A lie is a lie, until it becomes reality Essay Example for Free

A lie is a lie, until it becomes reality Essay Have you ever created a lie and told it to so many people in so many times and on so many occasions that you started to believe it also. Truth is spoken in words before believing, lie is equally uttered in same form, but the difference is in the period of mental processing required for the approval of the mind. Irrespective of the number of times a lie is uttered, it still remains a lie until it matures into evident truth. This I believe – ‘a lie is a lie, until it becomes reality.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Whatever comes in words is powerful than even the two edged swords.† Repeated episodes of events ingrain a mental picture of such into a reality sooner or later. This is faster believed when it has earlier existed before within the same atmosphere, locality and season. It is a function of reminiscence into the past, analyzing the image of the scenario and subsequently ignoring the path to doubt. This most unlikely will lock up the believing faculty of the mind to unquestionably assimilate it like every other truth. Come to think of it, a man who lives to tell the truth, live to be hated continually by enemy on his way with no tint of resolving. Show me a man who has never lied before and I will show you a man who is perceived to live a hostile existence in the world, a man who lives strictly not to bend the rule even if it costs a life. This is paradoxically to the detriment of his integrity for failure to contribute sweetness into beings. More so, men live to believe witnessed speech faster than what they hear alone. Imaging a lie supported by unfounded crowd of witnesses far away (still in the lie context), a sense of been odd will drag the listener(s) into the fold of the virtual seas of witness. This reminds me of a friend, who fabricates a big lie from our early childhood. Many lies he told spread faster with his popularity. Popularity here is the basis for the repetition. He cooks up so many lies to meet the expected demand of a higher social class. He is talked about everywhere in school, especially among the ladies who cunningly rush to gain his attention. Of course, he is such an awesome baby boy, who was born and bread in the good city of the other world to come. In my discoveries, I had long ago resolved that repeated pressure metamorphose a pulseless attempt to give in and satisfy intrinsic desire to shed wait of pressure. Lie is one of such pressure – it is so easy to utter because it does not cost a dime, it only entails perfect matching of the imaginary expectation of your listener with the picture of what it should be even when it is yet to be.   This very friend of mine goes here and there to here the same words of his own, far away from the third party to a distant accomplice. Such accomplice will ask â€Å"I really commend your new father’s acquisition of on of the hottest companies in town, I heard he got it in your names † reply, â€Å"I really do not border much because I see him aiming higher for me even beyond Microsoft Company† Here is just one of the numerous lies told my friends. He wakes everyday in school to hear this. He is repeatedly triggered to lobby for such an achievement from his parent until it turns a reality. His father became worried one day; attempt to relieve the young man’s anxiety and work out the expectation of one of the big shot companies. The repeated lobby turns the acquisition a reality. Let us extrapolation the last story into the field of psychology, a land where perfect  Ã‚  Ã‚   prediction of future from the past is not a crime. The aspect of the mind responsible for telling lie, is not only unique to the author, it is rather developed over time when put into function. The time interval may vary but the lie is destined to become a reality one day, if and only if it is constantly reminded. Reference `This I Believe` speech, http://www.thisibelieve.org/index.php .

Development of Internet Television Service

Development of Internet Television Service EXTENDED INTERNET USAGE 1. Introduction The first question that arises in our mind when we are talking about the internet is â€Å"What is Internet?†. So Internet is basically Network of computers that is connecting millions and millions of computers globally. Over the past 4 decades Internet has undergone a huge transformation from being used in academic research and moved into a broader platform of commercial usage. With each and every passing day Internet is turning into an indispensable and essential part of our life. With each and every step taken towards improvement of the internet every sphere of our life is directly getting affected; it is not only making our tasks much easier but also saving us a lot of time 2. Uses Of Internet 1. Communication (Fig-1): It is one best things that internet has introduced worldwide. It is very easy nowadays to communicate with people who are living very far away from us with ease. Earlier it was a very difficult task to accomplish; now we can directly chat with people very easily. Video Conferencing is making it easier for people actually see each other while talking. Fig-1 (Communication) Fig-2 (Research) 2. Research (Fig-2):Few decades whenever we had to do some research we had through hundreds of books to find something which is of relevance. Since internet came into being we can say that â€Å"everything is just a click away†. We can easily search our topic using several search engines available to us using internet thus saving us a lot of time. 3. Education (Fig-3): There are books, reference books, study materials, Web-help centers are available online which makes education an easy and interesting experience. Websites are available that can help you gain knowledge about everything without taking the help of any other individual. There are tutorials and even test series available in the internet so that one can test this knowledge. Fig-3 (Education) Fig-4 (Financial Transaction) 4. Financial Transactions (Fig-4): With the use of internet Financial transactions a have become a much easier task as it was few years ago. Now instead of physically being present in the bank, we can directly log into the bank website and with the help of the provided authentication documents by the bank. Once we are inside our account we can do any transaction at our will. We can also do fixed deposits and Guaranteed investment Schemes directly through our online account 5. Real time updated (Fig-5): Any kind of news updated or any other happening or decision taken in once part of the world is available to us real time using the internet. There are websites available online through which we can actually get updates about almost every field be it business, finance, sports, entertainment, politics, Railways and airplane tracking. Fig-5(Real time Updates) Fig-6(Leisure) 6. Leisure (Fig-6): From watching videos to listening to your favorite music, watching movies, playing games, chatting with friends and family; all these leisure activities we do in our free time are with the use of internet only. Whenever we get time we prefer doing activities in the internet which would help us relax. Internet is something which can help us freshen up our mood in few minutes. 7. Online booking (Fig-7): Online booking of airplane tickets, movie tickets, railway tickets are not only hassle free but also easier task to accomplish. Instead to standing in a queue for hours we can now directly book tickets through the internet using desired website. Thus, making this process a less tedious and more reliable job. Fig-7 (Online Booking) Fig-8 (Job Search) 8. Job Search (Fig-8): There are countless number of websites available in the internet that gives us the information about vacancies in various companies. Even online application for the positions available. Job portal websites once anyone gets registered with them they will send you mails mentioning openings as per choice. 9. Blogging (Fig-9): People nowadays are interested in writing blogs. They have the option of publicize their work and it can reach people who as looking for a similar topic to discuss about. There are a lot of website available which can be used to write a blog, only registration with the website is required. Really good blog writers are sometimes contacted by big organization to write a blog about them. Moreover using Google AdSense money can also be earned on per click basis. Fig-9 (Blogging)  Fig-10 (Shopping) 10. Shopping (Fig-10): Online shopping has become one of the most attractive thing to do in the internet. People don’t have to leave their home just open some websites, Browse through the website and order their desirable product. One of the advantages of online shopping is that everything is available in each and every website. The product is directly delivered to your home. Product can also be returned back to the vendor if it not of good quality. 3. Extended Internet Usage Now as we have seen some basic uses of the internet. Let us discuss some more advanced uses. Even though there many additional uses of internet but we are going discuss about 4 main topics in this research paper. IPTV: Internet protocol Television(IPTV) is an assembly in which Television services are distributed over an IP network in a digitized form. So we can say that it uses the existing broadband network to deliver us a TV service which is more reliable, efficient and data is 100% digital, thus improving the overall quality over an analogue TV VOIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol(VOIP) is a system in which voice conversation can be conveyed over the IP network. The end user in a VOIP network has the authority to make telephone calls over the Broadband network. The Network used in such type of connections can be through the internet which makes it global or Intranet which makes it local the Inside Network of the company. Cloud Computing: Cloud Computing is a process in which data is stored in a Large centralized server or data storage unit. Thus providing an online access to the stored data as per requirement of the end user. The data stored in the cloud not only is shared my multiple users at the same time but also can be reallocated as per demand of the end user. Thus reducing the storage, power and space of data by using the same data for multiple users. MIRACAST: Miracast is basically a HDMI based dongle which is used for live streaming of Video and Audio channel without using an Access point. So a device which uses a point to point network technology which allows different devices to connect to each other using Wi-fi direct thus allowing them to share live streamed data. Now we will have an in-depth discussion of each and every topic separately discussing about their architecture, functioning, advantages etc. 4. IPTV 4.1 Introduction IPTV is basically an internet based television service which uses networking and architecture methods of the IP system over a Packet switching network structure. IPTV has 3 main groups in which it can be classified Live Television Time-Shift Program Video on Demand IPTV uses a set-top box which uses a broadband IP data network to access channels, subscription services and other multimedia services over and safe and end to end network. IPTV services are sometimes bundled with internet access and VOIP services altogether over the same infrastructure. IPTV is not as simple as someone watching a video over the internet. IPTV connection to home provided by telecom companies uses optical fiber and digital subscriber lines (DSL) to set up a link towards a housing compound. For Cable operators they use a hybrid fiber co-axial (HFC) cable to provide a broadband connection to the subscriber. IPTV incorporates the procurement, processing and safe delivery of all video content over an IP based Setup. The service provider uses various other service providers like satellite TV carriers, cable TV carriers, Telephone companies and private network operators to bundle up a single service which is provided to the end user. Figure. 11 shows the basic block diagram for a simplified IPTV system      Fig-11(Simplified IPTV network) 4.2 Features of IPTV There are some notable features of IPTV listed below Interactive TV: Rather than providing a half-duplex connection of the rudimentary cable TV connection, IPTV delivers us a two-way connection thus providing us an interactive TV packaged with services like High definition TV(HDTV),interactive games, learning programs, High speed internet browsing many more. Time Shift: IPTV when bundled with a digital video recorder (DVR) provides the end user the capability to record programs as per his choice. Thus providing him an option to time shifting of programming content. There are service providers who provide 7 days’ worth of data to be recorded in the DVR. Personalization: Due to a full-duplex bi-directional connection between the service provider and the end user, personalization option of the set-top box is available. The user can personalize what to watch, when to watch as per his comfort. Low Bandwidth Requirement: IPTV technology allows the service provider to stream only one channel which the end user has demanded rather than delivering each and every channel subscribed by the user Thus allowing the service provider to conserve bandwidth and reducing cost. Accessible to Multiple Devices: End user have the option of using their mobile, computers laptops to access the IPTV services instead of using television. 4.3 Architecture of IPTV The diagram (Fig-12) given below shows us the architecture of IPTV Fig- 12-IPTV System Architecture The functional blocks of IPTV architecture is given below Super Head End: The channels from the national broadcasters enter the IPTV network from here. The content here is processed, prepared and stored for transmission. Core Network: IP/MPLS Network technologies are used for transporting the traffic and to gain access to the network. Access Network: IPTV data streams are distributed to the DSLAMs Regional Head End: All the area specific local content is added to the network here. End User Premises: This is the termination point for the IPTV data stream. All Data is viewed at the customer end here. One super head available in the network can be used to serve millions of customers in the network by processing the video channels common to end users across the whole area. The IPTV delivery system is constructed in such a way that it can cover a large expanse of territory over the hierarchy of structure built to deliver the video content. Offices are located in each territory which are specially constructed to handle area specific local program and channels. 4.4 IPTV Networking Technologies The diagram (Fig-13) shows the structure of IPTV and Standardization bodies Fig-13 (IPTV Activities standardization bodies) DLNA: Digital Living Network Alliance is used for setting up the home network. HGI: Home Gateway Initiative sets up the standard adjoining the gateway between end user home network and broadband connection ISMA: Internet Streaming Media Alliance sets up the broadcast of the AVC video over IP. DSL Forum: Digital Subscriber Line is used for remote-management of residential gateways and set-top boxes. ITU: International Telecommunication Union standardizes the Distribution and access network architecture. ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute standardizes the IP network used for transmission of the IPTV. ATIS: Automatic Terminal Information Service is standardizing the end to end IPTV architecture including contribution and distribution 4.5 Advantages of IPTV The signals which are used IPTV service s are 100% digital signals so better quality and easier to propagate. IPTV works on the existing internet connection, So if there is an available internet connection only the set-top box is needed to be installed and IPTV services can be used. IPTV services doesn’t require any kind of wires to get its signal. So a wireless system reduces the overhead of wires and wear tear of the wires with time. Programs can be stored in servers and can be viewed in accordance to the will of the end user thus providing flexibility. 5. VOIP 5.1 Introduction VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a process of communication in which the user can make telephone calls over the IP network. To transmit voice Signals/Conversation over the existing Data network (Wireless/Broadband) using Internet protocol VOIP is used. VOIP technology can be used over the internet as well as over the local intranet for communication within the company or special private network which are used specially for long distance calls.

Colgate Competitor Analysis

Colgate Competitor Analysis It all began in 1806, when soap was commonly made at home; William Colgate had the genius idea to start selling individual portions of starch, soap and candles. This business was born on Dutch Street, in New York City, from where he delivered his merchandise to all customers, an innovative approach at the time. By 1817, the first Colgate advertisement appeared in a New York newspaper, and several years later, they expanded and established a factory in New Jersey, an indication of their growing success. This company was passed down from son to son, each and every one of them striving for integrity and quality in every aspect of the business. Concepts such as Colgate people were a way of managing, not just a team, but a family. This concept was first introduced by the founder and is still used today. Throughout the years, Colgate was an innovator, always developing new products. They were able to forecast market trends before the competition and develop strong brand equity through merg ers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. The first merger was with Palmolive Company, a soap company as well. Together, they created the first scented soaps, perfumes, and essences. In 1872, Colgate introduced toothpaste in malleable tube similar to the one we know today. Superior merits gave this convenient and simple brand the prestige to successfully tap into several different markets. In 1900, they won an honorable award for their premium soaps and perfumes at the Worlds Fair, which was conducted in Paris. In 1906, the 100th anniversary pronounced the success of over 800 brands, multiplying considerably in the years to follow. The years to come involve Colgate starting to think globally, by doing so through a subsidiary in Canada, quickly followed by operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The development of new brands begins going rapidly, and what seems to be like one influential brand after the other is constantly bombarding the market. Many cleaning products are established such as Ajax and Soupline, which was first popular in France and is now sold in 54 countries around the world. The Palmolive dishwashing liquid was introduced in 1966 and can now be found on rack of your local grocery store. Irish Spring, Caprice hair care, and Protex, are brands that you are also probably aware of, proving to still be successful to this day, and can be found in over 70 countries. In 1976, they even acquired a leader in dog food named Hills, which shows to what extent they were confidently conquering the world horizontally with this wide variety of products. In 1983, one of todays extremely popular pr oducts, the Colgate Plus toothbrush, is launched. So many are sold annually that if you lined them up end to end, they would circle the globe 16 times. (Colgate Website) Soon after,a joint venture is made with leading oral care companies in Hong Kong. Acquisitions are made buying Murphy Oil Soap, Mennen,  Kolynos Oral Care, popular in Latin America, Gaba, prevalent in Europe, and they most recently bought Toms of Maine, a US based natural toothpaste. By 1989 the annual sales were surpassing 5 billion dollars, and by 1997, Colgate Total toothpaste is recognized as the market leader. With sales today surpassing the 15$ billion benchmark, Colgate continues to be a strong player in todays oral care market. Moreover, the company also conducts triple bottom line practices, reaching for success while targeting benefits for people, profits, and the environment. They have a You Can Make A Difference Program, which distinguishes the Colgate people for their grand efforts. Furthermore, they established Colgates HIV/AIDS initiatives in South Africa. As for performance and profit, they have been ranked in Business Week and GovernanceMetrics International Inc. as having the top Oral Care products. Concerning sustainable practices and respect for the environment, they contributed in a 40% decrease in water use, a 22% reduction in C02 emissions, and was the first of its industry to use recycled material in Europe. Market Industry and Market Analysis With over 24% category share in 2009, Colgate-Palmolive maintained its position as a world leader in oral care followed by Procter Gamble Co with 19.9% of company shares, and GlaxoSmithKline Pc with 9.9% (GMID company shares) (appendix with company shares graph). A significant reason why Colgate benefits from the highest market share in the oral care category is due to it high level of product development. They constantly launch new and innovative products, which gives them a competitive advantage in the market, and this is a big part of the companys strategy driving profitable growth. For example, in 2009 the company introduced the Colgate Wisp which was the first disposable mini-toothbrush with a breath freshening bead that allows the user to have a clean, fresh mouth with no water or rinsing. Due to their strong product development capability and focus on innovation, Colgate-Palmolive is in a position to continuously upgrade its product line regularly, thereby increasing custome r loyalty and revenues.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Another reason why Colgate has been able to acquire such a high market share is because of its high focus on marketing, leading to strong brand equity. Their marketing strategies involve offering products based on consumers needs and communicating the benefits though methods like free sampling as well as the Internet. Using this approach worldwide has been successful in increasing sales but also in acquiring a larger size of the overall category of the market. A further reason why the market share is high is because the brand enjoys a strong level of consumer recognition. Therefore, they have the possibility of gaining leverage in new markets and maintaining loyalty of existing customers.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   In addition to being a global leader in terms of company shares, Colgate Palmolive Co also has the highest brand share in oral care, with Colgate possessing 19.8% in 2009. The Colgate brand is followed by the Braun Oral-B brand having 9% of the market and then by Crest obtaining 6.4% of brand shares in that same year (GMID- product development) (appendix with brand shares graph). Other smaller but still significant competitors that Colgate-Palmolive faces in the oral care category include Johnson Johnson Inc, with their Listerine brand accounting for 6.4% of brand shares, followed by the Unilever group with Signal that has 4.1%, and finally GlaxoSmithKline Pc who owns the Aquafresh brand with 3.3% of brand shares.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   It is important to note that although the Colgate brand is experiencing growth year after year, the oral care is a mature category with limited room for innovation. Even though there are some growth opportunities, because oral care accounts for around 63% of Colgate-Palmolives beauty and personal care revenue, it is highly exposed to a slump in this category. In addition to being a mature category, the oral care products are facing a higher level of competition from private labels, which again hinders the profitability of the category. The increasing purchase of private labels is largely due to the decreasing spending power, which is caused by the high level of unemployment in many sectors since the economic downturn occurred. With a minimal cost per purchase, maintaining a high level of brand equity allows Colgate to remain competitive versus lower cost rivals. It also prevents recently established firms from gaining ma rket share. With the threat of private label, Colgate increased their effort towards innovation and branding by promoting the fact that they are the most recommended brand by dentists. This has helped Colgate fight the competitive pressures they are facing in the market. Not only does Colgate face increased competition from low-market brands but also from their major competitors such as Procter Gamble oral care products, who are also looking to expand globally in more perspective markets. Therefore, it is primordial for Colgate to continue investing in product development catering to customer needs, in order to face their increasing competition.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   There is also the issue of counterfeiting oral care products which is posing a significant threat to the company in terms of revenue loss. In 2009 thousands of tubes of fake Colgate toothpaste were recalled. This had a negative effect on customer satisfaction since purchasers of the authentic Colgate could stop buying this brand in the future believing that it is inferior to other brands and therefore decreasing customer retention (Datamonitor).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Despite the significant threats that Colgate faced in the oral care category, the company intends to remain in a market leading position and continues to have globally recognized brands by seeking opportunities allowing them to do so. For instance, Colgate had begun taking advantage of the economic and population growth with developing and emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China. Each of these economies show very high growth prospects in terms of demand in the upcoming years for consumer goods like oral care products. For instance, it is expected that between 2009 and 2014, Brazil will be the fastest growing market in oral care by accounting for 20% of the global growth, followed by China with 18%, and India with 9%. Although Colgate-Palmolive dominates oral care in Brazil, China and India with 44%, 26% and 38% of market share respectively, it is essential for the company to maintain and increase its presence in these economies in order to reap the benefits of this growth rate (GMID-product development) (appendix with market presence graph). However, they have already begun facing strong competition from their rivals PG and Johnson and Johnson in these countries. Local players in India and China have also begun gaining importance in their individual markets. Domestic companies such as Yunnan Baiyao in China, and Dabur in Japan, have begun offering herbal/natural oral care products and there is a growing demand for them. Since Colgate is one of the most valued and recognized brands globally, they are in a good position to take advantage of this market and further increase their market share. Competitive Analysis of Oral Care in the Canadian Market In the Canadian market, as of 2009, Colgate-Palmolive was the second leading company, with 18% of the market share in the oral care sector, after PG who possessed 34%, and just before Johnson and Johnson, who owned 17% of shares (Euromonitor) (Appendix oral company shares 2005-2009). In terms of company shares by brand in Canada, in 2009, Crest led the oral care category with 18.6% of shares, followed by Colgate Total with 7.8%, Listerine with 7.1%, and Braun Oral-B with 6.4%. Refer to appendix xx for oral care brand shares.Nevertheless, during that same year, Colgate was a leader in the sales of toothpaste with 42% of the value share (with Colgate Total accounting for a total of 21.5%) followed by Crest with 30.2% (Appendix toothpaste brand shares). The third company was SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare Inc (SBCH), whose 13% market share was largely due to the introduction of Sensodyne in 2007, which was very popular in the Canadian market. In reaction to this, Colgate launche d a similar toothpaste in 2009 for sensitive teeth called Colgate Pro Relief, which was clinically proven to deliver instant and lasting relief from sensitivity. Another significant rival in the oral care category in Canada is Johnson and Johnson whom, aside from having a big presence in toothbrushes and denture care, was the leader in mouthwash/dental rinses with its Listerine brand, holding 52% of the value share in 2009. Not far behind was Scope (PG) with 26%, and Peroxyl (Colgate) in fifth place with less than 1% share (mouthwash/dental rinses shares appendix).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   When looking at PG, Colgates main competitor, their portfolio of brands in oral care category is highly diversified with Crest toothpastes and toothbrushes, whitening strips; Oral-B toothbrushes, and Scope mouthwashes/dental rinses. Also, like Colgate-Palmolive, PG continuously invest in strong marketing and advertising in order to maintain excellent brand image and brand awareness in the Canada. Therefore, in order to remain competitive and gain greater market share in the Canadian market, not only will Colgate need to continue to invest heavily in marketing, but a large amount will also have to be allocated towards innovation and product development. Knowing this, the company has recently introduced a multitude of new products including Colgate 360 ° ActiFlex, Colgate Max White, the re-launch of Colgate Total toothpaste and many more. Even though Colgate faces fierce competition in the Canadian market, there are many opportunities for them to exploit in order to gain market share. For instance, it is expected that tooth whitener products will be increasingly profitable, with a CAGR of 4% from 2009-2014 (Euromonitor). In addition, a CAGR of 3% is expected during that same period for manual toothbrushes, mouthwash/dental rinses and dental floss (Oral Care- Canada). Due to the increasing number of elderly people in Canada, it is expected that the denture care products will grow at a CAGR of 3% from 2009-2014.   It is essential for Colgate that they take advantage of these relatively high growth rates in Canada for the different oral care products, in order to acquire new customers and retain those who have been loyal to this day. Canadian Consumer Profile Being part of such a competitive market, Colgate aims to deliver maximized customer value to the market, offering a multi-product segment strategy. Colgate has identified all ages with any economic backgrounds as their target market, with the most focus on the baby boomer generation. There is an increasing growth of older demographics with low rate of childbirth, and this has had a direct impact on Colgate products. This shift resulted in a larger demand for oral care products that helps tooth discolouration, tooth sensitivity, and gum problems. The baby boomers usually have the highest disposable income, and they demand additional health benefits. This allows Colgate to position this segments products at a premium price. With this strategy, Colgate had 19.1% of sales from sensitive toothpastes in 2009, illustrating a profitable customer focus. As well, the recession in 2008 allowed Colgate to further focus their sales towards baby boomers. Due to the recession, the number of profess ional tooth whitening surgeries fell, which caused an increase in the demand for whitening toothpastes. Colgate, offering a wide variety of whitening toothpastes, was able to increase their sales in this sector, with sales of $78.2 million, which consists of 38.9% of their sales. It is also forecasted that the demand for tooth whiteners are to increase by 4% from 2009 to 2014. Not only is Colgate targeting baby boomers, but it is also targeting children to capture a long-term relationship with this age group as 6.8% of sales are from childrens toothpastes. For low to middle class consumers that are price-sensitive, Colgate offers traditional toothpaste. They comprise about 6.9% of their total sales. For quality-conscious consumers, Colgate offers wide variety of complete care toothpastes 18.2% of the sales. Colgate continues to increase brand recognition in this mature market to increase retention and loyalty by consistently offering a variety of products that best suit any customers needs. Strategy Product With over 20 different toothpastes, 11 different toothbrushes, 5 different childrens products, 10 different tooth whitening, and 10 different oral care specialties available in Canada, Colgate has successfully gained customer loyalty (see Appendix 1.1). This variety of products illustrates that Colgate has used a needs based segment strategy to attract every customer with different tastes. To list a few examples, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Reliefs feature of plugging and sealing open dentin tubules intends to gain interest from adults and elders whose sensitivity levels are much higher than other consumers. Moreover, Colgate Max Fresh mainly targets young adults with their different flavors and protection from bad breath. On the other hand, the idea of Colgate SpongeBob SquarePants Battery-Powered Toothbrushes was innovated to attract children, but it also was created with gentle bristles to protect their gums. From these following examples, it is obvious to note that Colgate is recognizi ng and understanding clients needs by providing the right products for each age group, which is a key factor when trying to increase loyalty and retain customers. Colgate continues to increase their value by positioning their products in all sectors of the market; from toothpastes that has no animal ingredients to attract vegetarians, or toothpastes that reduce the speed of the development of tartar above the gum line, to toothbrushes that are price-conscious or designed to remove odour-causing bacteria. By providing such a variety of products, they are preventing competition and substitution. Another factor that helped Colgate gain high awareness was through innovative packaging. For example, when Colgate was trying to penetrate the already existing whitening toothpaste market, they decided to come up with new premium packages matching their idea of creating sparkling and dazzling smiles. The toothpaste had a holographic package to catch attention. In order to make sure of this package, they used lead users strategy, where they gained a positive reaction, and therefore decided to launch the new product with this innovative packaging. Another example involves the launch of Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste in a unique clear tube. This new packaging was created for user convenience, so that the users know how much is left in the tube, notifying them when to replace it. With the slogan, find the right products that are best for you, Colgate strives to provide satisfaction to their consumers by supplying them with a range of products that meets their needs. In 2011, the company pl ans to continue innovation to meet consumer needs by introducing new products such as the Colgate Total Gum Defense, Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam toothpaste, Colgate 360 ° Surround, and Colgate Triple Action manual toothbrushes (http://investor.colgate.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=545863ReleaseType=Earnings)/ Promotion In order for Colgate to maintain its value in this competitive market, Colgate spent a total of $1,534 million in 2009. This expenditure was largely involved with the promotion of new, growing, and maturing products. When launching a new product, such as Colgate 360 toothbrush, their advertising objective was to be informative and persuasive. They used advertising, sales promotion, as well as the publicity approach, including advertising through cable T.V., consumer magazines, providing product samples, and utilizing point of purchase. Furthermore, they used lead user strategy, which helped create great word-of-mouth. (dentist recommended brand) Even though promoting new products is important, Colgate believes that it is also crucial to continue advertising the existing products in the maturity stage. Rather than promoting in order to be informative, objective for products in this stage involve successfully reminding the consumers in order to create greater retention. Reminding the consumers is essential since this helps consumers acknowledge Colgate products existence and availability, while preventing them from switching to their competitors. Through using the pull strategy, Colgate has invested a great deal of their revenue to sales promotion, personal selling, and direct marketing. By using extensive mass marketing, consumer promotion at point of purchase, and organizing special events where they aim to build one-on-one relationship and increase net marketing contribution. Pricing Colgate-Palmolives oral care subdivision offers a variety of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouth rinses and dental floss. These products are characterized as being low priced, requiring minimal buyer effort, and are subject to mass distribution and promotion by the producer. Typically with these sorts of low-involvement products, price plays the most significant role in the decision-making process. However, recent consumer trends suggest an added perceived value of certain oral hygiene product attributes, in particular the newly launched whitening, sensitive, and total care products, which now account for over 76% of the value share of toothpastes in 2009. With price being the most flexible of the four marketing mix elements and changes in consumer trends, Colgate has developed dozens of different brand extensions at different prices ranging from $1.685 (per 100ml) to $5.871 (per 100ml) to reflect these changing demands (see appendix for further detail). Colgate therefore is primarily e mploying value-based pricing for these products as production costs do not significantly vary. Colgate has been particularly successful in doing so as people tend to be reassured when they buy a more expensive hygiene product, for they make the assumption that it is the best possible thing they can do for their teeth. However, with families and consumers tightening budgets and reducing consumption as a result of the continuing harsh economic climate, it will become harder for manufacturers such as Colgate to continue to raise prices for most oral hygiene products, even advanced formulations, as consumers will readily switch to similar competitors or private label brands. Toothbrushes, on the other hand, face different consumer behaviors. Despite the economic climate, Colgate has employed a similar value-based pricing strategy in its toothbrushes by introducing improved manual toothbrushes that are claimed to be superior to its basic predecessors, and therefore carry a higher price t ag. Colgate manual toothbrushes sold at a variety of retailers range from $1.99 to $5.99. This strategy has been particularly successful as Canadian consumers have developed loyalty to their brand of toothbrush for they sense a more significant difference between the regular and improved toothbrushes, thus dissuading many from switching or trading down, thus increasing consumer lifetime value and profitability. Colgate is also catering to more health conscious but price-sensitive consumers by increasingly introducing affordable electric toothbrushes. Distribution Being low priced, and requiring low consumer effort, Colgate products must be mass distributed and accessible to most if not all Canadians. Colgate employs an intensive distribution strategy aimed at a maximum market coverage which supports the application of product replenishment based on pull strategies, as these come closest to reflecting true consumer demand. Research suggests supermarkets are the largest distribution points for toothpaste as well as other oral care products, followed by mass merchandisers and drug stores. With that in mind, it would simply not be efficient for Colgate to sell directly to small distributors, therefore Colgate products often go through at least one wholesaler before reaching the shelves of our supermarkets. Colgate does however, directly sell to some of the larger retailer chains such as Wal-Mart, who purchase in such large volumes that it is more efficient to do so. Colgate therefore operates in what is called a parallel distribution network in w hich some retailers are forced to buy through a mass distributor while others are not. However, Colgate is working closely with small shop owners and local wholesalers through Joint Business Plans to ensure greater availability of Colgate products, as well as to provide the right assortment of products with the best visibility on the store shelves. Prior to distribution, while Colgate products are produced around the world, use of contract manufacturers is very limited as more than 90% of products were made in Colgate facilities. Colgate does concede however that the use of contractors often allows to optimize their supply chain capabilities, deliver innovative technologies, increase speed of delivery, and especially increases flexibility which is key in a rapidly changing marketplace. Three-year globalization contracts with their main suppliers enabled a reduction of the supplier base from 11 to 4 suppliers. For a key toothpaste ingredient, the supplier base was reduced from 7 to 3 to help achieve record savings and cost reductions. With optimized supply chain logistics and control over the manufacturing process, Colgate products are quick to move from their respective factories to stores all throughout Canada. In five years, Colgate managed to cut its time from product concept to retail shelves by 50%. Results Colgate-Palmolives CEO, Ian Cook, claims that his firm will continue to perform well given the current competitive and economic challenges and are committed to investing and growing our business and expanding our strong market positions (A-R 2009). Interestingly enough, Colgate-Palmolives company shareholders equity has bounced back from a ten year low, in millions, of 350 in 2002 to 3,116 as of 2009. Colgate-Palmolive (C-P) has clearly proven itself as a successful and innovative company year after year with solid financial results and consistent growth. In fact, the company claims to have obtained significantly superior results versus the SP index and the average of selected competition over the last 25 years. C-P obtained 3328% versus 2833% growth among competitors. Against the SP index the results are even greater compared with a 969% return to shareholders (Colgate TSRG). In Canada, Colgate-Palmolives launch of Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief has been quite successful. It is now th e number one selling SKU and the firms number one competitor has reacted with deep discounting, though Colgate maintains that they have taken market share away once the subsidies cease. They plan to invest and grow while still seeking to further already strong market positions. Operating revenue has increased for Colgate Palmolive steadily over the last 5 years. Although revenues from fiscal year 2009 were virtually unchanged from 2008, operating cash flow was up over 43% in 2009. The firm has consistently maintained its gross profit as a percentage of sales above the 50% threshold, reaching close to 60% in both 2009 and 2010. In addition, diluted earnings per share have seen 65.5% growth from 2004 to 2009. EXPLAIN WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN As of C-Ps last quarter, North America formed approximately 19% of sales and unit volume grew 3.5% and 4.0%. Operating profit increased 22%. Although the 2010 annual report and official audited results have yet to be released as to date, fiscal year 2010 worldwide sales were $15,564 million, up 1.5% versus full year 2009. Operating cash flow in 2010 was lower by 2% to $3,211 million, a considerable drop compared to the aforementioned 43% increase in 2009. However, North America remains sluggish, where operating profit decreased 8%. Reported sales gains were 2%, with a 3.5% increase in volume while accepting 2.5% increase in coupons and promotions. C-Ps free cash flow, before dividends, does however remain very strong; consistent with 2009 it exceeded 100% of net income. Net income and diluted EPS for fiscal year 2010 were $2,203 million and $4.31, versus $2,291 million and $4.37 in 2009. From the Statement of Cash flows, in is clear C-P has been increasingly using debt to increased capital. Proceeds from issuance of debt having increased approximately 3.5 billion and 231.4 % from 2007-10 with net cash used in financing activities also increased 45.5%. Capital expenditures have remained consistent since 2007. Despite increases in net income, depreciation and amortization have remained steady over the last 5 years, with no unusual increase or decrease. Total assets are also virtually unchanged from 2009 to 2010. In their 2008 annual report, Colgate stated that they spent over $1.6 billion marketing its products around the world. In other words, Colgate is spending an amount nearly equal to the book value of its equity capital, which accounts for about 11% of total sales, every year on marketing its products. This is evidently a significant amount of capital that will be creating value for the firm in future business. For a competitor to replicate this company, C-P clai ms that they would have to spend multiples of this amount to establish and develop the relationships that they have acquired over many years. They claim that the same is true for certain general, administrative, and research and development expenses; all of which are being expensed as incurred. In evaluating the firms results, it is thus imperative to include the intrinsic value of marketing efforts. Recommendations According to oral care forecasts in Canada, Colgate should definitely continue to maintain its position as a domestic leader in toothpaste since it represents the highest level of sales in the Canadian market. This can be done successfully by developing new products and affectively marketing each one respectively. Colgate should then focus on manual toothbrushes because they have the second highest level of sales, followed by dental rinses, tooth whiteners and then denture care, which do in fact show growth but at more modest levels of sales. Secondly, while basic products provide the necessary means of oral care, more expensive value-added products provide convenience and comfort to the consumers ready to pay higher prices, such as babyboomers. People usually tend to be reassured when they buy a more expensive product, because they feel assured that its the best possible thing they can do for their teeth. In addition to new product development, companies will focus on marketing and advertising support of their existing brands. Colgate should continue to remain on the high end scale of the oral care industry and maintain position in the high end category. Moreover, with respect to the Canadian market, they should invest more heavily in the mouthwashes considering that they have no market share while sales are the third highest in the oral care category after toothpaste and toothbrushes. As previously mentioned, the toothpaste market is generally not price sensitive and brand loyalty plays an important role in majority of the customers. Currently nearly 97% of the population in developed countries uses at least one variety of toothpaste. This gives marketers virtually no space to expand the market with new users. Consequently, adding or increasing value to the product is the preferred alternative. Technological progress made in recent years altered the toothpaste segment and made innovation a driving force. New advancements have led to the launch of a variety of high-priced, value-added multifunctional products in several oral care categories such as toothpastes and toothbrushes. Whitening toothpastes and products offering multiple functions are driving growth in the dentifrices segment. Currently, for major toothpastes, averting tooth decay is not sufficient, therefore guaranteeing benefits such as fresher breath, healthier gums and whiter teeth. More comprehensive products such as Colgate Total have strengthened Colgate-Palmolives market position substantially. Technological advancements in recent years have altered the toothpaste segment to one that offers additional benefits besides just fighting cavities. This made manufacturers roll out products with a lot of additional features that were not available previously. Over three-fourths of net sales come from outside United States, so in future years strengthening market position worldwide will be integral to triumph over the competition. In addition, the considerable revenues from international operations are key to sustaining the firms value proposition, as product innovation has revitalized the oral care market in recent years. To ensure future success Colgate must continue to invest in product in

A Prequel to Susan Glaspells Short Story, Trifles :: Short Story Creative Writing Essays

A Prequel to Susan Glaspell's Short Story, "Trifles" Minnie Foster was once described as the belle of the ball. To look at her tonight for the first time you could see why. She carried herself with both an air of confidence and modesty at the same time. Her small eyes dominated her face. They did not look directly at you anymore though. Still, they seemed all knowing and experienced as if they were able to see and know secrets about you that you wish no one knew. Her slender peaked nose was no match for the full lips she had, lips that never uttered a sound and which have become as pale as her knuckles. Her lips were pierced shut protecting the thoughts in her head from falling out one by one to the hard flooring. This morning Minnie felt a little different. No one was home. No one was there to bother her. Why then, did she feel the need to continue on like a caged animal within her own home? She cautiously continued down from the upstairs. Minnie’s right foot led the way and paused on each step. Like a young child first learning to master the staircase she would wait for her left foot to catch up before leading again with her right. Her feet glided lightly across the wooden steps and only the dust particles felt her movement. She seemed to have a pillow of air floating underneath her. Quite ironically, with each descending stride her body took, her hand would tightly grip the banister until her veins were crushed against her tightened skin with no way out. Gliding over to the kitchen, Minnie continued with her everyday tasks. She began by clearing the table, a task that should have been completed the night before but was left untouched. She put things away one by one and in a quiet manner. She lightly opened and shut the cupboards, placing pots and pans where they belonged, one by one, straight from the table to under the sink. It was cold in that kitchen. Minnie looked out the window to her neighbor’s house. Perhaps today she would go visit; perhaps today she would not.

The Political Career of Richard Nixon Essay -- essays research papers

Richard Nixon served as the 37th president of the United States. He is well known for the infamous Watergate scandal and was remembered by the American people as the first president to resign from office. However, he is also undoubtedly one of the most influential political figures when it comes to guiding the nation through one of its toughest time periods in history, as well as breaking the ice on foreign diplomacy with socialist countries such as China and the Soviet Union. Despite his downfall involving the Watergate Hotel, he had dedicated a tremendous amount of effort in domestic and world politics; and made numerous contributions during his life as a politician, which would give enough reason for future historians to believe that the second half of the twentieth century is truly â€Å"the age of Nixon†. Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a poor family on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, and was raised in the nearby small town of Whittier. His mother, Hannah Milhous, was well educated and a religious member of the Quaker Society, while his father Francis Anthony Nixon was uneducated, had no steady jobs, and was accused of being quarrelsome with nearly everyone around him (American President, http://www.americanpresident.org/history/). Nixon was very introvert as a child. He had a difficult early life with series of hardships, which made a lasting effect on his character and personality. He did not fit in with most of his peers and had a lifelong difficulty of trusting people outside of his family (Nixon, 1978, 5-15). His anger was kept inside of him, which motivated him to develop a sense of competition and struggle, and inspired him to excel in school. He became the valedictorian of his grammar school and was an excellent debater in Whittier High School. It was also the re that he met first long-term girlfriend, Ola Florence Welch. Ola Florence was known for her beauty and strong character, with a brain to match. The two quickly fell in love and stayed together for six years. Ola Florence became engaged to Nixon in 1933. However, their romance fizzled as Ola Florence broke off their engagement in 1935 (Aitken, 1993, 58-65). Nixon studied at Whittier College in California and graduated in 1934. He went on to pursue his study of law at Duke University Law School in North Carolina. After graduating third in his class in 1937 (American President,... ...2004) -----. â€Å"Nixon’s China Visit†. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ziliao/3602/3604/t18006.htm (March 12, 2004) -----. â€Å"Who Said That?†. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/china/sfeature/wst_q3b.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (March 15, 2004) -----. â€Å"U.S. Presidential Election, 1972†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election%2C_1972 (March 14, 2004) -----. â€Å"Watergate Chronology, 1971-1972†. http://www.watergate.info/chronology/1972.shtml   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (March 14, 2004) -----. â€Å"Watergate Chronology, 1973†. http://www.watergate.info/chronology/1973.shtml   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (March 14, 2004) Aitken, Jonathan. 1993. Nixon: A Life. London, Great Britain: Butler & Tanner Ltd. Lewis, Alfred E. â€Å"Washington Post, June 18, 1972†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/061872-1.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (March 16, 2004) Nixon, Richard. â€Å"Nixon’s Resignation Speech†. http://www.watergate.info/nixon/resignation-speech.shtml (March 17, 2004) Nixon, Richard. 1978. The Memoirs of Richard Nixon. New York: Grossett & Dunlap Publishers.

Education †Teacher Essay

Discussion of aim of education is a function of the philosophy of education or ‘educational theory’. The aim of education – in the fullest and deepest sense of the word – is in keeping with the nature of the human personality or ‘human nature’. Human nature is defined in terms of the cultivation and development of perceptive intelligence based on experience i. e. ‘creative intelligence’. Creative intelligence or ‘intuition’ combines reason of understanding with wisdom of compassion†¦ depends on human ‘awakening’ or ‘enlightenment’†¦. aim of education is to cultivate creative intelligence required for adaptation to changes in the social environment i. e. ‘adaptability’. Life is very complex and complicated. But an aim in life can make the complex life simple and purposeful. Aims give us direction to work and without aim, destination, or objective life becomes incomplete and haphazard. Individual has different interests, attitudes and needs. Every individual wants to achieve certain goals in life. But a clear-cut aim makes the road of life easy. Educational aims are varied. They have their different role in different fields. Some specific aims are listed below: (i) Knowledge Aim: The aim of education is the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes. It helps to adjust properly in one’s own environment. Knowledge helps the man to overcome the nature and satisfy human wants. It links the teacher and taught with social situation. It helps with certain skills to live in a society as human being and civilized one. Philosophers and educationists of the world believe in knowledge. It is the valuable asset of life, which helps the individual to overcome misery and problems of life. (ii) Vocational Aim: Knowledge aim of education is narrow by nature. The theoretical knowledge will never meet our basic needs of life. We need bread and butter to fill up our belly. We can get it if education is vocationalised. Gandhiji realized it in 1937 when he introduced Basic Education. Vocational aim develops the social efficiency of the individual. It reduces mental tension after completion of education. Those who are lower, intelligence in vocational education or training are a blessing for them. Realizing this aspect. Indian Education Commission (1964-66) introduces work-experience in the curriculum. (iii) Character Building Aim: The Indian concept of education believes in self-realization. Self-realization is possible through moral education. So the individual should cultivate moral virtues or values which constitute character. Swami Vivekananda said, â€Å"We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. † (iv) Complete-Living Aim: The individual has various aspects to be developed. Every aspect of the personality is reflected in various activities to be performed. Education should help the individual to fulfill the various needs and necessities of life like self-preservation, fulfilling necessities of life, rearing and bearing of children, performing civic responsibilities and utilizing his leisure time properly. Firstly, the individual must know the art of self-preservation. Secondly, education should enable to him to earn his living. Thirdly, he should know how to take care of his own children. Lastly, he must have the idea how to utilize the leisure hours properly in a profiting manner. (v) Harmonious: Development of the personality aim- Gandhiji said, â€Å"By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in the child and man-body, mind and spirit. † The meaning itself indicates to develop all-round aspects of individual-physical, intellectual, social and spiritual. All these aspects of the individual should be harmoniously developed. True education is development of 3H’s instead of 3R’s. The development of Head, Heart and hand of an individual makes him happy. (vi) Democratic Aim of Education: One of the important aims and objective of education suggested by Secondary Education Commission (1952-54) is to develop the democratic citizenship. India is a democratic country. Even citizen must have to realize the duties and responsibilities carefully. So the aim of education is to train carefully the future citizens. Training should be provided to develop the following qualities of the individual. (i) Capacity for clear thinking (ii) Receptivity of new idea (iii) Clarity in speech and writing (iv) True patriotism Further the democratic aim of education develop vocational efficiency, personality and leadership quality. Indian Education Commission (1964-66) under the chairmanship of Dr. D. S. Kothari suggested the following as the aims of education in a democratic set-up. (i) Increasing productivity (ii) Developing social and national integrity (iii) Making education modernized and (iv) Cultivating of social, moral and spiritual values. Each individual teacher has an opinion about what the aim of education should be, not only in their own classroom but also in school in general. Many issues occur when differing opinions about the purpose of education collide. It is important to recognize that other people, including many of your coworkers, administrators, and your students’ parents might have a different point of view concerning what education should be all about. Following is a list of different aims of education that individuals might espouse. 1. Knowledge to Get By. This old school belief holds that school is important in providing students with the knowledge they need to get by in their day-to-day lives. They need to know how to read, write, and do arithmetic. Even though these core topics form the foundation of a student’s education, most educators today would probably not agree that this should be the extent of a student’s school career. 2. Knowledge of Subject Matter Being Taught The purpose of education to some teachers is to impart knowledge about the subject matter they are teaching without much thought to other classes. When taken to the extreme, these teachers focus on their own subject matter as being more important than what students are learning in other classes. For example, teachers who are unwilling to compromise their own subject matter for the good of the students can cause problems for the school at large. When the school I taught at tried to implement senior projects, we got push back from a couple of teachers who were not willing to change their lessons to include cross curricular activities. 3. Desire to Create Thoughtful Citizens. This might be considered another old school belief. However, this is held by many individuals, especially within the larger community. Students will some day be a part of a community and need the skills and mores to exist within that society as thoughtful citizens. For example, they will need to be able to vote in presidential elections. 4. To Gain Self Esteem and Confidence While the self esteem movement often gets ridiculed, we do want our students to feel confident about their learning abilities. The problem comes in with inflated self esteem not based on reality. However, this is often cited as an aim of the educational system. 5. To Learn How to Learn Learning how to learn is one of the key elements of education. Schools need to teach students how to find information they will need once they leave school. Therefore, the specific subject matter being taught is not as important for future personal success as is the ability for students to understand how to find answers for any questions and problems that might arise. 6. Lifelong Habits for Work. Many of the lessons that schools teach are necessary for success in their students’ future lives. As adults, they will need to be able to get to work on time, dress and behave appropriately, and get their work done in a timely manner. These lessons are reinforced on a daily basis in schools around the nation. Some individuals see this as one of the main reasons for sending students to school. 7. To Teach Students How to Live Finally, some individuals look at school in a more holistic manner. They see it as the means towards right living for the rest of their lives. Not only do students learn information in their individual subjects, but they also learn life lessons in and out of class. As previously explained, proper work etiquette is reinforced in the classroom. Further, students have to learn how to deal with others in a cooperative manner. Finally, they learn about how to learn information they might need in the future. In fact, one of the things that many business leaders cite as being necessary for future workers is the ability to work as part of a team and problem solve.

Religious Experience Essay

A religious experience is an encounter with God when you experience transcendent reality and it you cannot will it to happen. A direct religious experience refers to events where God reveals him/herself directly to the person having the experience. The experience is not chose or willed by the person; the person experiences or observes God in some way. An indirect religious experience refers to experiences, thoughts or feelings about God that are prompted by events in everyday life. For example observing the stars in the sky and having thoughts about the greatness of God the Creator. Ineffable experiences are beyond human powers and abilities to fully describe and communicate. Religious experiences can be experienced in many forms such as visions, voices, numinous experiences, conversion experiences, or corporate religious experiences. The inductive argument is all based upon experience. Inductive arguments suggest that if an entity is experienced, it means that it must exist. It implies that God is the sort of being that is possible to be experienced and that people can claim to have experienced God directly. One may conclude from this that God exists. Richard Swinburne suggested that there are two different types of religious experience: Public and Private. An ordinary experience comes under public and is an experience where a person interprets a natural event as having a religious significance (for example the beauty of nature). An extraordinary experience appears to violate normal understanding of the workings of nature (e.g. Jesus turning water into wine). There are three types of private experiences which includes experiences such as dreams, non describable experiences where God is revealed. These experiences go beyond human powers of description. The last type includes things like looking at the world from a religious perspective. Swinburne’s principle of credulity maintains that it is a principle of rationality that in the absence of special consideration, if it seems to a person that X is present, then X probably is present because what one seems to perceive is probably so. The principle of testimony maintains that in the absence of special considerations, it is reasonable to believe that the experiences of others are probably as they report them. There is evidence of religious experiences in the Bible, such as Saul’s conversion in Acts 9:1-3. Saul sees a big light which no one else experiences, followed by the Lord speaking to Saul where Saul talks back (other people also hear the lord). Saul then goes blind and the Lord speaks to Ananias in a vision who then restores Saul’s sight. This experience was said to change Saul’s life which makes it the account more accurate because why would he lie? However some may critique that the person who wrote it (Luke) was not present at the time of the event so may not have all the correct details. Furthermore some may say that the experience could have just been an epileptic fit, which would explain the light Saul saw. However there was no evidence that he had an illness could cause side effects like hallucinations, visions or delusions. Saul’s conversion also appears later in the bible in Acts 22 and 26 which may weaken its validity because each account has sl ightly different details. William James was interested in the conversion experiences because he believed that they were the inspiration behind institutions like the church, and believed we would not have the church without them. He believed that religious experiences lead to loss of anxiety, gaining of new knowledge and a changed understanding of the world. One of James’ achievements was to identify four characteristics of religious experiences, which were particularly prominent in mystical religious experiences of God. This includes ineffable which is a direct experience of God, which goes beyond human powers of description. Another characteristic is that they are noetic, which refers to the fact that mystics receive knowledge of God that is not otherwise available. An addition characteristic is transient which means the affects are not permanent but it they are long lasting and can change a person. The final characteristic is passive which means that the person is not in control of it happening but i s something, which happens to the mystic and is from God. James saw this as evidence against arguments claiming that a religious experience can be explained by saying a person willed it. James suggested that the only possible sign that religious experiences are from God is a ‘good disposition’. So he would not ask you to do anything bad. For example, Michael Abrams believed that he heard a voice telling him to kill George Harrison in 2001, when in actual fact he was just mentally ill because he had come off his medication. The voice he heard was not from God because they encouraged him to do bad things. James believed that religious experiences only have authority for the person who experiences it, but they may have great meaning. James did not deny the reality of religious experiences, but he examined the similarities between them and other experiences such as dreams and hallucinations, or subconscious ideas. He suggested that on their own they do not demonstrate Gods existence, they do suggest the existence of ‘something larger’. James makes it rather clear in his book ‘Varieties of Religious Experience’ that religious experience is central to religious belief. However James leaves open the possibility of God’s existence. Furthermore, many psychologists claim that religious experiences only happen to people who already have at least some religious belief. However there are some cases that have no connection to any religious tradition. James argued that religious experiences are explainable psychologically, however J.L. Mackie argued that if this is the case, they have no authority even for the person who experienced it. Immanuel Kant rejected all claims of religious experiences. He thought that because God is not an object in space and time and we only have five senses, which limit us to only sense what is in space and time. This makes it impossible for us to experience God. The example of ‘the blind girl’ can be used to explain Kant’s suggestion. For instance, the blind women in the picture can experience her daughter’s hair because she is touching it, but she cannot experience the rainbow, which is behind her because she has no sight so it is out of her senses. Richard Swinburne suggests two ways, which can be used to asses claims about religious experiences. The first one is the ‘principle of credulity’. This argues that other things being equal, we have good reason to believe what a person tells us is correct. On the whole we normally believe would believe a simple statement telling us that they saw a cat crossing the road, even if we had not witnessed it ourselves. ‘The principle of Credulity [states] that we ought to believe that things are as they seem to be†¦ unless and until we have evidence that they are mistaken’ (Swinburne ‘Is there God’). He suggests reasons why we may not believe evidence, such as there may be evidence that an event was not caused by God. He gives the example of an set of identical twins – you see one twin but later discover it was actually the other twin. Swinburne then goes on to suggest the ‘principle of testimony’, which argues that it is reasonable to believe what someone tells you. For example there would normally be no reason why you would not believe what your good friend says. However if that person is a known joker or liar, this may be a special consideration as this knowledge may undermine any instance to believe what your friend tells you. However, not everyone has religious experiences, which you mean that one could say that this may be a reason to say that experiences are caused by something else. If someone is dying of thirst they may see a hallucination of an oases but this does not mean that it is real. If religious experiences are similar to this, they do not reveal god. Swinburne suggests that it is the already religious people who are more likely to have a religious experience just because they have a better chance of recognising a religious experience by using their beliefs. This means that attention can be drawn towards prior beliefs. Swinburne argues that, taken with other evidence of God’s existence, religious experiences make it likely that God exists. However Anthony Flew gave the example of 10 leaky buckets – they will never be as good as one non-broken one. Flew suggests that a series of weak arguments does not make a strong one. The Vicious Circle Challenge says that religious experience depends on the prior assumptions on those involved. This implies that instead of religious experience being a basis for faith, they are more likely to be generated by existing faith commitments. So therefore they do not underwrite faith. The Conflicting Claims Challenge argues that if one religion relies on their religious experiences to prove their religion then each can religion can claim the same. It implies that each religion is equally true, as David Hume put it that it is ‘a complete triumph for the sceptic’.