percolating paranoia :: essays research papers

Percolating Paranoia Fritz Lang's The Big Heat Fritz Lang brings the terrors of noir into the bright kitchens of America. Watch that coffee pot! BY H In Bright Lights 12 devoted to film noir, Gary Morris locates the malaise giving rise to the noir sensibility in the "mechanized, immoral, soul-destroying city."1 He defines the urban noir setting as attacking its characters’ chances for "hope, happiness, peace, complacency, and romance" (Morris 16). Although the attack may be related to the loss of a pastoral setting as Morris suggests, many film noir narratives locate those happy possibilities in the seemingly stable institution of the family, and can be read as ironic, hopeless searches for a humanized, moral, soul-restoring home. According to Sylvia Harvey, "the loss of those satisfactions normally obtained through the possession of a wife and the presence of a family" is one of the recurrent themes of film noir.2 Of course, the archetypal array of characters in film noir are not family members, but the hard-boiled, trench-coated detective; the beautiful, duplicitous, and greedy femme fatale w ith a revolver shoved deep into the pocket of her fur coat; and a fascinating complement of criminals ranging from sleazy and violent hoodlums to their glib and urbane bosses. The film noir narrative, with its aura of paranoia accentuated by nontraditional lighting and mise en scene, usually plays out not in the brightly lit kitchen or living room of a comfortable home but at night in dimly lit back streets glistening with rain or shadowy stairwells filled with looming shadows. Through a careful reading of a noir text that presents both the typical film noir mise en scene and various familial images, a sense of film noir’s complicated relationship to the family develops. The Big Heat (1953), directed by Fritz Lang, represents family life as a sham, as a relationship of convenience, as perverse, and finally as so fragile and threatened that even an icon of domesticity becomes a weapon. In The Big Heat, violence and criminality contaminate a small city, controlling elections and the police, as well as threatening familial institutions. The cast of characters I have identified as archetypal of film noir narratives is present, but, in keeping with many such films of the ‘50s, they have moved out of the shadowy stairwells and back alleys to occupy well-furnished homes and luxurious estates. Much of the violence occurs offscreen — in the diegesis of the film, occurring no doubt in the old haunts of film noir.

The Way of the Future for Computing :: Essays Papers

The Way of the Future for Computing Computer technology is changing faster than ever. It is interacting with our daily lives and helping us make choices. The next step will be for the technology to make the decisions and choices for us. It will help us do the shopping, or will schedule our day for us. Computer technology will enable people â€Å"to do more by doing less†. That at least is the hopes and dreams of the M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) team that is working on a project called Oxygen. In the past computers were huge, taking up whole walls of buildings, and incredibly expensive. Then they were able to fit on desktops. Now we’re able to carry them around with us. You can’t go anywhere without seeing them. The vision of the Oxygen Project is â€Å"in the future, computation will be freely available everywhere, like batteries and power sockets, or oxygen in the air we breathe†. (mit.edu) computation will be in the human world, able to handle our goals and needs. There won’t be any need to carry personalized devices, such as phones, laptops, or etc. around with you. â€Å"Instead, â€Å"anonymous† devices, either handheld or embedded in the environment, will bring computation to us, no matter where we are or in what circumstances.† (mit.edu) The devices will become so familiar to a person that they will be able to find any information or software that we need. There will be no more typing or clicking needed . You won’t have to learn a computer language. Instead, you will be able to talk naturally with speech, vision, and phrases that describe your objectives. The rest the computer will handle. There are many aspects to the oxygen project to make it as successful as M.I.T. would like it to be. I can’t cover them all because I don’t want to write a book, but I will discuss the automation part of it. This is a branch of the user technologies. User technologies is what everyone will work with or use like a telephone.

Retail and the Media :: essays research papers

Retail and the Media Today's media focuses more on a corporations mistakes and less on what the companies give back to the community, making it impossible for the public to see the truth. In every large corporation, there is going to be a fair share of so called ‘scandals’. Unfortunately, the media preys on these scandals to bring us, the public, juicy gossip to get through the day. In my opinion, most of the scandals brought to the public’s attention have no bearing on the products and services a company brings to the consumer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Low Pay rates One of the many topics retailers are hit for is low pay rates. A survey done in 2003, showed the average pay rate for workers in retail to be $6.49. Unfortunately what the media leaves out is â€Å"the relatively low pay of sales workers is strongly influenced by the large numbers employed in the retail trade industry† (Buckley, 2003, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9). It does not take a lot to run a register, stock a shelf, zone a side counter or unload a truck. You get paid for the job you do. Although the pay rate for a sales worker is low compared to the wage in other areas of interest, most retailers offer other benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to, the following: 401k plans with company contributions; health care; stock purchase plans with company contributions; critical need funds for employees who come upon hard times; and some companies even offer college scholarships to employees and their families. Now as you move up in a company, your pay increases with the position. In the same survey done for the average wage of the sales worker, it shows the average rate for a manager is $33.26 (Buckley, 2003, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2). This tends to be something that is overlooked in the media. You can compare it to starting out in an office as a mail clerk. Sure, you work for a big corporation in a big building on Wall Street, but you still are not making the bank. But as you work your way up, your pay rate reflects it. In any job, you have to start out on the bottom and work your way up to career status. Here is an example of a mother who stuck with her low paying job and in the end got the pay off:

Case Briefs

Case1 Plaintiff(14) VS Defendant(11) February 20th 1889 Fact: Two boys were in a same high school of the village of Waukesha. 11 years old boy kicked another 14 years old boy which caused the boy never recovered the use of his limb. The former was sued by the latter for $2800. Issue: whether a person who unintentionally hurt another person is liable for the harm through intentional harm. Holdings: the jury rendered a verdict for the plaintiff of $2800. Rationale: the touch was the exciting or remote cause of the destruction of the bone.The case was a case of torts and it related to the assult and battery which the defendant should pay money for the plaintiff. The defendant has no proof of any other hurt, and the medical testimony seems to have been agreed that this touch or kick was the exciting cause of the injury to the plaintiff. Case2 Plaintiff Ralph Edward DAVIS VS Defendant Walter Calvin WHITE ,Jr. September 10,1977 Facts : White had obtained a gun in anticipation of shooting T ipton in an argument ,but missed and shot Davis in the stomach who was washing cars in front of his mother’s house on Fairmont Avenue in Richmond ,Virginia.Issue: whether an action based upon a willful and malicious injury by the debtor to another person is nondischargeable in bankruptcy. Holdings: the debt resulting from that act is nondischargeable in bankruptcy. Rationale: Every person is liable for the direct ,natural and probable consequence of his acts, and that every one doing an unlawful act is responsible for all of the consequential results of that act. The evidence here clearly show that the shooting was a wrongful act intentionally done and Davis’s injuries resulted from that act.And the debts results from that act. If one intentionally commits an assault or battery at another and by mistake strikes a third person, he is guilty of an assault and battery of the third person. Case3 Plaintiff Dan R. CULLISON vs Defendant Ernest MEDLEY February 2,1986 Fact: Cul lison encountered 16-year-old Sandy in a Linton, Indiana, grocery store parking lot and invited her to his home. Sandy didn’t come alone ,instead father Ernest and other family members accompanied her. He was berated and felt threatened since then.Increase fear from that incident lead him to serious psychological problems and affect his normal life. Issue: were the actions of threatening sufficient for reasonable people to apply battery. Holdings: It is error for the trial court to enter summary judgment ,which means that the appellant will get another trial. Rationale: Ernest kept grabbing at the pistol as if he were going to take it out, which gives Cullison’s the apprehension of being shot or injured an assault constitutes a touching of the mind, if not of the body. The tort invades the plaintiff’s mental peace.Case4 Plaintiff John Robert DICKENS (31) vs Defendant Earl V. PURYEAR and Ann Brewer Puryear (18) April 2ed 1975 Fact: Dickens was beat into semi-cons ciousness and threatened to leave the state of North Carolina after lured into rural Johnston county by defendants, husband and wife . Ann Puryear and Earl Puryear appoint four men to inflict assault on him. Dickens then filed his complaint on 31 March 1978 for his physical injury and emotional distress. Issue: whether a threat or attempt to show violence constitutes assault.Holdings: plaintiff’s recovery for injuries ,mental or physical, caused by these actions would be barred by the one-year statute of limitations. Rationale: ordinarily mere words, unaccompanied by some act apparently intended to carry the threat into execution, do not put the other in apprehension of an imminent bodily contact ,and so cannot make the actor liable for an assault. Case 5 Plaintiff Eckert vs Long Island R. Co. November 26 1867 Fact: The deceased ,Henry Eckert, successfully saved a child near the main track but was stuck by the locomotive and received such injuries as to kill himself.Eckert ,t he wife ,acted as administratrix sued the Long Island R. Co. ,tending to prove that the cars were running improperly. Issue: whether a person who voluntarily place himself in danger to save a child is liable for negligence Holding: principles of law cannot yield to particular case, which means the intestate is liable for negligence. Rationale;as a reasonable prudent person who has the full knowledge and apprehension of the risk incurred ,the act of saving others ,which is not a duty imposed by law ,cannot relive him from negligence.The cars were being run at a very moderate speed, not over seven or eight miles per hour, that the signals required by law were given and that the child was not on the track over which the cars were passing, but on a side track near the main track. The company is not the insurer of ,or liable to those who ,of their own choice and with full notice, place themselves in the path of the train and are injured. Case 6 Plaintiff Cooley vs public Service Co. Nove mber 29. 1935Fact: During a heavy storm, several of the Public Service wires broke and fell to the ground and one of it which carried a voltage of about 1300 came into contact with the telephone messenger ,Cooley. The contact created violent agitation in the diaphragm of the receiver and a loud explosive noise. Cooley suffered from traumatic neurosis and loss of sensation on the left side. She claimed that it the defendant’s consequent duty to maintain such devices at cross-overs as would prevent falling wires from coming into contact with a telephone wire.Issue: whether the harm caused indirectly of the company is responsible for the negligence . Holding: a verdict should have been directed for the defendant. Judgment for the defendant. Rationale: To the extent that the duty to use care depends upon relationship the defendant's duty of care towards the plaintiff is obviously weaker than that towards the man in the street. The defendant's duty cannot, in the circumstances, be to both. If that were so, performance of one duty would mean nonperformance of the other There was no least evidence to show the plaintiff suffered an electric shock.There was evidence that baskets and similar devices were used by the Telephone Company, some years ago, for the protection of their wires at cross-overs. Case7 Plaintiff Andrews vs Defendant United Airlines. Inc. Fact: A briefcase fell from an airplane’s compartment injured Billie Jean Andrews seriously. No one knows what caused the briefcase to fall. She claimed that the airline didn’t prevent the foreseeable injury. Issue: whether safety measure is enough and the airline is responsible for the injury.Holding: summary judgment was reversed ,which means a new trial. Rationale: the United has failed to do all that human care ,vigilance, and foresight reasonablely can do under all the circumstances. Case8 Roberts v. Ring Facts: Ring was a 77 years old man driving south on a much traveled street in Owatonna , and he passed clear over a boy who ran into his way ,crossing the street to the west . Issue: An old man was not alert enough and failed to stop his car while he saw the boy, is that enough to raise an issue of his negligence.Whether a boy’s age should be taken into consideration when it comes to contributory negligence. Holdings: The old man is responsible for negligence. Rationale: the boys age should be taken into consideration . D failed to stop his car, the infirmities weighed against him. Care was required to avoid injuring other travelers. Case9 Daniels v. Evans Facts:19 years old Daniel was died in a collision of his motorcycle and Evans’ automobile at Lebanon on August 4. 1962. Issue: minor engaged in activities undertaken by adults, whether the standard of care to minors still prevails.Holdings: a minor operating a motor vehicle, whether an automobile or a motorcycle, must be judged by the same standard of care as an adult and the defendant’s objecti on to the Trial Court’s charge applying a different standard to the conduct of the plaintiff’s intestate was valid. Rationale: when a minor engages in such activities a s the operation of an automobile or similar power in driven device, he forfeits his rights to have the reasonableness of his conduct measured by a standard commensurate with his age and I thenceforth held to the standard as all other persons.All drivers must, and have the right to expect that others using the highways , regardless of their age and experience, will, obey the traffic laws and thus exercise the adult standard of ordinary care. One cannot know whether the operator of an approaching automobile is a minor or an adult ,and usually cannot protect himself against youthful imprudence even if warned. Case10 Wood v. Boynton and another. Facts: the plaintiff was the owner of a small stone ,which turn out to be a rough diamond and worth more than $700 ,but she tendered it to the defendants ,who are p artners in the jewelry business in December,1883 ignorantly for $1. 0. she asks to recover the possession of that uncut diamond of the alleged value of $1000. Issue: whether inadequacy of price by the mistake of the vendor can still entitle her to rescind the sale and so revest the title in her. Holdings: There is no ground for a rescission of a sale and the circuit court affirmed the judgment. Rationale: There is no evidence of fraud or warranty in that sale. It is her own mistake for selling it without further investigation about the intrinsic value. The facts known to both parties is on equal basis, and the buyer didn’t exert influence on her sale.Case11 Anderson v. Backlund Facts :in the written lease, a written lease defined the tenancy of the Defendant, who was a tenant on a 640-acre farm owned by the plaintiff. In an oral agreement, the defendant agreed to buy 100 head of cattle and bring upon the farm and consume good pasture thereon ,while he purchased 7 more ,and th e defendant’s promise on his side failed accordingly. The plaintiff want to recover the promissory note. Issue: whether the oral advice can constitute a contract. Holdings: The learned trial court right directing a verdict.The plaintiff’s counterclaim falls. Rationale: There is lack of mutual assent to the same proposition and the language is too indefinite and general as to the usual elements of a contract. The minds of the parties never net upon the essential terms. Case12 The superintendent and the trustees of public schools of the city of Trenton v. IRA Bennett and Aaron Carlisle Issue: The house falls down before its completion ,solely by reason of a latent defect in the soil, and not on account of faulty construction, whether the loss falls upon the builder or the owner of the land.Facts: The covenant of Everham and Hill was to build , erect, and complete the school-house upon the lot in question for the sum of $2610,the whole price was to be paid for the whole b uilding and the division was into installments to aid the completion of the work. But the house falls down before completion as a result of a latent defect in the soil. Holdings: it was overruled by the court, which means it is the defendants who need to shoulder the responsibility.Rationale: if a party enter into an absolute contract, without any qualification or exception, and receives from the party with whom he contracts the consideration of such engagement ,he must abide by the contract, and either do the act or pay the damages. He that agrees to do an act should do it, unless absolutely impossible. He must overcome all the difficulties and do everything necessary to erect and complete the building. The destruction of the incomplete building was neither caused by a sudden tornado nor a latent softness of the soil. It can be done.The defendants doesn’t do enough. ?&! , :What if the land belong to the government and both side are contractors? Can the contractor get the tot al sum of money? They cannot ,because they do not actually finish it . if so ,it is not equal, the defendant didn’t get all the consideration instead they should pay for the loss caused by nature. Isn’t it common sense to do some investigation on the soil before building? Case13 Vickery v, Ritchie Facts: Two parties acted honestly and in good faith of their contract to complete a building on a lot.However the discrepancy between two writings, $33721 on the plaintiff’s side and $23200 on the defendant’s side, invalidate their express contract. The plaintiff asked to recover a balance of $10467. 16. Issue: The architect make the fraud and lead to a mutual mistake on both sides and the failure of the contract, whether implied contract or compensation is liable when the supposed one failed Holding: the plaintiff is entitled to recover the fair value of his labor and materials. Rationale: The mutual mistake in this particular left them with no express contract by which their rights and liabilities could be determined.The law implies an obligation to pay for what has been done and furnished under such circumstances. When the whole contract will fail . the parties may have reasonable compensation for what they have done in reliance upon it ? &! they should cry on each others’ shoulder as they are both victims. I am satisfied with what the judge has done. But the architect shouldn’t escape. Case14 Hertzog V. Hertzog Facts: the son asserted that he remained in the employment of his father until he was about forty years old and they lived together the most of the time even after the son got married.The son also claims that he lent$500 of his wife’s money to his father. The son asked his father to pay. Issue: family association involved ,whether a contract of hiring applicable when it is evident but no evidence to define the work between father and son. Holdings: Judgment reversed and a new trial awarded. The plaintiff is not winning yet. Rationale: There was no express contract or sufficient proof to define hiring. ?&! : They should consider the situation. What if the son lives like parasites and annoys the parents a lot? What if the father is cruel and treated family members as slaves?Surely such kind of evidence could be found. When the father dies ,where is his heritage ? and if the son will hesitates that, why shall he complain? Case15 Cropsey v. Sweeney Facts: the plaintiff ,Eliza Ann Cropsey married James Ridgeway on the 25th of august,1821, remarried him in the year of 1825 after James got a divorce with his ex-wife whom he separated since 1815 and lived with him till 1847 when he passed away. At the first marriage, James was a carpenter and builder and worth about $1000. while ,at the time of his death ,it is more than$150000.Both of James descendants claimed the whole of his estate. Later, the plaintiff demanded judgment for $40000. However the defendant demurred that the complaint does not constitute any cause of action. The defendant appealed to the general term. Issue: whether she should be paid for the work she did if she is not a legal wife. Holdings: the order of the special term overruling the demurrer must be reversed and the plaintiff losses. Rationale: there is no express promise pretended in the complaint. The plaintiff was standing in the suppose relation of wife and the her marriage is not valid.Her own story of devoted faithful love and services as a wife and mother cannot permit us to say that she is legally entitled to receive pay for those services as a servant. Q&! stupid law.!!!! !!! How could they make such things happen and happen again? Isn’t there a policy to permit or prevent illegal marriage or make it legal ? The so called law cannot give her justice because it cannot get out of this dilemma—she is a wife, yes, but it is not legal, so she failed. She is servant ,no ,because she is a supposed wife, she failed the complaint again. The first marriage is done ,why she is still not an lawful wife?Rings, children ,can’t they served as evidence to constitute implied contract or something? Case16 Shaw v. Shaw and another. Facts: The plaintiff ,then Mrs, Moseley , accepted Percy John Shaw ‘s proposal and married him on December 10 ,1938. For 14 years they lived as husband and wife at Cannock, during which time the plaintiff advanced to Shaw in varying sums about 250pounds to buy stock, to assist him in acquiring land ,and to pay for agricultural machinery. When Percy died intestate , her distribution of assets was delayed because Percy ‘s lawful wife was still alive.In 1939 the plaintiff by her reply alleged fraud. Since the alleged promise was unenforceable ,she appealed. Issue: The promisor is not able to go through a lawful marriage and only he knows the fact, whether a breach of promise can apply. Holdings: she is entitled to get a fair sum of 1000pounds as damages. Rationale: The plaintiff d id not know that the defendant was married ,and did not know that his promise might be contrary to public policy. The promisor knew the facts but promised that he is a widower. In that marriage, the plaintiff used her savings for his affairs and served as a wife for 14 years.Q&! : How much would he pay a call girl for one night? How could a wife’s damages be valued? What is immoral or unlawful? Case17 Noble et al . v. Williams et al. Facts: the plaintiffs were hired to teach the public school in Jackson, ky ,for the fall term of 1908. The school failed to pay the rent and buy supplies. In order to conduct the teaching ,the teachers paid. They want to recover the rent. Issue: whether they voluntarily paid the rent which is not included in the teaching contract could still recover that money? Holdings: judgment affirmed ,the plaintiffs failRationale: the school abide by the teaching contract . The teachers voluntarily paid an obligationn which was not theirs . ?&! maybe the Jud gment is right. But it encourages people to mind their own businesses in the future. Case18 Sommers v. Putnam county board of education et al. Facts: Plaintiff ,father of 4 minor children of compulsory school age and taxpayer of Riley township ,Putnam county, Ohio filed a petition in the court of common pleas of Putnam county, praying for a money($397)judgment against the Putnam county board of education and the township board of education . he petition avers that ,by reason of the failure ,neglect, and refusal of said defendants in error, and each of them, to provide high school work within 4 miles of his residence, or to transport his 4 children to high school, or to provide and furnish board and lodging for his children ,the plaintiff was compelled to and did transport his 4 children to and from his residence to said high school for some days.Issue: whether the quasi contract apply and therefore is entitled to compensation when the parent perform an act of beneficial intervention in the discharge of the school boards legal obligation to provide transportation or access for children to high school ? Holding: the demurrer will be overruled and plaintiff is entitled to receive a money reimbursement. Rationale: in the syllabus,† if a board of education in a district fails to provide sufficient school privileges for all the youth of school age in the district ,a mandatory duty rests upon the county board of education to provide same access to children . As the performance of that duty by parent is beneficial to school boards who failed to do that ,the parent is entitled to compensation. The fact that ,at a little different stage in proceedings, mandamus would lie is no answer to the argument of the plaintiff here that, when he has expended money, time, and effort in performing a duty enjoined by statute upon the boards ,he can receive a money reimbursement.

Business report Essay

This report illustrates two ways that Virgin Atlantic Airway uses to invest successfully in Africa. The two aspects are business and local directions. These are based on company’s website, academic journals and newspapers. Business means companies should catch the opportunity to expend their business. Local means the company should be concerning about the local economic situation and the local people’s lifestyle, in order to let the local accepting them invest in Africa, therefore makes that Virgin Atlantic Airway invest in Africa successful. The two ways used by Virgin Atlantic Airway have been mostly successfully invest in Africa. If Virgin Atlantic Airway keeps considering about these two aspects to their investment program, it can make their investment program more successful than their current situation. 1. Introduction Virgin Atlantic Airway is one of the most famous airline giants in the world. Its successful investment in Africa is an important essential that makes this company reaches this rank. 1. 1 Background Virgin Corporation was founded in 1968 by Richard Branson in the United Kingdom. Until 2012, the Virgin Corporation employed almost more than 50,000 people over 50 countries in the world. Global branded revenues of ? 15bn ($24bn). Virgin Corporation is a transnational private company. In 1970, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, health to wellness. Virgin Atlantic set up in 1984. The company has become Britain’s second largest carrier serving majority of cities in the world. In 1999. Virgin Atlantic started cooperation with South Africa Airways. At the same time, Virgin added a new airline flight to South Africa. In 2004, Nigerian investors and Virgin Group founded in Virgin Nigeria. However, Virgin, the major shareholders announced their withdrawal from the partnership in 2009. 1. 2 Purpose The purpose is explaining how successful Virgin Atlantic Airway investment is in Africa. 1. 3 Methods The method of this report is based on business and local perspectives to prove that Virgin Atlantic Airway makes a successful investment in Africa. 2. Findings and Discussion 2. 1 Business The growth rates of a number of African countries were achieving impressive levels with consistency. When transnational corporations choose to invest in Africa, business opportunity is one of the biggest reasons. In 2009, Virgin Atlantic Airway found a proper time when they moved into Africa. The economic achievements after Virgin Atlantic Airway moved in Africa included: Table 1 From 2003—2007 Virgin Atlantic Financial Y/E April 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 PAX NO (cal year) 3. 8m 4. 3m 4. 4m 4. 6m 5. 1m TURNOVER ?1401m ?1272m* ?1630m ?1912m 2140m PROFIT/(LOSS) ?15. 7m ?20. 9m* ?20. 1m** ?41. 6** ?46. 8 (Source: From â€Å"Virgin Atlantic Airways – Company Overview,† n. d. ) The table shows Virgin Atlantic financial position from 2003 to 2007, it was increasing. From 1999, Virgin Atlantic Airway started investment in Africa. They found a new space to expand their business. From Table 1, from 2003 to 2007, their profit obviously increased from ? 15. 7m to ? 46. 8m. Especially, in 2006, the profit of Virgin Atlantic Airway almost doubled that in 2005. Furthermore, at the same time, Virgin Atlantic Airway invested in Nigeria which is one of the important reasons for the fast increase in company profit. Virgin Atlantic Cargo today announced revenues for the 2010/2011 financial year increasing 39 per cent to A? 224. 4 million (â€Å"Virgin Cargo sees 39% ,â€Å"n. d. ). In EMEA, sales increased 47 per cent over 2009/10. (â€Å"Virgin Cargo sees 39%,† n. d. ) In February 2009, SAA and Virgin Atlantic expanded their existing code-share. In March 2009, SAA offered additional flights and increased capacity on the route between Johannesburg and Mumbai. (â€Å"Market Overview – Travel,† 2010) Table 2 Overall ownership 51% Nigerian, 49% Technical Partner (Virgin Atlantic) 49% Virgin Atlantic Technical Partner (owned 51% Virgin, 49% Singapore Airlines) 11% Capital Alliance Leading private equity investor blue-chip investors/management 10% Dantata Leading industrial/services conglomerate based in Muslim North 4% Standard Trust Bank Largest Nigerian bank, â€Å"new generation† strategy 26% Other Nigerian institutional investors 17 other Nigerian insurance companies, banks, corporates, private equity firms. (Source: Fromâ€Å"Investment Environment in Africa,† 2005) This Table explains that the percentage of Virgin Atlantic invested in Nigeria. Virgin Atlantic is the major share-holder in Virgin Nigeria. In 2009, Virgin Atlantic Airway quitted from Virgin Nigeria. Virgin investment in Nigeria announced failed. However, Virgin Atlantic Airway invest in Africa had failed in some situation. In 2009, Virgin Atlantic Airway quit from Virgin Nigeria. From Table 2, Virgin was the major share-holder in Virgin Nigeria, Akpo. E (2013) states,† external factors include but are not limited to poor infrastructure in Nigeria, conflicts with government’s aviation authorities as regards use of facilities and poor profit turnout†(p. 6). It means Virgin has a negative factor in choosing a place. Thus, Virgin Atlantic Airway should be concerning that knows what other international investment companies method about investment and management. If they have strengthen communication between company and the company, they can avoid failed in Nigeria and their business space in Africa will wider than now. 2. 2 Local The company plans to move into another country, the leader will consider the local problem first. When the local support the company that means the company’s investment program has succeed and has a good beginning. In 2004, Virgin Atlantic Airway invested in Nigeria, and the leader of Virgin has considered this issue. Lumess Talent Acquisition has executed across all of the business by Virgin Atlantic, which received 130,000applications from 2,200vacancies advertised every year (â€Å"Virgin Atlantic uncovers the best talent and cuts time to hire by 20%† n. d. ). Virgin’s investment in Africa started from 1999, Virgin Atlantic Airway got the supporting from local that Virgin Atlantic Airway had received 130,000 applications for 2,200 vacancies advertised annually. This way boosts international economic cooperation, and promotes the relationship between investment company and local. Moreover, investment in Africa has promoted the tourist industry of Africa because it can bring many business chances and enhance local economic. Brand new air crafts and a mix of expatriates and local employees was commenced operations by Virgin Nigeria (â€Å"The birth, the rise and the fall of Virgin Nigeria† 2013). High traffic growth occurred because the emergence of budget airlines and the booming economic climate in South Africa (â€Å"Market Overview – Travel† 2010). On the other hand, Virgin Atlantic Airway invested in Africa solve the problem of employment. Akpo. E (2013) states, â€Å"Virgin Nigeria commenced operations with brand new air crafts and a mix of expatriates and local employees† (p. 6). Recruitment of locals is one of the reasons that Virgin Atlantic Airway gets support from the local. Therefore, Virgin Atlantic Airway’s method is right to have achievement in Africa for the company. In this aspect, Virgin Atlantic Airway should be keeping the balance of local employees and service quality. If they perform regular inspections every month, they will solve the problem between local employees and service quality and keep of it. 3. Conclusion This report clearly states that Virgin is almost successful to invest in Africa. The reason is that they catch the opportunity to expand their business and consider about the local situation of Africa. Virgin can provide working opportunities to the local, and help the economics of Africa growth. Overall, Virgin is one of the best examples to demonstrate how well a company investment in Africa. 4. Recommendation and implementation As a company, investment is one of the most important programs. Companies should know about how to catch the business opportunities and cater for the local. Therefore, Virgin Corporation attaches importance to business and local. They catch a good opportunity for the investment program. However, in order to make Virgin Corporation become more successful investment in Africa. Accordingly, the following recommendations are made: If Virgin Corporation concerns about communicating with other local air company, the company will know more about the local situation and find more new partners. Virgin should not only communicate with their work partner because they need expanding in the future. If Virgin Corporation improves the ability of regulating conflict and keeping the balance with inner and outer. Virgin Atlantic Airway will not withdraw from Virgin Nigeria. For example, having a regular assignment to the employees can avoid poor employee attitude as a minus.

Equality of conditions according to Tocqueville? Essay

In his Democracy in America, Toqueville states that equality of conditions â€Å"exercising domination over civil society as much as over the government it creates opinions, gives birth to feelings, suggests customs, and modifies whatever it does not create.† (p. 9) Clearly, to understand Tocqueville, one must understand what he means by equality of conditions. These conditions are common circumstances, origins, education, and mores. The settlers of America came primarily from England. They faced the same uncertainty with one another of what they would find upon arriving in the New World. They all had to deal with the harsh landscape and with doing without all the comforts of living in the developed countries they left behind. They came, not in search of greater political or financial opportunities, but for a place to freely exercise their religion. They shared religious beliefs (within each of the colonies). Therefore, they shared mores, which is reflected in the harsh penal codes they developed by vote of majority. They shared a common language, common goals. Most were well-educated and left behind comfortable lifestyles. There were no landowners when they arrived in the New World. There was no expectation of superiority, which always come with landed gentry. Freedom and equality are the very reasons most came to the New World. Each citizen was also equally responsible for social obligations. As a consequence American political and legal systems developed to protect freedom and equality. The result was more equality. This equality manifests itself, according to Tocqueville in a society where generations face greater and greater equality. As Tocqueville writes America’s equality in conditions creates â€Å"[a] nation as a body [which] would be less brilliant, less glorious, and perhaps less strong, but the majority of the citizens would enjoy a more prosperous lot, and the people would be pacific not from despair of anything better but from knowing itself to be well-off.†

Bmw Films Essay

The primary issue faced by Jim McDowell is what to do for his next marketing campaign. He will need to decide what direction BMW will take in order to stay current in the target market and position the brand as the leader in the luxury car industry. A sub issue that Jim is facing is that in order for BMW to stand out compare to the competition, it must be at the forefront of the marketing trend. There is always pressure on innovative marketing campaigns as a bad campaign can lead to severe damage in the company image and reputation. Decision Alternatives. There are a number of alternatives that Jim faces when deciding in what direction to move with the BMW marketing campaign. Develop more short films and build a big series out of it. Develop a full length movie for the theatres Do nothing to the existing campaign and move on to develop a new campaign To continue to use the existing BMW films plus developing a new campaign Creating new films on the heels of the original films plus developing a new campaign Develop a full length movie plus developing a new campaign In order to decide the best alternative it is important to look at some key decision criteria. In this case the important factors would be: delivery time, risk, cost, competitive advantage, ease of implementation. Analysis of Industry In the luxury car segment, BMW and Mercedes have stand strong against the strong competition from Japan like Acura, Lexus, Infiniti. In year 2001, BMW is second best luxury car seller, just behind Lexus amount the other ten major luxury brands. However, BMW only ranked 8th in media expenditures, which again proved the great success on their innovative campaign. In terms of customer loyalty, luxury brand customers do tend to stay among the top brands and are very loyal. There are always customers who switch from BMW to Mercedes or the other way around. Since BMW has the competitive advantage of a younger clientele, it is very important for BMW to create marketing campaign to young adult so they can look forward to own a BMW when they can afford one. Analysis of Company Evaluation of Alternatives Alternative #1, 2, and 3 should only be considered as a short term alternative that can achieve quick beneficial results with no long term prospects because all the alternatives evolve around the same film concept, which eventually will wear out and target audience will not be interested in it anymore. Alternative #4 takes into account with BMW’s long term goal, to be the leader in the industry with innovative campaigns. However, developing a new concept takes time and research before implementation, therefore some immediate alternatives needs to be done before the new campaign kicks in. Alternative #5, 6, or 7 will achieve that goal. Alternative #5 Introduce the BMW films to new markets that may have missed the online films during the campaign period will enable BMW to entice an entirely new segment. By showing the films throughother mediums, BMW will be able to reach a wider audience plus raising the brand awareness. Since this campaign is so successful and unique, BMW can also produce DVD and make itas a collectible item. This alternative is easy to implement, low cost to run, low risk as the campaign is already running with huge success with good reputation. However, other companies may copy the idea and there is a chance that BMW will lose its competitive advantage as the films are getting overly exposed to the original audiences that BMW targeted during the initial campaign period. Therefore, developing another campaign while this is running is necessary in order to achieve BMW’s long term marketing goal. Alternative #6 The other option would be to follow up with another series of films on the heels of the original films. BMW would want to keep the number of films low to try and blend them into the successful original films and not to market them as another series of short films. This alternative will require some time to prepare, and the cost will be much higher in comparison to Alternative #5, which will make it harder as BMW will need more resources in creating a new campaign at the same time. It is easy to implement as all the ground works are in place from the previous films. However, this alternative will have a higher risk than other options due to the high anticipation of BMW to produce high quality films. If any of the film receives negative feedbacks, BMW will risk losing out on the campaign inwhole, plus the reputation of the series. BMW will still keep its competitive advantage with this alternative as they are still the one who leads the marketing trend. Alternative #7 Creating a full length movie can be the next big campaignfor BMW. It is a new approach and will make the brand stand out of all others. The target audience is also much wider in comparison to the initial campaign. It will take a long time to implement, and not as easy as short films because a full length film is more complicated in terms of plot and production. The cost will also go veryhigh that may use up all of BMW’s resources in marketing. It is a two sided sword because if BMW is not placed enough in the film there is no difference in doing product placement in the James Bond movie series; meanwhile if BMW is overly exposed in the film it may create negative feedbacks as it will look like an hour long commercial. The interest level of audience will also be much lower in watching a long commercial than a short film. Decision Criteria Chart Here is the chart for the best 3 alternatives: (X? low score, XXX? high score) Recommendation Based on the analysis above it is evident that the appropriate course of action is to utilize the existing movies in the short term while developing a new full scale marketing plan in the background. By utilizing the existing films BMW will be able to quickly get to market films that they have already completed. They will ride the coat tails of the internet marketing, however by introducing the films to another target markets, BMW will hopefully build on the impact created by the original films. There is relatively low risk to this model because BMW has already invested in the films and by using different mediums to convey their message it is likely that an entirely new market segment will appreciate the films as the original audience did. Although the potential payback may not as great as some off the wall innovative idea, the concept behind releasing the films to a different audience should allow more time and resources to develop another new campaign. If there are enough resources, BMW can also consider creating 1 or 2 more films to avoid losing the competitive advantage toward the target audience.