Moon Gods and Goddesses in Mythology across Cultures Essay

Moon Gods and Goddesses in Mythology across Cultures - Essay Example The different mythologies that have focused their worship feelings on the moon include Aboriginal mythology (Daramulum), Ainu mythology (Chup-Kamui), Akkadian mythology (Enzu, Sin), Arabian mythology (Illat, Hilal, Hubal, Sin, Ta'lab, Wadd), Aztec mythology (Coyolxauhqui, Metztli, Tecciztecatl), Babylonian mythology (Sin), Basque mythology (Ilazki), Cahuilla mythology (Menily), Canaanite mythology (Jarih, Nikkal), Celtic mythology (Gntia, Lair bln), Chibcha mythology (Chia, Chie), Chinese mythology(Chang'e or Heng O. – unlike in other cultures, in Chinese mythology moon represent the place where fairies and immortals live), Dahomean mythology (Gleti), Elamite mythology (Napir), Egyptian mythology (Chons, Thoth), Etruscan mythology (Losna), Greek mythology (Artemis, Hecate, Phoebe, Selene ), Hattic mythology (Kaskuh), Hindu mythology (Anumati, Chandra, Nandi, Prajapati, Ramachandra, Shiva, Soma, a famous Indian devotee Mira use to cry a lot seeing the moon since it reminded her about Krishna/God), Hurrian mythology (Kusuh), Incan mythology (Coniraya, Ka-Ata-Killa , Mama Quilla), Indonesian mythology (Dewi Shri, Silewe Nazarate), Inuit mythology (Alignak, Igaluk, Tarquiup Inua), Japanese mythology (Marishi-Ten, Tsuku-yomi), Kachin mythology (Shitta), Latvian mythology (Meness), Mandjindja mythology (Kidili), Maya mythology (Ahau-Kin, Ixbalanque, Ixchel, Itzamna), Mochican mythology (Si), Navaho mythology (Yolkai Estasan), Norse mythology (Brunhild, Mani), Orokolo mythology (Papare), Pagan rituals in Medieval Italy (Madonna Oriente), Palmarene mythology (Aglibol), Pawnee mythology (Pah), Persian mythology (Mah, Mao), Philippine mythology (Mayari), Phoenician mythology (Nikkal), Phrygian mythology (Men), Polynesian mythology (Avatea, Fati, Ina, Hina-Kega, Hina-Uri, Lona, Mahina, Marama, Sina, Ul), Pygmy mythology (Arebati), Roman mythology (Diana, Luna), Semitic mythology (Terah), Seran mythology (Dapie), Slavic mythology (Myesyats), Sumerian mythology (Nanna, Ningal), Sumu mythology (Ud), Thracian mythology (Bendis), Tupinamba mythology (Ari), Ugaritic mythology (Nikkal), Urartian mythology (Selardi), Vodun (Kalfu). Greek mythology is a valuable collection of narratives of Greek God, Goddesses, heroes, and heroines (Kerenyi, 1951). In the Greek mythology, Selene or Lunar was an ancient lunar deity, and was sometimes described as Artemis. Titans Hyperion and Theia are the parents of Selene. Helios, the sun is the brother of Selene. Eos, the Goddess of dawn is the sister of Selene. The journey of Selene begins when the earth turns dark at night. The story tells that Eos carried off a human lover Cephalus (Burkert, 1985). The story also narrates that Selene loved a shepherd, or otherwise named Endymion. The man was so handsome that Selene asked Zeus to make him immortal so that they won't ever depart. Endymion made a decision to live forever in sleep. Thus, Selene and Endymion had fifty daughters. The story adds that Selene and Zeus had a daughter called Pandia (full moon). Hecate, originally a Goddess of the wilderness and childbirth is today seen as a Goddess of witchcraft. She had her connotations as a Goddess of sorcery and played the role of Queen of Ghosts. The title, Queen of Ghosts with Hecate has its in-depth association with the then prevalent belief that she can prevent the occurrence of harm

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 Term Paper

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 - Term Paper Example The last fifty years saw seen the enactment of serious health reforms including Medicare and Medicaid. The two have improved access to healthcare for the entire country’s citizens. The success of these reform policies serves as a benchmark for all future health reforms. However, as mentioned earlier not all reform policies have succeeded to this date despite the tireless self-dedication of many people. The (NHI) National Health Insurance is one of these policies. Discussions by historians help to point out why some policies have proven to be successful whereas others have not (Harry, 2010). The policy formulation stage is the first stage in the public policy making process. Analysis of problems and solutions occurs during this stage in the agenda setting process (Mark, 2012). Also, discussed are the reasons that could have led to the dire need for a reform to be implemented (Copeland, 2011). In this case, successful Medicare and Medicaid reforms; the need arose from the increa sed suffering of many citizens who had limited success to healthcare. Access to proper medical care is extremely expensive and not most low income earners can afford it. The responsibility of provision of adequate healthcare to the citizens lies with the government. One of the defining aspects of a successful government is its ability to cater for its people especially in the health department. This is because a healthy population directly translates into a healthy workforce. The economic success of the entire nation depends on its citizens (Harry, 2010). There also existed an international outcry from the international community. Organizations like (WHO) World Health Organization and the (UN) United Nations have a list of expectations for all its member states. Provision of adequate healthcare is one of these requirements. USA, just like all other countries had to ensure their policies were in line with these expectations (Lambert, 2010). The need for NHI arose from the countryâ₠¬â„¢s need to equip all its citizens with health insurance. This meant that even the poor could afford such a service. The American constitution considers all men equal and from this perspective all citizens are rightful owners of the country’s resources. NHI is more complex than the other two successful reform policies making it hard to implement. Trials for its implementation have failed time and again because of these problems. Ideological differences are one of the key milestones yet to be conquered (House, 2008). Karl Marx, a prominent sociologist, explained such behaviors in his conflict theory. He advanced in it that conflict when people of the ruled or subordinate class seek to improve their economic status and move up to the ruling class (Foster, 2010). Naturally those in the ruling class would view this as a threat and conflict would ensue. In the case of the NHI, the two groups would have opposed ideologies. The affluent would advocate for the national resources to be directed to other ventures that would benefit them. On the other hand, the under privileged would demand for the resources to be directed towards ventures that would ease their economic hardships (Lambert, 2010). Bureaucracy comes with increased levels of development within a country. The strength of interest groups has to be solicited (Vivar, 2011). These groups prove most influential especially in the enactment phase of the reform policy. They can

Chinese Traditional Religion Essay Example for Free

Chinese Traditional Religion Essay Religious practice in China today has elements as old as the Shang and Zhou dynasties and, dating from the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE), is marked syncretism–the combining of different forms of belief or practice. A good example is the construction of temple altars. It’s not uncommon to find Buddhist and Confucian figures in a Daoist temple. Nor is it extraordinary to see a self-professed Buddhist offer incense at a Daoist temple to a historical figure known for his Confucian virtues. China has been a multi-religion country since the ancient times. It is well known that Confucianism is an indigenous religion and is the soul of Chinese culture, which enjoyed popular support among people and even became the guiding ideology for feudalism society, but it did not develop into a national belief. It makes the culture more tolerant to others, thus, many other religions have been brought into the country in different dynasties, but none of them developed powerful enough in the history of China and they only provide diverse people more spiritual support. Confucianism, not a real religion, is just an ethical and philosophical system, which developed from Confucius’ thoughts and later was treated as a kind of belief to educate common people. Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (Master Kong, 551–479 BC). The Confucius’ teachings contained the beginning of a system of thought and behavior that developed into a sophisticated ethico-religious tradition. Confucianism was adopted by the Han dynasty (206 B. C.E-220 C. E. ) as the intellectual basis for its system of government and its educational program for training officials. Confucius emphasized principles for self-guidance. The key to producing a harmonious life, he wrote, is in how we treat others–our ancestors, leaders, parents, spouses, neighbors, and friends. Two other concepts that were predominant in Confucius’s worldview were Tian (Heaven) and Dao (Way). His heaven represented a celestial power connected with the will of mighty ancestors, such as the widely known Yao, Shun, and Yu. The Way, on the other hand, constituted a natural path for humanity. Whereas Heaven emphasized choice, the Way required a yielding heart-mind (xin); both were crucial for achieving harmony in the earthly realm. Daoism is one of China’s major religions indigenous to the country. The primary belief is in learning and practicing â€Å"The Way† (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe. Also known as Taoism, Daoism traces its roots to 6th Century BC Chinese philosopher Laozi wrote the iconic book Dao De Jing on the tenets of the Dao. In the 1,800 years, Taoism influenced the local culture deeply, especially on traditional medicine and literature. Based on some theories of alchemists such as Wei Boyang in Eastern Han Dynasty, different kinds of medicine prescriptions were created by Sun Simiao and many other doctors. In literature, many fictional characters are closely related with Taoism, such as the Jade Emperor. Their philosophies, though, are like two sides of a coin. Laozi emphasized harmony with the Dao–a referent to something that cannot be named–in order to achieve balance in life. To assist this process, Laozi taught his followers the concepts of non-action (wuwei) and shade and light (yin/yang–primordial, dynamic balancing of opposites). The principle of non-action meant that one should discern the natural course of things and cooperate with that movement. The teachings of Laozi and Confucius were not incorporated into a religious movement until the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). The result was a mix of philosophy and religion. Over the centuries that followed, both Confucianism (Rujiao—the teachings of the scholars) and Daoism (Daojiao—the teaching of the Way) developed elaborate rituals and sacred writings. To this day the philosophies of Laozi and Confucius, and the religious movements their lives and teachings inspired, exist in vibrant forms in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese culture as well. When first introduced, Buddhism faced competition from followers of Daoism. While Daoism (also called Taoism) is as old as Buddhism, Daoism was indigenous to China. Daoists do not view life as suffering. They believe in an ordered society and strict morality, but they also hold strong mystical beliefs such as ultimate transformation, where the soul lives after death and travels to the world of the immortals. Because the two beliefs were so competitive, many teachers from both sides borrowed from the other. Today many Chinese believe in elements from both schools of thought. Buddhisms popularity, led to the quick conversion to Buddhism by later Chinese rulers. The subsequent Sui and Tang Dynasties all adopted Buddhism as their religion. The religion was also used by foreign rulers of China, such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Manchus, to connect with the Chinese and justify their rule. The Machus strived to draw a parallel between Buddhism. a foreign religion, and their own reign as foreign leaders. Despite Chinas shift to atheism after the Communists took control of China in 1949, Buddhism continued to grow in China, especially after the economic reforms in the 1980s. Today there are an estimated 100 million followers of Buddhism in China and over 20,000 Buddhist temples. It is the largest religion in China. For most people in China, there is no problem with mixing religious practices. Unlike some other cultures, where religious syncretism and even tolerance are viewed with skepticism or condemnation, the Chinese have always had the ability to select the religious practices and teachings that work best for them at the moment. If a certain deity doesn’t answer a supplicant’s petition, then it’s on to the next temple and deity. In general religious pluralism simply adds to the many options from which the Chinese can choose on their journey toward a harmonious life.

The Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Essay Example for Free

The Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Essay When the word â€Å"witch† comes up in people’s minds, they normally picture an old woman with green skin, warts, a pointy hat, and long fingernails who wears black clothes, flies on a broom, and casts harmful spells on others. However, this stereotype is made up by the imaginations of humanity. It all started when religion conflicts began to rise. This was the clash between Christianity and the old religion. Christian leaders began asserting that witches were devil worshippers and savages. In the year 1233, Pope Gregory IX instituted the Roman Catholic tribunal, known as the Inquisition, in an attempt to suppress heresy. At the request of Pope John XXII in 1320, the church officially declared witchcraft and the old religion of the Pagans as a heretical movement and a hostile threat to Christianity. Witches had now become heretics and the persecution against all Pagans spread like wildfire throughout Europe. Therefore, the persecutions, murders, and the torture of innocent people who are claimed as â€Å"witches† began (â€Å"How Did it Start? †). This history and the idea of witches lead to the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and Katherine Howe’s motivation to write her novel, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, which is based on the Salem Witch Trials. Katherine Howe was born in Huston, Texas and she holds degrees in Art History and Philosophy from Columbia and in American and New England Studies from Boston University. She is a descendant of Elizabeth Proctor, who survived the Salem Witch Trials, and Elizabeth Howe, who did not. She first learned about her ancestors when her aunt was doing some family research. Due to this discovery, Howe became more interested in this specific time period and she began to wonder how life would be like living as a Puritan in the 1600’s. Her book, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, which is about the Salem Witch Trials, debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Howe moved to Marblehead from Cambridge in summer of 2005 with her husband and she was scheduled to take her Ph. D. qualifying exams that November. So, while trying to relax from her studies, Howe began to think how vastly the popular account of the witch trials differs from the historical understanding of them. As she was walking in the woods, she began to think: â€Å"What if magical were real, but not in the fairy-tale way that we now imagine it? † (Howe â€Å"Question and Answer†). So, as Howe was trying to imagine what magic would have looked like to the colonists of Salem, she was inspired to write her novel. Howe’s writing style is very attractive to readers. The vocabulary is not very difficult and she writes in a way that keeps the reader wanting to read more. As the reader explores the novel, they can feel the emotions that the characters are feeling and so they are able to relate to them. Also, she writes her flashbacks to the late seventeenth century in the diction that they would have spoken in. This catches the reader’s attention and it shows her dedication and research for this novel. In the 17th century, the church was the cornerstone of life in New England. Most people in Massachusetts were Puritans-colonists who had left England seeking religious tolerance. The Puritan lifestyle was restrained and rigid and it was against the law not to attend church. Since the Puritans were expected to live by this strict moral code, they believed that all sins-from sleeping in church to stealing food-should be punished. They believed that God would punish sinful behavior. When a neighbor would suffer misfortune, such as a sick child or a failed crop, the Puritans saw it as God’s will and did not help. In addition, the Puritans believed that that Devil was as real as God. Everyone was faced with the struggle between the powers of good and evil, but Satan would select the weakest individuals-women, children, and the insane-to carry out his work. Those who followed Satan were considered â€Å"witches†. To the Puritans, witchcraft was one of the greatest crimes a person could commit and it was punishable by death. A strong belief in the Devil, factions among Salem Village families, and rivalry with near by Salem Town combined with a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion of witchcraft (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials†). In 1692, children were expected to have under the same strict code as the adults-doing chores, attending church services, and repressing individual differences. Any show of emotion was discouraged and disobedience was severely punished. Children rarely played and so toys and games were scare. While girls had to cook and clean, the boys had to hunt and explore. The children of this time period also had to learn how to read. However, most households owned only the Bible and other religious works (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials†). This was the childhood of Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Parris. Their strict way of life that they had to live was probably the reason why they were interested in Tituba’s, the Parris’ slave, magical stories and fortune telling games. On January 20th, 1692, Reverend Parris’ daughter, Elizabeth, age 9, and niece Abigail Williams, 11, started having â€Å"fits†. Ann Putnam, 11, experienced similar symptoms later on. They screamed, uttered peculiar sounds and contorted themselves into strange positions. Doctor Griggs, who attended the afflicted girls, suggested that they were bewitched. In that time, a dog was believed to be a â€Å"familiar† of the Devil. So, Tituba baked a â€Å"witch cake†, which contained the urine of the afflicted girls, and fed it to the dog. This was considered an old English folk remedy (Linder, â€Å"Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692). In late February of 1692, the afflicted girls were pressured by ministers and townspeople to say who cause their odd behavior. The girls accused Tituba, Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne, an elderly impoverished woman. Arrest warrants for the three women were issued and magistrates John Hawthorne and Jonathan Corwin examined them for â€Å"witch teats†. Osborne and Good claimed their innocence, but Tituba confessed, â€Å"the Devil came to me and bid me to serve him† (Blumberg, â€Å"A Brief History†). She described elaborate images of black dogs, red cats, yellow birds and a â€Å"black man† who wanted her to sign his book. She admitted to signing the book and said that there were several other witches looking to destroy the Puritans. All three of them were put into jail. Soon, the group of afflicted girls began to accuse many people such as Martha Cory, Rebecca Nurse, Dorcas Good, Elizabeth Proctor, Sarah Cloyce, etc. Subsequently, prisons were filled with more than one hundred fifty men and women from towns surrounding Salem. On May 27th, 1692, Governor William Phipps ordered the establishment of the Special Court of Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) to hear the cases of witchcraft. Bridget Bishop, an older woman who was known for her gossipy habits and promiscuity, was the first case. On June 10th, she was the first person to be hanged on Gallows Hill. As the trials went on, five people were sentenced and hanged in July, five more in August and eight on September. On October 29th, 1692, Governor Phipps released many accused witches and dissolved the court of Oyer and Terminer. He eventually pardoned all the people who were in prison on witchcraft charge (Blumberg, â€Å"A Brief History†). Therefore, the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 was ended. Due to this event, nineteen innocent men and women were hanged for witchcraft, Giles Corey was pressed to death under heavy rocks for refusing to stand trial, and four other died in jail as they awaited trial (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials†). After the trials were over, many people, such as Ann Putnam, felt guilty and wrong for taking away the lives of over twenty innocent people. In 1697, the General Court ordered a day of fasting and soul –searching for the tragedy that happened five years ago. In 1702, the court declared that the trials were unlawful. Finally, in 1711, the colony passed a bill restoring the rights and good names of those accused during the trials and 600 pounds were granted in restitution to their heirs. It was not until 1957 that Massachusetts formally apologized for what had happened in 1692 (Blumberg, â€Å"A Brief History†). On the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, a witchcraft memorial designed by James Culter was dedicated in Salem. However, the problem of witchcraft still remains today. On March 15th, 2012, there was a conviction of a London couple for a death of a fifteen year-old boy whom they violently abused because they believed him to be a witch. This is not the first time that this has happened in the U. K. Scotland Yard told BBC that they have investigated over eighty-eight faith based child abuse in the last decade. UNICEF reported that in 2010, twenty thousand children were accused of witchcraft were living on the streets in the capital city of Kinshasa. In addition, the Nation Crime Bureau in India states that over 2,500 women have been killed for being suspected for being suspected of practicing witchcraft (Rojas, Witchcraft-Related Violence†). Violence against people accused of being witches is a growing problem in the U.K. , India, and Africa. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane follows Connie Goodwin’s adventure in trying to unravel the truth about the past. Also in her novel, Howe also allows the reader to explore the life of Deliverance Dane, who is included in the Salem Witch Trials in the story. In the novel, Deliverance Dane, a mother who makes tinctures for the sick, is accused of being a witch. Although she posses magical powers, she does not use them for evil. During the time that she is accused, many other women and men are accused along with her. The truth is that â€Å"the people accused in Salem were just regular, everyday people† (Howe 141). No matter how they try to clear their names, the â€Å"witches† are all sent to prison. In prison, their feet are clamped with â€Å"a heavy iron cuff, attached with a short length of nautical-grade chain† (295). Deliverance Dane, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Rebecca Nurse are some of the women that are accused and hanged on Gallows Hill in the novel. Even though this book is fiction, due to Deliverance’s magical powers, the novel contains many people who were convicted during the Salem Witch Trials and their deaths. Deliverance Dane, who was really in the Salem Witch Trials, does not have a lot of information about her, except for the fact that she had a husband named, Nathaniel, and that she survived the trials. Because no one knows Deliverance’s story during the Salem Witch Trials, Howe uses the lack of information to create a story for Dane, which is portrayed in the novel. Because people are so fixed on the idea that witches are not real, Howe shows a surprising twist in her book by giving Deliverance magical powers. Even though the colonists claimed that the accused were witches, there is no exact proof of witchcraft. But, maybe the accused did have magical powers, which could explain the weird fits that the girls wee experiencing. This makes the reader question whether magic truly exists or not. The Salem Witch Trials is not very well known by the people of our nation. So, with the help of this novel, more and more people can be informed about this tragic incident that took place in 1692. Also, this novel shows that witches are not how people in our society imagine them. This books shows to the people that witches are not harmful to the human race and that people should not be wrongly accused for such a ridiculous stereotype. As the critiques of this book are read and compared, they are very mixed reviews. Some readers love the book from the beginning to the end and some people have problems with the way Howe wrote her plot and her characters. Laura Bliss from the Library Journal wrote, â€Å"This enjoyable novel is too slow-paced to be considered a thriller, but its a solid selection that may appeal to readers who enjoyed recent novels about Salems witches. † Although Bliss thought that the book could have gone a little bit faster, overall, she recommends that the book will be a good read. Unlike the Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly states that â€Å"her [Howe] voice is pleasing, her pacing and emphasis good and her diction clear†. However, they also say in their review that â€Å"the characters are thin and the plot is predictable†. According to Publisher Weekly, Howe’s plot in her novel is too original and not exciting. So, because the plot is too easy to guess, it does not leave suspense for the reader, which causes them to get bored when reading the book. They also said that the characters are not built very convincing either. The characters in her novel seem to be missing uniqueness and they lack personality. Even though Howe has received some complains about The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, she has been praised as well for her extensive research that she had to do to write it (â€Å"Editorial Reviews†). For her first debut novel, Howe has done an extraordinary job of bringing the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 back to life. Even though Katherine Howe did not directly experience the Salem Witch Trials, the life of her ancestor, Elizabeth Howe, was taken away because of this event. This gave her the inspiration and maybe some responsibility to let the world know about this event. These trials went on with solely by accusation and without the use of actual evidence of witchcraft. The lives of many innocent people were taken away, which leaves people wondering, â€Å"Why did this ever happen? † This answer to this question will always be a mystery because there could have been many reasons why the colonists reacted like the way they did. Whatever the reason may be, the lives of the people that were taken away will always be in remembrance.

Frito Lay Company: Cracker Jack Case Analysis

Frito Lay Company: Cracker Jack Case Analysis Frito-Lay is worldwide leader in snack manufacturing and marketing. It represented 54 percent of retail sales of snack chips in United States, making it leader in that category. Frito-Lay is division of PepsiCo. Inc and in 1996 represented 31 percent of PepsiCos net sales and 60 percent of PepsiCos operating profit (Kerin Peterson, 2010). Some of popular brands of Frio-Lay are Lays and Ruffles, Doritos, Tostitos, Potato chips, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Funyuns onion-flavored snacks. During 1990s majority of Frito-Lays growth was attributed to its low-fat and no-fat snacks such as Baked Lays potato crisps, Baked Tostitos tortilla chips, and Rold Gold pretzels. Frito-Lay has extensive manufacturing infrastructure with 45 manufacturing plants in 26 states, including worlds largest snack food plan in Frankfort, Indiana. It has extensive warehouses and distribution facilities as well with more than 1,800 in number and 17,500 salespeople who make 750,000 sales and delivery calls on approx 35 0,000 retail store customers each week (Kerin Peterson, 2010). It also is one of leading national advertisers in the United States. Borden Foods Cracker Jack is one of leading brand in Ready-To-Eat (RTE) caramel popcorn category. Because of Bordens strategic decision to focus its resources on pasta business and grain-meals, which needs significant resource investment, it has decided to divest Cracker Jack and related assets. Frito-Lays New Ventures Division, which seeks and creates new business platform and products to grow business (Kerin Peterson, 2010), evaluating purchase of Cracker Jack brand to grow Frito-Lays business. Problem Identification Ready to Eat (RTE) caramel popcorn product category has several different types of competitors; national brand firms, seasonal/specialty firms, regional firms and private label firms. Cracker Jack is national brand and its biggest competing brand is Crunch n Munch from International Foods Home Inc. In 1996 dollar sales market share of Cracker Jack was 26% whereas Crunch n Munch enjoyed 32% of market share (Kerin Peterson, 2010). Generally RTE caramel popcorn is viewed as undermarketed category, especially Cracker Jack spent far less in media advertising compared to Crunch n Munch. Because of reasons mentioned above and several other reasons Cracker Jack is seen by consumer as a brand which has lost momentum. Frito-Lay has decided to purchase Cracker Jack brand and regaining this momentum is key factor. Identifying the Root Problem Components Cracker Jack brand has universal awareness, however its seen as traditional and old fashioned, and less contemporary than Crunch n Munch. Although there are several Cracker Jack products such as Cracker Jack Fat Free, Butter Toffee, and Nutty Deluxe, consumer awareness of these is below 50 percent. Although consumers are aware of Cracker Jack brand largely because of its heritage, only 7.1 percent of U.S. household consumes it primarily because a) they dont think about it as they dont see advertisements b) unavailable where they shop and c) they see it as too expensive and say boxes are not large enough. Components of root problem which Frito-Lay needs to tackle are premium price of Cracker Jack, extend Cracker jack trademark and revitalize Cracker Jacks base business. To do this it needs to expand distribution of Cracker Jack, develop new packaging and flavors (and at same time reduce SKUs which are not popular. It has 32 SKUs), impactful product positioning, increase consumer advertisement and establish price leadership. SWOT Analysis Strengths: Frito-Lay has strong strong-door-delivery sales force. Executives are very proactive and detailed in projects they undertake, project Bingo is good example of it. Frito-Lays extensive sales and distribution infrastructure and manufacturing facilities. Leading national advertiser in dollars spent and creative execution. Frito-Lays brand name reputation and its strong presence in consumer food business. Opportunities: Addition of new product category allows Frito-Lay to reach out to new customers for its existing brands. Cracker Jack brand equity gives opportunity to Frito-Lay to start selling its existing brand in new markets. Extended product line and market share provides Frito-Lay with more negotiation power with retailers. Extend Frito-Lay brand presence in vending machines. Weaknesses: Cracker Jack brand is considered traditional and old fashioned. Cracker Jack is premium priced brand and its price has risen by 5 to 6 percent per year since 1993. Frito-Lays inexperience in RTE caramel popcorn product category. Negative direct product contribution for year 1994,1995,1996 gives negative impression of product Threats: Strong competition from International Home Foods, Inc. (Crunch n Munch brand) Competitors could outbid Frito-Lay to acquire Cracker Jack. Increase in health consciousness among consumers could impact Cracker Jack sales, unless consumer perception changes to consider it as low-fat RTE. Retailers might not be willing to give shelf space, considering popularity and sales of Crunch n Munch. Evaluation of Alternatives Frito-Lay has three options to expand its growth. First, expand its existing snack business by exploring new eating occasions for its existing or new products. Second, enter new product category by capitalizing on its existing strength. Third, called Opportunistic acquisitions, where Frito-Lay would acquire related food company specific brands or entire business. Frito-Lay has already penetrated market with its strong brand name, sales and distribution infrastructure and advertisement therefore first option would be stretch and require lot of creative ideas and dollars. Entering new product category is risky due to inexperience in those categories and strong well established competition therefore second option has high risks. Acquisition of new brand or company would bring its own challenges such as corporate cultural challenge but will also give head start in entering new product category. Recommendation Considering various options, Frito-Lay should go with third option; acquire brand or entire new business, especially when Borden intends to divest the Cracker Jack Brand, which has very high brand awareness. Frito-Lay should integrate sales and distribution of Cracker Jack with Frito-Lay brands and place Cracker Jack on Salty Snack Aisle. Doing so would send signal to consumers that Cracker Jack is now part of well known brand which is progressive and will be easily accessible to consumers. For first year it should primarily focus on 8-oz Bag-in-Box product so that consumers can relate Cracker Jack with good tasting product which is relatively cheaper. Consumer Advertisement should be done aggressively so that consumers see it and remember to purchase it. For this, Frito-Lay should spend $22 million in Advertising and Promotion for 8-oz Bag-in-Box. This effort is expected to bring $83.4 million in sales. It should spend $15 million in advertisement and promotion of 7-oz Flex Bag, whi ch is expected to bring $77.1 million of sales. Using this combination of promotional activities, consumers will remember Cracker Jack brand and when they go to purchase it they would have accessibility to 8-oz and 7-oz Cracker Jack bags in same location along with Frito-Lay brands. To make sure resources are focused on re-establishing Cracker Jack prestige to contemporary consumer base, it should cut down SKUs from 32 to 12. This would enable sales distribution department of Frito-Lay to use existing infrastructure to distribute Cracker Jack to almost all market segments. Frito-Lay should not purchase manufacturing facility of Cracker Jack brand, rather utilize its own manufacturing facility and extend it to package Cracker Jack brand. This would ensure consistency of machinery, maintain good business relationship with current machine supplier and enable utilization of existing trained workforce. In second and third year, additional Cracker Jack flavors should be introduced in market and aggressive consumer advertisement should be done in range of $32 million. Executing these strategies would help growth of Frito-Lay by entering in new consumer product category.

The Plant Guilty of Countless Tribulations :: Essays Papers

The Plant Guilty of Countless Tribulations Once upon a time, there was a boy who was waiting at the bus stop. The boy was a cigarette user. The boy asked the man next to him for a cigarette, and the man replied, â€Å"I don’t smoke that crap, I smoke the 'doobie.' † The boy asked, â€Å"What’s the â€Å"doobie†?† The man then handed the boy a joint and told him to hit it. The boy hit the joint 5 straight times. He was feeling great! He then hopped on the bus and all of a sudden he realized he was not feeling right. He seemed to be moving in slow motion. He tried reading a book but he couldn’t concentrate on the words. He eventually arrived to school, walked into his first period class, and had to take a big history test. By the time the class ended, time was up for the test, and the boy had to turn in the test incomplete. He had only answered nine of twenty-five questions. The moral of the story is people need to become more educated about marijuana. Marijuana has many different effects on its users, most of which are negative. The majority of the negative effects are directed to the brain. In the book, Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowij said, â€Å"The subjective effects of cannabis (marijuana) might be expected to decrease performance in situations where both perceptual accuracy and attention are important† (31). This decreased performance is a result of poor decision making. Marijuana not only has bad effects on the brain, but it also affects the mouth and the lungs. According to Alison Mack and Janet Joy, several reports have suggested that marijuana smokers are at greater risk than nonsmokers of developing cancers in tissue that come into contact with smoke, such as the lungs, mouth, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus (42). It is obvious that the effects of marijuana are lethal, and are not to be ignored. Marijuana can be deadly, and it is essential for the public to know that it is deadly, in order to prevent people from using the drug. Marijuana has both short-term effects and long-term effects; however, there are many more short-term effects than long-term effects. The primary short term effect marijuana has on the brain is memory loss. The Plant Guilty of Countless Tribulations :: Essays Papers The Plant Guilty of Countless Tribulations Once upon a time, there was a boy who was waiting at the bus stop. The boy was a cigarette user. The boy asked the man next to him for a cigarette, and the man replied, â€Å"I don’t smoke that crap, I smoke the 'doobie.' † The boy asked, â€Å"What’s the â€Å"doobie†?† The man then handed the boy a joint and told him to hit it. The boy hit the joint 5 straight times. He was feeling great! He then hopped on the bus and all of a sudden he realized he was not feeling right. He seemed to be moving in slow motion. He tried reading a book but he couldn’t concentrate on the words. He eventually arrived to school, walked into his first period class, and had to take a big history test. By the time the class ended, time was up for the test, and the boy had to turn in the test incomplete. He had only answered nine of twenty-five questions. The moral of the story is people need to become more educated about marijuana. Marijuana has many different effects on its users, most of which are negative. The majority of the negative effects are directed to the brain. In the book, Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowij said, â€Å"The subjective effects of cannabis (marijuana) might be expected to decrease performance in situations where both perceptual accuracy and attention are important† (31). This decreased performance is a result of poor decision making. Marijuana not only has bad effects on the brain, but it also affects the mouth and the lungs. According to Alison Mack and Janet Joy, several reports have suggested that marijuana smokers are at greater risk than nonsmokers of developing cancers in tissue that come into contact with smoke, such as the lungs, mouth, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus (42). It is obvious that the effects of marijuana are lethal, and are not to be ignored. Marijuana can be deadly, and it is essential for the public to know that it is deadly, in order to prevent people from using the drug. Marijuana has both short-term effects and long-term effects; however, there are many more short-term effects than long-term effects. The primary short term effect marijuana has on the brain is memory loss.

The Downfall of Napoleon Essay -- essays research papers

How did a man with a promising military career loose it so quickly? Napoleon was one of the greatest military minds but did not always use it correctly, which eventually led to his downfall. This essay will explain what led to the downfall of Napoleon. Napoleon's military motto was concentrating on an enemy?s weak spot, capitalizing on it, and using it to crush them. After serving in the revolutionary army, napoleon distinguished himself in the military and gained the directory?s attention when he suppressed a riot in Paris. As Napoleon?s armies swept through Europe, the Europeans welcomed the French, thinking they were there to liberate them. When napoleon took over a country, he replaced its rulers with his own rulers and outfitted the country to suit his needs. Nationalistic pride streamed through Europe and people wanted freedom from French domination. They resisted the continental system ? the system Napoleon set up ? based on Roman government, because it was cutting off their supply?s as it was aimed as destroying the British economy. Conflict broke out and Portugal violated the blockade against the British trade and Spain revolted against Napoleon?s brother?s rule. These small revolts resulted in guerrilla warfare ? small bands of troops that attack in short bursts. Napoleons worst battle was in Russia and it led to his downfall. Napoleon amassed a huge army when Czar Alexander I refused to suppress British trade, and marched on Russia in 1812. Napoleon wanted to fight the Russians in one big battle but the Russians, seeing that they were vastly outnumbered, withdrew and went back to Russia to build a better army. As they went back to Russia the instituted a ?scorched earth policy?, meaning, that they burned everythi... ... has been shown in 1792, there were many different individuals and groups which hoped to be strengthened by war. Napoleon had crushed opposition at home by his victories abroad. French foreign policy had become a reflection of the uncertainties of French government, France and the French people had acquired the reputation of being restless and dangerous as they involved the rest of Europe in their quest for a regime that would prove to be permanent and satisfactory. France had always been living dangerously. Misused intelligence and underestimated opponents were at the heart of Napoleon?s downfall. This was clearly shown at Moscow when the Russians outwitted him by using their scorched earth policy and not meeting him in battle as they agreed. With careful planning, the Russian invasion could have gone a lot better and maybe not have led to Napoleon?s downfall.