Criminal Recidivism Essay

Prisons today are overcrowded and are a growing problem in today’s society. â€Å"In 2008, the Pew Center on the States reported that incarceration levels had risen to a point where one in 100 American adults was behind bars. A second Pew study, the following year, added another disturbing dimension to the picture, revealing that one in 31 adults in the United States was either incarcerated or on probation or parole† (Pew Center on the States, 2011). It is very costly for the states to maintain the prisoners behind bars. It has been estimated that the cost of state spending on corrections is 52 billion dollars. Recidivism is a term used by law enforcement agencies that describes the tendency to relapse into criminal behavior. It involves a person being re-incarcerated or re-offending. â€Å"Inmates returning to state prisons within three years of release has remained steady for more than a decade; this is a strong indicator that prison systems are failing to deter criminals from re-offending. Using data from 41 states for prisoners released, â€Å"a study done by the Pew Center on the States found that slightly more than 4 in 10 offenders return to prison within three years† (Johnson, 2011). What has caused this rise in recidivism can be due to more studies being done, tracking recidivism more closely, and failure of prison systems/probation programs to rehabilitate inmates. â€Å"Prisons serve multiple purposes, including exacting retribution for breaking the law, separating offenders from society so they cannot commit more crimes, deterring the general population from committing crimes and discouraging incarcerated offenders from committing new crimes once they are released† (Pew Center on the States, 2011). One priority of prisons is to deter criminal activity through incarceration and rehabilitation of its criminals. One way to track rehabilitation of the criminals is by tracking the recidivism rates. This study includes data of prisoners released in 1999 and prisoners released in 2004. Thirty-one states offered data for 1999 and 41 states offered data for 2004. â€Å"The Pew/ASCA survey found the three-year return-to-prison rate for inmates released in 1999 to be 45. 4 percent, and 43. percent for those released in 2004† (2011). This study began its study by sending out surveys to all 50 states. â€Å"A self-selected survey or voluntary response survey is one in which people decide for themselves whether to be included in the survey† (Bennett, Briggs, & Triola, 2009, p. 37). Each prison facility decided whether they would be included in the study and they submitted information to the Pew Center of the States. Qualitative data was used to put values on the measurements. The process of binning was used to categorize the prisoners into three groups, which consisted of first release, all releases, return for new convictions, and return for violation of probation. â€Å"The relative frequency of any category is the proportion or percentage of the data values that fall in that category† (Bennett, et. al. , 2009, p. 94). They set up relative frequency tables to determine how many times the prisoners fell under the categories or bins. They used mean, median, and mode to get averages of prisoners released and re-offending. There were some outliers in the studies. Outliers are defined as â€Å"a value that is much higher or much lower than almost all other values† (Bennett, et. al. , 2009, p. 149). â€Å"State departments of correction reported on people who returned to one of their facilities, which would not count a former offender who was incarcerated in another state or depending on proximity to high-crime areas in neighboring states or major interstate drug corridors† (Johnson, 2011). The Pew Center of the States analyzed the data and concluded that by 2002, more than 45% in the first wave of releases returned to prison and in 2007, about 43% of the second group returned† (Johnson, 2011). They came up with these percentiles by looking at the total number of inmates released from each prison for each state and how many were re-incarcerated for new crimes or violation of probation. â€Å"One can approximate the percentile of any data value with the following formula: percentile of data value =number of values less than this data value/total number of values in data set† (Bennet, t. al. , 2009, p. 170). â€Å"At least 95 percent of inmates in America ultimately will be released and returned to the community. Keeping them crime and drug-free is no easy assignment. Many offenders lacked education, work experience, family support and a stable living situation before they were incarcerated, and many suffer from mental illness or a history of addiction† (The Pews Center of the states, 2011). Many also have the stigma that comes with having a criminal record and are unable to find work, so they resort back to robbery or stealing. Many times the released prisoners go back to hanging out with their old friends and then it is not long before they fall back into their old habits. In addition, the probation/parole divisions that are supposed to supervise the former inmates are overworked, have large caseloads, and limited technology to keep up with the former inmates.

Japanese Music Essay

The Japanese culture was widely affected and highly related to its nearby nations like China and Korea. As such, it is a logical for us to look at the Japanese music as a collaboration of the different music from the other Asian nations. The flourishing of the Japanese music can be seen as they have adapted their personal styles to the influences that surround them. Their music has its origin in poetry and songs, although there have been misleading artifacts about the distinction of the two. The confusion started with the acknowledgement that indeed, the Japanese word â€Å"uta† can both be understood as to mean poetry or songs. The evidence and remains of the ancients’ music of Japan can be reflected on the songs in Kojiki that was recorded as traditional songs in the imperial court. The ancient Japanese music was also preserve in legends, rituals and prose specifically in an ancient story of Genji Monogatari. This story was composed of poetic dialogues about a lover in the imperial court. The presentation of this in a play was interpreted through Gagaku dances, accompanied mostly by flutes and the famous string instrument, â€Å"koto†. The Gagaku dances and music have been very famous in courts. Its music is composed of wind and string instruments that go together with drums and gongs. It also go along with sho,(a harmonica like instrument) and â€Å"nasal hichiriki† which is the reason why it posses a different sound. The Gagaku is further divided in to two categories, the To-gaku and the Rimpa-gaku. These two differs from the culture in which it belongs. In such manner those that came mainly under the influence of China was called To-gaku while those that came from Vietnam were rendered as Rimpa-gaku. Due to the advent of imported music that was a by-product of the trade industry. It is but inevitable for the native people to become awe with the new kind of music that they have been listening and so, they tend to imitate their ways of thinking. Japanese Music in the Face of Modern Influences The reproduction of this music produces an inclination to the instrumental music. However even though there had been an emerging culture of Americanization, still there are many Japanese mode of music that remained the same. Kagura, for instance, or what was commonly known to be â€Å"Mi-Kagura† which was preserved by some of the people in the imperial court. Fuzoku in relation to the folk songs that was numerous in the provinces. Also with Azuma-Asobi, this is also a type of folk song that was predominant on the eastern part of the country. Saibara was also believed to be composed of traces of folk songs as well. Since all of these music where sung in courts, it is incorporated with Gagaku music. A Brief Introduction on Jo-Ha-Kyu tradition According to the Japanese culture, the â€Å"Jo-Ha-kyo† music can be traced to have influences of the Gagaku traditions. The term was generally referred to the way the music and the dances were done in the play, â€Å"Jo† was associated with being slow and more peaceful, it is the primary or the introductory part. â€Å"Ha† was the start of the conflict , it is not slow but more of a moderate version, it is associated with the journey. While lastly, â€Å"Kyu† was regarded as the final or the ultimate. Thus, the form â€Å"Jo-Ha-Kyu is actually a way of presenting ideas and capturing the minds of the readers. Buddhist Chants and Other Influences Another trend of music came to Japan on the time of Nara and Heian periods. This was comprised of Buddhist Chants, which is performed by narrating a certain sutra with the addition of rhythmical melodies. Accordingly, there are three known styles that were used in accordance to the language used by the countries who have participated or who are the founding authors of the Chants. The style which uses the â€Å"Sankrit† language was called â€Å"Bonsan†. Chinese speakers were called â€Å"Kansan† while plain Japanese were called â€Å"Wasan†. During the late Heian period, there had been another popular music trend which is now called as â€Å"Imayo† There is also the development of Heike Biwa or Heikyuko which is according to some, is the narrative music played by the blind priest-thus they were now called as Blind Prince. Another form of dance and music was the Noh, which is a classical Japanese drama that was either a Dengaku Noh or Sarugaku Noh. Dengaku Noh are those which portrays rituals and traditions that is done in the rice-fields. Sarugaku, on the other hand was more focus on acrobatic performances.

Abusive Relationships Essay

Abusive Relationships can cause physical and emotional violence, fear, and even guilt. Many abusive relationships often go unheard because of the threat from the abuser. Abusive relationships impact millions of relationships each day and teenage girls are at the highest risk. The impact on these relationships can cause life changing consequences. Abusive relationships can cause many physical altercations that can be life threatening. In the journal, â€Å"Reporting Domestic Violence,† a journalist states the warning signs of physically abusive relationships: â€Å"According to the national Domestic Violence Hotline, you may be in a physically abusive relationship if your partner has ever: damaged property when angry (e.g. thrown objects, punched walls, kicked doors, etc.), pushed, slapped, bitten, kicked or choked you, abandoned you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place, scared you by driving recklessly, used a weapon to threaten or hurt you, forced you to leave your home, trapped you in your home or kept you from leaving, prevented you from calling police or seeking medical attention, hurt your children, or used physical force in sexual situations.† (â€Å"Reporting Domestic Violence†) This quote illustrates the warnings of a potential abusive relationship. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because some of the signs can be physically life threatening. In the movie â€Å"Enough,† â€Å"there is a part when Jennifer Lopez (Slim) and her daughter try to escape from the abusive marriage and he finds the husbands catches up to them and hits, slaps, kicks, and punches Slim almost to death.† (Apted) This quote illustrates the hardship and struggle of abusive relationships. This quote is connected to the hypothesis the wife in the movie almost got killed by her abusive husband. Abusive Relationships did not only cause by physical abuse but also mental abuse. Emotional pain was another heavy toll caused by abusive relationships. In the article, â€Å"The Dark Side of Dating,† the author states how the abuser feels about being in an abusive relationship: â€Å"When there are good times, you might think that once the bad stuff is â€Å"fixed† the relationship will go back to how it was before it went bad,† says Corcoran. But being with someone who swings between being cruel and being kind can  have consequences, including making you feel depressed or really bad about yourself. â€Å"Max had put me down so much that I had no self esteem,† says Brittny.† (Larsen) This quote illustrates how an abuser can make you feel bad about yourself. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because the victim in the article faced self esteem issues because of the emotional pain in a relationship. In the journal, â€Å"Reporting Domestic Violence,† a journalist states the emotional warning signs of an abusive rela tionship: â€Å"Calls you names, insults you or continually criticizes you; does not trust you and acts jealous or possessive; tries to isolate you from friends and family; monitors where you go, who you call and who you spend time with, does not want you to work, controls finances or refuses to share money; punishes you by withholding affection; experts you to ask permission, threatens to hurt you, the children, your family, or your pets; humiliates you in any way.† (â€Å"Reporting Domestic Violence†) This quote illustrates the emotional/mental signs of a bad relationship. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because it shows an emotional burden on a relationship. Sometimes relationships can even cause a heavy fear from the victim. Abusive relationships for the victim can cause them to be terrified of the abuser. In the article, â€Å"A woman tells of escape from abusive spouse,† the author states the fright of one victim’s abusive relationship: â€Å"I turned into a quivering, shivering little mouse that was afraid of being in his presence,† said Elaine, whose last name is withholding for her protection. â€Å"I second guessed every move, second guessed every action.† For Elaine, the abuse was more emotional than physical, nut she felt unable to leave her husband, even when an escape route was offered.† (Rodriguez) This quote illustrates the fear of how a woman was afraid of her husband and how she could not leave him even though she was terrified of him. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because the mother was afraid of what might happen if she stayed. In the article, â€Å"A woman tells of escape from abusive spouse,† the author states the fear of a wife who w as afraid to even go out in the waiting room after a doctor visit: â€Å"I was shaking,† Elaine said. â€Å"They (attendants) noticed something was wrong. I said, â€Å"Please, don’t make me go back out in that waiting room. Can you just keep me here and let me see the doctor now? And they did.† Medical personnel gave her a card with  contact information for Mainstay, the Hendersonville nonprofit that supports victims of domestic abuse. They told her Mainstay would find her a place to stay that night.† (Rodriguez) This quote illustrates the extreme fear of a wife seeing her husband. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because it states the mother fear of the abuser. Abusive Relationships not only caused fear but even guilt from the victim. Abusive Relationships can cause victims of the abusers to feel guilt. In the journal, â€Å"I didn’t want to put them through that: the influence of children on victim decision-making in intimate partner violence cases,† the author states how a victim feels about putting her kids through this situation, â€Å"The guilt I feel everyday and try to figure out, â€Å"What was wrong with me, why did I put my children through that, why did I make them hear things they heard?† I can relate to having that degrading feeling, â€Å"How could you allow yourself to get in that situation and how could you, how could you†¦ put your kids through this?† (Rhodes 5) This quote illustrates how a mother felt guilty about putting her kids through the abusive relationship. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because the victim of the relationship felt guilty. In the article, â€Å"A woman tells of escape from abusive spouse,† the author states how guilt is fe lt by the victim: â€Å"I put my son on the line for that man, and I’ll never forget it,† Elaine said. â€Å"I will feel guilty until the day I die for that. But I can’t change it and the guilt is so extreme—-there is no other guilt greater than that. I have to deliberately put it outside my head because it will kill me. I couldn’t handle that.† (Rodriguez) This quote illustrates the remorse of one mother’s decision in staying in the abusive relationship with her child even when she had an outlet to get help. This quote is connected to the hypothesis because it shows how the abuser feels shameful for staying in an abusive relationship with a child. The guilt from abusive relationships was one of many aspects of bad relationships. Abusive relationships is a horrible thing going on today in our world. Abusive relationships have caused emotional problems such as depression and physical problems including death. Over 1.5 million teens were abused last year. The main aspects of abusive relationships are physical and emotional  violence, fear, and guilt. Works Cited Page Enough.Apted,Michael.Dir. Perf. Jennifer Lopez,Billy Campbell.Columbia Pictures, 2002. DVD. Larsen, Foy, Elizabeth. â€Å"The Dark Side of Dating.† Scholastic Choices. 01 Feb 2014: 14 eLibrary. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. â€Å"Reporting Domestic Violence.† Journal of the American Chiropractic Association (2012). Academic Onefile. Web. 13 Mar. 2014 Rhodes, Karin V., et al. â€Å"I didn’t want to put them through that: the influence of children on victim decision-making in intimate partner violence cases.† Journal of Family Violence 25.5 (2010) 485+. Academic Onefile. Web. Mar. 2014 Rodriguez, Sandra V. â€Å"A woman tells of escape from abusive spouse.†Asheville Citizen-Times; Ashville;N.C. 23. May 2011. A1 eLibrary. Web. Mar. 2014 Abusive Relationships Essay Introduction Abusive Relationships are created mentally and physically. In my opinion, the definition for abuse describes a person with harmful intents; lacking concern, compassion, or affection for another human being. The following annotated bibliographies will express different stages of abuse in set climates. The purpose is to evaluate opinions of the authors selected with the most relevant connections to the behavior patterns of abusive relationships. The Effects of Abusive Relationships Rafenstein, M. (2001). Recognizing an abusive Relationship. Current Health, 2,(5): 27. This article exploits the signs of abusive relationships. Recognizing abuse and the signs most commonly overlooked by those being abused. The article takes a closer look through the eyes of the abuser in order to reveal the dangers of the relationship. Understanding why and how abusers think is important to a survivor. Distinguishing an attitude from a behavior could be the difference between life and death. The article has helpful insight that act as warning signals, easily overlooked by those who would become victims. Normally, the focus is centered on the victim, this article takes the power away from the abuser by disclosing the tactics used before the behavior. This article is very useful to my methods of research because it explains the warning signs and cautious behavior. Seeing the patterns of abuse from a different angle will assist prevention and awareness programs in all communities; especially those living with repeat offenders. Steiner, Leslie Morgan.(2009). Crazy Love: A Memoir. New York, NY: St. Martin. The author, Leslie Morgan Stenier, wrote this book as a Memoir about being married to an abusive husband. His actions and behavior motivates her to tell all and to be an example for other wives who feel trapped. The mental and physical abuse became a documented source of support that led to writing this book as a survivor. This book presents real life events of being married to a dangerous predator. It is a good source for my research, showing the mindset of a wife, victim, and survivor. The author made a life changing decision to tell and the lifesaving decision to leave. The weaknesses of her past become a stepping stone for other women in the same predicament. The book closes the gaps between coping and surviving abuse. Newton, C.J. â€Å"Effects of Domestic Violence.† Domestic Violence: An Overview. 2009. 18 April 2010. < http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/domestic-violence/domestic-violence-effects.html> This article examines the long-term effects and the mental health of abuse. This website journals abusive effects that lead to crisis and the process of healing. The article refers to case studies monitored by John Hopkins that concern children born to an abused mother. The article provides professional resources such as: crisis prevention and advocacy programs. This site also offers self-assessments and a glossary of mental health. This article is a valuable source for abusive relationship research that offers a website for battered women and children. This article is a very good source for addressing abusive relationships and the threats victims ignore before the worst actions occur. It is very helpful in filtering out threats that may cause dangerous actions. This article brings the law into fruition and encourages victims to break the silence and stopping the violence. Adam, Shapiro, Anderson, K., Glick, J. Umberson, D. â€Å"Domestic Violence, Personal Control, and Gender: National Council on Family Relations. â€Å"Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 60, No. 2: May 1998. 442-452. The authors of this article examine domestic violence, personal control and gender within relationships. They use the research literature to explain the consequences of being in unhealthy family settings. This article brings clarity to domestic violence and abuse labeled with the family values that are disguised. Gender plays a vital role in personal control and abuse within relationships. According to this article, the person with the most influence usually has more personal control and often makes the other person feel inferior. This article provides a clear understanding of the roles within an abusive relationship. It was very helpful with the research for abusive relationship. The article has calculated statistics gathered from selected sources that shows patterns and behavior trends of abuse. The authors explain the phase violence that promoted the unhealthy lifestyle that is usually hidden from others. The article reveals how gender is relevant to the process of violence. Flynn, Clifton P. â€Å"Relationship Violence by Women: Issues and Implications†: National Council on Family Relations. Family Relations. Vol. 39, No. 2: Apr. 1990.194-198. Clifton P. Flynn analyzes women who are abusive in relationships. Flynn focuses on violent and dysfunctional acts done by women, rather than men. Society presume women to be nurturing with maternal instincts, this article unmasks the evil inside of heartless, abusive women. The statistics from the empirical research shows wives, mothers, and female caretakers as batterers. According to the article, abuse inflicted by women is not reported as much as abuse by men. This article helps to define the fine lines between genders and abuse. It is relevant to research about abusive relationships showing that women can be abusers too. The author gives biased opinions with facts of documentation from family members and those with personal contact with abusive women. This article describes the images of abuse that are hidden from society. Connolly, Jennifer, and Wendy Josephson. â€Å"Aggression in Adolescent Dating Relationships†. 2007(14): 3-5. This article explains the dangers in dating from the point of view of both females and males. According to the article, boys are reported to have more aggressive behavior while dating and girls are likely to respond with self-defense. Both genders have symptoms of anxiety, fear, and emotional distractions. Statically, these behavior patterns often lead to becoming a run away and school drop outs. The article also list different influences that act as stress factors for aggressive  behavior, such as: violence within the home, drug and alcohol abuse, and peer pressure. The article has a positive motive for exposing aggressive behavior patterns amongst teen dating. The authors have strong viewpoints that are helpful for making rational decisions about the pros and cons. It provides signs of abuse and presents the top rated signs of awareness. The research addressed in the article is most helpful in deciding how to relate aggression and abuse with anxiety and behavior patterns. Most important the article addresses the reasons teens develop such outrageous habits of abuse.

Ethical issues in packaging practices Research Paper - 1

Ethical issues in packaging practices - Research Paper Example In accordance with the present trend of the global business environment, it is often observed that the organizations seek to invest on exceptional and creative packaging practices within the business process to draw a large number of potential users for their offerings. It has been observed from several decades that the global marketers are increasingly executing packaging practices to attract customers towards their range of offerings. Nevertheless, at times it is apparently recognized that the producers in the global business environment tend to mislead their consumers through practicing different types of conspicuous packaging of their products (Fan, 2005). Emphasizing upon the present environmental concern, the primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate an effective analysis on different ethical issues which are created by the modern business organizations in terms of utilizing their packaging practices. Moreover, the discussion of this paper will further focus on highligh ting major impacts of packaging practices and their potential adverse impacts on the environment. At the end of this paper, prospective suggestive measures will also be represented in order to prevent the impact of packaging practices on the global environment. II. Ethical Issues in Packaging Practices Marketing activities of the organizations are often recognized by the customers as one of the most unethical elements of the business strategies. This statement can be identified as one of the major drawbacks of organizational marketing activities especially in terms of packaging practices. In relation to the present rapidly increasing competitive business environment, organizations often tend to involve various unethical practices concerning their packaging and labeling of products (Bone & Corey, 2000). Different studies concerning the notion of packaging practices have depicted diverse types of ethical issues that the marketers raise in terms of achieving competitive position. In th is regard, it can be recognized from the study of Shimp (2003) that the notion of packaging significantly tends to involve four types of ethical issues. In this context, the marketers face the issues concerning the label information, safety, and label graphics along with environmental issues. II. a. Label Information The label information of the product packaging helps the customers to clearly identify the features, ingredients, price along with other important messages through which they can identify their exact expectations. Moreover, the labeling of products also ensures the customers in terms of availing appropriate products as per their needs and desires. However, marketers in the present business world are frequently involved on misleading their customers through presenting imaginary information concerning their product characteristics. For instance, the information concerning low fats/cholesterol or purity of contained ingredients within the products are frequently practiced by a few of the food processing organizations. In addition, the ethical issue relating to represent information differently in the similar category of products is also practiced by the marketers, which enables them to attract new customers segments for their products (Shimp, 2003). Therefore, it can be stated that

Feminism Article Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Feminism Article Analysis - Essay Example Ann Tickner in her work â€Å"You Just Don’t Understand: Troubled Engagements Between Feminists and IR Theorists,† that is, the eradication and repudiation of gender inequality that traditionally characterized the relationship between man and woman. With it also is the breaking of the glass ceiling or the â€Å"objectification† of women either as a sexual subject or an entity that can be exploited or abused. I agree this has to be relegated to history and people should move forward with renewed vigour to pursue and work as equals to build a more harmonious, more productive and better society. Women, after all, compose a half of our population, which means half the talent that could make our lives better, and half the capacity to produce. Therefore, it is not only a matter of political propriety that women should be equal to men, but also as an economic and political imperative. This however is only limited to personal, economic and societal relations, and not to international relations. Thus, I disagree with Tickner’s approach of transcending the feminist perspective to international relations. Feminist theories and approaches just got it wrong in interpreting international relations in terms of the feminist approach. International relations cover a complex and wide array of interests that intersect with one another and require balancing, better judgement, relevance and efficacy. Resolving this complexity that characterizes international relations with the epistemological and ontological perspective of feminist body of knowledge is just too simplistic. For example, we can cite the Kantian tradition and solution as a workable approach to an economic problem such as the recent financial crisis that almost dragged the world into recession whose Kantian solution that have been adopted by many, such as Obama’s Stimulus Plan, and for most part it has succeeded in saving jobs and in general, the economy of the United States and most part of the

Rapid Rise of e-Commerce in Modern Global Business Essay

Rapid Rise of e-Commerce in Modern Global Business - Essay Example A. Global business processes are usually characterized by various operational strategies. Some of these strategies entail the use of human resources, while some entail the application of business technology (Kopper & Ellis, 2011). It is apparent, taking into consideration the current business data that, e-commerce is currently one of the highest technology applied in commercial activitiesB. The corpus of e-commerce entails the process of undertaking business activities through enhanced computer networks i.e. the Internet. Research indicates that e-commerce activities depend heavily on technologies such as: Inventory Management Systems, Online Transactions, online marketing, data interchange through electronic processes et cetera (Cohan, 2010).Transition to Main Point, II: In this section, I will focus on the significant impacts of e-commerce in the contemporary business environment.  A. With the integration of electronic technology into majority of Company’s operational proc edures, e-commerce has been associated with effective and efficient technology, thus facilitating efficient business processes i.e. reduction of human errors usually associated with it.B. In addition, economic experts have asserted that the essence of implementing e-commerce has been majorly driven by the fact that it entails reduced costs of operation: This occurs in the sense that it reduces costs associated with manual modes of operation specifically, inventory costs, employee management costs et cetera.

Measurement, appreciation, and knowledge are key terms in James's The Essay

Measurement, appreciation, and knowledge are key terms in James's The Beast in the Jungle. How do these w - Essay Example Even when May, on her deathbed told him had the beast had already struck him, he could not make out what the beast was. He had failed to appreciate the importance of May in his life and did not reciprocate her affection. It was only after her death that he gained knowledge of his fate that he was the only man in the world to whom nothing had ever happened. He realized that he had been wasting his life and the doom that had befallen him was actually the loneliness which he had earned because of his futile anticipations of the unknown beast. Marcher failed to measure the vastness of life and never appreciated its significance. He had wasted his life as he always waited for some extraordinary thing to happen to him while not yearning for any. Had he appreciated the value of his life, he would have been a happy man without having regret as his final abode (James). Works Cited James, Henry. The Beast in the Jungle. CreateSpace, 2011.Print.

Business report for Jaguar Land Rover Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business report for Jaguar Land Rover - Essay Example In the current study, online questionnaire survey is selected to gather the data. The study will be outlining automobile market condition and position of Jaguar Land Rover. According to researchers, automotive industry of the UK is holding the top position in terms of exporting to different countries. Major firms have invested more than  £6 billion over the last three years from 2012 to 2014 (Kpmg.com, 2015b). Researchers have argued that automotive sales faced the challenge of financial recession effectively. High end car manufacturers are able to recover their loss and developed their income level same as the pre-recessional state. The UK based car industry is expected to increase the production level to 2 million vehicles by the year 2017. It will be the highest level of output in such industry during the last 10 years (Kpmg.com, 2015a). Moreover, UK based automotive industry also indicates that nearly 1,509,762 cars were constructed during the year 2013. Within which 87,671 were developed for the commercial purpose. The industry also produced almost 2,553,316 engines during the period (Kpmg.com, 2015b). The industry recorded with a revenue generation of  £59.3 billion during the year 2013-2014. The industry is having different car manufacturers like the Bentley, Infiniti, London Taxi Company, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover (SMMT, 2015). These firms are producing different types of cars and spare parts for the local and international demands. The industry or the firms can be justified based on some segments like manufacturing, supply chain, economy, business environment and environmental credentials (SMMT, 2015). The UK automobile industry outlines that there are nearly seven mainstream car companies, seven commercial automobile producers and nine bus and coach manufacturers (Kpmg.com, 2015a). In addition, it is also observed that premium and sports cars are gaining interest among the UK based automotive market and there are almost eight

Media theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media theory - Essay Example Psychologist and Sociologists come up with a variety of theories as to why we watch TV. They have said that å… ¸he Mass Media Have a Direct, Immediate and Influential Effect Upon Audiences by é  ¸njectingInformation Into the Consciousness of the Masses(Wikibooks,2011) The fact of the matter is human beings have needed to be entertained since the beginning of time. We need to enjoy our leisure and before TV or even radio, in fact, the natives in the jungles of Africa invented their dances and rituals for their entertainment or self gratification if you want to make it sinister. What interests us is driven by our basic needs and background, our experiences and education. Rather than being controlled, we control the mediaPeople Bend the Media To Their Needs More Readily Than The Media Overpowering Them(Wikibooks,2011 ). We do not have studies theorizing why a person prefers a pair of blue jeans over black and quite frankly who cares. Their reasons are the same as why the watch a pa rticular movie or documentary or sporting event. There is no University degree needed here and there are no psychological or sociological problems, it is simply about a human being their need for leisure and enrtainment.. Television has not changed in the last 20 years only the technology involved in producing the entertainment. Television has become part of our lives for a variety of reasons and we do not need theories and conjectures to manipulate the reasons. Television stations produce on a supply and demand basis and we watch for enjoyment, plain and simple. That is how it was 20 years ago and that is how it will be twenty years from now. The Semiotic Media Theory interprets signs, communicative or culturally that point to the significance of a popularly appreciated phenomena. The cultural and communicative signs to the popularization of Super Bowl are pronounced and far reaching in American History. The human being needs excitement and is

Junior High School Experience Personal Statement - 4

Junior High School Experience - Personal Statement Example Ernie sat next to me at the lunch table. No big deal. I knew Ernie from our classes together, and he made a successful, albeit uncontested, run for student council. Perhaps it was the politician in Ernie that caused him to do what he did that day. One of the things that the members of the student council had to do was sell candy bars to raise money. Ernie was seated at the end of the picnic table style bench, and on the table were his books, neatly stacked. On top of the books was his box of student council candy. I was having a conversation with someone across from me when Ernie knocked over his books and student council candy box. The candy spilled all over the floor. Because the lunchroom was also the gym, except during the lunch hour, then the noise that Ernie’s books made when they hit the floor was loud and resounding, and everything and everyone was quiet. All eyes looked to Ernie’s fallen mess, then, just as quickly, the noise and talking resumed. No one cared t hat Ernie’s books and candy were on the floor. I especially did not care and resumed my conversation with my friend. â€Å"What?† I answered a little more harshly. I just did not understand what this guy’s story was. What was the big deal? He knocked books off the table. It had nothing to do with me. No one cared, pick them up and get on with life. â€Å"If you don’t pick it up,† he spoke softly so that only I could hear him in the noisy cafeteria, â€Å"I’m going to tell him,† pointing to the history teacher standing in the front of the room, â€Å"that you asked me for the questions on the test.† Our next period was with that teacher, and apparently, Ernie had him the previous hour and had already taken the test that we would be getting in the after lunch hour. I have to say that I was shocked, but not for a second did I believe Ernie was going to do what he threatened.  

Pizza Corner Essay Example for Free

Pizza Corner Essay 2. Summary: a. Overall Score i. With this Competitive Profile Matrix, a couple of conclusions can be made. Firstly, when comparing Pizza Hut to its competitors, it can be seen that Pizza Hut had a higher score than Papa John’s but scored lower than Dominos. This shows that overall Pizza Hut is doing better than Papa John’s in terms of identifying strengths and working with weaknesses. When looking at Dominos, however, it shows that Dominos is a lot better at turning these success factors into strengths rather than weaknesses. b. Weights ii. When focusing on weights alone, however, some other conclusions can be drawn and also differ in outcomes when looking at the overall score. The most important things we identified in the pizza industry are product quality, price competitiveness, and advertising. As a group we weighted product quality and price equally with advertising being the second most important thing. For comparison, it can be seen that Domino’s takes the cake when dealing with product quality, price competitiveness, and advertising especially in the recent years as they have re-launched and revamped their entire recipe and product quality, advertising, marketing, and offering great pricing that are mostly the best deals around. They have owned up to the past disappointments and issues and have completely redone itself entirely for the consumers. By using quality ingredients and constructing their marketing to where the consumers drive their commercials and advertising they have definitely surpassed the other surviving pizza chains. Pizza Hut and Papa John’s comes in a close second to product quality as they are fresh and quality products. Pizza Hut ranks higher than Papa John’s for price competitiveness because as a group we see more Dominos and Pizza Hut deals versus seeing any type of Papa John’s coupons. Also, Papa John’s is priced fairly higher than either Pizza Hut or Dominos. Advertising, however, proves a minor weakness for Pizza Hut as very rarely do you see Pizza Hut commercials in comparison to Dominos and Pap Johns. c. Strengths iii. Pizza Hut is the leader in global expansion and correctly identifies its target market. The company will want to keep this apart of their strengths to keep up and always be a step ahead in these aspects. This will then ensure accessibility which is an important factor for generating revenues and thus creating a loyal customer base. d. Concerns iv. Some areas that Pizza Hut was rated lower than the other two competitors besides the ones addressed above is the organic foods factor. Many people want organic pizzas and the only chain coming close is Papa John’s which uses quality ingredients, some of which either local or organic. Although it does not seem like a huge deal in the present, eventually more and more consumers will be looking for this and have nowhere to turn but the company who falls close to the mark.

Competition Energy Drinks Essay Example for Free

Competition Energy Drinks Essay The beverage industry, like most food service industries in these economic times, faces many challenges. Not one company is excluded from the challenges of economic conditions, demographics, social and global forces, and regulatory, political, and legal factors. The global economic conditions affect the energy drink industry in many ways. This industry depends highly on the disposable income of its customers. People are very cautious with their money these days and if additional income does not exist to purchase these items, then the companies suffer. In recent projections, however, this does not seem to be the case. The global industry factors show a projected growth of $20 trillion in sales between 2009 and 2014, and demand for these alternative beverages is expected to increase globally as customer purchasing power increases. Social factors play an important part in the industry’s strategy, as well. With customers concerned with healthy lifestyles and exercise, the alternative beverage industry has increased sales in the last decade. Customers demanding low calorie, energy vitamin-enhancing drinks turn to these types of beverages for their needs instead of carbonated soft drinks. Alternative drinks are consumed by a slim demographic. These products are generally used by young adults, college and high school students, athletes and exercise aficionados. Another branch of these drinks are the energy â€Å"shots,† which have become very popular in the last decade. With new legislation and changing regulations, it is very important for companies to stay abreast of all changes. There has been an increase in negative reports on what affects energy drinks have on people that use them, from high blood pressure to arrhythmia, which as forced some companies to include warning labels on their packaging. There is also a concern with the consumption of these drinks contributing to the obesity issue, many of these drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, and many additives that can contribute to weight gain if consumption is not limited. Competition is fierce in this industry; not only between the two biggest competitors, Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc., but also Red Bull GmbH, Hansen Natural Corporation and privately owned regional brands. The two major companies, Pepsi and Coca Cola, are strong competitors within the alternative beverage market and use both the introduction of new products as well as the introduction of existing products in new markets to increase sales. Pepsi has introduced several new products Charge, Rebuild, and Defend three new brands available to consumers interested in vitamin-enhanced drink alternatives. Pepsi has also recently agreed to distribute the â€Å"Rockstar† brand drinks in Canada and the United States. Coca-Cola Company’s strategy is to distribute their existing brands in the new markets of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and other Asia/Pacific countries. In order to compete with these two major companies, Red Bull relies on sponsorships and promotion as well as celebrity endorsements. By using advertising in this manner, Red Bull is able to use its slogans and logos in a variety of ways to get their name out into the public. Hansen Natural Corporation utilizes a different approach to boost sales. This company increased their package size and still maintained a competitive price compared to Red Bull. Like Red Bull, Hansen also uses celebrity promotion and sponsorship as a marketing tool. This is not to say that PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company do not utilize this method of advertising, as they both spend billions on advertising promotions, celebrity, and sporting endorsements. The competitive edge in this case lies with PepsiCo Inc. , whose sales of energy and alternative beverages have surpassed its competitors in the past few years. New entrants are not a strong competitive pressure for this industry. The dominating companies are unsurpassed in their strong brand names and great distribution channels. The industry is fully saturated. These factors make it difficult for new companies to compete against them. Any new company wanting to get into this industry would face high capital start-up expenditures and would surely fail due to the high cost. Substitution of products is also an area where the competitive force is low. With brand loyalty, the market for substitution is very low. Consumers want the brands they are used and won’t accept substitution. Suppliers for the industry do not hold much competitive pressure either. Suppliers to this industry are bottling equipment manufactures and secondary packaging suppliers. The suppliers have little bargaining power, as the two major brands own their own bottling centers. As discussed earlier, changes in this industry’s long-term growth rate is a positive one. Growth is high in this market and is expected to continue to grow. One of the reasons for this is the increasing globalization. Coke is expanding its operations to be more global as are some of its competitors. The changing spectrum of the customer base is not really a factor here. Most of the demographic has not changed much since the introduction of these alternative beverages. Marketing and innovation has to continue to grow so that the company can grow. Regulatory influences and government policy changes are a huge factor in this industry. As the customers call for increased legislation and regulation of the ingredients, the companies have to make adjustments to their drink formulas, and this could prove costly if not monitored closely. Society is constantly changing and this industry needs to transition with these changes. By the introduction of new products and the re-tooling of existing products, all of the competitors can be successful. This industry has several success factors, product marketing, product differentiation, brand name, a strong distribution network and the ability to adapt to change. PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company have strong aspects of all of these factors which is what has made both of them so successful. PepsiCo Inc.has branched into the food market as well as remaining in the soft drink and alternative beverage markets. Coke has had a similar strategy and relies heavily on their brand name and product recognition. All of the companies have unique and successful marketing techniques such as sponsorships, promotions, and celebrity endorsements. In order to achieve a successful strategic plan, a company needs to establish a group of people to discuss the goals and objectives of their company, sometimes called a task force. The task force should then decide what the company’s goals and objectives are. By drafting Mission and Vision statements, this task force can begin to convey their goals and objectives. Strategic planning is an on-going task for every company. When a plan is established the implementation and monitoring phases begin. To be successful a company should be constantly monitoring its goals and objectives and changing them when the need arises. With competition so high in this industry, a strong strategic plan is critical. In viewing these companies one can see that their plans are very strong. In order to continue to grow and compete in this market all companies need to look forward at the changing times, attitudes and cultures. All of the companies in this market, as with any market, need to maintain their competitive advantage and find new and different ways to achieve it. A comprehensive action plan needs to be put into place and reviewed often. By doing this all companies have a better chance at keeping their competitive advantage and enjoying better profits for their shareholders.

Incorporating Maori Values into Health and Social Care

Incorporating Maori Values into Health and Social Care Assessment Task 1 The Treaty of Waitangi or Tiriti o Waitangi is a written agreement signed on 6th of February 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs in Waitangi, New Zealand to negotiate sovereignty of New Zealand and to establish a British colony. The Treaty of Waitangi was intended to be a partnership between Maori and the British Crown. Even though it was aimed at creating unity, it caused conflict due to different understandings and breaches of the treaty. There are two versions of the treaty, the Maori version and the English version though the English text is not a direct translation of the Maori text so difficulties arise in interpretation. Both versions of the treaty represent consensus between Maori and the British Crown the right to govern and to establish a British settlement, while the British Crown assured to Maori full rights as a citizen and protection of all their assets and interests. In 1840, Maori chiefs decided for or against signing the treaty on the basis of its Maori text and after thinking about numerous considerations. The chiefs wanted regulated settlement and support in managing settlers and land sales. Commerce and cash income from employment would bring benefits to Maori communities. The new relationship between Maori and the British Crown would also enable them to avoid warfare between tribes that had intensified in previous decades. There are four principles of the treaty namely Partnership, Protection, Participation, and Permission. Partnership is the union and alliance with good and honest intent between Maori and the British crown to achieve a common goal. To ensure that Maori have rangatiratanga rights over their toanga (land, resources, language, knowledge, and other aspects of way of life of Maori), Maori leaders have to be consulted when organisational policies are discussed. In social services, organisations should make sure that the needs of Maori are of priority when taking part in creating policies that could affect Maori. Protection is allowing Maori to exercise Tino Rangatiratanga over their taonga (land, resources, language, knowledge, and other aspects of way of life of Maori) and they should benefit and enjoy from these. In social services, Maori way of life to enjoy their taonga must be respected. Maori have the right to make choices with regard to their culture which aligns with tika and kawa, traditions, customs, and practices. Participation is the involvement of Maori and the British Crown in the service accessibility, not only for Pakeha but for Maori as well. Not segregating the Maori from Pakeha but allowing the Maori to take part in social services that they enjoy together with Pakeha or other ethnicities. In social services, Maori have the right to participate in making decisions regarding their health and well being or Hauora and to have meaningful ways in decision making on how health services should be delivered for their well-being. Permission is the freedom of Maori to exercise his rights to speak Te Reo Maori and to be involved in any Maori spiritual or cultural rites, practices, or beliefs. In social services, it is important that Maori are allowed to speak their own language to express their insights better and to not feel unimportant. The four principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is the basis for social workers when delivering social services to Maori. Examples include consulting and discussing with whanau the support for clients from residential placement to maintain positive changes as a result of residential care placement, working together with whanau to understand cultural needs, allowing the whanau to make decisions that are in their best interest to maintain self determination and promote empowerment, and incorporating kawa and tikanga on how social services are delivered. Task 2 Summary of reason for family meeting or whanau hui A family meeting was held to discuss the possibility of a child to be admitted to an alternative care placement The child’s parents have alcohol and illicit drug use issues The parents are domestically violent toward each other and at times to the child Placement Diary Meetings and Communication Date Notes/Key points 26/02/2015 Referral forms were reviewed and explained to whanau An initial assessment was performed The child was identified as being at risk 27/02/2015 Appropriate services were identified and discussed with the whanau Notes/key points of how you perceived and recorded the referral. What service provider guidelines did you follow? Consent from parents and whanau were obtained before acting on the referral. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. All referrals were recorded in the database. An immediate safety check using the information provided by the referrer within 24 hours of receiving the referral was completed. Notes/key points of how you assessed the referral for relevance to the service provider. The referrals coming to the social service provider was assessed to find out if they were relevant to the services offered by the organisation. When deemed relevant, it was accepted. When referrals are assessed as not relevant to the service provider, it will be handed over to other service providers with appropriate services that cater to the needs of the client. This must be with the whanau’s approval and consultation. The referral was relevant to Child, Youth, and Family as a provider as it is the organisation responsible in dealing with child protection. Notes/key points of how you processed the referral through the service provider systems. What service provider guidelines did you follow? All information required were recorded using forms and in the system. The referral was forwarded to a social worker. Other notes/reflections on the referral process Accurate record was kept during theprocess, recording any actions taken, reasons and any other details. The information went to the appropriate social worker. Task 3 Placement Diary Coordination of planning for the family meeting Date Notes/Key points 05/03/2015 The child’s parents were phoned to establish details of whanau hui that need to be involved in the whanau hui The kaumatua and other leaders were contacted and identified 06/03/2015 All other participants who were not able to attend the meeting initially were followed up How did you identify the key members of the whanau? Briefly list the key members The key members of the whanau were identified through introduction. It was determined that Uncle S. is a kaumatua and he then introduced Auntie C. who is going to be a part of the hui. The parents of the child were also introduced to me and other members of the team. Uncle S. Auntie C. Auntie N. T.C. A.W. Who is the facilitator for the meeting/hui and how was this person identified? The facilitator of the whanau hui was Uncle S. together with the lead social worker. He was chosen as the facilitator of the whanau hui having the experience in making wise decisions during meetings in the past. He is also a kaumatua that members of the whanau will respect and listen to. If there were people unable to attend, summarise the information you provided to the facilitator on their behalf â€Å"A whanau hui is required to talk about the possibility of a child to be admitted to an alternative care facility. The child’s parents are incapable of looking after the child. The parents are alcoholic and illicit drug users. The parents also do not hold permanent employment sustainable for the child’s welfare. It is then deemed necessary to ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing.† If there were participants who had essential information for the meeting/hui, how did you identify these people to the facilitator? The participants with essential information for the whanau hui were given the chance to give details for the smooth flow of the hui. How did you notify the plan for the meeting/hui to members of the whanau and any other attendees? Details were sent via email. All attendees were phoned to confirm receipt and to confirm their attendance at the hui. Other notes/reflection on the planning process All whanau members were supportive of the family meeting. They wanted to attend to find the best outcome for the child Task 4 Placement Diary Coordination of welcome and hospitality Date Notes/Key points 12/03/2015 Powhiri was performed. Dietary requirements of all participants were gathered, including allergies, vegan diet alternatives, and others. The agenda was prepared in advance and distributed to all attendees. A karakia was said before the meeting and kai 13/03/2015 Everybody was updated The service provider’s database was updated. What cultural forms of welcome were required and who was responsible for these? Powhiri the host of the marae, usually the kaumatua, was responsible in carrying out the process of powhiri together with other leaders in the marae. This is to welcome me, as a student, and for me to be able to be a part of the whanau hui. Mihi all participants of the whanau hui were responsible for the mihi, and also to share their pepeha. Karanga the host of the marae, kaumatua and leaders, will lead the karanga. Karakia The kaumatua led the karakia before the hui, and also before the kai. Kai I took all the participants’ dietary requirements for the kai and gave it to the kitchen for the preparation of food. What resources did you arrange? The resources I arranged include the venue for the hui. The participants’ dietary requirements were also taken into consideration when planning for the menu for kai. How did you carry out the coordination of the whanau hui in line with criteria? Adhering to the principle of the Treaty of Waitangi namely participation, protection, partnership, and permission. The confidentiality of the meeting participants were protected and respected. The policies and procedures of the service provider was followed and adhered to at all times. Focusing primarily on the safety and wellbeing of the child. Other notes/reflections Working with other members of the extended family helped me to understand more on their culture and their way of living. Working with the kaumatua and other leaders in the marae provided me an opportunity to work in partnership with other key people in coordinating whanau meetings and this will help me to facilitate meetings easily in the future. Task 5 The four principles of Treaty of Waitangi were applied in the social services during coordinating whanau hui. Social work practice respects the Maori way of life. I provided culturally suitable and safe practice when working with the client and other key people during the whanau hui planning. They were allowed to practice their values, beliefs, customs, and to speak Te Reo during the delivery of service. The Maori models of health and well-being, such as Te Whare Tapa Wha, were used while engaging the client and the whanau with the service. The social services were non-biased, non-judgmental, and non-prejudiced. I had to understand the client and the whanau rather than judging them. I was also sensitive when providing services to prevent whakama which in turn helped me to gain the person’s trust and respect. A clear boundary of professionalism was determined while the client and the whanau accessed the social services offered by the organisation. The social services were made accessible to all cultures including the client’s and whanau’s that suits their Maori culture having their unique needs. I demonstrated high regard in respecting the dignity of all participants in whanau hui who accessed the services of the organisation. The participants were informed of their rights and to practice their rights whenever they have to. All participants’ confidentiality and safety were the organisation’s priority during the whanau hui process.

Insanity and the Necessity of Madness in King Lear Essay -- King Lear

The Necessity of Madness in King Lear At the beginning of â€Å"King Lear,† an authoritative and willful protagonist dominates his court, making a fateful decision by rewarding his two treacherous daughters and banishing his faithful one in an effort to preserve his own pride. However, it becomes evident during the course of the tragedy that this protagonist, Lear, uses his power only as a means of projecting a persona, which he hides behind as he struggles to maintain confidence in himself. This poses a problem, since the audience is prevented from feeling sympathy for the king. Shakespeare’s ironic solution is to allow Lear’s progressing madness to be paired with his recognition of truth, thereby forcing Lear to shed his persona, and simultaneously persuading the audience that Lear is worthy of pity. Lear is initially consumed by what Burton would refer to as the human appetite,[1] and exhibits traits indicative of someone dominated by the choleric humor: he is prideful, yearns for authority, and bullies others when he doesn’t get his way. After Cordelia refuses to dote on him in the first scene, he goes into a fit of rage: Let it be so; the truth then be thy dower†¦ Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever. (I, i, 110-118) [2] Lear’s fury, however, only masks the fact that he is really a very needy person, consumed by an insatiable appetite for power and attention. As Bloom says, â€Å"Lear always demands more love than can be given.†[3] Lear proves this to be true when he repeatedly rejects those who love him most, banishing both Cordelia and Kent, who would protect him from his other two daughters’ impending betrayal. D... ...say (Trans.). The Republic of Plato: The Wisdom of Socrates as Recounted by His Pupil Plato. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1957. p.171. 6-Bloom, p. 482. 7-James Hutton (Trans.). Aristotle’s Poetics. New York: Norton & Company, Inc., 1982. p. 51. 8- Bruccoli, Clark, Layman â€Å"Aristotle,† in Bood, (ed.). Dictionary of Literary Biography: Ancient Greek Authors. Vol. 176 (1997), pp. 55-76. 9-Wilson Knight. â€Å"The Lear Universe† in The Wheel of Fire. London: Oxford University Press, 1930. p. 201 10- A.C. Bradley. Shakespearean Tragedy. London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1961. p. 239. 11- Knight, p. 203. 12-William Shakespeare. As You Like It. New York: Signet Classic, 1998. p. 44. 13- T.S. Eliot. â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.† The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. II (New York, WW.Norton, 19860. pp. 2174 ff. 14-Bradley, p. 242.

Confessions Essay -- essays research papers

Augustine titled his deeply philosophical and theological autobiography Confessions to implicate two aspects of the form the work would take. To confess, in Augustine's time, meant both to give an account of one's faults to God and to praise God (to speak one's love for God). These two aims come together in the Confessions in an elegant but complex sense: Augustine narrates his ascent from sinfulness to faithfulness not simply for the practical edification of his readers, but also because he believes that narrative to be itself a story of God's greatness and of the fundamental love all things have for Him. Thus, in the Confessions form equals content to a large degree—the natural form for Augustine's story of redemption to take would be a direct address to God, since it is God who must be thanked for such redemption. (That said, a direct address to God was a highly original form for Augustine to have used at the time). This idea should also help us understand the apparently lopsided and unusual structure of the text. The first nine Books of the Confessions are devoted to the story of Augustine's life up to his mother's death, but the last four Books make a sudden, lengthy departure into pure theology and philosophy. This shift should be understood in the same context as the double meaning of 'confessions'—for Augustine, the story of his sinful life and redemption is in fact a profoundly philosophical and religious matter, since his story is only one exampl...

Essay --

Background The Roman Colosseum, used to known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, start building in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian, before Vespasian dies, the Colosseum only completed three stories. After that, his son, Titus, completes it in 80. Later, Domitian, Titus’ brother further remodelled it. The Colosseum is located in Rome, Italy. It is located at the heart of Rome. The height of this building is 157ft and it has a perimeter of 1788ft. it is also the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. There are 4 main floor, the first floor is 34ft, second floor is 38ft, third floor is 37ft, and the fourth floor is 45ft. each floor has 80 arches. Also, it can hold about 50,000 of spectators. The central arena is 180ft wide and 287ft long, and it is surrounded by 15foot wall with seating above. Underneath, there are rooms and tunnels, some housed gladiators and wild animals, others contained pulleys, ramps and hand operated elevator. There are over 1million of animals died in the course o f the Coliseum games. The last recorded games were helps in the 6th century. The Colosseum survived several earthquakes that cause the south side to collapse. (History.com staff, 2009) Analysis History aspect Why was the Colosseum built? In 64AD, the Great Fire of Rome, this burned for 9 days strikes and wrecked the city. After the tragedy, Emperor Nero built a palace which consist of a beautiful lake and gardens, it was names the Domus Aurea (Latin for â€Å"Golden House†), also, there is a colossal statue of Nero about 100-120 Roman feet which is around 37m high. It became a landmark in the heart of the city of Rome. When the burning of Rome happens, the Amphitheater of Statilius Taurus and the Amphitheatrum Neronis has been destroyed. A... ...a big change to make it a National Football Stadium for their national football team. Being a football fan, we all know that the Italy National Football Team is very good in that sport. They were the World Cup Winners in four occasions and being the European Champion once. Why not take a step forward and change the arena into a football stadium? So that the team could have their home ground like some other football teams have, and play there listening the cheer of their supporters. In this 21st century, the technology is so good that it is easy to turn over the arena to turn it into a stadium. First of all for the interior, add seats for the fans and the seats should be in blue colour because of the national team colour. The exterior, since the statues have been destroyed before, I think it would be good if they build statue of their great football legends. Compare

AFrican American equality Essay

From the time our country was founded, many African Americans lived a life of hardship merely because the color of their skin. In many instances they were treated as animals, being sold and traded in shackles and chains. At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence when the country was founded, most African Americans worked as slaves. Working conditions for slaves were inhumane, who were often forced to work long hours in the sweltering summer heat. In 1865, the ratification of the 13th amendment made slavery illegal everywhere in the United States. However, this was not the end of inequality and segregation for African Americans. The racism in the south did not stop just because slavery ended. For decades after the end of slavery, laws such as the Jim Crow laws significantly limited African American’s rights and freedoms. In addition, share-cropping allowed servitude to continue only in a different form. Former slaves were now financially bound to their land. These laws significantly disheartened American Americans right and fight for equality – a battle that did not really get started until the civil rights era. In one of the greatest moments in American history when MLK gave his speech on the inequality of races. In one line he said â€Å"the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of prosperity†. This meant that even though there was a great economic boom the blacks were not sharing the wealth. Instead of blacks sharing the great wealth of this time they were left out of the boat by being ineligible force retain perks that the white man had been innate to. In an truly inspiring line of his speech MLK says â€Å"the negro community must not lead to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny†. This says that not all the white men are prejudice which would be just as stereotypical as anything else done against blacks at the time. This is truly encouraging saying that blacks have been persecuted for hundreds of years and some still find ways to show some remorse toward them. In one of the most famous lines of the speech MLK says â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident:that all men are created equal†. He means that he hopes one day that all men with see each other not on the basis of skin color but by the content of the character which is perfectly expressed in â€Å"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. † Martin Luther king speech expresses the inequality blacks felt. The civil rights movement took time and many brave people. However even after all the protest and laws passed to help equal the races the blacks still do not have the same freedoms as whites. Most blacks live inner cities and are not treated with dignity that they deserve in humans. They are constantly unfairly prosecuted by law enforcements and are scapegoated by many people of the root of the problem. However there has been a major increase in freedoms they have gained over time. Since MLK speech they have gained equality and it should be so far in the future that they are looked at as complete equals.

Investigating the Possibility of a Developmental Trend in the Way That Children Describe Themselves Essay

This version of Rosenberg’s research into children’s self-descriptions analysed data from semi-structured interviews with two children; Annie (8) and Kirsty (16). The data was interpreted to ascertain whether, as in Rosenberg’s research, children’s self-descriptions show evidence of a developmental progression and whether locus of self-knowledge shifts from other to self as children get older. Substantial support was found for Rosenberg’s theory that children’s self-descriptions become more complex with age and demonstrate a developmental trend. Some support was found for the idea that the locus of self-knowledge shifts from other to self with age but some of the children’s responses ran counter to expectation. Introduction A child’s sense of identity begins to form at a young age and develops throughout childhood. Eleanor Macoby (1980) pointed out that a sense of self emerges gradually as a child develops more complex understandings. Research shows that children differ in the way that they describe themselves at different ages. Bannister and Agnew (1977) and Harter (1983) found that as children get older they use more complex descriptions and include more references to emotions and attitudes. Younger children rely more on physical attributes, activities and preferences. Bannister and Agnew (1977) proposed that as children get older they become better able to ‘distinguish themselves psychologically’ from others (The Open University, 2009, p.20). Harter (1983) proposed that the way children describe themselves follows a developmental sequence which reflects the notion that identity develops in increments throughout childhood. Rosenberg (1979) focused part of his research into the self-concept on investigating this idea of a developmental trend in children’s sense of identity. He interviewed a sample of 8-18 year olds and created categories in which to sort the children’s responses. In keeping with the findings of Bannister and Agnew and Harter, Rosenberg found that younger children used mostly physical descriptions of themselves while older children relied more on character traits. As a result he concluded that ‘the self becomes less and less a perceptual object and more and more a conceptual trait system’ (Murphy (1947), as cited in The Open University, 2009, p.21). He found that, as children get older, they focus more on interpersonal traits and refer more frequently to relationships and inner qualities. Rosenberg also investigated what he called the ‘locus of self-knowledge’ – the extent to which children develop an ‘independent, self-reflective sense of self’ (The Open University, 2009, p.22). This was measured by asking children who knew them best, themselves or someone else. He found that younger children were more likely to claim that another, usually a parent, knew them better. Older children were more self-reliant when it came to judging themselves. Therefore, Rosenberg concluded that the locus of self-knowledge shifts with age from another to the self. Increased self-knowledge would result in more psychological self-descriptions so this relates to the idea of developmental progression being demonstrated in children’s self-descriptions. This study is based on Rosenberg’s research and is an analysis and interpretation of interview data. Children’s responses are allocated to Rosenberg’s categories in order to answer the research question: Do children’s self-descriptions show evidence of a developmental trend? This study will focus on answers to the ‘Who Am I?’ statements but will also pay attention to further interview responses to understand differences in the way children of different ages self-evaluate, view themselves and others and conceptualise an ideal self. This study also examines the concept of a locus of self-knowledge and asks: Does a child’s locus of self-knowledge shift from other to self with age? Method Design Rosenberg’s research design is employed in this study – the responses from a semi-structured interview are compared. Participants The participants are Annie (8) and Kirsty (16), pupils from schools in the Milton Keynes area. They were recruited by the ED209 course team who asked school teachers for help in identifying willing participants. Materials A microphone and a video-recorder were used to amplify and record the interviews. Rosenberg’s semi-structured interview, with questions on self-description, self-evaluation, self and others, ideal self and locus-of self-knowledge was used. A sheet of A4 with the words ‘Who Am I?’ printed at the top and ten numbered lines beginning with ‘I†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ was provided to enable participants to complete the written exercise. Adaptations of Rosenberg’s categories were used to analyse the responses to the Who Am I? exercise. The analysis of the ‘Who Am I?’ statements was presented on category analysis forms (appendix 1). A consent form was provided for the parents of the children to sign. Procedure The interviews took place in May 2005 during the day. Both children were interviewed by members of the ED209 course team in familiar rooms used by the schools. Annie was accompanied by a classroom assistant. The participants were told that they could stop the interviews at any time and were briefed as to the purpose of the research. A sound recordist and producer were present but efforts were made to ensure that neither they nor the equipment used inhibited the participants. Background noise was occasionally intrusive and recording halted. The final recording of the interviews was edited to ensure a smooth flow. The recorded interviews were listened to several times. The ‘Who Am I?’ statements were identified and transferred onto a pre-prepared category analysis form (appendix 1). The categories, Physical, Character, Relationships and Inner, were adapted from Rosenberg’s (see appendix 2). Each sentence read out by the interviewer was taken to constitute one statement. The statements were then coded. To ensure coding consistency, each statement was reviewed against the criteria for the inner category, then relationships, then character and then physical. Only if there was no way it could be said to fit within the ‘higher’ category was it pushed down. Even if it may have fitted within two categories, the fact that an order of review was applied meant that it would not be considered for a second category if it had already been allocated. Once the categories had been applied, the responses in each column were added up and the percentages calculated so that the results could be compared with Rosenberg’s findings. Next the detailed responses to the interview questions, including the locus of self-knowledge questions, were analysed in the context of Rosenberg’s research findings. The responses of the children were analysed to see if the same patterns were present. Ethics The data collected by the Open University ED209 course team was intended to comply with the BPS ethical code and principles. The children agreed to take part and their parents signed consent forms on their behalf. At the start of each interview the children were informed of their right to withdraw from the research and were told that they could ask for the recording to be stopped at any time. The purpose of the research and they way in which the data would be used was explained to them before the interviews began. Results The first research question was: Do children’s self-descriptions show evidence of a developmental trend? The second research question was: Does a child’s locus of self-knowledge shift from other to self with age? Table 1 shows a comparison between Annie and Kirsty’s self-descriptions. It shows that the majority (60%) of descriptors used by the younger child are about physical characteristics and activities and the remainder are character descriptors. She makes no reference to relationships or inner qualities. The majority of the older child’s responses relate to inner qualities (50%). She spreads the remainder of her descriptions across the physical, character and relationship categories. Self Evaluation When discussing their strengths and weaknesses, Kirsty focused far more on character and relationship descriptions than Annie, who focused on physical attributes, particularly for her weak points (‘my ears†¦ my legs’). However, Annie counted her friends as a strength and the fact that she likes ‘being myself’. Self and Others Annie’s awareness of similarity to others in her age group was centred on having the same likes and dislikes. She also identified differences between herself and others in this way. Kirsty talked about having the same experiences as others her own age but identified character and inner traits as distinguishing her from others. Ideal Self Annie’s notion of herself in later life was focused upon what job she might do and how else her time may be spent. Kirsty focused on the character traits that she hoped to have developed. Locus of Self-Knowledge The locus of self-knowledge responses were not straightforward as both participants gave ambiguous answers at times. Annie conceded that in some ways her mother would know her better than she knew herself and Kirsty insisted that her mother knew her just as well as she did herself. Discussion In the ‘Who Am I?’ data, it can be seen that, in accordance with Rosenberg’s findings, the majority (60%) of descriptors used by the younger child are about physical characteristics and activities. Rosenberg found that older children are more likely to use character traits to define the self. In this analysis, Kirsty actually uses a lower percentage of character descriptors than Annie, but this is influenced by the large percentage of inner descriptors used. The data in this study supports Rosenberg’s finding that older children referred more frequently to relationships. He also noticed that older children were more likely to reference inner qualities, which can be seen by the high percentage of Kirsty’s inner descriptors (50%). For the main part, the analysis of the self-description data supports Rosenberg’s findings. Rosenberg found that older children focused on interpersonal traits when describing their strengths and weaknesses. Kirsty’s responses follow this pattern but Annie also mentioned the large number of friends she has as a strength. She also said that ‘being myself’ was a strength which was interesting. The interviewer explored this a little more and she seemed to revert back to describing preferred activities. Further prompting, however, may have ascertained that by ‘being myself’ she meant that she was confident about who she was, which would be a character description. It is difficult to tell at this point if Annie lacks the ability to explain what she means which may affect the results. Rosenberg found that only 36% of 8 year olds mentioned interpersonal traits when talking about the person they would like to become, compared with 69% of 14-16 year olds. Annie and Kirsty’s responses fall into the majority pattern for their age group. Analysis of the data provides a positive answer to the research question, Do children’s self-descriptions show evidence of a developmental trend? The developmental trend as identified by Bannister and Agnew, Harter and Rosenberg, is characterised by younger children relying on physical attributes when describing themselves and older children being able to use more sophisticated and complex descriptions that focus more on psychological characteristics. The data in this study largely supports this theory. The evidence for the locus-of-self-knowledge shifting from other to self with age (as Rosenberg found) is less obvious. When asked about who knows her best at school Annie identifies teachers and parents as being the best judge of her performance, which supports the idea that the locus of self-knowledge in young children rests with another. However, when questioned further about who would be right if they had different answers about Annie’s maths performance, Annie’s responses indicate that she is the best judge of her ability. However, when questioned about her behaviour at home she places the locus of self-knowledge with her mother. Kirsty, somewhat surprisingly given her high percentage of references to inner qualities (indicating high self- knowledge), believes that her mother would know her just as well as she knows herself and explains that her mum has ‘pretty much figured me out’. She decides that any differences in answers about how she would behave at home would be a matter of different interpretations. It is possible that Kirsty is unsure about what is being asked and a reformulation of the questions might provoke different responses. Although Kirsty does not exactly place the locus of self-knowledge within herself, she does not place it with someone else either, and so the data does not, in itself, contradict Rosenberg’s theory. The analysis of the locus of self-knowledge responses produces some support for Rosenberg’s findings but it is not conclusive. However, it is important to remember that this is a sample of only two participants and so the data is not enough to prove or disprove his theory. Another limitation of this study is that the coding reliability was not checked. Coding was applied according to one person’s interpretation. Had the coding of the data been interpreted differently results may have been different for the self-descriptions data (see appendix 3 for alternative coding of Kirsty’s responses. In this instance the evidence in favour of a developmental trend in self-descriptions is present but less compelling). Another consideration lies with the ethics of the research. The issue of informed consent is often difficult in research with children. In the case of a young child, such as Annie, it is not clear that she fully understands the nature of the research, despite the fact that it is described in simpler terms than those used to explain it to Kirsty. It is also possible that the power-imbalance between the interviewers and the participants may prevent them from withdrawing from the interview, even if they are told that they can. Conclusion The results of this study provide support for the idea of a developmental progression in the way that children describe themselves, particularly the analysis of the ‘Who Am I?’ data. Qualitative analysis of the other interview questions, however, while showing some support for Rosenberg’s theory, also presents some deviation from expectations.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter Four Essay

â€Å"Becoming a franchisee is an odd combination of starting your own business and going to work for someone else† (Schlosser 94).In Eric Schlosser’s Non-fiction book, Fast Food Nation, Schlosser reasons that fast food has widened the gap between the rich and the poor, started an obesity epidemic and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. While the idea of a franchiser/ franchisee relationship appears to be nothing but beneficial, it has a serious drawback, which is the release/ acceptance of certain issues out of each party’s control. This, in turn causes other companies to try to develop new ways of forming this relationship. Subway, for example uses â€Å"Development Agents† to help ease tensions. However due to this, the controversial issue of encroachment emerges. This leaves society asking at what price is success worth it? And how is success measured by these companies? The franchisee/ franchiser relationship has its benefits, but also one major downside which can cause conflicts and controversies. â€Å"At the heart of the franchise agreement is the desire by two parties to make money while avoiding risk† (Schlosser 94). In starting your own business, there is a huge financial risk. Even if you have an amazing idea it takes a lot of well managed money. Becoming a franchisee, though, while still costing a good amount of money, the risk is considerably smaller because the name, advertising and product is already out there. â€Å"One provides a brand name, a business plan, expertise, access to equipment and supplies. The other puts up the money and does the work† (Schlosser 94). Franchising makes it easier for companies to expand their market and profit from that. â€Å"The relationship has built-in tensions. The franchisor gives up some control while not wholly owning each operation; the franchisee sacrifices a great deal of independence by having to obey the companies rules† (Schlosser 94). When putting that amount of money and work into building a successful franchise it is frustrating when you can’t make any changes you want on your own. While there is a great deal of sacrifice, particularly on the side of the franchisee, bottom line, when the profits are rolling in everyone gets along just fine. Because the franchisee/franchisor relationship has built in tensions, it has led companies to explore new ways of forming this partnership. â€Å"The chain relies on â€Å"development agents† to sell new Subway franchises. The development agents are not paid salary †¦ [their] Income is largely dependent on the number of Subway’s that open in their territory† (Schlosser 100). These development agents are technically independent contractors who will try to open as many subways as possible, because the more they open the more they are paid. â€Å"They are under constant pressure to keep opening new Subway’s, regardless of how that effects the sales of subway’s that are already operating nearby† (Schlosser 100). Because they are independent contractors they don’t worry about how sales of other Subway’s are affected by their actions, in order to make money they need to keep opening franchises regardless of if they are making Subways across the street from other Subway restaurants. â€Å"As the American market for fast food grows more saturated, restaurants belonging to the same chain are frequently being put closer to one another. Franchises call this practice â€Å"encroachment† and angrily oppose it† (Schlosser 99). Although it may lead to a decrease in sales at the individual restaurants, the franchisors benefit from this practice that puts its franchisee’s out of business. While some can credit Subway for attempting to find new ways to form its relationships with its franchises, overall, its practices hurt its individual restaurants and make it one of the worst chains to be a franchisee for, long-term. Due to the harsh reality uncovered in this chapter, society is able to see how hard it is to become successful, whether it is as a franchisee or starting a company on your own. At a success seminar Dave Feamster took his employees to, a paralyzed but still upbeat and motivational Christopher Reeve’s said, â€Å"Since my accident, I’ve been realizing †¦ that success means something quite different† (Schlosser 107). Reeve’s is referencing the millions he made in his 20’s and that there may be more to success than that. â€Å"’I see people who achieve these conventional goals, he says †¦ ‘None of it matters† (Schlosser 107). This is such a powerful moment in the chapter, Schlosser is supposed to be attending a motivational seminar and yet readers walk away from it wondering, at what point success worth it is. If this man who was famous and beloved by America says he thinks he is irrelevant, what about us? In this chapter readers see that big companies measure their success in money and profits, but how should society measure it’s? The public education system might measure success in graduates or students that go on to college. But the great thing about this chapter is Christopher Reeve’s challenges the way you measure your success and leaves that up to the audience’s interpretation. â€Å"If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it† (Brainy Quotes W.C. Fields). The franchisee/franchisor relationship while mostly beneficial, has its hindrances, which is each party sacrificing some control. As companies such as subway have explored new ways of forming this relationship, even more problems have emerged from this. Readers are left wondering at what price success is worth it, and how big companies measure their success. Works Cited Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Perennial, 2002. Print. Book Rags Media Network.  © 2001 – 2011 Brainy Quote. < http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/wcfields108002.html>

Individual Organizational Structure Paper

Individual Organizational Structure Paper MGT/230 July 23, 2012 Todd Lambertson Individual Organizational Structure Paper Facebook is a social-networking site that has a strong organization structure that is appropriate for their particular product; social media. Facebook seems like a simple site that does not require a structure to operate. Twitter works in the same way but is only set up for chatting through posts, or as it is called tweets. Tweets are text-based quotes of up to 140 characters and are posted on the user’s profile page (Shetty, 2010). Users can also send pictures and videos through Twitpics and other sources (O'leary, 2011).Millions of people use Facebook and organizations use them to advertise and to promote their services. Facebook is set up where users have friends who can see each other user’s posts. They also can tag pictures, providing information on who is in a particular picture (O'leary, 2011). Facebook launched in 2004, and is now the most po pular social-networking site. This strong organization structure has allowed Facebook to grow and continue to be strong in a competitive marketplace where the product is your personal life. Facebook has developed their organizational structure to become one of the most used social-networking sites in the world.This spot was previously held by MySpace. MySpace was used by individuals to chat with each other, create music playlists, and to post pictures and other personal information. Businesses never adapted to MySpace like they have with Facebook. Companies have found that it is more worthwhile to advertise with Facebook. Facebook realized that to stay in business and be profitable it would need high traffic on the site and many top advertisers. Once businesses could take advantage of this new web tool, they learned quickly how helpful it was to them. Users can befriend or follow organizations that they are interested in.The organizations can use this platform to promote a product, service, or even a cause. It is simple, easy to use, and effective. Facebook has developed games and applications to entertain a person while they are online. While a person is logged into Facebook a user can change their status, check on a friend’s status, post pictures or even post on their friend’s wall. Facebook is the most popular social-networking site that has developed a business structure that supports their organization. Facebook has many organizational functions that support the different responsibilities from within the organization.Facebook is set up for huge amounts of marketing through the use of advertising, and Twitter allows individual organizations to post tweets to keep followers interested in them. Through games, Facebook makes money by asking users to pay for different parts of the game. Anyone who has played Farmville or other games similar to it will say that these games are addicting. When playing these games users can purchase items in the mar ketplace with coins that they receive from playing that game whether it is from planting crops, harvesting them, crafting items, or harvesting their animals that they have placed on their farms.There are also items in the marketplace that takes cash to buy. In Farmville it is called farm cash, and in order to get farm cash the person has to either buy a card from a department store like Wal-Mart or Target, or they can charge the fees to their credit cards. The amount of farm cash you can buy is low as $10 and a high of $100. The $10 dollars buys that person $55 farm cash, and the $100 dollars buys $250 farm cash. Facebook has many ways to make money and maintain their financial stability; they can constantly try many different things.Because Facebook has a huge amount of daily traffic, organizations are willing to pay to advertise with them. Facebook uses a horizontal and functional organization. They are set up in a way that an employee on the organization chart has a particular se t of responsibilities and skills. These responsibilities and skills are unique to a specific task; they are specialized. A functional organization has specialized departments, and they are grouped according to their business functions or particular skills that each function requires (Bateman & Snell, 2011).Facebook is a strong organization, and it will remain that way for years to come. Companies and organizations from all over the world will continue to use them to promote their ideas, products, or anything else that they want to make known. Dell and Best Buy are focusing their primary efforts on the marketing and their service through social media (O'leary, 2011). There is an easy way to follow charts between each operation. This allows for less confusion and clear channels of authority. Without this, failure is inevitable. While one department is responsible for monitoring he IT (information technology), and another department is responsible for the web content. The same goes for marketing, human resources, and other similar aspects of the business. Every department is specialized and functions effectively this way. Without the proper structure, information can get confused and the responsibilities get unclear. This will create total chaos and in the end will cause the website to fail or collapse. For a business to be successful, it has to have an effective organizational structure. A basic organization structure gives any business direction which that allows it to function at its fullest potential.One of the first steps in starting up a business is to create a basic organization structure and to have it show all the departments, what their functions are, and who will be running it (Shetty, 2010). A functional organization is the proper structure for Facebook because of the different type of business they are. If responsibilities in the departments were not properly defined or organized, it can cause them to be less functional and less effective at social-n etworking. Social-networking sites are here to stay and Facebook is leading the way. They have learned from other social-networking sites like MySpace.That is what it takes to create huge traffic and attract many and different advertisers. By creating an effective organizational structure, they can remain successful and have little or limited internal issues. References Bateman, T. S. , ; Snell, S. A. (2011). Management: Leading ; collaborating in a competitive world (9th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. O’Leary, D. E. (2011). The use of social media in the supply chain: survey and extensions. , 18(2/3), p121-144. Shetty, N. (2010). Organizational structures. Retrieved from http://www. managementparadise. com/forums/human-resources-management-h-r/215152-organizational-structure. html