Sunday, July 26, 2020

How to Create a Brand-new Market

How to Create a Brand-new Market Whenever a new business launches a product or a service, it can either enter an existing market or create a new one. The conventional and perhaps easier option is to develop products for an existing market, but there are plenty of lucrative benefits to creating a brand-new market instead. This guide will examine 1)  the benefits of creating a new market. We’ll also discuss the 2)  six different ways of finding new market spaces and provide you 3)  tips on launching a product in a new market.WHY SHOULD YOU CREATE A NEW MARKET?Before we start looking at ways to create a new market, it’s important to analyze the advantage of this approach for businesses.Creating a completely new market means you are the first mover, the world is yours. That can have its benefits to a business. Thinking outside the box shouldn’t be something a business should shy away from.The potential benefits of being able to create a brand-new market are impressive. Your business would be the first one to enter the market, which can provide it with a competitive advantage for years to come. Customers will learn to trust you as the “industrys first”.You can understand the pay off through the example of companies such as Netflix. The company, which started out, as a service to rent DVDs for a monthly fee, has been able to maintain its leadership position, even as the service it provides has changed from the original concept.If you manage to respond to a clear customer need with the product or service, while creating market entry barriers for potential competitors, you can dominate the market well into the future. It’s hard to see Netflix could lose its position to a competitor, without the competitor operating in a completely new market.In addition, the strategic thinking is different when it comes to breaking into an existing market vs. creating a new one.If you are establishing a new market, you aren’t focused on competing with existing players. Instead, your strategy is focusing on dominating the entire market from the early beginnings.On the other hand, if you are trying to enter an existing market, the focus is often simply on improving the product or service either through quality or functional improvements, or by targeting the cost aspect of the product. In ot her words, you are relying on pre-existing conventional wisdom of the market and the industry. Unfortunately, this can lead to competitive convergence.But when you are creating a new market, you are completely focused on creating a product or a service that provides real value to a customer. You aren’t developing the business idea within existing boundaries, but instead look to pursue real value innovation.Innovation can help in attracting consumers and exciting them with a new way of doing things. Consider the example of Home Depot in North America. The company managed to create a new market for DIY enthusiasts simply by looking outside of the traditional hardware store model.A great lecture on how to create a new market for your business. 6 KEY AREAS TO FOCUS ON WHEN TRYING TO CREATE A NEW MARKETYou should keep in mind six focus areas that can give you an idea how to create a new market.Examine substitute industriesOne of the quickest ways to create a new market is by examining substitute industries. This means creating a product within an existing industry, but which acts as a substitute of the main product.There are plenty of examples in the world of substitute industries.Think about butter and margarine, for example. Although the use of the product is the same, margarine created a completely new market. It substituted the use of butter, without destroying the butter market. Both groups still exist and there are different reasons for buying either product. When a buyer enters the shop to get spread for bread, they’ll make decisions based on the benefits and downsides of either option.Businesses tend to have a vertical mindset, where one industry is separate from another. But you can easily disrupt this thinking by examining substitute industries.Examine strategic groups within an industryYou can also find new market space by examining strategic groups within an industry.A strategic group is  a collection of companies within any specific industry, which use a similar strategy. Most industries have these strategic groups and they are typically ranked in a hierarchical nature. The hierarchy is often based on two dimensions: price and performance.Companies are generally focused on improving their position within a strategic group, either by focusing on price or performance. But if you want to create a new market space across existing strategic groups, you can do so by analyzing buyer decisions. What are the factors that make a buyer trade up or down within these groups?The fashion industry is a great example of an industry with strategic groups. You often have the higher priced haute couture brands grouped at the top, with lower-priced, yet higher volume brands below them. If you’d like to create a new market, you would have to look at the consumer trade off from moving from the haute couture market to the mass-produced fashion market.In the case of fashion, the answer is often based on the emotional value of the haute couture item . Consumers want an exclusive piece of clothing to stand out from the crowd.Hence, if a company wants to create a new market, it will have to analyze if there is a niche for a product that is not yet offered within the strategic group. That might be a product of superior quality compared to the competitors, or a product at a lower price.Identify a new buyer groupProducts and services tend to be designed with the target consumer in mind, but there are many products where there is no direct link from seller to buyer. Instead, there tends to be a chain of buyer groups, each making decision in a different way.Consider you are selling printers to offices. The end user of the product might be the corporate worker, but the product is not bought directly by the user. Instead, corporate buyers or the middle management is in charge. But the quality corporate buyers are looking for can differ from what the worker wants. The company is most likely looking for a long-lasting and affordable suppl ier, whereas the worker wants an easy to use and quick printer. The buyer groups have therefore different definitions of value.This typically leads to companies targeting a specific buyer group and targeting their value definition of the product. By challenging the industry’s conventional wisdom of the target group within a chain, you can create a new market. You’ll redefine the value proposition of the product.For example, pharmaceutical companies tend to focus on the influencer group, i.e. the doctors. They design products that appeal to doctors, instead of focusing on the user of the drugs. By turning the focus from doctors to patients, you could change the product or service design and open a door to a new market.Add complementary products or servicesQuite a few services and products in this world are not used on their own â€" they don’t exist in a vacuum. In order to use a specific product or service, you often need to take advantage of another one.For example, consider g oing on a holiday as a pet owner. In order to enjoy your weekend in the sun, you’ll also need a service to look after the cat. The ease of finding someone to look after your cat, not to mention the cost of it, can influence the value you place on going on the holiday.But the tourism industry doesn’t think about this â€" you don’t get a free pet care when you buy a holiday. But perhaps the industry should consider this, as the demand for the holiday might be less because people can’t find good and affordable care for their pets.There is plenty of value to be found by including a complementary product or a service to a service or product that is already being provided. In fact, it can create a completely new market space within the industry.Take for example French Fries and tomato ketchup. Would you want to eat French Fries without ketchup?Rethink the functional-emotional orientationWhen it comes to competition, different industries compete on different types of appeal.You hav e the conventional industries that often base competition on price and function. The calculations are based on the utility of the product, with products and services appealing to people because of rational reasoning.On the other hand, certain industries compete on consumer feelings. The competition is based on the emotional value of the product or service.But in reality, consumers don’t necessarily feel compelled to go after a certain product or service solely because of either type of reasoning.Decisions aren’t intrinsically rational or emotional. Yet, because companies are focused on treating customer expectations in either two ways, consumers tend to start thinking this way.But you could re-think this orientation and instead of focusing simply on the emotional appeal, provide functionality in a different manner or vice versa.Consider the example of Starbucks. The company turned a functional product, coffee, into an emotional experience. The coffee shops turned into chic place s to hang out before, during and after work. Instead of considering the price rationally, consumers are prepared to pay more for a simple cup of coffee, as long as they can enjoy it in a Starbucks cafe.Leverage external trendsEach industry is subject to external trends, which are constantly changing. Companies have to adapt to these changes and they’ve begun focusing on ways to protect the product or service. They are trying to predict the trends and develop the products in a way that keeps up with these shifting moods.But instead of trying to keep up with the trends, you can find new markets by looking across these trends. Instead of adapting to trends, you should try to participate in shaping these trends over time.This type of consideration can take place across different industries and it’s especially important in today’s high-technology world. For example, instead of waiting where the 3D printing will eventually evolve, you could look deeper into what shapes consumer valu ations in this field and adopt products and services that support these coming consumer needs.Finally, check out the video by Damir Perge, the founder of entrepreneurdex, on building a new market: 5 ESSENTIAL POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN LAUNCHING A NEW PRODUCTThe above six examples highlight the different ways companies can figure out new markets.Whilst the opportunities in creating new markets tend to be fruitful, you still need to be mindful about the dangers that could lie ahead.Before you launch a new product with the mindset of creating a new market, consider these five points.Organize a unique teamIf you hope to create a brand-new market, you need a solid and supportive team behind you. Creating a market is much harder than launching a product into an existing market â€" you need a team that understands the challenges.But instead of going after a team of “innovative wildlings”, you should create a balance between thinking outside the box and rational, consumer-focused thin king.The team should be able to innovate and consider an approach no one has thought of before, but keep a cool head whilst doing so. Not all ideas are worth the time and effort. After all, consumers are looking for value â€" whatever it turns out to be.Communicate your message clearlyThe key to cracking a new market is finding the right message. You are creating something new and consumers must be able to understand the “why” behind this idea. Essentially, you are trying to sell a product or service to solve a problem people didn’t know they had. If they did, there’d already be a market for it.Therefore, communication of this message is key to success. You need to make people understand that they have a certain problem and how your product or service is the solution.You aren’t necessarily selling an idea, but educating people over an issue. But you can’t do it in a patronizing or forceful manner. You need to make a problem seem essentially appealing in order to sell the solution.Understand your future competitionYou are entering the market as the first player, but if you are successful, other businesses will try to follow.  Although you don’t need to worry about competition immediately, you need to understand the competition you are going to face in the future.What are the companies that might follow you into the new market? You can understand it by examining your product or service and asking yourself:What are customers looking for with the product or service?What are some of the weaknesses your company has, which potential competitors can use as an advantage?What are the market entry barriers?Consider the way you can control or prevent new entrants to the market. Perhaps you can limit their impact by patenting your products. You might be able to limit the available market space by scaling up your products from the start.It’s important to understand future competition. You can’t be naive about it; first movers don’t always maintain a comp etitive advantage. Google, for example, wasn’t the first search engine, yet it became the dominant one by offering a better product than others.Leverage investor supportAs mentioned above, you shouldn’t be naive about the success you’ll have, especially when it comes to investor support. You shouldn’t approach investors with the mindset that you’re about to create a huge market and millions are going to pour in to buy your products. Obtaining a large budget isn’t necessarily going to guarantee success.This doesn’t mean you should turn down potential investors. You do need investment and you shouldn’t shy away from explaining your vision and goal. But you need to ensure you find the right investors and innovators.Creating a network of support is important and the main focus should be on attracting people who trust you as the industry leader, but who also keep your feet on the ground.Create unique marketing channelsSince the focus should be on getting the message acros s to consumers, marketing plays a crucial role behind the success. Companies looking to create a new market should understand the value of flexible and unique marketing channels.Don’t rely solely on traditional channels, as these can be expensive and difficult for outlining the message. For instance, mobile and online marketing are cost effective ways to reach audiences and to explain the vision clearly.You should embrace and target channels and people who are interested in your message. This means targeting:Retailers which are excited (whether it is chains or boutiques)Influencers such as bloggers â€" identify the people who could as the influencers within the market.Customers who are passionate about the product â€" encourage social media sharing and allow consumers to share the message.Creating a new market will take time. Therefore, you must be focused on building up the movement from the bottom up. This means priming the market even before you have started to create the buzz around the product.

Friday, May 22, 2020

The Key Elements For Human Happiness Essay - 2093 Words

Arriving at a definition of happiness is no simple task. Philosophers and scientists alike have researched the subject of happiness for some time and there is no one simple answer as to what happiness is or what makes people happy. This mix of factors that contribute to an individual’s happiness are often unique to that individual. At the most basic level, a happy person may be defined as â€Å"someone who experiences frequent positive emotions †¦ and infrequent (though not absent) negative emotions† (Khoddam, 2015). This definition, while very broad in scope, provides a solid foundation for understanding happiness. Carl Jung, considered by most as the founder of analytical psychology, defined the five key elements for human happiness: 1) Good physical and mental Health 2)Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships 3) The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature 4) Reasonable standards of living and satisf actory work 5) A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life (Rubin, 2012). Each of these 5 points will be discussed in this paper, after first covering the topic of GDP and equality. For different people, the definition of happiness is different. For the country, it is almost the same. Happiness is rising on the political agenda and this calls for measures of how well nations perform in creating great happiness for a great number, analogous to measures of successShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes The Pill?864 Words   |  4 PagesThese are some scenario’s that have a higher chance of occurring if I were to take the happiness pill. Therefore, I have decided not to take the pill because according to Epicurus there are three influences that determine your happiness and being being blinded by the truth is not one of them. The truth in this case, is more important to me. Epicurus was one of the only philosophers to figure out what happiness was and knew we all were capable of finding it. He says we are all looking in the wrongRead MoreThe Placement of Humanity807 Words   |  3 Pagesquestions that propel humans forward into the new frontier of technology and mental wonders. Humans are corporeal. We touch our skin and come to the conclusion that we are solid. We touch the clothes that surround our bodies. The clothes do not go through our bodies, so therefore our bodies and our clothes are solid. However, since humanity has stepped foot on earth, we have included in our culture and our ways of life elements of the supernatural, elements of the divine, and also elements of subjectivityRead MoreWhat Makes A Person Happy?1366 Words   |  6 Pages What makes a person happy? (Lyubomirsky, 2007) states that happiness is determined 10% by circumstances, 40% intentional activity and 50% genetically inherited. However, there is believed to be many influences on the happiness of an individual. (Pursuit of Happiness, 2017) believe that there are 7 habits of happy people. People who have one of more close friends and people who volunteer or care for others on a consistent basis are believed to be happier. Taking part in an activity that requiresRead MoreJohn Stewart Mill and Aristotle on Happiness647 Words   |  3 PagesThe idea of happiness and the flourishing of man have been the foundations to modern philosophical thought. Aristotle and John Stuart Mill aimed to explain the origin to happiness, and their respective conclusions also resulted in the definition of morality; these conclusions also affected their view of women. Aristotle believed that it was the function of women to remain subservient to men so that man (the citizen) could flourish and provide the good life for the Polis, whereas Mill denotes thatRead MoreHappiness Is Measured And Defined By Positive Psychologists1231 Words   |  5 PagesGood evening students, in this lecture I will explain how happiness is measured and defined by positive psychologists and how happiness relates to well-being and positive emotions. Happiness is something that every human being desire throughout the lifespan and most researchers believe that it can be measured by relying on various surveys and questionnaires to ask people questions about what makes them happy. The subject of happiness and more importantly positive psychology has become a major focusRead MoreUtilitarianism : The Utilitarian Moral Theory Essay968 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual determines happiness and judges his or her actions. 3. What are the four key elements of utilitarianism found in Hutcheson s writings? The four key elements of utilitarianism found in Hutcheson s writings include that one must compute the consequences of his or her actions, the standard of moral evaluation is identified as the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure that results for all affected, consequences enter all computation, and what counts as happiness or pleasure. 4. WhatRead MoreUtilitarianism Vs. Utilitarianism Theory909 Words   |  4 Pagesby Jeremy Bentham. His version of was that aggregate pleasure after deducting suffering of all involved in any action. However, this was later revised by John Stuart Mill He has revised the concept of utility and has brought forth the Greatest Happiness Principle†. First off, utilitarianism is the philosophical view about how we should evaluate a things that are involve choices that people have to make. These things that are evaluated are actions, laws, policies, character traits, and moral codesRead MoreA Natural New World By Aldous Huxley983 Words   |  4 Pagesonly emotion the civilians feel is happiness. However, along with social stability comes a loss of individuality. Community, identity, and emotions, three characteristics that are natural and required in order for an individual to truly live life have been erased from society. The World State removes these elements because they are unstable and uncontrollable. Huxley shows that no amount of stability and happiness is worth the loss of everything that makes us human. That means a utopian society isRead MoreBuddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism And Monotheistic Religions1108 Words   |  5 Pagesmankind to the path of happiness, pleasure and contentment as well as, savior from suffering an d degradation. A final religion placing importance on the concept of the â€Å"self† is Taoism. Taoism is known as a religion as well as, a philosophy. In Taoism, the pursuit of happiness, the embrace of wonder and joy through the trials of life, is the primary teaching. Hinduism is religion and way of life that was born in modern day India. Enlightenment of the self is a key element to the religion. The pathRead MoreThe Positive Side Of Interpersonal Communication1126 Words   |  5 PagesIn the following answer, I will be addressing how we can be communicating in ways to enhance our quality of being human with others and in turn, hopefully allow other human beings to enhance their interaction with their world as well. I will discuss the areas in the first three chapters of the book â€Å"The Positive Side of Interpersonal Communication by Thomas J. Socha and Margaret J Pitts. This book is a collection of articles comprised by some of the best people within the communication field. The

Friday, May 8, 2020

The Stage Of The Symphony Orchestra - 960 Words

The stage design was basically musicians sitting in their chairs with the sheet music on a stand in front of them. The conductor placed on a platform in the center of the stage so everyone would be able to see him. The lighting was constant throughout the whole stage. Everyone had the same level of importance The stage set-up was based on what instrument each musician played. There were woodwind, brass, percussion, violin instrumental groups on the stage. In the middle front of everyone on stage was the conductor on a platform. In the Whitewater Symphony Orchestra, starting from the left corner from my perspective was timpani. The middle back of the stage was the clarinet, bassoons, flutes, and oboes. In the middle of the stage was the†¦show more content†¦He received a degree from Western Michigan University and North University. Ramaeker was the winner of the 2011 American Prize in orchestral conducting. Currently he’s a principal conductor of the Ravenswood Communi ty Orchestra and director of orchestras at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Also was a music director of the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s and the Hyde Park youth symphony. 3.Choose one of the works you heard. [20 pts.] If the work is a multi-movement composition, you need only discuss one or two movements. Who was the composer? Please provide a biography of the composer. [Note: you needn’t provide volumes, but in most cases, one to two paragraphs is sufficient.] Describe the work: (be certain to include the title of the work and composer), the style and/or stylistic period, form, subject-matter, and other elements we’ve discussed in class, including melody, harmony, form, texture, rhythm, tempo, etc. [As music occurs within a time framework, one can almost always describe what occurs sequentially.] Is there a particular meaning implied in the title which provide insights to the performance of the piece? The work I’ve chosen is â€Å"Concerto in A Major for Clarinet and Orchestra. K.622†, which was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was born January 1756 in Salzburg,Show MoreRelated The Florida Orchestra’s Program730 Words   |  3 Pages On April 11, 2014 The Florida Orchestra performed Wolfgang Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C major, K, 200, David Diamond’s Symphony No. 4, and Johannes Brahms Quartet No.1 for Piano and Strings in G minor at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Ferguson Hall in Tampa, Florida. Gerard Schwarz, guest conductor, led the Florida Orchestra for each of the compositions. According to The Florida Orchestra Program the list of performers for the violin is Jeffrey Multer, Nancy Chang, JeffreyRead MoreI Visit My Old High School For Their Annual Spring Musical1228 Words   |  5 Pagesand orchestra. The orchestra generally played 4 pieces Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, Beet hoven Symphony No.6, and Tchaikovsky No.6. The orchestra would also be playing other various musical selections for private judges only. The school orchestra was conducted by Sasha Brown who is also a former member of the philharmonic orchestra. Mrs. Brown also helps assess unprivileged teens with music scholarships, and help open up many opportunities for them. The stage was brightlyRead MoreSymphony Orchestra Essay934 Words   |  4 PagesI have never been personally a fan of the romantic orchestra music but going to listen to a concert live is breathtaking. I attended the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Masterpieces concert with music director Fouad Fakhouri performing Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.1 in D major. There was a full stage of musicians and a complete choir to back it up. The first half of the performance was a complete orchestra of woodwinds, strings, drums, brass, excreta and aRead MoreUtah Symphony and Utah Opera: a Merger Proposal Essay1063 Words   |  5 PagesUtah Symphony and Utah Opera: A Merger Proposal The Utah Symphony (USO) and the Utah Opera (UOC) Merger was a union that was brought forth by the leadership committee at the USO in Salt Lake City. The proposal was an opportunity to strengthen a struggling symphony with a financially sound opera company. Although mergers between opera and symphony companies in the United States had been successfully in the past, the merging of a two major companies had yet to materialize (Delong Ager, 2005, pRead MoreThe Performance Of The Symphony1313 Words   |  6 Pageswatch a symphony before. I have heard them in plays and other performances, but they have never been the main production in something I have seen. It was very interesting to see the structure behind the sound. The amount of people and different instruments all together making a cohesive piece of music was absolutely incredible. There appeared to be well over 50 musicians working together to produce different sounds that fit together so tenaciously. Among the instruments involve d in the orchestra, I noticedRead MoreMusic, The Orchestra, And The Romantic Symphony973 Words   |  4 Pagesconcepts about music in western civilization. The 3 concepts I have learned is elements of music, the orchestra, and the romantic symphony. Theses concept are very interesting to me because I don’t have any type of musical background and I got the chance to learn about how music really started. There are many elements I learn when it comes to making an orchestra and composing a music program. An orchestra is a group of musicians that come together to make background music for a TV show or movie. DuringRead MoreComparing Pronto Musica Played Three Compositions By Ludwig Van Beethoven1035 Words   |  5 PagesVioloncello in C major, Op. 56, which is also known as the Triple Concerto and Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93. For the Triple Concerto, the soloists included Philip Chu as the pianist, Axel Strauss as the violinist and Matt Haimovitz as the cellist. The con cert was conducted by Alexis Hauser, the artistic director of the McGill Symphony Orchestra and of Pronto Musica. The instruments that comprise this chamber orchestra are first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, basses, flutes, oboes, clarinetsRead MoreThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra s Presentation Of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 And Schostakovich s Symphony No1133 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual initiatives of composers in relation to the time period. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra provides an avenue for listeners from a wide range of backgrounds to hear and hopefully enjoy the sounds of the past. The two pieces preformed are styles notable from the modern era, both originating in Russia. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of Rachmaninov’ s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Schostakovich’s symphony No. 8 gives insight to the composers and conductors, as well as personal reflectionRead MoreI Attended The University Symphony Orchestra Concert1374 Wor ds   |  6 Pages I attended the University Symphony Orchestra Concert on Sep 30. Being my first ever symphony orchestra concert, the excitement was at its peak. I learned about the concert before so that I could understand a bit more about what is being played and the history of that piece. Reached UCA before time so that I could find a seat for myself and glance through the program book. When I sat down, there were already musicians on stage who were wearing formal black clothes, some of the musicians started workingRead MoreThe Concert Of Mozart s Concerto Symphony867 Words   |  4 Pages On Saturday April 16, 2016, I went with my fiancà © to Jones Hall to see the Houston Symphony perform a classical concert. The concert consisted of two pieces. Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E major. The orchestra was conducted by Thomas Sondergard from Denmark. The concert lasted for about 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. Although the concert started a little late, the first piece was Mozart’s Concerto No. 3, which he composed when he was 19. The

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Technology and learning Free Essays

The modernization of the times led to a startling reality that the world will be crippled without the aid of technology. Technology is becoming more and more of a necessity these days in all aspects of daily living and as such, educational institutions have incorporated this subject in their curriculum because the authorities acknowledged the fact that technology can help attain student objectives and in order to achieve the maximum impact, it must form part of the school’s education curriculum (Neir Tech, 2002). English is a subject that would be greatly enhanced by technology. We will write a custom essay sample on Technology and learning or any similar topic only for you Order Now English is a diversified field in itself that requires self-expression, vocabulary, reading, creativity and innovativeness of the mind. Technology can greatly enhance the students’ learning process when it comes to English because the information that they need is just a few clicks away. The world wide web provides a wide array of information and lectures about all English subjects. For example, a student having difficulty in pronunciation and vocabulary can access the Internet to learn this kind of skill. Students who have been assigned difficult topics for assignment can search the net for all the information that he needs. The teachers can use the technology as aid in teaching not only English but other subjects as well by using highly-powered technology driven lectures that would work best in capturing students’ attention. There are some schools that use technology to breach the barriers of communication. Video conferencing is another technological development that greatly helps educational institutions teach students not only English but other subjects as well. References Neir Tech. 2002.   Strategies for Improving Academic Achievement and Teacher Effectiveness. Retrieved July 3, 2009, from http://www.neirtec.org/products/techbriefs/1.htm How to cite Technology and learning, Essay examples

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Tom Petty - Wildflowers free essay sample

Tom Petty has been putting out fantastic rock n roll for almost 20 years. His new album, Wildflowers, not only lives up to his standards, but helps set new ones. The primary reason this album is so fantastic is that Petty sticks to his old style of rough guitar and harmonica. You Dont Know How It Feels, the first single and video off the album, shows this style better than any other song. From the introduction, with a piercing harmonica scale to the chorus, Petty crafts a song equal to that of his classics, Refugee and American Girl. The entire album puts forth an image of a warm, rugged outdoorsman. The baseline in Cabin Down Below helps portray this image, and the songs simple chorus of Baby, lets go makes it the kind of song you dont get out of your head for a long time. Many of the songs are traditional Tom Petty songs in the sense of the simple chorus and the loud, mean guitar. We will write a custom essay sample on Tom Petty Wildflowers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This simplicity of the lyrics, mixed with the complexity of the guitar adds to the rugged imagery. From a language perspective, the lyrics may seem a little questionable: Her juju beads are so nice/She kissed my third cousin twice/Im the king of Pomona seems a bit random. But the scratchy voice of Petty singing these is equally as strange, and combined, they create a nice effect. As with all of Pettys albums, he takes a try at some ballad pieces. Dont Fade on Me and Its Good to be King leave a little to be desired, as they are a 360E turn from the other songs. But the title track, Wildflowers works amazingly, with instruments like the harpsichord and harmonium giving the piece a folk sound to go with the Western motif. This song, played with the volume up, produces an image of Petty sitting on a deserted countryside, playing acoustic guitar, with the sun shining down as hard as possible. Petty sings You belong among the Wildflowers/You belong somewhere close to me/Far away from your trouble and worry/You belong somewhere you feel free, and his lyrics come to life. For three short minutes, your worries and troubles actually do disappear, and warmth fills your body. It is a remarkable feeling. Long ago, Tom Petty proved he had the skill and talent to make it in the rock n roll industry. Unlike many musicians, he continues to craft his music and to allow this talent to show through. Wildflowers is a step forward for Petty, but is also a flash of the past; it brings memories of time-honored songs and has some instant classics on it as well

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Understanding Dinosaur Combat

Understanding Dinosaur Combat In Hollywood movies, dinosaur fights have clear winners and losers, carefully demarcated arenas (say, an open patch of scrubland or the cafeteria in Jurassic Park), and usually a bunch of scared-out-of-their-wits human spectators. In real life, though, dinosaur fights were more like confused, chaotic bar brawls than Ultimate Fighting matches, and rather than persisting for multiple rounds, they were usually over in the blink of a Jurassic eye. (See a list of the Deadliest Dinosaurs, as well as Prehistoric Battles featuring your favorite dinosaurs, reptiles, and mammals.) Its important at the outset to distinguish between the two main types of dinosaur combat. Predator/prey encounters (for example, between a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex and alone, juvenile Triceratops) were quick and brutal, with no rules except kill or be killed. But intra-species clashes (say, two male Pachycephalosaurus head-butting each other for the right to mate with available females) had a more ritualistic aspect, and rarely resulted in a combatants death (though one presumes serious injuries were common). Of course, in order to fight successfully, you need to be equipped with suitable weapons. Dinosaurs didnt have access to firearms (or even blunt instruments), but they were endowed with naturally evolved adaptations that helped them either to hunt down their lunch, avoid being lunch or propagate the species in order to restock the global lunch menu. Offensive weapons (like sharp teeth and long claws) were almost exclusively the province of meat-eating dinosaurs, which preyed on one another or on gentler herbivores, while defensive weapons (like armor plating and tail clubs) were evolved by plant-eaters in order to fend off attacks by predators. A third type of weapon consisted of sexually selected adaptations (such as sharp horns and thickened skulls), wielded by the males of some dinosaur species in order to dominate the herd or compete for the attention of females. Offensive Dinosaur Weapons Teeth. Meat-eating dinosaurs like T. Rex and Allosaurus didnt evolve big, sharp teeth merely to eat their prey; like modern cheetahs and great white sharks, they used these choppers to deliver quick, powerful, and (if they were delivered in the right place at the right time) fatal bites. Well never know for sure, but reasoning by analogy with modern carnivores, it seems likely that these theropods aimed for their victims necks and bellies, where a strong bite would cause the most damage. Claws. Some carnivorous dinosaurs (like Baryonyx) were equipped with large, powerful claws on their front hands, which they used to slash at prey, while others (like Deinonychus and its fellow raptors) had single, oversized, curved claws on their hind feet. Its unlikely that a dinosaur could have killed prey with its claws alone; these weapons were probably also used to grapple with opponents and keep them in a death grip. (Bear in mind, however, that huge claws dont necessarily connote a carnivorous diet; the big-clawed Deinocheirus, for example, was a confirmed vegetarian.) Eyesight and smell. The most advanced predators of the Mesozoic Era (like the human-sized Troodon) were equipped with large eyes and relatively advanced binocular vision, which made it easier for them to zero in on prey, especially when hunting by night. Some carnivores also possessed an advanced sense of smell, which enabled them to scent prey from far off (though its also possible that this adaptation was used to home in on already-dead, rotting carcasses). Momentum. Tyrannosaurs were built like battering rams, with enormous heads, thick bodies, and powerful hind legs. Short of delivering a fatal bite, an attacking Daspletosaurus could knock its victim silly, provided it had the element of surprise on its side and a sufficient head of steam. Once the unlucky Stegosaurus was lying on its side, stunned and confused, the hungry theropod could move in for the quick kill. Speed. Speed was an adaptation shared equally by predators and prey, a good example of an evolutionary arms race. Since they were smaller and more lightly built than tyrannosaurs, raptors and dino-birds were especially quick, which created an evolutionary incentive for the plant-eating ornithopods they hunted to run faster as well. As a rule, carnivorous dinosaurs were capable of short bursts of high speed, while herbivorous dinosaurs could sustain a slightly less brisk pace for a longer period of time. Bad breath. This may sound like a joke, but paleontologists believe that the teeth of some tyrannosaurs were shaped so as to purposely accumulate shreds of dead tissue. As these shreds rotted, they bred dangerous bacteria, meaning any non-fatal bites inflicted on other dinosaurs would result in infected, gangrenous wounds. The unlucky plant-eater would drop dead in a few days, at which point the responsible Carnotaurus (or any other predator in the immediate vicinity) chowed down on its carcass. Defensive Dinosaur Weapons Tails. The long, flexible tails of sauropods and titanosaurs had more than one function: they helped to counterbalance these dinosaurs equally long necks, and their ample surface area may have helped dissipate excess heat. However, its also believed that some of these behemoths could lash their tails like whips, delivering stunning blows to approaching predators. The use of tails for defensive purposes reached its apex with the ankylosaurs, or armored dinosaurs, which evolved heavy, macelike growths at the ends of their tails that could crush the skulls of unwary raptors. Armor. Until the knights of medieval Europe learned to forge metallic armor, no creatures on earth were more impervious to attack than Ankylosaurus and Euoplocephalus (the latter even had armored eyelids). When attacked, these ankylosaurs would plop down onto the ground, and the only way they could be killed was if a predator managed to flip them onto their backs and dig into their soft underbellies. By the time the dinosaurs went extinct, even titanosaurs had evolved a light armored coating, which may have helped fend off pack attacks by packs of smaller raptors. Sheer bulk. One of the reasons sauropods and hadrosaurs attained such enormous sizes is that full-grown adults would have been virtually immune to predation: not even a pack of adult Alioramus could hope to take down a 20-ton Shantungosaurus. The downside to this, of course, was that predators shifted their attention to easier-to-pick-off babies and juveniles, meaning that out of a clutch of 20 or 30 eggs laid by a female Diplodocus, only one or two might manage to reach adulthood. Camouflage. The one feature of dinosaurs that rarely (if ever) fossilizes is their skin colorso well never know if Protoceratops sported zebra-like stripes, or if Maiasauras mottled skin made it difficult to see in dense underbrush. However, reasoning by analogy with modern prey animals, it would be very surprising indeed if hadrosaurs and ceratopsians didnt sport some kind of camouflage to cloak them from the attention of predators Speed. As mentioned above, evolution is an equal-opportunity employer: as the predatory dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era become faster, so do their prey, and vice-versa. While a 50-ton sauropod couldnt have run very fast, the average hadrosaur could rear up onto its hind legs and beat the bipedal retreat in response to danger, and some smaller plant-eating dinosaurs may have been capable of sprinting at 30 or 40 (or possibly 50) miles per hour while being chased. Hearing. As a general rule, predators are endowed with superior sight and smell, while prey animals possess acute hearing (so they can run away if they hear a threatening rustle in the distance). Based on an analysis of their crested skulls, it seems likely that some duck-billed dinosaurs (like Parasaurolophus and Charonosaurus) could bellow to each other over long distances, so an individual hearing the footsteps of an approaching tyrannosaur would be able to warn the herd. Intra-Species Dinosaur Weapons Horns. The fearsome-looking horns of Triceratops may only have been secondarily intended to warn away a hungry T. Rex. The position and orientation of ceratopsian horns lead paleontologists to conclude that their main purpose was in dueling with other males for dominance in the herd or breeding rights. Of course, unlucky males might be wounded, or even killed, in this processresearchers have unearthed numerous dinosaur bones bearing the marks of intra-species combat. Frills. The giant head ornaments of ceratopsian dinosaurs served two purposes. First, oversized frills made these plant-eaters look bigger in the eyes of hungry carnivores, which might opt to concentrate on smaller fare instead. And second, if these frills were brightly colored, they could have been used to signal the desire to fight during mating season. (Frills may also have had yet another purpose, as their large surface areas helped to dissipate and absorb heat.) Crests. Not quite a weapon in the classic sense, crests were protrusions of bone most often found on duck-billed dinosaurs. These backward-pointing growths would have been useless in a fight, but they may well have been employed to attract females (theres evidence that the crests of some Parasaurolophus males were larger than those of the females). As mentioned above, its also likely that some duck-billed dinosaurs funneled air through these crests as a way of signaling to others of their kind. Skulls. This peculiar weapon was unique to the family of dinosaurs known as pachycephalosaurs (thick-headed lizards). Pachycephalosaurs like Stegoceras and Sphaerotholus sported up to a foot of bone on the tops of their skulls, which they presumably used to head-butt one another for dominance in the herd and the right to mate. Theres some speculation that pachycephalosaurs may also have butted the flanks of approaching predators with their thickened domes.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

5 Alternatives to Hyphenating Phrasal Adjectives

5 Alternatives to Hyphenating Phrasal Adjectives 5 Alternatives to Hyphenating Phrasal Adjectives 5 Alternatives to Hyphenating Phrasal Adjectives By Mark Nichol The default method for communicating to the reader that a phrase preceding a noun is a single entity modifying that noun is to hyphenate the word string together: â€Å"They agreed that a plug-and-play functionality was most desirable.† Depending on the exact wording, the relationship of words preceding a noun to that noun is more or less transparent, but in this sentence, for example, omission of hyphens (â€Å"They agreed that a plug and play functionality was most desirable†) might lead a reader to comprehend that the sentence means â€Å"They agreed that a plug was desirable, and play functionality was desirable, too.† (But why, then, the reader asks, is there a singular verb? Confusion ensues.) Regardless of the variable clarity from one sentence to another, the hyphenated phrasal adjective is the default setting. Hyphenation, however, is only one of several strategies for linking an extended phrasal adjective; several special cases exist. Here are some other approaches depending on those variables: 1. Quotations The key phrase in â€Å"Her ‘Do you think I’m stupid?’ glare stopped him in his tracks,† for example, could be expressed as a hyphenated string of words (â€Å"Her do-you-think-I’m-stupid? glare stopped him in his tracks†), but this strategy fails to exploit the narrative power of prompting the reader to imagine the woman voicing her indignant comment. On a more mechanical note, because the question mark applies to the entire phrase, not just to stupid, the question mark tacked on to the last word of the hyphenated string is awkward. But don’t hyphenate between stupid and the question mark, either; omit hyphens and use quotation marks to link the phrase. Use your judgment with this approach, though: The simple phrasal adjective in â€Å"She shot him a come-hither look,† for instance, should not be enhanced by quotation marks, because a person is unlikely to actually use those words. 2. Composition Titles An italicized composition title used to modify a noun needs no other treatment to indicate that it is all of a piece: â€Å"I bought the How the Grinch Stole Christmas gift pack.† (If the phrasal adjective refers to a component of a composition, such as an episode or a chapter, which requires quotation marks, these marks similarly serve to group the elements of the component title: â€Å"The ‘Ocean Deep’ episode of Planet Earth is my favorite part.†) If, however, the title is further modified, as in â€Å"The Wuthering Heights-like plot is too transparently derivative,† the additional element should be attached to the title with an en dash or with a simple hyphen, if the site (like this one) or the print publication employs hyphens for this usage instead. 3. Signage Enclose signage wording or text on similar displays in quotation marks, using title case, when employing it as a phrasal adjective: â€Å"The protestor caught breaking a window at the Nike store was wearing a ‘Just Do It’ T-shirt.† 4. Foreign Phrases When using a foreign phrase not adopted into English (and therefore not appearing in the dictionary) as a phrasal adjective, just as with italicized composition titles, no further treatment is necessary: â€Å"Their grand monde pretensions amused him.† If the phrase has been naturalized, it still needs no hyphenation or other treatment, because it’s a standing phrase: â€Å"She knew the mea culpa moment was coming.† 5. Proper Names Proper names used as adjectives require no hyphenation or quotation marks; capitalization in common signals their unity: â€Å"The Occupy Wall Street protest has gone nationwide.† But if an additional modifying word is associated with such a construction, connect it to the proper name: â€Å"Analysis of other Occupy Wall Street-type movements is instructive.† (See section 2 above about hyphenating such constructions.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsWhenever vs. When EverJanuary 1 Doesn't Need an "st"