5 of the Best Caching Plugins for WordPress, Plus Which One to Pick

As your WordPress site grows, you may notice a dip in its performance. Even after all your efforts, if there hasnt been a significant improvement in the efficiency of your website, the answer to your trouble might lie in caching!  To help you get started with caching, weve collected four of the best caching plugins out there.Beyond sharing more information about each plugin, well also make some recommendations for which plugin to pick based on your needs and knowledge level. make your site load faster or, sometimes, reduce the load on your server.The most common type of caching for WordPress sites is  page caching, in which your site stores a static HTML version of each page, rather than dynamically building each page with PHP and database queries like WordPress normally would.But there are also other types of caching that WordPress sites can benefit from like:Database caching   most common queries (like getting the list of posts for your homepage) are cached so as to avoid a r edundant database query altogether.Browser caching   the process of storing files on the browser for quick rendering; this can be triggered by your server.Object caching   an object is a collection of files (documents, scripts, images); object caching involves storing a bunch of these files locally.Some of these caching plugins will focus almost exclusively on page caching, while others offer a more comprehensive approach.If youd like to learn more, check out our full post on why caching is valuable to WordPress sites.Lets get to the plugins now, starting with1. Comet Cache Comet Cache Author(s): WP SharksCurrent Version: 170220Last Updated: May 20, 2019comet-cache.170220.zip 90%Ratings 395,422Downloads WP 4.2+Requires Comet Cache is one of the best caching plugins for beginners because of its simple, easy-to-use interface.One Click Enable in Comet CacheIf your target is to find a quick fix, this is what you should go for. You pretty much just click that yellow button in the screenshot above to activate it and enable caching on your site.For webmasters who may be looking for something more, Comet Cache provides advanced features, some of which are highlighted below —Cache clearing on change of content: When you modify a post, the cache associated with it is changed automaticallySet a manual expiration time for cache clearing: Every time a cache is created, you can set an expiry time for it. After expiration, the cache will be rebuilt.Enable client-side cachingCaching of elements like the RSS feed or 404 error pagesApache optimization by modifying the  .htaccess  fileOverall, Comet Cache provides a good option for someone who is not looking to go deep into caching.2. WP Fastest Cache WP Fastest Cache Author(s): Emre VonaCurrent Version: 0.8.9.8Last Updated: September 22, 2019wp-fastest-cache.0.8.9.8.zip 96%Ratings 12,735,516Downloads WP 3.3+Requires WP Fastest Cache is a little more comprehensive than Comet Cache, as it provides a few other performance-boosting features outside of caching.WP Fastest Cache SettingsIn addition to easy-to-enable page caching, WP Fastest Cache provides you with the option to integrate with a CDN, where your static files like scripts and images would be rendered through a CDN to reduce load times.In addition to that, there is an option to create â€Å"exclude rules† to exclude certain web pages, JS scripts, CSS files, and cookies from being cached. This option can be useful if you have pages that go through frequent changes, like the homepage of an e-commerce website.Although most of the features in WP Fastest Cache are free, a few advanced features can be enabled only by purchasing a premium edition of the plugin for $49.99. Premium options include the ability to manually delete a cache, image optimization and compression, and cleanup of your MySQL database.3. WP RocketWP Rocket is a premium plugin, which is easy to set up and use. There is a 14-day money back guarantee w ith plans starting at $29.25/month. After enabling the plugin, you can do the following:Cache each page in your siteMinify static files to load fasterLoad images only when a user scrolls over themIntegrate a CDNThe documentation  is extensive, with detailed tutorials on how to use the plugin. If you are facing any issues, you can use the support section to open a ticket.WP Rocket is the caching solution that we use on this blog, by the way.4. WP Super Cache WP Super Cache Author(s): AutomatticCurrent Version: 1.7.0Last Updated: August 16, 2019wp-super-cache.1.7.0.zip 86%Ratings 30,859,198Downloads WP 3.1+Requires WP Super Cache is developed by  Automattic, the owner of  WordPress.com, and a major contributor to WordPress. In its settings, WP Super Cache provides logically grouped options that go hand in hand with the types of caching mentioned earlier in the post:WP Super Cache SettingsJust like Comet Cache, you can enable it with a single click, which should work for most sites. In addition to that, this plugin provides support for CDNs like WP Fastest Cache.Beyond the basic settings, WP Super Cache lets you:Select a delivery method for the cachingExclude certain users from seeing cached contentRebuild the cache manually if neededControl caching for mobile devicesSpecify a location for cache filesFinally, WP Super Cache has a debug mode that creates cache logs. This can be helpful in case you are not getting the desired performance improvements from the plugin, and want to explore the reasons behind the issue.5. W3 Total Cache W3 Total Cache Author(s): Frederick TownesCurrent Version: 0.10.1Last Updated: September 11, 2019w3-total-cache.0.10.1.zip 86%Ratings 17,209,595Downloads WP 3.2+Requires W3 Total Cache is one of the most popular and best caching plugins for WordPress sites, though its geared a little more towards advanced users. It offers an array of different caching methods, including:Page cacheDatabase cacheObject cacheBrowser c acheW3 Total Cache SettingsIn addition to the features provided by other plugins, W3 Total Cache has an option to minify your static files in order to reduce their size and make load times shorter. Moreover, there is also an option to import and export settings, which can be a blessing when you are migrating your site across servers.Overall, W3 Total Cache is a complete solution for caching in WordPress with a comprehensive set of options making it one of the best caching plugins for WordPress. The only catch is that it can take some time to set up. But dont worry we have  a beginners guide to setting up W3 Total Cache  to help you out!.Final thoughts on the best caching pluginsCaching is one of the best ways to speed up your WordPress site and reduce the load on your sites server.So which one of the best caching plugins is right for you? Lets recap:Comet Cache and WP Super Cache are the two simplest caching plugins, which makes them good options for beginners.WP Rocket  is a   premium plugin that provides some advanced features, yet is easy to set up and use.WP Fastest Cache does a good job of blending ease of use with depth of functionality (WP Super Cache also gives you some advanced settings).W3 Total Cache is the most advanced and flexible caching plugin, but its lengthy feature list might scare away some beginners.No matter which plugin you choose, make sure to test your page load times before and after to see how much of a difference it makes.Do you have any questions about using these plugins? Let us know in the comments and well try to help! Check out the 5 best #WordPress caching plugins to speed up your website

Biography of Henri Rousseau, Self-Taught Post-Impressionist

Biography of Henri Rousseau, Self-Taught Post-Impressionist Henri Rousseau (May 21, 1844 – September 2, 1910) was a French painter in the post-impressionist era. He started painting late in life and was roundly mocked in his own time, but was later recognized as a genius and became an influence on later avant-garde artists. Fast Facts: Henri Rousseau Full Name:  Henri Julien Fà ©lix RousseauOccupation: Artist; tax/toll collectorBorn: May 21, 1844 in Laval, FranceDied: September 2, 1910 in Paris, FranceKnown For: Almost entirely self-taught and rarely praised in his lifetime, Rousseaus naive style of painting inspired many future artists and has come to be widely respected in more contemporary times.Spouses:  Clà ©mence Boitard  (m. 1869–1888), Josephine Noury  (m. 1898–1910)Children: Julia Rousseau (only daughter that survived infancy) Working Class Origins Henri Julien Fà ©lix Rousseau was born in Laval, the capital of the Mayenne region of France. His father was a tinsmith, and he had to work alongside his father from the time he was a young boy. As a youth, he attended the local Laval High School, where he was mediocre in some subjects but excelled in creative disciplines such as music and drawing, even winning awards. Eventually, his father went into debt and the family was forced to give up their house; at this time, Rousseau began boarding at the school full-time. After high school, Rousseau attempted to start a career in law. He worked for a lawyer and began his studies, but when he was involved in an incident of perjury, he had to abandon that career path. Instead, he enlisted in the army, serving four years from 1863 to 1867. In 1868, his father died, leaving Rousseau to support his widowed mother. He left the army, moved to Paris, and instead took up a government post, working as a toll and tax collector. Rousseau was known as Le Douanier (the Customs Officer) after his place of work. Essentially self-taught, Rousseaus naive primitive style of painting was widely ridiculed during his lifetime although he later came to be seen as an artist of considerable significance. Print Collector  /  Getty Images That same year, Rousseau married his first wife, Clà ©mence Boitard. She was his landlord’s daughter and, being only fifteen years old, was nine years his junior. The couple had six children together, but only one survived, their daughter Julia Rousseau (born 1876). A few years into their marriage, in 1871, Rousseau took on a new post, collecting taxes on goods coming into Paris (a specific tax called the octroi). Early Exhibits Starting in 1886, Rousseau began exhibiting artwork in the Salon des Indà ©pendants, a Paris salon founded in 1884 that counted Georges Seurat among its founders. The salon was formed as a response to the rigidity of the government-sponsored Salon, which focused heavily on traditionalism and was less than welcoming to artistic innovations. This was a perfect fit for Rousseau, although his work was not displayed in places of prominence within the exhibitions. Rousseau was almost entirely self-taught, although he admitted to having received some â€Å"advice† from Fà ©lix Auguste Clà ©ment and Jean-Là ©on Gà ©rà ´me, a pair of painters from the Academic style. For the most part, though, his artwork came all from his own self-training. He painted nature scenes, as well as developing a particular take on the portrait landscape, in which he would paint a particular scene, then place a person in the foreground. His style lacked some of the polished technique of other artists of the time, leading to him being labeled as a â€Å"naà ¯ve† painter and often disdained by critics. Painting by Henri Rousseau. Surprise, 1891. Buyenlarge  /  Getty Images In 1888, Rousseau’s wife Clà ©mence died, and he spent the next ten years single. His art slowly began to grow a following, and in 1891, Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) was exhibited and earned his first major review with serious praise from fellow artist Felix Vallotton. In 1893, Rousseau moved to a studio in the art-centric neighborhood of Montparnasse, where he would live for the rest of his life. Ongoing Career in Paris Rousseau formally retired from his government job in 1893, ahead of his fiftieth birthday, and devoted himself to his artistic pursuits. One of Rousseau’s most famous works, The Sleeping Gypsy, was first seen in 1897. The following year, Rousseau remarried, a decade after losing his first wife. His new wife, Josephine Noury, was, like him, on her second marriage- her first husband had died. The couple had no children, and Josephine died only four years later, in 1892. Painting by Henri Rousseau. Sleeping Gypsy, 1897.   Buyenlarge / Getty Images In 1905, Rousseau returned to his earlier themes with another large-scale jungle painting. This one, titled The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, was exhibited once again at the Salon des Indà ©pendants. It was placed near works by a group of younger artists who were leaning more and more avant-garde; one of the future stars whose work was shown near Rousseau’s was Henri Matisse. In retrospect, the grouping was considered the first showing of Fauvism. The group, â€Å"the Fauves,† may have even gotten the inspiration for their name from his painting: the name â€Å"les fauves† is French for â€Å"the wild beasts.† Rousseau’s reputation continued to climb within the artistic community, although he never quite made it to the uppermost echelons. In 1907, however, he received a commission from Berthe, Comtesse de Delauney- the mother of fellow artist Robert Delauney- to paint a work that ended up being The Snake Charmer. His inspirations for the jungle scenes were not, contrary to rumors, from seeing Mexico during his time in the army; he never went to Mexico. The Snake Charmer, 1907. Artist: Rousseau.   Heritage Images / Getty Images In 1908, Pablo Picasso discovered one of Rousseau’s paintings being sold on the street. He was struck by the painting and immediately went to find and meet Rousseau. Delighted with the artist and the art, Picasso proceeded to throw a half-serious, half-parody banquet in Rousseau’s honor, called Le Banquet Rousseau. The evening featured many of the prominent figures in the creative community of the time, not for a glittering celebration, but more of a meeting of the creative minds with one another in celebration of their art. In hindsight, it was considered one of the most significant social events of its time. Declining Health and Legacy Rousseau’s final painting, The Dream, was exhibited in 1910 by the Salon des Indà ©pendants. That month, he suffered from an abscess on his leg, but ignored the inflammation until it became too far gone. He was not admitted to the hospital until August, and by then, his leg had become gangrenous. After having surgery for his leg, he developed a blood clot and died from it on September 2, 1910. The Dream (1910). Museum of Modern Art, New York. Fine Art  /  Getty Images Despite being criticized during his life, Rousseau’s style was hugely influential on the next generation of avant-garde artists, such as Picasso, Fernand Leger, Max Beckmann, and the whole surrealist movement. Poets Wallace Stevens and Sylvia Plath also drew inspiration from Rousseau’s paintings, as did songwriter Joni Mitchell. In perhaps the most unexpected connection: one of Rousseau’s paintings inspired the visual world of the animated film Madagascar. His work continues to be displayed to this day, where it is studied and admired much more than it ever was during his own life. Sources â€Å"Henri Rousseau.† Biography, 12 April 2019, https://www.biography.com/artist/henri-rousseau.â€Å"Henri Rousseau.† Guggenheim, https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/henri-rousseau.Vallier, Dora. â€Å"Henri Rousseau: French Painter.† Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Rousseau.

Malaria control and intervention by DDt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Malaria control and intervention by DDt - Essay Example Mortality and morbidity rate in Nigeria are very high compared to any country in Africa. Unless the root causes are not determined and effective measures to eradicate the disease are not implemented, any hope for decline in the disease statistics by just preventive measures is useless. DDT can prove to be an effective means to destroy the breeding sites of mosquitoes carrying the parasite and so its risk benefit ratio against the control of Malaria, should be reviewed by the governing bodies for effective eradication of the disease condition from Nigeria. NIGERIA: DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION The most populous country in Africa is Nigeria. It covers the area of about 923,768 square kilometers. It is located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Benin, Chad, Niger and Cameroon are its neighboring countries. The southern coast is bordered with swamps and mangroves forests and the River Niger flows South through the Western regions of the country. Its capital is Abuja and the three most ethnic and influential groups of Nigeria are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. An estimation of Nigerian population was made by the United Nations; it was 124,009,000, which made it the tenth most populated country of the world in the year 2000. The birth rate skyrocketed with 40.12% per 1000 and the death rate was 13.72 per 1000 for the same year. The annual growth rate of the population was 2.67% for the years 2000 till 2015. 44% of the population lives in the urban areas. The Southern regions are thickly populated than the North. The most populated city of Nigeria is Lagos. Nigeria is made up of 36 states and there are six geopolitical zones in it. (National Encyclopedia) MALARIA: Malaria is a tropical disease which is caused by Anopheles mosquito bite. A female mosquito, Anopheles, infected with plasmodia parasite. The infected person faces fever attacks with influenza symptoms, fatigue and diarrhea and many other indicating symptoms of the infection. Parasites grow in the inte stine of the mosquito and are present in the salivary glands for its easy transmission to host. With a single bite of the mosquito, parasite is injected into the blood stream of the person and invades in liver. Liver and blood acts as host for development and completing the life cycle of malarial sporozoites. Parasites multiply inside red blood cells and expose the symptoms of malaria within 10 days to 4 weeks of infection. It takes over 5 -16 days for sporozoites to grow and divide, and sometimes it takes more than that, so parasite remains dormant for an extended period of time. Malaria parasites are from the genus Plasmodium. Altogether four types of Plasmodium can cause Malaria, out of which Plasmodium Falciparum causes the most fatal Malaria. Plasmodium Ovale, P. vivax, P. Malariae causes milder Malaria.(Easmon C.,2009) MALARIA IN NIGERIA: Malaria is one of the leading cause of death in Sub Saharan and other third world countries. Developed countries have eradicated the disease by various useful means but still sometimes cases of malaria are reported because the strains of plasmodium carrying Anopheles bacteria are still present in these regions. In 2007, CDC received

Business IT A Professional Issues Group Report Essay

Business IT A Professional Issues Group Report - Essay Example Improving treatment of depression in primary care requires properly organized treatment programmes, regular follow-up, monitoring of treatment adherence, and a prominent role for the mental health specialist as educator, consultant, guide and clinician. Future research should focus on how guidelines are best implemented in routine practice, since conventional strategies are not displaying any substantial improvement in their impact on patients. *Shifting patients away from mental health specialists decreases costs but worsens functioning outcomes. The appropriate strategy for making care for depression treatment cost-effective is through quality improvement and not through changing specialty mix. *Psychologists managing patients on antidepressant medications did as well as psychiatrists in reducing functioning limitations and were superior to primary care physicians.) *Pharmacotherapy be preferred over psychotherapy for the severely depressed, cognitive therapy, with supportive management. Either medication or psychotherapy could serve as the initial treatment for patients with mild or moderate depression. Our summation is that the idea to turn treatment of depression over to primary care physicians using antidepressant medications

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT - Article Example Further, the managers at Wal-Mart would work closely with the government to ensure that incentives offered are utilized for the growth of the company. Government is working hard to put in place long term measures that will save businesses such as Wal-Mart in case of an economic meltdown. For instance, introduction of greater ties between the interests of business and society influenced operation of Wal-Mart in terms of designing its products and services for its customers. The new regulations that the government has put place aim to promote desired behavior by preventing the company from exploiting customers. For example, Wal-Mart Company had to ask its suppliers to report about its sustainability programs by asking them to report on their environmental concerns such emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, Wal-Mart is offering funding for the development of the second party consortium, which aims to give information about the environmental footprint of its products. Other public c oncerns such as creation of environmental friendly products, workplace education, and training influence how Wal-Mart operates. As Wal-Mart aims to expand outside the US, government is decreasing control across national borders which implies that it is easy to circumvent tough business regulations at home while at the same time getting more friendly rules overseas where the company will be able to make profits (Reich, 2009). The move by the government to be less involved in the operation of businesses has created a close working relationship between government and businesses. For instance, Wal-Mart is opening supercenters and small shopping centers across the US to reach all customers. More so, this has enabled it to venture into other businesses such as banking, travel services, internet services and used cars. Reich (2009), states that, the government is coaxing its operations but not regulating it, which in turn has made the company successful. If the government engaged in regula ting behavior, it would have blocked innovation at Wal-Mart but the introduction of coaxing measures has encouraged its innovation and expansion in US and other parts of the world. Furthermore, the government has allowed Wal-Mart to decide how to achieve its desired outcomes. For example, rather than force the company to offer specific employee benefits, Wal-Mart has been allowed to offer a minimum amount per employee into a common fund accessible to those who do not get such benefits. Wal-Mart managers engage with the government as opposed to shielding it from participating in its activities. In this manner, it is of great benefit because the system is efficient and affordable whereby both parties benefit. For any business to succeed, managers need to devote attention to public concerns and try to come up with solutions before those concerns develop into political action. For instance, it is important for Wal-Mart to convince its customers that they will produce quality goods at lo w prices. Wal-Mart has been vulnerable to attacks regarding ethical issues. In this purview, they have been accused of providing low pay and poor working conditions to workers. Environmental issues also threaten Wal-Mart’s success. This is against government demands, which requires that all businesses must be responsible for the activities. Further, they have to develop public trust to enable the business thrive. Managing the extended enterprise Corporate social responsibility is the ability of a company to conduct its business

Nature of Globalisation

Nature of Globalisation Critically Consider The Nature Of Globalisation. In So Doing, Identify And Examine The Various Elements Associated With The Process Of Globalisation. It would be fair to say that globalisation had its beginnings just after the 2nd world war, in December 1945, when 15 countries entered discussions to end blind customs tariffs (World Trade Organisation). The aim of this move was to end the years or protectionism which had led up to WWII (World Trade Organisation). It was believed that the terrible economic status of countries after WWI led to WWII. It was thought that if countries trade and economies were more interlinked it would be possible to avoid war in the future (European Commission). This was the basis for creating the European Community (EC), where the aim was to create a common market economy. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was also created at about this time following a first round of negotiations. This step was a relatively small one as the agreement only affected 1/5 of the world trade (World Trade Organisation), however it was an important first step in trade liberalization. There were further discussions in an attempt to create the International Trade Organisation in conjunction with the Havana Charter; however this was not supported by the United States, spelling its end (World Trade Organisation). GATT was the only means of governing world trade until the creation of the World trade organisation. Although GATT was relatively limited in its powers, its reductions in tariffs and general trade liberalization helped to spur on world trade growth by 8% a year between 1950 and 1960 (World Trade Organisation). A good sign that this GATT was working was that trade growth continued to outpace production growth (World Trade Organisation). This means that countries were trading, not because they had a giant surplus of product but because the future benefits around economic growth were clear. However GATT was not without its problems, economic recessions between 1970-1980 caused Governments to use other methods to protect sectors facing increasing foreign investment (World Trade Organisation). With the closure of factories and an increase in unemployment, the governments of America and Western Europe set out to subsidise agriculture in order to maintain large trade (World Trade Organisation). This practice made it economically undesirable to export agricultural produce to these subsidise d countries as the price of the local goods was largely brought down by the government, meaning it would be very difficult to attract consumers to the same, more expensive product. This was effectively a barrier to world trade and would have been damaging to the GATT agreement. With increased globalisation, the limitations of the GATT started to be seen. The trade in services was not governed by the GATT, but it was increasing in importance to world economies. Loop holes were being exploited in The GATT agreements (World Trade Organisation), and this led world leaders to believe that there was a need for a more unilateral agreement. The World trade organisation was born and has become the unilateral trade governing body. The GATT was not the sole point of this global push, another organisation, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), started in 1961, with the aim to ‘Supporting sustainable economic growth, boost employment, raise living standards, maintain financial stability, assist other countries economic development contribute to growth in world trade (Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development). These initiatives are a summary of the political will of the time which had such a driving force on globalisation. The speed of change has been facilitated by rapid technological change. Technological change has had a number of steps. The first satellite-delivered basic cable service was called the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN); later The Family Channel was launched in 1977. From 1981 to 1985, the â€Å"big-dish† C-Band satellite market began to take off. System sales soared as hardware prices fell. The increased access that this brought around the globe allowed TV images to be transmitted to the world (Marples, 2008). This process allowed one nations culture and principles to be transmitted very quickly around the globe, therby changes in one country, typically the USA would influence changes elsewhere, where people perceived others to be living better. The demand for information and growth in telephonic communication led to a growth in the 1970s of the telecommunications network, with more ‘trunk lines linking major countries. This both facilitated and satisfied the growing need to communicate across countries (Webb Associates). IBM introduced the desktop personal computer (IBM PC) in 1981. This led to the explosive growth in the computer industry which facilitated the development of global supply chains, where computers linked together in a network could control the management of stock worldwide. The benefits of this were quickly recognised and required the infrastructure to support large data transmissions (Webb Associates). This caused a huge expansion in the 80s of fibre optic cables required for rapid data transmission. As a result many companies invested in the manufacture of this new cable (Ivan P. Kaminow, 2002), however with the sheer number of companies producing the cable its value dropped enormously, which in turn caused more of the cable to be used in networking (Ivan P. Kaminow, 2002). The next step in this chain reaction was the introduction of faster computers to deal with this massive increase in data transmission; Moores laws states that the ‘number of chips in a computer doubles every 18 months (Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica). This ever increasing demand and supply of faster computers has driven the development of centralised computer facilities which in turn has promoted the use of faster broadband. This is known as the network effect which drives technology (Nordhaus, 2000). This led to the development of the World Wide Web in the early nineties which gave a further boost to rapid g lobal communications and the need for faster data transmission. The internet spawned a new generation of on-line businesses that traded across the globe, eg Amazon in 1995 (Internet Story). In order to get the most benefit from technology it is best if everyone has it. For example the social networking site Facebook, would be useless if only a few people used it. Similarly technologies such as mobile phones require a high degree of integration as the technologies become useless if limited to those who have the same handset as each other (Dix). One markets use of a given object drives another through seeing the use of it and wanting it themselves (Dix). These technological changes created greater awareness in one market of what was available in another and eventually giving direct access to it via on-line trading. This was creating what has been referred to as ‘The Global Village (Absolute Astronomy). McLuhan describes how the globe has been contracted into a village by electric technology and the instantaneous movement of information from every quarter to every point at the same time. In bringing all social and political functions together in a sudden implosion, electric speed has heightened human awareness of responsibility to an intense degree. Alongside this technological development was the opening up of China in 1978, with the launch of its economic reform program (Huchet, 2006). This allowed China to become the global source of manufacturing (Huchet, 2006). Many companies saw the opportunity to manufacture high value, small electrical items at a low cost. This brought down the price of technology overall, which helped to bring popular electrical items like computers to the masses. It is important to see why the opening up of China was such a large world event in the process of globalisation. China had been isolated from the international world from 1949-1979 (Woo, 2003), so 1/5th of the worlds population had not participated in world trade and investment systems (Woo, 2003), leaving a large void to be filled. This caused the massive relocation of labour intensive industries to China to take advantage of this sudden new opportunity. It is the suddenness of this opportunity which has really caused the dramatic increase in the rate of globalisation. To highlight this increasing rate of globalisation the direct financial investment of a country can be examined. In 1997 China had $44.2 billon of direct investment, in 2002 this figure had risen to $52.7 billion (Woo, 2003), this dramatic increase shows that in the space of 5 years the amount of investment entering China has increased dramatically, showing that growth is not slowing. Due to Chinas massive population, it is also responsible for a large number of world imports, with the growth in Chinese importing between 2002 and 2003 growing by 30% (Stetten, 2005). Arguably culture has been most affected by globalisation. Peoples culture is affected by what they see every day. The export of American movies has dramatically changed some cultures by the assimilation of elements of western culture (Flynn). This exposure particularly affects attitudes to women, birth control and the demand for certain products (eg Coca Cola). The exposure to global media has also caused world fads to arise through product exposure (Lechner); products such as Pokà ©mon and Tamagotchi are a good example of this. Massive increases in the amount of international travel and tourism have caused countries to learn the culture of another through greater exposure to their people (Freesun News, 2009). Immigration from one country to another has introduced one countrys culture to another, which is then passed down to subsequent generations (The University of Iowa Centre For International Finance and Development). The popularity of World sports events such as the Olympics or The Football World Cup are definitely due to increased global communication and generalised culture attracting support from around the world (Freesun News, 2009). In conclusion the process of globalisation was underpinned by the belief that to avoid future wars it was beneficial to promote sustainable economic growth and thereby boost employment and raise living standards, whilst maintaining financial stability to assist other countries economic development and thereby contribute to growth in world trade. This mindset led to the creation of world trade governing bodies, such as the World Trade Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and The European Union. These organisations set out to liberalize trade through the removal of import/export tariffs and protectionism by governments. The rapid increase in the rate of globalisation has been facilitated by the introduction of technology which has allowed fast communication and transport between geographically distant places. The admission of China into the world trade market has increased supply and demand for finished products which is further boosting industry around the world. References Dix, A. (n.d.). eBulletin. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Network Effects and Market Engineering: http://www.hiraeth.com/alan/ebulletin/network-effects/ Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. (n.d.). Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Moores Law: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/705881/Moores-law European Commission. (n.d.). EUROPA. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from The history of the European Union: http://europa.eu/abc/history/index_en.htm Flynn, D. A. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Revisiting Globalisation through the movie and digital games industries: http://web.mit.edu/cms/Events/mit2/Abstracts/KerrFlynn.pdf Freesun News. (2009, 09 29). Travel Tourism: Unity through Diversity in the Age of Globalization. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Travel Tourism: Unity through Diversity in the Age of Globalization: http://www.freesun.be/news/index.php/travel-tourism-unity-through-diversity-in-the-age-of-globalization Huchet, J.-F. (2006). Social Research. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from The emergence of capitalism in China: an historical perspective and its impact on the political system: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2267/is_1_73/ai_n26878471/ Ivan P. Kaminow, T. L. (2002). Optical Fiber Telecommunications IV: B. Systems and impairments. London: Academic Press. Lechner, J. B. (n.d.). Globalization and World Culture. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Globalization and World Culture: http://www.sociology.emory.edu/jboli/isb408026.pdf Nordhaus, W. D. (2000, June 13). Technology, Economic Growth, and the New Economy. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from http://www.econ.yale.edu/~nordhaus/homepage/sweden%20061300c.PDF Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development. (n.d.). About OECD. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development: http://www.oecd.org/pages/0,3417,en_36734052_36734103_1_1_1_1_1,00.html Stetten, M. D. (2005). China and Globalisation. Intereconomics , 40 (4), 226-234. The University of Iowa Centre For International Finance and Development. (n.d.). Immigration Globalization. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Immigration Globalization: http://www.uiowa.edu/ifdebook/issues/globalization/readingtable/immigration.shtml Woo, W. T. (2003, 12 04). The Economic Impact of Chinas Emergence as a Major Trading Nation. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from The Economic Impact of Chinas Emergence as a Major Trading Nation: http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/woo/Woo.US-China%20statement.1Feb04.pdf World Trade Organisation. (n.d.). The GATT years: from Havana to Marrakesh. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from World TRade Organisation: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact4_e.htm Select A Multinational Company That Has Existed For At Least 20 Years. Assess How The Process Of Globalisation Has Influenced The Development Of Your Chosen Company Unilever is one of the largest global players in the fast moving consumer goods sector with annual sales of â‚ ¬40,5bn (Company Accounts 2008). However, it started from humble beginnings in Bolton in 1886 when William Lever established a soap manufacturing company called Lever Brothers with his brother James. In this essay I will attempt to set out how the process of globalisation has influenced this company. Unilever was started in the 1890s by the Lever brothers, who introduced Sunsilk Soap to Victorian England. Within a short time Lever was selling soap throughout the UK, as well as in continental Europe, North America, Australia, and South Africa (Unilever). Lever began a tradition at this time that lasted well into the 20th centurythat of producing all its raw components. Lever Brothers, a vertically integrated company, grew to include milling operations used to crush seeds into vegetable oil for margarine as well as packaging and transporting businesses for all of its products, which then included Lux, Lifebuoy, Rinso, and Sunlight soaps. In the early 1900s, Lever was using palm oil produced in the British West African colonies. Lever was therefore an early example of a global company (Unilever). In 1914, as the German Navy began to threaten the delivery of food importsparticularly Danish butter and Dutch margarine, the British government asked Lever to produce margarine. This was eagerly accepted as the margarine business was thought to be compatible with the soap business because the products both required oils and fats as raw materials. Lever Brothers successful diversification, however, put the company in competition with Jurgens and Van den Bergh, two leading, long established Dutch margarine companies. This is an early example of global competition (Unilever). Jurgens and Van den Bergh merged to form the Margarine Unie and after two years of discussion, Lever Brothers and The Margarine Unie decided that an ‘alliance wasted less of everybodys substance than hostility and merged on September 2, 1929 and Unilever was born. This was an early example of cross border mergers. The reason for this merger being that both companies used animal fats and oils as their raw materials. The end result of the merger was a company that bought and processed more than a third of the worlds commercial oils and fats and traded more products in more places than any other company in the world an early example of global scale. The decade following World War II was a period of recovery for Unilever, culminating by the early 1950s in rapid economic growth in much of the Western world with the development of the various global trade bodies discussed earlier. Until 1955 demand in Unilevers markets continued to rise and competition was not a major issue. However as markets grew the demand sucked in global competitors, particularly from the USA and Germany and profit margins dropped and success was less assured. Unilevers strategy through this period was to use its global financial scale to acquire companies in new areas, particularly food and chemical manufacturers. Among the postwar acquisitions were U.K. frozen foods maker Birds Eye (1957) and U.S. ice cream novelty maker Good Humor (1961) (Jones). The advent of the European Economic Community created new opportunities for Unilever. Since the late 19th century, when the companies that comprised Unilever had set up manufacturing facilities they had been located in various European countries to avoid tariff restrictions and where it was most economical. Under the Common Market, many of the tariff restrictions that had spawned the multinational facilities were eliminated, giving the company an opportunity to consolidate operations and concentrate production in lower-cost countries and thereby reduce its overall costs. During the 70s Unilever progressively consolidated its manufacturing operations across Europe, taking advantage of the economies of scale of the larger European Union Market (Unilever). As the world economy expanded during the sixties and seventies Unilever set about developing new products and entering new markets. It was Unilevers management and technological capability allied to great financial strength based on its success in Europe that made it possible to enter these markets. It developed a global management structure facilitated by improved communications and the growth of air travel (Unilever). Throughout its history Unilever has grown through acquisitions, using its global financial scale to purchase local or regional companies that gave additional scale or access to new markets or adjacent markets, Ponds, Calvin Klein and Ben Jerrys to name a few. These acquisitions all represent foreign investment which without the process of globalisation would never be possible (Newinternatiomalist). As individual markets blurred and a more international view of markets was taken we can see the emergence of global brands such as Sure deodorant, known as Rexona globally. This emergence of global brands required Unilever to restructure its business to remain competitive. In the 1980s Unilever undertook a massive restructuring (Unilever). The company sold most of its service and ancillary businesses, such as transport, packaging, advertising, and other services that were readily available on the market, and went on a buying spree, snapping up some 80 companies between 1984 and 1988 (Unilever). The restructuring was designed to concentrate the company in those businesses that we properly understand, in which we have critical mass, and where we believe we have a strong, competitive future, Unilever PLC Chairman M.R. Angus told Management Today in 1988 (International Directory of Company Histories). Specifically, Unilevers core businesses were detergents, foods, toiletries, and special ty chemicals. This was followed in late 1990s by a comprehensive review of Unilevers wide-ranging businesses in an effort to focus on the strongest core areas: ice cream, margarines, tea-based beverages, detergents, personal soaps, skin care products, and prestige fragrances with several other areas identified as developing core areas: frozen foods, culinary products, hair care products, oral care products, deodorants, household care products, and industrial cleaning products (Unilever). Businesses outside of these areas were sold including its largest disposal the selling of its specialty chemicals business to Imperial Chemical Industries PLC for about US$8 billion. As the pace of globalisation increased, Unilever had to focus more on global brands and in 1999 Unilever announced that it would eliminate about 1,200 of its brands to focus on around 400 regionally or globally powerful brandsa group that accounted for almost 90 percent of 1998 revenue. This sweeping overhaul of the product portfolio was aimed at increasing annual growth rates from four percent to six to eight percent and at eventually reaping annual savings of  £1 billion. Unilever has focussed further in the 21st century on 12 â‚ ¬1bn global brands (Unilever). Like with most multinational companies Unilever manufactures many of its products away from the destination market, in order to reap the benefits of cheaper labour and increased profit margins. It operates a global supply chain and, for example, a forecast planner in the UK will control the output from factories in Germany or France and a planner in Singapore may control a plant in China. It is due to the technological synchronisation of the worlds telecommunications and broadband systems that this has become possible, coupled with the ability to send expatriate managers out to foreign countries to develop new operations and transfer management know how. International organisations also have had an effect on the development of Unilever. In 2008 Green Peace targeted Unilever for obtaining palm oil for its soap from non sustainable sources (Jones). Unilever responded by announcing it would source all palm oil from sustainable sources. It is this flow of information from geographically distant countries, facilitated by international organisation, which has undoubtedly forced Unilever to develop to remain in the public good. International competition has always been an issue for Unilever, with international competitors like Proctor and Gamble (USA), Nestle (Switzerland), Kao (Japan) to name but a few. This international pressure has shaped Unilever and its markets. This kind of international competition shows how the world is no longer working on a country level, the entire globe is seen as a single market in terms of competition and as such Unilever faces many different competitors depending on which country it is marketing a product towards. References International Directory of Company Histories. (n.d.). Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Unilever PLC Unilever N.V.: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2840600220.html Jones, G. (n.d.). Working Knowledge. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Unilever—A Case Study: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/3212.html Newinternatiomalist. (n.d.). Newinternatiomalist. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from History of Unilever: http://www.newint.org/issue172/simply.htm Unilever. (n.d.). History. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from http://www.unilever.com/aboutus/ourhistory/

The Shock of Sylvia Plaths Daddy :: Plath Daddy Essays

The Shock of Plath’s Daddy â€Å"Daddy† is one of the most highly anthologized poems of Plath's (along with "Lady Lazarus"). It is a notorious poem, the one once compared to "Guernica" by George Steiner. The imagery and audaciousness of it still shock, so much so that I don't even know if it is being taught or anthologized or taught any more; it is almost as if the critical world has had its say on it and has moved on, either to other poems in Ariel, or to other books altogether, such as The Colossus or Crossing The Water. It has become a modern classic, of a kind, the sort some people (not the ones here, of course!) sigh & look back on fondly, as what/who they read when they were younger, or were obliged to read at some point, dutifully used it in an essay, then put back on the shelf when they were done with the course... "Daddy" is a mean poem, brutal, but at bottom it is about mourning, loss, and what happens when that grief is blocked. I have always taken this as the real topic, that longing to forgive her father, forgive herself, to understand and accept - that was locked, denied, as a part of her childhood, adolescence, until she was 21 and visited (I am taking her literally) her father's grave for the first time. (This poem's essence lies in her not believing her father is dead, and since she never went to his funeral, or even visited his grave as a child, the father is in a strange limbo, a zombie figure.) In 1959 she visited her father's grave and was tempted, oddly as she says, to dig him up & prove to herself that he's really dead. In the poem, she just wants to be with her father (in the reading, her voice definitely becomes emotional when she remembers her childhood with him), or someone like him, but this never works out; in the end, she turns against him, but, as Stewart says, she can never be "through" - I think, because that sadness is again pushed aside, "the voices" (her father, husband, mother?) who still might be able to talk and listen to her are gone. Her father is still there, just as solid & historical as he was in "The Colossus", and just as misunderstood/inflated (two ways blocked grief seems to work).