International Tax Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Tax - Assignment Example Since the jurisdiction for tax imposition in many cases is based on the residence status, the residents and non-residents distinction is of much importance (capitaltaxconsulting.com, 2011) 2. It should be noted that OECD model treat Article 4(1) of the OECD, gives a definition of a Contracting State resident as a person who is â€Å"liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, or any other criterion of a similar nature.† Article 4(1) further provides that a resident is not inclusive of any person who has a tax liability only in respect of income from sources in the country. This definition of a resident may seem straightforward; however, it raises a number of difficult issues. What does â€Å"liable to tax† mean? Is a person who is exempt from tax, such as a charity or a government, liable to tax? Is a person who does not pay any tax because of loss carryovers or deductions liable to tax? Are citizenship and place of incorporation cri teria of a similar nature? Liable to tax means the aggregate amount any given person is legally obliged to make payment of to the relevant authority due to a taxable event’s occurrence. Exempt persons may involve in a taxable event and thus at some point may become liable to tax (For instance; an instance where a government institution is supposed to withhold and remit taxes). A person having deductions or losses or may have a tax liability as long as taxable event is the ending result or a net claim on assets, for example net income. (investopedia.com, 2011) What determines whether a citizen is either a resident or a non-resident are the circumstances like domicile while a company’s incorporation makes it automatically a resident in many states (oecd.org, 2003) 3. Assume that Country A and Country B both define a resident as an individual who is present in the country for at least 183 days. Is it possible for an individual to be a resident of both Country A and Countr y B under this test? It is possible in a leap year. The countries are to further find a solution to the issue of residence like nationality to avoid taking the individual as a resident of both nations. (oecd.org, 2003) 4. What are the â€Å"Facts and circumstance† strengths and weaknesses test of residence? Under the test, Is it possible for an individual to be resident in two countries? In more than two countries? The outstanding strength that can be associated with the test of residence on â€Å"facts and circumstances† is that of giving a consistent way of determining whether an individual or a company is to be considered resident or not for the purposes tax imposition. The weaknesses attributable to this method of residence determination is that, given country’s test may be different from another and this kills uniformity in determining tax liabilities. A good example is that of Australia where for a person to be resident, they have to spend above average of their time in the state in the year of income while in Japan, they depend mostly upon the domicile or residence that is maintained for one or more years. (treasury.gov.au, 2011) In rare situations an individual can be resident in two or more countries like where they point out the person should be in the country for 183 days or more and it is in a leap year of income like in Canada and Ireland. (treasury.gov.au, 2011) 5. In a country using facts and circumsta

Melodrama And Film Noir In Mildred Pierce

Melodrama And Film Noir In Mildred Pierce Film noir first appeared when The Depression ended with society feeling the lack of material objects, in response to the end of the Second World War. The American Dream was coming under threat due to women being forced back into their domestic roles. It uses textual structures and style to show the nightmare that is the American Dream. Mildred Pierce (Michael Curitz, 1948) attempts to modernise a post-war economy by showing how important gender roles are in supporting a balanced family to the audience of the film. Mildred Pierce sheds light on the historical need to reconstruct an economy based on a division of labour by which men command the means of production and women remain within the family, in other words the need to reconstruct a failing patriarchal structure (Cook, 2005, p. 69). The film also touches on a fear of women by men returning from the war. Women were more independent and less feminine that before the war. The films themselves seem to indicate just how threatened and unsure hegemonic patriarchy was during the post-war years (Benshoff, 2007, p. 264).This film deals with the deterioration of a family in post-war America. While birth rates did soar after the war, so did divorce ratesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦men and women had very different experiences of the war, and the two often did not easily mesh (Benshoff, 2007, p. 262). Warner Brothers released the film in 1945, a year many American soldiers returned from World War II. It left millions dead, but the calamitous event also boosted womens place in society. During the WWII period, women became the main providers for their families while American men were at war, a situation that lead to increased independence for American women. Popular slogans and icons of the time, like Rosie the Riveter, encourage women to work and take charge of their lives. However, when men returned and re-entered the workforce, society expected women to step aside and rejoin the cult of domesticity. This background knowledge adds many layers of meaning to the movie and is vital to understanding the message of the movie. The protagonist of the film Mildred Pierce does everything in her power to help her children. Mildred is determined that her children will have greater opportunities in life than she and Bert have had (Lloyd Johnson, 2003, p. 14). Mildred dreams that one day her daughters will be prima donnas and concert pianists, and pursues these fantasies to the best of her abilities. Mildred attempts to shoulder fatherly responsibilities, which makes her the worst kind of mother possible. The matriarchal coup ends in disaster, and reveals the filmmakers message: a womans place is in the household, and she cannot hope to thrive in a mans world. Mildred replaces men with women she chooses her female daughters over her male husband, which reinforces the idea of a matriarchy. Only Veda and Kay, who are female, can inherit from Mildred. The marriage dissolves on account of the Mildreds unbalanced, smothering, obsessive, insistent maternal love for her female children. Mildreds first flashback within the film has two distinct points of view: Mildred, the woman, and the detective, the man. The basic split is created in the film between melodrama and film noir, between Womans Picture and Mans Film, a split which indicates the presence of two voices, female and male (Cook, 2005, p. 72). Mildreds flashbacks are evenly lit, but cannot be trusted. The viewers process of picking up cues, developing expectations, and constructing an ongoing story out of the plot will be partially shaped by what the narrator tells or doesnt tell (Bordwell Thompson, 2008, p. 92). The detectives perspective explains the truth of the narrative, but is presented in shadows and low-key lighting. Mildreds discourse is the discourse of melodrama, her story is the stuff of which the Womans Picture was made in pre-war and war years when woman were seen to have an active part to play in society and the problems of passion, desire, and emotional excess (Cook, 2005, p. 71). The melodr amatic tone to Mildreds narration helps to pull the woman in the theatre into the storyline. Elizabeth Cowie suggests that the voiceover narration in Mildred Pierce is associated with melodramas because it markedly lacks a hard-boiled style (Cowie, 1993, p. 138). It isnt quite as simple as this however. Mildreds melodramatic narrative is put into doubt due to the film signalling her out as a possible suspect who manipulates people to get her way. On the other hand though her melodramatic story has a film noir style thats impossible to avoid and noirs dystopian feeling dominates this melodramatic narrative. Cook sees this as the point at which Mildred Pierce becomes a Mans Film because the womans discourse of melodrama has been taken away and replaced with noir (Cook, 2005, p. 71). One of the key messages in the film presents the idea for women to stand behind their men and to go back into the kitchen and cook pies. The detectives discourse is a representation of the mans role to find the truth through hard evidence. The detective is simply concerned with establishing the Truth, with resolving the enigma, while Mildreds story contains complexity and ambiguity, showing a concern for feelings rather than facts. (Cook, 2005, p. 71). Mildreds legs are fetish sized in order to control her sexuality. One part of a fragmented body destroys the Renaissance space, the illusion of depth demanded by the narrative, it gives flatness (Mulvey, 1975, p. 26). By the man taking a small part of the woman and focusing in on it, the woman, as a whole, is no longer a threat to the man. This entire scene sexualizes Mildred. Men in post-war America were threatened by the womans sexual prowess and often tried to repress it. The film gives an example of the brutal and enforced repressi on of female sexuality, and the institutionalization of a social place for both men (as fathers and husbands) and women (as mothers and wives) which rests uneasily on this repression (Cook, 2005, p. 69). Mildreds sexuality is repressed by the realization later in the film that it is Monte who is using Mildred and not the other way around. The filmmakers provide this devastation through three negative constructions of women in the film. Veda emerges from her childhood as a femme fatal, a sure sign that something went terribly wrong in her upbringing. The filmmakers imply that if Bert had been around he would have put her in her place. Bert says that he is so fed up with the way [Veda] high hats him that he would eventually cut loose and slap her right in the face. His attitude towards Veda contrasts sharply with Mildreds attitude, but in the end, Mildred hits their daughter first. Although he admits that he does not have the maternal connection that Mildred has with her daughters, he knows that her method of raising the kids isnt right. These lines are also important because they show that Bert, the patriarch, knows more about being a mother than the Mildred. She is too busy making pies to provide for her children to see what has gone wrong. Interest in business already makes her blind to domestic problems. While the role reversal between Mildred and Bert does not become apparent until the end, a hint of Berts predi ction about Veda shows up in the scenes following his departure. Veda, the next matriarch in the line of inheritance, already tries to control her mother after Wallys visit by trying to trade Mildreds dignity for a new house. Mildreds character is paralleled by Vedas character. The film asks us, through the device of metaphorical substitution , to confuse the wicked Veda with the honest Mildred, thus establishing Mildreds innate guilt, even though she is not guilty of the actual murder (Cook, 2005, p. 71). Through their intimate happenings with the same man at the same location, Mildred later discovers Veda and Monty kissing at the beach house, it is clear that cinema setting can come to the forefront; it need not be only a container for human events but can dynamically enter the narrative action (Bordwell Thompson, 2008, p. 115). Although Mildred did not kill Monte, she is guilty of an even bigger crime in post-war America: pursuing a career and becoming the head of a family. Mild reds take-over of the place of the father has brought about the collapse of all social and moral order in her world (Cook, 2005, p. 75). Mildred works her way up the socio-economic ladder. She possesses the traits of the ideal all-American man: hard work, self-reliance, and perseverance. Her labours pay off in the Horatio Alger tradition and she reaps a handsome profit from her chain of restaurants. There are two messages in this sequence of events that contradict the ominous predictions of the kitchen scene first; her success demonstrates that if women leave their husbands, they are not condemned to lives of poverty and misery. Second, her successes with the restaurants show that women are also capable of being entrepreneurs in the business world. Ida also enters Mildreds world, and becomes another affirmative theme in the film. As the two bond they create a relationship that is an equitable partnership, devoid of the power structure present in Mildreds relationships with men. These positive elements build audience empathy for Mildred. They celebrate along with Mildred when her restaurant does well and cheer when she opens the new branches of her dinner. The audience becomes Mildred through this empathy and lives through her vicariously. But these positive themes are later used to manipulate the female audiences emotive response. The heroine, who momentarily enjoys business success, is destined to fail as a career woman as well as a mother. Mildred Pierce was, after all, designed as a lesson to the women of the post-war period in both its theme and its narrative. The empathy created from Mildreds success resounds as strongly during her fall from happiness. By manipulating the emotive response in this way, the film reaffirms patriarchal cultural values. The first of the negative themes begins Kays death. It warns of what happens when the nuclear family falls apart: while Mildred frolics at the beach with a new lover, her daughter is dying of pneumonia. Sylvia Harvey has argued that film noir contains a critique of the nuclear family so devastating that no narrative can resolve it (Harvey, pp. 22-34). The film constructs this scene as what happens with the decay of the nuclear family unit. While Mildred is off having an affair with Monte, her daughter is dying. The film teaches its audience how to avoid such a failed family ideal. The first sign of deterioration comes when Mildreds one night of illicit passion with Monte is followed by Kays death (Cook, 2005, p. 74). This film establishes ideal gender roles for the redevelopment of society while defining the fear of women present in post-war America. This ultimately sends the message of the importance of the family unit: a woman must stay true to her family as a whole even if it mean s living an unhappy life. The film implies that an ideal mother would have been on call, always ready to care for her children. Of course Kay dies; she is a sacrificial lamb for Mildreds excesses. Her death also makes it possible for Mildred to concentrate on Veda and Monte, two key figures in Mildreds destruction. The second negative theme deals with Mildreds maternal failure. As Mildred becomes more heavily invested in her business, Veda drifts further and further away from her, and buys into Montes materialistic values. Veda ultimately becomes the femme fatale of the movie, and serves as an example of why women cannot be successful businesswomen and mothers at the same time. Juggling two things at once does not work for Mildred because she can only focus on one thing at a time. Her obsession with making money forces her not to notice the unsavoury developments in her daughter Veda, which Bert forecasts earlier in the kitchen: The trouble is, youre trying to buy love from those kids and it wont work. One of the most powerful images in the movies occurs simultaneously as the couple steps into the dawns sunrise. Two cleaning women kneel scrub the floor as Bert and Mildred leave. A silhouette shot ensures that they scrub in anonymity and no discerning features of their faces can be seen. These two lowly scrub women are symbols of the two ambitious women of the film: Mildred and Ida. They wash floor as if trying to be cleansed of their sin: the sin of gaining a foothold in society. Truly repentant, they can no longer stand on their feet but only kneel down. Ultimately, this sends the message that female economic power must not be powerful at all only humble and faceless. In post-war America woman were unceremoniously fired from their jobs in order to create employment opportunities for returning men (Benshoff, 2007, p. 262). Society demanded that woman be in the home and that men be at the workplace. Mildreds involvement with a man that doesnt fit this mould consequently ends in her downfall and the deterioration of her family. The message presented in the film clearly outlines gender roles and what is expected of each sex in order to restore patriarchal order to America at this time. In 1947, America was recovering from an economic crisis, altered gender roles, a deteriorated male population, and high divorce rates. Leave it to Hollywood to instruct Americans on how to set everything straight again. Not only does this film present a number of messages detailing the womans place in the home and the mans place at work, but it also reflects a fear that woman had gained too much control, become too masculine, and would no longer be a link in healthy family units. The melodramatic ending that Mildred Pierce presents shows that the womens threat to the patriarchy of men cannot simply be resolved by love (Gledhill, 1987, p. 24). It uses extreme representations of women trying to step out of their domestic roles and reassures the women watching the film that although they might be discontented with being forced back into the home after the Second World War, their lives are considerably better than what is being shown on screen.

Evil and an STN God :: Philosophy of Religion Essays

Evil and an STN God The problem of evil makes theists discern a reason for an STN God to allow evil and suffering in the world. The basic setup for the problem of evil is that either a God who is all knowing, all powerful, wholly good, eternal, and creator of this universe but separate from it (STN) or evil exists. Atheists believe that since evil exists then there is no STN God. Theists branch into two categories, either believing in God, but not an STN God or believing that God has a reason for allowing evil into the world. The latter type is a narrow theist and they use a theodicy to solve the problem of evil, the best of which is the ontological defense. However, the ontological defense does not solve the problem of evil. The problem of evil stems from the contradicting beliefs that either an STN God exists or evil exists (93).1 The problem of evil can be expanded into two arguments against the existence of an STN God: the logical and the evidential arguments (93).1 The argument from the logical problem of evil is simple. The basic form of this argument is that if an STN God exists, then evil cannot exist (93).1 Since there is evidence that evil does exist an STN God cannot exist (93).1 The evidential problem of evil is based more on how any greater good can come from the evil (99).1 In the argument from the evidential problem of evil, there are times when an STN God could have prevented intense suffering without interfering with a greater good (99).1 An STN God would prevent any suffering that would not interfere with a greater good and since suffering has occurred that does not interfere with a greater good an STN God cannot exist (99).1 The problem of evil is solely a problem for theists. In order for a theist to keep their beliefs in an STN God they must find a way to solve the problem of evil by using a theodicy (103).1 Or they can change their beliefs so that they no longer believe in an STN God, but just a God (108).1 The ontological defense appears to be the most successful theodicy at solving the problem of evil. This defense essentially says that it is impossible for good to exist in the world without evil. The ontological defense is the strongest defense because it merely puts forth the concept of opposites and does not try to explain any other reasoning for why evil exists or why God puts evil in the world.

Sears V.S Walmart

1. What ratios are MOST important in assessing current and predicting future value creation for Sears? For Wal-Mart? Sears Sears grew up to the world’s largest retailer by expanding annual sales through diversifying sale products, such as apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, electronics, household appliances, cookware, bedding and hand-tools. This article shows that Sears suffered from a cost increase in 1997, including lawsuits, credit collectibles and sales in Mexico. Besides, the flexible payment facility that Sears offered is also a reason for cost increase. These problems brought Sears with bad debt and hence decreased the cash flow. The problems of the company came from the liquid market security, so I emphasize the flowing concepts: 1. Profit Margin, ( Net Income / Total Revenue) â€Å"It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earning. † This concept is effective to compare similar companies in an industry; a higher profit margin indicates a better leading position in the industry. It is an indicative factor for Sears to forecast its position in this industry 2. Asset Turnover rate ( Revenue/ Asset) This ratio can measure how efficient Sears uses its asset to chase for revenue. . DEBT to Equity Ratio ( Total liability/ equity) (5. 6 in 1997, 6. 3 in 1996) The ratio of debt to equity measures the risk of the corporation’s creditors and its prospective creditors 4. ROA (Net Income/Total Asset), Since the company has a higher sales in 1997 than the past 2 years but lower net income. To evaluate the performance of the company, we must know how profitable Sears is relative to its total assets. 5. ROE (Profit Margin * Assets Turnover * Leverage Ratio) which is more accurate way to evaluate the performance of Sears in the retailer industry. . Days of receivable Since Sears have a big issue about the credit collection, we need to think about the days of receivable. 7. Liquidate ratio * Cash ratio * Current ratio ( Current Assets / Current Liabilities) (1. 94 in 1997, 1. 90 in 1996) the current ratio is about 1. 9, it indicate Sears is using its liquidity to grow up. * Quick ratio Wal-Mart Wal-Mart was founded in 1962 and has the ROE of 20%. Wal-Mart also offers store Credit Card, but unlike Sears, it is Chase Manhattan Bank rather than its own credit company. Wal-Mart also boosts the annual sale by diversifying products as Sears does, but Wal-Mart also has different stores to target at the customers of various market segments, such as Wal-Mart Discount Store, Wal-Mart Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs. In order to measure how the performance of the Wal-Mart now and in the future, (Wal-Mart wants in low price and low cost) we need to analysis some financial ratio from the number on books. 1. Profit Margin, (Net Income / Total Revenue) 2. Asset Turnover rate (Revenue/ Asset) this ratio can measure how efficiency Sears to use its asset for revenue. 3. DEBT to Equity Ratio ( Total liability/ equity) . Leverage Ratio ( Long Term Debt / Shareholder) 5. ROA (Net Income / Total Asset), 2. Do you agree with Ravi Suria's analysis of the credit risks associated with Amazon bonds ? 1 In Ravi Suria’s analysis, â€Å"we believe that the current cash balances will last the company through the first quarter of 2001. † According to Exhibit 12c the cash flow statement, in contrast, the cash balance could last for the first quarter of 2001, when it suffered from 407 losses in operating activities, though positive in investing and financial activities. In summary, Amazon experienced 375 losses in the first quarter in 2001. Just from the number on the accounting book, we cannot see whether it is wrong or right. We must see the business strategy and where they spent the money, which is the key of the company for the long term. 2 I personal calculate the working capital of the 2000 and 2001 | Working capital ($M)2000| Working Capital 2001| March | 704| 205| Jun | 559| 87| Sep | 504| (21)| Dec | 386| (38)| His analysis was based on the working capital is shirking. The Working Capital table shows a decreasing trend since 2000. I don’t think amazon can still cover the cash flow in 2011 and use its capital efficiently. However, we cannot only use assumption of Working Capital to analysis a company, we need to look at the strategy, inventory, and so on. As this point, we will know Suria’s analysis is not proper. 3 Suria calculated the inventory as the stable mumble and use the revenue instead of Cost Goods Sold. But the revenue record as the market value, not as cost goods sold can indict the cost for the inventory. Amazon’s revenue varies season by season. We can use COG / average of the inventory to include the seasonal factor, instead of revenue/ inventory. 4 As for the inventory, I think, Suris is misleading by another point. He only thinks the inventory turnover is very low. However, amazon increases its inventory at the beginning year (from the case, the company only have 4000 books, but later on it run CDs, video, and movie. That’s why amazon has a very low inventory turnover at the beginning years. 5 Suria thinks the Amazon has low â€Å"cash flow per unit of product sold†, and he shows us some calculation about his conclusion on page 10. However, this is already a great business mode and strategy in the market. And it has already been proved from the success of Wal-Mart and Costco retailer, which is called â€Å"low gross margins†.

Freedom to Comment Reflection Essay

People are pressured to conform with the decisions within the group because if we do not we create tension, which is socially unacceptable. It happens all the time, and most of the time keeps quiet so we do not make waves. It’s all about social acceptance and associations that we have an innate need for relationships and we fear the loss of those connections when we oppose the group – which could be on micro level (as small as complying with household/workplace rules). When I worked for this Greek restaurant us the waitress’s had issues of ethical dilemmas all the time with our boss. He had no respect for women and showed this all the time by offering all of us, at different times, if we would do sexual favors for him for exchange of new apartments, and offering to buy new cars, and cash every week besides our paychecks. As a group we got together to discuss what we should do if anything, and in this case we all needed our jobs to support our families. We could not just up and quit our jobs. Most of the group decided not to do anything, or say anything to anyone. Myself and one other decided to tell him no, and report him to the owner, and the next day we were fired from our jobs, and mailed our checks. For me to go against the group I lost my job, but my moral and ethic values would not let me remain at the job with that kind of treatment going on.

A Biography of Sylvia Plath

A Biography of Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath was born in Boston in 1932, daughter of a German immigrant biology professor, an authority on bees, and his Austrian-American wife. At 8, bio-picSylvia suffered her first great loss: her father died suddenly after surgery for complications of undiagnosed diabetes, and she attained her first literary recognition: a poem published in The Boston Herald. She grew up in Wellesley, in an extremely close relationship with her widowed mother Aurelia. She sent out many poems and stories which were rejected before she began to see them published in national periodicals (Seventeen, The Christian Science Monitor) in 1950. Plaths Education Plath was a star student and an ambitious apprentice writer. She attended Smith College on scholarship and won a guest editorship at Mademoiselle in New York City in the summer of 1953. Later that summer, having learned that she had not been admitted to the Harvard summer writing program for which she’d applied, Sylvia attempted suicide and was treated for depression at McLean Hospital. She returned to Smith the next spring, wrote her honors thesis on the double in Dostoevsky (â€Å"The Magic Mirror†), and graduated summa cum laude in 1955, with a Fulbright scholarship to study at Newnham College, Cambridge. Plaths Marriage to Ted Hughes The meeting between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes is legendary, recreated in the biopic  Sylvia. Sylvia had read St. Botolph’s Review, was impressed by Hughes’ poems and went to the publication party determined to meet him. She recited his poems to him, it is said they danced, drank and kissed and she bit him on the cheek until he bled, and they were married within a few months, on Bloomsday 1956. When she completed her studies in 1957, Plath was offered a teaching position back at Smith and the couple returned to America. But after a year, she left academia and she and Ted devoted their life together to writing. Plath and Hughes in England In December 1959, Ted and pregnant Sylvia sailed back to England; Ted wanted his child to be born in his home country. They settled in London, Frieda was born in April 1960, and Sylvia’s first collection, The Colossus, was published in October. In 1961, she suffered a miscarriage and other health troubles, was given a â€Å"first look† contract by The New Yorker and began work on her autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar. When the couple moved to Court Green manor house in Devon, they let their London flat to a poet and his wife, David and Assia Wevill, fatefully: it was Ted’s affair with Assia that broke up their marriage. Plaths Suicide Sylvia’s second child, Nicholas, was born in January 1962. It was during that year that she found her authentic poetic voice, writing the intense and crystalline poems later published in Ariel, even while managing the household and taking care of her two children essentially alone. In the fall she and Hughes separated, in December she moved back to London, to a flat where Yeats had once lived, and The Bell Jar was published under a pseudonym in January 1963. It was an extraordinarily cold winter and the children were sick. Sylvia left them in a separate aired-out room and gassed herself to death on February 11, 1963. The Plath Mystique After Death Sylvia Plath was only 30 years old when she committed suicide, and since her death, she has been elevated to the status of feminist icon and pioneer woman poet. Serious critics may quibble with the fan cult that has arisen around Plath, but her poetry is undeniably beautiful and powerful, and it is generally recognized as the most influential American work of the 20th century- in 1982, she became the first poet to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously, for her Collected Poems. Books and Recordings by Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar (unabridged audio CD of the novel read by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Caedmon/HarperAudio, 2006)Ariel, The Restored Edition: A Facsimile of Plath’s Manuscript, Reinstating Her Original Selection and Arrangement (with foreword by her daughter Frieda Hughes, HarperCollins, 2004; paperback, 2005)The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath, 1950 - 1962 (transcripts from the original manuscripts at Smith College, edited by Karen V. Kukil, Anchor Books, 2000)The Voice of the Poet: Sylvia Plath (audio cassette with book, Side A recorded with Ted Hughes in 1958, Side B recorded in 1962, just 3 months before her death, Random House Audio, 1999)Plath: Poems (selected by Diane Middlebrook, Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets, 1998)The Journals of Sylvia Plath (abridged and edited by Ted Hughes, The Dial Press, 1982; paperback Anchor Books, 1998)Collected Poems (edited, annotated, and with an introduction by Ted Hughes, Harper Perennial, 1981)Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (short stories, prose and diary excerpts, Harper Row, 1979; paperback HarperCollins, 1980; Harper Perennial, 2000) Letters Home (correspondence, 1950 - 1963, edited by Aurelia Schober Plath, HarperCollins, 1978; paperback Harper Perennial, 1992)Crossing the Water: Transitional Poems (first American edition, Harper Row, 1971; paperback HarperCollins, 1980)The Bell Jar (loosely autobiographical novel, first American edition with drawings by Sylvia Plath, Harper Row, 1971; paperback HarperCollins, 2005)Ariel (poems, first American edition with an introduction by Robert Lowell, Harper Row, 1966; paperback HarperCollins, 1975, 1999)The Colossus and Other Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 1962; paperback Random House 1968, 1998)

Degreeless Syste essays

The Gradeless/Degreeless Syste essays In Robert M. Pirsigs Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Phaedrus thought of a very clever way to make students work for themselves and not just for a good grade. He wanted students to attend college because they were interested in learning and not just because they needed a degree. Phaedrus thought he could do this by eliminating grades and degrees; it would be a grade less/degreeless system. When looking at this idea hypothetically with a hypothetical student, this system seemed to be fabulous, but when Phaedrus actually applied this idea to his classrooms with real students, it didnt turn out how he had hoped. With the elimination of grades and degrees, Phaedrus believed the hypothetical student would eventually flunk himself out of school and not got back until he was there for the knowledge and not just the grades. He predicted that the student would go to his first few classes out of habit and probably do the assignments in a way he was sort of trained to do them his whole life. Eventually the student would get bored with the class because he wasnt really there for any sort of purpose and would quit going to classes and do the assignments. Then the hypothetical student would eventually take himself out of school. He would flunk himself out. As Phaedrus saw it, this would be better for everyone. The student wasnt there for any real reason so he didnt deserve to be there anyway. He pointed out how a lot of money had been saved and this hadnt affected anyone but the student. All his life the student had been trained with this slave mentality, Phaedrus called it carrot-and-whip grading, a mule mentality which said, If you dont whip me, I wont work (Pirsig 175). This is why the student failed himself out; no one was pushing him to work. The student would go get a job to support himself doing something that he enjoyed. This would satisfy him for a while...

July 2007 Most Popular Articles

July 2007 Most Popular Articles July 2007 Most Popular Articles July 2007 Most Popular Articles By Daniel Scocco Five Frequently Misused Verbs: Go, Come, Write, Give, and Eat. Among the most frequently used words in English, these five verbs are also the most frequently misused. The error occurs when the simple past forms are used to form the present or past perfect Dialogue Dos and Don’ts: In the post Show, Don’t Tell, I mentioned dialogue as one of the ways you can â€Å"show† your reader what’s happening in a scene. Effective dialogue is an essential part of both fiction and creative nonfiction writing. How to Bypass Your Internal Editor: When you edit your first draft, you’ll have all sorts of ideas of what to change. But when you write your first draft, you want to turn off the â€Å"internal editor† in your mind, that super-ego that looks over your shoulder and criticizes everything you do. Editing is different from writing. Most people can’t successfully do both at the same time. And when you do your first draft, you need to focus on writing. Accept the Effect: These words give writers trouble since the two can be both a noun and a verb, although affect is typically verb and effect, noun. Normally, you will use affect to denote influence. The Impotence of Proofreading: Its a fact that a spell checker will not catch all the mistakes on your text. More specifically, it will not catch misspellings that form other valid words. So how do you solve this problem? Proofreading, of coarse! Less/Fewer; Number/Amount: Still Salvageable: The difference between less and fewer, like that between lay and lie, is on the brink of extinction, but enough careful speakers and writers observe the difference to make it worth our attention. Ready, Set, Write!: One of the biggest problems people have with writing is getting started. A blank page (or computer screen) can be intimidating, but prewriting is a great way to overcome that intimidation. Here are some prewriting activities to help get the words flowing out of your brain and onto the page. 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 General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:15 Terms for Those Who Tell the FutureExcited ABOUT, not "for" While vs. Whilst

Politics and the English Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Politics and the English Language - Essay Example The fall of English language from its pre-eminent place is described by Orwell, in his typical style. He writes, â€Å"It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.†(5) As far as I can think, Orwell has correctly linked the decadence of his civilization with the collapse of the language. Language is the important tool with which humankind shapes its own purposes, and if the language fails on that count, the purpose of life is going to be directionless and destination-less. The connection between language and politics is intimate. If the former declines, the latter is influenced, either for good or bad. When the thought currents of politicians are not noble, one cannot expect his language to be noble. The language will be caught in the vicious circle. Orwell explains the predicament in his inimical style. â€Å"A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks.†(5) It is necessary for a politician to think correctly and that will set the process of regeneration of politics. Orwell has done well to substantiate his arguments by providing five specimens of English written badly. The present downward spiral of the knowledge of English should not be allowed to go unchallenged. The decadence must halt. So the fight to rejuvenate the language is free for all but purposeful fight in which the politicians, the professional writers and the common people are involved. They all must have the will to enable the English language to grow and only then grow it will! Bad language is due to the vices generating in a bad

CHILD HEALTH ISSUES IN A SCHOOL SETTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CHILD HEALTH ISSUES IN A SCHOOL SETTING - Essay Example This was aimed at promoting the health of children in schools with a long term impact of reducing the health challenges that children are facing by the time they progress in schools. This is an inclusive programme where the government, teachers, parents, and children are all involved in implementing the health situation. The programme looks into improving the health of the children to help them perform well at schools. This programme was launched in 1999 as collaboration between the department of health and department for Children, schools and Families with an aim of bringing health inequalities among children. This was duet to the inequalities that were observed in schools children which made even their interaction difficulty. It was aimed at raising the achievement of pupils through improved performance and making the pupil more interactive with others. It was aimed at streamlining in the working of health providers and educational institutions in improving the overall health of pupils. This paper was revised in 2004 setting new targets for achieving health status of children by 2009 throughout implementation of some strategies. According to Treasury (2004), it mainly focuses on promoting healthy eating, increasing awareness of the need for physical exercise, and promoting the emotional health of the pupils. School Setting The school is an important institution that tries to shape the life of an individual child. It is aimed at helping an individual child realize their potential in life and live to realize these potentials. Hence it is aim at promoting the correct growth of a child. The amount of item a child spends in school in the entire life cycle can make a great difference in life. That is why this paper wants to identify the school as an important setting which should be used to influence any issue concerning the growth of a child. Growth is defined not only as development physically, by as development in areas of emotions and spiritual. Growth of a childe physical and emotionally is very important in determining the future person. On of the key component of growth both physically and emotionally is health. Health is an important issue that determines how an individual child develops. Health is both physical and emotional. Physical growth involves the attainment of well-being physically while mental growth will take in the issues of mental stability. As we have seen above, child health has been an issue of concern not only in the family set up but also in the school set up as well. School setting is an important area where health problem of pupils can be addressed and corrected at an early age before they become a health problem to the child in later life. Teachers have faced a lot of difficulties while dealing with child health in the United Kingdom. The levels of obesity among children have been rising at an alarming rate. Obesity is seen as one of the challenge that children face in their social life at schools and also due to the challenges it poses to the health of the child. Obese children have been found to lead an isolated life since they find it difficulty to mix with other children who are not obese. Obesity has posed a health risk to the children with rising cases of type II diabetes being recorded in the health centres. There has also

Deaf Again Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Deaf Again - Assignment Example In the case study, Mark was born without this disability but later grew deaf. His parents were deaf. However, the mark was a lucky child since his parents without the use of sign language, which in a way could have interfered with his speech and later affect his studies, educated him. The author states that the parents opted not to use sign language when educating mark. They had the belief that sign will interfere with Mark’s ability to speak. This could later interfere with his level of understanding during education. On the Fence is another collection from the deaf writers that depicts the hidden world that those with hearing disabilities live as a virtually invisible population. The parents and grandmother of Mark feel much proud that Mark is educated without the use of sign language that they believed might interfere with is education. As per the argument of Mark Drolsbaugh, a child should pick up a language at the age of one to two years. This will enable their parents to identify any disability and be in a position to employ corrective measures before the situation is severe. This will also enable the deaf children to establish whether they can pursue learning with or without the use of sign language. The picking of language at this age also establishes a foundation on the education basis, enabling the child to pursue the various aspects of learning like speaking, reading and writing more effectively. Mark, although he was deaf, remained determined. The support he goes from his parents gave him chance to pursue learning and prosper in education. The author regrets his slow growth and development of emotions. It took him so long to appreciate and be proud of the ‘deaf culture’. The deaf people should appreciate themselves and get encouraged that they can still prosper regardless of their disability. After a deaf child is implanted, the parents have a responsibility to support him or her.

Copyright Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Copyright Law - Essay Example The Sony exception makes it complicated to implement controls on copyright laws infringement. It further renders it difficult to prohibit the widespread sharing of media files. According to the Sony exception, media users can always have special situations during which they can share media files without infringing the applicable user policies. It relates to inducement infringement as opposed to contributory infringement. It does not render any user liable for an act of infringement committed by another person. In the case of Sony, it did not intentionally abet users to infringe on the patent protected by copyright laws. Sony did not supply its products to users that it had informed knowledge was infringing the rights protected by law (Strowel, 2009). The exception implies that contributory infringement does not exist whenever there is no use likely to lea to infringement. The Sony exception does not apply in the case of Joe. Joe directly abets infringement through the website that al lows user distribution of files. Although Joe does not verify content shared by users, his website aids acts of

Political Views on FDI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Views on FDI - Essay Example Because of this, the MNE serves as a tool for exploiting the host countries to the exclusive benefits of capitalist and imperialist home countries. The free market view is attributed to Adam Smith and David Ricardo, and holds that international production is to be distributed among countries, in respect to the theory of comparative advantage (Gary, 2002). According to McKay and Seale (2000), MNE is therefore an instrument for dispersing the production of productions to the globe’s most efficient locations. Pragmatic nationalism has it that FDI hosts both costs and benefits. For instance, some of the benefits for the host country include the realization and accumulation of capital, technology, skills and jobs. According to pragmatic nationalism [the chosen perspective], the benefits to a host country are [increases in] capital, skills, technology and jobs. The drawbacks that a home country may incur are competition to local industries and a waning demand for local

In patients with obesity can diet and excercise control weight gain Research Paper

In patients with obesity can diet and excercise control weight gain better than weight loss pills lipofuz or Alli - Research Paper Example late obesity with the abnormal food intake or poor diet (Styne, 2005), genetic factor such as a metabolic defect (Roth et al., 2004; Rosmond, 2002), leptin deficiency and/or the use of steroids (Link et al., 2004). Children and adults who are obese are facing problems not only related to social adjustment disorders or social discrimination (Pearce et al., 2002) but also a long list of serious health concerns such as heart diseases, diabetes and the different types of cancer (WHO, 2005). Aside from providing the definition of health and chronic illnesses as stated by the World Health Organization among others, how these definitions are in consistent with my own thoughts will be thoroughly discussed. After determining the impact of food manufacturers’ television advertisement on the increasing rate of obesity in the United States, the proposed research study will focus on determining whether or not preventive measures is a better method of weight control for obese patients than those who prefer to undergo gastric banding. In the process of going through the main discussion, the significance of diet, exercise, and gastric banding procedure on minimizing the cases of obesity will be compared and contrast. Based on the gathered information, a list of recommendations will be provided prior to conclusion. The World Health Organization (2003) defined health as â€Å"the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity†. On the other hand, chronic illness is defined as â€Å"the irreversible presence, accumulation, or latency of disease states or impairments that involve the total human environment for supportive and self-care, maintenance of function, and prevention of further disability† (Curtin & Lubkin, 1995, pp. 6 – 7). In my own thoughts, the health and wellness of each person is not all about being physically free from being ill but living a lifestyle that would prevent these people from having the need

Political Views on FDI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Views on FDI - Essay Example Because of this, the MNE serves as a tool for exploiting the host countries to the exclusive benefits of capitalist and imperialist home countries. The free market view is attributed to Adam Smith and David Ricardo, and holds that international production is to be distributed among countries, in respect to the theory of comparative advantage (Gary, 2002). According to McKay and Seale (2000), MNE is therefore an instrument for dispersing the production of productions to the globe’s most efficient locations. Pragmatic nationalism has it that FDI hosts both costs and benefits. For instance, some of the benefits for the host country include the realization and accumulation of capital, technology, skills and jobs. According to pragmatic nationalism [the chosen perspective], the benefits to a host country are [increases in] capital, skills, technology and jobs. The drawbacks that a home country may incur are competition to local industries and a waning demand for local

Absalom Absalom by William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Absalom Absalom by William Faulkner - Essay Example Mr. Compson clarifies to Quentin that he ought to listen graciously to Rosa's tale because during earlier period the South produced its women into ladies, subsequently the war constructed the ladies into ghosts.Inside Absalom, Absalom!, W. Faulkner plainly criticizes the ethical as well as the moral performances of the American South. The tale of Sutpen appears to be parallel to the account of the South; also Faulkner recommends that they eventually fail for the similar reasons. By constructing its accomplishment and console on the enslavement of a different race, the South is condemned to fail due to the fact that an immoral plan is not sustainable. Both Sutpen along with the South suppose that it is achievable to reserve morality once in a while to follow a larger social objective. Rosa explains to Quentin that the South was condemned to be defeated at the warfare because it was headed by men akin to Sutpen, whom she observes as a deceitful, mean, and controlling person.Mr. Compson 's exploratory portrayal of the early years of Thomas Sutpen in Jefferson presents objectives like to improve the personality of Thomas Sutpen, in order that he becomes less the mono-maniacal devil of Miss Rosa's statement and more of a motivated and captivating human being eager to do everything to accomplish his ends. You may observe through this work that with Rosa's persuasive speaking, her application of strong words as well as the broad range of her expressions appeared to surpass the gender distinction. Exposing what was long reserved in the deepness of her mind through monologue, made her character a tough female. What is prominent is that W. Faulkner conveyed the masculine synchronized with the feminine within her mind by means of talking and words, not through manifestation or appearance. More separated than Miss Rosa, whose connection towards her past is administered by the hurt and treachery she encountered, Mr. Compson merely heard about the tale from his father, who was a General who did not survive through it himself. He has undoubtedly had the leisure to think about and wonder upon the implication of the occurrences surrounding Sutpen's Hundred, and appears mesmerized by them more for the lecture they impart than for anything fundamental towards his own occurrences. While Mr. Compson keeps on going to describe over the following two chapters, it turns out to be increasingly apparent that he trusts in strength like destiny which steers and influences human activities; he does not consider individuals are in charge of their individual destinies. Within the Sutpen tale, he perceives an instance of an enormous and influential man brought down by means of an aggressive fate that had damned him from the very start. Mr. Compson interprets signs of disaster into several of the early episodes of Sutpen's existence. Additionally, he believes that the characters inside the tale knew they were condemned, but sustained to thrash about against fate in any case. The image of Thomas Sutpen which Mr. Compson imparts is one of an unexplained, determined, powerful man resolute to distinguish his will carried throughout. He turns up with nothing and lifts up a palace. He happens to be blamed of stealing from steamboats to fund his very expensive scheme, and concludes by getting married with the daughter of a highly regarded local civilian. Where inside Miss Rosa's narration, Sutpen seemed a bizarre force of malevolence, in Mr. Compson's version his human attributes started to become visible. In Absalom, Absalom, the characters of W. Faulkner enclosed themselves inside a world of

Computed Tomography and Nasal Endoscopy in Chronic Headache

Computed Tomography and Nasal Endoscopy in Chronic Headache STUDY OF CORRELATION BETWEEN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND NASAL ENDOSCOPY IN CHRONIC HEADACHE ABSTRACT AIM: To evaluate the correlation between radiological and endoscopic findings in cases of chronic headache Methodology: The study includes 300 patients who presented to the OPD of a tertiary level centre with headache. RESULTS: Endoscopic and CT abnormalities were detected in 265/300 (88.3%) patients. Most common abnormality was a septal spur impinging on lateral nasal wall seen in 94 cases (35.4%), followed by inferior turbinate hypertrophy, concha bullosa, accessory maxillary sinus ostium, paradoxical curved middle turbinate, polyposis and frontal osteoma. A majority of patients had associated changes in the sinuses as well. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the correlation between radiological and endoscopic findings of sinonasal disease as a cause of headache. Abnormalities and variations in endonasal anatomy, functional or anatomical or a combination of these variations caused narrowing of OMU, which predisposed patients to sinonasal disease and headache Key Words: Endoscopy, Headache Introduction Headache is common with high lifetime prevalence in general population. Headache disorders are generally classified as either primary (migraine, tension type and cluster headache) or secondary (infectious, vascular, drug induced). [1] Chronic headache, defined as headache on 15 or more days per month, affects 3% of people worldwide. [2] Sinusitis may constitute one of the most commonly confusing clinical presentation of migraine [3], probably because cranial autonomic symptoms are common in migraine [4] based on activation of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex [5]. Headaches located in the frontal, supraorbital, or infraorbital region are sinus headaches [6]. These headaches are usually recurrent, non-seasonal, and unassociated with fever, localized tenderness, or erythema. [7] Fifty years ago, the extracorporeal cold light and its transmission by glass fibers, along with the hopkins rod lens system, were introduced. The development and application of these technologies to upper airways allowed studying, understanding, and improving knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the nasal cavity and sinuses, in particular, some fundamental concepts of modern rhinology are based on endoscopic nasal findings and messerklinger’s investigations of the pathophysiology of sinus mucosa. These studies radically changed traditional understanding of sinus inflammation and revolutionized its treatment using endoscopic conservative surgical management [messerklinger, 1966, 1967, and 1978]. Whether or not nasal obstruction can lead to chronic headache is controversial [8]. Paradoxically, sinus disease also tends to be underdiagnosed, as sphenoid sinus infection frequently is missed [9] Aim The study was conducted in patients with chronic headache to study the anatomical and pathological abnormalities in nose and paransasal sinuses, to correlate radiological with endoscopic findings and finally to assess type of cases requiring nasal surgery in patients who are not responding to medical treatment. Methodology The study includes 300 patients who presented to the OPD of a tertiary level centre during the period July 2010 to July 2014, who had symptoms and signs of chronic headache. Inclusion criteria: Patients presenting with sinugenic headache. The data is collected on the basis of detailed history, systemic examination, ENT examination and investigations. Diagnostic criteria: Subsequently all the selected candidates were worked up on the history, general examination, and ENT examination carried out. CT PNS was done in all the patients. Diagnostic Nasal endoscopy under local anesthesia was done to record the condition of nasal mucosa, septum, turbinates and to assess the condition of the nasopharynx and eustachian tube opening, to look for the presence of mucopus or polyp in the middle meatus/sphenoethmoidal recess/nasopharynx. Also, any co-existing anatomical variations of the lateral wall of the nose were noted. Once the diagnosis and extent of the disease was established, the patients were taken up for FESS. Results: In present study majority of patients were female. 190 were females and 110 were males in a total of 300 patients. Table -1 TABLE -2: ABNORMALITIES ON ENDOSCOPIC AND CT EXAMINATION Endoscopic abnormalities were found in 265/300 patients. Majority of patients had deviated nasal septum with spur impringing on lateral nasal wall, as a most common endoscopic abnormality. Other conditions identified were abnormal middle turbinate, enlarged ethmoid bulla, polyps, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, prominent aggernasi cells and frontal osteoma. Sinus involvement of varying severity was seen in 70% of patients. TABLE-3: COMPARISON OF RADIOLOGICAL ENDOSCOPIC ABNORMALITIES Treatment In present study of 300 patients, all patients underwent medical treatment. The medical treatment included nasal decongestants, steroid sprays, antibiotic therapy and steam inhalation. The minimum duration of medical treatment was 6 months. The end point of medical treatment was a score of more than 5 on pain scale. 265 patients were taken up for surgery. The most common surgical procedure done was septoplasty with turbinoplasty under LA followed by FESS in cases with sinus involvement. The pain score was evaluated 3 months following surgery. We found that majority of patients who had pain score more than 5 at end of 6months of medical treatment were treated with surgery and had a pain score less than 5 at 3 months. Discussion Standard radiography is inadequate for the clinical evaluation of sinusitis because it does not evaluate the anterior ethmoid air cells, the upper two thirds of the nasal cavity, or the infundibular, middle meatus, or frontal recess air passages. [11] CT is the optimal radiographic study to assess the paranasal sinuses for evidence of disease. The mucosa of the normal, non infected sinus approximates the bone so closely that it cannot be visualized on ct. Therefore, any soft tissue seen within a sinus is abnormal [12]. CT may demonstrate mucosal thickening, sclerosis, clouding, or air-fluid levels. Imaging must be performed in the coronal plane to adequately demonstrate the ethmoid complex. It can reveal the extent of mucosal disease in the ostio meatal complex Incidental anatomic abnormalities within the paranasal sinuses are common. Incidental anatomic abnormalities on CT scans occur in 27% to 45% of asymptomatic individuals [13]. Patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis were evaluated with CT and staged according to the Lund system. (Each paranasal sinus: anterior ethmoid, posterior ethmoid, maxillary, frontal, and sphenoid sinus for each side was given a score of 0 for no opacification, 1 for partial opacification, or 2 for total opacification) The ostiomeatal complex was assigned a score of 0 for Patent or 2 for obstructed. The Lund score ranged from 0 to 24. Wolff [14] showed that the sinuses themselves are relatively insensitive to pain. The pain associated with sinusitis comes from engorged and inflamed nasal structures: nasofrontal ducts, turbinates, ostia, and superior nasal spaces. Headache associated with paranasal sinus disease usually has a deeper, dull, aching quality combined with a heaviness and fullness. It seldom is associated with nausea and vomiting A severe, intractable, new-onset headache that interferes with sleep and is not relieved by simple analgesics should alert one to the diagnosis of sphenoid sinusitis. The headache increases in severity and has no specific location. Pain or paraesthesias in the facial distribution of the fifth nerve and photophobia or eye tearing are suggestive of sphenoid sinusitis. [15-19] Mcauliffe et al [20] studied the sensitivity of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses using touch, pressure, and faradic stimulation. The nasal turbinates and sinus ostia were much more sensitive than the mucosal lining of the septum and the paranasal sinuses. Most of the pain elicited was referred pain. It was of increased intensity, longer duration, and referred to larger areas in subjects who had swelling and engorgement of the nasal turbinates and the sinus ostia. Sschà ¸nsted-madsen et al [21] followed up 444 patients who had nasal obstruction, 157 of whom had headache. Treatment consisted of septo-plastic surgery, reconstruction of the nasal pyramids, or submucosal conchotomy. The headache usually was localized to the forehead, glabella, or above and around the eyes. Headache can be arising from the paranasal sinuses, which may be missed even after careful history. Nasal endoscopy plays an important role in recognizing pathological changes following radiographic investigations. The IHS has established new criteria for acute sinus headache [22} Rhinosinusitis headache Good nasal endoscopic examination, with CT PNS wherever necessary, has proved best modality for comprehensive diagnosis of chronic inflammatory disease of PNS. Following these definitive reliable techniques with adequate diagnostic information, to determine which treatment modality is required or necessary and also can avoid radical surgery in majority of instances. Jakobsen and Svendstrup (2000) (23) conducted a prospective study on 237 consecutive patients suffering from chronic sinusitis and or nasal polyposis. Nasal obstruction was the most frequent symptom (61%) followed by purulent nasal discharge, anosmia, frontal pain, headache and maxillary pain. Duration of symptoms averaged 9.3years. At the end of 1 year follow up 45% were totally satisfied with the results and were symptom free and 44% were definitely feeling better. Damm et al (2002) (24) conducted a study on patients with CRS to assess impact of FESS on the symptoms profile. Leading symptoms of CRS were nasal obstruction (92%) and postnasal drip (87%). Furthermore, patients reported dry upper respiratory tract syndrome in 68%, hyposmia in 66%, and headache in 64% and asthmatic complaints in 34%. After a mean postoperative follow up of 31.7 months, an improvement in quality of life was achieved in 85%, no change in 12% deterioration in 3% mainly responsible for this improvement was the postoperative decrease of nasal obstruction (84%), headache (82%) and postnasal drip (74%) (All symptoms; p Conclusion In present study 265 patients were found to have abnormal pathological findings, and 5 patients had typical structure of lateral nasal wall. Among anatomic variants, deviated nasal septum with mucopurulent discharge followed by abnormal uncinate process, abnormal middle turbinate resulted in significant narrowing of OMC. Most of these patients were not relieved with medical treatment had anatomical variations and such patients were posted for surgical treatment. To conclude, combination of thorough nasal endoscopic examination and CT of PNS for diagnosis of functional status of nasal and PNS as well as surgical treatment of functional and anatomical variations including postoperative follow up minimal conservative resection of anatomical abnormalities or small pathological lesions in intricate lateral wall of nose may only be required to alleviate nagging chronic intractable headache. So, nasal endoscopy is useful for the diagnosis as well as for surgical intervention and management of sinugenic headache. Bibiography 1 Martin V, Elkind A. Diagnosis And Classification Of Primary Headache Disorders.In Standards Of Care For Headache Diagnosis And Treatment. Chicago (Il): National Headache Foundation: 2004 P. 4-18 2 Stovner L, Hagen K, Jensen R, Katsarava Z, Lipton R, Scher A, Etal. The Global Burden Of Headache: A Documentation Of Headache Prevelance And Disability World Wide. Cephalgia 2007; 27(3): 193-210 In 3. Bcps; Powers C, Schreiber Cp, Hutchinson S, Webster Cj, Ames M,Richardson Ms, Pharm D (2004) Prevalence Of Migraine In Patients With Ahistory Of Self-Reported Or Physician-Diagnosed Sinus Headache. Arch Intern Med 164:1769–1772 4. Peter Jg (2009) Lacrimation, Conjunctival Injection, Nasal Symptoms Cluster Headache, Migraine And Cranial Autonomic Symptoms In Primary Headache Disorders- Whats New? J Neurol Neursurg Psychiatry 80:1057–58 5. May A, Goadsby Pj (1999) The Trigeminovascular System In Humans: Pathophysiological Implications For Primary Headache Syndromes Of The Neural Influences On The Cerebral Circulation. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 19:115–127 6. Dadgarnia Mh, Atighechi S, Baradaranfar Mh (2010) The Response To Sodium Valproate Of Patients With Sinus Headaches With Normal Endoscopicand Ct Findings. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267:375–379 7. Levine Hl, Setzen M, Cady Rk, Et Al. (2006) An Otolaryngology, Neurology,Allergy And Primary Care Consensus On Diagnosis And Treatment Of Sinus Headache.A Literature Review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 134:516–52.3 [8] Schà ¸nsted-Madsen U, Stoksted P, Christensen Ph, Koch-Henriksen N. Chronic Headache Related To Nasal Obstruction. J Laryngol Otol 1986;100:165–70. [9] Lew D, Southwick Fs, Montgomery Ww, Weber Al, Baker As. Sphenoid Sinusitis:A Review Of 30 Cases. N Engl J Med 1983;19:1149–54. 10. Second Headache Classification Subcommittee.The International Classification Of Headache Disorders.Cephalalgia.2004;24(Suppl 1):1-150 [11] Zinreich Sj. Paranasal Sinus Imaging. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1990;103:863–9 [12] Schatz Cj, Becker Ts. Normal Ct Anatomy Of The Paranasal Sinuses. Radiol Clin Northam 1984; 22:107–18 [13] Bhattacharyya N, Fried Mp. The Accuracy Of Computed Tomography In The Diagnosis Ofchronic Rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope 2003;113:125–9. [14] Wolff Hg. Wolff’s Headache And Other Head Pain. 1st Edition. New York: Oxford University Press; 1948 [15] Lew D, Southwick Fs, Montgomery Ww, Weber Al, Baker As. Sphenoid Sinusitis: A Review Of 30 Cases. N Engl J Med 1983;19:1149–54. [16] Kibblewhite Dj, Cleland J, Mintz Dr. Acute Sphenoid Sinusitis: Management Strategies.J Otolaryngol 1988;17:159–63 [17] Goldman Ge, Fontanarosa Pb, Anderson Jm. Isolated Sphenoid Sinusitis. Am J Emergmed 1993;11:235–8 [18] Deans Jaj, Welch Ar. Acute Isolated Sphenoid Sinusitis: A Disease With Complications.J Laryngol Otol 1991;105:1072–4. [19] Nordeman L, Lucid E. Sphenoid Sinusitis, A Cause Of Debilitating Headache. J Emerg Med1990;8:557–9. [20] Mcauliffe Gw, Goodell H, Wolff Hg. Experimental Studies On Headache: Pain From The Nasal And Paranasal Structures. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 1943;23:185–206. [21] Schà ¸nsted-Madsen U, Stoksted P, Christensen Ph, Koch-Henriksen N. Chronic Headache Related To Nasal Obstruction. J Laryngol Otol 1986;100:165–70. [22] Headache Classification Committee Of The International Headache Society. Classification And Diagnostic Criteria For Headache Disorders, Cranial Neuralgia, And Facial Pain. Cephalalgia 1988;8(Suppl 7):1–96 (23) Jakobsen J, Svendstrup F. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery In Chronic Sinusitis-A Series Of 237 Patients Consecutive1y Operated Patients. Actaotolaryngol, Suppl. 2000; 543: 158-161. (24) Damn M, Quante G, Jangehuelsing M, Stennert E.Impact Offunctional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery On Symptoms And Quality Of Life In Chronic Rhinosinusistis. Laryngoscope, Feb 2002; 112: 310-315.

A Cultural Examination of the Russian Federation Essay -- cultural mar

â€Æ' Introduction In 1991, the great social experiment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dissolved. The empire spanning almost five centuries, from the remnants of the Golden Horde to Stalin's "new Russia" (Hoskins, 1997) from Poland to the Pacific disappeared, leaving a political-sociological void that is only now moving towards resolution. Still the largest nation in the world (Shultz, 2000), Russia spans two continents, multiple time zones, and a land area that diminishes that of the United States. Although it no longer demonstrates the breadth of cultural conglomeration existing in the era of Soviet existence, the Russian Federation provides for an interesting cultural examination, and will be the basis of this paper. Specifically, this paper will examine six different areas of culture noted by the Hofstede Centre's 6-D model; power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, pragmatism, and indulgence. A bar-graph of the various scorings of Russia by the standards of the Hofstede Centre to provide a visual representation of the information to be examined in this paper is provided below. Providing a cultural baseline also will assist the reader in examining a nation such as Russia, therefore the author has included cultural references and notations to the United States of America. As well, though it is outside the scope of this paper, a brief historical examination of different areas of Russia's culture will be offered, as to fully understand a nation's cultural existence and development, knowledge of its history is required. Power Distance The dimension of power distance, according to the Hofstede Centre, indicates that â€Å"[t]he extent to which the less powerful members within ... ...Soviet era, it will be of interest to examine these cultural markers and see if the nation will remain as it has throughout much of similar changes, or if Russia will truly redefine herself as the 21st century continues. References Hosking, G. (1997). Russia: People and empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. K., P. A. (2011). In this issue: Russia's special path. Russian Social Science Review, 52(6), 3. Kostenk, N. V. (2011). Information-culture styles in Russia and Ukraine. Sociological Research, 50(4), 57-86. Russia. (n.d.). In The Hofstede Centre. Web. January 28, 2015, from http://geert- hofstede.com/russia.html Schultze, S. (2000). Culture and customs of Russia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. United States. (n.d.). In The Hofstede Centre. Web. January 28, 2015, from http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html

Runnin Down Some Lines: Book Review :: essays research papers

Deprived of opportunities for advancement in mainstream society, [black ghetto] teenagers elevate their personal style into a philosophy of life. Their exemplars are pimps and gangsters.... Gangs develop to bolster self-identity through psychological control of the streets; hip "threads" and "freaked out" cars also serve as outward signs of inner creativity. Both sexes consider coitus ("doin' the do") a natural and desirable part of adolescence; soft drugs, primarily marijuana ("tea"), also offer a temporary alternative to the harsh reality of ghetto existence. But embracing all of these is the vernacular itself - in its grace, flexibility, and strength it is a valuable tool for "gettin' down," for "blowin' fire," ultimately for staying alive... (Anderson 1981:233-234). Edith A Folb is a white woman who threw herself into the depths of one of America's most notorious ghettos for nearly nine years of fieldwork on the language and culture of African-American teenagers. She left the University of California, Los Angeles in 1964, midway through an increasingly dissatisfying Ph.D. program, to involve herself in a variety of community-based activities in the hopes of determining the future course of her life. After two years of working amongst the predominantly black inhabitants of South Central Los Angeles, Folb returned to school with a better subject of focus for her studies. She had found her calling in the last place most people would think to look; in the heart of the ghetto. "So, in 1967, [she] began the systematic study of black teenage vernacular vocabulary" (Folb 1980:viii). In 1980, Edith A. Folb's first book, runnin' down some lines: the language and culture of black teenagers, was published. The book is based on her extensive first-hand research on the teens of South Central. She spent over eight years operating within the community, interviewing many teens and conversing less formerly with countless others. Folb feels that these youths are representative of an aspect of American society both disregarded and misunderstood by the white majority. She even goes as far as to refer to the ghetto as a "country" of its own within the boundaries of the United States (Folb 1980:2). Her goal is to shed some light on the otherwise dark subject of inner city culture. Folb believes that the manner in which the teens of South Central speak may "tell those who would listen what it means to be young and black and live in a ghetto community" (Folb 1980:4).

An Examination of Racism in the Deep South of America Essay

An Examination of Racism in the Deep South of America From the1930’s to the 1960’s through a variety of texts. â€Å"Race: a group of persons having a common ancestor†¦ family, kindred people, genus, species, breed, variety, or class of persons†¦ † That is what the dictionary says, so why so much hatred, politics and fuss The Anglo – American slave trade, started in the 16th century when the first Hispanic people settled in Mexico and the Caribbean. From there, the other Europeans who migrated took black Africans to work on their cotton and tobacco plantations. This started the very wealthy â€Å"Slave Triangle† in which many Captains sought profit. The ships would sail empty from England, Spain, France or Portugal to the African countries to catch slaves. After filling their holds with human cargo they would set sail for the Caribbean. Once there, the Captains sold the slaves to the dealers in return for cotton or tobacco, which they would sell for a large profit back at home. These slaves were then the full property of their masters and he or she could do anything they liked to them and treat them in anyway they wanted to. One example of this is an advertisement in the ‘Royal Gazette (Kingston Jamaica)’ saying; â€Å"Runaway, about 15 months ago a Negro man of the Mungola country named Jamaica†¦ also about two months ago, two Negro men named James and Sambo†¦ a reward of i 10 for Jamaica and a Half Joe each for James and Sambo†¦ Also stolen or strayed†¦ a Bright Bay Northward HORSE†¦ also a small JACK ASS†¦ a reward of a pistole will be given for each†¦ † This shows that their masters treated the slaves with about as much respect and sense of belonging as a horse or donkey. Such disregard upset many Americans and so some spoke out against it. In 1861, because they would not agree to abolish slavery, the Southern States left the Union of American States. This created even more outcry until Abraham Lincoln , the then President of America declared war on the Southern States. The American Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865. It destroyed most of the agricultural land in the South and drained it of its wealth. After the Civil War the United States of America was formed. During the next 5 – 10 years the Northerners set in place a number of laws giving back human and civil rights to the black people. Initially this idea worked, but due to the hostility of the Southern confederacy these changes eventually failed. The â€Å"Yankees† that is the Northern Army and Governors called the changes they made â€Å"reconstruction†, but after they left, using a number of loopholes in the Law, the Southern Governors set in place many new rules. These were called the Jim Crow Laws and they â€Å"segregated† the black former slaves from the white people completely, thereby undoing all the good work done by the Northerners. The following time of white supremacy was called â€Å"redemption† This time of â€Å"redemption† and â€Å"segregation† was a hard time for the blacks; 1) Their voting rights were taken away 2) The money for black schools was diverted to white education. 3) There were separate buses for coloured and white people, or no bus at all. An example of this is given in the Novel Roll of Thunder where the Logan children have to dive into a ditch up to their chests, or in the case of ‘Little Man’- swim, to avoid the oncoming Jefferson Davies school bus and its ruthless driver. It was around this time when the Depression hit America. The South was hit especially hard and the price of cotton fell dramatically. This downturn in the economy created serious hardship for the majority of people, both black and white. The arrival of new technology added to the hardship as cotton looms and ploughs cut work loads, making one person and one tractor able to do the work of eight men and eight mules. Publicity of the suffering of the South created Aid and money from Northern Citizens, but due to the amount of corruption the blacks did not benefit from this. Some workers, both black and white, joined together to fight for more money and better working conditions, and as a result the rich landowners and vigilantly race hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan used violence to break up their protests and demonstrations. Racism comes in three forms – Verbal, Physical and Institutional Verbal Why did the white people feel that they could say something offensive and why did they even say it in the first place? In the Novel Roll of Thunder, Little Man receives a book from his teacher for the new term. He eagerly thumbs through it but to his horror finds a form that reads: Date Condition Owner Sept 1922 Good White Sept 1928 Good White Sept 1930 Average White Sept 1933 Very Poor Nigra The term ‘nigra’ is very offensive and as a result the naive boy protests and gives the book back. His teacher, Mrs Crocker simply replies â€Å"Well, that’s what you are! â€Å". This shows that even teachers can happily pass off insulting words just because a coloured child had owned a book. A further insult was that the book was damaged, which was untrue. Another form of verbal abuse is when in the same book, a mob attempts to lynch TJ, and they decide to try and hang Pa Logan and Mr. Morrison, the ‘human giant’ â€Å"I say, what we oughtta do is take him down the road an take care of that big black giant of a nigger at the same time! And why not that boy he working for too? † The â€Å"boy† they are referring to Pa Logan, a fully-grown, independent man. This is from the time of slavery, where the masters could speak to their slaves as they wished.

Marketing and Branding Coco Chanel

1.0 Introduction The survival of firms in the global market is related to their potential to identify brands that can respond to consumers’ needs. In this context, a successful brand is able to secure organisational growth even in periods of strong market turbulences (Doyle, 2009). However, the popularity of a brand in markets worldwide is not guaranteed; for example, it is possible for a brand to face low popularity in a market even if in most markets the response of consumers to the particular brand is impressive (Doyle, 2009). In other words, certain factors such as culture and social ethics can affect the performance of brands in the international market (Davis, 2010). This study focuses on the performance of a well-known brand: Coco Chanel. The specific brand appeared in early 1900s and was initially related to clothing accessories, such as hats (Siddiqui, 2014). Through the years the brand incorporated clothes and jewellery, becoming a symbol of high quality and unique style (Siddiqui, 2 014). The characteristics of the particular brand and its performance, as part of the fashion industry, are analysed below. Emphasis is given to the brand’s environment but also to the strategies through which the brand has secured its market position. It is revealed that the brand’s success resulted from the combination of a series of strategic approaches. The economic and social conditions in markets worldwide during the 20th century had also a key role in the brand’s rapid expansion internationally. Under these terms, the brand has contributed in the increase of attractiveness of the fashion industry and the transformation of luxury products to elements of daily life style. 2.0 Coco Chanel as a brand 2.1 Overview of Coco Chanel In order to identify the performance of the brand as part of the fashion industry it is necessary to refer primarily to the brand’s history, i.e. to the events that have led to the establishment of the brand and the strategies on which the management of the brand has been based through the decades. Coco Chanel is a brand closely related to the life of its creator: Gabrielle Chanel has been the child of a poor family; in her early years Gabrielle had to face the death of her mother, an event that led Gabrielle to work as ‘a singer in a cabaret in Paris’ (Siddiqui, 2014). There, Gabrielle, having become known with the name Coco, met her first husband who assisted her in opening in 1909 ‘a shop that specialised in hats’ (Siddiqui, 2014). In a few years, after the end of the World War 1, Coco Channel entered the fashion industry by developing clothes of high quality. These clothes were characterised by simple lines and persistence in colour: black and whi te were extensively used creating a unique identity for the particular brand (Siddiqui, 2014). Through the years, the brand was expanded incorporated jewellery and perfumes, such as the Chanel No5, the brand’s most successful product ever (Siddiqui, 2014). The success of the brand has been related to the ability of Coco Channel to pay attention to the needs of people and to understand the changes in social and cultural trends, as developed globally (Graj, 2013). In any case, the brand has been characterised by its strong dependency on the personal views and beliefs of Coco Chanel, a fact which is made clear through the brand’s logo: the initials of Coco Chanel have been combined for creating a logo that gives the sense of a signature of its creator (Figure 1, Appendices). 2.2 Key competitors of Coco Chanel As already noted, Coco Chanel is one of the most powerful competitors in the global fashion industry. The brand is part of the luxury fashion sector, a sector which is characterized by the dominance of 10 brands. Different views have been developed in regard to the position of these brands in the relevant hierarchy. In the table included in Figure 2 (Appendices) two of these views are presented: the first view refers to 12 dominant brands of the specific sector while the second view focuses on 10 of these brands as the most powerful ones. Particular emphasis should be made to the following fact: the first list, the one included 12 brands refers only to the luxury clothing sector while the second list presents the top 10 fashion brands worldwide. From this view, the brand under examination would be considered as more relevant to the first list. However, the second list is important for understanding the competitive environment in the fashion industry in general. In addition, the two l ists reveal an important fact: Chanel has managed to secure an important position not only as a fashion brand but also as a luxury clothing brand, being categorized at the fourth and the fifth position accordingly (Figure 2, Appendices). The lists presented in Figure 2 also reveal the significant power of certain brands that are included in both lists: brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior and Gucci seem to be the most critical competitors for Coco Chanel since they have managed to be popular both as fashion brands and as luxury clothing brands (Figure 2, Appendices). According to a report published by the Luxury Institute Chanel is one of the top luxury brands worldwide. In fact, in the survey developed by the above Institute most participants seemed to prefer Chanel; in the particular survey Louis Vuitton ranked second while Prada ranked third (Carr, 2012). 2.3 Brand performance2.3.1 Applied marketing mix (4p’s)The performance of the brand in its industry could be made clear after reviewing the key elements of the marketing strategy employed for the promotion of the particular brand. In practice, emphasis is given to four of these elements, which as also known as 4Ps (Burrow, 2008). The particular elements constitute a quite known framework, the marketing mix (Burrow, 2008). The 4Ps included in the marketing mix refer to specific aspects of a marketing strategy. At the first level, reference is made to Product. The term Product, as part of the marketing mix, reflects not only an object, as a materialised element, but also the various characteristics of the object/ product, such as ‘value, packaging methods and materials and brand name’ (Lamb and McDaniel, 2011: 47). Place is the second element of marketing mix; the specific term denotes the geographical area in which the product is available or in which the product i s planned to entry (Lamb and McDaniel, 2011). The term Place also reflects the means used by a firm for distributing its products internationally or locally (Fifield, 2008). The success of a product in a particular market is depended on the Promotion strategy used, i.e. on the means and the approaches employed for making the target consumers aware of the specific product (Satit et al., 2012). Finally, the Price of a product has to be decided taking into consideration various factors, such as the GDP in the target market, the market’s demographic characteristics/ average income and the status of the local economy (Lee, Cheng and Chen, 2008). If the marketing mix used in regard to a product is not appropriately planned, then target consumers would not be expected to buy the product. The relationship between the marketing mix and the consumer preferences is presented in Figure 3 (Appendices). On the other hand, marketing mix should be structured in such way so that it can respon d to actual consumer needs, as these needs are reflected in the 4Cs framework; the relationship between the two frameworks is presented in Figure 4 (Appendices). The issues highlighted above should be used when describing the marketing mix of Coco Channel. At the first level, in terms of its Product, the particular brand is characterised by exceptional quality (Ma, 2014). In fact, quality involves in all aspects of the brand’s product, meaning not only the materials of the products but also the materials used in the products’ packaging (Ma, 2014). For example, in the case of Chanel No.5 the uniqueness of the product was secured by employing an innovative name and by using a unique synthesis of aromas (Sicard, 2013). Also, the specific brand is related to a country well known for the quality of its cosmetics and clothing: France (Ma, 2014). The potentials of the brand to be expanded worldwide have been limited because of the following need: many of the brand’s products had to be supported by appropriate customer services schemes. Therefore, the selling points of the brand’s products are selected on the basis whether they can have a direct and close reference to France, as the source of these products (Ma, 2014). In regard to its Promotion strategy the specific brand can be characterised as unique: common marketing options are combined with less popular marketing approaches for attracting the consumers’ interest. For example, in its initial phase the marketing of Chanel No.5 has been based mostly on ‘word of mouth marketing’ (Sicard, 2013: 159). In addition, the advertisements related to the specific brand are likely to be included in media and press that are quite popular in the fashion industry, as for example ‘Elite and Vogue’ (Ma, 2014: 48). However, the high quality of the brand’s product has been secured by adopting high Prices, an approach which is considered as expected by which has set limits to the increase of the brand’s popularity (Ma, 2014). 2.3.2 Segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) For ensuring the effectiveness of a marketing strategy used for promoting a brand marketers need to develop three, key, activities: segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP). As part of marketing, Segmentation reflects the effort of marketers to divide a market into parts/ segments; each of these segments would refer to consumers with common characteristics, such as age, marital status and so on (Cant et al., 2009). By segmenting a market marketers are able to develop marketing strategies that would be welcomed by the target consumers (Cant et al., 2009). However, in order to respond to the expectations of marketers, segmentation needs to be following by targeting. In the context of marketing the term targeting is used for showing the identification of the market segments that will be addressed by a marketing strategy (Boone and Kurtz, 2013). For example, the decision to address only teenagers among the people living in the target market is an example of targeting. As for positio ning, the specific term is used for showing the effort of marketers ‘to place a product in the mind of consumers’ (Boone and Kurtz, 2013: 98). Different approaches are likely to be used by marketers to achieve positioning, as this activity can secure consumer loyalty (Boone and Kurtz, 2013). In the case of Chanel, STP could be achieved by using various approaches. For example, in regard to the particular brand market segmentation could be based on the views of consumers in regard to luxury products. This means that global market would be divided into parts based on the expected perceptions of consumers on luxury products; the evaluation of these perceptions could be based on luxury value as of its various dimensions (Figure 5, Appendices). The market segmentation for Coco Chanel could be also based, alternatively, on the frequency of use of luxury products (Ciornea, Pop and Bacila, 2012, Figure 6, Appendices). Targeting and positioning for the particular brand could be developed using similar criteria. More specifically, in regard to targeting the marketers of Coco Chanel should take into consideration the following fact: due to the high prices of its products the particular brand could not target all social groups, as could be developed using targeting. For example, tee nagers would not be an appropriate target group for the brand’s products. As of positioning also there are certain issues that should be addressed: so far the brand has become synonym of quality; also, since its appearance in the market the brand has been among the top brands in its industry. Therefore, the best approach for positioning this brand would emphasise on ‘product’s class and on price/ quality’ (Boone and Kurtz, 2013: 298). 2.3.3 Brand illustration When referring to brand illustration reference is made to the graphical elements used for presenting the brand to the public. For example, intensive colours could be used in a brand’s logo for attracting the attention of consumers (Shimp and Andrews, 2013). In addition, symbols that denote a particular characteristic of a brand could be employed for making the brand more attractive to the public (Kumar, 2009). In order for a brand’s illustration to be successful it should not follow common patterns, especially those related to the industry involved (Kumar, 2009). In any case, the logo of the brand has not necessarily to reflect the role of the brand in the industry but it needs to offer a view on the brand’s culture, as this culture would show to the public the values and ethics on which the creation of the brand has been based. The logo of Coco Channel is based entirely on the name of its creator. The design and the elements of the specific logo aim to show the close relationship between the brand and its creator’s values; simplicity is also another issue highlighted through the logo of the above brand (Figure 1, Appendices). From this point of view, it could be supported that the brand illustration used in the case of Coco Channel can be characterized as quite successful, promoting simplicity and showing the critical role of the brand’s creator in brand’s success. 2.3.4 Detail evaluation, critical perspective – SWOT analysis As with most business strategies the effectiveness of a firm’s branding decisions is usually decided after checking the characteristics of the brand involved; the performance of the brand in its market has also to be taken into consideration for deciding whether a brand has been successful or not (Davis, 2010). In the case of Coco Chanel the SWOT framework could be used for evaluating the brand’s performance. The Strengths of the particular brand are mostly related to its brand name and its relationship to quality (Carr, 2012). In fact, the specific brand has managed to establish a unique culture, a culture based on ‘the spirit of its creator’ (Kapferer, 2008: 252). In the context of this culture, high quality in clothing would be considered not as an exceptional condition but rather as part of daily life (Kapferer, 2008). The high expansion of the brand in the global market, as compared to other luxury brands, is another important strength of the brand (Ca rr, 2012). However, the brand has an important Weakness: the price of its product is quite high, not allowing a high percentage of consumers to buy the brand’s products (Carr, 2012). On the other hand, the particular brand meets all the requirements of a luxury brand (Figure 7, Figure 8, Appendices). This means that the specific brand has important Opportunities for future growth. Still, there is the problem of continuous recession. Economic turbulences in the global market could result to the limitation of profitability of luxury brands, a fact that would be a severe Threat for the particular brand (JWT, 2009). 2.4 Brand value The achievement of profit, at a pre-specified level, is the key target of a brand, at least for brands used in businesses (Larson, 2012). In this context, a business can significantly enhance its value using one or more brands (Larson, 2012). When having to estimate the value of the brand several issues can appear: the exact profit achieved by using a brand cannot be measured since the gain from employing a brand can result either in the short term or the long term. Also, this gain may not be always monetary; the improvement of a firm’s image in the market is an example (Davis, 2010). Therefore, for measuring the value of Coco Chanel, as a brand, a mixed model would be employed: the valuation framework used by ‘BrandFinance, an organisation based in UK’ (Davis, 2010: 44). The particular framework is based on the following method: a firm estimates the level of the sales it should achieve in the future, for securing profit; then ‘a royalty rate is set for achi eving the above target’ (Davis, 2010: 44). This royalty rate can be used for estimating the current value of the brand, which is the actual brand value (Davis, 2010). The measurement of the brand value using the BrandFinance framework is made clear through the diagram in Figure 9 (Appendices). 2.5 Importance of Coco Channel for the industry Since its introduction, the specific brand has achieved the following target: it has made luxury products more attractive to consumers. More specifically, in the 1920s, when the brand first appeared, women had to face the severe consequences of the World War I; widows were increased and the interest for high quality clothing was quite low (Siddiqui, 2014). The appearance in the market of the products of the particular brand, such as the ‘short black dress and the perfume Channel No.5’ (Siddiqui, 2014), introduced a new era for the relationship between consumers and the fashion industry. Since then, fashion products and luxury products have become quite attractive as this fact has been reflected to the radical expansion of luxury brands worldwide (Figure 2, Appendices). In addition, the particular brand managed to cover the gap between fashion and the other industries. Indeed, up to the appearance of the brand’s products in the market the hierarchy of importance as of the industrial activities worldwide had a standard format: manufacturing and transport industries were mostly valued, as of their potential to cover people’s needs (Kapferer, 2008). Since the introduction of the brand’s products in the market the perspectives for growth in regard to fashion and luxury products were made clear. Entrepreneurs worldwide were initiated to invest in the particular sectors, a fact that enhanced competition and kept quality standards high (Kapferer, 2008). 3.0 Conclusion The performance of Coco Chanel as a brand can be characterised as high. In fact, as proved through the analysis made above the particular brand is one of the most powerful in the global fashion industry. The position of the brand in the luxury sector is also significant, an achievement that denotes the brand’s potentials to achieve further growth. The establishment of a unique culture has been proved to be the approach through which the particular brand secured its success. Indeed, the creator of the brand, Coco Chanel, managed to convince the women in her era that style and quality should be parts of their life style. At the same time, through the particular brand the independency of style from complex forms was achieved: instead of emphasising on heavy and multi-coloured clothing Coco Chanel preferred to use simple lines and just two colours: white and black. This approach made the brand Coco Chanel to distinguish in consumers’ minds. A similar approach was followed i n regard to the other products of the brand: simplicity and innovation have been the key elements of the brand’s products up today. In this context, the success of the brand as revealed through the examination of all its aspects could be considered as expected. In the future, further growth could be achieved on the basis that brand’s culture would remain at the centre of the brand’s strategies. 4.0 References Boone, L. and Kurtz, D. (2013) Contemporary Marketing. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Burrow, J. (2008) Marketing. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Cant, M., Strydom, J., Jooste, C. and du Plessis, P. (2009) Marketing Management. 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Siddiqui, H. (2014) What makes the House of Chanel a successful fashion brand. Dawn. Available from http://www.dawn.com/news/1127969 [Accessed: 20 December 2014]. So, S., Lui, E., Yau, V., Kan, R. and Li, T. (2013) Luxury Goods Industry Analysis. Available from http://www.slideshare.net/vy1230/luxury-goods-industry-analysis-2013 [Accessed: 20 December 2014].