How Transmedia Has Worked And Is So Successful - 1587 Words

Transmedia has been a huge part of how Marvel Studios have worked and is so successful(Menard, 2014). Every single movie feels unique, but also it feels like it is part of a bigger universe(Weekend Warrior, 2016). Transmedia have been making the Marvel Studios bigger and more interconnected for almost 10 years(ComicBookCast, 2016). Transmedia has made Marvel Studios able to build the larger world that they have established(ComicBookCast,2016). Transmedia has made watching all Marvel Studios movies worth it, because of the various easter eggs(Menard, 2014). For example, the references that are made is Thor, Iron Man, and The Avengers(Menard, 2014) . In Iron Man 3, they reference how the impact that Thor had on the World, and in the same†¦show more content†¦The themes in Marvel Studios have never been misunderstood or misrepresented in a way that the audience could not comprehended it, even if the scale of realism is on the complete opposite sides of each other(ComicBookCast2 , 2016). Examples that will be discussed are Guardians Of The Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Captain America: Winter Soldier, and Thor. Guardians Of The Galaxy and Doctor Strange were projected to fail by almost every critic(ComicBookCast2, 2016). Almost everyone had never heard of Guardians Of The Galaxy except the hard core fans of the comics(Weekend Warrior, 2016). Kevin Feige wanted to push the idea of expanded universe and the only way he wanted to do it was Guardians Of The Galaxy(Weekend Warrior, 2016). Guardians Of The Galaxy had a lot of crazy aspect that gets dive into to, but it somehow breaks all expectation and it succeeds far more than it has been(ComicBookCast2, 2014). Guardians Of The Galaxy has extraordinary characters that is relatable, such as Drax and Peter Quill. Drax is trying to avenge his family that was killed by Ronan the Accuser, and Peter Quill regrets not saying goodbye to his mother right before she died(ComicBookCast2, 2014). These two characters have something in common, which is they both have burden placed on their lives(Menard, 2014). They both can’t shake the feeling of what has been done, and they both blame themselvesShow MoreRelatedWith The Movie Industry On The Rise In The 21Th Century,1725 Words   |  7 Pagesheroes into movie stars(Comicbookcast2,2016). Marvel Studios’ films has not released a critically bad movie, and they beat out the gold standard that Pixar has maintained(T.V. Junkie, 2016). Marvel Studios has been steamrolling all of the movies that the other studios(T.V. Junkie, 2016). Marvel Studios has been known at making decades worth of emotional, dramatic, entertaining movies, but in order to understand how they are so successful at capturing a wide variety of public audience, the following mustRead MoreThe Marvel Of Marvel Studios1849 Words   |  8 PagesMarvel Studios’ movies is like a path to travel on as an audience member (Menard, 2014, p. 28). Across a decade worth of films and tv shows, there has been a there has been more than 60 characters that the Marvel Studios universe contains (Menard, 2014, p. 54). Ther e has been a lot of conflict and character development, because of the multiple events that happens in the other movies (ComicBookCast2,2016). There a lot of example of this happening, such as the new york event in The Avengers (ComicBookCast2

No Child Left Behind Assessment Essay - 1289 Words

If a standardized test was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars or American Idol, would it be voted off? Depends on whether the judges were politicians, professors, psychologists or parents. The stakes are high; ideology and money are at stake, and accountability is on the line. Using standardized tests as quantitative measurement tools have important implications for American education, â€Å"quality of assessment is one of the key features of good teaching and setting appropriate assessment tasks should question students in a way that demands evidence of understanding† (Jimaa, 20011, p. 217). The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education reform program is a good example of this concept. The ambitious federal education bill that President†¦show more content†¦After a century and a half of universal public education, and despite the highest per-pupil expenditure on public elementary and secondary education in the world, forty percent of United States fourth graders read below the minimally acceptable level, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). And for minority students in inner-city schools, that rate is 65 percent. It is an accepted fact that children who do not read by fourth grade almost always fall behind in all other subjects. (It is even more moving to realize that children learned to read well in one-room schoolhouses before all of the debate about â€Å"best practices,† pedagogy, etc.) The NCLB act required mandatory annual testing in basic reading and math skills for all children in grades three through eight. The results required scores to be broken down by race, sex, English-language proficiency, and socioeconomic status, and made public. (States were permitted to develop their own tests subject to federal oversight.) The mandatory testing requirement served to hold schools accountable. â€Å"However, for the most part states did not examine the effects of testing on educational practice. That was an important omission because one of the central assumptions of NCLB was the provision of high-quality information that would promote improved educationalShow MoreRelated The No Child Left Behind Act: Impact on the Assessment of Special Education Students3353 Words   |  14 PagesThe No Child Left Behind Act: Impact on the Assessment of Special Education Students Three years after the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) moved into our schools there is a great deal of controversy that questions whether the act implemented by President George W. Bush is helping or hurting an already suffering school system. There are many dimensions of the NCLB act that have been questioned over the past three years; the fair assessment of students with disabilities is one of them. As the NationalRead MoreShould Children Have A Special Need?1676 Words   |  7 Pagesor unable to reach grade level standards? The No Child Left Behind Act gives all children a fair, equal chance to reach the minimum proficiency on standard academic assessments that they are expected to take whether they have a disability or not. The current talk among professionals is that they believe that these assessments deal with the amount of student’s graduating high school and the choice of public schools. Not only are these assessments being given to students to test their knowledge,Read MoreThe Debate Over the No Child Left Behind Act Essay1014 Words   |  5 Pagessurrounding the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 are both positive and negative. Many politicians and people that previously supported the Act are now standing against it. In the beginning many supported the new Act because everyone was aware that a change needed to happen in the education system and the proposal of No Child Left Behind seemed like the answer we were looking for. As the No Child Left Behind requirements began to be felt in the school systems across America and the assessments results startedRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Act Essay1646 Words   |  7 Pages The No Child Left Behind Act was based on the Elementary Sec ondary Education Act of 1965. The act was established based on the promise of Thomas Jefferson to create a free public education system in Virginia (Hammond, Kohn, Meier, Sizer Wood, 2004). The act is now reauthorized as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act was to make sure that children were given a fair, quality education. The act set out to close the achievement gaps in educationRead MoreHow Education Is The Key Focus On Improving Test Scores1635 Words   |  7 Pagesschool, teaching levels, what should be taught and standardized test to check for improvement, and are working on implementing another one called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). George Bush introduced the ‘No Child Left behind Act’ (NCLB) in 2002. Since 1969 the ‘National Assessment of Educational Progress’ (NAEP) has provided data on students’ test scores and performances. The ‘Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition ’ (MCT2) was founded on the MS frameworks of the 2006 Language Arts andRead MoreEssay on The Impact of No Child Left Behind1000 Words   |  4 PagesThe No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was a piece of legislation proposed by the administration of George W. Bush. The legislation required states to develop educational plans to address issues of assessments, standards, and accountability. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states would have to administer tests yearly in reading, math, and science. No Child Left Behind holds school districts accountable for student achievement or lack of achievement. No Child Left Behind legislation is basedRead MoreThe Ramifications of Government Reform on Education Essay1354 Words   |  6 Pageseducation in America. However, government acts like No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Common Core curriculums have been put into effect in order to reverse America’s position. They are best understood as tools to bridge the achievement gap re gardless of what a child may look like, sound like, or what part of the nation they come from. These programs are designed to help all children excel in school no matter what. Even though the No Child Left Behind Act significantly increased the average performanceRead MoreImportance of Educational Assessment Tools Essay567 Words   |  3 Pagesinconsistencies with the testing data. As educators, we have persistent questions as why we do what we do. From classroom instructional strategies and assessments to positive behavior and classroom management; the more we reflect and question instructional decisions that are taking place within our classroom, school, and county. The No Child Left Behind Act is a legislation that is a reality all over the nation. According to Spellings (2007), the NCLB Act recognizes what truly make a difference inRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind Act Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pageshas instilled in our youths. At the turn of the century, there seemed to be a shift. And that shift is due, in part, to the introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act, a federal public education act that forces schools to follow certain policies and meets standards in order to receive federal funding. It is believed by many that No Child Left Behind has assisted in the marginalization of arts education in public schools by way of prioritizing core subjects. This thinking, and by conjecture thisRead MoreEducation Is An Important Part Of Society1690 Words   |  7 Pageswould receive a good education. However, not every child was receiving the same education opportunities based on money issues surrounding them and the minority they were classifi ed as, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was to ensure that these issues would be dissolve. On January 8th of 2002, six months and one war later after George W. Bush first proposed the No Child Left Behind bill, it was finally passed. Under the No Child Left Behind, every state was required to develop and implement strict

Paul Cezanne Essay Example For Students

Paul Cezanne Essay Paul Czannewas born in Aix-en-Provence, a small town south of France. As a young boy, Czannespassions lay in his poetry and his friends, including Emile Zola (Preble 402). Czanneis included in the time of the Post-Impressionists. Czanne wanted to makeImpressionism into something solid and enduring like the art of museums (Preble401). Czanne did not have a typical, (as I define as friendly), relationshipwith his father. Czanne had some problems with his father. Czannes fatherwanted for Czanne to be a lawyer. His father had sent him to a college forlawyers but Czanne was coaxed otherwise by his friend Zola her moved to Paris(Preble 402). Czannes father had bought the Jas de Bouffan, which would bethe place that Czanne did many of his works (Rewald 21). The Jas de Bouffanwould be their residence for over a half a century. In one of Czannespaintings of their residence he omits people and animals that, like in most ofhis paintings, would disrupt the unchanging features of the scene (Murph y 150). Czannes father was always in a struggle with his son. His father was onethat could not comprehend anyone being able to be successful in anything thatdid not make him or her rich. One thing that his father had to be able torecognize was that his son had determination, but his father was utterly blindin seeing his sons talent (Rewald 35). When Czannes father died, Czannespoke of him as a genius for leaving him an income of 25,000 francs (Murphy123). Czanne married his 12-year affair Hortense Fiquet. A few months aftertheir marriage, Czannes father died. Hortense was not welcome at the Jas deBouffan by Czannes mother and sister. People say that his mother and sisterbanned her from the house and they were in a rage of giving her too much money(Murphy 117). Czannes sister, Marie, was the one that encouraged themarriage, even though she disliked Hortense, in hope that in would lift thespirits of her brother. Hortense and Czanne did not along very well (Rewald125). Even after their marriage , Czanne had no thought about living the Jas orhis other and sister. Czanne thought that 16,000 francs, which were her share,was all that she needed (Rewald 125). Emile Zola was Pauls best friend. Czanneand Zola were attracted by their shared interest in literary movements andartists. Zola and Czanne played an important role in each others life withZola helping start Czannes art career and Czanne helping Zola to startthinking about pictorial art (Murphy 14). Czanne at one point thought he couldwrite and some of his works are found in his letters to Zola: Dark, thickunwelcome mist covers me up; The sun withdraws its last handful of diamonds(Murphy 14). Zola was a very important person on telling the history of Czanne. However, their friendship had its rocky times and its breakup by Zola. Zola canrecall the complete disorder of Czannes studio (Rewald 62). Zola tells ushow Czanne rarely swept the interior of his studio for fear that the dustwould disrupt his works. Czanne based his work on the observation of natureand used separate strokes that were visible to make rich surfaces (Preble 400). Czanne tried counting on the connection between adjacent strokes of color toshow the entirety of the form and the space decreasing. In Czannes TheSaint Victoire from Bellevue we can see how Czanne uses this technique to showspace and depth from a flat plane. Czanne likes to make alterations on natureand enlarge the mountain; Czanne also makes spatiality more clear and distinctthan the actual photographs of the motifs (Loran 125). Czanne seemed to beobsessed by this mountain and somewhat exaggerated the size of it in every oneof his paintings (Murphy 154). In another view of this, entitled Mont Saint-Victoire,Czanne uses the tree to show height by extending it the entire length of thecanvas. Czanne utilizes color contrasts to show depth playing with cool andwarm color shifts (Schapiro 66). Czanne painted this scene at least 60 timesfrom every possible angle. Czanne had a very distinct style of painting. Tomove out of the style of the broken-color of the Impressionists, Czannecreated t he system of modulating the colors from a volume of cool to warm orlight to dark. He made a series of steps (Loran 25). As the colors begin tooverlap they are creating a three-dimensional image. Czanne very seldom evermade a line around his paintings (Loran 26). Czanne would make the linesvirtually disappear off the edge thus creating more volume. This would make Czannespaintings pass to the negative or the background (Loran 26). This technique canbe seen in Czannes Still Life with Apples, a Bottle, and a Milk Pot (Rewald253). In this painting we are able to see the way Czanne literally escapes theuse of encompassing lines. Czanne loses the edges in this painting producingan image of it pass into the background. Let us return to the color modulationthat Czanne created. Color balance was one final aim for Czanne. Czanneslight sources are moderately consistent and his shadows are a very importantelement to his color (Loran 28). Czanne was known to work on several canvasesat one time c hanging from one to the other depending on the time of day or thelocation of the sun. One of his paintings that express this color balance isChestnut Trees and Farmhouse at the Jas de Bouffan (Rewald 150). In thispainting Czanne is also building on the volumes, which leads us to the nextperspective on his work. Czanne used lines to create planes, but he usedplanes to create volume. If every artist can agree on one thing, it is that Czanneachieved volume (Loran 27). In Czannes The Quarry Called Bibemus, thevolume is accentuated. Czanne relies on warm-to-cold contrasts and overlappingforms to give the volume instead of linear and aerial perspective (Murphy 81). .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .postImageUrl , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:hover , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:visited , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:active { border:0!important; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:active , .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258 .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u77da3d3a8486f965a17a1ef7de160258:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: From Dirt to Duchess EssayThe color contrast between the bright green tree and the orange rock make thespace perfectly clear without the use of lines (Loran 71). Czanne had problemswith perspective. In his Road to Gardanne, Czanne drastically changes thescene in order to organize space. Czanne compresses the size of the foregroundand makes the road with a sharper turn. Czanne also reduces the size of thetrees immensely, but increases the size of the bridge immensely (Loran 48). Thissame technique is also used in Mardi Gras and Harlequin. This is one of hismonumental works in which he struggles with his space organization. His son,Paul, posed for the paintings as Harlequin (Murphy 108). In this photo Czanneshows his struggle of space by adding sections to the plane. We can see acrinkle in the canvas area of the ankle and toe of Harlequin. Czanne alsocaused distortions in his paintings that were merely accidental. Due to the factthat Czanne would still be scheming his paintings distortion was often made(Loran 29). We can see this in his artwork entitled Women Bathers (Schapiro117). We can see in this painting how the head of one of the women is distortedand somewhat absent from the painting. His distortion was sometimes justconsidered a lack of dexterity and manual skill, which he later mastered. It issaid that because Czanne had not reduced himself to simple abstract shapesthere were distortions. He was still trying to capture the realistic look bysmudging and smearing (Loran 95). The paintings distortion can also beexplained by the fact that he did all canvases at one time which did not allowhim much accuracy on the human figure. Much distortion can be seen in thepainting of another Bathers (Rewald 87). In this painting, the bathers can noteven be distinguished without reading the name. In Czannes LEstaque, Czanneis showing how he unifies the foreground and background of some of his paintings(Schapiro 63). Unlike the original picture of this scene where the foregroundand background are clearly separate, Czannes paintings unify hem into one,so that they merge to look continuous with one another. Czanne is losing theaerial perspective that is held highly among the Impressionists (Loran 106). Works Cited 1Loran, Erle. Czannes Composition: Analysis of His Form withDiagrams and Photographs of his Motifs. University of California Press, 1970. 2Murphy, Richard W. The World of Czanne : 1839-1906. Time-Life Books, Inc.,1968. 3Preble, Duane, Preble, Sarah, and Frank, Patrick, Artforms: AnIntroduction to the Visual Arts. Late Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Addison Wesley Longman, 1999. 4Rewald, John. Czanne: A Biography. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1986. 5Schapiro, Meyer. Paul Czanne. Harry N. Abrams, Inc.,1952. Bibliography1Loran, Erle. Czannes Composition: Analysis of His Form with Diagramsand Photographs of his Motifs. University of California Press, 1970. 2Murphy,Richard W. The World of Czanne : 1839-1906. Time-Life Books, Inc., 1968. 3Preble, Duane, Preble, Sarah, and Frank, Patrick, Artforms: An Introduction tothe Visual Arts. Late Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Addison WesleyLongman, 1999. 4Rewald, John. Czanne: A Biography. Harry N. Abrams, Inc.,1986. 5Schapiro, Meyer. Paul Czanne. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1952. Arts and Painting

The Killers Essays - The Killers, Ernest Hemingway, Nick Adams

The Killers The Killers by Ernest Hemingway is a story based upon Hemingways view of the big city in the late 1920s. During the era of prohibition whoever controlled the flow of alcohol controlled the city. Unfortunately, the police were powerless against man thirst for booze. The Mafia also expanded into the bookie field, and if someone didnt pay up or double crossed the Mafia they were taken out. Hemingway was unfamiliar with this city scene and we can see a very strong correlation between him and one of his characters, Nick Adams. Nick was a newcomer to the city, completely unfamiliar with the boldness of disregard for the law that was present. The Theme that I feel Hemingway is trying to convey is how much corruption and disregard for the law there was in the late 1920s. The plot of this story primarily consists of an attempted murder that takes place in a lunchroom diner. The diner itself plays an important role in the setting of the story. It gives us insight into the lives of two of the customers, Nick Adams and Ole Anderson. When we ask ourselves what type of a person would have gone to a diner in the late 1920s, it reminds us of the common, single, working man. This is also the type of person who would be more susceptible to making a bet with a bookie, throwing a fight for a bet, or even making some other sort of deal with the Mafia. The town in which the diner is located in also plays an important task in giving the killers an underlying importance. This underlying importance displays an early dominance from these two characters. The backdrop to the action in the The Killers is a static, conventional town that, like the universe in which the killers operate, is colorless and passive(Taube 5). The lack of any other people, places or things being singled out shows the reader that the story will be centered in the diner. The Theme of the story was more or less an actual event that could have taken place in any one of the major cities in the late 1920s. When Mobsters ruled and the police where simply a slight annoyance. The two killers who entered the lunchroom were most likely Mafia hit men. As they leave, with Al only partially concealing the sawed-off shotgun, they further flaunt their disdain for the law(Geimer 1260). This Disdain for the law points to a more powerful organization than a simple murder. Oles response also points to a larger, higher power. His response is much like that of the older waiter: he is resigned not to life but to death. He repeatedly tells Nick Adams that there is nothing for him to do; he turns his face to the wall(Taube 6). Oles response also sheds light on the general attitude of the 1920s, which was to just mind your own business and leave everyone else alone. Even the cook, Sam, told Nick You better not have anything to do with it at all (Hemingway, 17). This sets the mobsters influence into perspective, showing us that the general public was under control of an unwritten, silent government. The reader was led to believe that the two killers, Max and Al, were Mafia hit men. While Hemingway never says if they were or werent, we can see instances where they switched from one to another. After Max and Al enter the diner they look at the menu to try and find something to eat so as not to look suspicious. When one of them tries to order from the dinner menu the waiter George states, Thats the dinner, you can get that at six oclock(Hemingway 12). The two men are left with no choice but to take a short order, so Al orders ham and eggs and Max orders bacon and eggs. When George returns with their food he cant remember which person ordered which meal, so he asks Al Which is yours? Al replies Dont you remember?, Ham and eggs.(Hemingway 13) After Al says this Max takes the platter closest to him which happens to be Als ham and eggs. Not only do the Killers

A Comparison of Leadership Styles Among the 2008 US Presidential Candidates essays

A Comparison of Leadership Styles Among the 2008 US Presidential Candidates essays A comparison of leadership styles among the 2008 US presidential candidates and which styles have been most successful in business and politics in the past: The 2008 elections in the United States are considered to be one of the most important elections in the recent history of the US. This assessment has two main considerations. On the one hand it represents an important moment from the point of view of the political spectrum, as the future of the United States and of the world is also decided upon. On the other hand, from the point of view of the candidates at the moment in the Democrats race there is an increase battle for nomination. Still, this competition makes them stronger and more willing to learn and help. Indeed, the 2008 elections represent a character statement and preference. Therefore, this is why it is important to have a personal style of conflict and of dealing with such issues. This is largely due to the fact that the electorate is seeking individuals that would represent them in all sorts of situations, including conflicting ones. At the same time though there must be qualities the people can identify with. This is one of the reasons for which there are different types of politicians, which appeal to different segments of the society and of the electoral poll. In order to assess the different styles which are present in the 2008 campaign candidates, it is important to take into account the different personalities. The most important candidates in the current race seem to be two Democrats, Clinton and Obama, and the Republican McCain. Taking into account the personal background of each, as well as the major policy lines they advocate, a certain style can be chosen to label them. First and foremost it is important to underline the fact that politics cannot be conducted without leadership. In this sense, political leadership is represents but one of the many categories of leadership, and it is a ...

Insecure Writers, Heres Your Support Group

Insecure Writers, Heres Your Support Group Insecure Writers, Here's Your Support Group! - An Interview with Alex J. Cavanaugh Author communities, groups, forums, alliances and collectives are developing and proliferating at enormous speed as writers seem to be both excited by the new publishing world and worried it’s gotten too big and competitive to navigate on their own.Some groups focus on the writing, and have their members critique and hone each other’s writing skills. Others focus on the publishing options, and particularly the DIY one. Many mix both.When I first heard about the Insecure Writers Support Group, I liked the fact that it was both targeted (it’s for insecure writers) and open to all (mainstream, hybrid, indie). By clearly stating its purpose, IWSG fosters more transparent and open conversations around it.Today, we interview Alex J. Cavanaugh, sci-fi author and founder of IWSG.Hi Alex, great to have you here. Firstly, how did you start the Insecure Writers Group?Thanks, Ricardo! I started it after making a random comment to another author that he needed such a group. T he idea caught fire and in September 2011, we launched the group. Everyone posts the first Wednesday of the month, either about their insecurities, breakthroughs, or triumphs, and then they visit other blogger to encourage them. In September 2013, we launched the IWSG website and the IWSG Facebook group. Last year we joined forces with another Facebook group and formed the IWSG Critique Circle and we put together a book, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Guide to Publishing and Beyond.There is a clichà © that all authors are insecure about their writing, at least in their early years. Do you think there’s any truth behind that?Absolutely! Writing is such a personal and creative thing, and we all have doubts about our abilities. I’ve yet to meet a writer who thought he rocked right out of the box.What’s your ambition for IWSG? You’ve added a lot of resource materials and some conversations are now more focused on tips and tricks for writ ing, marketing and publishing (as is the case in most author communities). Do you want to keep the â€Å"support† as core value in the group, or do you see it branching out?The tips and tricks are all part of the support. We can provide support through those posts and the database we maintain.I want to see this group grow on all fronts – blog participants, followers, and Facebook members. I want the site to become THE database of databases for writers. I’d also like to start a newsletter in the near future. Whatever we can do to connect authors and offer help.Orna Ross has been quoted saying: â€Å"A few years ago, writing was a very solitary profession. Now, I believe it’s one of the most social ones.† Is IWSG a good example of that?One of the best! Many members say IWSG post day is their favorite of the month and they receive so much encouragement – and give it. We’ve brought together so many writers, connecting them as friends, cri tique partners, and doorways to other opportunities.Do you think a lot of fantastic writing has never seen the light of day because writers didn’t get the moral support they needed when they doubted themselves?I’m sure there is some great writing hidden in the drawers of the world. It’s sad when writers don’t get support at home and can’t find connections elsewhere. Yes, you do have to have a thick skin and a strong drive, but everyone needs a boost now and then.Have you ever had to face writer’s block or self-doubt, and how did you overcome those?I’ve not really faced writer’s block. By the time I begin writing, I’ve had months to plan and form a detailed outline. Self-doubt has come with each new book I’ve written. Will my publisher accept it? Will fans like it? Will new fans find it? Between my fan base, friends, and the IWSG, everyone has pushed me through those doubts.I like the image of the lighthouse. Itâ⠂¬â„¢s one we’ve been using at Reedsy too. I feel like the waters of self-publishing are very unsure at the moment, almost impossible to navigate without first going through a very painful learning curve. What problems out there would you like to see startups like us try to address?I think letting writers know the process and the steps from writing to publication would give them an idea of what to expect. Just being able to connect with those who can help them is a big bonus with your site.One of our coming posts will be on author bundles. Do you think, like Mark Coker, that 2015 will be the year of collaboration between indie authors?I think it’s already happening. I know many self-published authors who have gotten together and created bundles. It’s a great way to gain more exposure.One of the things I’d really like to see, also, is more collaboration between indies, hybrids and mainstreams. Do you see something like this happening anytime soon, and what form could it take?I’d like to see that as well. The IWSG book was a collaboration, as we had a mixture of all three types of authors. I think the main thing would be working together and helping one another, and that could involve a lot of things – books, websites, tours, etc. After all, no matter the path, we’re all authors.Thanks again for the opportunity, Ricardo!You can follow Alex J. Cavanaugh, Reedsy, and myself on Twitter: @AlexJCavanaugh, @reedsyhq  and @RicardoFayetWhat do you personally think of the proliferation of communities, groups and alliances? Has being an author become one of the most social professions? Do you think insecure writers can benefit from a â€Å"support group†? Do join the conversation in the comments below!

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT & FINANCE- Assessment Element 2 Essay

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT & FINANCE- Assessment Element 2 - Essay Example Financial Position Key Financial Indicator: This part of the report includes some key financial performance indicators for the three-retail giant of UK. This three company shares almost 72% of UK retail market share. Looking at the size of the company it is very important for management to identify the key financial performance indicator for their organisation. Sales Growth This is one of the major performance indicator for most of the companies particularly companies within retail sector. These companies are serving consumers by providing their basic and luxury items. Sales growth indicates company’s current position in the market as compare to its peer group. Since UK retail market is almost an oligopoly market it can be easily evaluate the performance and efficiency of the management of these three companies. Operating Profit Operating profit is another appropriate performance measurement indicator. Since these companies are largely utilising their fixed asset and labor, it is very important for this companies to maintain their operating cost efficiently. High labour cost or operating expenses can lead to a humongous loss to any firm and its shareholders. Financial Ratio: Any investors or potential investors generally analyse the financial ratios of a company before making an investment on it as they properly indicate the current position of the company. At the same time, these financial ratios are important from manager’s point of view also to assess their performance. While creditors also look at those ratios before giving any loan to the company. Precisely speaking everybody analyse the ratios before involving with any organisation. Ratios like ROE, EPS, and Dividend Payout are the most relevant from investor’s point of view as they are specifically indicate return generate by a company using invested capital. Whereas leverage ratios, efficiency ratio, operating or net profit depending on business (in retail industry operating) are of more interest to managers. While creditors i.e. lenders are more interested to see the efficiency and cash conversion ratios of a particular firm. Accordingly the below explained ratios are very important for retail industry. Operating Profit Margin: This indicates the operating profit as a percentage of sales. OPM signifies firm’s capability of generating profit from its operating activities. Generally, higher operating profit creates some tremendous investment opportunities for both investors and lenders. Total Asset Turnover: The ratio is an appropriate indicator of the fact that how efficiently and effectively company is utilising their assets to generate revenue. This ratio is very important for a retail company as they posse’s lots of fixed assets. The higher asset turnover signifies higher asset utilisation. This ratio is a good indicator of management efficiency. Higher asset turnover implies efficient management team. Current Ratio: This ratio is very importa nt from retail industry point of view as it indicates the liquidity position of the c