Play Analysis - Sample Essay of Man and Superman

Play Analysis - Sample Essay of Man and Superman The comedy Man and Superman depicts a microcosm of English convention in the early 20th century. It is an adaptation of the Don Juan epic touching on the philosophy of Nietzsche’s ubermensch. The play’s social commentary is strongly influenced by these topics, but it contains undertones that speak to a more specific topic on the implementation of social revolution. Framed in this way, the play is a platform for concepts embodied in the socialist rhetoric of the Fabian Society. During the late 19th Century and Early 20th century, George Bernard Shaw was an active member often using his dramatic works as a vessel by which he could communicate his political views. In the setting of Man and Superman, Shaw uses the metamorphosis of the protagonist as a metaphor for the type of social revolution sought by the Fabian Society. The Character Jack Tanner Jack Tanner is an unconventional character at a time when convention dictated action. He is wealthy, middle-aged, and unattached. As a confirmed bachelor, he preaches free love and constantly decries the institution of marriage. Most notably he is the author of The Revolutionist’s Handbook. This book details opinions on many controversial topics from the overthrowing of governments to the role of women in the daily life. The type of person that he represents is not readily accepted by his peers. In the eyes of Roebuck Ramsden, Jack Tanner is initially viewed in a negative light. Ramsden describes Tanner’s book as â€Å"the most infamous, the most scandalous, the most mischievous, the most black guardly book that ever escaped burning at the hands of the common hangman† (337). Ramsdens views are significant. He is an older gentleman that holds an important position in society. He is introduced as, â€Å"more than a highly respectable man: he is marked out as a president of highly respectable men† (333). It is therefore not unreasonable to think that the views of Ramsden might also be the views held by other important gentlemen in society. Ramsden’s views are shared by like-minded characters in the play. After defending Violet for the circumstances in which she is having a child, Tanner finds himself apologizing to her. Violet says, â€Å"I hope you will be more careful in the future about the things you say. Of course one does not take them seriously; but they are very disagreeable, and rather in bad taste† (376). Regardless of her own motivations at that time, she wanted nothing to do with Tanner’s support. This is in stark contrast to the reception one typically gets as a lone defender. How Tanner Views Himself These reactions to Tanner are generated from the way in which Tanner views himself. He says to Ann, â€Å"I have become a reformer, and like all reformers, an iconoclast. I no longer break cucumber frames and burn gorse bushes: I shatter creeds and demolish idols† (367). This is an extreme stance from which to approach life. It is understandable then that people might be offended, or even threatened, by what he represents. Tanner is unrealistic in his ideas on how to change society. In order to affect these changes in a direct manner, one would truly have to be a superman. Were Tanner to be an ubermensch by the definition of Nietzsche, it is conceivable that he might have been able to pull off a social revolution without subtlety. The main characteristic of the ubermensch is that he/she acts in accordance with his or her desires. However, he repeatedly demonstrates that this is not the case. He is conflicted over his feelings for Ann. Even though he claims that he disliked her, he somehow always attends to her. He claims to be an intellectual but is corrected by his chauffer when quoting Beaumarchais. He freely admits he is a slave to the car and his chauffeur by extension. He admits that he is intimidated by women and needs protection from at least one, namely Ann. Though he gives a long-winded diatribe to Ramsden that claims is almost without shame and almost never regrets his actions, he clearly contradicts himself. Tanner Dreams He Is Don Juan In the third act, Tanner dreams he is Don Juan, choosing whether he belongs in heaven or hell. Of course, this is the Shaw version of Heaven and hell rather than the traditional version in which the Devil punishes the wicked. Don Juan describes Heaven as a place in which â€Å"you live and work instead of playing and pretending. You face things as they are; you escape nothing but glamour, and your steadfastness and your peril are your glory† (436). If hell is a place in which you don’t face reality, then that has a clear connection to the state Jack Tanner finds himself in at the beginning of the third act. He is shirking responsibility in his personal life as well as avoiding the feelings he has for Ann. Choosing the Life Hes Been Avoiding In choosing to go to heaven at the end of the third act, Jack Tanner subconsciously chooses the life he has been avoiding. This is the life that accepts Ann. This is also the life that does not avoid convention but embraces it. Heaven is a place where one contemplates the true nature of the universe. In this case, Jack chooses to contemplate the true nature of his world rather than live an existence only concerned with self-gratification. Here again, Ramsden’s view of Tanner is significant. When Tanner has professed his love for Ann at the end of the play, Ramsden is congratulatory. He says, â€Å"you are a happy man, Jack Tanner, I envy you† (506). This is the first such supportive remark offered by Ramsden. Until this point, they had remained at odds with each other. Tanner’s engagement to Ann probably suggests he has a reasonable nature. Since Ramsden is an influential person, this changed view of Tanner will extend to Ramsden’s sphere of influence. In this light, Tanner has the opportunity to be a much more influential person. We have a clear example of the effectiveness of this kind of man in Ramsden. Ramsden was appalled to hear that Tanner considered him, â€Å"an old man with obsolete ideas† (341), but Ramsden was just like Tanner in his youth. He says to Octavius, â€Å"I have stood for equality and liberty of conscience while they were trucking to the Church and to the aristocracy. Whitefield and I lost chance after chance through our advanced opinions† (339). In his day, his opinions were advanced enough to lose him favor in eyes of his contemporaries. Mendoza, an acquaintance they met in Spain, reported that Ramsden, â€Å"used to supper with several different ladies† (471). This is something Ramsden staunchly disagreed with in Tanner’s personal life. It is clear that a change occurred in Ramsden. It must also be true that a change occurred in society in order for a man with such radical opinions to become a man of honor. This suggests that Tanner evolved in the same way that Ramsden did. Their views became milder as did their lifestyles. This is similar to the method of affecting change that was espoused by the Fabian Society. The Fabian Society was and still is a socialist organization that encourages the advancement of socialist principles through gradual rather than revolutionary means. Here, it is implied that Ramsden and now Tanner became more effective at advancing their own principles after adopting their milder lifestyles. Construction Cumbers the Ground... When he says, â€Å"construction cumbers the ground with institutions made by busybodies. Destruction clears it and gives us breather space and liberty† (367), Tanner did not realize that these words would apply to his own circumstance. His old life, which he thought was liberated, was actually holding him back. It was only in the destruction of that life that he was able to liberate himself. The taming of his radical nature caused his influence to expand. The Fabian Society believed that the destruction of state-created national, political, and moral character. Tanner’s change is a metaphor for this creation of a character. Tanner believed he had strong moral passion, but this passion was undirected. Instead, he had the foundation for a strong moral character. In submitting to Ann and accepting the traditional Victorian lifestyle, he gained a springboard from which to extend his social ideas. In so doing, he developed a stronger moral fiber, the moral fiber of a leader rather than an eccentric.

SAT 1 vs SAT 2 Whats the Difference

SAT 1 vs SAT 2 What's the Difference SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You might have heard of something called the SAT II (or SAT 2) and wondered what it could be. A secret, harder version of the SAT, perhaps? The reality is less dramatic: the SAT II is just an old name for the SAT Subject Tests. This guide will explain the current form of the SAT II, outline the differences between the SAT 1 vs SAT 2, and help you determine which of the tests you should take. Feature Image:Matthias Neugebauer/Flickr What Are the SAT 1 and the SAT 2? As I touched on above, these aresimply out-of-date monikers: the SAT I is now known as just as the SAT and the SAT II is more descriptively referred to as the SAT Subject Tests.Colleges sometimes still refer to the tests as the SAT I and SAT II, so don't worry if you see those terms. The SAT started out as a military IQ testand was administered as a college admissions assessment for the first time in 1926. Since then, it's undergone a series of changes to make it less focused on innate ability and more on testing concepts and skills students learn in school. It's weathered a few controversies, but it's still considereda decent predictor of how students will do in college. The SAT Subject Tests are almost as old as the SAT proper. Officially called Scholarship Tests but known colloquially as the Achievement Tests,the Subject Testsstarted in 1937and were basically the same thing they are now: one-hour tests on specific subjects,like biology andworld history. There are currently 20 different Subject Tests, and you can sign up for up to three per test date. Here is an overview of all SAT Subject Tests: Humanities Math and Science Literature Math Level 1 US History Math Level 2 World History Biology (E/M) Chemistry Physics Languages (No Listening) Languages (w/ Listening) French French with Listening German German with Listening Spanish Spanish with Listening Modern Hebrew Chinese with Listening Italian Japanese with Listening Latin Korean with Listening What’s the Difference Between the SAT 1 and the SAT 2? Originally, the SAT I was meant to test aptitude and the SAT II was meant to test achievement. That is to say, one tested what you were capable of, and the other tested what you knew. But when the College Board moved away from the idea of the SAT I testing innate ability, they reframed it as a reasoning test, making the difference between the two SATs less well defined. With changes in 2016, the SAT I (now just the SAT) is more focused than ever on testing knowledge rather than logic. At this point, I'd say that the SAT tests general knowledge and the SAT Subject Tests assess topical knowledge. There arealso some key ways the two tests differ in structure.For one, although the questions on both tests are primarily multiple choice, SAT questions have four answer choices, while SAT Subject Test questionstypically have five answer choices. This means that you'll have a slightly higher probability of guessing the correct answer on the SAT (25% chance) than you will on the SAT Subject Tests (20% chance). In addition, SAT Subject Tests have a guessing penalty for incorrect answers, whereas the SAT does not (though it used to). Note that you neither gain nor lose points for questions left blank on both tests. Here's how the guessing penalty works on the SAT II: 1/4 point deducted for every incorrect five-choice question 1/3 point deducted for every incorrect four-choice question 1/2 point deducted for every incorrect three-choice question Take a look at the chart below for a rundown of the basic differences between the two types of SAT tests in their current forms: SAT SAT Subject Tests Other Names SAT 1, SAT I, SAT Reasoning Test SAT 2, SAT II, SAT Achievement Tests Format 3 hr 50 min multiple-choice test (with one essay question) 1 hr multiple-choice test Subject Matter Reading, Writing, Math 20 different topics (listed above) Guessing Penalty? No Yes Which Schools Require It? Almost all colleges Only some very selective colleges Also note that because of the timing of each test, you cannot take the SAT and any SAT Subject Tests on the same testing day. How to Determine Whether You Need to Take the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, or Both A good rule of thumb is that you'll almost certainly have to take theSAT I (or the ACT), but you'll probablyonly need to take the SAT II if you're applying to highly selective colleges. Nonetheless, you should check the testing requirements for each school you're applying to since they can differ quite a bit. The majority of collegeshaveone ofthree basic policies on the SAT Subject Tests. Let's go through them one at a time. Policy 1: They Only Ask For the SAT (or ACT) Most schools, including the majorstate universities, don't require applicants to submit Subject Test scores. However, some colleges will consider SAT II scores,so they can be a helpful way to show your mastery of a certain subject area (as long as you dowell). Policy 2: They Ask For the SAT (or ACT) and SAT Subject Tests A handfulofvery selective schools,includingHarvard and Rice,require applicants to submit scores from both the SAT I and between one and three (usually two) SAT II tests. Some collegeshave more specific guidelines regarding which Subject Tests you need to take. For example,MIT requires one Math SAT II and one Science SAT II. Other schools- including McGill, Tufts, and Duke- will waive the Subject Tests requirement if you submit ACT scores.These schools will still look at SAT Subject Test scores if you send them, however. Policy 3: They Ask For the SAT orSATSubject Tests A growing subset of schools have adopted atest-flexiblepolicy, which means they allow students to choose which scores they'd like to submit from a numberof different tests.Examples of schools that allow students to submit SAT II results in place of SAT I or ACT scores include NYU, Colorado College, and Middlebury. Recap: Should You Take SAT I or SAT II? The SAT I is the standard SAT test format, which you will need to take for most college applications. The SAT II tests are subject-specific tests that might or might not be required, depending on where you plan to apply. As you can see above, colleges' SAT II policies vary widely. Be sure to look up the testing requirements for every school you’re planning to apply to, and determine what you need to do well in advance. You might want to start by checking outour complete list of schools that require SAT Subject Tests. That said, don't forget to confirm colleges' policies on their official websites! What's Next? If you've determined that you need to take the SAT II,the next step is figuring out which Subject Tests you should takeand what scores you need to shoot for. You might also want to take a look at our SAT Subject Test study guides for US Historyand Physics. Ifyou're applying to Ivy Leagueschools,check out our guides on what SAT score you need, what their average SAT II scores are, and exactly how you can get in. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

Human Physiology and Anatomy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Physiology and Anatomy - Essay Example As the paper declares excretion of waste products from the body is the most important function of the kidney within the body. Urea is the main product that gets excreted in the process. Also, the kidney has the responsibility to regulate water in the body as well as balance the acid base and electrolytes levels within the body. These are some of the common functions that kidney has been known to perform since years. However in the recent years, studies have obtained that kidney has an endocrinal responsibility as well. This is so because the kidney helps in secretion of a variety of materials like renin and erythropoietin into the stream of blood, leading to several effects external to the kidney as well. From this study it is clear that the role of the kidneys involves processing blood such that waste products and excess water can be removed from the body. This function takes place everyday within the body of human beings. The waste materials are eliminated in the form of urine as a result of this process. The significance of this function of the kidneys lies in the fact that if the kidneys did not allow the elimination of the waste products, then these products would accumulate in the blood leading to damage to the human body as a whole. In terms of function, renal function and kidney function are the same. A person having both kidneys active enables the functions of the kidney effective. Several nephrons are present in each kidney that allows intertwining of small blood vessels and tubes that collect the urine.

Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Taxation - Essay Example However, this can only be possible if the public participate in funding the state in order to purchase necessary weapons and also employ the disciplinary forces. The benefit enjoyed by the public in terms of services due to their tax contribution is immeasurable. It is; therefore, appropriate to suggest that Chancellor Osborne is right when he relays the state’s perceptive of tax evasion. The Shaban Mahamood of Shadow exchequer secretary, comments on the state of living being higher than the standard expectation. From his comments, it is clear that, Shaban expects the state to make the cost of living to that level where each of the citizens living United Kingdom can afford. He has held the state at ransom for not playing its role in reducing the cost of living to its general public. Shaban’s comments clearly indicate that the state then has all the rights to demand and even place criminal charges to people evading taxation. The reason behind the support of the state is that, it will only be in a position to provide the so said services if the public plays its rightful role of paying taxes (Davidson 2011). offshore has been compared to a criminal act. The state has even gone further to formulate policies that strengths the taxman. In addition, the people who willingly provide the state with information regarding the evasion of tax by others will be rewarded heftily. As though this is not enough, the UK state has promised to cooperate with the rest of countries that are fighting tax evasion. In the new criminal act targeting the tax evaders, the state has included harsher punishment, longer jail terms and double payment of the evaded taxes. Furthermore, the state continues to quote the amount of recovered taxes in the past two state budget years. As was of rubberstamping the essence of paying taxes, the politician has also used the issue in their campaigns. It is clear from

Harley-Davidson motorcycle Essay Example for Free

Harley-Davidson motorcycle Essay Introduction Harley-Davidson Motorcycles have been around for just over 100 years. They became popular after World War II and had continued success until the 1970A? a‚Â ¬a„? s when the company was sold. In 1981 a group of executives bought the company and turned it around into what it is today. Harley-Davidson has had some hard times and some images to shed to get to where it is now, but it has been and are still the front runner in the motorcycle industry. Industry and Competition Analysis A? a‚Â ¬A? General economic characteristics. The current market for Harley-Davidson motorcycles is mostly baby boomers who want to recapture the freedom of when they were young. Most consumers today are middle to upper class. A? a‚Â ¬A? Driving Forces The main driving force behind changes made in Harley-Davidson is image. The company has had to continually change to fit or change an image that accompanies the products A? a‚Â ¬A? Five Forces Model There is not much rivalry between Harley-Davidson and other manufactures in the United States. The only company that comes close to competing with them is Honda, however Honda does not specialize in the same type of motorcycle that Harley-Davidson does. The only substitute product would be a different type of motorcycle such as a street bike, but Harley-Davidson mainly produces touring bikes. A? a‚Â ¬A? Competitor Analysis There really are not any true competitors in the United States. BMW is competition in Europe as well as other companies that manufacture street or racing bikes, but as far as touring motorcycles, Harley-Davidson does not have any real competition. A? a‚Â ¬A? Key Success Factors Key success factors include marketing to improve or change image, production to produce enough bikes for consumer demand and distribution, having the right dealerships in place to sell the product. 2 A? a‚Â ¬A? Attractiveness This is a very attractive industry for Harley-Davidson; however it would not be a good industry for a new company to try to gain entry into due to such large brand loyalty. Company Situation Analysis Harley-DavidsonA? a‚Â ¬a„? s business strategy to become more profitable is to market a lifestyle instead of a product. They show the Harley image as being free and fun. Consumers want to get that feeling and while most people buy the motorcycles, Harley-Davidson has managed to create a market for their products even for people who do not own a motorcycle. Harley-DavidsonA? a‚Â ¬a„? s main strength is brand loyalty. People see a motorcycle they automatically think of Harley-Davidson. Their weakness however is diversification. While they are extremely successful at producing and selling touring motorcycles, they can not capture the market on other types of motorcycles. Suzuki and Honda are better known for their street bikes that HarleyA? a‚Â ¬a„? s Buell Company. This leads to their opportunities. Harley-DavidsonA? a‚Â ¬a„? s biggest opportunity is to develop a street bike that can compete effectively with a Honda or Suzuki motorcycle. Threats to Harley-Davidson include a changing culture. As Baby Boomers are becoming too old to purchase new motorcycles, they need to refocus their attention to the younger generation. In order to capture the younger generation, Harley-Davidson needs to develop a street bike as not many younger people are as interested in touring motorcycles. Financially, Harley-Davidson is doing very well. Revenues have grown at a rate of 16% over the past 10 years and have reached 4. 6 billion dollars. This is huge growth considering that the company almost went bankrupt in 1985. Key Issues That Need To Be Addressed The main issue that Harley-Davidson is facing is the aging of their buyers. As talked about earlier, the new consumers of motorcycles are going to be younger people who are looking more for performance motorcycles than touring ones. Right now Harley is expanding their current business keeping it the same as it has always been instead of diversifying the products that they manufacture. Harley has such a large brand loyalty and has finally changed the image of a Harley rider into a positive one that the company will be okay; there is just not much more room for growth. 3 Strategy Alternatives One potential strategy alternative would be to either merge or acquire another company. They have already tried doing this with Buell motorcycles, however, the Buell brand is not that well known and only make up . 8% of the market for motorcycles. If Harley-Davidson could acquire a smaller company such as Ducati that is already successful in Europe, it could market it better in the United States and gain even more market control over the industry and continue to increase profits. One weakness to this strategy however is image. Harley-Davidson has the All American image and buying a foreign company and marketing a foreign product could hurt the image to some Harley Owners. Recommendations Harley-Davidson is such a well known and well respected company that I do not necessarily think that they should change their strategy. They have already tried to incorporate new types of motorcycles into their product line with little success. While the V-Rod is vastly different from the bikes they previously made, sales are not as high as on the traditional motorcycles. Their only real option is to better market the V-Rod and Buell motorcycles to try to build a new customer base so that they can increase sales if sales really do decrease on their traditional touring motorcycles.

A Psychoanalytic Reading of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry

A Psychoanalytic Reading of Huckleberry Finn   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Psychoanalytic conditions, stages and symptoms pervade the seemingly simplistic narration of a child-narrator, Huck Finn. Such Freudian psychoanalytic ideas as "Thanatos," "repressed desires" and how they seek their way back through dream work, through "parapraxis," can all find examples in this fiction. Besides, Lacanian concept of the unconscious as the "nucleus of our being," as "an orderly network," as well as his famous theory the "mirror stage" can be applied to this novel as a whole as well. Lacan states that the unconscious, the "kernel of our being," is "an orderly network," like the structure of a language (Barry 111-113); this statement can be found true in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." In this particular picaresque of Huck*s adventures, episodes are ostensibly unrelated to each other just as most picaresque novels are. Huck Finn, however, in the unconscious of the text, follows a family pattern in which families come eventually to destruction. First take Huck*s six major lies for example. When Huck is in disguise, seeking information from Mrs. Loftus, he pretends to be a girl, Sarah Williams, whose mother is ill, and thus is on her way to get her uncle to come to help. Later, when his lie is discovered, he again invents a family in which both of his parents are dead and he is now a renegade apprentice. Next, in order to save the gang on the Walter Scott from drowning, Huck makes up a whole family including pap, mam, sis, and Uncle Hornbeck. Again, another fa mily with pap, mam, and Mary Ann is invented in order to save Jim from slavery. And when with Grangerfords, Huck identifies himself with George Jackson and tells of the decline of a relatively ... ...erefore explicates his final decision, justifies the ending of the novel. Works Cited Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: an Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester UP, 1995. Baym, Nina, et al., ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 4th ed. New York: Norton, 1994. Bradley, Sculley et al., ed. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: an Annotated Text, Backgrounds and Sources, Essays in Criticism. New York : Norton, 1962. Eliot, T. S. "Mark Twain*s Masterpiece." Huck Finn among the Critics: a Centennial Selection. Ed. M. Thomas Inge. Frederick, Md. : University Publications of America, 1985. Green, Keith, and Jill LeBihan. Critical Theory and Practice: a Coursebook. London: Routledge, 1996. Solomon, Eric. "The Search for Security." Bradley 436-443. Stone, Jr. Albert E. "Huckleberry Finn and the Modes of Escape." Bradley 444- 448.

Activision: Case Study Essay

Activision was established in 1979 as a third party video game developer-publisher. Formation of Activision has been one of the most significant events for gaming industry. Activision is publisher of one of the most famous game publisher today. Games like Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and Pitfall series are published by Activision. Currently Activision is merged with Blizzard (creator of world’s most played subscription based game) to form Activision Blizzard World’s largest gaming company in a deal worth ? 9. 15 billion. Around the time of formation of Activision, companies used to dominate market place. Gaming industry was not stable. But the things have changed today it’s a global multibillion dollar business. In the starting days of Activision, they had to compete with Atari in games. But later both companies came to understanding that availability of more game for Atari platforms meant more sales of hardware. And both companies kept building games for Atari platforms competing with one another and being benefited from competition. Creating games is a long and expensive process as normal games take about 2 year and $20 million while MMOG’s may take from $50 to $100 million in five years. What Activision and Atari started as co-operative competition still prevails in gaming industry and has helped a huge deal in development of gaming industries. In 2010 there was 8% loss of packaged goods sales of consoles game but online revenue was booming. Activision was able to predict this change in gaming industry market and locate itself in front of customers. In 2010, around 50% of total revenue made by Activision came from digital sources. Since its merger with Blizzard, Activision is becoming more and more console independent. Starting as publisher for console games, today Activision publishes games for anything that can play games like ipad, iphone, phone social gaming (facebook), etc. And the ability to adapt to changing market has kept Activision in top of the gaming industry for so long. There is an argument that more than half of Microsoft’s xbox live subscribers are there for Activision’s Call of Duty. This raise an issue should Microsoft be the only one being benefited from this while Activision only gets paid once during sale of game disc. This makes console gaming dull in compared to World of Warcraft’s online subscription payment (Activision Blizzard charges fees for playing World of Warcraft online in PC). Activision’s competitor EA games seems to have found a simple solution, In order for online multiplayer, gamer have to either buy new disc or buy online registration code that allows them to go online using old disc whose online code is already used. Activision could use this strategy restricting people who bought used games and people who borrowed games to get online hence focusing only on customers who paid for online. For first time ever, in 2008 Activision was the number one US console and handheld game publisher in dollar. In 2008 it published two games: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock which were number second and first best selling game in US and Europe in dollars during fiscal year. Net revenue earned by Activision in 2008 was $2. 9 billion. Activision’s stage gate model â€Å"Greenlight Process† has helped in development in its product a lot. This process includes analysis of new products in development stage before entering market in four stages as concept, prototype, first playable and alpha. Making sure that product functions properly and is as demanded by current market customers is a very important step in product development which is carried out by high-level cross functional team. Keeping your product polished and problem free is very important. Gaming industry is product based market. Even though there will be customer grouping making your product fit and well is the most. If the product is good customer from another group can be attracted by this (RPG players are different than first person shooter players). In July 9 2008, Activision finally merged with Blizzard entertainment. Blizzard is owned by French conglomerate Vivendi and is the owner of World of Warcraft, world’s largest subscription based MMORPG. This merging helped Activision expand its reach in the industry. Instead of diversifying product Activision move toward merging has proven rather useful. Gaming industry is one of the fastest growing industries. Changes occur daily in market place. Gaming industry started with text games then moved to cartridge based platforms to today’s next gen consoles. And research shows that any gaming device staying in market for more than 10 years is considered to be outdated. So the change is obvious and Activision has to be aware of these changes. Transition period between one generation of console to another generation of console hugely effects gaming industry. Activision’s performance record shows that gaming industry faces a huge halt at these times. During recession Activision was able to maintain its sales and profit curve but in 2005 when all console developers like Sony and Microsoft were preparing for launch of their new consoles gaming companies like Activision and its rival EA has to face depreciation in their business as customers are waiting for newer version of game and gaming consoles.

Sailing Me

What do I really feel? Well, right now, I could say that I am sane. It just sounds funny to say that last word. For some time now, I have been holding a huge rock with my bare hands. The rock symbolizes my life as an adult human being. As an adult of early twenty’s of age, I began to struggle with life. I had worked for two independent companies already in a span of three years. But still, I have not yet found the contentment I am looking for. I mean, may be you would say that people usually have no contentment. But for me, I will continue to strive to gain recognition from my works and deeds so that it will feel rewarding and become a simple form of my contentment. That is why I am always making use of my abilities, skills, and knowledge the best way I can to show how flexible and competitive I can be in every job opportunity that comes my way. I think that is the smartest way to achieve one’s goal. Love life? I had two colorful love affairs already. I would like to share about the second. I and Gervin were actually friends. We were classmates in elementary. We lived in the same town until high school. I excelled during our elementary years, while he excelled academically in high school. After high school, we were not able to see each other except when there is a reunion held for our batch. Until one day, this year, when I forwarded messages to all the contact numbers of my friends I have in my phonebook, he was the only one who replied and asked how I am doing. It started like that. Everyday I receive messages from him. We converse through text messages, until it came to a point where he became romantic in his messages. Honestly, I liked how it feels. It was flattering. It made me fall for him after some time. For me, it was a cute, simple romance where we expressed our feelings to each other by sending text messages everyday. He was sweet to me. I was sweet to him, too. There were exchanges of I love yous and we understand each other. Although we were not actually seeing each other, I could feel his presence through his messages. And I felt like we were true lovers. The relationship became complicated when I learned that he has a girlfriend. I felt bad about it. Without further thinking, I messaged him immediately and said that I want to stop whatever it is that is happening between us. He did not make a reply. Until now there is no communication between the two of us. I wonder how he really felt about me and how he feels about me right now. What was his real intention to me? Was it just friendship, more than friendship, or just a flirting? If it’s just friendship, he actually hurt me because he is special to me. It was not clear to me what our relationship was. Finally, I am able to accept that I am human and it is normal to feel something special for somebody. It is better to let go of the feeling than to hide it. After heartaches and pains, it’s now time to enjoy life. I want to change my lifestyle, my career path, and everything about me. It’s time to be happy and to share my smiles to everyone especially to my family who most deserves it. But of course I need to earn money and to work hard for my living also. Life’s like that. Go for gold!

Uncle Toms Cabin essays

Uncle Toms Cabin essays "So you're the lady whose book started this great war." Abraham Lincoln said this to Harriet Beecher Stowe upon meeting her in 1862. This quote shows the great influence the novel had on the minds of its readers and on a nation in turmoil. At the height of racial tension in nineteenth century America, Stowe revealed the sufferings and hardships the slave was forced to endure. Stowe used passionate and sometimes exaggerated thoughts and stories in the book in an effort to prompt abolitionist action. In the novel, Stowe used strong-minded women that sent a message to female readers that they also can take action against slavery. Although Stowe was on the side of the slave, she sometimes exhibited a paternalistic attitude that made her seem somewhat racist. Uncle Tom's Cabin is "profoundly feminist in its implications" because of the opinionated female characters that voiced their beliefs and showed moral superiority over their male counterparts. Stowe established that both wome n and slaves were victims of male domination, and she depicted women in the novel that were led to their abolitionist views by their moral and Christian beliefs. Because of the stereotypes and paternalistic attitude she exhibited, Stowe sometimes seemed racist against the class she was fighting for. At times, Stowe took the viewpoint of the white and looked down on her race. By comparing whites to blacks, Stowe contradicted her main theme of the novel, equality. "It was rather natural; and the tears that fell, as he spoke, came as naturally as if he had been a white man (134)." Stowe referred to many stereotypes of blacks during the era through her descriptions of the slaves. Aunt Chloe was portrayed as the stereotypical slave-woman. "Her whole plump countenance beams with satisfaction and contentment from under her well-starched turban (25)." Topsy was portrayed as foolish because of Stowe's description of her song and dance. "...Spinning round,...

Ogdens Basic English - Definitions and Discussion

Ogdens Basic English - Definitions and Discussion Definition Basic English is a version of the English language made simple by limiting the number of its words to 850, and by cutting down the rules for using them to the smallest number necessary for the clear statement of ideas (I.A. Richards, Basic English and Its Uses, 1943).Basic English was developed by British linguist Charles Kay Ogden (Basic English, 1930) and was intended as a medium of international communication. For this reason it has also been called Ogdens Basic English.BASIC is a backronym for British American Scientific International Commercial (English). Although interest in Basic English declined after the 1930s and early 1940s, it relates in some ways to the work carried out by contemporary researchers in the field of English as a lingua franca. For examples of texts that have been translated into Basic English, visit the website of Ogdens Basic English.   See Examples and Observations below. Also see: Controlled EnglishEnglish as a Lingua FrancaGlobal EnglishGlobishNew RhetoricPlain English Examples and Observations Basic English, though it has only 850 words, is still normal English. It is limited in its words and its rules, but it keeps to the regular forms of English. And though it is designed to give the learner as little trouble as possible, it is no more strange to the eyes of my readers than these lines, which are in fact in Basic English. . . .The second point to make clear is that even with so small a word list and so simple a structure it is possible to say in Basic English anything needed for the general purpose of everyday existence . . ..The third most important point about Basic is that it is not merely a list of words, governed by a minimum apparatus of essential English grammar, but a highly organized system designed throughout to be as easy as possible for a learner who is totally ignorant of English or of any related language. . . .(I.A. Richards, Basic English and Its Uses, Kegan Paul, 1943) The Grammar of Basic English[C.K. Ogden argued that] there are very few basic operatio ns hiding behind the very large number of verbs in the normal standard language. Not only can most of the so-called verbs in the language be circumlocuted by phrases such as have a desire for  and put a question, but such circumlocutions represent a truer meaning than the fictions (want, ask) that they replace. This insight prompted Ogden into devising a kind of notional grammar of English in which everything could be expressed by translating it into terms of relationships between Things (with or without modifying Qualities) and Operations. The principal practical benefit was to reduce the number of lexical verbs to a small handful of operational items. In the end he decided on only fourteen (come, get, give, go, keep, let, make, put, seem, take, do, say, see, and send) plus two auxiliaries (be and have) and two modals (will and may). The propositional content of any statement can be expressed in a sentence containing only these operators.(A.P.R. Howatt and H.G. Widdowson,  A Hi story of English Language Teaching, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2004) Weaknesses of Basic EnglishBasic has three weaknesses: (1) It cannot be a world auxiliary language, an avenue into standard English, and a reminder of the virtues of plain usage at one and the same time. (2) Its dependence on operators and combinations produces circumlocutions at times unacceptable in standard English . . .. (3) The Basic words, mainly common, short words like get, make, do, have some of the widest ranges of meaning in the language and may be among the most difficult to learn adequately.(Tom McArthur, The Oxford Companion to the English Language, Oxford University Press, 1992) Also Known As: BASIC, Ogdens Basic English

Women and Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women and Film - Essay Example In fact she is shooting at the strictures that life has posed for her and Thelma, and the rest of the film shows them breaking out of them. Thelma and Louise starts with two shots that portrays women in a very ordinary, subservient roles. Thus "LOUISE is a waitress in a coffee shop . . . she is in her early thirties, but too old to be doing this", while "THELMA is a housewife . . . slamming coffee cups from the breakfast table into the kitchen sink, which is full of dirty breakfast dishes and some stuff left from last night's dinner. . . "1 They are both, at this stage at least, apparent caricatures of the controlled and limited lives that women are forced to lead. Most telling here is the fact that Thelma must ask her husband if she can go, rather than merely informing him that she is going on a trip with a friend. Louise's reaction is also very revealing as she, while the apparently more independent of the two, at least legitimizes the idea that her friend should have to gain permission from her husband. She immediately expands it to the "husband or father" comment, but her initial (and thus perhaps instinctive) reaction is to annoyed because they are just about to leave and Thelma hasn't gained permission. The first The first sign of rebellion in these early minutes of the film comes with the screeenwriter's note that Thelma "decides not to tell him" (her husband) that she is going on the trip. Her husband, along with nearly all the men portrayed in the film is vain and arrogant, without having the goods to back up either tendency. Men are shown in the same two-dimensional light that women are normally portrayed as in films. Thus all the men are vain, violent and/or stupid in the same way that women are often seen as money-grabbing, mothers or whores in most films. Thelma and Louise must break away from these two-dimensional caricatures in order to find themselves. The hint that violence may be at least a possibility occurs when Thelma surprisingly puts a gun into her bag along with a box of ammunition, with the rather cryptic comment "psycho killers". Whether she is referring to potentially violent men or whether this is perhaps a foreshadowing of the crime spree that she and her friend are just about to stumble into is unclear. The lack of clarity as to why what is about to occur does actually happen has perhaps contributed to the varied critical opinion of this movie. Thus while Nick Schager, in Slant, argues that the film's "feminist call to arms winds up sounding woefully simple-minded"3, Matt Brunson disagrees, saying "this beautifully realized picture remains a trenchant, almost mystical slice of Americana"4 Most critics seem to have fallen somewhere between the two, suggesting that the apparent glorification of casual violence that the film portrays is in fact a reflection of a certain segment of American society. As Wesley Lovell writes, Thelma and Louise is "a