Important information Essay Example for Free

Important information Essay Unstructured Interviews are a method of interviews where questions can be twisted or adapted to meet the interviewee intelligence, understanding or belief. They do not offer a limited, pre-set range of answers for a respondent to choose from as by structured interviews, but instead like listening to how each individual person responds to the question. â€Å" The emphasis here is on acquiring deep knowledge and authenticity of peoples life experiences â€Å" (Gubrium and Holstein, 2001) . Unstructured Interviews have a lot of set backs as compared with structured interviews, which make this stlye invalid and unreliable,some of these are ; . Unstructured interviews are time consuming as the conversation can go on and on,there is interviewer effect, this is when the interviewee answer is effected by the interviewer presence of the due to either his/her race, ethnicity, colour, or answer to certain questions, the information collected is prone to digression and much of the data collected could be unnecessary,unstructured interviews are usually small scale so it is hard to generalise with the results as only a small number of the interviewees can be interviewed, data collected is hard to categorise as there is likely to be a variety of different answers, coding will require more work when choosing categories for the respondents. Unstructured interviews has continued to be used by many employers since the data collect is said to be valid as it is an exact account of what the interviewee has said, the interviewer can also find out important information which didnt seem relevant before the interview and ask the interviewee to go further into the new topic,unstructured interviews are also more suitable for sensitive subjects such as domestic violence† (http://en. wikipedia. org ) as many people would lie in a more formal interview and also their answer may not be on the preset questioner . â€Å" Often, the subject matter is personal, intimate and emotional, and the objective is to achieve some kind of deep disclosure â€Å"(Johnson, 2001) In general structure or unstructured interviews depend wholely on the the interviewer Refference 1) http://en. wikipedia. org 2) (Gubrium and Holstein, 2001) . 3) â€Å"(Johnson, 2001).

Effects of the Spirit of Competition

Effects of the Spirit of Competition The spirit of competition is one of the underlying principles in any sporting event, be it one athlete against another, or team against team. The preconceived notion on the part of spectators as to which individual or team will prevail is the attraction and allure of a sporting event, in other words the degree of uncertainty concerning the outcome. By nature, human beings are curious, inquisitive, competitive and cooperative. The harsh conditions of survival that were a fact of life in the prehistoric era provide evidence of how we are bound together. Tribes grew as extensions of family units with the strongest individual rising to take charge over hunting and warding off rival family groups in order to secure the territories best suited to the continued survival of the group. As these tribal groups grew larger, either as a result of birth rates or conquest, the size of competitive conflicts grew as well. Tribal members trained to become better skilled in the use of weapons as well as their individual personal strength in order to prevail in these conflicts. The desire to secure better territories for hunting and survival fuelled further conflicts throughout this age as tribal societies continued to expand and grow. The Greek state of Sparta provides one of the best examples of society organized under the principles of domination through military means. Young Spartan males were removed from their households at the age of seven for mandatory military training which included instruction in the weapons of the day as well as a rigorous schedule of intense physical athletics. In essence, the female population of Sparta ran the economy overseeing slaves, managing the harvest of crops, and conducting commerce as Spartan males trained and served in the military with little to nothing to do concerning other affairs. Spartan training included participation in athletic contests such as gymnastics, running, swimming, throwing the discus and javelin to hone their minds and bodies for the military. Historically, athletic games were an inherent part of Greek religious festivals held at temples where the populace gathered to watch competitors as they honoured the gods. Greek mythology tells us that the Olympic Games started as a funeral feast to honor King Pelops who had prevailed in a chariot race held by KingOenimaus to select a mate for his daughter Hippodamia. The Games started in 776 B.C. and consisted of just a running event which later expanded to include the pentathlon, javelin, boxing, horse and chariot races, wrestling, discus and jumping. Winners of events were hailed as heroes with the commensurate stature and standing in Spartan society accompanying these triumphs. History reveals that the Roman Empire continued this tradition in the Coliseum pitting gladiators against gladiators, along with other spectacles to win the favour of the populace through state sponsored entertainment. The preceding historical summary has been undertaken to provide perspective on how athletics and then sporting events were an outgrowth of a quest for survival linked through physical terms and then as a part of religious celebration to honour deities. The festive mood of these events provided the opportunity to honour champions and also afforded its participants with a means to elevate their status in society as a result of winning. Spectators were entertained by events that consisted of a limited duration of time whereby the person who would prevail could be determined. The uncertainty as to the outcome provided the intrigue, drama and entertainment value. And therein lies the appeal of sports, not knowing the outcome until the event has run its course. Present day sporting events still hold the same basic appeals, competition, uncertainty, a specific time of duration and a festive atmosphere with one major distinction, they are big business. Multimillion dollar stadiums, government tax concessions, broadcast revenue agreements, licensing, merchandise marketing, product sponsorships and endorsements are a few of the financial components of this entertainment medium. English Football, like its American Cousin the National Football League (NFL), professional soccer, basketball, Formula 1, golf and all sports share one common trait – ‘The Outcome’. Fans attend games and events, watch them on television, wager on point spreads and place bets, as the ‘Outcome’ of the match-ups is the source of their interest. The uncertainty of the eventual winner creates acclimate of drama which fuels involvement on the part of fans. The more competitive the match-ups are, meaning the more uncertain the outcome, the more fans become interested in these matches and thus television viewer-ship and stadium attendance rises. The source of this interest is a result of these events and matches being limited by a defined period of time in which the ‘outcome’ takes place. In the world of business one measures winning and losing or in most cases their progress based to some degree upon what they earn or the promotions they receive. The time period and outcomes are less defined, as well as in most cases blurred in terms of what aspects or inputs resulted in said outcome. This segment of a person’s life is subject to a large percentage of undefined variables, events, causes, actions, reactions and so on, all of which tend to blur the factors which led to the outcome. And this also carries over to one’s personal life as well where the outcomes to varied events, such as marriage –children – a new home and more, are mostly a product of long periods of time in which discussions, decisions, modifications and changes in thinking are consistently working up to it (the outcome[s]). In the preceding examples, both business and personal, the eventual outcomes are spread over time periods that can encompass days, weeks, years or even decades. The need for an outcome that fits into a time period that is easily correlated explains why movies, music, videogames and sporting events hold the interest of the general public. The definable time period means that the uncertainty concerning the outcome will be revealed within that time span thus providing satisfaction. Heightened competition increases fan interest and when this is spread over the majority of teams participating in the sporting event, fan attendance and television viewer ship will increase throughout the season. The foregoing translates into revenue from gate receipts, increased broadcast contracts as a result of advertising rates, licensing, merchandise sales, endorsements, appearances and other income streams. This paper will examine the ‘effects of broadcasting revenue† on English football clubs as well as how this revenue is distributed, its effect on operations, the reliance on this income in budgetary terms, and alternative methods to distribute these funds on a more equitable basis. Chapter 1 – Introduction As is the case with any business enterprise, professional sports exist to derive a profit from operations. And those profits come as a result of the extent which a professional team captures the imagination of its fan base in the belief that said team has the opportunity to advance in the standings and onto to the championship final. While there are all manner and degrees of fans, ranging from the fanatic tithe â€Å"I only watch when they are winning†, professional sports organizations are identified with the city they reside, the charisma of its stars, the mystic of its heritage, and its recent public image. Because all but the most die-hard fans have short memories, the rest consist of those who jump on the bandwagon for a variety of reasons. Winning sports franchise provides national publicity for the city it resides in, generates revenues for the local economy from its fan base and those of the visiting team(s). The foregoing aids the municipality in promoting its own agenda(s), such as convention facilities, tourism, attractions, and the benefits of doing business in their cosmopolitan location. A sports franchise, more apropos a ‘successful’ sport franchise, provides a locale with publicity it could not otherwise obtain to generate additional business and the corresponding tax revenues from goods and services. But, a city is more than concrete, glass skyscrapers, taxicabs, buses and municipal services; it exists and prospers as a result of its people. As such a municipality has a vested interest in seeing to the well-being, morale and vitality of its populace by providing them with clean and safe streets, parks, adequate public transportation, progressive government, an excellent educational system, and something to rally their interest. Championships in British football have garnered world renown and recognition for teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea , providing them with media exposure and coverage these locales could not afford to purchase, including public relations stories they could not manufacture. One of England’s goodwill ambassadors David Beckham , even though he now plays for Real Madrid, is a global icon that fans and non-fans of the sport recognize and identify with and his British background. However, the lustre of English Football Clubs when considered as group, as lost some of its sheen as a result of second tier teams whom have yet to see championship status, operating deficits and the lack of structure that prompts overall competitiveness. The League is suffering from the same non-competitive problems that has befallen Formula 1 where Michael Schumacher and Ferrari have put the city of Mirabella, as well as Italy, back on the map by winning five Formula 1championships in a row (2000 through 2004), and his setting what most people believe will be an unbreakable record of seven world driver’s championships (two with the Benetton-Ford team). The success of the Ferrari Formula 1 team has caused the Formula One Administration, the sport’s governing body, to implement a third round of specification modifications to attempt to make the sport more competitive in the face of Ferrari’s dominance over the past five years. This period has seen a drop in viewers as a result of the lack of competitiveness. The same fate has befallen the English Football Clubs. The allure of sporting events is the uncertainty of the outcome. This creates the atmosphere of suspense, anticipation, drama and excitement as one watches the event unfold during the designated time period that determines the winner. These same ingredients are the backbone of all entertainment venues, be it the movies, music, a ride in an amusement park, or a television show, the elements are built upon these basic foundations (suspense, anticipation, drama and excitement). We are entertained as we are able to keep pace with the developments in a timeframe that does not bore us. This is why most entertainment venues, such as sports and movies, are approximately between two to three hours. As sporting events pit competitors directly against one another in a known format of rules and regulations, one simply has to watch and observe the nuances leading to the eventual outcome. The simplicity is the basis for its sophistication. Education, upbringing, language, social standing, and other factors are lost in the heat of battle. Sports provide a framework where nothing matters except the outcome and thus it is one of the ultimate forms of escape, relaxation and entertainment, hence the popularity of sports in all its forms. And in order to produce a winning Club, management must have star athletes. Not just the Dave Beckham’s, but also an exceptional supporting cast as well to see them through the many competitive battles that are a part of a season long campaign. Chapter 2 – The English Football Clubs Founded as the English Football League in 1888 by Scotsman William McGregor, the ‘League’ actually had been in competing since 1872 as tea Cup encompassed Scottish as well as English Clubs. Mar. McGregor was astute enough to see that the game needed to be formalized in terms of rules and regulations to provide a structure for the nonprofessional comprising the sport at that time. He also understood that formulating method to generate income for the Clubs that would provide the foundation to compensate the players. Acting in a role that in today’s terms would be equated to being a commissioner, Mar. McGregor’s vision culminated in the League starting with twelve Clubs with Preston North End becoming the first championship team . The League’s popularity resulted in a Second Division being formed in 1892. During the four years from the League’s formation additional teams were added with three different teams winning the FA Cup. The Blackburn Rovers took the championship title in 1890 and 1891. The League’s popularity with fans was evidenced by its growth from the initial twelve (12) teams to a total of forty-two (42) Clubs and three(3) divisions by 1922. Competitive balance in the League was shown over the twenty-six (26) years from 1893 to 1922 as no Club repeated as a back-to-back League champion during that time span. Aston Villa won the title four times (1895, 1897, 1905 and 1913), Sheffield United prevailed in three (3) championships, and just two (2) other clubs won twice, the Wolverhampton Wanders and Tottenham Hotspur. Fifteen (15)other Clubs from the League’s total of forty-two (42) took the FA Cup once. The preceding meant that nineteen Clubs out of the total of forty-two (42) won championships or 45%. The preceding parity fueledfurther expansion and the League grew to ninety-two (92) Clubs by1950. The competitiveness within the League was the source of fan popularity as two (2) Clubs, the Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal captured the League title three (3) times, with Newcastle United taking home the crown twice. In the twenty-two (22) years between 1923 and 1950fourteen (14) other Clubs won the FA Cup once again showing parity in the League. Between 1951 and 1989 fan support and interest in the League continued to grow as competitiveness kept pace with expansion, and the new Clubs as well as those that had been in the League for some time. This thirty-seven (37) year period saw the following multiple championships; CLUB NUMBER OF FA CUPS Tottenham Hotspur 5 Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 3 Liverpool 3 Arsenal 2 Manchester City 2 Fifteen Clubs won singular titles during this period and the League was enjoying unprecedented popularity. One of the key reasons for the appeal of the sport during the periods indicated is â€Å"competitive balance†. When there is uncertainty on the part of fans as to which team will prevail during the regular season match-ups, this sparks heightened fan interest in each contest. The outcome from matches in which their teams play is also affected by how key competitors play in their match-ups with other teams which also affect the standings. This uncertainty means that fans will tune into or attend more regular season matches, and not just those where their particular team is playing a potential contender, but those matches where their team is playing just about anyone. The preceding is true because when there is competitive balance no team is really out of the championship running, and most certainly not out of any match. Parity makes almost each and every game important in terms of the standings and a team’s rankings toward the championship game. The foregoing means increased gate receipts at stadiums and higher advertising rates as well as merchandise and ancillary revenues. Even with the fairly balanced championship appearances a number of clubs have not been able to compete at the top tier level thus eroding the interest of their fans as these Clubs are seemingly ‘cannon fodder ‘with nothing to play for as the stronger teams keep them relegated tithe mid or bottom tiers. The play-off system, which was introduced at the end of the 1986-87 campaign helped to provide more teams with something to shot for. However, with the twenty (20) of the strongest teams leaving in 1992 and forming the new Premier League this left seventy-two (72) Clubs split evenly in three (3) divisions, but the competitive factor was on a lower level. In the twelve (12) years since the breakaway the Premier League is suffering from dominance by a few teams, rather than the hoped for closer competitive balance. A. Parity The formation of the Premier League has placed those Clubs in the position of reaping higher revenues as a result of their being in the â€Å"class† league representing the best teams. One of the offshoots of its formation was it siphoned off fans from other lesser teams by creating secondary ‘favourite’ team even though a particular Premier League Club might not be located in their city. Fans are known to switch allegiances and adopt teams when their city or favourite is continually â€Å"out of the running†. Banking on a heightened percentage of close and meaningful games to induce increased fan interest in these matches to generate higher revenues per match was one of the underlying strategies to enrich the ‘class’ Clubs of the Premier League. And finally, simple mathematics in that fewer Clubs negotiating for advertising contracts means more revenue per Club. In Chapter Three we will examine the ramifications of broadcast revenue sharing, the timing of the Premier League breakaway in relationship to new technologies in television broadcasting (cable / satellite) along with subsequent developments. The breakaway strategy made sense, unfortunately the Clubs did not cooperate in bring this to further heighten fan interest by competitive balance. By cooperation, it is meant that certain teams have emerged as consistent winners, with two (2) teams dominating and another two (2)breaking in to win championships when the powerhouses faltered. Since the 1992 breakaway season the following Clubs have taken the Premier League crown: CLUB NUMBER OF FA CUPS Manchester United 4 Arsenal 4 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2 Everton 1 The foregoing means that five (5) Clubs out of twenty (20), or 25% have owned the title in the twelve (12) years the League has been inexistence. Not exactly parity! One of the main contributing factors to the preceding is revenue. The top Clubs since 1987 have enjoyed a disproportionate increase in income as a result of their success in championship matches thus enabling them to garner sponsorships, additional revenues from merchandise sales and thus the funds to lure top-flight athletes and a supporting cast. The dominance shown by Clubs in both the Premier League and English Football League Division One has manifested itself in financial clout due as a result of the foregoing and thus the gap continues to widen. The success of the Premier League can be seen in economic terms and the explosive growth. B. Attendance Parity has a direct correlation with attendance and fan interest. The domination of the Premier League by Manchester United and Arsenal, along with the multiple championships by Tottenham Hotspur (5),Newcastle United (3), West Ham (3) and Liverpool (3) has left more than sixty present (60%) of all clubs without a title in its 116 years of existence. From 1888 through 1987 the English Football League enjoyed explosive growth that started to tail off due to the breakaway of the Premier League Clubs and their rising national and international successes, as well as domination in the English Football League by relatively small cadre of teams. Today’s media realities have aided to further widen the competitive gapes a result of cable television deals and lucrative title matches that reward the dominant Clubs with additional revenues. The revenue gap the Premier League enjoys has enabled it to garner top players to strengthen their competitive advantages and perform exceptionally well in international matches. The English Football League’s current day format of â€Å"First – Second – Third and Fourth Divisions† (introduced in1958) has helped to bring Divisional Championships to a wider spectrum of Clubs however, the top Clubs maintain a stranglehold on the FA Cup. The system does promote those Clubs from the lower divisional levels through a system of points based upon standings and finish. This format has aided in fan interest to a degree as the seventy-two (72) Club league Playoff format encompasses a large contingent of Clubs and provides multiple Divisional championships. Club and League management, cognizant of parity and attendance issues(as well as revenue, costs and wages which will be discussed in latter sections), have taken varied actions to maintain and boost attendance. One measure has been the investment in new stadium facilities. Our modern day exposure to all manner of outside stimuli and influences through television, the movies, magazines and other media has spoiled us with regard to expectations. We are consistently being provided with images of new this and new that. From residences to office buildings, furnishings, clothes, and other manifestations, we love new things! Regardless that this is an outgrowth of marketing and commerce, people have always gravitated to what is new. League Clubs, in an effort to maintain as well as renew interest in their current fan base, also recognize the need to cultivate and attract new fans to fuel growth. New stadium facilities provide a sense of excitement and assist in: 1. Pre-Stadium Public Relations The idea for a new stadium creates ‘public buzz’ when the Club announces it is either considering or planning a new facility. The media coverage concerning all manner of stadium questions and concerns over the need for a new structure, its location, how it will impact upon the local economy and environment, how it will be financed, the design, cost and associated aspects creates months of media coverage. In the back rooms management creates strategies and plans to garner support and financing, and this enweaves like a long movie in the press. 2. On-going Media Coverage Regardless of whether the new stadium is truly needed or not, opposition voices help to provide additional media articles, other sides to the issue and comment. The Hollywood adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity still holds true. The Club is in front of its public! 3. Fan Interest It is difficult to conceive of a fan that does not secretly long to attend a match in a new stadium. Advances in today’s building techniques, materials, technological innovations such as giant screens, computer enhancements and designs all serve to fuel inner fires. Attending a match is entertainment, and who among us does not like to visit the newest movie theatre, test drive a new car, look at new homes, and window shop for clothes! Whether for or against, the proposal of a new stadium excites imaginations. 4. Attraction New facilities create attraction for fans and non-fans to visit the new stadium to examine and enjoy is accoutrements, even if it is only to drive by and experience it first-hand. New concessions, seats, viewing angles, scoreboards and big screen replays, help to induce fans to attend and come back to enjoy the facility, as well as to see and be seen. 5. Player Inducement Like it or not, soccer players tend to be spoiled prima donnas! In their defines, it does take a special type of personality as well as mindset to be a professional athlete and face the accolades along with public criticisms that accompany the glory. Identifying raw new talent for the League is a science of hit and miss, so most Clubs stock their teams by obtaining proven performers at the commensurate cost. The size of the contract offer is of course the primary inducement, but the type and newness of facilities does not hurt negotiations. The factors that aid in securing talent are as varied as the players themselves, thus those Clubs that are successful try to account for as many of these variables as possible. 6. External Media Influence The prospect of, as well as newly built facilities receive extensive media coverage in rival cities, sparking the question â€Å"why not us†, along with promoting the Club’s name. Fans from opposing teams tend to visit the stadium when their teams match up where in the past this might not have been a consideration. The allure of new stadium has been manifest by the number of Clubs that have completed or are starting new facilities and/or upgrading existing ones to address the appeal of this area. Interestingly this is being done in spite of the financial difficulties faced by most teams. The2001 / 2002 season saw a 12 million GBP increase in stadium investment over 2000 / 2001 (GBP 47 million and GBP 35 million respectively) Over the course of the previous ten (10) years this figure is in excess fob 400 million. The popularity of both Leagues are reflected in attendance figures, aided by cable television sparking match interest which approximated 27.8 million representing the highest level in thirty (30) years. More importantly English League figures have showman 8.5% increase over the 2000 / 20001 season and has increased 35%since the 1992 Premier League formation. The Premier League is still setting records, with attendance increases for the sixth consecutive campaign, and an average of 34,324 fans coming to matches, a rise of1,500 over 2000 / 20001. As one would imagine the First Division of the English Football League lead other Divisions in average stadium capacity recording 68% as compared against 47% for the Second Division and 42% for the Third Division. In spite of this 12 million seats remained empty. Cup attendance continued its upward trend by 12.2%. C. Operating Costs Increased attendance and additional television revenues are League bright spots (both the English and Premier), even in the face of a lack of parity. The costs of competing, however is another matter. To remain competitive or become competitive is the number one objective, and whenever too much demand chases after a limited number of players, the laws of supply and demand escalate. The major expense item negating operating profits is player salaries. During the 2000 / 2001 season twenty-seven (27) Clubs recorded Balance Sheets showing a negative. Seventeen (17) Clubs filed reports showing operating insolvency during2003 / 2003 as a result of escalating wage costs. The competition for star players to create match day impacts and bolster attendance has proven to be a defeating proposition that the League has addressed by new regulations which limits Clubs to spend no more than 75% of their total revenues in this area. Spiralling wage costs received a huge dose of sanity when the League’s TV Digital deal failed. These revenues were providing the Clubs with the needed extra budgetary room to close the gap between the League and the Premier Clubs. This development along with insolvency issues helped to bring about the wage cap (75%) modification to enable Clubs to get a grip on fiscal matters. With no new deals of the same financial magnitude to replace this lost revenue, the League consensus is that broadcast funds will remain flat, for now. And the damage, in terms of this lost revenue affects the lower ranked Clubs more as a result of their limited gate, merchandising and sponsorship opportunities, and Isa huge blow to financial stability. In addition, the lower ranking Divisions will have difficulties in appealing to advertisers thus further widening the revenue disparity. The pressure on the League and its Clubs to generate additional revenues is further exacerbated by the continued success of the Premier League in generating increased revenues, as well as the ability of its Clubs to obtain additional talent. And with the high wage costs for players in the Premier League, the added revenues from their cable deals a boon in aiding costs. Chapter 3 – Revenues Individual Club revenue is primarily generated from broadcasting, gate receipts and sponsorship / merchandising agreements. The differences in incomes as negotiated by the top level Clubs in relationship to lower level teams, even in the face of the new wage cap arrangement, will essentially not do anything to change the huge revenue gaps. The English Football League Division 1 Clubs in order to compete with the clout and financial muscle of the Premier League need to significantly increase their revenue streams on a League and Club basis in order to make some inroads on their dominance. The financial gulf between the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions is considerably larger concerning their respective abilities to improve upon this situation in view of their less marketable product. Marketability in this sense means the image the Clubs have cultivated and have with the general public in terms of viewer interest in seeing them perform. This translates into higher gate receipts and audience interest in televised games. Demand for stadium seats permits a Club to charge higher ticket prices as well as obtain in stadium banner advertising. The overall heightened public awareness, interest and television audiences also mean higher name recognition and thus puts an additional premium on merchandise sales and licensing deals. And while the general public rarely thinks about the commercial side of the product, the Leagues, Clubs, advertisers, sponsors, broadcast networks and financial backers do! Television is a mass medium that provides tremendous opportunities to reach the public and influence their thinking, as well as loyalties. The marketing of a Club goes beyond short term thinking, it follows the same pattern as all other marketing. Advertisers, which in a sense is what a Club does every match it plays, seek to influence the loyalty, behaviour and interest of all age groups. This includes those that are future customers – children and teenagers. How many times have you seen the latest craze among these groups wear the gear of losing teams! Certainly there are those that do, but, historically, these age groups are more concerned with associating with winners. The family tradition of supporting the hometown team is a product of past eras. The winning teams of today are marketing to the customers of tomorrow, as well as those of the present through winning, exposure, merchandising, television broadcast time, media buzz and appeal of star players along with the overall success of its operations. Just like in any other industry, be it vehicles, clothes, airlines, or a restaurant, the reputation for consistent quality over the long haul wins future customers. Not everyone can afford a Rolls but almost everyone would like one. A survey conducted by Silverman concerning ticket prices reveals that just 18% of the Clubs in Division 1 believe ticket revenue will increase to any appreciable degree over the coming two seasons. The optimism of Division 2 and 3 Clubs is more subdued as only 15% and 8%,respectively, take this view concerning gate prices. On average, attendance has run lower than Club projections with the continued success and dominance of the Premier League not contributing to help this area. Ticket sales in ‘that other League’ have continued to rise six seasons in a row even in the face of higher prices and reduced competitiveness. The lower level teams in the Premier League have also increased prices, but in their cases this strategy has resulted in either stagnant or lower attendance numbers. A. Broadcast Revenue The origin of the English Football League’s formation in 1888 was based upon organizing amateur Clubs that had been formed by voluntary associations, and local neighbourhood organizations as well as churches and companies, so that matches could be arranged. The rules varied and the sport was in the ‘rough and tumble’ mode whereby violent play was commonplace. Clubs such as Manchester United, West Ham and a few ot

Essay --

Irish Culture Ireland is deeply rooted in its culture. Architecture and dance are just two aspects of their culture. The Gaelic League is a major part of why Ireland got to share its traditional dance with the world. Architecture in Ireland evolved from simple to beautiful and grand over the Saxon, Norman and Medieval time periods. The earliest written record of dancing was in 1520 with the use of the word ‘damhsa’ or ‘dance’ in English (Whelan 9). The country dancing that was popular until the 17th century is said to have â€Å"spread from England into Ireland† (Whelan 10). However, during the late 17th century, the term ‘jig’ began being used for the Irish dance (Whelan 10). The jig is the more modern term to describe the dancing of Ireland. It is a wonder that the technique of Irish dancing was so uniform all around Ireland. The greatest contributors to the spread of the technique of Irish dancing were the Old Irish Dancing Masters. The masters are the ones who made everything come together. They developed â€Å"the footwork for the solo dance† as well as teaching and directing the uniformity and discipline for the group dances (Whelan 11). The masters would travel around the country staying at a lump of time ranging from nine days to six weeks (Whelan 11). He was always â€Å"accompanied by a piper or fiddler† that would play the music while he taught (Whelan 11). Barns were constructed on farms prior to his arrival with the trade that the farmer’s children would receive free lessons (Whelan 12). The most basic lessons the master taught were â€Å"the rising step of the jig and the side step of the reel† (Whelan 12). More of the students were children and picked up the movements fairly easy . However, if the students were having difficulty, th... ... in the shape of a cross. Tall lancet windows also marked this time period (Archer 288). Eastern Ireland had more elaborate and intricate designed churches due to the influence of England. Unfortunately, not a lot of churches stayed in good condition due to the â€Å"suppression of the Catholic church during the 18th century† and are more ruins than anything (Archer 288). Ireland was influenced by many countries but mainly from England. It is traced and seen over time that England was the country that brought a lot of things to Ireland first, but the Irish quickly adapted and make it their own. Architecture improved and mainly saw growth within the churches. There were Romanesque and Gothic styles that continued to be seen within the church structures. Irish dance spread all over the world due to emigration. Europe and North America were greatly influenced by Ireland.

Analyzing How Buildings Affect Physical and Mental Health Essay

According to Bokalders and Block (2009) some people spend more than 90 percent of their live indoors. This represents that those who live or work in buildings may be significantly influenced by them. Materials which are utilized in the erection of buildings, also interior design of buildings, providing clean air and intensive light are important issues to be taken into account, because their quality has considerable impact on residents. Rostron (2008) claims that adverse effect of a building can cause a considerable implication for society: many of those who suffered from ‘sick buildings’ have complained that their productivity had reduced by 20 percent. Thus, in order to construct healthy buildings without any unfavorable effect on occupants, complex issues should be taken into consideration. The aim of this paper is to identify how buildings can affect physical and mental health and to find solutions which can create better conditions for living and working in. Firstl y, this paper will unfold the causes of bad welfare of occupants and what harm buildings are able to do to people’s health in general, then implication for society will be mentioned. After that some possible solutions will be suggested and evaluated in terms of effectiveness, cost and availability. Constructing a building is challenging issue which requires many problems to be solved and much decision to be taken. Maintaining the balance between architectural design, engineering design and interior in general is not an easy task. In addition, providing healthy indoor environment to the occupants that enhances their physical and mental well-being should be prioritized. Reinhold, Afshari and Gunnarsen (2005, 29) state there are variety of factors in the indoor envir... ...the loss of sleep, which then outcomes as a poor physical and mental health (Åkerstedt and Nilsson 2003, 6-12) Interior Restorative environment It is believed that nature has a restorative effect on stress. According to Ulrich (1984) patients after surgery quickly become better if their windows viewed the landscape rather than buildings. In addition, it was found that pictures of nature may have effective restoration on patients than images of urban sites (Ulrich et al., 1991). Ulrich (1991) reported that the patients who were designated an image with the view of nature demonstrated less nervousness; also demand for anodyne in comparison with a control group has reduced. Moreover, at Conquest Hospital in East Sussex art sessions for stroke patients have been maintained and it has been noted that visual art assists in relieving the pain both mental and physical.

Assemble & Associate :: essays research papers

Assemble and Associate The first amendment of the Constitution is one of the most fundamental and essential appendages to the C onstitution that statesmen could ever have made. It basically provides the way and means for any citizen of the United States to speak freely, worship freely, assemble with whomever they want, and complain to the government. One of the most important of those freedoms however, is the right of association. Association protects the rights of persons to enter into relationships with one another unhampered by intrusive governmental regulation. More specifically expressive association protects the right to associate with others in pursuit of a wide variety of political, social, economic, educational, religious, and cultural ends. The right to associate, being derived from the provisions of free speech and assembly, is fundamental to all private associations so that they might have the right to their own standards for membership and leadership. The Boy Scouts of America has been a private organization with the mission and chartered purpose of providing character-building experiences for young people since its founding in 1910. The organization’s Oath states, â€Å"On my honor I will do my best †¦ to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.† It is a scout’s duty to uphold this oath and live by the scout law. In April of 2000 the Boy Scouts of America’s rights to establish its own standards of membership and continue to instill the values of the Scout Oath and Law into the scouts were challenged. An individual's position as assistant scoutmaster of a New Jersey troop was revoked after a division of the Boy Scouts learned that the individual was an avowed homosexual and gay rights activist. The assistant scoutmaster filed suit in the New Jersey Superior Court, and alleged, among other matters, that the Boy Scouts had violated a state law prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation. The Boy Scouts held that this violated their First Amendment right of expressive association. The Boy Scouts of America believe an avowed homosexual is not a role model for the values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law. The right of association is utterly the most important principle in the issue of the Boy Scouts of America and their right to be selective in their requirements of leadership. The Boy Scouts have the right to assemble with whomever they choose.

Essay 2

The Changes of Life Love, relationship, and sacrifice are very common in a relationship between two people. In the short stories of â€Å"Tommy† by Kelly Ruth Winter and â€Å"The Night of Oranges† by Flavius Stan shows these themes that the characters go through. However, there are also differences between the two stories and how they interact with their loved ones. For instances, Winter continued in love with Tommy throughout her life and Stan shows his love for his brother by buying a gift for him on Christmas.It shows their sacrifice they made to prove their love for them. Winter and Stan both expresses their love and sacrifice yet they displayed it in a different way. The stories â€Å"Tommy† and â€Å"The Night of Oranges† are about love and relationships. However, in both stories the characters have a different relationship. In â€Å"Tommy† the relationship between the characters are a boy and a girl love. When Tommy was eight years old, he e xpresses his feelings toward Winter by tapping his shoes to make the sound â€Å"I love you† (Winter 27).In â€Å"The Night of Oranges† the relationship between the characters are fraternal. Stan shows his love for his brother by buying oranges for him as a gift for Christmas. When Stan hears that there were oranges that are selling at the market he thought he wanted to do something important and give his brother a big surprise (Stan 31). The characters in both stories are very loving towards their loved ones and would do anything to make them happy.

Coin Opreated Vending Machine Based on Microcontroller

average vending machines are commonplace at railway stations, airports, fast-food restaurants and even in companies. Press a switch and the machine delivers a cup of your favorite drink. This looks quite a simple operation but has a very complex logic behind it: It involves use of twelve precision timers and four counters apart from physical devices like display, solenoid and motor to deliver water and premixed tea/coffee/soup powder in exact quantity for better taste and in exact sequence.This has become possible because of the use of micro controllers, which allow compact size, higher reliability, lower cost and multiple functionalists. This tea/coffee/soup vending machine controller uses Free-scale latest AT89S52   micro controller chip. The controller is programmable and user friendly. You can set the quantity of the beverages through a button switch provided on the front panel of the controller as per your requirements. Thus, cups of any size can be filled at any time. But you can insert a 10RS.Coin in the system then is working. For human beings, recognizing if a coin is real is pretty easy. We can look at the coin, weigh it in our hand, feel the temperature, listen to it hit the floor, etc. If someone handed you a coin replica made of plastic, you would immediately know it is fake even if it looked authentic to your eyes. If someone handed you a blank steel slug, it would obviously be â€Å"not a coin† because it wouldn’t look like a coin at all. What we take for granted as humans is not so easy for a vending machine.A vending machine needs a relatively inexpensive way to detect if a coin is real. Circuit Diagram: Block Diagram: http://ayusdumaru. blogspot. in/p/vending-machine. html http://www. docstoc. com/docs/134527341/Coin-operated-vending-machine http://www. scribd. com/doc/13916969/Ece-10-Documentation-Vending-Machine Be it schools, colleges or commercial establishments, vending machines, also known as automatic retailing, are ever ywhere. Most of the time, vending machines are used to sell beverages like tea, coffee and sodas, candies, snacks, gumballs, lottery tickets etc. o people. If you look at the history of vending machines, it is believed that the first such machine was actually invented way back in 215 BC by a Greek mathematician and used in Egyptian temples to dispense holy water! Thereafter, the first commercial vending machine was installed in 1880 in England, which was coin operated and sold postcards. It was only in the year 1888, that vending machine business made an entry into New York, America by way of the Thomas Adams Gum Company, which installed these machines at the subway platforms in New York City and sold gum.After that, there has been a no looking back, with everything, right from postcards, cigarettes, sodas, snacks, being provided through them to the customers, with just the push of a button! People would have thought that there can be nothing as convenient as these machines, but now , looking at what the vending machines of the future promise, this thinking will certainly get changed. Let us know something interesting about the future vending machines. Machines that Recognizes Age and Sex!Believe it or not, but there are vending machines installed at a Station in Tokyo, Japan, which can actually recognize a person's age and sex and suggest options accordingly. They have inbuilt cameras which recognize the activities taking place outside the machine. This machine comes with a 47-inch touch panel display, instead of the push-button system which are the usual fare with vending machines. They are controlled by a centralized server, which are in turn monitored by the vending company. When a customer comes in this machine's vicinity, images of various drinks are displayed on the screen.The machine will sense the customer's age and sex and then recommend a few drinks according to that. Also, if the customer wants some more information on a particular drink, such as it s nutritional information, they can actually zoom in and get it! These machines are godsend for marketers as when nobody is within a ten foot radius of these machines, their screens display advertisements! No More Credit Cards! A Massachusetts company who is into manufacturing vending machines, proclaims that soon there will be biometric vending machines introduced in the market.These biometric machines will recognize a person through his fingerprints. Through these customers can actually connect a credit card to the imprint of their thumb! The Massachusetts company predicts that such machines, which make the customers feel engaged will be the new future of vending machines. There are also some talks going around that certain vending machines are being manufactured and tested which will allow retinal scans of the customers. The customers will thus be recognized through their retinas and thereafter, charged for their vending machine purchases.A very useful feature of these vending ma chines, for companies who have installed them, is that they will come with Ethernet connections. This will enable them to recognize real fast when the machine needs to be re-stocked. Also, if the machine is somehow not working properly due to a coin being stuck in it, the monitors will report it immediately and the same fault can be corrected within no time. It is believed that these machines will get installed within the next one year. Looking at their benefits, they are indeed a â€Å"win-win† for customers, companies as well as advertisers!Read more at Buzzle:  http://www. buzzle. com/articles/vending-machines-of-the-future. html The Advantages and Disadvantages of Vending  Machines Vending machines are the most easy to use produce of the recent years. A cashier is ultimately unnecessary when it comes to vending machines, and yet it delivers food of all sorts. All you have to do is to fill the coin slot with the right amount of money, press the button according to what you desire to obtain, and then it comes right out of the machine. Pressing some button is all that it takes for you to gain satisfaction whenever you are hungry.It was already several decades back when the concept of vending machines came to life; it was when a mathematician put a coin in a machine slot, which eventually handed out water. During the industrial era, the use of vending machines have been taken advantaged by the public for the reason that these machines were already positioned in universities, hallways, and in workplaces. It is for the reason that  vending machines  provide you with your necessities almost instantly, that people consider it as a very much reliable choice.Not all people think of that, unfortunately; there are those who consider vending machines as tools that let you waste your hard-earned money to its costly products. People also are indeed dreadful when the item that they want to purchase gets stuck in the machine. This further proves that vending machines can both be beneficial and a waste of time for some people. The greatest benefit of these vending machines is that they are very versatile and convenient. When you find yourself in the middle of closed shops, with a hungry stomach, a vending machine can really come in handy.When you do not have the time in your hands, and you really need something to eat, these vending machines can be the sole answer to your problems. When you talk about vending machines, costly items always come with it, making this one of its major disadvantages. Compared to items being sold in other stores, those items that are on vending machines are way on the high-priced spectrum. Therefore, if you want to, then do not stop yourself from spending so much. Another disadvantage is the harmful snacks that they offer.Teenagers almost always patronize these unhealthy snacks that are constantly available in vending machines. Studies have shown that a great deal of foods and beverages in these machines are low in nutritional values. After knowing the different advantages and disadvantages of  vending machines, only you can make the final decision whether or not you still want to continue using it. Some people may have conflicting ideas when this topic arises. Nevertheless, what matters most is that you learn to stand on what you believe in. Besides, these machines have been designed to increase our comfort, with no other harm intended.