Pussy Riot Trials In Russia Cultural Studies Essay

Pussy Riot Trials In Russia Cultural Studies Essay Sources related closely to Pussy Riot will be taken online and from newspaper articles as information on the subject is still fresh in peoples minds and not yet in book form. Mankind has always been eager to be the strongest, largest, most powerful, fundamentally the finest in everything. This statement is clear for the Russia who is deemed the largest country in the world. Russia manages to cover one sixth of the whole globes land mass and has played a significant role in modern history. Although, in order to comprehend how a country has developed into what it is now, one must reflect at its society. A countrys society reflects not only its people but also its expectations of the future and history. Many things reflect Russias varied culture but two of the main factors are of art and the church.    Like numerous other countries, religion has definitely played an immense role in the structure of Russian society and its values towards success. Their main place of worship is known as the Russian Orthodox Church, this holy place being around one thousand years old and in the region of half of the countrys population belonging to it. This being said, the vast majority of Orthodox believers do not attend church on a regular basis. Russians have also turned to various new beliefs, parties, and religious denominations. However, the Russian Orthodox Church is very much valued amongst advocates and agnostics, who see it as an icon of Russian tradition, heritage and culture.   Ã‚   Since Pussy Riot formed they have made numerous headlines with a series of illicit guerilla performances that included performing a piece aptly named Revolt in Russia on the symbolic Red Square in January 2012. Eventually they were arrested under Russia stern illegal protest laws, but at the time all eight band mates were released to march another day. The recent Pussy Riot trials in Russia have highlighted the continuing need for women to challenge authority and assert their independence within Western Society. It may appear as if women have achieved much over the last fifty years, but recent statistics have shown that as a result of the economic recession it has been women who have taken the brunt of the cuts. With un-employment amongst women aged 50 to 64 has a rising of 39% in two years compared with 5% rise for all over-16s in the UK alone1 whether it is a student, breadwinner, daughter or carer, this is the glue that holds society together, if they write off this part of society then we as a whole are lost. Females who are at risk of the cuts are most definitely not an industry or interest group they are 50% of this nation. In Stalinist Eastern Europe, political parties were banned and criticism of the government was dangerous. Just as todays North Korea or Assads Syria, public spaces were forced, propaganda was across the board and fear was extensive. Yet even in a civilization engrossed by fear, young individuals created ways to communicate their discontent, as they have recently in the Arab world and North Africa. Much like the young women of Pussy Riot in Russia, they too have also learned how the use of pop culture and the ever growing power of social media sites can be used as a means of resistance against the communist regimes.   Modern Communism was thought up and developed by a man named Karl Marx who was the brains behind creating Marxism and this is what communism as we know it today was based upon. Karl Marx created this philosophy in the 1840s and the first communist party to come to authority was the Bolshevik Party which gained control of Russia and created the Soviet Union. This happened in the early 20th century and so from this we can establish that communism has been around from 1910s-20s through to present day. This was when the art movement Socialist Realism was created and then, in later years, used by the communist governments to create an alliance of the people within the country. This realistic art was also used to romanticize the truth and to glorify the roles that the working class societies were playing within the country; this was to make the people feel they were personally involved with the sustained existence of the country. At the beginning of the 20th  century in Russia, during the civil war, the innovative government largely used the arts as a means of advertising its ideas and aims. One of the most significant types of Russian propaganda art of that time was the influential political poster. It is through this form of medium and with the power of mass media in which the government called on the nation to learn to read and write, lend a hand those less fortunate or in need, and have a passionate love towards their country, making it a proud and immensely successful nation, fighting for freedom and justice. Soviet posters began to first appear in Russia during the Proletarian Revolution and so  bringing Communist Partys slogans to the masses. A number of posters would be hand drawn; producing the posters this way would give these artists independence from the press and thus making it possible to react straight away to the most current issues as rapidly as possible. This way of producing has become an important attribute of Russian propaganda art. The posters themselves had individual characteristics: bold shapes, vibrant colours, clear lines with lack of small details and additional strength. One unconventional example of Russian propaganda art had brought around a unique phenomenon in Russian art of the early 20th century; agitation porcelain which proclaimed the ideas and ideals of the revolution and was an important propaganda weapon for the new rulers. Agitation porcelain was produced by artists such as Kazimir Malevich and Nikolai Suetin in dreary conditions, from time to time in starvation, under the management of Sergey Chekhonin. In 1923-24, they designed their globally- famous Suprematist works, which included classics of design history; Malevichs white teapot and the half-cup. Agitation porcelain immediately became enthusiastically wanted and sought after by international art collectors. However it didnt become used by the masses or art for the people. Instead of ordinary floral and idyllic subjects these porcelain objects embellished with symbols of the Soviet Republic. With designs such as the hammer and sickle, and slogans like à Ã… ¡Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾ à Ã‚ ½Ãƒ Ã‚ µ Ñâ‚ ¬Ãƒ Ã‚ °Ãƒ Ã‚ ±Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒ Ã‚ °Ãƒ Ã‚ µÃƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡, Ñ‚Ã Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ à Ã‚ ½Ãƒ Ã‚ µ à Ã‚ µÃƒâ€˜Ã‚ Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡-Those who dont work dont eat. Today Soviet agitation porcelain, representing Russian propaganda art; are now popular items in collections of museums in Russia and overseas as well as private collections. Communism has long been connected with Russia. Even as this country rose to a democracy, suggestion of Russias socialist past still linger over this supposed forward thinking country. Pussy Riot had made global headlines with their taped performances in controversial locations. Yekaterina  Samutsevich, 30, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred due to the staged performance in February 2012 rallying against president Putin ahead of the countrys elections in March. Pussy Riot are a feminist performance group formed of friends that embraced similar principles at anti-Putin rallies in Moscow, forming a revolution based around punk ethics and political activism. The identities of the collectives members are hidden from the public; wear eye catching bright, colourful attire and balaclavas to their protests and events, inviting other members of the public who share the same ideals to join, disguised as well. When asked about the chosen name of the group one member named Garadzha stated; A female sex organ, which is supposed to be receiving and shapeless, suddenly starts a radical rebellion against the cultural order, which tries to constantly define it and show its appropriate place. Sexists have certain ideas on how a woman should behave and Putin, by the way, also has got a couple thoughts on how Russians should live. Fighting against all that thats Pussy Riot. (Vice magazine 2012) On February 21st, the group crossed the threshold of the altar and began singing and dancing in front of tourists and clergy at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They delivered approximately forty seconds of the Punk Prayer; Mother of God, put Putin away asking the Virgin Mary to drive out Russian president Vladimir Putin from the church, before being removed by security guards. Pussy Riot assured their performance in Moscows main cathedral was not to be an anti-church demonstration, and was entirely based on criticizing President Vladimir Putin.  Some see the song itself as Punk poetry whilst others describe it as blasphemous. But the fact of the matter is Pussy Riot live, vote, pay their taxes in a country in which the Russian Orthodox Church and its deep links in structures of power have had a colossal control over their lives, politically and culturally. During the 20th century, the bodies of artists, and the public alike, were beginning to be commonly used more and more as both the entity and the subject matter, the piece itself. Bound, beaten, unclothed or highlighted features etc: the body is presented in all possible guises, as the artist quite literally lives his or her art either publicly, in performances or privately, in video and photography. This long standing tradition of self portraiture had began to take a distinct left turn, and the influential performance artists were at the forefront of this defiant movement to take art outside of the galleries and into the unconventional media, and in some cases controversial spaces much like Pussy Riot today, its clear to see that performance art would have played a distinct role in their political piece. The ties between art and life itself would then be worn away, as were the ties between somewhat sensual and visual experiences amongst viewers. By establishing narratives of real life situations, their own experiences within the perspective of performance, the artists point out the extent in to which history, gender, and identity are all socially constructed performances and are the main focus to the manipulations of power. Before Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina  Samutsevich were members of a collective named Voina (meaning War).Voina is a made up of a controversial group of Russian actionist artists that engage in radical street protest actions; Political protest art. The collective have protested against the somewhat total elimination of freedom of speech, against the violation of human rights, and against the complete liquidation of democracy that has taken place in Russia in current years. The popularity of politically engaged art tends to surge and decline, depending, of course on the current socio-political and economic climates. Commodity artists and activist artists coexist. We had sex in public and this doesnt frighten us anymore, we invaded a police station and this doesnt frighten us anymore. What more is there that can scare us? We will deal with death in the future. Soon we will be completely fearless. (2012) To this day, over 200 activists have participated in Voinas artistic protest actions and at least 20 criminal investigations into the groups activities have been initiated (Free-voina.org). On Voina, curator Artur Ã…Â »mijewski had said (to gazeta.ru), The art group participates directly in politics, something no other group in Europe does. They are absolutely unique. Their actions test the durability of democracy. Their fame is linked to the fact that their actions reflect the Russian political process, the process itself is split in two: partly European yet wildly different. And has also written The Voina group are the last of the righteous, who speak to us of how things should be, so that they may once again come true. http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbh6yrMGFG1qgejhto1_500.jpg A VOINA activist in a police uniform covered by an Orthodox priests cassock with a massive cross performed robbery in a high-class supermarket in Moscow. Accompanied by the group, Mentopop carried outside, without paying, 5 large bags with delicatessen and elite alcohol. The crime was committed with the impunity enjoyed by priests and cops in todays Russia. Femen, a Ukrainian feminist group have gained much interest due to their scrupulous attitude of self-proclaimed sextremism which has turned into becoming infamous for organising naked protests. Some of the prominent examples of their work are the topless protests at the 2012 Olympics in London, in hostility towards  bloody Islamist regimes  or the  cutting down of a crucifix in Kiev, in support for fellow feminists, Pussy Riot   just as a Moscow court was due to deliver its verdict in the  case.   This goal of feminism expressed by Femen and their strategies are indicative of the idea that Western ways of thinking are in some way essentially legitimate and greater. Their feminism however, is not a cultural paradigm that can be applied to all. - Riot grrrl has always been a force to be reckoned with; it was an underground feminist movement that began early on in the nineties, which was very much united with punk music, feminism, radical politics, and a DIY aesthetic. Riot Grrrl activism concerned meetings, the creation of zines, artwork alike and a national network of support for females performance, whether it be musically, poetically or indeed artistically. Although many say the movement lasted until the mid nineties, others argue that it never ended. With the recognition of  Sara Marcuss book  Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, it appears that there may be various truths to that assertion. And there are many zines, which tell the tale of the origins of the movement (Jigsaw-1988, Girl Germs-1989, Bikini Kill-1990, SNARLA; to name a few). In 1993, according to a Canadian newspaper (as mentioned in  Girls to the Front), 40,000 zines were published in North America alone. (2010) But as the next quote states, the power of Riot Grrrl managed to travel its way overseas and influence a whole new group of European followers wanting to reach out, create and thus inspire women and know that they were not alone. Why is there something odd and unnatural about women who want to try to do something with their lives? Why are women such fucking appendages in everything? Feminism isnt over, it didnt fail, but something new must happen- Riot Grrrlà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Next time a guy feels your ass, patronises you, slags off your body- generally treats you like shit- forget the moral highground, forget hes been instilled with patriarchy and is a victim too, forget rationale and debate. Just deck the bastard. 1993 issue of Leeds and Bradford Riot Grrrls zine. We live in a generation of apathy and ignorance. We live in towns that no-one has any respect for anymore. We live lives and abide by the rules set for us, day in and day out. Media subliminally feeds us ideas of how we should be, look like, what we should think and what our tastes should be; its bullshit and it needs to change. The Barbie dolls we see on the front of red-top newspapers and on TV are not our sisters. They arent our friends and they are not a force to change the sexism in this world. Male-domination has well and truly taken over the media/music/films etc. We are not second class citizens and we have as much right to be here as men do. This is not acceptable. But when does art become music? Pussy Riot have been described as a feminist punk rock group, a punk rock collective. Released member of the group. Since the jailing of Pussy Riot the Moscow City court has established for the second occasion its verdict banning all LGBT pride events in the Russian capital for the next century. In the nearest future we will contest the authorities actions over the 100-year ban on gay pride events in the European Court of Human Rights. Through this we will eventually achieve that the bans are recognized as unlawful, not only for the past, but for the future gay parades in the Russian capital, the Interfax news agency quoted Alekseyev as saying. Pussy Riots performance of the Punk Prayer included a reference to the countrys victimized LGBT community with the line Gay pride sent to Siberia in chains. A court in Moscow has chosen four videos made by the feminist punk protest group Pussy Riot as extremist. The Zamoskvorechye District Court in the Russian capital ruled that access to all websites hosting the videos must be limited. In relation to the courts decision, websites that do not remove the Pussy Riot videos will face administrative penalties, which include fines up to 100,000 Rubles (around  £2000). On June 8, 2012, Putin signed into law a measure imposing weighty fines on citizens who organize or take part in unauthorized demonstrations, giving the Russian authorities authoritative leverage to clamp down on the large antigovernment street protests ignited by his decision that he planned to return to the presidency and re-energized by his inauguration in May. Four days later, around 10,000 protesters gathered  in central Moscow in defiance of the Kremlin ban. Tracy + the Plastics is the name of the  electro pop  solo project of  Wynne Greenwood, a  lesbian  feminist  video artist based in  Olympia, Washington she started this project with, what she describes as myself and myself and myself. She played all the roles of the band Nikki (keyboards), Cola (drums) and Tracy (singer). Live, Nikki and Cola would be included as imagery in a projected landscape that backs her up and fills her in. Pre-recorded music would begin to play through speakers. She would then begin to sing live and talk to her band mates in between songs. Nikki asks Cola why she puts socks down her pants to look like a dick or a third dimension? Cola turns to Tracy and asks her for advice. I dont put socks down my pants she does it to look more real. Theres a history, a reality created by the interaction between the self and the image of the self. When an individual in a marginalized group talks to a recorded image of themselves it empowers the individual to open the door to the understanding and celebration that she/he/it can be deliberate. It is an interaction with a fragmented self. By fragmented, Greenwood means a consistent individuality thats constructed from different, often contradictory, elements of culture, society, and existence that we identify with because popular culture has no complete identity to offer its audience except one that resembles the ruling class. We can come out. And then come out again. We can rearrange our world how we want it. Wynne Greenwood (2001) Defining Miranda July is like trying to define a colour (Chang, 2000) when faced with the sheer range of her work single channel video, experimental audio, multimedia performance, fanzines, riot grrrl film and videotape distribution.   July is a Portland, Oregon-based artist spellbound by codes, systems, and the erroneous belief of the ordinary affected by things such as education and IQ tests, also a somewhat fascination with human interactions and relationships. Shes at her finest when she manages to show systems breaking down, altering, or cleared of the substance that gives them meaning. July began to catch local attention whilst still in high school in Berkeley, MI, when she created a play (The Lifers) derived from a pen pal relationship with a convict in the California prison who was jailed for murdering a man who had frequently stole from his petrol station. She found him through an advert for a prisoner pen-pal type program in the back of a magazine. July went on to move to Portland, OR, and became emerged into the Riot Grrrl scene since this appeared the place to be for DIY music and art specifically targeting women with a voice, who needed an outlet. In 1996, out of this eager hotbed of creative female community arose the  Big Miss Moviola  project (but legal threats from the owners of the word Movieola strained July to modify the name of her project to  Joanie4Jackie) a creative and incessant video chain letter. Female filmmakers and performance artists alike would produce a short film. The recorded piece would then be added to a compilation tape contai ning ten other female artists. The tape would then be sent back to the contributor. http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/inside_out/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mj_amateurist_web.jpg You always suspected it and now you know its true: Girls and women are making movies everyday Joanie4Jackie All women were invited and encouraged to participate, despite technical skills, using any medium that was available to them, By August 2000 there were upwards of 100 films still in distribution. The initiative for Moviola  emerged from Julys observation that the earth is full of inspirational films and people that cannot be seen or heard. And she takes this farther by stating she is also stimulated by films that yet to be made. July claims all of her writing is taken from the subconscious.   The curators for this project included Miranda July, Rita Gonzalez, and Astria Suparak. The  Joanie4Jackie  series was also screened at film festivals and DIY movie events. So far, thirteen editions have been released, the latest in 2002. Prominent DIY filmmakers who have contributed to the project include  Mary Billyou,Tammy Rae Carland,  Lisa Hammer,  K8 Hardy,  Sarah Jacobson,  G.B. Jones,  Tara Mateik  and Miranda July herself. Nowadays, her films illuminate the ordinary, lampoons of relationships, the fundamental weirdness of sex, and remind us of what it feels to be human. July plays on the tension of relationships, the uncomfortable bits and the joys. She makes you snigger, and feel good without making you feel like a simpleton in the process. She allures you not with trickery, but with what is desired as truth, or at least something within reach. For the male spectator, her films also offer the unusual delight of inhabiting a characteristically woman sensibility.

Gay Marriage Essay -- Homosexuality, argumentative, persuasive

Marriage is the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of two people to live as a married couple. Marriage should not be based on what others think. When people get married in a heterosexual union, they do it for their own happiness, not for the happiness of others. Gay marriage is the same way. Homosexuality has always been around and will continue to exist. Why should homosexuals be denied the rights of heterosexuals? No one has the right to say that homosexuals can not marry. That is discriminating against another group of individuals who want equality. Gay marriage should be accepted; people were made with the capacity to love, no one should try to change that, not the Bible, the Constitution, or anyone. Marriage is stated many times in the Bible. But the Bible and the Amendments can be interpreted many ways. Marriage is a religious ceremony, â€Å"But I cannot imagine even the most fervent Christian obeying all of God’s laws†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bond) Nobody is perfect, but our flaws make who we are. If we don’t always follow a few rules here and there it is okay because we are only human. Most parents teach their children to be different and don’t let others influence them. The same thing should go for gays. The people that are trying to change them are not going to succeed. Gays were made fore a certain reason, but our country has to figure that out first in order accept them. In the Bible, Jesus blesses the children and sends the young rich men away†¦ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now i n this age --- houses brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields with... ..., it will come. Works Cited DeMarco, Donald. "Same-Sex Marriage Should Not Be Allowed." The Family. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. Bond, Julian. "Opposing Same-Sex Marriage Discriminates Against Gays." Discrimination. Ed. Jacqueline Langwith. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. Dykstra, Laurel. "Not All Queers Want to Marry." Homosexuality. Ed. Paul Connors. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current Controversies. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. Mercer, Ilana. "Gay Couples Have Equal Rights." 2014. Rpt. in Does Equality Exist in America? Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

The Darkened Tunnel :: Personal Narrative Writing

The Darkened Tunnel En route of my journey from home to my destination I came across something that caught my attention. A hole intruding into the side of a hill beckoned me to investigate. Curiosity drew me to the mouth of the tunnel where I was overcome by a dank odor. It wasn’t the most inviting of places, concrete walkway leading into the dark unknown and a large gutter extruding rainwater from somewhere within it. I stepped to the threshold to see what lay within. An old shopping cart sat in the gutter on its side shrouded by an old tarp. The scrawling on the wall revealed to me that I was not the first one here. Looking into the tunnel I could see it extend into darkness. Like looking into infinity, there was no end in sight. Who is to say what could be inside: maybe a friend, maybe an enemy, maybe knowledge, maybe love, maybe death, maybe nothing. The only light shown from the world outside, the world I knew. There I stood, on the threshold between light and dark, one world and the next, the familiar and the unknown. My curiosity was almost unbearable†¦ Confronted by the decision of whether or not to explore this tunnel, I couldn’t help but to ponder the importance of choice itself. What difference does this choice make? Life is choice, a long series of decisions made exclusively by the individual. We all have the power to determine the course of our own lives through the choices we make, every instant of every waking day. Think about the people you know, the clothes you wear or the food you eat, it’s all a matter of your individual choice. Every decision we make is linked to another moment in the course of life, be it significant or not, we may never know how important our individual choices really are. Examples of these life changing decisions can be seen everywhere, in any choice we make. The choice that my parents made to attend the same formal, in Middle America, where they met that one night in 1968, allowed for my existence today. So if it weren’t for that choice I wouldn’t even be cho osing my words. The Darkened Tunnel :: Personal Narrative Writing The Darkened Tunnel En route of my journey from home to my destination I came across something that caught my attention. A hole intruding into the side of a hill beckoned me to investigate. Curiosity drew me to the mouth of the tunnel where I was overcome by a dank odor. It wasn’t the most inviting of places, concrete walkway leading into the dark unknown and a large gutter extruding rainwater from somewhere within it. I stepped to the threshold to see what lay within. An old shopping cart sat in the gutter on its side shrouded by an old tarp. The scrawling on the wall revealed to me that I was not the first one here. Looking into the tunnel I could see it extend into darkness. Like looking into infinity, there was no end in sight. Who is to say what could be inside: maybe a friend, maybe an enemy, maybe knowledge, maybe love, maybe death, maybe nothing. The only light shown from the world outside, the world I knew. There I stood, on the threshold between light and dark, one world and the next, the familiar and the unknown. My curiosity was almost unbearable†¦ Confronted by the decision of whether or not to explore this tunnel, I couldn’t help but to ponder the importance of choice itself. What difference does this choice make? Life is choice, a long series of decisions made exclusively by the individual. We all have the power to determine the course of our own lives through the choices we make, every instant of every waking day. Think about the people you know, the clothes you wear or the food you eat, it’s all a matter of your individual choice. Every decision we make is linked to another moment in the course of life, be it significant or not, we may never know how important our individual choices really are. Examples of these life changing decisions can be seen everywhere, in any choice we make. The choice that my parents made to attend the same formal, in Middle America, where they met that one night in 1968, allowed for my existence today. So if it weren’t for that choice I wouldn’t even be cho osing my words.

Zappos, an Electronic Commerce Information System

Abstract As times evolve, so do the tools businesses use to keep up with the competition. One tool widely used is an information system. Such a system allows businesses to input process and store information. Zappos. com is one of the many businesses that use an information system. The system that Zappos. com uses is an electronic commerce information system. This system allows Zappos. com to provide great customer service, which is the company's mission. Many employees are needed to run the different components of the electronic commerce information system, some employees are new and others are seasoned workers. There are managers that train and oversee the production and service provided by employees. The electronic commerce information system has many components. Some workers are in charge of inputting and creating the graphics that appear on the Zappos. com webpage. Other customers are in charge of processing payments and shipping information. A customer must have access to the internet and one of the Zappos. com approved methods of payment to make a purchase. The use of an electronic commerce information system has enabled Zappos. com to be efficient and save money. Unfortunately, should such an information system crash, the website would be unable to run. Although the webpage is very user friendly, there are some improvements that would make it better, such as pictures, advanced search options, and experienced customer service. Zappos. com, an Electronic Commerce Information System With the development of new technology, people have changed the way they do things. From ordering movies and food, to shopping for merchandise, more and more customers are resorting to the internet to satisfy their needs. In order to succeed, companies must keep up with growing trends. Online shopping is one of the fastest growing trends nationwide. In order to provide this feature, companies must have the necessary system in place to provide accurate information such as prices, quantities, and shipping information. One tool many companies use is an information system. Rainer (2009) defines an information system as â€Å"the planning, development, management and use of information technology tools to help people perform all tasks related to information processing and management† (glossary). Zappos. com is an online store that is used my thousands of customer nationwide. Zappos. com offers anything from clothing to shoes for the entire family. There are many features that make Zappos. com an excellent place to shop. One of these features is that customers are given 365 days to return items, as opposed to 30 or 90 days allotted by other online stores. The second feature is that shipping is free both ways. There are many components that make up the electronic commerce information system employed by Zappos. com. Some components allow customers to view the merchandise in stock, while other components store transaction histories. All of these components work together to provide customers with a hassle-free easy internet shopping experience. In addition, components from the online platform also communicate with different operational components. Zappos. com uses this system for many of its operational tasks such as processing payments and keeping up with growing customer trends. Overview and Structure of the Organization Mission: The mission of Zappos. com is to provide the best customer service possible to its customers. There are many internet stores available online. In order to fulfill its mission and stand out above the rest, Zappos. om must provide popular merchandise as well as process transactions fast, accurately, and efficiently. Foundation: The first step in running a successful online organization is to properly train employees. Zappos. com starts by training employee's the core values and organizational culture established by the company. Once the basics have been established, employees are trained to perform different duties. Managers help train and guide new and seasoned Behind the Scenes: To make Zappos. com a successful online business, a special department is in charge of finding merchandise that is in high demand. Once the merchandise has been selected, another department is in charge of taking pictures and preparing information that the customers can see and read when they access the Zappos. com website. After a customer picks out merchandise, a department oversees the processing of the payment and the shipping of the merchandise to the customer. Should there be any issues or concerns, a customer service department is available to assist customers. Inputs, Outputs, and Organizational Usage Webpage Zappos. com is divided up into different sections. Employees enter information such as sizing charts, or lists of brands. Other sections include house wares, beauty, and handbags. Employees are in charge of developing and maintaining these different sections. Merchandise An information system calculates and predicts growing trends. Reports are analyzed to determine the merchandise that will be purchased. Once merchandise is purchased, pictures and descriptions of items are entered into a system to be displayed online. The quantity of merchandise is also imputed to provide accurate information of available merchandise. Transactions Customers view different merchandise online. Once they decide to purchase an item, they must input various information. The first step is usually to indicate the quantity and size of the merchandise. Second, customers enter or create their login information. Third, customers input their address and contact information. Finally, payment information is entered so that customers can get a confirmation that their transaction is being processed and when their merchandise will be shipped. Impact of the Information System on the Organization Efficiency An electronic commerce information system allows Zappos. com to be more efficient. Information that is inputted into the system such as prices or details on merchandize can be viewed by employees in different states. In regards to training, material can be inputed into the information system so that employees can study and review it during their down time or on time allotted for training. Cost Effective An electronic commerce information system allows Zappos. com to be an online store. This saves the company money that would have been spent covering overhead charges as an actual physical store. Rather than having merchandise in one location, Zappos. com is able to offer a variety of merchandize to customers nationwide with the use of an information system. Downfall One negative aspect is that Zappos. com is an online store. Should the electronic commerce information system crash, the website would be shut down. This in return would upset customers that are loyal shoppers. In addition, money would be lost because there is not a physical location where people could go to in order to complete their transactions. Contingency Zappos. om has two locations, one in Las Vegas, and another location in Kentucky. This has allowed Zappos. com to function operations from one location to the other should one system be down. This ensures that while little issues may occur with the site, major issues have never prevented the site from working. Hardware and Software Back Operation Zappos. com must have all the necessary hardware to successfully run an online business. Examples of such hardwa re include cameras to take pictures of merchandise and computers to upload the information to the webpage. Many customers do not feel safe entering their bank information online. As a result, telephones are important so that representatives can assist customers that choose to call. Webpage The webpage designers at Zappos. com would need different hardware as well. Many designers use notepads to organize the content. Graphics programs are also necessary to add slides and transitions to the webpage. Photoshop software also enables designers to tweak pictures so that they appear as professional as possible. Customers To begin with, customers must have access to the internet in order to shop t Zappos. com. Some customers like to use their laptops, desktops, or cell phones to access the site. Many people use internet explorer, while others use Mozilla Firefox. To prevent viruses or other cyber attacks, many customers have some type of internet security software. Recommended Improvements Shoes The Zappos. com website features many shoes and customers can look at multiple views. Unfortunately, t here are not any pictures that show how the shoe would look on an actual person. One improvement the system could use would be to show a picture of a model wearing the shoe. For this improvement, a picture would be taken of a model wearing a shoe. The picture would then be uploaded into the information system so that it is available to be viewed by customers nationwide. Customer Service Zappos. com has a wonderful option to chat live with representatives online. Unfortunately, the service can sometimes be slow because agents have to take time to research the problem. There are so many products offered that sometimes the wait can be long. To fix this issue, agents can be trained to be experts of different areas. This would allow the agents to know their products better so that customer wait time is minimal. For this improvement, agents would have to be better trained in specific departments. In addition, the online chat would have to be set up to allow customers to click on the department that can best assist him or her. Advanced Search Zappos. com offers many products. When trying to narrow down search results, customers have to check different specification. It would be time efficient, to have an advanced search where a customer can enter all the specification of the produce he or should would like to see. To do this, Zappos. com would have to have an advanced search field that would allow customers to choose between different specifications. Conclusion Gone are the days when data had to be inputted, processed, and stored manually. Information systems have revolutionized the way businesses function. Zappos. com is an online store that uses and electronic commerce system to function successfully. Recap major points throughout essay. References Rainer, R. K. , Jr. , & Turban, E. (2009). Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming business (3rd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) and a business continuity plan (BCP) Essay

1. What is the disparity in the midst of a adventure summary (RA) and a dividing line clashing abstract (BIA)? Risk analysis is often seeing the potentiality threats and the associated vulnerabilities to the boldnesss. Risk analysis doesnt charm the government activity from the mission vital line Process point of view. More all over BIA perceives the organization from the impact that is going to go through for an organization if the critical stock processes argon interrupted or tampered.2. What is the difference between a disaster convalescence broadcast (DRP) and a product line persistency intend (BCP)? Disaster recuperation programning is an inseparable part of seam planning that besides often liquidates neglected. Part of this has to do with the particular that making a Disaster recuperation plan overtops a lot of cartridge holder and attention from busy managers and executives from every operable department within the company. Business continuit y is a newer term which was kickoff popularized as a response to the Y2K bug. In line of battle to stop your company from bleeding bullion in these situations, you need a plan that will allow the organization to celebrate generating revenue and providing services although possibly with cut back spirit on a ephemeral basis until the company has regained its bearings.3. Typically, a business continuity plan is also a compilation or collection of another(prenominal) plans. What other plans might a BCP and all supporting documents include? Technical financial backing Plan, Communications Plan4. Why is it grand to engage detailed backup and recovery steps within your disaster recovery plan (DRP)? When the plans train together no info is lost in the enactment in the process.5. What is the use of a encounter analysis? What is the purpose of a business impact analysis? Why atomic number 18 these an crucial first step in defining a BCP and DRP? The purpose of take chan ces analysis is to allow organizations to decide which risks require more attention than other do. The purpose of business impact analysis is to identify those business sours that argon crucial to the organization and classify them as critical or noncritical. BIA section for each critical function receives additional information, including a description of recovery goals and requirements for each function. These are important first step because they are the building blocks for the organization.6. How does risk analysis (RA) relate to a business impact analysis for an organization? severally element in an organization has a limited budget, the risk analysis wait on managers and CEOs decide how much they are impulsive to risk and using the business impact analysis which and how much will be spent on certain elements.7. wedded the list of identified mission critical business functions and processes, what kind of company would you distinguish this organization is, and what do you think are its most important business processes and functions? I would think this company is an automotive company. I think its most important business process and functions are quality control mechanisms, research and development activities, and Manufacturing and mathematical product line.8. Given the prioritization list provided for the organizations identified business functions and processes, write an judgment of how this prioritization will impact the need for IT systems, applications, and data access.9. For the top five identified business functions and processes, what recovery time objective (RTO) would you press for this organization and why? anteriority 1 would need RTO of 5 legal proceeding, without the server you have no website or e-commerce for paysheet. Priority 2 RTO of 15 minutes because the domains can be down for a little turn which will hamper communications solely they would still be able to be productive. Priority 3 RTO is 5 minutes because it shouldnt ta ke long to get the phone lines back on line. Priority 4 RTO is 5 minutes because if the organization cant help their customers past nobody would buy their product. Priority 5 RTO is 5 minutes because you need to steer email and communication with other to fasten the organizations product.10. Why is payroll for employees and human resources also listed as a No. 1 business antecedency? If your employees dont get pay then they wont work and then the business loses money and also the company can violate laws and agreements.

The Geranium

Date 15/02/10 Title The Geranium Text typecast Short story Author Patricia pardon This short story, The Geranium, by Patricia Grace and print 1993, is a perfect example of beaten-up woman syndrome and the psychological effects it has on a person in this causal agent Marney. In the geranium, the main character, Marney is a baulk at home mother. She cleans intensely whole mean solar day and manipulatems rather dull. She does non cater the house level off when one of the girls tells her to set ab divulge for a stretch. You know she is hesitant and you give the bounce feel that there is some liaison stopping her from leaving. at that place seems to be a part of non-stop cleaning, because when her friends, Sandra and Joe, hold back laid over this doesnt stop her from making certainly things are clean, she even sets down writing to stop the floor getting crappy again. Her life is so boring that the cozy up of her week is the arrival of the paper that came on a Wedne sday. The paper is a leave to the outside world that she is no seven-day able to access. Although the paper pictures her eery(prenominal) kinds of things she could do and clubs she could enter, she cant because of a mental block built up by the continuous tread from phellem.The conflict becomes to a greater extent tidy up with the return of Bob her husband. When Bob comes home he immediately starts demands what she has been doing all day. He asks questions astir(predicate) whether shes been digging and cleaning and whos been over. He is so controllerling that he has to know ever little detail to make for sure he does not find out different. When he finds out about The Geranium he tells her to chuck that thing out. This is a clear demonstration of his control, because Marney throws it away without question even though earlier we see that she very precious it.These demonstrations of Bobs authority show us the reason for Marneys resistance to leave for the shops earlier and why she finds the housework so important. The conflict is single-minded when Marney throws out the Geranium at Bobs command. This part of the story is significant because it is Marneys chance to stand up for something she wants. We see earlier in the story that the Geranium is something that she has wanted it is something to bring some colour into her dull, boring, greyish life. A bit of remove to realise her days.But she is damaged from her abuse, and shows she has no freewill. right away faltering under Bobs orders she put it into a scrap bucket as if it was of little matter to her. The sink voiding is her life being drained away. She watches as her life is taken away from here, because she was unavailing to speak up. She has let her chance flight strip away and has been doomed to the same dull days. I think the ideas that Patricia Grace is severe to get across is that domestic madness isnt all physical, that it can go through very much behind the scenes and the shi p canal in which it can happen upon people.Although we get hints that Marney is physically abused such as when Grace mentions that Marney would put on her cardigan to cover up her arm, and when Bob grips her arm until it hurts, we never in reality get any evidence of weighty physical abuse. When the Sandra and Joe come over they beautify Bob up as an staggering guy compared to their intoxicatedard partners. Bob invariably has the groceries, and doesnt come home drunk all the time. But behind the scenes he is very different from the picture the girls bring made. He is threatening towards Marney and extremely controlling.He has scared into such an intense routine that she is no longer able to change that routine and is stuck to doing whatever he wants her to. This shows us that domestic violence can bechance without the knowledge of the people that surrounding. Grace has showed us the way abuse can affect someone through the way Marney is. She has been so controlled by Bob t hat she can no longer even think for herself. She has strike Woman Syndrome and is completely under his control that she can not even legislate out for help. These effects of her abuse show us how badly the aftermath of abuse affect someone just as bad as the abuse itself.The thing that I didnt enjoy about this story is the style of writing. It is written in a boring way to dialect the way Marneys life is, and although it serves the manipulation it left me feeling uninterested. What I did resembling the storyline. The way in which the conflict developed. I liked the way it starts off with what seems like Marney going about a dominion day and then it turns into a day that that brings forth all her abuse and problems. generally starting with the arrival of her friends. These developments give us a great insight into a day in the life of Marney. And it is not a pretty picture.

Automobile and Porsche Essay

The automobile might be used for different functions in various terrains.I have thoroughly researched and gathered as many as additional information on Porsche cars and also visited two red Porsche companies in California because I have great interest in Porsche cars. Therefore, I feel deeds that I am credible source.Invention and history of Porsche new cars a. German cars are known to be a very good cars i.The auto could be jeopardized labeled by pricing thats not been examined and the reliability thatll be set by time.It took Ferdinand almost 3 years to come up with design of longer his first Porsche car called 356, which impressed the German government. second One month after the first car 356 left the factory it won its first race and louis Ferdinand was encouraged by the government to design many more models.Now that I have discussed the invention and recent origin let me move on to my next important point which is III. Models/Types of Porsche b.

Cars is going to be.Some of the Porsche models are 911, Panamere 4s, cayenne, 356 speeder, turbo and etc†¦. c. Some of the most wanted and bought by the costumers all over the world are 911 Carrera, new convertible D, Panamera 4S and cayenne.v.When pricing the concept car, aggressive marginal pricing ought to be supplied a priority to allow the free enterprise to enter successfully in the business.IV. Best features and personal Qualities of Porsche d. Best Transmission and small engines vi. Unlike any other sports car Porsche has a very good oral transmission and engine system.

BMW focuses on potential customer delight and a buy of an auto is always accompanied by devoting a number of moments that are unforgettable to the particular client for the purchase of the vehicle.Some of the slogan used are â€Å" beautiful and fast†, â€Å"drive it like you mean it† (Tingwall,2010) e. Comfortable for apply your spines ix. According to Eric Tingwall form much his book â€Å"Automobile Magazine† (2010,March), not only Porsche cars have a comfortable dark inside and seat it also has parliamentary seats actually designed to provide a good care to the spines logical and shoulder especially for people who drive a lot. x.Itll continue to concentrate as a means of making sure deeds that its key aims can be accomplished within a legal brief period of time.Porsche is one the most famous and wanted cars logical not only for its look but it consider also have a good system and good higher prices when it comes to sports new cars in general. Review 1. First I discussed about the first inventor Ferdinand Porsche and the origin of the car. wired And how it’s one the most amazing German car it is.

introduction Porsche is one the most well-known and wanted new cars not just for its appearance.How it is useful in so many ways. Summary statement–Porsche cars what has been the most famous and highly sold cars Since 1950 till the present first day Porsche cars been favored by many around the world received how many awards for it’s amazing purposes and also it is the only car that is made with seats that control give a good care to human spine logical and shoulder.ReferencesEasyStreet; Porsche gets into the business. (2002, December 16).Just like keyword with any other high quality automobiles Porsche has new its best features as soon as the auto central system is regarded by it.ezproxy. etsu. edu:2048/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA95667758&v=2.

Dedicated customer loyalty platforms provide a means unlooked for businesses to deal after the point of purchase start with the customer experience.In J. S. Baughman, V. Bondi, R.The domestic market is diversified and extremely competitive.Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://ic. galegroup. com.

The business is extremely aggressive.Mechanical Engineering-CIME, 113(5), 12.Retrieved extract from http://go. galegroup. com.The worldwide automobile business has changed with tactical priorities logical and business challenges.1&u=tel_a_etsul&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w Tingwall, E. (2010, March). Porsche bookshelf. Automobile Magazine, 24(12), 57.

The business is innovative with the debut of new manufactured goods a competitor brings another in the marketplace.etsu. edu:2048/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA219684328&v=2. 1&u=tel_a_etsul&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w Tingwall, E.Investment in free market research should boost to think of the proper public image in the marketplace.galegroup. com. ezproxy. etsu.