Free Essays on The Generation Effect

and their antonyms. Method Participants There were 17 participants, 12 females and 5 males. The participants were Psychology majors and 1 Psychology minor. Extra credit for participating was not offered. Materials Two lists of 19 pairs of antonyms were used. Group Generate’s list contained a complete-the-blank answer page (e.g., â€Å"boy-g_ _ _†) whereas Group Read’s list contained the same pairs of antonyms completed. Paper and pens/pencils were also used. Procedure The participants were randomly assigned ... Free Essays on The Generation Effect Free Essays on The Generation Effect Running head: GENERATION EFFECT Generation Effect on Memory Words generated from anagrams seem to be remembered better than words that have simply been read (MacLeod & Daniels, 2000). Over 100 years ago, Ebbinghaus described two ways of remembering, voluntary and involuntary recollection. Ebbinghaus’ studies brought about two classes of memory tests. Indirect tests which reveal things in our memory that we are unaware of. Direct tests reveal things that we consciously tap our memories in order to find, looking for references in an article that we wish to find, for example. MacLeod and Daniels (2000) used the direct testing approach to conduct an experiment on directed forgetting and the generation effect. Subjects participating in the MacLeod and Daniels study were asked to read 20 words and generated 20 others from definitions during a 40-item study phase. It was found that the words that were generated were harder to forget than the words that were just read. Many people have wondered why they are able to score higher on tests when they use memory association for answers to questions rather than simply reading the answers. The generation effect may be the answer. The hypothesis that Group Generate would remember more words than Group Read was tested on college students. Group Generation was asked to generate words from the original list while Group Read was asked to simply read the list of words and their antonyms. Method Participants There were 17 participants, 12 females and 5 males. The participants were Psychology majors and 1 Psychology minor. Extra credit for participating was not offered. Materials Two lists of 19 pairs of antonyms were used. Group Generate’s list contained a complete-the-blank answer page (e.g., â€Å"boy-g_ _ _†) whereas Group Read’s list contained the same pairs of antonyms completed. Paper and pens/pencils were also used. Procedure The participants were randomly assigned ...

Space Junk Danger

Space Junk Danger Earth doesnt orbit the Sun alone. Of course, there are the other planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. But, in near-Earth space, our planet is accompanied by a LOT of space junk left over from launched vehicles. Does it pose a danger? In some cases, it does. In the movie Gravity, a group of astronauts finds out first-hand what it might be like for space  explorers to run into an orbiting bit of space debris. The results are not good, although at least one  astronaut makes it through safely. When it came out, the movie has generated a lot of discussion among space experts  about its accuracy in some places, but the general story highlights a growing problem that we dont often think about here on Earth (and probably should): space junk returning home.   What Goes Up often Comes Down Theres a cloud of space debris around Earth that planners have to deal with as they set schedules for rocket launches and low-Earth missions. Most of the material out there eventually comes back to Earth, such as the object WTF1190F. It was a piece of hardware likely dating back to the Apollo mission days. Its return to Earth on November 13, 2015, told scientists a lot about what happens as material plunges through our atmosphere (and burns up on the way down). Of course, spent satellites are often de-orbited, too, with similar results. The idea is that only little pieces make it back to the planet, and the bigger stuff is destroyed. Knowing about space junk and where it is at any given moment is particularly important for people in the space launch business. This is because there are nearly  20,000 pieces of space debris up there. Most of it  ranges from such small objects as gloves and cameras to  pieces of rockets and artificial  satellites. Theres enough stuff up there to pose a real danger to observatories such as the  Hubble Space Telescope,  weather and communications satellites and the International Space Station. It also poses some risk to those of us on Earth. The good news is, the chances of something hitting us on land are fairly small. Its far more likely that a piece of space debris will fall into the oceans, or at least into an unhabitated part of a continent.   To keep launch vehicles and orbiting satellites from running into these bits of space junk, organizations  such as the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) observes and maintains a list of known objects orbiting Earth. Before every launch (and as satellites orbit the globe), the positions of all known debris must  be known so that the launches and orbits can proceed without risk. The other good news is that most space debris burns up before it hits the planet. The Atmosphere Can be a Drag (and Thats Good!) Pieces of junk in orbit can and do get caught up in our planets atmosphere, just as meteoroids do. That slows them  down, in a process called atmospheric drag. If were lucky, and a piece of orbital debris is small  enough, it will likely vaporize as it falls to Earth under the tug of our planets gravity. (This is exactly what happens to meteoroids when they encounter our atmosphere and the resulting flare of light we see as they vaporize is called a meteor. Earth regularly encounters streams of meteoroids, and when it does, we often see meteor showers.)  Ã‚  But, larger  pieces of space junk  can pose a threat to folks on Earth as well as get in the way or orbiting stations and  satellites.   Earths atmosphere is not the same size all the time. At some times it stretches out much farther from the surface due to solar activity. So, scientists monitor the density of the atmosphere changes over time in the low-Earth orbit (LEO) zone. Thats an area several hundred miles above the surface of our planet where most orbiting materials (including satellites and the International Space Station) exist.   The Sun Plays a Role in Space Junk Re-entry In addition to heating by the Sun (which helps swell our atmosphere), heat waves propagating from lower in the atmosphere can also have an effect. There are other events that affect our atmosphere and could have the effect of catapulting larger objects toward Earths surface. Occasional solar storms cause the upper atmosphere to expand. These erratic solar storms (caused by coronal mass ejections)   can zip from the Sun toward Earth in less than two days, and they produce rapid changes in air density.   Again, most space junk falling to Earth can and does vaporize on the way down. But, larger pieces can land and pose the potential for damage. Imagine being in the neighborhood if a large piece of a defunct satellite fell on your house! Or, imagine what would happen if a large solar storm resulted in enough atmospheric drag to pull a working satellite (or a  space station) into a lower and more potentially dangerous orbit? It would not be good news for anybody in the path. Predicting Re-Entry The U.S. Air Force (which is involved with NORAD), and the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center work together to forecast space weather events and the effects they have on our atmosphere. Understanding those events will help us all in the long run by understanding the same effects on the orbits of space junk. Ultimately, the junk trackers will be able to forecast more accurate orbits and trajectories of space debris in near-Earth space.   Fast Facts about Space Junk Space junk is made up of objects left over from space flights, such as cameras, rocket pieces, and other small pieces of debris.Occasionally space junk takes the form of a satellite directed to re-enter Earths atmosphere. Its usually directed to impact Earth in the oceans or in uninhabited areas.Agencies monitor thousands of pieces of space junk, charting the orbits of these objects.  Much space junk vaporizes due to friction with Earths atmosphere and never reaches the surface.

Impact of Brand Personality on Consumer Decision Making Essay

Impact of Brand Personality on Consumer Decision Making - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that in equating the impact of a brand’s personality on the consumer decision-making process, Hofmeyr and Rice in a book titled â€Å"Commitment-Led Marketing: The Key to Brand Profits Is in the Customer's Mind† aptly sums up the purpose of this study. They advise us that commitment is what brands seek to establish with consumers as it represents what they feel about a company, as opposed to loyalty, which they describe as what consumers do. In order to gain a level of commitment from consumers, a brand must establish some sort of relationship as well as an image that transmits and provides them with a reason or reasons to act upon that foundation. In delving into this study, certain keywords as represented by its purpose, are integral to understanding the foregoing. A brand, according to the Concise Dictionary of Business Management is â€Å"A mark, name, logo or trademark that identifies a product or services or organizatio n and distinguishes it from its competitors. It is studied, brand personality encompasses branding, which the Concise Dictionary of Business Management defines as â€Å"The use of a brand to describe a product service or organization†. In considering the term brand personality one needs to understand that it meansâ€Å". the quality or condition of being a person †¦ the totality of qualities and traits †¦ that are peculiar to a specific person †¦ the pattern of collective character, behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental traits †¦Ã¢â‚¬  In equating the preceding application to brand personality, substituting brand for the person provides the context. Aaker tells us that â€Å"The brand personality provides depth, feelings and liking to the relationship†. He adds that â€Å"Of course, a brand-customer relationship can also be based on a functional benefit, just as two people can have a strictly business relationship†. The preceding brief exploration has sought to acquaint you with the foundational precepts in this exploration that includes the third facet, consumer decision making. This last area represents the core question and focus of marketing professionals for over 70 years, with its roots tracing back approximately 300 years as led by economist Nicholas Bernoulli. Bernoulli’s groundbreaking work paved the way for von Neumann and Morgenstern who extended his work into what is called the Utility Theory. Their hypothesis, von Neumann, and Morgenstern are based upon the theory â€Å"†¦that individuals evaluate uncertain prospects according to their expected level of satisfaction or utility. The preceding represents one of a number of consumer decision making theories and or models, which for the purposes of time, only a few shall be covered in this examination. The highly competitive world of business, where most products and or services share common and or similar characteristics, brand distinc tions represent an important advantage that companies seek to establish. This study will seek to explain and examine the relationships between these areas and explain the nuances as well as linkages that make brand personality an important part of the consumer decision-making process.

Employee view and personnel of Nike Company Essay

Employee view and personnel of Nike Company - Essay Example Nike is not the ‘beast’ that it is projected as, because similar situations exist in other footwear and garment units. They have a system of rewarding their regular employees. After experimenting with cash and travel vouchers, Nike feels employees should be able to target the rewards that appeal to them (Lynne, 1997). Hence it now offers Virgin vouchers which include range of activities from flights to luxurious holidays and participants can focus on awards that appeal to their own aspirations. Nike offers its employees five weeks off with full salary and benefits to spend the way they want (Browning, 2003). This helps the employees to spend time with their families or rethink career goals. Though this program was started in 1994, Nike is not sure how many employees have used it. In US Nike workers are given incentives such as Nike Bucks if they will walk, run, bike, skate or car pool to work while no such incentives are available in Asia (Boje, 1998). Workers in Oregon work in campus like facility, receive top benefits and time off for recreation and sports (Boje, 2001). They have employed about a thousand expatriates who travel the globe to ensure that code of conduct and other norms are adhered to at each of their manufacturing units. There are about 600,000 subcontract workers, mostly women between 16 and 22, who provide the resistance to Nike corporate power and subcontractor practices. Nike considers its applicants as both customers and employees. It is able to attract the best and brightest employees.

Alexander the Great Essay Example for Free

Alexander the Great Essay He was the father of Alexander the Great, Philip III and possibly Ptolemy I, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. *Hephaestion son of Amyntor, was a Macedonian nobleman and a general in the army of Alexander the Great. He was by far the dearest of all the kings friends. *Darius III was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia from 336 BC to 330 BC. He was deposed during Alexander the Greats conquest. *Roxana was a Bactrian noble and a wife of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt *Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. *Craterus was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. *Parmenion was a Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great *Philotas was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexanders most experienced and talented general. Plot .. The film is based on the biography of Alexander the Great, the King of Macedon, the first Macedonian Emperor who conquered Asia Minor, Persia and eventually Ancient India. It provides a glimpse into some of the key moments of Alexanders youth, and his invasion of the mighty Persian Empire, until his death. It also outlined his early life, including his difficult relationship with his father, Philip II of Macedonia, the conquering of the Greek city-states under the League of Corinth, and the conquest of the Persian Empire in 331 BC. It also details his new plans to reform his empire, and the attempts made to reach the end of the world. The storyline begins in 356 BC with Ptolemy I Soter, who narrates the story throughout the film. In lavish sets and images Stone shows his vision of Alexanders daily life in the court of his father, Philip, and portraying the strained relationship between his parents. Alexander grows up with his mother Olympias and his tutor Aristotle, where he finds interest in love, honour, music, exploration, poetry and military combat. Late on, his relationship with his father is destroyed when Philip marries Attalus niece, Eurydice. Thereafter Philip is assassinated and Alexander becomes king of Macedonia and the rest of Greece. After a brief mentioning of his punitive razing of Thebes and burning of Persepolis, Ptolemy gives an overview of Alexanders west Persian campaign, including his declaration to be the son of Zeus by the Oracle of Amun at Siwa Oasis, his great battle against the Persian Emperor Darius III in the Battle of Gaugamela, and his eight-year campaign at Hydaspes against Porus in modern day Pakistan), both of which are shown in the film. The plot also illustrates Alexanders private relationship with his childhood friend, Hephaistion, and later his wife Roxanna until his death. Before succumbing to an unknown illness or poison (it is never revealed which and both are suggested) Alexander distanced himself from his wife Roxanna despite her being pregnant, believing she has killed his childhood friend Hephaistion. The film accurately places Hephaistion in a far closer position than his first wife Roxanna. It is suggested in the film that Alexander died in part due to the loss of Hephaistion, which occurred less than three months earlier. Early in the film Hephaistion compares Alexander to Achilles, to which Alexander replies that if he is Achilles then Hephaistion is his Patroclus (Achilles cousin and supposed lover). Hephaistion mentions that Patroclus died first and then Alexander pledges that if he should die, he would follow him into the afterlife. A promise Ptolemy himself says Alexander apparently kept when he died shortly after Hephaistion. In the film after conquering Babylon Alexander admits that Hephaistion is the only person he loves. (no one can back up that Alexander was homosexual). During the film Hephaistion shows extensive jealousy when seeing Alexander with Roxanna and deep sadness when Alexander marries her, going so far as to attempt keeping her away from Alexander after the former murdered an old friend in India. The film also focuses intensively on the close and warped relationship Alexander shared with his mother Olympias. Summary .. Alexander was born in Macedonia in 356 BC. His father, King Philip II of Macedonia, hired the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor young Alexander. In the summer of 336 BC, Philip was murdered by one of his bodyguards. Alexander then became king. Many people in Macedonia plotted against the young king, but Alexander was shrewd. He quickly ordered the execution of all the conspirators. At the same time, some Greek cities ruled by Macedonia rebelled and others threatened to seek independence. Alexander crushed the rebellions and restored Macedonian rule. Next, in 334 BC, Alexander turned his attention toward the Persian Empire (now Iran) in southwest Asia. Alexander led Macedonian and Greek soldiers to attack Darius III, Persia’s king. Their armies met at Issus in Syria in 333 BC, and fought a fierce battle. Alexander won, and Darius fled. Alexander then led his soldiers south, into Egypt. Alexander seized power from the pharaoh, who ruled Egypt on behalf of the Persians. The grateful Egyptians saw Alexander as a person who freed them, and they crowned him pharaoh. At the mouth of the Nile River in northern Egypt, Alexander founded a new city. He named the city Alexandria, and it became a famous center of learning In 331 BC, Alexander led his troops back north into Persia. King Darius was eager for revenge. Alexander and Darius fought another great battle, this time at Gaugamela. Once again, Alexander won. The battle at Gaugamela ended centuries of Persian rule in Asia. Alexander then turned south and conquered other important Persian cities. At Persepolis, he burned down Darius’s palace to show he had conquered the Persian Empire. In 330 BC, Alexander went north to find Darius again. This time, Darius was killed by his own men as he fled. Alexander was a military genius and a great explorer. But he also had a grand ambition. He wanted to rule a world empire where people could live in peace with one another. From 330 to 327 BC, Alexander led his soldiers east, through Afghanistan and into Central Asia. As he travelled, he built more cities. He recruited soldiers, merchants, and scholars from many lands to settle there. In 326 BC, Alexander turned south, into India. But by then his men were tired and weak. They were far from home in an unknown land. The soldiers rebelled and refused to go farther. Reluctantly, Alexander turned back. By 323 BC, he reached Babylon in Iraq. While there he caught a fever and died at the age of 33. His empire was divided among his generals. Moral / Lesson O The first moral / lesson in this film is to never dreamed of becoming as powerful as God because He is the only one no one compared with Him. Secondly is â€Å"power† is the counterpart of jealousy. Comprehension Questions .. 1. )What characteristics of Alexander in his young age is being portrayed in the film? Did these characteristics still evident in his adult life? How? O Even Alexander was only a child, you can clearly see his unique characteristics specially his braveness and genuine in terms of battle. O Yes! He conquered half the globe because of his intelligent plans, braveness and his greatness in terms of ruling. . )How did Olympias influenced Alexander? OOlympias influenced Alexander by supporting him to his decisions and teaching Alexander the values of being a child, a man, and also a warrior. 3. )Did Philip have a good relationship with his son? Support your answer. O At first Yes, because they are close to each other(a father and son relationship). Later on, his relationship with his father was destroyed when Philip married Euridice. And in the last part of Philip’s life, Alexander accepted what happened and their early relationship came back. 4. Enumerate all the lands being conquered by Alexander. O Alexander conquered Asia Minor, Persia and eventually Ancient India. 5. )Did the wife of Alexander became an asset or liability to him? How? O No, Hepastion was the only person loved by Alexander. And Roxana(his wife) was just like an ordinary person to him. 6. )How was the vast empire of Alexander divided? O After Alexander died, the vast empire he conquered including Macedonia were divided to his four generals. 7. )In the film, the eagle soars high over the vast army of Alexander during one of his conquest. What does the eagle symbolize in lieu with Alexander’s characteristics as a man, a leader, and a warrior? OAlexander as a man is great compared to an eagle flying in the air. An eagle when flying covers a large part of land by it’s shadow likewise to Alexander’s genius leadership. Even Alexander is only one he can rule properly and control his vast army and lead it to victory. 8. )One of the themes or universal truth of the film is â€Å" The thirst for power and it’s consequences†. In not less than 400 words explain the said theme. O For me the theme or universal truth in the film, â€Å"The thirst of for power and it’s consequences† means that having a power is having a responsibilities. Just like the sayings in Superman â€Å"great powers come great responsibilities† which means If you got power expect that there are consequences like protecting people, beating bad guys, and preserving peace. Similar in the film Alexander, we know that Alexander was very powerful at that time that the other people consider him as a God. But as he got this power he must face the risk. One is he must protect his army whatever happens. Also as a king he must do his best to achieve peace, prosperity, and love in his land. And the main problem or consequence on having superiority is jealousy. Many powerful people died not in battle but because of jealousy of others to their power. Examples are Alexander the great and Julius Caesar. Although the death of Alexander is unknown if due to illness or poison. Some historians thought that its poison that killed Alexander. The suspects are his generals and other officials. It is said that his men are so jealous to Alexander due to his success and supreme power. So they tried to kill him by adding poison to his wine when they are in Macedonia after the battle in Ancient India. Alexander died and his vast empire were divided to his generals. Same as Julius Caesar, he was also a genius in conquering lands as Alexander. Caesar had an absolute power in his time and also because of that â€Å"power† opposition against him grew. Some denounced him as a tyrant, while others were jealous of his popularity. On March 15, 44 Before Common Era, he was stabbed to death. I knew that having a power is awesome and great but too much of it may lead to disaster. A taste of it is enough because as your power increases the risk increases too as well as your enemy. And sadly even the one you trust and love can lie and sell your friendship to get only your power. Once I read a book about power, and it stated that no one can ever have an absolute powers because all these powers belong to God. And also thre’s no one can compare to Him. That’s all. And that’s my own explanation to the atatement â€Å"The thirst for power and it’s consequences†. I hope you understand what I am trying to say or point out. Hehe . Again thanks for reading. God bless.

Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lines Composed a Few M

"Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley and "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" by Wordsworth The two chosen pieces both have a dominant theme of nature. Shelley, in his poem 'Ode to the West Wind,'; uses poignant tone, while using personification and imagery to unravel his theme of nature. While Wordsworth's '...Tintern Abbey'; contains a governing theme of nature, Wordsworth uses first person narration, illusive imagery, as well as an amiable tone to avow his connection to nature. In his poem, 'Ode to the West Wind,'; Shelley uses a poignant and heart-rending tone to describe the power of nature and more specifically the wind. Shelley's reference to the wind, as the 'sister of Spring'; and a 'Maenad,'; shows how the wind is like a woman, spontaneous and free, with the liberty to be a gentle soul or a vicious amazon. He sees the wind with wonderment, and at the same time respects it and or even fears it. Shelly not only uses tone to depict his conception of nature, but he goes on to use personification to characterize the strength and vigor the wind possesses. He gives the wind human characteristics by referring to the wind as 'her'; and 'she.'; For example, 'Her clarion over the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air) With loving hues and odors plain and hill,'; can be paralleled with a woman tending to her garden with love and devotion. Along with a heart-rending tone and personification Shelley uses imagery to d...

It may be to do with rarity

Why do wear the best suit (dress) when going for an important meeting or interview? Why do we make sure that we do not use a cheap perfume when going on a date? The aspect of self-indulgence is intertwined with the socially directed motives when it comes to luxury. The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was Just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies. With the clear differences between social classes in earlier civilizations, the consumption of luxury was limited to the lite classes.It also meant the definition of luxury was fairly clear. Whatever the poor cannot have and the elite can was identified as luxury. The meaning of luxury and the sorts of customers that buy luxury have continually been evolving, but never as dramatically as in the past 20 years. With more potential customers , the luxury sector is today healthier than ever – increasing at around three times the r ate of worldwide wealth. The luxury goods industry is unique in that it is an industry that relies strictly on marketing and promotion to sell products to a specified group of people.It is also an uxury goods industry is very fascinating and the products themselves signify prestige and status. Although a select few are able to afford luxury goods, the vast majority of people who are exposed to advertisements for certain products generally have aspirations of being able to own these products someday. The theme of this course paper is really topical nowadays, because each luxury brand takes care about its image, performance, and service in order to attract more and more customers and to gain customers loyalty.The success of each company depends mostly on clients, so to develop the business successfully each company has o care a lot about marketing aspects and to use various marketing methods of attracting new customers. The purpose of this course paper is to explore which methods of w inning customers attention are more effective. Accordingly, the main objective is to study the major methods of attracting clients on the examples of the leading luxury fashion companies and to analyze their sales volume. The course paper is divided into two parts.The first part is called â€Å"Fashion industry and the place of marketing in it† and it tells about what is called luxury in general, about the global market of luxury goods and methods of attracting more and more ustomers. The second part of the course paper is called â€Å"The analysis of marketing methods of major luxury fashion brands†, where the analysis of the major luxury brands has been made – Burberry group, Gucci group and LVMH, including the statistics, the methods of customer attraction, some key steps to success of each. . Fashion industry and the place of marketing in it 1. 1 . Getting to know luxury Although the term â€Å"luxury products† is broadly defined and therefore basical ly comprehensible, it still needs to be operationalized because it is not yet clear which products are actually â€Å"more than necessary and ordinary compared to the other roducts of their category. † The broad definition of luxury products can be modified and further specified by an operational definition.For this purpose, adequate indicators for a term need to be determined. According to the dimensional analysis, it was decided to operationalize luxury products by their characteristics. The operationalization relies on a literature analysis and an empirical study. The results suggest that consumers perceive that luxury products have six major characteristics including price, quality, aesthetics, rarity, extraordinariness and symbolism.In that ay, the operationalization helps to decide for most products if they are part of what is meant by the term â€Å"luxury product†. The definition of luxury products can be summarized as: Luxury products have more than necessary and ordinary characteristics compared to other products of their category, which include their relatively high level of price, quality, aesthetics, rarity, extraordinariness, and competences of creativity, exclusivity, craftsmanship, precision, high quality, innovation and premium pricing.These product attributes give the consumers the satisfaction of not only owning expensive items but the extra-added psychological enefits like esteem, prestige and a sense of a high status that reminds them and others that they belong to an exclusive group of only a select few, who can afford these pricey items. The luxury sector targets its products and services at consumers on the top-end of the wealth spectrum. These self-selected elite is more or less price insensitive and choose to spend their time and money on objects that are plainly opulence rather than necessities.For these reasons, luxury and prestige brands have for centuries commanded an unwavering and often illogical customer loyalty. Luxury as never been something easy to define, yet this mystery concept is something highly desired by one and all alike. Delving deeper into this mystery and aura of luxury goods by way of comparing them against ‘regular goods' as well as highlighting the characteristics of the luxury industry. Luxury products and brands can be distinguished from the premium segment by their constitutive characteristics.The major characteristics can be considered as dimensions ranging from a minimum level that is also necessary for non-luxury brands to a maximum level that corresponds to the highest form of luxury. As demonstrated in the table below, premium brands rate higher on these dimensions than medium-level brands, but still well below luxury brands. While premium brands still remain down-to-earth and cannot lose sight of the value-for-money ratio, luxury brands are reaching exceedingly reasonable levels in the major luxury dimensions, and some of them even work on topping the current top-of-top luxury level.

Shedding Light in the Shadow of Misconceptions

With a sad heart, I answer the aforementioned question with yes.   Islam is viewed unfavorably by many people in this globalized world.   Sometimes, it is often dubbed as the religion espoused by the terrorists o extremists. But not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims. The media magnified and somewhat vilified the image of Islam more after the September 11 event. But are these accusations and perceptions all true? Misconceptions about the religion continue to generate fear, resentment and judgment among uninformed minds. This paper aims to shed a little light on the three common misconceptions about Islam involving women, Jesus Christ, and the alleged use of sword in spreading the religion. It aims to convey the message to the country’s non-Muslim population. Firstly, non-Muslims thought that Islam degrades women by classifying them as properties or as second-class citizens. The notion is wrong. The Qur’an upholds and esteems women; they are not regarded as evil temptress. Women’s rights were guaranteed by the Islamic Law over 1,400 years ago. Islam allows women to own properties, operate a business and receive equal pay for work.   History tells us that about 50 years ago, women in both England and America were not allowed to acquire any property without the consent and signature of their husbands or father. Likewise, Islam women can’t be forced to marry against their will. Islam women are not confined under the veil, as many see it. The clothes serve as protection against any malicious intention stemming from a man’s sight. Flaunting a body invites rape and harassment; it is therefore logical for a Muslim woman to wrap herself with cover.   Many Muslim women around the world are in top positions.   Consider the late Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. Isn’t she the embodiment of Muslim woman empowerment? Women are highly-valued, cared for and esteemed in Islamic society.   In addition, Islam stopped the ancient Arab practice of killing newborn daughters.   Such is the premium given by Islam on women or young girls. Under Islam, both sexes are treated fairly. Secondly, other people view Islam as against Jesus Christ. But to a Muslim, Jesus Christ is a great prophet. Muslims respect and love Jesus. Muslims call him as Nabi Isa – the Arabic term for Prophet Jesus. The Qur’an speaks about him and admonishes Muslim to believe in his virgin birth and miracles. It must be remembered that Muslims are not attacking Jesus Christ when they speak against the Bible or Christianity. Muslims are just criticizing some claims of Christians.   However, Muslims reject the idea of Trinity and the theology of Incarnation.   In a Muslim’s heart, Jesus Christ remains the great prophet who performed good deeds and miracles to many people. Lastly, non-Muslims were taught that Islam spread through the use of sword. It must be noted that Muslims are educated by the Qur’an on non-compulsion in religion.   If Islam was spread by the sword, then most of India, China and even more than half of the world should be under Islam by now.   India remains a predominantly Hindu country and China, a communist republic. Islamic traders went through different places to bring business but did not kill or force people to be converted to Islam. The people were impressed by the traders’ life that they adopted the religion which they have.   In contrast, history attests to the violence and brutal killings by other religions, such as the Crusades, in vain attempt to convert people. Furthermore, according to the Reader’s Digest, for a period of 50 years, from 1944 to 1984, more people converted to Islam than in any other faith. Now, were they threatened to be killed or forced to be converted?   Islam means submission and those who chose to be a Muslim, did so volitionally, out of their free will. The above-mentioned are just a few among the many misconceptions about Islam. Still, much of the world’s humanity has animosity towards the religion or its followers. For someone to understand Islam, one has to open his or eyes. Judgment must be suspended first to see that Islam is more than a religion, but a way of life. It is a life of submission to the will of God. Muslims are not enemies. Like us, they are also humans in need of acceptance and belonging. Like any other religions, Islam must be respected, too.   If one would take the time to study and understand its teachings, only then will he o she would be able to correct the misconceptions on the religion.            

Free Essays on What Is Philosophy Of Education

, we define our society and the society of our future by how and why we educate the young. Do we want our children to be educated for democracy or consumerism? Should children learn by rote memorization or through creative problem solving? Does school exist to teach values or skills for use in the job market? Because these decisions will affect the course of society for decades to come, the questions asked are as important as those found in any other branch. The Philosophy of Education in modern times has been heavily influenced by developments in the field of psychology - in particular, psychoanalysis and behaviorism. The former has argued that there are psychological processes affecting our ability to learn which are not entirely under our control; the latter has influenced the way we think about how things can be taught, especially topics like morals and values. Curiously, the Philosophy of Education is one of those fields where philosophy itself is both the object being studied and the tool used to study it. One of the things discussed is the role which philosophy itself can play: Should students learn about philosophy? Does philosophy create a better educated person, or is it ultimately a useless and dispensable topic... Free Essays on What Is Philosophy Of Education Free Essays on What Is Philosophy Of Education Philosophy of Education What is it? The field known as the Philosophy of Education is relatively self-explanatory - it deals with how children should be educated, what they should be educated in and what the ultimate purpose of education should be for society. This is an often neglected field of philosophy, and when it is addressed, it tends to only be in educational programs designed to train teachers - in this context, it is a part of pedagogy, which is learning how to teach. Despite this neglect, the Philosophy of Education is nevertheless of fundamental importance. How and why a society educates its children will be dispositive for the following generations and long-term political health. In other words, we define our society and the society of our future by how and why we educate the young. Do we want our children to be educated for democracy or consumerism? Should children learn by rote memorization or through creative problem solving? Does school exist to teach values or skills for use in the job market? Because these decisions will affect the course of society for decades to come, the questions asked are as important as those found in any other branch. The Philosophy of Education in modern times has been heavily influenced by developments in the field of psychology - in particular, psychoanalysis and behaviorism. The former has argued that there are psychological processes affecting our ability to learn which are not entirely under our control; the latter has influenced the way we think about how things can be taught, especially topics like morals and values. Curiously, the Philosophy of Education is one of those fields where philosophy itself is both the object being studied and the tool used to study it. One of the things discussed is the role which philosophy itself can play: Should students learn about philosophy? Does philosophy create a better educated person, or is it ultimately a useless and dispensable topic...

How to Conjugate the Irregular French Verb Offir

How to Conjugate the Irregular French Verb Offir Offrir  (to offer, to provide, to give) is an irregular French -ir verb. Below are simple  conjugations  of the verb  offrir; the conjugation table does not include compound tenses, which consist of  a form of the auxiliary verb avoir with the past participle offert. Within irregular  -ir  verb conjugations, there are some  patterns. Two groups exhibit similar characteristics and conjugation patterns. Then there is a final, large category of extremely irregular  -ir  verbs that follow no pattern. Offrir is an Irregular -ir- Verb Offrir lies in the second group of irregular  -ir  verbs that display a pattern. The second group of verbs includes  couvrir,  cueillir,  dà ©couvrir,  offrir,  ouvrir,  souffrir, and all their derivatives. These verbs, surprisingly,  are all  conjugated like  regular -er verbs. Offir Is Conjugated Like  French Verbs Ending in -frir and -vrir All French verbs that end in  -frir  or  -vrir  are conjugated this way. This includes: couvrir to coverdà ©couvrir to discoverouvrir to opensouffrir to sufferrecouvrir to recover   Expressions and Usage Je peux toffrir  bien davantage. I can  offer  you much more than that.Nous devons leur  offrir  pareille possibilità ©. We need to  provide  them with the same opportunity.Jallais vous  offrir  cette maison. I was going to  give  you this house.Je vais lui  offrir  du thà ©. Im going to give him some  tea.Mais vous devez  offrir  limmunità ©. But youd have to  offer  us immunity.Jaimerais  offrir  une perspective diffà ©rente. Id like to  offer  a different perspective.Jaimerais que nous puissions  offrir  plus. I wish we were in a better position to  offer  more.Jaimerais lui  offrir  ma collection de coquillages. Id like to give  her my shell collection.offrir quelque chose en cadeau quelquun  Ã‚  to give somebody something as a presentsoffrir [pronominal reflexive]  Ã‚  to offer  / to give oneself [sexually] OR to offer ones servicessoffrir payer les dà ©gà ¢ts  Ã‚  to offer to pay for the damagesof frir [pronominal reciprocal] to give or buy each otherun seul moyen soffrait moi  [pronominal  intransitive] only one course of action was open / presented itself to me un panorama exceptionnel soffre au regard   an amazing view meets the eyessoffrir de quelque chose [pronominal transitive] to treat oneself to something Simple Conjugations of the Irregular French -ir Verb Offrir Present Future Imperfect Present participle j offre offrirai offrais offrant tu offres offriras offrais il offre offrira offrait nous offrons offrirons offrions vous offrez offrirez offriez ils offrent offriront offraient Pass compos Auxiliary verb avoir Past participle offert Subjunctive Conditional Pass simple Imperfect subjunctive j offre offrirais offris offrisse tu offres offrirais offris offrisses il offre offrirait offrit offrt nous offrions offririons offrmes offrissions vous offriez offririez offrtes offrissiez ils offrent offriraient offrirent offrissent Imperative tu offre nous offrons vous offrez

Your pick of this week's news Week8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Your pick of this week's news Week8 - Essay Example The search for the debris is made more difficult by the strong and unpredictable currents in the Indian in addition to the isolated and vast area to be searched. The report was not only factual but also incisive because it gave background of the first objects found in the satellite that were not confirmed. The difficulty of finding the debris was also described giving the readers an idea why it takes sometime to verify the objects. Third party expert opinion was also given to make the news balance and credible. The efforts made and the assets deployed to confirm the find were also adequately described. In general, I find the article incisive because it did not only report the recent find but â€Å"contextualized† the report by providing the reader a background to fully appreciate the development. Other parties were also interviewed to make the news more balanced such as aviation experts in the person of Peter Marosszeky and and Alan Kin-Tak Lau. Denyer, Simon , and Jia Lynn Yang. "China issues new satellite image, Australia spots small unidentified debris."Washington Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.