Microenvironmental Factors Affecting Toyota Essay Example for Free

Microenvironmental Factors Affecting Toyota Essay Microenvironmental factors are â€Å"The factors close to the company that affect its ability to serve its customers† [principles of marketing]. The microenvironmental factors that affected the introduction and sale of the Toyota Prius were it customers, competitors and publics. Customers are anyone who buys or rents from the company. Customer are the most important microenvironmental factor that affect company as they survive on meeting the wants and needs of the customer and failure to do so will result in the company failing. Toyota study their customers and saw that they wanted a car with better fuel consumption and as a result Toyota decided to make the Prius, their first hybrid car. Toyota dealt with their customers by setting up website to educate the customers about the Toyota Prius. They took advantage of Earth Day to send out green seed cards shaped like Toyota’s logo to prospective buyers and they also gave away some green Prius at Earth Day events. However, Toyota did not recognise that consumers normally don’t buy cars for the saving in the long-run so â€Å"fuel savings are not going to be the key it convincing people to purchase the Prius† [principles of marketing]. As a result of this Toyota have asked governments to give tax cuts to cars with better fuel consumption. Competitors are any company in the same market place as your company. In order of a company to be successful in the market place a competitors most grain a competitive advantage over its competitors. Toyota has been successful in maintaining its competitive advantage although competitors like Citroen have cars which are just as efficient as the Toyota Prius, â€Å"Toyota is still the market leader in this segment† [principles of marketing]. They have done this by capturing people imagination by being the first Hybrid car on the market and through the effective use of advertisement. Publics are any group that has an actual or potential interest in an organisation’s ability to achieve its objectives. Good relations with the public help to enhance the company’s reputation so helping to increase in sales. The biggest factors of the Toyota Prius’ microenvironment are media and the government. Toyota has worked with Government bodies and has asked for tax incentives encourage people to buy more environmentally friendly cars to increase the amount of hybrids sold. Toyota also has spent 15m of its 200m annual marketing budget on the Prius. It has introduction ads that appealed more to peoples’ emotion to get them to buy the Prius. Overall, Toyota has analysed its icroenvironment extremely well as it has maintaining its competitive advantage over it competitors and has sold over 1m Prius with the waiting list of the Prius waiting list being over 18 month and becoming a status symbol among Hollywood stars. Question 2: The macro environment consists of six forces that affect the whole microenvironment, demographic, economic, natural, technological, political and cultural forces. The Toyota Prius is such a highly technologically advanced vehicle with its four cylinder petrol engine and 33-kilowatt electric motor. This could be one of the demographic factors that prompted the introduction of the Prius for Toyota. The Prius appeals to Generation Y also known as the â€Å"echo boomers† who were born between 1977 and 1994. Their comfort with computers, digital technology and overall technical advances prove they are and attractive target for marketers wanting to create a device at the high end of new, innovative devices on the market today e. g. iPad , Toyota Prius. The economic environment consists of the factors that affect consumer buying power and spending patterns. With many countries experiencing economic recession, consumer purchasing power is reduced. People have less money and now have to spend more carefully. The recent high petrol prices are causing a rising demand for greener, more fuel efficient cars that are cheaper to run. Several governments are providing incentives to people to buy these hybrid cars. In the UK, the government is offering reduced car tax on initial purchase. Electric car drivers can also avoid the ? 8 per day Congestion Charge in London. Toyota must be aware of and keep up with the technological environment which includes the forces that create new technologies, creating new product and market opportunities. This is the most rapidly changing environment. By introducing the Toyota Prius, the company has gained a technological initiative in the hybrid market. Toyota knew that their target market for this product would include technology enthusiasts, or ‘techies’ as they are known, and included reference to the cars leading technology in their advertisements. Natural forces also affected Toyotas decision to manufacture a hybrid car. Consumers are becoming more concerned about the environment and about how the products they purchase have an effect on it. Petrol and diesel are both non-renewable fossil fuels which release carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Therefore there is a demand in the market for alternatives to petrol-powered vehicles, such as electric cars. Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius offer improved gas mileage and emissions standards. Toyota have used this opportunity to position themselves in the market as an ‘environmentally concerned company’ Toyota needs however, to be aware of the political environment which may pose restrictions on its business activity. The political environment includes laws, government agencies and pressure groups that influence and limit various organisations and individuals in a given society. Recently, the EU commission announced new legislation which will be brought in that requires all manufacturers selling cars in the European Union to lower average CO2 emissions of new cars. The governments of some countries have intervened and offered tax incentives to stimulate the purchase of clean-fuel and high-mileage hybrid cars. Cultural values have an effect on the products people choose to buy. Although core values and beliefs held by society are quite persistent, secondary cultural values are more open to change. Recent changes in cultural values include a greater appreciation for nature. People are starting to realise that nature is finite and fragile. They are beginning to seek out more environmentally-friendly products, one of these being fuel-efficient cars. Toyota has responded to this by introducing the Toyota Prius onto the market. Even in Hollywood it seems that it is now cool to be environmentally responsible as a range of A-listers are now owners this hybrid car. Question 3:  Toyota has ran a masterful marketing campaign so far. It has become the â€Å"environmentally concerned† car manufacturer and the technology leader in the hybrid car market. It has targeted â€Å"techies† and early adopters by educating consumers about the new car. Toyota have used the power of the internet to promote the Prius. The first thing they did was educate consumers about the prius. They launched a website to distribute the information and sent 40000 e-brochures to likely buyers. It worked. The Prius â€Å"flew out of dealer’s showrooms† and they even had difficulty â€Å"keeping up with demand†. They also ran print ads with tag lines such as â€Å"when it sees red it charges†, an emotional reference, and they ran television ads as well. By using these marketing tools to great effect the company was firmly established as a caring brand in the consumer’s mind. The new â€Å"environmentally concerned† Toyota is clearly a hit with customers as it sold 400000 hybrids in 2006 alone. It has even succeeded in making being green cool as a host of Hollywood celebrities like Cameron Diaz and even Arnold Schwarzenegger has one to park, ironically, beside his giant hummer. Another effective strategy was to become the market leader in a new technology. It was risky to jump into the market that soon as it could have cost the company a lot of money if it didn’t work out. Toyota always subtly stresses the technology aspect of the car in its advertising. Surprisingly hybrids aren’t all that efficient. The citroen CZ, C1 and C3 all have better fuel consumption than the Prius, but it doesn’t matter as Toyota â€Å"have captured people’s minds†. It’s marketing campaigns have won over the environmentally conscious companies like IKEA, who are switching their car fleet to hybrids. Toyota’s efforts have left other car makers â€Å"racing to catch up†. Marketing segmentation was used to great effect by Toyota. It set out very early on to target the â€Å"techies† and the â€Å"early adapters† through emails and the online website. â€Å"Many Prius owners are immersed in technology†, they even have their own website called â€Å"Priusenvy. com†. It really has taken off with the â€Å"techies†. They were able to make changes such as â€Å"cruise control† and a â€Å"sniffer† to the car without the help of a qualified mechanic or engineer. This success can be attributed to the narrow targeting of the cars. Toyota could improve its strategy by appealing more to the general market for cars. Today the cost of a Prius is significantly lower than it was when it first came out. Perhaps it’s time to focus on what a great small family car it would make or how it might suit a professional, like a teacher for example. There are many environmentally conscious people among the ranks of the middle class families of Ireland. By honing in on the small family market Toyota could bring an alternative to the Ford Mondeo and the Volkswagon Passet. Overall Toyota has done almost everything right with the Prius. When we think â€Å"Hybrid† we think â€Å"Prius† exactly like â€Å"MP3† and â€Å"iPod†. That is the sign of an extremely efficient marketing campaign.

Body Piercing 101 Essay examples -- essays research papers

Body Piercing 101   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are various aspects through which people identify themselves. People are always sending some sort of message out at all times. These messages are means of communications about the individual to his or her peers and to society. Styles of dress, language, music, and dance are some of the ways that describes one’s own unique symbols, values, and meanings. One other signifier of identity is body piercing. Body piercing is a form of body modification, in which you puncture a hole in a part of your body and insert some kind of jewelry in the wound to keep it from closing. Body piercing has been a way for people to express themselves for many centuries. For some, it may be a fad, religious ritual, aesthetic or just to be â€Å"in†. Below I would explain, the diversity among the way people used body piercing in the ancient era and now in the 21st century.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many years ago piercing developed and became many diverse qualities such as wealth, courage, and power. For example, the nose piercing has been known to have originated in the Middle East over four thousand years ago. The women in India adorned their noses with expensive gold nose jewelry. The kind of jewelry they wore distinguished their title and rank in their society. Wearing body jewelry to show the rank in society was a very common motivation for piercing in the ancient era. Nipple piercing served a purpose for the Romans. It would signify their s...

Henry Hudson School vs. Rowley Essay

Every student has the right to have an individual education plan (IEP). Although all students with disabilities are entitled to an IEP that does not necessarily mean they are eligible for every form of technology available to them. IEP are designed to keep children with disabilities as current as those students without disabilities. Amy Rowley did in fact have an individualized education plan, but her parents believed she was entitled to more. Hendrick Hudson vs. Rowley was the first U. S. Supreme Court’s trial under the Education for All Handicapped Children which is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (IDEA). Hendrick Hudson School vs. Rowley Amy Rowley was a student at Furnace Woods School in the Hendrick Hudson Central School District; Peekskill, N. Y. Amy had very little if any residual hearing but, she was an excellent lip reader. A year before Amy was to attend school a meeting was set up for Amy and her parents to meet with the school administrator. It was a reciprocal decision to place Amy in a regular kindergarten class on a trial basis. Many administrators of the school were to take a course in sign language to help in the communications with Amy. The principal’s office was equipped with a teletype machine as both of Amy’s parents were also deaf. At the end of the trial basis it was decided by the administrators as well as Amy’s parents that she should stay in a regular classroom. Amy was provided an FM transmitter, which amplified the voice of he teacher and the students in her class. Amy’s first year of kindergarten was a success and she was to continue on to the first grade. As the law states an IEP was prepared for Amy after her completion of her first year. The Individualized Education Plan that was customized to meet Amy’s needs stated that she was to utilize the FM transmitter; she was also to have a tutor for the deaf meet with her daily for an hour to get directions and was also to meet with a speech therapist three times a week. Amy’s parents agreed with parts of her IEP but also felt that Amy needed a sign language instructor in every one of her classes. Amy did receive a therapist for a two week trial while attending kindergarten but it was decided she did not need this service in order to do her studies. The Hendrick Hudson school district’s â€Å"Committee on the Handicapped,† had heard Amy’s parents’ expert evidence that stated Amy needed the interpreter, the â€Å"Committee on the Handicapped also spoke with Amy’s teachers, and visited a class for the deaf. The committee denied their request for a sign interpreter. When Amy’s parents received news that their request for an interpreter had been denied they demanded and received an administrative hearing. (Weber, M. C. , 2012). The hearing officer agreed with the administrators upon completion of the evidence presented by both sides. The hearing officer stated that once reviewing the evidence it was clear that Amy did not need an interpreter. The reasoning of the hearing officer was that Amy was achieving educationally, academically, and socially without any need of such assistance. The examiner’s decision was acknowledged on appeal by the New York Commissioner of Education. Amy Rowley’s’ parents then petitioned the United State District Court for the Southern District of New York, they stated that the denial of the sign language interpreter was denying Amy of the free appropriate public education that is guaranteed by the Act. (Excerpt from the court’s own description at The examiner’s decision was affirmed on appeal by the New York Commissioner of Education. Then the parents of Amy Rowley petitioned the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York with the claim that Amy was being denied a free appropriate public education guaranteed by the act. On June twenty-eighth nineteen hundred and eighty-two the court finds that Amy is an excellent student that gets along well with her peers and the staff. They also state that she performs better than the average students in her class and has had no problems advancing from one grade to the next. With all this being said they still note that she still misses out on a lot of things that she would not normally miss on if she were not deaf. So stating she is not doing as well as she could be doing if she were without her handicap. The differences between her achievements and what she would be capable of without a disability was the deciding factor in that Amy was not getting a free appropriate public education that is defined as: Having the opportunity to achieve her full potential equal with the opportunities that are given to other students. I believe that the court ruling for the Hendrick Hudson vs. Rowley emphasized individualization on school programs and parental involvement in the decisions that are made where their children’s educational matters are concerned. By having no cost limit on required services the areas of learning for disabled children have become bountiful. Since, the U. S. court upheld the decision, the decision to support parental rights, and the decision concerning the children’s rights. I believe the Hendrick Hudson vs. Rowley court case definitely made an impression on the judicial system according to education. The court case of Hendrick Hudson vs. Rowley established the enforcement of entitlement to individualized educational programs to our students with disabilities and gives the parents a say in what is best for their child. (Macfarlane, M. A. , 2012) When a parent is given the right to help with the decision process of their child, the child will feel more adequate and so much more secure. The best way for a child to learn is to give them a safe and secure learning environment. The best way for a child to feel safe and secure is for them to have the security they feel at home. There could be no better way than to invite their parents to participate in their schooling. By paving the way for parental rights and involvement it is allowing a greater sense of stability to the child which in turn will broaden their sense of confidence and allow them to learn at a greater pace. I feel assured if the decision had not been made by the courts in the Hendrick Hudson School District vs. Rowley our educational system would have many hurdles to cross, but since then our educational system is advancing with a rapid pace for the achievements of the disabled children in our society.

The thunder and lightening crashed over my head and made me very afraid

They said it would never rain again. I was surrounded by people but I had never felt so lonely. As I sat gazing from my window, I began to notice lots of happy families passing by on the road, all in their parents' cars. As I sit alone, thinking about my past, I began to feel so miserable and depressed. I suppose you are wondering who I am and what tragedy could have brought me to this place. Well, I will explain to you the long story. The thunder and lightening crashed over my head and made me very afraid. I was not the only one. My teacher kept looking upwards with a concerned expression. That's was when the head teacher burst into the room and ordered everyone to follow her. This was not normal. It could only mean that everybody was in serious danger. I instantly thought of my parents at home on their farm, had anyone warned them that a typhoon was coming soon? The noise outside was deafening. From our position on the roof, we could see everything. I watched in horror as a mud wall collapsed onto the road, trapping families in their cars. I saw frantic parents digging at the mud, trying to save their children who were still trapped. I wanted to go and save my parents too but I could not move. Two hours later, the road was a river. Trees and mud crashed through the village, destroying houses and families. Gradually, the storm came to an end. We were eventually allowed off the roof and I felt so glad, now I could go back and find out what had happened to my parents. I was so scared that they had been in danger, I just needed to know if they were safe. When I arrived home, I saw my house. It was completely destroyed. I ran towards it, screaming, calling for my mum and dad. Suddenly, I saw a flash of gold. It could only be one thing, my mother's ring. It was still attached to her still, lifeless, bloodless hand. I was numb. Standing there, I felt unusually calm but that feeling didn't last very long. Seconds passed and I began thinking about what would happen to me now. Where will I go? I have no other family, no one to take me in. I felt so isolated. That's how I ended in a foster home. All I can do is to sit and hope that someday, someone will come to get me. Perhaps today will be that day. I awoke feeling light in my heart and really hopeful that today would be that day. I heard that the newspaper reporter was going to come and write an article about the foster home where I was living. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I opened it and there stood the reporter. She was a young beautiful lady with shiny, black long hair and a graceful smile. I was very surprised – I had never seen such a beautiful lady. She began to interview me because I had been at the foster home for the longest out of all the other children. She was very impressed with my unique poems; she even made a promise that she would make sure they were published very soon. She took my photograph so she could attach it to the poem. A grumpy old man was working in the hospital grounds. He reaches down to a scrap of newspaper which has blown across the garden and landed at his feet. He almost throws the article away when he suddenly decides to take a second look. He began to look more closely at the photograph and that's when he has a flicker of an image from his past. Suddenly his memory returns. It is difficult to cope with the emotions he feels after all these months. Dropping his tools, he strides down the road getting further away from the hospital. What has he remembered? Something is driving him he appears to be looking for something. The sky is grey and over-cast. I think about my future. Will I always be alone and abandoned. What's the point in living all alone with no family to love me? Everyday I wished that I had died with my mum and dad and this is why I made the decision to take an overdose. There was no point in living any more. No-one would even no that I had gone. I felt myself drifting into unconsciousness when unexpectedly there was a shadow in the doorway. At first I had great difficulty focusing my eyes on the figure in front of me. Slowly as my eyes began to see the details I was able to distinguish a man's frame. Meanwhile, I realised that it was my father. As my sight begins to dim, I see him run across the room towards me. He had tears in his eyes and trickling down his cheeks. He laid his head against mine and told me he loved me so much but as I took my last breath I felt so much regret. I could have had a happy life again with my family to love me and to be loved but now that will never happen.

How Introverts Can Master Networking

How Introverts Can Master Networking Networking can be daunting enough, without having to battle your own nature as an introvert as you navigate the tricky waters of small talk and collecting connections. Do you find yourself avoiding  networking events because you simply dread joining, initiating, or otherwise making conversations when you could be home on your couch with your dog and take-out and some nice, un-intimidating television? If you’re the type to skulk around a networking event using every trick in the book to avoid having to talk to anyone, then slinking home feeling sorry for yourself and like you wasted a perfectly good evening in, then you probably need a little boost. Believe it or not, there are other ways to manage networking events that don’t involve you constantly lapping from snack table to bar table to bathroom, looking at your phone for dear life as though the most important email of your career just came in, or staring off into the middle distance to avoid making eye contact with anyone by accident. These tricks are useful- and are probably your standard coping mechanism. But you don’t have to hide behind them all the time.Use your powers for good.Now might be the moment for you to realize that introverts are actually secret heroes when it comes to networking. You’re even at an advantage in certain situations. How could that be possible, you ask? When all around you, extroverts are landing business cards and launching into elevator pitches between sips of vodka tonic, and you’re still standing in the corner by the ficus plant?Turns out, people aren’t all that into being sold. Don’t forget that networking events are dominated by a room full of people trying to sell themselves. The confident ones look like they’re running the show, but it’s not so simple! They’re also the most aggressive, the most likely to steamroll into a conversation, rattle off their pitch, and move on like a mercenary to the next cl ump of possible connections. Meanwhile, there’s a whole world of shadow networking taking place- the kind that doesn’t even look like networking- and that is simple conversation. Real human connection.That’s where introverts come in. Introverts are great at listening when others blather on. They’re usually interested in other people, and relieved not to have to be doing all the talking. You can use your introvert status to be the favorite conversation partner of everybody’s night, simply by letting them talk, and making a few intelligent comments now and then to show that you’re really listening. Who knows! You might even come to find you get so absorbed in the conversation that you forget to be nervous and intimidated.Be yourself- don’t fight it.The major take away is this: if you’re an introvert and afraid of networking, stop trying to force yourself into the extrovert mold. There are ways to accomplish what extroverts accomp lish, all while remaining true to your introverted, crowd-averse self. The first step might be to really know and honor your limits. Are you just a shell of a person after 9 p.m.? Don’t agree to any meetings or functions in the later evening. Are you pretty good at sussing out which events will actually be fruitful or productive for you? Avoid the ones that aren’t. (Just make sure to attend the ones that are- religiously.)It’s not just that you’re shy. It’s that you’re thrown off by environments that are noisy and overwhelming- that doesn’t make you any less of an asset or a good connection. That just means you have to find introverted ways to get through an event that you would otherwise find quite challenging. The best strategy there is to be as prepared as possible. Do your homework. Is there anyone at the event you’d particularly like to meet? What are your goals for the evening? What sort of advice or information are you l ooking to acquire? Bone up on the people or companies you’re trying to sidle up to. Come up with a handful of questions to have at the ready. Write them down and rehearse them ahead of time until they feel natural enough coming out of your mouth. Don’t worry about being clever or hilarious. Keep it simple, be yourself, be prepared- and you’ll never put your foot in your mouth trying to do verbal backflips to impress someone.Show up early.If you’re one of the first people there, you can take advantage of the fact that most early birds feel awkward enough hovering by the canapà ©s before the crowd gets going. Take advantage of this leveling of the nervousness playing field by offering up conversational life rafts to your fellow early birds. Groups won’t have formed yet that you’d have to wiggle your way into. You might even find a buddy you can network with all night. Or you can get most of what you came for before the room is totally full an d sounds of people chatting and glasses tinkling are bouncing off the walls and making you super anxious.Set a goal of meeting a handful of people. Getting a few answers, business cards, etc. Once you hit your quota, unless there’s some big-ticket person there you’re dying to get in front of, you can give yourself permission to sneak out having succeeded for the night.Relax and try to keep it light.Desperation doesn’t look very good on anyone. Be yourself. Use your quiet calm as an asset- you’ll look far more confident than you feel and you might even appear to have a certain degree of gravitas or other kinds of commanding presence. Listen, listen, listen. And remember to take a bit of time for yourself. Head out to the lobby and sit down for a moment with your phone. Go to the loo and splash some water on your face. Take deep breaths. It will all be over soon.Be compassionate for your fellow introverts.They are out there. And keep in mind that even extro verts get scared of networking events. If you think everyone else in the room is just as insecure or uncomfortable with the process as you are, you’re probably right. And even if you aren’t, it will help you to approach people like humans, not just as â€Å"contacts† or connections for your LinkedIn empire.Reward yourself for doing something challenging.Keep your eye on the prize, whatever you’ve decided that should be- a massage? a pedicure? a new golf club? an order of take-out french fries or a milkshake on your way home? Treat yourself to something, however small, when you get through a networking event. The promise of that treat, even if it’s just a hot bath when you get home, can be a powerful motivator for you to get in, get out, and still get things done.Go your own way.And if you’re still just flummoxed by the big conference hotel ballroom mingle, or the meet-n-greet harbor booze cruise, try making yup your own networking strategy. Start an â€Å"interest group† of friends and colleagues and friends-of-colleagues and colleagues-of-colleagues that are all united under a common interest. Make your â€Å"networking events† stand singular and apart as intimate, smaller gatherings. Set new trends. Host dinner parties. Or get invited to them- rather than the big corporate name tag mixers. It’s totally possible for you to make your own networking environment. You might even be way ahead of the game.Don’t worry so much.Above all, remember to use your intuition. You know yourself best. And you probably are better at reading a crowd than you think you are- and better than the bull-headed extroverts running around pimping themselves out. Think before speaking. Observe before you offer. Ask questions and let others talk about themselves as you get comfortable in the conversation- they will love you for it! One of your best secret weapons is your reserve. You’ll never be suspected of fals e enthusiasm or over eagerness if you simply stay true to your own introversion and study the social cues of people in your conversation before making any contributions. You may even be projecting a sort of social poise you never knew you had- simply by not trying too hard to be an extrovert when you just aren’t!What you shouldn’t do is cower in the corner- or only spend time talking to the three people in the room you already know. If you find yourself in this position, don’t panic. Just try a new maneuver. Ask your pals for help. Is there someone there they know that they could introduce you to, perhaps? Or help you make an introduction? Or simply come with you to the bar so you can join another conversation with a buddy by your side?There are a ton of useful tools out there for you, as an introvert, to wield. Including some secret weapons you didn’t even realize you had. When you start thinking of your nature as an introvert as something that could hel p you, rather than hinder you professionally, you can start to cultivate a system that works for you.

Everything You Need to Know about the Stone Barrington Books

Everything You Need to Know about the Stone Barrington Books The 36th Stone Barrington novel by Stuart Woods, Scandalous Behavior, debuted at #1 on the bestseller lists, as usual. Thirty-six novels featuring one character is a lot, although it’s not a record- there are examples of books series that span hundreds of books, although most of those feature a mixture of authors. Still, when a series featuring a single character gets to be that long, the author is obviously doing something right, and that kind of success naturally makes a book-hungry person wonder if it could be a rich vein for them to mine when their usual supply of novels runs dry- but on the other hand, thirty-six novels (with the thirty-seventh due out later this year) can be a bit intimidating. So here’s what you need to know about the Stone Barrington novels. Character Sketch So, is Stone Barrington a guy you want to spend a lot of time with? Here’s what you need to know: His parents were both born to wealthy families, but were both disinherited because they refused to conform to familial expectations, a strain of rebelliousness that Stone himself inherited. He grew up in New York and attended public schools and graduated with a law degree, but after a ride-along in a police car decided to join the NYPD. In New York Dead he’s at the tail-end of his career as a Lt. Detective, rehabbing an injury and at odds with his superiors; in the middle of that story he’s forced out of the force and takes the Bar Exam to become a lawyer, and is hired by a tony law firm to be â€Å"of counsel.† Basically, the firm uses Stone to handle cases they don’t want sullying their reputation, and the work slowly makes Barrington a pretty wealthy guy- which is good, because he already had some very expensive tastes. You can’t help but see Woods in Barrington; much of Barrington’s jet-setting lifestyle seems like a slightly exaggerated version of Woods’ own life, from the pilot’s license to the knowledge of wines and food (Woods once wrote a very successful guide to restaurants and hotels in England and Ireland). Barrington travels the world, can handle himself in almost any situation, has a very active love life, and is a lot of fun to spend time with. His dislike of authority and his sense of humor are ideal for a character who is always sticking his intelligent nose where it’s not wanted. By the way, if you think Stone Barrington is a pretty silly name, you’re not alone: Woods’ editors reportedly tried very hard to convince him to change it. In Order The Stone Barrington books include, in publication order: New York Dead (1991)Dirt (1996)Dead in the Water (1997)Swimming to Catalina (1998)Worst Fears Realized (1999)L.A. Dead (2000)Cold Paradise (2001)The Short Forever (2002)Dirty Work (2003)Reckless Abandon (2004)Two Dollar Bill (2005)Dark Harbor (2006)Fresh Disasters (2007)Shoot Him If He Runs (2007)Hot Mahogany (2008)Loitering With Intent (2009)Kisser (2010)Lucid Intervals (2010)Strategic Moves (2011)Bel-Air Dead (2011)Son of Stone (2011)D.C. Dead (2011)Unnatural Acts (2012)Severe Clear (2012)Collateral Damage (2013)Unintended Consequences (2013)Doing Hard Time (2013)Standup Guy (2014)Carnal Curiosity (2014)Cut and Thrust (2014)Paris Match (2014)Insatiable Appetites (2015)Hot Pursuit (2015)Naked Greed (2015)Foreign Affairs (2015)Scandalous Behavior (2016)Family Jewels (T/K 2016) A few quick take-aways here: Through 2010 Woods had written 18 Stone Barrington Novels in 13 years, which is a brisk but not unusual pace; beginning in 2011 he published 19 more in just six years, with as many as four new Barrington novels hitting the shelves in a single year. According to interviews with Woods, he’s not only writing all of these books himself (unlike certain other ‛prolific’ best-sellers), he’s writing so many Barrington novels because his publisher requested that he do so. Key Barrington The series does follow a very loose chronology in the sense that past events and characters do occasionally pop into new stories (and some of Woods’ other characters from other series show up from time to time, as well. That said, this is a series you can read in any order, really, with only the occasional mystery reference to past events. Barrington is one of those characters whose charm is their consistency. The two caveats are: One, read New York Dead first. It’s not only the first-published, it’s the book that sets up Barrington’s back-story, so it’s really the one essential starting point; Two: 2004’s Reckless Abandon is a continuation of a story begun in Woods’ Holly Barker novel Blood Orchid, so you might want to read that one first. So, whether you dig up New York Dead and start at the beginning, pick up the first Barrington book you find, or seek out Scandalous Behavior right now, you’re going to have a pretty good time getting to know one of the thriller world’s best characters.

The Singapore's Economic Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Singapore's Economic Model - Essay Example Upon receipt of independence from Malaysia, another main task of the government was to show foreign investors that at the moment new-independent state is a safe place to invest and storage their capital. The government not only introduced changes to the laws of their country but also showed a willingness to destroy corruption and worker unrest. Thus, it guarantees complete safety of the property of investors that are attracted spiritual prosperity of capitalism.Further, a small country that can offer only the hard-working people, has developed a plan to win the confidence of international partners. While Singapore cannot take a certain place in the international market such as Hong Kong, which relied on the support of the Bank of England. To avoid the risk of devaluation and inflation, the government carefully defines the priorities of implementation of each economic plan. It has conducted a number of economic disciplines, thanks to which in 1997 (during the crisis) Singapore can sta nd out as an island of stability in a sea of inequality.The Singapore government stubbornly fought against corruption, from which the country suffered from the acquisition of independence. While it could be said that corruption was practically part of the lifestyle of Asian people and they openly took bribes and various fees. To prevent corruption, the government has chosen a way to simplify the various procedures for decision-making and create new simple laws and rules that had no ambiguity.