Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example This was strongly resented by the US. Since the end of the cold war, the relationship between US and Russia unlike in the past has become rosy. The Americans have softened their earlier unrelenting positions and has since become tolerable to the Russians. The policy was dubbed decorative policy and it has made the Americans to drastically change their perceived aggression on Russia to a very cooperative and much philanthropic (Aronson 2001). With regard to these, US have entered into many economic ties with Russia and this has even accentuated the belief that there are cordial relations in the offing. Putin is largely acclaimed to be at the helm of all the gains achieved so far. It is obvious that the relation between US and Russia has grown notches higher since the end of the cold war. Cold war almost led to the fall out between the two countries and these has since been corrected and normalcy is achieved. From the Bush administration to Obama’s, the relationship between the two countries has improved remarkably. For instance, in the Afghanistan case, the US and Russia have joined efforts in finding a lasting solution (Cameron 2005). The US relation with Cuba under the leadership of Fidel Castro for along time has not been admirable, the US initiated economic sanction in Cuba and this has retarded economic gains in the country significantly. There have been constant allegations emanating from both countries against conspiracies (Smith 2008). For example, the assassination of the American president J.F. Kennedy was hinted to have been master minded by the Cuban president, on the other hand the Cuban president claims to have dogged eight times murder initiated by the US. All other countries for along time had at least loose ties with the Cuba economically except the US that has remained defiant in making and signing economic pacts with the Cuba (Smith 2008). In as much as that has happened, US in the year 2000 partially lifted travelling restrictions.

Marketing in the Information Age for Specialty Recored Music Store Research Paper

Marketing in the Information Age for Specialty Recored Music Store - Research Paper Example joys reasonable amount of foot fall Weakness Lack of Digital Presence Lack of shop branding Product line offered is relatively narrow Opportunities The store owner has 50% ownership in a local bar that specializes in- house music. This provides an opportunity to promote the offerings of the store Reasonable demand of the offerings as the store enjoys relatively good foot fall Threats Presence of larger firms like HMV Customers are switching to the bigger firms trough online medium. Store Diagnosis Based on the back ground of the study and the SWOT analysis it can be understood that the shop has entered in to a viscous circle. Customers are visiting the shop; but due to the organized nature of the shop, people are losing interests, People are switching to other firms like HMV through the online medium. Add to that the firm has no online presence. Creating Digital Presence The first step towards making the digital presence is to have a website. As mentioned earlier having a business wi thout a website is like having a business without face. If the store owner does not have the expertise, then it can be outsourced to any SEO company. The website must have product sections clearly mentioning the products offered by the store. It must be made sure that the website visitors have the opportunity to buy the products online. Once the website is created the next step would be to make people aware of the web presence. Again that can be achieved by using SEO techniques. Online medium can also be used to promote the store location by using advertisement on Google Maps. Web presence should be complemented by presence on Social Media; especially on Facebook and Twitter. Social Media is a great place to engage people and get personal with the users. Studies have revealed that small... This report approves that there exists a music store on Queen Street West in Toronto containing theme based CD's, records and DVD's. The collections are based on the cultural interests of the shop owners. The store does not have any online presence. Store enjoys reasonable amount of foot fall. But, due to the unorganized nature of the shop very few people actually buy the collection. Based on the back ground of the study and the SWOT analysis it can be understood that the shop has entered in to a viscous circle. Customers are visiting the shop; but due to the organized nature of the shop, people are losing interests, People are switching to other firms like HMV through the online medium. Add to that the firm has no online presence. This essay makes a conclusion that Due to the rise of digital technology internet has become the most popular medium to get information for the customers. There just like any other business the music store should also have digital presence in the form of website as well as presence on social media. This will provide the store stop the leaking of customers. Add to this the store needs to get the act together when it comes to store operations which is pretty unorganized to say the least. Store ambience, standard operating procedure in the form of organizing the products based on certain parameters, knowledge of the store staff is going to be the key to success. Also the bar can be used to promote and generate awareness about the store. The thin looking product line can be also being broadened adding new products to target new customer segments.

Ways Music Brings Us Closer To Truth

Ways Music Brings Us Closer To Truth The quotation from Pablo Picasso said, Art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth. By art, Picasso meant anything that was of a creative form; painting, literature, music, dancing, etc. The way the word lie is being used is not necessarily they way we would usually imply lying. Lie is used here instead of more like a way or path, or even substance that once weve been engulfed in we can see the truth for what it really is. Truth can be seen in a similar way, its not necessarily the truth but a realization of something that we didnt know about beforehand. The art form that I plan on using to validate Picassos quote is music. With music, you can become closer to the truth through, emotion, the language and words that are being used, with perception. Music, whether being Rap, Classical, or Rock all has a message hidden within the words or instrumentals that are being used. There are many ways in which music brings us closer to the truth, regardless of what genre is used. If a person has just had heartbreak, and choose to listen to love songs repeatedly emotion begins to arise. For a girl, of course she might be in tears and while listening to the songs the thought of her past relationship will come up. But it is possible that by listening to the songs, and the words being said that she might come to the realization that there are other people out there and that the break-up might not have been as bad after all. For a boy, he might use music to help motivate him for a big game that he is about to play in. The language being used could be seen as encouraging words that allow him to be brought up and well prepared for what is ahead of him. For anybody music can motivate, alter feelings or opinions on a matter, or help someone out in a situation. Music can be seen as a second conscience if wanted to be. Going back to the example of a boy being motivated be fore a big game, he is he listening to the song. Heart of a Champion by Nelly, the lyrics that are used in the chorusAint no way they can stop me now Nelly Cause Im on my way, I can feel my ring coming Its the blood of a champion, pumping Deep inside my veins, too much pride to be running Ima get what I can and more, even if My blood, my sweat, and my tears dont mean nothing Its the heart of a champion (its the heart of me) (Its the heart of a..) in me. (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nelly/heartofachampion.html) These lyrics can be seem very motivational and almost identical to his thoughts about the game that he is about to play in. There are many theories regarding when and where music originated. Many agree that music began even before man existed. Historiographers point out that there are six periods of music and each period has a particular style of music that greatly contributed to what music is today (http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/a/intro.htm) The six periods of music include: Medieval/Middle ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century. Music during the middle Ages is characterized by the beginning of musical notation as well as polyphony, there were two general types of music styles; the monophonic and the polyphonic. Renaissance means rebirth and in music this period brought about many changes in the way music was created and perceived. The word baroque comes from the Italian word barocco which means bizarre. The Baroque period was a time when composers experimented with form, styles and instruments. This period saw the development of opera and instrumental music. The music of the Classical period, which spans from 1750 to 1820, is characterized by simpler melodies and forms such as the sonatas. The piano was undoubtedly the primary instrument used by composers during the Classical period. Historiographers define the Romantic Music period from the 1800 to 1900. It is characterized by using music to tell a story or express an idea, and the use of various instruments including wind instruments. Melodies are fuller and more dramatic. Music during the 20th century brought about many innovations on how music was performed and appreciated. Artists were more willing to experiment on new music forms and used technology to enhance their compositions. (http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/a/intro.htm) Lyrics were actually poetry that is written by a person who has been through a situation and felt the need to write about it. The artist, or songwriter can been see as the person who is setting up the lie to help others come closer to the truth. If the writer has been through a hard time, the music he or she is producing helps those that are listening to realize that everyone is human and we have all been through it. Music can also sometimes be seen as therapeutic, or your own personal therapist. With these kinds of lyrics, they can be seem as almost autobiographical, a prime example for autobiographical lyrics is: Grandpa by Of Montreal. The lyrics in Grandpa are describing what an older man who is obviously a grandfather, does in his daily life. (http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-autobiographical-grandpa-lyrics-of-montreal.html) Lyrics can be calming and help achieve smoothing flows and words that are encouraging, sometimes that is all a person needs to calm down or to perceive someth ing correctly. But what happens when some music doesnt have words but just pure instruments how does a person still become motivated or come to a realization with just pure music? Classical music does not use words, but instead uses instruments to get its point across. How is it possible that with no words, someone can become nearer to the truth? This is where in WOK; emotion and perception comes in. If the tempo in the song is very fast and low, it could make the person realize how angry they are about something, as to where if the tempo is slow and not has low they can begin to calm down. Though the speed and melody that comes from classical music, it can change someones emotion after listening to it. If a person is distraught or very upset, they can listen to a song have their mood instantly altered. This type of music can even help them realize that the situation they are in is not as dire as they perceived it to be. If someone was going into an art museum, and Mozart was playing while people were viewing the art, some would say that it was very calming and allowed them to understand the art being viewed even better. This example shows, that music with or without words can still alter a persons feelings toward something or someone. There is a chance that with the classical music being played, that it could irritate and become very disruptive to a person in a art gallery. Maybe this person cannot stand classical music, or just likes the idea of absorbing the art without any noise being made in the back. Yes, it is easily seen how music can alter a persons feelings toward something, but it doesnt determine whether that alteration is negatively or positive. One genre of music, that may not fully validate Picassos statement, is Rapping. Not of all but most of the rappers talk about all the money, women, and cars that they have. One of the well known rappers of today that go against this statement is Lupe Fiasco. Thus there is still a big issue with a lot of young men who listen to this type of music, because they believe this is the life and that that is actually how the rappers live. Most rappers who actually do all that talking about all the stuff they have, are not speaking of truth. This is where the statement can be seen as invalid. The rapper is telling a lie but he is not bringing the persons listening to him closer to the truth but deeper in non-realistic world. On the contrary, there are some rappers who do live the life they speak of, and someones non-realistic world could be another mans real reality. However, not ever rapper speaks of lies; some tell stories that could be seen as almost fables during their songs. With the ref erence to fables I mean that the songs could be seen as stories that have a hidden story within it. Therefore, not every rapper should be seen in a negative light. Gil Scott-Heron (born April 1, 1949) is an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Herons recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. On his influence, Allmusic wrote Scott-Herons unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists. (http://gilscottheron.ne t/about/) Music is a big part of my life; I listen to it more than I watch the television. It allows me to get more focus; it motivates me, and allows me to realize things that I would not have been able to on my own. I listen to all genres but my personal favorite is RnB. With RnB the music isnt too fast or too slow, and the messages that are normally being portrayed go along with real life situations, and quickly help me to recover some of the truths that I need about life. Art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth. Music is an art which is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth, by stating that in my opinion I believe that music is one of the biggest art forms that helps bring people closer to the truth. Music alters peoples opinions and feelings towards things and replaces them with those of the words they heard in the song. Music is everywhere. Even when you wait in an elevator there is music, allowing the ride to be smoothing and relaxing. Music is in the dentist and doctors office while youre waiting so you dont become so antsy. Just while walking in a grocery store if you listen, you will hear music being played while you are grabbing for that box of cereal. Music surrounds us. Music is in nature, the birds singing, the wind blowing, the sun shine-would allow a person to have a good day, as to where if the birds werent singing, the wind was blowing harshly and the sun behind clouds due to the fact of rain the emotion you would feel would d iffer. Music brings us nearer to the truth everyday without us even knowing it. Music tries to do its job but its up to us and how we interpret it whether or not the job was done correctly.

Marketing 311 Study Guide Midterm 1

1. Managing customers as assets? – * Building the right relationships with the right customers involves treating customers as assets that need to be managed and maximized * Different types of customers require different relationship management strategies * Customer relationship management is the overall process of building and maintaining profitable customer relationships by delivering superior value and satisfaction * 2. Marketing Mix (4 P’s) * Product, price, place and promotion—the controllable set of activities that a firm uses to respond to the wants of its target markets * Product- goods, services and ideas Price-everything the buyer gives up (time, energy, money) in exchange for the product * Place- all the activities necessary to get the product to the right customer when that customer wants it. * Supply chain management- the set of approaches and techniques that firms employ to efficiently and effectively integrate their suppliers, manufacturers, warehou ses, stores, and other firms involved in the transaction, such as transportation companies into a seamless value chain. This allows merchandise to be produced and distributed in the right quantities, to the right place, and at the right time. * Promotion- Communicating the value of a product to its customers. * 3. Consumer decision making process- * Need Recognition- consumers recognize that they have an unsatisfied need and want to go from their needy state to a desired state. The bigger this gap is=the greater the need recognition. * Functional needs- pertains to the performance of a product or service. Psychological needs- pertain to the personal gratification consumers associate with a product or service. **shoes are needed to keep feet clean. $500 shoes satisfy a psychological need. * THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL MARKETING: establishing a balance between these two needs that best appeals to that firm’s target market * Search For Information- second step is to search for info about various options that will satisfy the need. The length of time spent on this will relate to how much risk is involved should you hoose the wrong option. * Internal search for information- the buyer examines his own memory and knowledge about the option. * External search for information- buyer seeks information from outside himself to make a decision. Talking with friends, family, sales people, research online†¦ * Factors the affect consumer’s’ search process * Perceived Benefits vs. Perceived Costs – is it worth the time and effort? If there is high risk (buying a house) people will spend more time researching. The Locus of Control – people with internal locus control believe they have control over the outcomes of their actions. These people do more researching. People with external locus of control believe that fate and external factors control outcomes. It doesn’t matter to them how long they spend searching. * Actual or Perceived Risk- Performance, Financial and psychological risks influence how long and how much research will be done. * Performance Risk - risk of getting a bad (poorly performing) product. Financial Risk- risk with money outlay. Warranties reduce that risk * Psychological risks- how people feel if a product does not convey the right image * Type of Product or Service- specialty, shopping, and convenience products * Specialty goods and services- people have a strong preference and will expend time looking for the best supplier (prius vs other hybrid†¦) * Shopping goods and services- going from store to store looking for a product (perfume, shoes†¦. * Convenience goods and services- things that do not require research and are often purchases without very much thought (bread, soap†¦) * Evaluation of Alternatives- sifting through the available choices they have gathered info on and evaluating the option available to them. Universal sets- all possible choices available to them for that product * Retrieval sets- brands or stores that can be easily remembered and always come to mind * Evoked set- alternative brands and stores that a customer states they would consider when making a choice(companies want to be here to increase likelihood of purchase and reduce searching in other areas). This is the group that the choice has been narrowed down to by specific criteria. * Evaluative criteria- a set of important attributes about a particular product. ( looking for a tv†¦picture quality, rightness, reputation, technical support†¦) * Determinant attributes- product or service features that are important to the buyer and where competing brands may differ. * Consumer decision rules- the set of rules and criteria that consumers use consciously or subconsciously to quickly and efficiently select from alternatives. * Compensatory- assumes that the consumer trades off one characteristic for another. * Non compensatory- when consumers choose a product or service on the basis of a characteristic regardless of the value of its other characteristics. Decision heuristics- mental shortcuts that help a consumer narrow down choices. Price, brand, product presentation * Purchase and Consumption- buying a product and â€Å"putting it to the test† * Ritual consumption- pattern of behaviors tied to life events that affect what and how we consume. Symbolic meaning and vary my importance and culture. * Post Purchase- marketers are interested in this because it involves actual customers rather than potential customers. Satisfied customers become repeat customers. Customer satisfaction- build realistic expectations, demonstrate correct product use, stand behind the product with money back and warranty guarantees and encourage customer feedback * Post purchase dissonance- the uncomfortable feeling produced by inconsistency between beliefs and behaviors, buyer’s remorse * Customer loyalty- marketers attempt to solidify a loyal relationship with their customers * Undesirable consumer behavior- negative word of mouth * 4. Maslow's hierarchy? Maslow’s Hierarchy of N eeds * Physiological- basic biological necessities of life – food, shelter drink and rest. In most developed countries these needs are generally met, but in less fortunate countries they’re not. * Safety needs- protection and physical well being (airbags, alarms, vitamins†¦) * Love needs- relate to our interactions with others * Esteem needs- satisfy their inner desires, (yoga, meditation†¦) * Self actualization – occurs when you feel completely satisfied with your life and how you live. You don’t care what others think. * 5. BCG matrix? – Boston Consulting Group Matrix * Provides a framework for allocating resources among different units. Things are explained as being in one of four areas of a grid: * Cash cow- a unit that has a large market share in a mature, slow growing industry. Cash cows don’t require much more investment * Star- a business unit that has a large market share in a industry that is rapidly growing. They produce a lot of cash and require a lot of investment to keep up their competitive advantage * Question mark (Problem Child)- unit that has a small market share in a quickly growing market. They require a lot of resources and their potential is relatively unknown * Dog- a unit that has a small share of the market in a mature stable industry. Does not require investment. But could this money be used in a better unit? 6. Marketing strategy options- Marketing strategy- identifies a firms target market(s), a related marketing mix—their four P’s, the basis upon which the firm plans to build a sustainable competitive advantage * Sustainable competitive advantage- an advantage over the competition that is not easily copied and thus can be maintained over a long period of time. * Customer excellence- achieved when a firm develops a value based strategy for retaining loyal customers and provides outstanding customer service * ? Having a strong brand, unique merchandise and great customer service solidify this. Operational excellence- through efficient operations, excellent supply chain management, strong relationships with their suppliers and excellent human resource management to yield productive employees. * Product excellence- involves a focus on achieving high quality products; effective branding and positioning is key. * THE MARKETING PLAN * Define the business mission * Conduct a situation Analysis(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis) * Identifying and Evaluating Opportunities using segmentation, targeting and positioning * Implement Marketing Mix and Allocate Resources Evaluate Performance Using Marketing Metrics * GROWTH STRATEGIES * Market Penetration- employs the existing marketing mix and focuses the firm’s efforts on existing customers. * May include: attracting new customers to the firm’s existing market, encouraging current customers to patronize the firm more often, * Requires efforts such as increase d advertising and additional sale and promotions, intensified distribution efforts in geographic areas where the product or service is already sold. Market Development Strategy- employs the existing marketing offering to reach new market segments whether domestic or international * International expansion is riskier because firms must deal with differences in culture, government regulations, supply chains and language. * Product Development Strategy- offers a new product of service to a firm’s current market. * Diversification strategy- introduces a new product or service to a market segment that currently is not served * Diversification opportunities may be either related or unrelated. When related the current target market and or marketing mix shares something in common with the new opportunity * Unrelated diversification lacks any common elements with the present business, so they do not capitalize on the cores strengths associated with markets or products. They are very risky. 7. Different types of Marketing Research options and their pros and cons? * Market Research Process * 1) Define the problem * 2) Develop the research plan * 3) Collect data * 4) Develop findings 5) Take Actions based on your findings * Sources of Data * Primary Research- original data collected by researchers themselves * Quantitative research is data analysis based on archival data, panel data or questionnaires from a large group of respondents * Qualitative research (e. g. ethnographic research) provides a holistic view of a research problem by integrating a larger number of variables, but asking only a few respondents * Secondary research- data collected and nalyzed by someone else * Ex ploratory Research- attempts to begin to understand the phenomenon of interest; also provides initial information wen the problem lacks any clear definition * Conclusive Research- provides the information needed to confirm preliminary insights which managers can use to pursue appropriate courses of action * Observation- exploratory research method that entails examining the purchase and consumption behaviors through personal or video camera scrutiny. In-Depth interview- exploratory research technique in which trained researchers as questions, listen to and record the answers and pose additional questions to clarify or expand on a particular issue. * Survey- a systematic means of collecting information from people that generally uses a questionnaire * Unstructured questions- open ended questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words * Structured questions- close-ended questions that proved respondents with specific answers to evaluate. How to evaluate the data- * Who co llected the data? * Would there be any reason to purposely misrepresent the facts? * For what purpose was the data collected? * How / when was the data collected? * Are the data internally consistent and logical in the light of known data sources or market factors? * Is the instrument available? 8. Coke Case? – After 99 years of Coca-Cola, executives decided to abandon their formula and start over. In the 1970’s people began preferring Pepsi to Coke during taste test groups. Coke conducted their own tests and found the same results. Looking to regain the market share, they decided to change their formula. Perception of this idea varied widely during focus group interviews. Secret tests of different coke formulas in cities across the country showed that 55% of people preferred the â€Å" New Coke. † Executives conducted a press conference to release this information. News spread quickly, and soon complaints came pouring in when people were aware. After this release only 30% of people preferred the new Coke. This is said to be the â€Å"Marketing Blunder of the Decade† 9. John Quelch's ideas on the â€Å"New Normal† (under lecture 3 or lecture 4? > slides)? * â€Å"New Normal† types of consumers Slam-on-the-brakes (sudden loss of income) Pained-but-patient(see light at the end, hope) Live-for-today(have job, party like 1999 Comfortably-well-offs(willing to postpone for now) * â€Å"New Normal† types of purchase Essentials (switch from organic to non-organic or switch brands). Treats (minimize quantity or frequency of purchases (e. g. , Haagen Daz). Post-ponables (e. g. , big ticket items like washers, TVs, remodeling, dental work, plastic surgery) Expendables (e. g. , multiple vacations per year, private schools, eating out, going out to movies) 10. Segmentation, target market, repositioning? * Types of Segmentation- * Niche Marketing * Focusing on meeting the needs of one specific target market * Often the best strategy for small companies in a large market * Can be risky if the niche is not large enough to be profitable * Differentiated Marketing Using several different marketing mixes to target several different target markets * Allows companies to target a larger number of customers * Can lead to higher market share overall * Can be difficult to maintain cost efficiencies with multiple marketing mixes * Individual Marketing * Customizing the marketing mix to meet individual needs * Ideal because marketers are meeting the needs of individual customers * Requires very detailed information on customers * Can be difficult/expen sive to implement Demographic Segmentation * Gender * Age * Race/Ethnicity * Income Level * Occupation * Education Level * Household size or composition * Psychographic Segmentation- * Based on social class, lifestyles, personality and beliefs * Often generalized from activities, interests and opinions * Can be difficult to categorize consumers but categorizations are likely to be more accurate than simple demographic segmentation * Criteria for good segmenting- * Consumers within a segment are homogeneous. * Consumers between segments are heterogeneous. The segment is profitable. * The segment is reachable. * Criteria for evaluating Segment Attractiveness * Size of the segment * Expected cost to reach the segment * Expected growth of the segment * Competition (ie: 5 forces framework) * Company objectives and resources (e. g. , synergies with other product lines or brands) * Targeting is evaluating each market segment’s attractiveness and selecting one or more segments to ent er. To do this, two steps are involved * Developing measures of segment attractiveness * Selecting the target market Positioning- * Goal: Show consumers that your brand can offer them more value than the competition can. * Positioning by competitors: Hertz- We’re #2, so we try harder * Positioning by attribute: Sendodyne- The toothpaste for sensitive teeth * Positioning by use or application: Nyquil- The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever so you can rest medicine * Positioning by user: Pepsi- The Choice of the new generation * Positioning by product class: Taco Bell- Think outside the bun * 11. Reliability and Validity * Reliability – is the consistency of your measurement, or the degree to which an instrument measures the same way each time it is used under the same condition with the same subjects. In short, it is an estimate of the repeatability of your measurement. * Is an instrument reliable? * Test / Retest – in this appro ach you have the same subjects take the same survey multiple times. The idea behind test / retest is that subjects should get the same scores on test 1 and test two. * Internal consistency – in this approach you group similar questions together and measure how highly correlated they are with one another – Cronbach’s alpha is a measure of correlation used in this method * Validity – is more difficult to define than reliability but basically validity is a measure of how close we are to the truth when we conduct marketing research. Two examples: * Construct validity – are we really measuring what we think we’re measuring? e. g. , satisfaction, brand loyalty * External validity – will our results apply to other settings and contexts or are they limited to the subjects / contexts that we chose for our study? – e. g. , student subjects * * * * * *

Amber Frey, Ex-Mistress of Murderer Scott Peterson

Amber Dawn Frey was the mistress of convicted murderer Scott Peterson. Peterson was found guilty of killing his wife, Laci, and his unborn child in 2002. Freys six-week affair with Peterson was in the spotlight during the 2004 criminal trial. She was a key witness in his prosecution. Peterson is currently sentenced to death by lethal injection residing  on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison. The following accounts of Freys short-term relationship with Peterson come directly from Frey as she recounts the brief courtship and events leading up to Laci Petersons disappearance on the  Oprah Winfrey Show. Other details of Freys life have been disclosed mostly by family, friends, and opportunists.   Early Life of Frey Frey was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 1975, to Ron and Brenda Frey, who divorced when she was five years old.  She graduated from Clovis High School in 1993 and attended Fresno City College where she achieved an associates degree in child development. She pursued additional training in massage therapy from Golden State College in Fresno, California. Frey and Peterson Get Connected Peterson and Frey were connected through Freys best friend, Shawn Sibley. Sibley had met Peterson at a business conference in Anaheim, California, in October 2002. Sibley says that Peterson told her he was single and wanted to meet an intelligent woman to have a long-term relationship with. Sibley told Frey about Peterson. Frey agreed to get connected over the phone. Peterson contacted Frey in early November and they made a date  to meet later in the month. The First Date On November 20, 2002, Frey met Peterson at a bar. There they shared champagne and strawberries then left to have dinner in a private room at a Japanese restaurant. Their conversation flowed easily and Amber felt Scott was easy to be around. After dinner, they went to a karaoke bar, sang, and slow-danced until the bar closed. They returned to Scott Petersons hotel room where they became intimate and ended up spending the night together. Relationship Sparks Amber described Peterson as being very romantic and solicitous towards her and her 20-month-old daughter, Ayianna, by including her child on some of their outings together. With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, Peterson explained to Amber that he would be on a fishing trip in Alaska. Up to this point, Peterson had not mentioned to Amber that he was married and that his wife was 7-months pregnant. Feelings Deepen The relationship continued to grow between Frey and Peterson. Peterson  made home-cooked meals for Frey and Ayianna. He took Ayianna Christmas tree shopping. The couple shared deep conversations about their lives and feelings.  Peterson bought presents for Frey that demonstrated his sensitivity toward thoughts she had shared with him. Frey recalled one such conversation that was centered on the importance of trust in relationships. During that conversation, Peterson told Frey that he had never been married. Marriage Exposed On December  6, 2002, Freys best friend, Sibley, discovered that Peterson was married and she threatened to expose him to Frey. Peterson explained to Shawn that he had lost his wife and although it was difficult for him to talk about, he would tell Frey. On December 9, he told Frey that he had been married and lost his wife but found it hard to talk about. Frey asked him if he was ready for a relationship with her, and Peterson enthusiastically stated that he was. Relationship Gets More Serious Frey and Peterson attended a formal Christmas party on December 14. Frey introduced Peterson to her friends as her boyfriend. Later that evening they had sex without using birth control. Peterson commented that he didnt want children and regretted not taking precautions. He told Frey that he would willingly raise her daughter as his own, but to prevent the possibility of Frey becoming pregnant, he was considering a vasectomy. Frey found his revelation disturbing since she wanted more of a family someday. Frey Learns of Petersons Deception Peterson told Frey he would be in Paris for New Years. He called her often during his travels. On December 29, Richard Byrd, a friend of Freys and also a Fresno homicide detective, informed Frey that Peterson was married and his pregnant wife was missing. Once informed of Petersons deception, Frey contacted the police and agreed to assist with the investigation by taping future phone conversations from Peterson. Petersons calls to Frey were sporadic over the holiday. One notable conversation occurred on December  31, when Peterson told Frey that he was in Paris at a bar with friends and described the awesome firework display at the  Eiffel Tower. Frey Maintains Contact With Peterson Meanwhile, Scott had reported  Laci missing at 6 p.m. on December  24, 2002, after he returned home from a fishing trip at the Berkeley Marina. On January 6, Peterson admitted to Frey about his marriage and his wifes disappearance. He talked about the investigation and his innocence in murdering his wife. The following month, on February 19, Frey told Peterson they should stop talking until things were resolved with the murder of his wife. Peterson agreed. On April 18, 2003, Peterson was arrested and  charged with two  felony  counts of murder with premeditation and special circumstances: the  first-degree murder  of Laci, and the  second-degree murder  of his unborn child. He pled not guilty. Media Catches on to Frey-Peterson Affair In May 2003, Frey hired celebrity lawyer, Gloria Allred, to help with the hounding news media. Rumors and speculations about Frey were running wild even though she was tight-lipped and in seclusion. David Hans Schmidt, a promoter, surfaced with a paid-subscription website of nude pictures of Frey taken at the Clovis modeling agency in 1999. Frey filed suit against him, stating that she never signed an agreement to give up her rights to the photographs. Eventually, Schmidt was barred from commercially exploiting photos of Frey. In August 2004, Frey testified at Petersons  trial. The intimate details of their six-week relationship were revealed by her and the contents of the taped conversations were made public. Frey Post-Script After her relationship with Peterson, Frey began dating long-time friend Dr. David Markovich in early 2003, a Fresno chiropractor, with whom she had a child, Justin Dean.   In 2006, Frey married Robert Hernandez, a member of law enforcement, in Fresno, California. The couple divorced in 2008. She works as a massage therapist and is a writer known for  Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution  published in 2005,  The Murder of Laci Peterson  in 2017. Source:Crier, Catherine.  A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson Investigation. ReganBooks, 2005. â€Å"Amber Frey Speaks.†Ã‚  Scott Petersons Mistress: Amber Frey Reveals Her Story To Oprah  , 5 Jan. 2005, www.oprah.com/relationships/amber-frey-speaks_1/all.

This Story Takes Place In Several Different Foster Homes

This story takes place in several different foster homes amongst Ashley and her brother Luke because they were taken away from their biological mother, Lorraine Rhodes, which became a life changing experience for them. Ashley experiences throughout her childhood with various issues including; abandonment, abuse, endangerment, and emotional challenges. Due to these challenges, Ashley has a hard time coping with love and attachment because she doesn’t know what it is like to have a real family. The main thing that stuck out was her life changing and having to become a foster child for most of her childhood. Being separated from her mother at a very young age and not having a place to call home that she has always has dreamed of. Ashley had†¦show more content†¦Moss always sugar coated their life to make everything seem like the best foster home in the state. Which obviously wasn t true. Another part that bothered me was when Ashley would get questioned by the police, or case workers, she would always lie, and cover for Mrs. Moss. It was like Mrs. Moss was doing it only cause she was getting money for having those kids. They way she treated them was like it for her own lifestyle and not even care once for them. It was kinda upsetting that the husband sat and did nothing while she abused them. The effect it had on Ashley that scared her it s something that she couldn’t find a way to cope with the life she was living was self harming herself and being punish for things didn’t do or couldn’t control. When Ashley finally gets to leave the Moss’ where she was treated very badly. More than ever, it was where she stayed the longest out of fourteen different foster homes she struggled having a hard time with trusting and loving anyone it was hard for her to love or to know if anyone loved her back. Because of this, she started to miss her friends and teachers at the Moss,’ especially her best friend Mandy, even though she was treated badly. She also started to worry about the new place that she was going because of her past experiences. Being with a better family was so new to her that it was hard to face reality that she actually had people who cared for her. GoingShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis Of The Catcher In The Rye1408 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of The Catcher in the Rye Holden’s story takes place in the 1950s. Because of this, it is necessary that the reader reads the story from multiple points of views. As Foster puts it, â€Å"don’t read with your eyes† (Foster 228) meaning that it is sometimes necessary to read from a perspective that will let you relate to and sympathize with the characters. The time period is shown many times such as when Holden goes dancing and asks a girl if she feels like â€Å"jitterbugging a little bit†Read MoreThree Little words research paper1180 Words   |  5 PagesAshley was born in North Carolina. She was born to a seventeen-year-old single mom. According to her, two days compete for the worst day in her life: the first is the day she was taken from her mother; the second is the day she arrived at the Moss ´ foster home four years later. The day she was taken from her mother, she had left South Carolina bound for Florida with her mother, her mother ´s husband, and her younger brother Luke. She was only three years old. Before she was taken from her mother, she wasRead MoreThe Non Profit Organization, Friends Of Homeless Animals Inc.1322 Words   |  6 Pagesbeings. She went from Texas to Massachusetts and now officially resides in the state of Rhode Island. Roie and her best friend Doris built this organization from the ground up, in which their overall mission is to rescue small dogs with big hearts and connect these homeless pets to loving parents and great homes (FOHA). Friends of Homeless Animals Inc. offer several programs allowing volunteers and peers around the community to help and support the organization. The first program involves donationsRead MorePoverty Is The State Of Been Poor961 Words   |  4 Pageshad denied the opportunity to go to school, I would probably have made a lot of bad choices in life. I believe growing up in poverty overseas, would be much harder to overcome. I currently live in the land of opportunities and I have read many stories on how people move to America to overcome poverty. In the Brazilian film â€Å"Central Station,† Josue is a nine-year-old child. At a young age he is left behind when his mother is killed in a bus accident. In the action of trying to send a letter to hisRead MoreChild Welfare Worker Essay1718 Words   |  7 PagesThe job of a child welfare worker appears to be a demanding profession that promotes the child’s safety, but also strengthens the family organization around them in order to successfully raise the children. This child welfare workers work in the system known as the Child Protective Services whose initiative is to protect the overall welfare of the child. The short novel From the Eye of the Storm: the Experiences of a Child Welfare Worker by Cynthia Crosson-Tower demonstrates the skills necessaryRead MorePersuas ive Essay On Adoption1358 Words   |  6 Pagesin North America. Declining adoptions lead to increased foster care residences, which means that there are a lot of children who cannot find a loving home. Along with adoption and foster care in the United States, there has also been a 74 percent decline in intercountry adoptions since 2004. One reason for this decrease could be from limitations other countries are putting on adoption such as suspension and corruption with the process in places like Russia and China. Unethical practices and unhealthyRead MoreThe True Story Of Abd Al Ibrahima908 Words   |  4 PagesHistory portrayed slaves as that of an uneducated, uncultured, and helpless people. The true story of Abd al-Ibrahima, by Terry Alford, changes that image. Ihbrahima was born in 1762 of royalty in a town called Timbo. He was the son of King Sori, â€Å"a man known for his ambition, boldness, and love of life†. (Alford, p. 4) Ambushed by tribal rivals, also known as slates, Ibrahima was sold into slavery at age 26 in 1788. Although Ibrahima tried to purchase ransom for himself, it was to no availRead MoreAdoption For A Child s Life1609 Words   |  7 Pagesshould be overlooked. In order to understand a fathers’ role whether birth or adoptive, one must understand each man’s route to adoption, unique circumstances, and characteristics (Siegal, 2003). Nonetheless, there are many different routes to adoption as well as there are several challenges fathers face, for instance, their sexual minority and marital status. The Social Work Dictionary defines adoption as â€Å"accepting and treating a child legally as though born into the family,† (Barker, 2003). AdoptionRead MoreShort Story1725 Words   |  7 Pagesaway at school we were left with four children at home. Children leaving home had only just begun. In Seattle when the first left home I took in two foster children. All-in-all we had nine foster children live in our home during the five years we lived in Washington. I was afraid to imagine what I would do when the next child left home. Leaving the state of Washington, the house was now left with no foster children and only the four of ours at home. They were now 16, 14, 13 and 10 years old. We wereRead MoreEssay on The Journey Towards God1116 Words   |  5 Pagesspirituality, and church can be a challenging one. We gain invaluable insight into the world around us through experience and research. At the same time, when a group shares their experiences and understanding, this insight is enriched beyond that which is capable of one person. As a result of this course, my spiritual awareness and understanding has been elevated. Furthermore, I have developed a greater appreciation and understanding of other world religions. While my focus will be centered on God

Huckleberry Finn American Experience Essay - 1569 Words

The Flight to Freedom â€Å"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves†, left the mouth of the once prominent advocate for the abolishment of slavery, former president of the United States, and revolution pioneer, Abraham Lincoln, in his quest for the independence of slaves throughout the nation. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn expresses the American experience and captures the same idea of acquiring freedom, both physical and mental escape, through the characters Huckleberry Finn and Jim, who both physically escape their dangerous and threatening living arrangements, and the raft that aides Huckleberry and Jim in their quest and exploration of themselves and a new life. The concept of the â€Å"American†¦show more content†¦This coincides with the idea of an â€Å"American experience† for Huck as he is considered â€Å"hip† and daring for leaving town and his stagnant lifestyle in pursuit something greater, something new, something that young adults like him would not have considered during that time. As he escapes without direction Huck encounters Jim, a slave who has also fled his captivity in pursuit of liberation. Huck befriends the slave and the two venture down the Mississippi River, embarking on a journey in which they face violence, distress and episodes of lost hope. A large change that we the readers view during the time Huck and Jim spent together on the river, is Huck’s perception of slavery. After conversing with and getting to know Jim, his values, beliefs and dreams, Huck begins to truly believe that slaves like Jim are not as society paints them to be, that they too are humans with feelings and deserve rights equal to a white man. It is through Huck’s change of heart and development of character that Twain suggests a new way of thinking for future generations of Americans, as they experience more places, people and cultures. Twain also employs the character Jim to convey the â€Å"American experience†, despite him falling short of many opportunities that free, white Americans were able to have during this time.Show MoreRelatedThe Concept of Race in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain631 Words   |  3 PagesWithin his criticism of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Gregory Fowler uses examples from both the book and Mark Twain’s own life to discuss the different ways in which racism has morphed. Instead of analyzing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn critically and solely, Gregory Fowler critically analyzes parts of the book and its effect to prove the different ways in which slaver morphs through the uses of allusions, exemplifications, and anecdotes. Fowler’s opening paragraph consistsRead MoreParent Figures in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1398 Words   |  6 PagesName Course Course Instructor Date Parent figures in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck indirectly searches for a home among the different characters, with whom he interacts. The theme of parental figures is core to this piece of work. There are different characters, which represent parental figures. These are important to Huck, as they help to shape him into a man. The characters that are a representation of parental figures include Jim, MrRead MoreAmerican Experience in Huck Finn1737 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"All modern American Literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn..† claimed Ernest Hemingway, a American author and journalist. This quote represents the idea and perception of Huckleberry Finn as a defining moment in American Literature, a time when a new culture was being formed west of the Atlantic that had many different subjects and characteristics than that of the literature in Europe. What makes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn so original and such a representat ionRead MoreArgumentative Essay Huck Finn958 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Argumentative Essay: Should The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be taught in school? Daniel Perez Period 1 10/30/14 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel based on the journey Huck, a young boy with an abusive father, and Jim, a runaway slave, have down the Mississippi River to Free states for an end goal of freedom. Freedom means different things to both of them, to Huck freedom means to be able to do what he wants and not be â€Å"sivilized†, while Jim’s definition of freedom isRead More Charles Dickens and Mark Twains lessons Essay1325 Words   |  6 Pages group D Friday II Final essay Charles Dickens and Mark Twains lessons Writers can not only entertain their readers by telling an appealing story, but they can also educate the readers and open their minds. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain are both very famous and important writers. Although Dickens is British and Twain American, they had the same purpose with their writing. They both wrote novels that made stories appealing to the common man as well as to educate people. A comparison of the twoRead More Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Escape From an Oppressive Society6239 Words   |  25 PagesHuckleberry Finn - Escape From a Cruel and Oppressive Society America... land of the free and home of the brave; the utopian society which every European citizen desired to be a part of in the 18th and 19th centuries. The revolutionary ideas of The Age of Enlightenment such as democracy and universal male suffrage were finally becoming a reality to the philosophers and scholars that so elegantly dreamt of them. America was a playground for the ideas of these enlightened men. To EuropeansRead MoreChanging Views And The Changing Blues1657 Words   |  7 PagesEmily Meyers Taylor, Cameron- 4th Hour Honors American Literature 9 January 2015 The Changing Views and The Changing Blues Mark Twain himself had this to say about his novel: Huckleberry Finn is a book of mine about a boy with a sound heart and a deformed conscience that come into conflict...and conscience suffers defeat.† In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, his view of society starts out as naà ¯ve and childish, but as he experiences life on the Mississippi, he grows into a man with a realisticRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1065 Words   |  5 PagesH.L. Mencken once said, â€Å"I believe that Huckleberry Finn is one of the great masterpieces of the world. . .†. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain is a great American novel about the life of Huck Finn. Huck is a boy without a real family and the son of the town’s outcast and drunk. In the book, Huck ends up attempting to free Jim, a black slave. During Huck’s journey down the Mississippi river, three meaningful subjects are explored in education, religion, and civilizedRe ad MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1058 Words   |  5 PagesHuckleberry Finn is an american literature written by Mark Twain which has been debated on whether or not it should be banned. Huck Finn displays multiple displays of racism, slavery, and graphic situation which cause friction among critics. Which bring us to many situations of critics to come to our conclusion. For instance one critic wrote,  ¨Jim is at the mercy of white characters in the novel, most of which are morally inferior to him. Jim must follow Huck s schemes and adventures, such asRead More The Final Episode of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn3016 Words   |  13 PagesThe Great Importance of the Final Episode of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the things many critics of Huckleberry Finn   just cant seem to understand is the final episode of the novel where Tom returns and sidetracks Huck from his rescue of Jim through a long series of silly, boyish plans based on ideas Tom has picked up from Romantic novels, such as those of Walter Scott.   Critic Stephen Railton dismisses these final chapters as just another version of their Royal