How To Get Started With Historical Reenacting

How To Get Started With Historical Reenacting Have you often wondered what it might have been like to actually live in the past? Historical reenacting gives you that chance. Becoming a historical re-enactor requires an unquenchable thirst for history and abiding patience with uncomfortable accommodations and ridiculous outfits. Short of actually traveling back in time, however, there is no better way to learn about history than by living it first-hand as a reenactor. What Is a Reenactor? Reenactors recreate history by portraying the look, actions, and lives of a person from a particular time period of history. Who Can Become a Reenactor? Just about anyone with an interest in reenactment can become a reenactor. Children can usually even participate, although most reenactment groups have a minimum age (12 or 13 is common) for children to be allowed in more dangerous roles, such as on the battlefield. Most reenactment organizations also wont allow children under 16 to bear arms. If you choose an active reenactment role, youll need to be in good health, capable of the physical activity and lack of everyday comforts that are inherent in reenacting. Most reenactors are everyday people from all walks of life, with ages ranging from 16 to people in their sixties. What to Expect From Reenacting Reenacting for many is a serious, but fun, event. Most people take their roles seriously and pride themselves on representing history as accurately as possible. Some people do take the authenticity to an extreme, but most groups welcome anyone with an interest. Reenacting does require a commitment, however, in both time and resources. Reproduction clothing can cost several hundred dollars, and reproduction period rifles as much as $1000. Reenactment, appropriately called living history, also means living under the same conditions encountered during the past. This can mean everything from uncomfortable clothes and terrible food to inclement weather and a poor excuse for a bed. Hard-core reenactors give up all amenities of modern life, from deodorant to modern wristwatches. Reenactment also takes time, but this can be as little as a 2-3 hour event once or twice a year, to a half-dozen three-day weekend encampments. How to Get Started With Reenacting Youve probably thought to yourself that reenacting sounds like fun, but youre just not sure about committing yourself due to time, money, and lack of know-how. Dont let that stop you! Most reenactment groups are very welcoming to new people and will show you the ropes and even outfit you until you can gradually acquire your own kit. In other words, you can try it out and see how you like it. Choose a Time Period and Location What period of history most grabs your interest? Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? Do you have a passion for Ancient Rome, medieval fashion, or Colonial America, and the Salem Witch Trials? Find a Reenactment Group Time and place generally work together, so while youre picking your time period, you will generally have a certain location in mind as well. Most people choose a reenactment group that operates fairly close to home - at least within a days drive. Reenactment groups and societies can be found all over the world, although they are especially active in the U.S., UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and Australia. Check your local newspaper or reenactment Web sites for listings of upcoming reenactment events in your area. Most large re-enactment events take place outdoors, so spring through fall are very active times of the year for the majority of these groups. Attend a few such reenactment events and talk to members of the involved groups to learn more about their reenactment focus and activities. Choose a Persona In a reenactment, a persona is a character and role that you choose to portray. The persona is sometimes referred to as an impression. Depending upon your reenactment scenario, this may be a real individual or a fictional one who could have lived during your time period of interest. Think about who you are in real life,  or the person you secretly want to be, and translate that to an individual who lived during your time period of interest. The majority of reenactors choose to be soldiers, but even in a military reenactment group, there are other characters, such as wives, camp followers, surgeons, tinkers and sutlers (merchants). The persona you select should have some personal significance to you. Research Your Persona Once youve chosen a time period and character, you need to learn everything you can,  from the way they dressed and ate, to their manner of speech, cultural beliefs, and social interactions. Immerse yourself in the time period by reading books and primary source documents related to the area, and the type of person youve chosen to portray. Assemble Your Kit Reenactors refer to their clothing and equipment as their  kit. Whether youve chosen to be a fur trapper, a soldier or a medieval princess, this clothing and accessories you select for your kit should match your persona. If youre portraying a poor farmer during the Revolutionary War, then dont purchase a fancy rifle that would have been out of his financial grasp. Take the time to fully research your character and period, considering where your  persona  lives, his age, his  occupation, and his social status, before purchasing items which may or may not be authentic or appropriate. If you have the time, it can even be fun to learn to make some of your clothing or items yourself, just as it was done in the past. Final Tips   Most reenactment groups have extra clothing, uniforms,  costumes, and props that they are willing to loan to newcomers. By joining such a society, youll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit.

Introduction to the Custom of Sati

Introduction to the Custom of Sati Sati or suttee is the ancient Indian and Nepalese practice of burning a widow on her husbands funeral pyre or burying her alive in his grave. This practice is associated with Hindu traditions.  The name is taken from the goddess Sati, wife of Shiva, who burned herself to protest her fathers ill-treatment of her husband.  The term sati can also apply to the widow who commits the act. The word sati comes from the feminine present participle of the Sanskrit word  asti, meaning she is true/pure.  While it has been most common in India and Nepal, examples have occurred in other traditions from as far afield as Russia, Vietnam, and Fiji. Pronunciation: suh-TEE or SUHT-ee Alternate Spellings: suttee Seen as a Proper Finale to a Marriage According to custom, Hindu sati was supposed to be voluntary, and often it was seen as the proper finale to a marriage. It was considered to be the signature act of a dutiful wife, who would want to follow her husband into the afterlife. However, many accounts exist of women who were forced to go through with the rite. They may have been drugged, thrown into the fire, or tied up before being placed on the pyre or into the grave. In addition, the strong societal pressure was exerted on women to accept sati, particularly if they had no surviving children to support them. A widow had no social standing in traditional society and was considered a drag on resources. It was almost unheard-of for a woman to remarry after her husbands death, so even very young widows were expected to kill themselves. History of Sati Sati first appears in the historical record during the reign of the Gupta Empire, c. 320 to 550 CE.  Thus, it may be a relatively recent innovation in the extremely long history of Hinduism. During the Gupta period, incidents of sati began to be recorded with inscribed memorial stones, first in Nepal in 464 CE, and then in Madhya Pradesh from 510 CE. The practice spread to Rajasthan, where it has happened most frequently over the centuries. Initially, sati seems to have been limited to royal and noble families from the Kshatriya caste (warriors and princes). Gradually, however, it percolated down into the lower castes. Some areas such as Kashmir became particularly known for the prevalence of sati among people of all classes and stations in life. It seems to have really taken off between the 1200s and 1600s CE. As the Indian Ocean trade routes brought Hinduism to Southeast Asia, the practice of sati also moved into new lands during the 1200s to 1400s. An Italian missionary and traveler recorded that widows in the Champa kingdom of what is now Vietnam practiced sati in the early 1300s. Other medieval travelers found the custom in Cambodia, Burma, the Philippines, and parts of what is now Indonesia, particularly on the islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra. In Sri Lanka, interestingly, sati was practiced only by queens; ordinary women were not expected to join their husbands in death. The Banning of Sati Under the rule of the Muslim Mughal emperors, sati was banned more than once. Akbar the Great first outlawed the practice around the year 1500; Aurangzeb tried to end it again in 1663, after a trip to Kashmir where he witnessed it. During the European  colonial period, Britain, France, and the Portuguese all tried to stamp out the practice of sati. Portugal outlawed it in Goa as early as 1515. The British East India Company imposed a ban on sati in the city of Calcutta only in 1798. To prevent unrest, at that time the BEIC did not allow Christian missionaries to work within its territories in India.  However, the issue of sati became a rallying point for British Christians, who pushed legislation through the House of Commons in 1813 to allow missionary work in India specifically to end practices like sati.   By 1850, British colonial attitudes against sati had hardened. Officials like Sir Charles Napier threatened to hang for murder any Hindu priest who advocated or presided over a widow-burning. British officials put intense pressure on the rulers of the princely states to outlaw sati, as well. In 1861, Queen Victoria issued a proclamation banning sati throughout her domain in India. Nepal officially banned it in 1920. Prevention of Sati Act Today, Indias  Prevention of Sati Act  (1987) makes it illegal to coerce or encourage anyone to commit sati. Forcing someone to commit sati can be punished by death. Nonetheless, a small number of widows still choose to join their husbands in death; at least four instances have been recorded between the year 2000 and 2015. Examples In 1987, a Rajput man was arrested after the sati death of his daughter-in-law, Roop Kunwar, who was just 18 years old.

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between Assignment

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between 2004 and 2014 - Assignment Example The government has played its part in regulating and setting up of policies that help regulate the economic growth. Favorable government policies to stimulate the private sector, hence leads to achieving a change in broadband. The government has, moreover, removed trade barriers, hence allowing a favorable competitive in the global market and economy. The government has created a simpler tax system which is fairer. This helps in improving the state of public resources and finances.in the long run, the growth of the economy is boosted and workers who work to support their families are rewarded. The government has created a competitive taxation system among the G20 making it more lucrative and attractive to international investors. The corporate tax was reduced from twenty eight percent to twenty three and is expected to be lowered in 2015, making it the lowest among the G7 members (A Guide to UK Taxation, 2013). In 2010, the Corporate Tax Road Map was published by the government. This set up several principles that led to tax reforms. The bill opened way for low and simple corporate tax, a stable taxation system, legislation that minimized complexity. All these factors led to a favorable environment for investors, hence became a boost to the growth of the economy (A Guide to UK Taxation, 2013). The investment done by the government and private investors in setting up of infrastructure have been a major boost to economic growth. With over 1.7 billion pounds have been invested in over thirty six transport projects, including nine major highways, including the M62 and M1, several local authorities like the Greater bus network, Poole Bridge and Blackpool tram and the National infrastructure plan (2013, pg. 27). In the short-term the investment led to employment directly, created a demand for materials while, in the long term, it allowed the economy an open

Criminology and legal psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Criminology and legal psychology - Essay Example The most valuable thing I took with me from this experience was how the duality of law could be manipulated to serve one’s ulterior motives for the better or for the worse. The use of the Holocaust Exhibition to educate European citizens, as well as individuals worldwide on the historical implications resulting from the First World War is undoubtedly an invaluable resource. As noted on the exhibition website, â€Å"Taking as its starting point the turbulent political scene in Europe immediately after the First World War, the exhibition traces the rise of the Nazi party, how anti-Semitism as a Europe-wide phenomenon made a fertile seedbed for Hitlers anti-Jewish beliefs, the perversion of science to support Nazi race theory, the isolation of German Jews, the refugee crisis and the advent of so-called Euthanasia policies in 1939 (london.iwm.org.uk).† These policies point to the deeper issue that caused the Holocaust, namely the policies that lead law abiding citizens to perform acts of genocide As Staub says in Zimbardo’s work in the course notes, â€Å"Genocide was not perpetrated by evil people of extraordinary, demonic characteristics. Rather by ordinary individuals in extraordinary social circumstances (Staub, 1989; Zimbardo 2004).† All of this shows how detrimental corrupt laws enacted by those empower can lead to horrific occurrences disguised in the form of policy. The powerful impact these exhibits have on its visitors is telling in its own right. As further noted on the site, one visitor cited â€Å"Moved, deeply†¦ shocked. Although we all know the truth now, it is a shaking human experience to be confronted with it.† Another visitor noted that, â€Å"This powerful exhibit should act as a warning to our children.† My reaction to these exhibits was very similar to that of these visitors. I was appalled but also intrigued by the human nature and frailties in the legal system that allowed it to happen. The visitors

Article and lyrics comparison Essay Example for Free

Article and lyrics comparison Essay The songs â€Å"Have you Forgotten† by Darryl Worley, and â€Å"Where have all the flowers gone? † by Pete Seeger are two songs that both deliver strong messages regarding two different wars. â€Å"Have you Forgotten? † which is a song composed to convey emotions regarding the war in Iraq delivers messages that are meant to sway people to hate war. It describes the war and all its horrors by questioning if people have in fact forgotten what it is like to be in a war and so have become indifferent of the one that was currently being fought. â€Å"Where have all the flowers gone? † on the other hand, which is written during the period of the Vietnam war is another song written as a series of progressive questions terminating in the sad reality that the war in Vietnam had caused so many deaths. While the song does not in any way specify whose death had been more deserved or valued in the Vietnam War, it proceeds to question these deaths in an attempt to question the war itself. In an article, John Pareles describes that, â€Å"Songs that touched on the war in 2006 were suffused with the mournful and resentful knowledge† (2010) This is quite obvious in the song by Worley, for instance, in the lines from the chorus, â€Å"Have you forgotten, how it felt that day? / To see your homeland under fire/†¦And you say we shouldnt worry bout Bin Laden†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (7-8, 12) the song seems to be didactic and even moralizing in its approach and its perception of how people perceived the war. These lines, in relation to what Pareles describes, are in fact resentful in that they express how people are indifferent about this particular war. In addition, Pareles (2010) also states that, â€Å"Immediate responses to 9/11 and to the invasion of Iraq arrived along familiar lines. There was anger and saber-rattling at first†. This expresses how the emotions had died down when the war had began to drone on. There was only the desired response initially which eventually died down. Hence, Morley’s song very accurately describes this indifference by questioning America about its stand on the war and how America can seemingly be uncaring of what was going on. So, in the last few lines of the song, one finds, â€Å"Have you forgotten / About our Pentagon / All the loved ones that we lost / And those left to carry on† (27-30) as the song shifts from being fierily questioning of the objectives for and reactions to the war to being deeply emotional, appealing to the better judgment of the listeners as if pleading that everybody be more reactive because the war was not just any kind of war, but it was something that took away so much from those who were in it. Songs during the Vietnam War were equally as questioning, perhaps because that particular also had grey areas when it came to the goals and objectives of the battle. In 1963 musicians began directly questioning the Vietnam War. † (Anderson) and so, in the song â€Å"Where have all the flowers gone? † by Seeger, this questioning tone is also employed. However, noticeably in the song, as it progresses, the repeated lines go from questioning where the flowers are to where the graves are; (1-40) looking at each of the stanzas, however, the more interesting recurring line is â€Å"When will they ever learn? † (7-8, 15-16, 23-24, 31-32, 39-40) which serves the same function as the ‘Have you forgotten’ theme of the earlier song. So, in effect, this song by Seeger not only questions but also admonishes the listeners, perhaps because, â€Å"Their music stated traditional folk themes, ones which were being voiced in the current civil rights crusade: justice, peace, and brotherly love. † (Anderson) Looking at these two songs side by side one can easily conclude that while both were about different wars at different periods the main message delivered is don’t people ever get tired of wars albeit the painful and agonizing effects of these exercises? So, if war songs are to be evaluated according to these two songs which are separated by decades in between, the sentiment of people when it comes to war has not changed significantly which is probably due largely to the reality that nobody wants wars regardless of the reasons. So, while both of the songs question the audience or the listeners, the questions in both songs are meant to indirectly remind the listener of the horrors of war and to admonish and enjoin the listener to remain faithful to the precepts of peace, justice and love while actively protesting whatever justifications the government makes for conducting these bloody exercises. Works Cited Anderson, Terry. American Popular Music and the War in Vietnam. (): 51-65. Print. Pareles, John. Pop Music and the War: The Sound of Resignation. New York Times. N. p. , 2 Jan. 2007. Web. 15 July 2010. http://www. nytimes. com/2007/01/02/arts/music/02songs. html . Seeger, Pete. Where Have all the Flowers Gone. arlo. net. N. p. , 2003. Web. 15 July 2010. http://www. arlo. net/resources/lyrics/flowers-gone. shtml. Worley, Darryl. Have you Forgotten?. Lyrics007. N. p. , 2007. Web. 15 July 2010. http://www. lyrics007. com/Darryl%20Worley%20Lyrics/Have%20You%20Forgotten%20Lyrics. html.

Philosophies Of Socrates, Plato, And Aristotle :: essays research papers

Philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle The philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had different points of-view but they were also similar in some ways. For example, all three philosophers had their own thoughts on the subject of justice and government. Socrates belief on this matter was that democracy was an unwise form of government. He thought that the electing of the people was unfair justice. Plato had some of the same beliefs. He believed that government should only have rulers who had the intelligence and education appropriate for the matter. His thoughts were that a job should be done only by those who are best suited for it. To him aristocracy was a perfect form of government. The point of Socrate's philosophies were to make people think about the questions he would often ask. The reason for these questions being asked were to have people to their own thoughts and opinions toward life. He did not think a person with the right mind should follow the steps of their ancestors. Instead of going around asking questions, Plato, another philosopher, would write his own conversations with imaginerary people. These conversations would cover much of the same topics that Socrates had tried to cover earlier. These topics mostly dealt with life such as government, opinions toward justice and how people really viewed education. Aristotle also had his own theories towards his belief of the "right government". He wanted his results to show happiness among the people. He'd mainly collect information from studying living creatures and observing their living habits. He would do this so that he could see what brought them happiness. His opinion toward life was that all people should live a fair and happy life. After many attempts of forming the perfect government , his facts allowed him to believe that a perfect government could be formed only by those who have a middle class. The middle class would consist of those who were not rich yet not poor. Both Aristotle and Plato had different thoughts on the division of the government. Aristotle claimed to believe that a government should consist of many classes for the protection of the people and the state.

Koito Case

Koito-Pickens-Toyota Case Question 1 The Japanese corporate governance system differs vastly from the US system. Discuss corporate governance issues that may arise under the Japanese keiretsu. The corporate governance system in Japan is widely different from the US one insofar as it mostly involves a unique business model called â€Å"Keiretsu†. A Keiretsu is a form of corporate structure that groups a set of companies with interlocking board of directors and common business interests. Thus, due to its particular structure, some governance problem may arise under this Japanese Keiretsu: ) Issues from the perspectives of financiers Because the business is considered almost like an extended family, the financing may become political and the Japanese Keiretsu will almost always give favor to members of their Keiretsu. This could lead the financiers, for instance, to finance a company member of their Keiratsu they wouldn’t have finance otherwise. As far as the potential fin anciers are concerned, the main issue is the difficulty to enter and invest in the Keiretsu. Getting financial information about the Keiretsu firms could be complicated insofar as the financial and accounting statements are not disclosed.Thus, such discretion could lead to an ambiguity or a lack of understanding from an outside perspective. Actually, the keiretsu are just trying to protect themselves from what they fear the most that is to say the yakuza and the greenmailing. b) Issues from the perspectives owners As mentioned above, the keiretsu are suspicious towards the â€Å"outside† and this behavior may make foreign owners face some difficulties. Because the keiretsu system is much more in favor of inside shareholders than the outside ones, the former may find some difficulties to make the most of their shareholder rights.And this can maybe explain why the outside shareholders are often a minority in comparison with the shareholders of the keiretsu. Moreover, even if on e of the outside owners becomes the biggest one, as T. Boone Pickens did, he may not be able to use his rights as he hoped. c) Issues from the perspectives suppliers One of the main issues for external suppliers is to the relationship between OEMs and suppliers that often leads to dumping on the prices and enables the outside supplier to compete with such cheap prices.As far as the integrated suppliers are concerned, the exclusive partnership with the keiretsu they belong enables them to do business with another leading firm and to gain market shares. d) Issues from the perspectives employees On the one hand and in case of horizontal integration, the very structure of a Keiretsu can lead into a confusion in management. The management transfers are so frequent that employees do not understand for which company they really work for is. One the other, the strong stability that comes out from this system could lead to a lack of action and performance from employees. Question 2What were T. Boone Pickens’ motives when he bought the share? In the eyes of many, Mr. Pickens was only acting as a front man for Mr. Watanabe, a well-known green mailer in order to pave a way to gain power and control over the corporation. Mr. Pickens denies all these accusations of greenmailing by claiming that he bought the share to carry out a â€Å"test case† in order to evaluate the accessibility of the market. In others words, his initiative has the only aim of checking whether the United States could make, in the future, profitable investments in Japan depending of the degree of welcome of the market.Moreover, it is not implausible to think that one motive of T. Boone Pickens was the quest of profit. It should be borne in mind T. Boone Pickens targeted Koito as an undervalued investment opportunity in so far as he anticipated a Koito stock rise due to the tight link between Toyota and Koito. The good performances of Koito stock combined with the rise of the net income an d sales reinforce this idea due to the fact that the shareholder’s average annual return has impressively increased. So the pursuit of rise of the dividends could have motivated him to buy the share.As the largest shareholder of Koito Manufacturing, is he entitled to representation on the board, does Japanese law allow for that? If not what in the law could he use to get an equivalent result? With 26. 4% of stock, T. Boone Pickens should have been entitled to representation on the board of Koito insofar as the Japanese law gives him rights due to the fact that he owns more than 10% of stock. But not so in the Japanese Keiretsu point of view. He was overwhelmingly denied board access in a 1989 annual meeting. †¦It is not a custom in Japan just to say, ‘I’ve become a major shareholder so I should become director. ’†, said Takao Matsuura, president Koito Manufacturing Ltd. There are reasons to wager that his seat on the board was compromised by the fact that the company considers him as a greenmailer. Knowing that T. Boone Pickens was planning to increase his stake to 30%, he could obtain board representation by acquiring 4% more than what he expected. In fact, the Japanese law states that those with at least 34% ownership could propose special shareholder resolutions.An alternative would be to establish a new relationship between Mr. Pickens and all the members of the keiretsu based on loyalty and transparency. They would not suspect him of greenmail anymore. We can suppose that T. Boone Pickens has chosen this way insofar as he supported the adoption of a proposal prohibiting Koito from paying greenmail. Question 3 Besides board representation, T. Boone Pickens demanded higher dividend payouts. Were his demands justified? Provide quantitative evidence to back your answer. Besides board representation, T.Boone Pickens asked for higher dividend payout saying that â€Å"Boone Co’s philosophy was to put stockholder inte rests first† (page 7) and in this very case, his demand for a higher dividend can be justified. Indeed, when we look at the dividend payout ratio for the period 1982 – 1985 (Table 1), it decreases meanwhile the retained earnings was increasing (Table 2). Moreover, at the same period, the proportion of cash was also increasing. In others words, the retained earnings were not invested enough and stay as cash.Then in 1986, we noticed that the payout ratio increased up to 39% and at the same time the retained earnings and the cash goes strongly down. Finally, almost the same phenomenon is observed between 1988 and 1990. In other words, the payout ratio is not positively correlated to the retained earnings which are not invested and stay as cash. Table 1 Table 2 Is there anything in the Japanese commercial code that would allow Pickens to try to get more dividends? If yes, why doesn’t he use this? If not, based on your experience as an international investment banker, what changes would you recommend him to propose?In order to increase dividends, T. Boone Pickens had several solutions. Indeed, many researches on the conflicts of interest between majority and minority shareholders show that dividend  payout  is negatively related to ownership concentration and support the assumption that large shareholders do not appear to use dividend policy to remove excess  cash. In other words,  firms with concentrated ownership are less likely to increase dividends when profitability increases and more likely to omit dividends when investment opportunities improve. So, T. Boone Pickens could decrease the ownership concentration of Koito.There are also some more aggressive solutions to get more dividends. T. Boone Pickens could increase his shares ownership in order to increase his decision power in the General Assembly insofar as â€Å"a owner of 34% or more of the outstanding stock could propose special shareholder resolutions†. Question 4 Pi ckens accused Toyota of limiting profits earned by Koito Manufacturing. Explain how the mechanism works? This mechanism is related to the very structure of keiretsu insofar as Toyota, like most Japanese OEM, owns equity positions in its suppliers.In 1986 almost half of Koito’s output was bought by Toyota and at the same time, Toyota has built a dominant position over Koito by having a 19%-part of Koito’s ownership. Therefore, Toyota was not just one of Koito’s customers but also one of its owners. Through its powerful influence and thanks to the close and informal relationship between Toyota and its suppliers, the car manufacturer had been able to negotiate supply contracts, lower prices and then limited profits earned by Koito. Is this a self-dealing transaction? According to Steven L.Emanuel (â€Å"Corporations†, 2009), a self-dealing transaction occurs when three following conditions are met : (1) A key player (officer, director or controlling sharehol der) and the corporation are on opposite sides of a transaction, (2) The key player has helped influence the corporation’s decision to enter the transaction (3) The key player’s personal financial interests are at least potentially in conflict with the financial interests of the corporation. In the case of Koito, 3 members out of 23 are Toyota’s executives.Even if these 3 members are no longer Toyota’s executives, the Japanese notion of loyalty and the business relations between Toyota and Koito (Toyota buy 48% of Koito’s output) could imply that these three chairmen could act in favor of Toyota or at least try to satisfy the two companies. And in this way, the supplier was treated unfairly and conflicts of interests might have occurred. If Pickens gets access to financial information, how can he set out to prove his accusations? If you were an investment banker, what accounts or data would you tell him to scrutinize.If Pickens gets access to finan cial information, he could analyze the Income Statement and compare the evolution of the growth of sales and the growth of gross profit over these past years. Generally, sales and gross profit evolve in the same direction unless there is a below cost-selling. However, here we noticed for example that in 1986, as sales had grown by almost 10,2%, gross profit had grown by 7% and that in 1990, when the sales had grown by 10. 85%, gross profit had only grown up by 2. 8%. Such comparisons could be setting off alarm bells and could point out the fact that Toyota is limiting profits earned by Koito Manufacturing.On the other hand and if he can, he could also compare directly the price of goods sold to Toyota with the price of the same goods sold to minor customers such as Hino Motors. A high difference between the two prices combined with the fact that three directors of Koito are retired Toyota executives, would prove these â€Å"self dealing transactions†. Would you suggest to cha nge the charter of the organization of Koito? As investment banker, I would suggest him to analyze thoroughly the income statements and the supply contracts between Toyota and Koito in details to reinforce his accusations.As far as the charter of the organization of Koito is concerned, I would suggest to add a clause which enables a person somehow related to a strong customer or a strong supplier to be appointed as director to Koito’s board of directors. Question 5 Toyota has threatened to cut all ties with Koito Manufacturing if Pickens take over the company. How would this affect Pickens investments? If you were a minority shareholder in Koito Manufacturing, whose side would you take? Calculate the value of your shares with or without Toyota.Because Toyota is the second largest shareholder in Koito and is its principal customer, representing 48% of the total sales (Exhibit 2), we may think that cutting ties with Koito Manufacturing will lead to huge losses, at least in the first year. Let’s then calculate the value of a share with and without Toyota. In order to use the Discounted Cash Flow methodology, here are the assumptions we made : * The value of the firm is equal to the value of the discounted cash flows for the next four years plus it’s terminal value. The same growth is expected for the coming four years (this growth was calculated as the mean of the previous years growth) * Because the lack of information concerning the cost of equity we used today Koito’s beta (1. 38), a risk free rate of 3% and a Rm of 10% (return on S&P) in order to calculate an approximative WACC. Our calculations provide us with a WACC of almost 8%. With Toyota : Without Toyota : If I were a minority shareholder I would probably take Pickens’ side because he puts shareholder interests first.However, I would be careful and make sure that making stockholders’ interest first instead of company’s one will not damage the entityâ€⠄¢s wealth. Based on your assessment of the case, are large shareholders an effective solution to corporate gouvernance problem? Based on the analysis of this case, it appears that being a large shareholder is not necessarily an effective solution to the corporate governance problem. Indeed, even if T. Boone Pickens is the largest shareholder, he actually has no influence on â€Å"management issues† including those which concern the amount of dividends paid.

The Fashion Channel Case

Introduction The Fashion Channel is losing highly valued viewers to competitors, causing a projected decrease in advertising revenue. TFH needs a plan to improve its ratings and increase its advertising revenue. We recommend that TFH implement scenario three and target the Fashion's and Shoppers/Planners. As we will show, this dual targeting plan has the highest income potential by bringing in the younger, highly valued viewers needed to increase advertising revenue. Analysis We recommend the third scenario of targeting both the Fashion's and theShoppers/Planners because it offers the highest ad revenue potential (see Appendix 1). Even though this plan has the highest total expenses, it results in the highest net income and margin potential (see Appendix 1). If TFH implemented scenario two and targeted only the Fashion's, the CPM would go up drastically. However, Fashion's only represent 15% of households and the average number of viewers would go down (see Appendix 2). On the other hand, if TFH targets both Fashion's and Shoppers/Planners the CPM and the average number of viewers will increase, exulting in higher revenues (see Appendix 2).The first scenario is not a good option because it increases advertising revenues only a small amount. Implementation The implementation plan involves 3 major steps. The first step is to research the two segments and find out what kind of programming will attract and retain both segments. The second step would be to invest in the new programming. The third step is to begin an advertising, promotions, and public relations campaign targeting the two segments. Risks The implementation of this plan has some risks that need to be mitigated.The three ajar risks are: 1) the plan only attracts Fashion's 2) the plan only attracts Shoppers/Planners 3) the plan alienates TFTP current customers. If the plan only attracts the Fashion's, then revenue will not be as high as expected, as shown in Appendix 1 under scenario 2. However, the exp enses would be much lower and income would still be much higher than in 2006. If the plan only attracts the Shoppers/Planners, then CPM would go down causing advertising revenue to decrease (see Appendix 3). This can be mitigated by focusing more on Fashion's than Shoppers/Planners while still trying to attract both. The Fashion Channel Case Starting in 1996 TFH (the fashion channel) had a great success because of a big audience and no competitors in the business. Noticing the great success competitors such as CNN and lifetime started to also have fashion-based programmer. Since viewers now having a choice to decide which channel they want to watch the viewer numbers of TFH starter to decrease. A reason for this is shown by an alpha research which pointed out that both CNN and lifetime got a better feedback in customers satisfaction in consumer interest as well as in awareness and also perceived value.Having their viewer numbers decreasing, TFH has to pay even more attention on their two main revenue streams: cable affiliate fees and advertising! Therefore they wanted to know who their audience is to can better react to them. They reached this with help of a detailed demographic breakdown which leaded to the result, that 61% of their viewers are female and 33% being aged 18-34 which is less then 45% being aged 35-54, but the younger group is stronger in this business Additional to this they did a SFA associated survey which divided the audience into 4 groups:Factionists: highly engaged in fashion with being 15% of all viewers, 61% being female and 50% being aged 18-34; Planners and Shoppers: participants in fashion on a regular basis with being 35% of all viewers, 54% being female and 25% being aged 18-34; Sustainability: participants in fashion for specific needs with being 30% of all viewers, 50% being female and 30% being aged 18-34. Also they have 45% with children in the household; Basics: not interested in fashion with being 20% of all viewers and 45% being female. 2) Which research method was most helpful to you in developing and evaluating the segmentation options?As mentioned before, there are four groups resulting from the SFA associated research. Combines with the results from the demographic breakdown we think it is really helpful for ETC. Indeed, with these researches they have the opp ortunity to realize who their audience is and so they can work on getting a new audience, probably within the other groups. They also understand who is the most powerful group in their business so that they can work on reaching their needs and with these information it was possible to work out the segmentation options. 3) What are the segmentation options?Broad-based marketing: The goal is to develop a multi-segment strategy with a strong focus on â€Å"Factionists† and the â€Å"Planners&shoppers† and also have a focus on women aged between 18 and 34 since this is the most powerful group – as mentioned before. â€Å"Fashions† segmentation: In this segmentation the focus is strong only on â€Å"Factionists†. The plan is to spend $ 15 million on programming. It is a single segment concentration. â€Å"Factionists† plus â€Å"Planners & shoppers† segmentation: This one is a product specialized segmentation with focus on both â€Å"Fact ionists† and â€Å"Shoppers & Planners†.TFH has to spend $ 20 million on programming in this case. 4) What is the project financial impact of each of the option? Scenario number 3 has the best financial result: against an increment of $20. 000. 000 in fixed costs and an increment of $4. 151. 347 in variable costs, the increment of revenue by Ad sales increases by $138. 378. 240 and the company can have the maximum net income ($168. 867. 232) and also the maximum margin (39%). Scenario number 1, instead, is the worst one: The Fashion Channel doesn't have extra fixed cost but also their income are the lowest one ($249. 080. 832) that is $96. 864. 68 lower than in scenario 3. In this case, the firm can match the same result that reached in 2006. Scenario 2 is a little worst than scenario 3: they have a little few fixed cost ($70. 000. 000) as they gain less revenue by Ad sales ($322. 882. 560) and also the net income and the margin are not performing as in scenario 3. 5) C ompare the segmentation options. What are the Pros & Cons (Strengths & Weaknesses) of each option? 1 . Broad Appeal (Broad multi-segment approach) – Scenario 1 Cross segment of Factionists, Planners & Shoppers, and Sustainability Woman aged 18 to 34 in all of the clusters 2.Factionists – Scenario 2 Alternative to a broad, multi-segment approach – focus on single segment (Factionists) 0 aggressive approach. Strong in the highly valued 18-34 female demographic. 3. The Factionists and the Shoppers/Planners – Scenario 3 Dual targeting of two segments (Factionists and Shoppers/Planners). 6) What is your recommendation? After the analysis of costs, revenues and net income and the review of advantages and disadvantages of the three options, according to us the best solution is the scenario 3: the â€Å"Fashions† plus â€Å"Planners/Shoppers† segmentation.We understand that the risk involved with this scenario is very high. TFH will lose some of the ir most loyal consumers by re-positioning the channel towards factionists and the planners/shoppers. Furthermore, Exhibit 5 show us that this scenario also requires more programming and operational expenses. On the other hand, â€Å"Factionists† has superior interest in fashion and â€Å"Planners & Shoppers† has the largest cluster size, so it is a good choice to combine them. Indeed â€Å"Planners & Shoppers† will improve he rating in order to attract more ad buyers and at the same time â€Å"Factionists† will enhance the CPM to gain more ad revenue.Moreover, from the Exhibits 4 and 5 we can observe that scenario 3 gives the more revenue that the others and it provides more net income and a better margin than the other two options. To conclude, the benefits truly do seem to outweigh the risks in this scenario and we recommend that targeting at two valued groups â€Å"Factionists† and â€Å"Planners & shoppers† is the best solution to this p roblem. It will create more revenues (above all from advertising), aka TFH get back market shares quickly and maintain Tiff's leading status and core viewer loyalty.Obviously, The Fashion Channel will also implement this new marketing plan. One of the more difficult challenges for TFH is trying to keep their older loyal consumers while attracting the new factionists and planners/shoppers (18-34 female audience), otherwise they could certainly lose more than they gain. In order to achieve this aim, TFH should analyze the loyal consumers' favorite programs and make sure to keep these programs when they begin their new marketing plan.Moreover, The Fashion Channel should look at Lifetime and their Fashion Today program to gain a better understanding of how they market to their 18-34 year-old female audience, so they will be in a very advantageous position to capture a large share of the market. Furthermore, TFH must continually find ways to improve consumer interest, awareness, and perc eived value. Lastly, TFH must be aware of its competition and be ready to differentiate and re-position its programs in order to earn the best TV ratings and capture the most market share. The Fashion Channel Case Introduction The Fashion Channel is losing highly valued viewers to competitors, causing a projected decrease in advertising revenue. TFH needs a plan to improve its ratings and increase its advertising revenue. We recommend that TFH implement scenario three and target the Fashion's and Shoppers/Planners. As we will show, this dual targeting plan has the highest income potential by bringing in the younger, highly valued viewers needed to increase advertising revenue. Analysis We recommend the third scenario of targeting both the Fashion's and theShoppers/Planners because it offers the highest ad revenue potential (see Appendix 1). Even though this plan has the highest total expenses, it results in the highest net income and margin potential (see Appendix 1). If TFH implemented scenario two and targeted only the Fashion's, the CPM would go up drastically. However, Fashion's only represent 15% of households and the average number of viewers would go down (see Appendix 2). On the other hand, if TFH targets both Fashion's and Shoppers/Planners the CPM and the average number of viewers will increase, exulting in higher revenues (see Appendix 2).The first scenario is not a good option because it increases advertising revenues only a small amount. Implementation The implementation plan involves 3 major steps. The first step is to research the two segments and find out what kind of programming will attract and retain both segments. The second step would be to invest in the new programming. The third step is to begin an advertising, promotions, and public relations campaign targeting the two segments. Risks The implementation of this plan has some risks that need to be mitigated.The three ajar risks are: 1) the plan only attracts Fashion's 2) the plan only attracts Shoppers/Planners 3) the plan alienates TFTP current customers. If the plan only attracts the Fashion's, then revenue will not be as high as expected, as shown in Appendix 1 under scenario 2. However, the exp enses would be much lower and income would still be much higher than in 2006. If the plan only attracts the Shoppers/Planners, then CPM would go down causing advertising revenue to decrease (see Appendix 3). This can be mitigated by focusing more on Fashion's than Shoppers/Planners while still trying to attract both.

Curriculum as PRAXIS Proposal

Curriculum as PRAXIS Proposal Abstract A curriculum is important to both the students and the school instructors and therefore the two parties should be considered in its development. The physical education is an important part of the school curriculum although it is neglected in most schools. This essay therefore looks at the importance of physical education in the school curriculum.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Curriculum as PRAXIS Proposal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Secondly, the paper discusses the importance of instructions and the ability of students to follow them as well as the role-played by effective instructions in overcoming constraints by students and school instructors. Finally, there is the incorporation of school’s curriculum with physical education instructions. Physical education Curriculum Instructions determine how a learning institution is run and therefore are very important. There are different forms of inst ructions such as verbal and written instructions and the choice of the mode of instruction depends on their suitability in relation to the parties concerned. Choice of instruction mode also depends on various factors such as the type of instructions, the information, student’s level and student’s abilities. The most important determinant of the mode of instructions is the subject considering that all other factors are held constant. This implies that the school management and curriculum developers should develop a curriculum that is free from constraints to the students as well as the instructors (Curzon, 1985). In addition, a curriculum that is free from constraints is beneficial to the students and the instructors because it makes work easier. In the modern age, the use of technology has increased and therefore schools and learning institutions have embraced technology. In schools, the use of technology comes in as an extra tool and as a teaching aid to instructors. In particular, schools can apply technology as a means of instructions and therefore the student’s ability to follow instructions is determined. Although technology can be of great benefits to the school instructors and students, most institutions have not fully utilized these benefits. As stated by Taylor (2006), although the emerging technologies have many benefits as a means of instruction their benefits are not reflected in schools. From this statement, it can be concluded that most schools do not benefit from technology due to lack of implementation.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The statement also shows that use of technology contributes to the passing of instructions by the school instructors. Howell (2003) confirms this statement and goes on to give Ontario schools as some of the schools that have not fully applied technology as a means of instructions despi te having ability to do so. This statement confirms that technology can be of great importance in the instructions of students and that most schools have not fully exploited this resource (Usher Bryant, 1989). Instructions determine the level of success in physical education and therefore physical education instructors should consider applying technology as a means of instructions to overcome constraints. A curriculum that is free from constraints takes care of all the concerned parties. The curriculum should be more concerned with the students and their potentials, which is determined by various factors such as the learning ability of the student as well as the ability to follow instruction. Studies have also shown that there is a great difference between the modern students and students from previous years and therefore a good curriculum should consider this factor all the time. In order to overcome constraints curriculum developers should develop a curriculum that takes care of the two categories of students. Recent research indicates that most schools neglect physical education at the expense of other subjects. These studies also show that there is a close relationship between a school performance and the promotion of physical education in the schools. In most of these schools, lack of clear physical education instructions is the main indicator of the neglect of the subject. Technology can also be used as an effective means to measure or evaluate the impact of technology use and the level of instruction delivered to the students. As noted by Trucano (2005), the effectiveness or the ability of means of evaluation depends on the applied technology and therefore the ICT technology plays an important role. This statement implies that in addition to application of technology, schools and school instructors need to evaluate the effectiveness of technology in their schools.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Curriculum as PRAXIS Proposal s pecifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The statement goes on to indicate that the ICT technology is the best measure that should be applied in the evaluation process. The measure of effectiveness of technology use as a means of instructions to the students also determines the purpose of the curriculum to the students and the school. There are various reasons why it is important to analyze the use of technology as a means of instruction in schools. Any relevant analysis in this field should focus on both the students and the school instructors (Tyler, 1949). A meaningful analysis should focus on students past experiences in the ICT field and the use of ICT technology as a form of instructions to the students. The analysis should therefore focus on the past use of technology by the students in both schools and homes. The next purpose of the analysis should be to investigate the mode and style of reading instructions and the student’s performan ce. Although a curriculum is mainly composed of instructions and plans, the evaluation part is important in the curriculum development (Grundy, 1987). From this statement, Grundy confirms that the evaluation of a curriculum is as important as the curriculum. Grundy goes on to add that the curriculum analysis process contributes or determines the student’s ability to follow instructions and this is important in physical education. According to Lieberman, (2007) theory, educators need to re-structure their definition and interpretation of literate activities and practices. This theory indicates that the school curriculum should also focus on the practical side of education instead of fully focusing on the theoretical aspect of education alone. An analysis on this theory indicates that incorporation of technology as a means of instruction on physical education characterize modern day education effectively. As stated by Biggs (2003), any valid analysis on following of instruction s in any curriculum should be based or focused on the students and their abilities. This statement implies the importance of curriculum analysis and the importance of focusing on the student in any analysis process. The statement also indicates that analysis on curriculum is important to both the instructors and the students. In addition to this, curriculum analysis assists curriculum developers in the identification of areas of constraints among students and means of avoiding these constraints.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As mentioned above, even though most schools are well established their system mainly focuses on the theoretical aspect of education at the expense of practical education. Therefore, evaluation and analysis of the school system should be done regularly (Smiles, 2007). Basic assumption As praxis curriculum is a process that depends on planning and implementations on top of the set guidelines and procedures that are followed. Planning and implementation requires cooperation between the students and the school, where the students should have the ability to follow instructions. In addition to that, the students and the school instructors should be at the same level in the understanding and use of instruction, which implies that the school should adopt instructions that correspond to the involved parties. As stated by Hirt (2008), improved communication in a school enhances the instructions used and the student’s ability to follow instructions. Creswell (2003) goes on to confirm t hat effective communication at the school level is both important to the students and the school instructors. In the physical education, instructions have an important role as compared to other subjects learned in school and is driven by instructions and therefore communication are vital for its success. Communication effectiveness in schools indicates that the students and the instructors should be at the same level in terms of communication and use the same means of communication. The ability to communicate also depends on the ability of both parties to use the available and existing forms of technology within the school. Potential challenges The success of the proposed curriculum depends on several factors, which are determined by either the student’s abilities or the school environment. In addition to this, the success of the proposed curriculum will mainly depend on the student’s ability to follow instructions. School instructors mainly develop instructions and th erefore most instructors will not have major problems in giving out instructions. The students are more affected by these instructions than the instructors are and therefore as the instructors develop instructions they should consider the students (Kelly, 1999). The instructors should therefore consider that the students are engaged in other learning activities on top of the physical education. This requires that the instructions developed for physical education are familiar to students and at the same time, they should be friendly (Kelly, 1983). A familiar and a friendly curriculum should be considerate of the other subjects and courses that the students are taking so that they can be flexible. Learning of instructions by the students is not a simple undertaking and therefore the instructors should design instructions that are easy to learn and follow (Piotrowski, 2000). In addition to this, the instructors should develop instructions that can be applied in other areas of studies t hat the students are engaged in. Instructions that are applicable in multiple areas are of benefit to both the students and the instructors since they save the time required for learning and teaching new instructions. Conclusion Although most schools are aware of the importance of physical education, most school programs lack this important component. Physical education is very important in the development of the students however; unlike other curriculum, physical education depends mainly on instructions. The suitability of instructions also determines the effectiveness of these instructions. Although technology has proved to be an important part in school’s development, most schools have not fully adopted the use of technology. Technology plays an important role in instruction process and therefore schools should consider its application in the physical education curriculum. The effectiveness of technology use in schools is determined by the school’s technology level and the student’s ability to use technology. Suitable instructions are instructions that are easy to learn and implement. In addition to that, suitable instructions should be applicable in a multiple of areas since they save the students the time needed to learn new instructions. Although physical education is highly dependent on instructions, the success of instructions mainly depends on their suitability to the students References Biggs, J. (1999). Teaching for quality learning at university. Buckingham: SRHE and Open University Press. Creswell, J. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (2nd ed.). California: Sage Publication. Curzon, L. B. (1985) Teaching in further education. An outline of principles and practice 3e. London: Cassell. Grundy, S. (1987). Curriculum: product or praxis? Lewes: Falmer Press. Hirt, M. (2008). Maximum middle school physical education. Illinois: Human Kinetics. Howell, S. (2003). E Learning and paper testin g: Why the gap? Educause Quarterly, Vol. 4, 8-10. Kelly, A. V. (1999). The curriculum. Theory and practice 4e. London: Paul Chapman. Kelly, A. V. (1983). Curriculum development: Theory and practice. New York: Harcourt Brace and World. Lieberman, L. (2007). Paraeducators in physical education: a training guide to roles and responsibilities. Canada: Human Kinetics. Piotrowski, S. (2000). Issues in physical education. London: Routledge. Smiles, S. (2007). Physical education: The nurture and management of children, founded on the study of their nature and constitution. Madison: University of Wisconsin. Taylor, A. R. (2006). A future in the process of arrival: Using computer technologies for the assessment of student learning. Web. Tyler, R. W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Usher, R. Bryant, I. (1989). Adult education as theory, practice, and research: The captive triangle. London: Rutledge.

10 Fascinating Facts About Dragonflies

10 Fascinating Facts About Dragonflies Prehistoric-looking dragonflies can be a little intimidating as they swoop about the summer skies. In fact, according to one dragonfly myth, the uncanny creatures would sew up the lips of unsuspecting humans. Of course, thats not even remotely true. Dragonflies are essentially harmless. Even better, these large-eyed aeronauts love to feed on pests like mosquitoes and midges for which we can be truly grateful- but those arent the only interesting qualities that make them so fascinating. 1. Dragonflies Are Ancient Insects Long before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, dragonflies took to the air. Griffenflies (Meganisoptera), the gigantic precursors to modern dragonflies could reach lengths of nearly 30 inches and dotted the skies during the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. If you could transport yourself back a mere 250 million years, youd likely recognize the familiar sight of dragonflies similar to those of the present day. 2. Dragonfly Nymphs Live In the Water Theres a good reason why you see dragonflies and damselflies around ponds and lakes: theyre aquatic! Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the waters surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or moss. Once hatched, the nymph dragonfly spends its time hunting other aquatic invertebrates. Larger species even dine on the occasional small fish or tadpole. After molting somewhere between nine and 17 times, a dragonfly nymph is finally ready for adulthood and crawls out of the water to shed its final immature skin. 3. Nymphs Breath Through Their Anus The damselfly nymph actually breathes through gills  inside its rectum. Likewise, the dragonfly nymph pulls water into its anus to facilitate gas exchange. When the nymph expels water, it propels itself forward, providing the added benefit of locomotion to its breathing. 4. Most New Dragonfly Adults Are Eaten When a nymph is finally ready for adulthood, it crawls out of the water onto a rock or plant stem and molts one final time. This process takes up to an hour as the dragonfly expands to its full body capacity. These newly emerged dragonflies, known at this stage as teneral adults, are soft-bodied, pale, and highly vulnerable to predators. Until their bodies fully harden they are weak flyers, making them ripe for the picking. Birds and other predators consume a significant number of young dragonflies in the first few days after their emergence. 5. Dragonflies Have Excellent Vision Relative to other insects, dragonflies have extraordinarily keen vision that helps them detect the movement of other flying critters and avoid in-flight collisions. Thanks to two huge compound eyes, the dragonfly has nearly 360 ° vision and can see a wider spectrum of colors than humans. Each compound eye contains as many as 30,000 lenses or ommatidia and a dragonfly uses about 80 percent of its brain to process all of the visual information it receives. 6. Dragonflies Are Masters of Flight Dragonflies are able to move each of their four wings independently. They can flap each wing up and down, and rotate their wings forward and back on an axis. Dragonflies can move straight up or down, fly backward, stop and hover, and make hairpin turns- at full speed or in slow motion. A dragonfly can fly forward at a speed of 100 body lengths per second (up to 30 miles per hour). Using high-speed cameras, Scientists at Harvard University photographed dragonflies taking flight, catching prey, and returning to a perch, all within the time span of between 1 to 1.5 seconds. 7. Male Dragonflies Fight for Territory Competition for females is fierce, leading male dragonflies to aggressively fend off other suitors. In some species, males claim and defend a territory against intrusion from other males. Skimmers, clubtails, and petaltails scout out prime egg-laying locations around ponds. Should a challenger fly into his chosen habitat, the defending male will do all he can to chase away the competition. Other kinds of dragonflies dont defend specific territories but still behave aggressively to other males that cross their flight paths or dare to approach their perches. 8. Male Dragonflies Have Multiple Sex Organs In nearly all insects, the male sex organs are located at the tip of the abdomen. Not so in male dragonflies. Their copulatory organs are on the underside of the abdomen, up around the second and third segments. Dragonfly sperm, however, is stored in an opening of the ninth abdominal segment. Before mating, the dragonfly has to fold his abdomen in order to transfer his sperm to his penis. 9. Some Dragonflies Migrate A number of dragonfly species are known to migrate, either singly or en masse. As with other migratory species, dragonflies relocate to follow or find needed resources or in response to environmental changes such as impending cold weather. Green darners, for example, fly south each fall in sizeable swarms and then migrate north again in the spring. Forced to follow the rains that replenish their breeding sites, the globe skimmer- one of several species thats known to spawn in temporary freshwater pools- set a new insect world record when a biologist documented its 11,000 mile trip between India and Africa. 10. Dragonflies Thermoregulate Their Bodies Like all insects, dragonflies are technically ectotherms (cold-blooded) but that doesnt mean theyre at the mercy of Mother Nature to keep them warm or cool. Dragonflies that patrol (those that habitually fly back and forth) employ a rapid whirring movement of their wings to raise their body temperatures. Perching dragonflies, on the other hand, who rely on solar energy for warmth, skillfully position their bodies to maximize the surface area exposed to sunlight. Some species even use their wings as reflectors, tilting them to direct the solar radiation toward their bodies. Conversely, during hot spells, some dragonflies strategically position themselves to minimize sun exposure, using their wings to deflect sunlight.

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 65

Marketing - Essay Example A SWOT analysis of the project illustrates that the availability of resources as defined by the budget will allow an investment on the project a success and able to meet goals. Additionally a marketing plan will allow the market to be aware of the service and interested in using it. In addition, there are opportunities in the market for future expansion. However the internal environment within the organization such as corporate culture and management strategies would determine the success of the project. There is a need for conducting an elaborate market research so that the willingness of the market to purchase, their needs and financial capabilities can be determined so that accurate objectives and goals of marketing and implementing the project can be designed. The marketing strategies will involve a competitive approach where technology is employed in achieving effective marketing communication for the mobile mammogram service. More importantly the 4 Ps as market variables will b e analyzed so that they would be implemented effectively in ensuring success of the marketing process for the mobile mammogram service within the target