Mercury Athletic Case Essay

West Coast Fashions, Inc. (WCF), a large designer and marketer of men’s and women’s branded apparel recently announced plans for a strategic reorganization. Active Gear, Inc. (AG), a privately held footwear company, was contemplating an acquisition opportunity. John Liedtke, the head of business development for AG, was interested in a WCF subsidiary. The subsidiary that Liedtke and AG intended to acquire was Mercury Athletic (MA), a footwear company. Liedtke thought acquiring Mercury would roughly double AG’s revenue, increase its leverage with contract manufacturers and expand its presence with key retailers and distributors. In order to provide a solid recommendation to Liedtke, further analysis must be performed. Market Overview The apparel or footwear industry is highly competitive with low growth. The market is influenced by fashion trends, price, quality and style. Companies can reduce risk factors by not following fashion trends which equates to efficient and effective inventory management and missed profit opportunities. Active Gear AG is a relatively small athletic and casual footwear company. It has annual revenues of $470.3M (42% of revenues came from athletic shoes), and $60.4M of operating income. Casting a shadow over these numbers are AG’s typical competitors. AG’s typical competitor has annual sales over $1.0B. Because of Chinese manufacturing contract consolidations, AG’s size was becoming a disadvantage due to low buying power vs. competitors. AG’s initial focus was to produce and market high-quality specialty shoes for golf and tennis players. AG was among the first companies to offer fashionable, walking, hiking and boating footwear. Over the years, the firm’s athletic shoes had evolved from high-performance footwear to athletic fashion wear with a  classic image. The firm’s traditional casual shoes also offered classic styling, but were aimed at a broader, more mainstream market. AG’s target demographic was urban and suburbanites, ranging from 25-45 in age. AG’s distribution channels consisted of independent retailers, departmental stores, and wholesalers. AG excluded big box retailers and discount stores. AG focused on products that didn’t follow fashion trends, resulting in a lengthened product lifecycle. This business model led to more efficient and effective supply chain and operating management. However, because they opted for the safe route it halted the company’s sales and growth opportunity. Mercury Athletic Mercury Athletic was purchased by WCF from its founder Daniel Fiore. Fiore was forced to sell the company after running it for over 35 years, due to health problems. Due to a strategic reorganization, the plan called for the divestiture of MA and other â€Å"non-core† WCF assets. MA had revenues of $431.1M and an EBITDA of $51.8M Products were distributed to departmental and discount stores It had two product lines- athletic and casual footwear Target market of both men and women Shoes popularity grew in the extreme sports market MA developed an operating infrastructure, allowing management to quickly adapt to changes in customer tastes with product specifications. 1. Is Mercury an appropriate target for AG? Why or why not? Let me walk you through some qualitative considerations before making my recommendation. Strategic considerations: AG and MA are both competing in the athletic and casual footwear industry. Acquiring MA could lead to economies of scale and scope through manufacturing and distribution networks, respectively. Acquiring MA- AG would be less affected by the Chinese manufacturing contract consolidation, due to increased buying powers. AG could potentially revive and profit from acquiring Mercury’s women’s product line. Acquiring MA will double AG’s  annual revenue. Counter arguments- AG and MA target demographics could not produce company synergies MA is fashion trendy, therefore prone to risks outside of AG’s steady business model Company cultures could not match 2. Review the projections by Liedtke. Are they appropriate? How would you recommend modifying them? In order to find if the projections are reasonable, you need a starting point. Using projected growth rates and EBIT should indicate if Liedtke’s data is solid. Referencing the Free Cash Flow and Terminal Value tables (found below), I will be able to generate an opinion of Liedtke’s projections. Year to year growth rates are extremely volatile, normalizing in 2010. The negative rate could signify that in 2007 they are projecting to discontinue a product line. The swing back to a positive growth rate could be indication of AG leveraging its economies of scale and scope, while distributing their product lines through big box retailers. EBIT has been projected to gradually increase, which looks to be on par with industry norms. It is reasonable to say that Liedtke’s projections properly reflect AG’s business model, post-acquisition. 3. See tables and calculations below 4. Do you regard the value you obtained as conservative or aggressive? Why? From my analysis, the value I obtained seemed to be aggressive against the information provided. Referencing the tables below: Terminal or Enterprise Value is High Synergies are excluded from financial analysis Declining revenue growth 5. How would you analyze possible synergies or other sources of value not reflected in Liedtke’s base assumption? In order to analyze possible synergies, I would look at both companies’ operations. Starting from where they source their materials to distributing their final product are all possibilities of operational synergies (buying power, distribution channels, inventory management, etc†¦). Financial synergies would include combining revenues and cost benefits, which translate to increasing bottom line. Company culture matching could also become problematic. Quantitative Analysis Net Working Capital Free Cash Flow WACC Terminal Value Valuation NPV, IRR and Payback Period Conclusion Net present value of future cash flows equates to a positive $0.2M. Internal rate of return or IRR is the interest rate at which the net present value of all the cash flows from a project or investment equal zero. The IRR of this acquisition is 28%. Having a positive NPV and an IRR that considerably outweighs the discount and risk free rate- suggests that this acquisition should be pursued. In conclusion, AG should acquire MA.

Analysis of Film Poster for “The Matrix”

From a distance the first thing that would be noticed by a passing audience would be the title of the poster. It would catch the viewer's eye with its striking green colouration and large bold font. Its central position in the poster would draw the audience's attention and bring them closer so they can pick out the smaller information, which in turn would lead to the desire to see the film or not. The use of the upper case makes the title stand out from the rest of the poster and would act as the focal point of the advertisement. The type of font used in this case sharp and modern, would denote the genre of the movie, which again would influence the people and pick out a specific target audience. Director: The directors name on my poster is situated above the title, so presumably would be the next thing the viewer would focus upon. A famous, well-established director such as Spielberg would sell a film by reputation alone. Their previous films using various genre would appeal to a target audience that wouldn't have normally seen the film. Their success widens the target audience and draws in people outside the specified genre, making more money for the producer's etc. Images: Images are probably the most important element of most types of advertisement. The use of images gives a more interesting and less boring way of getting the same message across that text would. Also because people are more susceptible to images and remember them easier, designers use this to inform and sell films by incorporating pictures into the poster. The type of imagery used again highlights a target audience, using their likes and dislikes, to create a demand for the film and make them want to watch it. The fact that my only form of imagery is in text and the use of numbers was done purposely, as I chose to integrate the main theme of the film, which is computers and science fiction, by using what could be described as ‘computer language'. The mystery invoked by this type of imagery would entice viewers into watching the film to understand the relevance of it because they are only given small pieces of information. Also the fact that the images can only really be read from close proximity, would mean that people would have to move closer to see, meaning they have to study the poster harder, which would lead to more information being processed, meaning they will have a better understanding of the movie. Actors/Actresses: The actors and actresses are important in widening the target audience further, their past roles and performances in movies will influence people into viewing the film. Most designers would use the upper case letters to advertise the cast as it stands out and would be more noticeable, they would use a contrasting colour from the back ground and they would position the most famous star on the left of the poster as viewers read from left to right. In my poster Keanu Reeves is the first name to appear on the poster, as he is the most famous. It is important to select cast that will appeal to as wide a target audience as possible, with Reeves and Moss, it does just that. They are both younger actors that would appeal to both sexes with their looks and sexual allure. People relate to stars, they either want to be with them or want to be them. Laurence Fishbourne, however, would attract the older viewers, as he is an older more classical actor, people wouldn't necessarily want to be him or be with him, they would more likely admire him for his acting ability. Critic's Quote: The critic's quote is a significant part in the layout of a film poster as it gives the reader a supposedly unbiast opinion of the film. The critic's quote is filled with hyperbolic language and positive words that would make the movie out to be the best film ever. This would help sell the film as no one would want to see a movie that was given a bad review because people are influenced by success. In my quote I used upper case letters within the sentence because it adds to the hyperbole and it highlights the positive words in the quote. The fact that it is directly under the cast's names was done so that they would read the quote after the cast and work their way down the poster, building an opinion about the film and its view-ability. Who actually gave the quote is important too, as their success as a movie magazine, newspaper etc, would promote the movie and would again target a specific audience, in my case using Empire magazine, a ‘movie buff' type of person. Because the average consumer doesn't really know much about movies, the fact that they are being told by an ‘expert', will influence their decision to pay their money to see the film. Certificate: By putting an age limit on the film you pick out a certain target audience. With having such a certificate as 15 advertised on the poster, you appeal to a younger audience with a ‘disposable income', mainly students and adults that don't have families or money that is spoken for. A certificate is there to give the viewers a rough guess as to its violence content, the language used and to what sort of extent the film has sexually explicit scenes in it. Although by putting an age limit on the movie, it doesn't stop younger or older audience attending. Producers: This element of the film poster can be both beneficial and detrimental to its success as a film poster. By using a producer's quote you attract a target audience by association, people who have seen earlier films will make the connection with its success or with its failure. This is potentially where this piece of information can be harmful. If the viewers make the link with a prior films achievements, this can help with the advertised films selling capability. However, if people make a negative link with the previous film they are less likely to watch it, as they will be put off by the last films performance. Conclusion: Altogether I feel my poster works reasonably well, I think it uses most of the key elements that a film poster has to possess in order to inform and to sell the movie to the public. The colouration is eye catching and modern and I feel I incorporated the main theme and essential taster of the movie within it. However if I was to repeat the exercise again I would change, improve and add a few things. I would have more than one critic's quote to broaden the target audience even further, this would be achieved by maybe having a well known newspaper write a review on it, making the film review be seen by a whole range of people, as more buy newspapers than movie magazines. I would also choose to have an actual image included in the poster, as the text that is the imagery in my poster may not be as memorable as pictures may be. To show the public of this movie's success I would probably decide to have the awards, Oscars etc that the movie had won or been nominated for, as this would attract an audience that wouldn't have normally bothered.

Executing Strategies in a Global Environment Essay

Abstract This paper will analyze Federal Express’s value creation frontier, and determine which of the four building blocks of competitive advantage the company needs in order to continue their above average profitability. It will also explore the main aspect of product differentiations and capacity control of the company to maintain an edge on their rivals. Furthermore, for this assignment I will attempt examine the efficiency of FedEx’s current business model and recommend a new business level strategy that will give Federal Express a competitive advantage over it rivals. In addition, this paper will also examine the manner in which overall, global competition may influence my recommended business strategy and I will suggest a significant way that Federal Express can confront its global competition. Introduction Federal Express began operating in 1973, under the leadership of Fred Smith Jr. Before Federal Express, a major portion for small packaging airfreight flew on commercial passenger flights. Fred Smith believed that these two services should be treated differently, because the commercial passenger and cargo shipper had different needs. The commercial passenger they wanted the convenience of daytime flights. As for the cargo shippers, they preferred night services, which would afford them late afternoon pickups and next day delivery (Hill,2013). Since small-package airfreight only went out based on the commercial flight scheduling, it was hard for cargo shippers to achieve next day delivery. To remedy the shipping issue cargo shippers had Smith aimed to build a system that could achieve next day delivery of small package airfreight (Hill,2013). Today Federal Express has grown from a express delivery company to a global logistic and supply chain management company (Crane, et al., 2003). Over the years Federal Express was able to grow through acquistions and large investmenst in information technoloy. The company was also able to stand out from the rest best on their business model operate independently, compete collectively. Smith segmented his compnay into 6 different  component – FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services, which allowed each component to focus on their own maket segment. By segmenting of each component it provided Federal express the oppurtunity to focus more on customer. Even though Federal Express 6 different components operated seperatley the competed together under FedEx Corporation. Federal Express’s Value Creation Frontier and Their Four Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage Federal Express profitability depends on three factors: The value a customer places on t heir services, the price Federal Express charges for their services, and the cost Federal Express has to incur to produce the services they provide (Hll & Jones, 2013). The more favorable these factors are the more value is bestowed on Federal Express’s product. To accurately value, a company’s product management must distinguish the difference between utility and price (Hill & Jones, 2013). Utility is the customer’s satisfaction or happiness with using or owning a company’s product or services. Federal Express has stepped up to the plate by making shipping easier and convenient for their customer. Today we can find drop off boxes in front of office buildings and small neighborhood shipping stores. Having drop off boxes offers the customer anytime drop offs and no waiting time. Federal Express has also invested heavily in innovation to add to the customer’s experience (Crane, et al., 2003). The option of wireless technology and the ability to track deliveries and schedule picks on the company’s website provides the customer shipping right at their fingertips. For their global customer Federal Express can offer shipping option to more than two hundred companies. The prices Federal Express set for their services are higher than many of their competitors. Federal Express pricing is considered a premium, which reflects the high quality level of service FedEx provides (Crane, et al., 2003). Based on FedEx stance, their premium pricing is worth it, but they fail to realize their very price sensitive customer who may go with a more cheaper option for certain services (UPS). In this case it make it difficult for Fedex to standout based on branding and the amenties they offer. They may have to think of a different way to differeinate themselves from the competitior. Since Federal Express’s growth and customer, satisfaction comes with a high price tag. Their return on invested capital (ROIC) is very low compared to its biggest competitor UPS. In 2011, FedEx ROIC was 7.41% and UPS was 19.39%  (Hill, 2013). Some say in time the money FedEx spent to build up their company, technology infrastructure, and customer satisfaction may soon pay off. The other positive side is that FedEx spending and acquisition expenses have made it hard for new companies to enter and compete in the packaging industry Along with value creation, a company must excel in the four building block of competitive advantage – efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer responsiveness. How well a company performs in these four areas will determine their profitability and competitive advantage over the competitor. These four generic building blocks are a product of a company’s distinctive competencies, which will allow a company to differentiate its product and lower its cost structure (Hill & Jones, 2013). In turn, sustain a competitive advantage and better profitability outcomes over their competitor. When determining a company’s efficiency we can look at what it takes (inputs) to produce a product or services (outputs). According to Hill and Jones, the more efficient a company is the fewer inputs it required to produce a particular output. The most common way to measure a company’s efficiency is through employee productivity – the out pout produced per employee (Hill & Jones, 2013). When examining FedEx efficiency they were the first packaging company to invest in technology that enabled their employees to access company information wireless 24 hours a day. This wireless feature also allows the employee to collect packaging data, which allows employees to quickly enter packages into the company’s package tracking system, which reduces the possibility of error (Crane, et al., 2003). As for FedEx service, they can be review by its features, performance, durability, reliability, style, and design (Hill & Jones, 2013). These features are used by customers to determine the quality level of the services that are offered by FedEx. Based on FedEx’s history, spending to build its infrastructure, and premium pricing FedEx is committed to providing a service of high quality standings. FedEx has also invested heavily in new technologies, which will improve their services, make it more reliable, and valuable to its customers (Amsler, Cullen, & Erdmenger, 2010). An example that show FedEx is all about quality is their technology efforts such as tracking deliveries on their website, and offering convenient shipping at the customer’s fingertips. As mentioned before FedEx is all about innovation. They are into creating new services  and processes to make shipping easy and convenient for their customers. One of their major investments is the joint venture with University of Memphis. University of Memphis and FedEx have joined and formed the FedEx Institute of Technology. This investment will ensure that FedEx will not be let in dark when it comes to new technology (Crane, et al., 2003). When it comes to customer satisfaction FedEx tries to identify their customer needs. FedEx heard the customers demanded for a more convenient way of shipping. FedEx has extended drop off times by three hours, offer drop off boxes, and the ability for customer to schedule pickups on FedEx’s website. The only dissatisfaction is the premium pricing set on their services. FedEx fail to adhere to the demands of their cost sensitive customers. These are the customers who only care about inexpensive delivery services. This group of people may use FedEx as a last resort for their shipping needs. Product Differentiation The idea behind product differentiation is creating a product that satisfies the customers’ needs (Hill & Jones, 2013). In order for a company to obtain a competitive advantage they must offer a product that better satistfies the customer’s need than its rival. When a company creates a stratergy that involves innovation, execellence, quality, and customer responsiveness they are offering custumers differentiation product. When the a company’s stratergy is about finding ways to increase efficiency and reliablity to reduce cost they are offering the customer low priced product (Hill & Jones,2013). In the case of Federal Express their stratergy is not about offering a low priced product, but offering a product that is innovative, meets a high standard of execellence, high quality, and basing the product on the customer’s need. Federal Express understood the importance of differentiation. Since their strategy is not based on offering a low costing product Federal Express had to focus on information technology. Today customers are interested in monitoring their shipments, estimating arrival times, price and cost of shipments. These elements are important to most businesses and consumers as well as the safety of their delivery (Crane, et al., 2003). To satisfy the needs of their customers and to stand out from their competitor FedEx has  invested heavily in the technology infrastructure, which provides options for customers to track and validate shipments at their personal computer. Federal Express works hard to create a high quality level of service that is difficult for their rival to match (Crane, et al., 2003). Over the years, FedEx has been known as an innovator in the shipping sector, and providing a high level of quality services. Due to FedEx’s higher prices the level of service they provide may become unnoticed. To differentiate their standard of quality from their competitor FedEx lets their customers know that if they are willing to pay more it will be worth it (Crane, et al., 2003). Capacity Control With technology, forecasting, and planning strategies Federal Express is able to handle the fluctuating demand in shipping. With General Information Science (GIS) Federal Express is able to build routes for the driver, guide sorting activities of inbound freight, estimate and record delivery times. This information is stored on a cloud, which is use for future planning and test the durability of a route to accommodate package volume fluctuation (Conger, Dezemplen, Haas, & McLeod, 2010). Efficiency of Federal Express’s Current Business Model Federal Express’s current business model is to â€Å"operate independently, compete collectively.† Currently Federal Express is under the leadership of FedEx Corporation. FedEx Corporations provides strategic direction and financial reporting for the following operating companies that compete collectively, but operate separately worldwide: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services (Amsler, Cullen, & Erdmenger, 2010). The idea behind â€Å"Operate independently, compete collectively† is that each company will operate independently, compete collectively and manage collaboratively. By operating independently, each of the organizational components (FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services) can focus solely on their market segment. Also by segmenting off each component by its own market segment has provided FedEx the competitive advantage in customer responsiveness and has limited wasted time and resources on problem that are not associated with each market (Amsler,  Cullen, & Erdmenger, 2010). The benefit of all the organizational component competing collectively is carrying and competing under a well know name – FedEx, which is one of the most recognized names in the industry (Smith, 2005). Even though â€Å"operate independently, compete collectively† has worked for Federal Express thus far, but keep in mind it only provided FedEx with a competitive edge in specific customer focus. To gain a stronger competitive advantage FedEx should add cost leadership to their business level strategy. Cost leadership is a business model strategy that works towards lowering a company’s cost structure so they can make and sell their products at a lower price than its competitors (Hill & Jones, 2013). This has been difficult for FedEx, because of their constant expenditures in their infrastructure (Amsler, Cullen, & Erdmenger, 2010). Due to FedEx costly expenditures, they are unable to compete with their biggest rival, UPS in setting prices. Global Competition and the Impact on Suggested Business Strategy Based on the international shipping demand among integrated global corporations and manufactures it will be FedEx’s as well as its competitors best interest to enter into the global shipping industry. Global manufactures are interested in keeping their inventory at a minimum and have just in time delivery option. This way global manufactures can keep cost down, fine-tune their production, and meet delivery deadlines (Hill, 2013) . As for global corporation their shipping need are different. They are in need of fast and a safe way to ship document that are to confidential for internet transmisson or require a real signiture. These global coroporation are seeking for the same shipping services the receive in the U.S for their global operations (Hill, 2013). According to Case 7: â€Å"The Evolution of the Small Package Express Delivery Industry, 1973 -2010† the trend for global shipping need is forcasted to grow approxiamently 18% annually from 1996 to 2016. This means there is a big demand for air cargo operators to build global shipping networks that will allow them to provide shipping services across the globe with in a 48 hour time frame. Through acquistion Federal Express was able to build a global shipping network to meet the demand among intergrated global corporations and manufactures. The acquisition expenses, international start cost, customs regulation cost , labor issue associated with global shipping, and the barries to attaining landing right in many markets prevented FedEx to  include cost leadership in their global busines stratergy. Eventhough FedEx does not have the competitive edge when it come to pricing they are t more visible in the global shipping industry than their competitors. They can offer services and shipping time frames their rivals can not offer. FedEx also has shipping hubs all over the world, which include 600 or so air crafts , which allows them to provide shipping option most of their comepitives can not offer. Based on history this was very difficult for other companies to establish this task. Since very few competitor have the same golobal infrastructure as FedEx global companies relay more FedEx for the international shipping needs (Crane, et al., 2003) Conclusion In conclusion, Federal Express’s competitive advantage is not based on cost, but on its technology infrastructure. Over the years, Federal Express has spent heavily on technology and in acquisitions in order to offer delivery options and services their competitor cannot. The spending was geared towards satisfying the needs of the customer, innovation, offering a quality product and excellence services. The only negative side on spending heavily is that the cost was passed on to the customer, but Federal express stance is that they offer premium services and products. Federal Express can offer their international customers shorter delivery time, because of the major acquisition transactions Federal Express was involved in over the years. As for their domestic business, it may be a little difficult to stand out from their competitor. Currently the competitor (UPS) can offer similar services and convenient shipping options at a lower cost. References Amsler, M., Cullen, J., & Erdmenger, J. C. (2010). Strategic Report for FedEx Corporation. Vector Strategy Group. Conger, R., Dezemplen, R., Haas, J., & McLeod, J. (2010). Using GIS Strategic Planning and Execution at FedEx Express. Crane, B., Landthorn, B., Miri, B., Relph, J., Sanchez, C., & Vernerova, A. (2003). FedEx Corpration: Strategic Management Project. Hill, C. L. (2013). Case 7: The Evolution of the Samll Package Express Delivery Industry, 1973-2010. In C. L. Hill, & G. R. Jones, Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach (pp. C83-C96). Independence: Cengage. Hill, C. L., & Jones, G. R. (2013). Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach (10th ed.). Independence: Cengage. Smith, F. W. (2005). FedEx. Retrieved from FedEx corporation annual report: http://www.fedex.com/us/investorrelations/financialinfo/2005annualreport/online/msg_chair.html

Case Study for Internet and E-Business Assignment

Case Study for Internet and E-Business - Assignment Example From the research it can be comprehended that the present e-Business environment has been catalyzed by the growth of the ecommerce concept since the early part of this century. The term â€Å"E-Business† essentially means the process of executing business operations as well as key business processes for any organization using the electronic medium or more effectively the internet media. Various organizations around the globe have essentially spent a considerable portion of their finances for the purpose of integration of technology in their key businesses processes through the usage of various advanced level business software suites. The favorable e-commerce environment has significantly contributed to the growth of various e-businesses like Amazon, eBay, Flipkart etc. in the last 10 years and thereby has contributed to the growth of various models of e-Business ranging from B2B, B2C, C2B and even C2C. The B2C (Business to Consumer) model is the business model where organizati ons are the sellers or providers of services and the individual consumers are the buyers. The alignment of this business model with the internet has helped the companies to cater to consumers all around the globe. Since Oxenford Business College is increasingly trying to compete with other business colleges in terms of providing distance as well as online courses, hence, this model can help the college to generate large revenue by connecting to a global community of students. The B2B (Business to Business) model of business increasingly represents the process of conducting businesses between various large organizations, which are increasingly playing the roles of both the buyer and the seller as well. Oxenford Business College can simply take the benefits provided by this business model by the process of rendering online classes to a group of employees of an organization. 3.2 Model analysis with respect to revenue generation Talking in lines of revenue generation, it can be said tha t many large business organizations around the world implement the online version of the B2B and B2C business model through the application of intranets as well as extranets. This integration of technology in their business processes helps them to communicate and execute key business processes with their subsidiaries and consumers on a real time scenario. For the case of Oxenford Business College, it can be said that the online B2C model provides a huge prospect in terms of revenue generation. Through the rendering of online classes and course content, the college can provide educational services to global students. The college can provide the online services through a secured server and students all over the globe can simply access it by paying for the

Self Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self Analysis - Essay Example One of these characteristics is being adaptable. I consider myself adaptable because I appreciate the little things around me and it is easy for me to make friends wherever I go. I am not such a difficult person to deal with. Although I can argue for what I believe in, I would not want to offend anybody with my words, much more hurt people with my gestures. Overall, I consider myself as a peaceful individual who is open to opportunities and friends. Exploring the second window gives me a thrill. I always want to know what others think of me and as I expected, I got the pleasure to know that the people around me appreciate what I am to them. Like what I thought, they consider me amiable and calm, qualities that I always wanted to project. Surprisingly, I got the comment that I am logical, serious, and shy. On being logical, I guess other people found me peace-loving that is why they call me logical. I make it a habit not to argue with anyone especially if things are not that serious. On one hand, the term logical may apply to me because I do not argue with anyone; on the other hand, it may be vague because I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself. As regards being serious and shy, I admit that these are some qualities that I would like to change. Being serious and shy may not be a real problem but being overly serious and shy could establish walls with other people. Learning about this impression makes me rethink of ways on how to be more lax and funny. Among the four windows, the third one is the most revealing. This window allows me to reflect on my negative side, which is unknown to others. Actually, some people may find the content of my third window as non-detrimental to my personality. Nevertheless, I find it quite a flaw, which I have to deal with squarely. For this window, I wrote that I am puzzled by the world, quite confused with what I should believe in. I wonder if God is real, if He really existed, why people have to suffer despite His existence,

Is there a clash of civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is there a clash of civilizations - Essay Example and its allies, due to the perceived threat of western cultural values, lifestyles, democracy, liberalness, secularism as well as capitalism to the Muslim spiritual customs and dogmas, is indicative of a clash of civilizations between Islam and the west. There is compelling evidence of the ever-broadening gap between the Muslim world and the west, due to unique differences in values that define the two cultural blocks. While there is no single civilization that dominates the world, the western culture and the Islamic culture are perhaps the greatest civilizations of the world, with the latter being the most troublesome. The Muslim world is always antagonizing the west and individuals in the Islamic civilization do not see eye to eye with those in the western civilization on many issues. The assault on Pentagon and New York’s Twin Towers was not only an attack against the United States as a nation, but also an attack on the glorified western society and philosophy in general (Wistrich, 2001). The Muslim terrorists will not relent until they have reduced the western civilization to the ground and only then will they be satisfied that the spread of contemporary western way of life and western values across the world has been con tained. The Muslim world has always been threatened by the U.S. led â€Å"western democracy, freedom of thought, secularism and capitalism, ideals that have been hailed as the epitome of modern civilization and modelled by many nations across the world. As the western nations revel their successful democratization of the rest of the world, the Muslim world frowns at their successes and their hatred grows even further. The longstanding confrontational relationship between the west and the Muslim world does indicate the obvious conflicting interests of the two sides, with each seeking domination of the global world order. The western world, particularly the U.S. and Israel, have been loathed and targeted by the Muslim world since they are

English lit, fiction short story Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English lit, fiction short story - Assignment Example That is why short stories are appealing to the audience and people appreciate reading it. The text under consideration is â€Å"A Sound of Thunder†, written by Ray Bradbury. Story depicts a strange adventure of wealthy businessmen who intend to accomplish a time travel to the past for hunting dinosaurs. The theme of the story states the idea that everything is interconnected in this world, and even the smallest changes in the past may lead to unpredictable implications in the future. The author succeeds in elucidating the central message curiously and figuratively. The plot of the story reveals events chronologically, as the heroes’ adventure shown logically from its beginning to the end in the story. The story occurs in 2055 year, but it contains time travel to the past. Ray Bradbury provides a play with the time continuum in this fiction work. He writes â€Å"First a day and then a night and then a day and then a night, then it was day-night-day-night. A week, a month, a year, a decade! A.D. 2055. A.D. 2019. 1999! 1957! Gone...The Machine howled. Time was a film run backward. Suns fled and ten million moons fled after them† (Bradbury, n.p.). Such game with the temporal dimensions makes a story interesting and catches the reader’s attention. What is more, the plot of the story is rather unpredictable as we start to read and cannot predict what is going to happen next. As for the characters we may view them as a usual people in an unusual environment. The protagonist of the story, Eckels, considers himself a stubborn hunter and wants to shoot a dinosaur. He is confident, successful man with significant perspectives and skeptically relates to the directing rules of the maintainers and hardly believes that one small move can fundamentally transform the future. And the time when Travis tells him about the accidental killing of one mouse he replies: â€Å"So theyre dead†¦So what?† (Bradbury, n.p.). Still, his opinion

Feminist Perspectives on Prostitution as an Illegal Contract Essay

Feminist Perspectives on Prostitution as an Illegal Contract - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that contracts for an illegal purpose will not be enforced by the courts. In the UK, prostitution per se, is not illegal. However, many activities associated with prostitution such as kerb crawling, solicitation, living of earnings from prostitution, operating a brothel and advertising prostitution services are all illegal. Nevertheless, at common law, contracts purporting to support or encourage a sexually immoral act will be regarded as illegal and thus deemed illegal contracts. Prostitution is regarded as the promotion of sexual immorality and as such, any contract involving prostitution is regarded as an illegal contract. The liberal feminist or contractarian perception of prostitution argues that absent the use of force, prostitution is a legitimate economic choice for women and thus should be treated as any other contract of service or employment. Radical feminist theorists however, argue that prostitution involves selling one’ s body and is not simply the â€Å"use of the human body† but also the â€Å"sexual use of a woman’s body†. Radical feminist theory is consistent with the perceptions that prostitution is immoral and thus contracts involving prostitution would be illegal. Liberal feminist theory dismisses the immoral characterization of unforced prostitution and argues that prostitutes should be accorded the protection of the law via the law of contract and in particular service or employment contracts.... minism, an argument can be made in support of illegalizing contracts involving prostitutes in cases where the prostitute is forced into prostitution or is a minor. However, women who voluntarily turn to prostitution, may not see themselves as forced into the trade and will not likely see themselves as victims. From the perspective of radical feminists, prostitution represents the â€Å"subordination†, â€Å"degradation† and â€Å"victimisation† of women by men.10 Radical feminists argue that prostitution by definition is an act of violence. In this regard, there is no such thing as â€Å"voluntary prostitution†, because it invariably involves some form of force, â€Å"even if the worker is unaware of it†.11 Radical feminist Susan G. Cole characterizes prostitution as institutionalised male dominance and likens it to institutionalised slavery and dominance by the White race. In institutionalised slavery Blacks were hurt and via institutionalised pros titutions women are hurt.12 Radical feminist Andrea Dworkin argues that prostitution cannot be understood by reference to the exercise of individual choice. According to Dworkin, prostitution together with rape â€Å"negates self-determination and choice for women†.13 In general, radical feminists argue that prostitution is an inherently harmful institution for women on three specific grounds. Firstly, prostitution involves purchasing a service that involves the degradation of the women offering the service. Secondly, prostitution itself relies on the perpetuation of inequality in terms of social and economic statuses and power between the prostitute and her client. Finally, prostitution â€Å"contributes to the perpetuation of the inequalities† underlying the â€Å"practice†.14 With respect to the first ground that prostitution

Significant Developments And Chngs Of The Surgery Essay

Significant Developments And Chngs Of The Surgery - Essay Example ThÐ µ surgicÐ °l mÐ µthods thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs hÐ °vÐ µ bÐ µÃ µn provÐ µn to bÐ µ vÐ µry innovÐ °tivÐ µ Ð °nd providÐ µ thÐ µ bÐ µst solutions for pÐ °tiÐ µnts’ trÐ µÃ °tmÐ µnt, mÐ µÃ °nwhilÐ µ optimizing sÐ °fÐ µty Ð °nd control. I Ð °m going to providÐ µ somÐ µ fÐ °cts on how fÐ °r mÐ µdicinÐ µ in surgÐ µry Ð °dvÐ °ncÐ µd whÐ °t furthÐ µr possibilitiÐ µs futurÐ µ holds for nÐ µxt gÐ µnÐ µrÐ °tion. JosÐ µph ListÐ µr wÐ °s born Ð °t Upton, ЕnglÐ °nd, in 1827, whÐ µrÐ µ hÐ µ hÐ °d rÐ µcÐ µivÐ µd his gÐ µnÐ µrÐ °l Ð µducÐ °tion Ð °t thÐ µ UnivÐ µrsity of London. Ð ftÐ µr studying in London Ð °nd Еdinburgh hÐ µ bÐ µcÐ °mÐ µ Ð ° fÐ °mous lÐ µcturÐ µr in surgÐ µry Ð °t thÐ µ UnivÐ µrsity. Ð  fÐ µw yÐ µÃ °rs lÐ °tÐ µr hÐ µ wÐ °s profÐ µssor of surgÐ µry Ð °t GlÐ °sgow, Ð °t Еdinburgh, Ð °nd Ð °t King’s CollÐ µgÐ µ HospitÐ °l, London, Ð °nd surgÐ µon to QuÐ µÃ µn VictoriÐ °. During thosÐ µ timÐ µs mÐ °ny importÐ °nt chÐ °ngÐ µs wÐ µrÐ µ tÐ °king plÐ °cÐ µ Ð °nd to somÐ µ Ð µxtÐ µnt ListÐ µr wÐ °s lucky to hÐ °vÐ µ mÐ µdicÐ °l diplomÐ °. ЕvÐ µn though, studÐ µnts wÐ µrÐ µ forbiddÐ µn to dissÐ µct humÐ °n bodiÐ µs, thÐ µ mÐ µthods by which thÐ µy lÐ µÃ °rnÐ µd wÐ µrÐ µ modÐ µrnizÐ µd Ð °nd up-to-dÐ °tÐ µ. Of coursÐ µ pÐ µrcÐ µption of surgÐ µons wÐ °s chÐ °nging ovÐ µr timÐ µ, Ð °nd Ð °s lÐ °tÐ µ Ð °s thÐ µ Ð µÃ °rly to mid-1800s surgÐ µons wÐ µrÐ µ not considÐ µrÐ µd worthy of thÐ µ rÐ µspÐ µct of physiciÐ °ns, Ð °nd wÐ µrÐ µ not pÐ µrmittÐ µd by lÐ °w to prÐ °cticÐ µ mÐ µdicinÐ µ, only Ð °ftÐ µr Ð ° fÐ µw tÐ µchnologicÐ °l chÐ °ngÐ µs, such Ð °s Ð °nÐ µsthÐ µtic Ð °llowÐ µd surgÐ µons to focus morÐ µ on dÐ µtÐ °ils, not just spÐ µÃ µd Ð °s it wÐ °s bÐ µforÐ µ. ThÐ µ mortÐ °lity rÐ °tÐ µ Ð °t thÐ °t timÐ µ wÐ °s Ð °round 50% Ð °nd this mÐ µ Ð °nt for ListÐ µr thÐ °t thÐ µrÐ µ is somÐ µ room for substÐ °ntiÐ °l improvÐ µmÐ µnt in chÐ °nging thÐ µ Ð °ccÐ µptÐ µd form surgÐ µry. His mÐ °in contribution to thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µnt dÐ °y surgÐ µry is thÐ µ principlÐ µ of Ð °ntisÐ µpsis, a Ð °n outgrowth of PÐ °stÐ µur’s thÐ µory thÐ °t bÐ °ctÐ µriÐ ° cÐ °usÐ µ infÐ µction. In 1865 ListÐ µr found modÐ µrn Ð °ntisÐ µptic surgÐ µry by proving thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µctivÐ µnÐ µss of his mÐ µthods hÐ µ usÐ µd cÐ °rbolic Ð °cid Ð °s thÐ µ Ð °ntisÐ µptic Ð °gÐ µnt, hÐ µ invÐ µntÐ µd tÐ µchniquÐ µs of Ð °pplying it thÐ °t, whÐ µn usÐ µd in conjunction with his hÐ µÃ °t stÐ µrilizÐ °tion of instrumÐ µnts, brought Ð °bout drÐ °mÐ °tic dÐ µcrÐ µÃ °sÐ µs in postopÐ µrÐ °tivÐ µ fÐ °tÐ °lity.

Resistance of a wire coursework Essay Example for Free

Resistance of a wire coursework Essay Then we measured the first measurement of resistance at 100a c, increasing the temperature too over 300a c. Taking s measurement at every 10a c. At one point in the investigation the heat started to melt the plastic coating around the wires, we quickly noticed this was a problem so we attached the wire to a clamp, this was to stop the bare wire touching the metal sand tray, as this would cause the resistance in the metal of the tray to be measured as well, this would cause the ammeter to short circuit. After collecting results, we plotted a scatter graph, drawing a line of best fit, we also indicated any anomalies. I took the photo myself Safety When doing our investigation we had to take into consideration the safety aspect, this is because we were using very high temperatures up to 300a c. We used safety goggles to protect our eyes from the heat, and in case of spitting from the water in the preliminary work, to the sand in the main experiment. We also kept or distance from the experiment to protect from heat and spitting just like the goggles. After we’d finished we left the equipment to cool before the technicians to clear away, with a safety sign. We also used heatproof mats so the worktop was protected, as well as this it protected glass or porcelain pieces of equipment from thermo-shock (high to low temperature, very quickly) http://www. amazing1. com/Graphics/oly-lsg-4-1. jpg Obtaining Evidence Before we began our real experiment we carried out preliminary work to find out what was the best was to test the resistance of a wire, or how we could. So we tried using temperature as something that would either increase of decrease the resistance. In our preliminary work we found that the resistance started to change when the temperature exceeded 90a c. However we found that this was a problem because we were using water to heat the coiled wire. Waters boiling point is 100a c so we had to discard the idea and change it. So we used a sand tray as sand has a much higher melting point then water. We also repeated many of the experiments as well as the preliminary work to find out whether or not this was just a case of human error, and that we didn’t need to change the experiment. Also in the temperature experiment we used Copper at first; we then used Nichrome as this has a much higher resistance so the results would not be as high. In my results we identified outliers, and also calculated a mean, or the average for all of the results for the change in length of wire/thickness. In the first experiments for length of wire we didn’t specify a length of time that we were going to measure resistance on the wire for, we just laid the wire on the other wire, however this would have heated the wire giving us less accurate results. I decided to change this by only touching the wire for 2 seconds at every 10cm, allowing enough time to obtain results, but not long enough for the wire to be heated. http://reprap. org/mediawiki/images/9/99/Blunt_step10. jpg Patterns In Results In our results there were many patterns shown, for example as the length of wire increased in the length/ width experiment so did the Resistance of the wire. As well as this as the temperature increased further and further, the resistance of the wire increased as well. These patterns both show that our predictions were correct. However in both of these experiments’ there were a few anomalies. For example lengths 130cm on 28 gauge wire, and 150cm on 36 gauge wire. In the temperature test, temp 140a c and 250a c were anomalies. Conclusion My results show that as the length and the thickness of the wire increased, so did the resistance, which supports what my prediction. This is shown because when the length of wire was 40cm long (28 gauge) the resistance average was 2. 9 ohms, at 100cm the resistance average was 5. 4 ohms and finally at 160cm the resistance average was 7. 9 ohms. This is then supported by the 36 gauge wire, at 40cm the resistance was 9. 2 ohms, at 100cm the resistance was 19. 2 ohms and at 160cm the resistance was 27. 7. This clearly shows that there is an increase in resistance when there is an increase in length. In the temperature experiment my results show that as the temperature increased so did the resistance of the wire, however there were a few anomalies in the experiment. At 100a c the resistance was 1. 5, as the temperature increased to 220a c the resistance was 3, however at 240a c the resistance was 2. 9, this shows an anomaly in the results. After the temperature increase again so did the resistance e.g. at 300a c the resistance was 3. 6 Overall I think that my conclusion supports what I wrote in my prediction. This is because I predicted that as the length/temperature was increased so would the resistance of the wire. My experiments were a success. However if I were to do this again I would repeat each of the experiments more times to eradicate any anomalies that may have occurred through the investigation. Evaluation I think that my investigation went well, this is because my results that I have gathered support what i wrote in my prediction. However they were a few problems in the experiment for example, when we increased the temperature one of the connecting wire began to melt, this was due to the wire been too close to the Bunsen’s flame. This made our experiment short circuit, meaning we had to start the investigation from scratch. Also in our length experiment the wire began to heat higher than we wanted because of the current in the circuit, this could have made our results less accurate. Although the wire may have heated more than we wanted I still believe that the results were very accurate, as we only had 4 outliers in all of our results. I think that the level of accuracy in my results is very high because we repeated each one of the experiments more than once. To increase the level of accuracy in the results I think that if I were to repeat the investigation I would repeat them more than just once; this allows you to eliminate any anomalies that occurred. There were a few anomalies in my experiment these were: 1. 130cm on 28 gauge wire 2. 150cm on 36 gauge wire 3. In the temperature test, temp 140a c and 250a c were anomalies I think the anomalies for the length experiment will have occurred because of human error e. g. not reading the results correctly, or touching the two wires together for too much time, this would cause the wire to heat up, causing a false reading of the resistance. In the temperature experiment, I think the anomalies may have also sprung from the connecting wire becoming too hot, meaning that the resistance would not have been the right reading. As well as this, if the connecting wires touched the side of the sand tray, this would cause the reading to be lower so this may have occurred at some point during the experiment. In the investigation we repeated some of the experiments more than once; this allowed me to make my results more reliable. Also it allowed us to eliminate anomalies. I think that I should have taken more results because I still have anomalies in my results. However I did check if my results were correct by repeating each of the experiments more than once. When I did repeat the experiments the results I got were identical apart from the anomalies which some of them did not occur more than once. This proves that by repeating them it reduced the number of mistakes made. I also think that the range of results I collected was sufficient to give me answers for my prediction and conclusion. If I had to use my results to as evidence to back up my conclusion then I would be very confident. This is because my evidence supported my prediction, and all of the evidence was clear and easy to show in many different ways, whether in a table, bar/line graph or in any other form of data representation. I believe that I could use my results as evidence because it clear, concise and is very easy to understand. Thing that I could do to improve my investigation would be to make sure that there was only one variable (one thing I was changing) and to ensure that all aspects of human error were eliminated before starting the experiments. One further experiment that I would do would be to use a wider range of material for the coil of wire to give me more evidence, such as how the material changes the resistance. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section.

Shopping Malls and the Malaysian Lifestyle

Shopping Malls and the Malaysian Lifestyle 1.0 Introduction Shopping mall is inevitably the main focal point in many Malaysia city and shopping has become the Malaysian favorite pastime during weekends. Moreover, series of mega sales and discount events have encouraged the act of consumption, turning the shopping center become one of vital element in our lifestyle. The role of shopping center is gradually replacing existing public space in many modern Asian cities where the people do not have public parks or squares to hangout. Instead, a weekend family affair may just spend in the movie theatre or restaurants inside shopping mall. Therefore, shopping center is evolving into a new force whose impact should not be neglected. Nowadays, a new kind of shopping center known as the lifestyle center began emerging in Malaysia. According to International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the lifestyle center features an open-air architecture, typically high-end retailers, may or may not include anchor stores, and has a large concentration of dining and entertainment facilities. The properties are usually well landscaped and offer outdoor artwork, music, and trams or trolleys for on-site transportation. It is intended to support a shopping as entertainment mindset and has become highly popular in affluent communities. We can see the emerge of lifestyle malls in Greater Kuala Lumpur especially suburban Kuala Lumpur such as 1Mont Kiara, The Curve, Jaya One, Wangsa Walk, Sunway Giza, Alamanda Putrajaya and the list goes on. Originated in US, lifestyle center combining the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities in a town square or main street setting have become common in affluent suburban areas and are now one of the most popular retail formats in US. However, in Malaysia, the professionals are keener to recognize it as Lifestyle Mall since most of them are indoor setting but incorporated with outdoor walking mall. Thus, hereinafter, I will use the term lifestyle mall in describing the Malaysia context. 2.0 Problem Statement The emergence of lifestyle malls poses interesting question for urbanism in Malaysia. Cities in the Malaysia especially Greater Kuala Lumpur are characterized by sprawling suburban, which a pattern of development being criticized by several theorists. According to Jane Jacobs in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, she arguing that modernist planning policies that promoted highway construction has been destroyed many existing inner-city communities (Jacobs, 1961). After that, others writers such as Joel Garreau, Dolores Hayden and Robert Bruegmann agreed that suburban sprawl occurred to the destructive of urban life in America (Garreau, 1991; Hayeden Wark, 2004; Bruegmann, 2006). Furthermore, most of the critics on the rapid suburbanization that occurred in America as well as Malaysia, is the changing of urban and social fabric in several ways, both physically and socially. According to Harriet Tregoning, he states that cars have become necessary to working, shopping and living in suburban cities. The growing dependence on automobiles necessitated by low density, sprawling land use has important implications. People living in more sprawling regions tend to drive greater distance, own more cars, breathe more polluted air, face a greater risk of traffic fatalities and walk and use transit less. One of the most common arguments is that suburban development isolated residential areas from the commercial areas and working places that served them, thus creating sprawling, inharmonious mix of single family houses, shopping centers and office parks across the suburban landscape (Duanny, 2000; Kunstler, 1993). Many of the physical and social elements that constituted the spirit of the city civic art, civic life as well as public realm were lost in the process of spatial segregation (Garreau, 1991; Duanny, 2000; Hayeden Wark, 2004; Bruegmann, 2006). Suburbanization tends to isolate large groups of society preventing the contact between diverse members of the population that is common in more traditional urban settings. According to Fellmann et all, the upwardly mobile resident of the city-younger, wealthier and better educated- took advantage of the automobile and highway to leave the central city. The poorer and older people were left behind. The central cities and suburbs becam e increasingly differentiated. Krueger and Gibbs stated that Suburbanization produces enormous obstacles to the creation of a sense of identity with the neighborhood of residence, since the links generated are minimal and the lack of social ties makes the construction of a sense of belonging to a place very difficult (Krueger Gibbs, 2007). Duany writes It is difficult to identify a segment of the population that does not suffer in some way from the lifestyle imposed by contemporary suburban development (Duany, 2000). From a social perspective, most critics argue that in suburbia, the private realm is privileged over that of the public. Thus, without adequate public space, there is a severe shortage of venues where social interaction can take place because sharing the public realm, people have their opportunity to interact, and thus come to realize that they have little reason to fear each other. (Duany, 2000) The evolution of shopping center development in Kuala Lumpur began with the opening of the first purpose built supermarkets and emporiums such as Weld Supermarket, Yuyi Emporium and so on. The first shopping complex, Ampang Park arrived in 1973, followed by Campbell Complex, Wisma Stephen, Wisma Central, Sun Complex, Pertama Complex, Wisma MPI and Angkasaraya. These shopping complexes are essentially retail developments located within a podium block of a shopping cum office development. Anchor tenants are nonexistent and the complexes have poor amenities and parking facilities. The retail outlets are generally small and the layout design is poor with little pedestrian circulation and inefficient use of space. Pertama Complex in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is among the first generation shopping complexes in Kuala Lumpur. The second generation of 80s shopping complexes were purpose built shopping complexes such as Sungai Wang Plaza (1978), Bukit Bintang Plaza (1979), Kota Raya (1982), Yow Chuan Plaza (1983), Imbi Plaza (1985), KL Plaza (1985), The Mall (1987), The Weld (1988) and Pudu Plaza (1989). These complexes enjoy good accessibility as they are located on main roads or at busy junctions of arterial or main roads. Ample parking lots are provided and easy entrance and exit points are strategically located for the convenience of shoppers who travel by car. Sg Wang Plaza, one of the popular shopping centers situated in Bukit Bintang shopping district of Kuala Lumpur. The shopping complexes have much better design and the adoption of a balanced tenant mix has taken stage in the overall planning, leasing and design of the complexes. The size, distribution and layout of the retail lots are also carefully planned and designed. Anchor tenants such as Metrojaya, AEON Jusco, Isetan, Parkson are used as magnets and are purposely located to facilitate the flow of shoppers in the complexes. With rapid economic growth and urbanization in the Klang Valley, a wide range of social and economic factors have combined to influence the trends in shopping center development. The third generation of shopping centers, from the 1990s to the present, has seen the birth of new giants, with the size determine the winner of competition. Mega sized centers with vast retail space, often spanning more than two million square feet and with multiple anchor tenants, multiple mini anchors and a host of shop lots. Huge car parks accommodating more than 3000 vehicles are common, with a network of internal roads and access to main roads and highways. These mega shopping centers are usually located in the suburbs and they include Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, One Utama Shopping Center, and Tropicana City Mall and so on. Perhaps being huge assures success. All the mega sized shopping centers have their individual niche markets and are thriving even facing competition with each others. For example, Sunway Pyramid integrated with its own planned resort Sunway Lagoon. Without exception, all shopping centers must have good or exceptional merchandise mix and strong retail attractions in order to succeed in the face of stiff competition. Mid Valley Megamall, the Malaysias largest suburban shopping center with 3 anchor tenants located in Bangsar. The trend is moving towards hypermarkets, which may be supplanting some of the old pop and mom style grocery business. Hypermarkets are typically huge stand alone supermarket and department store type retail outlets. Carrefour, Tesco, Giant are mushrooming over the suburban cities throughout Peninsular Malaysia. For example, Giant, the largest retailer in Malaysia are currently operates 107 stores nationwide and there are more stores opening soon. On the other hand, Tesco has operates 36 stores throughout Peninsular Malaysia to date. Giant Hypermarket, the largest retailer in Malaysia is operating more than 100 stores throughout Malaysia. The major factors which have contributed towards the emergence of suburban shopping centers and hypermarkets are due to the suburbanization of residential development. With limited land available for residential development in the city, housing has spread to the surrounding land at the city fringes with vast space of available lands. With provision of road infrastructure, the young, mobile, rich and middle class families who demand for bigger homes and more luxurious features and better quality of living have migrated to the suburbs. Many of these residential developments have taken the form of new townships and self contained neighborhoods such as Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Damansara and the list goes on. Retail followed as families continued to move from central cities to the suburbs. Besides, the increases of female employments also lead to the emergence of suburban shopping center and hypermarkets. More females are entering the workforce which will directly affect the retailing pattern. It is because the addition of household incomes has increased the purchasing power. Moreover, women engaged in full time employment have less time for shopping. Thus, it results the increase of bulk buying and reduction in frequency of shopping trips. However, the shopping has turned into a family affair. Thus, it is essential to provide all in one shopping activities including shopping, food, entertainment and leisure with more emphasize on convenience, comfort and family oriented attractions and entertainment. While suburban malls only served the retail needs of suburban residents, critics began to argue that they eliminated any chance communities have for possessing physical continuity on the urban fabric since they usually located along the main route (Torino, 2005). Developers of suburban malls tend to overlook the role of shopping center as a forum of public gathering and social interaction. However, the suburban malls are not public spaces at all; they are designed for single purpose: consumption. Victor Gruen, the architect of the first modern suburban shopping mall in United States, recognized the breakdown of traditional community bonds are driven by uncontrollable suburban sprawl. Thus, Gruen envisioned the suburban mall to serve as the new town center which is dense, mixed use environments that could take place of traditional main streets and town squares. Gruen realized that the process of suburbanization was weakening the social bonds in a society that was fostered mainly in close knit rural communities and dense urban settlements. (Torino, 2005) Gruens idea was to make shopping malls more pedestrian friendly, which he achieved by putting the entire development under one roof, with stores on two levels connected by escalators and fed by two-tiered parking. In the middle of the mall was a town square, which featured a garden court under a skylight, a fishpond, enormous sculpted trees, a twenty-one-foot cage filled with exotic birds, balconies with hanging plants, and a cafà © (Gladwell, 2004). However, Gruens vision of shopping mall failed to function as town centers due to several reasons. In contrast to traditional town centers, which were extroverted, meaning that store windows and entrances faced both the parking areas and the interior pedestrian walkways, indoor malls were introverted: the exterior walls presented a blank faà §ade, and all of the activity was focused inward (Gladwell, 2004). According to Michael Sorkin, the design of shopping malls tends to reinforce the domestic values and physical order of suburbia, r ather than rectify it. In his book Variations on a Theme Park, Sorkin states, Like the suburban house that rejects the sociability of front porches and sidewalks for private back yards, malls look inward, turning their backs on the public street (Sorkin, 1992). Since most malls are located in the middle of vast parking lots set well off the street, what Sorkin refers to as pedestrian islands in an asphalt sea, their physical setting represents yet another crack in the already fragmented suburban landscape (Sorkin, 1992). Another reason why malls have failed to function as the traditional town centers that Gruen envisioned is that they are, by and large, built for a single purpose retail. According to Kevin Mattson, Whereas in cities, towns, and villages, public space invites mixed usage and contains churches, schools, courts, theaters, civic buildings and stores, malls are exclusively commercial. Access and architecture together conspire to make buying and selling the only thinkable activities (Mattson, 2009). Mattson argues that since malls are the only public spaces left in many parts of the country, they must become more like real towns with a mixture of uses: If commerce is not to become the sole activity we engage in when we are in public, malls must offer alternative activities civic, cultural, athletic, political, and recreational that define us as citizens as well as consumers (Mattson, 2009). Many urban scholars have pointed to the obvious fact that shopping malls are not true public spaces, but privatized ones where management ultimately reserves the right to limit access. In his book The Right to the City: Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space, Don Mitchell touches on the idea that malls are exclusive places, where certain groups and behaviors are not welcome (rowdy teenagers, the homeless, and political demonstrations, for example). Mitchell also comments that malls are heavily patrolled by private security forces and are subject to constant surveillance (Mitchell, 2003). Malcolm Voyce has noted that malls do not coincide with the need for an open and democratic public space and that their private nature limits and controls diversity (Voyce, 2006). Private ownership and restricted access, therefore, undermine the shopping malls ability to function as a true, democratic public space. The recent trends mark the emergence of lifestyle malls mushrooming at the suburban Klang Valley. To be named a few: The Curve, the pioneer lifestyle mall in Malaysia; Sunway Pyramid, Jaya One, Wangsa Walk, Alamanda Putrajaya, Axis Atrium, Sunway Giza which are operating; SSTwo Mall, 1Mont Kiara, Subang Avenue, Citta, Setia Walk, Setia Avenue and the list goes on which are on construction to join the lifestyle demand. Therefore, it is not strange that Business Week Magazine has referred the lifestyle malls as the Shopping Center of the 21st Century. The above lifestyle malls share several commons. Design ambience reflecting a main street motif is great emphasized. The developers often cite a large emphasis on food and entertainment, elements that further contribute to the atmosphere of the project. Parking is also a major concern where it is usually arranged in structures or placed underground (Malmuth, 2005). Moreover, the inclusion of mixed uses also can be found in the quality of lifestyle malls. The inclusion of non retail uses is what sets apart lifestyle malls from other retail developments, to the extent that certain developer, such as Sime UEP Brunsfield, will claim that the word lifestyle is meaningless if residential component is not incorporated. The rise of lifestyle mall also raises other important questions, particularly about how and whether the shopping centers also function as public spaces. Perhaps the most important factor leading to the emergence of lifestyle malls, however, and the focus of this thesis, is the recognition of the increasing importance of shopping centers as public spaces in suburban life. Outside of urban centers, suburbia offers very few public gathering places. Therefore, strolling through suburban malls has become the favorite pastime during weekends. It is however important to realize that the main concern of shopping center is still concern about commercial activities. While the fact is, people do not only shop in a mall, they do hangout and socialize in the same time. Besides, there are also critics on the suburban shopping malls that reinforce unsustainable suburban sprawl. Some argue that lifestyle centers represent part of an effort to reduce the effects of suburban sprawl, through the reint roduction of traditional mixed use setting. Other argues that they are only tools to earn since they are privately owned, carefully controlled. Therefore, do lifestyle malls truly represent better forms of public space than conventional malls? Developers of lifestyle malls seem to have realized that improved retail design can act as a forum for social activity as well as a source of increased revenue (Torino, 2005). If so, are they alternatives to malls as models for public space in suburban? Do lifestyle malls represent a new typology of quasi public space? And how public are those lifestyle malls? 3.0 Aim This research aims to examine the emergence of lifestyle malls of their ability to function as public space. 4.0 Objectives 4.1 To examine the publicness of lifestyle malls. 4.2 To determine the perception of shoppers experiences towards the function of lifestyle malls. 4.3 To recognize the lifestyle malls as a new form of public space in suburban. 5.0 Research Questions 5.1 How public are lifestyle malls? 5.2 How do the shoppers perceive the lifestyle malls role? 5.3 How lifestyle malls represent a new form of public space in suburban? 6.0 Outline of Methodology To answer these questions, a variety of methods will be applied. The overall methods are qualitative. Research which is primarily based on journals, articles and others. Attempt to examine the characteristic of public space in order to identify the function of lifestyle malls as public space in the context of ideas by theorists such as George Varna, Steve Tiesdell, Adam Tyndall, Kevin Lynch, W. Lewis Dijkstra, Jan Gehl as well as Project of Public Space. Interviews with planners and developers, member of Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management Brief discussion regarding the trend of shopping centers in Malaysia, planning and development of selected lifestyle malls. Surveys of shoppers experience at lifestyle malls. Survey on the perceptions of shoppers towards lifestyle malls as social focus and public space. Observation Observation on the physical design of lifestyle mall, degree to the mixed tenants and how the public use the spaces. 7.0 Structure of the Thesis Chapter 1 Suburban development in Greater Kuala Lumpur, trend of shopping center in Malaysia Chapter 2 Discussion on the role of public space and how lifestyle mall fit into the context of public space Chapter 3 Case Studies Chapter 4 Survey results obtained at each lifestyle malls, observation on the quality of public space, design, level of mixed use, community events sponsored by each lifestyle mall Chapter 5 Concludes with a discussion of results and implications of the research. 8.0 Expected Output The expected output will be: Able to assess whether lifestyle mall in Greater Kuala Lumpur can function as public space. Able to determine that lifestyle mall can be another form of public space in suburban Kuala Lumpur. Able to recognize the characteristics of lifestyle mall that contribute to creation of public space.

Reality Television Love?What are These Contestants Thinking?! :: essays research papers fc

Reality Television Love†¦What are These Contestants Thinking?!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage, it’s supposed to be a once in a lifetime event right? The answer to that is surprisingly no! Today it seems that the media pokes fun of this wonderful occasion in the ever so popular reality T.V. show weddings. They are everywhere today. Many of these marriages don’t last much longer than the show was aired anyway. The contestant chooses a lifetime partner from a group of twenty or so other â€Å"contestants† to miraculously fall in love with. But can this be true love? Marriage should not be rushed in this way, because it usually comes along in a normal life setting. What are these television savvy people thinking? I do not believe that the media should use the sacred act of marriage as entertainment, people on these shows are looking for love for the wrong reasons, divorce rates today are through the roof, and generally all the contestants really want is to â€Å"get their face out there†, to become famous.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many times these people aren’t even sure what they are looking for or even what they are doing on such a show. On programs such as The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, and Married by America the contestants are set out to search for their one true love. But how do they know if one of these lucky men or women is right for them? The answer is hard to tell. The show, even though aired for weeks at a time, isn’t even as long as it appears. Each episode is different days put into one episode and it is hard to tell exactly how long they really have been there. In all reality the contestants are only acquainted for about a months time and BAM, they are up at the alter saying their â€Å"I Do’s†, in their to-die-for wedding apparel. I don’t know about you but I have defiantly gone through life with a crush or two for about a month that I thought at the time I could marry and be with forever, but after a while I thought to myself, what was I th inking! This is exactly how many of these couples feel soon after their wedding. Then out of nowhere there is yet another divorce. Some may disagree and say that there have been many love stories with happy endings that were very fast and sudden, and they have turned out fine.

Adrenoleukodystrophy and Myelin Essay -- Biology Essays Research Paper

Adrenoleukodystrophy and Myelin: Where's the Connection? Adrenoleukodystrophy. Also known as ALD. Ten years ago many people would not be familiar with this extremely rare childhood disease. But now awareness has increased as a result of the 1992 MCA Universal film, "Lorenzo's Oil". This true story movie shows the struggles of a family whose son is dying from this disease and their fight to try to save him and children like him. After seeing this movie myself I became very interested in ALD and the possible ways to cure or treat it. In the last decade there has been some amazing research done in conjunction with this disease and the few others who, like it, occur as a result from the breakdown or loss of myelin in the brain. The first step in understanding adrenoleukodystrophy is to ask what it is and how it works. According to the fact sheet put out by the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD in 1997, "ALD is a rare, genetic disorder characterized by the breakdown or loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain and progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland" (1). This disorder affects fatty acid metabolism which causes the dysfunction of the adrenal glands, the nervous system, and the testes (2). This leads to progressive neurological disability and death (3). Physical symptoms include, but are not limited to, visual loss, deafness, learning disabilities, seizures, dysarthria (poorly articulated speech), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), strabismus (crossed eyes), fatigue, disturbance in gait and coordination, vomiting, paralysis, blindness, melanoderma, and dementia (1) (2) (4). But this disease does not stop with merely physical changes, there are many behavioral changes which are parti... ...gs are almost never what you think they are. WWW Sources 1)Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/HEALINFO/DISORDER/Adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenoleuko.html 2)Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.healthanswers.com/database/ami/converted/001182.html 3)NCBI: Adrenoleukodystrophy, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/ALD.html 4) ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY , http://www.kid-med.org/pedbase/adrenole.htm 5)The Myelin Project , http://www.myelin.org/ 6)TMP Newsletter , http://www.myelin.org/112698pr.html 7)Virtual Hospital: Radiology Resident Case of the Week Adrenal Leukodystrophy (ALD) , http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/RCW/012696/012696.html 8) Neurodegenerative Disorders of Childhood- Dr. Greene's House Calls , http://www.drgreene.com/21_525.html 9) Metachromatic Leukodystrophy , http://www.duke.edu/~pdrh/MLD.html

A Reluctant Move :: Personal Narrative Moving Essays

A Reluctant Move One of my favorite quotes is, â€Å"If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it† by Mary Engelbreit. After going through a huge change myself, I have chosen to accept that change is good. It is important to make the best out of the way things turn out, and adapt to it. As I sat there wondering what it was going to be like, I couldn’t help but get tears in my eye. What was about to happen would change my life and outlook forever. This was a big life-changing decision. As far as I knew, moving to America was the opposite direction I wanted to go, but this decision ended-up changing my life. Why was I so reluctant to move? It’s widely accepted that America is known for its endless opportunities, wealth, independence and excitement. The land of possibilities some say. Many foreigners dream of living in America, but not me. From the stories I had heard, my father was relocating us to a place full of materialistic people and places. We had the same routine, the same places we all hung out, and the same culture that I was so used to in Germany. Leaving my friends, family and home was a huge turn around that I was afraid and skeptical of. Growing up in Wiesbaden, Germany gave me a great appreciation for European cultures. It was the only lifestyle I knew. Even though I didn’t know much about the American way of life, I had the understanding of most all the countries in Europe. I knew my city like the back of my hand and all the people in it. I knew where I could take my dog for a walk and where the best places to shop were. I knew all the options that my friends and I had on Friday nights and where the fun places downtown were. I was very comfortable and self-reliant in my environment. Wiesbaden was my home and I was very nervous about giving that up. I think my biggest fear was the fear of the unknown. I like to know what’s going on and what to expect.

Trouble with Television

The trouble with television My viewpoints on the book written by Marie Winn â€Å"The Trouble with Television† which talks about how television has a negative effects on children and family. I’ve read the book and I agreed with everything author Marie Winn wrote, so I have decided to argue for her on the major points of the book.My first argument for the book will be about the family, it talks about how â€Å"TV Keeps Families From Doing Other Things†, which it explains how a child that spends too much time watching TVs will miss out on a very important part of their learning development, because in the home its where much of the child learns an if the child is watching TV and not learning and bonding with their family, the television will turn off the process that transforms children into people.My second argument will be about TVs is a hidden competitor for all other activities   this topic is about how TVs takes most of your time so you don't have time to do anything else ,TVs is competing with every activities an TVs is the one of the reason why some activities people never get to doThe book also says â€Å"That TVs takes the place of physical fitness and play†, I totally agree with that statement because too many kids are just watching TV, not doing any physical activities at all, studies are showing that people are watching more TVs an getting more obese due to a lack of physical activities, to me after finding that out too much TVs has such a negative effect on physical health, I’ve decide to cut down on the number of hours I spend watching TVs.TV has such a negative effect on school achievement ,that was one of the main points in The Trouble with Television book ,it explains how excessive TVs watching directly negatively affects the brain ,in other words   turns the brain into mush due to more watching TVs and less studying. In my opinion I agree with everything author Marie Winn wrote in The Trouble with Televisio n book.I agree that too TVs is a big problem . I once use to watch TVs so much and never studied I was failing in school, and when I finally turned off the TVs and picked up a book, my grades an my life became so much better, when you turn off the TVs you come back to reality an so some world that wastes your time

Pressure ulcers Essay

The occurrence of pressure ulcers as a complication for majority of the immobile patients have been a nursing care concern for years now. The care outcome of these patients should include lowering the incidence of pressure ulcers because of the increased risk for altered skin integrity. Albeit impossible to be eliminated, most especially the site of these pressure ulcers, which are commonly found in the bony prominences of the body, there is still a bigger chance of minimizing the amount of skin damage. A study was conducted on how the heath care team, with focus on the physicians and the nurses, can lower the occurrence of pressure ulcers by simply implementing academic detailing (Kleinpell, 2008). Academic detailing made use of an individualized method of informing and facilitating learning about a particular topic (Kleinpell, 2008). The interventions included to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers were reminders on how to obtain devices to reduce pressure ulcers, feedbacks on rates of occurrence, one-on-one clinical instructions on methods to reduce development of pressure ulcers, and focused preventive interventions like that of the pillow campaign (Kleinpell, 2008). The study was a success because the rate of occurrence lowered from 50% to 8% (Kleinpell, 2008). The impact of this study to the nursing practice is of utmost importance because it asserts that complications such as pressure ulcers can be avoided, as long as the health care team is dedicated in implementing care the proper way to the patients who are at risk for such complications. If these complications can be avoided, the patient will be able to enjoy an easeful rehabilitation, lowered health care cost, and reduced length of stay at the hospital. This will also give more time to the health care team do other essential nursing care. The study proves that there are ways to make the hospital stay of patients worry-free and complication-free if only the health care team will make sure of doing whatever they can to achieve it.

Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights

â€Å"The common law always contained due process principles. Article 6 of ECHR merely provides a new way of thinking about them as human rights. † Discuss.. Article 6 of the ECHR builds up a body of principles that relate to fair trial rights in regular courts. Nevertheless, an essential question which applies to both special tribunals and courts still remains whether they operate with sufficient fair trial guarantees. The term ‘due process’ refers to the legal obligation that a state must respect and provide all of the legal rights that are owed to a person.Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individuals from it. For example, when a government harms a person without following the exact course of the law, this constitutes a due process violation. The common law is a law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals as opposed to statutes adopted through the legislative process issued by the executive bench. I t does contain due process principles as well as other basic human rights but it is to a certain degree. The European Court of Human Right which is located in Strasburg was established by the European Conventions on Human rights.It hears complaints that one of the 47 member state has violated the human rights written in the convention and its rules. Complaints can be brought by an individual or other contracting state and the court can also issue advisory opinion. Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights focuses basically on the right to a fair trial. Section 1 of the Article states that â€Å"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of morals, public order or nat ional security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.. † The Section 2 of the same act states that â€Å"Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.Section 3 explains further that â€Å"Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights: (a) to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him. (b) to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. (c) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require. d) to examine or h ave examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him.(e) to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court. † The reaction of the common law courts to the European Court of Human Right is seen in the response of two very important cases of H v. Belgium and James v. UK. In H v. Belgium [1987] H was a Belgian citizen who had been struck off the roll of the Antwerp Bar.H has tried unsuccessfully to be reinstated. The court held that there has been a breach of Article 6 by the tribunal that had considered H’s re-admission. The court’s reasoning was based on 2 grounds: firstly, there was no right to challenge the tribunal’s decision. And secondly, the decision was not adequately reasoned. In James v. United Kingdom [1986] the applicants were the trustees of the Duke of Westminster. The estate contained certain properties that had been let to tenants.The tenants had made use of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 to buy the properties from the estate. The trustees complained that both the compulsory transfer and the prices received for the properties amounted to a breach of, inter alia, their Article 6 rights. The courts held that there had been no breach. The courts argued that: (a)Article 6 does not require that there be a national court with competence to invalidate or override national law. It does not guarantee any particular content for ‘civil rights and obligations’ on the substantive law of contracting states. b)In so far as the applicants considered that there was non-compliance with the leasehold reform legislation they had unimpeded access to a tribunal competent to determine the issue.In cases which determine civil rights and in criminal cases, it protects the right to a public hearing in front of an independent and impartial tribunal within reasonable time, the presumption of innocence and the other minimum rights for those charges in a criminal case such as: adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense, access o legal representation, right to examine witnessed against them to have them examined, right to the free assistance of an interpreter. Mainly most of the Convention violations that the courts find are excessive delays, in the violation of the â€Å"reasonable time† requirement. Another significant set of violations concerns the â€Å"confrontational clause† of Article 6 which protects the right to examine witnessed or have them examined. In this aspect, problems of compliance with Article 6 may arise when national laws allow the use in evidence of the testimonies of absent, anonymous and vulnerable witnesses.The response of the English courts to the Article 6 of ECHR was seen in the case of Fayed v. United Kingdom [1994] where the court argued that, â€Å"A fair balance had to be struck between the demands of the general interest of the community and the requirements of the protection of the individual’s fundamental rights. It’s not always easy to trace the dividing line between procedural and substantive limitations of a given entitlement of a domestic law. And in the case of Osman v United Kingdom [2000] allegations were raised about the alleged failure of the police to protect right to life and lawfulness of restrictions on right of access to a court. The appellants argued that thru k government had deprived them of a right of action in negligence against the police. The ECHR found that the appellants had been deprived of the right of access to the court. The ECHR went on to argue that Article 6(1) embodies the ‘right to a court’, of which the right of access, or the right to institute proceedings before a court in civil matters.The Article 6 of the ECHR is merely provided for thinking deeply about the rights to a fair trial more seriously as it could be ea sily breached by the courts. If it had been kept as a common law, the full rights of the individuals to an independent and impartial tribunal would have been not granted. And as a result of that, many individuals who have been accused of a crime would have been falsely imprisoned on the basis of not enough representation or unjust representation.

The Renaissance and Moliere

The French word â€Å"renaissance† is equivalent to â€Å"rebirth† in English. The time period named for this term was indeed a rebirth of the creativity and human spirit lost with the classical age. Most importantly, the Renaissance was a revival of an interest to learn. In many ways, it is the opposite of the preceding Middle Ages. Their world revolved around the Roman Catholic Church; belief in god dictated every aspect of life. On the contrary, the Renaissance was secular and emphasized the predominance of individuality and human values, known as humanism.However GUID or dark the Middle Ages may seem, they were essential for setting the stage for the Renaissance. In 1095, Pope Urban II launched what he called a â€Å"holy war. † This war, issued to regain control of the Holy Land from the Muslims, occurred from 1095 to 1099 and became known as the First Crusade. The Second Crusade began in 1144 with hopes of recapturing the City of Odessa, and it ended in 11 49 without having accomplished what it was intended for. The third and final crusade (1189-1192) was organized to take Jerusalem back from the Muslim leader, Salad, also failing to accomplish its original goal.However, there is a reason the Crusades are recognized as â€Å"history most successful failure – † The impacts of these religious wars were as influential as it gets. Women had opportunities to manage affairs with the men away at war. The ships that transported crusaders were used by merchants to bring back goods such as tea, coffee, sugar, spices, crops, and silk. Europeans saw these as exotic, which stimulated an interest in trade, especially between Europe and Southwest Asia. This increased trade was one of the most prominent attributes of the High Middle Ages.It was also vital for paving the way for the Renaissance. With expanding trade came prosperity for Europe, specifically Italy, along with new trading cities. The fast growth of such business is labeled as the Commercial Revolution. The revolution enabled European towns to grow, and guilds (worker unions) to develop. When serfs recognized opportunity in trade, they abandoned their lords, and a middle class developed. Together, these factors broke down Feudalism The surge of trade and commerce in the High Middle Ages led to a widespread increase in knowledge.Literature became more accessible, and was written in vernacular – native language, as opposed to Latin. This made it so that a wider variety of people could become literate. Before, only the wealthy could read and write. Universities were established, and the curriculum covered arithmetic, grammar, music, and drama. The High Middle Ages was the peak of the Medieval Era. However, the late Middle Ages seemed to be comprised of disaster and turmoil. Pope Boniface VIII and King Phillip IV of France collided, leading to the Great Schism.By the time this split in the church ceased with the election of Martin V in 1417, the pap acy had already been greatly weakened. The bubonic plague hit Europe hard, leading to the death of 25 lion of its people. The prayers of the Church failed to stop the plague, which further lowered its prestige. The Black Death ripped apart the fabric of society. However grim the Plague was, it certainly lent itself to the development of the Renaissance. The late Middle Ages were a terrifying time to be alive, and the survivors wanted to celebrate human spirit and individuality.This newfound outlook on life led to a surge in the arts that lasted from about 1300 to 1600 – the Renaissance. The people of Italy originally hoped to reawaken the culture of Classical Rome and Greece, however in the process they discovered new styles of art and iterate, along with new values such as humanism. This time period originated in Italy due to its prosperous cities and merchant class, but soon the rest of Europe was under its influence. Merchants saw the best opportunities lay in the field of the arts, and they soon flourished. The arts also became less secular, drama in particular.Religious plays saw their demise when interludes led to the rebirth of theater. Moldier dean Baptists Opaquely) was a French playwright, actor, and director. Born on January 15 1622, he dedicated himself entirely to the theater until his tragic death in 1673. He composed 12 of the most lasting comedies in history, and rose to fame with the publication of his first play, The Precious Maidens Ridiculed (1659). He was known as the most popular comic playwright of his time. His comedy was secular, and the clergy even believed that some of his plays were intended as attacks at the church.They went so far as to ban one of his works. The last of his pieces was The Imaginary Invalid (1673), which he wrote while ill from a lung condition. After the fourth performance of this play, Moldier collapsed on stage, coughing up blood, while playing the lead role, Organ, and died later that day. As in much of Molder's work, The Imaginary Invalid (Lee Malady imaginary) showcases a good amount of Comedic delegate themes and techniques, such as stock characters – the three most pronounced of these figures were the servant, master, and inamorata (lovers).The play is a satire of the medical field, as the lead, Organ, is a classic hypochondriac. His daughter Angelical is an Inamorata (a lover), her partner being the man she wishes to marry. Organ has plans for her to marry a doctor, seeing as he's â€Å"ill† and a doctor in the family would benefit himself. Their maid Continent is the equivalent of a Comedic servant. The Imaginary Invalid showcases certain ideals of the Renaissance, such as the importance of each individual, and that the greatest part of being human is the humans free will to choose.Angelical comes to her father expecting to have his blessing in her marrying the man of her dreams. Organ seems to be more than willing to consent, even satisfied with what he has hea rd of the man, until they gather that they are not talking about the same person. Before the Renaissance, there was no compromise – the only word that mattered was the father's. The plays controversial comedy also reflected values of the Renaissance. It as a source of entertainment produced for people's enjoyment regardless of the Church's disapproval.While contrasting to the celebrated Renaissance, the Middle Ages were essential for setting the stage for the remarkable era. The Renaissance remains an impressive time period, considering the immense growth of human knowledge and achievements. The arts held a position of utmost importance, and they allowed people to express themselves in many ways. This feeds directly into the number one new value of the time: humanism. Without the arts, there would have been no Renaissance, and in turn, life today would be strikingly different. Works Cited Beck, Roger B.