Friday, January 24, 2020
The Negro Speaks of Rivers :: Literature Analysis, Langston Hughes
â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers†by Langston Hughes is a compelling poem in which Hughes explores not only his own past, but the past of the black race. As the rivers deepen over time, the Negro's soul does too; their waters eternally flow, as the black soul suffers. Analyzing the poem’s title sets a somber, yet prideful tone for this poem. The fact that the title does not say â€Å"I Speak of Rivers,†but instead, â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers†(1) shows that he is not only a Negro, but that he is not one specific Negro, but in his first person commentary, he is speaking for all Negroes. However, he is not just speaking for any Negroes. Considering the allusions to â€Å"Mississippi†(9) and â€Å"Abe Lincoln†(9) are not only to Negroes but also to America, confirms that Hughes is talking for all African Americans. This poem is a proclamation on the whole of African American history as it has grown and flourished along the rivers which gave life to these people. The diction of â€Å"ancient†(3) proves once more that Hughes is talking about the history and roots of African Americans. The word ancient itself means something that is decrepit, old, and primitive, clearly a word to be used when discussing a history and a journey. This word, which was repeated twice in the passage, emphasizes that there has been a long and difficult wait for equality for blacks. That although they have been around since â€Å"ancient†(3) times, since so long before, they still are fighting for racial equality. Hughes emphasizes his message consistently throughout this poem, weaving in the most important line in the middle and end of the poem. He is representing his people. African Americans have waited and been abused by society, and this deepened and weathered their souls over time, just as a river would become deepened and weathered. Hughes’ soul, the collective soul of African Americans, has become â€Å"deep like the rivers†(5). This simile speaks that the rivers are part of the body, and contribute to this immortality that Hughes is so desperate to achieve for his people. Rivers are the earthly symbols of eternity: deep, constant, mystifying. The rivers are named in a specific order: in the order of their association with black history. By using many allusions, the context of which Hughes wants to draw attention to is evident. He begins â€Å"when dawns were young†(6), which refers to a time when blacks were used as slaves along the Euphrates in Western Asia, and ends with the Emancipation Proclamation of â€Å"Abe Lincoln†(9) when slaves were finally freed men.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Current Event Analysis Essay
JCPenny has just launched its new marketing strategy on Feb 1, 2012, which include improving its brands, refreshing its new stores, and the most important partâ€â€the new pricing model. The new pricing model is so called â€Å"Fair and Square†pricing strategy. This new pricing strategy includes three parts. The first one is â€Å"everyday†regular pricing, which is about 40% off 2011’s retail price without discount or promotion. The second one is the â€Å"month-long value†pricing, which offers even better price on specific merchandise. The final one is the â€Å"best price†pricing, which are clearance deals on the first and third Fridays of each month. In my point of view, I think JCPenny’s new marketing strategy is necessary for their further development in such tough competitive environment. According to Martis-Olivo, a retail analyst for Thomson Reuters, JCPennt’s sale performance is poor compared to Macy’s in 2011. Although Macy’s offers less discount and promotion, it posted a much stronger same-store sales average. Consumers now think department stores usually offering items at high prices, then offering discounts or coupons, so use such discount or coupon promotion to attract sales is not as much efficient as before. Furthermore, internet sales are jump up significantly in recent years due to the lower price and more convenience. So JCPenny’s new marketing strategy is launched in time to tackle these challenges. The â€Å"everyday†pricing is about 40% off 2011’s retail price without discount or promotion, which will give the consumers better value products to increase the chances that consumers will visit more and purchase more because of the lower prices. The â€Å"month-long values†on specific items, which will also keep the customer mentality from waiting for additional price drops, and this will also attract consumers come to the store more frequently, instead of only come into the stores when promotion. Finally, the â€Å"best price†pricing on the first and third Fridays of each month will help the stores to clean up their piled up inventories to avoid additional carrying cost. JCPenny’s new marketing strategy actually coincides with the marketing mix, which we usually called 4 Ps: Price, Promotion, Product and Place. As we discussed above, the important role of the JCPenny new marketing strategy is the new pricing model, which give the lower everyday price and month-long values to the consumers. So their new pricing position is focusing on better price-value relationship. Also, they hold promotion on the first and third Fridays of each month, which is the new name for clearance, or the lowest price you’ll ever see for a particular item. Secondly, brands are actually the products to department stores like JCPenny. The improvement of brands is refer to improve their products, as Wahlstrom described, J. C. Penney has put its focus on fewer, â€Å"more relevant†brands, and less on private brands that are â€Å"less efficient,†such as Arizona and Worthington. These will provide consumer with quality instead of quantity. The final P is referring place, as we mention at the beginning, JCPenny is refreshing its new stores, which may give consumers more convenient accessibility. Furthermore, the new marketing strategy is also coincides with what we just learned from the class– Acquiring & Retaining customers. The lower price is to change consumers’ perceived cost and then will change the perceived value. The lower price acquiring new customers and retain customers to come to the store more frequently. Also, new brand marketing is to improve their products and service, which change the perceived benefits and again will change the perceived value, and change the customers’ preference. These combinations of quality, service and price are called â€Å"customer value triad, as value increases with quality and service and decreases with price. These aim to coagulate JCPenney’s relationship with its loyal customers and attract new ones.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Exams, Superstitions, and Kit Kat Bars
The National Center Test for University Admission is a universal examination for Japanese universities. All national/public universities require applicants to take this exam. During the exam season, the superstitious nature of the Japanese becomes apparent. In fact, you will find various lucky charms being sold around this time. The most popular are charms purchased from a shrine or temple. However, the Kit Kat (a chocolate bar) is also popular. Why? The Japanese pronounce it as kitto katto. It sounds like kitto katsu which means, You will surely win. Parents often buy Kit Kats for their children for exam days. It is just a fun play on words, but if it makes them feel better, why not? Japanese Translation Ã¥ â€"é ¨â€œÃ£ ¨Ã§ ¸ è µ ·Ã§â€° ©Ã£ ¨Ã£â€š ãÆ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆã‚ «Ã£Æ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆ Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¥ ¦Ã¥â€¦ ¥Ã¨ © ¦Ã£â€š »Ã£Æ' ³Ã£â€š ¿Ã£Æ' ¼Ã¨ © ¦Ã© ¨â€œÃ£ Å'ä »Å Ã¥ ¹ ´Ã£ ¯Ã¦Å"ˆæâ€" ¥Ã£ ¨Ã¦â€" ¥Ã£ «Ã¨ ¡Å'ã‚ ã‚Å'㠾㠙。㠓ã‚Å'㠯æâ€" ¥Ã¦Å" ¬Ã£ ®Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¥ ¦Ã£ ®Ã¥â€¦ ±Ã©â‚¬Å¡Ã¥â€¦ ¥Ã¥ ¦Ã¨ © ¦Ã© ¨â€œÃ£ §Ã£ ™ã€‚å› ½Ã¥â€¦ ¬Ã§ «â€¹Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¥ ¦Ã¥ â€"é ¨â€œÃ¨â‚¬â€¦Ã£ «Ã£ ¯Ã£â‚¬ 㠓㠮ã‚ »Ã£Æ' ³Ã£â€š ¿Ã£Æ' ¼Ã¨ © ¦Ã© ¨â€œÃ£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€"㠑る㠓㠨ã Å'ç ¾ ©Ã¥â€¹â„¢Ã£ ¥Ã£ ‘らã‚Å'㠦ã „㠾㠙。æâ€" ¥Ã¦Å" ¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£ ¯Ã§ ¸ è µ ·Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¦â€¹â€¦Ã£ 㠓㠨ã Å'Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã£ 㠪å› ½Ã¦ °â€˜Ã£ ¨Ã£ „㠈㠾ã ™ã Å'〠å â€"é ¨â€œÃ£ ®Ã¦â„¢â€šÃ¦Å"Ÿã «Ã£ ¯Ã£ ã‚Å'ã Å'よã è ¡ ¨Ã£â€šÅ'㠾ã ™ã€‚å ®Å¸Ã©Å¡â€ºÃ£â‚¬ 㠓㠮時æÅ"Ÿæ §ËœÃ£â‚¬â€¦Ã£ ªÃ§ ¸ è µ ·Ã§â€° ©Ã£ Å'Ã¥ £ ²Ã£â€šâ€°Ã£â€šÅ'㠦ã „る㠮ã‚’è ¦â€¹Ã£ ‹ã ‘㠾㠙。æÅ"€ã†šâ€šÃ¤ º ºÃ¦ °â€"㠮ã ‚るも㠮㠨ã „㠈㠰ã€ ç ¥Å¾Ã§ ¤ ¾Ã£â€šâ€žÃ£ Šå ¯ ºÃ£ ®Ã£ Šå ®Ë†Ã£â€šÅ 㠧ã ™ã Å'〠ãÆ' ãÆ' §Ã£â€š ³Ã£Æ' ¬Ã£Æ' ¼Ã£Æ'ˆè “å 㠧ã ‚ã‚‹ã‚ ãÆ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆã‚ «Ã£Æ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆã‚‚ä º ºÃ¦ °â€"ã Å'㠂る㠮㠧㠙。㠪ã Å"㠋㠣㠦æâ€" ¥Ã¦Å" ¬Ã¨ ªÅ¾Ã£ ®Ã§â„¢ ºÃ©Å¸ ³Ã£ ®Ã£â‚¬Å'ã‚ ãÆ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆã‚ «Ã£Æ'Æ'ãÆ'ˆ(ã 㠣㠨㠋㠣ã ¨)ã Å'〠ã 㠣㠨å‹ 㠤ã 㠣㠨㠋㠤㠨ä ¼ ¼Ã£ ¦Ã£ „る㠋ら㠧ã ™ã€‚è ¦ ªÃ£ Å'Ã¥ â€"é ¨â€œÃ£ ®Ã¦â€" ¥Ã£ «Ã£â‚¬ Ã¥ ä ¾â€ºÃ£ ®Ã£ Ÿã‚ 㠫è ² ·Ã£ †ã “㠨ã‚‚å ¤Å¡Ã£ „ã 㠆㠧㠙。㠟ã 㠮è ªÅ¾Ã¥â€˜â€šÃ¥ ˆã‚ ã ݋ ¨Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£ „㠈㠾ã ™ã Å'〠ã ã‚Å'㠧効æžÅ"ã Å'㠂る㠪らã€ è © ¦Ã£ â€"㠦㠿㠪ã „手㠯ã ‚り㠾㠛んã 。 Romaji Translation Daigaku nyuushi sentaa shiken ga kotoshi wa ichi-gatsu juushichi-nichi to juuhachi-nichi ni okonawaremasu. Kore wa nihon no daigaku no kyoutsuu nyuugaku shiken desu. Kokukouritsu daigaku jukensha niwa, kono sentaa shiken o ukeru koto ga gimuzukerarete imasu. Nihonjin wa engi o katsugu koto ga sukina kokumin o iemasu ga, juken no jiki niwa sore ga yoku arawaremasu. Jissai, kono jiki samazamana engimono ga urareteiru no o mikakemasu. Mottomo ninki no aru mono to ieba, jinja ya otera no omamori desu ga, chokoreeto gashi de aru kittokatto mo ninki ga aru no desu. Nazeka tte? Nihongo no hatsuon no kitto katto ga kitto katsu to nite iru kara desu. Oya ga juken no hi ni, kodomo no tame ni kau koto mo ooi sou desu. Tada no goro awase tomo iemasu ga, sorede kouka ga aru nara, tameshite minai te wa arimasen ne. Note: The translation is not always literal. Beginners Phrases Parents often buy KitKats for their children for exam days. Oyaga juken no hi ni, kodomo no tameni kau koto mo ooi sou desu.ã Šã‚„ã Å' 㠘ゅ㠑ん㠮㠲㠫〠㠓㠩も㠮ã Ÿã‚ ã « 㠋㠆㠓㠨ã‚‚ ã Šã Šã „ã 㠆㠧ã ™ã€‚è ¦ ªÃ£ Å'Ã¥ â€"é ¨â€œÃ£ ®Ã¦â€" ¥Ã£ «Ã£â‚¬ Ã¥ ä ¾â€ºÃ£ ®Ã£ Ÿã‚ 㠫è ² ·Ã£ †ã “㠨ã‚‚å ¤Å¡Ã£ „ã 㠆㠧㠙。 Learn More Learn more about lucky number in Japanese.
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