Thursday, November 28, 2019

John F Kennedy free essay sample

TV Debates John F Kennedy ; Kennedy tried to identify himself with the liberal reform tradition of the Democratic party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, promising a new surge of legislative innovation in the sass. ; JEFF hoped to pull together key elements of the Roosevelt coalition of the sass-?urban minorities, ethnic voting blocs, and organized labor. He also hoped to win back conservative Catholics who had deserted the Democrats to vote for Eisenhower In 1952 and 1956, and to hold his own In the South. John F.Kennedy eloquently confronted the religious Issue In an appearance afore the Greater-Houston Ministerial Association. He said, l believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute; where no Catholic prelate would tell the President-?should he be Catholic-?how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote. But anti-Catholic feeling remained a wild card in the campaign. We will write a custom essay sample on John F Kennedy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ; John Fitzgerald Kennedy captured the Democratic nomination despite his youth, a seeming lack of experience In foreign affairs, and his Catholic faith.On May 10, he won a solid victory In the Democratic remarry in overwhelmingly Protestant West Virginia. His success there launched him toward a first ballot victory at the national convention in Los Angels-?although he did not reach the 761 votes required for the nomination until the final state in the roll call, Wyoming. After choosing Texas senator Lyndon Johnson as his running mate, Kennedy told the convention delegates that he would get the nation moving again. He declared that the united States would have the will and the strength to resist communism around the world. Kennedy then challenged the vice president to a series of televised debates. Many in the Nixon camp, including President Eisenhower, urged the vice president to reject the debate proposal and deny Kennedy invaluable national exposure. But Nixon confidently agreed to share a platform with his rival on nationwide television. In 1950, only 11 percent of American homes had television; by 1960, the number had Jumped to 88 percent. An estimated seventy million Americans, about two-thirds of the electorate, watched the first debate on September 26th. Age was not the only factor in the election. Kennedy was also Roman Catholic, and no Catholic had ever been elected President before. AL SMITH, a Catholic, suffered a crushing defeat to HERBERT HOOVER in 1928. This raised serious questions about the eligibility of a Catholic candidate, particularly in the Bible Belt South. Questions were raised about Kennedys ability to place national interests above the wishes of his Pope. ; Kennedy addressed a group of Protestant ministers. He pledged a solid commitment to separation of church and state.Despite his assurances, his faith cost him an estimated 1. 5 million votes in November 1960. ; Kennedy stressed his character, assisted by those in the press who reported stories bout his World War II heroism. While he was serving in the South Pacific aboard the PETTY, a Japanese destroyer rammed his ship and snapped it in two. Kennedy rescued several of his cremates from certain death. Then he swam from island to Kennedy had carved into a coconut to an American naval base. Courage and character became the major themes of Kennedys campaign. Kennedy was from a wealthy background and graduated from Harvard University. ; Kennedy named one of his opponents for the Democratic nomination his Vice-President. Lyndon Johnson was older and much more experienced in the Senate. Johnson was from Texas, an obvious attempt by Kennedy to shore up his potential weaknesses in the South ; . In his inauguration speech, he challenged his fellow Americans to Ask not what your country can do for you -? ask what you can do for your country. ; Proclaiming that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, Kennedy, young and good-looking, boldly and proudly assumed office with a bravado. ; Kennedy challenged the American people and government to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Congress responded enthusiastically by appropriating billions of dollars for the effort. During Kennedys administration ALAN SHEPHERD became the first American to enter space, and JOHN GLENN became the first American to orbit the earth.In 1969, many thought of President Kennedys challenge when Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon. ; He signed legislation raising the minimum wage and increasing Social Security benefits. He raised money for research into mental illness and allocated funds to develop impoverished rural areas. He showed approval for the civil rights movement by supporting James Meredith attempt to enroll at the University of Mississippi and by ordering his Attorney General, brother Robert Kennedy, to protect the freedom riders in the South. He wished to protect millions of acres of wilderness lands from developments, but the Congress refused. His efforts to provide federal funds to elementary and secondary schools were denied. His Medicare plan to provide health insurance for the nations elderly failed to achieve the necessary support. Congress was dominated by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats who refused to expand the New Deal any further. ; Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated Kennedy in November, 1963. His death provided a popular mandate for these important programs.In the tumultuous years that followed, many yearned for the happy Kennedy years -? a return to Camelot ; President Kennedy faced a confident Soviet Union and a sleeping giant in the PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA. Fears of communist expansion plagued American foreign policy in places as distant as Vietnam and as close as Cuba. ; Like his predecessors, Kennedy made containment his chief foreign policy goal. Abandoning Dwight Eisenhower heavy reliance on nuclear deterrence, Kennedy expanded defense spending. The United States needed a FLEXIBLE RESPONSE capability. One of Kennedys most popular foreign policy initiatives was the PEACE CORPS. Led by SERGEANT SHRIVES, this program allowed Americans to volunteer two years of service to a developing nation. Applicants would be placed based upon their particular skill sets. English teachers would be placed where the learning of the language was needed. Entrepreneurs trained local merchants how to maximize profits. Doctors and nurses were needed anywhere. ;In October 1962, the United States learned that the Soviet Union was about to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba.Kennedy found this unacceptable. He ordered a NAVAL QUARANTINE OF CUBA and ordered Soviet leader Nikkei penetrate the American blockade would be met with an immediate military response. The world watched this dangerous game of nuclear chicken unfold. Finally, Khrushchev acceded to Kennedys demands, and the world remained safe from global confrontation. ; The CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS marked the closest the United States and the Soviet Union came to direct confrontation in the entire Cold War. ; On November 22, 1963, a wave of shock and grief swept the United States.While sitting Dallas, President Kennedy was killed by an assassins bullet ; 43-year-old Kennedy lacked Onions extensive foreign policy experience and had the disadvantage of being one of the first Catholics to run for president on a major party ticket. ; Richard Nixon Nixon emphasized the record of the Eisenhower years. He pledged to keep the federal government from dominating the free market economy and the lives of the American people. ; The Republican nominee was 47-year-old Vice President Richard M. Nixon.He pointed to the peace and prosperity of the Eisenhower administration ND assured the voters that he would maintain American prestige, leadership, and military strength. He chose Henry Cabot Lodge, U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as his running mate. Nixon struck many voters as more mature and experienced than Kennedy and led in the polls after the national conventions. ; Nixon decided to leave religious issues out of the campaign and hammer the perception that Kennedy was too inexperienced to sit in the Oval Office. ; Nixon stressed his steadfast commitment to fighting communism.He had made a name for himself as a staunch red-baiter in the post-war era, leading the charge against alleged spy ALGER HISS. Nixon emphasized the importance of his 8 years as Vice- President. The Soviet Union and China were always pressing, and America could ill afford a President who had to learn on the Job. ; Nixon painted himself the average American, growing up poor in California, and working his way through Whittier College. ; Nixon named Massachusetts SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE as his running mate to attack Kennedy in his region of greatest strength. Many analysts suggest that the decisive battle in the campaign was waged during the televised Presidential debates. Kennedy arrived for the debates well-tanned and well-rested from Florida, while Nixon was recovering from a knee injury he suffered in a tiresome whistle-stop campaign. The Democrat was extremely telekinetic and comfortable before the camera. The Republican was nervous, sweated profusely under the hot lights, and could not seem to find a makeup artist that could hide his five oclock shadow. Nixon, by contrast, had spent nearly eight years as the country second- in-command after an illustrious career in Congress during which he cast crucial votes on a variety of domestic issues, became one of global communisms most outspoken artists and helped expose Alger Hiss alleged espionage attempt-all by the age of 39 Both candidates sought the support of the steadily growing suburban population, and for the first time, television became the dominant source of information for voters ; John F.Kennedy was elected president in one of the closest elections in U. S. History. In the popular vote, his margin over Nixon was 118,550 out of a total of nearly 69 million votes cast. His success in many urban and industrial states gave him a clear majority of 303 to 219 in the electoral vote. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the ingest man ever elected president, the only Catholic, and the first president born in the twentieth century. Radio listeners of the first debate narrowly awarded Nixon a victory, while the larger television audience believed Kennedy won by a wide margin. When the votes were tallied in November, Kennedy earned 49. 7% of the popular vote to Onions 49. 5%. Kennedy polled only about 100,000 more votes than Nixon out of over 68 million votes cast. The electoral college awarded the election to Kennedy by a 303-219 margin, despite Nixon winning more states than Kennedy. ; The U. S. Residential election of 1960 came at a decisive time in American history.The country was engaged in a heated Cold War with the Soviet Union, which had Just taken the lead in the space race by launching the Sputnik satellite ; They both ran for the presidency 1960 election Polls revealed that more than half of all voters had been influenced by the Great Debates, while 6 percent claimed that the debates alone had decided their choice. ; This was the first televised election and was also on radio and many people had differing opinions on who had one the election. ; Jeff was said to have won the election and all of the presidency

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Unromantic Ballroom of Romance †Arts Research Paper

The Unromantic Ballroom of Romance – Arts Research Paper Free Online Research Papers The Unromantic Ballroom of Romance Arts Research Paper In his beautiful, award-winning drama The Ballroom of Romance, Pat O’Connor brilliantly exudes the gloominess and individual hopelessness of Irish life in the 1950’s. Unlike previous films such as The Quiet Man (1952) and Far and Away (1992), the film approaches Irish life from a non-romantic perspective. Rather than portray Ireland as a fantastic, scenic refuge from modernization, The Ballroom of Romance demonstrates the actual loneliness and silent torture of rural Irish life during this time. It is rare to find a movie that allows one to delve into the same emotions as the characters within it, but Pat O’Connor achieved this feat when he presented us with the characters in The Ballroom of Romance. Our main focus is placed upon Bridie, a thirty-six year old farmwoman who has frequented the so- called ballroom for twenty years. O’Connor lets us into her life by showing the busy but bland farm work-day, and he does so in a way which manages to exhaust the viewer as we feel tired for Bridie who has so much work to do considering her father is handicapped. The written version of Ballroom also adds to the drama for we enter Bridie’s mind and have a glimpse of her personal desires and wished to be let out of her cage and allowed to have a normal life. The expressionless face she carries about in the film though, is sufficient in portraying her dreary outlook on life. The lighting is dark around the farmhouse where we are constantly reminded of hard labor and soil. Films such as The Quiet Man depict farmhouses to be cozy on green, grassy hills where there is deep romantic Irish cheeriness occurring. In Ballroom, we are reminded that this is everyday Irish life and the overall mood is harsh and labor-intensive. Repetition is a key factor in this life where Bridie has accustomed herself to doing things on certain days and not thinking much of the work she has to do. It simply just has to be done. There is one shred of hope for this woman’s life to improve, which is the weekly, Saturday visit to the great â€Å"Ballroom of Romance.† A change of clothes and atmosphere seem to be the only possible cure for the stark life being led the people of these Irish hills. There is a contrasting difference between this type of community atmosphere in romantic Ireland pictures and in Ballroom. Where a pub or dancehall in The Quiet Man brings peopl e together as a celebration of the community, The Ballroom of Romance is ironically quite unromantic. People here compete for each other’s hearts in shear desperation and fear of always being alone. O’Connor brings the ballroom into the picture by showing its preparation by the owners, the Dwyers, early on Saturday afternoon. The building sits on barren land with no vegetation or other establishments of any kind directly around it. We see both the one road to the building and the building itself; shown at a perspective where it is the only real thing we see within the frame allowing us to believe there really is nothing else around to be seen. This contrasts The Quiet Man which may also show vast open fields, but with blowing blades of grass and blue skies which beckons the viewers to come and enjoy. Far and Away keeps people and pleasurable scenery within the frames as well, even during unpleasurable scenes. Ballroom though, accentuates the emptiness as we see it sitting and waiting to be filled with people we hope will be happy for one day in their lives. After the audience is shown just what an hour typically is like within the ballroom, we no longer feel as though th ere is a fighting chance for much pleasure to arise out of this location of desperateness. One can not help but feel sorrow for Bridie who obviously realizes she has passed her age and chance of finding someone here and getting out of her regular life. The lifelessness of the entire scene is enough to drive anyone away who has had a chance to leave and thus only the survivors and youths are left here. The desperateness of the older women such as Bridie and Madge is overwhelming as we watch them endure long dances with men they care nothing about. They do this just for a small chance to be a part of the life some people were lucky enough to encounter. Madge is the most ridiculed of the Ballroom for she is the oldest and makes it quite clear that she does not care about whom she ends up with; she just wants to be with somebody. The prospect of finally joining someone only driving force left behind these survivors. All the people in the ballroom besides the youths are those who have not yet met spouses or found a good excuse to never come back such as emigration. Those who have not emigrated or gotten married are constantly searching for someone with whom they can end their loneliness whether it is through love or a settlement for the next best thing. The â€Å"romantic Ireland† films never reveal such loneliness or desperateness, but rather they reserve the joining of the cha racters to be done by romantic love. There is never cause for the next best thing unless it will work out for the characters to fall in love in the end anyways. The sadness for our heroine Bridie continues because we see her â€Å"next best thing† is lost to someone else. Her desperateness radiates from the intermission scene where she goes beyond herself to recommend eye care to Dano Ryan. Her hopes are shattered when he tells her that the problem was being taken care of by another woman. At this point the audience also feels her pain for O’Connor has managed to convey that there is nothing left out in the ballroom but the three drunken bachelors who are considered useless and for that matter disgusting. Bowser Egan, one of the bachelors, proposes a union with Bridie in a couple of years when his mother has passed for at that point, as Bridie knows, he will need someone to take care of him. Since Bridie has now accepted her age and vowed to not return to the ballroom again, she has nothing left but this last possible chance. The movie is open ended and the audience is left being caught as Bridie is for we hope she will not go through with it but then she has no other choice but to remain alone. This film really highlights the plight of rural Irish women and the fact that true Ireland is based on practicality more than romanticism. It is clear that people are joined more often for economic reasons rather than romantic love as is displayed by â€Å"romantic Ireland† movies like The Quiet Man or Far and Away (where the Irish successfully emigrate but still end up together romantically). Women are not considered fully women until they are married with children and O’Connor’s Ballroom really captivates this phenomenon. The women such as Bridie know and believe they are worthless, which is why in their last attempts at finding some type of man to make them valuable in society are crucial. The use of dark, dim lighting and slow music or the sounds of a low radio are key concepts in conveying the barren idea of Ireland and the hopeless life led by most of the rural people. No matter how they attempt to entertain themselves, there is an underlying fact that this is as good as it gets. â€Å"Happy Homes for Ireland and for God† is a banner that rests over the stage in the ballroom, and as Luke Gibbons comments, the community â€Å"shuffles through its paces in the knowledge that even entertainment offers no respite from all pervasive emotional analysis,†(Gibbons, Projecting Ireland†¦). Though the banner tries to exude cheerfulness and togetherness, it fails in doing so in this place where all anyone can think about is a last chance. The only hope within the film at all rests in the future generations where young lovers leave together and Ireland may be saved. Perhaps in showing them O’Connor raises the idea that emigration may subside and the fu ture can be happy bringing Ireland together again. In all, Patrick O’Connor’s The Ballroom of Romance aims and succeeds at showing the other Ireland which is dark and empty. This change is new and fresh in comparison to the creation of tourist attractions of green happy hills and romantic opportunities as is done in The Quiet Man (John Ford) or Far and Away (Ron Howard). His new methods have been followed since and real Irish issues are being faced rather than masked over in movies such as The Butcher Boy (Neil Jordan) or even The Crying Game. It is only in this manner can we learn about Irish life the way it really was and why sadly so many people at one time wanted to leave it. Research Papers on The Unromantic Ballroom of Romance - Arts Research PaperWhere Wild and West MeetThe Spring and AutumnMind TravelAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsCapital PunishmentPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHip-Hop is Art

Thursday, November 21, 2019

DQ9 MGT 216 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DQ9 MGT 216 - Essay Example Some of the factors that shaped these values and perspectives are religious beliefs, knowledge of ethical and moral codes of standards, and outcome of previous experiences that confirm that observance to ethical and moral codes are beneficial in guiding me to make the most appropriate and effective decisions in life. The course has added value to one’s personal ethics and moral perspectives in terms of providing additional knowledge on ethical theories that are applicable in the business setting. The course provided the needed reinforcement to confirm correct decisions given ethical dilemmas in the business environment. As such, proper guidelines are imbibed and became a part of one’s set of knowledge, beliefs and values which would be most useful in good business practices in the near future. Initial recognition of the basis policies, procedures and code of conduct and behavior is always the starting point that one recognizes in various situations and settings (whether it be in the community, country, academic or organizational setting). As such, these rules become the basis for one’s actions and behavior in the setting where one actively participates. As such, the code of ethics and observance to conformity of moral rules guide one’s actions in communicating with others, in resolving conflicts (if any), and in deciding the most appropriate course of action, given ethical dilemmas that one encounters in life. These policies and guidelines also become one’s benchmark and gauge of performance to evaluate one’s ability to achieve defined goals, as expected. Therefore, one could be appropriately rewarded for exemplary performance or sanctioned to correct one’s misbehavior, as

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Questions on 4 difrent subjects, each 4 paragraphs Essay

Questions on 4 difrent subjects, each 4 paragraphs - Essay Example This can be done as a dramatic scene/dialogue, or as an assay. If Malcolm X was standing perilously close to a cliff as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Jonathan Edwards walked by arguing about cosmological strategies, both men would stop to talk to the distraught Malcolm. Emerson would talk about if Malcolm committed suicide, he would be in effect killing part of God. Edwards, on the other hand would talk to Malcolm about the fate of hell fire for anyone that committed suicide. Malcolm would come up with different responses for both men. Emerson would go first, explaining that if Malcolm went over the cliff he would never find God. The search for God cannot be found after death, but during life. All of Malcolm’s experiences were trials and blessing that would bring him closer to God. The only thing Malcolm had to do was hear these experiences. Malcolm might reply that all of his experiences have told him the Christian God did not care about him. If Emerson’s views were correct, than Malcolm should jump off the cliff because the nature has related to him God does not exist, or worse does not care about him. After Emerson, Edwards would have to speak quickly to stop Malcolm from jumping. Edwards would speak about an all powerful God that had the power to damn him to hell for suicide. Suicide is the only sin God could not forgive, because the dead could not ask for forgiveness. Then Edwards would talk about the predestination of him and Emerson coming upon him as a sign Malcolm should live. Malcolm might hesitate two seconds before jumping after Edwards’ plea. This whole scenario would never happen due to the inner strength of the African American candidates given for this question. Malcolm X would not listen to Emery or Emerson, because of the differences between the three men. Malcolm would feel like both men as Christians and white men would never understand his point of view. 2- Anne Hutchinson, Mother Ann Lee, Mary Baker Eddy, What do the lives,

Monday, November 18, 2019

Community Health Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Community Health Nursing - Essay Example In the past, those applying for health insurance had to have restrictions included in their medical insurance offering if they had additional medical conditions. In South Carolina, individuals who are eligible for HIPAA can choose to acquire individual medical insurance from the state’s High Risk Pool which is required to proffer individual medical insurance to all persons, including those with medical conditions. There are also organizations such as Medicaid to cover individuals who live on a limited income and have fulfilled the requirements of the South Carolina’s Medicaid eligibility panel. Mini-Med, or Guaranteed Health Insurance, is another option for individuals that are not able to meet the requirements for personal major medical insurance. These options are attainable for most people as those who have problems with income have the option of purchasing an insurance plan which has lower premiums and a high deductible that will cover them for accidents or even major illnesses. Such individuals could also opt for temporary health insurance in order to obtain stopgap coverage when unemployed. My definition of health is influenced by a combination of factors. My education stipulates that physical health is achieved when the body is not affected by illnesses and has elements from the major food groups to oversee its continuation. However, my culture also emphasizes on the importance of spiritual as well as mental health if a human being is to be completely healthy. I live in a multicultural society, and so my definition of health is also affected by the beliefs of different cultures in my community. For instance, there are people who feel that it is very important for family connections to remain close if all members of the family are to remain in optimum health. This is because this particular community beliefs that bad relationships in the family, or strained ties, interfere with the positive energy within families which is

Friday, November 15, 2019

Virgin Atlantic SWOT, PESTLE and BCG Analysis

Virgin Atlantic SWOT, PESTLE and BCG Analysis Jump to: BCG Matrix | PESTLE Analysis of Virgin Atlantic | Porters 5 Forces Analysis | Ansoff Matrix | SWOT Analysis of Virgin Atlantic The Virgin Atlantic Airways is a UK-based private international airline that started operation in 1984.   Flying up to 35 destinations in North America, Asia and Africa, it is 51% owned by Virgin Group and 49% owned by Singapore Airlines (Wikipedia). Its fleet size is 37 (31 in order)   It competes with other local and international airlines including British Airways, the biggest and leading in UK.   In the year to February 2009, Virgin Atlantic carried 5.77 million passengers and made an annual profit of  Ã‚ £68.4 million on turnover of  £2,580 million.[2]).   With this information, it suggests firms bright future and industry fair share of the market.   However, external and industry environment analysis is a continuous process (Hitt, Hoskisson Ireland 2003) that every now and then makes prediction and preparedness an integral part of strategic actions of firms to efficiently manage opportunities and threats outside its organization.ƚ   Today, the Virgin Atlantic is one of the worlds most recognized brands and being recognized and trusted through their winning awards for their products and innovative marketing ( 2008). Internal Environment Resource Audit/Value Chain Portfolio Analysis Core competencies bCG matrix Stakeholder Analysis Organisational Culture/Structure Financial Analysis Resource Audit/Value Chain(8500 staff worldwid) The resource audit identifies the resources available to a business. Some of these can be owned (e.g. plant and machinery, trademarks, retail outlets) whereas other resources can be obtained through partnerships, joint ventures or simply supplier arrangements with other businesses whille Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. Influential work by Michael Porter suggested that the activities of a business could be grouped under two headings: (1) Primary Activities those that are directly concerned with creating and delivering a product (e.g. component assembly); and (2) Support Activities, which whilst they are not directly involved in production, may increase effectiveness or efficiency (e.g. human resource management). It is rare for a business to undertake all primary and support activities. Value Chain Analysis is one way of identifying which activities are best undertaken by a business and which are best provided by others (outsourced) Core Competence Analysis: Core competencies are those capabilities that are critical to a business achieving competitive advantage. The starting point for analysing core competencies is recognising that competition between businesses is as much a race for competence mastery as it is for market position and market power. Senior management cannot focus on all activities of a business and the competencies required to undertake them. So the goal is for management to focus attention on competencies that really affect competitive advantage Performance Analysis The resource audit, value chain analysis and core competence analysis help to define the strategic capabilities of a business. After completing such analysis, questions that can be asked that evaluate the overall performance of the business. These questions include: How have the resources deployed in the business changed over time; this is historical analysis How do the resources and capabilities of the business compare with others in the industry -industry norm analysis How do the resources and capabilities of the business compare with best-in-class wherever that is to be found-  benchmarking How has the financial performance of the business changed over time and how does it compare with key competitors and the industry as a whole? Ratio analysis. Portfolio Analysis Portfolio analysis is defined in the Marketing Management Text as the aid to  marketing managers to help develop effective marketing plans. Portfolio models are used  to classify Strategic Business Units (SBUs) to determine the future cash contributions  that can be expected for each SBU as well as the future resource requirement that each  will require. Portfolio models generally examine the competitive position of the SBU  and the chances for improving the SBUs contribution to profitability and cash flow. The model we will be using for Virgin is the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) model.   This model is based on the relationship between relative market share and growth of the  Market The BCG model classifies products under four areas. These are stars, cash cows,  question marks and dogs. Stars are SBUs with high share or high growth market   Virgin Atlantic is clearly the cash cow of the Virgin Empire but we have undertaken a Portfolio analysis from the viewpoint of Virgin Atlantic. With regards to Virgin Atlantic Airways we believe that there is no star. The cash cow is the Upper Class section. Cash cows have high share of a low growth market and generate higher cash revenues. This high end product targets wealthy customers and business passengers. This is the highest costing ticket available, usually around $9,000, and there are 50 seats available in this class. Therefore, upper class generates much higher revenues compared to premium economy and economy. Dogs are SBUs that have low market share in low growth market. We see Virgin Atlantics economy class as a dog. Question marks are SBUs that have high potential but will require great resources to build market share. We believe that Premium Economy is a question mark as it has potential to be a cash generator. Premium economy targets cheaper flying business class passe ngers and high end couples. There are 38 seats in this class and tickets generally sell for around $3,000. Economy class focuses on families and groups flying together. Tickets for economy class are priced around $500 and there are 271 seats. BCG Matrix Virgin Culture Virgin Atlantic is a unique airline with great people and has a unique culture and it is not easy to sum up our culture in just a few words. Ours is a demanding and fast changing business and every one of our people has to have the intelligence to plan and deliver brilliant airline operations, to think on their feet and be accountable and respond to change and development. All the while, of course, we are all working hard to deliver our unique mix of product and service for which we are famous. All this creates a lively, collaborative environment where everyone knows whats expected of them and works together to achieve it. We pride ourselves on being as honest and unpretentious as we are inspired and professional everyone has a chance to voice their opinions and no ones too proud to ask questions. We embrace innovation wherever it comes from. If someone, an employee, customer or passenger has a brainwaveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ well listen. If we like it well do it and this is another way in which our people are the driving force behind our success.Of course, it takes a certain sort of person to flourish in such a fast-paced, freethinking environment. Talented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, youll have to share in our passion for providing only the very best. Put people like this together, and you create a winning performance culture that thrives on inspirational leadership, positive attitudes, commercial flair and underpinned by solid accountability. Financial Analysis Virgin Atlantic has managed a pretax profit of 41.6 million pounds ($76.1 million) on record annual sales of 1.91 billion.The carrier shared that a rise in business class travel helped more than double its pretax, pre-exceptional performance, which stood at 20.1 million pounds for the year ago period. Sales were up 17 percent for its financial year, which ended on February 28 Carrying a record 4.9 million passengers, Virgin had a 2005-06 pre-tax, pre-exceptional items profit of  £41.6m more than double the figure for 2004-05.Virgins results announcement comes after reports that it was Virgin that blew the whistle on British Airways which is now being investigated by the UKs Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the US Department of Justice over alleged cartel activity involving BA and other airlines. Virgin has said that it is helping the OFT and the justice department with their inquiries.Chief executive Steve Ridgway reportedly said the strong performance came on the back of a 10 per cent increase in the number of passengers using its Upper Class cabin and the grabbing of market share on the North Atlantic. According to media, Ridgway denied, however, that Virgin had used the fuel surcharge like BAs,  £70 on a round-trip ticket to bolster revenues. The fuel surcharge has not kept pace with the increased cost of fuel, he reportedly said. It has only enabled us to recover around half of our fuel costs. Whereas fuel used to be around 15-16 percent of our costs it is now nearer 30 percent.Ridgway declined to comment in detail on why Virgin had blown the whistle on alleged conversations between it and BA, which prompted an OFT probe into alleged fuel surcharge price-fixing. According to a report: BA and VA impose the same surcharge of pound stg. 35 ($87) per individual long-haul flight (pound stg. 70 for a return trip). While BA had often been among the leaders in raising the fuel surcharge, on some occasions Virgin Atlantic, its main long-haul competitor at Heathrow, had also taken the lead. On most occasions the other airlines quickly followed the lead of the first mover. Last Septembe r, VA raised the long-haul surcharge from pound stg. 24 to pound stg. 30. It was followed in the same week by BA with the same increase. Virgin lowered the surcharge again in November to pound stg. 25, but BA did not follow suit and in January Virgin returned to pound stg. 30. In March, VA raised the levy to pound stg. 35. BA followed to pound stg. 35 in April. The Office of Fair Trading said last week that the investigation was at a very early stage and that there should be no assumption that there had been any wrongdoing. The External Environment: PESTLE Analysis   PESTLE analysis if you are including legal and environmental. Airlines are a good one because so many different things affect them. Political Taxes that they get charged in different countries for landing, fuel taxation etc Economic e.g. How does interest rate movement affext their longterm debt? How as their economic performance compared to the market sector? P/E ratios etc. Oil prices increasing, is this affecting their profits from increased fuel costs? Social Safety measures they employ on board and on the ground. Polulations growth does an ageing poulation affect them i.e. baby boomers, lots of people in that lifestage have more disposable income to spend. Technological As things improve technology becomes cheaper. How does this affect them? Does this mean the entries to barrier are lower for competitors to join? Do easyjet have a big RD dept? Legal Different legalities of different countries some stricter than others   Environment carbon offsetting, what is their CSR policy?   The Industry Environment: Five Forces New entrants in the industry basically face two difficulties: barriers to entry and retaliation from present firms (2003)   In the aviation industry, particularly the service passenger-based ones like Virgin Atlantic Airways, in modern economies are privately-operated that calls for substantial financial requirements at the fore.   Since travel services are derived demand (), new entrants should be able to cut a share in the pie in the presently saturated market.   This endeavor could result to another substantial resource to be deployed.   However, with such new entrant engagement, it does not assure of intended results because competitors like Virgin already created strategic links to other country-routes including its alliance with Asian giant Singapore Airlines that makes it easy to create counter-strategy.Boeing, the largest manufacturer of jetliners and supplier of Virgins aircrafts, had recently signed long-term agreement with largest aerospace part s distributor Satair for an Integrated Materials Management ().   As a result, Boeing could reduce its inventory and minimize warehousing costs because spare parts will be provided only when needed.   A cost reduction strategy from a supplier can assure customers like Virgin of price management scheme, if not, its another supplier, Airbus (the once number one airline manufacturer) could be resorted.Competitors in the industry have the same capability in terms interactivity of their web pages like Virgin.   This is supported almost fifty percent prevalence of internet connection among UK market, not to mention other countries.   As a result, the power of buyers to gain access to prices and services of firms increase making them knowledgeable of distinction of one from the other.   Companies on their part are obliged to be more competitive especially in maintaining and updating their web sites.  The countrys sea transport industry had develope d super ferries while the 2003 recorded 17.4% increase of UK passengers who took cruise holidays that reached nearly one million in that year ().   This development would make sense to airline industry tourism and leisure market especially foreigners that like to see the national endowments.   With demand for airline transport rise at faster rate than supply for it, the airline industry is required to effectively allocate its resources in a manner that exploit this supply shortage. Other airline competitors in the likes of AMR Corp., British Airways and Lufthansa are operating in at least 150 destinations compared to Virgins 20 As a result, rivalry among these firms against Virgin is relatively insignificant although strategic actions of Virgin that directly and significantly threat their market could spark retaliation in the detriment of relatively small firm.   The firm should focus in its target market and avoid competing with these large firms. Ansoffs product / market matrix Introduction The Ansoff Growth matrix is a tool that helps businesses decide their product and market growth strategy. Ansoffs product/market growth matrix suggests that a business attempts to grow depend on whether it markets  new or existing  products in  new or existing markets. The output from the Ansoff product/market matrix is a series of suggested growth strategies that set the direction for the business strategy. What is a Critical Success Factor? Critical Success Factors  (CSFs) are the critical factors or activities required for ensuring the success your business. The term was initially used in the world of data analysis, and business analysis. (   attracting customers; managing its fleet; managing its people, and managing its finances) Most smaller and more pragmatic businesses can still use CSFs but we need to take a different, more pragmatic approach. Critical Success Factors  have been used significantly to present or identify a few key factors that organizations should focus on to be successful. As a definition, critical success factors refer to the limited number of areas in which satisfactory results will ensure successful competitive performance for the individual, department, or organization. The connection of the Virgin Airline is outrageous because of the media that serves as a huge market competency advantage. Their strategy is using the media such as television, radio, internet, and even newspaper gave the business an opportunity for promotion. KEY POINTS    Virgin Atlantic established the strategy in promotion. They need to communicate with their customers for their initiatives in offering special offers that effectively make an appeal to their customers The benefits are expected to gain the Airlines 3-month payback on their investment; can utilize the advantage of the company over the technology such as computers; lowering the costs of the promotional materials because of the interaction of the business in the different forms of media; prioritizing the communication to the customers; and having the complete control on the advertising campaigns   The Virgin Atlantic recently tested the innovation and can continuously apply this in all their system. This strategy deals with the climate change has a great impact in the internal operation of the business such as the investment in the additional technology, better flying planes, building and operating an efficient infrastructure, and positive economic arrangements.    Strategy: Is about to design a desired future and identifying ways to bring it about by stenier1979 .a strategy is the pattern or plan integrate an organisation s major goals polices and actions into a cohesive whole.   Strategic Planning Strategy is the  direction  and  scope  of an organisation over the  long-term:  which achieves advantage  for the organisation through its configuration of  resources  within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of  markets  and to fulfil  stakeholder  expectations. In other words, strategy is about: * Where is the business trying to get to in the long-term (direction) * Which markets should a business compete in and what kind of activities are involved in such markets? (markets;  scope) * How can the business perform better than the competition in those markets? (advantage)? * What resources (skills, assets, finance, relationships, technical competence, facilities) are required in order to be able to compete? (resources)? * What external, environmental factors affect the businesses ability to compete? (environment)? * What are the values and expectations of those who have power in and around the business? (stakeholders) Strategy at Different Levels of a Business (Safety,  security  and  consistent delivery  of the basics are the foundation of everything we do. The success of our three year strategy requires us to build on these foundations by focusing on the  business  and  leisure  markets and driving  efficiency  andeffectiveness.) Strategies exist at several levels in any organisation ranging from the overall business (or group of businesses) through to individuals working in it. Corporate Strategy   is concerned with the overall purpose and scope of the business to meet stakeholder expectations. This is a crucial level since it is heavily influenced by investors in the business and acts to guide strategic decision-making throughout the business. Corporate strategy is often stated explicitly in a mission statement. Business Unit Strategy   is concerned more with how a business competes successfully in a particular market. It concerns strategic decisions about choice of products, meeting needs of customers, gaining advantage over competitors, exploiting or creating new opportunities etc. Operational Strategy   is concerned with how each part of the business is organised to deliver the corporate and business-unit level strategic direction. Operational strategy therefore focuses on issues of resources, processes, people etc. How Strategy is Managed Strategic Management In its broadest sense, strategic management is about taking strategic decisions decisions that answer the questions above. In practice, a thorough strategic management process has three main components, shown in the figure below: Mission Statement To grow a profitable airline that people love to fly and where people love to Work. SWOT Analysis The next segment of reviewing a firms strategic plan is to perform a SWOT analysis. This entails identifying a firms internal strengths and weaknesses and their external opportunities and threats. After analyzing the external environment and internal resources, strategic decision makers have the information they need to formulate corporate, business, and financial strategies of the organization. A comparison of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is normally referred to as a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis helps executives summarize the major facts and forecasts derived from the external and internal analysis. From this, executives can derive a series of statements that identify the primary and secondary strategic issues confronting the organization. Strategy formulation builds on SWOT analysis to utilize strengths of the organization in order to capitalize on opportunities, counteract threats, and alleviate internal weaknesses. In short, strategy formulation moves from simply analysis to devising a coherent course of action. The findings of a SWOT analysis are the basis for developing objectives and strategies that can be implemented in a companys strategic plan. Therefore, it is important for companies to continue to perform SWOT analyses, because external and internal factors affecting companies are constantly changing. New strategies need to be developed and old ones need to be revised in order to reflect the current internal and external conditions that affect a company Internal strengths and weaknesses are activities that a company performs particularly well or poorly. These internal activities stem from all departments and components of a business. After a company identifies its strengths and weaknesses, it should then develop strategies that capitalize on its strengths and minimize or improve its weaknesses External opportunities and threats are events that occur outside of the company and are events that the company has no control over. Co mpanies benefit from external opportunities and are harmed by external threats. It is important for a company to recognize its external opportunities and threats so it can formulate strategies to take advantage of future opportunities and to avoid future threats. (S)trengths: Virgin Brand recognized by 98% of British Public. Clients expect good customer service in each separate class Business/Economy. Virgin Atlantic introduced innovative technology: including in flight music, ice  cream, games, and movies. New in flight innovation is offered to gold club holders or J-class with lounges  offering quality food and comfort. Quality trained employees recruited from other airlines. Virgin Atlantic is spawned from as a private company allowing for other Virgin  brands and more control. Richard Bransons innovative entrepreneurial management. Competitive pricing for business class offers more services. Partnership with Singapore airlines because they are the minority shareholder at  49%. The reason why this partnership is beneficial is because their routes are  non-overlapping and the partnership allows the transfer of core competencies. Load factor is better than competition; therefore, returns are higher and value is  greater. Positive publicity, in regards to winning every quality award known to man. (W)eaknesses Flight delays: need to improve flight efficiency. The travel routes are limited. Hot Air magazine separate from traditional airline advertising magazines including articles and marketing advertising. Cut routes to Chicago, Toronto, and Cape in relation to the September 11 tragedy. Late getting on the Internet Missed the Boat for web site, web page, and ecommerce. Richard Branson is a one man manager being the owner and director of multiple companies. Costs associated in the overhead of keeping two five star chefs, lounge, and limo service. Virgins reliance on Trans Atlantic traffic makes them more vulnerable to the drop in demand for travel to and from the U.S. (O)pportunities Strategic Marketing above the rest utilizing by being innovative, fun, maintaining  values, caring, and produce quality. Technology adds improvements (Galileo) an advanced inventory system. In flight Internet connection. Web site needs to be improved possible weakness for e-commerce and regular  web site navigation. Generate additional routes. Virgin Galactic, we are flying into outer space. Warehouse facility -Heathrow, London. Recession may be an unexpected opportunity for investment. On-line strategy in targeting branding and ongoing ad campaigns, through on-line  media planning and buying account. (T)hreats Recession, September 11th will and has affected the entire airline industry, order cancellations, risk aversion for flying customers Brand Dilution by a rapid expanding brand image may be too global and not  focused towards the important products. Competition for routes British and United. Fuel prices are fluctuating, which accounts for 15% of total airline expense. Objectives The results that an organization seeks over a multiyear period are its long-term  objectives. Such objectives typically involve some or all of the following areas: profitability, return on investment, competitive position, technological leadership,  productivity, employee relations, public responsibility, and employee development. Eric Starks, Virgin Atlantic Regional Director, stated the following objective: To  maintain a safe customer environment through the necessary security procedures. Also to  concentrate on core competencies by consolidating routes, directly related to downsizing  workforce, to remain profitable while targeting business class passengers. Strategies Strategies are statements of how objectives are to be achieved. These are usually long- term strategies and necessitate many different approaches, such as, product development, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Generic strategies such as low cost, differentiation, or focus strategies characterize the competitive orientation of the firm in the marketplace.In order to remain profitable Virgin Atlantic has focused on its core competencies. The company is currently focusing its strategies on sustaining great quality. service and maintaining relationships with their Upper Class customers. This has resulted in the closing of routes to Toronto, Chicago, and Cape Town. The company has also reduced the amount of flights a day and personnel by 20% per route across the North Atlantic. For example, the San Francisco routes were reduced from two flights to one flight per day. Competitive Strategy Analysis Segmentation Market segmentation is defined as the process of dividing a market into groups of  similar consumer and selecting the most appropriate group(s) for the firm to serve. This  concept is achieved through the following six steps Define firms current situation. Determine consumer wants and needs. Divide markets on relevant dimensions. Develop product positioning. Decide segmentations strategy. Design marketing mix strategy. Targeting Targeting is when a firm chooses one or more market segments as a specific target markets. Virgin Atlantic is a company that considers every customer to be important and thus offers individualized services to customers. These are nine basic criteria for targeting Who buys our product? Who does not buy our product? What need or function does our product serve? What problem does our product solve? What are customers currently buying to satisfy the need or solve the problem for which our product is targeting? What price are they paying for the product they are currently buying? When is our product purchased? Where is our product purchased? Why is our product purchased? Upon evaluation of these questions the company must then assess opportunity in target markets based on segment size and growth potential, competition, companys objectives and feasibility of success in this market. Virgin Atlantic has targeted upper class customers who are primarily business passengers traveling on transatlantic routes. Positioning Positioning refers to the act of locating a brand in customers minds over and against other products in terms of product attributes and benefits that the brand does or does not offer.38 There are many different general strategies for positioning products Attribute or benefit, quality and price, use or application, competition, high-tech and high-touch, can achieve desired positioning. Most significantly, Virgin Atlantic has positioned itself as direct competitor to British Airways on all routes. Firstly, Virgin Atlantic was extremely aggressive in obtaining slots at Heathrow International Airport. Secondly, Virgin Atlantic attacked the proposed British Airways and American Airlines partnership stating that it was unhealthy for competition. Finally, Virgin Atlantic has strived to compete with British Airways on all routes into and out of London. Virgin Atlantic attracts customers by being fun and innovative. On the aircraft passengers experience spacious setting arrangements, state of the art in-flight entertainment system, and most importantly a high level of customer service. In addition,Virgin Atlantic offers a distinctive upper class service at business class prices.Furthermore, Virgin Atlantic is installing Internet capabilities and is implementing Galileos Inside Availability (R), a high-tech inventory management system. Option one low price/low added value. likely to be segment specific. Option two low price. risk of price war and low margins/need to be a cost leader. Option three Hybrid. low cost base and reinvestment in low price and differentiation. Option four Differentiation. (a)without a price premium: perceived added value by user, yielding market share benefits. (b)with a price premium: perceived added value sufficient to to bear price premium. Option five focussed differentiation. perceived added value to a particular segment warranting a premium price. Option six increased price/standard. higher margins if competitors do not value follow/risk of losing market share. Option seven increased price/low values. only feasible in a monopoly situation. Option eight low value/standard price. loss of market share. Conclusion By studying this external and industry analysis on environmental facts, it could be said that Virgin Atlantic Airways is situated in standard cycle markets wherein its competitive advantage is moderately shielded from imitation.   In general, airline industry belongs to slow cycle markets, however, due to relatively smaller capital and operations of some firms like Virgin, compa

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

The Career of Psychology A psychologist looks at the behavior and personality of a human, they can study different relationships between people, how they communicate, and how one’s mind works. The field of psychology is so diverse and exciting, which is why it attracts many scholars. Although psychology is very complex, can be difficult to pursue in, and requires a certain mindset, the career pays off with many benefits and the feeling of satisfactory. Job Description There are many different ways to describe what a psychologist does. Psychologists study human beings, how they act, their brain functions, and how they communicate with others. Psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning and treat individuals with mental and emotional problems. Many patients that have problems with behavior and emotions can be physically affected in a negative way. Psychologists use research to test the theories they develop. â€Å"Psychologists conduct both basic and applied research, serve as consultants to communities and organizations, diagnose and treat people, and teach future psychologists and those who will pursue other disciplines† (â€Å"Careers In Psychology†). A psychologist can use and focus on different types of methods and approaches in order to gather the information they need. Psychologists focus on two relationships, one between brain function and behavior, and another between the environment and behavior. As scientists, psychologists follow scientific methods using careful observation, experimentation and analysis. There are many different ways a psychologist can work with patients, depending on the situation. â€Å"Psychologists may gather information through controlled laboratory experiments; personality, performa... ... mostly create their own schedules and vacations. One of the greatest benefits to being a psychologist is doing the job itself, helping people. Doing what they do can be very satisfying and worthwhile. Many psychologists are loyal and attached to their job due to the years of training that they have done. Even if psychology is very stressful to pursue in, it comes with many perks and benefits, which is why it results in being a very favorable career. Psychology can be a tough career path to follow, but with hard work it lies great opportunities. I believe that working with others and helping people is very rewarding. Many are thrilled by the exciting changes taking place in the field, most likely because of all the different things you can do with psychology. This is a great career to pursue in, even if it can be stressful, requires hard work, and years of studying.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

One Minute Manager Essay

The most obvious lesson I learned in how simple management can be. The One Minute Manager Style of Management, at it’s most advanced form is basically the opposite of micromanaging. It is a quick and quick and concise form of management that maxamizes results. It is a technique that can also be taken outside of the work place. One minute Goal Setting is the simplest of the steps to becoming a One Minute Manager. It requires both parties to write down their goals in a short and concise format. One minute praisings are unique because the manager spends considerable time seeking for what an employee does right instead of anticipating the employee to do something wrong. Many of us can remember back to when we were kids and did something to upset our parents. The times that we felt the worst were when our parents acted in a manner consistent with the One Minute Reprimand style. It is imparative that a manager sets clear and concise goals with the employee as soon as the first time on the job. Everytime there is a project the employee(s) should sit down and write goals that do not exceed a page in length, but should also be quantitive. Read and reread each goal periodically, as well as evaluating the employee’s performance. After reading the goal setting procedure it would have saved me many headaches and misunderstandings. It is especially nice because the manager and the employee get a copy of the goals. If the employee ever forgets the goals, he or she can simply look at their one page document. The manager should file the goals so they can be revisited upon the project’s completion to see if goals were met. All of this helps eliminate diffusion of responsibility within the workplace since every employee will have a written statement of what they need to focus on for their project. I recently started using One Minute Appraisals. I started this about 3 months ago. It has benefited me both in my professional and personal life. It has improved my relationship with my girlfriend. She has constantly complained about how I never tell her what she does well. I finally took the intiative and decided to tell her what she does well. I noticed it improved a relationship with a new employee. He is in charge of an â€Å"additional duty.† However, since he is new he felt like he did not know the program as well as he could have. I asked him if he had received the training reltated to the additional duty. He said, â€Å"Yes.† I proceeded to ask him a series of questions he should know. He answered them all correctly and even provided me with information that I did not know. To me, this was impressive because I spent 2 years at this base and 4 months on this additional duty and had never learned what he had just told me. After he gave us all his valuable knowledge I pulled him aside and praised him. I told him that he needs to be more confident and he just provided valuable information to 2 of the most experienced technicians in the shop. Just like the book said he would be, he was surprised. I gave him a very strip down version of the appraisal. I did not however, tell him the benefit he had had towards the shop. I did see the realization in his eyes and the boost in his confidence. I will take what I learned from this book and use it, especially now since I will be held responsible of the training of the 5 newest airmans. One minute reprimand is a very useful tool in a manager’s arsenal. It lets the employee know what he or she did wrong, why it upsets the manager, and why it is not beneficial to the company, all in under one minute. I personally do not like to give one minute reprimands. I usually am disappointed when a fellow employee fails to do what I ask, and simply take it upon myself to do the job correctly. The company would benefit most if I took this fellow employee aside and told him why I am disappointed in him. Part of the blame would be placed on myself because I did not establish written goals with him or her. If there was a scenario where written goals were established, hopefully a one minute reprimand would motivate the employee not to committ the same mistake. The One Minute Goal Setting, One Minute Appraisals, and One Minute Reprimad allows the One Minute Manager to spend adequate time with his employees in order to produce the best results possible. It also opens up time for the manager to focus on the business and create possibilities of growth. The time spent with employees is not about quanitity, it’s about quality. The manager allows the time to create unique expectations for each employee as well as maintain open communication about achievements and disappointmens of employees. This system provides feedback while allowing the employees and the manager to move about things at a quick pace to stay on top of everything. The One Minute Manager is ideal within the workplace due to the level of trust he has established with his employees, and the success he has in all aspects of his life.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Battle of the Seelow Heights in World War II

The Battle of the Seelow Heights in World War II The Battle of the Seelow Heights was fought April 16-19, 1945, during World War II (1939-1945). Part of the larger Battle of the Oder-Neisse, the fighting saw Soviet forces attempting to capture Seelow Heights to the east of Berlin. Known as the Gates of Berlin, the heights were assaulted by Marshal Georgy Zhukovs 1st Belorussian Front. Lasting three days, the battle saw extremely bitter fighting as German troops sought to defend their capital. The German position was finally shattered on April 19, opening the road to Berlin. Background Since fighting began on the Eastern Front in June 1941, German and Soviet forces were engaged across the width of the Soviet Union. Having halted the enemy at Moscow, the Soviets were able to slowly push the Germans west aided by key victories at Stalingrad and Kursk. Driving across Poland, the Soviets entered into Germany and began planning for an offensive against Berlin in early 1945. In late March, Marshal Georgy Zhukov, commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, traveled to Moscow to discuss the operation with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Also present was Marshal Ivan Konev, commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, whose men were positioned to Zhukovs south. Rivals, both men presented their prospective plans to Stalin for the capture of Berlin. Listening to both marshals, Stalin elected to back Zhukovs plan which called for an assault against the Seelow Heights from the Soviet bridgehead over the Oder River. Though he supported Zhukov, he informed Konev that 1st Ukrainian Front should be ready to strike against Berlin from the south should the 1st Belorussian Front become bogged down around the heights. With the fall of Kà ¶nigsberg on April 9, Zhukov was able to rapidly redeploy his command to a narrow front opposite the heights. This corresponded with Konev shifting the bulk of his men north to a position along the Neisse River. To support his build up in the bridgehead, Zhukov constructed 23 bridges over the Oder and operated 40 ferries. By mid-April, he had assembled 41 divisions, 2,655 tanks, 8,983 guns, and 1,401 rocket launchers in the bridgehead. German Preparations As Soviet forces massed, the defense of the Seelow Heights fell to Army Group Vistula. Led by Colonel-General Gotthard Heinrici, this formation consisted of Lieutenant General Hasso von Manteuffels 3rd Panzer Army to the north and Lieutenant General Theodor Busses 9th Army in the south. Though a sizable command, the bulk of Heinricis units were badly under strength or composed of large numbers of Volksturm militia. Colonel-General Gotthard Heinrici. Public Domain A brilliant defensive tactician, Heinrici immediately began fortifying the heights as well as constructed three defensive lines to defend the area. The second of these was located on the heights and featured a variety of heavy anti-tank weapons. To further impede a Soviet advance, he directed his engineers to open dams further up the Oder to turn the already soft floodplain between the heights and the river into a swamp. To the south, Heinricis right joined with Field Marshal Ferdinand Schà ¶rners Army Group Center. Schà ¶rners left was opposed by Konevs front. Battle of Seelow Heights Conflict: World War IIDates: April 16-19, 1945Armies Commanders:Soviet UnionMarshal Georgy Zhukovapproximately 1,000,000 menGermanyColonel-General  Gotthard Heinrici112,143 menCasualties:Soviets: approximately 30,000-33,000 killedGermans: approximately 12,000 killed The Soviets Attack At 3:00 AM on April 16, Zhukov commenced a massive bombardment of the German positions using artillery and Katyusha rockets. The bulk of this struck the first German defensive line in front of the heights. Unknown to Zhukov, Heinrici had anticipated the bombardment and had withdrawn the bulk of his men back to the second line on the heights. Surging forward a short time later, Soviet forces began moving across the inundated Oderbruch Valley. The swampy terrain, canals, and other obstructions in the valley badly impeded the advance and the Soviets soon began to take heavy losses from German anti-tank guns on the heights. With the attack bogging down, General Vasily Chuikov, commanding the 8th Guards Army, attempted to push his artillery forward to better support his men near the heights. Soviet artillery during the Battle of Seelow Heights, April 1945. Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-E0406-0022-012 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 With his plan unraveling, Zhukov learned that Konevs attack to the south was having success against Schà ¶rner. Concerned that Konev might reach Berlin first, Zhukov ordered his reserves to move forward and enter the battle in the hope that added numbers would bring a breakthrough. This order was issued without consulting Chuikov and soon the roads were jammed with 8th Guards artillery and the advancing reserves. The resulting confusion and intermixing of units led to a loss of command and control. As a result, Zhukovs men ended the first day of battle without achieving their goal of taking the heights. Reporting the failure to Stalin, Zhukov learned that the Soviet leader had directed Konev to turn north towards Berlin. Grinding Through the Defenses During the night, Soviet artillery successfully moved forward. Opening with a massive barrage on the morning of April 17, it signaled another Soviet advance against the heights. Pressing forward throughout the day, Zhukovs men began to make some headway against the German defenders. Clinging to their position, Heinrici and Busse were able to hold until nightfall but were aware that they could not maintain the heights without reinforcements. Though parts of two SS Panzer divisions were released, they would not reach Seelow in time. The German position at the Seelow Heights was further compromised by Konevs advance to the south. Attacking again on April 18, the Soviets began to push through the German lines, though at a heavy price. By nightfall, Zhukovs men had reached the final line of German defenses. Also, Soviet forces were beginning to bypass the heights to the north. Combined with Konevs advance, this action threatened to envelop the Heinricis position. Charging forward on April 19, the Soviets overwhelmed the last German defensive line. With their position shattered, German forces began retreating west towards Berlin. With the road open, Zhukov began a rapid advance on Berlin. Aftermath In the fighting at the Battle of the Seelow Heights, the Soviets sustained over 30,000 killed as well as lost 743 tanks and self-propelled guns. German losses numbered around 12,000 killed. Though a heroic stand, the defeat effectively eliminated the last organized German defenses between the Soviets and Berlin. Moving west, Zhukov and Konev encircled the German capital on April 23 and the former began the final battle for the city. Falling on May 2, World War II in Europe ended five days later.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

A Thousand Acres essays

A Thousand Acres essays As the story starts to unfold in A Thousand Acres, the deception and betrayal between the father and his daughters becomes the main focus of the film. In the movie, a well respected Iowa farmer by the name of Larry Cook is ready to retire and hes handing down his entire farm to his three daughters, Ginny, Rose, and Caroline. This is about as far as the film gets before the deception and betrayal comes into play. When Caroline, who was supposedly Daddys favorite, told her father she wanted to think over the division before she agreed was totally cut out from it all. Larry wanted nothing at all to do with her because she questioned him. This is where the film starts to make note that Larry isnt the nicest man and that he may have some underlying problems. A Thousand Acres covers a lot of ground, and raises numerous questions about the demons that some families keep buried (Berardinelli). After Larrys betrayal of Caroline, it becomes more and more apparent that hes losing his mind. He starts making accusations that Rose and Ginny are just trying to take his land from him. Hes also making poor decisions like drinking and driving. This is one way the writer really portrays Iowa to an exact T. Iowa farmers drink and drive around on gravel roads almost as if it were an acceptable part of life, which is why, in the movie, nobody is concerned. That is until he wrecks his truck. This is about the time in the film where the viewer learns of the incest between Larry, Ginny, and Rose. After a large dispute out in the rain between Larry, Rose, Ginny, and their husbands, Rose and Ginny are sitting in the dark when Rose brings up how their father used to go into Ginnys room when she was a young teen and have sex with her. Around the time she was 15, he left her room and went to 13 year old Roses room. Rose claims she let him come in until she was 16 so h ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA - Essay Example There are different theories established by many philosophers about termination of pregnancy and there are different laws about terminating a pregnancy. In some countries terminating a pregnancy is illegal while in other countries it is legal (Warren, 828). There are mainly two types of beliefs about abortion and some people believe that abortion should be prohibited on moral grounds as it is like killing a person while others believe that abortion should not be prohibited as it has nothing to do with morality and it is necessary for society, sometimes, to avoid unwanted situation (Warren, 832). Those who advocate for prohibiting abortion believe that abortion is killing a fetus before birth which is an act of murder on both human and moral grounds. They are of the opinion that the abortion can only be allowed in exceptional cases like when the life of mother is at stake or the pregnancy is a result of rape or forced sex or any similar situation. Those who believe that abortion shoul d not be prohibited in case argue that besides danger to mother’s life and pregnancy as a result of rape or forced sex there are many more reasons which influence the decision of abortion. Sometimes women conceive due to failure of contraceptive measures and they are either not ready or not capable of bringing up a child and birth of a child can be a burden on them. On other occasions the woman who has conceived can be poor, disabled, under-age or unmarried and is not able to bring up a child. In those circumstances, if she is prohibited for abortion it becomes a burden for her whole life. They also reason it as it should be the discretion of the woman to decide about her life and the baby. The fetus cannot be considered as a person as it does not have any characteristics of personhood such as sentience, emotion, reasoning, communication capability, self awareness and morality. Similarly, they cannot be considered as a human being as they don’t have any characteristics of a human (Warren, 833). Moreover, the galloping population of the world can also be controlled to some extent by legalizing abortion because in the countries where abortion is not legalized people have to bear the burden of unwanted children which become a burden on humanity in many cases. Therefore, abortion must be legalized all across the world to reduce not only the burden on women but also on humanity. Abortions can be controlled and late abortions should be avoided unless it is not very essential and danger to life of the mother. An Argument that Abortion is Wrong - Don Marquis Abortion is term which people neither wish to think nor discuss about it, but it does not undermine the importance of the fact. By not thinking or discussing the horrible reality of abortion cannot be avoided. There is a mixed response about this overwhelming reality and some people think that abortion is a ground reality and essential for human society while others think that abortion is a violent a ct of killing an unborn baby and this act is neither human nor moral. Those who oppose abortion describe it and act of dismembering or tearing apart or vacuuming out a baby from its mother without any anesthesia. They further describe it as a crueler act when it is a partial birth or near-term abortion, when the baby is pulled out by plunging with a sharp object or vacuuming it completely. Though this is a horrible subject to think about it is necessary to discuss about it (Marquis, 839). Those who support abortion reason out that it is necessary for women who conceived without making a choice for it due to rape or failure of contraceptives and are not able to take care of the baby for

Friday, November 1, 2019

Sociology Families in a Global Perspective Essay

Sociology Families in a Global Perspective - Essay Example With the distribution of wealth in significantly different ratios across the nation, the family unit within the U.S. maintains different issues, stemming from economic and social circumstances, which directly influence family-related principles. India, a much less Westernized country, faces widespread poverty and dramatic chasms between social classes, despite its rapid growth in industry and radical social change. Indian culture maintains significantly different beliefs than that of United States families, created by economic circumstances and years of cultural values. Indian citizens, based on social status and financial realities, show marked contrast to their Western counterparts. All of these factors will be explored within this project. The United States, and its highly capitalistic economic system, creates an environment where many families tend to be more career-focused, with stern emphasis placed on the quality of higher-level education. However, the level to which education is actively stressed by parents to their children is radically different based on social class. The U.S. maintains a very wide division of classes, consisting of the significantly wealthy, upper middle class, middle class, and the lower working class. Upper middle class citizens, as one example, reflect the majority of this group as being holders of Bachelors and post-graduate degrees in high paying professional fields (Henslin, 2003). The lower working class, in opposite respect, represents the majority of U.S. blue collar workers, who rear their children with little emphasis on career-building. This group is more dominant toward their children, often using physical punishment to ensure child obedience (Henslin). This emphasis on obedience and rigorous punishment is often driven by the fact that blue-collar workers tend to work under controlling managerial environments, which is a mentality passed