Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Effects of Music in Advertising - 6197 Words

Effects of Popular Music in Advertising on Attention and IVIemory DAVID ALLAN Saint Joseph s University dallan@sju.edu This study examines the effects of popuiar music in advertising to determine both the theoreticai (the effect of popular music on the processing of advertising messages) and practicai (the design of more effective advertisements using popuiar music) impiications. An experiment is reported that tested the effects of three integrations of popuiar music in advertising: originai iyrics, aitered iyrics, and instrumentais (plus a controi treatment with no music) on attention and memory. The results indicated that song vocais, either originai or altered, are more effective stimuii of advertising effects than instrumentais†¦show more content†¦In this research popular music is defined as well-liked and well-favoured (Middleton, 1990) music for ordinary people (Shuker, 1994) that has wide mass media exposure, but usually only for a fixed period of time. Its impact is either overstated or understated. Yet, it is an important part of both a thriving cultural and entertainment environme nt. To some it is a business and to others it is a way of life. While many would argue its cultural contribution to society (Adorno, 1941; Horkheimer and Adorno, 1944; Peatman, 1944), few would argue its potential to impact and to influence individuals. Advertising inspires ambivalence equal to that of popular music. Advertising is defined as the paid, nonpersonal communication of information about products or ideas by an identified sponsor through the mass media in an effort to persuade or influence behavior (Bovee, Thill, Dovel, and Wood, 1995, p. 4). Ironically, communication theorist Marshall McLuhan called it the greatest art form of the twentieth century (Andrews, 1987, p. 5). But advertising pioneer David Ogilvy said he did not regard it as an art form but as a medium of information (Ogilvy, 1983, p. 7). Both McLuhan and Ogilvy would agree that advertising is everywhere throughout society. Whether you agree it cultivates or contaminates, mirrors or manipulates that society, you cannot avoid it. While there is a considerable amount of disagreement on the societal implications of the practice of usingShow MoreRelatedHow Music Is Used For Advertising1524 Words   |  7 PagesHow Music is Used in Commercials Now adays and before music is an important factor in media advertising. As media is tool for advertising and it reaches to many users and customers music can play very significant role. And music serve the general promotion targets in business. Jingle music is very common technique for aiding the ad. Most of popular companies in globe are very succesfull because of using Jingle music in their ads. A very good jingle attracts the consumer s attention and makesRead MoreEssay about In what ways does advertising effect young people?650 Words   |  3 PagesWe can see advertising everywhere around us, in the streets, television, magazine and radio. Currently most companies are finding different ways to sell their products. Advertising expert try to appeal to young peoples needs and feeling making their product attractive and desirable. As a result this affects young people to drink alcohol and eat junk food. This essay will explain that advertising increases young peoples obesity and encourages them to drink alcohol. Advertising affect young peoplesRead MoreEssay on A Comparison of Two Television Advertisements1065 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant medium for advertising, and advertising is a vital component of traditional TV business models. It has always been difficult to assess the benefits of TV advertising as advertisers have traditionally had only a vague idea of who may have seen a particular advert and the actual impact on them. However, they can try and target an audience specifically e.g. time, channel of advert, etc. Most channels gain over 50% of their revenue from TV advertising firms. Without TVRead MoreHow Technology Affects Our Lives858 Words   |  4 PagesAs technology impacts our lives more and more and the pace of life quickens for consumers, businesses are also experiencing a similar effect with product life cycles. Products like people, experience various stages of life as they are introduced (aka born), grow, mature, and depart from the consumer zeitgeist of their time in existence. As a result, marketers must plan for these various stages and operate differently to in each stage a product’s life cycle to ensure the product matures and remainsRead MoreHow Technology Affects Our Lives And The Pace Of Life Cycle850 Words   |  4 PagesAs technology increasingly impacts our lives and the pace of life quickens for consumers, businesses are also experiencing a similar effect with product life cycles. Products like people, experience various stages of life as they are introduced (i.e. - born), grow, mature, and depart from the c onsumer zeitgeist of their time in existence (Solomon, Marshall Stuart, 2012). As a result, marketers must plan for and operate differently in each stage of a product’s life cycle to ensure the product remainsRead MoreHow Is Mass Media Effecting This Generations Sexuality?663 Words   |  3 Pagesaddiction. It was until recent years that TV networks like MTV start airing reality shows about teenage girls becoming young parents. Shows such as Teen Mom and 16 Pregnant have a reverse effect on society because the teenage mothers of these shows are becoming celebrities off their pregnancies. This effect can leave adolescents confused about whether it is negative or positive to become a teen parent. Out of curious, I asked some of my elders about TV in their time. One of the main differenceRead MoreNetwork of People in the Film Industry Essay example1120 Words   |  5 PagesNetwork of people in the film industry The film industry, unlike the music industry or the art world, consists of simultaneously literary, visual and audio elements. As a result, the film industry is a complex industry with talents from more diverse fields involved. According to a web page, Film Jobs Hierarchy (2013), the production of a film normally consist of four phases, namely development, pre production, production and post production, and an additional phase of distribution. Each involvesRead MoreOld Versus New Methods Of Advertising999 Words   |  4 Pages The Old versus New Methods of Advertising The approachable tactics used to draw in consumers by advertisers have been fairly equally traditional and nontraditional. In recent years more people have been drawn to more (electronic) social sites instead of TV or magazines for the new and up to date trends that interest consumers. One example of a new form of advertising is stated by Louise Story in the article â€Å"Anywhere the Eye Can See, It’s likely to See an Ad,† he illustrates the electronic advancesRead MoreEssay on Effects of Alcohol Advertisements on Youth1149 Words   |  5 Pagesto their conversation. I never thought a quiet evening could turn into an argument over a news report and some irresponsible teenagers. However, I must admit, it made my brain do some serious thinking. Could alcohol advertisements have a negative effect on youth? Could alcohol advertisements urge young men and women to try their hand at drinking? Could alcohol advertisements indirectly be the cause of most traffic accidents that take place under the influence of alcohol? There are infinite questionsRead MoreAnalysis of an Audi Car Advertisement Essay1373 Words   |  6 Pages Advertising is a media form which aims to seek huge influence over its audience in order to sell the product that they are promoting. Advertising is a complicated and extremely difficult business where many different people have to work long and hard in order that the viewer wishes to purchase their product once he has seen it. Adverts are made in advertising agencies and one advert usually takes around a month until

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Heart Of Heart Disease - 906 Words

Based off of the case study regarding a 47 year old man who has recently been diagnosed with a heart disease known as CAD; I decided to further my research on this topic because it was intriguing to discover all heart diseases including coronary heart disease are taking the lives of countless individuals each year in our nation. A tremendous number of more than 13 million Americans (2005-2015, WebMD). This chronic disease is also known as atherosclerosis and is characterized as a fatty plaque build-up in arteries which blocks the blood flow to the vital organs in ours bodies; with the heart being the main target. This potentially life-threatening blockage results in starvation and deprivation of oxygen enriched blood and vital nutrients that are necessary for the heart to maintain proper function; and that is being able to pump blood efficiently. Typically, it is said that the process of heart disease may begin during childhood years of an individual’s life. In a healthy individual; our arteries start out smooth and elastic, allowing effortless blood flow to our hearts and throughout our bodies. As this cholesterol-laden plaque begin to accumulate within the walls of blood vessels (which may be caused by a poor diet, and lack of physical activity, or simply hereditary) the vessels become inflamed. With the body’s effort in healing itself, this destructing plaque begi ns to release substances such as lipoprotenins, calcium, and inflammatory cells throughout the bloodstream.Show MoreRelatedThe Heart Of Heart Disease1764 Words   |  8 PagesHEART DISEASE Heart diseases also known as cardiovascular diseases are various conditions types that may interfere with the function of the heart. These condition types include atherosclerotic also known as coronary artery heart disease which is shown to affect arteries leading to the heart, the heart valve disease which affects the functionality of valves in regulating in and out of the blood flow to the heart. Cardiomyopathy affects the squeezing of the heart muscles. Arrhythmias also called theRead MoreThe Heart Of Heart Disease2050 Words   |  9 PagesHeart disease is known widely all over the world. It’s the number one death issue in the United States and also in the state of Oklahoma. Even though America is counted as one of the developed countries in the world, however, it still has an issue of finding a cure to stop these deadly diseases. In Oklahoma, the number one death issue is heart disease and strokes (Heart Disease and Strokes). â€Å"It is Oklahoma’s leading killer for both men and women, resulting in more than 9,000 deaths in 2012† (UnderstandingRead MoreHeart Disease1095 Words   |  5 Pagessee what do they cover when treating a disease compared to the United States of America. Since, everyone had presented the topic of most concern, heart disease, knowing that it is a huge epidemic within each country. In Canada, their top ten causes of death include, from the highest to the lowest are ischemic heart disease (13.8%); Alzheimer’s and other dementias (9.5%); trachea, bronchus, lung cancers (8.1%); stroke (5.4%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.5%); colon and rectum cancers (3.7%);Read MoreHeart Disease6412 Words   |  26 Pagesvarious diseases and disorders are being developed constantly, and yet, coronary heart disease remains the number one killer in the world.brbrThe media today concentrates intensely on drug and alcohol abuse, homicides, AIDS and so on. What a lot of people are not realizing is that coronary hear t disease actually accounts for about 80% of all sudden deaths. In fact, the number of deaths from heart disease approximately equals to the number of deaths from cancer, accidents, chronic lung disease, pneumoniaRead MoreHeart Failure : A Progressive Heart Disease2263 Words   |  10 PagesHeart Failure is a progressive heart disease when the muscle of the heart is weakened so that it cannot pump blood as it should; the blood backs up into the blood vessels around the lungs and the other parts of the body (NHS Choice, 2015). In heart failure, the heart is not able to maintain a normal range cardiac output to meet the metabolic needs of the body (Kemp and Conte, 2012). Heart failure is a major worldwide public health problem, it is the end stage of heart disease and it could lead toRead MoreCardiovascular Disease And Heart Disease981 Words   |  4 PagesCardiovascular disease has reportedly been the number one disease killer for men and women in the United States of America. Eve ry one out of four deaths is caused by heart disease in the United States alone (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention). Heart disease refers to the different types of conditions and symptoms that can affect the one’s heart and its functions to the body (Mayo Clinic). Cardiovascular/Heart disease has many causes and conditions, prevention methods and symptoms, andRead MoreCardiovascular Disease And The Heart Disease Essay1727 Words   |  7 PagesCardiovascular diseases are diseases which involve the heart or blood vessels, they are in fact the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Cardiovascular diseases include coronary artery disease, or ischaemic heart disease (heart attack), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and diseases of the aorta and arteries including hypertension and peripheral vascular disease (Mendis, Puska, Norrving, 2011). They are all due to a disease known as atherosclerosis which affects arteries (GeorgeRead MoreA Study On Heart Disease 1340 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States, heart disease. I am choosing to do my project on heart disease for several reasons. First, heart disease is very common on my father s side of the family. Both of my father s parents have been diagnosed with heart disease and my father himself has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, which is a precursor to developing heart disease. Also, by doing my project on heart disease, I hop that I can learn some ways in which I can prevent myself from developing heart disease, since itRead MoreThe Death Of Heart Disease1337 Words   |  6 Pagespeople will guess breast cancer, or maybe just cancer in general. Unfortunately, these people are wrong; the number one killer of women is heart disease. â€Å"Seven percent of women consider heart disease as their greatest problem, where as 34 percent cite breast cancer (Nelson 21).† Most women downplay their risks because they don’t expect to get heart disease, even though itâ€℠¢s such a huge eradicator (Nelson 20). Perhaps one of the reasons women don’t consider this as fearfully as they do cancerRead MoreHeart Disease Essay723 Words   |  3 PagesHeart disease Introduction What is heart disease? Heart disease or Cardiovascular disease is an abnormal function of the heart or blood vessels. It can cause an increase in risk for heart attack, heart failure, sudden death, stroke and cardiac rhythm problems, thus resulting in decreased quality of life and decreased life expectancy. The causes of cardiovascular disease range from structural defects, to infection, inflammation, environment and genetics. In order to help prevent cardiovascular

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Secret Circle The Initiation Chapter Thirteen Free Essays

Very funny, Cassie thought. But actually it wasn’t funny at all. She guessed that there was a deadly serious side to Faye’s question. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Initiation Chapter Thirteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now Somehow she didn’t see Faye wanting to use the Powers – whatever those were – for good. And she didn’t see Diana wanting to use them for anything else. â€Å"Does anybody have anything more to say? Questions, comments, club business?† Diana was looking around the group. â€Å"Then I’m declaring the meeting over. You can all go or stay as you like. We’ll have another meeting tomorrow afternoon to honor Kori and talk about a plan of action.† There was a murmur of voices as people turned to one another and got up. The electric tension that had held the group together had dissipated, but there was an unfinished feeling in the air, as if nobody really wanted to leave yet. Suzan went over behind a rock and pulled out several wet six-packs of diet soft drinks. Laurel promptly went behind another rock and returned with a large thermos. â€Å"It’s rose-hip tea,† she said, pouring a cup of fragrant, dark red liquid and smiling at Cassie. â€Å"No tea leaves at all, but it’ll warm you up and make you feel better. Roses are soothing and purifying.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Cassie, taking it gratefully. Her head was spinning. Information overload, she thought. I’m a witch, she thought then, wonderingly. Half a witch, anyway. And Mom and Grandma – they’re both hereditary witches. It was a bizarre and almost impossible notion to swallow. She took another gulp of the hot, sweet drink, shivering in spite of herself. â€Å"Here,† Melanie said. She removed the pale green shawl and put it around Cassie’s shoulders. â€Å"We’re used to the cold; you’re not. If you want, we can make a fire.† â€Å"No, I’m fine with the shawl,† Cassie said, tucking her bare feet under her. â€Å"It’s beautiful – is it very old?† â€Å"It was my great-grandmother’s great-grandmother’s – if you can believe the old stories.† Melanie said. â€Å"We usually get more dressed up for Circles – we can wear anything we feel like, and sometimes it gets outrageous. But tonight†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes.† Cassie nodded in understanding. Melanie was being nicer than usual, she thought. More like Laurel or Diana. It puzzled Cassie for a moment – and then she got it. I’m one of them, she thought, and for the first time the full import of this struck her. Not a puppy off the street anymore. I’m a full member of the Club. She felt the bubbles of excitement, of exhilaration in her bloodstream again. And there was a deeper feeling, too, of recognition. As if something at her core was nodding, saying Yes, I knew all along. Cassie looked at Melanie quietly sipping her tea, and at Laurel straightening a pink candle that was slumping over. Then she looked at Diana, standing a little distance up the beach with the Henderson brothers, the three blond heads close together. Diana seemed to feel no self-consciousness about wearing the thin white shift and the fancy jewelry. It seemed a natural costume for her. My people, Cassie thought. The sudden sense of belonging – of loving – was so intense that tears came to her eyes. Then she looked at Deborah and Suzan, deep in conversation, and at Faye, who was listening with a bland smile to something Sean was excitedly saying, and at Nick, who was staring silently out at the ocean, a can of something that wasn’t soda in his hand. Even them, she thought. She was willing to try and get along with all the other members, with everyone who shared her blood. Even the ones who’d tried to keep her out. She looked back at Laurel, to find the slim, brown-haired girl watching her with the hint of a sympathetic smile. â€Å"A lot to deal with at once,† Laurel said knowingly. â€Å"Yes. But it’s exciting, too.† Laurel smiled. â€Å"So now that you’re a witch,† she said, â€Å"what’s the first thing you’re going to do?† Cassie laughed, feeling something almost like intoxication. Power, she thought. There’s so much Power out there – and now I can take it. She shook her head and lifted the hand that wasn’t holding rose-hip tea. â€Å"What can we do?† she said. â€Å"I mean, what sorts of things?† Laurel and Melanie exchanged glances. â€Å"Basically, you name it,† Melanie said. She picked up the book that Diana had shown Cassie earlier and riffled through it, showing Cassie the pages. They were yellowing and brittle and covered with cramped, illegible writing. They were also covered with pink Post-it notes and plastic tape flags. Almost every page had one and some had several. â€Å"This is the first Book of Shadows we got hold of,† said Melanie. â€Å"We found it in Diana’s attic. Since then we’ve found others – every family is supposed to have one. We’ve been working on this one for maybe five years, deciphering the spells and copying them out in modern language. I’m even putting it on my computer for easier cross-reference.† â€Å"Sort of a Floppy Disk of Shadows,† Cassie said. Laurel grinned. â€Å"Right. And it’s funny, you know, but once you start learning spells and rituals, it seems to wake up something inside you – and you start coming up with your own.† â€Å"Instinct,† Cassie murmured. â€Å"Right,† said Laurel. â€Å"We all have it, some more than others. And some of us are better than others at certain things, like calling on the different Powers. I work best with Earth.† Laurel took a handful of sand and let it trickle through her fingers. â€Å"Three guesses as to what Faye works best with,† Melanie said dryly. â€Å"But anyway, to answer your question, there’s lots we can do,† Laurel said. â€Å"It all depends on your taste. Spells of protection, of defense – â€Å" â€Å"Or attack,† put in Melanie, with a glance toward Deborah and Suzan. † – spells for little things, like lighting fires, and for big ones, like – well, you’ll find out. Charms for healing, and for finding things out – scrying and divining. Love potions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She smiled as Cassie looked up quickly. â€Å"That interest you?† â€Å"Oh, a little, maybe.† Cassie blushed. God, she wished she could just gather her thoughts properly. She still had that nagging feeling that there was something she was missing, something obvious that she was overlooking and should be asking about. But what? â€Å"There’s a certain amount of debate over the ethics of love potions and love spells,† Melanie was saying, her gray eyes not entirely approving. â€Å"Some people feel it violates a person’s free will, you know. And a spell misused can rebound on the person who casts it – threefold. Some people don’t feel it’s worth the risk.† â€Å"And other people,† Laurel said mock solemnly, her brown eyes sparkling, â€Å"say that all’s fair in love and war. If you know what I mean.† Cassie bit her lip. No matter how hard she tried to concentrate on that nagging worry, another thought was pushing it out of her mind. Or, not a thought so much as a hope, the sudden glimpse of a possibility. Love potions. And finding things out. Something to find him and bring him to her. Was there such a spell? She seemed to feel in her bones that there was. To find him†¦ the boy with the blue-gray eyes. Warmth pooled in Cassie’s stomach and her palms tingled. The very possibility seemed to lift her on wings. Oh, please, if she could only ask one thing†¦ â€Å"Supposing,† she said, and was relieved to hear her voice sound normal, â€Å"you wanted to, say, find somebody you’d met and lost track of. Somebody you – liked, and wanted to see again. Would there be any kind of a spell for that?† Laurel’s brown eyes sparkled again. â€Å"Now, is this a boy-type person we’re supposing about here?† she said. â€Å"Yes.† Cassie knew she was blushing again. â€Å"Well – † Laurel glanced at Melanie, who was shaking her head in a resigned way, then turned back to Cassie. â€Å"I’d say something like a simple tree spell. Trees are attuned to things like love and friendship, anything that grows and brings life. And fall is a good time to use things you harvest, like apples. So I’d do an apple spell. In one, you take an apple and split it. Then you take two needles – ordinary sewing needles – and put one through the eye of the other and bind them together with thread. Then put them inside the apple and close it up again. Tie it so it stays closed. Then tie it back on the tree and say some words to tell the tree what you want.† â€Å"What kind of words?† â€Å"Oh, a poem or something,† Laurel said. â€Å"Something to invoke the power of the tree and help you visualize what you’re asking for. It’s best to make it rhyme. I’m not good at making up that kind of thing, but, like: ‘Friendly tree, friendly tree, bring my special friend to me.’ â€Å" No. Not quite, Cassie thought, a thrill going through her. Laurel’s words were changing in her mind, transforming, expanding. She seemed to hear a voice, bell clear and yet remote. Bud and blossom, leaf and tree, Find him, bind him, now to me. Shoot and seedling, root and bough, Threads of love entwine us now. Her lips moved soundlessly with the words. Yes, she knew somehow in the very core of her that that was right. That was the spell†¦ but would she really dare to use it? Yes. For him, I’d risk anything, she thought. She stared down at her fingers as they absently combed through the sand. Tomorrow, she decided. Tomorrow I’ll do it. And then afterward I’ll spend every minute of every day watching and hoping. Waiting for the time when I see a shadow and look up and it’s him, or when I hear footsteps and turn and see him coming. Or when – What happened next was so startling and unexpected that Cassie almost screamed. A wet nose thrust under her hand. What stopped her from screaming was something like heart failure; the shriek got to her throat, and then she actually saw the dog and everything went fuzzy. Her recoiling hand fell limply back. Her lips opened and closed silently. Through a blur and a mist she stared at the liquid brown eyes and the short, silky-bristly hairs on the muzzle. The dog stared back at her, mouth open and laughing, as if to say, â€Å"Aren’t you happy to see me?† Then Cassie raised her eyes to look at the dog’s master. He was looking down at her, as he had that day on the beach in Cape Cod. The moonlight tangled in his red hair, turning some strands to flame while others were dark as wine. His blue-gray eyes looked silver. He’d found her. Everything was motionless. The ocean’s roar seemed hushed and distant, and Cassie was aware of no other sound. Even the breeze had died. It was as if the entire world was waiting. Slowly, Cassie got to her feet. The green shawl fell behind her, discarded. She could feel the cold, but only because it made her aware of her own body, of every part of it, tingling like electricity. Yet strangely, although she was keenly aware of her body, she also seemed to be floating above it. Just like the first time, she seemed to see herself – and him – standing there on the beach. She could see herself in her thin white night-gown and bare feet, her hair loose on her shoulders, looking up at him. Like Clara in the Nutcracker ballet, she thought, when she wakes up in the middle of the night and looks at the Nutcracker Prince who’s come to take her away into a world of magic. She felt like Clara. As if the moonlight had transformed her into something delicate and beautiful, something enchanted. As if he might take her in his arms right then and dance with her. As if in the moonlight they could dance forever. They were gazing at each other. From the moment their eyes had met, neither of them had looked away. She could see the wonder in his face. As if he were as surprised to see her as she was to see him – but how could he be? He had found her; he must have been looking for her. The silver cord, she thought. She couldn’t see it now, but she could feel it, feel the vibrations of its power. She could feel it connecting them, heart to heart. The trembling went from her chest into her stomach, and then all over. The cord was tightening, drawing them together. It was pulling her closer to him. Slowly, his hand came up and he reached out to her. She raised her own hand, to put it in his – And there was a cry from behind her. The tall boy looked over her shoulder, distracted. And then his hand fell away. Something came between them, something bright. Bright like sunlight, shattering Cassie’s trance. It was Diana, and she was embracing the tall red-haired boy. She was holding him. No – they were holding each other. Cassie stared, stunned, at the sight of him with his arms around someone else. She was barely able to comprehend the words she heard next. â€Å"Oh, Adam – I’m so glad you’re back.† Cassie stood like a pillar of ice. She hadn’t seen Diana break down before, but Diana was breaking down now. She was crying. Cassie could see her shaking and could see how the tall boy – how Adam – held her to try and stop it. Held her. He was holding Diana. And his name was Adam. â€Å"You mean she hasn’t told you about Adam yet? Diana, there’s such a thing as carrying modesty too far†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Who is he? Is he your boyfriend?†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He’s nice. I think youi’ll like him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cassie fell to her knees and buried her face in Raj’s fur, clinging to the big dog. She couldn’t bear for anyone to see her face right now, and she was grateful for Raj’s warm solidity as she leaned against him. Oh, God; oh, God †¦ Vaguely, she could hear Adam’s voice. â€Å"What’s wrong? I tried to get back for Kori’s initiation, but where is she? What’s going on?† He looked at Cassie. â€Å"And – â€Å" â€Å"Her name is Cassie Blake,† Diana said. â€Å"She’s Mrs. Howard’s granddaughter, and she’s just moved here.† â€Å"Yes, I – â€Å" But Diana, her voice distracted by grief, was still speaking. â€Å"And we just initiated her instead of Kori.† â€Å"What?† Adam demanded. â€Å"Why?† There was a silence. Finally, it was Melanie who spoke up, her voice as quiet and detached as a newscaster’s making an announcement. â€Å"Because this morning – or yesterday morning, rather, since it’s really Wednesday now – Kori’s body was found at the bottom of the school hill. Her neck was broken.† â€Å"Oh, God.† Cassie looked up to see Adam’s grip on Diana tighten. He shut his eyes briefly as she leaned against him, shaking again. Then he looked at the Henderson brothers. â€Å"Chris†¦ Doug†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Doug’s teeth were clenched. â€Å"Outsiders did it,† he said. â€Å"Sally did it,† snarled Deborah. â€Å"We don’t know who did it,† Diana said. She spoke with passionate force. â€Å"And we’re not going to do anything until we find out.† Adam nodded. â€Å"And you,† he said, looking toward the back of the group. â€Å"What have you been doing to help while all this was going on?† â€Å"Not a damn thing,† Nick said. He had been standing with his arms folded over his chest, watching impassively. Now his defiant gaze met Adam’s and locked with it. It was clear there was no love lost between the two. â€Å"He has been helping, Adam,† Diana said, forestalling whatever Adam was about to say next. â€Å"He’s come to meetings, and he’s here tonight. That’s all we can ask.† â€Å"It’s not all I can ask,† Adam said. â€Å"Ask away. You’re not going to get anything more.† Nick turned around. â€Å"I’m out of here.† â€Å"Oh, don’t go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Laurel began, but Nick was already leaving. â€Å"I’ve been showing up because Diana asked, but I’m through now. I’ve had enough for tonight,† he said over his shoulder. Then he was gone. Faye turned to Adam and smiled her slowest, most dazzling smile. She put her hands together and clapped. â€Å"Beautiful job, Adam. Here Diana has spent the last three weeks slaving to keep the troops together and you undo it all in the first three minutes. I couldn’t have done better myself.† â€Å"Oh, get stuffed, Faye,† said Laurel. Cassie, meanwhile, was still kneeling. Although she was clinging to Raj, she could see, sense, think of only one thing. Adam’s arm – his arm – around Diana’s shoulders. His name is Adam. And he’s hers. Not mine; hers. He always has been. It couldn’t be. It was not possible. Beyond all hope, she had found him again; he had come to her. Without a love spell, as if drawn by the very intensity of her need for him, he had come – and she couldn’t have him. How could she have been so stupid? How could she not have realized? They’d all talked tonight about completing the Circle, about twelve members, always twelve. But if she’d stopped to count, she’d have seen that there were only eleven. Diana and Melanie and Laurel, that was three; and Faye and Suzan and Deborah, that was six. Plus the boys, the Henderson brothers and Nick and Sean – that was ten. And Cassie made eleven. All along something at the back of her mind had known that it didn’t add up, and had been trying to tell her. But she hadn’t listened. And how could I have not known anyway? she thought. How could I have not realized the boy I’d met had to be one of them? The clues were all here, right in front of me. He has Powers – I saw that on the beach with Portia. He read my mind. He told me he was from somewhere else; he told me he was different. Portia even said the word. Witch. And tonight I found out that the Club is a coven of witches. The last generation of witches in the New World. I should have realized then that he must be one of them. I even knew Diana had a boyfriend, a boyfriend who’s been away â€Å"visiting.† The pieces of the puzzle were all there. I just didn’t want to put it together. Because I’m in love with him. I didn’t know how much until I saw him again tonight. And he belongs to my best friend. My â€Å"sister.† I hate her. The thought was terrifying in its intensity, making her fists clench in the big dog’s fur. It was a raw, primal wash of emotion, a feeling so strong that for a moment it even wiped out the pain. A murderous hatred, red as blood, rushing out from her toward the girl with the hair like moonlight†¦ Like moonlight and sunlight woven together. Staring at it now, with that acid violence still raging inside her, another picture flashed into Cassie’s mind. That same impossibly shining hair falling across the emergency brake in Diana’s car. After Diana had rescued her from Faye. When she was taking you home to take care of you, a voice whispered. And then she cleaned you up and fed you, introduced you to her friends. Protected you, gave you a place to belong. Made you her sister. Now what was that you were saying about hating her? Cassie felt the murderous red fury slipping away. She couldn’t hold on to it, and she didn’t want to try. She couldn’t hate Diana†¦ because she loved Diana. And she loved Adam. She loved them both and she wanted them to be happy. So where does that leave you ? the voice inside her asked. It was all very simple, really. The two of them were so obviously perfect for each other. Both tall – Diana was just the right height to look into his eyes. Both seniors – Diana was mature enough for him, and how could Cassie ever have imagined that an older guy would go for her? Both strikingly attractive, both confident, both leaders. And both full-blooded witches, Cassie reminded herself. I’ll bet he’s incredibly talented – of course he’s talented. Diana wouldn’t have anything but the best. Because she’s the best herself. And don’t forget they’re childhood sweethearts. They’ve been together forever; they don’t even see anybody else. Clearly they were made for each other. So it was all very obvious and very simple – except then why did she feel as if there were razor blades shredding her guts? All she had to do was wish them happiness and put aside any thoughts of Adam and her together. Just resign herself to what was going to happen anyway. Just wish them luck. That was when, clear and cold, the resolve came to her. No matter what happens, she promised, Diana will never know. And neither will he. If Diana found out how Cassie felt, it would upset her. She was so unselfish, she might even feel she had to do something – like give Adam up so Cassie wouldn’t be hurt. And even if she didn’t, she would feel awful. So Cassie wouldn’t let her know. It was as simple as that. Not by word or look or deed, she promised herself fiercely. No matter what happens, I won’t make Diana unhappy. I swear it. A wet nose was poking at her, and soft whines sounded in her ears. Raj was complaining about the lack of attention. â€Å"Cassie?† And Diana was talking to her. Cassie realized what she must look like, clinging to the big dog in a daze. â€Å"What?† she said, trying to keep her lips from trembling. â€Å"I said, are you all right?† Diana was looking at her, those clear green eyes full of concern. There were recent tears on the heavy lashes. Looking into those eyes, Cassie did the bravest thing she had ever done in her life. Braver than standing up to Jordan Bain-bridge and his gun, far braver than throwing herself out to rescue Sally on the hill. She smiled. â€Å"I’m fine,† she said, giving Raj a final pat and getting to her feet. Her voice sounded like somebody else’s, incredibly false and stupid. But Diana wasn’t expecting her to be false, and Diana relaxed. â€Å"I’m just – so much has happened tonight,† Cassie went on, â€Å"I guess I’m a little overwhelmed.† Adam was opening his mouth. He was going to tell everyone, Cassie realized. He was going to tell them how he and Cassie had met and everything that happened. And then Faye, who wasn’t stupid, was going to put two and two together. She was going to realize he was the boy in Cassie’s poem. And that couldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let it. No one must ever know. â€Å"And you didn’t introduce me yet,† she blurted out desperately to Diana. â€Å"You know I’ve been wanting to meet your boyfriend ever since you told me about him.† There. It was said. Your boyfriend. Adam was looking puzzled, but Diana, innocent Diana, was looking chagrined. â€Å"I’m sorry; I didn’t, did I? Cassie, this is Adam – I know you two will like each other. He’s been away – â€Å" â€Å"Visiting,† Cassie put in feverishly as Adam opened his mouth again. â€Å"No, not visiting. I know I told you that before, but now I can tell you the truth. He’s been looking for certain – objects – that belonged to the old coven, the original one. From their records, we can tell that they had some powerful tools that somehow got lost. The Master Tools. Ever since Adam heard about them, he’s been searching for them.† â€Å"And coming back empty-handed,† Faye commented in her husky voice, amused. â€Å"I don’t suppose this time is any different.† Adam’s attention was distracted. He looked at the tall black-haired girl and smiled. It was a mischievous smile, full of the promise of secrets. â€Å"What?† said Faye cynically, and then, as he simply kept smiling at her, â€Å"What? You don’t expect us to believe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Adam,† Diana said, her voice changing, â€Å"are you saying that†¦ ?† Adam just grinned at them, then he jerked his head toward a duffel bag lying a little way down the beach. â€Å"Sean, go get that.† Sean scuttled to get it and came back saying, â€Å"It’s heavy.† â€Å"Adam†¦Ã¢â‚¬  whispered Diana, her eyes wide. Adam took the duffel bag from Sean and put it on the ground. â€Å"It’s too bad Nick was in such a hurry to get away,† he said. â€Å"If he’d stayed, he might have seen this.† He reached inside with both hands and pulled out a skull. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Initiation Chapter Thirteen, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Performance of Apple Inc-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp

Question: Analyze the Performance of Apple Inc. Answer: Introduction: Apple Inc. is a multinational company globally known for its high quality consumer electronics, online services and computer software. Some of the most popular Apple hardware products include the iPhone Smartphone, the Mac personal computer, the iPad tablet computer, the Apple smart watch, the iPod portable media player, the HomePod Smart speaker and the Apple TV digital media player. The performance of the mentioned company was found to be outstanding even when the global economy was flat. The yearly revenue of the company is enhancing due to crucial innovations and high level of performance. While in 9 sectors of the company positive results have been noticed, negative results are noticed in three sectors. Apple Inc. believes in continuous innovation and high quality consumer service in order to gain competitive advantages. Discussion: Identification of the issues In spite of the fact that Apple Inc is still enjoying competitive advantage in the global market, some o the major issues that may adversely affect the companys success in the long run are stated bellow. Apple Inc. is highly dependent on its CEO Steve Jobs, who was suffering from severe illness. There is a potential risk that the company may decline in absence of the effective leadership provided by him. In this era of competition, Apple is comforted by aggressive competition in all areas of business. The difference in opinons between Steve Jobs and John Sculley can be considered as another issue of Apple Inc. Analysis of the issues Absence of leadership due to leave taken by Steve Jobs Considering the fact that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Inc. had been suffering from several health issues for a prolonged period of time, he is unable to provide effective leadership to the company. In 2010, he held a meeting with top managers of Apple Inc. and there he stated the possibility of not returning to the management due to his health issues. In this meeting the impact of the absence of Steve Jobs on the management of Apple Inc was also being discussed. According to several executives, there exists a risk of not able to achieve success in future. Before leaving Apple Inc, Steve Jobs had recruited Tim Cook as the CEO of the company. Unfortunately, soon after Jobs leaved the company, Apple Inc. experienced a fall of 10 percent in the stock market. Besides that, unlike Steve Jobs, Tim Cook is more inclined towards acquisitions instead of innovation. Apart from this, Apple is facing problem for its products like Apple TV and iWatch. While the companys competitors are providing smart TV within a price of 600 dollars, price of Apples TV is 2000 dollars (Govindan Popiuc, 2014). Difference in opinions of the managers Another issue of Apple Inc was that the managers of the company were unable to extend the company. While Steve Jobs, the then chairman of Apple Inc. wanted to continue innovations and take the brand to new directions, John Sculley, being the CEO, insisted that the management of Apple Inc. should stop innovative new products and pay more attention on the strategic moves. The board of directors of the company supported Sculley and as a result Jobs resign from his post. Initially the strategy of Sculley worked as Apple Inc. was able to achieve a huge hike in revenue by selling computers in the early 90s. However in the rapidly changing industry, the company soon started losing ground to companies like Dell, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard since they were providing the consumers with more affordable and user friendly computers. In addition to that issue several executives of Apple Inc. resigned from their post since the company refused to merge with other companies. Moreover, since Apple had refused to provide license of using the Mac Operating system to other manufacturers, the market was solely captured by Wintel personal computers. In order to cope up with the adverse situation, Apple Inc bought Steve Jobs Company NeXT and recruited him as the CEO of Apple. Huge competition faced by the company Considering the fact that the market in which the company competes is highly competitive, Apple is losing its field to its competitor companies. Due to rapid technological advancement, several companies are able to offer computers and mobile phone to consumers with similar features like apple gadgets within a comparatively low price range. The competitors of Apple Inc. in mobile communication and media device industry are characterized by frequent product introduction and aggressive pricing practices (Kumar, Teichman Timpernagel, 2012). The iPod and digital content services of the company is also facing severe competition. Earlier, the management of Apple believed that the strategy to provide high quality products and services will drag the consumers to the company. However, several competitors of Apple Inc are selling high quality products at a considerably low price range at little or no profit or even at loss just to gain more market share than Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc Strengths Till date, Apple Inc. is one of the leading technology organizations across the World when it comes to revenue. Being one of the leading organizations, the brand equity of the company is high (Govindan Popiuc, 2014). One of the reasons behind its high brand equity is the design of Apple products and the technology used by the company. The distribution of the products is well maintained by Apple. Besides having 407 stores in 17 countries, Apple Inc sells its products online, through premium retail stores and trade partners. Weaknesses Absence of effective leadership after the death of Steve Jobs can be considered as one of the major weaknesses of the company. Incompatibility of Apple products with third party accessories or software is another crucial weakness of the company The yearly revenue of Apple Inc. is completely dependent on seven to eight Apple products. Table 1: (SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc.) Source (Created by the author) Possible solutions of the problems encountered In order to gain sustainable competitive advantage even in the absence of Steve Jobs, the present CEO of Apple Inc. should follow the path shown by Jobs. Considering the fact that unlike its competitors, the company will not be able to lower the price of its products to gain competitive advantages, Apple should concentrate on implementing market driving approach that includes developing new and innovative products that will attract consumers. Conclusion and recommendation: From the above discussion it can be understood that being a globally celebrated company, Apple Inc. posses several strengths which if effectively used, can help the organization to overcome its weaknesses and enhance its market share. Some of the major issues faced by the company are lack of leadership in absence of Steve Jobs, highly competitive global market and clash between the managers of the company. The only way the company can overcome the above mentioned issues is by innovating new products and expanding its market to other markets. Some of the suggested recommendations to the company are: The company should invest on highly developed technologies and ideas to incorporate unique features in the brand new products manufactured by it. Apple can use its brand image to expand business in other markets. Apple Cars are expected to be launched by 2020. The company should take steps to stop imitation which is one of the chief reasons behind its decrement of market share (Amit Zott, 2012). Instead of depending on 7 or 8 products, the company must invent new and innovative products and diversify its business. References Amit, R., Zott, C. (2012). Creating value through business model innovation.MIT Sloan Management Review,53(3), 41. Gershon, R. A. (2013). Digital media innovation and the Apple iPad: Three perspectives on the future of computer tablets and news delivery.Journal of Media Business Studies,10(1), 41-61. Govindan, K., Popiuc, M. N. (2014). Reverse supply chain coordination by revenue sharing contract: A case for the personal computers industry.European Journal of Operational Research,233(2), 326-336. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., Hoskisson, R. E. (2012).Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning, 34-37 Khan, U. A., Alam, M. N., Alam, S. (2015). A critical analysis of internal and external environment of Apple Inc.International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management,3(6), 955-961. Kumar, S., Teichman, S., Timpernagel, T. (2012). A green supply chain is a requirement for profitability.International Journal of Production Research,50(5), 1278-1296.