Celebrity Endorsement in India Essay Example for Free

Celebrity Endorsement in India Essay In India, celebrities are idolized as Gods and marketers have been trying their best to tap on this emotional connect of the people with the celebrities. Today, most of the popular brands are being endorsed by a famous personality either from entertainment industry or sports arena. Strategic brand positioning and effective communication are the keys to success in todays market where many brands compete in the same category for the market share. Companies are employing their maximum might to promote their brands and occupy a long lasting image in the minds of the consumers. In India, television is the most popular and effective means of the mass communication. There are over three million television commercials being aired every year. However, 80 percent of them are forgotten by the people in a day or two. So, it is imperative for the marketers to ensure that their ad campaign stands out amongst the crowd (Suhalka, n.d.). Since advertising is a highly critical tool for luring customers to make purchases, Indian firms are investing millions of rupees on celebrity advertising (Khatri, 2006). Celebrity endorsements are also an easy option for Indian marketers because of the disparities of the Indian consumer base in terms of religion, ethinicity, value system and most importantly economic variations. Therefore, advertisers in India emphasis a lot on brand recall and customer persuasion for differentiating their ad campaigns from those of the counterparts. It is here that celebrity endorsement provides a tremendous boost (Surana, 2008). For instance, one of the strongest celebrity endorser is cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who is a youth icon and endorses many successful brands like, Pepsi, Boost, Aviva Life Insurance, TVS, Britannia Biscuits, Visa, Airtel etc. Like, Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bac hchan, Kareena Kapoor also have many brands in their kitties. Indians love their celebrities and blindly follow their suit. This has proved to be a boon for the marketers and celebrity endorsement is just getting better by the day. It has now become an indispensible part of the marketing communication strategy. It is a win ?win situation for both the celebrities and the brands. However, the consumers are ones who are least benefitted as they end up paying more for the products and services. References: †¢ Khatri, P., 2006. Celebrity Endorsement: A Strategic Promotion Perspective. Indian Media Studies Journal, 1(1).Pp. 25-37 †¢ Suhalka,G.n.d. Celebrity Endorsers and Endorsements in India- The Rise and the Impact [pdf] Available at: http://www.ndtvmi.com/b4/dopesheets/garima.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2012] †¢ Surana,R., 2008. The Effectiveness of Celebrity Endorsement in India [pdf] Available at: http://edissertations.nottingham.ac.uk/2069/1/08MAlixrs13.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2012] Commentary | Theses | Dissertations | Journals Articles | Proposals Synopsis | Essays | Promotional Writing | Press Release Copyright  © 2005 2012 Project Guru India. All rights reserved. www.ProjectGuru.in

An Overview Of Indian Bank Base Rates Finance Essay

An Overview Of Indian Bank Base Rates Finance Essay Abstract The paper deals about the issues arising out of implementing base rate for Indian banks. With effect from July 1st, 2010, all banks are supposed to lend at base rate or minimum level of interest rate to customers. The net impact of this for retail customer will not be much as cost of funds for banks are not going to change much and cost of funds determine base rate. Big corporates will be biggest losers as they had advantage of getting loans at sub-base rates. Biggest gainers will be small and medium firms who were getting raw deal earlier from banks. Banks may lose market share in short term but there is going to be greater transparency and trickling down of policies made by RBI across banks due to base-rate system. Game theory has been applied to explain the base rate transition scenario in the paper. Keywords- Base Rate, Private Bank, BPLR, Game Theory, Net Income Margin(NIM) Biographical Notes- Debasis Kumar Dash is a post Graduate from IIT Madras in field in Micro-electronics and VLSI. He is currently doing his MBA from IIM Kozhikode with Majors in finance. His major areas of interest are financial derivatives, Valuation models, risk management and banking sector. He has undertaken several finance projects in field of risk management, corporate finance and financial services. He worked as an intern in KPMG Global Services where he developed a model for Customer acquisition strategy for a financial services firm Introduction The base rate will be the new reference rate for determining lending rates for banks, and will be implemented three months later than earlier planned. It was implemented from July 1 across banks in India. What is the base rate- If you borrow money to buy a Mercedes car or computer or plush bungalow in Mumbai suburbs, you need to pay interest rate that you have to pay to the lender. The base rate is the minimum rate that a bank will offer money at. It is like a floor below which RBI will not allow banks to lend to you. Previously, banks used to give the loans based on a complex system called benchmark prime lending rate (BPLR). Each bank has its own BPLR calculation system which made it difficult for borrowers to compare rates across banks. Why Base Rate Was Introduced- Banks in India charge their largest corporate borrowers less than published prime rates, which they cannot do on new loans from July 1st,2010. The RBI had expressed concern over banks offering short-term loans well below their prime rates to companies and mortgage borrowers. Similar pattern had given rise to Sub-prime crisis in 2008 which had led to financial downturn. Due to competition, banks have been offering loans to first class borrowers with high credit rating at rates much below the BPLR in a non-transparent manner. Banks were charging higher rates from small borrowers in the retail, small business and agriculture segments. This resulted in cross- subsidization.RBI has been concerned about the lack of transparency in BPLR setting. There have been cases when SMEs faced discrimination due to credit policies of Private Banks. Trend has been whenever RBI raises policy rates and reserve ratios, banks are quick to increase their loan rates. But, when RBI reduces policy rates and reserve ratios, banks respond very slowly. This leads to downward stickiness in rates. It adversely impacts the monetary transmission mechanism in the banking system. One important aspect also is BPLR was set on historical market rates. It was backward looking rather than forward looking. It was not able to capture the present market condition and interest rates. Cost of Deposits prevalent in current market scenario was neglected in fixing the rate. Standardization of rates was another issue for RBI .The 3 major players in Banking Industry in India are- Public Banks, Private Banks and Foreign Banks. The Public banks were lending in range of 11-12 %, private players were lending at 14-17% whereas foreign banks used to lend in the range of 14-16%. Now major corporates were still prefering private banks due to better customer service, credit policies and sub-prime lending for big projects. One huge reason with the introduction of BRS as explained by experts is that it will help the Reserve Bank of India to transfer the changes in policy rates (Repo and Reverse Repo under LAF) in a better manner to banks. Under the BPLR, monetary policy transmission is weak due to lack of transparency. This has been detailed out elaborately by Deepak Mohanty Committees Report. Now, with the BRS, RBI expects that banks will respond immediately to RBIs policy rates Base Rate Implementation and Impacts- After the implementation of the new loan pricing system, existing borrowers would continue to pay at existing rates, while the base rate would apply to new customers. The actual lending rate charged to borrowers would be the base rate+ borrower-specific charges including operating costs, according to draft guidelines on the RBI website. The base rate will be more transparent in so far as it will be a function of the banks costs on its capital (or cost of deposits), operating costs, statutory requirements (CRR, SLR etc), credit-risk of the borrower, and the allowable profit margin. The graphs below give trends across the various players in banking sector with respect to cost associated with deposits. Fig-1- Variation of Cost of Deposits Fig 2- Variation of Cost of Funds The trend clearly shows that Cost of deposits is highest for old private banks. Thus by logic, the base rate should be highest for these banks. Similarly, the base rate can be expected to be low for foreign and public banks. The biggest impact is that the new Base Rates from private banks may be lower than the existing Benchmark Prime Lending Rates (BPLR). Due to heavy competition in the industry, some aggressive public banks, whose cost of deposits/funds is lower compared to industry levels, may peg their Base Rates very low. However the RBI Governor as well as several Banks heads are of the opinion that base rate is not going to vary much for retail customers from BPLR. The following graphs show the base rate, BPLR and differences between the rates for the 3 major players. Fig-3- Variation of Rates across Private Banks Fig-4- Variation of Rates across Public Banks Fig-5- Variation of Rates across Foreign Banks Effects on Banks The major categories of Banks mentioned above are expected to be expected in different ways. The graphs shown above indicate that the difference between BPLR and Base rate is maximum for Private banks. Clearly they are at a loss compared to Public and foreign Banks. The problem for private banks is their high cost of Funds and Deposits. So ideally their base rates should be higher compared to Public banks. But if they would have set base rates higher, it would have resulted in loss of customers. So the Net Interest Margin(NIM) for private banks will be affected in short term. The biggest gainers definitely are foreign banks who have the least difference between BPLR and Base rate. Customer attrition should be at a minimum for these banks as change is not significant. Public Banks normally have lower cost of funds and thus can afford low base rates. There is not much change in NIM expected for them due to changing rates. Private Banks can cut competition by offering premium service levels. They can attract corporates by offering value added services and concessions. The other strategy can be to give priority to clients who are financing for projects for national importance and concessions to pay in smaller installments for longer duration. Effects of Base-Rate Loans for Customers- Let us see three major players in customer segment- Retail, Corporate and SME . The critical thing is interest rates are not going to change much for retail customer. The method of calculating interest rates will be clearer to a retail customer but not much effect on EMI for a retail customer. There will not be much impact on banks interest spreads. Banks will have flexibility in controlling loan-pricing elements, like credit risks premium and product specific operating costs. As per various analysis done by experts, Cost of borrowing for Retail customer may decrease in short term but not significantly. Large private corporates will be biggest losers in this process. They were able to get away with sub-prime lending rates in the past due to higher negotiating skills. But with BRS, the corporate might have to go for Bond markets in short term. The other alternatives before them are ECB which have lower borrowing costs. Use of Commercial paper has shown significant growth in the first quarter of this year. It clearly indicates banks losing high networth customers to cheaper sources of finance. Long term impact will be that higher rating companies will have more negotiating power. Let us say Bank A offered loans at 6% previously to Corporates. Now base rate becomes 7.5%. So they now cant be given short term loans below say 8% for a period of 2 years. Previous loans which were given before base rate stays. Now say in money market, CP( Commercial Paper) is being offered at rates of 6.5%. So big corporates will move towards debt market. It will result in loss of market share and credit loans for banks. It will also lead to intense competition. SMEs will be biggest beneficiaries of this project. SMEs will be better compensated than before. They were getting short-changed because of better deals for big corporates. Now they will be willing to go to banks for getting loans. As SMEs form substantial market, so market share of banks will increase. Game Theory Applied to Base Rate Implementation- Below are Payoff Matrix applied to 3 categories of Bank and 3 categories of Customer. 1. Customer Retail Corporate SME BPLR 10,8 10,10 10,5 Public Bank Base 10,9 8,5 8,10 The retail customer is having higher payoff but it is not significant. SMEs are largest beneficiary. Corporates are leaving public bank, thus payoff of banks decreasing whereas larger base rate means lesser payoff for corporate. 2. Customer Retail Corporate SME BPLR 10,8 10,10 10,5 Private Bank Base 8,9 5,5 5,10 The retail customer is having higher payoff but it is not huge. Significantly, there is lower payoff for Private banks due to high cost of funds and rising competition from debt market. SMEs are largest beneficiary. Corporates are looking for alternatives to higher base rate , thus payoff of corporate decreases. 3. Customer Retail Corporate SME BPLR 10,8 10,10 10,5 Foreign Bank Base 10,10 7,7 10,5 The retail customer and SME are not affected.SME are not big market-share holders of foreign banks and hence do not affect payoff. Corporates are leaving foreign bank, thus payoff of banks decreasing whereas larger base rate means lesser payoff for corporate who are staying with public banks. The decrease however is not as significant as of private banks due to reasons explained earlier in the paper. Main advantages of Base rate syatem- Greater control for RBI in transferring effects of Repo rates to banks More transparency for customers in knowing about base rate as it is based on cost of funds. Stoppage of sub-prime loans to bigger corporate. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may get better rates. The SMEs and small borrowers are subsidizing the corporate loans. Deregulation of interest rates as banks will stop lending at lower rates to loans below Rs 2 lakhs. RBI has given freedom to banks to charge commercial rates for loans below Rs 2 lakh at rates linked to base rate. With this, RBI wants to increase the credit flow to small borrowers. Increase in liquidity of banks. As loans are not doled out on sub-prime rates, more money is left with banks. Conclusion Banks have to adjust to new system as quickly as possible. Cost of funds will play huge role in determination of base rates. Banks also need to look into new avenues for service quality in order to retain old customers. Old private banks face stiff competition from foreign and public banks. The need of hour for bank is product innovation and better customer service to differentiate itself from the rest of banks.

How does star bucks create brand equity?

How does star bucks create brand equity? Question 1 How does Starbucks create brand equity? According to Kotler 2009, brand equity is reflected in how customers, think, feel and act with respect to the brand, prices, market share, and profitability that the brand commands for the firm. The green and white Starbuck logo is widely recognized. Starbuck create brand equity by turning an everyday beverage into a premium product. Starbuck coffee defined not only a product, but also attitude and personality together. In addition, Starbuck also launched various flavours that reflect the different moods and taste. Starbuck create brand equity by provides a superior level of customer service collecting the suggestion or the ideas from consumer. Therefore, Starbuck build a high degree of customer loyalty successfully. Apart from this, Starbuck also sell best quality of the coffee and related products like beverage mug. Starbuck become fastest growing brands. (Business Weeks, 2002) This is because it is about the experience, the atmosphere and the place that let most people gets away f rom everyday stresses. Starbuck also created an affinity with customers. Beside this, Starbuck also do commitment to the community to increase the brand equity. Question 2 Why enter the Asian market? Why enter Singapore? Starbucks enter Asian market because its company felt that Asian offered more potential market than Europe. According to one executive of Starbuck, Asian is a region which full of emerging markets since the consumer disposable income increase as country economics growth. Apart from this, people in Asia are open to Western lifestyle. Starbuck enter Asian because of the highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas and lifestyle. Finally, coffee consumption growth rates in Southeast Asia are estimated to increase 20 % to 30 % yearly. Economic for Singapore has an annual growth rate of 11% (1998 in real terms).   Apart from this, Singapore countrys per capital income is the third highest in Asia after Japan and Brunei. Singapore has one of the best living conditions in Asia. Singaporeans are able to indulge luxury goods and they also like to indulge themselves with food. Singaporeans feel quality and price that eating has become a national obsession. Starbuck coffee is a premium beverage product and this brand product can defined as attitude of a person. Starbuck is not just a drink but personality together. Beside this, Starbuck choose to invest in Singapore because Singapore entertainment is influenced by Western culture. Singaporean highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas adopted. Starbuck identify as American icon except McDonalds. Starbuck create an American coffee culture. Starbuck should focus on Singapore because of the market has tremendous growth potential. According to Bruce Rolph, he thinks that peopl e should increasingly focus on Singapore not as a mature market with low earnings and growth potential. Finally, the Singaporean market still has no clear leader in the specialty coffee industry. Starbuck may get high demand of product in Singapore. Question 3 Who is the target market? Starbuck target people who are open to Western culture and lifestyle. In addition, Starbuck also target people who are with high disposable income. Those people are able and willing to spend money for purchasing costly gourmet coffee.   Target market for Starbuck is mainly adult-focused. The aims are for connecting with their client, communities. (Starbuck Campaign Market Analysis) Starbuck target consumer are from urban-areas because individuals who are willing to purchase costly gourmet coffee. Apart from this, college student who are undergraduate or post-graduate living in urban areas are target market for Starbuck too. (Starbuck Campaign Market Analysis) In addition, Starbuck also target consumer who are stressful. Starbuck provide a relax environment which is about the experience, the atmosphere and the place that let most people gets away from everyday stresses. Starbuck also created an affinity with customers. Question 4 Is Starbucks facing cannibalization? Yes, Starbuck is facing cannibalization. Even through, sales of Starbucks and growing rapidly but the rate of growth is slow. Rate of growth is slowing at existing stores and the annual sales growth at stores from 19% in 1993 to 7% in 1996 because of store cannibalization. Stores cannibalization has been known as open stores within one block of each other led to market saturation. Stores cannibalization cause competition among close Starbucks stores and damage the company culture within the workforce. Store cannibalization also cause decrease in employees performance. Question 5 Who are some of Starbucks joint venture partners? Starbuck joint venture partners are Capitol Records, Sazaby Inc. in Japan, Dreyers Grand Ice Cream, Pepsi-Cola, Intel Corporation and Mack Johnsons Johnson Development Corporation. In 1995, Starbuck released Blue Note Blend Coffee and CD with Capitol Records. An agreement signed at October 1995 with Sazaby Inc. to develop Starbuck retail stores in Japan. Starbuck form joint-venture with Dreyers Grand Ice Cream to form premium line of coffee ice cream market. North American Coffee Partnership formed between Pepsi-Cola and Starbucks at 1996. The partnership announced its plan to market a bottled version of Starbucks Frappuccino beverage. Apart from this, Starbucks also push it market toward cybercafes by formed joint venture with Intel Corporation. In addition, Starbucks formed joint-venture with Mack Johnsons Johnson Development Corporation to develop Starbucks locations in underserved, inner-city urban neighbourhoods. Question 6 Is Starbucks a socially responsible company? Starbucks is a socially responsible company. Starbucks sell only finest whole- bean coffee and coffee beverages. Roast coffee bean that do not meet the company requirement or the coffee bean is remaining in the bins for more than one week will be donated to charity. In addition, Starbuck also contributed in CARE which is a non-profit charity organization since 1991 for the needy in coffee-growing countries. Starbucks has helped establish health and literacy programs in Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia as North Americas leading corporate sponsor. This long-term charity program has helped improve living conditions in the coffee-producing countries. Starbucks established a Code of Conduct policy, which is the first step in a long-term commitment to improving social conditions in the worlds coffee-growing nations in 1996. Starbucks joined an organization, TransFair, which is works for the rights of farmers. The efforts of the organization are driven towards ensuring that coffee farmers get a significant part of the amount ($1.26 a pound) paid by coffee roasters for coffee beans. Also, in 2002, the company purchased 150,000 pounds of coffee beans from a fair-trade Consortium of Coffee Cooperatives of Guanacaste and Montes de Oro in Costa Rica (COOCAFE). Starbucks also formed an alliance with eight companies to enable the gift of over 320,000 new books for children. Starbucks also doing recycle with controls waste removal (2,344 out of 3,192 stores), recycled at least one or more items, including cardboard, plastic, paper and organic wastes. Question 7 How does Starbucks market themselves? Starbucks market themselves as selling premium beverage to the consumer. Starbuck try to positioning their product as the attitude and personality of an individual but not only a product. Starbucks serves the product as a beverage that can relax consumer with the store environment and create experience and place that is refuge for individual to get away from everyday stress. Therefore, Starbuck come out with various flavours that can reflect the different moods as well as taste. Starbuck also market themselves as the American icon. This is because Starbucks target individual that are highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas and lifestyle it had adopted. Apart from this, Starbucks market themselves as a luxury beverage. This is because Starbucks stores are provide air-conditional facilities. Besides, Starbucks also use high quality coffee bean to provide the premium beverage. Starbucks coffee is a coffee that let individuals taste the greatest taste of the coffee and enjoy themselves. Question 8 What are some substitutes? Starbucks competitors are Spinelli, Suntec Dome Holdings, Coffee Club, Coffee Connection, and Burkes Coffee. Spinelli Coffee Company is a company licensed by Equinox. Equinox is a joint-venture between Golden Harvest, Singapore Technologies Industrial Corp. and Singapore Conglomerate. In addition, Spinelli also involve in setting up roasting factories to supply Asian market. Spinelli brings to Asia years of experience in sourcing, producing and selling premium coffee drinks and whole bean coffee. Dome Cafà © is on European lines. It was discovered by a Singaporean. Dome Cafà © is well-known for its distinctive sidewalk and atrium cafes. Dome Cafà © also serve light snack and full meals served all day. Suntec Dome Holding was formed in 1996. Ronald Lee and Sebastian Ong, the founders of Dome imported European-style Dome concept from Australia. There are roasting factories in Singapore and Australia. The strategy is to expand in several Asian countries in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China. Coffee Club established coffee trading company Hiang Kie. The bestselling product in Coffee Club is Iced Mocha Vanilla. In addition, Coffee Club serves light meals of cakes, salad, sandwiches and home-made ice cream. Coffee Connection started in the 1980s by Sarika Coffee. It is the mother ship of coffee bars, with sixty-nine different drinks ranging from cool coffee jelly to Blue Mountain Chaser. The bestselling product is Cappuccino Italia no. They also serve ice cream, pasta, pizza and focaccia sandwiches. The origin of Burkes Coffee are started from four Singaporean students who are studies in Seattle. Burkes Coffee is a Seattle-styled cafà ©. Burke has made a name as a friendly and inviting place in Singapore. The store has established a loyal customer base of young professionals who visit the store frequently. Burkes serve sandwiches, soups, and desserts. There are seven basic coffee drinks, plus twelve Italian syrups that can add on request. The best attraction of the coffeehouses is the Mocha Freeze and Hazelnut Latte. Question 9 How did they come up with the name Starbucks? Starbucks began in 1971 with three academics white collar. There are English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel and a writer Gordon Bowker. There three partners shared a love of fine coffees and exotics teas. The name comes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the worlds finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. Baldwin, Siegel, and Bowker chose the name Starbucks in honour of Starbuck, the coffee-loving first mate in Herman MelvillesMoby Dick, and because they thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders. The new companys logo, designed by an artist friend, was a two-tailed mermaid encircled by the stores name. Question 10 Why did Starbucks choose to enter a predominantly tea consuming market like China? Starbucks choose to enter a predominantly tea consuming market like China because it is probably easier to accelerate the sale of ones products in a market where demand already exists if compare with a market that has a large number of potential consumers and an emerging economy but low demand for the product. As China that fits the above description down to it being predominantly tea-consuming and one of the smallest coffee markets in the world. Apart from this, China has large geographic area with large population. Starbucks enter China because its company felt that China offered most potential market in Asia. According to one executive of Starbuck, Asian is a region which full of emerging markets since the consumer disposable income increase as country economics growth. China has the most population in Asia and China economic growth rapidly. Apart from this, people in China are open to Western lifestyle. Finally, coffee consumption growth rates in Southeast Asia are estimated to increase 20 % to 30 % yearly. Question 11 Why did Starbucks places its outlets in China in mainly commercial areas? Starbucks places its outlets in China in mainly commercial areas because individual living in urban areas are Western lifestyle adapted. Starbucks as American icon coffeehouses are highly recognize by individual living in commercial areas. Starbucks are identifying themselves a premium beverage seller with best quality of coffee bean. Thus, Starbucks couldnt sell their product with low price. The individual with higher disposable income are living in mainly in commercial areas. Individual in commercial area have higher purchase ability to do expense. Furthermore, Starbucks depend less domestic advertising but more promotion through discount coupon and visits, which draw first-time consumers.

Abraham as the Ideal Man of Faith in The Holy Bible Essay -- Holy Bibl

Abraham as the Ideal Man of Faith The question is frequently asked, â€Å"What does it mean to have faith?† â€Å"What does it mean to be faithful?† The path to righteousness has always been one paved in good faith, and this is a well-known fact. The ideal man of faith, it can be reasoned, would be the man who was the most suitable spiritual companion for God. This would be someone with whom God could speak with, and fulfill his wishes for human beings there within.   God would not simply want a servant, but a friend who would walk through his life with God. This is a hard man to find. One place worshippers of God are always certain to look for an example is the Bible. The Old Testament offers many differing examples of men of faith. Some men of faith closely looked at in the Old Testament are Abraham, Noah, and Job. Abraham can be viewed as the ideal man of faith because his relationship with God exceeded those of Noah and Job. His relationship was ideal in that there was true communication and a mut ual respect. While Noah and Job were men of faith, their relationships were not ideal because Noah did not truly communicate and Job lacked both respect and trust for the Lord. Abraham was God’s chosen â€Å"father of all nations.† He and God shared a relationship that no other man ever shared with God. God says to Abraham: I will make of you a great nation,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And I will bless you;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I will make your name great,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So that will be your blessing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I will bless those who bless you   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And curse those who curse you.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All the communities of the earth   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ... ...ause he never lacked trust or respect for the Lord. Even when God demanded that Abraham kill his own son, Abraham never once lost any respect or trust. He merely had faith.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The conclusion to be drawn is a fairly easy one. Abraham was the ideal man of faith, due to his upholding of the vital elements of the ideal, as well as the fact that he was the best companion for God. He proved that devotion does not necessarily mean just strict servitude, but that it also means maintaining a relationship on a level that servants cannot. Also, he showed that a mutual respect must be present if a relationship will work, and that trust is required at all times. Faith was never a â€Å"sometimes† thing for Abraham. He took it to the fullest extent at every moment, which is why he was the ideal man of faith. He did everything necessary to be the ideal companion for God.

Subjectivity in Edith Whartons The House of Mirth Essay -- House Mirt

Subjectivity in Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth      Ã‚   Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth presents an interesting study of the social construction of subjectivity. The Victorian society which Wharton's characters inhabit is defined by a rigid structure of morals and manners in which one's identity is determined by apparent conformity with or transgression of social norms. What is conspicuous about this brand of social identification is its decidedly linguistic nature. In this context, behaviors themselves are rendered as text, and the incessant social appraisal in which the characters of the novel participate is a process of deciphering this script of behavior. People's actions here are read, as it were, according to the unique social grammar of this society. The novel's treatment of this conception of social reading is brought to the fore through its devaluing of written texts in favor of legible behaviors.    The novel signals this pattern from its opening. In the first scene we are introduced to Selden, engaged in what we discover is a typical activity for the novel's personae, the silent, personal, interrogation of another person. "If she had appeared to be catching a train," we are told, "he might have inferred that he had come on her in an act of transition between one and another of the country houses which disputed her presenceÃ…  "(5†¹emphases mine). Here, Selden, at his first glimpse of Lily, has taken to conjecturing all manner of explanations for her simple presence in the train station. He, like all members of his social niche, does not shy away from judgement until he is more fully appraised of her situation. Even, the slightest "air of irresolution" gives him license to divert his at... ...bling Structure of 'Appearances': Representation and Authenticity in The House of Mirth and The Custom of the Country."   Modern Fiction Studies 43.2 (1997): 349-73. Gerard, Bonnie Lynn.   "From Tea to Chloral: Raising the Dead Lily Bart."   Twentieth Century Literature 44.4 (1998): 409-27. Howard, Maureen.   "On The House of Mirth."   Raritan 15 (1996): 23 pp.   28 Oct. 2002   <http://proxy.govst.edu:2069/WebZ/FTFETCH>. Howe, Irving.   Edith Wharton, a Collection of Critical Essays.   Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1962. Miller, Mandy.   Edith Wharton Page.   19 Nov. 2002  Ã‚  Ã‚   <http://www.Kutztown.edu/faculty/Reagan.Wharton.html>. Pizer, Donald.   "The Naturalism of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth."   Twentieth Century Literature 41.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (1995): 241-8. Wharton, Edith. The House of Mirth. (1905) New York: Signet,. 1998.

Music Firms Want EU to Cut Off Pirates

The plan, backed by French President Sarkozy, asks Internet service providers to disconnect users who illegally download copyrighted music by Leigh Phillips With sales of compact discs across Europe in free-fall, the record industry has called on the EU to follow French president Nicolas Sarkozy's lead and force internet service providers to disconnect customers who illegally download music. â€Å"Up until now, ISPs have allowed copyright theft to run rampant on their networks, causing a massive devaluation of copyrighted music,† said John Kennedy, the CEO of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the record industry trade association. â€Å"The time for action is now — from the EU and other governments.† The IFPI believes the mood of indulging ISPs and their downloading customers is coming to an end. â€Å"2007 was the year ISP responsibility started to become an accepted principle,† he said. â€Å"2008 must be the year it becomes reality.† Last November, president Sarkozy backed an initiative in partnership with the record industry and internet providers that would see ISPs automatically disconnect customers who illegally download copyrighted material. â€Å"More than anyone else in 2007, our industry has to thank French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the chairman of FNAC [the France-based chain of record and electronics superstores], Denis Olivennes, for the change of mood,† said Mr Kennedy. The Sarkozy agreement, announced in November, is the most significant milestone yet in the task of curbing piracy on the internet. The French president's move requires ISPs to disconnect customers using an automated system and to test filtering technologies. Mr Kennedy made comments in an IFPI report on the state of the sector. Although there was a 40 percent increase in digital sales globally in 2007, according to the report, there was a 10 percent decline in sales of compact discs last year. The report also praised government moves against illegal downloading in Sweden, Belgium, the UK, the US and Asia. Provided by EUobserver—For the latest EU related news BusinessWeek Europe January 28, 2008 1:04PM EST

Fundamental Principles to Adult Education Essay

Adult education’s principal and fundamental principle is to harness and enhance adult individual’s skill and knowledge to be productive contributors to the society. Adult learners are provided then with programs and adult education movement for granting more opportunities for their advancement, as their success is regarded as the society’s growth as well. Adult learners should be educated not only for increase of knowledge but also for gaining more integral values as they were expected to give more of themselves and contribute in productivity of the society they belong. Fundamental Principles to Adult Education Being a teacher of a particular credit-based community college course is a very serious and tedious task. Since there would be a variety of 35 students’ whose age range vary from 17- 70 years old, this would certainly mean a† big challenge† for the instructor’s part, in order to teach and provide learning effectively. Malcolm S. Knowles, a prominent writer and instructor, advocated the theory of non-formal (informal) andragogy or adult education in the United States. He taught various principles and wrote numerous detailed accounts discussing on how to facilitate learning especially for the adults. Applying clinical Rogerian psychology in his writings and teaching; in result, he was able to train his students to acquire the attitude of being self-motivated. Furthermore, Knowles initiated the interest for implementation of informal adult education and he differentiated the advantages of the informal education, to the standard, traditional formal education. According to Knowles, formal education are mostly implemented and commonly used in secondary educational schools, commerce schools, and universities; whereas in informal adult education, students are just likely to complete credits on particular vocational or training courses and their classes are to be held on â€Å"community center unions, and other industries and even churches. Moreover, formal education requires that of being stable for completion of long term four-year course or more; when the latter (informal education) serves to be more temporary and flexible. However, it does not mean that informal education is not serious, the system just purports to be flexible enough to meet the needs of the adults who may be busy with their lives (job, family, religious and other activities). And these cases meet the demands of several adults who would want to re-educate themselves and to refresh their knowledge and learning from their vast experience, or to simply increase and gain more knowledge and training from their desires course of interest. In brief, Malcolm Knowles acknowledged the increasing demand and importance of adult education in the present 20th century. Knowles objective of real learning in adults, he emphasizes that an adult learner should acquire self-concept, readiness to learn, experience, orientation towards learning, and especially, the motivation to learn (Smith, 2002). On the other hand, a professor in New Zealand named, T. A. Hunter, also propounded the proliferation and development of an adult education movement. Hunter’s principle of education is grounded on his belief that education is depicted to the successful adjustment of a man to physical and social changes in one’s environment. His blueprint for adult education is the successful integration of biological, physiological, sociocultural, and cognitive knowledge derived from the informal training or education (Hunter, 1929). Adult education should mainly function to harness and enhance adult individual’s skill and knowledge. Adult learners at the same time should still be given the opportunity for advancement since their success is the society’s growth as well. Adult learners should be educated not only for increase of knowledge but also for gaining more integral values as they were expected to give more of themselves and contribute in productivity of the society they belong. In addition, this adult education is more of an inspiration among individuals who are in search for more adequate and applicable learning, and is regarded as an opportunity to success with one’s endeavors and purpose of serving the society (UNESCO, 1960). Fundamental principles of adult education then, should be grounded on the â€Å"realistic† and objective goal of learning. Education as embedded in the infinite realm of knowledge should be available to everyone regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and culture. Adult education, as it plays a significant role and is the demand of most populace, should be taken seriously to address the learner’s need for proper, adequate, and effective learning. Moreover, there is a call for the government, to increase attention for the provision of the proper adult education. Increase of funding for the adult learners’ facilities, venues, and other learning tools is urgent to make this effective learning possible (UNESCO, 1960). References Hunter, T. A. (1929, July 1). Adult education. The New Zealand Railways Magazine, 4, 3. Retrieved from October 13, 2008, from http://www. nzetc. org/tm/scholarly/tei- Gov04_03Rail-t1-body-d7. html Smith, M. (2002) Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and Anadragogy. Tthe encyclopedia of informal Education. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from http://www. infed. org/thinkers/et-knowl. htm UNESCO. (1960). World conference on adult education. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from http://www. unesco. org/education/uie/confintea/montre_e. pdf