Triggered by the “Kolombusus-21’s exhibition” Essay Example for Free

Triggered by the â€Å"Kolombusus-21’s exhibition† Essay The issue of space travel has been widely debated in recent times, with opinions ranging from total support to a waste of money. In his opinion piece in ‘Daily newspaper’, entitled ‘Exploring our dreams’, Yvette Yergon uses a humble tone in contending that the government should provide more funds available for space travel. In contrast, Dr Peter Laikis’s sarcastic letter to the editor, ‘Off the planet’ appeals to all the people who have an interest in current world dilemmas, suggesting that our governments focus and  attention should be spent here on Earth rather than space travel. Yvette opens with statistics. The claim space is only ‘160km away’, ‘while Canberra to victoria is further away’ appeals to the readers logical side. Allowing them to believe, ‘space isn’t that far away’. It allows the reader to put in perspective how far space is really away. In addition by using a distance like ‘Victoria to Canberra’ it appears to be a very achievable distance, therefore making Yvette’s ‘dream’ a very possible ‘dream’ with which the reader can identify. The statistics give  Yvette credibility. Credibility, which is extended by the inclusion of personal background information. This allows Yvette’s views accepted as believable. Referring to the new possibilities that space exploration could lead to or fortunes that lie above, like ‘10,00 tones of gold’ inclines the reader share his ‘dream’. Leaning the reader to believe that space may hold the key or play a part in the future of earth. Yvette invokes hope by inviting the reader into a story. He records the observations of a young guide who starts, ‘it might only be a dream now’ using a  personal tone pulls the reader to his side. Going on to say ‘but one day it might come true’ showing the reader that his dream might be out of reach at the moment, but in the future may be very possible. The guides youth and enthusiasm is apparent and the reader is encouraged. The visuals assist with Yvette’s arguments. The first visual is an image of Kolombus’s ship. This picture represents how that ship was once the equivalent of a spacecraft discovering new continents, when it was thought to be impossible. Byincluding this it highlights, fin ding new continents was once impossible, showing the reading that there may possible be other world that just haven’t been discovered yet. The second visual shows all the befits that come from space travel. These include solar cells, global positioning system, safe food processing, radial tyres and medical imaging. All items that are very prevalent in society today, that we would not have without space travel. This positions the reader to believe that not only will space travel help us with mapping the solar system, but it will also help us to  discover or create new resources that would be beneficial for today’s society. Yvette ends by appealing to the readers’ emotions. Yvette tells how ‘we must recharge our scientific batteries’, ‘invest in the technology of tomorrow’. By using these example pushes the readers to look past their daily lives and in to the future. Pushing the readers to believe that we can grow as a society, through the funding space travel ‘Wake-up, Yvette’ by Dr Laikis, opens with a pun on Yvette’s title , suggesting that he must literally wake up from his dream, as it will only be a dream.  By using this humorous tone, draws his reader to believe that Yvette’s ‘dream’ absorbed and childish. He follows with ‘when did governments ever fund†¦ for peaceful purposes’, showing that his idea is also absurd. Dr Laikis points to a major flaw in Yvette’s argument. Even if countries wanted to explore space, it is very unlikely for every country to agree on the politics. This criticism, allows the reader to see how unlikely Yvette’s ‘dream’ may be. Dr Laikis finishes with an alternant ‘dream’; his dream is much closer to home. By doing this he reveals to the reader that we don’t need to look out in space to grow, but fix the problems on earth. Both Yvette and Dr Laikis were both persuasive, as they each positioned the reader to assume both were correct. Yvette persuaded by using a neutral tone, with many stories of what ‘could be’ if the government decided to fund the government. While Dr Laikis persuaded by using a sarcastic tone and mocking Yvette’s points while still pointing out their flaws. Yvette’s opinion piece was overall more persuasive as it had statistics and facts, while Dr Laikis was only his opinion.

The Future Of Intelligence :: essays research papers

An argument between two scientists ,one of them wanting to alter ageing in humans ,and generating life into a controlled environment: A* well, that was in 2000 wasn’t it? But they could not see this happening †¦it was debated, but legalized in 2004. But this is outrageous. C* I haven’t slept for the last 89 hours†¦and I don’t feel numb†¦ A* But how long will it go on ? Will there be any more children ? Would any one want them? Will it end? People may live but will the earth live as long as them†¦.? C* That is true†¦the people will live as long as they desire. They will die only when they wish to ,by damaging their own organs and not replacing or implanting newly made ones into themselves . Children will come only when anyone wants them. The idea of marriage will be lost as any person will be able to create for himself , what I would call a ‘sex object’ which could be a person of desired characteristics based on the desire of the user. the user will then be able to program his own psyche to develop varied sexual interest after introspective moments where he studies his requirements and selects his mood. He will be able to accelerate the growth of this object to feed his hunger If he does change this desire , his earlier sexual interests will be wiped out of his memory ,thus rejuvenating him and urging him to carry on . this would cause a large portion of people to become anti-social and they will draw into reticence . But then , they will be those who will program their minds to make them want to convince people that they should live in harmony and coexist together. They will form societies preaching the lack of communication amongst each other. These societies will have leaders who will play the same role that the pope did in 2000 ,when dolly was cloned . Thus, at the organisational level , life on eath will be same as what it was in 2000 ,or for that matter in any age you wish to consider . A* But then , what reason will people have to live ? What purpose will they define ? C* You cannot imagine this society with same intent as that which was there in earlier years. People will bear relatively same feeling but will have different forms of expression .

History Quiz †Western Civilization to Middle Ages Essay

Introduction HIS100 History of Western Civilization to Middle Ages Lesson 5 Quiz This assignment is worth a total of 60 points. Please make sure you have answered all questions prior to submitting. Once you click the submit button, you will not be able to return to this section. Question 1 of 60 What type of columns does the Parthenon have? | Alsacian| | Ionic| | Corinthian| | Doric| Question 2 of 60 In 490 B.C.E. the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of | Plataea.| | Miltiades.| | Marathon.| | Miletus.| Question 3 of 60 Which of the following was NOT true of the 490 B.C.E. Athenian victory over the Persians? | It convinced the Greeks of their cultural superiority over barbarians.| | It ended Persian hopes of successfully invading Greece.| | It established the superiority of the hoplite and phalanx.| | It promoted the democratic reforms of Cleisthenes.| Question 4 of 60 Members of Darius I’s elite guard were known as the â€Å"immortals† because their numbers always remained at 10,000 | True| | False| Question 5 of 60 After Darius I died, his son _____ took over. | Leonidas| | Darius II| | Themistocles| | Xerxes| Question 6 of 60 He was the Spartan king responsible for defending the pass at Thermopylae during the second Persian invasion. | Miliades| | Xerxes| | Leonidas| | Themistocles| Question 7 of 60 Which of the following BEST describes the military history of the Persian Wars? | Greek unity was crucial in the military success over Persia.| | Sparta was solely responsible for the Greek victory.| | Spartan land forces and Athenian sea forces were superior to the much larger Persian armies and navies.| | Darius’ army was defeated by a plague, not by the Greeks.| Question 8 of 60 When the Athenian and Attica population reached its height at 350,000, less than 60,000 were citizens | True| | False| Question 9 of 60 Approximately what proportion of the population of Athens and surrounding Attica were slaves? | One-third| | One-fourth| | One-half| | Three-fifths| Question 10 of 60 He was the great historian of the Persian Wars. | Sophocles| | Thucydides| | Herodotus| | Aeschylus| Question 11 of 60 Which of the following MOST accurately describes the role of women in fifth century B.C.E. Athens? | They had full equality with Athenian males.| | They led public lives and controlled the household economy.| | They were dominated in the household yet played active roles in politics.| | They were excluded from public life and had limited power in the home.| Question 12 of 60 In fifth century Athens, most of the leaders came from the | ranks of the ostracized.| | aristocracy.| | rural population of farmers.| | ranks of the metics.| Question 13 of 60 Because Athenian political offices changed frequently and were filled by lot, leadership was often provided by | ekklesia.| | boule.| | consorteria.| | demagogues.| Question 14 of 60 Athenian democracy reached its peak under the leadership of | Herodotus.| | Pericles.| | Solon.| | Draco.| Question 15 of 60 Pericles did all of the following to achieve political influence EXCEPT | speak effectively in public.| | rely on the support of the aristocracy who tended to dominate political office.| | serve as general for the Athenian ekklesia.| | sponsor public works projects that employed the poor.| Question 16 of 60 Initially, Athens defeated Sparta but lost a fleet in this region, leading to open rebellion by Megara and Sparta. | Italy| | Persia| | Crete| | Egypt| Question 17 of 60 Pericles redirected foreign policy from | anti-Persian to anti-Spartan.| | aggressive imperialism to neutrality.| | neutrality to aggressive anti-imperialism.| | pro-Persian to pro-Spartan.| Question 18 of 60 The Peloponnesian War was PRIMARILY fought between | Athens and Persia.| | Athens and Sparta.| | Corinth and Athens.| | Sparta and Persia.| Question 19 of 60 Even though Persia lost the Persian wars, it ultimately gained some influence in Greek affairs by allying with _______ in the Peloponnesian Wars. | Athens| | Sparta| | Corinth| | Syracuse| Question 20 of 60 This Athenian politician offered an alliance with Persia in return for replacing the Athenian democracy with an oligarchy. | Lysander| | Alcibiades| | Pericles| | Themistocles| Question 21 of 60 This controversial Athenian philosopher searched for moral self-enlightenment by questioning all who claimed to possess wisdom. | Aristotle| | Plato| | Socrates| | Sophocles| Question 22 of 60 He wrote the first true history in his book of â€Å"inquiries† discussing the conflicts between the Greeks and Persians. | Herodotus| | Socrates| | Sophocles| | Thucydides| Question 23 of 60 He is known as â€Å"the father of history.† | Aristotle| | Thucydides| | Socrates| | Herodotus| Question 24 of 60 He wrote a history of the Peloponnesian War. | Herodotus| | Thucydides| | Socrates| | Dionysus| Question 25 of 60 He could be called the first political scientist. | Herodotus| | Plato| | Thucydides| | Darius| Question 26 of 60 All of the following were Athenian playwrights EXCEPT | Aeschylus.| | Aristophanes.| | Thucydides.| | Euripides.| Question 27 of 60 He wrote Antigone. | Aristophanes| | Aeschylus| | Euripides| | Sophocles| Question 28 of 60 He wrote Lysistrata. | Aristophanes| | Aeschylus| | Euripides| | Sophocles| Question 29 of 60 The style achieved by the Athenian sculptor Phidias can BEST be described as | seeking naturalism and realism in the idealized human figure.| | abandoning the human form in favor of geometric symbolism.| | abandoning idealism in favor of accurate portraiture.| | restoring the Egyptian tradition of kouros.| Question 30 of 60 The greatest architectural and sculptural compositions of antiquity were the temples on the acropolis in Athens | True| | False| Question 31 of 60 Every surface of the Parthenon has a slight curve | True| | False| Question 32 of 60 After victory in the Peloponnesian War, the Spartans | continued to attack Persia.| | immediately retreated to their homes.| | provoked opposition throughout the Greek world.| | emerged as popular leaders of the Greek world.| Question 33 of 60 He was Plato’s teacher. | Sophocles| | Aristophanes| | Aristotle| | Socrates| Question 34 of 60 Which best describes Plato’s political views? | He was satisfied with the government as it existed in Athens during his life.| | He suggested a balance between democracy and oligarchy.| | He advocated creation of a government ruled by a philosopher.| | He demanded an increased democratization of the constitution.| Question 35 of 60 Plato’s philosophy emphasized | an ideal world of eternal forms.| | the experience of pleasure.| | the existence of atomic particles.| | research based on observations in the material world.| Question 36 of 60 Which of the following BEST describes Aristotle’s philosophy? | Man can know nothing.| | One should submit to fate and one’s role in it.| | Systematic observation yields valid general theories.| | He had little faith in moderate views.| Question 37 of 60 The kingdom that moved into the power vacuum created when Athens, Sparta, and Thebes fought each other was | Egypt.| | Messenia.| | Persia.| | Macedonia.| Question 38 of 60 He murdered his way to the throne of Macedonia. | Alexander| | Philip I| | Philip II| | Philip III| Question 39 of 60 Philip II formed this in 338 B.C.E., uniting the Greek city-states after his victory at Chaeronea. | The Peloponnesian League| | The League of Corinth| | The Macedonian League| | The Delian League| Question 40 of 60 Alexander carefully unraveled the Gordium knot, thus becoming master of all Europe | True| | False| Question 41 of 60 Alexander’s conquests took him as far east as modern | Iran.| | Burma.| | China.| | India.| Question 42 of 60 Alexander’s main political objective was to | merge local and Greek peoples and traditions to create a lasting empire.| | punish the Persians for invading Greece.| | take as much treasure as possible back to Macedonia.| | maintain separation between Greek and local populations.| Question 43 of 60 Alexander the Great died at the ripe old age of 62 | True| | False| Question 44 of 60 During Hellenistic ties, the language of the empire was | Farsi.| | Koine.| | Ptolematic.| | Hellenic.| Question 45 of 60 Until the second century B.C.E., Greeks indentified themselves by their city of origin | True| | False| Question 46 of 60 In Egypt, some of the Ptolemys adopted the Egyptian tradition of royal marriages between brothers and sisters | True| | False| Question 47 of 60 In the Hellenistic cities, women | often fought in war.| | were restricted in both public and private life.| | enjoyed fewer liberties than their Greek counterparts.| | assumed a greater role in public life and property ownership.| Question 48 of 60 This city was famous for the greatest library of the ancient world. | Alexandria| | Athens| | Corinth| | Memphis| Question 49 of 60 He was the acknowledged master of the short, witty epigram. | Menander| | Antiochus| | Callimachus| | Theocritus| Question 50 of 60 Which of the following was NOT a Hellenistic writer? | Menander| | Antiochus| | Callimachus| | Theocritus| Question 51 of 60 Which of the following schools of philosophy was NOT prevalent during the Hellenistic period? | Stoicism| | Epicureanism| | Cynicism| | Existentialism| Question 52 of 60 He established the cynic tradition. | Antisthenes| | Socrates| | Zeno| | Diogenes| Question 53 of 60 He was the founder of stoicism. | Antisthenes| | Socrates| | Zeno| | Diogenes| Question 54 of 60 They believed that true happiness consists in freely accepting one’s role. | Stoics| | Epicureans| | Cynics| | Existentialists| Question 55 of 60 He wrote Elements, the fundamental textbook on geometry. | Aeschylus| | Archimedes| | Euclid| | Pythagoras| Question 56 of 60 He calculated the approximate value of pi. | Aeschylus| | Archimedes| | Euclid| | Pythagoras| Question 57 of 60 Some of the technological inventions of the Hellenistic world were water pumps, the screw, a copy machine, a water clock, and the odometer | True| | False| Question 58 of 60 Who was the leader of Athens during its â€Å"Golden Age†? | Pericles| | Solon| | Aeschylus| | Socrates| Question 59 of 60 He is known as the â€Å"father of medicine.† | Pythagoras| | Hippocrates| | Homer| | Hesiod| Question 60 of 60 He wrote The Republic. | Homer| | Plato| | Socrates| | Sophocles| Perception is licensed to Rio Salado CollegeCopyright  © 2013 Rio Salado College. 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How to Overcome a Fear

It is natural for everyone, even the most courageous people, to have fears, which are the body’s bad emotional reactions to something frightened. However, when fears limit people’s everyday routine and keep them from living their life normally, it is time to take control, which is not an easy work. Most people want to overcome their fears, but are not sure how. Here are 4 steps which will be helpful to overcome fears. The first step is analyzing the fear. The more clearly you understand your fear, the easier for you to find how to handle it.Therefore, in this very first stage, you need to identify your fear: its name, its cause and its effect; and determine whether there is a good reason for the existence of the fear because some fears can be healthy emotions that protect you from danger. After that, you also should think about what exactly you want to change. It means that beside the big goal: overcoming the fear, smaller ones is necessary to be set to help you get the re. For example, if your fear is heights, you may want to be able to go on a hiking trip with the outdoor club at school.One more important thing is that all this fear analysis should be written down as a journal. It will be a good way to track your progress of conquering your fear and also a guide for the next time when you have another problem. After the fear is analyzed, in this second step, it will have to be taken control of. It depends on what your fear is. If you are afraid of something because it is a mystery, try exposing yourself to it in small doses until you gain a better understanding and your fear begins to dissipate.Or, if you are frightened by a particular thing, confronting head-on will be the best way to overcome it. No matter which situation you are in, taking control of a fear is not easy. It will take many times before you can declare it conquered. During that long period, to give up is simple and to keep trying is difficult. When you face with setbacks, it can be tempting to give up. Hence, stay determined to persevere even when it seems impossible to get past your fear by keeping these pointers in mind: do not confuse fear with fate and do not let other people hold you back.Changing the way of thinking about fear is the next step. It has to be admitted that sometimes fear also incite feelings of exhilaration and even passion. That is why people enjoy extreme sports, horror movies or other risky games. Try to reframe your fear in a positive light and acknowledge the thrill it can offer and you will not find it frightened anymore. Moreover, fear can be used as a tool to help us identify problems and solve them effectively. It is a guidepost warning us when something needs attention.Once the discomfort of the initial wave of fear passes, examine it more closely to see what you can learn. When you start seeing fear as a source of energy or an opportunity for promotion, you might even embrace its role in your life. Finally, give the fear a pl ace in the life because there is no way to eliminate it totally. Like joy or sadness, fear is a valid emotion. It builds your character and teaches you how to act with courage. Also, do not wait until the fear has been completely overcome to give yourself a pat on the back for your effort.Celebrate each milestone and when you see how good it feels to gain an edge on the fear, you will be ready to face the next one head-on. In conclusion, there are four major steps to help people overcome a fear: analyze the fear, take control of it, change the way of thinking about it and give it a place in the life. All of these steps are not simple and often take much of time and effort to be successful. However, nothing is impossible if you really want and try your best to gain it.

Biological Beginnings Essays

Biological Beginnings Essays Biological Beginnings Paper Biological Beginnings Paper The biological beginnings of human can be considered complex. It has various significant branches that can be interrelated to one another. These consequently determine or uniquely classify one from another in terms of psychological, physiological, and social aspects. This is also the area where illnesses emanate, like cancer, Alzheimer’s, psychosomatic illnesses, and the like. These â€Å"mechanisms† are transmitted from generation to the next through the principles of genetics. Every person contains â€Å"genetic codes† inherited from their respective parents. These codes are unique from one person to another, and therefore provide different individual traits and characteristics. Some traits can overlap but none would be exactly the same as of the other person. Genetic foundations, one of the branches of the biological beginnings, involved several sub-categories such as the genes, meiosis and mitosis, principles of genetics, behavior genetics, molecular genetics, and gene-linked abnormalities and chromosomes (Santrock 2005). The beginning of life starts from the unification of the sperm and of the egg cell. The combined cell contains the information â€Å"genetic codes† of what the person becomes. During the conception would and after giving birth, these cells would eventually replicate to a quantity of about trillion cells, each containing the same â€Å"code† of the original cell. The nucleus of every human cell is comprised of around 46 chromosomes, a threadlike figure that consists of 23 pairs wherein one member of each pair belongs respectively to the parent. Each chromosome contains an extraordinary substance called the DNA or the Deoxyribonucleic acid. This DNA eventually carries the genetic code or information. Genes considered as the unit of hereditary data or information has a short segment structure comprised of DNA’s. Furthermore, the genes serves as a relative reference or blueprint to other cells to enable self-reproduction and to manufacture important proteins to sustain life. The Meiosis and Mitosis serves as the processes on the biological aspect to fully comprehend how and what are the functions of the genes. Mitosis is the process of dividing cells upon which the cell material is replicated or duplicated so that two daughter cells would be formed. The chromosomes are also duplicated before the cells are divided so that the correct number of chromosomes would be the same. Each of the human being’s body cell has 46 separate chromosomes or 23 pairs. The pair comprised of 22 body or autosomal pairs and the last pair comprised of the sex chromosomes. These daughter cells also have 23 pairs of chromosomes similar to the original cell. In Meiosis, the sex cells are divided into two, thus producing 4 daughter cells. It is the process of reducing the number of chromosomes in a sex cell to half of the original quantity. The reduction division is one phase of the Meiosis process and when completed each cell produced contains 23 chromosomes, upon which these will eventually be contributed to the zygote for a total of 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 individual chromosomes. The zygote is the single cell formed when the ovum is fertilized by the sperm cell, the reproduction process. This zygote contains 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 individual chromosomes. There are several genetic principles that have been discovered such as the sex-linked genes, the dominant and recessive genes, the inherited polygenically characteristics, canalization, and reaction range. The sex-linked genes refer to the existence of two sex cells out of the 46 chromosomes in a human being. Discovered in 1920, the female has two X chromosomes while the male has an X and Y-chromosomes. This will consequently determine the resulting sex of the new born. The dominant-recessive genes principle described the relevant behavior of two genes; the dominant gene usually overrides the recessive gene. The recessive gene exerts its power if both genes are recessive. The traits or characteristics being carried by the dominant gene (brown eyes, dimples, etc.) would be passed on to the child if the combined genes are dominant-recessive type. The Polygenic inheritance is the principle in genetics wherein the genes combines to form or produce a specific characteristic. Only a few psychological traits are formed from single cell, the rest are the results of the interaction of different genes from one another.

Reading Quiz on A Hanging by George Orwell

Reading Quiz on A Hanging by George Orwell First published in 1931, A Hanging is one of George Orwells best-known essays. To test your understanding of Orwells narrative, take this brief quiz, and then compare your responses with the answers on page two. 1. George Orwell’s â€Å"A Hanging† is set in which one of the following countries?(A) India(B) Burma(C) England(D) Eurasia(E) Persia 2. At what time of day do the events in A Hanging take place?(A) about an hour before sunrise(B) in the morning(C) at high noon(D) late in the afternoon(E) at sunset 3. In paragraph three, a bugle call is described as desolately thin in the wet air. In this context, the word desolately means(A) without hope or comfort(B) with doubt or suspicion(C) in a quiet manner, softly(D) lacking a tune or silently(E) in a sentimental or romantic way 4. Which one of the following characters does not appear in Orwell’s A Hanging†?(A) the hangman, a gray-haired convict in the white uniform of the prison(B) the superintendent of the jail, [who] was an army doctor, with a gray toothbrush moustache and a gruff voice(C) Francis, the head jailer(D) a Hindu prisoner, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes(E) an old Indian judge, with a gold-rimmed monocle and a handlebar moustache 5. When the procession to the gallows is interrupted by a dog (which made a dash for the prisoner and . . . tried to lick his face), what does the superintendent say?(A) Come here, pooch.(B) Shoot it!(C) Never a dull moment.(D) Who let that bloody brute in here?(E) Leave him alone. Let him be. 6. The narrator doesnt refer directly to himself or use a pronoun in the first-person singular until paragraph eight. Which sentence marks this shift in point of view?(A) For Gods sake hurry up, Francis, I said irritably.(B) I fixed the rope round the prisoners neck.(C) Then we put my handkerchief through its collar...(D) I reached out with my stick and poked the bare brown body...(E) The superintendent passed the whisky to me. 7. What simple action by the prisoner causes the narrator to realize for the first time what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man?(A) saying God bless you(B) avoiding a puddle(C) petting the dog(D) praying(E) calling for his daughter 8. What is the one word that the prisoner cries out (repeatedly)?(A) â€Å"Innocent!†(B) â€Å"Help!†(C) â€Å"Ram!†(D) â€Å"No!†(E) â€Å"Stella!† 9. After the hanging, the narrator reports that Francis was walking by the superintendent, talking garrulously. In this context, what does garrulously mean?(A) in a rambling or excessively talkative way(B) softly, reverently(C) in a pompous, self-important manner(D) sorrowfully(E) in a hesitant, uncertain manner 10. At the very end of Orwell’s â€Å"A Hanging,† what do the remaining characters (that is, all but the prisoner and, presumably, the dog) do?(A) pray for the soul of the dead prisoner(B) discuss the ethical dimensions of their behavior(C) shoot the dog(D) hang another Hindu(E) laugh and drink whiskey Answers to the Reading Quiz on A Hanging (B) Burma(B) in the morning(A) without hope or comfort(E) an old Indian judge, with a gold-rimmed monocle and a handlebar moustache(D) Who let that bloody brute in here?(C) Then we put my handkerchief through its collar...(B) avoiding a puddle(C) â€Å"Ram!†(A) in a rambling or excessively talkative way(E) laugh and drink whiskey

Analysis of the UK Music Retail Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis of the UK Music Retail Industry - Essay Example Music is a hobby for every one in five adults in the United Kingdom (UK). Music is a lifestyle for a large proportion of the UK people. Majority of the people in the UK listen to music everyday at home, at work and while enjoying their leisure in other places. The significance of music in a consumer lifestyle is emphasized by study results, which indicate that music access has been enhanced by new technology and other trends. Music retailers in the UK include Woolworths, Zavvi, HMV, EMI, Universal, Sony, and Warner (Key Note 2011, p1). Many of these retailers offer CDs, cassettes and vinyl. For a long time the â€Å"bricks and mortar† music retail shops dominated the UK market. However, there has been a sharp reduction in their market share over the past decade with online retailers like Amazon winning, from the brick and mortar shops, a recognizable share of the market. Several physical retails stores in the UK market have been forced to close some of their branches in view o f the various changes and challenges that have graced the market. The paper will highlight some of the changes that have been witnessed in the UK market and will provide a PEST analysis of the UK music retail industry. 1.2 PEST Analysis 1.2.1 Political Environment Control on copyright and recording places potential limitations on the formal distribution channels, for instance, downloading music online (Burt and Sparks 2003, p74). In other words, formal distribution channels have been affected by recording and copyright controls and laws. The present issue concerning the political environment in the UK involves VAT. The problem of Low Value Consignment Relief (a tax mechanism that allows retailers to utilize distribution channels in Channel Islands to sell goods at a low price in UK without the need to pay VAT) has been a thorny issue for the physical music retailers in UK. The music retailers feel that it will make bricks and mortar music shops be disadvantaged in terms of costs. Mu sic retailers’ fears have been increased with the recent move by the government to raise VAT to 20 percent from 17.5 percent (Cardew 2011, p1). 1.2.2 Economic Environment The relatively low cost of music media and devices indicates that there will be little recessionary pressure on sales and expenditures. The recent economic recession hugely affected consumer spending and resulted in revenue fall in the music industry by an average of 3.7 percent in 2009 (McMillan 2011, p5). While the recent recession saw a significant drop in sales of music albums and media between 2009 and 2010, the economic situation of UK has improved in 2011. This means that across the country, the level of disposable income has grown meaning that consumers may be willing to spend more on entertainment. â€Å"Bricks and mortar† music shops which operate with considerably high overheads tend to set higher prices for their products as noted by McMillan (2011, p6). 1.2.3 Social Environment Some of th e physical music retailers in UK have a popular image in the society meaning that they attract a wide range of customers. The population aged between 19 and 40 is heavily involved with and have varied tastes of music. It is important to note that while the younger generation is more comfortable with using high tech equipment such as computers, iPods, Shuffle flash disks and the likes, the older generation is more conservative and therefore prefer to us CDs, cassettes and vinyl players. What this means is