The True Meaning of Halloween Essay -- History of Halloween

The True Meaning of Halloween Halloween is a holiday which has been around for a lot longer than many may think. Even the traditions which seem so modern and economically rooted are almost as old as the tradition of Halloween itself. There is a lot of confusion as to when the tradition of Halloween began. Many think that Halloween began with the Celts. The Celts celebrated Samhain which was a holiday that symbolized the end of the time of the light and the beginning of the time of the dark. During the time of the dark it was said that the wall between the spirit world and that of the living was weakened and spirits were able to obtain access to the living more easily. Hence this could be one of the reasons children today think of Halloween as a scary holiday, they unknowingly are going along with ancient traditions. Along with the tradition of Samhain other traditions fused into that one to form the Holiday we know today. According to one website their research shows that, â€Å"After the Romans conquered the Celtic world, they merged Samhain with their own festivals, a harvest fest called Poloma, and a celebration for the dead called Feralia.†(A Traditional Halloween) Though the celebration itself has been explained, the acts in which children celebrate it have not. â€Å"Some believe that Druids, who threatened dire consequences to residence who didn’t respond generously to their demands for free goods or money.†(A Traditional Halloween) Yet another clue where the tradition of trick or treating may come from is that author Joan Lee Faust has pointed out that â€Å"The Roman harvest festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruits, was held about the same time of year. Historians suggest this festival also infl... ...ty rules and try to be as careful as possible Halloween can stay an enjoyable holiday for all. So centuries later after the Celts and Romans and early Christians the tradition of Halloween still lives on. Though one is unsure who to specifically thank for this exciting day, everyone at one point in their life or another has celebrated this holiday and really has enjoyed the day with family and friends. Sources Cited Faust, Joan Lee â€Å"Around the Garden† New York Times 31 Oct. 1965 Mealia, Bernie personal interview 8 Dec. 2003 Sanders, Dan â€Å"Halloween Traditions Change from Childhood to Adulthood† The Keystone 8 Dec. 2003 http://www.keystoneonline.com/story.asp?Art_id=779 â€Å"A Traditional Halloween† www.a-traditional-halloween.com 8 Dec. 2003 Wilson, Jerry â€Å"History and Customs of Halloween† http://wilstar.net/holidays/halloween.htm 8 Dec. 2003

Animal Farm Book Report :: Animal Farm Essays

Animal Farm Book Report Plot This is a book that takes a look, from a satirical point of view, at the rise and excesses of communism in the former Soviet Union. Written from the point of view of animals in a farm, it starts with the 'vision' of a boar, Old Major, who dreams of a time when all animals are free from domination from humans and are equals. Eventually, the animals revolt, driving out the farmer and setting up their own society. However, from the start, things slowly start to go wrong. The pigs set themselves up as leaders ('first among equals') and began to 'allocate work' to the rest of the animals. The Commandments set up just after the revolution began to be distorted and all questions on the leadership of the pigs or the commands handed down are swiftly deflected by their spokesperson. The parallels to the rise of Communism are obvious in this book. People who know something about the history of Communism will have no problems figuring out who represents Karl Marx, Stalin, the KGB, etc. However, even if you don't, or are not interested in finding parallels to Communism, the book is still an entertaining book to read. The gradual erosion of the initial ideals of the animal society, the rise to power of the pigs (unopposed by the other animals), and the eventual horror as the animals realize they have replaced one master with yet another are well written in this book. Characters Old Major Old Major is the wise old pig whose stirring speech to the animals helps set the Rebellion in motion- though he dies before it actually begins. His role compares with that of Karl Marx, whose ideas set the Communist Revolution in motion. Napoleon is a "large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way." And so he does. Instead of debating with Snowball, he sets his dogs on him and continues to increase his personal power and privileges from that time on. What counts for him is power, not ideas. Note his name: think of the other Napoleon (Bonaparte) who took over the French Revolution and turned it into a personal Empire. Napoleon's character also suggests that of Stalin and other dictators as well. Snowball Snowball is an energetic, brilliant leader.

Operations Strategy and Sustainability Essay

LensCrafters operations strategy is to provide high quality eye care services to customers throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. LensCrafters is known for the ability to perform eye exams, prescribing sunglasses and eyeglasses, and production of the glasses on the premises for each customer. To maintain economic sustainability, LensCrafters goal in 1983, was to be the only optical eye care retailer to guarantee eyeglasses in less than an hour. Now, after 30 years, LensCrafters is considered one of the leading optical retailers known for their impeccable customer service, excellent products and some of the biggest names such as Armani, Coach, and Prada in frames (LensCrafters, 2014). They show a high degree of commitment to performance excellence by continually providing their customers with new technologies to improve eye care, customize prescriptions, and assist their customers in selecting the right frames. LensCrafters also offers expert care for their customers with proficient optometry doctors at every store. Through resource management they manage their assets effectively and efficiently being able to â€Å"Give the gift of sight† to millions of people all over the world through their OneSight charitable organization where they partner with local communities to provide permanent access to affordable eye care and eyewear in both the developed and developing world. Included in their sustainability initiatives they piloted a self-sustaining vision center in a school located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Cincinnati, Ohio. In doing this, LensCrafters has put vision care right where people need it. In this school, getting an eye exam is as easy as walking down the hall instead of missing half a day of class or, for parents, missing half a day of work. Another way of maintain economic  sustainability is that LensCrafters love eyes and care about the people behind them. LensCrafters’ customer benefit package includes providing goods and services that meet the needs of individual customers. They have conveniently located branches, professional employees, the latest eye-exam equipment and eyewear accessories to meet the different tastes of their loyal customers. LensCrafters portray their commitment through honest care for their customer’s eyes and constantly are determined to improve the experiences of their customers. LensCrafters associates receive training in personalized service to ensure their customer’s experience is valued. LensCrafters will continue to put their customers first to maintain their competitiveness and customer loyalty. For social sustainability, LensCrafters have their branches conveniently located in highly populated areas like shopping malls. This ensures that they reach their target market faster. The stores designed with economically to provide the best customers service from the initial exam to the final fitting of the glasses. They have on-site fully equipped laboratory with the latest machinery and encourage their employees to interact with their customers in the eye-exam rooms and â€Å"fitting stations† (Collier & Evans, 2013). The walls of their stores have the certificates and degrees of their optometrists and technicians demonstrating to the customers that competent staff is serving them. Communication is consistent between the customer and staff throughout their eye care purchase. Operations Management and Challenges The operations management at LensCrafters has a strategy that staff follows in order to provide their customers with high quality service and products. LensCrafters requires their employees to possess the required skills and knowledge for optimal work productivity by utilizing their time with the customers effectively and efficiently. Laboratory technicians have the needed certifications for their line of work and all other employees undergo training before and during their period of employment. The employees at LensCrafters offer unsurpassed services because they are well motivated with rewards and employment recognitions from the operations management team. One of the challenges of that face operations management at LensCrafters is the changing of customer expectations. Many want designer frames that they have seen on other people this could be a discontinued style or require  additional time to acquire the glasses. Another challenge is changing technology. The operations management at LensCrafters stays aware of the newest technologies and takes the time to research the equipment to determine if it would make a substantial change in their work processes and customer service. Value Chain The value chain at LensCrafters begins with the gaining the customer through preproduction services such as the Customer Benefit Package that includes providing goods and services that meet or exceed the needs of individual customers. LensCrafters also provide their customers with impeccable customer service, excellent products and some of the biggest names such as Armani, Coach, and Prada in frames (LensCrafters, 2014). LensCrafters accepts vision plans from numerous insurance companies that major companies offer to their employees. If customers do not have insurance, LensCrafters can set up a payment plan with the customer. LensCrafters offers promotions such as buy one pair of glasses and get the second one-half off. Following the preproduction phase is the primary production processes. Once the customer makes the decision to come into LensCrafters, the employees provide high-quality services. Once the eye exam is completed, an associate helps the customer select the frames that they like the best. The associate accompanies the customer to the appropriate station for their frames and selects various frames in all shapes and colors. An associate will capture pictures of the customer in their selected frames using LensCrafters own â€Å"myLook† camera application LensCrafters, 2014). Once this is completed, the associate and customer compare the photos side-by-side. Once the customer has selected the frames, the associate gives the customer’s prescription and frame selection to the lab to create the customized glasses. Value is created with the customer by the high quality customer service, customized prescription glasses, and convenient location. Once the glasses are ready for the customer to pick up, the customer comes in and the associate shows them the glasses. The associate adjusts the frames to fit the contours of the customer’s face. Then the associate attaches LensCrafters unique â€Å"FitSensor† (LensCrafters, 2014) that creates clear guide points for the AccuFit Digital Measurement System. The FitSensor software measures the location of the customer’s pupils and spacing of their eyes relative to  their frames. Using these measurements, the associate is able to determine the best placement of the customer’s eyeglasses with five times the precision of manual eyeglass measurements. Performance Measurements Performance measurements that can be used to measure LensCrafters’ service-delivery system design include business location and servicescape. Location is imperative when it comes to accessing the target market. LensCrafters has branches in the most convenient places for the sake of their customers. LensCrafters’ needs to ensure that they are located near their customers to continually increase their sales and strengthen customer relations. Every LensCrafters has the same or similar store layout, job design, services technology figures and delivery services. LensCrafters has up-to-date technology in their equipment in laboratories, technicians, optometrists, eye examination areas and fitting station. A service process leads to an outcome which results in the customer being either happy or unhappy with the service experience. It is the role of ‘delivery’ to ensure that the expected service outcome is received by the customer. The service delivery design for LensCrafters includes facility location and layout making the customer experience more efficient, and keeping in step with the newest technology, including designing their own technologies to make the experience at LensCrafters unique. The servicescape of LensCrafters is designed to provide the customer with the sense of quality and professionalism. The store layout is open and uncluttered. It store is carpeted and has professional frame display areas for men, women, and children. Modern furniture adorns the retail area and up-to-date equipment is seen in the laboratory. The store is brightly lit to attract attention to the display cases. The store display cases, eye examination area, and fitting stations are placed in the areas where the customers and service providers inter-act frequently. Types of Technology Technology allows LensCrafters to stay committed to providing innovative eyewear technology. They have developed several new technologies of their own with their AccuFit Digital Measurement System that takes measurements to fit the eyeglasses to the customer’s face. They also developed the LensSimulator that allows customers to view and compare a broad variety of  lens choices. Another unique technological advancement of LensCrafters is the â€Å"myLook† camera application that allows the customer to seem themselves in several pairs of frames to see which looks best on their faces. LensCrafters provide their customers with unique and innovative technologies that give them an edge over their competition and keeps the competition anticipating the next innovative process. References Collier, D. A., & Evans, J. R. (2013). OM4. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Print. Lenscrafters (2014). Retrieved May 5, 2014 from http://www.luxottica.com/en/retail-brands/lenscrafters LensCrafters (2012). About LensCrafters. Retrieved May 5, 2014 from http://www.lenscrafters.com/eyeglasses/7/about/company-history-about-lenscrafters LensCrafters (2014). Eyeglasses. Retrieved May 7, 2014 from http://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/eyeglasses LensCrafters Eyes a Central Vision with PCMS’ Retail Solution (2010). Retrieved May 7, 2014 from http://www.pcmsdatafit.com/files/casestudy/PCMS_and_Lenscrafters_Case_Study_(US).pdf

Physical Fitness Essay

Physical fitness requires a multitude of bodily operations. The first is a combination of the muscular system and the skeletal system. These two can be combined and are known as the musculoskeletal system. The circulatory system is that which governs the heart, blood, and blood vessels. The respiratory system is that which governs the lungs and their functions. The circulatory and respiratory systems work together to supply the body with necessary oxygen, because the cells in one’s body need oxygen to function properly. The combination of the circulatory system, the respiratory system, and the musculoskeletal system come together to make up the necessary physical fitness functions. When all these systems are operating at optimal capacity, physical fitness is most successful. Physical fitness at its most basic level is known as physical activity, which is simply the contraction of muscles. At the next level, increased physical activity that is targeted at the improvement of one’s physical condition is known as exercise. Exercise is the specific type of physical activity that increases athletic performance. Identifying Your Culture: The United States is a bouillabaisse of humanity and culture. Being a product of the United States, I would say that I culturally identify with a melting pot of different cultures. For instance, my mother’s parents are both German-American, so I know for sure that I am half German-American. I also know that my grandmother on my father’s side is Irish-American, so I know for sure that I am one quarter Irish-American. But my grandfather on my father’s side was adopted, so I will never know for sure that quarter of my ethnicity. Due to modern technology, though, we believe he may be of Irish descent, which would make me one quarter Irish American. All that being said, though, I do not identify with any of these cultures. It may seem plain and simple, but I recognize most with the â€Å"main-stream American† culture. I grew up attending church every Sunday. I grew up eating hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, pancakes, and waffles. Time was spent on the weekends attending barbeque parties with friends and families while watching sports on the television like football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. The culture I grew up in was one of American sports. Describing How the Culture in which You Identify Influences Your Feelings, Attitudes and Behaviors Related to the Health: First, it must be understood that, growing up in American society, it was always important to be physically fit and have a nice â€Å"beach body.† But, as was said before, I grew up eating food that was not always the healthiest for me. A way to keep myself in good shape even though I wasn’t eating good foods was to continually exercise. Knowing that it is easy for any American to go down a road of unhealthiness, I work my hardest to stay as athletically fit as I possibly can. Also, my culture affected my physical fitness life in that, growing up, I was always playing sports. When I was eight years old I started playing football, and I continued to play football for the next ten years. Throughout high school, football allowed me to stay extremely physically active and forced me to always be athletically fit. I played football so much, I even learned to enjoy physical activity, especially those physical activities that were directly integrated with sports. Do You Think Your Children Will View Same Way You Do?: I certainly hope that my children will have the same views about physical fitness as I do. In a nation that is ever growing more unhealthy, it will be crucial for me to teach my future children about the importance of exercise. It is very apparent that the United States does not show signs getting healthier soon. I know that ten years from now Americans will be getting more and more out of shape. My children will not be a part of the ever growing obesity phenomenon. Also, sports are a very major influence in my life, so I would imagine that my kids will be involved in sports as well. Hopefully they will be able to learn about the necessity of physical fitness through sports. In today’s society, sports also open many other doors and avenues for people later in life. I only want my future kids to have the most opportunity possible. How Have You Been Influenced by These Cultural Messages?: In the long run, physical fitness and sports have played major roles in my life. It gave me a purpose for a time and allowed me to mature as a young man. Also, being athletic at such a young age allowed me set a pattern of physical fitness that has lasted now for years. Working out allows me to clear my mind of stress, increase my bodily health, and helps me get much rest at night when I sleep. I can focus more at school in class, I work harder at work, and I am socially more competent when I am working out. Yet it is tough for a student to find time to go to the gym, especially a student with two jobs. I guess it is lucky that one of those two jobs happens to be coaching high school football. As a football coach, I have unlimited access to the high school’s athletic facilities, of which I have been taking advantage of recently. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and muscular endurance are all important to me. On top of having access to great equipment, though, and probably more importantly, I have the ability to teach young people about exercise through sport and the importance of it. I am often teaching about the sports related aspects of fitness, which are speed, power, coordination, agility, balance, and reaction time. Probably the most rewarding influence physical fitness has had on my life has been the ability to affect the lives of the young men that I coach. This is how physical fitness has affected my life.

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Discussion - Assignment Example In 1850, he showed three paintings at the Combined Salon in Paris. These paintings included The Stone Breakers, The Huge Burial at Ornans and The Peasant of Flagey. The three paintings presented a depiction of rural life and their stylistic execution was in such a way that they would look post†Romantic’ [Prof. Moore (1), pg.1]. The Huge Burial at Ornans for instance was a major source of hullabaloo. It was a very large painting measuring 3.1 metres by 6.6 metres. The painting depicted the burial of his great uncle at the town of Ornan in September 1848. Gustave in this piece of art presents a real funeral scene. One can clearly see the tranquility and calmness in the painting. Unlike other artists of his time, Gustave did not glorify the setting with flamboyant portrayal of descending angels with God sitting on the throne in the clouds above. This clearly indicates his desire to portray reality. At the foreground, an open grave awaits the coffin while the funeral procession is approaching from the left. Unlike other historical narrative paintings who used models, He uses the actual villagers who were at the ceremony including his sister and mother. This proves his love for realism, which was a major factor that contributed to the â€Å"rise of modernism.† In his portrayal of realism, he encouraged o ther artists to put an end to the norm of creating illusionary images and instead create real images, which represented real life situations. Edouard Manet is another artist who played a major role in the â€Å"rise of modernism.† He was born in Paris, France on 23 January 1832. Manet entered into the studio of Thomas Couture together with his friend Antonio Proust. In 1956, he opened his own studio and stopped working in Couture’s studio. As a young and enthusiastic painter, Eduoard Manet abandoned the teachings he had learnt from Thomas Couture and began painting in his own style. He followed his own

Ebook-Importance of technology in Retailing Assignment

Ebook-Importance of technology in Retailing - Assignment Example In the modern society and in the field of retail business, technology has taken a very significant role in the success of retail ventures (Jha, 2009). These different facets of technology include information systems like inventory control systems, customer record systems and business intelligence tracking (Jha, 2009, pp. 153). Due to the foreseen importance of technology in the working of modern retail business, this paper will explore the impact of technology on global retailing and also explore its impact on retail marketing in the UK. Further, the paper will explore the STP of retail marketing in the UK and also study the field of e-commerce. Advances in technology have led to an overlap in the traditional and the digital channels of retail marketing, which is evident from the dominant role of competitive intelligence and constant monitoring (Motorola Solutions, 2014). The trends that demonstrate the impact of technology in the global retail marketing field include that there has been a huge growth in the collection of customer-centric data. This information is used to offer indicators about the changes in the buying behaviours of customers (Deloitte). In the light of these modern global trends, visionary retailers have employed the technologies that personalize the shopping experiences of their customers; the implementation of these technologies has afforded better information and interconnectedness to customers (Motorola Solutions, 2014). The power of predictive data analytics has continued to offer retailers more access to structured and unstructured data; this change has enabled retailers to develop better insights about consumption trends and the behaviours of shoppers (Siegel, 2013). Forward-looking retailers are using different channels to do their retail marketing. The omnichannel outlook offers retailers, the opportunity to guarantee their

Hisory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hisory - Assignment Example Political significance of the declaration’s provisions also identifies its radical scope. In addition to calling for independence, the declaration established people’s unalienable rights and the power of the people to overthrow the government, a political authority that the aristocratic British rule did not recognize (The Charter of Freedom 1). Jefferson and his colleagues wrote this document to mark a formal rebellion against the British rule and to establish self-governance for the states. Taking the document literally, it would mean that some human rights are supreme and above authority of anybody over people and people should demand for such rights. The literal context of the declaration also means that people have the authority to control their rulers and can change leaderships that do not honour people’s rights. The Capital Hill march (Ernst 1) and the planned strike by fast food workers in the United States in December are examples that demonstrate the literal meaning of the declaration (Gabbatt 1). The protests sought to establish rights that people thought they were entitled to but authorities refused to grant to the people. The Capital Hill March involved display of people’s demanded rights on placards. Ernst, Jonathan. â€Å"Protesters march in Washington against NSA spying.† Reuters. October 26, 2013. Web. February 22, 2014. . Gabbatt, Adam. â€Å"US fast-food workers strike over low wages in nationwide protest: Thousands due to strike across 100 cities through the day in a signal of the growing clamour for actin on income equality.† The Guardian. December 5, 2013. Web. February 22, 2014. < http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/05/fast-food-workers-strike-minimum-wage