Life of pi personal essay

In Yawn Marten's Life of Pi, Piecing Molotov Patella's Journey explores many connections to my life. His life in India, along with his experience on water, allows Pi to recognize many attributes about himself. My life in three specific ways, mirrors the life of Pl. This is proven through hope, loss, and religion involved in both of our lives. Pip's ‘cup half full' outlook, along with his â€Å"fierce will to live†(Marten, 164) is what gives him hope throughout his Journey on water. This is seen when Pi absorbs that there is a tiger in his life boat and that they are stranded in the middle of the ocean.This makes him realize oncoming death, however he fails to accept it due to the voice he hears in his heart; â€Å"l will not die. I refuse it. I will not make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine (163). † This spark of light found in his heart in such a hopel ess situation, proves his amazing outlook on life and will to survive. Similarly, I try to view every situation in a positive light as well, no matter how hopeless the situation may be.This is usually seen when I may be in a bad situation with others, and instead of complaining, I will make the remark â€Å"Well, it could be worse. For instance†¦ † This attitude tends to create more positivist in everyone and every situation. In addition, Pip's loss of loved ones also connects to myself. When he can no longer deny the death of his Father, Mother and brother Rave, he grieves; â€Å"what a thing to acknowledge in your heart (141)! † This represents the love that he will forever cherish of his family. Loss is something that everyone lives with.In the case of God's Theodosius, people presume that evil, including loss, is existent due to possible reasons: to build character, to develop free will, pure revenge, etc. In the case of P', I believe that his loss establishes building of character, and in connection to my first point, creates motivation which brings him hope. The loss of my family members, including all four of my grandparents, has been bitter sweet. Of course, death is a tragedy in the case of loved ones, however, believing that they are looking down on e has given me hope and motivation, like P', to strive for success and make them proud.The major factor that Pi develops throughout the novel is the discovery of his identity. His religion(s), family, and self, all contribute to the way that he showcases himself when he is independent on the ocean. In his search for religion, Pi is not limited by the bounds of a single religion, but instead seeks guidance and meaning from many. His choices of following the religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity are all able to contribute to his strong love for God/Allah.It is Pip's dignity and belief for God that he cares about; â€Å"To me, religion is about our dignity, not our depravity'( 79). Like Papua Gandhi, I agree that ‘All religions are true† (76) and that there are no rules for loving God as religion is an independent choice. After all, the point of spirituality is not to becoming limited by narrow thinking, but to find yourself in order to enhance your lives, and the lives of those around you. Unlike P', I was raised practicing the single religion of Judaism in my household.My mother (who inverted) along with my father, exposed me to the practices and beliefs of Judaism, which I still practice and abide by today. This goes along with my Bat Mitzvahs at the age of thirteen which identified me as a woman. My belief in God, like Pi, is strong, and thanks to religion, is a major part of my identity. When examined closer, Pip's hope in all situations, loss of loved ones, and identity which is seen through his religion, are all able to connect closely with myself. Works Cited Marten, Yawn. Life of Pi: a novel. New York: Harcourt, 2001. Print.

Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example While I recognized that there were individuals with different personality structures, to me it was not clear what exactly constituted crazy or sane, and what demonstrated normal or abnormal psychology. After researching these elements throughout the course I have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of psychology and its elements within the lives of others. Considering sanity and insanity, while I had previously believed that there was a clear and distinct divide between these two elements, I now believe that the distinguishing features are much more nebulous. It’s my understanding that oftentimes individuals can demonstrate abnormal or deviant views on the nature of existence or life, while at the same time demonstrate functional lifestyles in other aspects of their life. I also recognize that oftentimes these individuals, with proper care and counseling, can come to develop more sane or functional modes of existence. In terms of abnormal or different behavior, wh ile I recognize that there are individuals whose behavior is so entirely deviant that they are a threat to themselves and society that it must be curbed, there are also a number of positive elements of anormal psychology. In these regards, the course has demonstrated to me that while there is abnormal psychology that must be dealt with, in many contexts it’s necessary to consider the positive benefits of a society that values neurological diversity (Zimbardo 2010). This is perhaps the most intellectual development I made throughout my study in this course. Namely, that while psychology and doctors are quick to label individuals as bio-polar, autistic, or schizophrenic, in many instances these individuals simply demonstrate psychological perspectives that are deviant of mainstream norms. In labeling these people as such, I’ve come to believe that society is actually doing them a disservice, as in many instances that are simply unique individuals facing oppressive mechan isms from a social order not open to neurological diversity. 2. Identify and discuss the forces acting on you to limit or prevent your freedom of choice, both those rooted in your past (such as guilt, traumatic memories, obligations, bad contracts, unrewarding experiences, punishment, low self-esteem, or shyness), those rooted in the present (including social pressures to conform, comply, obey, and do what others reward you for; personal pressure to be recognized, approved of, accepted, and loved), and those based in the future (such as unrealistic expectations, aspirations, concern for liabilities and responsibilities, desire for security, or fear of death). While one of the predominant thematic elements of American society is the claim of freedom for all citizens, when one examines the issue on a personal level it’s evident that freedom is more complex that right granted by the government. When one considers freedom in terms of their personal lives, it’s clear there are a number of past, present, and future elements that factor into the ability of one to truly exercise elements of personal choice. When I consider freedom in terms of my own life, I recognize that I am constricted by these elements. Personal choice in my life surfaces perhaps most strikingly in terms of my artistic and social desires. In terms of my artistic desires, I have somewhat idealistic notions of myself as being a successful singer, but recognize that such a desire is highly unlikely to come to fruition. As

Internet Technology and Social Media Solutions for Business Essay

Internet Technology and Social Media Solutions for Business - Essay Example Internet and Social Media have brought a revolution to the business world in the ‎recent past and proved to be an efficient online mode to imply various marketing strategies for ‎enhancing new business developments. Nearly all forms of businesses attained sustainability, ‎visibility and brand attention to nominal face with such online marketing tool over the years. This ‎platform gives up-to-date knowledge of any services or products, enhances online traffic and ‎create sound awareness (Norman 25).‎ There is a number of effective social media networks like YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, ‎various blogs and Twitter available to facilitate the online business activities for building state of the art ‎solid customer base. This could be carried out by effectively marketing and advertising the ‎products through the adoption of interactive plans and strategies, for instance conducting online ‎polls, webinars, contests and e-books etc. The most important factor for online business through ‎social media is the engagement of accurate target audience so that the customers remain loyal to ‎respective brands or services for longer period of time.‎ Social Media’s Benefits to Business There are countless benefits of conducting business through an effective use of ‎technological internet tools. ... It also brings ?new job openings worldwide which tends to decrease the unemployment rate. The marketing ?tool also brings new investment to the business which is the best way to grow. It totally depends upon the way social media is used for business. It can be used for obtaining several objectives. Most ?common foreseeable objectives include fresh business contact, search new potential clients, ?obtaining prompt feedback, suggestion and positive criticism from the customers, conduct online ?marketing research and so on and so forth (Norman 54).? Internet and Social Media’s Applications in Business: ? †¢ It could be essentially import for gaining sizable profits in business through effective online ?marketing and publicity.? †¢ The medium of marketing could marginalize all hurdles in the business and put on the path of ?success.? †¢ It could identify target respondents of the products and services to build loyal and long term ?relationship with the clients.? â₠¬ ¢ A type of bonding is formed between buyers and sellers through social media.? †¢ It also tends to make new contact with different communities around the world of identical ?interests.? †¢ Experiences are shared with eventually lead towards building high credibility.? †¢ Through all time interaction, a consultation and advice can be given without any hidden cost.? †¢ Social Media creates a pool of like-minded people and builds strong ties for business prospective. ? †¢ It also helps to evaluate the weaknesses along with the competitor’s strategies (Stephen, 2011).? Evaluation of Business through Different Social Media and Internet Tools This paragraph clearly indicates the results which recently obtained by the companies using

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Art - Essay Example He was also heavily influenced by the Post-Impressionists Gauguin and Van Gogh. Picasso was a Spanish artist known as the founder of Cubism. Unlike Matisse, Picasso’s paintings of women are grotesquely distorted. He portrays the woman with darkness and vulgarity. In the early years of the twentieth century, Picasso embarked on a series of paintings using blue palette and melancholy themes. After his Blue Period, came his Rose Period which emphasized a warmer palette and more cheerful themes. Picasso’s works were influenced by Matisse’s works especially with his still life paintings. However, Picasso focused more on form and innovation while Matisse focused more on color and was less abstract. Picasso uses form with symmetry at different angels, geometrics and inspiration from household tools. On the other hand, Matisse always preferred bright colors even in his landscapes. His colors changes from light to dark but its mixtures make it even more creative. Matisse does not have much attention to detail but he adheres to reality unlike Picasso who would usually distort the images of his subjects. The art works of both artists were influenced by each other, more so when they developed a friendly rivalry. One of the more famous works of Picasso is the â€Å"Les Demoiselles d’Avignon† which is an example of his neo-cubism, modernism, and impressionism. This painting shows women who are immensely distorted. Geometric shapes are used instead of curves to portray the bodies of the women. The painting uses dark colors such as brown, black and blue which makes the theme gloomy. Matisse’s â€Å"Joy of Life† on the other hand depicts women more naturally by showing the right curves and proportions. The mood of Matisse’s painting is livelier because of the colors that he used specifically, red, green and yellow. Although both paintings show a group of women, one can clearly see the difference in how they are portrayed b y both artists. Matisse’s â€Å"Joy of Life†, 1905-1906 vs. Picasso’s â€Å"Les Demoiselles d’Avignon†, 1907 Picasso’s â€Å"Vase, bowl & lemon†, 1907 vs. Matisse’s â€Å"Blue Pot and Lemon† , 1897 The paintings above are examples of still life paintings of Picasso and Matisse. Unlike other Matisse’s paintings, the colors are quite dull. In contrast, Picasso’s emphasizes the shapes of the objects by using black outlines on the figures. His colors are darker as compared to those of Matisse’s. In Matisse’s painting, the objects seem to blend with its background because of its complimentary colors while in Picasso’s painting, the dark blue and gray background shows a sharp contrast between the colors of the lemon and the vase. Picasso’s â€Å"Acrobat† 1930 vs. Matisse’s â€Å"Acrobats† 1952 The above paintings of both Picasso and Matisse show clearly how they in fluenced each other. The paintings show the different interpretations of the two artists on one subject. Again, we can see Matisse’s love for colors by painting the human body blue in a beige background. On the other hand, Picasso simply used black and white. The two paintings though, both show a distortion of the human body. Works Cited Carver, Reg. Matisse or Picasso. 11 February 2011. Web. 3 May 2011. http://www.findmyowncurrent.com/2011/02/11/matisse-or-picasso/ Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation. Matisse & Picasso. 2001. Web. 3 May 2011

Midterm Writing Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Midterm Writing Assignment - Essay Example During this period Richard Cobden and John Bright who came from the â€Å"Manchester School†, tried their best to bring about peace and harmony among the people by opposing war and imperialism which was rampant. Therefore, the term â€Å"Manchesterism† stood for the spreading of peace and goodwill among all people at all levels. Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who was a Jew, became an artillery officer in the French army because of his dedication and skill. In October 1894, he was sent for training which suddenly came to a grinding halt when he was accused of handing over military secrets to the German Embassy in Paris. He was promptly arrested and accused of treason. There was no evidence or conclusive significance that Dreyfus was in any way involved, but yet he was convicted because the Army thought that they may be blamed for lending support to a Jewish officer. The Dreyfus Affair became a political scandal. The word â€Å"Eugenics† is taken from the Greek root which meant "good" and "generation" or "origin†. During the late eighteenth century it was used to denote â€Å"Science† of hereditary or good breeding. Gregor Mendel who worked with the cross breeding of pea plants, made popular the concept of genes ushering research in the field of genetics. One strand of genetic research trailed off into the realms of social history which in the beginning of the twentieth century came to be popularly known as â€Å"Eugenics†. During the 1840’s, Britain was going through a heavy crisis period. They were faced with a lot of economic problems and working class unrest. Investments and rail-road building took their toll as there was widespread famine in Ireland and Britain faced some of its most miserable days. Hence, this period was called the â€Å"Hungry 40’s†. Barriers or restrictions that are imposed on foreign competitors would certainly hamper trade relations between countries

Managing human resources management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing human resources management - Essay Example Through effective human resource management, employees can contribute effectively to the overall company success and attainment of goals. Human resource management is also responsible for maintaining outstanding associations between employees within the organization. Every employee in an organization has his or her personal goals, and it is the responsibility of human resource management to ensure that the goals of the organization integrate with the individual’s goals. Therefore, this paper will focus on offering recommendations to St-Patrick’s Nursing Home human resource manager on how to eliminate the numerous human resource problems and improve on employee retention. Recruitment and selection are a process that engrosses numerous activities that require a great deal of time. The primary aim of recruitment and selection is to guarantee that the most appropriate individuals with the most appropriate skills are employed by an organization. The health sector is a huge service industry that experiences rapid changes. This makes the recruitment process subject to numerous internal and external factors. The selection results should emanate from a systematic and comprehensive process (Fottler et al, 2007: 32). In planning for recruitment, a human resource practitioner is required to be in apprehension of the wider issues that involve the recruitment process. When planning the recruitment of people in the health organization, it is imperative to identify the requirements of a job (Fottler et al, 2010: 45). The staffing needs are articulated in the job analysis. A job analysis is a purposeful and systematic process that offers significant, descriptive information on the job vacancy (Durai, 2010: 77). This analysis offers a broken down evaluation of different components of the job. This analysis also gives the basis of the functions of the personnel (Fottler et al, 2007: 56). Needless to say, this analysis can work best

Globalization of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Essay Example for Free

Globalization of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Essay Globalization of both the economy and the society has confronted the world over the past decade. A shift of focus and interest from the local market to the international setting has demanded innovation not just in corporate leadership as new information; forms of communication and technology are being offered to be utilized in encouraging and reinforcing interaction among individuals. Fewer trade barriers and unprecedented technological advances have accelerated the pace of globalization. The advances in communication technology make it easier to enter the international market through the efficient marketing and advertising strategies that a number of international business organizations invest in by utilizing the services provided by the Worldwide Web. Electronic data communication (EDC) facilitates the exchange of data at tremendous speeds; it sorts and integrates data with other information available to the recipients (businesses, banks, capital markets) from other sources. Individual countries and trading and currency blocs alike view the fast-moving e-business sector as having a direct impact on the countries’ and blocs’ competitiveness in the global market. Increased market competition identifies continuous adjustment and improvement in the production lines of countries to recognize the participation of smaller business units. The free flow of goods and services, the establishment of functioning trade blocs like the European Union, more favorable regulations for foreign direct investment, and e-commerce are now major features of the global market. The introduction of the new division of international labor calls for evaluation and reorganization of the business operations as well as a reassessment of the current technological practices. The Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Industry in FRANCE Royle and Towers (2002) note that the Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries industry has now extended throughout the world, expanding in FRANCE and other European countries, bakeshops are often considered as a characteristic of the new global culture. These bakeshops are illustrated as informal, have uniform service to anyone regardless of social status and focuses on giving quick-service to its customers. The industry grew out of a cultural philosophy that greatly values friendliness more than propriety, basically more than traditions of gracious living and democratic consensus over status-based divisions. Firms within the Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries industry fall into the category of a competitive market structure. According to Lipset (1991), the competitiveness of a market refers to the extent to which individual firms have the control or power to influence market prices or the terms on which their products are sold. It must be noted that â€Å"the less power an individual firm has to influence the market in which it sells its products, the more competitive the market is† (Lipset, 1991). In the recent years, the integration of strategic planning and functional marketing has been perhaps the most relevant development in the field of marketing management as marketing managers have all the more realized that tactical marketing decisions must be made within a wider strategic framework. Marketing Mix (4Ps) Product – Products that Cakes and Cookies are offering can be improved and expanded. For example they can add more cakes that suit the taste and needs of their consumers in FRANCE. Cakes and Cookies should not limit their products according to the old time customers in the U. S. Placement – Decisions involving the place/distribution are also crucial in meeting the needs of the target market. There are many factors to consider such as the choice of location where the product will be sold to the consumers, and the various channel distribution required to bring the product in the target market. Elements of distribution channel include the packaging, storage facilities, transportation, and the members of the channel itself. Cakes and Cookies should make their customized packages and boxes for their Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries and this should be appropriate according to the taste of the FRANCE consumers. It is always relevant to choose a channel pattern that is suitable for the target market needs. Price Among other factors considered in pricing are the needs of the market, the costs involved, the effect on margins and the value offered at a minimum for the consumer without the price cut hitting the company image. It is not surprising therefore, that Cakes and Cookies entry price strategy became a model in starting business in the area. Finally, it is interesting to note that in FRANCE have consistently agreed with Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries pricing strategy for many years. This shows that consumers give their loyalty as long as the price is right and fair. Promotions – Today, personal selling, sales promotions, in the forms of souvenirs, and point-of-purchase displays (POP), publicity through non-paid presentation of the product to the target market (feature articles and special news coverage), and public relations (established link with the stakeholders) were utilized by Cakes and Cookies Similarly, TV and radio advertising are important channels to promote Cakes and Cookies Usually, effective television and radio advertising involves a good opening punch line, presentation of the competitor’s product (brand must not be mentioned) and its weakness, testimony of experts or renowned personalities/authorities, and in some cases, use of famous movie actors and actress also helps. Further, the existence of Internet and the continued revolution in the world of Information Technology are certainly positive signs for the blossoming of many new advertising opportunities. For instance, pop-up ads and email ads have started to inva de the Internet. Most advertising firms have also started to exert efforts to make their advertisements appealing to the public (Chow and Holden, 1997). Segment, Target and Positioning of the Product Of all the components of a marketing plan, perhaps the most overlooked but most critical element is the definition of the target market. According to Lovelock and Young (2000), it is a homogenous group of people or organizations that a company wishes to appeal to. There are two basic targets for a product or service: the user and the non-user segments. Thus, there are also two business and marketing decisions that the company must decide upon in light of the basic targets. The first is to cultivate the present market alone while the second is to go after non-users. The former can inspire consumer loyalty which is an important factor in the survival of any business. In the case of Cakes and Cookies, they should categorize their target market into two market segments: (1) the Cakes and Cookies patrons or those who have already tried the product, and (2) the Cakes and Cookies non-consumers. The Cakes and Cookies consumers further classified into (a) males and (b) females in order to differentiate the market appeal and competitiveness of the offered products in terms of sex as well as the specific consumers for specific types of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries. in order to determine the competitiveness of each product per se. the Cakes and Cookies non- consumers, on the other hand, are further grouped into (a) those who do not eat Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries in general, and (b) those who eat other Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries. These market segmentation schemes according to product use will provide important information regarding the overall competitiveness of Cakes and Cookies products as well as viability and opportunities for encouraging sweeteners non-users to not just try any other average sweeteners but to choose Cakes and Cookies products among others. Moreover, companies now face the challenge of making its target consumers respond accordingly to their marketing efforts and those who understand its consumers’ responses will have a great competitive advantage (Kotler Armstrong, 2001). In this light, Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries should keep in mind the differences that are distinct between and among other bakeshops target market based on different cultural backgrounds which significantly affect the effectiveness of the campaign. The fact is, there may be ideas that will not be applicable across the diverse target market population. Studies on the relationship of consumer behavior and their personal values and cultural orientation as well as their beliefs on certain principles, the dispositions they hold and side they take on political, gender and social problems and issues will be likewise duly accounted. Positioning The changing world has then placed much emphasis on the importance of communication for effective marketing. All types of communication are involved in marketing communications, including literature, training, advertising, mail, telephone, product promotions and other contact relevant to marketing communication. Among the channel members, even follow-up on complaints as well as customer billing may be included within the communication loop. In order to effectively serve the marketing channel, correct timing and accuracy in communications is essential. Moreover, it is important for the company to recognize that all members of the channel have an obligation or important role in maintaining the efficacy of marketing communications. Organizations that capitalize on customers active participation in organizational activities can gain competitive advantage through greater sales volume, enhanced operating efficiencies, positive word-of-mouth publicity, reduced marketing expenses, and enhanced customer loyalty (Lovelock Young, 1979). Channel communications works in a two-way system wherein information transfers to the user and bounces all the way back to the producer (Goldberg McCalley, 1992). In other words, marketing communications works like a feedback system, which allows company producers to relay information to the customers. In response to the provided information, consumers give certain reactions or behaviors. In this light, the electronic transformation of the services offered by Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries will result to better and more efficient and effective customer service system to the clientele. Moreover, the functionality of the online portal for the marketing and advertising needs of the agency will most possibly result to increase customer reach, satisfaction level and return of investment. Furthermore, if consumers somehow become better customers that is, more knowledgeable, participative, or productive the quality of the service experience will likely be enhanced for the customer and the organization (Bowers, Martin Luker, 1990). Finally, some of the ways that companies acquired cost advantages are by improving process efficiencies, gaining unique access to a large source of lower cost materials, making optimal outsourcing and vertical integration decisions, or avoiding some costs altogether. If competing firms are unable to lower their costs by a similar amount, the firm will be able to sustain a competitive advantage based on cost leadership.