The American Civil War - 1258 Words

In 1862, as the tribulation of the American Civil War unraveled, across the ocean an invasion of European vineyards began. Today, as we look out at the vineyards of the lower Rhà ´ne valley and admire their well-ordered appearance of tamed nature, we would not think that this was once a scene of desolation. Yet, in the mid-1860s, vines around Roquemaure, a small town and commune located in the South of France, Rhà ´ne, began to dry up and die. Over a span of 15 years, as an unexplainable plague spread across Europe, almost the entire country of France was phylloxerated.† Withered. Wiped out. Consequences, both economically and socially, for people and organizations around the world were dire. Recovery from this catastrophic episode took†¦show more content†¦Originating from eastern and southern United States, phylloxera lives on native American vines. Developing on mature storage roots, phylloxera disrupts their function, allowing countless secondary fungal pathogens to be introduced. Early signs of a phylloxera infestation include yellowing of leaves and stunting of growth as the leaves lose function. Symptoms will appear within three years, ultimately killing the vines between five to six years depending on the phylloxera genotype. Phylloxera is characterized by having three-jointed antennae, the third of which is the longest, and its overlapping wings resting flat on the back. It belongs to the order of Homoptera, and shares commonalities between two families of that sub-order: the plant-lice and bark-lice. Their lifecycle, from egg to adult, is gradual and complex—one species is known to progress through 21 different phases. Phylloxera adults are all female and reproduce asexually. One adult female is capable of producing 1) 200 eggs per cycle and 2) having several cycles in a lifetime. Multiple alleged sources are credited with the responsibility of the initial spread of Phylloxera. One widely credited source isâ€Å"Count† Agoston Haraszthy. Haraszthy started Buena Vista Winery, one of Sonoma County’s oldest winery, in 1857. He traveled to Europe in 1861, visiting several vineyards throughout France, Germany and Switzerland, unknowingly

Diversity Within The Workplace, Many People And Companies...

When looking at diversity in the workplace, many people and companies encourage it. â€Å"Cultural diversity has become a defining characteristic of an increasing number of societies† (â€Å"Consequences of Cultural diversity† this should be the author and the date). They feel that it is a great thing to have diversity in the workplace, however, what some companies do not think about is the negative effects of having too much diversity in the workplace. â€Å"A workforce that has significant differences in ethnicity, race, religion, gender and other individual traits can produce negative effects, especially if not well-managed. These negative effects of diversity are understandable if the work culture does not support tolerance and acceptance of†¦show more content†¦The real problem comes with the companies that are widely diverse because of the different combinations of cultures that are being mixed. Also, another problem with diversity in the workplace is ti me. Different cultures and societies view time differently, as how many hours employees are expected to work in a day and how many are spent with family vary. Other cultures work long hours in a day, but they also take a long lunch break as where others work for an average of eight hours a day with an average lunch of thirty minutes. With all of the differences that cultures have, it can make it difficult for a large corporation to be successful and effective, as well as efficient, when managing the workplace. The benefits of diversity in the hospitality business are numerous, however. Diversity can bring new views and perspectives to the table to other workers that they may not have been exposed to it before. It may not occur to a large group of, for example, middle-class white people that there are better solutions or plans for their workplace because they all might have relatively the same ideals and work ethics. However, having diverse groups of people could bring those fresh ideas and problem solving to these workers that may otherwise not occur to them. Especially different ethnicities might, â€Å"...offer insightful alternatives Americans might not have considered,† (Ethnoconnect, DATE). Having

H M Ansoff free essay sample

To analyse the marketing strategies of Hamp;M we are using the Ansoff Matrix. It is a tool that helps businesses decides their product and market growth strategy (Jobber and Fahy, 2003). Ansoff matrix consists of product development (Selling new products to existing customers), market penetration (Selling more of the same to the same types of people), market development (Selling the existing products to new types of consumer) and diversification (Selling new products to new consumer) . Harvard Business Review Strategies,1998) To relate Anoff with Hamp;M we will start off with Market Penetration. As we have studied Hamp;M’s Product Portfolio consists of Clothing, Household and Cosmetics(Fashion united, 2006). Hamp;M should encourage its current customers to buy more. Hamp;M should introduce new items frequently, which keeps customers coming back again and again to check out the latest styles. It should have a unique selling point for its products which should differentiate it p roducts from some other competitive businesses such as Gap and Zara (Hamp;M facts, 2006). We will write a custom essay sample on H M Ansoff or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A drawback of Hamp;M compared to Zara is that quarter of its stock is made up of fast-fashion items that are designed in-house and farmed out to independent factories while its competitor move quickly through the stores and stock is replaced often by fresh designs. One the other hand Hamp;M keeps large stock which increases cost and can result in wastage if fashion changes. Hamp;M should bring in new and unique things frequently and respond to changes in fashion. Advertising is another component to penetrating in the market as it convinces customers and reminds them about the products (Business Week Online, November 11, 2002) Product Development for Hamp;M would be to launch a new product in the existing market. Hamp;M should consider new production possibilities. Products with new features should be developed. For example, Cosmetic products with different shades and unique from other brands or latest styles currently in fashion. Customised Products should be made in small quantities to gain a unique selling product and to attract new customers. New styles should be introduced rather than repeating old ones. Market Development is a very important strategy. Same products are taken into new markets. Hamp;M has grown as mentioned previously. It has started operations in South Korea, Turkey, Romania and Israel(The Financial, 2006). Its opening new stores in the countries they already operate in such as China, US and many parts of Europe(Hamp;M Press release, 2009). Hamp;M can launch its products in South America. This will give them access to a new market . The last strategy would be diversification. Hamp;M can launch a completely different product in a different market. This will extend the Product Portfolio and can help business archive economies of scale in long run. Hamp;M can seek new technology or marketing synergies with existing product line. It can start computer aided manufacturing. Production would be more advance, quick and efficient. Hamp;M can also introduce completely different products, such as it can open grocery stores or sell electronic appliances . They already have a brand name and customers are loyal towards it. This can extend their market and this can help boost company’s overall performance.

Shakespeares Life- Extra Credit Essays - William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Life- Extra Credit William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. He was baptized on April 24, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. John was a well-known merchant and Mary was the daughter of a Roman Catholic member of the gentry. Shakespeare was educated at the local grammar school. According to history, Shakespeare was the eldest son, and he should have been the apprentice to his father's shop so that he could be taught everything his father knew and soon take over the business. But instead he was the apprentice to a butcher because of the trouble in his father's financial situation. Another story says that Shakespeare became a schoolmaster. Shakespeare was allowed a lot of free time when he was young. This was suggested by historians that his plays show more ideas of hunting and hawking than do those of other play writers. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a farmer. He was thought to have left Stratford after he was caught poaching in the deer park of Sir Thomas Lucy. he was a local justice of the peace. Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway had a daughter in 1583 and twins- a boy and a girl- in 1585. The boy however, eventually did not live. Shakespeare apparently arrived in London around 1588 and by 1592 had gained success as an actor and a playwright. Shortly after that, he secured the business of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd earl of Southampton. The publication of Shakespeare's two poems Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece (1594) and some of his Sonnets (published 1609), established a reputation for him as a talented and popular Renaissance poet. The Sonnets describe the devotion of a character to a young man whose beauty and charm he praises and to a mysterious and untrue woman with whom the poet is afraid. The following triangular situation, resulting from the attraction of the poet's friend to the woman, is treated with passionate intensity and psychological insight. However, Shakespeare's modern reputation is based mainly on the 38 plays that he wrote, modified, and collaborated on. When in his days, these plays frequently had little respect by his educated friends, who considered English plays of their own to be only tasteless entertainment. Shakespeare's professional life in London was marked by a number of financially beneficial arrangements that allowed him to share in the profits of his acting company, the Chamberlain's Men, later called the King's Men. The acting company had two theaters, the Globe Theatre and the Blackfriars. His plays were given special presentation at the courts of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I more frequently than those of any other coexistent writer. It was known that he risked losing royal favor only once, in 1599, when his company performed "the play of the deposing and killing of King Richard II" at the request of a group of conspirators against Elizabeth. They were led by Elizabeth's unsuccessful court favorite, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and by the earl of Southampton. In the later study, Shakespeare's company was cleared of dealing with the conspiracy. After 1608, Shakespeare's dramatic production lessened and it seemed that he spent more time in Stratford. There he had secure family in an wealthy house called New Place. Shakespeare had become a leading local citizen. He died on April 23, 1616, and was buried in the Stratford church.