Implementing Innovative Practices Within Organisations

Question: Write an essay on an innovative practice developed. This can range from innovative systems to a complete however be within the current field the business operates case study should include: 1. The background and history of the business/owner. 2. What innovative practices/product/service did they? 3. What was the aim of the initiative? 4. How did it come about and what research was taken? 5. How did the initiative impact on the organisation? 6. What success did the initiative have on the market? Answer: Introduction Innovation is considered as the key aspect of every organization, as this helps the business enterprises to implement new thoughts and ideas in the markets and offer a new range of varieties in front of the customers. It is said that a business organization thrives in the market if it continues to bring in innovative and creative features or aspects within the enterprise that will help it to be unique and attain sustainable competitive advantage in the overall market. Innovation usually refers to the idea of changing processes or developing new and creative spheres in the business environment by introducing new products and services for the customers (Ceserani Greatwood, 1995). This essay will strongly focus upon how Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd, the well known tour operator of New Zealand that has created extraordinary and innovative ventures and developed tourist products thereby making the country a creative place to visit in. Main analysis of the paper Many tourism organizations of the country have capitalised on the adventure which have led New Zealand recognised as one of the most popular and innovative tourist destination all across the world (Creativity, innovation, and job creation, 1997). It is through the means of innovation and creativity of the tourism industries that the country New Zealand has become one of the most attractive tourism sectors in the world. Background of the business Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd is one of the most reputed tour operators of New Zealand that offers the best of services to the travellers who come to visit the place. The company presents the most attractive spots of the country and promotes them all throughout making the country a creative and wonderful place in the world. The concerned tour operator is much aware of the various likings and preferences of the people and as such they provide the travellers with all sorts of benefits and facilities which can attract them quite fruitfully (Gryskiewicz, 1993). Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd has been founded in the year 1965 and since that time, the company has flourished and prospered as one of the most popular tour operators of New Zealand. It has become the fully independent tour operators catering the best services through their great reservations team to the tourists. The service providers are well aware of all sorts of innovative aspects of their tours and thus, aim at rendering the supreme s ervices to the tourists. The tour operator offers the travellers with an extensive range of Independent Coach and Group Tours to both North and South Island of New Zealand where the most attractive spots of the country can be witnessed. The Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd has been serving the travellers for more than seventy years and has been offering over 40 departures from Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington and Christchurch. The speciality of the company is the South Island where the tourists can witness one of the best adventure playgrounds of the whole world. The principle aim of the company is to provide the tourists with the best travelling experiences and create a strong positive imprint in their minds for long term basis (Price, 2005). The company aims at delivering the tourists with the services that are demanded by them. Innovation and implementation of new ideas and thoughts in the company has made it reach the highest peak of success and fame in the overall tourism market of New Zealand as well as in the whole world. It has grown and developed widely in the tourism industry delivering the best and looking after the needs of the people. Implementation of innovative service by the company The Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd has earned immense success and fame in the worldwide tourism industry due to their arrangement of daily departure facility in the special independent tours. Also the hotel or motel accommodation facilities introduced by the company have got the ability to shorten or lengthen tours which can meet up the needs of the travellers (Paulus Nijstad, 2003). The company aims at providing best tourism services at an agreed budget and thus the people do not need to actually think much for planning for a trip to the whole of New Zealand. Complete freedom and flexibility over tourist services have been the most attraction for the tourists and Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd has thereby attracted a huge number of travellers in the market attaining competitive advantage. Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd makes sure that they provide enough knowledge to the tourists about the various wonderful tourist places of New Zealand. The New Zealand tour operator has decided to do something innovative and creative which no other tour operators have planned. They have implemented innovative ideas in the field and have thought of providing the travellers with a unique opportunity of diving and scuba tours. The Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd has intended to give the travellers the best tourism experience and they believed that scuba and diving tours will be the most creative and attractive option for the people to explore deep under the sea bed and observe underwater creatures, fishes, etc. that will serve the interests of the people (Plsek, 1997). Moreover the tour operator has also arranged expedition cruises to make people explore the rugged coastline of New Zealand and open up opportunities for them to travel beyond the shores of the country such as Fiji, Pacific Islands and Antarctica. It is a much innovative and unique intervention from the part of the concerned tour operator as they aim at delivering all such services to the people at a reasonable budget. Full day sightseeing to all the tourist spots of the country at a competitive price package helped the company to engage more and more travellers to the country from all over the world and excavate the beauty of the place (Saarinen, Moswete, Monare, 2014). They have acknowledged the actual needs and interests of the people and introduced such creative services to fulfil them on effective means. Once the people get associated with the services of the Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd, they will be able to visit all the excellent and wonderful tourist places of the world in much easier way. The travel consultants help the people to make plans and they promise to fulfil all of them ensuring wonderful ever lasting memories of the beautiful spots of the country. Creativity has made the company flourish and prosper over the years as it enables the tourists to witness the most creative and unique wonders of New Zealand altogether (Mattsson, Sundbo, Fussing Jensen, 2005). The people who have been associated with the company have commented on the creativity and innovativeness it presented to them through the adventurous scuba and diving tours. Moreover the beyond shores trips have also led the people gather lots of memories that they can be able to cherish all through their lives and can have the urge to visit the places over and over again with the guidance and assistance of the Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd tourism group. Innovation has been the key asset of the organization and the business improved and prospered for its excellent services and uniqueness that they bring about before the tourists. Aim of the initiative As mentioned earlier, the most important and actually the main aim of this initiative is to make the tourists exhume the unseen and unknown areas of the country, New Zealand. Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd thought of bringing in something new and out of the world feature that will not only promote the beauty and attractive destinations of the country but also will enable them to grab the attention of more and more tourists from all over the world (Innovation and growth in tourism, 2006). In the competitive business world, it is only possible for Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd to achieve success and attaining competitive advantage if they can incorporate innovative thinking in the organization. In order to serve the purpose, the company has targeted mostly the medium income group of people who can easily avail the services of the company. Diving and scuba tours have been the greatest initiative taken by Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd in order to serve the purpose of satisfying the people with their off er of exploring new things. Research done for the initiative Complete market analysis has been done by the Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd in order to find out the actual customer needs and their specifications regarding travelling. The urge of people to go out for travelling tends to make them get associated with those tour agencies which can provide them with the utmost beneficial facilities and trips at the most competitive packages. Moreover they tend to visit places that are beautiful and innovative (Lessem Schieffer, 2010). Thus the company has analysed and perceived the demands of the people and initiated the scuba tours and diving so as to catch the peoples attraction. Also the expedition tours provided to the tourists help the company to promote their country and its attractive destinations. Effective online promotion of its newly initiated services has been done. The company website has provided the breathtaking and eye catching pictures of the adventurous trip hosted with the complete trip details so as to attract people from all across t he world. Also the activities of the competitors have been overviewed which made Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd take the necessary initiation at the correct time to survive competition. Impact of innovation on Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd The company has attained huge fame and success in the field of tourism due to its introduction of the scuba tours and diving along with the expedition trips at an agreed price. They have dived the way for success and have become one of the most promising tour operators in the whole of New Zealand. People have considered the services of the agency quite impressive and they have commented that the innovative step has enhanced the travelling experiences among them (Aldebert, Dang, Longhi, 2011). The objectives behind the innovation have been accomplished and have made the company withstand the competitive challenges effectively. The uniqueness put forward by Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd through its innovative initiation has given the company a new dimension of recognition and competitiveness by gathering enough tourists worldwide. Impact of success on the market The innovation has enhanced the market strength of the tourism industry of New Zealand (Boutellier Heinzen, 2012). The company has been able to drive more tourists in the market which led to the increase the market share of the company and improve the efficacy of the services. This has also enabled the company to give a tough competition to the other tour operators of the country and ensured profitability of the company. Conclusion Tourism has always been the most extensive part of New Zealand where the tourism organizations in the small business landscape have entered the country and created benchmark in the field of tourism. The entire study portrayed that with the implementation of innovative ideas and starting the diving, scuba tours and expedition tours at a comparatively lower price made the Scenic Pacific Tours Ltd to attract more tourists in the market and ascertain their growth and development in the tourism market of the country. Proper planning and research has enabled the company to gain competitive advantage and sustain its position firmly in the tourism industry (Carlsen, Liburd, Edwards, 2013). References Aldebert, B., Dang, R., Longhi, C. (2011). Innovation in the tourism industry: The case of Tourism@.Tourism Management,32(5), 1204-1213. Boutellier, R. Heinzen, M.(2012). Growth through innovation. Bytheway, C. (2007).FAST creativity innovation. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: J. Ross Pub. Carlsen, J., Liburd, J., Edwards, D. (2013).Networks for innovation in sustainable tourism. Prahran, VIC: Tilde Publishing and Distribution. Ceserani, J. Greatwood, P. (1995).Innovation creativity. London: Kogan Page. Creativity, innovation, and job creation. (1997). Paris. Gryskiewicz, S. (1993).Discovering creativity. Greensboro, N.C.: Center for Creative Leadership. Innovation and growth in tourism. (2006). Paris. Lessem, R. Schieffer, A. (2010).Integral research and innovation. Farnham, England: Gower. Mattsson, J., Sundbo, J., Fussing Jensen, C. (2005).Oxford University Press. Plsek, P. (1997).Creativity, innovation, and quality. Milwaukee, Wis.: ASQ Quality Press. Price, R. (2005).The eye for innovation. New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press.

Street Life free essay sample

Bryan Ferry, whether solo or with Roxy Music, has produced some of the most influential music in the last twenty years with 17 albums to date. And now, the top-off: an anthology. Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry , Street Life. Spanning 19 years of ground-breaking music, this collection pulls no punches. Beginning with Virginia Plain, the album wastes no time shifting into high gear. On the first half of the album, you would no doubt recognize most of the melodies, not from the original songs, but from more recent sound-alikes from the Fine Young Cannibals, Milli Vanilli, Samantha Fox and many others. Any of the songs from the two albums released in 78 and 80 could be popular today. Indeed, Ferrys The Bride Stripped Bare, and Roxy Musics Flesh and Blood set the tone for the British and American music scenes. Finishing with a never-before release of a re-make of Jealous Guy, the album leaves you wanting. We will write a custom essay sample on Street Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There is a cure for this: Ferrys 1987 album, Bete Noire. All digitally re-mastered on CD, Street Life truly does justice to the originator of modern music, Bryan Ferry.

Police Brutality Essay Example

Police Brutality Essay Example Police Brutality Essay Police Brutality Essay Over the past five centuries, black people have endured violence in many different ways. Today, police officers use deadly, excessive force that leads to inexcusable assaults, beatings and shootings. This demonstrates the governmentÐ ¢s role in initiating and prolonging racial suppression and provides the explanation for police brutality to become a federal crime(Black Radical Congress, 3). In history, racist violence, police brutality, has been used to suppress the racial blacks and to preserve power and privileges for the white race. This was done for five primary purposes. First, it has forced black people into slavery or low wage situations. Secondly, to steal land and other resources. A 3-rd was to maintain social control. A fourth purpose was to eliminate conflict in politics, social life, and employment. Lastly, the fifth purpose was to unite white people across the ethnic, class, and gender boundaries. However, after the Emancipation, lynching became a prominent form of violence used against the blacks. The use of lynching was a means of controlling and putting fear into the blacks, making them afraid to go against anything the white man said or authorized. In the mid 1900’s, race riots and lawful executions began to replace the practice of lynching. This became the new method of social control and white supremacy could be controlled through racial discrimination. Harassment and discrimination are two other forms of violence, they have been practiced for many centuries and are still being practiced today as a means of control. The practice of police brutality has a strong affect on a main segment of the American population. Those affected are minorities and the elderly causing them to have strong hatred towards the whites in America. Police Brutality is abuse by law enforcement, where a police officer feels that because he/ she has a badge and a gun therefore it puts them above the law and they can use unnecessary force against another individual. Police Brutality is not a new issue; it has become more focused on recently due to some cases that have occurred in the past few years that have been highly publicized. The abuse used by police officers is a serious offense that violates a persons human and civil rights. These violations are seen nationwide to the inority community and are committed by various police officers that fail to receive punishment for their action. The Civil Rights Act â€Å"provides protection to those persons wronged by the misuse of power, possessed by the virtue of state law and made [it] possible only because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law†. There is a violation of the fourth amendment when innocent people become victims of police brutality. Many minoritie s are stopped because they are driving a luxury car. They are assumed to be either drug dealers or a criminal. The protection of the fourth amendment, however, is shrinking; it can only be used with the presence of a warrant (Meeks, 9). The presence of the warrant keeps from unlawful police searches and abuse to occur. Racial profiling is the more common form of police brutality. This is the most frequent violation of the fourth amendment. It is the tactic of stopping someone because of his or her skin color. Racial profiling mainly targets young Black and Latino men and is believed to be a justified form of law enforcement. In other words, it is a form of legal prejudice that occurs daily nationwide. Although, there are many questionable areas in racial profiling that cannot be avoided nor proven. First, it is difficult to prove, in a majority of cases there is no evidence and the police officers can claim the stop to be a routine traffic stop. An example of this is when a black person is pulled over for a traffic violation the type of vehicle is first determined and then their skin color. A majority of Blacks and Latinos drive either flashy or historical vehicles, this determines the ethnicityof the driver. Harassment takes place and no one can prove this but the victim and the police officer. Secondly, the courts have to acknowledge that racial profiling occurred and in most cases this is hard to prove. There are also other forms of racial profiling. In many professions, this type of profiling is used as a form as security. Taxi drivers and security personnel engage in profiling when they feel fearful or threatened. Taxi drivers use this type of judgment when refusing to pick up a customer at night and security guards use it to find suspects while working. Racial profiling is considered to be a profile used by police officers to identify suspicious criminal or violators of the law. A typical profile used is the CARD system. CARD is an acronym for class, age, race, and dress. This system is used to fit individuals into categories for means of identification. The problem with the CARD system is that many minorities fall into this category. This makes them primary targets and poses a problem for some of the white people that also fall into this category. Nevertheless, there are a few positive sides to profiling. For one, it can be considered to be a survival skill, allowing one to see if people are doing justice. Secondly, it puts people on an innate level. Profiling shows signs about people and certain criteria. Lastly, it is not considered to be racism. Police officers who use profiling use it as a tool because they think that they are color blind in certain situations. Police brutality also occurs in prisons where the prisoners are mistreated because it becomes a simple case of authority. Humans have their freedom to express their rights and police brutality violates their human rights. The main targets of police brutality are two third African American or Latino and the majority of the time the officer is white. There are five stages through which force can progress and lead to brutality: Verbal persuasion, unarmed physical force, force using non-lethal weapons, force using impact weapons and deadly force. Enforcement personnel should use the deadly force stage only when an officer’s life or another person’s life is in danger. By having the deadly force stage, the law permits someone to commit a murder, and justifies its use. Many law enforcement officials appear to have a tough exterior towards crime, but are very sensitive to crime on the inside. Police officers build up negative feelings towards certain races, sexes, or religions. Officers tend to get the impression that if one or a few people treat them with disrespect, than other people of that same sex, race, or religion will treat the officer in the same way. Another cause of police brutality and misconduct is the amount of stress that is put upon the law enforcement official. Law enforcement officials who are accused of police brutality are required to attend a civil court hearing with a judge and a jury present. Most of the time the jury will find the officers not guilty, or guilty of a lesser rime. This is true in the case of the officer who used an illegal chokehold on Anthony Bees, a twenty eight-year old Puerto Rican, after Baez’s football hit the patrol car. Baez was killed due to the force of the chokehold, but the officer was found not guilty. However, due to racism and society, the demand of tough treatment towards criminals will encourage police officer s to remain violent. The extent of police brutality can be improved through the training of police officers and racially integrated departments resulting in the decline of police violence. Many ways to correct police misconduct have evolved. Such corrections include sufficient training, recruitment, and integration. In recruitment, tighter screening and background checks could be used to avoid violence and racism to enter into the police force. By means of integration, the presence of more minorities can help to dissolve the hatred towards minorities in the society, giving affirmative action an opportunity to take precedence. Police officers should also be required to go to a class that re-teaches them how to act appropriate in an arrest and other situations. A majority of these police officers also feel as though they did not commit a wrongdoing and that they are innocent. One of the ways to curb police brutality is to implement new laws, to punish the wrong doers that may bring about the decrease in police brutality. Today, officers know that there are laws dealing with etiquette during an arrest, but many do not attempt to apply what they know, and let physical strength, and force overcomes them. Also, severe or reasonable consequences should be given to police officers who participate in police brutality. Suspension, verbal reprimands, an investigation, anger management classes, or the loss of their jobs are some consequences that should be given to violating officers. Although there has been some progress and education, training and integration with of the law enforcement population, the are still incidents of racial profiling and police brutality. With continued efforts and corrections of racial injustices, this type of abuse and punishment will lessen when the law moves more towards the justice for minorities.

A Biography of Richard the Lionheart

A Biography of Richard the Lionheart Richard the Lionheart was born on September 8, 1157, in Oxford, England. He was generally considered to be his mothers favorite son, and has been described as spoiled and vain because of it. Richard was also known to let his temper get the better of him. Nevertheless, he could be shrewd in matters of politics and was famously skilled on the battlefield. He was also highly cultured and well-educated, and wrote poems and songs. Through most of his life he enjoyed the support and affection of his people, and for centuries after his death, Richard the Lionheart was one of the most popular kings in English history. Early Years Richard the Lionheart was the third son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and although his eldest brother died young, the next in line, Henry, was named heir. Thus, Richard grew up with little realistic expectations of achieving the English throne. In any case, he was more interested in the familys French holdings than he was in England; he spoke little English, and he was made duke of the lands his mother had brought to her marriage when he was quite young: Aquitaine in 1168, and Poitiers three years later. In 1169, King Henry and King Louis VII of France agreed that Richard should be wed to Louiss daughter Alice. This engagement was to last for some time, although Richard never showed any interest in her; Alice was sent from her home to live with the court in England, while Richard stayed with his holdings in France. Brought up among the people he was to govern, Richard soon learned how to deal with the aristocracy. But his relationship with his father had some serious problems. In 1173, encouraged by his mother, Richard joined his brothers Henry and Geoffrey in rebelling against the king. The rebellion ultimately failied, Eleanor was imprisoned, and Richard found it necessary to submit to his father and receive a pardon for his transgressions. From Duke to King Richard In the early 1180s, Richard faced baronial revolts in his own lands. He displayed considerable military skill and earned a reputation for courage (the quality that led to his nickname of Richard the Lionheart), but he dealt so harshly with the rebels that they called on his brothers to help drive him from Aquitaine. Now his father interceded on his behalf, fearing the fragmentation of the empire he had built (the Angevin Empire, after Henrys lands of Anjou). However, no sooner had King Henry gathered his continental armies together than the younger Henry unexpectedly died, and the rebellion crumpled. As the oldest surviving son, Richard the Lionheart was now heir to England, Normandy, and Anjou. In light of his extensive holdings, his father wanted him to cede Aquitaine to his brother John, who had never had any territory to govern and was known as Lackland. But Richard had a deep attachment to the duchy. Rather than give it up, he turned to the king of France, Louiss son Philip II, with whom Richard had developed a firm political and personal friendship. In November of 1188 Richard paid homage to Philip for all his holdings in France, then joined forces with him to drive his father into submission. They forced Henry- who had indicated a willingness to name John his heir- to acknowledge Richard as heir to the English throne before he died in July 1189. The Crusader King Richard the Lionheart had become King of England; but his heart wasnt in the sceptred isle. Ever since Saladin had captured Jerusalem in 1187, Richards greatest ambition was to go to the Holy Land and take it back. His father had agreed to engage in the Crusades along with Philip, and a Saladin Tithe had been levied in England and France to raise funds for the endeavor. Now Richard took full advantage of the Saladin Tithe and the military apparatus that had been formed; he drew heavily from the royal treasury and sold anything that might bring him funds- offices, castles, lands, towns, lordships. In less than a year after his accession to the throne, Richard the Lionheart raised a substantial fleet and an impressive army to take on Crusade. Philip and Richard agreed to go to the Holy Land together, but not all was well between them. The French king wanted some of the lands that Henry had held, and that were now in Richards hands, which he believed rightfully belonged to France. Richard was not about to relinquish any of his holdings; in fact, he shored up the defenses of these lands and prepared for conflict. But neither king really wanted war with each other, especially with a Crusade awaiting their attention. In fact, the crusading spirit was strong in Europe at this time. Although there were always nobles who wouldnt put up a farthing for the effort, the vast majority of the European nobility were devout believers of the virtue and necessity of Crusade. Most of those who didnt take up arms themselves still supported the Crusading movement any way that they could. And right now, both Richard and Philip were being shown up by the septuagenarian German emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, who had already pulled together an army and set off for the Holy Land. In the face of public opinion, continuing their quarrel was not really feasible for either of the kings, but especially not for Philip, since Richard the Lionheart had worked so hard to fund his part in the Crusade. The French king chose to accept the promises that Richard made, probably against his better judgment. Among these pledges was Richards agreement to marry Philips sister Alice, who still languished in England, even though it appeared he had been negotiating for the hand of Berengaria of Navarre. Alliance with the King of Sicily In July of 1190 the Crusaders set off. They stopped at Messina, Sicily, in part because it served as an excellent point of departure from Europe to the Holy Land, but also because Richard had business with King Tancred. The new monarch had refused to hand over the bequest the late king had left to Richards father, and was witholding the dower owed to his predecessors widow and keeping her in close confinement. This was of special concern to Richard the Lionheart, because the widow was his favorite sister, Joan. To complicate matters, the Crusaders were clashing with the citizens of Messina. Richard resolved these problems in a matter of days. He demanded (and got) Joans release, but when her dower was not forthcoming he began taking control of strategic fortifications. When the unrest between the Crusaders and the townfolk flared into a riot, he personally quelled it with his own troops. Before Tancred knew it, Richard had taken hostages to secure the peace and begun constructing a wooden castle overlooking the city. Tancred was forced to make concessions to Richard the Lionheart or risk losing his throne. The agreement between Richard the Lionheart and Tancred ultimately benefited the king of Sicily, for it included an alliance against Tancreds rival, the new German emperor, Henry VI. Philip, on the other hand, was unwilling to jeopardize his friendship with Henry and was irritated at Richards virtual takeover of the island. He was mollified somewhat when Richard agreed to share the monies Tancred paid, but he soon had cause for further irritation. Richards mother Eleanor arrived in Sicily with her sons bride, and it was not Philips sister. Alice had been passed over in favor of Berengaria of Navarre, and Philip wasnt in either a financial or military position to address the insult. His relationship with Richard the Lionheart further deteriorated, and they would never recover their original affability. Richard couldnt marry Berengaria quite yet, because it was Lent; but now that shed arrived in Sicily he was ready to leave the island where he had tarried for several months. In April of 1191 he set sail for the Holy Land with his sister and fiancà © in a massive fleet of over 200 vessels. Invasion of Cyprus and Marriage Three days out of Messina, Richard the Lionheart and his fleet ran into a terrible storm. When it was over, about 25 ships were missing, including the one carrying Berengaria and Joan. In fact the missing ships had been blown further on, and three of them (though not the one Richards family were on) had been driven aground in Cyprus. Some of the crews and passengers had drowned; the ships had been plundered and the survivors were imprisoned. All of this had occurred under the governance of Isaac Ducas Comnenus, the Greek tyrant of Cyprus, who had at one point entered into an agreement with Saladin to protect the government hed set up in opposition to the ruling Angelus family of Constantinople. After having rendezvoused with Berengaria and secured her and Joans safety, Richard demanded restoration of the plundered goods and the release of those prisoners who hadnt already escaped. Isaac refused, rudely it was said, apparently confident in Richards disadvantage. To Isaacs chagrin, Richard the Lionheart successfully invaded the island, then attacked against the odds, and won. The Cypriots surrendered, Isaac submitted, and Richard took possession of Cyprus for England. This was of great strategic value, since Cyprus would prove to be an important part of the supply line of goods and troops from Europe to the Holy Land. Before Richard the Lionheart left Cyprus, he married Berengaria of Navarre on May 12, 1191. A Truce  in the Holy Land Richards first success in the Holy Land, after having sunk an enormous supply ship encountered on the way, was the capture of Acre. The city had been under siege by Crusaders for two years, and the work Philip had done upon his arrival to mine and sap the walls contributed to its fall. However, Richard not only brought an overwhelming force, he spent considerable time examining the situation and planning his attack before he even got there. It was almost inevitable that Acre should fall to Richard the Lionheart, and indeed, the city surrendered mere weeks after the king arrived. Shortly afterward, Philip returned to France. His departure was not without rancor, and Richard was probably glad to see him go. Although Richard the Lionheart scored a surprising and masterful victory at Arsuf, he was unable to press his advantage. Saladin had decided to destroy Ascalon, a logical fortification for Richard to capture. Taking and rebuilding Ascalon in order to more securely establish a supply line made good strategic sense, but few of his followers were interested in anything but moving on to Jerusalem. And fewer still were willing to stay on once, theroretically, Jerusalem was captured. Matters were complicated by quarrels among the various contingents and Richards own high-handed style of diplomacy. After considerable political wrangling, Richard came to the unavoidable conclusion that the conquest of Jerusalem would be far too difficult with the lack of military strategy hed encountered from his allies; furthermore, it would be virtually impossible to keep the Holy City should by some miracle he manage to take it. He negotiated a truce with  Saladin  that allowed the Crusaders to keep Acre and a strip of coast that gave Christian pilgrims access to sites of sacred significance, then headed back to Europe. Captive in Vienna The tension had grown so bad between the kings of England and France that Richard chose to go home by way of the Adriatic Sea in order to avoid Philips territory. Once again the weather played a part: a storm swept Richards ship ashore near Venice. Although he disguised himself to avoid the notice of Duke Leopold of Austria, with whom he had clashed after his victory at Acre, he was discovered in Vienna and imprisoned in the Dukes castle at Dà ¼rnstein, on the Danube. Leopold handed Richard the Lionheart over to the German emperor, Henry VI, who was no more fond of him than Leopold, thanks to Richards actions in Sicily. Henry kept Richard at various imperial castles as events unfolded and he gauged his next step. Legend has it that a minstrel called Blondel went from castle to castle in Germany seeking Richard, singing a song he had composed with the king. When Richard heard the song from within his prison walls, he sang a verse known only to himself and Blondel, and the minstrel knew he had found the Lionheart. However, the story is just a story. Henry had no reason to hide Richards whereabouts; in fact, it suited his purposes to let everyone know that he had captured one of the most powerful men in Christendom. The story cannot be traced back any earlier than the 13th century, and Blondel probably never even existed, although it made for good press for minstrels of the day. Henry threatened to turn Richard the Lionheart over to Philip unless he paid 150,000 marks and surrendered his kingdom, which he would receive back from the emperor as a fief. Richard agreed, and one of the most remarkable fund-raising efforts began.  John  was not eager to help his brother come home, but  Eleanor  did everything in her power to see her favorite son return safely. The people of England were heavily taxed, Churches were forced to give up valuables, monasteries were made to turn over a seasons wool harvest. In less than a year nearly all of the exhorbitant ransom had been raised. Richard was released in February, 1194, and hurried back to England, where he was crowned again to demonstrate that he was still in charge of an independent kingdom. The Death of Richard the Lionheart Almost immediately after his coronation, Richard the Lionheart left England for what would be the last time. He headed directly to France to engage in warfare with Philip, who had captured some of Richards lands. These skirmishes, which were occasionally interrupted by truces, lasted for the next five years. By March of 1199, Richard was involved in a siege of the castle at Chalus-Chabrol, which belonged to the Viscount of Limoges. There was some rumor of a treasure having been found on his lands, and Richard was reputed to have demanded the treasure be turned over to him; when it was not, he supposedly attacked. However, this is little more than a rumor; it was enough that the viscount had allied with Philip for Richard to move against him. On the evening of March 26, Richard was shot in the arm by a crossbow bolt while observing the progress of the siege. Although the bolt was removed and the wound was treated, infection set in, and Richard fell ill. He kept to his tent and limited visitors to keep the news from getting out, but he knew what was happening. Richard the Lionheart died on April 6, 1199. Richard was buried according to his instructions. Crowned and clothed in royal regalia, his body was entombed at Fontevraud, at the feet of his father; his heart was buried at Rouen, with his brother Henry; and his brain and entrails went to an abbey at Charroux, on the border of Poitous and Limousin. Even before he was laid to rest, rumors and legends sprang up that would follow Richard the Lionheart into history. Understanding the Real Richard Over the centuries, the view of Richard the Lionheart held by historians has undergone some notable changes. Once considered one of Englands greatest kings by virtue of his deeds in the Holy Land and his chivalrous reputation, in recent years Richard has been criticized for his absence from his kingdom and his incessant engagement in warfare. This change is more a reflection of modern sensibilities than it is of any new evidence uncovered about the man. Richard spent little time in England, it is true; but his English subjects admired his efforts in the east and his warrior ethic. He didnt speak much, if any, English; but then, neither had any monarch of England since the Norman Conquest. Its also important to remember that Richard was more than the king of England; he had lands in France and political interests elsewhere in Europe. His actions reflected these diverse interests, and, though he didnt always succeed, he usually attempted to do what was best for all his concerns, not just England. He did what he could to leave the country in good hands, and while things sometimes went awry, for the most part, England flourished during his reign. There remain some things we dont know about Richard the Lionheart, beginning with what he really looked like. The popular description of him as elegantly built, with long, supple, straight limbs and hair a color between red and gold, was first written nearly twenty years after Richards death, when the late king had already been lionized. The only contemporary description that exists indicates that he was taller than average. Because he displayed such prowess with the sword, he could have been muscular, but by the time of his death he may have put on weight, since the removal of the crossbow bolt was reportedly complicated by fat. Then theres the question of Richards sexuality. This complex issue boils down to one salient point: there is no  irrefutable  proof to support or contradict the assertion that Richard was a homosexual. Each piece of evidence can be, and has been, interpreted in more than one way, so every scholar can feel free to draw whatever conclusion suits him. Whichever Richards preference was, it apparently had no bearing on his ability as a military leader or a king. There are some things we  do  know about Richard. He was very fond of music, though he never played an instrument himself, and he wrote songs as well as poems. He reportedly displayed a quick wit and a playful sense of humor. He saw the value of tournaments as preparation for war, and although he rarely participated himself, he designated five sites in England as official tournament locations, and appointed a director of tournaments and a collector of fees. This was in opposition to numerous decrees of the Church; but Richard was a devout Christian, and diligently attended mass, evidently enjoying it. Richard made many enemies, especially through his actions in the Holy Land, where he insulted and quarreled with his allies even more than his foes. Yet he apparently had a great deal of personal charisma, and could inspire intense loyalty. Though renowned for his chivalry, as a man of his times he did not extend that chivalry to the lower classes; but he was at ease with his servants and followers. Although he was talented at acquiring funds and valuables, in keeping with the tenets of chivalry he was also notably generous. He could be hot-tempered, arrogant, self-centered and impatient, but there are many stories of his kindness, insight and goodheartedness. In the final analysis, Richards reputation as an extraordinary general endures, and his stature as an international figure stands tall. While he cannot measure up to the heroic character early admirers depicted him as, few people could. Once we view Richard as a real person, with real foibles and quirks, real strengths and weaknesses, he may be less admirable, but he is more complex, more human, and much more interesting.

Understanding and Evaluating the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Understanding and Evaluating the Arts - Essay Example fer to the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, decorative arts, crafts, and other visual works that combine materials or forms. We also use the word art in a more general sense to encompass other forms of creative activity, such as dance, drama, and music, or even to describe skill in almost any activity, such as â€Å"the art of bread making† or â€Å"the art of travel.† In this article art refers to the visual arts.† Thus, relying on this definition, an investigation of the various art forms and mediums as made available via the internet ensues in an effort to apply the definition accordingly. To define â€Å"painting,† and randomly selecting from the many endless URLs available, it is the personal site of artist Jennifer Hauri, found at URL location http://www.jenniferhauri.com/?src=overture where the definition given above is used in an effort to describe the work of Hauri. First, Hauri’s site is different in that it begins with preparing the viewer’s mood by offering a soothing music and sound effects that only a trained ear might identify as being either the rainforest or the African jungle. Upon entering, it is a surprise to find that in the selection of Hauri’s work – belying her biographical information – is the category title â€Å"Afghani.† Right away statements appearing on the first page let the viewer know that Hauri’s work, mixed media of oil, acrylic, oil pastels and charcoal; are going to be an expression of the artist’s emotions. â€Å"Art is contemplation and an enjoyment of the mind that see ks to search nature and recreate it with a vision,† is but one of several thoughts that artist wants the viewer to be aware before entering the galleries. The first gallery, again, titled â€Å"Afghani,† is a compilation of works in various media depicting the artist’s interpretation of Afghanistan, the people, the Muslim. It stems from an emotional depth, expressing the artist’s perceptions in works

International JournalismThe Representation of China in British Essay

International JournalismThe Representation of China in British National Newspaper - Essay Example Recently there was coverage of mobile killer squads in China, which horrified Western readers. It is important to research on how the human day-today activities of the country are represented in British media. British Newspaper covering China had been very inadequate. Whatever is presented is done from the blind point, where one cannot see beyond a certain spot. Sometimes noticeable amount of repetition mars the reporting, perhaps due to non-availability of fresh news. Uncritical elements without considerable evidence, hesitancy in reporting due to lack of complete knowledge of events occur. Kind of highly Western-Centric articles too are seen. Inevitability of acceptance (after all it is China, cannot get more than this) plagues; in-depth analysis is missing, also uncritical discussion because of lack of resources and evidences and proofs persists. British media represents not only the vulnerability of international journalism in China, but also its helplessness. A breathless narration as though on the brink of a disaster, where the journalist might be thrown out or snuffed out kind of hurried, considerably less critical coverage has always been the coverage character. Today, it is the era of online global voices from every remote corner of the world, other than those few countries where autocratic rule still prevails. China's image in the West had been very negative in the 19th century, and even in 20th it did not improve much. It did improve for some time when China had Sun-Yat-Sen, but plummeted down immediately during the Communist take over. British as well as other Western media, had effectively shut their eyes to Mao's China, and China was playing truant, like a powerful bully and only such matters were reported in Britain. It was almost impossible for the British or any other media to have a peep into the forbidden country and this suited Communists, because their internal persecutions and ruthless handling of Tibetan revolts have gone unnoticed by the world. During Cold War, Western media had the preoccupation of Soviet Russia and hardly spared a glance towards China, the weaker link in Communist chain. China thrived in isolation and world ignorance. Slowly some visual documentaries were prepared on the peripheral issues of China, that could be aired in other countries, like success of com munism, million flowers blooming under Mao, flourishing red revolution. Also some information about cultural glorification oozed out into the western newspapers. "Buddhism, Christianity and Marxism, Western literature and philosophy did not come to China, and Daoism, Confucianism and Chinese literature did not come to the West by means of cultural diplomacy, but they do form an essential part of cultural relations," http://journals.cambridge.org/download.phpfile=%2FCQY%2FCQY169%2FS0009443902000116a.pdf&code=0ce4594f66b5930708c095f29250a990 Still we are unaware about modernisation and modernity is taking place in China, as all mouthpieces are totally gagged. Total internet is not allowed, even though according to some researchers whatever is allowed

A History of World in Six Glasses Essay Example for Free

A History of World in Six Glasses Essay A History of World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage: An Analysis In his book, Standage presents the readers not just an evolution of time and unraveling of history but also the embodiment of people and their culture in the image portrayed by the six types of drink. In this paper, we shall deal with the ramification a certain drink can contribute to the evolution of society. In particular, we shall discuss the role played by these drinks in the economic, political and social aspects of human life. Tom Standage reveals how the six drinks have played certain roles in history. First, he mentions beer as the drink that symbolizes the dawn of civilization. According to him, the farmers in the ancient times planted barley and made beer out of it. Also, â€Å"the guys who built the pyramids were paid in beer and bread. It was the defining drink of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Everybody drank it. Today its the drink of the working man, and it was then as well. This denotes that from the beginning, beer had been part of history and commerce as people used it everyday in their meals, and to celebrate occasions. From this, we can also infer that people used the drink to establish connections or build good relationships. The concept of beer being used as a medium for celebration is similar to the way other prodigious drinks are being served today including the wine. â€Å"Wines may be as old as beer or even older† (Standage 2003). Unlike beer, though, wines are more difficult to produce and preserve. The earlier people used it on special occasions such as weddings and other religious rites. In the Bible, we see different kinds of wine befitting occasions or the people who drank them . Wines also served seemingly as the demarcation line between the rich and the poor, with the first able to afford the more precious and older wines. The history of wine suggests its value in commerce as it was used to trade with other countries for metals, leather and even slaves. Today, wine still marks its place in the important events in society from the simplest family gatherings to grand celebrations of the most important people in the society. Spirits such as brandy and rum were mentioned as drinks associated mostly with sailors and pirates. Although they were consumed limitedly due to their effect, these drinks have also evolved with time as they marked history during the 17th Century in the Caribbean islands with sailors tasked to protect planters from pirates and European enemies. Rum was given as a reward to sailors for the sacrifice they endured aboard, but essentially these drinks helped the crew shake off their hardships and nostalgia, and continue with days ahead. To this day, spirits are still very popular among younger generations as they are mixed with juice and other flavors. Another famous drink that originated centuries ago was coffee. From the Arab Peninsula where it first originated, the aroma and taste of brewed beans have traveled across the world, in every house or establishment that appreciates the warmth coffee can bring. Its popularity can be attributed to the concept of alcohol-free drinks during the Age of Reason in the 18th Century. Today, coffee is loved and enjoyed by billions of people not only for its taste and aroma but also for its anti-oxidant effects. Its caffeine content is said to increase the speed of rapid information processing by ten percent, and a cup of regular (caffeine-containing) coffee after lunch helps to counteract the normal post-lunch dip inability to sustain concentration, aiding alertness. Tea, a drink widely associated with China dates back to as early as the third century A. D. According to Standage, it played a leading role in the expansion of imperial and industrial power of Great Britain for many centuries later. Similar to coffee, it helps workers and those who need to stay alert with its caffeine content, which is why tea or coffee breaks have been part of every business establishment. Remarkable of the 19th Century, the Coca-Cola began was introduced to the market by its inventor, the pharmacist John Stith Pemberton. It has become a symbol of the United States due to its unprecedented sales all over the world among popular drinks today. Notes in history ascertain â€Å"East Germans quickly reaching for Cokes when the Berlin Wall fell, while Thai Muslims poured it out into the streets to show disdain for the U. S. in the days leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq† (Standage 2003). The popularity of Coca-Cola also represents the rise of consumer capitalism and instigates the emergence of America as a superpower. Overall, Standage believes that it is globalization in a bottle. Seeing the history of the world in these six types of drink, Standage is able to show us the role that each drink played in economy and society in general. It impresses upon us how each stage in history can be changed or affected by what people drink and how each drink reflects the market it represents. In particular, market technologists and economists can make a good sense out of the pattern rooted out by Standage for every drink. They can take note of the marketability of their product based on the points offered inductively by Standage. As established, these drinks have helped change the economic situations of the countries of their origin. In particular, we see these drinks being used for trade as export products and as factors or images responsible for commercialism and achieving niche in the economic scene. We also see how these drinks have become part of the political systems of the world in the form of symbols of unity or disparity among nations. Furthermore, the six drinks have served as images to represent social status, conventions, and individuality of the people who drink them. While it is commendable of Standage to use these drinks as portals to what developed in history, it may also be wise to look at other drinks that similarly mirror our evolution. In this regard, we may suggest the inclusion of other drinks such as juice, chocolate drinks, and other liquids sold today which are very popular among the youth in the present generation, and which do not necessarily explain political or economic status but simply elucidate on the options people take in response to stimuli in their environment. To give an account of these drinks would complete the details of history of his book, not just centering on the antiquities but also explicating on the modern times. Works Cited Ancient Greece. All About Greek Wine. 2003. 24 November 2007. http://www. allaboutgreekwine. com/history. htm. Coffee and Your Health. Heine Brothers’ Coffee. 24 November 2007. http://www. heinebroscoffee. com/. Handwerk, Brian. â€Å"The World in a Glass: Six Drinks That Changed History†. National Geographic News. 3 October 2003. 24 November 2007. http://news. nationalgeographic. com/news/2005/10/1003_051003_six_drinks. html. Jesus Changes Water to Wine. Biblegateway. com. 1995. 26 November 2007. http://www. biblegateway. com/passage/? book_id=50chapter=2version=31. Standage, Tom. A History of World in Six Glasses. Canada: Doubleday Canada, 2005. The Tradition of Rum and the Sea. The Ministry of Rum. 2003. 25 November 2007. http://www. ministryofrum. com/articles. php.