thorax. Because their legs absorb oxygen, acorn barnacles’ legs are feathery and gill-like. They produce a shell as they reach adulthood, which is made of six fused plates with a hole in the top to allow them to feed and a valve to seal the shell against predators. They also have cement glands that produce brown glue that attaches them to surfaces, an adhesive so strong that not even acids can remove the shell even after they have died. Common predators of acorn barnacles include starfish and snails. Both have the ability to penetrate their hard shells. Starfish can pull the shells apart while the snails are able to penetrate via the fused plates. Habitat and Distribution These creatures live on rocky shores along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in temperate and tropical regions across the world. They primarily live in tropical, tidal zone, marine environments but can survive in cooler regions. They attach themselves to ship hulls, whales, turtles, and rocks depending on the surface contour, water movement, and light. Diet and Behavior Their diet consists of plankton and edible detritus that they filter from the water with their feathery legs. Once attached to a surface, the barnacle’s valve opens, and its legs search the water for plankton. The valve tightly closes when it is threatened by a predator or when the tide becomes low. The door allows them to trap water in their shells and conserve moisture so that they do not dry out. Acorn barnacles prefer to settle in large groups, which comes in handy during breeding season. Some species, like balanus glandula, can reach population densities of up to 750,000 per square foot. They compete for space with other rock dwellers such as anemones and mussels. Each species adapts to different tidal zones, so different acorn barnacle species can be zoned above or below each other. Reproduction and Offspring These barnacles are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both female and male sex organs. Since they can’t fertilize themselves, they rely on fertilizing neighboring individuals. Because acorn barnacles are stationary, they grow long penises, which can be up to 6 times the length of their own bodies at 3 inches. They pass and receive sperm within a 3 inch range, and any barnacles more than this range from any neighbor can not reproduce. At the end of mating season, the penis dissolves only to be grown again the next year. Each barnacle broods fertilized eggs within their shells. Once hatched, acorn barnacles begin life as free swimming larvae. When they decide to settle, the larvae glue their heads to a hard surface and build their cone-shaped shells of limestone, becoming miniature adults. Species Closeup of Balanus balanoides on a stone. HHelene / iStock / Getty Images Plus Acorn barnacles are any stalkless barnacle species in the genus Balanus, and any barnacle in the order Sessilia can have the same common name. There are approximately 30 different species in the genus Balanus, from the smallest in size, Balanus glandula, to the largest, Balanus nubilus. All Balanus species are hermaphrodites. Some additional examples of acorn barnacle species are: Balanus crenatus, Balanus eburneus, Balanus perforatus, and Balanus trigonus. Conservation Status Most Balanus species have not been evaluated by the the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Balanus aquila has been designated as data deficient. However, their range and prevalence continue to increase as barnacles attach themselves to boats and animals that displace them large distances. Sources Acorn Barnacle. Monterey Bay Aquarium, https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/animal-guide/invertebrates/acorn-barnacle.Acorn Barnacle. Oceana, https://oceana.org/marine-life/cephalopods-crustaceans-other-shellfish/acorn-barnacle.Acorn Barnacle. Slater Museum Of Natural History, https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/exhibits/marine-panel/acorn-barnacle/.Balanus Aquila. IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species, 1996, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2534/9450643.Lott, L. Semibalanus Balanoides. Animal Diversity Web, 2001, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Semibalanus_balanoides/.

What I am Passionate About Free Essays

Usain Bolt has won six Olympic gold medals. What do they all have in common? It is not that they won numerous gold medals. It Is they are all passionate about what they do, Since I started preschool at age four, my time outside of school have been piled up with never ending activities, first there was ballet, then came ice skating, art class, then swimming, chess, then Plano, speed reading, and flute. We will write a custom essay sample on What I am Passionate About or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whenever I quit doing one thing, I picked up something new. As the years go by, most of these activities are only memories, but one thing has rooted inside of me. After a day of academic learning and demanding homework, I will quickly retreat into my safe haven, drawing. I love drawing. I think I am better at it than spelling. Maybe that is the reason I am better at math and science than reading and writing in school. To me, math and science is another way of drawing using dfferent media. I believe when writers want to write, their minds will be filled with words and sentences, but when I want to express myself, my mind will be filled with images and graphics. School, homework, and keeping up good grades can be pretty stressful, When I draw, I feel I am In a world where there are endless sunshine, a warm breeze, soft rolling green hills, fragrant flowers, morning dew on the bright green grass, chirping birds†¦ sometimes there are lines, geometric shapes, and dots which all Intertwine In the endless void. As long as I can Imagine, I can draw, I feel happy. People often think artists are only appreciated when they are dead. I believe that is a narrow way to appreciate art. Art is the major part of our life. Everything we live by pretty much started out with an Idea throwing on a piece of paper in the form of sketch or drawing. How would Thomas Edison plan out his idea for the light bulb? Drawing has become a major part of me; it has become my anchor and my passion and I am pretty darn good at It. How to cite What I am Passionate About, Papers

Agenda Setting free essay sample

Agenda Setting Patricia Wigington Grand Canyon University COM 126 Introduction The mass media today, no longer reports public opinion, it drives it. This paper discusses how mass media sets the agenda, and what impact this had on the issues that emerged during the 2008 presidential election. According to Donald Shaw and Maxwell Combs, agenda is a theory to describe now the news media can have a considerable impact on shaping the publics opinion of a social reality, on influencing what people believe are important issues. (ShawMcCombs, 1977) Agenda SettingMedia consolidation is one thing that contributes to agenda-setting. As the number of newspapers dwindles and radio and TV stations are sold to one or two conglomerates, the news is in effect being censored because it reflect only the viewpoint of a single organization. If conflicting views are never even mentioned, the public is never aware that there is an entirely different side to the issue than the one being presented. It requires persistence to find out the facts of an issue, and people may not make the effort. Then too, the media itself has changed dramatically in recent years.Many people now get their news from digital media including the Internet, but the flood of electronic information may not make them more knowledgeable, just more informed about issues they may not consider important. Marshall McLuhan once famously argued that the medium is the message; David Considine twists it slightly, to the idea that the â€Å"medium is the massage,† and that we are all being worked over by the media, in particular younger people (Considine, 2009, p. 65). Today’s technology, people using several electronic devices simultaneously, practice widely known as multitasking (Considine, 2009). Time Magazine wondered, however, if people are â€Å"too wired for their own good,† and whether modern media were contributing to â€Å"students’ reduced attention spans, making it harder for educators to reach and teach them† (Considine, 2009, p. 65). There is a legitimate question as to whether this environment of electronic noise and constant communication makes them â€Å"active and informed citizens† or merely â€Å"spectators moving from one distraction to another† (Considine, 2009, p. 65).The answer seems clear when Considine reveals that despite the fact that in 2006, the number of young people ages 18-29 in the U. S. was 50 million, only seven million voted in the mid-term election (Considine, 2009). In other words, they have access to information but don’t transform that information into knowledge or political action. Younger people are a volatile population when it comes to voting. They become wildly enthusiastic for a particular candidate such as Ron Paul or Howard Dean, but fail to show up at the polls (Considine, 2009).Barack Obama was able to energize this group on his own behalf and that of other Democratic candidates: â€Å"Exit polling from the January 2008 Iowa caucus for the Democratic candidates showed a record turnout among eighteen-to twenty-nine year olds, who heavily supported the theme of change promoted by Senator Barack Obama† (Considine, 2009, p. 66). Now of course they seem to have disengaged again and organizations such as Democracy for America and Moveon. org are actively working to re-energize them and get them to the polls in November.Part of Barack Obama’s success in the 2008 election was due to his savvy use of electronic media (Considine, 2009). He was able to â€Å"use new technology to reach and energize voters; his campaign built a substantial database and achieved record-breaking fundraising† (Considine, 2009, p. 66). It also seems logical that part of his appeal is that he does know how to use Twitter and FaceBook, and that he tweets personal messages; his electronic presence immediately makes his opponent look old and out of touch.He further endeared himself to young voters and â€Å"reaffirmed his commitment to communication technology when he insisted on keeping his personal Blackberry† (Considine, 2009,p. 66) The tendency of the media to set agendas was clearly shown in the summer of 2009, when electronic forums such as YouTube and Twitter, along with traditional outlets such as newspaper columns, t ook up the health-care debate and buzzed about such ludicrous and inaccurate items as â€Å"’death panels,’ socialism, Hitler and fascism† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 29). These scare tactics, which are all completely false, were used to try and discredit both the reform effort and the President, and are a clear example of the way the media sets an agenda. Picking up on the hysteria of the far right, the media repeated the lies without doing any fact checking, leading commentators to wonder â€Å"how these ideas rationally relate to the debate over reform† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 329).The fact that these crazy notions were not only given credence but reported widely, and continue to appear in the media, show how powerful such things can be â€Å"in shaping public opinion and ultimately in shaping governmental action† (Jones McBeth, 2010, p. 329). The misleading claims about â€Å"death panels,† the idea of Obama being Hitler and leading the country into a Socialist government are all â€Å"elements of larger policy tall-tales that were intentionally used by opponents of health-care reform attempting to derail President Oba ma’s reform. Obama’s supporters countered these lies with stories of their own: personal accounts from Americans who, for various reasons, were priced out of the heath care system or even denied care (Jones McBeth, 2010). The use of narratives is a powerful tool in setting the political agenda in the United States. One study found that although TV and internet users had a common agenda (the use of electronic media), their â€Å"ranked agendas† differed greatly from the ranked agendas of the media themselves (Brubaker, 2008).That is, the TV watchers and internet users were not interested in the programming or information that was being presented to them: â€Å"The overall general media audience ranked 10 or the 11 public affairs issues significantly different than presented by the media† (Brubaker, 2008). TV watchers and internet users were interested in â€Å"important public affairs issues,† but the agenda they were following â€Å"significantly differed from the ag enda that medium was showing them’ (Brubaker, 2008). This implies that the media â€Å"are not powerful in setting the agenda of important public affairs or political issues.People have particular issues they feel are important, regardless of what the media present† (Brubaker, 2008). This seems to be at odds with the idea that the media sets the agenda. and people simply put up with it. With regard to the 2008 Presidential election, the agenda presented by the media was that of the war in Iraq, but it was quickly displaced by concern about the economy; an agenda driven by consumers’ interests, not those of the media (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). But this source claims that the media set another agenda, a highly visible but totally unnecessary one, that of race.Barack Obama is black, and that became a major issue in the election: â€Å"The measurement of Obama’s potential success didn’t lie in whether or not voters were willing to vote for a black candidate, but whether or not voters, more specifically white voters, could view Obama, or blacks in general, as leaders (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). Had the media been more concerned about Obama’s positions and qualifications and less about the color of hi s skin, the entire election would have been conducted on a much higher level.This source also notes that the racial issues was studied in swing states like Ohio, where it was deemed to be extremely important (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). In one study, Ohio was measured for â€Å"favorability between candidates in the areas of republicans, democrats, independents, men, women, whites and blacks;† it was found that a vast majority of black voters, as many as 90%, favored Obama, no matter what their previous voting record or party affiliation was (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).The question raised by this result is whether our society â€Å"is the way it is because of the media, or is the media a direct reflection of the way society is †¦ In the case of Obama for President, the media clearly allowed race to chase to the top of the list of exaggerated issues that never should have been a part of the presidential election in the first place† (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).In response to the popularity of Obama, the Republicans tried to set the media agenda to focus on issues such as Iraq and health care, arguing that race should not be consuming the attention focused on it ( Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010). But Republicans also tried to set an agenda favorable to them by introducing Sarah Palin as their vice presidential candidate to appeal to women voters; setting the agenda worked in Ohio, where pollsters noted a shift among women of all races who were not previously affiliated with a particular party (Agenda setting and the Obama election, 2010).

Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand

Executive Summary What must be understood is that the way in which a product is promoted in one country (i.e. the name of the product, its general appearance, and how a company chooses to appeal to consumers) is often engineered to appeal to the cultural and social predilections of that particular consumer population.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, not all consumers in the global market place have the same tastes when it comes to particular methods of marketing a product. It is based on this that this paper will explore standardization versus customization of a global brand in order to determine the effectiveness of either met Introduction Branding is an important aspect of selling products since it is the manner in which consumers differentiate one product from the rest in terms of what the brand represents such as quality, product longevity and popularity (Viswanathan and Dickson 2007, pp. 46-63). This can often be seen in various advertisements wherein a brand name product is often compared to Brand X (a metaphor for another company’s products) wherein the brand name product that is being promoted is shown to be superior in terms of quality and value. However, the promotion of a particular brand is not limited to a products home market; rather, companies tend to expand into other international markets in order to be more competitive against their rivals in the same industry. For example, international advertising initiatives such as those done by Unilever, Pepsi and Kraft Foods all attempt to target new markets within foreign countries due to flat growth in their main consumer markets (i.e. the U.S.) They do this by utilizing various local pop culture icons in print ads and television advertisements in order to create an association between such stars and the product the company want s to sell thus resulting in a far greater degree of sales and product patronage.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this case, this is a form of informative advertising wherein companies seek to create greater awareness for their products/services. The reason behind such actions was noted in the work of Chang (1995) where it was stated that companies often implement a form of product customization in order to make a product more appealing to a local culture (Chang 1995, pp. 5-10). As such, based on the work of Chang (1995) this necessitates the development of new brand promotion initiatives that appeal more to the target market in the country that the company is attempting to penetrate. The reason behind such attempts at developing an appeal that is more in line with the tastes of the local populace instead of relying on the traditional branding of the company is due the pr esence of already well-established brands within the targeted markets with similar products lines (Chae and Hill 2000, pp. 538-562). Attempting to penetrate such markets with a branding strategy that was utilized in a company’s home market where there is already an assortment of local brands that are popular with local consumers in the new target market could result in a relatively low product uptake which could result in significant financial losses for the company. One way of overcoming this was actually shown by Wal-Mart when it entered into the Chinese market. What the company did was bring in it’s own branding into China yet adjusted its product lineup to include local favorites that would be bought by consumers. On the other hand, while Wal-mart was successful in integrating itself into an international market, other companies were not so lucky with particular brands such as Pepsi initially suffering a setback in the Chinese market due to the way in which the phr ase â€Å"Come alive with Pepsi!† (a phrase used in a lot of its branding initiatives) was translated erroneously resulting in â€Å"Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead†.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The last example of which showcases how branding can go wrong happened when Gerber attempted to market its products in South Africa. What must be understood is that literacy is often an issue in this part of the world resulting in canned products often bearing a photo of what is outside of it to tell people what is in the product. Thus, when marketed in South Africa sales of Gerber’s products plummeted since people though that the product contained processed babies. Taking such factors into consideration, it can be seen that it is often necessary to rebrand a product in order for it be successf ul in a local market given the potential for cultural misunderstandings to arise resulting in low product sales. However, this is not to say that adopting a standardized method of brand promotion is not effective. Companies such as Mc Donald’s, Toyota and Ford have implemented a pretty standardized brand strategy across different markets and have emerged as globally competitive companies with well-recognized brands. When analyzing such aspects, it is necessary to examine standardization versus customization of a global brand in order to determine which method of branding would be advantageous for a company looking to establish itself in other global markets.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Understanding Consumer Buying Behavior and Brand Development It is rather interesting to note that various theories of consumer decision-making processes always seem to assume that consumers pass through distinct stages/steps before, during and after the process of selecting a particular product to buy or service to utilize. What must be understood is that an average consumer is influenced by a myriad of different factors that affect the way in which they choose to patronize a particular product or service (Brierley 2012, pp. 225-233). This can range from various psychological reactions such as the way in which they think and feel about different products (i.e. brand perception) to the way in which the market environment they are currently present in affects the way in which they perceive a particular product or service (i.e. local culture, their family, local media influences, etc.) (Wagner et al. 2009, pp. 69-85). For example, the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent financial recession the U.S. and Europe is currently experiencing have greatly affected the way in which consumers perceive particular products or services at the present (Wagner et al., 2009, pp. 69-85). Consumers these days have become more conservative in their spending habits resulting in the resurgence of popular brands such as Mc Donald’s who have great product offerings at incredibly low prices. What is interesting though, is how affordability and lower incomes affect consumer choice and thus brand development. The concept of rational behavior assumes that all consumers are rational individuals who try to use their earned income in order to derive the greatest amount of satisfaction/ utility. In other words, consumers try to get the most out of their income through rational buying behavior which results in a maximization of total utility from the products or services used (Rossiter Foxall 2008, pp. 123-141). In the case of this section of the paper, this comes in the form of c ustomers opting for affordable food in the form of Mc Donald’s due to limited amounts of money. (Shaw, Shiu, Clarke 2000, pp. 879-894). This rational behavior is based on the fact that consumers will act in an economically competent manner in that they will not spend too much money on irrational purchases or services (Calder Burnkrant 1977, pp. 29-38). As such, the concept of rational behavior assumes all consumers engage in rational buying behaviors which becomes the basis for any future analysis of consumer patronage towards a particular type of brand (Oshikawa 1969, pp. 44-49). This is one of reasons why the standardization of the Mc Donald’s brand across multiple countries and consumer segments has been so successful given the brand’s association with fast and affordable food for the masses. This is one the factors that companies should consider when developing their international branding strategies wherein they need to know what their brand represents an d how it is effectively interpreted by the local populace and the consumer segment that the company is attempting to target (Viswanathan and Dickson 2007, pp. 46-63). In the case of Mc Donald’s, it has always had a more â€Å"generalized† marketing strategy which focuses on targeting class C (i.e. low income) or class b (i.e. mid-income) consumers due to the product offerings it has. By focusing on serving everybody, the company does not need to worry as much on product distinction; rather, it focuses on promotion through affordability. Similar companies that are able to utilize a standardized branding strategy by virtue of their business model come in the form of companies such as Tide (the detergent company) or Microsoft (the software developer) (O’Donnell and Jeong 2000, pp. 19-33). Either of the companies that were mentioned are focused more on generalized methods of sale to all consumer classes and thus customization of a global brand is not necessary. Howe ver, there are cases where customization is necessary given different price points that a company wishes to enter. It is based on this that the next section will examine such aspects. One of the approaches to branding that should be considered by companies when approaching consumer relationships is to take into account business cycles and market slumps and adjust branding strategies accordingly. As explained by Professor Leonard Lodish of the Wharton School of Business â€Å"pricing is a critical element of successful marketing, in good times and in bad and many companies do not focus enough on getting their pricing right†. It is based on this and the cyclical cycle of business that companies should consider proper branding strategies when penetrating particular markets. This takes the form of taking into account the physical value of the product being sold as well as various non-tangible elements that consumers take into consideration before they will be willing to pay for a product. For example, the state of the housing market in the U.S. is at an all-time low; however, there are still individuals who are in need of homes. In such cases, developers need to take into account the physical cost of the home itself and factor in the current housing slump before creating a price range for a particular apartment or home. It is based on this that it can be said that the greater the amount of non-tangible assets that are taken into consideration by the customer before making a purchase the greater the need for companies to fix prices in accordance with what is necessary to sell the product itself. This principle can be seen at work in the case of Whirpool and its branding strategy wherein it focused on a branding strategy that utilized a high-end brand (Bauknecht), a mass-market brand (Whirlpool) and a value brand (Ignis). By positioning itself in different points in the market with a branding strategy that enabled it to encompass different types of consumers, this enabled the company to develop a better pan-European positioning in terms of being able to penetrate multiple markets under different branding methods. This method of brand customization is in part due to the company’s desire to be able to appeal to multiple consumer segments through brands that are more inclined towards their end of the consumer market. For example, the brand â€Å"Whirlpool† is often associated as a mass-market type of product. However, it is not known as a high-end brand nor is associated as being a value brand that customers at the lower end of the consumer spectrum can afford. While the company could have implemented a standardized branding strategy in this case and sold different types of products for the upper and lower end of the consumer spectrum, the brand association of Whirlpool as a mass-market product would go against it. This would result in consumers in the upper end of the income spectrum assuming that the quality of the product is too low for their needs while those in the lower end of the consumer spectrum would assume that the product is too expensive for them to afford. By diversifying the company’s brand in Europe through the high end Bauknecht and the low end Ignis, this enabled the company to better capture the European market without attempting to overextend the Whirlpool brand name into multiple consumer spectrums which would cause confusion regarding the type of products the company makes (Ronkainen 1996, pp. 56-63). For example, if the company attempted to develop products for the upper end of the consumer spectrum those at the lower end would think that the brand is far too expensive for them despite the availability of affordable choices while the reverse can also occur wherein appealing to the lower end of the consumer spectrum might result in the alienation of those in the upper market segment. Rossiter Foxall (2008) explains that one of the best ways for a company to fail when it com es to penetrating new markets is to try to overextend the brand into multiple frontiers. This can cause not only a significant issue in consumer perceptions regarding the brand itself but could also cause logistical issues for the various stores attempting to sell different product price iterations of the same brand. The most effective solution as advocated by Rossiter Foxall (2008) is employed brand customization instead of standardization wherein a company has a brand embody a particular type of product that would suit a particular segment of the population. By doing so, this enables a company to reach multiple classes of consumers and be better suited to adapt to a new consumer environment as compared to sticking with a standardized method of branding. Conclusion Based on what has been presented, it can be seen that when it comes to standardization versus customization of a global brand, it all depends on the type of product that is being sold and how a company chooses to target its desired customers. A generalized consumer strategy as seen in the case of Mc Donald’s and Microsoft often follows a standardized strategy while attempting to focus on particular consumer segments would need a more customized branding initiative to become more effective especially in cases where targeting different types of consumer segments are involved as seen in the case of Whirlpool. Reference List Brierley, H 2012, ‘Why Loyalty Programs Alienate Great Customers’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 90, no. 7/8, p. 38 Calder, B, Burnkrant, R 1977, ‘Interpersonal Influence on Consumer Behavior: An Attribution Theory Approach’, Journal Of Consumer Research, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 29-38 Chae, M and Hill, J 2000,’Determinants and benefits of global strategic marketing planning formality’, International Marketing Review, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 538-562. Chang, T 1995,’Formulating adaptive marketing strategies in a global industry’, International Marketing Review, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 5-10 Ronkainen, I 1996, ‘Implementing global marketing strategy An interview with Whirlpool Corporation’, International Marketing Review, vol. 13, no. 3, 1, pp. 56-63. O’Donnell, S and Jeong, I 2000, Marketing standardization within global industries: An empirical study of performance implications’, International Marketing Review, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 19-33. Oshikawa, S 1969, ‘Can Cognitive Dissonance Theory Explain Consumer Behavior?’, Journal Of Marketing, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 44-49 Rossiter, J, Foxall, G 2008, ‘Hull-Spence Behavior Theory as a paradigm for consumer behavior’, Marketing Theory, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 123-141 Shaw, D, Shiu, E, Clarke, I 2000, ‘The Contribution of Ethical Obligation and Self-identity to the Theory of Planned Behaviour: An Exploration of Ethical Consumers’, Journal Of Marketing Management, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 879-894 Viswanathan, N and Di ckson, P 2007,’The fundamentals of standardizing global marketing strategy’, International Marketing Review, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 46-63. Wagner, T, Hennig-Thurau, T, Rudolph, T 2009, ‘Does Customer Demotion Jeopardize Loyalty?’, Journal Of Marketing, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 69-85. This report on Standardization versus Customization of a Global Brand was written and submitted by user Zeke Beasley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Platos Description of Forms

Platos Description of Forms Free Online Research Papers Plato’s description of forms makes sense in the eyes of civilization and the process of education. If a prisoner sees nothing but shadows his whole life then he is raised to believe that life is a matter of shadows. With a proper introduction, into the world around him, would help him understand the world he is actually in. This education would not be able to be accomplished in a matter of seconds, and would take time to teach him about everything in the cave prior to, him walking out and seeing the â€Å"Real World†. Now as this man is taught, his discipline would sustain him through his thought process, as long as he has a sense of discipline. In my opinion though, Plato put it in a simple format. There would have to be many other factors that would have to be taught to the prisoner, before the prisoner could fully respect the world around him, i.e. right and wrong. It would be immoral to introduce a man to the world in a split second. The man would be no more than a cave dweller, who runs ramped with out boundaries. He would no doubt be using his natural instincts. If the prisoner was introduced to the world, and the man had a better understanding of the world around him, when returned to his place as a prisoner in the world, it would no doubt drive the man insane, knowing that there was something better than darkness and shadows. While I read about Plato’s idea of â€Å"Good†, I feel that â€Å"Good† is actually a reference to Nature and being related directly to God. The reason I say this is because Plato referred to the sun as a descendant of god. Therefore, the sun provides God’s will upon the subjects of Earth/Universe. We are going to take a trip for a minute. Let’s say for one moment that Nature wasn’t something God created to regulate the beings on Earth/Universe, then, like dirt; animals; plants; water; we as humans would have complete control over Nature. Humans have a misunderstanding of control. The reality is that humans have no control over anything other than their own actions. That puts humans into the society we have today, where we have no choice but to fit in. The idea mankind carries is, that people are and will be completely and totally right until the end of our existence, which, will be at our own demise due to our unwillingness to unders tand every aspect of Life. Unless, we start to completely understand that we cannot create life, other than offspring, but we do have the capability to destroy life. Research Papers on Plato's Description of FormsGenetic EngineeringThe Spring and AutumnCapital PunishmentMind TravelHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenStandardized TestingRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

Lean Manufacturing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lean Manufacturing - Essay Example Corrective action must be taken after survey. The idle time is too high and not permissible in any way. With the supply coming in weekly, the issue to each process should be regulated. Movements both within the section and between sections must be speeded up by use of trolleys, installation of conveyors and use of fork-lifts, wherever suitable. This must be identified and put in place as top priority. At the moment we are paying a lot of wages plus overtime to workers for doing nothing. With such heavy idle time as against so little productive time, we need to cut down one shift altogether and move to a regime of controlled efforts and by using Pull methods of Just in Time system of inventory. ERP software plays a vital role in the success of Lean manufacturing setup. Nothing will be gained by just designing a superb system and by laying down rules and parameters. A well-understood, well-defined and easy to follow implementation plan must be prepared. This is to be done with active assistance from the solution providers. The Implementation Team along with the Company designated resources must first carry out a joint Systems Requirement Study (SRS). This SRS must consider all points raised in the strategy above and identify the areas of data entry points. It is these areas that have to be carefully monitored to see that accurate data is available. With accurate data available, the company can take corrective action based on actual information. This will go a long way in bring down wastages and eliminating downtime and idle time. A productive maintenance plan is to be drawn us to ensure that downtime is brought down to zero level with accurately planned maintenance schedules prepared in advance. Spares are to be procured for such programmes well before time. Having said this, these weak links are to be paid extra attention and care is to be taken to make the workers understand that

Trailblazers in Photography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trailblazers in Photography - Essay Example Thus, throughout the development of photography, several individuals have dedicated their lives to this art with astounding results and their names etched on the list of trailblazers in photography. Prominent trailblazers in photography Simply described, photography is the art as well as the science of creating long-lasting images on a film or paper and this ideally forms the basis of trailblazers in photography. Basically, the camera obscura which implies a dark chamber is the main device used in photography. Its invention dates back to Leonardo da Vinci discovery of the pin-hole camera. The camera works on the principle of concealing the image of an illuminated object where the image is taken (Halstead 1). Ancient cameras required the object to be exposed to light for as long as eight hours. The first photograph recorded was taken in 1826 by the French innovator, Joseph Nicephore Niepce. The exposure time recorded was eight hours which accounted for no ancient human photographs. Th ese ancient photographs were monochromes which continued to dominate the world of photography even after color photography came into being. The first color photograph of a tartan ribbon was taken by James Clerk Maxwell in 1861 (Halstead 1). Advancement in photography was then taken over by companies like Kodak, Sony among others. Photography has several genres among them photojournalism. Besides, various individuals have been for a long time known as trailblazers in photography. Among the distinguished figures of photojournalism, Alfred Eisenstaedt also became known as Eisie. Beginning his career in 1920 in Berlin as a photojournalist, Eisie rose to leave a great legacy and profound impact in photography. Using a camera invented by Dr. Erich Salomon, this photographer succeeded in recording people’s lives. In fact, he endured the risk of annoying people by venturing into their rooms to photograph them. Furthermore, he engaged the people he photographed on the subject of his i nterest (Eder 258). His pictures produced a life story unlike others who did not utilize such ensuing opportunities or particular interests. Eisie revolutionized photojournalism in several ways. He had a passion for photography and never got tired of taking pictures. Eisie was a real visual story teller and provided a platform on which other foundations of photojournalism are based. The work Eisie was based on real life situations which represented a particular subject of his own interest. His passion for photography, humor, decisions and determination made him produce the best photos ever in his era. Photographs taken at his time were mostly monochromes (Halstead 1). Though todays photos are colored, few can match Eisie work. His contribution was so immense that he was named the photojournalist of the century. Fashion and women nudity are subjects of fascination which materialize hard to study apart. Few photographers dedicated their time to photograph these aspects. Helmut Newton is one of the famous photographers who dedicated his time to photograph fashion but later deviated to photographing naked women. Helmut started as a portrait photographer in Singapore. Basically, experience in photography paced way for the establishment of a studio in Australia. He later worked for the popular magazine dubbed as Playboy in California. Helmut had his best photography career and his photos remain highly priced assets (Weaver and Daniel 22). His popularity has