The History of Scissors

Leonardo da  Vinci has often been credited with inventing scissors, but they predate his lifetime by many centuries. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a household these days that doesn’t have at least one pair. Ancient Scissors The ancient Egyptians used a version of scissors as long ago as 1500 B.C. They were a single piece of metal, typically bronze, fashioned into two blades that were controlled by a metal strip. The strip kept the blades apart until they were squeezed. Each blade was a scissor. Collectively, the blades were scissors, or so rumor has it. Through trade and adventure, the device eventually spread beyond Egypt to other parts of the world. The Romans adapted the Egyptians  design in 100 A.D., creating pivoted or cross-blade scissors that were more in line with what we have today. The Romans also used bronze, but they sometimes made their scissors from iron as well. Roman scissors had two blades that slid past each other. The pivot was situated between the tip and the handles to create a cutting effect between the two blades when they were applied to various properties.  Both Egyptian and Roman versions of scissors had to be sharpened regularly. Scissors Enter the 18th Century Although the actual inventor of scissors is hard to identify, Robert Hinchliffe, of Sheffield, England, should be rightfully acknowledged as the father of modern scissors. He was the first to use steel to manufacture and mass-produce them in 1761 -- more than 200 years after da  Vinci’s death. Pinking shears  were first invented and patented in 1893 by Louise Austin of Whatcom of Washington to facilitate pinking and scalloping and as a marked improvement over ordinary pinking irons and tools.† Here are some mentions of scissors in print publications over the years, as well as a bit of folklore. From Emar, Capital of Astata, in the 14th  Century BCE By Jean-Claude Margueron Besides ceramics, occasionally collected in large quantities, the houses produced stone and metallic objects illustrating both day-to-day needs and the activities of city merchants: beer filters,  containers, arrow and javelin heads, scales of armor, needles and  scissors,  long nails,  bronze scrapers, millstones, mortars, many kinds of grindstones, pestles, various tools and stone rings. From  The Story of Scissors  by J. Wiss Sons, 1948 Egyptian bronze shears of the Third Century B.C., a unique object of art.  Showing Greek influence although with decoration characteristic of Nile culture, the shears are illustrative of the high degree of craftsmanship which developed in the period following Alexanders conquest of Egypt.  Decorative male and female figures, which complement each other on each blade, are formed by solid pieces of metal of a different color inlaid in the bronze shears. Sir Flinders Petrie ascribes the development of cross-bladed shears to the First Century. In the Fifth Century, the scribe Isidore of Seville  describes cross-bladed shears or scissors with a center pivot as tools of the barber and tailor. Folklore and Superstition More than one expectant mother has placed a pair of scissors beneath her pillow at night somewhere toward the end of her ninth month of pregnancy. Superstition says that this will â€Å"cut the cord† with her baby and prompt labor. And heres another tall tale: Don’t hand those scissors to your best friend. Place them on any available surface and let your friend pick them up. Otherwise, you risk severing your relationship. Some say that those scissors languishing in your catch-it-all drawer can help keep evil spirits out of your home. Hang them by one handle near your door so they form a version of a cross.

Honors Program Is A Great Feeling - 936 Words

Hearing your name in a sentence after graduating with honors is a great feeling. That feeling of accomplishment and acknowledgment is completely due for the work you put in. Except, what does honors really mean? Is honors achieved the same way at Clayton State as in Georgia State? Does honors have the same goal in both of these institutions? The Clayton State’s Honors program’s initiative is to create critical thinkers, strong writers, and community involved individuals. I believe the Clayton State Honors Program does not provide exemplary results in critical thinking and improved writing skills or allows students to explore personal interest compared to a History Minor. How is the Clayton State University Honors Program formatted? The Honors program is organized of four pre-selected courses: World History, Intro to Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and Aesthetics, with two contract courses or research projects. The two contract courses can be filled with Study Abroad clas ses or selecting a normal class of your interest and enhancing it to the Honors level. What exactly is the honors level of work at Clayton State? Alexander Hall the president of the Honors College stated that â€Å"The honors level of work usually requires extra assignments and more in-depth lectures of topics the normal classes would cover.† Work is sometimes more creative, like being given research projects and being allowed to work directly under professors on assignments. Moreover, a History Minor is set upShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Community College Students731 Words   |  3 Pageswalk around campus with my head down in disappointment with myself. Every time somebody asked where I went to school I would cringe and respond softly â€Å"LaGuardia Community College† and would get a response like â€Å"oh that’s good† as if to spare my feelings. Unfortunately, LaGuardia like many other community colleges nationwide have a negative connotation assoc iated with them because they are the institutions that accept those students that did not make it to other private or public universities. OrRead MoreCan Having your First Job as a Teenager Really Change your Life? 904 Words   |  4 Pagesteenager: how would it feel to have your first job? For me, having a job means you have transitioned from childhood to adulthood. It means that you have a sense of independence and do not have to rely entirely on your family or friends for money. The feeling of independence is inspiring because you are matured enough to do what they want responsibly. Getting my paycheck every two weeks felt so rewarding because I was making money on my own. However, keeping a job can be one of the most challenging partsRead MoreAwareness And Support For Disabled Individuals756 Words   |  4 Pagesparticipating in sports. 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She knew I would be an excellent candidate for the program, would be able to balance my schoolwork along with being on basketballRead MoreBullying Is Becoming A More Visual And Talked About Concern1142 Words   |  5 Pagesbullying is of great interest to me after experiencing it firsthand. I work for the federal government, and they have policies and that could have properly dealt with the situation, but management failed to execute their own regulations. Workplace bullying is defined as unwanted behavior, verbal or physical, that is viewed as offensive, embarrassing, or objectionable to the recipient. It can also be interpreted as the misuse of power to intimidate somebody in a way which leaves them feeling hurt, angryRead MoreReflections from the Yearbook Editor757 Words   |  3 PagesStudent Council and gets lost in the maze. The whole yearbook gives you a sense of calm and exaggeration. The blue makes the yearbook colors flow, but the three dimensional effects make the pages unique. 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Being in Honors English 1 has been an opportunity that not even my hard work can redeem my debt. I belong here because I will never let my own actions take this chance away from me, I will battle against everything and everyone to make this my own. I also believe I have the strong sense of an over-achiever, I will not hesitate to take things to the next level. Another reason why I belong here is because my passion for writing and reading has never failed me and I know I can do great things hereRead MoreGraduation Speech : Senior Honors Program1321 Words   |  6 Pages 1. I would like to enroll in the Senior Honors Program, because I think it will be an excellent way to complete my experience as a sociology undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. Since transferring to UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2015, many of the courses I have taken have focused on research and its importance to the field of sociology. 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Fertilizer Industry Pakistan Free Essays

The enhanced productivity in agriculture sector can be achieved by improved and efficient crop husbandry. Applying fertilizers in required quantity and quality at appropriate times with the using of other inputs can improve yield per healthcare of agriculture crops. In the article, the production of fertilizers, factors that affect on it and other relevant aspects have been analyzed. We will write a custom essay sample on Fertilizer Industry Pakistan or any similar topic only for you Order Now Introduction The fertilizer industry has played a significant and responsible role in the development of both the agriculture and industrial sectors of economy. Fertilizer Industry is in turmoil due to 70% rise in gas prices in the year 1999. Agriculture sector occupies the dominant position but failed to give due attention to Economic Development. The yield per hectare is low in our country due to various reasons. Using Fertilizer in required quantity and quality at appropriate time is best hope to improve per hectare yield if irrigation water and certified seeds are provided according to requirement and weather conditions are favorable, because fertilizer provides essential nutrients which are required for the smooth growth of a plant. At the time of independence of Pakistan, there was no any fertilizer factory but at present eleven fertilizer units work both in private and public sectors. The Government imports fertilizers by investing huge foreign exchange every year in order to meet the requirement of farmers which results in balance of payment crisis and shortage of food. In England in 1842 Sir John Lawes treated bones with sulphuric acid and began producing a product he called superphosphate. In 1685, or the first time, potassium was Detected in the rock salt mined at stassfurt, Germany. This discovery led to the foundation of the potash industry. In Pakistan, Fertilizer is produced since 1957, at present five types of fertilizer i. e. N, CAN, AS, NP, and SSP are produced and marketed besides imported Fertilizers, by both Public and Private Sector. How to cite Fertilizer Industry Pakistan, Papers

Events Planning and Management Brand Manage

Question: Summarise Virgin Atlantics background and history, turnover, management structure, current corporate goals and targets, and markets. Your summary should use material from the Virgin Atlantic website, and other relevant online sources. Develop a SWOT analysis to identify Virgin Atlantics current situation in relation to its main competitors. You should identify a minimum of three strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Your model should be developed referencing core marketing texts with content developed from articles and web sites . Describe the marketing mix and its role in marketing, referencing two relevant theories and concepts. Explain how Virgin Atlantic use the different elements of the marketing mix to promote their brand. You should apply at least one other theoretical model learnt during your lectures. Your explanation should be illustrated with specific examples of Virgin Atlantics events, promotional activities and target audiences . Create a diagram explaining how special events are defined and classified. Your diagram should draw upon relevant core texts. Classify at least four Virgin Atlantic events using the model you have provided. Explain the impact of Virgin Atlantics marketing and events strategy. Answer: Background/ Introduction The Virgin Atlantic (VA) Airways was founded in 1984 by the Richard Branson's Group and has been into operations since then. Virgin has grown to become the second largest carrier in Britain, and it operates in the world's major cities. The Airline enjoys consumer loyalty and recognition globally because of its innovativeness, world-class customer services and on time deliveries (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 2). The management focusses on customer driven services which emphasize on innovation, fun, quality and giving customers services worth their money. From the beginning, Richard Branson's aim was. "To provide the highest quality innovative service at excellent value for money for all classes of air travellers (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 4)." Virgin Atlantic operates thirty routes globally which have been classified into the following market destinations: Ten routes to the United States Six Routes to Asia Four routes to Africa One Route around the Indian Ocean One Middle East route Eight routes to Caribbean destinations. 51% of the Virgin Atlantic's shares is owned by the Virgin Group while 49% is owned by the Singapore Airlines sold by Richard Branson in 1999 at a cost of 600.25 million (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 35). The company is governed by a 19 member official board under the leadership of Craig Kreeger as the Chief Executive Officer and Richard Branson as the Chairman. Through this management, the company's corporate goal is simply to build its foundation by focussing on leisure and business markets and offering effectiveness and efficiency to the customers (Virgin Atlentic, 2015, p. 23). The company's success is shown in its recent reports. As at December 31st, 2015, Virgin Atlantic was valued at 289.4 million compared to 122. 5million during the 1999 fiscal year. Likewise, its turnover and pre-tax profit were 2,781.9m and 22.5m respectively in 2015. The before-tax profit was a 10.1m improvement from the profit posted during the 2014 financial year (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 36). SWOT ANALYSIS This section considers the Virgin Atlantic's Strengthens, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in 2015. Strengths The company' brand are recognized globally Virgin Atlantic enjoys a strong brand image and a positive perception among its customers. The brand is associated with quality, individuality, fun and the value for money. The company has won numerous awards from its brands and effective advertisement campaigns (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 23). Enjoys an active network in North Atlantic The North Atlantic remains core to the Virgin Atlantic since its foundation. The North Atlantic, which comprises of Caribbean, contributed to two-third of the company's earnings in 2013. Virgin Atlantic is a major competitor between the U.S. and the U.K markets after British Airways (Virgin Atlantic, 2015, p. 57). The graph below shows the airway's performance in its North Atlantic network in 2013. The joint venture between Virgin and Delta has boosted its revenue The joint venture formed in January 2014 between the two airlines came with the ability to coordinate the operations between the two partners. The JV has been used as a competitive pricing strategy bringing a positive impact on the company's revenue (Virgin Atlentic, 2015, p. 43). Weaknesses Poor profitability record Before the 2015 fiscal year, Virgin Atlantic had recorded losses for three consecutive years. During the 2013 financial year, the company recorded a pre-tax loss of 74m as compared to 105m in 2012. Although the company is moving towards the right direction, the previous losses have affected its operations. The company's performance between 2005 and 2013 can be summarized as below: Under-capitalised balance sheet Virgin Atlantic under-capitalised its balance sheet considering its huge debt position which comprised of annual rental leases. The brand "Little Red" has not succeeded in the market forcing the VA to pull out of the domestic UK market. Opportunities The VA's relationship with Delta is likely to improve cost synergies VA should build its capital base from the Joint Venture to drive its cost synergies. The strategy would be beneficial to the two companies over time. A 1 ppt reduction on the operating cost would result in 0.5 ppt gain on the operating margin. Joining and alliance VA is not a member of any global alliances. However, the management has been considering to join a branded alliance to enhance its future growth opportunities. Using its Boeing 787,788, and 789 to assist in reducing its operating costs and invent new route networks. The Boeing deliveries are known for their efficient engine and lighter fuselage which would help in the cutting of costs. Threats Over-concentration on the North, Atlantic network makes VA less diversified in its operations. This leads to overcapacity which has resulted in demand and supply imbalance in other routes. The ongoing investigation by the European Commission on the Delta's non-EU investments is likely to affect VA's operations negatively if confirmed and restrictions applied. Fierce competition from the Gulf airline especially on the Europe-Asia route is likely to lower VA's revenue in future. Marketing Mix and its Role The marketing theory states that a marketer should present the right products at the right time, in the right place and at the right place. A marketing mix comprises of elements such as product, Price, Place and Promotion (Alreck Settle, 1999, p. 49). The 4P's of marketing can be presented diagrammatically as shown below: An effective marketing mix should meet the conditions stated below: The product should have the right features working well and good packaging that meets the customer needs. Customers have become price sensitive. Therefore, the right pricing strategy ought to be used. The products should be well positioned and available when required by the customers. Marketers should ensure that goods arrive in the market at the right time and are positioned correctly to capture the attention of the potential consumers (Desmond Stone, 2007, p. 113). The availability and existence of the products should be communicated to the target market using promotion techniques. Effective promotion helps the company to increase its sales revenue (Hollensen, 2015, p. 88). By using a balanced and effective marketing mix, any organization is in the position of creating a competitive advantage in any market. Marketing mix addresses the needs felt in a particular market segment. The mechanisms are used to ensure that the message contained in the brand had been communicated to the targeted people, in the right way, and at the right time (Ferrell Hartline , 2010, p. 75). Application of Marketing mixes by the Virgin Atlantic First, the VA's marketing team thoroughly checks its products to ensure that they meet the needs and the demands of the customers before they are released in the market. The company knows the importance of making a long-term impression with its customers using TV advertisement campaigns. The VA's brand is easily recognized using the colour red which symbolizes beauty, passion, and firey (Donnelly, 2015, p. 42). The products undergo several tests to ensure that they are fit for the customers. Second, the company has heavily invested in the promotion of its products. The marketing team involves an aggressive campaigning strategies to win more customers. Some of the marketing methods used are TV and online adverts, as well as promotional materials like flyers and banners (Davis, 2010, p. 111). Third, the VA's marketing team has to effectively decide on the prices of its respective products. Pricing is used to attract customers to the company by creating a positive impression about the company. The company uses a lower pricing strategy to gain competitive advantage. Likewise, the products are priced based on specific events, popularity of the destinations, and seasons are occurring in the particular markets (Hawkins, 2001, p. 53). Lastly, the positioning of the products is also important. The company uses easy to use and up to date websites and online sites to interact with its customers. For example, by simply typing "flights from the UK" under the Google search engine, the first advert to appear belongs to the VA (Donnelly, 2015, p. 42). A picture of the VA's marketing team Definition and classification of special events Diagrammatical presentation of definition and classification of special events conducted by companies is as shown below: Type of Special Event Description Business dinners Organized to celebrate milestones as well as bringing the management, employees and customers together Sponsorships and charity functions Sponsorships are used reward employees, increase customer loyalty, and attract new ones as well as raising money for charities. Networking events Aimed at reaching new customers, vendors and business partners Product launches Used to create product awareness among the customers. Customer and Employee appreciation parties Businesses focussing on customer retention host such parties to appreciate them. Board meetings Used to review the companys progress as well as formulating future strategies and goals. Shareholder meetings Such events are held to update the shareholders on the issues facing the company as well as its financial position during the fiscal year (Mullins Walker, 2012, p. 176). Press conferences These events are used to get media coverage of the existing and new products. Trade Shows Trade shows are used to position a company and its brands as a market leader VAs definition and classification of special events Type of Special Event Description Sponsorship VA has engaged in several sponsorship events since 2009. First, the company conducted birthday celebrations to its employees and customers. Second, the company engaged in retro advertisement events to create public awareness and media coverage of its products and services (Kotler, 2001, p. 54). Corporate Social Responsibility In 2014, the company converted its run-down arts centre in Hong-Kong to embrace the local culture. Likewise, in 2008, VA painted schools in Nairobi, Kenya as well as helping 1,500 villagers to access fresh water as part of celebrating its 10-year operation in Nairobi (Donnelly, 2015, p. 43). Small events The company uses press sides and Roadshows to create public awareness. Likewise, stewardesses are sent globally to give out virgin branded diaries to shopping centres and newsrooms. The events aim at keeping Virgin brands memorable and fresh in the minds of the potential customers (Mohr, et al., 2013, p. 43). Attracting stars and celebs With the help of Richard Branson, the company has attracted renowned stars and celebrities used in launching its new products. For example, in 2007 the company contracted the Spice Girls to open its Heathrow terminal (Mullins Walker, 2012, p. 71). Marketing and events strategy Even though Virgin Atlantic is a major competitor in the global airline business, it has come up with the most effective marketing and event management strategies to gain recognition. To create marketing and events strategies, VA took the following initiatives: First, the company classified its customers into adventurous, Mavericks and pioneering. After the classification, the company developed strategies to make the experience of their customers to be ultra-cool and fun. For example, the customers can get nail clean up, food and drinks and massages once on board (Virgin Atlentic, 2015, p. 55). Using the hashtag, "#FITFOO" to replicate its tag name, "Flying in the face of ordinary", VA is effectively positioned in the market. In short, VA through effective marketing and event strategies, the company has become known by the customers irrespective of fierce competition from industry giants like the British airline and the Delta Airlines (Virgin Atlentic, 2015, p. 57) References List Alreck, P. Settle, R., 1999. Strategies for building consumer brand preference. J. Prod. Brand Manage, Volume 8 , pp. 130-144. Baker, M. Hart, S., 2007. Product Strategy and Management. London: Pearson. Chernev, A., 2014. Strategic Marketing Management. 8 ed. Syndey: Amazon. Davis, J. A., 2010. Competitive Success- How Branding Adds Value. Chichester, UK: John Wiley Sons. Desmond, J. Stone, M. A., 2007. Fundamentals of marketing. London, UK: Routledge. Donnelly, R., 2015. Virgin Atlantic: Marketing Excellence. Journal of Marketing. Ferrell, O. C. Hartline , . M. D., 2010. Marketing Strategy. 5th edition ed. Chicago: South-Western. Hawkins, D. I., 2001. Consumer behavior: Building Marketing Strategy.. 8thed ed. Boston: Irwin. Hollensen, S., 2015. Essentials of Global Marketing. 2nd edition ed. Essex, England: Harlow. Kotler, P., 2001. A Framework for Marketing Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Prentice-Hall. Mohr, J., Sengupta, S. Slater, S., 2013. Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations. New International Edition ed. New Jersey: Pearson. Mullins, . J. Walker, O., 2012. Marketing Management: A Strategic Decision-Making Approach. 8 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. Virgin Atlantic, 2015. Annual Report 2015. London: s.n. Virgin Atlentic, 2015. Event Championing brand experiences, London,UK: Event Magazine.