The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets Essay Example for Free

The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets Essay Tricked by Randomness The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets is a vivid evaluation of the human psyche which is seen in the earth of Wall road and other exchanging markets over the world. What is seen by the reader’s perspective, changes with time, on the off chance that it is seen by turning the focal point. In any case, standpoint of the peruser will likewise choose various issues that are brought up in this book. Looking from one bearing, the book pays heed to the different boundless fringes that have been made by broad communications and its commotion. Mr. Nassim Taleb attempts to worry upon the way that the normal man needs adequate information about the straightforward issues of likelihood and measurements. For instance, take a steam motor. In the event that one sees a steam motor just because, he may not recognize what is the working of the motor, yet sooner or later of cautious assessment, one can without a doubt get a harsh thought of its working and can likewise anticipate the personal conduct standard. That is one can anticipate the â€Å"future conduct pattern† after intently breaking down a shorter time of conduct. The model given here is contrasted with the life when all is said in done. There is a great deal of un-hope in the lives of individuals and likewise in the securities exchanges. These exchanging markets have an immense factor of haphazardness that depend on the complex stochastic issues, and not to overlook normal fun and angry shocks. The standard of conduct of the securities exchanges during brief timeframe ranges isn't so noteworthy and is suitably named as â€Å"noise† by the creator. The strategy for extrapolating esteems here in such manner is by all accounts unimaginable. However individuals all the more frequently do that. They attempt to draw designs where they â€Å"do no â€Å" exist and confuse the capacity of eccentrics, scan for justification for the event of likelihood and unequivocally accept that they best think about what's to come. What's more, this is what is worried in this book. The writer of the book, Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a securities exchange player and is a master skeptic. He declares that arithmetic is as yet pre-adult and can't totally clarify the study of likelihood in the financial exchange. The creator anyway is astute to comprehend to give satisfactory weight-age to the chance of irregular events, and their unimportance at certain events. He obviously sees that his thought towards the significance of arbitrariness has more an incentive than the numerical counts. Science is chiefly an apparatus to think, as opposed to figure. He has been an observer to endless operators and merchants who have been hit barely, â€Å"blown up† in the beguiling marvel of the exchange. All the time he has watched incredible thriving vocations finished with some unforeseen market disintegrating. On such events, individuals state, I had never guage that, wretchedly shaking their heads as they leave the commercial center. Truly, this is the thing that the writer needs to pass on with his book these individuals have been â€Å"fooled by randomness† of the market conduct. There are numerous methods of getting tricked by the conduct of arbitrariness. The most well-known and negative is to neglect to anticipate the likelihood of uncommon events. The creator communicates his idea that nothing else is more sure than the event of the surprising occasion that will undoubtedly happen at some point or another in future. Individuals regularly rest smoothly between safe periods, and overlook that the sudden is going to come whenever. Another is to see hugeness in some irregular example. Taleb clarifies with precious stone clearness why the more regularly you see some fluctuating amount (the estimation of your offer portfolio, for instance), the less importance your perceptions have. However he sees brokers who watch costs go all over continuously on screen the progressions are so little as to be totally arbitrary and think they are picking up something. Another issue which is increasingly inconspicuous yet progressively perilous, is the survivorship predisposition: in an indiscriminate populace, a few issues will be more noticeable than others. Assume for instance, a merchant who takes a shot at systems that do no superior to irregular conduct of the market, he will confront fifty odds of achievement and disappointment consistently. Obviously, it has never rung a bell, that his prosperity is additionally arbitrary, anyway his honest brain accepts that his prosperity was because of his boss systems and not advertise haphazardness! The author’s see on arbitrariness and his models are not restricted uniquely to exchange showcase. Actually, haphazardness and social variances happen in each field. The impact of these â€Å"random nesses† can likewise be exaggerated by a hopeful reaction circle, which he calls as bipolarity. For instance, a vocation searcher does accidently well in a meeting (despite the fact that he isn't competent, yet it is arbitrariness) and accordingly shows signs of improvement results and more notoriety than other people who are substantially more talented. As a matter of fact, human psyche is organized to see designs, to reason the reason for events, and to immovably put stock in those reasons and bases. The primary part of Talebs book is that the writer is very much aware of this conduct study of the human brain. He knows nothing he says can excuse the bogus impression molded by unusualness or haphazardness and that he is as defenseless against the capriciousness or arbitrariness as some other basic man. Further he focuses on that his lone advantage is that he is at any rate aware of the shaky area, and frequently attempts to play so as to keep himself from these circumstances. For instance, he all the time attempts to overlook any type of â€Å"hot news† or any piece data. The books short however magnificent last segment manages this Zen-like issue of attempting to break oneself out of a form of reasoning that can't be broken, despite the fact that one perceives its inadequacies. The primary trait of the book Fooled by Randomness is that the writer is exceptionally close watching a genuine image of the business sectors with the eye of an effective broker just as being an insider manual for non conviction. Genuine brokers, I accept, dress carelessly, are frequently revolting and show the scholarly interest of somebody who might be progressively intrigued by the data uncovering substance of the trash can than the Cezanne painting on the divider. (Taleb). The writer doesn't maintain a strategic distance from any circumstance of the market in his book. His models are crunchy and over and again frightful. His hostility on a combination of highlights of the financial atmosphere, are terrible and radiantly contended. Numerous individuals who read his book can discover him angering and irritating. The book is a little survey on the how to exchange complex circumstances and to intently comprehend the arbitrary conduct of exchange markets. Be that as it may, there are occasions where the book is leaving some unanswered inquiries in the brain of the peruser. The creator exhibits a derisive and disdainful objection for speculation chiefs who need to make a fortune for themselves by selling their track records. All things considered, later in the book, Taleb makes reference to that he additionally needs to be fence investments supervisor! Would he be able to do that without flaunting his own reputation with the clients? Will he take benefit of the arbitrary occasions that happened to him and gave him a fruitful reputation? Since Mr. Taleb’s rudimentary articulation regarding the matter of the character of the Market hypothesis is mixed up on certain events, his assessment of the neighboring reflections prompts an illegitimate assessment of human conduct and market highlights. Now and again, the peruser may feel that the creator is wavering between an irrational estimation of the commonsense universe of currency market and his own passionate reactions to the consistently occasions of life. Simultaneously, Taleb additionally accepts his incomplete assessment and incorrectly gives no consideration to the quantifiable impact of different factors inside the current budgetary financial aspects. This is the reason before the finish of his book Mr. Taleb winds up deceived by the marvel haphazardness as well as somewhat abused by it. REFERENCE 1. Tricked by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Nutrition case studies Essay Example For Students

Nourishment contextual analyses Essay It would be ideal if you read the accompanying contextual analyses and answer the inquiries which tail them. The inquiries may have a few right answers; I am hoping to check whether you have placed some idea into the task and that you give precise data in your reactions. If it's not too much trouble email your responses to me by June 24. On the off chance that you have any inquiries concerning this task, if it's not too much trouble email me before June 24. Contextual analysis 1 Randy, age 36, and his entire family love football. They love to play football and to watch football. Randy played football in school, however since he has an occupation at a law office working numerous hours, he just plays from time to time on a Saturday. In school he was fit as a fiddle and could eat anything he needed. Presently he just doesnt make it to the rec center that regularly and has lost muscle and has been putting on some weight. He is around 6 feet and weighs 250. Randy and his family likewise love fundamentals type food. Toward the end of the week they regularly grill ribs and burgers that are washed down with a few lagers. During the week, Randy gets espresso and a doughnut while in transit to work and goes to lunch with customers at different cafés. His better half as a rule cooks dinnerjust like his mother used to. He realizes that he has been putting on some weight however he despite everything feels entirely great. A couple of years prior his cousin was determined to have colorectal malignancy. As of late Randys father was additionally determined to have colorectal disease. This makes Randy somewhat apprehensive and he thinks about whether there is whatever he can do to forestall or bring down his odds of getting malignant growth too. 1. Do you imagine that Randy is in danger for colorectal malignant growth? Why or why not? Randy is at rish for colorectal malignancy. While it evaluates that the commitment of the enviornment in individuals with colon malignant growth is 65%, the other 35% is hereditary components, and Randys cousin, and father have been analyzed. 2. What dietary exhortation would you give Randy? Most kinds of malignancies are identified with components, for example, high fat and liquor admissions, Randy presentations both of these properties. His basics type food is high in fat, just as the doughnut he has each day on his approach to work. The snacks out regularly at resturants Im sure are not the most solid decisions he could be making too. I recommend that Randy curtails the brews, begins practicing like the did in school, and starts taking in more natural products, and vegtables. Contextual investigation 2 Debbie just went to the wellbeing reasonable that her work was supporting. She is 44 and functions as a clerical specialist. At the wellbeing reasonable they checked her weight, pulse, and glucose. She is 5 foot 4 inches and at the wellbeing reasonable her weight was 145. Her pulse was 120/85 and her glucose was 130ml/dl. Debbie is amazed that her glucose was high since she doesnt truly eat desserts; she lean towards flavorful treats like chips. Debbie wants to cook and generally eats 3 huge suppers daily, however once in a while eats between dinners aside from drinking Dr. Pepper. Debbie and her significant other do jump at the chance to continue evening strolls around their neighborhood and do so a couple of evenings seven days. The individuals at the wellbeing reasonable suggested that she visit her PCP and have a total physical. 1. What do you figure the specialist will reveal to Debbie her determination is? It is conceivable that she is a diatbetic. Her sugar is extremly high, so I would run more tests. 2. What different tests do you figure the specialist will ask for? It is a chance with her glucose raised the manner in which it is, that she could be diabetic. .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .postImageUrl , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .focused content zone { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:hover , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:visited , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:active { border:0!important; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; mistiness: 1; progress: darkness 250ms; webkit-change: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:active , .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:hover { haziness: 1; change: murkiness 250ms; webkit-change: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relative; } . ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content design: underline; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; outskirt range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: intense; line-stature: 26px; moz-outskirt span: 3px; content adjust: focus; content enhancement: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/basic arrow.png)no-rehash; position: outright; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e 041920b09e315 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .ubd68a84893b8979a34e041920b09e315:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: The Adventures of Pinocchio Sample Essay If her bloodsugar was a fasting one, she could be getting diabetic. 3. What dietary guidance do you figure the specialist will suggest? With a 120/80 pulse Debbie shows indications of prehypertension. She should watch her salt admission, she said rather than desserts she inclines toward flavorful treats, which could be getting at her circulatory strain, and could eventaully make it significantly higher. Three major dinners daily, with sugar .

Can Self-Compassion Make You Happier

Can Self-Compassion Make You Happier Happiness Print Self-Compassion Exercises to Boost Your Happiness By Jodi Clarke, MA, LPC/MHSP twitter linkedin Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP is a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider with over 20 years of experience in the field. Learn about our editorial policy Jodi Clarke, MA, LPC/MHSP Updated on February 02, 2020 Peter Griffith / Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All Most people think of self-compassion as being kind to yourself. Although that is certainly a part of the concept, self-compassion involves a way of relating to yourself in a way that allows you to become more emotionally flexible, able to navigate challenging emotions, and enhance your connection to self and others. The ability to relate to ourselves in a compassionate way may sound easy enough but, in fact, it can be quite a challenge. You may find it easy to be compassionate toward a friend or loved one when they come to you with a personal struggle or a challenging situation. Your response to them may be one of understanding, hope, guidance, and encouragement. However, when we are faced with our own life challenges, we tend to be a little more harsh or critical with ourselves. We examine our thoughts and behaviors in a way that can leave us feeling unworthy, ashamed and frustrated with ourselves. In an effort to keep moving forward, we may tell ourselves to buck up, or get over it. Although the intent is to help move us forward during times of emotional challenge, this way of relating to ourselves can create an extraordinary amount of stress and become a significant obstacle in our ability to experience happiness within ourselves and with others. 3 Elements of Self-Compassion Dr. Kristin Neff, a psychologist and pioneering researcher in the area of self-compassion, outlines three elements of self-compassion: Self-Kindness: When people who practice self-compassion find themselves in challenging situations, they recognize that being imperfect or falling short at times is a part of living. The ability to navigate these experiences without putting yourself down is an element of self-compassion.Common Humanity: When we are faced with challenges, it can be easy to feel alone in our experience, as if others would not be able to relate to what we are going through. People who practice self-compassion understand that some of these challenges are part of the shared human experience.Mindfulness: Practicing self-compassion involves being able to observe our uncomfortable emotions without exaggerating them or ignoring them. This mindful and balanced stance helps us to not become emotionally reactive. How to Practice Self-Compassion There are a variety of  exercises  that Dr. Neff suggests can help us learn the practice of self-compassion: Imagine how you would talk to a friend.  We can often extend kind words, hope and encouragement to friends or loved ones. When going through a difficult time, take a moment to consider how you might respond to a close friend if they were going through a similar  situation.Become an observer.  During times when we feel challenged or struggling emotionally, it can feel like we are simply reacting and trying to emotionally survive the moment. By slowing down, we can take a small step back to observe our experience. Looking at the bigger picture can help us keep things in perspective and help us see important information that may have been missed otherwise.Change your self-talk.  Notice how you talk to yourself in moments when you are experiencing negative emotion. Work to reframe your critical self-statements in a more positive, nurturing way. This new tone may sound more like a mentor or advocate, rather than a critic or judge.Keep a journal and write it out.  Take time each day to wri te out some of  the challenges you are experiencing. Note moments as your mind tends to wander into critical statements or you begin to feel alone in your experiences. As you would with self-talk, intentionally reframe any critical statements with a softer, more understanding tone to see how it might feel different.Become clear about what you want.  As you practice ways to reframe critical thoughts into more nurturing self-talk, you can start uncovering clues as to what you are needing and wanting. Take a moment to consider what you want, need or long for in your life. Clarifying these needs will help you focus on where you want to go and what you are working toward, helping to increase motivation and happiness.Care for yourself.  Sometimes we take care of others and overlook, or completely ignore, the need to take care of ourselves. When practicing self-compassion you are recognizing that you have needs to be met as well and are worthy of engaging in those self-care behaviors. The ability to establish self-care practices can help lessen the desire to engage in unhealthy coping behaviors when faced with challenges and stress. The Effect of Self-Compassion on Your Emotions As a practice, self-compassion can be beneficial in regulating your emotions. Helps to Calm Negative Emotions The practice of self-compassionâ€"compassionate thinking in particularâ€"has been found to produce beneficial psychological changes of negative emotion. Using self-compassion techniques can help calm the experience of negative emotion and allow people to remember that they are not alone in their experiences of hurt, pain, and loss. In the practice of compassionate statements and reappraisal, the feeling of negative emotion can feel calmed, making room for mindful observation and healthy decision making. Practicing self-compassion can also allow for the surfacing of creativity and motivation. Helps to Increase Positive Emotions Self-compassion has been found to foster positive emotion, especially soothing, warm, and safe feelings. Although this can certainly help in times of distress, it can also be helpful in our daily living practices. We experience daily interactions in our personal lives, at work, or even with strangers, that have the potential to prompt a reactive emotional response. Using techniques of self-compassion can allow us to become more mindful of ourselves and our decision making, resulting in more balanced and positive interactions with others. A Word From Verywell As Dr. Neff describes, the practice of self-compassion can be very different than anything you have done before. Although the techniques are used to help us relate better to ourselves and better navigate challenging emotional experiences, it may feel a bit uncomfortable as you begin to practice some of these methods. Be patient with yourself and remember that we cannot control every aspect of our lives, including how quickly we are able to transform old, self-critical, habits into new, healthy and compassionate habits. Pursuing greater happiness through the practice of self-compassion is a gift to yourself and to those around you. In practicing self-compassion, you may find that interactions with others soften and become less reactive, you may find yourself willing to move forward in an area that you previously felt a bit stuck. In fact, you may begin experiencing happiness as you seek out new, healthy ways of living and relating to yourself.

Compare and Contrast Between Shakesperean Tragic Heroes

Compare and Contrast Essay Shakespeare Tragic Heroes: Macbeth and Brutus Kyla Yu English 11 August 4th, 2008 William Shakespeare is a world renowned English poet and playwright famous for many tragic plays such as Macbeth and Julius Caesar. These two plays both contain tragic heroes with Marcus Brutus from Julius Caesar, and Macbeth from Macbeth. A tragic hero is defined as a protagonist of high standing with heroic or potential heroic abilities who must oppose some external or internal force. A tragic hero needs to have a â€Å"tragic flaw† where a character has too much or too little of one of Aristotle’s twelve virtues. Macbeth and Brutus are both considered tragic heroes but have many similarities as well as differences.†¦show more content†¦Macbeth wouldn’t accept his feelings about murdering Banquo and was almost driven to madness by it while Brutus acknowledged Caesar’s ghost because he knew that he had done a dishonorable act and would be haunted. There is also the possibility that Macbeth and Brutus were faced with real ghosts since many of Sh akespeare’s plays revolved around the idea of the supernatural; therefore, they might have been haunted by real ghosts from their murders. Fourthly, Macbeth and Brutus had extreme influence and manipulation from outside sources that caused the degeneration of these characters from noble men to tragic heroes. Before the death of King Duncan, Macbeth was a true hero, fresh from a victory on the battlefield and not harboring any desires to gain the throne. At first, when faced with the witches’ predictions, he responds the way a loyal subject would, not like man who aspires to take over Scotland; ...to be King stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be Cawdor... (Macbeth, Act I, Scene iii, Lines 73-5). Also, Brutus was an honorable man with promise, ability, and was loyal to Rome. Both Macbeth and Brutus were good men until they had influence from the outside that caused the start of their degeneration into darkness. Macbeth had influence from his wife, Lady Macbeth, who was the one that urged him to kill Duncan and seize the

Breaking the Biography - 780 Words

What exactly is a biography? According to Dictionary.com it is â€Å"a written account of another person’s life†. However, that is a very broad definition, so I have decided add on to this definition to make my own definition of what I believe a biography to be. A biography is a written account of another person’s life told by an individual outside of the story. In Art Spiegelman’s Maus, although pushing the boundaries, certain sections of the book could best be described as a â€Å"biography† through the way they are written. One aspect that sets this biography apart from others is the medium used. While most biographies are purely written and tell the story of the subject’s life, Maus is (or could be considered) a graphic biography, if there is such a thing. It is both written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman, who happens to be the subject’s son. By using a mixture of drawings, dialogue and commentary, Spiegelman is able to t ell the story of his father’s experiences during World War II. This is another factor that sets it apart from other biographies; it doesn’t follow Spiegelman’s father, Vladek Spiegelman’s life in its entirety, but instead focuses primarily on his life during World War II. By using drawings to depict scenes certain scenes, it allows the reader to visualize exactly what Spiegelman wants them to see. It allows his creative expression and freedom to run wild and create a unique way to tell the story of his father. The ‘biography’ actually begins at theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Biography of Michael Phelps891 Words   |  4 PagesMichael Phelps Biography). He has two sisters, Whitney and Hilary (JackBio: Michael Phelps Biography). Both of them took up swimming when they were young and Michael followed in their footsteps (JackBio: Michael Phelps Biography). Phelps started competing and being involved with the U.S. swimming teams in 1999 (JackBio: Michael Phelps Biography). He competed in the Olympics representing the United States when he was just 15 years old (JackBio: Michael Phelps Biography). He started breaking world recordsRead MoreBiography of Michael Jackson1080 Words   |  5 Pageschildren and Michael Jackson was the eighth child. The Jackson family was very musically inclined. Michael’s father played guitar in a small RB band, his mother sang frequently, and his brothers often sand and played with their father’s guitar (Biography on Michael Jackson, 2002). Michael Jackson was no exception to his family’s musical ability. At the age of four Joe Jackson pushed his children to start a band. This band was called the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 quickly rose to fame. TheRead MoreThe Los Riots, The Oklahoma Bombing, Vietnam Essay1746 Words   |  7 Pagesgifted student in school, but very shy and did not have many friends at Columbine High (â€Å"Dylan Klebold Biography†, 2016). Dylan held a job at a pizza shop, a love for violent video games, and a love for baseball (â€Å"Dylan Klebold Biography†, 2016). However, he soon changed his colors and started showing strange signs of a boy who may be facing some issues. Both Klebold and Harris were arrested for breaking into a van and taking property from the van, charged with trespassing and theft; and were requiredRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination As Described By C. Wright Mills930 Words   |  4 PagesThe sociological imagination as described by C. Wright Mills is â€Å"the ability to understand the intersection between biography and hi story or interplay of self and the world.† (13) Mills also describes the sociological imagination by saying, â€Å"we have come to know every individual lives, from one generation to the next, in some society; that he lives out a biography, and that he lives out within some historical sequence. By the fact of his living he contributes, however minutely, to the shaping ofRead MoreThe Color Legacy in Major Leage Baseball1125 Words   |  5 Pages Jackie did more than just play baseball; he introduced a whole new way to play the game, with blacks and whites. He did this by breaking the color barrier and introducing blacks into the Major Leagues, facing discrimination and showing his true passion for the game, and showing that he was looking to help all African-Americans in the civil rights movement. Breaking the color barrier takes a lot of courage, so someone had to do it. Jackie was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919 (The PhillipRead MoreEducation: Planning a Lesson is a Riguros Process Essay1003 Words   |  5 Pagesof support, a scaffold, by breaking down the topic into simple steps for children to understand, in order to â€Å"assist learners to develop new understandings, new concepts, and new abilities† (Hammond and Gibbons 2001:8). The scaffold can then be removed when children no longer need the appropriate guidance to understand the topic. Scaffolding has been used effectively in my own teaching, where the topic was non-fiction texts and the aim was for children to write a biography. We studied an eBook aboutRead MoreMahatma Gandhis Path to peace Essay examples788 Words   |  4 Pages Mahatma Gandhi once said, â€Å"I wish for equality for all people, except for photographers and journalists† (â€Å"Mahatma Gandhi biography†). Gandhi was commonly known for his loving personality and his passion for life and equality. It was his mission to free India from the clutches of the British Empire and he will be remembered as one of the greatest pacifists to walk this earth. However, to achieve all of his objectives for truth and equality, he would have to overcome many adversities and hardshipsRead MoreWild Swans by Jun Chang1108 Words   |  5 PagesBritish university. Jung Chang’s husband, Jon Halliday, is the collaborating author of the biography. He is an Irish historian that focuses on the history of modern Asia. Halliday was a former Senior Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College, University of London. He had written, and edited his eight previous books. Currently, Jung Chang and Jon Halliday reside in Notting Hill, West London. The biography focused on Mao Zedong, who was China’s revolutionary, yet erratic leader. The authors portrayedRead MoreMahatma Gandhi – The Great Soul. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,1235 Words   |  5 Pagesfasting, meditation and vegetarianism (Mahatma Gandhi Biography, biography.com). When Gandhi was a young boy, he was very shy, a mediocre student. It is said he was so bashful that he slept with the lights on well into his teens. He married Kasturba Makanji, who was a merchant’s daughter, in an arranged marriage when he was 13. As a teenager, he rebelled by smoking, eating meat and stealing change from household servants (Mahatma Gandhi Biography, biography.com). In 1885, Gandhi suffered through theRead MoreTaking a Look at Ernest Hemingway1167 Words   |  5 Pagesof success and his career was topped off with him being awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature (The Biography Channel). This is what made him into the writer that he was. Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois (The European Graduate School). During high school, he worked on the schools newspaper, Trapeze and Tabula (The Biography Channel). According to The European Graduate School, after Hemingway had graduated from high school, he went to work for

Of Mice and Men An Unexpected Connection Free Essays

Lennie and Curley’s wife come across as very different characters. They differ greatly in appearance, mentality, and personality. Despite their differences, though, Lennie and Curley’s wife are surprisingly similar in the way they both constantly need to create physical connections. We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men: An Unexpected Connection or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a result, they are able to relate to each other, and when they are finally alone together they address each other’s needs, which leads to a tragic end. Lennie and Curley’s wife are extremely different people, both externally and internally. Lennie is â€Å"a huge man, shapeless of face, †¦with wide, sloping shoulders,† (2) while Curley’s wife is a very â€Å"purty† (28) woman with â€Å"full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes† (31). Lennie has animalistic qualities and moves clumsily: â€Å"†¦he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws† (2). Contrastingly, Curley’s wife is more graceful and moves very quietly, which is depicted when Candy says, â€Å"Jesus Christ, Curley’s wife can move quiet† (82) after she had entered the stable on the way to Crooks’ bunk without anyone hearing her. Lennie suffers from an unknown mental illness – the other characters think he’s â€Å"nuts† (74)— and as a result, he acts callow, imitating the behavior of certain animals: He drank from the pool â€Å"with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse,† (3) and he â€Å"dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes† (3). Lennie is â€Å"a nice fella† (40) who is very innocent, illustrated by how he interacts with the girl in the red dress in Weed: â€Å"†¦he reaches out to feel this red dress, †¦he jus’ wanted to touch that dress† (42). He is also very tractable; â€Å"†¦he’d do any damn thing† (40) that George told him. In contrast, Curley’s wife is mentally sharper and very observant; she notices all â€Å"them bruises† (80) on Lennie’s face, which resulted from his fight with Curley, and realizes that he was the one who hurt Curley’s hand, not a machine. Curley’s wife is also very assertive, manipulative, and flirtatious. A clever lady, she knows how to get what she wants. The superiority of Curley’s wife’s qualities to those of Lennie later contributes to their tragic end. Both Lennie and Curley’s wife have to constantly create physical connections in their lives, but each for a different reason. Lennie has an obsession with petting soft things, which he reveals to Curley’s wife: â€Å"I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof’ things† (90). His obsession, which he has had since he was a child – his Aunt Clara used to give him a piece of velvet to touch — is depicted throughout the book. In the beginning of the book, Lennie finds a dead mouse and when asked why he keeps it, he answers, â€Å"I could pet it with my thumb wile we walked along,† (6) expressing his desire to pet things, dead or alive. He wants to pet things so badly that after George throws the mouse off into the distance to get rid of it, Lennie goes and retrieves it again. In Weed, when Lennie saw the girl in the red dress who he had never even met before, he reached out to touch it, just to feel the dress. George describes Lennie’s obsession concerning Slim’s pups: â€Å"He’ll want to sleep right out in the barn with ‘em. We’ll have trouble keepin’ him from getting right in the box with them pups† (38). Lennie â€Å"wants to pet them pups all the time† (42). Furthermore, his dream to tend â€Å"furry† (16) rabbits results from his obsession. Lennie has a longing to pet every soft thing he encounters in the book and each time he fulfills his craving something unfortunate happens, foreshadowing the book’s final events. He doesn’t know his own strength and can’t control his obsession. Similarly, Curley’s wife has a constant need to physically feel loved. She is someone who needs a lot of love and attention (her dream was to be an actress), which her husband will never give her. As a result, she tries to interact with any guy she can; in Crooks’ room when talking to Candy, Crooks, and Lennie, she admits, â€Å"†¦what am I doin? Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs†¦an’ likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else† (78). Slim comments on her behavior: â€Å"She ain’t concealin’ nothing†¦ She got the eye goin’ all the time on everybody†¦ Seems like she can’t keep away from guys† (51). Although many of the ranchers view her as a â€Å"tart,† (28) I believe that Curley’s wife is a genuinely lonely person. She expresses her loneliness to Lennie: â€Å"I get lonely†¦ You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley† (87). Ironically, Lennie and Curley’s wife, who have nearly opposite qualities, can cater to each other’s need by responding to each other’s obsessions. Purposely kept apart by the author through various characters for most of the book, when Lennie and Curley’s wife are alone together for the first time, the already existent chemistry between them is ostensible, and the extent of their needs is so great that neither can resist acting upon them. Leading up to this final scene, Lennie’s attraction to Curley’s wife is unequivocal. When he first sees her, his eyes â€Å"[move] down over her body,† (31) and when she talks Lennie watches her with fascination. Furthermore when George speaks negatively about Curley’s wife, Lennie â€Å"defensively† says, â€Å"She’s purty† and then later repeats, â€Å"Gosh, she was purty† after which he smiles â€Å"admiringly† (32). Curley’s wife knows how to relate to Lennie and speak to him on his level. After Candy tells her that Curley’s hand was caught in a machine, she, knowing what really happened, speaks flirtatiously to Lennie: â€Å"O. K. , Machine. I’ll talk to you later. I like machines† (80). In the final scene, Curley’s wife indicates to Lennie that she understands his obsession; when Lennie reveals that he likes to pet things, she responds â€Å"Well, who don’t?†¦ Ever’body likes that. I like to feel silk an’ velvet. Do you like to feel velvet? † (90). Lennie and Curley’s wife open up to each other, and as a result the reader learns the most about these characters from this scene; Lennie explains his obsession, while Curley’s wife explains her loneliness and need to feel loved. The reciprocal connection between them is so strong that Lennie disobeys George’s orders, risking his dream of tending the rabbits, and succumbs to the temptation of Curley’s wife. Her loneliness is so great that Curley’s wife, aware of the consequences, â€Å"[takes] Lennie’s hand and [puts] it on her head† (90). Lennie’s obsession overpowers him, and he continuously strokes Curley’s wife’s hair harder and harder, making her scream in pain. Afraid that George â€Å"ain’t gonna let [him] tend no rabbits,† (91) when Curley’s wife doesn’t stop screaming, Lennie shakes her while covering her mouth and accidentally kills her. Lennie’s actions illustrate his lack of self-restraint, and he is therefore viewed as a threat to society. As a result, Lennie’s killing of Curley’s wife leads to the killing of Lennie. The characters that seem the least alike in Of Mice and Men, Lennie and Curley’s wife, ironically, share a common need that enables them to have one of the strongest connections in the book, both physically and emotionally. Knowing that they have the ability to satisfy each other’s needs, Lennie and Curley’s wife are in a very vulnerable situation that is full of temptation. Lennie can’t control his obsession and accidentally kills Curley’s wife, while trying to preserve his dream to tend rabbits that is based on his obsession. The physical connections that once gave them pleasure and happiness in life lead to each of their deaths. How to cite Of Mice and Men: An Unexpected Connection, Papers

What, historically, have been Apple’s competitive advantages free essay sample

Apple has used the following competitive advantage strategies: Apple uses its ability to design and develop its own operating system, hardware, application software and services to differentiate its brand from competitors. The Apple Inc. Company, with 2009 net sales of $42. 9 million, primarily competes in the PC, MP3 player, Portables, IPod, Handset, Peripherals, Software and service markets. Apple stands out for â€Å"typically designing its products from scratch, using unique chips, disk drives, and monitors. †1 In the MP3 player market, they differentiated their product early on by providing what competitors could not – storage of up to 1,000 songs vs. only an hour of music. Through technological advances by 2010 they held more than 70% of the MP3 market in the US. Overall, their product’s appeal has a lot to do with the company’s stated goal of providing customers with products that have superior ease of use, seamless integration and innovative design. Quality is also an Apple brand trademark that provides the company with an excellent reputation and is a differentiation advantage when compared to their competitors. We will write a custom essay sample on What, historically, have been Apple’s competitive advantages or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Incorporating all these strategies have allowed Apple to gain certain competitive advantages and benefit from a strong brand, a loyal customer base, innovative and quality products as well as exposure to fast-growing markets. 2. How sustainable is Apple’s competitive position in PC’s? Apple needs to revisit their competitive advantage strategy in the PC market. Sales of Apples computers the Macintosh (Mac) made up approximately 32. 3% of the companies net sales in 2009. That year, the company shipped over 12. 3 million units of desktop and laptop computers. Portables units sold about two times as fast as desktops. In 2009. total Mac net sales were $13. 8 billion dollars with a gross margin of 40%. In addition, Apple’s PC RD/Sales percentage was 3%. Apples worldwide market share of the PC market is 4. 2%. This position is last behind the clone PC market share of HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba at 5. 4%. Net sales per unit sold deteriorated in 2009 to its lowest level (trending data only went back to 2004. ) Although I expect that portables will benefit from increasedsales, the overall trend of decreased net sales will most likely continue. The competitor (Microsoft) launching of Windows 7, invigorated clone PC sales. â€Å"Microsoft shipped over 60 million units of the new OS in its first quarter of sales in the fall of 2009, generating almost $7 billion in revenue. † 2 My risk assessment as to Apple’s competitive position in the PC market is that it is at high risk. This assessment reflects my concern that Appleà ¢â‚¬â„¢s mindset to â€Å"create/design from scratch† all proprietary PC components may not be the best approach. Even a simple printer cable for the Mac is proprietary. â€Å"By 2010, the PC market will be approaching its market potential, with an estimated market demand for that year of 325 million units. This could change as the result of unusually large price declines, radically new computer technology, or other unpredictable developments. † 3 Opening up the company’s architecture to vendors (open architecture like the clone PC) and focusing in on the operating system like Microsoft could bring Apple the added boost it needs to compete with the clone PC in markets worldwide. Another factor contributing to my high risk assessment is the concern over the health of the company’s founder and CEO, Steve Jobs. Consequently, Apple should examine and update their strategy if they are to succeed in this changing PC market. 3. How sustainable is Apple’s competitive position in MP3 players? Apple’s competitive position in the MP3 players market is at a medium risk given the following: Sales of the iPod made up approximately 18. 86% of the companies net sales in 2009. They sold over 54. 1 million units of iPods. Although 2009 net sales per unit sold dropped to its lowest level in six years to $149/per unit from a high of $296/per unit, Apple’s iPod net sales totaled $8. 0 billion dollars. In 2010, Apple reportedly held more than 70% of the MP3 marketplace in the United States. Furthermore, analysts believe that the iPod’s â€Å"halo effect† benefited Apple’s Mac business. â€Å"For every $3 dollars spent on an iPod, according to one analyst, consumers spent another $1 on iPod add-on products. † 4 Apple earned an estimated 5% of the retail price on such items. Competitors in the MP3 market include SanDisk, Creative, and Samsung. Each had a market share below 10%. With the launch of iTunes, iPod sales shot up by an explosive rate. With the opening of App store in about 18 months, four billion applications had been downloaded by iPhone and iPod touch by users worldwide contributing to the $1 billion dollars in app sales for Apple. If cost-cutting efforts are implemented, they can offset the trend and anticipated decline in unit selling prices for iPods. However, Apples iPods competitive position is at medium risk as iPod units are declining largely due to Apples Inc.  large market share coupled with the market saturation in this area. Apple could face a decline in demand for the iPod as it holds such a large MP3 market share in a mainly mature market. This could mean Apple will face declining unit shipments and price pressures on the iPod. Apple has a differentiating competitive advantage in its application business. The App store is definitely very important to future sales growth. In summary, even though Apple is at a good position in the MP3 player market, they do need to consider strategy if they are to remain the leaders. 4. If you were Steve Jobs’ Marketing Manager, would you recommend developing another new product for the market or put more money into one of their four primary products. If you recommend an existing product, which one and why? Use marketing mix (5 P’s) in your answer. Product – I would recommend developing another new product for the market. Apple Inc. is good at innovating and should continue to innovate and spend in RD especially when they have such a strong bottom line cash position. This may open other markets to them as an adjacent-segment strategy or otherwise. Price – Some of their existing products (i. e. Mac, iPod, etc. ) will be facing ever increasing price pressures from market saturation and other factors. This makes it crucial to have other product offerings to complement the pipe line. Promotion – Apple Inc. should do a break-even analysis in terms of which products to continue to heavily promote. They should consider including innovative technological advances in their product offerings and promote those products. Place (distribution) – Broadening Apples distribution channel would bring in a larger customer base. Allowing superstores (Wal-Mart, Cosco), electronic retailers (Best Buy, Circuit City) and Web-based retailers to distribute Apple products would definitely increase sales. A different approach needs to be taken to reach a wider audience as convenience sometimes sells product. People – Similar to the iPod Business App stores, Apple could have Mac Business Centers to offer services and peripheral equipment and supplies. These centers could offer friendly, professional and competent service to continue delivering quality and customer satisfaction. Endnotes