Press Releases & Networking - Pitching the Story Pitching the Story Essay

Press Releases & Networking - Pitching the Story Pitching the Story - Essay Example Lastly, conclusions are drawn regarding the effectiveness of design and appeal of pitch letter and the impact it was able to make on public image of the company. Introduction Every business acknowledges the fact that marketing, building public relations and gaining spotlight on media is pivotal for success of its operations. For this purpose, management of all incorporations are engaged in the practice of pitching stories to journalists and media persons, seeking to be heard and talked about on media without spending of excessive costs. In a research, practitioners were found to be involved in writing seven pitch letters per month on an average (Napoli et al. 370). This practice is traditional, being followed since decades and shall always play an essential role for marketing of businesses (Rubel, n. p.). However, the only thing that has changed is the mode of communication and types of media broadcasting them. It began from paper media, turned to electronic and digital media and is currently resting on the internet resources: conventional media has lost its dominance (Waters et al. 242). Considering these factors, a pitch letter has been drafted and its planning and follow-up procedures have been discussed in the subsequent sections. Part 1: Pre-Pitch The company represents a restaurant, part of a large food chain, that serves its local customers with various cuisines for lunch and dinner meals while regular breakfast and fast food items for catering younger tastes. The customers targeted mainly are those living in nearby vicinity. Mostly, the customers it aims at range between age groups of 18 to 50 years. Fast food items are available to entertain younger customers who frequently hang out with their friends while unique cuisines are offered for enthusiasts and food lovers of mature ages. Other customers include one-off walk-in families or gatherings on weekend dine off meals. Rarely, this outlet might be able to cater tourists and foreigners by offering uniq ue traditional meals that might interest them. Media outlets vary in forms and need to be selected very carefully as each generate a different impact on audience. In today’s technology savvy era, internet media, online bloggers and social media networks have sabotaged the significance of paper media. The remaining market share is captured by digital media, including TV and radio. As a result, selecting paper press media as connector seems highly ineffective as only a minute proportion of audience relies on it. On the other hand, targeting digital media might be most difficult as it needs high quality relationships, expenditures and networking to be able to fall under its radar. Since target customers include significant proportion of teenagers and younger generations, it shall be essential to be heard on platforms where they focus their most of the attention: social networking portals and online blogs. Researchers have acknowledged the vitality of converting businesses into a form acceptable by social media (Anderson and Swenson n. p.). Moreover, many journalists are reported to have grabbed thousands of stories from social

Managing Cost of Quality Essay Example for Free

Managing Cost of Quality Essay Article Reference: Schiffauerova, A. and Thomson, V., â€Å"Managing cost of quality: Insight into industry practice†, The TQM Magazine, 2006 Abstract This paper reports on the study of the quality costing practices at four large successful multinational companies. All four companies use systematic quality initiatives; however, a formal cost of quality (CoQ) methodology was only employed at one of them. This is in agreement with the literature findings arguing that a CoQ approach is not utilized in most quality management programs. The article discusses and compares the quality programs of all four companies and explains the benefits of the eventual adoption of a CoQ approach in each case. The analysis provides a new insight into company practice, useful not only for academic research, but also for use by industry. Keywords: Cost of quality, CoQ, quality costing, industrial practice Introduction Improving quality is considered by many to be the best way to enhance customer satisfaction, to reduce manufacturing costs and to increase productivity. Any serious attempt to improve quality must take into account the costs associated with achieving quality, since nowadays it does not suffice to meet customer requirements, it must be done at the lowest possible cost as well. This can only happen by reducing the costs needed to achieve quality, and the reduction of these costs is only possible if they are identified and measured. The identification itself is not straightforward because there is no general agreement on a single broad definition of quality costs. However, according to Dale and Plunkett (1995), it is now widely accepted that quality costs are the costs incurred in the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of a quality management system, the cost of resources committed to continuous improvement, the costs of system, product and service failures, and all other necessary costs and non-value added activities required to achieve a quality product or service. Measuring and reporting these costs should be considered a critical issue for any manager who aims to achieve competitiveness in today’s markets. There are several methods that can be used to collect, categorize and measure quality costs. The traditional P-A-F method suggested by Juran (1951) and Feigenbaum (1956) classifies quality costs into prevention, appraisal and failure costs. Prevention costs are associated with actions taken to ensure that a process provides quality products and services, appraisal costs are associated with measuring the level of quality attained by the process, and failure costs are incurred to correct quality in products and services before (internal) or after (external) delivery to the customer. The cost categories of Crosby’s model (Crosby, 1979) are similar to the P-A-F scheme. Crosby sees quality as â€Å"conformance to requirements†, and therefore, defines the cost of quality as the sum of price of conformance and price of noncon formance (Crosby, 1979). The price of conformance is the cost involved in making certain that things are done right the first time and the price of non-conformance is the money wasted when work fails to conform to customer requirements. Another formal quality costing approach is the process cost model, which was developed by Ross (1977) and first used for quality costing by Marsh (1989); it represents quality cost systems that focus on process rather than products or services. Several references propose CoQ models that include the additional category of intangible costs. These are costs that can be only estimated such as profits not earned because of lost customers and reduction in revenue owing to non-conformance. The importance of opportunity and intangible costs for quality costing has been recently emphasized in the literature. Dale and Plunkett (1999) describe a less formal method based on collecting quality costs by department. Another recently proposed CoQ methodology is a method based on a team appro ach, in which the aim is to identify the costs associated with things that have gone wrong in a process (Robison, 1997). No matter which quality costing approach is used, the main idea behind the CoQ analysis is the linking of improvement activities with associated costs and customer expectations, thus allowing targeted action for reducing quality costs and increasing quality improvement benefits. Therefore, a realistic estimate of CoQ, which is the appropriate tradeoff between the levels of conformance and non-conformance costs, should be considered an essential element of any quality initiative and a crucial issue for any manager. A number of organizations are now seeking both theoretical advice and practical evidence about quality related costs and the implementation of quality costing systems. A reasonable amount of detailed information on various methods of categorization, collection and measurement of quality costs can be found in the literature (Plunkett and Dale, 1987; Williams et al., 1999; Schiffauerova and Thomson, 2004). However, there are only a few published, practical examples from indus try that give specifics about the costs that are included or excluded in quality costing and about how the costs are practically collected and measured. More detailed descriptions of CoQ systems from industry can be found in Whitehall (1986), Hesford and Dale (1991) and Purgslove and Dale (1996). This paper intends to contribute to this area by providing an analysis of the quality costing practices of four successful companies. Research Intent and Methodology The objective of this research was to obtain and analyze data concerning the practices of successful companies in the area of quality management. Specifically, the main interest was to investigate if these companies collect, measure and monitor quality costs, which kinds of costs were considered in the calculations, and whether any formal CoQ approach was used. The analysis provided a new insight into company practice, useful not only for academic research, but also for use by industry. Four companies were selected to participate in the research. The main objective of the selection was to identify the organizations with well established quality programs belonging to the different industrial sectors. Companies serving the same market could have been reluctant to share details concerning their quality practices with competition. This paper keeps the company names confidential and refers to them as Company A, B, C and D. A benchmarking session took place at McGill University. The quality management programs running at the four companies were described by company representatives. The organizations utilized this occasion as an occasion to obtain new information on the practices used at other companies and to mutually compare their experiences, efforts and successes. Summary of the Benchmarking Session This section summarizes the initiatives in the field of CoQ for the four participants. A comparative analysis of their quality strategies and final remarks follow. Company A Company A is a telecommunication company. It has very complex products, and therefore, the number of opportunities for defects per unit is very high (45,000 defect opportunities per assembly). However, Company A’s customers expect zero defects. Quality initiatives therefore play an important role in the company’s product management. Company A’s model for cost of quality measurement and calculation follow the P-A-F model, where CoQ = (P + A + F (internal + external) + other costs)/cost of goods sold. Company A is well aware of formal cost of quality methods and it has clearly determined its CoQ definitions. It knows exactly what are its conformance and non-conformance costs; however, it struggles to find out the shape of its CoQ curves, and hence, an optimum CoQ tactic. The search for an optimum CoQ is difficult because the business cycle changes often (every 2 years or less); product lines are released in phases, and component obsolescence and multiple engineering changes are quite common. Every change causes a new search for an optimum CoQ; moreover, different product lines require separate review, and variable volumes reduce optimization opportunities. Company A uses an activity based management approach, which means that it uses activity-based costing (ABC) to determine cost categories. It maps financial categories into activity costs, and activities performed at cost centers are rolled up to aggregate quality costs and percentages. In this way, the company obtains exact information about every category: prevention costs, appraisal costs, as well as internal and external failure costs. An example of activity costs is given in Table I, and the resulting CoQ chart is shown in Figure 1. Table I: Example of activity costs in Company A Activity primary OPD Change Management Internal Quality Issues External Quality Issues DFX, NPI support Proto Support PLC Deliverables Mfg Tools Quality Reporting Other Cost of quality category Failure Internal Prevention Failure Internal Failure External Prevention Prevention Appraisal Prevention Appraisal Cost of Business Totals Activity % 8% 12% 17% 9% 4% 6% 22% 6% 10% 6% 100% Cost categories Salaries Depreciation Suppliers Others Company A uses other metrics for performance comparisons, such as ‘new versus mature product’ or ’part number based CoQ ratio’. CoQ is measured at individual test stages, which allows trend analysis and comparison using mature product as the benchmark for new product. Figure 2 shows the decreasing trend of CoQ for manufacturing operations. The graph shows a decrease for all CoQ components; however, it is failure costs which show the biggest reduction, about 40 % over 18 months. The breakdown of CoQ and its cost values are measured quarterly. % Figure 2: CoQ in manufacturing operations for Company A shown on a relative cost scale. Company A has been using their CoQ methodology successfully. The company declares savings in quality costs, has quality improvement in every part of their process, and achieves very aggressive improvement targets. Moreover, the end customer directly benefits from the inhouse quality initiative. As a result, customer satisfaction is increasing. Company B Company B is a multinational microelectronics company, which dedicates a lot of effort to quality improvement. Their far-reaching and successful quality improvement program is the main axis of their quality initiatives. The program includes continuous improvement focused on process as well as extensive education and training on quality for all employees. Despite the fact that there is a great interest in reducing non-conformance cost, Company B does not measure, report or chart CoQ. It does not use any formal CoQ model and does not try to optimize cost of quality. Nevertheless, it does reduce cost due to poor quality through its continuous improvement activities. The company has a strong operations and process focus, where emphasis is put on process yield and cycle time improvement. It believes that a continuous quality improvement program focused on process will provide the opportunities for quality improvement and thus reduction in cost of quality. Company C Company C is in the aerospace industry and emphasizes products with near zero defects. Company C describes its cost of poor quality model as an iceberg philosophy, where just a few categories for poor quality cost are measured and monitored. This is, however, just the tip of the iceberg, since most of the cost factors leading to poor quality are non-visible or completely hidden (and non-quantifiable). Company C has implemented a process that allows tracking of all non-quality events and associated root causes as well as corrective actions and lessons learned. It puts full attention into measuring the cost of poor quality. It has 4 main quality ratings, which measure nonconformities (scrap, rework, etc.), poor adherence to specifications (internal, external, customers’, suppliers’), number of defective parts in parts per million, and on-time delivery. Their cost of non-quality is systematically reduced through a corporate-wide initiative based on continuous improvement. It also uses a sophisticated IT system for tracking quality. Although Company C has had success in improving the value of non-conforming quality costs, it does not use any CoQ model, and it does not include the cost of quality among its calculation elements. Company D Company D is a manufacturer of home products. It has set its quality level at a fixed warranty rate, and it attempts to optimize its quality effort to achieve this target. At the time of the benchmarking session, the company did not measure CoQ; however, it was planning to do so and was building a CoQ model. The envisioned CoQ program was based on a P-A-F model. The strategy of Company D was to directly attack failure costs in an attempt to drive them down, to invest in the right prevention activities to bring about improvements, to reduce appraisal costs according to achieved results, and to continuously evaluate and redirect prevention efforts to gain further improvements. Discussion Table II shows a comparison of the quality initiatives and CoQ effort carried out by the four companies. The following discussion is focused on the relation between the quality strategies and the industrial sectors, on the kinds of CoQ models used, on the satisfaction with company efforts, the results stemming from the quality costing programs, and the recommendations by the authors of this paper. Table II: Comparison of quality initiatives of four companies Company A B C D COC CONC P-A-F ABC Quality costs CONC + COC CONC CONC CONC Formal CoQ model P-A-F + ABC none none none Quality efforts intensive intensive intensive moderate Program satisfaction high high high moderate cost of conformance cost of non-conformance traditional model including: prevention + appraisal + failure costs activity-based costing Quality Strategies The business environment, which is the industry sector and product line, dictates the strategy adopted by the companies to assure achievement of the required level of quality. Companies A, B and C all work in high-tech industries that require very high levels of quality, and therefore, they all have quite elaborate quality and productivity improvement systems with the objective to achieve zero or near zero defects. Company D, which serves home product markets, uses a fixed rate of return through its warranty policy as its quality limit. The company, however, does have a continuous improvement program. Quality Costs Table II suggests that Company A is the only one that in fact measures both kinds of quality costs, conformance and non-conformance. This allows the company to search for the right balance between the amount spent on quality and the resulting benefits. Companies B and C both regard reducing non-conformance cost as a high priority, and therefore, they exert substantial efforts in measuring and monitoring failures and other nonconformances. At the same time, they use elaborate, systematic quality improvement programs in order to reach a zero defect quality level. The direction of these initiatives is consistent with the industry quality environment, which tolerates absolutely no defect, no matter what the cost is. Conformance costs are consequently given much less attention in the quality management programs and measuring them together with the cost of non-conformance is therefore disregarded. The situation for Company D is however quite different. Even though the company also does not measure conformance costs, the nature of its own quality strategy suggests that it would benefit greatly if it started doing so. Identification and measurement of both kinds of the quality costs would certainly improve the quality policy that Company D follows. The policy has a determined rate of return as its quality limit. Being able to find an appropriate trade-off between conformance and non-conformance costs would help Company D determine an optimal level of effort towards achieving quality. Formal CoQ Methods Literature (for example, Porter and Rayner, 1992; Schiffauerova and Thomson, 2004) suggests that, if quality costs are measured by companies, then the classical P-A-F model is the one most frequently used in practice. Even within the limited sample of four companies, P-A-F was the only model encountered. Company A is currently calculating its quality costs according to the tradit ional categorization of prevention, appraisal and failure costs. Moreover, Company D claims that it is planning to utilize this model in the near future as well. The results of this research therefore confirm other researchers’ findings on the frequency of the use of the P-A-F method in industry. Focus by companies on the classical P-A-F methodology is not surprising; however, there are several other alternatives available for monitoring CoQ. Other quality costing methods, such as Crosby’s model or process cost model, are being used with success (Schiffauerova and Thomson, 2004). Every company has to choose an appropriate CoQ method that suits its needs and its situation best. For a detailed checklist of the issues to be considered when deciding on a CoQ approach, see Dale and Plunkett (1995) Activity-based costing (ABC) is considered to be more compatible with quality cost measurement systems than traditional accounting. Although most CoQ measurement methods are activity/process oriented, traditional cost accounting establishes cost accounts by the categories of expenses instead of activities. Thus, many CoQ elements need to be estimated or collected by other methods. There is no consensus method on how to allocate overheads to CoQ elements and no adequate method to trace quality costs to their sources (Tsai, 1998). The use of ABC for a CoQ calculation is therefore an appealing alternative, and Company A is benefiting from this powerful combination. The employment of a CoQ approach together with ABC enables Company A to obtain exact information about every CoQ category: prevention costs, appraisal costs as well as internal and external failure costs. Companies B and C do not utilize any formal quality costing system. This is in agreement with the common suggestion that the CoQ approach is not fully appreciated by organizations and the practical use of formal quality costing in industry is quite rare. Satisfaction with Quality Efforts The quality initiatives of companies A, B, and C are very elaborate and the amount of effort is intensive. Whether they use a formal CoQ method or they solely aim at a reduction in the cost of poor quality, the companies obtain excellent results from their quality programs. All three companies mentioned a high satisfaction with their quality efforts during the benchmarking session. Judging by the success of Company A with its CoQ program, we suggest that companies B and C would benefit from measuring CoQ, and that they would be surprised if they knew their real quality costs. These companies should select an appropriate CoQ model that suits the company’s situation and implement the quality costing methodology in order to improve the efficiency of their quality initiatives. Monitoring quality costs would allow them to better identify target areas for cost reduction and quality improvement. Moreover, sufficient savings should occur to justify CoQ measurement expenses. Company D has a continuous improvement program that brings it moderate results and is already looking to improve it by implementing a CoQ strategy. As mentioned above, the implementation of a suitable CoQ method would secure reduced costs and improved quality benefits for Company D. Summary Even though quality is nowadays considered to be a critical success factor for achieving competitiveness, the CoQ approach is not fully appreciated by organizations, and only a minority of them use formal quality costing methods. The four companies that participated in the benchmarking session with McGill University on cost of quality have systematic quality initiatives, and have been successful in improving quality and reducing the cost of nonconformance. However, the only company that measures cost of quality and uses a formalized CoQ model is Company A. Company D is at the point of starting to use this quality measur ement tool as well; however, it is at the beginning of this path. On the other hand, Company B and Company C focus their quality efforts solely on continuous quality improvement. They measure, monitor and work mostly with the cost of non-conformance, and do not formally include cost of conformance in their analysis. It was recommended that companies B, C and D set up a suitable formal quality costing system compatible with the needs and the situation of each company. For companies B and C this program will mainly facilitate identification of the target areas for quality improvement and cost reduction in quality effort. For Company D it would also help balance its quality costs and establish an optimal level of effort towards achieving quality. CoQ programs should be part of any quality management program. The methodology is not complex and is well documented. CoQ programs provide a good method for identification and measurement of quality costs, and thus allow targeted action for reducing CoQ. Further education on the practical level is needed for managers to understand better the CoQ concept in order to appreciate fully the benefits of the approach, to increase their ability to implement a CoQ measurement system and to save money. References Crosby, P.B. (1979), Quality is Free, New York: McGraw-Hill Dale, B.G. and Plunkett, J.J. (1995), Quality Costing, 2nd edition, Chapman and Hall, London Dale, B.G. and Plunkett, J.J. (1999), Quality Costing,3rd edition, Gower Press, Aldershot Feigenbaum, A.V. (1956), â€Å"Total quality control†, Harvard Business Review, Vol.34, Hesford, M.G. and Dale, B.G. (1991), â€Å"Quality costing at British Aerospace Dynamics†, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Vol.205 (G5), p.53 Juran, J.M. (1951), Quality Control Handbook, 1st edition, McGraw-Hill, New York Marsh, J. (1989), â€Å"Process modeling for quality improvement†, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Total Quality Management, p.111 Plunkett, J.J. and Dale, B.G. (1987), â€Å"A review of the literature on quality-related costs†, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol.4, No.1, p.40 Porter, L.J. and Rayner, P. (1992), â€Å"Quality costing for total quality management†, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 27, p.69 Purgslove, A.B. and Dale, B.G. (1996), â€Å"The influence of management information and quality management systems on the development of quality costing†, Total Quality Management, Vol.7, No.4, p.421 Robison, J. (1997), â€Å"Integrate quality cost concepts into team problem-solving efforts†, Quality Progress, March, p. 25 Ross, D.T. (1977), â€Å"Structured analysis (SA): A language for communicating ideas†, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol.SE-3, No.1, p.16 Schiffauerova, A. and Thomson, V. (2006), â€Å"A review of research on cost of quality models and best practices†, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol.23, No.4 Tsai, W.H. (1998), â€Å"Quality cost measurement under activity-based costing†, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol.15, No.6, p.719 Whitehall, F.B. (1986), â€Å"Review of problems with a quality cost system†, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol.3, No.3, p.43 Williams, A.R.T., van der Wiele, A. and Dale, B.G. (1999), â€Å"Quality costing: a management review†, International Journal of Management Reviews, Vol.1, No.4, p.441

Emily Dickinsons Use of Loss in Poem 67 and Poem 1036 :: Emily Dickinson Poem 67 Poem 1036

Emily Dickinson's Use of Loss in Poem 67 and Poem 1036 Many of Emily Dickinson's poems touch on topics dealing with loss. While loss is generally considered a sad or unfortunate thing, Dickinson uses this theme to explain and promote the positive aspects of absence. Throughout many of her poems, one can see clearly that she is an advocate of respecting and accepting the state of being without. Dickinson implies that through these types of losses, one can gain a richer and stronger appreciation for both success and belongings. Poems 67 and 1036 are two that capture the extent of Dickinson's feelings on loss. By understanding and comparing these two works, it is easy to recognize that Dickinson believes that possessing neither material possessions nor the joy of success are the real keys to happiness. Poem 67 focuses on a battle that could be considered both literal in the sense of a war, or more symbolic as it could act as the anthem for any type of loss or failure. Lines 1 and 2 of the poem explain that success or winning is most valued by those who never prevail. Dickinson is saying that loss creates the strongest appreciation for a win. The lines 3 and 4 state "To comprehend a nectar/ Requires sorest need." This implies that necessity is the only way in which to understand what you want. Next, in the second stanza, Dickinson uses words that denote an actual battle has taken place by saying: Not one of all the purple Host Who took the flag today Can tell the definition So clear of Victory. She is suggesting that winners cannot value their victory. The final stanza emphasizes the fact that the defeated group understands the meaning of victory when she says that "The distant strains of triumph/ Burst agonized and clear!" Dickinson describes the dying soldiers comprehending the meaning of winning the battle in a way that the victors never will. The reason that the winners can't understand the significance of their victory is that they did not taste defeat. The loss of a battle demonstrates to the unsuccessful how far they are from feeling the exuberation of success. Poem 67, as in line with Dickinson's theme of loss, suggests that being in a losing state, at least sometimes, is better than winning all the time. The deflated feeling of being unsuccessful increases the state of appreciation one has for winning.

Government Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is made up of the two houses of Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives. The most important duty of The Legislative Branch is to make laws on a particular Bill, which are written, discussed, and voted on amongst Congress. In the Senate there are 100 senators, two from each state. Senators are elected by their states and serve six-year terms. The Vice President of the United States is considered the head of the Senate, but does not vote in the Senate unless there is a tie. The Senate approves nominations made by the President to the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, federal courts and other posts. The Senate must ratify all treaties by a two-thirds vote. The House of Representatives contains 435 representatives. The number of representatives each state gets is based on its population. According to Factmonster. com, â€Å"California has many more representatives than Rhode Island. When Census figures determine that the population of a state has changed significantly, the number of representatives in that state may shift proportionately. Representatives are elected by their states and serve two-year terms. The Speaker of the House, elected by the representatives, is considered the head of the House. The Senate and the House of Representatives share several functions. Both regulate interstate commerce, interstate communication, interstate transportation, the U. S. Mint, and the supply of money. Both also create courts and declare war on foreign countries. House members represent a certain district in each state. This means that members will stay in touch with their local state g overnment allowing them to connect citizens with what is going on in Washington. In doing so, House members will be more aware of their opinions and needs and be able to advocate for them. Also, one major job duties of The House will be to raise revenue through taxes. They will also participate in committees to study bills, hold public hearings, get expert testimony, and listen to votes so that legislation can be passed. The primary function of both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to make laws. First the bill is drafted, and then a senator introduces it. The bill is then referred to a committee for review. After the committee has reviewed the bill, it is debated in the Senate, and senators propose amendments in relation to the bill and determine whether it should be passed or not. If the bill passes, it is then sent to the House of Representatives and then returned to the Senate. If the House of Representatives do not change the bill, the Senate signs the bill and delivers it to the White House. The President either signs the bill to make it a law, or vetoes it. Another important part of a senator's job is representing his or her state in national issues. Most senators spend a good amount of time talking to the residents of their home state about issues of importance to them. â€Å"Part of being in The Senate it is their responsibility to hold all impeachment hearings for government officials. In impeachment hearings, the Senate Chamber is used as a courtroom, and a committee of representatives acts as the prosecutor. If two-thirds of the Senate votes to convict the official, he or she is removed from office,† states eHow. com. The Senate also approves the executive branch's treaties. To make Senate negotiations easier, some presidents have brought senators with them to treaty negotiations. The Constitution requires that U. S. senators must be at least 30 years of age, citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and residents of the states from which they are elected. Members of the House of Representatives must be at least 25, citizens for seven years, and residents of the states which send them to Congress. The states may set additional requirements for election to Congress, but the Constitution gives each house the power to determine the qualifications of its members. According to eHow. com, â€Å"As of January 2009, the annual salary of a Representative is $174,000. The Speaker of the House earns an annual salary of $223,500. Further, Majority and Minority leaders earning $193,000 annually. Representatives also receive lifetime benefits after they have served five years; which include a pension, health benefits and Social Security benefits. † Therichest. org states that, â€Å"As of 2010, yearly salaries for United States Senators were $174,000 for Basic Senators, $193,400 for Majority and Minority Leaders, $223,500 for President Pro Tempore, and $230,700 for the Vice President. † Boundless. com summarizes the constitution and states that, â€Å"Article I of the United States Constitution describes the powers of Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. To establish the powers of and limitations of the Congress, the Article addresses the creation of the House of Representatives, which is composed of Representatives from each state. The number of representatives for each state is dependent upon the size of the population. The Article also establishes that there will be two Senators from each state. † The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process—legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. However, the Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments, while the House of Representatives initiates revenue-raising bills. The House initiates impeachment cases, while the Senate decides impeachment cases. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an impeached person can be forcibly removed from office. The Constitution also goes into detail and explains the jobs of the Senate by saying that each state is represented by two senators, regardless of population. Senators serve staggered six-year terms. The chamber of the United States Senate is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D. C. , the national capital. The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the House, including consenting to treaties as a precondition to their ratification. The Senate also confirms appointments of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, other federal executive officials, military officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, and other federal uniformed officers, as well as trial of federal officials impeached by the House. The Vice President of the United States is the ex officio President of the Senate, with authority to preside over the Senate's sessions, although he can vote only to break a tie. Senators are regarded as more prominent political figures than members of the House of Representatives because there are fewer of them, and because they serve for longer terms, usually represent larger constituencies. According to the Constitution the major power of the House is to pass federal legislation that affects the entire country, although its bills must also be passed by the Senate and further agreed to by the President before becoming a law. The House has several exclusive powers: the power to initiate revenue bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the U. S. President. Each state is represented in the House in proportion to its population, but is entitled to at least one representative. The most populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives. The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 435. Each representative serves for a two-year term. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who presides over the chamber, is elected by the members of the House, and is therefore traditionally the leader of the House Democratic Caucus or the House Republican Conference, whichever of the two Congressional Membership Organizations has more voting members. Elections for representatives are held in every even-numbered year, and on Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. By law, Representatives must be elected from single-member districts by plurality voting. Most do not see the importance of the Legislative Branch because most of its actions are done behind closed doors but that does not take away from the important jobs of the House and the Senate. The Legislative Branch keeps the other two branches in order with Checks and Balances as well as each other. Without The Legislative Branch the government would not be able to function properly and orderly.

Elements of gambling Essay

There are two elements of Gambling, including game of chance and gambling mentality. Chance means people cannot control the outcome of an event but with possibility of winning. Player wagers money on irreversible bet in which the outcome relies on chance. Gambling mentality means the willing to take risk. To gamble on something is to take a risk on something in which the stake is involved. Pathological Approach to problem gambling Problem gambling is defined as pathological gambling under APA DSMVI. Pathological gambling is an impulsive control disorder in which there is a chronic and progressive failure to resist impulses to gamble. The concept of addiction of gambling is similar to alcohol and drug addiction in APA model. Gambling is a kind of process addiction. Gamblers enjoy the excitement, tension and anticipation over than the outcome of a gambling event. Gamblers described having the feeling of â€Å"high† similar to that experienced form cocaine in â€Å"outer-body†. There is a dominance in which people have intense preoccupation with gambling to the exclusion of other interests. There is also a problem of tolerance. It means gamblers will eventually spend more money than they intended on gambling, they will lose track of time and control over money betted. In other words, they will gamble from simple to complex high risk and high return betting. We can also see the gamblers have withdrawal symptoms, like irritable, nervous angry and restless. Action gambler Mahjong Tends to be arrogant Desire to control Self-centered, insecure, disregard for authority Easily frustrated, impatient and demanding Highly competitive but given up on the conventional way of competition Attracted to competitive games and those required skills Likely men who started their gambling activities at an earlier state. Gambling gives them a sense of self-enhancement and self-expression Escape gambler Lack of confidence / no self-esteem due to insufficient knowledge and skills Games with no skills involved, e. g. slot machine because no one will judge them Likely to be women who began gambling much later in life than action gamblers Gambling is an emotional reaction to whatever personal or relationship issues they are trying to escape from. Later pathological explanations on problem gambling All pathological gamblers were involved in social gambling for a period of time before they lost control over gambling A significant stressor or greater exposure to gambling often precipitated the sudden onset of pathological gambling. Modern Pathological explanations on problem gambling Modern pathology theories do not argue for determinism but instead rely on the concept of probability- in the sense of â€Å"the relative frequency of occurrence†, â€Å"relative chances of happening†- explain pathological gambling. E. g. Medical Model Medical Model-BlumeAn explanation for deviant behavior that locates its source within the individual and assumes that the behavior is the result of physiological, constitutional, or organic characteristics of the person interacting with the environment. Different psychological and physiological causes of gambling:1. Genetic abnormality that provide a predisposition for disease 1 / 2 2. Mental illness- resulting from obsession or a compulsion3. Abnormal level of dopamine=/=occurrence of sickness It depends on its interaction with other risk factors e. g gender, family influence, ageSolution: Counseling and financial management Weakness: Classical -> Ambiguous judgement.

Why Soda Is Bad for Your Teeth

Why Soda Is Bad for Your Teeth Youve heard soda is bad for your teeth, but it is really true? If it is, why is it bad? Answer: Yes, soda damages your teeth. Drinking a carbonated beverage is actually one of the worst things you can do for your dental health. The reason is because the carbonation that makes soda bubbly also makes it extremely acidic. Many sodas also contain citric acid, which gives the drink a tangy flavor, but destroys teeth. Its a one-two punch with sweetened sodas, because the low pH attacks tooth enamel, while the sugar feeds bacteria that cause decay. Youre not off the hook drinking diet soda, because its mainly the acid in soda that harms teeth. How To Minimize Damage To Teeth From Soda The best way to minimize damage to your teeth from soda is to avoid drinking it. If you cant give it up, try to reduce how often you drink it and follow these tips: Avoid colas and regular orange soda. Regular, diet, or flavored cola is the most acidic. The one with the highest sugar content is regular orange soda. Consider testing a sweetened soda to see how much sugar it contains. The results may surprise you! Non-colas drinks are still terrible for your teeth because they contain higher levels of citric acid. The pH of these drinks may be higher, but citric acid binds to calcium and erodes enamel.Sip soda through a straw. Drinking through a straw minimizes the contact between teeth and the acidic drink.If you must drink soda, try to have it with food rather than by itself. Food helps regulate the pH inside your mouth, limiting the acid attack on teeth.Rinse your mouth with water after drinking soda. This will help neutralize the pH and reduce the level of sugar. Alternatively, eat a dairy food. Dairy products help remineralize tooth enamel. You could also chew on a crunchy vegetable or xylitol-containing gum. This helps clean teeth.Dont brush your teeth right after drinking a soda. It sounds like it would be a good idea, but it actually makes a bad situation worse because the mechanical action of the toothbrush erodes weakened enamel. Allow at least half an hour after drinking soda (or eating anything acidic, like citrus or sour candy) before grabbing the toothbrush. Switch to root beer. Genuine root beer contains natural carbonation, so it doesnt contain the same levels of destructive phosphoric acid or citric acid. You can test how bad soda is for your teeth. If you can get hold of teeth (they dont need to be human teeth), soak them in soda and watch how quickly the dissolve. An easier option is to soak chicken bones. Bones arent quite as hard as teeth, but are chemically similar. The acid strips calcium from teeth and bones. Bones are left rubbery because they contain a lot of collagen. Teeth dissolve almost completely.

12 Reaction Essay Topics on Social Stratification

12 Reaction Essay Topics on Social Stratification If you are writing a reaction paper on the topic of social stratification, consider the facts listed below: Social stratification refers to the categorization of people based upon occupation, income, wealth, social status, and power derived from social and political means. Stratification is the relative social position of people within different categories, different social units, or different geographic regions. In modern society the use of social stratification has distinguished people into one of three classes. The first is the upper-class, followed by the middle class, followed by the lower class. All three of these classes are subdivided further into the upper part of the upper class, the lower part of the upper class, the upper part of the middle class, the lower part of the middle class, the upper part of the lower class, and the lower part of the lower class. In addition to this Western society divides people socially on the basis of kinship. The categorization of people based on social standing ranges from complex categories state-based societies all the way to tribal societies based upon classes of nobility and peasants.   Historically hunter-gatherer societies were not socially stratified but rather, stratification started with agriculture when social exchange became commonplace. The structures which create social stratification come from inequalities between individuals and the degree of social inequality is what determines the stratum.   The greater social complexity there is for a particular society, the more social strata exists. Social stratification has been used within social science to describe the relative position of an individual or a group of people within a social group, within a specific category, within a geographical region, or within a social unit. The word derives from Latin and refers to the categorization of people based on socioeconomic tiers.   The divide between different people is based upon aspects such as income, occupation, power, social status, and wealth. The concept of social stratification has been interpreted differently within the social sciences. Within the field of Sociology those who support Action Theory suggest that social stratification can be found in all developed societies but those who support dominance hierarchy state that it is necessary in a developed Society in order to maintain stability and order. Conflict theories like that of Marxism focus on the inaccessibility of resources and therefore the complete lack of social Mobility which can be found in any society divided on strata. Sociological theorists have criticized modern strata, particularly the socio-economic divide, between the wealthy and lower classes, with a great deal of emphasis placed on the diminishing middle class and the ability of the wealthy to hold political power used to exploiting the laboring classes. Some sociologists maintain that social order and stability in Western societies is regulated by Universal values. These values are not necessarily identical with a consensus but they are the foundation which serves to ignite social conflict throughout history. In fact, societies with larger middle classes have more educated workforces and have more technology-based economies. Some proponents of Dependency Theory state that globalization has influenced the status of third-world individuals. There are four key principles which underlie social stratification. The first principle is that social stratification is defined as the property of a society and not individuals in a society. The second is that such stratification can be reproduced from one generation to the next. The third underlying principle is that social stratification can be found in each society but it differs based on time and place to some degree.   The fourth underlying principle is that social stratification does not simply cover quantitative inequality with regard to wealth but also quantitative beliefs and different attitudes about social status. Social stratification is not found only in complex societies even though all complex societies do have some proponents and features of stratification. In more complex societies the total amount of valued goods is not distributed equally. Instead, those families to our privilege will enjoy a higher amount of valued resources, power, and income. In some cases the term stratification system refers to the social relationships observed in such inequalities. The key components to a stratification system include a social process which defines those goods which have value and desire, create the rules for allocating those goods two different positions among the division of labor, and social mobility exist as a link between individuals and different positions they assume. Social Mobility refers to the movement of social groups, people, or individuals between different strata. This movement can take place within one generation or it can take place between two or more generations. Social mobility is intended to classify various systems of social stratification. Systems which are allow for more mobility between the different strata with value placed upon the achieved status of each individual. Societies which have mobility within a single generation are considered to be the most open of social systems with the highest level of flexibility. Systems which have limited or no mobility even across two or more generations are considered closed stratification systems. In India, for example, the caste system places individuals within a particular social strata from birth and do not allow mobility across multiple generations. There are different theories of stratification historically speaking. Karl Marx founded Marxist theory which divides the economy into two main sections and follows the relationship between the employer and the employee. This theory focuses on how social class is determined by the relationship an individual has to production. Another theory of stratification was created by Max Weber. Max Weber was influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx but rejected communism as it related to social stratification. He is well-known for his three component theory of stratification which divides people into four main social classes including the upper class, white collar workers, the petite bourgeoisie, and the working class.   This particular theory is the one which most closely resembles modern Western class structure. We hope you enjoyed these facts on social stratification for a reaction paper. Take a look at our 10 selected sub-topics on the subject as well as instructive guide that will provide a high value to you. References: Behtoui, Alireza. Social Capital And Stratification Of Young People.  SI  1.1 (2013): 46. Web. Birkelund, Gunn Elisabeth. Welfare States And Social Inequality: Key Issues In Contemporary Cross-National Research On Social Stratification And Mobility.  Research in Social Stratification and Mobility  24.4 (2006): 333-351. Web. Bottero, Wendy.  Stratification. London: Routledge, 2005. Print. Chan, Kwok B et al.  Social Stratification In Chinese Societies. Leiden: Brill, 2009. Print. Esping-Andersen, Gà ¸sta. UNTYING THE GORDIAN KNOT OF SOCIAL INHERITANCE. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility  21 (2004): 115-138. Web. Littlejohn, James.  Social Stratification. London: Allen and Unwin, 1972. Print. Owen, Carol.  Social Stratification. London: Routledge K. Paul, 1968. Print. Schubert, Frank and Rolf Becker. Social Inequality Of Reading Literacy.  Research in Social Stratification and Mobility  28.1 (2010): 109-133. Web. Woelfel, Joseph and Monica Murero. SPACES AND NETWORKS: CONCEPTS FOR SOCIAL STRATIFICATION.  Research in Social Stratification and Mobility  22 (2004): 57-71. Web.

Take the Stress Out of Author Marketing

Take the Stress Out of Author Marketing Weve all heard it: You need to spend time building and interacting with your audience. You need a website and a blog. And dont forget about book signings. Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn social interaction should all be regular parts of your weekly marketing habits. They dont happen Im a writer, not a marketer, we complain. Some have hired a publicist to handle all these marketing details, but that can become expensive. There is another option that many writers are now utilizing. Its the growing league of Virtual Assistants (or VAs}. As the title implies, a VA operates virtually, via online and telephone interaction with their clients. Each VA has a unique skillset which she employs, but most are very Internet savvy. The primary function of a VA is to take on tasks delegated to them from their client, so their client can spend their time on their primary focus, in the writer’s case, writing. Taking on social media posting and interaction is a common task delegated to a VA. They can create your author Facebook page, Twitter account and LinkedIn profiles. Once these are setup, they can create appropriate posts to each of these accounts on a frequency schedule that fits your preference and your budget. Need to create a webpage to announce your next book? Can’t keep up with your blog postings? Your VA can take care of that for you, too. VA skills are not limited to these types of online marketing tasks. A VA could also arrange for book signings or speaking engagements. They could design postcards or posters to promote a book signing or book release. They could track the status of your submissions to agents and publishers. They could even be your research assistant, collecting data for your historical novel or hunting down sources for a magazine article. Now that I’ve gotten you all excited about the possibilities of unloading some of those time consuming tasks off your to-do list, the next question you’ll have is – â€Å"How do I find a VA?† There are lots of ways to do that. There are companies online that specialize in providing VA services. HireYourVirtualAssistant.com is one, ContemporaryVA.com is another. If you’d prefer to hire an individual directly, you could post an ad with WAHM.com, a job service newsletter that many VA’s subscribe too, or on one of the online bidding sites like elance or Guru. Simply inquiring among your network of writers may turn up names of VA’s that others have used and have been happy with. How much will a VA charge for their services? That can vary greatly. Many will charge Haven’t you always wanted your own personal assistant? Delegating some of your marketing tasks to a VA can unload a whole lot of stress and be profitable, as well. After all, marketing is all about increasing sales. Hiring a good VA can be one of the best investments you make in your career.

Sustainability and Built Enviornment Assignment

Sustainability and Built Enviornment - Assignment Example While several sustainable construction materials are now available, the criteria used to choose either of the same is informed by the desire to strike a delicate balance between the growing needs of the world today and the need to minimize the negative impacts that would emanate from such initiatives both to resources and to the environment. From the perspective of the environment, the building materials used have a direct impact on the energy consumption, the emission of carbon dioxides, how much waste materials are generated, the natural resources used, water consumption as well as how the utilization of such materials directly affects the health of the persons around the area. The first criteria that would be used in choosing a sustainable building material are the ability of the material to be recycled. Taking an example of steel, it is a building material that is recyclable for an indefinite time without necessarily suffering any losses in terms of quality. Steel can, for instance, be recycled 100 percent. However, for purposes of building, steel materials can be recycled i.e. used from one building to another to a degree of about 98%. There is, therefore, an economic loop that is sustained by the intrinsic quality inherent in the steel itself. Today, it is estimated that all over the world, recycled steel make up to about 40% of the total ferrous material in the steel industry. Mostly, such materials are used in the electrical furnace procedures and other processes like the blast oxygen furnace that play a role in generating building materials and even in direct construction processes. Through recycling, there are a significant cost reduction processes meaning that it can be sustained for a long time.

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Nursing - Assignment Example The article did bring out the role of public health department in the health of the community. Some of the activities of the activities of these nurses to the community outlined in the article include control of communicable diseases, administration of immunization, prevention of chronic diseases, family planning awareness and provision of safe food and drinking water to persons affected (Carolyn & Karen, 2011). The article clearly outlines the ability and potentials possessed by these groups of health workers. Public health nurses in the community based in creates safety networking by with other community agencies, identify risks affecting the community and intervene to provide solutions where possible, provision of health education especially to vulnerable population, and identify the problem and provide solutions before the problem advances. The author brought out challenges facing these groups of workers in the course of delivering their services, which affects effectiveness and fulfillment of their role. Lack of job security and inadequate staffing emerged as the serious problems affecting them. The author’s conclusion on the issue of public health nurses indicate that there are adequate resources and facilities are provided for effective service delivery and effective utilization of resources (Carolyn & Karen, 2011). The article managed to bring out and clearly demonstrates the striking issues affecting public health nurses and the efforts instilled to solve these issues, imposition of cost effective systems for disease prevention and health improvement of the community’s health. Having knowledge and understanding about the community is significant for health nurses, since policy makers and health planners when dealing with matters affecting the community will use the information. Community involvement by these groups of persons in meeting their welfare and ensuring that the needs of the community are met is an issue to

Analyse the association between variables Assignment

Analyse the association between variables - Assignment Example The contention was to find a simple equation that could represent the presented proposition with ease (Witte & Witte, 2009). This was followed by a calculation of the correlation coefficient that was meant to express how well the equation connected to the actual plot points. This was done to see how well any calculations based on the equation would reflect on the actual situation. Part (g) In terms of the initial hypothesis, the plotted points provide a strong correlation between the fitting of denture for the first time and the weight loss in the first year. However, it must be taken to note that the plotted points show a consistent behaviour for respondents with an initial weight under 80 kg. However, when respondents above 80 kg of initial weight are looked into, it becomes clear that they tend not to follow the initial hypothesis. The best solution would be to carry out more research with respondents with an initial weight of over 80 kg and to possibly model the situation using q uadratic or higher order polynomial functions in order to find a better fit for respondents with an initial weight above 80 kg. References Witte, R.S. ...

Classical Music Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Classical Music Concert - Essay Example Naturally, the concert was entirely devoted to the cantata of Carl Orff (1895-1982) called Carmina Burana, which incorporates a prologue and three parts consisting of a number of musical movements. The first movement I would like to describe is Veris Leta Facies, the movement immediately following the prologue and proceeding with its overall tone. According to the rules of Cantata genre, the movement focused mainly on vocal part, with the choirs being accompanied by the pianos and percussion ensemble. The mixed choir parties were mediated by piano and percussion ritornellos. The general atmosphere and tonality hinted at expressionistic coloring of Orff’s work, for the vocal parties sounded rather minor despite a rather lively ritornello at the beginning. Expressionistic nature of the composition was sensed also due to a slight dissonance between the lyrics (the translation of which is in the program) and the tone of music. Moreover, listening to the movement, I was able to identify an allusion to and imitation of medieval music with its simple tonalities and choral singing. Although the movement featured the mixed choir, it resembled much of the monophonic medieval Greg orian chants style. What is also notable about the whole concert and this movement in particular is that the instrumental accompaniment of the Cantata was performed by a minimal number of instruments; though – as far as I know – it is traditionally played with a wide variety of instruments including woodwind and brass sections. The second movement I would like to write about is – no surprise – one of the most famous classical vocal pieces of nowadays, a movement framing Carmina Burana, its opening and closing. The movement was characterized by a steady rhythm supported by piano and a dramatic choral parties sung by the mixed choir. Approximately, in the middle of the piece, the powerful

Case Study of Pepsico-2009 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Of Pepsico-2009 - Case Study Example The two key threats facing Pepsico may be seen as the considerable level of competition from key players in the market such as Coca-Cola and Kraft who both have large resources and capabilities to compete. In addition, the continuing economic downturn may be seen as a key threat to the company. Pepsico’s key weakness may be seen as one related to the company’s cost management system. While the company is financially strong, it has struggled to maintain costs proportionate to sales growth. Market Focus – In the first instance Pepsico should continue and accelerate a policy of expanding its core product range into new markets were there is considerable potential for sales growth. Such markets include China, the Middle East and Africa. Product Portfolio Analysis – It has become clear that there has been a large change in demand on the behalf of consumers in the US and Europe with declining sales in traditional carbonated drinks and rise in demand for healthier options. As such, in these geographic areas Pepsico should focus energies into developing and marketing a range of alternatives to the tradito9nal carbonated drink and develop a clear healthy brand. Cost Reductions – While the company is considerably profitable and has a strong balance sheet, costs have been rising disproportionately to sales growth. As such, Pepsico should embark on planed cost efficiency drive to help being expenses back into line with sales growth and maintain profit margins. The rational for undertaking the recommended action plan is based upon the consideration of a number of key factors. Changes to the product mix in the US and Europe are designed to take account of changes in consumer demands for healthier products. On the other hand, key opportunities exist for large scale expansion in markets such as China where there is

Classical Music Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Classical Music Concert - Essay Example Naturally, the concert was entirely devoted to the cantata of Carl Orff (1895-1982) called Carmina Burana, which incorporates a prologue and three parts consisting of a number of musical movements. The first movement I would like to describe is Veris Leta Facies, the movement immediately following the prologue and proceeding with its overall tone. According to the rules of Cantata genre, the movement focused mainly on vocal part, with the choirs being accompanied by the pianos and percussion ensemble. The mixed choir parties were mediated by piano and percussion ritornellos. The general atmosphere and tonality hinted at expressionistic coloring of Orff’s work, for the vocal parties sounded rather minor despite a rather lively ritornello at the beginning. Expressionistic nature of the composition was sensed also due to a slight dissonance between the lyrics (the translation of which is in the program) and the tone of music. Moreover, listening to the movement, I was able to identify an allusion to and imitation of medieval music with its simple tonalities and choral singing. Although the movement featured the mixed choir, it resembled much of the monophonic medieval Greg orian chants style. What is also notable about the whole concert and this movement in particular is that the instrumental accompaniment of the Cantata was performed by a minimal number of instruments; though – as far as I know – it is traditionally played with a wide variety of instruments including woodwind and brass sections. The second movement I would like to write about is – no surprise – one of the most famous classical vocal pieces of nowadays, a movement framing Carmina Burana, its opening and closing. The movement was characterized by a steady rhythm supported by piano and a dramatic choral parties sung by the mixed choir. Approximately, in the middle of the piece, the powerful

Pop Cultures Significance In Modern Society Essay

Pop Cultures Significance In Modern Society - Essay Example Pop culture is significant in the lives of human beings as it is a reflection of what matters to people, letting them express and validate the spirit of their epoch. Popular culture enhances young people’s understanding of helping them participate in the representations that aid in constructing their identities. This is a popular food chain in America that has a distinct icon that represents all the foods available in all their joints across America. American pop culture icons such as that one of burger king have been well received across different nations around the world even in the predominantly Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia (Kamalipour, 21). Burger king produces different kinds of foods with meat as Americans prefer it, it is a first food joint and the food is produced quickly and mostly to go. This can be interpreted to mean that Americans prefer food that is quickly prepared to save time. One can assert that it is due to their hard working nature and effort to save time. These joints are quite popular in America and the icon can be seen on many other products such as t-shirts, caps or bags. This icon is quite popular such that it has been adopted in Islamic countries but with a slight twist to the name and a bit of change in the appearance. This shows that even in conservative Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, people are in tandem with the rest of the world due to globalization brought about by technology (Kamalipour, 25). The Icon, therefore, has led to the popularity of such food a joint which has been cited as a lucrative business venture. It is slightly different however since unlike in America, all the meat is Halal and is handled and prepared as per the Islamic dietary rules. This shows the value of Islamic culture. In addition, most of the women working behind the counter wear headscarves or hijabs.

Can Marriage Be Saved Essay Example for Free

Can Marriage Be Saved Essay Can Marriage Be Saved? Written by: Frank Furstenberg Summer 2005 I chose the article â€Å"Can Marriage Be Saved? † written by Frank Furstenberg. This article was found under the â€Å"topics for course papers† section of our syllabus, link number four. I felt that the article was very much true to life. I agree that marriage seems to last a lifetime for the more educated and wealthy. I see all too often young adults getting married just because they have become pregnant or for the wrong reasons. This theory rarely seems to work. This usually causes problems for the young family because neither person is ready to take on the major responsibility that having a family at such a young age brings. This relates very close to my life because I was married and had my first child at the age of 16. With the lack of education and work experience that I had, it made it almost impossible to support and provide for my child. Needless to say, I found myself divorced and a 16 year old single parent six months later. The struggles of being married without an education or a career are a huge strain on a relationship. It is almost unheard of to have the idea, 1960’s, type of lifestyle these days. It was very common for the woman to be the homemaker and the caregiver for the children during this time while the man worked and provided for his family. Now, it is almost forced upon most families to have a middle class lifestyle or above in order to live a comfortable life. With this being said, it is crucial for both parties of the marriage to obtain a higher education and to work full time. Adding a child to the mix of working, school and trying to find time to be a parent can be a disaster. No wonder most marriages end almost as soon as they begin. I believe the best way we can change these old habits is to set better examples for our children and instill high values in them to get a college degree and make sure they have a strong career path before tackling the challenge of marriage and having a family. I believe marriage has a much higher chance of success if you have your education and career in order first. Once you have a good balance of values in your life, then you should consider marriage and a family.

Observe and describe two separate play activities

Observe and describe two separate play activities While referring to literature and play theories, criticallly analyse the play episodes observed. Play can take many different forms and can have various aims. Play can be solitary, in pairs, parallel, in a group and communicative among other things. The aim can be simply fun, to learn physical motor skills, to learn to be imaginative and creative, to build teamwork, to learn communication skills and problem solving. Studies show that all young animals play to acquire the necessary skills for life. Play has an enormous impact on the childs development. Many believe that it is one of the primary needs of a child and is often said to be a childs work (Tassoni Hucker, 2005, p. 1). It helps the child for his development in: Social skills, Physical skills, Emotional skills, Language skills and Cognitive development Play can be either structured or free. Most of the time, the structured play is organized by an adult or an older peer. It is usually guided and planned, and very often theres only one way to do it. In the meantime, free play is often self-initiated which encourages the child to be creative and imaginative. Play involves exploring feelings, ideas, materials, relationships and roles, making connections between one experience and another and representing ideas, objects and environments. (Pound, 2000, p. 74) The Observations of the Structured and Free Play activities took place in a classroom environment. The class consists of twenty four children, the teacher and a Learning Support Assistant. This is an inclusive school and there is one child with special needs. At the time all twenty four children in the class were playing with the same things. They are all girls and aged between 4 years and 5 years. Six children were observed during these two activities. The sessions lasted between 20 minutes and half an hour each. Photos were taken of the children playing. The person observing the children sat to the side and did not participate in the play. Communication with the children was kept to a minimum and the childrens actions and some dialogue were noted. Structured Play In Structured play activities the adult usually has a high profile role (Tassoni Hucker, 2005, p. 74) and the child has a more passive role. The adult teaches or demonstrates to the child how the activity must be done and the child follows instructions. Very often the activity can only be carried out in one way, for example completing a puzzle or painting a specific art project and the children tend to be less involved in structured play and loose interest more quickly. However there are benefits in structured activities. They allow the adult to focus childrens attention on a specific concept, skill or knowledge(Tassoni Hucker, 2005, p. 73) and by using structured activities the adult can also ensure that the child is developing specific skills like hand and eye coordination and fine motor skills. Observation of a Structured Play Activity Wooden jigsaw puzzles of varying difficulty were used for this activity. Aims Improve hand and eye coordination Fine motor skills Attention span Develop reasoning and problem solving skills Understand shapes and colours Spatial awareness The teacher put out a number of jigsaw puzzles for the children to choose from. The puzzles were put in the middle of a large table and the children were able to choose at will and encouraged to share and swop puzzles when ready. The children started playing by picking a puzzle each and tipping the pieces on the table. The teacher said that this was not the first time they have played with these puzzles so they were confident in their actions and did not need her to guide them in what they were doing. The teacher walked around the classroom supervising their play. After a few minutes of playing the children were observed talking about the puzzles they had picked out for themselves and commenting about which ones were difficult and which were easy. FA and P wanted to play with the puzzle L had picked so, after a short discussion, they came to an agreement; once L finished playing with her puzzle, she would give it to P to play with and when she was ready from playing with it she would then pass it on to FA. This sort of negotiation can be described as social play since almost every aspect of play in a social group involves negotiation and conversation over the ownership of bikes and blocks (Riley, 2007, p. 46). TD also wanted the same puzzle so the teacher intervened and told her that she must wait for the others to finish playing with it and then it would be her turn. TD accepted this compromise and continued playing with the puzzle she had originally chosen. Although this play activity could be quite solitary with each child having their own puzzle, in reality the children were observed sharing, discussing and cooperating in their play. K was helping TD and P as they had similar puzzles and some of the pieces were mixed up. She showed them which pieces fit in which puzzles and they continued to complete their puzzles following her instructions. This was a good example of scaffolding where more knowledgeable others provide assistance to learners (Wood Attfield, 2005, p. 94). R and FA were playing parallel to each other without any communication at first, and then they started to talk and joined their play by comparing puzzle pieces and discussing the characters on them. The children played with the puzzles in a structured way for about ten minutes. Suddenly the play activity did not remain structured any more as one of the children started to use the jigsaw pieces in symbolic play. Symbolic play occurs when the child either pretends to be something that he or she is not or uses a material as something that it is not normally used for (Charlesworth, 2008, p. 73). In this case P started to pretend to eat the pieces of the puzzle she was playing with (her puzzle was of a bear). The teacher played along with this and asked her what it tasted like and P replied of a bear. She then continued with her symbolic play and pretended she was baking the puzzle pieces in the oven. The table she was playing on took on the symbolic role of the oven and P started putting the completed wooden puzzle underneath the table. P, who seemed to be a very popular girl, took on the role of leader and it was observed that she was very creative. Within a couple of minutes some of the other children took up the idea and R and FA started baking their jigsaw puzzles underneath the table too. P then changed the game and tried to encourage the other girls into a competition by having a race. Lets see whos going to be the fast one! she said. However the other girls either ignored her or were too busy thinking about their play and nobody took on her challenge. FA changed her play. She was neither cooking nor putting the pieces in their place. She was making the puzzle pieces stand up. Her puzzle portrayed a construction site complete with people and machinery. She used the pieces in a type of small world play, where the figures became characters in an imaginary world (Tassoni Hucker, 2005, p. 274). At one point FA became a bit worried as her pieces kept falling down so she asked for Ps help, who then joined in the game. After a few minutes of playing in this way, they changed their play again. This time it changed into celebratory play. This type of pretend play represents a form of celebration whether a birthday, a feast, or a holiday. In this case the two girls began to pretend that the puzzle pieces were the candles on a birthday cake. They pretended to blow out the candles and FA started singing the Happy Birthday song while the other girls round the table; R, P and K joined in. Another girl who has special needs and who was playing on another table heard the enthusiasm of the group and came to join them too. It is worth noting that just before this play occurred some older children from another class came to our classroom with pieces of a birthday cake to offer to the teacher and LSA. The teacher said that this is a common occurrence which the younger children are used to, she also said that it is a tradition for all children to bring a cake to school on their birthday and celebrate with their class friends. Free Play Aims Communicative skills Developing the imagination and creativity Personal and social development Very often during free play, children imitate life situations and take part in role play. Adults can provide play opportunities and make suggestions. They can organise material and equipment as well as listen and take part in the play, however only if they are asked to. It is important that adults support free play or the children will get the idea that free play is not as important as structured play and end up associating play with work-related activities, which destroys the whole experience for the child (Tassoni Hucker, 2005 p. 5). Free play is also very important for the childs self esteem and for his overall development (Tassoni Hucker, 2005). This is because when two or more children are given the opportunity to self-initiate play, they will be encouraged to communicate between themselves and develop their socially interactive skills, which helps to gradually develop their self-concept. Moreover being allowed to play freely, gives them the opportunity to make decisions and choices for themselves, which enhances a positive self-esteem. Above all, communication between them leads to the increase of their vocabulary from their peers and from the adults watching or taking part in their play. Usually during free play, the children concentrate longer as the play and the ideas are chosen by themselves (Bruce, 2004). Very often during the self-initiated play, children tend to play by using their imagination which includes pretending, fantasy play and symbolic play (Tassoni Hucker, 2005). In our observation, pretend play was the most common one together with the symbolic play. Fantasy play was not rehearsed in our observation. It was very clear that all the play was part of their life experience, what they encountered when they were at home or when they were with their mothers or other relatives. The imaginative play develops self expression as well as giving children the opportunity to explore their experiences. (Tassoni Hucker, 2005, p. 10). Sometimes this is noted when the child expresses anger or maternal care during their play. Observation of a Free Play Activity Six girls were observed playing in the various areas of the classroom. These areas were the home corner, the reading area and the toy box area. The children used various items in their imaginative play and their role play. They moved from one play scenario to another fluidly and had no problem changing roles as they went along. They used the items in their playing areas symbolically to represent something else according to their play like a small doll used as a hairdryer. The adult observing sat to the side. The teacher told the girls that they could play wherever they wished. Some girls who were sitting at the same table got up and went to the reading area. TC pretended it was her birthday. The other girls joined her in associative play where they played with each other and came together because they shared an interest. They gave her books from the reading area, which were symbolically changed into presents. One of the wooden puzzles that they had been playing with earlier, was turned into a birthday cake. FP went round with the puzzle pieces pretending to give cake to the rest of the girls. The girls pretended they were having a party and the teacher was invited to sit down and join in the play. The girls brought cups and plates to the teacher who sat down near them. They pretended to give her all kinds of food, the teacher took part in their play by pretending to eat what she was given and asking questions about the food, aiming to introduce new vocabulary during their play. J was mixing the imaginary food using a cup and a spoon. Then she poured it in the teachers plate for her to eat. MC pretended that it was her babys birthday party and used a book to represent the cake. MB, who was cooking, pretended to drop sauce on the teacher, who played along by pretending she was a mess and needed to get cleaned up. This comment made the girls change their play. While the teacher sat on the same chair in the same place, the girls started to put cream and make up on her face. Glitter was also mentioned. They used Teletubby plastic toys as their tools and started styling the teachers hair. J imagined having a hair dryer in her hand and styled the teachers hair while making a humming sound. Another girl associated a toy in the box with the play scenario and got a toy hairdryer and started doing the same motions. In the meantime C and FP went to the library area where they found a large plastic box and sat in it pretending it was their cot. They imagined they were babies, and one of them said Trid tirrabja mieghi? Int il-mummy! MB pretended to put nail polish on the teachers nails and then she started painting the teachers hand. The teacher explained that during the school bazaar, which was held the month before, some children were allowed to have their face painted and other parents preferred that their children have just their hands painted instead of their face, so that is what this girl was doing to her teacher using the Teletubby toy as her tool. At the same time MC and TC were playing doctor and patient. MC was lying on two chairs while TC was checking her back with a toy toaster which she symbolically used as a medical instrument. During the observation it had been noted that during free play the students were playing imaginatively and preferred using the provided toys symbolically rather than using them with their original play intentions; like the teletubby toy being a hairdryer and the toy toaster being a medical instrument. The theme of a birthday celebration was observed in both the structured and free play activities. The children were fascinated by the festive environment; the gifts, the food and above all the cake. They were engrossed in their pretend play and the teacher could use this to great advantage by planning learning activities around this idea. The teacher could use the birthday theme and provide many opportunities for literacy, numeracy, creative and social skills. She can do this by preparing activities such as painting, story telling, encouraging children to write cards to each other, as well as preparing the classroom environment to suit her purpose.

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre :: Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre Essays

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre "There was no possibility of taking a walk that day....I was glad of it; I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed." So goes the opening to the novel 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte. We are immediately brought into the story; the scene has been set and feelings exposed. As can be seen in this quotation, Bronte creates a very friendly, easy opening, attempting to make an intimate relationship with the reader. The characters most personal feelings are openly displayed, this being very uncommon in 19th century novels. In 'Jane Eyre' Bronte writes in the first person, giving the novel a more autobiographical feel. These paragraphs also give us an example of pathetic fallacy, a technique repeatedly used by Bronte throughout the earlier chapters of 'Jane Eyre'. In addition to this we are shown Jane's dislike, as a child and adult, of the Reed children and her position and inadequacy in the Reed household; Gateshead. The portrayal of life with the Reed family and Jane's whole childhood, is one both cruel and fascinating. Bronte, through Jane's eyes and thoughts, manages to convey life and the world from a child's perspective, while still maintaining an adult's way of thinking. Jane is very perceptive and intelligent, and this shown when she is faced with John Reed. Her fear of him is immediately appears when he interrupts her peace while she is reading, and she states how she "trembled at the idea of being dragged forth" by him. As the readers, we are shown how she must have been treated in such a way that she has become fearful of her own cousins. Moreover, when John tells Jane to refer to him as 'Master', we are shown how socially inferior and insignificant she is to them, and is constantly being reminded of this. Right from the beginning of the novel Jane's sense of loneliness and isolation is evident form the way she hides herself behind thick curtains in a deserted room, neglected by her cousins and aunt. The description of John Reed given to us by Jane is extremely visual and detailed and we are shown that, although of a young age, Jane is very sensitive, alert and prudent of people and the world around her. Mrs Reed, while remaining a minor character, becomes one of the most influential people in Jane Eyre's life, although still not

Freytag’s Pyramid in A Rose for Emily

Though a non-linear narrative, Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily fits well into the dramatic structure outlined in Freytag’s Pyramid.   Exposition is centered around the death of the eponymous character, Emily Grierson, and details her history in the town of Jefferson.Moving backward in time, a deal between Emily and a former mayor, Colonel Sartoris, is discussed, in which Emily is remitted of all taxes due to a loan Emily’s father made to the town before his death.   This expository information allows the reader to form a more substantive picture of Emily before the narrative actually begins.Faulkner establishes the tone of the story as cryptic and elliptical.   Emily is someone who can only be known vaguely, through all that can be understood in a few incidents.   By failing to disclose too much about Emily, Faulkner lends her an air of mystery, thus heightening the reader’s interest in her character.The story then leaps back in time thirty years, when there was concern in Jefferson over a smell coming from Emily’s house.   This is the point of rising action, in which the narrative acquires tautness in conflict.   Now the narrative is propelled forward by the reader’s curiosity- what is causing this horrible smell?   All of this builds on the mystery surrounding Emily, she becomes not so much a woman as an apparition, a vague blur in the mind of the reader.As the narrative proceeds on it constantly moves backward in time, so that the climax occurs at the point furthest in the past.   Emily’s purchase of the arsenic precedes chronologically the events of the first, second, fourth, and fifth parts of the story.   A Rose for Emily inverts the traditional narrative structure in which a story generally drives toward some point in the future, delving into the past for its revelations.The purchase of the arsenic must be regarded as the story’s climax for it is the only instance in which Emily takes action within the narrative.   She resolves here to take that action, the fruits of which are revealed in the final part of the story when the skeleton of Homer Barron is found in her bedroom.Part four of the story represents falling action, as with the purchase of the arsenic the fate of Homer Barron has been settled.   That the arrival of Emily’s family, or â€Å"kin† as Faulkner refers to them, is merely brushed upon in the vaguest terms serves as evidence- the focus of the story is elsewhere.   All that is left here is for the story to unravel into the denouement, which comes of course with the discovery of her supposed husband’s corpse.Here, Faulkner pulls back the curtain and allows the reader to briefly glimpse some of the mystery behind Emily, and by simply suggesting at one perversion, he hints at a whole host of other strange activities.   Thus the story is concluded not by solving the mystery, but rather by increasing its lurid allure.In a sto ry, such as A Rose for Emily, which is as much about ambience as it is about creating drama, a small action can carry great weight.   Emily’s very presence, â€Å"dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse,† shocks the small town of Jefferson out of entropy and into the life of narrative.Thus, though the story is nominally propelled along by curiosity over a strange odor emanating from her house, it is Emily herself in the end that sustains the interest of the reader.   Though Freytag’s Pyramid is an excellent guide for distilling dramatic structure from an otherwise elusive narrative, its application is limited.   While the model corresponds to the purely dramatic elements of A Rose for Emily it cannot account for such complementary elements such as tone and style, which often facilitate drama just as much as a well-honed structure.Faulkner’s writing operates obliquely, touching points of interest and then just as quickly departing from them, leaving a slight fog about the people and places he evokes.   The use of Freytag’s Pyramid can help shine a light through this fog and offer one a greater insight into the nature of this mysterious piece, A Rose for Emily.

Effects of Globalization on the Environment Essay

Globalization has had a huge impact on the world in a number of ways. It has increased the integration of countries’ individual economies, the rise in the world trade and multinational companies, and the effect of large amounts of money moving in and out of economies throughout the world. People around the world are more connected to each other than ever before. Information and money flow more quickly than ever before. In addition goods and services produced in one part of the world are increasingly available in all parts of the world. International travel and communication in now more frequent and has become commonplace throughout the world. It can not be denied that globalization has had an overwhelming positive influence. Millions of jobs have been opened up through the ever increasing productivity and efficiency of the global economy. Globalization for less developed countries has encouraged faster growth, in turn promoting poverty reduction, democratization and higher labor and environmental standards. It also gives citizens greater individual freedom to express views and experience cultures through such mediums as television and the internet, which encourage understanding around the world. This fairly new glorified issue has had a great impact on the global environment in addition to all other aspects of the world that it has affected. One of the greatest examples that come to mind is the endless support of the tsunamis victims. Without globalization the world could not have contributed to the extent of what we have. Relentless support has been granted to the victims of this tragic event in record time. Globalization has made this possible through the increase in technology and communication. Citizens of the world now have the ability to contribute time, money and supplies to countries that would otherwise be stranded or left hanging for a period of time. Our valiant efforts have put this epic event at an all time support relief. We are now able to send support in all forms more conveniently. Without the effects of globalization this event that has occurred would have been much more devastating. The world can thank globalization for this never ending support. In addition to the tsunamis relief support granted through globalization, it has affected the environment in other ways as well. It has greatly increased the environmental standards worldwide. Through the development of the internet many environmental agencies have evolved which have increased the protection of the environment. The internet has made them more effective and they are now able to communicate much easier than ever before. Through the development of environmental supports some beneficial factors have evolved such as new up to date emissions standards. This greatly reduces the worldwide threat of global warming. By agencies effectively implementing such standards our world has become safer and healthier. These efforts are now on a continuum which only leaves our world to improvement. Globalization is the reason for this and without it our world would be at risk of inevitable destruction. Through the efforts of environmental agencies we as a world are now aware and informed of the dangers of what used to be every day practices. We can thank the rise of globalization for our continuing efforts for world wide environmental improvement.

Analysis of how both companies meet their financial objectives and aims Essay

In this report I have decided to concentrate on two companies, Woolworth’s plc and WHSmith plc, I will be analysing and comparing the two companies on their objectives (what they say their objectives are, and how they meet those objectives set) and their performances (if they have made profit or loss). I will research all these from their annual report, which is provided on the Internet. An introduction of both companies Woolworth’s is known to be one of Britain’s leading general merchandise retailers, with great brands, strong market position and a powerful presence in home entertainment. The company has one of the highest customer shopper’s performances of all UK retailers’ and today known to be the largest non-food retail chains. WHSmith is also one of the UK’s leading retail groups incorporating market-leading companies in retailing publishing and news distributing. WHSmith has 1,464 stores world-wide; all these locate in place like the UK high street, airport, stations and countries outside of the United Kingdom such as North America and Asia The performance of the companies Last year was an eventful and challenging year for the Woolworth; the first half of the year when they were still part of Kingfisher’s plc was a moment of uncertainty as the future of the company was being decided. The company detached themselves from Kingfisher plc on 28 August 2001, leaving them with 200 million of debt, over ? 100 million of excess stock, loss marking new format and e-business. Woolworth’s formats are designed to appeal to the value-conscious consumer. Woolworth’s is a mass-market retailer with a leading brand and broad product offering at competitive prices. Their mission is â€Å"to be at the heart of the community and the best loved retailer for kids, home and family leisure†. The company’s brand is known to be one of the best-recognised retail brands in the UK and proving this is on average, 6. 5 million customer transactions are made on tills per week. Woolworth’s business operates in the UK general merchandising market, which is both large and highly fragmented, with participants of varying sizes and covering different category mixes.

Is Hamlet a Tragic Hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is Hamlet a Tragic Hero - Essay Example According to Aristotle, there are six major elements required to make up a tragic hero – three character elements and three behavioral elements. To begin with, the hero must have a noble stature. He must also have excessive pride in some aspect of his being. Finally, he has to have a tragic flaw, usually something related to his source of pride. These three character traits combined lead the character to his or her downfall through a three-step process that comprises the behavioral aspect of Aristotle’s definition. This process begins with a mistake in judgment or action that will eventually cause the hero’s ruin. The second event is when the hero realizes where he made his mistake. The final event is the reversal of fortunes the hero experiences as a result of his mistake (â€Å"Aristotle†, 1998). With this definition in hand, it is easy to see how Shakespeare’s character Hamlet fits within this definition. Hamlet meets all three of the character requirements to be defined as a tragic hero. He is noble first because he is truly of noble blood being the only son of the reigning king and queen and second because he is dedicated to doing the right thing. Although everyone else has come out of mourning less than two months after King Hamlet’s death in honor of the new royal couple, Hamlet is accused of wearing black to seem more upset than the others, showing that he is still mourning the death of the old king which was only proper this early after he died. A lot of his inability to act throughout the play is based on this insistence that he act correctly rather than allowing himself to be fooled by the devil. Hamlet’s pride is in his intellectual abilities. However, his fatal flaw is in allowing himself to analyze a situation too much, which slows his actions considerably and provides his uncle with the knowledge that Hamlet suspects his actions. Hamlet also meets all of the behavioral requirements of Aristotle’s definition of