Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Discuss the Significance of Ebenezer Howard as a Pioneer essays
Discuss the Significance of Ebenezer Howard as a Pioneer essays Discuss the Significance of Ebenezer Howard as a Pioneer of British Town and Country Planning. To start answering the question of the significance of Howard as a pioneer of town and country planning, the first, and most obvious question that has to be asked is whether he himself had the idea first. And on first inspection this does not seem to be the case. Theodor Fritsch, a German man that lived from 18521933 claimed authorship of the idea in 1896 in his book Die Stadt der Zukunft. (Schuber, D. 2004 pp3) Fritschs book was published in 1896, Howards idea of the Garden city was first published in 1898 in his book To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform. (Schuber, D. 2004 pp3). This clearly shows that Howards book was infact predated by Fritschs book by two years. And most importantly, at that time, Howard could have gained access to the book, modified the ideas slightly, and simply taken them for his own. The thoughts behind the two ideas could not have been more different however. Howard had planned his garden cities as a kind of emancipation of the working class, through state run public services, funded by the rents of the people living there, instead of the rents simply going to the landlords. For Ebenezer Howard the problem of inner city squalor and overcrowding was not caused by the inability of the people to help them selves but the urbanizing process itself (Andrew, C. et al 1979 pp27) In theory the money would be spent on public services, the lives of the average workers that lived in the garden city would dramatically improve upon the slums of inner city life, while the workers left in the inner city would benefit from the decreased living costs brought on by a market place suddenly finding itself lacking in tenants, as the rules of supply and demand go. However, in practice, probably because the rule of not being able to hold the lease of a plot of land ...
Monday, October 21, 2019
Words About Feeling and Suffering
Words About Feeling and Suffering Words About Feeling and Suffering Words About Feeling and Suffering By Mark Nichol English has adopted a rich store of words about feeling and suffering from the classical languages. The Greek pathos, for example, has come down to us intact to mean, in English, an evocation of pity or compassion, but thatââ¬â¢s just for starters. Pathology (the word literally means ââ¬Å"the study of feeling or sufferingâ⬠) is the branch of medical science concerned with investigating the nature of disease. It also refers to deviation in not only physical and mental health but also, by extension, environmental and social ills. A class of terms referring to specific physical and mental ailments uses the root -pathy: They include allopathy, the name for the conventional treatment of disease, often with pharmaceuticals that counter or alleviate symptoms, and its complement homeopathy, which refers to treatment by natural substances. Words like arthropathy (joint disease) and cardiopathy (heart disease) identify ailments of specific organs or body systems, while noun and adjectival forms of the names of the mental disorders psychopathy and sociopathy (referring to behavior marked by antisocial behavior), have transcended the medical milieu to be used loosely in popular culture. Phytopathology, or plant pathology, meanwhile, is the study of plant diseases. These ailments, and those affecting animals as well, are generally caused by pathogens (thereââ¬â¢s that root word again, followed by another common root, which stems from the Greek term meaning ââ¬Å"to be bornâ⬠). Forms of other -path terms besides psychopath and sociopath are also used outside of the medical realm: Sympathy, the sensitivity to othersââ¬â¢ feelings, and empathy, the action of, or the capacity for, vicarious experience of othersââ¬â¢ feelings; sympathetic and empathetic are the adjectival forms. Then thereââ¬â¢s apathy, meaning ââ¬Å"the lack of feeling,â⬠and antipathy, which means ââ¬Å"aversion.â⬠Each has a corollary adjectival form, though antipathetic is less commonly used than apathetic. Speaking of -pathetic, thatââ¬â¢s a word in its own right, with several distinct meanings: It can mean ââ¬Å"sad,â⬠ââ¬Å"laughable,â⬠ââ¬Å"inadequate,â⬠or, less often, ââ¬Å"able to arouse compassion or contempt.â⬠Note, too, related terms derived from -pati, the Latin equivalent of -path: Compatible is essentially a synonym of sympathy. Meanwhile, passion (ââ¬Å"sufferingâ⬠) and both forms of patient the noun referring to someone under medical care or treatment and the adjective for the quality of forbearance stem from this root. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyTelling a Good Poem from a Bad One50 Synonyms for "Song"
Sunday, October 20, 2019
General Omar Bradley in World War II
General Omar Bradley in World War II General of the Army Omar N. Bradley was a key American commander during World War II and later served as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Graduating from West Point in 1915, he served stateside during World War I before advancing through the ranks during the interwar years. With the beginning of World War II, Bradley trained two divisions before serving under Lieutenant General George S. Patton in North Africa and Sicily. Known for his understated nature, he earned the nickname the G.I. General and later commanded the First U.S. Army and 12th Army Group in Northwest Europe. Bradley played a central role during the Battle of the Bulge and directed American forces as they drove into Germany. Early Life Born at Clark, MO on February 12, 1893, Omar Nelson Bradley was the son of schoolteacher John Smith Bradley and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Bradley. Though from a poor family, Bradley received a quality education at Higbee Elementary School and Moberly High School. After graduation, he began working for the Wabash Railroad to earn money to attend the University of Missouri. During this time, he was advised by his Sunday school teacher to apply to West Point. Sitting the entry exams at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Bradley placed second but secured the appointment when the first place finisher was unable to accept it. West Point Entering the academy in 1911, he quickly took to the academys disciplined lifestyle and soon proved gifted at athletics, baseball in particular. This love of sports interfered with his academics, however he still managed to graduate 44th in a class of 164. A member of the Class of 1915, Bradley was classmates with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dubbed the class the stars fell on, 59 of the class members ultimately became generals. World War I Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was posted to the 14th Infantry and saw service along the US-Mexico border. Here his unit supported Brigadier General John J. Pershings Punitive Expedition which entered Mexico to subdue Pancho Villa. Promoted to first lieutenant in October 1916, he married Mary Elizabeth Quayle two months later. With the US entry into World War I in April 1917, the 14th Infantry, then at Yuma, AZ, was moved to the Pacific Northwest. Now a captain, Bradley was tasked with policing copper mines in Montana. Desperate to be assigned to a combat unit heading to France, Bradley requested a transfer several times but to no avail. Made a major in August 1918, Bradley was excited to learn that the 14th Infantry was being deployed to Europe. Organizing at Des Moines, IA, as part of the 19th Infantry Division, the regiment remained in the United States as a result of the armistice and influenza epidemic. With the U.S. Armys postwar demobilization, the 19th Infantry Division was stood down at Camp Dodge, IA in February 1919. Following this, Bradley was detailed to South Dakota State University to teach military science and reverted to the peacetime rank of captain. Fast Facts: General Omar N. Bradley Rank: General of the ArmyService: U.S. ArmyBorn: February, 12, 1893 in Clark, MODied: April 8, 1981 in New York, NYParents: John Smith Bradley and Sarah Elizabeth BradleySpouse: Mary Elizabeth Quayle, Esther BuhlerConflicts: World War II, Korean WarKnown For: D-Day (Operation Overlord), Operation Cobra, Battle of the Bulge Interwar Years In 1920, Bradley was posted to West Point for a four-year tour as a mathematics instructor. Serving under then-Superintendent Douglas MacArthur, Bradley devoted his free time to studying military history, with a special interest in the campaigns of William T. Sherman. Impressed with Shermans campaigns of movement, Bradley concluded that many of the officers who had fought in France had been misled by the experience of static warfare. As a result, Bradley believed that Shermans Civil War campaigns were more relevant to future warfare than those of World War I. Promoted to major while at West Point, Bradley was sent to the Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1924. As the curriculum stressed open warfare, he was able to apply his theories and developed a mastery of tactics, terrain, and fire and movement. Utilizing his prior research, he graduated second in his class and in front of many officers who had served in France. After a brief tour with the 27th Infantry in Hawaii, where he befriended George S. Patton, Bradley was selected to attend the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1928. Graduating the following year, he believed the course to be dated and uninspired. Departing Leavenworth, Bradley was assigned to the Infantry School as an instructor and served under future-General George C. Marshall. While there, Bradley was impressed by Marshall who favored giving his men an assignment and letting them accomplish it with minimal interference. In describing Bradley, Marshall commented that he was quiet, unassuming, capable, with sound common sense. Absolute dependability. Give him a job and forget it. Deeply influenced by Marshalls methods, Bradley adopted them for his own use in the field. After attending the Army War College, Bradley returned to West Point as an instructor in the Tactical Department. Among his pupils were the future leaders of the US Army such as William C. Westmoreland and Creighton W. Abrams World War II Begins Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1936, Bradley was brought to Washington two years later for duty with the War Department. Working for Marshall, who was made Army Chief of Staff in 1939, Bradley served asà assistant secretary of the General Staff. In this role, he worked to identify problems and developed solutions for Marshalls approval. In February 1941, he was promoted directly to the temporary rank of brigadier general.à This was done to allow him to assume command of the Infantry School. While there he promoted the formation of armored and airborne forces as well as developed the prototype Officer Candidate School. With the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, Marshall asked Bradley to prepare for other duty. Given command of the reactivated 82nd Division, he oversaw its training before fulfilling a similar role for the 28th Division. In both cases, he utilized Marshalls approach of simplifying military doctrine to make it easier for newly recruited citizen-soldiers. In addition, Bradley utilized a variety of techniques to ease draftees transition to military life and boost morale while also implementing a rigorous program of physical training. As a result, Bradleys efforts in 1942, produced two fully trained and prepared combat divisions. In February 1943, Bradley was assigned command of X Corps, but before taking the position was ordered to North Africa by Eisenhower to troubleshoot problems with American troops in the wake of the defeat at Kasserine Pass. Lieutenant General Omar Bradley on the navigation bridge of USS Ancon (AGC-4), en route to the invasion of Sicily, 7 July 1943. With him is Captain Timothy Wellings, USN. US Naval History and Heritage Command North Africa Sicily Arriving, Bradley recommended that Patton be given command of the U.S. II Corps. This was done and the authoritarian commander soon restored the units discipline. Becoming Pattons deputy, Bradley worked to improve the fighting qualities of the corps as the campaign progressed.à As a result of his efforts, he ascended to command of II Corps in April 1943, when Patton departed to aid in planning the invasion of Sicily. For the remainder of the North African Campaign, Bradley ably led the corps and restored its confidence. Serving as part of Pattons Seventh Army, II Corps spearheaded the attack on Sicily in July 1943. During the campaign in Sicily, Bradley was discovered by journalist Ernie Pyle and promoted as the G.I. General for his unprepossessing nature and affinity for wearing a common soldiers uniform in the field. D-Day In the wake of the success in the Mediterranean, Bradley was selected by Eisenhower to lead the first American army to land in France and to be prepared to subsequently take over a full army group. Returning to the United States, he established his headquarters at Governors Island, NY and began assembling staff to assist him in his new role as commander of the First U.S. Army.à Returning to Britain in October 1943, Bradley took part in the planning for D-Day (Operation Overlord). Senior U.S. officers watching operations from the bridge of USS Augusta (CA-31), off Normandy, 8 June 1944. They are (from left to right): Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN, Commander Western Naval Task Force; Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, U.S. Army, Commanding General, U.S. First Army; Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble, USN, (with binoculars) Chief of Staff for RAdm. Kirk; and Major General Ralph Royce, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration A believer in employing airborne forces to limit German access to the coast, he lobbied for the use of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in the operation. As commander of the U.S. First Army, Bradley oversaw the American landings on Omaha and Utah Beaches from the cruiser USS Augusta on June 6, 1944. Troubled by the stiff resistance at Omaha, he briefly considered evacuating troops from the beach and sending the follow-on waves to Utah. This proved unnecessary and three days later he shifted his headquarters ashore. Northwest Europe As Allied forces built up in Normandy, Bradley was elevated to lead the 12th Army Group. As early attempts to push deeper inland failed, he planned Operation Cobra with the goal of breaking out of the beachhead near St. Lo. Commencing in late July, the operation saw a liberal use of air power before ground forces smashed through the German lines and began a dash across France. As his two armies, the Third under Patton and the First under Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges, advanced towards the German border, Bradley advocated for a thrust into the Saarland. Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey (right) with the 21st Army Group commander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery (center), and U.S. First Army commander, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley (left), 10 June 1944. Public Domain This was denied in favor of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomerys Operation Market-Garden. While Market-Garden bogged down in September 1944, Bradleys troops, spread thin and short on supplies, fought brutal battles in the Hà ¼rtgen Forest, Aachen, and Metz. In December, Bradleys front absorbed the brunt of the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge. After stopping the German assault, his men played a key role in pushing the enemy back, with Pattons Third Army making an unprecedented turn north to relieve the 101st Airborne at Bastogne. During the fighting, he was angered when Eisenhower temporarily assigned First Army to Montgomery for logistical reasons. Promoted to general in March 1945, Bradley led 12th Army Group, now four armies strong, through the final offensives of the war and successfully captured a bridge over the Rhine at Remagen. In a final push, his troops formed the southern arm of a massive pincer movement which captured 300,000 German troops in the Ruhr, before meeting up with Soviet forces at the Elbe River. Postwar With the surrender of Germany in May 1945, Bradley was eager for a command in the Pacific. This was not forthcoming as General Douglas MacArthur was not in need of another army group commander. On August 15, President Harry S. Truman appointed Bradley to the head of the Veterans Administration. While not thrilled with the assignment, Bradley worked diligently to modernize the organization to meet the challenges it would face in the postwar years. Basing his decisions on the needs of veterans rather than political considerations, he built a nationwide system of offices and hospitals as well as revised and updated the G.I. Bill and arranged for job training. In February 1948, Bradley was appointed Army Chief of Staff to replace the departing Eisenhower. He remained in this post only eighteen months as he was named the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on August 11, 1949. With this came a promotion to General of the Army (5-star) the following September. Remaining in this position for four years, he oversaw U.S. operations during the Korean War and was forced to rebuke General Douglas MacArthur for wishing to expand the conflict into Communist China. Later Life Retiring from the military in 1953, Bradley moved into the private sector and served as chairman of the board of the Bulova Watch Company from 1958 until 1973. Following the death of his wife Mary of leukemia in 1965, Bradley married Esther Buhler on September 12, 1966. During the 1960s, he served as a member of President Lyndon Johnsons Wise Men think tank and later acted as a technical advisor on the film Patton. Bradley died on April 8, 1981, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Developing E-Commerce Customer Satisfaction, Trust, and Loyalty in the Essay
Developing E-Commerce Customer Satisfaction, Trust, and Loyalty in the UK Market - Essay Example The population of internet users worldwide was about 934 million is 2004 and it experienced a steady growth of about 14% by the end of 2005 (Karim, 2013; Lodorfos, Trosterud and Whitworth, 2006). Internet access is no more limited to surfing, gaming, media downloading and uploading and social networking but with widespread internet usage, the volume of online shopping and amount of money spent on e-shopping continues to increases in a steady manner as confidence of consumers in online shopping has stabilised. Consequently, the global e-commerce revenue from internet shopping was observed to be around à £91 billion in the United Kingdom in 2013 (Capgemini, 2014; Digital Strategy consulting, 2014). According to reports, the growth rate in mature markets is gradually declining and retailers are seeking unconventional opportunities so as to meet their growth targets. Retailers presently considering e-commerce an unconventional growth engine through which they can access the global market while a few continue to focus on establishment of greater number of physical stores (Lodorfos, Trosterud and Whitworth, 2006). The paper aims at establishing consumer relationship in terms of trust, loyalty and satisfaction with respect to ecommerce. Therefore, it is important to understand importance of consumer satisfaction, trust and loyalty from marketing perspective. In the following section of the paper, current developments in ecommerce have been discussed. Alongside, consumer satisfaction and loyalty have been assessed in an elaborate manner. The literature review covers various theoretical approaches to consumer satisfaction, trust and loyalty as well as impact of the same on ecommerce industry of the UK has been discussed based on recent surveys and reports conducted by organisations such as Mintel and Deloitte. For ensuring high quality in the literature review, various peer reviewed journals and reports from authentic
Strategic Management for Smirnoff Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
Strategic Management for Smirnoff - Assignment Example Smirnoff is a brand of Vodka used in UK and is own and operated by British Company Diageo however, it has its roots in Moscow Russia. Smirnoff is now distributed in well over 130 countries with a network which is expanding and catering to the needs of different customers all over the world. Being an alcoholic drink, the overall external environment for this brand is relatively challenging considering the fact that many countries have banner alcoholic drinking. Issues like the underage selling, drunk driving and other strategic issues are considered as of significant importance. This is because these issues can actually affect the overall demand of the product. This report will look into the target market, value given by the company to its target market, a closer analysis of the internal as well as external environment including analysis of the industry as well as competition. This report will also look into the SWOT analysis of the firm to unearth strategic issues faced by the firm a nd what strategic options could be exercised to correct the situation. Company Background Smirnoff is a brand name managed by a British Company with the name of Diageo. It is however, important to note that Smirnoff as a brand has its historical roots in Russia when during 19th Century, Smirnoff as a vodka brand was started by Pytor Aresenievich Smrinoff. (Diageo Inc) Over the period of time, brand gained recognition and is now considered as the leading vodka brand in the world. What is also important to understand that Smirnoff was the only vodka available outside the communist countries after the Second World War? This therefore has given an edge to the brand to dominate the European and North American market and become the leading selling brand in the world. The company owning and operating this brand is also selling other brands which are also maintained as the strategic brands. These strategic brands therefore serve as the primary source of growth for the firm across all the ma rkets it operates. Some of the leading brands of Diageo include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B etc. Smirnoff is also one of the strategic brands for the firm generating the required growth for the firm in the Spirit market.1 It is important to note that Smirnoff exists as a separate strategic business unit for the firm and it is sold through different channels. Delivery of the product through online market of the firm is also one of the ways firm manages sales for this brand. Target Market of the Company Diageo is considered as the premium drink company offering high worth brands to the individuals all over the world. As such the geographical distribution of the companyââ¬â¢s target market is across the whole world with concentration in the European and North American market. It is critical to note that the drink market continuously evolve due to the market innovation and changing preferences of the customers. (ASIMOV, 2005). Though Diageo is a well diversified company with man y brands serving different niches in the drink market, however, Smirnoff caters to a different niche of the market. Though Vodka is famous for its uniqueness as a drink however, firm has been able to introduce new flavored drinks in order to cater to the needs of varying degree. The essential market for the drink comprises of those individual customers looking for ready to drink market with variety offered according to the Season of the year. This is because of
Friday, October 18, 2019
Takeovers and Mergers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Takeovers and Mergers - Essay Example The theory f how defenses reduce firm value is a simple application f agency cost analysis: agency costs make defense adoption possible and likely, and defenses in turn increase agency costs by making it harder for principals (shareholders) to replace or otherwise discipline agents (directors) through a takeover. [2] But the academic conviction that agency cost theory is the lens through which to view takeover defenses has been reinforced by empirical studies. Legal academics widely believe that those studies show that firms' stock prices fall on average when firms adopt defenses. Without that evidence, the theoretical case against defenses remains, but is much less compelling, particularly for policy making. Practitioner support for defenses no doubt stems in part from the fact that defense adoption (and litigation over defenses) provides legal practitioners with profits. But practitioners have also looked to economic theory and empirical evidence for support in convincing boards f directors that they are justified in adopting defenses and in persuading lawmakers not to intervene against defenses. The evidence in favor f defenses has been produced for the most part not by academics but by investment banks and proxy solicitors, and it shows that defenses, such as pills, increase the premiums target shareholders receive in takeovers. This evidence is consistent with the theory that well-motivated (or adequately constrained) boards use defenses not to entrench themselves or defeat advantageous bids, but to seek better alternatives or bargain for target shareholders and extract a greater share f deal synergies than they otherwise could do. Recently, both academics and practitioners have been confronted with a new source f evidence on takeover defenses, and the results are decidedly mixed, supporting neither group's view with certainty. Several recent and ongoing studies show that prior to initial public offerings (IPOs), a significant number f firms adopt terms making takeovers more difficult than does default law, [3] which seems to fly in the face f the academic belief that defenses reduce firm value. [4] Even sophisticated pre-IPO shareholders (such as venture capitalists and leveraged buyout firms) permit their adoption, [5] and firms with defenses are more likely to be represented by higher-quality investment banks in an IPO. At the same time, institutional investors routinely oppose proposals by firms to adopt defenses midstream, and studies f IPOs show that defenses vary significantly, contrary to the beliefs f legal practitioners that a full set f defenses is privately optimal for all firms. These surprising an d mixed results make a reassessment f prior empirical evidence on takeover defenses worthwhile, both to examine the methods used and to assess the strength f support the evidence provides for the opposing academic and practitioner positions on takeover defenses. A better understanding f defenses is given some urgency by the strength f the market for corporate control in the 1990s. Despite widespread adoption f defenses, nearly seventy
Charlie Wilson's War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Charlie Wilson's War - Essay Example Charlie Wilson prevented the Red Army from overtaking Afghanistan, and this eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and simultaneously fueled the rise of radical Islam. A congressional representative, Charlie Wilson had great interest in partying and staffing his congressional office with young and attractive women. This social life of Charlie Wilson brings into attention federal investigation about him being a cocaine user (Bronson 301). The federal prosecutor Rudy Giuliani carried the investigation, but no evidence against Charlie was found. Charlie was a fervent anti-communist with a strong dislike of the Soviets and was a friend of the Nicaraguaââ¬â¢s Somoza and Pakistanââ¬â¢s Muhammad Zia Hag. Generally, nobody is a purist, but Charlie Wilson seemed to be one. What lured him to the plight of Afghanistan was the insurgency against the Soviet occupation and his passion for the underdogs (Quick and Nelson 456). The Soviet-Afghan war was a nine-year conflict that in volved the Soviet Union forces supported by the Marxist people of the Afghanistan government against Mujahedeen resistance. In the context of the cold war, this group found support from various sources like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other Muslim nations. The efforts of Charlie Wilson made it possible for the Afghans to defeat the Soviet Forces. This was the last war of the cold war period. It gave a clear understanding of the two most important events of our time, which are the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of the militant Islam. Charlie Wilson served in Texas House and Senate before moving to the United States House of Representatives, where he served with the second congressional district before he retired in 1996. In the beginning of the book, Wilson is in a tub with two showgirls and a good supply of cocaine. This reputation made people underestimate Charlie Wilson and allowed him to work without anyone seeing. Charlie Wilson was used to seeing b attles and wars; he, therefore, saw himself as a man of destiny. Wilson had an unwavering patriotism and was convinced of the threat by the Soviets since the time he graduated from college (Crile 149). John F. Kennedy, when he won the elections through his inaugural speeches, has inspired Wilson. In his later age, Wilson never thought entirely of the news reports from the Afghanistan refugees, who flew from the Pakistan in thousands, and the gunships that destroyed the villages. Charlie Wilson and his counterpart Gust Avrakotos have a public picture as quintessential stereotypical American cowboys. They are depicted as fearless, rough-necked, and social class rule breakers who worked around the obstacles and pushed roughly their mutual enemy, the Soviet Union. They both used politics, spy novel secrecy, American money, and technology to fight against the Afghan tribesmen. Gust Avrakotos Until the production of the book Charlie Wilson War in 2003, the public knew almost nothing about Gust. The book portrays the U.S involvement in the Afghanistan-Soviet war as a partnership between Gust and a Texas congressional representative, Charles Wilson. Gust was born in Pennsylvania in the family of the Greek American soft drink manufacturer from the island of Aliquippa (Quick and Nelson 487). Gust graduated from the University of Pittsburgh after completing his
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)