Thousand One Nights

Thousand One Nights Do you see The Thousand and One Nights as essentially an entertainment? Antoine Galland was the man responsible for the introduction of ‘the thousand and one nights to the western world. This bizarre combination of magic, love, hate, evil and the uncanny did not begin its literary career based on its highly valued scholarly merit but rather on its ability to delight and entertain. This enormous collection of oriental tales whose origins range from Persia to Syria begin with the story of the wife of king Shahryar who in a bid for survival tells him stories in order to survive the night. This element of a tale within a tale runs throughout the whole of the Arabian night tales which at times creates confusion for the reader who finds himself struggling to keep up. Although eighteenth century readers merely saw the tales devoid of any substantial literary value one can see that from the very beginning of this massive volume of tales, certain allegories concerning life are depicted. Scheherazades way of talking herself through danger can be analysed in two different ways. The first being that Scheherazade, is merely depicting the most common and universal human trait when dealing with danger. This could be easily seen as ‘talking ones way out of trouble. The second would be that through Scheherazade, a certain statement is being made regarding the nature of a successful marriage. Communication, it is implied, is the key to the survival of a marriage. With such allegorical implementations regarding life conveyed in only the very beginning of ‘The Thousand and One Arabian Nights it is then only wise that the tales should be read keeping in mind that entertainment may not be their only contribution to the reader. One point that I believe should be made early on regarding ‘the thousand and one nights is that since the tales were introduced during the Victorian period they would have been ‘fumigated thus effectively removing any erotic and highly graphical offensive material from the text .The term ‘Lost in translation would not be out of place in this case, as not only would have offending material been dispersed but certain elements regarding life in the east would have easily become distorted or have lost their value during the process of translation. As in effect this would have created a loss of important material perhaps of high scholarly value. It is then perhaps not surprising that it wasnt till the beginning of the twentieth century that scholars and critics begun to recognise more than just mere entertainment within the pages of the ‘The thousand and one Arabian nights Stories if narrated well enough have always found ground to delight, yet rarely are they told with out the narrator implying a certain meaning. In that sense they become didactic. Scheherazade is not the only story teller within ‘the thousand and one tales. Many characters within the tales contribute towards this didactic theme. An example would be Scheherazades own father the Wazir who in an effort to warn his daughter against the foolishness of marrying the Sultan begins to tell the tale of ‘The bull and the ass. These extravagant tales that are a resort of wanting to deliver a certain kind of message are similar to those used in fairytales. One could suppose these to be the oriental fairytales equivalent and as heavy in social history as the western fairytales. Also by allowing different characters of different backgrounds to deliver these messages there is an underlying idea that all people, regardless of who they are have a contribution to make in this life. This is an example of how these Arabian tales are able to not only represent life and the experiences that surround life itself but to do so whilst at the same time managing to bypass any cultural and linguistic boundaries. These messages become universal, addressing all important aspects of human life such as love, death good and evil and the constant search for immortality. The repeative development of these values throughout the subsequent tales within the Arabian nights only helps to strengthen and highlight the weight they command on every aspect of human life. Other than parallel life the Arabian tales are rich in material regarding the life and beliefs of the Arabic world. The oppression of women is shown in the sultans ability to wed a virgin each day and then kill her in the morning. His actions are not judged nor to create any kind of opposition whatsoever showing both the immense power that was placed in the hands of the king whereas at the same time also portraying the notion that the fates and lives of women lay in the hands of their husbands. Even so characters like Scheherazade are crucial at conveying that a woman was not completely powerless .A womans power lay in her cunning and ability to successfully manoeuvre and shape instances so that to achieve her own goal. Scheherazades ability to remain alive night after night is a prime example of this. If we were to consider tales such as ‘The bull and the ass certain other motifs become apparent. There seems to be an ongoing repetition throughout the Arabian tales concerning the theme of wit. This would point to the belief that wit and cunning were valued highly as characteristic elements, able to allow survival in the cruelty people faced everyday in their lives. Such beliefs are shown through the advice the ass gives to the bull. The ass begins by advising the bull to feign madness in order to escape the harshness of the plough. Yet once the ass realises his actions have merely jeopardised his own happiness he reverts to wit in order to save his skin. Later on the words of the cockerel are crucial in saving the merchants own life as he realises his wifes stubbornness in wanting to know his secret will only lead to his demise. Other than the importance of cunning and wisdom there is also numerous religious references leading to the conclusion that religion was carried great value in the Arabic world. As the religious references are many and at times devised of lengthy quotations this would also point towards the notion that not only did religion feature daily in the Arabic world but that most people had an extensive knowledge of it, in fact so extensive that they were able to quote extracts on the spot. The ‘A thousand and one nights are written in a simple language, this leads me to believe that the religious proverbs must have been widely known and not restricted to ‘holy or ‘religious men. Such was then the hold of religion upon the eastern Arabic world. All the above themes as well as others can be seen through another tale within ‘A thousand and One nights this being ‘The Fisherman and the Jinni. Cunning and wisdom again are emphasised with the life of the fisherman relying on his abilities to outwit the Jinni. ‘This is a Jinni; and I am a man to whom Allah hath given a passably cunning wit, so I will now cast about to compass his destruction by my contrivance and by mine intelligence; even as he took counsel only of his malice and his forwardness Within the above quote the importance of intelligence is clearly seen as is also the theme of how brute force and malice are not always effective in overcoming another. Something else that can be perceived throughout the ‘Tale of the Fisherman and the Jinni is the same notion seen through Scheherazade, that good communication skills were regarded as vital within the Arabic world. So vital, that they could have secured your life. Communication and the at of language is a characteristic that sets us above the mere existence of beasts, for the ability to structure speech goes hand in hand with the ability to think. The themes of good and evil as also that of kindness and cruelty are seen clearly within his tale. There is the underlying message through the Jinnis harshness that cruelty breeds cruelty. The injustice and cruelty that the Jinni suffered in being imprisoned in a jar for thousands of years turns him cruel. This could be parallel to the belief that it is society in itself that breeds evil rather than a person being born evil. Something also seen in King Shahryar who is seen as a noble honest king at the beginning of the tales only to turn harsh and cruel once he experiences hurt and injustice. With such elements as the themes of justice, honour ,good and evil and the ability of the ‘A thousand and one Nights to parallel life in itself we cannot suppose them to be merely delightful entertainment for they provide much more than that. They are as mentioned before the equivalent of the western fairytales as they incorporate all the elements expected in a fairytale as is simple language, morality and magic they are also proof that the need for man to teach and relate morality and certain life values was not limited to what was supposed the western ‘civilised world but was a reoccurring phenomenon that stretched across the globe. Bibliography Primary Reading Sir Richard F. Burton, Tales from 1001 Arabian nights, Ed translated by F. Burton, Jaico Publishing house

History Of The Mind Body Connection Philosophy Essay

History Of The Mind Body Connection Philosophy Essay For some years now it has been a proven fact that a mind and a body are closely related to each other. It seems that some people are born with an ability to control their bodies through the mind, but for some that skill takes a great effort and a lot of discipline. While scientist try to find tangible connections, it has grown to a common believe that a persons mind can generate a strong power over his or her body in order to relieve pain, control emotions and promote healing. Throughout the years yet another amazing discovery was made. It appears that a persons body physical state can greatly affect persons abilities to perform mentally, emotionally and academically. As many researchers have found out, certain physical activities and breathing practices, combined with some mental exercises have shown a significant increase in persons learning abilities. According to Ruth Weiss (2001), for many years neuroscientists, educators, nutritionists, psychiatrists, geneticists have examined the mind-body link to figure out how we  learn everything in this world. To better understand this concept we first need to know what a persons mind is and how it works. For Helmut Schwab (Princeton, 2005), the word mind is commonly used to describe a set of higher brain functions such as reasoning, memory, intuition, will, feelings, and emotions. Still, the main question regarding the nature of a mind is its relation to a physical brain and a nervous system. It has been generally agreed that a mind is a main factor which enables human beings to have subjective awareness  and intentionality  toward their environment. It also empowers them to  perceive  and to respond to  stimulus  with some kind of  an organization and a perception, including thinking and  feeling. Dr. John Ratey (2001), professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an author of A Users Guide to the Brain notes that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [brain] neurons that fire together-wire together. That is the basis of how we  learn. Two natural brain chemicals, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurologic factor (BDNF) facilitate the growth of neuronal connections between brain cells. Ratey calls those substances Miracle Grow for the brain. They are released when the brains cells are active, such as when we think or puzzle over something. Our brains are the ultimate adaptation organs. In new situations our brain is  hungry  to  learn to manage incoming information. An area where the entire new  learning  takes place is called the association matrix. When we adapt- we make more growth factor, which continues to be produced as we  learn  new things. If you affect one area [of the brain], many others are also affected, says Ratey, There is a continuous connection within us, where our  thoughts  are influenced by our bodies and vice versa. Such a phenomena is a well known factor in human studies. According to Dr. Brogaard, (2011), an imbalance in brain chemistry affects a physical state of people, and a physical imbalance affects their mental state. Very often a peoples mind due to a stress or other factors can put limitations on their potentials in many areas of life. However, a lot of researchers have found it is possible to control a persons mind through a set of physical activities, including exercise and relaxation. A physical state of a persons body can dramatically influence his or her mental and learning abilities. Through a hard work we can reach a mind-body balance that gives us a possibility to achieve almost any task. Athletes, martial artists, police officers, law enforcement professionals, soldiers in special units are all have been trained to use these techniques. Keith Vargo (2011, November) states: Unity of mind and body is . . . the unity of action and thought for the purpose of keeping the practitioner alive. It makes him a better person, too. It balances him and control the stress. It fulfills the greatest hope, the highest ideal . . . it means knowing ones hidden self. According to Elizabeth Scott (2011), general body stress is one of important factors that could limit our actions in order of attaining our goals. In fact, a high index of stress hormone cortizol can affect our mind and, subsequently, our body control. It weakens our physical energy, strength, endurance, and our body organs, and it makes our learning skills less efficient. Cortizol creates a destruction of muscle tissue gluconeogenesis, which consists of the demolition of protein and glucose that represents the last resource of the brain to refurnish immediate energy in physically and mentally challenging situations. There is a solution for that problem, thought. It has been proven, that an application of physical activity and sport in general can transform every moment of life into positive energy usable by stimulating the body through a more positive mental approach to perceive new challenges, physical and mental, and produce good feelings. Generally speaking, better physical movements and  exercise  can dramatically enhance ones optimal  learning  state. Eric Jensen (2005) explains that there is strong evidence that supports the connection between movement and learning. Evidence from imaging sources, anatomical studies, and clinical data shows that moderate exercise enhances cognitive processing. It also increases the number of brain cells. Our minds and bodies work together to help us to pay attention, to solve problems, and to  remember  solutions. Our physical states support our mental efforts. Moving  our bodies, however, isnt enough. Professional trainer and physical guru Jillian Michaels (2012), affirms that learning and practicing visualization techniques can help you achieve your goals by guiding you to make more of a mind-body connection to those goals. Having and keeping a vision of the future affects your behavior and actions now. Ruth Weiss (2001), state that a variety of mental exercises such as doing crossword puzzles,  learning  a new skill or a new language, playing chess or backgammon can strengthen and renew neural connections thereby keeping a brain flexible and  resilient. Even the simple task of brushing ones teeth with ones no dominant hand can increase connections between our axons (nerve fiber) and dendrites (branched projections of a  neuron). The best news is that studies show our brains remain  resilient  and capable of making new connections throughout our lives. If we continue to challenge our brains, they will remain fit just like our muscles, hearts, and lungs. Challenging ourselves mentally keeps our synaptic pathways (junction between two neurons) alive. Meditation  and prayer, practiced throughout the world for tens of thousands of years, can also induce a state of relaxation, which proves mentally and physically beneficial. Dr. Herbert Benson (2010) of Harvard medical school believes that a regular practice of the  relaxation leads to a sense that  emotionsand the physiological reactions that go with themcan be brought under control. If someone deeply understands his potential by mastering all of his senses, it becomes possible to make the most out of the energy to actively support all the capabilities of his mind and body to react to any event. It empowers that person to easily go into any situation where he has to surpass and overcome every physical and mental challenge. By treating their physical bodies, intellect, and spirit well, people can take advantage of the brains great plasticity and their own power to reconfigure it. A perfect balance between someones mind and body would be a crucial factor for a performance in all daily activities as well as in processing any kind of new information and learning new skills.

milan music :: essays research papers

Objective description: The music is so abstract, it’s almost as if some people just got together randomly and decided to make some noise. It’s sometimes calming and sometimes stressful. It’s like a call and response music, one section makes a noise and the other sections respond accordingly with a similar sounding rhythm, very interesting to listen to. Steel drums, chimes, drums, drones, flutes, and some other instruments, not even sure what the names are. I have heard them before but do not know the name. There are different types of steel drums giving out different pitches and resonations. This music is just so abstract and unlike music today. No music I listen to can compare to this type of abstract material. The most prominent thing to me in this music is the rhythm. It’s not a mono rhythm; it’s more of an ever-changing rhythm which makes me try to pick up a new one every change of the call and response. I hear a very polyphony texture with man y different instruments playing at once or responding to each others calls. The piece does not use repetition as songs do today but the way they come back to the main rhythm is somewhat of a repeat. They just call out a rhythm and then someone tries to repeat it. This music is awkward to listen to at first but the second or third song I got really used to the abstract interactions the different instruments had with each other. Functional description: Gamelan music is a way of making social groups. Gamelan music is performed as a group effort, and so there is no place for an individual showoff. Traditionally, gamelan is only played at certain occasions such as ritual ceremonies, special community celebrations, shadow puppet shows, and for the royal family. Gamelan is also used to accompany dances in court, temple, and village rituals. Besides providing music for social functional ceremonies, gamelan also provides a livelihood for many professional musicians, and for specialized craftsmen who manufacture gamelan. I took a class at Sonoma and was somewhat familiar with this type or music but before that I had no prior experience with the music. The music grew on me over time and became less awkward. Its not something I would choose to listen to but it’s a good sense of what music around the world has to offer those of us in the United states that are not open-minded to other cultures music.

The Paradox of Perfection :: Free Essay Writer

The Paradox of Perfection In 1980, Arlene Skolnick’s â€Å"The Paradox of Perfection† was published in Wilson Quarterly around the time when the â€Å"ideal family† was highly regarded. The article expresses the idea that the perfect family dose not exist. This essay is a prime example of how society views on what a family should be, subconsciously affects the behavior and attitude of the average family. As a psychologist from University of California, Skolnick presents her views through a series of historical contexts and statistics. Skolnick ironically exemplifies through the media that the picture perfect family is nothing more than a myth; in other words she uses the media concepts of a family as a foothold to convey her thoughts. Although the article was written more than 20 years ago, Skolnick views projects a future representation of society and how their portrayal of the â€Å"ideal family† has not change. The essay covers an array of periods; a historical view to give a background to the essay, a present view to elaborate her thoughts and a future outlook to tie it all together. Through this process, the reader is able to follow and understand the author’s views, which are refurbished by historical evidence. Skolnick stated in the beginning of her essay, â€Å"Can the family be at once a cherished â€Å"value† and a trouble institution,† (paragraph 4) as a way to establish her agreement. The statement basically means that what was once thought as the ideal family is now the main reason for typical families’ downfall. Through a variety of metaphorical strategies, Skolnick is able to support her claims; the media and other image of the perfect family is an unrealistic model that average family use as a form of comparison. The author first address a general audience with her opening statement, which states the divorce rates, births out-of-wedlock, and presents a down to earth impression that captures any reads’ attention. Even though Skolnick is psychologist, she is able to express her views in a matter that appeals to the general-mass. I am able to understand and agree with Skolnick’s arguments to a point, due to the fact that I have lived in two different cultures and therefore able to appreciate her ideals. I can see why the author believes so strongly in her arguments because it is easily seen that the American life-hood is bases on the output from the media and a collection of society’s regulations that force the average man to behave in a certain matter.

Sigumand Freud And Nietzsche: Personalities And The Mind Essay

Sigumand Freud and Nietzsche: Personalities and The Mind There were two great minds in this century. One such mind was that of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). In the year 1923 he created a new view of the mind. That view encompassed the idea we have split personalities and that each one have their own realm, their own tastes, their own principles upon which they are guided. He called these different personalities the id, ego, and super ego. Each of them are alive and well inside each of our unconscious minds, separate but yet inside the mind inhabiting one equal plane. Then there was Nietzsche (1844-1900) who formulated his own theories about the sub-conscious. His ideas were based on the fact that inside each and every one of us is a raging battle going on. This battle involves the two most basic parts of society, the artistic Dionysian and the intelligent Apollonian. Sometimes one being becomes more dominant than the other or they both share the same plane. Even though individually created, these theories could be intertwined, even used together. Thus it is the object of this paper to prove that the Freudian theory about the unconscious id, and ego are analogous to the idea on the Apollonian and Dionysian duality's presented by Nietzsche. "The division of the psychical into what is conscious and what is unconscious is the fundamental premise of psycho-analysis; and it alone makes it possible for psycho-analysis to understand the pathological processes in mental life..." (Freud, The Ego and the Id, 3). To say it another way, psycho-analysis cannot situate the essence of the psychial in consciousness, but is mandated to comply consciousness as a quality of the pyschial, which may be present (Freud, The Ego and the ID, 3). "...that what we call our ego behaves essentially passively in life, and that, as he expresses it, we are 'lived' by unknown and uncontrollable forces," (Groddeck, quoted from Gay, 635). Many, if not all of us have had impressions of the same, even though they may not have overwhelmed us to the isolation of all others, and we need to feel no hesitation in finding a place for Groddeck's discovery in the field of science. To take it into account by naming the entity which begins in the perception system. And then begins by being the 'ego,' and by following his [Groddeck's] system in identifying ... ...ersonality were named. The Apollonian, "...music had long been familiar to the Greeks as an Apollonian art , as a regular beat like that of waves lapping the shore, a plastic rhythm expressly developed for the portrayal of Apollonian conditions," (AD, in Jacobus, 556). That "plastic rhythm" described by Nietzsche is the cardinal groundwork for the theory of the Apollonian. Apollonian people are those who are totally based in the scientific world. They have no real imagination, no abstractness to their thinking. Whereas people who are wholly Dionysian are the opposite. These folk have no real basis in the real world. They are completely out of synch with reality because they think only in hypothetical thoughts. Hence the fact the most, if not all humans have a little of both in them. Most great scientists for instance are both Apollonian and Dionysian. They are mainly Apollinistic, due to the fact that they are clearly intelligent, which according to Nietzsche is the foundation for Apollonian thought, but they are also Dionysian. This can be said if you take Albert Einstein for an example. He is probably one of the most intelligent (and thus Apollonian) thinkers

Royal Selangor

The Royal Selangor Pewter: STP Strategy and Marketing Mix. (Written by: Wong Eu Jun of DIA201204. ) Founded by a man named Yong Koon in 1885, Royal Selangor Pewter is a Malaysian pewter manufacturer-retailer which has since become the largest global brand leader in the line of pewter objects manufacturing and a prominent one in the metal craft industry. It is also recognized as a very highly celebrated Malaysian brand icon because of the success that it has gained throughout more than a century of existence. Looking at what Royal Selangor has done, it is needless to say that Royal Selangor has expanded its product range beyond mere pewter objects to a broader variety such as certain glassware and jewelry. Due to the fact that Royal Selangor made such a bold move by venturing into foreign shores, it cannot be denied that the company is bound to face a myriad of possible challenges if it were to carry on with what it is doing. In this case, having a well-planned STP strategy which allows the company to identify its intended market segment thus enabling the company to single out specific groups of buyers would be a very beneficial move. At the same time, it will also help Royal Selangor to set its target market and position its brands in which as we can see, it is already something that they have accomplished because Royal Selangor is a high-end luxury brand name in the minds of many and that the company makes pewter objects of the best quality. Therefore, on a personal level, I’d like share my insights on the STP strategy and marketing mix of Royal Selangor. STP Strategy: Royal Selangor has been able to divide and partition their market segment in a somewhat organized manner. From where I see this, Royal Selangor has catered to a couple of highly notable figures such as the likes of the former U. S President Bill Clinton, Hollywood actor Mel Gibson and lifestyle talk-show host Martha Stewart. Notable figures like celebrities and political icons are supposed to make up a large portion of Royal Selangor’s market segment because they likely come from the higher-income group which is why they would therefore behave in a very lavish way. In addition, the company also creates trophies for major sports events and tournaments like the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix and the Sime Darby Golf Tournament. This means that Royal Selangor already has a few clear-cut market segments which consist of notable figures, other companies or organizations that need to have pewter objects given as gifts or prizes and probably higher-income people who are likelier to have a stronger purchasing power of buying luxury goods and that is just what Royal Selangor makes; pewter objects that are categorized as luxury goods. Also, I believe that another group of buyers that are a part of Royal Selangor’s market segment would be people who want to decorate their household with pewter objects. From a personal point of view, I have been able to notice that a lot of affluent people tend to display pewter objects and glass wares in their homes for ornamental purposes because they are characterized by their desire to flaunt their status and hence, this leads me to believe that these people are also a part of the market segment of Royal Selangor. Now, as I further on to the target market of Royal Selangor, it seems like as though there are only a couple of target markets that Royal Selangor focuses on and these target markets tend to be very niche ones. The first would be notable figures, as I’ve mentioned earlier in the market segment. These people play a very pivotal role as customers and actual buyers of Royal Selangor and its products and the strategy that Royal Selangor has come up with to satisfy their needs and wants is by creating beautiful tableware, wine accessories, jewelry and various luxury products. As we speak of this, the fact that Royal Selangor is a leading brand when it comes to pewter objects and other accessories is already an advantage for the company because this group of people would feel a need to purchase pewter ware and other luxury items from a well-renowned company like Royal Selangor. Moreover, Royal Selangor also forges rather good entrepreneur ties with sports organizations like Formula 1 by manufacturing their trophies. This is an example that clearly tells us that organizations like Formula 1 are also part of the target market of Royal Selangor. In this circumstance, Royal Selangor fulfills the need of Formula 1 to have a pewter trophy made for a grand prix. Moving on to how Royal Selangor positions itself, it is without doubt that in the Royal Selangor sets itself apart as being the leader of its industry. This is why Royal Selangor is able to attract its buyers because they already know that Royal Selangor is second to none in the metal craft industry. Furthermore, Royal Selangor incorporates very unique designs and excellent craftsmanship in their products. This is the reason Royal Selangor allows itself to be ingrained in the minds of its customers that it is the top pewter objects manufacturer that produces the best pewter objects and other accessories. Secondly, the international reputation of Royal Selangor as a brand that has catered to notable figures is also possibly a reason why the affluent are willing to buy its products. This could have created a mindset psychologically because people are going to believe that Royal Selangor is a brand that has been used by people of celebrity-like status. Marketing Mix and the 4P’s: Product: Considering the fact that Royal Selangor has transformed itself into a highly-revered pewter object manufacturing company synonymous with quality, I feel that it is necessary for the company to have a well-controlled marketing mix in order to monopolize the industry. First and foremost in the marketing mix, Royal Selangor already possesses the trump card of having products that are superior in terms of quality and design. Besides that, the variety of products will also appeal to more market segments since Royal Selangor no longer focuses on just pewter objects. Packaging wise, from what I’ve seen, Royal Selangor packs its gifts in very elaborate boxes and packages like those of wedding-ring boxes so the packaging itself is something that most people may possibly be attracted to. As the common belief exists, ‘’you pay more for the packaging than the goods sometimes’’. This is why the packaging of Royal Selangor is equally important as a part of the product’s characteristic because it is what helps the products to stand out by enhancing its attractiveness. Promotion: Although advertising and other promotional activities have never really been done on an exceptionally large scale by Royal Selangor, one will notice that the company predominantly relies on the use of print media as their primary media platform of advertising despite a few marketing communication events being held probably to gather a bigger crowd. By doing so, they have been able to successfully enforce their tagline ‘’ Pewter has a new attitude’’ with the use of print media. From what I’ve noticed based on a personal observation, there are a lot of Royal Selangor print advertisements like posters and billboards in these 2 places particularly; Central Market and Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur. This could possibly be because these 2 areas are frequented by high-income people and not to mention the definite fact that there are a lot of handy-craft and pewter ware for sale in these 2 places. Place: Where Royal Selangor sells its products has never really posed a problem to the sales it generates every now and then. As I take a look at the retail outreach that Royal Selangor has been doing, it is undoubtedly a good idea for the company to make its presence in higher-end shopping destinations because it obviously does a lot of good by strengthening the prominence of the brand Royal Selangor. International expansion is also a very bold move because by venturing into the markets of other countries, it allows the company to attract more customers and set more target markets beyond the confines of the local market segment. This attests to the fact that Royal Selangor has indeed brought the brand beyond the Malaysian target market because in the 1970’s era, the company began selling it products abroad in stores like Harrods’s in UK, Myers in Australia, Mitsukoshi and David Jones. This bold move had initiated the global expansion of Royal Selangor and therefore, the brand could then succeed beyond the regional and local market. Price: The money factor plays an indispensable part of Royal Selangor’s marketing mix because as we all know, what ultimately matters at the end of the day, to most people is how much they have in their wallets. This is why the prices of Royal Selangor are closely linked to the target market the company focuses on. As we all know, Royal Selangor is a company that sets high prices for its products probably because the company dominates the metal craft industry as well. Discounts, as most customers and buyers would expect, are not so easy to come by because if the company were to lower its prices, there will be no standardized price and it will definitely be a loss to the retail outlets. Opportunities and Threats (External Environment): Nobody denies that almost all companies are bound to face its fair share of threats and opportunities, therefore, the same would go for Royal Selangor as a manufacturing company that has existed for more than a century. On the positive side of things, an opportunity that Royal Selangor has would be its long existence as a Malaysian brand icon and one of the earliest Malaysian brands that dates back to the pre-Independence era. So in this case, the company’s strong position as the market dominator definitely gives them the opportunity. Secondly, the broad product range that the company offers that is recognized worldwide is also another opportunity for the company because I feel with this, it is the key for the company to sell its products abroad at a much better pace because it builds the brand recognition at an international level. If there are opportunities that the company might possibly have, it comes in an inevitable package because there should also be some underlying threats that the company is likely to face. As the saying goes, ‘’when there is life, there is death’’. So assuming that the situation is similar, one of the threats that the company may face is an economic recession. In short, when the times get tougher and inflations start happening, people will most likely cut down on luxury products. At the same time, they might have problems adapting to other target markets even though they are a dominant force when it comes to manufacturing pewter objects. For instance, if Royal Selangor were to sell its products in the jewelry market, they could face fierce challenges from jewelry companies like Poh Kong, Habib, Tiffany & Co if these other companies lower their prices. This is when the factor of price intertwines with the purchasing power of the buyers should there be an economic recession because in that case buyers tend to opt for the cheaper brand. In final consideration, Royal Selangor is able to manage its marketing mix very well and it has done a tremendous effort in boosting the economy of the ountry as a manufacturer that exports its produce to foreign lands. Thanks to the right marketing strategy and not to mention, quality control being just as important, these have made what the company is today; a leading brand in the industry of pewter objects manufacturing. Last but not the least, being a leader of an industry that is almost certainly unchallenged is what gives Royal Selangor the edge and it is definitely a bold move for Royal Selangor that brings a whole new challenge when it goes into other industries by crossing beyond the world of pewter manufacturing. So in my opinion, I don’t think it would be surprising if one fine day, Royal Selangor succeeds as a very highly respected global conglomerate brand that is successful in various industries and not just the pewter manufacturing. At the end of the day the fundamental principle is the more territory you control, the more powerful you are. So this is exactly what Royal Selangor ought to do. Expand its product ranges to a broader variety and engage the brand name in the lives of more people that would cut across all walks of life. References: Royal Selangor Pewter (n. d. ) Royal Selangor. [online] [Accessed: 20 November 2012]. Peopalove (2012) BrandTalk: Branded means Wanted. [online] Available at: http://www. peopalove. com/brandtalk/2005/jul/wanted. html [Accessed: 20 November 2012]. The Star Online (2012) Royal Selangor on expansion mode. [online] Available at: http://biz. thestar. com. my/news/story. asp? file=/2010/9/18/business/6935822&sec=business [Accessed: 20 November 2012].

How accuracy may be ensured in techniques used Essay

M1: Explain how accuracy may be ensured in the techniques used Cynthia Nzeh Task 1 1) Discuss how your choice of equipment and how it affected the accuracy of your method. Discuss good volumetric technique. 2) Calculate the apparatus error for the method used. 3) Given the value calculated by the senior technician calculate your error and comment on this error in relation to the apparatus error of the method. In the titration, I used these available instruments to ensure my results would be as accurate as possible. Volumetric burette: This instrument was filled with the sodium hydroxide solution that would be gradually added to the vinegar solution. The burette was used instead of a measuring cylinder as it gives a finer volume reading. It has a tap which enables the user to quickly and easily stop the amount of sodium hydroxide solution that pours out. However using a piston burette instead of a volumetric burette may have increased the chances of gaining more accurate results. This is because the piston burette delivers precision bore and plunger. White tile: The tile was used to be able to observe the colour change of the solution in the conical flask better. By placing the white tile it allowed us to see the colour change more easily and quickly therefore increasing our chances of closing the burette tap on time and giving us closer and possibly more accurate results. If non clear paper was used or no paper at all, the colour change of the solution would not have been spotted as quickly therefore increasing the time taken to close the burette tap to stop sodium hydroxide being added to the vinegar solution. The increase of sodium hydroxide solution would mean that the results obtained would not be the accurate or close to the accurate value. Funnel: This piece of equipment was added to the top of the burette and it was used to channel the sodium hydroxide solution into the burette. The mouth of the burette was too small to pour the sodium hydroxide solution in safely so the plastic funnel was used to prevent any spillage of the solution and enabled the sodium hydroxide solution to be poured into the  burette with precision and no spillage. A disposable paper funnel would not have been an appropriate piece of equipment to use, this is because the paper funnel would have absorbed some of the correctly measured sodium hydroxide solution (liquid) and changed the total volume of the sodium hydroxide going into the burette. The funnel is then removed before the titration takes place; this is to prevent any extra droplets, of the solution remaining in the funnel, to be added to the solution as it could affect the overall volume in the burette. Conical flask: The conical flask was used to store the vinegar with drops of phenolphthalein before sodium hydroxide was added to the solution through the burette. A conical flask was the most ideal piece of equipment to use. The narrow head minimises the risk of splashes from the flask, this means that the solution remains in the flask and does not come into contact with experimenter. Using a conical flask over a beaker is more ideal. This is due to the fact that a beaker has a wide open mouth which means that solutions can splash out when poured in. Also, the shape of the instrument make it is easier to swirl the contents of the flask. Bulb pipette (and filler): This instrument was used to measure out 25.0cm3 of sodium hydroxide to be added to the conical flask. There is a line of meniscus which indicates where the volume should be, this makes the pipette produce an accurate 25.0 volume. The pipette has a narrow portion which slows down the speed at which the solution gets drawn up. This enables the volume to be more accurate as it is easier and quicker to stop the pipette drawing up more of the solution after drawing up the desired amount. A measuring cylinder may have also been used and may be more ideal than the bulb pipette. This is due to the fact that it has a measuring scale and the amount poured into the instrument is more controlled compared to the bulb pipette as this only has one line of measurement and it is tricky to get a solution to fall on the line of the meniscus. Good Volumetric Techniques To achieve a good volumetric technique, the experimenter needs to be able to correctly complete certain procedures. Before beginning an experiment, it is good to calibrate any equipment that needs calibration. This ensures that results obtain will be as accurate as possible or as near to the true value. All equipment should be inspected to ensure that there are no chips, cracks or general damage to the equipment as these could cause problems during the experiment which could affect the overall results gained. Equipment such as burettes, pipettes, flasks and beakers must be rinsed with distilled water to get rid of any impurities in the equipment. If solutions are to be poured in any piece of equipment then the equipment should also be rinsed out with the solution being used, this will maintain the pH level in the instrument. Once a solution is transferred from the pipette to the flask, touching the tip of the pipette on the side of the flask will drain any extra drops that may still remain on the tip of the pipette. When filling up the burette it is important that a funnel is used, however as the solution reaches the 0 mark it is ideal that the funnel be removed and a pipette used instead to reach the 0 mark, this is to achieve greater precision. During the experiment, it is important to swirl the flask continuously with one hand whilst the other hand opens and closes the tap of the burette, this allows the solution to mix well enough for the colour change to be observed quicker. The titrant should be added in drop by drop as it reaches the endpoint as it prevents too much of the solution in the burette to be added to the solution in the conical flask. Also, the tap should be shut properly to prevent any extra unwanted solution from pouring out. The burette and pipette must be read at eye level to gain the actual result. To ensure reliability, the experiment should be repeated until a concordance between two results is acquired. Apparatus error To calculate the apparatus error the equation is: Maximum error Measure Value 25cm3 pipette = ( ± 0.1cm3 à · 25) x 100 = 0.4 Burette = ( ± 0.15cm à · 22.75) x 100 = 0.66 Mass Balance = (0.01 à · 4.05) x 100 = 0.25 Volumetric flask = (0.1 à · 200) x 100 = 0.05 = 1.36% apparatus error Experimental error = 100 x (real answer – experiment answer) Real answer 100 x (0.056 – 0.0546) 0.056 100 x 0.0014 = 2.5% 0.056 The experimental error is greater than the apparatus error. This could have been down to a number of different factors. Too much sodium hydroxide may have been added to the solution which could have changed the volume of sodium hydroxide used. The burette could have been read wrong and not at the same eye level or from the bottom of the meniscus line. These faults may have been the cause of the experimental error or they may have added to the experimental error and this is why the experimental error is much greater than the apparatus error. Task 2 & 3 There were certain procedures done in order to ensure the results obtained would be as accurate as possible. Flame test Before beginning the experiment, the wire loop is dipped into dilute hydrochloric acid then held in a Bunsen burner flame. This is to get rid of any residue remaining of the loop. Each test tube was correctly labelled to avoid a mix up. The solutions where look at behind a white background, this was to enable the correct colour to be identified easier. Different instruments for different solution were used. Food test For this test it was important to keep the amount of food samples used equal for each food group. The food samples were placed in separate pellets to avoid cross contamination between the foods. Each test tube was correct labelled to avoid a mix up. Equal drops of indicators were added to each food sample. Sources http://nobel.scas.bcit.ca/courses/wpmu/chem0011/files/2010/06/Lab8-Introduction-to-Volumetric-Techniques-I.pdf http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Quantitative_Analysis/Titration http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=363038 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_calculate_percentage_error_for_equipment http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/flametests.html