Gay Adoption Essay - 803 Words

Gay parents are facing discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Twenty-two states currently allow single gays to adopt and 21 states currently allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt in the U.S. (Mallon, 2007, p. 6). The ability of gay couples to rear a child should not be denied only because they are gay. Homosexuals may be looked down upon by society, but they still are humans and have morals. These morals they possess, may influence a child more than those morals taught to a child with heterosexual parents. All over the world, children suffer in families consisting of alcoholics, drug abusers, and sexual abusers (Powell, 2007, p.1). It is not possible that these environments are safer than what would be provided by homosexual†¦show more content†¦Further, applicants for adoption should be accepted on the basis of an individual assessment of their capacity to understand and meet the needs of a particular available child at the point of adoption and in the future (Rosario, 2006, p.8). The United States is facing a critical shortage of adoptive and foster parents. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children in this country are without permanent homes. These children deteriorate for months, even years, within state foster care systems that lack qualified foster parents and are frequently faced with other problems. When a gay couple sought to adopt a boy, who had leukemia, had been neglected by his biological parents, had lived in five foster homes, and whose adoption was favored by his legal representative, but the judge deemed it ‘not in the interest of a seven-year-old male child to be placed for adoption into the home of a pair of adult male homosexual lovers. Three years of searching for a qualified heterosexual couple failed. This and many other similar cases have denied children a family by ignoring many qualified homosexuals (Powell, 2007, p.3). This being an age when people are supposedly more open-minded, why is it that gays are treated this way just because of their sexual orientation? Many Americans are stillShow MoreRelatedGay Adoptions Essay1223 Words   |  5 PagesThere are basically two types of adoption agencies: Public agencies that are usually supported by public funding and are run by the state and Private agencies that are licensed by the state, but run privately (Reference 99). Regardless of the type of agency, the state has some say in their operations, and if the state has a ban of gay adoptions, then the agencies will have to abide. In 1977, Florida passed a civil rights ordinance making sexual orientation discrimination illegal in Dade County.Read MoreGay Parent Adoption And Same Sex Adoption1851 Words   |  8 Pages Gay parent adoption or same-sex adoption refers to the adoption of children by individuals who prefer romantic partners of the same sex--gays and lesbians. Same-sex adoption is portrayed by the media as being a potentially good thing but with potentially detrimental side effects, most notably for the adopted children. This type of adoption is often made to look as if it might well be done but perhaps should not be for the sake of the children involved. With groups such as the religious right, fundamentalistRead MoreGay Adoption Should Be Legal1203 Words   |  5 PagesGay adoption is a touchy subject to a lot of people. Even though gay adoption became legal in all 50 states on June 26, 2017 everyone still seems to have an opinion on the matter and a lot of the opinions lean toward not allowing gay couples to adopt. There are so many children in the foster care system that need loving and stable homes so why not let gay couples give that to them? There is a lot of evidence to show th at gay couples can be just as good at parenting as a straight couple. Maybe evenRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gay Adoption1643 Words   |  7 Pageschildren? Do gay parents and guardians effect children negatively? Adoption is a lengthy process of legally accepting responsibilities of a non-biological child. While adoption is usually governed by laws that vary from state to state, but there are also federal regulations. These federal laws are set in place to provide clarity on who can and cannot adopt, parental rights, consent, the best interest of the adoptees, and the confidentiality of the adoption. Preceding the adoption process,Read MoreGay Adoption Should Be Legal1355 Words   |  6 Pagesare no unwanted children just unfound families† (National Adoption Center.). Families together are one not anything different from every other family. No matter race, color, or the type of family. Adoption is just a way for anybody who wants to create a family would be able to have the access to have a family of their own. Even to the families who are not able to have a child or does not have a partner to have a child. The National Adoption Center allows the families in need to adopt a child in needRead MorePros And Cons Of Gay Adoption1793 Words   |  8 Pagessolutions, but must make use of pros and cons. Like all adoptions, the prospective parent(s) must prove themselves to be responsible and show they are capable to raise a child on their own, or with a spouse. This problem is one that is proving to be a much bigger issue than many people expected. In today’s more accepting society, gay couples are seeing more acceptance than ever before. Homosexuals and heterosexuals both have parental desires and gay couples are as interested in beginning families andRead MoreGay Adoption : Discrimination Against Gay1626 Words   |  7 PagesRomero, Jessica Communication Studies 105 Tuesday, Thursday 8-9:20 a.m. Gay Adoption Introduction Attention getter: Discrimination against gay men and lesbian women has been socially recognized for hundreds of years and still continues today. Homosexuals have adopted children for many years, regardless of fear and prejudice. The controversy of this matter is why homosexuals are not presented the equal fairness of the process and open opportunity as heterosexual couples who seek to adopt or fosterRead MoreArgumentative Essay About Gay Adoption1295 Words   |  6 PagesCorri Fairfull Discursive Essay-Gay Adoption Gay adoption is a subject which is widely debated. However over recent years gay adoption has allowed for most gay couples who want to adopt young children and give them a good quality of life, which they would have if they lived with their biological parents or a heterosexual couple, to do so. One positive view of gay adoption is that it gives the gay couple the chance to start their own family and give a child in care a new start to life in a lovingRead MorePersuasive Essay About Gay Adoption1639 Words   |  7 PagesWhat do these words have in common? They don’t describe gay adoption. The common misconceptualization that gay people get to choose their sexuality is false, so why should parents who were born with a different sexuality be scorned for wanting to adopt? Most people agree with the statement that children deserve to live in a home with a loving family rather than be stuck in an orphanage until they’re old enough to live alone. Same sex adoption has success stories, studies, and statistics that backRead MoreThe Controversy Over Gay Parent Adoption1109 Words   |  4 PagesGay Parent Adoptions Many states laws deny children in foster care, healthy, loving homes simply because of a potential parent’s sexual orientation (Gray, 2006), The catholic church as well as other organization’s oppose gay adoption based upon religious teachings, while others debate the legality of it (Gray, 2006). In today’s society, many children grow up to be emotionally stable and successful whether they have a heterosexual couple as parents or a same sex couple as parents. Gay parent adoptions

Psychology Psychology And Psychology - 1161 Words

There are many branches in the world of psychology. There is the behavior psychology, also known as behaviorism, a leading theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Cognitive psychology, the branch of psychology that focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision making, thinking and attention. Development psychology, the branch that looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. Out of the many branches, I feel I notice abnormal psychology in my everyday life. The study of abnormal psychology focuses on the unusual emotion and thought, and patterns of behavior. These may or may not precipitate a mental disorder. Abnormal psychology deals with behavior in a clinical context. Most disorders in this branch take a tool on a person’s everyday life. The field identifies multiple causes for different conditions, creating diverse theories from the general field of psychology, and much still questions on what is meant by â€Å"abnormal† There are many conditions that are categorized in abnormal psychology. One of the most leading causes of death concerning abnormal psychology is major depression disorder. Major depressive disorder is also known as major depression, clinical depression, or unipolar depression. Unipolar is the presence of one pole. In other words, extreme of mood- depressed mood. This may be compared with bipolar depression which has the two poles of depressed moodShow MoreRelatedPsychology : Psychology And Psychology1627 Words   |  7 Pagescovers the many questions we may have about psychology. It starts with the history and how it has changed throughout the years. It covers some of the many subfields and jobs you can have as a psychologist. It also covers the four big ideas that are associated with psychology. There are many more topics and sub-topics that will be covered within this paper on chapter 1. Section 1-1 Psychological Science is born: This section shows how the heart of psychology changes over time. In 1879, at a germanRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology Essay2200 Words   |  9 PagesHow is psychology defined today? How did psychology start out being defined originally? Humans have always been interested in understanding their own body, especially the brain itself. Some of the first people to explore psychology were Aristotle and Socrates, (even though some of the things they thought were wrong) of course at the time they did not know what exactly they were studying. https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/introduction-to-psychology-1/intrRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1753 Words   |  8 Pagesbeing said, psychology is a very important branch of science that attempts to help us stay sane! Already getting started next year, I enrolled into a psychology class to get a jumpstart for when I go into college. I chose to enroll into the psychology class because the human mind is something that is very complex and diverse. By me taking this class, I am partially more ahead and more taught than that of a student who doesn’t take the class. And that way, when I get into the psychology major, I haveRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1519 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology has been defined by many as the study of mental disorder or behavioral problems but discoveries and developments, points to psychology as the study of human mind and its functionality which includes the way we think, act, perceive things and be able to make decisions; all these makes man a complex being. Psychology isn’t just a phenomenon; it is a scientific study. Psychology as a science answers the question â€Å"why†, proposes a theory and sets experiment to test the hypothesis. The researchRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology889 Words   |  4 PagesOne: Psychology Defined Psychology is an exceptionally multifaceted field of study, regardless, it can be commonly defined as the study of mental processes and human behavior. The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict and control the behavior of others. Psychology incorporates an extensive range of different perspectives into its general principles as well as focuses on securing them with applied research, case studies, evaluations, etc. I first became interested in psychology whenRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1018 Words   |  5 Pagesof psychology is common to talk about the psychological schools, as these are defined as groups of psychologists who shared a theoretical view and focused psychological problems with a common orientation; these have evolved over time. Psychology was first established as a separate science of biology and philosophy, that s when the real debate over how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior began start, different psychological schools represent the major theories of psychology. TheRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology892 Words   |  4 PagesWhen you first think of the word psychology, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Well, some people might say they don’t know or some would say it’s something that has to do with the mind and/or human behavior. Psychology which comes from the Greek term â€Å"psyche† is the study of mental processes and behavior; especially those affecting behavior in a given context. There are several schools of thought in psychology. These schools include: structuralism (Wundt), functionalism (James), gestaltRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1267 Words   |  6 PagesPaper What is psychology? What impact does psychology have on the world? What does it mean to be a psychologist? These are three important questions that will be investigated throughout this paper. Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. Psychology influences many behaviors in the world without anyone noticing. Watson is interested in behaviorism. This means he was interested in the behavior of people and how they act and react. Through his article, Psychology as the BehavioristRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology850 Words   |  4 PagesPsychology to me is meant to help people understand the complexity of other human beings. We have established the existence of many disorders which are mainly beyond the control of people because of chemical imbalances in the brain. Although with these reasons, we still have attached negative and positive connotations to many disorders. We have created this concept of psychology in order to help us try to find some sense of order in our lives. This can allow us to try rank ourselves next to anotherRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1703 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology has a lot of jobs to choose from.Any job in psychology is going to be involved helping people. Trying to find out why people do the things they do and trying to predi ct the behavior of people, their emotions, and mental processes. Making sure your child or any person you care about is okay mentally, is important and is the job of people who work in a major in psychology. For this paper, the roles of a psychiatrist, a counselor, and a psychologist will be discussed. The audience will learn

The Democratic Republic Free Essays

Politics or the art and science of government are very important to all of us, because this will affect the kind of life that we may able to have. Politics originated in Greece where democracy was first established. And as time passed by changes are made to the system of government and there are also other organizations that exist. We will write a custom essay sample on The Democratic Republic or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of this is the political party. A political party is a group organized to support certain policies on questions of public interest. The aim of the political party is to elect officials who will try to carry out the parties policies. The question may range from issues of peace, war, and taxes to how people should earn a living. A large political party has million of supporters. When people in a democracy disagree about what the government should do, each voter expresses his opinion by voting for the candidate that supports his side of argument. (Flanders, 1989) An example of a political movement in the United States called the Democratic Party. This is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in the United States. Since the 2006 midterm elections, the Democratic Party is the majority party for the 110th Congress; the party holds an outright majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic caucus (including two independents) constitutes a majority in the United States Senate. Democrats also hold a majority of state governorships and control a plurality of state legislatures. In 2004, it was the largest political party, with 42.6 percent of 169 million registered voters claiming affiliation. The Democratic Party traces its origins to the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other influential opponents of the Federalists in 1792. Since the division of the Republican Party in the election of 1912, it has consistently positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party in economic as well as social matters. The economically left-leaning activist philosophy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which has strongly influenced American liberalism, has shaped much of the party’s economic agenda since 1932. Roosevelt’s New Deal coalition usually controlled the national government until 1964. The civil rights movement of the 1960s, championed by the party despite opposition at the time from its Southern wing, has continued to inspire the party’s liberal principles. (Cited in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_ (United_States), 2008) The goal of the democrats in the 2006 elections as chosen and not by votes but of what the country need are the following: To withdraw from Iraq and to use some of the money saved to fund security for Americans instead of funding security for Iraqis and   50% reduction in CO2 within 10 years. Not only do we have to implement but as well as to understood solutions at home, but must provide global incentives for other countries to reduce their emissions, totally eliminate our dependence on foreign oil within 5 years, implement a successful policies of which lead to a high level of healthcare for all citizens at a reasonable cost, instead of business as usual, we want to adopt worldwide best practices. We’d adopted the highly successful policies of which the best educated children in the world, invest more money in homeland security inside the US than we are spending abroad, implement real immigration reform, not stop-gap measures (like Frist’s approach), implement all the recommendations of the 9-11 committee, our foreign policy should be revamped so that we start making more friends than enemies, achieve energy independence within 10 years, e.g., adopt the recommendations of Amory Lovins or someone else who has credibility and knows how to get there, cheaper energy (both to fuel our cars and power our homes),   e.g. Adopt the recommendations of Amory Lovins or someone else who has credibility and knows how to get there, increase funding for energy research, e.g., top universities complain that the funding for energy research hasn’t increased at all and Bring US education up to foreign standards (i.e., achieve educational â€Å"parity† with foreign schools) within 10 years. Tactics are also made by the democrats for them to get the votes of the people. One of it was used by the democrats during the 2006 elections. And this is what they’ve said: The Democrats need your vote to make these bills a reality: Elect us and we will end the Republican corruption that has led to higher energy prices, more costly prescription drugs, an increased peril for our troops in Iraq. (Cited in http://skirsch.com/politics/ goals/goalsDemocrats.htm, 2008). Democrats have s great influence to the current presidential elections because the two candidates for this coming election belong from the democrats. These are Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady and Barack Obama, U.S. Senator from Illinois, and former Illinois State Senator. Democrats really have a great impact to American politics because they have a large number of supporters and are choosing the leaders who can improve the type of government they have or can give them a better life. ( cited in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party _(United States)_presidential _primaries,_2008,2008) How to cite The Democratic Republic, Papers

Marketing Strategy and Plan Janet Bradley

Question: Describe about the Marketing Strategy and Plan for Janet Bradley? Answer: Executive Summary The growing rate of obesity problem in Australia has raised the concern of Janet Bradley as it creates health hazards for the consumers. A new chain of restaurants selling low calorie food items will be sold. It is imperative for the organization to analyze the target market. A micro environmental analysis and macro environmental analysis has been done. The product quality and its price will be the major ways in which the target market can be attracted. The target market will comprise of the youngsters and the families. Since the eating out concept has become very popular in Australia, the company can take the advantage and devise its marketing strategy to increase the market share. 1. Introduction Janet Bradley wants to start a low calorie fast food centre in Australia. The rate of obesity in Australia has been increasing which has potential adverse impact on the heath. Thus Janet wants to start a new fast food chain in Australia that will offer low calorie food. The fast food centre will be a viable alternative to the high calorie food selling restaurants like KFC, Mc Donalds and Red Rooster. For this purpose, Janet Bradley has to analyze the market to understand the buying behavior of the consumers. This will help him to strategize his business. For this purpose the micro environment and macro environment analysis has been carried. The micro environment has been analyzed with respect to the various suppliers, intermediaries that will affect the business. The potential competitors have been identified. The macro environment analysis has been conducted with respect to the demographic, technological, political and cultural trends. The target market for the low calorie food chai n has been devised. The market mix of the fast food chain has been identified (Brindal, 2015). 2. Market Analysis It has been reported by the Enhanced Media Metrics Australia that the young Australians were more likely to eat fast food. The fast food consumption was mostly seen among the people of the age group of 14 to 29 years who consumed fast food at least once in a month. On the other hand 45 percent of the national average is seen to consume fast food. The residents of NSW and ACT were the most likely Australians (83%) who spend money eating out or home every month in comparison to the national average of 81 % (Holroyd, 2014). 2.1 Buyer Behavior Influences Definition Characteristics of consumers of fast food and/or low calorie food Cultural Cultural factors are complex of the beliefs, behaviour, roles and values of the research. The cultural aspect is important to understand consumer behaviour. The lifestyle of the Australians has changed. In the fast pace lifestyle it is very difficult to keep a check on food. Thus they consume fast food despite of health issues. The rising health issues have raised awareness among certain section of the society to put restriction on fast food consumption. Social Social class has direct influence on the food consumption of the food. The social factors and socio economic status has significant impact on the nutrition and diet. The brand image of the fast food sellers has huge influence on the buying behaviour. KFC and Mc Donalds are popular brands and preferred by the consumers due to their brand image. The percentage of low calorie food consumers is less. There is lack of awareness among the consumers regarding the benefits of fast food. Personal Personal choice plays a major role in the consumption of food. Fast food will be consumed on the basis of the individual preferences. The personal choice of majority of the Australians is towards consumption of fast food. The fast food items are delicious to taste and they are easily available. Most consumers prefer fast food over low calorie food. Psychological Psychological factors affect the buying behaviour of the consumers. The personal choice of the consumers depends on the psychological factors affecting their buying habit. The Australians prefer fast food over low calorie food items. But there is rising awareness among the population about the adverse effects of low calorie food items. But the rate of consumption of low calorie food items has not increased to a significant extent (Carroll, 2014). 2.2 Microenvironment 2.2.1 Suppliers and Intermediaries The fast food giants in Australia maintain a unique supply chain model which is a partnership and collaboration that the company has made with the supply chain members to serve high quality food consistently. There is large number of suppliers supplying food items in the fast food industry. Thus there is high bargaining power of the suppliers. The profitability of the organization is affected as the suppliers gain high bargaining power. On the other hand the group of suppliers can reduce the quality of the food items to a considerable extent and the restaurant owners have to raise the price (Sullivan, 2015). 2.2.2 Public The low calorie fast food industry can be targeted towards the people who are conscious of their food habits. They will form a potential market for the organization. 2.2.3 Competitors Competitor Overview of their competing offerings Target market Positioning Organic food sellers The organic food sellers offer food items that are produced, processed and stored without addition of synthetically produced fertilisers and chemicals. The target market of the organic food sellers are consumers aware of potential health risk. The rise of the obesity issue in Australia has resulted in the rise in the awareness among the public to transform to organic food. The value of organic food production in Australia has doubled. The organic food items are sold in the large supermarkets in Australia. This has formed a potential way to attract the target market. 2.3 Macro environment Macro Factor/Trend Definition of Factor Explanation of trends / events relevant to fast food or low calorie food Demographic The demographic factors define the age group of people afflicted towards fast food in Australia. The major consumer of fast food is seen amongst the people of the age group of 14 to 35 years in Australia. The low calorie food is less popular among the Australian. But the awareness of the benefits of low calorie food is increasing. Economic The economic factors include macro economic factors like GDP, inflation, unemployment and industrial production. At the time of recession the unemployment rate was high which affected the fast food industry. But the situation is quite stable at present. But the sales of the fast food sellers have dropped marginally due to increase in awareness for organic and low calorie food items (Burks, 2015). Technological The technological factor includes use of modern technology, advanced information technology. The use of advanced technology has made the processing of the food items easier. It has resulted in considerable reduction of cost. Thus the technological factors have helped the fast food industry to grow. Political The political factors include the various regulations from the Government. The Government regulations have potential impact on the business activities of the firm. Government has put strict regulations on the packaging and labelling of the fast food items in Australia. The regulations have been imposed by the Government on over wage. 3. Marketing strategy 3.1 Target Market Characteristics Segment1( Youngsters) Segment 2( Family Unit) Geographic The target market for the low calorie fast food market can be the main cities in Australia. The places like New south Wales, Sydney can be the location for the restaurant. The youngsters of these regions are seen visiting the fast food centres very often. The eating out trend has become very popular in Sydney, New South Wales. It is a trend among the family members to go out for dining at weekends. Thus Sydney and New South Wales will be a good location for the low calorie fast food industry. Psychographic The fast food industry has two potential markets. They are the convenient oriented and relax oriented. The youngsters prefer the fast food as a result of its convenience and relaxing environment. The low calorie fast food company has to start its business keeping in mind these criteria. The family members in Australia go out for dining as it is relaxing after the long hectic schedule of work. The potential health issues also concern them. Thus it is essential for the low calorie fast food company to provide a relaxing and comforting environment. Demographic The sale of fast food items is seen mostly among the youngsters. The youngsters will be a potential market for the low calorie fast food company. The rise in the eating out trend in Australia has increased the frequency and number of families visiting the restaurants. It will also form a potential market for the low calorie fast food industry. Behavioural The psychological factors influence the behaviour of the individual. Since the youngsters visit the restaurants to relax, it is important for the low calorie food seller to provide a relaxing environment. The eating out trend in Australia is seen mostly in the populated areas of Australia in Sydney and New South Wales. The behavioural attribute behind the eating out concept is to work in a relaxing environment. This is a potential attribute for the success of the business (McDonald and Dunbar, 2004). 3.2 Positioning and Competitive Advantage Positioning can be defined as the marketing activity that will identify the potential problem or opportunity existing in the market. The potential solution to the problem or the opportunity will be developed. The positioning strategy will be made on the basis of market research, segmentation analysis and support of the data. The way in which the business will carry its activities can be determined from the objective of the business. Depending on the positioning strategy the organization will be able to increase its sales and the recognition of the brand will increase. The positioning strategy can be implemented with extensive advertising which will derive value for the organization. The positioning strategy for Mc Donalds will depend on market research. The organization has to identify the need of the customers. Since there is increase in awareness among the Australian about the rising health issues, appropriate promotional activities by the low calorie food firm will be beneficial f or the organization. The local taste and preferences of the consumers in Australia has to be analyzed. TV commercial can be a potential way to improve the brand awareness of the low calorie food. Innovativeness of the product will play a major role for the growth of the business. The products sold by Mc Donalds, KFC and other big fast food companies have to be analyzed. On the basis of the analysis the most popular food items sold by these companies can be chosen and included in their menu. The same food items can be included in their menu but the food items will have low calorific value. This will form the brand identity of the firm. Another strategy of positioning is raising the brand awareness by online promotional activities. The online activities will increase the prominence and popularity of the business. The organization will be able to communicate with larger customers. The symbolic nature of the product will make it popular and it will be considered as socio cultural produc t. Another way of addressing to a wider customer is promoting the low calorie food items by comparing the health benefits of the food in comparison to the health hazards caused by the fast food. This will draw customers towards the low calorie fast food company (Sdrali et al., 2010). 4. Marketing Mix The elements of marketing mix consist of elements that will form the core of the marketing system of the low calorie fast food restaurant. The marketing mix will be analyzed with respect to product strategy, pricing strategy and strategy for distributing the food items. 4.1 Product Strategy The product will be made according to the preference of the consumers. The food items will prepare with organic raw materials and the calorie content of the food items will be low. Market analysis showed that the customers prefer organic food items and food of low calorific value due to the potential health risks of fast food. It is seen that the preference of the customers has changed over time. In order to meet the changing demand of the customers, the low calorie food seller has to identify the changing need of the consumers. The food items in the menu can include some of the popular items sold by Mc Donalds. The popular food items should be low in calorie. This will increase the popularity of the business. The menu should offer diversified items. The food items offered in the menu must comprise of vegetarian products, non vegetarian products, deserts and drinks. The low calorie food items will be prepared from organic items. There will be range of food items for children. Thus th e food store will attract family members. Variety in the food items will be making a popular choice for the residents in Australia. This will increase the competitive advantage of the food store and it will be a potential alternative for Mc Donalds and KFC (Bowman and Gatignon, 2010). 4.2 Pricing Strategy The customers perception of value is an important determinant of the price charged by the product. A mental picture for the product is drawn depending on the price of the product. The value of the product increases and decreases depending on the quality and price of the product. The product is more than a physical item. It has a psychological connotation attached to it. If the product is low priced then the consumers may feel that the quality of the food is being compromised. Thus it is important to decide the right price to maintain the identity of the brand and its integrity. The low calorie food seller must use the competitive pricing strategy. The price of the food items will be depending on the price set by the competing firms like Mc Donalds and KFC. Mc Donalds classifies the product into two categories. One is based on the brand affordability and the other is based on branded core value products. In the similar way, the low calorie food store should segregate their product. Th is will make the pricing of the products easier. The differential pricing strategy will satisfy the perception of the consumers. The pricing strategy will attract more consumers to the firm. The consumers will prefer the food store as they are getting quality products which have reduced health risks at affordable prices. It will be a potential strategy of pricing for competitive advantage of the company (Kemmer and Boden, 2015). 4.3 Distribution Strategy An effective distribution strategy is imperative for the success of the business. It is important to maintain a chain of suppliers. Management of supply chain is important for the success of a business. The raw materials must be easily available to the food store otherwise it will have adverse impact on the sales. As a startup company, the food store must carry extensive promotional activities like the other large food stores like Mc Donalds and KFC. Promotional activities can be carried by using social media like Face book, Twitter to attract the youngsters. Advertisement via television and other form of printing media like news paper, magazines can form an effective way to reach out to a larger audience. At the initial stage, potential discounts can be offered to the customers to increase the visibility of the food store. This will make the consumers aware of the various offering of the low calorie food items. TV advertising will make the consumers aware of the food items offered b y the company. The hazards of fast food can form an effective strategy of campaign by the store. This will encourage the buying behavior of the consumers and the sale of the food items will increase (Codita, 2010). 5. Summary of Recommendations The success of the low calorie food store will depend on implementation of the effective strategies. The analysis of the potential market is essential for the success of the business. Strategy Recommendations Target Market The target market for the restaurant will be the youngsters and the family members. As the eating out concept has become very popular in Australia it is important for the organizations to target the potential consumers. Value Proposition The value of organization will maximize with effective promotional activities. This will make the food items popular among the consumers. The low calorie food items will reduce the health hazards of the consumers. Competitive Advantage The low calorie food store will gain competitive advantage by competitive pricing policy. The pricing will be same as the other large fast food chains. The food store will be started at the urban highly populated areas in Australia. Core Product Strategy The product will be prepared from organic food. This will reduce the potential health hazards. There will be diverse range of food items offered by the firm. The food items will be prepared with less oil and the calorific value will be low. Actual product The product will be prepared from organic food. This will reduce the potential health hazards. There will be diverse range of food items offered by the firm. The food items will be prepared with less oil and the calorific value will be low. Pricing The low calorie food store will follow competitive pricing policy. The price of the food items will depend on the price set by the competing firms. The low calorie food store will sell the products at discounts during lean periods. Distribution The supply chain has to be managed effectively. The raw materials and the other food items must be available to the food store. This will not hamper the sales of the store. 6. Conclusion Low calorie food items have potential market in Australia. This will reduce the health risks of the consumers in Australia. The obesity problem in Australia is rising which has increased the concern of the consumers. Thus it will have a potential market in Australia. The low calorie food store can use organic food items. The calorific value of the food has to be kept low. The fast food chains in Australia maintain an efficient supply chain model which is a partnership and collaboration that the company has maintained with the supply chain members to serve high quality food consistently. There are wide varieties of suppliers supplying food items in the fast food industry. The suppliers have high power of bargaining. The startup low calorie food seller can use the competitive pricing strategy. The price of the items of the food will be depend on the prices of the product that is set by the competing firms like Mc Donalds and KFC. The success of the business will depend on effective pri cing policy, promotional activities and the main factor that will result in success of the product is its quality. References Bowman, D. and Gatignon, H. (2010).Market response and marketing mix models. Boston: Now. Brindal, E. (2015).Exploring Fast food consumption behavior and social influence. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/62481/1/02whole.pdf [Accessed 14 Feb. 2015]. Burks, F. (2015).Types of Economic Factors That Can Affect the Fast Food Industry. [online] Small Business - Chron.com. Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/types-economic-factors-can-affect-fast-food-industry-36923.html [Accessed 14 Feb. 2015]. Carroll, L. (2014).Australians are including fewer healthy food options in their diets. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/australians-are-including-fewer-healthy-food-options-in-their-diets-20140509-zr8bd.html [Accessed 14 Feb. 2015]. Codita, R. (2010).Contingency factors of marketing-mix standardization. Wiesbaden: Gabler. Holroyd, J. (2014).Average Australian eats fast food nearly every week. [online] Good Food. Available at: https://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/average-australian-eats-fast-food-nearly-every-week-20140311-34k15.html [Accessed 14 Feb. 2015]. Kemmer, M. and Boden, A. (2015).Price as one Parameter in the Marketing Mix. McDonald, M. and Dunbar, I. (2004).Market segmentation. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann. Sdrali, D., Anisiadou, M., Goussia-Rizou, M. and Costarelli, V. (2010). Adolescents' soft drinks consumption in family environment: a case study in Northern Greece.International Journal of Consumer Studies, 34(6), pp.684-690. Sullivan, D. (2015).Fast Food Industry: The Bargaining Power of Suppliers. [online] Small Business - Chron.com. Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/fast-food-industry-bargaining-power-suppliers-78188.html [Accessed 14 Feb. 2015].

Tool Of The Trade Essays - Baseball Equipment, Baseball Bat, Batting

Tool of the Trade Tool of the Trade In any game, the equipment players use determines the way the game unfolds. Try to imagine a soccer game played with an American football! Or try playing tennis with the wooden racquets of thirty years ago. Change the equipment, and you discover a very different game. As part of my look at baseball, I decided to examine the tool of the baseball trade: Bats. Perhaps the most crucial and visible tool in baseball is the bat. A bat is the offensive weapon, the tool with which runs are scored. To understand the history and science of bats, I read a magazine published by Louisville Slugger, in Louisville, Kentucky home of the Hillerich Bradsby Company, Inc. (also known as HB), the manufacturers of perhaps America's most famous bat, the Louisville Slugger. Through the reading I learned how the modern bat came to be, and what it might become. In 1884, John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich played hooky from his father's woodworking shop and went to a baseball game. There he watched a star player, Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning, struggling in a batting slump. After the game, Hillerich invited Browning back to the shop, where they picked out a piece of white ash, and Hillerich began making a bat. They worked late into the night, with Browning giving advice and taking practice swings from time to time. What happened next is legend. The next day, Browning went three-for-three, and soon the new bat was in demand across the league. HB flourished from there. First called the Falls City Slugger, the new bat was called the Louisville Slugger by 1894. Though Hillerich's father thought bats were an insignificant item, and preferred to continue making more dependable items like bedposts and bowling pins, bats became a rapidly growing part of the family business. Just as it was back then, the classic Louisville Slugger bat used by today's professional players is made from white ash. The wood is specially selected from forests in Pennsylvania and New York. The trees they use must be at least fifty years old before they are harvested. After harvest, the wood is dried for six to eight months to a precise moisture level. The best quality wood is selected for pro bats; the other 90 percent is used for consumer market bats. White ash is used for its combination of hardness, strength, weight, "feel," and durability. In past years, HB have made some bats out of hickory. But hickory timber is much heavier than ash, and players today want light bats because they've discovered that they can hit the ball farther by swinging the bat fast. So they can't make the bats out of hickory. Though Babe Ruth, one of the all-time great home-run hitters, used a 42 or a 44 ounce bat, players today use bats that weigh around 32 ounces. Even sluggers like Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey, Jr. only use 33 ounce bats because they want to generate great bat speed. How do you make a wooden bat you ask. Here's how. The wood is milled into round, 37 inch blanks, or billets, which are shipped to the HB factory in Louisville. There they are turned on a tracer lathe, using a metal template that guides the lathe's blades. These templates are set up to the specifications of each pro player. Then the bats are fire-branded with the Louisville Slugger mark. This mark is put on the flat of the wood's grain, where the bat is weakest. Players learn to swing with the label facing either up or down, so that they can strike the ball with the edge grain, where the bat is strongest. Hitting on the flat grain will more often than not result in a broken bat. Finally, the bats are dipped into one of several possible water-based "finishes" or varnishes, which gives bats their final color and protective coat. Each player selects the finish they desire, while a few players, such as former Kansas City Royals star George Brett, chose to leave their bats unfinished. Players today may go through as many as six or seven dozen bats in a season. (In early years, players used only use ten or twelve bats.) In fact, one player, Joe Sewell, used the same bat for fourteen years. Joe attributes the increased breakage of bats to the thin-handled, large-barreled design of modern bats, and to the use of ash instead of hickory. A pitch that jams you inside will almost always saw off a modern bat, while an aluminum or old-fashioned hickory bat might produce a base hit. Though the manufacturing process for

Pericles and Alexander essays

Pericles and Alexander essays Cultural Development- the evolution of a culture; when a culture advances from a simpler or lower, to a more advanced and mature or complex culture with new and improved ideas, technologies and innovative lifestyles. Pericles and Alexander were known as two Greek heroes that led to the cultural developed Greece. We are fortunate that these two heroes ripened Greece into what it is today. If Pericles and Alexander didnt help transform Greece, we wouldnt have a lot of advances that we have in the present day. If you want to be a flourishing ruler, then you should always know what you want to accomplish for your empire. Pericles, had three main goals that he wanted accomplished during the duration of his rule- he wanted to strengthen Athens democracy, hold together and build up the empire and glorify Athens. Pericles had a vision for a better democracy. Pericles first increased the number of paid officials. He then opened the Athenian democracy to ordinary citizens. This meant that even the poorest citizens were allowed to hold an office if they were elected. Pericles also wanted to rebuild the Athenian empire. After the Persians were defeated, Athens helped organize the Delian League. Pericles also made Athens navy the strongest in the Mediterranean. Having the navy allowed Athens to gain some prosperity, because it let them trade overseas to obtain important supplies such as grain and other raw materials. The last thing that Pericles wanted to accomplish for his empire was to make it extremely beautiful. So in 447- 432 b.c Pericles had the Parthenon built. The Parthenon was a temple that was constructed by Greek architects. This glorious structure was estimated to be about 23,000 sq. ft. As a part to exalt Athens Pericles persuaded the Athenian assembly to buy gold, ivory, and marble for the artists, architects and workers who used those materials for their works of ar...

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment - Essay Example In response, the government implemented many tax rate reductions to appease the people’s rising disgruntlement (Friedberg, 2011). Using Keynesian economic principles, tax cuts will generate more purchasing power. With lesser taxes, the people will have more money to buy good and services. With more tax cuts, the people’s demand for products and services increases. Consequently, with more demand, the stores and other suppliers can sell more goods. With more goods sold, the government can collect more taxes. Basically, the overall effect on the government’s tax collections seems the same (Mankiw, 2008). With more sales, the companies pay more taxes to the government. With more demand for products and services, the factories hire more workers to produce the highly salable products and deliver more services. With more employees, the government can collect more salary-based taxes. As proof, During the George W. Bush Presidency, the president was beset with an economic depression. To rehabilitate and improve the economic depression, President George W. Bush spearheaded permanent tax cuts. As expected, the President Bush Tax cuts increased the public’s purchasing power, rejuvenating the ailing economy (Mankiw, 2008). Getting the substance of the above discussion, the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts met the people’s increasing requests to reduce the high tax rates. The study indicates the importance of implementing the people’s demand for lower tax rates. The study proves that the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts benefit many parties, especially the United States government. Without a doubt, the comment stating the benefits have become popular in the United States during the 1940s when the United States Congress passed tax breaks for some business entities is

Pepsi Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Pepsi - Research Paper Example The next unit is PepsiCo Asia, Middle East, and Africa (MEA), that includes all snacks, beverages, and food businesses in the region. Lastly, there is Pepsi Europe that includes all snacks, beverages, and food businesses in Europe. The company units comprise of the six segments: AMEA, FLNA, LAF, QFNA, PAB, and Europe. Operations of the company are in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, and Mexico, with headquarters in Purchase, New York, in the US. Recent acquisitions by the company include complete acquisition of Pepsi Bottling Company in February 2010, and Mabel in Brazil (Mabel produces snacks, cookies, and crackers). Environmental Uncertain PepsiCo lacks vital information concerning the environment, specifically those elements with which the company interacts with like its stakeholders, the population, and others. The most crucial external factor that affects the company is competition from its rival, the Coca Cola Company. Other factors include economic force that inc orporate economic cycles and inflation, political changes in its operation region, regulations changes, technology, and social changes. Pepsi Co Environmental risk expectations PEP acknowledges the stiff competition from rival Coca Cola, which is threatening to creep in and steal the market share of the company. Other risks include vulnerability to changes in economic in its operation base, which may affect the purchasing influence of customers to its products, inflation rates that have been rising consistently affecting its market operation and cost of production. There are also risks of changes in political climate in its market, which may affect its business operations like limitation of quantity of snacks into those regions, and legal changes that may affect some of the legislations associated with its success, or probable addition of more regulations (Daft & Marcic 367). Other concerns arise from the current Europe debt crisis that may have a profound effect on its Europe busin esses, possible changes in laws and regulation that regards beverage bottling, recycling of the bottles, and the packaging material, the company’s capability in managing its brands and business segments properly, and the ultimate goal of maintaining a good corporate image. There is also the issue of environmental conservation, and the probable effects of climate change globally that may affect the company’s raw materials supply. Environmental Statement As a multinational global business, the company relies on natural resources from the earth. In line with expansion strategy of the business in developed and subsequent expansion in developing and other emerging countries, the company strives to use production tolls and methods that are scientifically proven as economically sound and socially responsible to the environment. PEP is committed in its effort to protect earth’s natural resources by innovative use of energy, land, water, and packaging in all its operatio ns. Company stability Being the world’s largest snack food company, and second in producing soft drinks, PEP has established itself as a stable company in the multinationals world. The company has 18 strong brands, whose combined annual sales pass one billion dollars. More than 40% of the company’s sales originate from outside the US. The company maintains

Treasury and risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treasury and risk management - Essay Example 60 165 28 -$28.00 Do Not Exercise $32.00 Long Share Profit or Loss = Current Stock Price – Spot Share Price For instance, when current stock price is $121 and the Purchase price is $171, the Long Share Profit or Loss = $(121-171) = -$50. Option Value = Strike Price – Current Stock Price For Instance, when the strike price is $165 and the current stock price is $121, the Option Value = $(165-121) = $44 (In-the-Money) Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(Option Value – Premium paid), Premium paid] For Instance, when the premium paid is $28, Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(44-28), -28] = $16 The option will be exercised only when there is a Long Put Profit otherwise the option will not be exercised and the loss will be limited to the initial premium paid. Hence, this strategy is also known as the ‘Protective put’ strategy. For instance, when current stock price is $121 and premium paid is $28, the option should be exercised. Similarly, for different current st ock prices, the protective put strategy can be computed. ... e), Premium paid] = Max [(165-121), -28] = $34 So, from the above it can be said that if the put is at $121, only loss of $34 and if put is not exercised, loss will be $50. Hence, the breakeven share price is $199. It implies that the hedger will start to make profit after crossing the breakeven point of $199 when all premiums are paid and initial purchasing cost of shares are taken into consideration. Section (c) The protective put strategy diagram along with the breakeven point is shown below, Answer 2. Section (a) Introduction Many analysts believe that the European economy is likely to face more turmoil before it finally gets better. Greece owes a total debt of â‚ ¬490 billion to various banks in Euro zone. Analysts believe that if Greece fails to repay its debt then the impact of default will be directly felt by the small as well as the large businesses in UK. With such a huge amount of debt, if Greece really fails to repay and leave Euro, then the consequence of that will be mostly felt by the various banks in UK and Euro to whom Greece owes. Argument Defaulting of Greece or separating Greece from the Euro zone may not be suitable options to revive the European economy since the implication of both outcomes will paralyze the European economy as well as the global markets. This is mainly because of the fact that the banks do not work in isolation. They are connected to each other through debt guarantees or collaterals and insurance products (Mylonas, 2011, pp.81-84). Assuming that the Greece will default and then the most probable impact will be that about eighty percent of British banks will have less money to lend out to individuals and businesses. Consequently, if the bank’s lending slows down then the consumer consumption will decline leading to deflation in

Firm survival

Firm survival 1. INTRODUCTION During a recent period of time, the topic of firm survival has received increasing academic attention and many of the studies have focused on its determinants. It is well known that entrepreneurial small businesses contribute to the creation of the new jobs and innovations that helps to develop the economy and reduce the poverty. Some firms survive for considerably longer periods while others do not. The purpose of this paper is to discover research findings that are related to either the survival or death of young firms. Starting a business and operating successfully is subject to uncertainty and requires resources and capabilities which is not available for everyone. Government takes action to reduce unemployment by encouraging new venture start-ups. The problem with new businesses is that there is a high possibility of failure. Subsequently, majority of young firms leave the market relatively soon after entering. It is therefore relevant to determine and understand the factors that have an impact on firm survival, as it is the widely used performance measure of the businesses. The next part of the paper is concerned with the firm-based characteristics of fast growing firms. The observations are based on the UK and US comparative study of fast growing enterprises which were conducted in 2008. ‘Business growth is typically defined and measured, using absolute or relative changes in sales, assets, employment, productivity, profits and profit margins (Blackburn et al. 2008). There is no generally accepted definition of fast growth firms, however it is most often defined in terms of having high sales growth rate. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 provides a review of the literature. In Section 3 differences in firm-based factors between fast growth firms and all other small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are discussed. Section 4 provides conclusion. FIRM SURVIVAL DETERMINANTS Large number of research papers on young firm survival focus on the person specific characteristics such as prior experience, education and motivation for success of the founder of the firm and business specific characteristics as industry, location, age and size of the company. In addition, Van Gelderen, Thurik and Bosma (2006) summarized that ‘start-up efforts differ in terms of the characteristics of the individuals who start the venture, the organization that they create, the environment surrounding the new venture, and the process by which the new venture is started. 2.1 Person Specific Characteristics In research report by Shane and Venkataraman (2000), it is suggested that success of the business could depend on the founders personality attributes or as Shane (2000) noted on the education of the entrepreneur and prior knowledge. Moreover, experienced founders of the young firm are more likely to take right strategic decisions than the ones with no prior experience. These determinants are considered as being essential for the better performance and decrease the probability of death of the firm. Arribas and Vila (2007) suggested that entrepreneurs human capital is a key determinant of the firms survival. Moreover, they came to a conclusion that the larger the number of entrepreneurs founding the company, the higher will be the chances of survival. One interesting feature to note about human capital stock is that initial larger human capital will add value to the firm and decrease the probability of death but the subsequent changes in human capital will have little impact on the firm survival (Geroski, Mata and Portugal, 2007). On the one hand, researchers argue that the human capital relevant to increasing the chances of survival are measured by the prior knowledge of the entrepreneur, level of education, experience in doing business in that industry and the entrepreneurs motivation for prosperity. On the other hand, others contend that the personal determinants are not that influential on the firms survival or death (Wicker and King 1989). Nevertheless, the education of the founder may not have a specific impact on the firms survival or death, but the knowledge gained by learning and working in the specific industry will influence the way how the entrepreneur responds to the challenges of doing business. 2.2 Business Specific Characteristics: industry sector, location, age and size The survival performance of entrepreneurs varies across industrial sectors, as some industries decline, while others expand. ‘There is a negative relationship between industry growth and firm survival, because growing industries are in earlier stages of the industry life cycle when requirements of adjusting to a changing environment, therefore leading to greater risk of failure (Strotmann, 2007). In contrast, there is a positive relationship between the firm survival and industry relevant experience, because it influences entrepreneurs ability to successfully launch the business and compete within that industry. Here, the point is that entrepreneurs with experience in the same industry as their current business will have a more network of industry suppliers and partners and will have a better understanding of the challenges of the industries in which they are going start a business. According to Fertala (2007) not much of attention was given to the regional differences as a determinant of firms survival or failure. Choosing the appropriate location also has an impact on the business processes. The reason why the location plays an important role in the firms survival or failure is that different regions offer different resources for the company and the cultural environment varies across countries. According to the study, entrepreneurs operate their business close to the place where they live (Mueller and Morgan, 1962). Empirical evidence suggests that locating the firm closer to the suppliers, customers and business partners increases the probability of survival. In addition, Strotmann (2007) contends that the risk of firm death is 30% more in urban areas compared to rural regions. The reason for this might be the high level of salaries and intense competition in urban areas. Fontana et al. (2009) stated that ‘coefficients for age at entry and size are all negative and significant, indicating that bigger firms, endowed with better availability of financial capital have a relatively higher probability of surviving. There are number of reasons for this to be the case. Firstly, large firms have an advantage over a small firm in a way that it has more access to finance, e.g. stock markets and debt financing. Moreover, large firms are more diversified than small firms, therefore they have less risk of failure. Falck (2007) summarised that the size of the firm is the best indicator of failure at the firm level and considered to be an overall measure of access to human capital and financial resources. In addition, Shane and Foo (1999) suggested that greater age will increase the probability of survival. This is not surprising, as the studies show that the most of the businesses fail in the early years of their operations. 3. FAST GROWTH FIRMS Barringer, Jones and Neubaum (2004) wrote that there is a limited knowledge on what determinants influence the firm growth. Authors gave a definition of fast growth firms as ‘firms with a 3-year compound annual sales growth rate of 80% or above (Barringer, Jones and Neubaum, 2004). Smallbone, Leigh and North (1995) compared 70 high growth firms with the other 236 surviving companies. Authors assessed these high growth firms on the basis of the following criteria: ‘(1) Rapid growth: i.e. more than doubling sales turnover in real terms over the 1979-90 periods. (2) Significant size: i.e. reaching a minimum sales turnover of  £0.5m. (3) Financial stability: i.e. consistent profitability in the late 1980s (Smallbone et al. 1995). The interesting feature that the authors noted is that fast growth can be attained by the firms with different size, age and industry characteristics. According to this study, the factors that differentiate high growth firms from other SMEs are that best performing firms are paying more attention to their products and markets by investing in RD, focusing on growth through their mission and strategies, opening to new markets and taking strategic decisions that will make the firm more competitive. Similarly, another study conducted i n 2008, compares the growth challenges of UK and US firms proves that, product and market development are key determinants of growth in both countries (Blackburn et al. 2008). Moreover, the study investigates that US firms were able to achieve the targeted growth by operating in US market; in contrast UK firms were involved in exporting to achieve growth. Subsequently, UK firms are subject to expansion barriers compared to US firms, however UK firms are more diversified and have higher survival probabilities in case of economic downturn. In addition, fast growth firms have a stronger commitment to growth and deeper level of customer knowledge than the firms with low performance indicators (Blackburn et al. 2008). Furthermore, authors observe that product innovation is a key determinant of firms growth. They came to that conclusion by interviewing UK and US business owners who reported that product innovation is a primary motivation for new venture start-up. Finally, Sapienza, Autio and Zahra (2003) argue that internationalization increases young firms probability of failure but at the same time increases prospects for growth. Entering the international market is often costly and firm may not survive after doing business in a foreign country. Moreover, it was observed that starting to operate internationally soon after entering the market is very risky. However, some firms decide to internationalize in their first years of their operations in order not to lose the available opportunity (Sapienza, Autio and Zahra, 2003). Finally, the study shows that some entrepreneurs consider failing in one or more start-ups as an experience before succeeding in their business. 4. CONCLUSION Overall, the results of the studies show that entrepreneurs experience, education level, firm location, age, and size of the firm are vital determinants of firm survival. The empirical evidence suggests that while both individual and business characteristics shape young firm survival within the first years after entry, in the long term, business factor such as firm size, which is measured by financial and human capital have little effect on the probability of survival, while other factors still have a considerable impact on the firms performance. By investigating the factors that lead the firms to grow rapidly, researchers can help all firms better understand the determinants associated with firm growth. The result obtained here is that fast growth firms attributes of success which discriminates them from other SMEs are successful RD investments, product innovation, and focusing on growth through their mission and strategies. Taken as a whole, achieving fast growth is a task of management, similar to the other entrepreneurial challenges that they face. Finally, there is a negative relationship between firm survival and internationalization. However, internationalization opens opportunities for growth for businesses and it is the choice of entrepreneurs to enter or not the international market at the early years of their new venture operations in accordance with the opportunities they have.

Personal Narrative on Friends :: essays research papers

When you’re young, you don’t care about how a person looks or acts, they’re just people, friends. Growing up, you’ll find that qualities a friend has to have or can’t have become very important. It took a special kind of friend to show me that the true heart of a person is what really counts. Almost at the age of seven, I made a friend named Dani. I liked being with her because she was always smiling. We played together and giggled a lot. Sometimes, she’d randomly dance, spin around, or run away alone, but I never cared or wondered why. One day, there were these older kids pointing and laughing at her. I skipped up to them. â€Å"Dani’s my friend,† I blurted out happily. They laughed even harder. â€Å"Don’t hang with her, kid. She’s mental,† the one whose face was the most red warned me. â€Å"Huh?† I was puzzled. â€Å"Yeah. She’s like- a retard!† again, they looked like hyenas, laughing their heads off as they walked away leaving me totally confused. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with Dani, but there was a large part of me that just had to listen to the big kids because they were always right. The next day at school, I tried to avoid Dani. The cool kids said she was a â€Å"retard† and that didn’t sound good. At recess, I sat on the ground, lonely. Suddenly, I heard the loud familiar laughs from yesterday. I looked to my left and saw the same cool kids. I also noticed Dani, dancing with something she picked off of the ground. â€Å"Jessica!† her eyes lit up. The other kids stared at me, as if I was some translator for two very different languages. Dani stood up and was about to hug me, but I moved away. â€Å"No, Dani!† I couldn’t believe myself, I was talking to her as if she were a dog. â€Å"You are a ‘re-tard’,† I still didn’t really knew what that meant, but using the word made me feel older. â€Å"I’m not playing with you anymore.† I tried to look like my mother when she refused to buy me more candy. Dani studied my face for a moment. â€Å"Go away!† I exclaimed. That did it. Dani cried, and I felt cold tears sliding down my cheeks too. She scurried away until I couldn’t see her anymore. The big kids were practically choking on their saliva, laughing so hard.

Research paper on carnival Essay

Mardi gras Just the name Mardi gras conjures up images of drunken, bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of New Orleans. But how, and when, did this huge mid-winter party get started? Here’s a look at the history of Mardi gras throughout the ages and across the nations. Herman states, Historians tell us that the ancient Romans probably kicked off the Mardi gras celebrations. (pg. 115)Their mid-February festival known as Lupercalia honored the god Lupercus, alternately known as the god of fertility and the god of agriculture and pastoral shepherds. In either case, his party definitely had Mardi Gras-like qualities, including days of feasting and drinking. And a little enjoying the â€Å"pleasures of the flesh†, probably, too — in fact, the term Carnival, often synonymous with Mardi gras, is derived from the Latin expression meaning â€Å"farewell to the flesh.† Like most of the ancient Roman and Greek festivals, Lupercalia was adopted and adapted by the Ch urch as a way of subtly converting the local pagans to Christianity. The carnival-like celebration of Lupercalia thus morphed into a last â€Å"fling† before the beginning of the Lenten period. Lent refers to the 40 days of pertinence and purification celebrated between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During Lent, the religiously faithful refrain from a number of indulgences of the â€Å"flesh†, including eating meat. (pg. 220) What began as a Roman-based celebration quickly spread across the European continent. By medieval times, lords were hosting carnivals prior to Lent in honor of the conscription of their new knights. Each region and country celebrated their own traditions, but all were indulgent. [pic] In France, this period of revelry before Lent was especially raucous. In fact, the term Mardi gras is a French expression meaning â€Å"Fat Tuesday† — likely referring to the indulgent nature of the pre-Lenten celebration. The name may have been more than just allegorical, however. Ancient pagans often marked their fertility ritual by parading a fattened ox through the town before sacrificing it. (lent pg. 101) It was also the French who brought the celebration to America. Many historians believe the party crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1699, on the ship of a French explorer named Sieur d’Iberville. The Frenchman landed in what is today Louisiana, just south of New Orleans, the heart of America’s modern-day Mardi Gras celebrations. In fact, his landing is believed to have coincided with the French celebration of Mardi gras, explaining his choice of name for his point of entry: Point du Mardi Gras. However, dispute the d’Iberville connection, contending that it was the early French settlers to Louisiana who introduced Mardi gras to America. Regardless of the precise origin, Mardi gras can clearly be attributed to a Franco-influence. By the mid 1820s, Mardi gras was firmly rooted in the New Orleans culture. Lent later states that Today, the city’s celebrations are considered one of America’s biggest parties, with towns and cities throughout the Gulf Coast Region getting in on the fun. (112) Zulu (krewe of Mardi gras) Early in 1909, a group of laborers who had organized a club named â€Å"The Tramps,† went to the Pythian Theater to see a musical comedy performed by the Smart Set. The comedy included a skit entitled, â€Å"There Never Was and Never Will Be a King like Me,† about the Zulu Tribe. (herman pg. 201) The earliest signs of organization came from the fact that the majority of these men belonged to a Benevolent Aid Society. Benevolent Societies were the first forms of insurance in the Black community where, for a small amount of dues, members received financial help when sick or financial aid when burying deceased members. Conversations and interviews with older members also indicate that in that era the city was divided into wards and each ward had its own group or â€Å"Club.† The Tramps were one such group. After seeing the skit, they retired to their meeting place (a room in the rear of a restaurant/bar in the 1100 block of Perdido Street), and emerged as Zulus. (pg 210). According to herman, This group was probably made up of members from the Tramps, the Benevolent Aid Society and other ward-based groups. While the â€Å"Group† marched in Mardi gras as early as 1901, their first appearance as Zulus came in 1909, with William Story as King. The group wore raggedy pants, and had a Jubilee-singing quartet in front of and behind King Story. His costume of â€Å"lard can† crown and â€Å"banana stalk† scepter has been well documented. The Kings following William Story, (William Crawford – 1910, Peter Williams – 1912, and Henry Harris – 1914), were similarly attired. (pg. 214). 1915 heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The float was decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today. On September 20, 1916, in the notorial office of Gabriel Fernandez, the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club were incorporated. Twenty-two of the organization’s officers and members signed the first official document. The Geddes and Moss Funeral Home, located on Washington Avenue, played an integral part in Zulu’s beginning, and have continued to do so throughout the years. The first official toast of King Zulu and his Queen is held at this establishment each year. Zulus were not without their controversies, either. In the 1960’s during the height of Black awareness, it was unpopular to be a Zulu. Dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as being demeaning. Large numbers of black organizations protested against the Zulu organization, and its membership dwindled to approximately 16 men. James Russell, a long-time member, served as president in this period, and is credited with holding the organization together and slowly bringing Zulu back to the forefront. (pg. 220) In 1968, Zulu’s route took them on two major streets; namely, St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, for the first time in the modern era to see the Zulu parade, you had to travel the so-called â €Å"back streets† of the Black neighborhoods. The segregation laws of this period contributed to this, and Zulu tradition also played a part. In those days, neighborhood bars sponsored certain floats and, consequently, the floats were obligated to pass those bars. Passing meant stopping, as the bars advertised that the â€Å"Zulus will stop here!† Once stopped at a sponsoring bar, it was often difficult to get the riders out of the establishment, so the other floats took off in different directions to fulfill their obligations. Zulu has grown tremendously over the years. This continual growth is credited to the members for their love, loyalty and dedication to this organization. In 1978, the organization opened its doors to their new home, a two-story frame building houses a lounge downstairs for members and guests to enjoy themselves. Of all the throws to rain down from the many floats in the parades during carnival, the Zulu coconut or â€Å"Golden Nugget† is the most sought after. The earliest reference to the coconut appears to be about 1910 when the coconuts were given from the floats in their natural â€Å"hairy† state. Some years later there is a reference to Lloyd Lucus, â€Å"the sign painter,† scraping and painting the coconuts. This was the forerunner to the beautifully decorated coconuts we see today. (pg. 229) With the proliferation of lawsuits from people alleging injury from thrown coconuts, the organization was unable to get insurance coverage in 1987. So that year, the honored tradition was suspended. After much lobbying, the Louisiana Legislature passed SB188, aptly dubbed the â€Å"Coconut Bill,† which excluded the coconut from liability for alleged injuries arising from the coconuts handed from the floats. On July 8, 1988, then-governor Edwards signed the bill into law. (pg. 233) Carnival in the Caribbean Hundreds of years ago followers of the Catholic religion in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild costume festival right before Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they called their festival, ‘carnevale’-which means â€Å"to put away meat.† (internet site: â€Å"caribbean carnival†)As time passed, carnivals in Italy became quite famous. The practice spread to France, Spain and Portugal. As these Catholic countries began to take control of the Americas and other parts of the world, they brought with them their tradition of celebrating Carnival. In many parts of the world, where Catholic Europeans set up colonies and entered into slave trade, carnival took root. Today Carnival celebrations are found throughout the Caribbean. Traditions of the cultures have come together and especially African dance and music traditions transformed the early European carnival traditions in the Americas. Important to the Caribbean festival arts are the ancient African traditions of parading and moving in circles through villages in costumes and masks. These traditions were believed to bring good fortune, to heal problems and chill out angry spirits. Caribbean carnival traditions also borrow from the African culture the tradition of creating pieces of sculpture, masks and costumes. For the Caribbean people carnival became an important way to express their rich cultural traditions. It takes many months of coming up with a theme or overall concept and developing costumes for the dancers. Lots of creativity, energy and patience is put into work such as welding, painting, sewing, gluing, applying feathers, sequins and glitter. Carnival groups, entertained by music orchestras, parade and dance wearing costumes depicting a common theme. When Carnival first began it was celebrated from December 26 until Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). Nowadays Carnival festivities and activities are being held year-round in the Caribbean. The dates on which Carnival celebrations such as; music competitions, festivals, concerts, street ‘jump-up’s’, beauty pageants, balls, parades etc. take place may vary from country to country, from island to island. For days, sometimes weeks, the people of the Caribbean express themselves socially and artistically and sheer joy with visitors from all over the world. (internet sit â€Å"Caribbean carnival†)Everyone, including the spectators, is part of the celebrations. Antigua and Bermuda The festivities reveal the many influences that formed the Antiguan society, cultural, social and political. Over the years cultural elements from countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Holland, Colombia and the United States have slipped into the Antiguan community and blended with and into the unique world famous carnival celebration with its typical characteristics of creativity and rhythm, dance happiness, Flamboyant costumes, Beauty pageants, Talent shows, and Great music. All these and more define a fantastic celebration of happiness that is the Antigua Carnival. In retrospect, the Antigua Carnival dates back in August 1 of 1834 when slavery was entirely abolished. In 1666, it was ravaged by French inhabitants but was soon conquered by the British and was formally restored to them by the Treaty of Breda. It all started when the local natives immediately went to the streets to express their joyful celebration of freedom. As the years passed by, it continued not until in 1957 where it was declared an official Antigua Carnival. (oduber pg. 97) Since then, the Antigua Carnival has developed into ten days packed with revelry in a glitzy manner of dance to the beat of the Calypso. It includes marches, jump-ups and shows which always took place around the last week of July up to the first week of August. The Antigua Carnival is undeniably the best time for tourists to immerse with the culture of this Caribbean island. If you head to the city, you are fortunate to witness the Pan Ban, a steel orchestra, practicing for the event.(oduber pg. 99) They go by troupes as they set up a Mas Camp, a base where their intricate wardrobes are made. It is also the starting point as they walk to the metropolis to open the Antigua Carnival. The lively event culminates by a massive road party called J’ouvert, which means â€Å"day break†. Everybody is literally on their feet as they sway to the beat of the dr ums from the young night until the middle morning. Barbados (Crop over) Masquerading was an old African tradition, where they paraded in masks and costumes through the villages to bring good luck and to remove evil spirits. Originally materials for costumes were natural things such as; grass, beads, bones, etc. Head-pieces and Masks were made of feathers to symbolize that people can spiritually rise above anything. Most European colonies within the Caribbean who were part of the slave trade have Carnival or Carnival-like celebrations. (praiser pg. 23)Now in large countries like USA, Canada and England, where they are Caribbean communities you will find Carnival celebrations. The History of Crop Over The end of the sugar cane harvest, or Crop Over as it is almost always referred to, has long been the occasion for celebration. In what seems to be the earliest reference to the Crop Over festival, we find the manager of Newton Plantation writing in 1788 to the estate’s owner in England, telling him that he had held a â€Å"dinner and sober dance† for the slaves, saying: â€Å"twas a celebration of Harvest Time after the crop.† (housman pg. 304) Many aspects of plantation life in Barbados carried on unchanged after the end of slavery, and the Crop Over festival likewise continued. Never the less there must have been an important difference in the way in which the festival was perceived. Before emancipation, the planter had no choice but to support his slaves, well or badly as the case might have been, all year round. After 1838, for most people Crop Over meant not just the end of a period of hard work, but also the beginning of a period of less work and lower wag es. For many the interval between two crops would indeed have been â€Å"hard times†, and the symbol of these, perhaps not invented until after Emancipation, was the figure of a man stuffed with trash (the dried leaves of the sugar cane plant) which was known as â€Å"Mr. Harding†. (pg. 311) Mr. Harding was formally introduced to the manager of the plantation, and, according to some accounts, later burnt as part of the celebrations which must have had a tinge of desperation to them as people strove to enjoy themselves while they could. The festival was apparently fairly common at the beginning of the present century, by which time the name Crop Over seems to have ousted that of Harvest Time. A procession of carts would bring the last canes to the plantation yard, the draught animals being decorated with flamboyant, frangipani and other flowers, whilst brightly colored kerchiefs would be tied like flags to the canes. The laborers would parade around the yard, and it was at this point that that they would introduce Mr. Harding to the manager, after which they would adjourn for a dance, for the manager or the owner of the estate would normally contribute some salt meat and rum. Even by 1940 Crop Over was being described as a â€Å"custom which has very nearly died out†, according to Housman (pg. 316), and the continuing decline of sugar and the growing availability of other sources of employment had put an end to much of traditional plantation life. The modern Crop Over, revived by the Board of Tourism in 1974 and now administered by the National Cultural Foundation, pays tribute to the fact that sugar is still important in Barbados and the immense influence which it has had on our history. The present day festival is very different from the old time Crop Over, but it continues as a tradition by offering a thrilling celebration of many aspects of Bajan Culture, old and new. CROP-OVER CARNIVAL Crop-over has become the centerpiece of Barbados culture, a process enriched by much history, a savvy visitor promotional sense, and the great nearby pre-Lenten Carnival of Trinidad & Tobago. Conga-line from April 22 – May 01 begins with the longest Conga line in the Caribbean and features a series of concerts at the Malibu Conga line Village. May 1 is the finale, where bands, floats and Carnival goers take part in the May Day Parade, The Caribbean’s largest summer Carnival begins on the first Saturday with the Decorated cart and float opening and Gala crop-over opening. (praiser pg.31) This parade begins at Bridgetown Independence Square in the early afternoon and finishes at the National Stadium. Here, the opening ceremony takes place with the ceremonial delivery of the last canes and the crowning of the king and queen of the festival followed by an excellent night of entertainment and socializing. The festival, revived in 1974 following a 30-year hiatus, continues to grow and evolve with the culture. Unlike most Carnivals whose roots are in spring, Crop-over is a harvest festival dating back centuries to the end of the sugar cane season. The end to all the grueling and arduous work was marked by the final delivery of canes to the mill. Surely a cause for song, dance and general jubilation, as such, the workers would begin the festivities by boisterously telling each other â€Å"CROP OVER.† Folk Concerts celebrating the emancipation from slavery are popular events during the Carnival season the last Carnival weekend features the most important Carnival events. On Friday, there will be the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals at the National Stadium. The next night in the wee hours of Sunday morn, the Fore-Day morning jump-up will go down from 2am till dawn. Before this special event is the steelpan competition. Cohobblopot is a huge carnival-like show where the most popular calypsonians and bands perform on Carnival Sunday night. The Calypso Contest is one of the world’s best even though it features primarily local talent. Before the best singer/songwriters of the season are chosen, the talent will perform their new compositions at many venues or tents. These tents, with names like Super Gladiators, Conquerors, House of Soca, Pioneers and Stray Cats, play an important role in deciding who will win the title of Party Monarch, Road March Monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch. The King and Queen of the bands competition is also an important part of the Cohobblopot Sunday show. Get tickets in advance since the National Stadium can sell out, particularly with all the talk about not allowing it to be broadcast on free TV. (pg. 37) All this buildup makes for a memorable Grand Finale, or as they say at Barbados Crop-over, the Grand Kadooment. Here, over two dozen large costumed bands will go dancing down de road inviting everyone to jump up with them as they make their way to the ocean surf. (pg. 42) Tuk: Indigenous to Barbados, it’s a combination of African and British military rhythms with the musicians dressed in minstrel like costumes creating music from kettledrums, bass drums and whistles. They play sounds like marching band music, old-time waltzes and almost always end with an African beat. According to praier, This is a great spectacle to see. ( pg. 51) The musicians are as serious about their music as any steelband man. Although a part of the old era, it is still very alive and a part of the modern day celebrations with completions staged during Crop Over. Calypso & Soca: Although calypso is indigenous to Trinidad, it now holds a very prominent place in the Crop over Celebration. Like Trinidad Carnival, it has all the trimmings, the Tents, parties, semi-finals judging and then to the Calypso Monarch finals, which take place just before Grand Kadooment. The Bajan artistes are holding their own with this art form and have even created new forms like Ringband and Ragga-soca, a definite invention of the Bajan calypsonians. (pg. 55) Steelband: Borrowed from Trinidad, the Bajans have taken it, and now the popularity and growth of the steelband in Barbados is phenomenal, states praiser. (pg. 68) with every year seeing the improvement of the sound and quality of the music to the extent that steelband has now taken a place on the curriculum of many of the schools on the island. Grand Kadooment: The grand finale, a parade of the costumed bands for the final competition for â€Å"Designer of the Year† Crown. The revelers are dressed in elaborate costumes depicting various themes dancing to music playing from the most popular bandstands, with disc jockeys winding their way down to Spring Garden where they would be judged for this coveted crown. (pg. 73) St. Vincent and the Grenadines (â€Å"vincy mas†) History Hugh Ragguette, a name that is synonymous with Carnival in St. Vincent explained to The Vincentian that the historic roots of Carnival lie in deep antiquity: since at the dawn of history, man celebrated several festivals of which Carnival was one. The Kalinagos and other indigenous peoples who inhabited St. Vincent had their festivals. With the introduction of slavery, the Africans with their varying cultures and rich variety added to those expressions. Although the practice of wearing â€Å"mas'† came from Africa and was subsequently adopted by the Greek and Romans, it was actually the French who celebrated carnival in the Caribbean as the highlight of the year. After the British supplanted the French, the practice continued. The wearing of Mas’ in carnival was introduced by the Pope in Rome in 1494 and then spread throughout Europe. (Sutty pg. 37) Naturally, the slaves participated in these festivals at a different level. â€Å"The slaves would have noted and partici pated in the festival, albeit at a different level. Naturally, they were not invited to the mas’ balls and dances.† stated however, when chattel slavery ended, the freed slaves embraced carnival and turned it into a â€Å"callaloo pot†, adding elements of the respective cultures.(pg 38) They took to the streets and displayed the theatrical spectacle they had created and to vent their subdued creative abilities. These street marches took place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Unable to chain the hands and feet of the slaves any longer, in 1892, he related, the colonial Governor banned the festival claiming that the revellers were lashing out at each other and observers with whips. Ragguette held another opinion, â€Å"The main reason was to suppress the people’s culture and their peculiar African expressions. The coloniser could not understand these expressions and wanted to stifle them.† The fire that burnt within slavery was reduced to mere embers and in 1879, fuelled by the unchainabl e African spirit it leapt into flames again. In 1899, the people decided that come what may, ban or no ban, which they were going to celebrate. They began the celebrations as early as the Friday preceding Ash Wednesday. As a result, the colonisers brought out what was termed â€Å"the armed might of the Empire†. (pg 44) The people resisted and a riot broke out, writing the Carnival Riots of the 11th and 12th February into this country’s history books. From then on, Carnival has been a part of St.Vincent’s culture. Four years later, â€Å"carnival fever† spread to Trinidad in the south where the festival had been banned resulting in the Comboule Riots. throughout the years people have built on and experimented with the components of Carnival; to the extent Trinidadians have invented a musical instrument in the form of the steel pan to provide accompanying music to its calypso. ( pg. 47). By 1973, it was virtually impossible to hold all the Carnival shows during the Wednesday and Tuesday period. â€Å"Our pan, our calypso, and particularly our Mas’ has reached a level of development that it needed to spread its wings outside the Catholic Christian Carnival to a more embracing festival,† Ragguette commented. (pg. 49) Since the festival was held so soon after Christmas and the length of time available for shows coupled with the fact the Trinidad and Tobago, whom Ragguette stated â€Å"had run away with title of king of Carnival in the world and boasted of having the greatest show on earth,† held its Carnival around the same time, it was necessary to move the festival to another season. The June-July period was decided as most suitable. (pg. 50) With more time to work, the CDC wanted to introduce a Caribbean component into its programme. Antigua and Barbuda already had a Caribbean Calypso Competition and the organisation could not get beyond the logistics of a Caribbean Pan or King and Queen of the Bands competition. sutty explained that it was felt that a show should be organised to showcase â€Å"the beauty and profound intelligence of our Caribbean women†. (pg. 53). This resulted in the birth of Miss Caribbean Carnival – Miss Carnival. Trinidad Carnival’s principal components are calypso, steelpan and playing mas (masquerade). In the historic capital City of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, these elements are harmoniously structured to form a five day ritual pageant beginning with the King & Queen Contest (Friday), Panorama (Saturday), Dimanche Gras (Sunday), J’Ouvert (Monday) and the Parade of the Bands (Tuesday). (green pg 57) These main events and countless others build to an unforgettable epiphany of beauty and stunning display of the irrepressible human spirit before concluding and allowing the quiet first day of Lent and reflection known as Ash Wednesday to be admitted to consciousness. [pic]The genesis of this â€Å"world’s greatest† Carnival has been attributed to the many cultures of Trinidad and their interaction. While the African influence is predominant, the Carnival carries an overriding theme of unity, a central part of this unique culture’s mythology. Trinidad’s namesake, the holy Trinity is blessed as the unifying principle. This is the country’s well known motto, resting at the base of the ubiquitous and striking T&T Coat of Arms reads, â€Å"Together we Aspire, Together we achieve.† (pg 59).Yet the wisdom lies in paradox for there is no Carnival with more intense competition than Trinidad’s. [pic]Today Trinidad’s model for public celebration is the most widely imitated festival art form in the world. Many Trinidadian Carnival artists are able to work year round performing throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. J’ouvert Jab Jab – The name of this mas is derived from the French patois for ‘Diable Diable†. It is pretty devil mas. The costume consists of a Kandal or satin knickers, and satin shirt with points of cloth at the waist, from which bells hang. On the chest, there is a shaped cloth panel which is decorated with swansdown, rhinestones and mirrors. Stockings and alpagatas are worn on the feet, while the headdress consists of a hood with stuffed cloth horns. The costume can come in alternating colors and be divided into front and back panels. (pg 61) The Jab Jab has a thick whip of plaited hemp which he swings and cracks threateningly. These whips can reduce the costumes of other Jab Jabs to threads. It is not to be confused with Jab Molassie. JAB MOLASSIE – Jab is the French patois for ‘Diable’ (Devil), and Molassie is the French patois for Mà ©lasse (Molasses). (pg 62)The Jab Molassie is one of several varieties of devil mas played in Trinidad and Tobago carnival. The costume consists of short pants or pants cut off at the knee, and a mask and horns. The jab malassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and carry a pitch fork. He may smear his body with grease, tar, mud or colored dyes (red, green or blue). The jab molassie â€Å"wines† or gyrates to a rhythmic beat that is played on tins or pans by his imps. While some of his imps supply the music, others hold his chain, seemingly restraining him as he pulls against them in his wild dance. The differences among the various forms of devil mas were once distinct, but have become blurred over time. Trinidad’s carnival is a gorgeous paradigm of how carnival can connect the entire world. In this Trinidad little nation, the lifestyle and customs of various cultures come collectively for a short five days every year, the entire country stops thinking about their dissimilarities to celebrate life! Similar to many other countries under colonial rule, the history of Native Americans and African people in Trinidad is atrocious and a sad story. At different times England and Spain both maintained Trinidad as their colonies. Around 1785, Carnival was introduced to Trinidad. The French settlers started to arrive. The custom caught on rapidly, and fancy balls were held where the rich planters pretend masks, and beautiful dresses, wigs, and dance the whole night. The employ of masks had particular meaning for the slaves, as for several African peoples, masking is usually used in their rituals for the dead. Evidently banned from the masked balls of the French, the slaves would grasp their own tiny carnivals in their gardens — using their folklore and own rituals. However they also imitate their masters’ manners at the masked balls. Carnival has turned out to be a way to convey their authority as individuals for African people, and also for their rich cultural traditions. (pg. 102) The slavery was eradicated after 1838, the Africans were freed and started to host their individual carnival celebrations in Trinidad streets. This carnival developed progressively and sophisticated and rapidly became trendier than the balls. Nowadays, Trinidad carnival is like a mirror that reflects the faces the many immigrant nations from Africa, India, China and Europe. Carnival is such a significant aspect of life in Trinidad, as many schools trust that funding/ sponsoring a carnival band is a way to train youngsters about their culture and roots. According to green, Hundreds of schools and community organizations contribute in Trinidad’s Kiddies Carnival. In this fashion, communities’ works as one to build up strong friendships and good respect for the various cultures that make up Trinidad. (pg. 59) Bibliography â€Å"Caribbean carnival† Caribseek.comhttp://www.caribseek.com/adventure_and_entertainment/carnivals/caribbean-carnival.shtml. â€Å"Carnival in Trinidad.† Mustard.org.early 1985 carnival in Trinidad†¦evolution and symbolic menaing.21 February 2008 http://www.mustard.org.uk/articles/trinidad.htm. Cowley, John. Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making. Trinidad: Macmillan Caribbean May 4, 1988 Green, Garth L. Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival. Massasetucheuts: Harper smith, 2005 Herman, Wouk. Don’t stop the carnival. USA: Doubleday, 1965 Housman, Gerald â€Å"The kebra nagast: the lost bible of Rastafarian wisdom and faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica.† (July 1979): 299-671 Lent, A John. Caribbean popular culture. Michigan: bowling green state university popular press, 2006. Pariser, Harry S. Explore Barbados. Manatee Press: 3 edition October 2007 Razak, Victoria M. Carnival in Antigua. Boston: Cenda Pub; 1 edition May 1, 1998 Riggio, Milla Co. Carnival: Culture in Action — The Trinidad Experience (Worlds of Performance). Routt ledge: Pablo Delano, 2004: Sutty, Lesley. St Vincent and the Grenadines. Caribbean: 2 edition September 2002 Oduber, Vanja. Antigua carnival. New York: Chauvenheid Graphic Group 1996