Storm Born Chapter Eight

The keep was like a cross between Sleeping Beauty's castle and a gothic church. Towers jauntily sprang up to impossible heights, creating black patches across the evening sky. We'd lost our light now, but I could still see that a lot of the windows looked as though they contained stained glass. I imagined they'd be beautiful in full sunlight. And framing everything, of course, were those brilliant, yellow-orange trees. Volusian had told me that the kingdoms' seasons were dependent on their rulers' whims and could last for extremely long times. This was beautiful, but I couldn't imagine living in a place that was perpetually autumn. I knew some claimed Arizona was perpetually summer, but, then, the people who said that didn't actually live there. The seasons were subtle, but they were there. I had to keep reminding myself I wasn't in some kind of wacky movie as Rurik and his gang led us through twisted hallways lit with torches. People passed, giving us curious looks as they went about whatever one did in a medieval castle. Churning butter. Flogging peasants. I really didn't know, and I didn't care. I just wanted to get out of there. â€Å"Wait here,† Rurik told us when we reached a large set of double oak doors. â€Å"I will speak to the king before you're shown into the throne room.† Wow. An honest-to-goodness throne room. He disappeared behind the doors, and a couple guards watched us but kept their distance. â€Å"Volusian,† I said softly, â€Å"did you purposely lead us here?† â€Å"My only purpose, mistress, is to keep you alive. Being here will increase your chances.† â€Å"You didn't answer the question.† â€Å"You will also increase your chances,† he continued, â€Å"if you are nice to King Dorian.† â€Å"Nice? They just assaulted me and threatened to rape me.† He gave me an exasperated look. â€Å"The king will see you now,† said Rurik dramatically, returning from inside the room. He held the door open for us. Trumpets wouldn't have surprised me. The throne room was not what I expected. Sure, there was a dais with a chair on it, just like in the movies, but the rest of the room was in a state of disarray. A large space ran through the middle, for dancing or processions, perhaps, but the rest had an almost lounge sort of look. Small couches, chaises, and chairs were arranged around low tables set with goblets and platters of fruit. Men and women, again dressed in sort of a goth-Renaissance style, draped themselves on the furniture and on each other, picking idly at the fruit as they watched me. I was put in mind of the way Romans used to dine. More than gentry lounged around, however. Spirits and sprites and trowes and wraiths were also in attendance, along with an assortment of Otherworld creatures. The monsters of human imagining, side by side with magical refugees who had immigrated to this world. I wondered then if any other shaman had been this far into gentry society. I remembered Roland's warning, that I could be taken right into the heart of their world. If only our kind had some sort of scholarly journal. The Journal of Shamanic Assassination and Otherworldly Encounters. I could have used this â€Å"research† to write a compelling article to share with my fellow professionals. Conversation dropped to a low hum as the gentry leaned over and whispered to each other, eyes on me. Smirks and scowls alike lit their faces, and I put on the blank expression I would wear going to meet a new client. Meanwhile, my pulse raced into overdrive and breathing became a bit difficult. Volusian trailed near me on one side while Rurik walked on the other. Wil and the others moved behind us. â€Å"Why all these people?† I murmured to Volusian. â€Å"Is he having a party?† â€Å"Dorian is a social king. He likes keeping people around, most likely so he can mock them. He keeps a full court and regularly invites his nobles to dine here.† We came to a stop. On the throne sat a man, Dorian, I presumed. He looked bored. He leaned into the arm of his chair, one elbow propped on it so he could rest his chin in his hand. It sort of made him view us at an angle. Long auburn hair, reminiscent of the trees outside, hung around him, highlighted with every shade of red and gold conceivable. He could have been autumn incarnate. He had the most perfect skin I'd ever seen in such a vivid redhead: smooth and ivory, with no freckles or rosy color. A cloak of forest-green velvet covered unremarkable dark pants and a loose, white button-up shirt. He had well-shaped cheekbones and delicate features. â€Å"Kneel before the king,† ordered Rurik, â€Å"and get used to being on your knees.† I gave him a withering glance. He smiled. â€Å"I'll be happy to make you,† he warned. â€Å"Bah, enough. Leave her in peace,† intoned Dorian laconically. He didn't change posture. Only his eyes portrayed any sort of interest in these goings-on. â€Å"If she's been with you for the last hour, she deserves a break. Go sit down.† Rurik's smugness flashed to embarrassment, but he bowed before the throne and backed off. That left Dorian and me staring at each other. He grinned. â€Å"Well, come here. If you won't kneel, I at least want to get a good look at the ‘terrible monster' they've brought to me. They all seem quite afraid of you. I confess, I didn't really believe it was you when they told me. I thought Rurik had been into the mushrooms again.† â€Å"Do you know how many of our people she has killed and forcibly banished, sire?† exclaimed Shaya from somewhere behind me. â€Å"She took out three in under a minute just now.† â€Å"Yes, yes. She's quite terrifying. I can see that.† Dorian looked at me expectantly. I shook my head. â€Å"I'm not moving until you offer us hospitality.† This made him sit up. He kept smiling. â€Å"She's clever too, though, admittedly, asking for hospitality before you crossed our humble threshold would have been more clever still since any of my subjects could have attacked you just now.† He shrugged. â€Å"But we've made it this far. So, tell me, Eugenie, why – er, wait. Do you prefer Eugenie or Miss Markham?† I considered. â€Å"I prefer Odile.† That smile twitched. â€Å"Ah. We're still clinging to that, are we? Very well, then, Odile, tell me what brings the shining ones' most feared enemy to my door, asking for hospitality. As you might imagine, this is without precedence.† I glanced around at all the watching, listening people. Ignore them, ignore them, an inner voice whispered. Focus on Dorian for now. â€Å"I don't really want to talk about it in front of the peanut gallery. I'd rather meet with you in private.† â€Å"Oh.† He pitched his voice for the crowd. â€Å"Well, well. Odile wants to meet with me in private.† I blushed, hating myself for doing it. Nervous laughter ran around the room, soon growing stronger and more confident as the king's did. Interesting, I thought. I remembered Volusian's comments about Dorian, and his soldiers' hesitation about his wrath. These gathered people were sheep, obviously, ready to dance or laugh at Dorian's command, but suddenly I wondered if they were sheep who also feared the whims of their capricious shepherd. I wondered if I should be afraid too. I kept my silence, not acknowledging his joke. He leaned forward, putting both elbows on his knees, letting his chin rest in both hands now. â€Å"If I offer you hospitality, you must reciprocate in kind. I'll see that no one harms you in my household, but in return, you can harm no one under my roof.† I glanced back at Volusian. â€Å"You didn't mention that.† â€Å"Oh, for God's sake,† he hissed, displaying a rare loss of patience. â€Å"What did you expect? Take it before your imminent death becomes more imminent and robs me of my chance to kill you myself.† I turned back to Dorian. I didn't like this turn of events. I didn't like being in a nest of gentry, nor did I want to be at one's mercy. Why was I here again? In my head, I summoned an image of little Jasmine Delaney, imagining her being tormented in a similar way over at Aeson's court. Only she would be subject to more than just mockery. â€Å"I accept,† I said. Dorian regarded me in silence and then nodded. â€Å"As do I.† He looked up at the crowd. â€Å"Odile Dark Swan is now under the protection of my hospitality. Anyone who so much as lays a finger on her will get his own fingers chopped off and fed back to him.† He issued the threat with as much cheer as Volusian might have. A buzz spread through the crowd, not entirely pleased. â€Å"What's to keep her from breaking her oath?† I heard someone mutter. Another said loudly, â€Å"She could slay us all!† Dorian's eyes flicked back to me. â€Å"Did you have any idea what a creature of nightmare you are around here? Mothers tell their children Odile Dark Swan will come for them if they're bad.† â€Å"Hey, I don't seek them out. I only come for them if they come for me first.† â€Å"Interesting,† he said, arching an eyebrow. â€Å"But if that's how you like it, so be it. I always admire women who know what they want in the bedroom.† â€Å"Hey, that's not what I – † I hadn't realized the extent to which our slang had permeated the gentry world. Theirs was a reflection of my own; things seeped through. He cut me off with a gesture. â€Å"I gave you hospitality, now come up here. I want to see the terror that haunts the darkness.† I hesitated, both from distrust and defiance to his taunting. Volusian's voice whispered in my ear. â€Å"He will not harm you now that he's given his word.† â€Å"I don't know if I can really believe that.† â€Å"I do.† My minion's voice was calmly serious. â€Å"You know I can't lie to you.† Turning back to Dorian, I took the steps until I stood at the same level as his chair. I met his gaze evenly. â€Å"Look at those eyes,† he sighed happily. â€Å"Like violets in the snow. You smell like them too.† Beyond us, I heard another rise of murmurs in the crowd. â€Å"What's got them all worked up now?† They couldn't hear our discourse. His own eyes danced. They were golden-brown, the color of autumn leaves falling from the trees. â€Å"You've broken protocol. They expected you to stop one step lower. Instead, you've put yourself at the same level as me. The fact that I'm not chastising you means I'm treating you as an equal, like royalty. You should be flattered.† I crossed my arms. â€Å"I'll be more flattered when we have the private talk.† He tsked me. â€Å"So impatient. So human. You've asked for my hospitality. You can't expect me to not give it now.† He made a gesture with his hands, and spirit servants appeared, bearing serving platters of food. For some reason, I suddenly started thinking of the song â€Å"Hotel California.† â€Å"We were about to eat when you so kindly dropped in. Dine with us, and then we'll have as many ‘private encounters' as you like.† â€Å"I'm not stupid. I won't eat anything in the Otherworld. You have to know that.† He shrugged, still sprawled out on his throne like a comfortable cat. â€Å"Your loss. You can sit and watch, then.† He rose gracefully and offered me his hand. I stared at it blankly. Shaking his head with mirth, he simply walked with me down the steps, not touching. â€Å"Where's the rest of my group?† â€Å"Your servants and human friend are safe, I assure you. We've given them their own accommodations since they don't have a guest-of-honor seat at my table, that's all.† He beckoned toward a low, polished table, a bit larger than the others in the room. Like the rest, it was surrounded by sumptuous-looking chairs and sofas, patterned in bright brocades and velvets. Dorian settled down onto a small loveseat and patted the spot beside him. â€Å"Keep me company?† I didn't dignify that with an answer, instead sitting down in the chair next to his sofa. It was a single seat. No one could sit with me. We were soon joined by about a dozen others, including Rurik and Shaya. She reported to Dorian that the people I'd injured had been healed and were recovering. True to my word, I didn't eat any of the food set out before us, but I confess, it looked pretty good. Stuffed Cornish game hens. Fresh bread with steam still rising from it. Desserts I would have committed murder for. But I didn't give in. One of the first rules of the game was to never eat outside your own world. Stories and myths abounded about those foolish enough to ignore that precaution. The other diners tried hard to pretend I didn't exist, but Dorian was fascinated by me. Worse, he flirted with me. At least he wasn't as crass as every other gentry I seemed to encounter, but I didn't rise to any of it – even if it was charming at times. I took it all in with a stoic face, which seemed to delight him that much more. The other women at the table were less resistant. Any look, any word, and they practically melted with lust. In fact, many other people in the room also seemed to melt with lust. Very explicitly so. During and after dinner, I watched as people – couples usually, but sometimes more – touched each other brazenly. It was like being in junior high again. Some of it was just kissing. Some of it was heavy groping – a hand fondling the breast or sliding up the thigh. And some of it was†¦more. Across the room, I saw one woman climb on top of a man and straddle him, moving up and down. I was pretty sure they had nothing on beneath the voluminous folds of her skirt. At a table nearby, one woman was on her knees in front of a man, and she was – I hastily averted my eyes, turning back to my own table. I found Dorian's gaze on me and knew he scrutinized my every reaction. Through some unspoken command, a blond slip of a woman slid into the empty seat beside him, the one I had refused. She draped a leg over his lap and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck. He moved one hand up her leg, pushing up the skirt to reveal smooth flesh, but he otherwise seemed oblivious to her as he regarded me and the other guests. Aside from the free love and utterly medieval setting, there was almost something, well, normal about this place. The gentry I'd run into were always causing trouble in my world. Luring humans. Using magic indiscriminately. But this was like any other social occasion or party. People knew each other and regarded their friends with warmth. They discussed love and children and politics. True, they were still foreign and other to me, but I could also almost see them as human. Almost. Needing to do more than sit there and stare, I reached into my coat and pulled out one of the two Milky Way bars I'd brought along. It was also a utilitarian move, seeing as how I was so hungry from watching all the feasting around me. Dorian immediately became intrigued. â€Å"What is that?† I held it up. â€Å"It's a Milky Way. It's†¦candy.† I didn't really know what else to say about it. I wasn't even sure what was in it. Nougat? I had no idea what the hell that foamy stuff was, save that it was delicious. He eyed it curiously, and I broke off a piece, tossing it over to him. He caught it deftly. â€Å"Your majesty,† exclaimed one of the men, â€Å"don't eat it. It's not safe.† â€Å"It won't hurt me here,† rebuked Dorian in annoyance. â€Å"And don't even start in about poison or I'll let Bertha the cook have her way with you again.† The man promptly shut up. Dorian popped the piece into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Watching the expressions his face went through was almost hilarious. It took him awhile to work through all that gooey scrumptiousness, and I fostered a compelling image of him with saltwater taffy. â€Å"Entertaining,† he declared when he'd finished. â€Å"What's in it?† â€Å"I don't know. Some chocolate and caramel. A bunch of stuff sort of fused into other stuff.† One woman, her hair curly and brown, fixed me with a combative look. â€Å"That's so typical of them. They twist nature and the elements for the sake of their perverted creations until they no longer know what it is they do. They are an offense to the divine, bringing forth monstrosities and abominations they cannot control.† A snappy retort rose to my lips, but I bit it off. Volusian had warned me to be nice. In light of their relatively civilized behavior at dinner, I could do no less, so my voice stayed calm. â€Å"Our monstrosities do great things. We can fix injuries you can't. We have plumbing and electricity. We have transportation that makes your horses look like dinosaurs.† â€Å"Like what?† asked one of the men. â€Å"Bad analogy,† I replied. Shaya shook her head. â€Å"We can achieve many of the same results with magic.† â€Å"Magic couldn't do much against my gun earlier.† â€Å"Our people survived. Only a human would brag about her ability to wield death.† â€Å"And you in particular would have good reason to,† pointed out Rurik. â€Å"No other human in memory has killed as many of our kind – spirits or shining ones – as you. You would have killed me last week if you'd had the strength. You would have killed our people in the woods today if you could have.† â€Å"I don't always kill. I even avoid it if I can. But sometimes I have to, and when I do†¦well, then, that's the way it goes.† Glowers regarded me all around the table. Only Dorian's face stayed politely curious. â€Å"Rumor has it you've killed your own kind too,† he noted. â€Å"Doesn't it keep you up at night to have so much blood on your hands?† I leaned back in my chair, as always trying to keep my emotions off my face. It did bother me sometimes, but I didn't want them to know. I hadn't killed many humans – only a handful, really – and most of it had been self-defense. They'd been humans working with gentry or other creatures to do harm in my world. That had justified the kills in some ways, but I could never ignore that I was taking a life. A human life. A life like my own. The first time I'd seen the light fade out of someone's eyes – wrought by my hand – I'd had nightmares for weeks. I'd never told Roland about that, and I certainly wasn't going to tell this group. â€Å"Actually, Dorian, I sleep very well, thank you.† â€Å"It's King Dorian,† hissed a plump man across from me. â€Å"Show respect.† Dorian smiled. The others glared further. â€Å"The gods will punish a murderer like you,† warned one of the women. â€Å"I doubt it. I don't murder anyone. I defend. Everyone I've killed was doing damage to my world or – in the case of those humans – helping your kind cause harm. Those who merely trespass, I don't kill. I just send them back. It's not your world, so I protect my own. That's not a crime.† Dorian sent the blonde away with a quick motion of his hand and leaned over the couch so he could speak closer to me. â€Å"But you know it was once our world too.† â€Å"Yes. And your ancestors left it.† Shaya eyed me, cheeks flushing. â€Å"We were driven out.† Dorian ignored the outburst. â€Å"You gave us no choice. Once we were all one people. Then your ancestors turned away from the power within and sought it without. They built. They subdued nature. They created things with their hands and the elements that we had only thought magic capable of. Some even surpassed what magic could do.† â€Å"So what's wrong with that?† â€Å"You tell me, Odile. Has it been worth it? You can't have it both ways. The ability to force ‘magic' from the world killed the magic within. Your lives shortened as a result compared to ours. Your sense of wonder disappeared, short of anything that can be proven by numbers and facts. Your people will soon have no gods but their machines.† â€Å"And despite all this,† observed Shaya bitterly, â€Å"humans continue to flourish. Why haven't they been cursed? Why do they spawn like cats and dogs while our numbers suffer? They are the abominations, not us.† â€Å"Their short lives, their burning need to create before they die, drive that. Their bodies can't help but produce life so readily. We do not feel that urgency.† Dorian grinned. â€Å"Well, physically we do, but subconsciously†¦our souls know we have time.† â€Å"That's another wonder of modern medicine. We can help the infertile.† Dorian frowned, again more curious than angry. â€Å"Enlighten us.† I hesitated, suddenly regretting my comment. In as brief a way as I could, I explained artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Even Dorian had trouble stomaching that one. â€Å"This is how your numbers grow?† asked a woman near Shaya. Her voice was an awed whisper. â€Å"Only for some,† I told her. â€Å"Most don't need it. If anything, I think we have too many babies.† Seeing their shocked faces, I felt a little bad about upsetting them with all this. After all, I was a big advocate of respecting cultural diversity. Yet that core belief of mine wavered around these people. Maybe that was unfair, but I had spent my life being taught that they were not human. They might seem so now, but I didn't think one dinner could truly alter my ingrained views. Shaya shook her head, face pale. â€Å"This, then, is what has displaced us from our homeland. These are the things that forced us from the place we came from and into the world of spirits and lost souls. We lost to twisted creatures who breed easily, who rape and pillage the earth in homage to their metal gods.† â€Å"Look, I'm sorry it upsets you all so much, but that's how it is. You guys lost. You have to deal. You did an okay job fighting, I guess. You still show up in a lot of fairy tales and myths. But you still lost. History's like that. There are wars, and unfortunately, in the end, who wins and who loses is more important than who's right or wrong.† â€Å"Are you saying your people were wrong, then?† asked Dorian quietly. â€Å"No,† I said with certainty. â€Å"Absolutely not.† â€Å"You're very loyal to your own kind.† â€Å"Of course I am. I'm human. There's no choice there – especially when your people do nothing but cause trouble for mine when they cross over.† â€Å"Look around this room. Of those gathered†¦I would say only less than twenty have ever visited your world. And of those, only a small amount 'caused trouble.' You have degenerates in your world too. Yet, you wouldn't use them to define your entire race as bad.† â€Å"No,† I agreed. â€Å"But I'd still punish them. Look, maybe I'm overly jaded toward your kind, but then, the only ones I've ever met have been the deviants. It's hard not to judge.† Dorian stared at me for a long time, and I couldn't read him. Everyone else looked like they would have killed me on the spot, if not for the hospitality prohibition. I wondered if I'd made Dorian mad enough to regret giving his oath. His thoughtful face changed to its typical expression, the perpetually amused and lazy one. He rose from his couch, sweeping the cloak behind him. Everyone else hastily followed suit. I took my time getting up. â€Å"I thank you all for a lovely evening, but I must take my leave now.† He spoke loudly, so that his words carried to more than just our table. Conversation in the room dropped. â€Å"I daresay my guest is growing restless and eager for some privacy, and I do so hate to disappoint.† The toadies laughed appreciatively, and I steeled myself not to blush again. Dorian glanced at me as we slowly walked out of the hall. â€Å"If I offered my hand again, I don't suppose you'd take it?† â€Å"Not a chance. I don't want to give them any ideas.† â€Å"Oh. Well. I'm afraid it's too late for that, once they see where we're going.† I cut him a warning look. â€Å"Where are we going?† â€Å"Why, to the most private of places. My bedroom, of course.†

A Person Who Has Made a Great Impact on My Life

Sometimes we come across a person who changes our whole perspective of life for better. Last summer I met Uncle Joe. My parents sent me to my uncle on holidays. I was supposed to spend my whole summer holidays with him and his family. That was the first time we have been introduced to each other. At first, I thought that it was going to be my worst holiday ever. I felt embarrassed of living with people I hardly knew and wanted to return home but days passed and I got to know my uncle better. Everyday, we used to wake up early in the morning and go for fishing.We packed our bags with provision and went to the river. He taught me how to fish and then we sat together for hours, fishing. While fishing, he used to tell a lot of interesting stories based on his own life experience. He told me stories about his student life, about his career, and about life in general. Once he asked me what I want to become and what I want to achieve in my life. I did not know what to answer  and never th ought about it before. He told me that I should  decide wisely  so that in the end I would not regret about anything I have done. I  told him  that I don't know what I want to do.Then he advised that I should do only what  I am interested in. I remember his words, he said, â€Å"Don't care about money or prestige of your occupation. Just do what you really love. † I started to list down the things which I really love and began writing them in my diary. The whole summer I spent exploring myself and finally deciding that I want to connect my future with physics and architecture. Therefore, I came to conclusion that I should study civil engineering. But this is not all what my uncle has helped me with. He also told me that I should be determined and persistent in achieving my goals.He often said that resolute determination is the truest wisdom. However, I think the most important lesson I got from my uncle is to see only positive side in any occasion. One day, we did n ot catch any fish and went home with empty hands. I looked at my uncle and noticed that he was smiling. I wondered why he was smiling as I did not see any reason to be happy. Then he said exuberantly, â€Å"We didn't catch any fish, but we had a great time. I don't see any reasons to be unhappy. † I admire his attitude. He is always grateful to everything he has and is truly happy.Uncle Joe is the person who has made an impact on my life. After that holiday, I changed my lifestyle and attitude. I used to spend a lot of time in front of my computer, playing games and surfing the net. Now, I spend more time studying, playing basketball and going out with my friends. I learned a lot of things which were new to me. I became more serious, optimistic and mature. During the time I spent with him, I also learned that no matter how smart I am or how much I know, there is always more to learn or experience. I'm grateful to him that he has helped me to find out who I am and what I want.

Grotesque Characters

Brittany Luckey Mr. Clements American Literature 21 March 2013 Grotesque Characters What is a grotesque character? In literature, a character or location that is irregular, extravagant or fantastic in form. When used as a device, the purpose is often in the style of expressionism, making the grotesque a parody of human qualities or a distorted reflection of a familiar place. In many ways grotesque characters have some kind of problem in society, and example would be a veteran who lost a limb in war and trying to fit back into society, or anything that we see as not normal in our society.Characters in this particular subject can be deformed, obsessed, or in our terms just not normal or right. Another definition of a grotesque character is characterized by ludicrous or incongruous distortion, as of appearance or manner. Flannery O’ Connor, Angela Carter, and Carson McCullers all experienced uses with grotesque characters whose works can be seen with characters who are deformed, disfigured, or social outcasts. What elements make up grotesque characters? One element of the narrative that is a character can be irregular, extravagant or fantastic in form.A grotesque character may possess a exaggerated personality trait or characteristic for the purpose of eliciting both empathy and disgust in the reader. In Flannery O’ Connor’s stories she uses two different types of grotesque characters. One type of characterized grotesque characters are called â€Å"physical grotesques† and the other type of grotesque is called â€Å"secular grotesques. † Two characters in particular are Mrs. Crater and Mr. Shiftlet; they are both grotesque characters, because they are both ruled by obsession. Mrs. Crater’s obsession is trying to marry off her daughter, and fails to see the character flaws of Mr.Shiftlet who cheats and lies. He uses Mrs. Crater for her money, Mr. Shiftlet is obsesses with morality and that makes both these characters grotes que, because their obsession rules their lives. Mrs. Crater’s obsession is trying to marry off her daughter, and fails to see the character flaws of Mr. Shiftlet who cheats and lies. Mr. Shiftlet is obsesses with morality and that makes both these characters grotesque. (â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own†). Why are grotesque characters so popular in the Modernist movement and the Southern Gothic movement?In Southern Gothic literature grotesque characters are used to portray deeply flawed characters. Grotesque characters allow a talented writer to exaggerate their writing making it longer and believing it made their writing better. Grotesque characters can also help with unpleasant aspects within society without making it to church-like. McCullers used grotesque characters to bring about the truths of the human society. In the Modernist movement grotesque characters were used to describe the aberration from ideal form, it helped to create misshapen, ugly, or formle ss characters.In Modernism they are characterized by the qualities they lack such as fixity, stability, order, and sometimes even sanity. Writers in this period used grotesque characters to shape the history, practice, and theories in the nineteenth and twentieth century’s. What type of effect does a grotesque character have on a story? In Angela Carter’s story (John Bowen par. 1-5) they dominate, they are not beautiful, they tend to be dirtier than they clean. The main characters are Honeybuzzard, Morris, Ghislaine, and Emily. Honeybuzzard is the prettiest, but she is selfish, cruel and a killer.They are used in a lot of gothic writing to improve, and interest and keep the reader in the book. They affect the book in many ways such as people not wanting to be around them. They normally have problems such as obsession, missing limbs, mental illnesses, or just not right in physical appearance. They stand out from other characters in a story, because of how they look or h ow they act. They are also known as outliers. Grotesque characters face many problems in society or wherever they live, because people judge them for how they look or how they act.How does this story characterization add or subtract from the story? These types of characters give the story a mix of fear, abnormality, and it causes the reader to want to keep reading, and not put the book down. They can subtract from a story by having a book full of grotesque characters and the book becomes less interesting to a reader, because there is nothing happening except a group full of deformed and disfigured people. They give a book something to talk about and allow a reader to understand why they have been outcast, or why they have certain obsessions.They bring out some qualities a lot of authors don’t write about, and that makes the book just that much more entertaining. Who is a good example of supporting grotesque characters? An example from Malcom Griffith about grotesque character s â€Å"For example, he uses vague guidelines such as â€Å"the open-ended nature of grotesque† without prior explanation of which way the grotesque is open-ended (Griffith 49). What Griffith lacks in cohesion of a definition, he tries to make up for in examples. † He breaks down trying to explain what causes a grotesque character, to be open- ended, and why they are different from other characters.Grotesque characters help make literature entertaining and enjoyable to read. They bring out the other side of literature in which characters aren’t normal. These things show how far literature has come from very different authors. Different types of grotesque characters have very different obsessions, problems, and living situations. Grotesque characters are used a lot and can be found in literature such as Southern Gothic Literature and some Modernism. Grotesque characters shape a lot of our books in literature today. Grotesque add thrills and excitement to our book s and other sources of literature.In conclusion, we find grotesque characters to be unwanted, socially awkward, sometimes helpless, dysfunctional, overall just not what we consider normal in our life. They don’t fit in they are just abnormal and freakish. Works Cited Griffith, Malcolm. â€Å"The Grotesque in American Fiction. † Ohio: Ohio State University Press. 1996. Fearnow, Mark. The American Stage and the Great Depression: A Cultural History of the Grotesque. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Witkin, Joel-Peter. and Stanley B. Burns. Masterpieces of Medical Photography: Selections from the Burns Archive. Pasadena, CA: Twelvetrees Press, 1987.

Can Go Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Can Go Company - Case Study Example ted by each member, and each member has clearly defined roles with the team leader overseeing each contribution for inclusion in the final process floow chart. CanGo Company needs to expand its books market but lacks a competent strategy to venture into a new market, and management’s lack of financial commitment to implement the proposed process layout solution. According to Jack, a competent architectural firm has provided process flow chart that would improve services at CanGo but the involved costs seems too high for the management to take. Lack of a clear strategy is evident as Warren does not seem to understand how the use of advanced technology in the process flowchart will result to increased sales volume. The recommendations are first defining a strategy where all members are trained and informed of their role in the process followed by technology implementation in phases depending on the critical solutions they provide to the company. Jack identifies the problem of jumbled flow workers to pick books and long search times both of which have contributed to lowered productivity. Additionally, the introduction of technology throughout the production process would mean lying off some employees. The recommendation is to have every employee properly trained and their responsibilities integrated into the new system while ensuring that the benefits that come with flexibility of the system are leapt. Additionally, evaluating the best economic times to implement new technology is essential in ensuring the upgrades do not remain

Risk-managemnt policy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Risk-managemnt policy - Case Study Example Another breach that the organization endured during the course of its operations was an inside job where personal data was stolen. This was achieved through the weak access-control policies that are utilized within the organization which allowed unauthorized individual access to valuable data (Case Study). This paper dwells on ascertaining whether the policy implemented will be effective in ensuring that the customer and organization’s information is adequately secured from future security breaches. This policy will be important because it will help in restoring the customers confidence in the organization’s handling of their confidential data and financial assets. It is also vital since it provides authority and accountability to specific people concerning the authority of disclosing or sharing the information in the organization. According to Calder, Watkins & Watkins, the organizations governing body has to give powers along with the necessary authority to a system administrator who will be the only person who can access the organization’s data. The security on the organization’s customer’s confidential information will be enforced through the use of passwords which will remain known only to their systems administrator (2010). In addition, the systems administrator within the organization will be solely responsible for disclosing any information to any authorized personnel who may require it. To enhance the data’s security further, the syst em administrator will be required to utilize several data encryption techniques. This will include encryption techniques like the creation of block ciphers, feistel cipher structures and the utilization of other advanced encryption standards. These techniques will help in ensuring that unauthorized people within the organization cannot interpret the meaning of the data. This will further prevent them from

Quantitative Analysis of Hospitality Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Quantitative Analysis of Hospitality - Article Example An additional purpose is to attract new donors in order to receive more financial support from outside. Another purpose of an annual report is to provide information to the public about the trends in a given Company. Diversification is a strategy for a successful Company. Marriot is diverse in terms of business activities it ventures in and in terms of regional exploration. Therefore, Marriott has diversified in order to gain financially from the business activities that they are venturing in. The roles of Chairman of the Board and the President of Marriott The role of J.W. Marriott Jr., as the executive chairperson and the chairperson of the board of Marriott is to oversee all the activities of the Marriott Company by establishing the broad policies and objectives of Marriott. It is also his role to appoint the Chief Executive officer of Marriott. Marriott Jr. also plays the role of approving the annual reports of the Company. Second in the rank of Marriott is the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Ann M. Sorenson, is to give advises to the board of directors in the organization, Mr. Sorenson also motivates the organization’s employees as well as driving for critical changes in Marriott Company. The purpose of performance highlights The purpose of the performance highlight in an organization is to compare the performance of two or more given years, for example, the financial status of a Company in the year 2012 and 2013.The major outcome of the Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR), for the Marriott Hotels experienced a great increase all hotels around the World. There was an increase despite the global financial meltdown that was experienced among the world’s major economies from the year 2008. The increase was greater in America because the economy of the continent grew stronger, and because the growth in modest industry supply. Performance of Marriott in different regions From the figures given in this annual report, t he Americas are still far way ahead of other regions where the Marriott hotels have ventured. It has the number highest number of brands, open rooms and it has also ventured in many other countries more than any other region. Compared to other regions, the Americas is also doing better in terms of social responsibility activities that Company is doing to its society. However, the greater potential lies in the European region where the business of hospitality seems to be growing so fast. This is because as indicated in this annual report, the Marriott Hotels ventured in Europe three years ago, and the number of brands, rooms opened and the countries it has ventured is high. The Company is only in its third year since venturing in Europe, and it is already meeting the five-year goal target that had been set. The Middle East and Africa region is lagging behind because it has been over thirty years since the first Marriott Hotel was built in the region, yet, it has only 7 brands and 41 open properties. This compared to Europe is below average. The political instability and poor economy in this region are the major factors contributing to this slow growth rate of Marriott hotel in the Middle East and Africa regions. The potential risks and uncertainties to the Marriott brand. One of the major risks that the Marriott Hotels are exposed to is the financials loss due to the global financial recession that affected the globe in the year 2008.

Sales planning and operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Sales planning and operations - Essay Example Sales can be stated as the lifeblood of a business.Earning sustained profitability is the basic aim of conducting sales activities in an organisation. In order to boost up the sales of LPPT Cola in the market, the corporation needs to identify the target market for their offered products. Subsequently, after recognising premium target consumer segment of the products which can facilitate to increase the sales of the company in the long run, the organization needs to make a comprehensive market analysis to recognise the specific requirement trends of the customers from the offered product (Treace, 2013). In the following step, LPPT Cola needs to make an outline of their sales plan. The company needs to study its targeted market thoroughly and consequently it needs to analyse the sales objectives as well as the requirement of manpower to reach the end-users (IILM, n.d.). As a Sales Director, there is a need to have a directional plan in place for the entire sales team at the outset. Mo reover, a contingency plan also needs to be prepared so that any untoward scenario in terms of unavailability of a sales team member is handled efficiently. At the same time, if the Sales Director of LPPT Cola finds it to be necessary, he can even interact with the concerned authorities of the same industry, which will help him to advise the marketing manager to sketch a detailed structure of the plan (The Sales Management Association, 2013). After the determination of the targeted market and sketching the sales plan, the next process will be the creating a network or connectivity. To make the consumers aware of the products of LPPT Cola, at the initial stage, the organization can take the aid of strategies such as telemarketing, e-mailing and door-to-door selling among others. In terms of pricing of the products, it is essential to prepare a competitive pricing to mitigate the threat of substitute products. With regard to the sales force, LPPT Cola needs to inculcate the strategy o f planning, coordination, controlling and motivating to ensure that customers are offered with best possible service. This strategy can ensure a sustained profitability from sales activities in the long run (Kundu, n.d). Structure of the Sales Department Learning Outcome (b) Business objectives are the aims, purposes and goals of the business. The significant role of business is to achieve its goals. The main objective of the business is to maximize its profitability. Operating business cannot have only one objective because a company needs to meet the demands of different stakeholders such as employees, consumers, creditors and shareholders among others. In terms of the stages or processes involved in an organisational sales strategy, it can be said that the primary facets involve: Preparing sales objectives Studying sales market environment Recognising the various alternatives available Assessing the alternatives and selecting the best possible one for the organisation Preparing s ales budget and forecast Formulating sales plan and gaining approval of the management Executing the sales plan with the help of appropriate human resource allocation Making an evaluation and review of the sales plan Source: (Trehan & Trehan, n.d.) There are four basic sales strategies such as account targeting, sales channel, selling and relationship, the categorization of these accounts within a targeted market for incorporating strategic approaches in the sales, through accounting groups or accounting. An organized selling procedure for each accounting targeting, sales channel, relationship and selling strategy develops effective and efficient selling procedure which is a significant in

Measuring Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Measuring Globalization - Essay Example The spread of globalization, according to many, allows for free trade and free markets in most of the developing countries. This is with the aim of alleviating poverty. Many corporations, from developed countries, are responsible for running the lives of many individuals. Globalization, today, is seen as a means to try and calculate the gap that exists between the poor and the rich. Economists try to address globalization, and the effect it may have on different individuals and countries. If there is a constant or an even growth in a country, there is likely to be more satisfaction. This is unlike when there is an uneven growth (Guinness 194). This is because the latter indicates that some areas will be better off than other areas. The most common method of measuring the globalization level in a country is the use of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in a region. It might be; import or export or the total consumption on import/export GDP in the region. This represents the final market value of goods in a country produced or consumed or a sum of both these factors within a year. In measuring globalization through the GDP, an increase in exports increases the country’s GDP, thus; symbolising growth in the country’s economic stature (Maher 109). The higher the annual growth rates, the higher the economic growth, through time. It is through such a constant method that allows for a country to trade freely along international lines. This may be because; their products are capturing a wider, global market. This indicates that

Recovering from global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Recovering from global warming - Essay Example This has caused the problem of global warming that has become an issue of major concern internationally. The consequences of global warming have adversely affected human life. It has caused immense changes in rainfall and temperature resulting in more water and food stress. The ice sheets of West Antarctic as well as Greenland have melted permanently. Oceans have become acidified and the global temperature circulation has been affected. Desertification is extending to regions that were previously habitable (Robertson 2006 pp.112-117). Pollution is a very serious problem for the environment, but there are many green and healthy ways to reduce CO2 emissions and create a more sustainable world to live in. Trees play a significant role in reducing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while they use it in photosynthesis (carbon sequestration). In the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is absorbed by the leaves from the atmosphere and converted in to molecules of carbon which combine with water to produce energy for growth. Oxygen molecules are released in to the environment. This continuous process is significant in ensuring that the free carbon dioxide released in to the atmosphere through anthropogenic processes does not have adverse impacts on the Ozone layer. It is one of the simplest methods of reducing the carbon dioxide in the environment. Research indicates that the tons of carbon dioxide from anthropogenic sources amount to more than 6 billion per year. It has also been established that the current tree biomass is capable of absorbing more than 30 percent of this carbon dioxide (Josphat 2003 pp. 46-51). Earthworks, (1990) established that â€Å"A single tree can clear ou t green house gases produced by a car over a distance of 11,000 kilometers in one year†. This is an indication of how planting more trees can be beneficial in reducing

Vision and Rationale Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Vision and Rationale - Assignment Example They do not achieve the core objective of cleaning the teeth, which is performed by the tooth paste and the tooth brush. Therefore, due to the lack of substitute products for this purpose, it is eminent that the market for this product is existent and sustainable. Tooth brushes were first invented in China, where the Chinese used the soft pig hair on the neck to make tooth brush bristles (Segrave, 2010). In Europe, the use of tooth brush started in France in the early eighteenth century. However, tooth brush was first patented in America by H. N. Wadsworth in 1885, after which many American companies embarked on the production of tooth brushes (Jones, 2010). The bare facts is that, tooth brushing in America and many other countries was not a common phenomena, until the soldiers who had gone to fight in world war II came back having adapted this habit. The same happened with tooth paste, which was not used until the 1800s, although the Chinese and the Indians had different substance t hat they used as tooth paste (Segrave, 2010). Rationale for selecting the product Tooth paste and tooth brush have become a necessity for man since a century ago, owing to the health dangers posed by unclean teeth to an individual. Thus, this product comes in the market to serve a basic need that the society has had for decades, only that, it has become increasingly inconvenient for people to pack a box of tooth brush and another one for tooth paste whenever they want to travel. Therefore, the introduction of this new product, which seeks to function both as a tooth brush and a tooth paste dispenser, could not have come at a better time. It will solve the incontinences people have, through allowing them to travel with only one product, which will dispense tooth paste and brush their teeth too. On top of serving as a duo product, this new product will also ensure the maintenance of high health standards, through ensuring that an individual does not use more or less tooth paste while brushing his/teeth. This is because; the product will be designed such that, through a single twist of the base of the brush, the recommended amount of tooth paste will be dispensed. Therefore, there is no way in which individuals will use more or less of the tooth paste, unless they twist the base of the brush more than once, since each single twist dispenses the recommended amount of the tooth paste. Company goals The goals of the company is to solve the problem that the society has, which is that of inconveniencies, associated with the use of tooth brush and tooth paste dispense as different products. Therefore, the company’s goals are: Meet the market need for a teeth cleaning product, which combines the functions of dispensing tooth paste and brushing the teeth. Provide the markets with a convenient product, which is packed singly, yet serving duo functions, for the ease of travel. Saving the people valuable time, through providing the market with an exclusive product th at saves the time used in using the tooth paste and the tooth brush as different products. Strategies to achieve the goals The strategies to achieve the goals will be to design the product such that it has a section that hold tooth paste, at the base of the brush, a lock which prevents the tooth brush from being dispensed accidentally and a dispensing tunnel, through which the tooth paste is dispensed from the base of

Comparing and Contrasting Literary Forms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparing and Contrasting Literary Forms - Essay Example Drama is driven by action and plot, just as short stories are, which can be seen in many fairytales or children’s fables, like Cinderella (Perrault); poetry, on the other hand, is more driven by expression. Poetry and short stories rely on imagery and point of view to display their messages, but drama depends more on the story itself. Yet another greatest difference between these three literary forms is their length: drama is often the longest, followed by the short story. Poetry, though, compresses its ideas and tends to follow specific rhythmic patterns to convey the message or the detail in fewer lines, like She dwelt among the untrodden ways (Wordsworth 71) by William Wordsworth; many poems, with some exceptions, such as Beowulf, do not exceed a page. Due to the length of poems, the poet has to reveal as much as they can while they are able to. Drama and short stories leave room for other elements to be displayed, such as theme and setting. Two other vast differences betwe en these literary elements can be seen in their settings and in their genres. Drama is capable of taking place where the author decides, even in a location that does not exist or is based off of a real place. A short story has a real setting that allows people to be able to picture the location.

Functionalism Conflict Theory Essay Example for Free

Functionalism Conflict Theory Essay â€Å"Knowledge is shaped by the social world.† (Karl Mannheim.) Though trying to understand the social world may seem difficult, sociologists managed to create three theories on how different areas of the world fit with one another as well as working hand in hand with each other. The three theories are known as Symbolic Interactionism, Functionalism and Conflict Theory. Each theory serves as a significant perspective on how individuals view social life and how it effects society as a whole. The first perspective would have to be the simplest of all and is categorized as a micro level since it is focused on smaller scale than the remaining perspectives. Symbolic Interactionism was founded by Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929), William I. Thomas (1863-1947) and George Herbert Mead (18-63-1931). According to the textbook, symbolic interactionism means a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world and communicate with one another. In other words, it means symbols have an attached meaning that effect the way we view the world and communicate with individuals. Examples of symbols are family members, relationships, language, co-workers, etc. If there were no symbols in our life, we wouldn’t know who we are related to or who to give authority to. For example, at your job you are required to respect the person of high authority which may be your manager or your boss, (depending on your symbol at your facility). In your family, the symbols would be your mother, father, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, etc. No matter what area, each symbol has a different behavior and interacts differently unlike the rest. To narrow this down, let’s compare the relationship with a boyfriend to a brother. A brother would be loving and caring but would not be as intimate as the boyfriend would be. If we didn’t have symbols, we wouldn’t be able to differentiate how to act with those two. The only positive side about not having symbols would be the fact that there would be no war since we wouldn’t be able to understand who our enemy is let alone knowing what an enemy is. The next perspective is focused on a macro level since it is aimed at the large scale of society. Functionalism was founded by Robert Merton (1910-2003), â€Å"The accomplishments of functional analysis are sufficient to suggest that its large promise will progressively be fulfilled, just as its current deficiencies testify to the need for periodically overhauling the past to build for the future† (Social Theory and Social Structure Page 74). According to the textbook, functionalism means a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that when fulfilled, contributes to society’s equilibrium. In other words, various parts work together as a whole to maintain society’s balance. Robert Merton defined functions as positive consequences based on human’s actions that benefit the society. Functions that are intended to help a system are known as manifest function. Followed by this would be the unintended consequence to adjust the system which is known as latent functions. The textbook breaks these two down using an example of giving married couples an extra $10,000 for child bearing (this is the manifest function). Unknowingly, this increases the products used to care for a baby which is known at the latent functions. Though manifest and latent functions are used to balance a system, there are also some dysfunctions that can actually break down the system. These consequences are unusually unintended and because of that, it’s referred to as latent dysfunctions. Referring back to the example stated in the textbook; a latent dysfunction about giving $10,000 to each married couple that bears a child would be the rise in taxes which the couples may not be able to afford since they will be living off of the bonus. Another example that many individuals can relate to is our family. Every family member plays a significant role in their household. Examining the financial state of the family, it’s the bread winner that holds the financial issues together. Without the bread winner, the family would struggle and even turn for help towards the government. If the function of the bread winner begins to take a turn for the negative, the family weakens and loses their ability to prosper as a whole. This is an important factor on how functions can either make or break society. The smaller units affect the larger units in both negative and p ositive ways. Last but not least, the next perspective would be conflict theory. References Cooley, Charles H. The Roots of Social Knowledge. American Journal of Sociology 32.1 (1926): 59-79. Print. Merton, Robert K. Social Theory and Social Structure. New York: Division of Macmillian Co , 1968. The Free Press. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. http://A Division of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.. Coser, Lewis. Chapter IX. The Functions of Social Conflict. Glenoe, IL: Free, 1956. 151-57. The Functions of Social Conflict. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. http://media.pfeiffer.edu/lridener/courses/COSERR1.HTML.

A swot and BCG matrix of Morrisons retailer

A swot and BCG matrix of Morrisons retailer Marketing strategy is a method of focusing an organizations capabilities and resources toward a defined task which leads the organisation toward sale promotion and target marketing place. Marketing strategies are the combination of product promotion, distribution, pricing, relationship management and other elements; identifies the firms marketing goals, and explains how they will be achieved, ideally within a stated timeframe. Marketing strategies are concluding the target market segments, positioning, marketing mix, and allocation of resources. In recent years, several conceptual frameworks have been developed to better understand the processes of strategy formulation, and for such processes, the term strategic marketing is used to describe the decisions taken to develop long-run strategies for survival and growth About Morrisons We are the UKs fourth largest food retailer with  403 stores. Our business is mainly food and grocery the weekly shop. Uniquely we source and process most of the fresh food that we sell though our own manufacturing facilities, giving us close control over provenance and quality; and we have more people preparing more food in store than any other retailer. Every week nine million customers pass through our doors and 124,000 colleagues across the business work hard each day to deliver great service to them. With competitive prices and hundreds of special offers, we are proud to save our customers money every day. Definition of Strategic Marketing Marketing Strategy is a process that can allow an organization to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. (Baker Michael 2008) Principles of marketing strategies People Oriented Marketing The purpose of marketing strategies is to create the added advantage of the company. The strategies that are supported to the customer orientation is the most important one because the customer is the king of market. The Cost Of Something Is What You Give Up To Get It. Marketing strategies are planned according to the pricing of their products. Company set their pricing that are supported their products and customer are likely to buy it. Reward System Strategies Strategies are prepared to satisfy the customer and employees. Bonus Cards, loyalty cards are the rewards that organisation gives to their customers just to retain them. Competitive Advantages Marketing strategies are prepared according to the competitive advantage of the competitor. Marker Base Assets Marketing strategies are supported to the brand name, brand image, company name and then cash them to gain advantage. Vision of Morrisons food specialist for everyone Food specialist We really understand food we know where it comes from; we pack it and make it in our factories; we make it in our stores; and we employ craft skills in every store. For everyone Great food which is also: great value; and for every day, not just special days. This vision is supported by our brand values and strategic objectives. Brand value Our brand values are important to delivering our strategy and underpin all our strategic objectives. Fresh, Value and Service are discussed in the right-hand box above. SMART Analysis: SMART is an acronym which tells us that when ever we set any companies objectives they should be ,S =Specific M= Measurable A = Actionable or Achievable R = Realistic T = Time Frame Morrisons strategy Keeping things simple: Our vision to be the Food Specialist for Everyone is now well advanced. Our constant focus on freshness, great value and outstanding service is appealing to more and more people. And were now closer to more customers, having opened 43 new stores last year. Morrisons share of UK grocery market For the financial year 2009/10 the grocery market was worth  £90.2bn, an increase of 4.7%. Morrisons market share continues to increase as we move from National to Nationwide. Morrisons market share(percentage %) 2007 2008 2009 2010 11.9 12.1 12.3 12.6 Morrisons share of grocers UK 2010 (percentage %) A. Morrisons 12.6% B. Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys (combined) 63.5% C. Premium (combined) 5.8% D. Discounters and others (combined) Morrisons market share growth was greater than the total market growth year-on-year and as a result we grew market share. The top four supermarkets combined accounted for around 76% of the market. (Source: Kantar Worldpanel) Market share growth in 2009/10 (Percentage %) SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis in the technique to understand the internal and external analysis of the company that tell companies strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threat of the company. STRENGTH Market share growth in 2009/10 Store estate development Acquisition of co-operative stores Opening of 34 new stores Food specialist Specialist in food Owen supply chain Own distribution channel Morrison form for food Owen packing factories Instore preparation of food Quickest turnaround time between order and delivery Employees education programme (MBA) WEEKNESSES Lack of the customers trust Very less number of stores Less Advertisement Little bit high pricing OPPORTUNITY Home Delivery extension of small stores to cover the more customers start the new business line as Morrisons pharmacy Move into non-food retailing in the UK. Entry into new retail segments, such as drugstores, department stores, speciality units Increase the number of stores to cover the more population areas THREAT Low pricing of competitors Communication is weak High competition Open market for entering new competitors Purchasing of co-operative store are not maintain Morrisons standard Uncertainty will affect the sale and profitability of the company Competitive Analysis Competitive analysis conducted for the comparison of company to the other different companies/ competitors. It tells the company that where their products are and where the other have, they are in the good position are their competitor. Competitive analysis is tells advantages and the weaknesses of the companies over the competitors. Morrisons have strong competition with Tesco, ASDA, and Sainsbury etc. Boston Consulting Group Matrix Star High growth business or products that competing the market where they have competitive advantage/ edge as compare to the competitor. Normally heavy investments are required to exist in the market. Morrison may not fall in this part of the matrix. Cash Cows Business growth is low or product having relative market share. There is normally low business and little investment is required to retain in the market. Good leadership and strategies are required for growth. Morrisons is in this area of matrix. Question mark Business or product have low market share but exist in the high growth market. Businesses in this area are required high investment but they have potential to grow high. Management have to make some growth strategies that Morrison have done and now in the growth position of the market. Dogs Businesses or products have low market share and unattractive market. Business fall in this area may generate profit to come on breakeven point. Pricing strategies There are number of pricing strategies that companies used in according to their purpose that are fit and matched with objectives and goals. The strategies are: Premium Pricing Economy Pricing Penetration Pricing Psychological Pricing Skimming Pricing Captive Product Pricing Product Bundle Pricing Promotional Pricing Geographical Pricing Morrisons are used various pricing strategies from the above mentioned strategies. Economy Pricing Morrisons are using this strategy in their products that are daily use items. All most all the grocery items are under economy pricing scheme. Psychological Pricing Morrisons are also adopting this pricing technique just for psychological impact on the customers. For example 99P Promotional Pricing Morrisons are using this strategy for promotional items. Example: buy 1 get one free or two item 2 pound etc. STP Strategies STP is another type of marketing strategies that companies kept in mind while formulating its marketing strategies. STP stands for S- Segmentation T- Target P- Positioning Segmentation Demographical Geographical Psychological Behavioural Geographical Company divided its area into different parts than these subareas are also divided into regions. Morrisons have divided its UK market into 4 parts that are the states then these are divided into cities and then cities are divided its sides like central, north, east, west, northwest etc. Distribution and channel strategies Morrisons have their own distribution channel that is use to deliver its products to the retail stores for the end use of customers. Fresh foods are taken from own forms than they distribute to the concern factory for packing and finally distribute to the retail stores effective and efficient use of the supply chain management.

Main Differences Between Realism And Liberalism Politics Essay

Main Differences Between Realism And Liberalism Politics Essay Thinking about the number of high-stake political issues and the wide variety of aspects in which people have tried to understand these issues and come up with effective ways of resolving them are all packaged in different intellectual traditions and worldviews. This essay approaches the question from fundamental assumptions and theories of international relations built on a distinctive set of arguments put forward by realist and liberalist theories, each trying to understand and get a clear view of international politics. The first part of this essay introduces realism and liberalism as theories of international relations showing the claims made by each theorist in defend of their traditions. The assumptions and implications are shown in the second part. Finally, the conclusion is drawn from the contradictions seen during the arguments. Realism is a paradigm based on the premise that the world is essentially and unchangeably a struggle among self-interested states for power and position under anarchy, with each competing state pursuing its own national interests. Realists believe in state security and as such cannot afford credibility in terms of securing a state to international governing body such as the United Nations. Rather, major powers such as the United States manipulate other states with their military and economic strengths. The game of international politics revolves around the pursuit of power: acquiring it; increasing it; projecting it, and using it to bring others to ones will (Kegley, 2007: p 29). Among the principal prophets of this worldview were E.H Carr, George F. Kennan, Thomas Hobbes, and Niccolo Machiavelli. At the risk of oversimplification, realisms message as summarized by Kegley (2007) is in the form of ten assumptions and related propositions: People are by nature narrowly selfish and ethically flawed and cannot free themselves from the sinful fact that they are driven to watch out for themselves and compete with others for self-advantage. Of all peoples evil ways, none are more prevalent, inexolerable, or dangerous than their instinctive lust for power and their desire to dominate others. The possibility of eradicating the instinct for power is a utopian aspiration. International politics is- as Thomas Hobbes put it a struggle for power, a war of all against all. The primary obligation of every state the goal to which all other national objectives should be surbodinated is to promote national interest and to acquire power for this purpose. The anarchical nature of the international system dictates that states acquire sufficient military capabilities to deter attack by potential enemies and to exercise influence over others. Economics is less relevant to national security than its military might; economic growth is important primarily as a means of acquiring and expanding state power and prestige. Allies might increase a states ability to defend itself, but their loyalty and reliability should not be assumed. States should never entrust the task of self-protection to international security organizations or international law and should resist efforts to regulate international behavior through global governance. If all states seek to maximize power, stability will result by maintaining a balance of power, lubricated by shifts in the formation and decay of opposing alliances that counters each other expansion motive (Kegley, 2007: p 31). Liberalism on the other hand, is a paradigm predicated on the hope that the application of reason and universal ethics to international relations can lead to a more orderly, just, and cooperative world, and that international anarchy and war can be policed by institutional reforms that empower international organizations and laws. At the core of liberalism is an empahsis on the impact ideas have on behavior, equality, dignity and liberty of the individual, and the need to protect people from excessive state regulation. Liberalism views the individual as the seat of moral value and virtue and asserts that human beings should be treated as ends rather than means. It emphasizes ethical principle over the pursuit of power, and institutions over capabilities as forces shaping interstate relations. It defines politics at the international level more as a struggle for consensus rather than a struggle for power and prestige. Pioneers of Liberalism include David Hume, Jean Jacques Rosseau, Im manuel Kant (Kegley, 2007: p 31). Collectively, the post-World War 1 liberalists embraced a worldview that emphasized the power of ideas in controlling global destiny, based on the following beliefs as postulated by Kegley (2007). Human nature is essentially good or altruistic, and people are therefore capable of mutual aid and collaboration through reason and ethically inspired education. The fundamental human concern for others welfare makes progress possible. Sinful or wicked human behavior, such as violence, is the product not of flawed people but of evil institutions that encourage people to act selfishly and to harm others. War and international anarchy are not inevitable and wars frequency can be reduced by strenghtening the institutional arrangements that encourage its disappearance. War is a global problem requiring collective or multilateral, rather than national, efforts to control it. Reforms must be inspired by a compassionate ethical concern for the welfare and security of all people, and this humanitarian motive requires the inclusion of morality in statecraft. International society must recognize itself in order to eliminate the institutions that make war likely, and states must reform their political systems so that democratic governance and civil liberties within states can protect human rights and help pacify relations among states (Kegley, 2007: p 26-27). Even with the emergence of liberalism and the rapid rate with which it is being accepted, realism is more convincing. Realism is a perspective of international relations that treat issues from a practical point of view. Following this notion, realists draw a sharp distinction between domestic and international politics (Baylis et al., 2008: p 93). Realism has being influential in explaining international politics and it is clearly seen in historical conflicts when states struggle for the same goal. The relative power position of each state becomes the most reliable option. One can argue that the main distinctive feature of liberalism is its assertation that peace is possible and can result from a properly coordinated peace managed process by institutions such as the United Nations. For liberals, peace is the normal state of affairs: in Kants words, peace can be perpetual. War is therefore both unnatural and irrational, an artificial contrivance and not a product of some peculiarity o f human nature (Burchill et al., 2009: p 58). Accordingly, liberals also reject the realist notion that war is the natural condition of International politics. They also question the idea of state being the main actor on the world political stage. Liberals stress the possibilities for corporation and the key issue becomes devising an international setting in which corporation can be achieved (Baylis et al., 2008: p 5). Several instances which can be classified as realist act in response to the liberalist argument includes the beliefs that human being are naturally fixed, deeply flawed, and crucially selfish. To think otherwise is to make a mistake and it such a mistake that the realist accused the liberalist of making (Baylis et al., 2008: p 5). This viewpoint presents a systematic arrangement. If the assumption by realist is that human nature is naturally fixed and crucially selfish, then the whole idea of human generating an ideally perfect state is absurd. No institution can be s uperior to the qualities of the parties constituting it. Hence international peace becomes an objective beyond the limitation of any individual state party. Just as an individuals decision cannot be controlled by another, ones state integral disposition cannot be decided by another. Influence can be a compelling force sometimes, but the authority to make the decision always lies with the unitary entity. In words of Cranmer (2005), liberals also begin with the assumption that states are unitary and rational actors. However, liberals do not share the realist assumption that power is the means by which a states security is guaranteed, that states are the primary units of international politics. Liberal institutionalists, however, insist that the realist perspective does not exhaust the list of constraints on war over which states can and do exercise some control. States do not fight all others at all times and places where the realist constraints are weak (Dunne et al., 2010: p 96). In argument to this, defensive realist such as Waltz argues that states are profoundly defensive actors and will not seek greater amount of power if that means jeopardizing their own security. An aspect of this realist theory was clearly seen at the end of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. The actions of the United States under President Ronald Reagan exemplified defensive realism, wh ile the actions of the USSR under Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev exemplified offensive realism. At some point during the Cold War, it became clear that the United States was in a relative power position when President Reagan started making concessions to the Soviet Union. Defensive realism accounts for this action. The behavior of the Soviet Union on the other hand, can be linked to offensive realism (Costa, 1998). Offensive realist such as Mearsheimer argues that the ultimate goal of a state is to achieve a hegemonic position in the international arena. States, according to this view, always desire more power and are willing, if the opportunity arises, to alter the existing distribution of power even if such an action may jeopardize their own security (Baylis et al., 2008: p 101). The proposition to this theory is the expectation of a state to decline in seeking power to gain greater amount of power if that means jeopardizing their own state security. The introduction of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) by the United State president out-spaced the Soviets and the reaction of the Soviets Union leader in recalling the Red Army from Eastern Europe conforms to the expectations of offensive realism (Costa, 1998). The Cold War, in this account was not caused by anyone but was the natural result of bipolarity. Soviet expansion into Central and Eastern Europe arose from neither vicious rulers in the Kremin nor rabid anti-communists in Washington. The War in Vietnam was criticized by leading realists such as Niebuhr and Morgenthau. Robert Tucker (1985) opposed the Reagan administrations support of armed counter revolution in Nicaragua. And not a single prominent realist supported the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. These examples suggest a very important interpretation point. There are number of Quaker realist-as well as for War. Reality provides a theoretical account of how the world works. It can be used for peaceful purposes. For example, hundreds of thousand s of lives might have been saved, and millions of injuries avoided had the United States pursued a realist bipolar rivalry with the Soviet Union rather than ideological Cold War (Burchill et al., 2009: p 36). Liberals believe international laws and institutions reduce War frequency and create a more orderly and just global system. Realists are of the opinion that the task of self -protection must not be entrusted to either international institutions or international laws. Realist critiques of international institutions, however, do raise two important questions. How much of an impact can international institutions have in principle? And what effects do they in fact have in contemporary international relations? John Mearsheimer (1994/95) in a well-known provocative essay, The False Promise of International Institutions develops a strong and uncompromising argument that institutions have minimal influence on the state behavior. Institutions, according to this argument, can easily be ignored because they rarely exert a significant influence on the interest or interactions of states in anarchy (Donnelly, 2000: p 132). It is largely on the basis on how realists depict the international environ ment that they conclude that the first priority for state leaders is to ensure the survival of their own state. International politics is one of anarchy, and for this reason, the survival of a state cannot be guaranteed by any form of international arrangement. Self-help is the principle of action in an anarchical system where there is no global government. Realists do not believe that it is prudent for a state to entrust its safety and survival on another actor or international institution. Unlike in domestic politics, there is no emergency number that states can dial when they are in mortal danger (Baylis et al., 2008: p 93). It was commonplace during the 1990s for pundits and scholars to proclaim that the world was rapidly becoming peaceful and that realism was dead. International politics was said to be transformed with the end of the Cold War. Many argued that democracy was spreading across the globe and, because democracies do not fight each other, we have reached the end of history. Though international institutions have been proved to be useful in terms of reducing War and it frequencies and, despite the opinion expressed by its critics, that optimism was faded with the wake of September 11, if not disappeared altogether and realism has made a stunning comeback and has continued to be the dominant theory used to explain the nature of international relations throughout history. Its resurrection is due to the fact that almost every realist opposed the Iraq War, which has turned to a strategic disaster for the USA and the UK. But, more importantly, there is little reason to think that globalization and international institutions have crippled the state. Indeed, the state appears to have a bright future, mainly because of nationalism, which glorifies the state, remains a powerful political ideology (Dunne et al., 2010: p 92). As evidenced by most recent behavior of the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq, powerful states are able to overturn the non-intervention principle on the ground of national security and world order (Baylis et al., 2008: p 100). What was the position of the United Nations in Rwanda when 800,000 Tutsi were slaughtered by the Hutus? In Bosnia, the U.N. declared safe areas for Muslims but did nothing to secure them, letting the Serbs slaughter thousands in Srebrenica. The organizations meddling was worse than useless, its blue-helmeted troops were used as hostages by the Serbs to deter a military response from the West (Boot, 2000). These illustrations has assumptions of realism, in that states ensure its security and survival of its own, even if it has to go to war to achieve it. It does not seem realism has lost its esteem the way many proponents of liberalism argue. In the review of the theory that works best, realism seems to give a better explanation than liberalism. As argued above, it is likely that the 21st century will be a realistic century. Despite efforts of federalists to rekindle the idealist flame, Europe continues to be as divided by different national interest as it is united by a common good. History already foretold how the US policy-makers will react in the event that China maintains its economic growth by 2020 (Baylis et al., 2008: p 105). If powerful states such as the US could adopt a realistic posture, my opinion remains that realism, should be seen as a good manual for understanding international politics.

Exploring the Role of Marriage in Paradise Lost Essay -- Religion God

Exploring the Role of Marriage in Paradise Lost In his epic poem, Paradise Lost, John Milton addresses the role of woman and man within the institution of marriage. More specifically, he explores why such a bond is considered sacred within the context of his Protestant religion. The book of Genesis offers two guidelines for an ideal marriage, both exemplified in the relationship between Adam and Eve. The first account states, â€Å"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh† (Gen. 2.24). A contextual reading gives the reader the impression that God encourages man and wife to pursue a spiritually enriched relationship, in which they share such intimate feelings that they seem to become a single person. The second account translates the word of God, â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply† (Gen. 1.28). This statement asserts that procreation is an important aspect of an ideal marriage. Milton’s own account of Genesis within Paradise Lost, supp orts the first account, but does not discount the latter. Adam and Eve are the original parents of mankind, and do procreate within the Garden of Eden. However, Milton chooses to focus much more on the bond shared between them, instead of the results of their sexual relationship. Adam and Eve maintain a partnership that involves deep friendship and understanding for one other. Connecting with one another allows them to maintain a structured relationship without any confusion as to each role within the relationship. Concentrating on the bond between one another allows them this clarity, much like, in Protestant religion, a strong devotional relationship to God allows clarity within one’s life. In emphasizing the importance of t... ...: A Study of the Divorce Tracts and Paradise Lost. Yale University Press. Conn.: New Haven, 1970. 3. Marilla, E.L. Milton & Modern Man. University of Alabama Press. Alabama: University, 1968. 4. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. The Riverside Milton. Ed. Roy Flannagan. Houghton Mifflin Company. Mass: Boston, 1998. 5. Nyquist, Mary. â€Å"The Genesis of Gendered Subjectivity in the Divorce Tracts and in Paradise Lost.† Critical Essays on John Milton. Ed. Christopher Kendrick. G.K. Hall & Co. New York, 1995. 6. Samuel, Irene. â€Å"The Dialogue in Heaven: A Reconsideration of Paradise Lost.† Milton, Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Arthur E. Barker. Oxford University Press. New York, 1965. 7. â€Å"The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis.† Handout. 9 October 2003.

Effects of computers on society :: Computer Science

Effects of computers on society Internet The internet was a major break-through in computing. It enabled people to communicate and transfer information. The internet has been around for about 30 years and is always changing. It has many different uses. It can be used for video and teleconferencing, finding information, buying products, downloading programmes and music and much more. I think that the internet has helped society a great deal. On the other hand, it does have its disadvantages as anything can be found on the internet, whether it is good or bad. If the internet is in the wrong hands it can be a very bad thing as it could be held responsible for things like rape etc. I am saying this because it is very easy for an adult to go into a chat room and pretend that they are a teenager. They could then arrange to meet up with someone, and this person would be thinking that they are a teenager. This is the disadvantage of the internet, but I feel that the good points over-power the bad. CCTV Without CCTV, crime rates would be higher and many criminals would go uncaught. Thanks to CCTV, this has changed. CCTV allows several cameras to film several different areas at the same time. If someone commits a crime and it is caught on camera, it is then taken to court and used as evidence against them. I think that this is another huge benefit to today's society. Credit Card Use/Fraud Computers allow people to use credit cards to pay for products that they buy in shops. This makes it much easier for people to buy something instead of having to pay with cash or a cheque, which takes a while to clear; they can just pay instantly with a card. Fraud is one major problem faced with credit cards. If the card it stolen, it would be relatively easy for someone to pay for products that they buy with the card, especially over the internet where no signature is required to make the payment. This is another disadvantage of the internet, that anyone's credit card can be used without consent. I think that, although fraud is an issue with credit cards, credit cards still benefit society greatly. Availability of Information This topic links in with the internet, as well as using programmes like encyclopaedias on the computer to find information. The internet has such a broad range of information on it that it would be almost impossible to not find what you are looking for. Almost any word can be typed into a search engine (e.g.

Privacy in the Workplace Essay

There are specific laws that protect consumers as well as employees in the workplace. Many of these laws relate to others. Laws, such as, FERPA, SOX, CIPA, and COPPA also grant rights to individuals under the First Amendment. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects a child’s student records from being viewed without parental consent. It gives parents access to their child’s education records, an opportunity to seek to have the records amended, and some control over the disclosure of information from the records. When the child becomes 18 years old, the parents are no longer obligated to have rights to access the child’s personal records. Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is also engineered to the protection of children. Children are to be protected physically and mentally while in the care of school professionals. Schools must have policies in place protecting children from accessing harmful or obscene content over the internet. This law requires that K-12 schools and libraries in the United States use Internet filters and implement other measures to protect children from harmful online content as a condition for federal funding. The Child Online Protection Act (COPPA) applies to the online collection of personal information by persons or entities under U.S. jurisdiction from children under 13 years of age. It details what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek verifiable consent from a parent or guardian, and what responsibilities an operator has to protect children’s privacy and safety online including restrictions on the marketing to those under 13. While children under 13 can legally give out personal information with their parents’ permission, many websites disallow underage  children from using their services altogether due to the amount of cash and work involved in the law compliance. Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) set new or enhanced standards for all U.S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms. The sections of the bill cover responsibilities of a public corporation’s board of directors, adds criminal penalties for certain misconduct, and required the Securities and Exchange Commission to create regulations to define how public corporations are to comply with the law.

Current Issues in Visual Arts Education Essay

Reading has for constantly been a bulge push through of my flavor. So do con. Play in the sense of enjoying our life. What I hate coterminously is formality, a life exist with reveal relievedom. Then I unite these two interests into 1 and only(a), to lease ab turn step to the fore something variance, and back benefit other(a)s too. The translate of literary works has consumed most of my waking moments. Of course, I brace through with(p) other things, scarce the much I engage explored the more(prenominal) connections I memorize between the written page and the gentleman in which I live in. How I accreditedize I am the selfsame(prenominal)(p) with others, too. I think I am master enough naming and subtile the Malayanan conventional dissipations that exist trough now, only I am wrong.The unremark equal to(p) plots like ram-ram rip, rangkai-rangkai periuk, da da ko, cak lerang benang emas, tebang-tebang tebuk, ting-ting gula batu is already alien t o me eyepatch I am searching the literature. However, the more I learn, the more I realize what I do non love. Actuall(a)y, my thesis physical composition was under supervision of mavin frame-hearted professor of my give instruction, which was under think into Methodology orbit that I took last semester. She authentically influenced me in guiding the do and beart in thesis writing. Her positive comments a lot drama in my minds and alship ejectal restrict me abackwash.It is such a reflection to me. Although reflections ar difficult to look into because we see what was lacking(p) and what was missing, but I always know relieved and more foc apply by and by seeking her advises. On the other hand, zip could be more valuable. I stand constructed this paper to reflect a participating regale in writing my thesis. That is when I write a paper, it is not necessary I should be posing in front of my calculating machine, but rather I sustain to jot d proclaim what be appears in my mind on a piece of paper, otherwise it should left done for(p) anywhere it could be.Hence, looking back at saved clauses and references has a lot inspired me to stretch gatherh upon an idea in completing the thesis writing. Thus, I pose included hark of articles for references, followed by the more polished whole caboodle that chip in grown turn up them, with nominal faultlessly. I hope so. Statement of query Problem and Research Objectives The terra firma why I as a investigator, assay to dig the problem of Malay conventional halts because I realize that these bouncys has been disappearing in our Malaysian community.As we know, Malaysians strong sense of community is reflected in legion(predicate) of their handed-down feebles and pas sentences. With the multi ethnic Malaysia, the handed-downistic naughtys especially among the Malays actual over a period of many centuries in the wake of important heathenish influences. Some of the oldest live on Malay tralatitiousistic racys like the real congkak and wau bulan until now exist, but it is hardly to figure one while unsandedly developed games consoles explore brand new sport style nowadays. Consciously or not, by the 80th era the existence of Malay traditional games is already faded out .For some vexations, traditional game augmentation aims at adding new handbill value and playful features to a traditional game with go forwarding its pro looks-and feel (Yamabe, Iwata, Shichinohe, and Nakajima) is the best way to keep the originality from disappear especially from the eyes of the new propagation. I still remember my lists of childishnesss games. But have we ever thought that our children ever experience session in a circle on a wooden hut near paddy field to play batu seremban? Do they manage to collect every players dress to build a cone-like shoe pyramid while contend tuju kasut?Or concealing under a huge manoeuvre near the bushes and get bitten by army of ants while acting aci sembunyi or veil and seek? Children be missing out of the benefits of traditional games that their p atomic list 18nts and grandpargonnts vie in their childhood (Casbergue and Kieff ). More children ar engaged in solitary games such as computer games, portable play station and other high-tech portable devices such as iPad. With the changes of condemnation, many of the traditional games cherished by generations have their own history.Some eons we argon not even c be where does it do from, including me. If I am not the inquiryer of this orbit, I think I dont even twainer roughly the history of congkak. The game of congkak, for example, is a mancala game of Malay origin where the oldest mancala game boards were implant in a ruined fort of roman Egypt and date back to the quaternate century AD. There are tell on references to the game of marbles in Roman literature precursors to modern-day marbles, spheres or flint, treasure or baked c lay have been install in archaeological sites somewhat the world.Another popular traditional games, playing kites or wau is believed to have been derived from the Arabic earn wau, because the shape of the wings resemble the sketch of that particular Arabic letter. Of course as we played the traditional games, we were totally unmindful(predicate) of their long traditions. Especially for young children, they were just now having fun the same with generations before us without noticing the important part of inner value preserving the games for the future. tralatitious games are very noteworthy in Malay cultural heritage.When we conference approximately something traditionally, at the same time it depart reflect the culture. They reflect the inventiveness and re radicalfulness of Malay forefathers in creating their own games by using inexpensive materials for their pastimes and recreations. These autochthonal games are fun, and develop strong hearty skills among children. Lack of exposures from early ages of the children bequeath affects the identity element and originality of the traditional games. Nevertheless, future generation have no chances to explore the games if most of these traditional games faded out.According to (Akbari, Abdoli and Shafizadeh, pg. 123-129), traditional games have humanity and cultural determine, beliefs translate by these from one lineage to other. These games were forgotten as a result of industrialization in recent years. As the thesis writing is upon completion of masters degree in nurture field, I tried to look at the issue from the angle of Malaysian education system. The implementation of traditional games into the course is still lacking except for the strong-arm and Health reading subject specifically in primary schools.Furthermore, only a keen part existence inserted into the Preschool political program under the thematic subject, Tunjang Kesihatan dan Kecergasan. These games, although simple, have cult ural and social value and encourage children to class period their ingenuity, especially in fostering squad spirit in school and in the neighborhood. Three years back, I was a preschool teacher in my school. While doing this thesis, it jogs my remembering when article of faith the kids. Seriously, they were very excited at that time when I asked them to play galah panjang and baling getah. And as usual, they were asking me to play the same games the office by side(p) day.Another interesting experience to dower was during teachers day solemnisation in 2012. Both teachers and savants were requested to contend in galah panjang games at that day. The best part was female need to wear down kain batik while the male ordain wear kain pelekat. Everyone was having so more fun. Thus, I came out with the idea in orderliness to preserving the trustworthy identity of Malay traditional games towards the students. I hereby conducted a consequence study seek to implement the effec ts of obligeing Malay traditional games in the classroom for a group selection of primary school students.The application of these games ordains truly results into the cognitive skills and the encyclopaedism styles of students, besides in teaching and skill environment in the classroom. As a result, I make the movement that educational games after part impact in the developing world. Signifi fag endce and Limitation of the Study I am not suggesting that these games should replace existent explicit teaching strategies or stamp out instructional time. My concerns are to improvise the teaching and attainment style in our education by applying a new fun and interesting method while learning.The children are most likely to have mate interactions without teachers input by learning about the culture of childhood from their peers, not their parents or teachers. According to (Casbergue and Kieff), making traditional games ready(prenominal) in the classroom could give children the luck to develop intellectual and physical skills indoors a supportive environment. An important empty in the active look for literature would too be filled. This fact merely makes this look into very signifi pratt. In addition, we have to remember that social skills are culturally based.Therefore, it is important for teachers to understand and be sensible to the culturally based behaviors of students and use a soma of activities to foster acceptance of unmarried differences. They also cigarette show students how to play ethnic games and encourage students to play in groups (Church, Gottschalk and Leddy). The study allow foring then shows the immensity of preserving the original identity of Malay traditional games from faded out. One of the goals of this both numeric and qualitative question is to study the process of playing Malay traditional games and number of repetition within a certain period.I know that is important to note that the name and process may pull u p stakes from one practices to another, as many interlingual rendition of games rules and how-to-play version, which could not be controlled by me. Sometimes, it may stimulate confusedness among players. Brief freshen up on Malay Traditional Games throng may see that traditional game is a simple thing, but actually traditional games are valuable elements of a culture. Their inventions show how productive the humans are, a combination with high imagination. It is such a precious heritage to be preserve and imply with the history of its creation.Furthermore, it is hard to square up the true inventors of the games and how it is evolved. I have never thought who are the one created konda-kondi, tuju kasut and dekametre aji. This kind of heritage is a base where a human group cash its identity, its projects for the future, its memory, its history, its fears, its desires. When large number lose this untouchable, fragile segment of their culture, then they go out lose their b asis for living, their past and their future (Civallero). Traditional games are a sort of intangible cultural heritage with its richness of Malay cultural values and ethics.Normally, the original version of traditional games had been manipulated by the oral from one to another. This effects the exaggeration of the true identity of traditional games itself. Traditional Malay games usually beg craft skills and manual dexterity and arse be traced their origins since the days of Melaka Sultanate. Sepak raga and kite move are among traditional games that were mentioned in the Malay Annals being played by nobilities and royalties of the Malay Sultanate (Ooi). I think we should prove on few numbers of existing Malay traditional games surround us.for the first time is dekametre Impit. The purpose of this game is for players to essay their expertise and brains to collect as many as opponents dekameter and getting close to opponent side of the dams table. Playing Dam Impit helps the pl ayer to sharpen their thinking skills, agreeable to develop their patience and discipline among the players (Nasarah and Nasarah). Children can play this game on free time. Adults also make this game as their spare time hobby. Secondly is Cuit Bintik. It is a very fun game to play.In certain places they call this game as Orang Ganjil Kena Cuit. The rules of the game is whoever had been touched by others at certain part of the eubstance need to become the toucher while place their particular part of body and chasing for the adjacent victim (Nasarah and Nasarah). According to (Nasarah and Nasarah ), Jarum Mas is one fictitious character of recreational game, not in a form of competition. Players can enjoy the game with one of the main character in the game as the ghost or hantu. The role of hantu is to look after the treasures in the drawn circle.Player who had been caught by hantu will become the next hantu and the game will be repeated over again. For me, this one is a very in teresting game to play. The game represents the culture of sending kuih to neighbors that has always been a practice to Malay people since a very long time ago. Traditionally, the kuih was made by the mother or the family members during Ramadhan or continence month for extravasate fast. In the research by (Nasarah and Nasarah), in that location is a game called hantar kuih , often play by the boys at night of the fasting month.The game is plays for the whole month, consisting two groups A and B. The group will send the kuih in secret with name taken and wrote in a piece of paper. Whoever had been caught by the opponent will lose. By the end of the month, all players will forgive one another during Hari Raya. This kind of game test the level of childrens speed from chasing by other players and how to repeal themselves from been caught by enemies. (Nasarah & Nasarah) said players who had been touched by the chaser need to sit diddlyshit until just one player left.The sitting pla ying is considered as died, and the only one player left will be the winner. The Malays also have a unhomogeneous of Mancala board games known as Congkak Lubang Sepuluh or Congkak Lubang Dua Puluh. The game is played by mournful stones, marbles, beads or shells approximately a wooden board consisting of twelve or more holes. At my time, my friends and me often play using marbles. Traditionally, (Nasarah & Nasarah) said the real atmospheric state to play congkak is on the ground with players tiring sarungs.The function of wearing sarungs are much easier for the players to collect marbles to put in Rumah Ibu. Rumah Ibu is the two big holes dig on the ground with optional numbers of Lubang Rumah Anak. I ever had this kind of experiences during my childhood. The ambience playing under our wooden house was really incredible and amazing. At this time, I dont know that congkak has a antithetic name too. Historically, mancala or congkak is acknowledged as the oldest game in the world, with variety versions of playing rules depending on the culture of the player.Its origin is traced from antique Egypt. As the game dispersed around the globe, every culture has invented its own variation including the Malays. It is common to assume that digital games are something of a new phenomenon. In fact, historians on digs and discover of ancient records all over the world have been able to blow this assumption right out of the water. Many of the forms of traditional games that we see immediately have been around the centuries, even as earlier since ancient Egypt. Time passes as rise as the traditional ways of gaming for the children.As they keep themselves entertained, the generation of video consoles and touch screen are now at the forefront (Boyajian). Nowadays, exceedingly advanced gadgets packed the markets and as time goes by, they are becoming more and more advanced. If once upon a time, the traditional games still can easily be seen played by village boys and girl s, in inelegant or sub urban area. rarely now, the government agency are not the same when the village boys and girls are exposed to technology, to causal agency with the changes of era. So, where are the traditional games for the Malays?I often asking myself about this, and sometimes I asked my circle of friends, family whereby why it is hard to decree one now? Are they also aware of it? Are they realizing the disappearance of our one of the most valuable cultural values too? Just like the ontogenesis of society was imagined as a unidirectional transformation from tradition to modernity (Eichberg). Yes, we cant deny modernization, but must(prenominal) the tradition being abandoned? Perhaps, not. Research Methodology and Analysis My real concern about the study is actually to investigate the Malay traditional games practices in classroom.The research methodological analysis chosen for this study stick out a number of selected gaming activities in classroom, loosely based o n the research written by four researchers from divergent universities under the same disciplines. (1)Matthew Kam (Human-Computer interaction make for, Carnegie Mellon University, USA, (2) Akhil Mathur and (3) Anuj Kumar both from Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Gujarat, India, and (4) tail Canny (Computer Science Division and Berkeley Institute of Design, University of California, Berkeley, USA.The title of the study is Designing digital Games for Rural Children A Study of Traditional Village Games in India. This is the best article Ive found to assist me in writing this study, as its sooner hard to find related donnish articles or journals about the study. Again, I am not to design a game, but I am investigating the nicety either the implementation of Malay traditional games in classroom is suitable to be applied during teaching and learning or not, in any subjects not specifically in Visual Art Education subject.Conducting the study me ans that I am finding the best methods and relevant ideas for teachers to apply it in classrooms. Mixed method of vicenary and qualitative case study go up is used for the investigating. The intention of this study is to model(prenominal) the research methodology adopted for the study, which is a case study design. According to Merriam states that case study is often the best methodology when understanding is sought in order to improve practice (as cited in Zeyad ). eccentric study investigations can explain the reason for a problem, the background of a situation, what happened and why.A case study designed is employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the situation and meaning for those involved. The interest is in husking rather than confirmation (as cited in Zeyad ). At the first place, I thought descriptive design is the best and safer way for doing research, but after gone through few steps ahead my research, I found that case study is the best to lend mine. Besides e xemplary the case research done by (Kam et. al ), I also had conducted a preliminary investigation called original study as well as the literature survey.The pilot project study is pointed to the process of inducting theory using case studies- from specifying the research questions to reaching closure. Besides carried out as a trial study, this pilot study also assisted me in testing the feasibility, reliability and validity of the design. I then selected a number of samples to escape out the pre-test, or in easier nomenclature to play the Malay traditional games within a classroom before the actual investigation is done. I then used the learning gathered in pilot studies to refine or improve my research or evaluation procedure being piloted before it is used on a larger scale.This internal pilot study was established through a variety of ways (1) I had approached school at one time via headmaster or teachers or attention itself to seek permission on conducting the small sca le research internally, (2)I had work in partnership with the students and interested teachers in lend to the research, and (3)I drew on personal and professional contacts to set up projects with colleagues who are already aware of game-based learning specifically in traditional and digital ways. Clearly, implementing a game in a teaching and learning session is risky.Either the learning objectives can be achieved or it can be left undone. To design a game that combining a traditional game and completely match the understanding of students while playing, good data collection methods will be more culturally substantive to rural students. Although I am not designing the game, but at least(prenominal) I am already have in my mind that traditional games might not be playing in traditional ways only, but we can suit with the current modernization. It just how creative the teachers are, to add up some alter in their teaching methods. I conducted an sign focus group interview for the student during the pilot study.I asked the histrions to recall the routine games that they love to play for us to videotape. I got a tremendous response from the participants apothegm their favorite everyday games, including both traditional and digital games. From the feedback, I hypothesized that they still know the Malay traditional games is still exist. I then conducted four methods of data collections which are (1) combination of semi-structured and unstructured interviews, (2) participant observation, (3) down questionnaires and (4) collection of documents with the participants.All gathered information will be recorded for transcribing in data analysis. By using the unalike methods of data collections, a cross checkout counter data will assist in interpretation of data gathered later. by and large for semi-structured and unstructured interview, close-ended and open-ended questions will be asked in order to allow the participants to create options for responding on the c urrent research topic. Participants can also voice their experiences and perspectives on the research area without boundary. They are free to babble and voice out their opinion in order to make the session is more fun, interactive and meaningful.The participant observation will allow me to role as the participant observer during the activities being held. But the experimental roles can be changed later to suit with the activities conducted. Additional data came from the participants responses to follow-up questionnaires developed specifically to bewilder answers to new questions raised after the initial interview data had been analyzed. These follow-up questionnaires were also used to clarify initial answers and see to it interview findings. Public and private records will be a good source of text data in assisting the study. authority was obtained before using the documents.