Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis

Case Analysis: Optical Fiber Corporation Introduction Optical Fiber Corporation (OFC) is a financially successful, albeit relatively small manufacturer of multimode optical fibers. The company was founded in 1990. The founders were able to enter the market largely on the basis of acquiring patent licenses from larger optical fiber firms. These licenses restricted competition between the entities and provided OFC with instant access to optical fiber technology. In return, OFC’s customer base is limited by the license agreements and royalties of 7% on sales of licensed products (recently renegotiated to 9%) are paid to the licensors.Despite these handicaps the firm has grown in size and profitability. OFC makes several types of multimode optical fiber including specialty niche products they have developed outside of any license agreements. All customers are cable manufacturers that convert the fibers to optical fiber cable. Three such firms account for over 70% of OFC’s r evenues. Focusing on customer service, quality and product design and process improvements has proved a winning business model to date. OFC now faces a variety of challenges including the expiration of many of the patents that afford most of its profits.This raises the real possibility of new competitors in the market. Further, while in the past multimode and single mode optical fibers have generally been used for data communications and telecommunications respectively and as such were not in direct competition with each other, the advent of cheaper manufacturing processes for single mode fibers coupled with their inherent ability to transmit data more efficiently over longer distances may make them a more appealing choice for some of the uses that historically have favored multimode fibers.OFC is at now at a crossroads where they must decide if they are to stay in the multimode fiber business only, begin producing single mode fibers as well, or even enter the cabling business with a forward integration strategy. Competition in the Optical Fiber Industry The optical fiber industry is perhaps best considered as two industries that are closely related, the multimode fiber and the single mode fiber industries. The multimode industry in which OFC specializes is very competitive. The United States’ 2001 total optical fiber market was approximately 3. 5 million kilometers only 330 thousand of which was multimode.The value of the multimode market was $65 million that year, only a fifth that of the single mode market. Within the multimode market and a number of fiber manufacturers. The main rivals for OFC are the two licensors to whom they pay royalties. These firms are considerably larger and have greater resources with which to compete. Further, they have a competitive advantage in that they are the recipients of royalty payments rather than the firm making those payments. Also they are in a position to control the extent of OFC’s market penetration at least with respect to their licensed products.OFC has responded by creating high quality products and providing exceptional customer service. In addition, OFC has made improvements to the basic design of some of the licensed fibers making them, in a real sense new products. The R and D department at OFC has also been successful at developing new and less expensive manufacturing processes, which has helped to offset the added overhead of the royalty payments. Finally, OFC has developed specialty fibers with medical, aircraft, aerospace and extreme environment applications.These new fibers will not be subject to royalty payments, competition from new entrants until patents expire years in the future, and generally afford higher profit margins than other optical fiber products. New entrants to the market are a threat to OFC and all other fiber producers. New firms must contend with the high capitalization costs of this technologically demanding and exacting industry. One of the costs of optical fiber production is the R and D required to bring successful products to market. Between 1999 and 2007 the patents for many of the basic fibers produced by OFC and its licensors will expire.New firms entering the market will be free to produce the products once protected under those patents without having incurred any R and D costs. These firms will also be free from royalty payments to licensors or any restrictive covenants such as those under which OFC operates. The industry in general, and OFC in particular, must contend with the purchasing power of its buyers. Optical fiber is converted into optical fiber cable. In the United States there are twenty companies that perform this function. OFC sells over 70% of their fiber to just three.The loss of any of these accounts could be devastating for OFC and places them in a weak position when negotiating prices, at least when the products are those which are readily available from other multimode fiber producers. It is doubtf ul that switching costs would be high for buyers. Favoring OFC and the optical fiber market are the projections for increased demand for multimode optical fibers at least through the mid 2000’s. Sources of increased demand for multimode fiber are anticipated to include: cable TV, undersea cables, local area networks (LAN) as well as general data communications growth such as computer uses.As noted the single mode optical fiber market is much larger than the multimode market. It too, is expected to see significant growth over the next several years. Single mode fibers have the advantage of efficiently transmitting data over long distances, faster transmission rates and other desirable optical properties but until recently have been more expensive to produce. The advent of cheaper production methods will allow single mode fibers to enter markets that were once dominated by multimode fibers.Production of these fibers requires expensive specialized manufacturing equipment and a s ignificant commitment to R and D. The industry includes one of the OFC licensors. Substitute products for single mode fibers include microwaves, and satellites for telecommunications. Impact seems limited. Copper wire can be used as a substitute for the fiber-to-home and fiber-to-curb applications of either multimode or single mode fibers but by the mid 2000’s the lowered cost of production of single mode fibers will likely make this the preferred choice for these functions.Finally, it should be noted that suppliers are unlikely to exert competitive forces on the fiber optics markets. The materials used in the production of fibers are commodities of low value such as glass, certain gases and oxide particles. OFC Strengths OFC has many strengths. The firm is financially strong with record sales and earnings for the last year as well as increased manufacturing capacity. Furthermore, there was a $20 million backlog for optical fibers in the last year and orders are increasing. T here was net income of $6. 1million on revenue of $48. million in 2002. The Quick Ratio, a measure of a firm’s ability to meet short-term debt obligations (Current Assets – Inventories)/Current Liabilities = ($31. 0m – $6. 6m)/$12. 5 = 2. 0 is very solid. Return on equity (Net Income/Equity) = $6. 1m/$44. 0m = 13. 9% is also very impressive. OFC has developed new specialty products for medical, military, commercial aircraft, aerospace and severe environment uses. These are likely to receive patents and will not require royalty payments and will be protected from competitors for years to come.The firm has a variety of options to confront the challenges of the changing market place. OFC has patent licenses to produce optical cables that would allow for forward integration if they chose to move in that direction. Engineers at OFC have been able to find new ways to produce old products more efficiently reducing production costs. They have also developed adaptations of existing products to create new and unique demands for those products. OFC is in an industry that is expected to enjoy strong growth for at least the next several years.That demand will come from a variety of industries adding stability to the market. The equipment needed to produce optical fiber is expensive and the expertise demanding creating, a relative barrier to entry. Copper wire as a substitute is relatively expensive and as technological advances decrease the cost of optical fibers copper will become a non-entity. Perhaps most importantly, OFC has a strong reputation for quality, service and competitive pricing. OFC Weaknesses OFC is a small company. They were only able to enter the market by virtue of other firms’ products and license agreements.Those licenses have protected OFC from competition but have also limited the scope of its customer base and added significant fixed costs in royalty payments. Royalties will now increase to 9% (after paying a one time $3 million fee) on 85% of sales. Furthermore, while OFC is paying royalties to use these patents new entrants may soon be competing as patents expire. These firms will have essentially no R and D expense and of course no royalty payments potentially allowing them to produce at costs below those of OFC.OFC must also contend with a limited number of buyers. Over 70% of sales are to just three cable producers. The ability of OFC to increase prices to these large purchasers is doubtful. If even one of these customers were lost to an alternative fiber optic producer the effect on OFC could be dramatic. OFC operates in a competitive industry that will become more so with time. Copper wire manufacturers will turn to optical cable production to stay relevant. Overseas producers, already sources of competition to OFC, are likely to play a larger role in the future.Finally, OFC’s success has been built on quality, service and innovation. One or more competitor can potentially offer all of these. OFC’s Core Competencies OFC manufactures multimode, high quality optical fiber for cabling companies that convert that fiber into cable for a variety of data communications uses. The firm has a reputation for low prices and excellent customer service. Much of their success can be attributed to their R and D program, which has developed cost saving production technologies as well as product innovations.More recently, OFC has shown itself to be an innovator, developing entirely new multimode optical fiber products that fill a variety of unique niche functions. To continue producing and selling multimode optical fiber successfully, OFC needs to prepare for increased competition as patent protections expire. As new entrants begin producing many of the higher volume OFC products, likely at lower cost given their lack of R and D and royalty expenses, OFC will need to spend additional resources on developing decreased costs of production if they are to continue selling those products profitably.They will need to maintain their focus on quality and customer service. In part that will require continued product testing. They may wish to explore, however, if testing 100% of products as is current policy is necessary or if testing samples from each batch would serve as well and save money. OFC will need to continue to support R and D to develop new products and patentable improvements on existing ones. Options Available for Growth Pursuit of Niche Markets OFC has already demonstrated an ability to develop marketable niche multimode fibers. Previously created are fibers able to withstand high radiation nvironments for nuclear reactor and military applications, a fiber that can tolerate deep underwater submersion and a third tolerant of high heat conditions. They have also successfully experimented with a fiber capable of transmitting UV light and another with unique medical and scientific uses. To continue their development program for specialty fibers will require annual R and D spending increases of $400,000 and an additional annual expenditure for three new staff totaling $325,000. Outside firms can be hired to handle sales for 10% commissions.When sales volumes are adequate, salaried OFC employees can be used instead. The calculation as to when this makes financial sense for the firm is simple; when 10% of sales exceed the salary and benefit expenses of the needed in-house sales force then sales should become an OFC operation. The advantage of niche products is the lack of competition and relatively higher margins. Develop Single Mode Fiber Capacity OFC could choose to enter the much larger single mode fiber market. It is estimated that this will require a capital investment of $4 million for new plant and equipment.It will take a year for the new facilities to be operational. There will also be a reported one time R and D expense of $2. 5 million. This is a first year expense so it cannot be capitalized. It can reasonably be assum ed that there will be additional R and D expenses going forward although presumably these would be considerably lower than the initial expense. Entering the single mode market places OFC in competition with larger firms than it currently faces with greater resources to sell products with thinner margins and would divert OFC resources from their core business functions.Forward Integration A third option for OFC is to produce optical cable. The required patent licenses are available. Two options for this forward integration strategy exist. OFC can commit $5 million in capital investments and plan on spending an additional $500,000 annually for R and D or they can simply purchase a cabling company for an estimated $10 – 15 million in capital expenditure. There is currently an excess supply of cable and cabling firms and several are in danger of bankruptcy and so an acquisition should be feasible. Forward integration raises several concerns.Regardless of the approach taken, enter ing the fiber optic cable business will be expensive for OFC. This is a market that is already experiencing an excess of capacity so it can be assumed that at least for some time to come profits in the cabling industry will be squeezed. This is not a core business function of OFC but to pursue cable production will be so expensive as to necessarily draw resources away from some of the firm’s core activities, activities that are likely to be more profitable and entail less financial risk. Finally, one needs to consider that all of OFC’s customers are cable producers.If OFC enters this market they will become a competitor of their customers. It seems highly probable that at least some of these optical fiber buyers will respond in a retaliatory manner and switch to alternate suppliers. Most of OFC’s products are not unique and can be supplied by their licensors. The three large buyers would seem in a particularly strong position to adversely respond to any entry in to the cabling market by OFC. OFC Policy Statement In choosing a direction for the future growth of OFC several considerations should be kept in mind. First, OFC has been successful in large part because of its focus on quality.Any efforts at growth should not come at the expense of producing high quality products. Second, the firm must continue to provide a high level of customer service. This should include responsiveness to customers’ needs for new products and product features when those offerings are commensurate with the firm’s vision, available or attainable expertise and when economically viable. Finally, the firm should continue to fund R and D efforts to allow for a continuous pipeline of new products and improvements to existing ones in an effort to maintain a unique competitive position in the market.OFC has been successful in competing against larger firms by avoiding head to head competition. Initially this was accomplished through license agreements alon e. Later, the firm was able to create unique improvements to existing products and processes that gave it an advantage. Most recently OFC has created unique patentable products. These represent three different ways of avoiding direct competition. Despite their growth, OFC remains a relatively small firm in the optical fiber space and should continue to eschew direct competition when possible, realizing that the market is dominated by larger and better-funded firms.Recommendations OFC should stay out of the cable producing business. This market is the least profitable, most expensive to enter and likely to have the lowest return on investment. It is also likely to result in retaliation by current customers and reduced sales. The single mode market is much larger than the multimode market but as a consequence will bring OFC in contact with larger firms that already have the equipment and knowledge base to produce these products. A small firm with limited resources should not leave its core competencies behind to take on firms that are already in place.OFC needs to continue to make niche products whether they are improvements on old multimode fibers or new fibers with unique properties and functions. This firm will never be a big player in the highly competitive optical fiber industry, they arrived too late and don’t have the capital to displace the dominant firms. Given that projections are for most of the increased demand for optical fibers to occur through the mid to late 2000’s OFC may want to watch for an opportune time to sell to one of these larger entities, perhaps a single mode fiber producer to whom the OFC product line would prove complimentary.

My Journey through Essay

Interviewing my son’s preschool teacher, Ms. Contreras, was a wonderful experience. I learned so much about the field and I was able to connect understand her as not only an educator but as a person; as the type of person who does well in this career field. Ms. Contreras is a California state preschool teacher and has been for 20 years. She holds an AA and a BS in Early Childhood Development and loves her job very much, and has decided to stay at the preschool level until she retires. Like any educator, she believes that it is important for parents to be involved with their children’s education. She encourages parents to come and volunteer whenever they are able, and has monthly parent meeting so that the parents are up to date with what is going on in the class room. To Ms. Contreras, the most important thing about being an early childhood educator is that you are an advocate; and advocate for children and their education. That you have and need to understand that chil dren are all different and unique and they all deserve to be in a preschool program no matter what their income or background. Her favorite thing about being a teacher is the innocence of the children at this age; she loves how pure the minds are of her students are. She wishes she can change the fact that preschool is only three hours long, but with state funding so low, that is all she is able to do, and less assessing. She feels that is keeps her from understanding her students and attending to what they need help in. Family is very important to Ms. Contreras so when she had her children, she knew that she needed a career that will work around her children, thus leading her to pick the field in education. She loved the idea of being a break as her children were on break, home when their home at school when they’re at school is how she put it. While conducting the interview, I sensed a vibe that she truly loves what she does and care very much about her students. And as one of the parent volunteers in her class, I can see it when a student randomly give her hugs, or in their eyes as they walk in the door on a Monday morning from what seems like a long weekend without her. One thing that I learned about the professional field of early childhood education from this interview is that you really have to love and understand children to be in the profession. Patience is a big part of this job when you have 24 to 30 preschool all needing your undivided attention. I learned that you need to understand your individual students in order to help them succeed and do your job to the best you can. Having a job in this profession may be hard at times, especially when you have so many students but at the end of the day, if it is truly made for you, the job can be very rewarding. Technology is a big trend now, in not only in the early childhood education field, but in education period. There are many pros and cons about applying technology to the early childhood classroom. Technology today, consists of TV, computers, video games, and now smart phones and wireless tablets. â€Å"Technology’s long-term history includes everything from primitive hewn-rock weapons to wood pencils to drone aircraft and smart phones.† (Estes, 2012) It is no secret that almost every house now has a computer and probably access to the internet, so many young children might be exposed to one or more of these even before preschool starts. The question is whether impacts the education of young children, and I believe that it does. Technology impacts the education of young children in many ways and I believe that technology should be applied to the early childhood classroom. In the preschool and kindergarten ages, technology needs to be developmentally appropriate. Once these technological activities are developmentally appropriate â€Å" technology-supported activities can be justified by a constructivist philosophy because engagement, active learning, creativity, and social interaction are all part of what goes on in the classroom† (Estes, 2012) Activities such as using the computer and its accessories such as the keyboard and mouse can improve fine motor skills by pushing keys and moving the mouse around. â€Å"These fine-motor movements also hone eye-hand coordination, and that’ll pay off for years to come as your little one learns to catch a ball, use scissors, or put together a tricky puzzle.† (Folds, 1999) This type of technology will be used in the future of each child and will be beneficial to the early childhood classroom, not only for the future but for their development. There are many concerns about the effects of technology for the little ones and to be honest I at one point I thought the same. In our text, many parents agree that it is insane to believe that a tablet app or an iPhone app can better teach a child to read or teach them math. (Estes, 2012) An when it come to video games, many believe that it isolates and can be one of the causes of another trend, childhood obesity. In my personal opinion, technology has come a long way and there will always be an opposing side. Video games, although may never be used in the classroom, do have some benefits to young children. Some video games can teach kids strategy and with video game consoles such as the new Nintendo Wii, force you to get up and move your body in order to play the game. By getting up and moving your body you are exercising. For different grade levels I think different teaching approaches are more appropriate. For the younger grades such as preschool and kindergarten I think the creative curriculum approach is more appropriate. This is the grade that I wish to teach. Having several interest areas or stations throughout the classroom will stimulate the minds of the students into wanting to learn, through play. This is the set up at my son’s preschool and it does seem to work very well with this age group. His classroom is small but he has a block section, library, home living area, an area for puzzle solving, computer play, and tables where the students can make art and a table to play with clay and play dough and eat lunch and snacks. Children age four or younger lack the capacity to sit still for long periods of time so having many options for them to self learn is always great. Children at this age learn through play and I think that the creative curriculum approach is perfect for this age group. I do believe that preschool aged students will benefit from direct instruction, but a limited amount. Maybe a little lecture time before class to discuss small topics such as counting to ten, or practicing letters but all through song, or to lay out the schedule for the day. Songs tend to catch the attention on the younger kids, plus song is easier for kids to remember, especially those who learn more through music. There are many different beliefs about how to properly teach a young child. These beliefs go way back to before we were even a country. In my opinion, Children need hands-on experiences that are linked to more than one sense to learn. They need to feel, do, see, (Piaget’s sensorimotor stage) etc. They should be taught concepts in more than one way (multiple intelligences), and it should be fun. Children should not be made to participate in direct instruction lessons. They should have a choice on whether or not they want to participate and be rewarded for positive behavior. Learning should be play based and overall fun. Early childhood education starts before the young child enters the classroom, it starts from the time the child is born, and many believe that it starts even in the womb. It is then that a young child begins to learn and see the world. Jean Piaget believes and I agree that cognitive development occurs in stages. The first stage is known as the sensorimotor stage and is a blend between a child’s motor skills and improvements to the understanding of their senses. (Estes, 2012) This stage takes place from birth to about age two. The second stage of Piaget’s cognitive development is the preoperational stage. During this stage, usually 18 months to two years, children begin to use symbolic gestures or movements to link to words. (Estes, 2012) In the classroom, I will encourage my students to use their five senses and motor skills to learn about the world around them. In the early childhood classroom, play takes up a big part of the day. According to many early childhood philosophers and educators, children learn through play. Not only is play beneficial to the classroom but to the child’s overall health. Erick Erikson believed that play helped individuals cope with a traumatic or emotional past. In my classroom, there will be centers and they will all be play based. Different type of playing will take place at each center, by doing this I hope to encourage children to play freely and be themselves but also helping them as individuals. Because each child is different, I think that concepts should be taught in many different ways. According to Howard Gardiner, there are seven different intelligences; linguistic, logical-mathematic, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. One child’s strength will be in logical-mathematical, for example, and another child’s strength in musical. As an early childhood educator I will teach concepts in many different ways to ensure my students are grasping the information provided and having fun with it. Lastly, I think that children need to be rewarded and praised often. I feel like it encourages them to continue to do well. American psychologist, B.F. Skinner, called this operant conditioning. The idea behind this theory is basically that if one changes their behavior they are indeed learning. (Estes, 2012)The theory is simple, if you are doing something good, you will be rewarded. For example, in my classroom I will do this by rewarding with stickers or treats after lunch time. I see myself in the near future substituting at my son’s school district. Although I cannot teach yet I will be able to sub once I finish a couple more core classes. After I do obtain my degree in Early Childhood Education, I plan on becoming a preschool teacher. I have wanted a job working with kids for as long as I can remember and being a mom I feel like being a teacher will work great around my family life, as I am able to be available to my son as much as possible. I currently live in California, where school funding is low and has been low for a while especially for education. Because of this I think that I will need to start off my career working in or for another preschool program for better financial stability. It has been a dream for me to also become a special education teacher, so I am hoping to go back to school once I have been a preschool teacher for a couple of years and start my journey toward that field. I hear that early childhood special education is a wonderful and rewarding field as well. I think at the end of the day, I want to do something that I love and something that I am confident in. Something that I will be happy to wake up to and look forward to every day and working with kids is just that. References Estes, L. K. (2012). Pathways to teaching young children: An introduction to early childhood education. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Folds, D. V. (1999, Feb 22). Technology for Toddlers. PR Newswire , 1.

Nazi Aesthetic (Olympics Berlin 1936) - 1319 Words

Max Kiehne The Body Prof. Gordon Nazi Aesthetics The regime of the Nazi party had an explicitly approved form of art. Unlike the other totalitarian regimes of the era, the approved forms of art were firmly integrated into their iconography and ideology, and excluded any other art movement, including those that were popular at the time. These approved forms of art held a limited number of themes, which were repeated as often as necessary, in order to portray the values the Nazis deemed relevant to their cause. These values were, of course, fundamentally nationalistic, and those themes approved by the government were meant to glorify not only the Aryan race, but specifically the German nation. The Harvest: The painting Out To†¦show more content†¦Hitler has been quoted as saying that the Christian values upheld among the Nazis, were only there to keep the people calm and complacent, while otherwise not being necessary to Nazi rule. Although only officially released recently, it has been somewhat common knowledge for many years that the Nazis, and specifically Hitler, despised the Church. Sigmund Freud used to say that religion was only a painkiller for unhappiness, and a form of escapism from the pain of our daily lives. In his writings he says, much in the vein of Schopenhauer, that art could be used to substitute God, and that facing the pain, instead of avoiding it, was the better way of dealing with it. Schopenhauer even said that while enjoying true art, the soul was freed of its pain, and the id lost consciousness, or rather self-awareness. As has been pointed out, the Nazis used art to convey their ideology, and perhaps it is not too far fetched to assume that the art of the Third Reich was also intended to relieve it’s citizens of their daily agonies, while bringing them closer to one another, at the same time. The Purpose Of It All: An important part of understanding the aesthetics of Nazi paintings is the part that refers to the reality of these paintings. Nazi paintings were never meant to â€Å"mirror† reality as such, but to portray role models for the German citizen. The German citizen was meant to look at these paintings and think: â€Å"This is how I want to be†. Although they wereShow MoreRelatedBoycott Of The American Olympic Committee1383 Words   |  6 Pages1932, the Nazi party became the majority faction in the Reichstag, the German parliament, and in 1933 Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. This new leadership alarmed the IOC and sparked boycott movements around the world, including in the United States. Jewish and African-American communities were alarmed by the German government’s boycott of Jewish businesses. They appealed to the American members of the Olympic committee to boycott the games. The president of the American Olympic CommitteeRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesreflective perspective A critical theory and psychoanalytic perspective A managerialist perspective The paradigm debate The practical utility of organization theory Current trends Globalization Institutional and neoinstitutional theory Discourse The aesthetics of organizing One final look at organizational culture Conclusions 432 432 434 434 434 435 436 437 437 438 438 442 446 446 450 452 453 457 459 Index 466 Supporting resources Visit www.pearsoned.co.uk/mcauley to find valuable online

Sustainable Insulation for Winter Wear

When selecting winter wear, our concerns usually are about how warm a piece of garment is, how expensive it is, and let’s face it, whether it is fashionable. Another factor should be part of our decision-making: how green is the insulation? There are many types of insulation materials, each with a different environmental footprint. There is no single material which can clearly be deemed most environmentally friendly, but here is some information about insulation material sustainability which will hopefully help you make the right decision for you. Sustainable and Ethical Down? Insulation down is made from the small fluffy feathers found underneath a bird’s quilled feathers. Down’s role is one of, no surprise, insulation. Down is particularly sought after as it has a very advantageous warmth to weight ratio and it maintains its loft, trapping warm air close to the body even after years of use. Down is usually obtained from the breast of geese and ducks after they have been slaughtered for food. However, there is evidence of some eastern European and Asian farms harvesting breast down feathers directly from live ducks, which then regrow the feathers. This inhumane method is painful to the bird, and many garment companies are trying to distance themselves from those live-plucking practices. Some large outdoor clothing manufacturers have established sustainable sourcing practices to ensure their down is produced ethically. For example, outdoor clothing giant The North Face is expecting that by the end of 2016 all of the down it uses will be obtained ethically through their in-house Responsible Down Standard certification. Outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia has a similar program called Traceable Down which sources down from farms where the waterfowl are not live-plucked. Patagonia also offers jackets and vests made with recycled down obtained from used comforters and pillows. The feathers are sorted, washed, and dried at high temperature before it is sewn into new products. Goose and duck down is a product with great insulation properties, but the very lightest and warmest down is grown by a sea duck found in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans: the common eider. Eider down is obtained from wild birds, but not the usually way by plucking it directly from the duck. The eiders use their own down to line their nest, and trained harvesters visit nesting colonies where they pick up a portion of the down feathers found in each nest. This sustainable practice has no negative effects on the eiders’ nesting success, but it yields only about 44 grams of down on average per nest, and much less once it’s sorted and cleaned. Eider down is of course very expensive and is used mostly in high-priced comforters and luxury clothes. Wool Wool is a product with excellent insulation qualities, as it remains warm when wet. It has been used for centuries, and while its popularity declined after the development of synthetic products, wool is making a comeback in outdoor apparel and fashion wear. Merino wool in particular is sought after for its softness and wicking properties. A sustainability certification program, named ZQ, exists for wool from New Zealand Merino sheep. By definition wool is a renewable resource, but in reality the sustainability of wool is as good as the farming practices used to raise the sheep. Pastured sheep efficiently convert energy from grass with relatively little greenhouse gas emissions as compared to cattle. In more arid regions, overgrazed rangeland is often an unfortunate sight. Farmers markets can present a good opportunity to get to know sheep farmers and their practices. The markets are also a good place to meet farmers who raise alpaca, a relative of the llama known for its high quality wool. A Synthetic Solution? While synthetic insulation is not quite as warm as down, it has the significant advantage of not holding water and not losing its insulation value when wet. Unfortunately, synthetic insulation is made from oil byproducts in a process releasing significant greenhouse gases. To get around that, the main synthetic insulation makers offer versions of their products made, partly or wholly, of recycled materials. For example, PrimaLoft and Thinsulate offer recycled alternatives, and Patagonia produces fleece fabric spun from PET plastic (#1) recycled from soda bottles. Â   Unfortunately there is increasing evidence that polyester, which makes up most of the fibers used in synthetic insulation, has a water pollution problem. Every time a polyester garment is washed, tiny fibers get detached and washed down the drain. The fibers will not decompose the way cotton or wool would. Instead, polyester fibers are being found in bodies of water all over the world. There, the fibers contribute to the global microplastics pollution problem: persistent organic pollutants stick to the fibers’ surface, and aquatic microorganisms then suffer from ingesting them. Milkweed Yes, milkweed! Asclepias has long been known for its insulation properties, and has been used as a hypoallergenic pillow fill. Figuring out how to use it for clothing insulation has proven elusive until recently when a Canadian company developed a lightweight, effective-when-wet, very warm woven fabric made from milkweed. For now, it comes in limited applications and at a steep price, but as a bonus the commercially grown plant is only harvested after it has served as food for the monarch butterfly larvae. Make It Last! The most environmentally sustainable insulated garment is the one you don’t buy, so make the clothes you own last a long time. Knowing how to make basic repairs, like replacing a zipper or mending a tear, can stretch the functional life of a jacket for several more years. Purchasing quality clothing well-constructed by a reputable manufacturer in the first place pays off in the end, as it will likely last much longer than discount brands or cheap knock-off products.

Informative Speech On Content Implementation Plan Essay

Content Implementation Plan I am appreciative for the valuable information I obtained from this course. I intend to incorporate the researched practices into my reading program. Allington addressed several critical components of instruction necessary to ensure reading interventions are delivered with the best intentions and students are responding successfully to the reading interventions. However, my â€Å"aha-moments† included the topics: the volume of reading, matching students’ independent and instructional reading levels to appropriate texts, expert interventionist, matching intervention to the classroom curriculum, and group size. Volume of Reading I agree with Allington, the volume of reading is a critical component which supports the quantity of extensive reading, required to ensure struggling readers accuracy and fluency rates accelerate to develop proficient readers. Often the reading interventions focus on specific reading skills such as phonics, word recognition, fluency (speed), and etc. The research suggests the intervention time be dedicated to continuous reading versus using the majority of the time working on individual skills. Allington provided me the critical awareness and the importance of the quantity of extensive reading. I definitely will redesign my intervention time to reflect the suggested amount of time to focus on individual reading skills and extensive reading, as Allington suggested. Therefore, I look forward to incorporating extensiveShow MoreRelatedPurpose And Plan For Meeting The Spiritual Need Of A Congregation Essay756 Words   |  4 PagesThesis: The effectiveness of communication will begin with a purpose and plan in meeting the spiritual need of a congregation. The project will serve as a purpose to enhance the congregation’s growth in a deeper knowledge of God. This project will serve as purpose to connect with sound and creative ways of communicating through an informative description of healthy communication. Synopsis The purpose of life is found in our relationship with God and others during this lifetime. Communication doneRead MoreAutomatic Summarization Of News Articles Using Textrank1628 Words   |  7 Pageson the implementation of Natural Language Processing techniques and algorithms to summarize news articles from public sources such that they can be consumed in a short amount of time, keeping the user updated of global as well as local events. We first provide an Introduction by stating problems faced, and an overview of NLP and Automatic Summarization. We then survey different types of Summarization, and detail a solution using the TextRank algorithm, along with our proposed implementation. 1. INTRODUCTION:Read MoreThe World Of Urban Planning1208 Words   |  5 Pagesa common action of measuring the opportunity cost. When all the factors influencing the plan are considered, the lengthy timetables, even for smaller projects such as a connecting freeway, begin to be accepted or otherwise understood. That is to say, in a democratic society with a complex structure of laws and policies there will be a countless amount of stakeholders, making it impossible to find an urban plan that was finished without facing sacrifices and multiple arising issues. These simple truthsRead MoreThe Investigation, Examining The Situation Of The Vietnam1772 Words   |  8 Pagesand Nixon’s attempts at addressing those opinions while limiting the influence of Communism in Vietnam, will answer the question: To what extent could Nixon have appeased the Peace movement while avoiding the fall of South Vietnam through the implementation of Vietnamization? The sources that will be evaluated a re a history of the Vietnam War, which presents a comprehensive analysis on U.S intervention in the war, and an examination of international relations, which largely focuses on the 20th centuryRead MoreLanguage of Advertising and Communication Via Advertising16651 Words   |  67 PagesLanguage of Advertising and Communication via Advertising Contents Introduction 3 Chapter 1. Concept of advertising as an act of communication 7 1.1. Definition of Advertising 7 1.2. Communication and Advertising 8 1.3. Functions of Advertising 12 1.4. Image Advertising 14 1.5. Advertising Text and Slogan 15 1.6. Conclusion 16 Chapter 2. Language of advertising 18 2Read MoreLanguage of Advertising and Communication Via Advertising16638 Words   |  67 PagesLanguage of Advertising and Communication via Advertising Contents Introduction 3 Chapter 1. Concept of advertising as an act of communication 7 1.1. Definition of Advertising 7 1.2. Communication and Advertising 8 1.3. Functions of Advertising 12 1.4. Image Advertising 14 1.5. Advertising Text and Slogan 15 1.6. Conclusion 16 Chapter 2. Language of advertising 18 2.1. General CharacteristicsRead MoreImproving Math and Science Scores in Middle School7173 Words   |  29 PagesProgram Evaluation Improving Math and Science scores in Middle School TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Needs Assessment 3 Program Theory 10 Logic Model 20 Conceptualization Operationalization of Program Outcomes 24 Assessment of Program Impact 25 References 28 NEEDS ASSESSMENT Math and Science are two subjects which most students at any level approach with trepidation and intense dislike, however,Read MoreProject Initiation Document5465 Words   |  22 PagesMETHODIKA and shown in blue. | |PRINCE2 needs to be tailored before use. You can use these templates as a starting point and tailor them to meet your needs. You may| |need help. Call us at METHODIKA; tell us your plans and get a no-obligation quote for: | |Tailoring PRINCE2 to meet your needs | |Getting the method into useRead MoreMultiple Intelligences Seminar and Workshop14464 Words   |  58 PagesTeaching and Learning through Multiple Intelligences Seminar/Workshop Content Outline: PART I – Explanation 1. What is the theory of multiple intelligences (M.I.)? 2. How does this theory differ from the traditional definition of intelligence? 3. What do multiple intelligences have to do with my classroom? 4. How has M.I. theory developed since it was introduced in 1983? 5. Who are the critics of this theory and what do they say? 6. What are some benefits of using theRead MoreEnglish Theoretical Grammar. Exam Answers12872 Words   |  52 Pagesformation of utterances out of words in the process of speech making.† (БÐ »Ã ¾Ã'…) 2. Essential notions of morphology: morph, allomorph, morpheme, word-form. Traditionally, the course of Grammar is divided into two parts: Morphology and Syntax. Syntax includes the sentence the parts of the sentence; it makes the study of ways of connection words word combinations in the sentences. Morphology deals with forms of words. It includes: parts of speech their morphological categories. Morphological categories

Renaissance Notes Essay Example For Students

Renaissance Notes Essay With the large city-states and sizeable towns, northern Italy was urban versus the rest of Europe being mostly rural. The cities were an ideal place for an intellectual revolution as they are places where ideas are often exchanged. When the bubonic plague struck in the asses, 60% of the populations of these cities were killed, and this mean that the fewer laborers could demand higher wages, and with fewer opportunities to expand business, merchants began to pursue interests such as art. It. Merchants and the Medici A wealthy merchant class developed in each Italian city-state. Small city-states like Milan and Florence had a high percentage of citizens that could be intensely involved in political life. Merchants dominated politics Merchants didnt inherit social rank like nobles. Many successful merchants believed they deserved power and wealth because of their individual merit. Since the late asses, Florence had a republican form of government. During the Renaissance, Florence came under the rule of the Medici, whose family bank had branch offices throughout Italy and in the major cities of Europe. Cosmic De Medici was the wealthiest European of his time, and in 1434, he won control of Florescences government and was dictator for 30 years. He influenced members of the ruling council by giving them loans. Cosmic De Medici died in 1464, UT his family continued to control Florence. His grandson, Lorenz De Medici (aka Lorenz the Magnificent), came to power in 1469 and ruled as a dictator keeping the appearance of an elected government. Iii. Looking to Greece and Rome Renaissance scholars wanted to return to the culture of the Greeks and Romans. The artists and scholars of Italy were inspired by Roman around them. Western scholars studied ancient Latin manuscripts preserved in monasteries. Christian scholars in Constantinople fled to Rome with Greek manuscripts when the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453. B. Classical and Worldly Values Humanism was an intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements that was sparked by the study of classical texts. Instead of approaching the texts with the goal of equating them to Christian teachings, humanists studied them to understand ancient Greek values. Humanists influenced artists and architects to use classical traditions and promoted the study of subjects typical of classical education (aka humanities: history, literature, philosophy, etc. ) A. 1 . A. Iii. Worldly Pleasures In the Middle Ages, piety had been demonstrated by wearing rough clothing and eating plain foods. Humanists suggested that a person could enjoy life without offending God. The basic spirit of Renaissance society was focused on here and now (worldly) versus spiritual, this was called secular society. Even church leaders became worldlier: living in beautiful mansions, throwing lavish banquets, and wearing expensive clothes. A. L . A. Iv. Patrons of the Arts Church leaders, merchants, and wealthy families during the Renaissance became patrons of the arts by financially supporting artists. By having their portraits painted or by donating art to the city (to be shown of biblically), the wealthy displayed their win importance. A. L . A. V. The Renaissance Man During the Renaissance, as propagated by writers, the ideal individual strove to master almost every area of study. A man who excelled in many fields was praised as a universal man (aka Renaissance men, known as such in later ages) Balderdash Castigation wrote a book called The Courtier (1528) that taught a young man should be charming, witty, well educated in the classics, dance, sing, play music, write poetry, be a skilled rider, wrestler, and swordsman. A. L . A. Vi. The Renaissance Woman According to The Courtier, upper-class women also should know the classics and be harming, but instead they were expected to inspire art but rarely to create it. Upper- class Renaissance women were better educated than medieval women, but most had little influence in politics, and few, such as Isabella detest, did exercise power. Born into the ruling family of the city-state of Ferreira, Isabella married the ruler of another city-state, Mantra. She brought many Renaissance artists to her court and built a famous art collection and was also skilled in politics so that when her husband was taken captive in war, she defended Mantra and won his release. C. The Renaissance Revolutionizes Art Renaissance artists often portrayed religious figures and Greek and Roman subjects, used a realistic style mimicking classical models, and used perspective (showing three dimensions on a flat surface). I. Realistic Painting and Sculpture With the movement of Individualism, painters began to pain prominent citizens. Realistic portraits showed the distinction between people and artists such as Michelangelo Bonaparte (sculptor, painter, architect, poet) used a realistic style when depicting the human body. Donated also made sculpture more realistic by carving natural postures and expressions to convey personality. He revived a classical/ biblical form in his statue of David (David and Goliath story) in the asses, the first European sculpture off large, free-standing nude since ancient times. It. Leonardo, Renaissance Man Leonardo dad Vinci was a true Renaissance man, (considered a genius who was a He filled his notebooks with observations and sketches and he incorporated his studies in his art. The Mona Lisa is so realistic that many writers have tried to explain the thoughts behind her smile. The Last Supper shows the personalities of Jesus disciples through their facial expressions and drastically different postures. Iii. Raphael Advances Realism Raphael Sansei was a young man who learned from studying the works of the older Michelangelo and dad Vinci. One of Repeals favorite subjects was the Madonna and child, and he often portrayed their expressions as gentle and calm. He was famous for his use of perspective, and his greatest achievement was filling the walls of Pope Julius Siss library with paintings (School of Athens conveys classical influence on Renaissance). Raphael painted famous Renaissance figures, such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, and himself, as classical philosophers and their students. Lb. Anguishing and Gentiles A few Italian women became notable painters, like Isobars Anguishing, the first woman artist to gain an international reputation. Shes known for her portraits of her sisters and people such as King Philip II of Spain. Artemisia Gentiles was trained with her painter father and helped with his work. In her own paintings, she painted heroic women. D. Renaissance Writers Change Literature Some Renaissance writers followed the example of medieval writer Dante, who wrote in the vernacular (his native language of Italian) instead of Latin. Renaissance writers wrote for self-expression or to portray individuality of their subjects. A. L . A. Vii. Patriarch and Vacation Francesco Patriarch (aka father of Renaissance humanism) was one of the earliest and most influential humanists and a great poet who wrote in both Italian and Latin He wrote 14 line poems, sonnets, in Italian about a mysterious woman named Laura (his ideal), who died in the plague in 1348. In classical Latin, he wrote letters to many important friends. Giovanni Vacation is best known for the Dodecahedron, a series of realistic, sometimes racy stories supposedly told by a group of worldly young people waiting in a rural villa to avoid the plague sweeping through Florence, and presents OTOH tragic and comic views of life by using cutting humor to illustrate the human condition (characters are individualized) A. L . A. Viii. Machiavelli Advises Rulers Quick notes: Machiavelli writes The Prince as a guidebook of sorts for rulers and it does not concern how to rule as a morally correct person, but rather how to rule efficiently and effectively. A. L . A. Ix. Vitro Colony The women writers who gained fame during the Renaissance usually wrote about personal subjects, not politics. Vitro Colony (1492-1547) was born into a noble family, and in 1509 she married the Marquis of Peccary, who spent most of his life way from home on military campaigns. Colony exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo and helped Castigation publish The Courtier. Her own poems express personal emotions. A. 2. The Northern Renaissance a. The Northern Renaissance Begins By 1450 northern Rupees population began to rise again after the plague. When the Hundred Years War ended in 1453, many cities quickly grew, causing urban in Italy). The sponsorship began in Flanders, rich from long-distance trade and the cloth industry, and patronage of artists increased directly proportionally to the wealth in other parts of Northern Europe. England and France were ruled wholly under monarchs (different from Italian city states) who often sponsored the arts by purchasing paintings and supporting artists and writers. Francis I of France invited Leonardo dad Vinci to retire in France, and his castle at Fontainebleau became a showcase for Renaissance art after hiring Italian artists and architects to rebuild and decorate it. The northern Renaissance took on its own character as it blended northern culture with the Italian Renaissance style. Artists were concerned with realism and human dignity inspired some northern humanists to develop plans for social reform based on Jude-Christian values. B. Artistic Ideas Spread In 1494, war ensued as a French king claimed the throne of Naples causing many Italian artists and writers to leave for safety in Northern Europe, bringing with them the styles of the Italian Renaissance Northern European artists who had studied in Italy also carried ideas back to their homelands I. German Painters Albrecht Dere traveled to Italy to study in 1494 and returned to Germany producing woodcuts and engravings, many of which portray religious subjects, and others classical myths / realistic landscapes Udders work helped to spread Renaissance tales and his emphasis on realism influenced Hans Holstein the Younger. Holstein painted pictures that almost looked like photographs in their details. He moved to England where he painted portraits of King Henry VIII and other members of the royal family. It. Renaissance Food EssayHenry VIII Wants a Son Henry VIII, a devout Catholic, became king of England in 1509, and in 1521, Henry wrote an attack on Lathers ideas. The pope gave Henry the title Defender of the Faith. Henry needed a male heir for fear of civil war breaking out if he died without an heir, but he and his wife, Catherine of Argon, had only a daughter, Mary and no woman had ever successfully claimed the English throne, so by 1 527, Henry was convinced that the 42-year-old Catherine wouldnt bear him anymore kids, and thus he wanted to divorce her and take a younger queen. Church law forbid divorce, but he pope could annul Henrys marriage if there was proof it was never legal, but the pope, for fear of angering Caterings nephew, Charles V, refused to annul Henrys marriage it. The Reformation Parliament In 1529, Henry called Parliament into session and sought to pass a set of laws that ended the popes power in England. In 1533, Henry secretly married the twenty- something Anne Bobble and soon after Parliament legalized Henrys divorce from Catherine. In 1534, Henrys break with the pope was completed when Parliament voted to approve the Act of Supremacy that involved people taking an oath acknowledging the divorce and accepting Henry as the official head of Englands Church. Thomas More remained a devout Catholic despite his criticisms of the Church and refused to take the oath and thus Henry had him arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London only to be executed in 1 535 for high treason. Iii. Anne Bobble gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth who was eventually charged with treason, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and beheaded in 1536. Immediately, Henry took another wife, Jane Seymour and she gave him a son, Edward, in 1537 Henry married three more times after Canes death 2 weeks after Edwards birth, but e had no further children from these marriages. After Henrys death in 1547, each of his three children ruled England in succession and created religious turmoil. Edward, became king when he was nine years old and was guided by adult advisers who were devout Protestants that introduced Protestant reforms to the English Church. Mary took the throne in 1553 and was a Catholic who returned the English Church to the rule of the pope, but her was greatly opposed and had many protestants killed. When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth inherited the throne. v. Elizabeth Restores Protestantism In 1 559, Parliament set up the Church of England, or Anglican Church, with Elizabeth as its head and this was designated to be the only legal church in England. Elizabeth decided to establish a state church Catholics and Protestants could both accept so to please Protestants, priests in the Church of England were allowed to marry, they could deliver sermons in English, not Latin and to please Catholics, the Church of England kept some of the accessories of the Catholic service and in addition, church services were changed to be somewhat more tolerable to Catholics. V. Elizabeth Faces Other Challenges Elizabeth managed to bring a level of religious peace to England, but religion still persisted to be a problem. Some Protestants pushed for Elizabeth to make more church reforms and simultaneously Catholics tried to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with her cousin, the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and also faced threats from the Catholic Spanish king Philip II In the late asses, the English began to think about building an American empire as a new source of income, but while colonies strengthened England economically, they did not directly reimburse the queen A. 4. The Reformation Continues A. L . A. Calvin Continues the Reformation I. Calvin Formalizes Protestant Ideas In 1536, John Calvin published Institutes of the Christian Religion, which was a summary of Protestant theology in which Calvin wrote that men and women are sinful by nature. Taking Lathers idea that humans cannot earn salvation, Calvin continues that God chooses very few people to save called the elect and he believed that God has known since the beginning of time who will be saved, called predestination, and the religion based on Callings teachings is called Calvinist. It. Calvin Leads the Reformation in Switzerland Calvin believed that the ideal government was a theocracy, a government controlled y religious leaders. In 1541, Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland, asked Calvin to lead their city and when Calvin arrived there in the asses, Geneva was a self-governing city of about 20,000 people and Calvin and his followers ran the city according to strict rules. Everyone attended religion class, nobody wore bright clothing or played card games, authorities would imprison, excommunicate, or banish those who broke such rules. Though anyone who opposed this could be burned at the stake, Callings When a Scottish preacher, John Knox, returned to Scotland in 1559 after admiring Geneva, he put Callings ideas to work. Each community church was governed by a group of laymen called elders or presbyters, and followers of Knox became known as Presbyterian and in the 1 sass, Protestant nobles led by Knox made Calvinist Scotland official religion. They also overthrew Mary Queen of Scots for her infant son, James, meanwhile Swiss, Dutch, and French reformers adopted the Calvinist form of church organization. Calvin is considered so influential because many Protestant churches today trace their roots to Calvin but over the years, many softened Callings strict rules/teachings. In France, Callings followers were called Hugeness, and hatred between Catholics and Hugeness turned violent and the most violent clash occurred in Paris on August 24, 1572 at dawn on the Catholic feast of SST. Bartholomew Day when Catholic mobs began murdering Protestants. The massacres spread to other cities and lasted six months and it is believed as many as 12,000 Hugeness were killed. A. 4. A. Other Protestant Reformers A. 4. A. I. The Anabaptists Anabaptists said people who were baptized as kids should be arbitrated when theyre old enough to decide to be Christian The Anabaptists taught that church and Tate should be separate, they refused to fight in wars, and they shared their possessions. Both Catholics and Protestants persecuted them, but the Anabaptists survived and became the precursors of the Mennonites and the Amiss. Their teaching influenced the later Quakers and Baptists, groups who split from the Anglican Church. A. 4. A. Ii. Womens Role in the Reformation The sister of King Francis l, Marguerite of Invader, protected John Calvin from being executed for his beliefs while he lived in France. Katherine Sell, married to Matthew Sell of Strasbourg, once told off a minister for speaking harshly of another reformer ND the minister responded by saying that she had disturbed the peace, but she answered back and held her own. Katherine von Boar was Lathers wife and was sent to a convent at about age ten to become a nun, but inspired by Lathers teaching, she fled the convent After marrying Luther, Katherine had six children, she also managed the family finances, fed all who visited their house, and supported her husbands work. Though Katherine argued with Luther about womans equal role in marriage, womens activities were limited to the home: Luther said, Gods highest gift on earth s a pious, cheerful, God-fearing, home-keeping wife. A. 4. B. The Catholic Reformation Helping Catholics to remain loyal was a movement within the Catholic Church to reform itself known as the Catholic Reformation. A. 4. B. I. Igniting of Loyola Igniting grew up in his fathers castle in Loyola, Spain and in 1521 he was injured in a war. In 1522, Igniting began writing a book called Spiritual Exercises that laid out a day-by-day plan of meditation, prayer, and study and he compared spiritual and physical exercise. For the next 18 years, he gathered followers and in 1540, the pope reared a religious order for his followers called the Society of Jesus whoso members were called Jesuits The Jesuits focused on founding schools throughout Europe with well-trained teachers in both classical studies and theology, to convert non- Christians to Catholicism by sending out missionaries around the world, and to stop the spread of Protestantism A. 4. B. Ii. Reforming Popes indulgence selling and other abuses in the Church, approved the Jesuit order, used the Inquisition to seek out unorthodoxy in papal territory, called a council of Church leaders to meet in Trend, in northern Italy. From 1545 to 1563, at the Council of Trend, Catholic bishops and cardinals agreed on several doctrines: The Churchs interpretation of the Bible was final. Christians needed faith and good works for salvation. The Bible and Church tradition were equally powerful authorities for guiding Christian life. Indulgences were valid expressions of faith. But the false selling of indulgences was banned. The next pope, Paul V, carried out the councils decrees and in 1559, he had officials draw up a list of books considered dangerous to the Catholic faith. This list was known as the Index of Forbidden Books and Catholic shops throughout Europe gathered up the offensive books and burnt them. A. 4. C. The Legacy of the Reformation A. 4. C. I. Religious and Social Effects of the Reformation Both Catholics and Protestants gave more emphasis to the role of education in promoting their beliefs, which led to the founding of parish schools and new colleges and universities throughout Europe. Women were still mainly limited to the concerns of home and family. A. 4. C. Ii. Political Effects of the Reformation Individual monarchs and states gained power, which led to the development of modern nation-states.

Kevin Durant and LeBron James Research Paper Example

Kevin Durant and LeBron James Paper For years now, there has been a dispute about two special basketball players. These players happen to be the top in the game that go by the name of LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Some people think that Durant is the best in the game and others feel the same about LeBron. There akre a lot of arguments about the individual’s rivalry and for good reason. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are without question the two premier basketball players in the world, and they’re each reaching new heights in recent days. It’s easy to look at the two superstars and compare them, but the comparison is often approached in the wrong manner. We often try to determine which player is â€Å"better,† but we overlook plenty of other factors in the process. The first aspect is essential to any comparison, just when it’s in proper context. And that context includes a bit of historical back-story, a dash of off-court comparison and a pinch of looking ahead into the future. Durant and LeBron are different people. And it’s time we understand the full extent of their differences, at lease the ones relevant to their careers in the NBA. Already one of the all-time greats, James is unrivaled. He is beyond comparison of any active player. Nobody has touched him and nobody will touch him. LeBron has league MVP’s, two NBA championships, Finals MVP, and countless statistical accolades have left him standing alone. Once again, there’s no question James marks are better, but only increases when you factor in James forecasted total for this season they don’t put Durant to shame. In most categories, he’s right there, having posted comparable number. Where James actually begins to separate himself even further i s win shares. He collected 103.3 win shares through his first seven season while Durant is only tracking toward 90.3. The gap in average win-share accumulation only increases when you factor in LeBron’s forecasted total for this season (16.4), too. Durant We will write a custom essay sample on Kevin Durant and LeBron James specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Kevin Durant and LeBron James specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Kevin Durant and LeBron James specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer