Saturday, August 31, 2019

How agriculture has changed from early Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the present Essay

The history of the practice of agriculture can be divided into two different eras – the ancient agriculture and the modern agriculture. Many early civilizations contribute to the knowledge that is harnessed by modern agricultural practice, including those adopted from Egyptian, Roman and Greek agricultural practices. Egyptian agriculture – The main characteristic of the agricultural practice in Egypt is how Egyptian farmers during the ancient times managed to understand the changing patterns of the season and weather and work their way around it so that they can maximize the entry of each new weather and season and synchronize their agricultural effort with the weather patterns and with the weather changes. Egypt was able to show the rest of the world how a place with hardly any rainfall can still maintain and sustain a very good agricultural practice by the use of the inherent geographical advantages found in the area. In the case of Egypt, they found sustenance in the Nile River, which played an important role in their early agricultural practices. Like many ancient agricultural practices, Egyptian agriculture during the ancient times depend on agricultural tools like plows and sieves as well as on animals that can make their agricultural activities easier and faster to accomplish, like cattle and ox. Egyptian agriculture also featured their own version of the irrigation, which they called the ‘shaduf’. Egypt was able to make use of its agricultural products to generate income, usually by selling any excess from agricultural harvests to other countries and neighboring states. Roman agriculture – Roman agriculture was one of the important sections of the global agricultural history that provided different and important usable information some of which are still in use and in practice today while some acted as catalysts for the entry of newer methods and technologies in the practice of agriculture. While Rome was not in itself the point of origin of the ideas and practices in agriculture which the locals used and practiced owing to the fact that they are greatly influenced by other countries when it comes to the practice of agriculture, Rome nonetheless was an example of a country that blossomed because they were able to use agriculture and maximize its effects. Underscoring the importance of Roman agriculture is the fact that many writers used the topic of agriculture as the topic of many of their written works. Virgil, Cicero, Cato, Columella, Varro and Palladius spent some of their time by writing on topics that are directly involved in agriculture. The important contribution of Roman agriculture to the modern world is its introduction of many different approaches to farming. Unlike other ancient countries that exercised farming in just one uniform manner, Roman farming is managed in different ways – there is the traditional farming wherein the members of the family who owned the land were also the direct farmers; there are some farms that is tilled by slaves; there is also the practice of share cropping and lastly the practice of leasing a part of the farm to a tenant. Farm sizes during the Roman times fall in one of the three categories based on size (small, medium and large-sized farms). Roman farming during the ancient time was commendable for its great understanding of soil quality as the methods and practices during that time allowed for the identification of different kinds of manure that can be used to help improve farming and crop yield. Greek agriculture – The Greeks were very much dependent in their agriculture largely because of the fact that agriculture sustained the people and contributed significantly in their economy that most people during the ancient Greek times were directly involved in different agricultural practices. Greek agriculture was characterized for its biennial crop rotation. The most common agricultural products during the ancient Greece include cereals, olives, grapes, vegetables and different kinds of herbs. The Greeks focused on their crop yielding activities as much as they put importance in animal husbandry for their meat and dairy products. The Greeks also exercised beekeeping for their supply of honey from which they derive sugar which they use for everyday consumption as well as for medicine. Greek agriculture was characterized by its use of crop rotation methods as early as the fifth century. The Greek, Roman and Egyptian eras of agriculture had similar characteristics – agriculture was greatly depended for survival; they depend greatly on their farms and used the ability of human strength as well as animal power in the undertaking of strenuous agricultural activities during those times, when agricultural machines and technologies that made farming and agriculture easier are not yet available. The most important lesson that these era provided is the practice of being able to understand well the terrestrial advantages that a certain area can provide for agriculture, and maximizing it. Rome, Greece and Egypt had some differences in its respective land areas, and yet they were all very successful when it comes to agriculture. While they provided the bedrock of knowledge for agriculture (many of which are still in practice today), there are now many different developments that featured improvements in the manner by which ancient Roman, Greece and Egyptian undertake agricultural activities. Modern day agriculture – Modern day agriculture is generally characterized by the creation of a formalistic institution that is focused on developing agriculture and enables new ways so that there is an improvement in production and things can be done in an easier manner, like agricultural research, which, according to Schjonning, ‘is an applied science with the main objective of improving production methods and developing production systems’ (p3). Unlike the ancient times, modern day agriculture is supported by technologies that make work easier, and because of that and because of the diversification of the source of economic sustainability towards other different industries, agriculture saw the decline in number of people that participate in it over time. Aside from the mechanization of agricultural processes and practices, there are also other technological innovations towards agriculture, like the genetic modifications of crops and advanced food processing techniques. There is also the focus in the use of crops that are not edible but are nonetheless very usable in today’s society, like rubber and animal hide. References: Erdkamp, Paul. (November 2005). Grain Market in the Roman Empire: A Social, Politicaland Economic Study. Cambridge University Press Harris, Catherine C. (July 1, 2001). Ancient Egyptian Agriculture. Tour Egypt Monthly. Volume II, Number 7. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www. touregypt. net/magazine/mag07012001/magf5. htm Isager, Signe and Skydsgaard, Jens E. (October 1992). Ancient Greek Agriculture. Taylor & Francis, Inc. P. Schjonning, S. Elmholt, B. T. Christensen. (December 2003). Managing Soil Quality: Challenges in Modern Agriculture.

My Vocation

Well, this story is a long one, as are most of my stories, but here it goes†¦ My vocation story is simple; it began with a thought from God that my life was meant for something more. This thought resounded â€Å"priesthood† not only in my head, but also in my day-to-day life. Very carefully, through the influence of my parents, through the desire to attend Holy Mass more regularly throughout the week, and through my experiences with the other member of our church especially choir, God Holy Spirit (Mahal na Ingkong) was calling me to the priesthood.The first boy in a family of eight children,  I grew up in a Catholic family that for the most part went to Mass every Sunday. I attended the parochial school at the parish my family went to for grades one to eight. Through the school, I made my first confession when I was in the second grade and received my First Holy Communion in the third grade. Also through the parish school, I began serving at Mass in the fourth grade. Du ring this time I never considered a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. I remember that in the first few years of grade school I felt a sense of awe when I stepped inside a church.At some point during grade school, that feeling of awe and that the church building was somehow different went away. As time went on, I went to Mass on Sundays and received Communion largely because that is what my family did on Sundays and I went along. After I graduated from the sixth grade, I attended a private high school in the area that was an excellent college preparatory school. During this time I prepared for and received the Sacrament of Confirmation at my family's parish. I was mildly interested in receiving the Sacrament but to some extent, I received it because it was the next step in the life of a Catholic.My spiritual life as I graduated high school and prepared to go off to college can be summarized by the word â€Å"mechanical†. I prayed before meals with my family because that is what we did. I went to Church on Sunday because that is what my family did. I prayed before bed because that is what my mother taught me. None of that would last very long after I went to college and was on my own. During my teenage years my grandmother are hoping that I would become a priest someday. Upon hearing how she mentioned the news to my relative, I was dumbfounded.I think it was more a reaction to have a loving God in an unloving world, and my thoughts were more along the lines that if I ignored God, maybe He would just go away†¦ After high school, I attended Divine Mercy College and a working student. I attend Sunday on my own for about half of my first quarter as a freshmen and then stopped. When I was home for Christmas, Spring break, and summer, I went to Mass along with my family but did not receive Communion. Towards the end of my sophomore year, my best friend knowing I was Catholic began to ask why Catholics did certain thingsMy Best friend is not a t ypical type of religious catholic person. What he knew of the Catholic faith he had learned from so he â€Å"knew† Catholics worshiped Mary and the saints and did not read the bible. I had no idea how to answer his questions or statements regarding Catholic beliefs. I was for the large part ignorant of what Catholics believed and why we did things the way we did them, even after six years of ignorance in worshipping influenced by my parents. When praying the rosary for example, I did not know one was supposed to mediate on each of mysteries while reciting the prayers. My best friend repeated what he had learned about Catholic beliefs and I was clueless and unable to respond. I was motivated by my best friend questions to learn what Catholics believed. I may not have learned much during my years in our home but one assertion in particular made by my best friend drew my attention. It was the statement that Catholics worship statues. I definitely could not explain why that was f alse but I knew it to be false. I had stood in front of statues and prayed. I had seen other people stand in front of statues praying. I had seen people reverence statues. I never ever thought the statue was being worshiped.I knew and I think the other people knew the statue was not an object to be worshiped and that worship was only given to God. I found on-line resources like Catholic Answers and catholic. org. Based on what I learned on-line I purchased some books. I began going to Mass at our church. Something was different about Mass now. The priest was the same as before, but now his homilies were somehow better. I began to realize that while it was possible that Father's homilies had gotten better over the past year and half to two years, the problem was really with me: I simply had not been listening before.I tried to learn as much as I could about the Catholic faith. I also tried to keep going to Mass during the week and praying Morning and Evening Prayer so that those were not just things I did for Lent. I brought a rosary always for protection. During this time when my faith was renewed and I took an active part in fostering my faith and prayer life (around 2009 up to this day). I was an active auxiliary in these past few years most especially in a choir. I dreamed to be a choir of our church until I had many experiences encountered as a member. Until, one day I won the championship for Battle of the Band contest held last 2011.Lastly, I was appointed to be the chairman of Toka9 auxiliary and there are several great blessed things happened to me last year. Until, the thought of being a priest occurred to me. At times I could see myself as a priest offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But when I though about it, it seemed like an idea that was not possible and that God would not pick me. I have a speech fluency disorder called stuttering (or stammering). At times, it seemed to me to be severe. As a result, I really did not like public speaking. I pushed off the idea of being a priest as being an impossible dream or fantasy.Certainly, I took the idea of being a priest seriously and was nervous that God was calling me. I continued going to Mass on Sundays and weekdays when possible, praying Morning and Evening Prayer, and trying to do an hour of personal meditation a night. I began to recognize that God was calling me, but I was comfortable with my life. For, so many things happened to me as an active parishioner I always ask God Holy Spirit (Mahal na Ingkong) Why should I stay? At first I had a hard time recognizing that God was calling me in this manner, but over the years I have come to better understand just how God was laying things out for me.My inspiration to say â€Å"yes† was encouraged by the example of my dream. Since, I managed to be an active member of our church I was in the process of bringing myself closer to God Holy Spirit (Mahal na Ingkong) and because of this I often spoke with him about this secret and it had influenced me to make my decision final. Through his words and even more through his example, I realized that I wanted my life to reflect the same desire to serve God. I continued my frigid relationship with God through college days. And, I considered this is one of the interesting parts of my religious life. This realization started a slow thaw.Slowly but surely I started becoming more involved in the Church, realizing eventually that God did exist and did care, so perhaps I should return that with more than I had been. Indeed, the more I frequented Holy Mass the more the desire grew within my heart to give up my life because of my sins. One day when the mass was about to start it came out to my mind when I would watch the priest during Holy Mass, especially at the moments of consecration, I longed to be the man at the altar, offering the sacrifice. Honestly, I considered this was a hilarious part of my daydreaming that time.It’s been said that if you want to mak e God laugh, tell Him your plans. So, I figured, why consult Him on the matter? But there comes a time my home life was still a mess and there are several sins I made. Someone asked me to enter a Eucharistic adoration if I want to have a conversation from god and to seek help. I started going for the first time to Adoration on a weekly basis. It was during one of this Holy Hours that I could finally ask God the question that had bothered me all though out my on-going conversion: if He loved me so much, why did he want me to enter this new world?I thought it was okay that He wanted to care for me now, but what about before? Did he understand my mortal sin? I told God that if I was mistaken, and my call was truly to the priesthood, then to please send me some type of dramatic sign to let me know. I am aware that it is a fairly common phenomenon for young people discerning a vocation to the religious life to ask for this, but it is not a healthy or appropriate request, since God does n ot generally work that way. One of the great signs I received is that when I went into the mission to Bohol, our grace asked me to pursue my dreams but I should enter the religious vocation.Secondarily, in the middle of the month after the mission my father also asked me if I want to study theology this coming school classes. Eventually, I seek for the last and other signs for I have the so-called proof of entering priesthood. But Unfortunately, I was really in crisis at this point, but I still hadn’t received three or more of the dramatic signs I wanted from God in order to show me that I was called to the priesthood rather than the normal single life. During these Holy Hours, I would ask this question again and again, until, finally, one night I opted to listen for His response (a good idea – listening at prayer! . I had heard that God suffers with His children, but, that night, I heard those words as though Christ Himself had spoken them to me: â€Å"Where was I? I was crying and suffering with you! † Gradually, from the inspiration of these experiences and from time in prayer I decided to answer â€Å"yes† to God’s desire. However, after making the decision I was afraid to mention anything to anyone for a good two weeks. Finally, after holding this decision within myself for so long (at least it seemed long to me), I decided that I should tell someone.So, I went to one of my friends, Hijas De Maria Lenny Enrica, and I talked things out with her. She, however, was not surprised by my news, which in turn left me surprised. You see, HDM Lenny was one of my co-choir member in our church and as part of her job she is also an auxiliary officer of the Diocese Region 13 Queen Of Angels and a very supportive friend of mine and I clearly explained and mentioned to her my desire to join the priesthood. Needless to say, I took this conversation as an affirmation from God that I was following the right path. Interestingly enough, HDM Lenny once again layed an important role in helping me pusue my vocation. During our time in a Choir meeting I informed her again that I desired to enter the order. I can only explain this as God’s Providence. She knew where I belonged, only I had to figure it out as well. I’m actually judgmental within myself I grew incredibly in my terrible past life and because of a combination of temptation and of my own weakness, I was not awakened in this horrible dream of my life. I thought that God probably existed, but He didn’t care one way or another about what I was doing in my life.I really owe this acceptance (as little as it seemed) to my auxiliary friends, to whom God seemed very real and very near. I realized that although the decision to become a priest would entail great sacrifice, that didn’t mean that it was not a sacrifice I was called to make. Still, it really hurt when I thought about the idea of never claiming my body’s needs and necessitie s. In many ways, all the joys of my vocation were hidden to me, and all I could focus on were the beautiful things that I would be giving up.I was really concerned that I wouldn’t have the courage to start or the resolve to follow through with my calling. But it hit me one day that no one is strong enough or worthy enough to be a priest—that grace can only come from God. And so I said, â€Å"Okay, God, I believe that you want me to be a priest, and I accept—I will do it. I know you know how much this hurts, and that my sacrifice is that much more meaningful to you because you know. † Still, I asked God for help with two things. First, I said, â€Å"I am so weak—far too weak to do this on my own.I agreed to your mysterious plan for me, but I don’t have the strength to carry it out, so all the rest has to come from you—I am leaning on you completely and entirely. † And I remember having this amazing sense of peace, knowing that G od would always make me equal to the tasks to which he was calling me as long as I could bring myself to ask. It was thrilling to realize that I wasn’t expected to—indeed couldn’t—have the strength or perseverance to do what God was asking, it was only for me to agree to do it, and then to pray!The second thing I asked for was peace of mind—I said, â€Å"God, I believe I am called to the priesthood, but I don’t want to be a miserable priest; a martyr in my own eyes—I want to be joyful! For the next 30 days, I will make sure to spend twenty or thirty minutes each day after Mass praying in your Presence. If, as I believe, you are truly calling me to the priesthood, please help me to feel at peace with my decision to enter the seminary by the end of that time. By the end of that period I was so convinced of my calling that I could laugh about the difficulties I had had a month earlier! I have learned that it doesn’t need any dram atic signs to consider or to pursue your vocation. There are simple things to consider the reason of your call. Primarily, your openness to your calling, then your understanding of your calling, then the acceptance of your calling, then you must embrace your calling, lastly, your love to your calling.I believed these can be enough reason for you to enter priesthood. And, I considered this simple appreciation would be the best sign but is a great call given to me by God Holy Spirit (Mahal na Ingkong). Just to wrap up: There’s a lot of discussion about how much our Church needs priests and religious, and I think we can all see that. But it’s a mistake to talk about a â€Å"vocations crisis†Ã¢â‚¬â€because that implies that there aren’t enough vocations to the priesthood.But Christ told us that he would never leave his Church without shepherds, and so he is definitely still calling many, many young men to the priesthood, and he calls many, many young women t o the religious life. The crisis is not in the number of men and women who God calls, the crisis is in the tiny percentage of those young men and women who actually respond to that call. That’s the crisis. I thank Our Blessed Mother Mary and St. Maria Virginia for her guidance throughout this process, which I like to call the â€Å"Origin of my vocation†.She has blessed me with so many graces that have aided me in finding the path that God Holy Spirit (Mahal Na Ingkong) has laid out for me within the religious section of my adolescence age and more importantly, within the priesthood of Christ, her Son. Although I may not recognize her heavenly assistance, I am most grateful that she has carried me here so that I may fulfill God’s purpose for giving me life. I thank God for His countless blessings and patience with my stubbornness and desire to fulfill my will. I thank God in particular for leading me to discover His call.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Cotton Profile

Cotton holds the position of being the most used fiber in the world as well as the â€Å"number one fiber used for apparel in the United States† (Willbank). Cotton belongs to the same family of hibiscus and okra. Among cotton’s species are the American Upland Cotton, a low multi-branch shrub grown annually; the long fiber Egyptian and the Sea Island cottons botanically grown in Egypt and brought to the U. S. ; and the Pima, originally known as American-Egyptian cotton (Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association). The exact age of cotton is unknown. Scientists, however, found â€Å"fiber and ball fragments from the TehuacA?n Valley of Mexico,† which they determined to be about 7000 years old. Cotton has been grown and used in India for more or less 5000 years (Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association). About 3000 years ago, it was â€Å"grown and made into cloth in the Indus River Valley in Pakistan (Willbanks), the same time Egyptians in the Nile Valley made and wore cotton clothing (â€Å"The Story of Cotton†). More than 1,300 years ago, Chinese emperor Ou-ti was recorded to have worn a cotton robe in his succession to the throne (Textile Exhange). In approximately 800 A. D. , Arab merchants brought cotton in Europe.In 1492, â€Å"Christopher Columbus found cotton in the Bahama Islands† (Willbanks). In 1607, cotton â€Å"was one of the earliest crops grown by European settlers† in Jamestown colony (Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association). In 1730, the first machinery to spin cotton was used in England. It was in 1793 when Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine used to separate cotton fiber from the seed. This gin made the separation process 50 times faster than doing it by hand (Willbanks). Today the whole world knows cotton. Its major producing countries are China, which â€Å"produced approximately 20 million bales of cotton,† and the United States, with 17.2 million bales of cotton productio n in 2000 (â€Å"The Many Faces of Cotton†). Other major producers are the Soviet States, and India, while less producing countries include Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, Iran, and Sudan (Textile Exchange). There are three types of cotton, namely, low to medium grade cotton, better grade cotton, and organic cotton. The type â€Å"found in mass-produced goods and cotton blend goods† are called ‘low to medium grade cotton. ’ Better grades are the type with longer-staple cotton, often found in fine quality shirts and beddings.Examples of this type are the Egyptian cotton, Pima, Supima, American Egyptian, and Sea Island. Cotton grown without use of any pesticide and fertilizer is called organic cotton (Willbanks). Some of the famous manufacturers of cotton are Barhardt Manufacturing, BBA Nonwovens Veratec, Brannoc Fibers, Ltd. , Cotton Incorporated, Ihsan Sons (PVT) Limited, Leigh Fibers, and Textiles and Nonwovens Directory (Hegde et al. ) Based on the historical accounts on cotton fiber, it primarily served the purpose of clothing in various parts of the world.However, in the early 20th Century, a few cotton mills in the U. S. found â€Å"ways to upgrade the waste cotton fibers into saleable products. † This was the goal they had that was why they bonded fiber waste with latex and resin, whose end product was industry wipes (Hegde et al. ) Products such as â€Å"draperies, table cloths, napkins, and wiping towels† were developed after the World War II (Hegde et al. ). As people discovered mechanics and invented machines, cotton fiber served more and newer purposes than it originally did.Cotton is not only used for simple clothing but in a wide range of products and end uses, such as the basic apparel – blouses, shirts, dresses, children’s wear, active wear, separates, swimwear, suits, jackets, sweaters, neckwear, skirts, pants and hosiery (Swicoli AG Textile Services); shoes, handbags, and luggage (Willbanks); home fashion – curtains, bed spreads, comforters, throws, sheets, table mats (Swicoli AG Textile Services), upholstery fabrics, rugs, wall coverings, and tobacco cloth; sanitary supplies; industrial abrasives; book bindings (Willbanks); and medical and cosmetic applications – bandages and wound plasters (Swicoli AG Textile Services). It was found out in 1994 that 63 percent of cotton was utilized for apparel, 29 percent for home furnishings, and eight percent for industrial products and exportations (Willbanks). Within the last decade, bleached cotton fiber used for processing on conventional non-woven equipment has attracted interest and became available, particularly in medical and healthcare applications like in wiping and wiper markets and some apparel markets. However, since bleached cotton for non-woven application is relatively new, it is quite an expensive fiber and its sources are few (Hegde et al. ).Cotton fiber was also tapped to help control th e problem of soil erosion. Mulch & Seed Innovations, together with Cotton Incorporated and the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, has created â€Å"two all-natural cotton-fiber hydro mulch products† to answer the soil erosion problem. These mulches are more favorable than wood, paper, or synthetic ones because they allow grass seeds to develop faster while protecting the soil against heavy wind and rain (Delta Farm Press). This is all because cotton is porous, absorbent, and biodegradable, which makes it perfect for controlling soil erosion and developing seed (qtd. in Delta Farm Press).Cotton’s popularity is rooted from its desirable properties, which includes aesthetics, comfort, breathability, absorbency, soft hand, durability, and easy care (Shukr US). Cotton fabric, which is 100 percent untreated, â€Å"has a pleasant matte luster; a soft drape† (Willbanks) or fall (Shukr USA); â€Å"and a smooth hand† (Will banks) or appearance to the eye (Shukr USA). Cotton fabric is also known to be very comfortable due to its soft hand (Willbanks). In addition, it possesses excellent absorbency or â€Å"ability to take in and hold moisture. † However, it is not good at releasing it, thus poor wickability or â€Å"ability to transport moisture perspiration away from the body to the garment’s surface† (Shukr USA).Moreover, cotton is known for its breathability or air permeability, the ability of a â€Å"fabric to allow air to pass through its construction. † However, when cotton fabric becomes too moist or wet, its breathability is reduced (Shukr USA). Another undesirable feature of cotton fabric is that it wrinkles and shrinks easily. But with treatment or blending with polyester, wrinkles and shrinks are both reduced (Shukr USA). Cotton fabrics require easy care. They can be machine washed and dried. But sunlight harms cotton, â€Å"causing it to oxidize and turn yellow. † Acids also harm cotton fabrics. Cotton fabrics can be bleached but not too much since this will weaken the fibers (Willbanks). The cotton fiber is preferred by majority of consumers worldwide.This is why it will continue to increase its share in the fabric market (Hegde et al. ). Thanks to cotton’s rich history, desirable properties, and variety of uses, life now is more comfortable. Works Cited â€Å"Cotton. † Swicofil AG Textile Services. 12 October 2007 . â€Å"Fiber History. † Textile Exchange. 12 October 2007 . Hegde, Raghavendra, et al. â€Å"Cotton Fibers. † University of Tennessee Knoxville. 2004 April. 12 October 2007 . â€Å"History of Cotton. † Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association. 2001. 12 October 2007 . Penton Media.â€Å"Cotton-fiber hydromulch option for erosion control. † Delta Farm Press. 28 September 2007. 12 October 2007 . Shukr USA. 2007. Fabric Guide. 12 October 2007 . â€Å"The Story of Cotton. † Cotton Counts Education Resources. 12 October 2007 . â€Å"The Many Faces of Cotton. † Cotton Counts Education Resources. 12 October 2007 . Willbanks, Amy. â€Å"Cotton. † Fabrics. Net. 12 October 2007. .

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Understanding the international marketing environment Essay

Understanding the international marketing environment - Essay Example Global marketing has become a popular subject of research and analysis due to increasing number of companies starting their operations in various countries. The increasing trend of globalization of the world economy, international marketing has become an essentiality for survival of all organizations irrespective of being big or small as previously multinational companies used to enjoy the benefits of international business (Lee and Carter, 2009). The major trend today is growing internationalization of international business contrary to 1950’s when major form of international business was exporting by national firms (Terpstra, 1985). The essential elements of effective international marketing are the ability to interpret the business environment, recognize the foreign market opportunities and appreciate how the firm’s resources can best be used to match and develop patterns of market demand (Gilligan and Hird, 1986). International Marketing is the process of planning a nd conducting transactions across national borders to create exchanges that satisfy the objectives of individuals and organizations (Czinkota and Ronkainen, 2007). International marketing environment includes various factors like political, legal, environment and economic. However the present paper critically analyses the network theory model of internalization and evaluate the effects of climate differences and differing levels of disposable income on the business and how it influences the design of firms’ marketing campaign.... Network theory was initially developed in the context of industrial marketing to explain how firms connect to each other and develop long term relationships as opposed to conventional transaction-only approach dominant in marketing theory. This suggests that firms do not enter international markets as standalone actors but instead are part of network of other firms providing them the chance to internationalize their operations in various parts of the world (Baker and Hart, 2007). Gummesson (2006) mentioned that network theory has primarily attracted attention in business to business marketing which has been extended further to marketing in general. It is further stated that general network theory categorizes all of us as nodes in a network of relationships in which we interact and form clusters which further form organizations and corporations. Gummesson (2002) further states that total relationship marketing is a synthesis of contributions from several marketing and management theor ies and practices and network theory of business to business marketing has been an important source of inspiration from relationship marketing. Organizations in the present economy depend mostly of marketing their products and services. The successful organizations have been able to make it big because of their marketing ability to promote their products in the international arena. Companies marketing their products and services through hiring of public figures as brand ambassadors, providing opportunity for small businesses to sell their goods and services as freelancers and media are all part of a network which is interconnected to make profits for the

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Studies on Rhetoric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Studies on Rhetoric - Essay Example Without knowledge, rhetoric was nothing more than tricking people with emotion. Rhetoric and knowledge combined is the most powerful way of convincing your enemies of your superiority. Aristotle believed good speaking involved two types of proofs. Inartistic proofs were things like facts, statistics and testimonies. Artistic proofs included three categories known as pathos, logos and ethos. Pathos is a proof that appeals to the emotions. Logos is a proof that concerns the use of logic. Ethos is a personal proof. Aristotle believed that every speech had to have all three of these artistic proofs and that they must balance each other. Epideictic discourse is older, according to Jeffrey Walker, than political or legal discourse. This oldest form of rhetoric is used to place blame or to honor a person. The most important thing to be remembered according to Aristotle is that when using this form of rhetoric the speaker musk keep the opinions of the audience in mind as they currently exist towards the subject of praise or criticism. Cicero’s five canons of rhetoric are invention, arrangement, style, memory and delivery. Invention deals with finding a way to persuade the audience through use of past experiences and ingenuity. Arrangement is organizing the argument so it is effective and coherent. Style involves using emotion to be convincing. Memory means speaking without notes or prior preparation and delivery deals with effective use of facial expressions, voice and gestures while speaking. Quintilian believed that the five parts of a speech were the exordium, the narratio, the division, the proof and the peroration. In the exordium, the speaker tries to make an emotional connection with the audience. In the narration the speaker explains the basics of the case through the use of facts. The division is where the speaker lists the points he aims to prove or how he will prove the opponent wrong. The proof is

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Human nature and politics Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Human nature and politics - Dissertation Example This essay tells that in the present day turmoil, observed worldwide in various political circles, and the disillusionment faced by the citizens thereafter, the focus has steadily remained on the changing political actors and their varying political ideologies, which are in reality superficial in nature. In a persistent move to examine various political theories and doctrines, one has failed to observe the most important aspect, which plays a decisive role in the world of politics and power play (both globally and nationally), which is the ‘human nature.’ However, the term human nature is not easily defined, and includes complex characteristics like human perception, reasoning, behavior, ways of feeling, thinking, that are naturally observed in any individual in context of his or her surrounding socio-political world. The questions as to what causes these characteristics to take shape and form within human thought processes, in what exact manner the causal factors work, and as to how well the human nature is entrenched, form the bases of various researches in the world of western philosophy, with considerable implications in the practical fields of psychological and biological sciences, religious studies, politics, and ethics. This is primarily owing to the fact that Ð °human nature can be seen as antecedent of a benchmark for ‘living well’ and behavioral norms, while on the other hand it can also be perceived as a characteristic that creates problems and constraints in the way of a good life. Aristotle in his virtue theory claimed that ‘virtues’ are human qualities that assist an individual to achieve the benchmark and ‘live well,’ which is in concordance to human nature.5 Machiavelli and Hobbes on the other hand believed that human nature tends to be egoistic thus creating problems and constraints in ‘living well.’ Machiavelli further suggests that each individual has the potential of ‘li ving well’ and being happy, as long as he/she does not face suffering. Hobbes however, takes an extreme view and states that human nature is entirely derived from materialist axioms, and the state

Monday, August 26, 2019

Fashion Designer versus Stylist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fashion Designer versus Stylist - Essay Example Suffice it to say, that lots of TV-stars and celebrities prefer having their personal stylists, who is always ready to create a fantastic image for them. As for the fashion shows, they are, as usual, above all praises. Designers are to satisfy the most sophisticated clients, there are notorious for the ability to create the masterpieces of clothing, which never keeps you indifferent. Nevertheless, most of us do not distinguish between the professions of people connected with fashion industry. We just apply to these people and trust them during the procedure of creating our perfect style without looking deeply into their tasks and the peculiarities of this or that job. Stylists, designers, whatever, we know that their vocation is to make us more beautiful and thus, self-confident. But it is hard to imagine that, in case of need of a gorgeous dress, you will address the stylist at once, as well as it is impossible to dress your hair at the Fashion House. It is obvious that both fashion designer and fashion stylist belong to the same sphere of activity; their efforts are directed to satisfying the aesthetic tastes of various people, they bring beauty, refinement and preciosity in their lives. These professionals work with the same materials, communicate with the similar categories of people, they are to monitor the world’s most popular trends and respond to the particular needs of the customers.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between Essay

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between 2004 and 2014 - Essay Example Despite the fact that there was great fluctuation in United Kingdom economic growth there were great improvements in UK economic growth rates between 2004 and 2014. This is because the UK government was able to put in place policies that promote trade and investments. That policy helps to prevent corruption and fraudulent acts that pulls down an economy. Economic growth has numerous benefits which include; it helps to improve consumers and investors confidence. It creates employment opportunities and improves standards of living among the citizens. Moreover, it helps to improve reduce government borrowings (Nafziger and Nafziger, 2005) The above graph indicates the trend patterns of UK GDP growth rates from 2004 to 2014. It can be scrutinized that the GDP growth rate was fluctuating from 2004 to 2014. The United Kingdom GDP growth rate was substantially higher between 2004 and 2006. However, between 2008 and 2009,there was a sharp in economic growth declined at a rate below negative 2 percent and then started rising in the year 2010 and partially 2012 before it starts fluctuating from 2012 to 2014. It can be observed that increase in consumers’ confidence and market conditions tend to be presented by the three phases of economic growth namely; recovery, Booms and Peak as indicated. At peak, the UK economy has reached the maximum point of growth and hence, the consumer confidence starts falling whereby consumer starts to reduce their buying patterns making the GDP to decline causing recession. The UK economy starts to recover at recovery point as consumer’s confidence increase. The UK economy continue s to improve at a faster rate at recovery making the economy to undergo expansion (Boom) phase. At a level the levels of unemployment declines and economy improve significantly, as consumers confidence improves (McKinnon, 2007). ` The fluctuation in the United Kingdom GDP growth

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Information about the wine region of bordeaux Essay

Information about the wine region of bordeaux - Essay Example This made Aquitaine property of England and gave rise to export of the wine to England for the pleasure of King Henry. This brought about the discovery of Bordeaux in Britain making the marriage a significant event to the history of the region as trade increased (â€Å"Bordeaux Wine History†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Generally, Bordeaux refers to three things a French city where its name loosely translates to ‘edge of water’ and had a population of about 250,000 in 2008, a region estimated to be 1075 square kilometers and a class of wines. The vineyards within the area extend over 113,000 hectares of land. Wine production in the area was begun for consumption by the Roman soldiers that were posted at the banks of the Garonne River. There are two major group varieties of Bordeaux red and white where the red wine group includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. The white wine group comprises Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon, where the first two are produced from the white Graves’ grapes. For the red category, Sauvignon Cabernet produced using the grapes of the Medoc or Graves and Merlot from the St Emilion. Whilst living in France between 1784 and 1789, Thomas Jefferson then Minister to France, went around Bordeaux collecting wines that included Medoc, Graves and Sauternes (Swaney and Limburg). The Bordeaux wines came into existence at a period when there were more well-known wines from Gaillac and Bergerac, eastern of Bordeaux. The local winemakers and merchants of the Bordeaux wine region made sure their wines on board of the ships headed to England before allowing those from the South West region that is Bergerac and Gaillac through. Another significant attribute of wine production in Bordeaux is that it was brought about by merchants, contrary to other regions in France where it was under the control of monks. Wines from areas such as Medoc were produced from the 17th century, as before that such

Friday, August 23, 2019

INDP, Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

INDP, Part 2 - Essay Example The design is TCP/IP protocol and Distributed network protocol. TCP/IP protocol is supported by many software applications and has universally accepted terms. In TCP, data is divided into manageable bits and the protocol ensures that secure and appropriate routines are in place to oversee data correctly arrives to its destination. Then IP enforces logical addressing and routing of data which brings in the reliability factor (Garduno & Diaz, 2011). TCP/IP supports ASCII standards that help in formatting information transmitted into a range of supported formats such as JPEG, text and MP3 standards among others. Distributed network protocol on the other hand supports communication in process automation systems and supports peer-to-peer and master-to-slave communications. Above all, this protocol is reliable in terms of security; it contains secure authentication features and does not require heavy infrastructure. Cost wise, both protocols are fairly affordable to implement due to fair i nfrastructural costs (Garduno & Diaz, 2011). Other features that make these protocols appropriate include both are open protocols, they support interoperability between different platforms and they can be optimized According to this design, the adopted network architecture defines secure, interpretable infrastructure that provides reliable and open-standard based communication for distribution of information. The architecture also defines technologies required to support communications between various client machines and servers on the network (Garduno & Diaz,2011). There are established network standards that coordinate secure implementation of network architecture as well as supporting traditional data such as voice and video. The architecture is based on open standards In explaining the usefulness of a traffic analysis, When some work has been done for ISPs net flow can be used to determine PPS (Packets per second) to detect instances of DOS (Denial of Service) attacks.