Monday, September 30, 2019

How to Choose a Good Book Essay

When adults select books for children, we want to pick out good ones. The problem is, we’re not always sure what a â€Å"good book† means and just tend to choose be beneficial and desirable for young readers. We forge ahead, sometimes unaware of how we use to determine what is â€Å"good.† Adults choose the books according to a standard- a criteria that we may not be aware exactly why we make our choices, considering the biases we respond to most: The lessons the books teach, those large colorful illustrations, the absence of harshness, scariness and swearing, the simple vocabulary used, the familiar content presented to the schema of the child and the political correctness it has to offer in which are sometimes narrow and misguided, a reason to be a problem within how they choose. For some people however, it is a necessary thing to consider on how readers respond to a certain book in order to recognize whether it is â€Å"good† or â€Å"not†. However this raises the different perspectives presented upon the books since all people think in different ways. How the readers are attracted to a book depends on the rationalizing ability of their minds regarding a topic. Therefore considering a fact that the â€Å"goodness† of a book depends on how the reader comments upon it. The quality of the book is reflected from how a critical analysis evaluates the book’s style and language, character, plot, setting, theme, tone, point of view, illustrations, mood, pacing, design and layout, and accuracy. All of which are important to consider. Critics focus mostly on how words are chosen and arranged, unique and believable techniques of characterizations, the total outcome of the story as the conflict takes place, and how the author strategizes upon the manipulation of the readers’ imagination to make the emotional reality true. The taste of how readers choose a genre of a story is also varied. For one thing, the multi-awarded Wind in Willows is judged to be quality literature  for children as it delineates the four main characters, contains satisfying action sequences and is told in a rich, varied language. However, some children tend to not find themselves engrossed in the story when they tried to read it. Goosebumps books on the other hand had won no literary awards and yet thousands of children sail through the series and report that each Goosebumps story is a good book, disregarding also the fact that some adults may think that children that read such formulaic, shallow stories should at least feel shame for doing so. In the end, the question of â€Å"good book† does not depend on awards it claimed, titles that have proven themselves overtime and the highest sale figures. The only list we can trust without reservation is our own.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Key Symbol – Statue of Liberty

Lazarus inscribed on her base, â€Å"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tots to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Lazarus)† For in these words a key symbol of American pride became that which beckons to all who wish for more, for better, and for liberation from that which oppresses them. For Americans, the Statue of Liberty is a key symbol distinguishing liberty and freedom. She carries the Insurmountable burden of being the symbol for America's cantonal pride through Its accomplishments.Originally named â€Å"Liberty Enlightening the World†, the statue was constructed as an Icon celebrating America's victories over adversity. This was evident at the statue's Inauguration In 1886. Before a crowd of thousands and President Grover Cleveland, the American people intensified † almost immediately†¦ † That the statue â€Å"†¦ Was widely regarded as a symbol of the nation. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) The people instantaneously accepted this magnificent work of art as a symbol of their power and strength.Furthermore, the eye symbolism can be felt through the emotions evoked through the interpretation of her â€Å"no-nonsense† facial attitude seen through all those who look upon. This is a representative of strength and resolve in the people of America. This is confirmed by the work of the sculptor Birthday, and his eloquent portrayal in the subtleties of expression, â€Å"Liberty serious demeanor underscores the Idea that liberty Itself comes at a cost and must not be taken lightly. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) â€Å"Finally, almost covered by the drapery, Liberty left foot, which few viewers et to see, treads upon the broken shackles of tyranny.The receding position of her right leg makes the statue, when viewed from the south, seem to be striding onward to shed her lig ht before her. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) Americans feel strongly about Lady Liberty and realize that having their personal freedom comes with cost, many times paid for in human lives and other sacrifices, but through it all as a nation of determined people, they will continue to break the shackles of tyranny and stride onward stronger than before.Furthermore, as a gift room France to the people of the united States to mark the Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty was given to recognize America for Its accomplishments and tribulations In Just one hundred short years of history. This key symbol was given in honor of the accomplishments the newly Torment unlace states Ana undergone since ten selling AT ten Declaration AT Independence: a Civil War and reconstruction of a nation, the overcoming of slavery, the death of a great leader, and a revolution not unlike the one experienced by theFrench. The people of France looked upon the United States as being triumphant over all odds and still remaining a strong independent nation; and from this, the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of national pride was born. The symbolism found in the Statue of Liberty is not exclusive to Just the people of America. Its representation of liberty and freedom is known throughout the world to those seeking safe harbor within her borders. The statue represents freedom, liberty for those immigrants that are in search of an opportunity and a new life.Immigrants re inspired to seek refuge in the United States through shared tales of how Lady Liberty stands at the doorway to this new life, and beckons them in with her colossal torch of light. The emotional perception and imagery is so intense that countless immigrants have been compelled to sell virtually all their worldly possessions, pack into ships like herds of cattle and make uncertain Journeys across stormy seas. The symbolism is further reinforced by those that have completed the Jo urney, as they share their tales of Lady Liberty with those souls seeking inspiration. For many the iris memory was the ‘lady with the torch'. † (Brownstone) A simple glimpse can conjure up an almost religious enchantment. It was not uncommon for passengers to weep or pray with gratitude upon seeing her verdigris face in the harbor. This is marked by the account of one immigrant, Celia Ripens as she recalls, â€Å"l saw the Statue of Liberty. And we all ran out and I prayed because I heard so much in Poland about it- the Statue of Liberty. (Brownstone) Moreover, another immigrant recalls being shown by her uncle the Statue of Liberty, and she notes that â€Å"That I will never forget. (Brownstone) Countless passengers on immigrant ships, many with their bodies wracked by illness and terrible seasickness, would rush up to the densely crowded decks, teeming with people to witness their first sight of the Statue of Liberty; a symbol proclaimed by the immigrating peoples a s their icon for success and newly afforded opportunities in a new land.Embodied in art work, and held as a cherished icon, Lady Liberty has appeared in countless renderings on American currency. The image of liberty has been seen on coins, Liberty Loan Bonds, and a number of commemorative coins. Her image stirs up the emotions that people relate to freedom and success, that her image has been endeared to financial freedoms as well. Liberty stands tall on a Liberty Loan Bond, issued during World War I to help boost the economy. Her likeness and images have graced the new dollar coins, giving an impression once again of triumph over adversity.As a key symbol not only to her nation, but to her home state of New York, her distinctive shape graces the small space of the US State Quarter, and after the events of September 1 1, 2001 her image has been shown on commemorative coins as symbol of triumph and solidarity over adversity against her nation. Lady Liberty is not only a key symbol, she is a work of art, having been represented in mediums from the copper of her frame to the renditions of many artists who endear her more and more in their works.She is truly a key symbol to the nation's people. As one AT ten most recognizable symbols AT American Justice Ana Treetop, Lay Liberty stands tall embodying Americans with national pride, as well as an intrinsic sense of personal pride. The statue continues to strengthen the American peoples' solve in their times of adversity. This strength continues to perpetuate through the stories and coinage passed from one generation to the next.The tales of the countless people that overcame unthinkable odds to simply pass before the lady with the torch, Liberty Enlightening the World is a reminder that Americans are those people. Americans are the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses that yearned to breathe free. Yet, through everything America endures, as a nation the people of the United States continue to draw on and find ref uge in the comfort and solidarity of his national key symbol, not to only guide them, but to serve as a reminder of their strength.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Facilitating Case Management Essay

Why is it important for a case manager to develop rapport with a client? Provide three examples of how rapport can be generated. 2. Why are statutory requirements necessary? What impact do they have on the case manager’s role? 3. What information might you need to gather from the families of clients? 4. List two elements that may be considered to be characteristics of a complex case. 5. Describe two strategies you may employ when dealing with a client with complex issues. 6. Case management plans must be developed in order to reflect the initial assessment of needs. Why is it essential that these plans be designed in consultation with clients? 7. Casework processes should be continually monitored for effectiveness. a) List two reasons why this is necessary. b) How should monitoring be undertaken? 8. If changes to a case plan are required, who should be consulted prior to the changes being made? 9. Why is cultural consideration important as part of case management planning? 0. Outline three strategies you think a workplace needs to have for including cultural awareness in the planning process? 11. You are a Team Leader in a Community Service Organisation and your organisation has just employed a new case worker. Describe two strategies that can help facilitate casework consultation between staff to maximise their performance in their new role. Best practice and promoting high-quality case management 12. What is meant by the term ‘best practice case management’? Why is best practice a significant service delivery benchmark? 13. How can case workers benefit from appropriate leadership, support, advice, supervision and challenges? In what ways might these improve service delivery? 14. Legislation, organisational policies and procedures can change over time. How might case management leaders support case managers in keeping up to date with organisational policies and procedures?

Friday, September 27, 2019

Computer Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Computer Project - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to thoroughly examine the issue of web sites, by using three in particular: Moodle, ATutor, and EduTools. By discussing the relevant issues of these three sites, we can come to a clearer and more knowledgeable understanding of the subject matter at hand. This is what will be dissertated in the following. This website is a course management system, and considers itself to be "a free, open source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities." (Moodle, 2006). The basic information that this site tried to cover was the presenting of facts, as well as the stating of certain opinions. All the information appeared to be kept up-to-date, and although the layout was rather simple and basic, it was direct and provided the information it needed to. This site presented a balanced view of many different perspectives, while remaining to be consistent in its manner. It was extremely easy to navigate through this site; whether you had visited this site before or not, it is laid out analytically in order to coincide with easy navigation. The information on this site was in regards to the services it offers, which is online tutoring. ATutor is "an open source web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind." (ATutor, 2006). This site offered an incredible array of information, as well as a variety of forums, projects, and discussion topics. The site was simplistic and straight forward yet detailed and full of information. The site presents the audience with a completely balanced view, especially due to the vast array of topic selection. There was even a questionnaire which was asking visitors questions in an attempt to better the site to fit people's needs. The site was incredibly easy to navigate, and flowed together impeccably. The design, the layout, and the wording were all dynamic and interesting - both incredibly important elements in a web page, because this is what will get visitors to stay and check it out. My overall opinion of this site is a positive one. I found it visibly appealing, easy to navigate through and yet at the same time indefinitely informational. In regards to how the site could be improved, I actually do not believe there is any sort of adjustment that should be made. The site discusses thoroughly about its products and services, why you should get these products and services for yourself, and on the home page alone answers any and all basic and fundamental questions about its system. Easy navigation, an overall appealing web design layout, and proper update maintenance makes this site close to impeccable. EduTools This final site was definitely my least favorite of the three. The home page is incredibly basic and drab, and there is not enough information offered. The site presented a brief summary of the facts, stating that "EduTools provides independent reviews, side-by-side comparisons, and consulting services to assist decision-making in the e-learning community." (EduTools, 2006).

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Building An Evidence-Based Practice Of Nursing Research Paper

Building An Evidence-Based Practice Of Nursing - Research Paper Example Also, the reliability of the instruments used is clearly described in the research, and this makes the information acquired valid. The target population constituted patients and nurses who are the main subjects in the research. The use of questionnaire provides reliable and valid outcome since there is no manipulation in people response as it would be in the case of oral interviews. The condition of work effectiveness questionnaire was filled by the nurse leaders to analyze their perception on the hypothesis of the research. The outcome showed that nurses are empowered by the patient’s satisfaction with their services. Instrument development process in the research was comprehensive although it is clearly explained how the pre-trail study was conducted to assess the strength of the questionnaires to provide valid information. Questionnaires are the most commonly used data collection tools in the evaluation and educational research (Burns, Grove, & Gray, 2015). This was an eval uation research, and therefore, the tool was appropriate. The questions in the questionnaires were developed from the research questions, and the theoretical framework of the study that was that patient’s satisfaction empowers nurses to perform their duties accordingly. The questionnaires were comprehensive to answer all the questions in the research study. The variables are well defined in the study, and this makes it easy to reach the conclusion of the study after analyzing the data collected.

Capital Asset Pricing Modfel slp Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Capital Asset Pricing Modfel slp - Assignment Example However, in the CAPM (capital asset pricing model), beta risk denotes the only type of risk for which an investor should receive an expected return that is greater than the risk-free rate of interest (Ehrhardt & Brigham, (2009). The estimated beta coefficient of Apple Inc. is 1.25. A beta of higher than one generally implies that the price of stock of such a company is both more volatile and tends to move up and down with the market. For instance, like in the case of Apple Inc. A stock’s beta of 1.25, theoretically implies that the security is 25 percent more volatile than the market. Such stock is riskier than the market. Even though it poses more risk, the stock should be included in the overall portfolio because it offers the possibility of a greater rate of return. This is so because a beta value of 1.25 indicates that the security is anticipated to do 25% better than the S&P 500 within an up market. This stock should be included in the portfolio to help diversify it due to its high risk-reward ratios (Bradfield, 2007). Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) refers to an economic model that is used to value securities, stocks, assets or derivatives by relating risk and expected return. It is based on the principle that investors demand a risk premium, additional expected return, in case they are required to accept additional risk. CAPM is, therefore, used in pricing stocks or securities (Ehrhardt & Brigham, (2009). Cost of equity or expected rate of return refers to the rate of return that an investor requires before being interested in any given investment at a particular price. It is the rate of return that compensates them for a higher expected risk (Reilly & Brown, 2012). The portfolio is sufficiently diversified; because it has a beat of less than one meaning the assets move in the same direction however the movement is less than that of the benchmark hence less susceptible to everyday fluctuation (Bradfield,

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Individual Project - Essay Example The Five Cultural Dimensions Model is the brainchild of Geert Hofstede, a Dutch academic. This model shows five dimensions which define work-related values that are also related to national culture. These five dimensions (Hofstede, 2001) are discussed below. This dimension deals with the degree to which power is equally distributed in a society and the extent to which the said society accepts the distribution. A culture that is high power distance oriented has a preference for strong leadership styles, hierarchical bureaucracies. People in this kind of culture hold very high regard for authority. On the other hand, people in low power distance cultures favour autonomy and personal responsibility. This dimension addresses the extent to which people require clear structures and set boundaries. In high uncertainty cultures, individuals have a better mechanism for coping with risk and innovation. A low uncertainty culture puts a lot of emphasis on greater job security and standardisation. This is the measure to which people hold their own self-interest as opposed to the interests of a group. In a collective oriented culture, the group’s needs are deemed to be more important than personal needs and the government plays a big role in markets. On the other hand, an individualistic culture values and encourages free will. This dimension is concerned with the degree of the goal orientation of a society. A masculine society values status that is derived from position and wages while a feminine culture values quality of life and human relationships. This dimension looks at the extent to which a society values respect for tradition and long term commitments. Long term-oriented cultures greatly value thrift, long term planning and industriousness. Short-term oriented cultures are more concerned with living for the moment and

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The summary, analysis and personal commentary Essay

The summary, analysis and personal commentary - Essay Example Paramount to the function of accounting principles is the commonness that it provides for financial record maintenance. The outcome is that it is simple to compare the financial position of related entities. Secondly, they enhance transparency. Accounting values are intended to impose transparency in businesses. This type of transparency is particularly imperative in the case of public organizations, such as states or publicly traded corporations. Rules restrict the freedom and flexibility of organizations to use smart accounting to move things around or conceal them (Yu & Wahid p. 1898). Thirdly, they serve the role of relevance. Standards work to assist entities give the most appropriate data in the most realistic way possible. In this way, institutions guided by accounting principles will produce the type of financial information that observers are mainly interested in examining. Finally, the significance of accounting standards lies in the worth that it brings to financial records for the assorted audiences that sight and makes important decisions based on it. A nonexistence of accounting principles would make the effort of shareholders, regulators, duty payers, reporters and others more complex and more hazardous. Standards signify that taxpayers can observe how their tariff dollars are being used up, and regulators can guarantee that rules are adhered to (Yu & Wahid

Monday, September 23, 2019

Source Document Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Source Document Analysis - Essay Example Elizabeth as queen represents England and the 30 year old Sir Walter Raleigh and ‘his heires and assignes forever’ (page 289), will act as her agent in the ‘new lands and countries.’ As to whether Elizabeth had the right to claim for herself land that already belonged to others, the American natives, that is another matter. Walter Raleigh was an explorer, but in fact, as far as North America was concerned, he merely organised various expeditions.. He is described as ‘our trusted and well beloved servant’, He is given great authority, â€Å"all and meere power and authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, governe,† ( page 293) but the queen was giving nothing away. She expected great returns from her new world colonies.( page 291) â€Å" reserving alwayes to us, our heires and successors, for all services, dueties, and demaunds, the fift part of all the oare of golde and silver.† She was presumably influenced by the stories of gold and silver that the Spanish had discovered further south. There were provisions in case of problems ( page 295 and 296). Then there would be retaliation – if there was not satisfaction then all involved would be ‘out of our allegiance and protection.’ ( page 296) As well as an explorer Raleigh was also courtier, statesman, farmer, sailor, scientist and man of letters. Despite all this, and the apparent esteem in which Elizabeth seems to hold him when this letter patent was written, he would later fall from royal favour and become a prisoner in the notorious Tower of London. This happened when Elizabeth discovered his intrigue with one of court ladies, Elizabeth Throckmorton, a lady whom he would later marry. Paul Halsall ( 1998) puts his problems down to rivalry from his rival the Earl of Essex, a great favourite of Elizabeth’s. He would get into even worse trouble during the reign of Elizabeth’s successor , James I, and was eventually executed. Despit e the fact that the document states that Raleigh is described as ‘discovering and planting new lands, he in fact did this in company with his much less well known half brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert., as described by Paul Halsall, 1998. The queen would not allow Raleigh to actually land in North America, but he did much of the organizing, including the beginnings of Roanoke Island. Also although it just says ‘new lands and countries’ it in fact referred to the colonization of Virginia. However despite two expeditions, and attempts to found lasting settlements, neither resulted in a permanent settlement. There is mention of Raleigh’s ‘heirs and assignees forever’ and to Elizabeth’s ‘heires and successors’, yet in the second line of the heading a much shorter and more precise period is mentioned ‘the space of six yeeres and no more’. During this period Elizabeth forbids others to interfere.( page 292) Elizabeth was in control. She had earlier refused to allow Raleigh to travel to Nova Scotia with his half brother in 1583, a trip from which Gilbert did not return alive. ( The Pirates, undated), We are told that Sir Walter Raleigh could go anywhere not already in the possession ‘of any Christian Prince’ i.e. he couldn’t take over land already held by Spain for instance. We are told he can ‘have, hold occupy and enjoy’

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Individual and the community Essay Example for Free

Individual and the community Essay There tends to be quite a large use of extended metaphors within the play referring to the individual and the community frequently. Translations is said by many to be an intelligent and enlightening metaphor for the situation in Northern Ireland. This statement can be backed up and the reader can see many representations throughout the play. The most obvious example is that of the situation between Maire and Yolland on page 62. A significant part of this scene is when Maire says that leap across the ditch nearly killed me, as she is really symbolising the change the Irish people must undergo. Therefore, individuals are used to represent different views and cultures, as well as having their own. Characters are used mainly as a metaphor for Irelands position with the English. This is evidence of a particularly good playwright. Friel uses Sarah as a symbol to represent Baile Beags loss of language as the English arrive to anglicise the Irish counties. We know from historical references that the English did anglicise much of Ireland, resulting in a loss of language, as shown with Sarahs particularly similar situation. As the play progresses in the beginning, Sarahs speech begins to improve, but when the English come, Sarahs speech is lost again, which symbolises the English power over Ireland and how they are able to make change to the language with Sarah individually and the whole of Ireland nationally. Other scenes such as in act two scene one, we see stage directions create a bond between brothers and indicate a distance between cultures; as Manus moves beside OWEN, we begin to realise the general stance of the British and the Irish divide The mythology Jimmy Jack studies once again acts as a metaphor for the situation Baile Beag have created for themselves the community are locked in time as the play states it can happen that a civilisation can be imprisoned in a linguistic contour that no longer matches the landscape of fact. Words in the beginning paragraph such as disused and remains imply that this is a hedge school of a traditional heritage, which represents Ireland and its Irish culture at the present time. There are also many issues based around identity within the play, and this is reflected with peoples actions and the way that they change from the beginning of the play to the end. Many characters manage to find themselves and realise what their direction in life is. Translations seems to revolve around the subject of names the most obvious being the Name Book and the individual identity. As each character enters a scene, Friel gives a detailed description of them, providing the reader with an immediate image. The character then progresses and adopts their own personality and identity. In the case of Sarah, she is described as being waiflike and unintelligible. As the play progresses, Sarahs identity changes as she learns to speak. Later, Friel uses Sarahs identity to represent the more timid people of Ireland as she becomes incoherent. Another example is the character of Maire. Maire is described as a strong-minded and strong-bodied woman at the start of the play, but, by the end, seems to have become distant as if shed been washed away by her contact with the English, and, more importantly, with Yolland. Therefore, individual identity can alter when situations change. Friel created Jimmy Jack as an eccentric, an infant prodigy. He acts as a symbol of an attachment to the past, and cannot differentiate between fantasy and reality. This takes both a political and social stand towards Baile Beag. Is it so bad that Jimmy Jack has to resort to living in a fantasy world? This relates to the flaws within Baile Beag, which, in turn, make up most of the community. Those who live there are trapped in a linguistic contour, speaking dead languages, whilst those who are of a greater education such as Hugh, Jimmy Jack and Owen have many more faults than those less educated; Hugh has a severe drinking problem, Jimmy Jack fixed in his fantasy world and Owens rejection from his father as a translator. Jimmy Jacks poor dress sense and almost tramp like appearance acts as a metaphor for Ireland itself, proving although they live on an old island, with an old language and culture, there are still things to be cherished, that are rich and should be preserved. This is a rich community full well of educated people such as Hugh and Jimmy Jack, which is being understated. Throughout the play, many individuals are mentioned who are not characters in the play. The first is Daniel OConnell who is referred to by Maire on page 24, and who Hugh calls that little Kerry politician. Daniel OConnell was, in fact, known as the liberator who fought for political rights for Irish Roman Catholics. He was obviously a very powerful individual as he is one of the only real people mentioned in the play. Historically, Daniel OConnell, was also known as the uncrowned leader of Ireland acts a symbol of Hughs position within Baile Beag. He encouraged the use of English in National schools, which is essentially what Hugh did when he applied to the National School near Baile Beag. Yolland and Hugh talk about the second famous individual; William Wordsworth, on page 49. He was an English romantic poet, and because of this, Hugh dismisses him and states that he is not familiar with his literature. Throughout the play, Friel tries to include as many well known events and characters as possible to add a sense of realism. Therefore, certain famous individuals, and the mention of them, boost the readers interest and increase the level of validity. The community is presented to us as being close, but with the English trying to anglicise, we realise that this is far from the true realisation. For example Maire and Manus; once engaged, but with the Anglicisation, Maire realises she wants better things from life, and proceeds to find these in Yolland, the Englishman. Language also this splits this pair apart too, as we see Yolland disappear towards the end of the play, with the suspicion that he has been killed by the Donnelly brothers for breaking up the community. Overall, Friel shows the audience that the individual and the community are intertwined and are similar in their symbolism and characteristics. As language is integrated within society, the community is forced to separate. Individuals are described and portrayed as the powerful essence of a community, whilst the community itself symbolises the much-needed unity in order to preserve the culture and the individual identity of Ireland.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Factors that influence consumer buying

Factors that influence consumer buying Factors that Influence Consumer Behaviour Patterns, when Purchasing Fashion Items 1.0 Introduction Consumer behaviour is a complicated and diverse area of study. Since marketing is based on identifying, anticipating and providing customer needs it is important to understand them. There are two predominant types of buying: consumer buying, which consists of buying products for personal use, and organisational buying, which involves buying for organisational purposes. For marketers to satisfy consumer needs more fully than competitors it is important to recognise the elements that influence buying. This report will identify the main factors influencing consumer behaviour patterns, particularly when purchasing fashion items. It will examine how buyer characteristics influence buyer behaviour and also how retailers react to such characteristics. In particular this report will look at the cultural factors, demographic factors and psychological factors that influence consumer buying. 2.0 Methodology All research undertaken for this was is secondary. It was conducted between the dates of Monday 16th February 2004 and Thursday 11th March 2004. The main research databases used were: * Mintel * Emerald The main books used were: * Lancaster, G, Massingham, L, and Ashford, R (2002). Essentials of Marketing: Understanding the Behaviour of Customers. 4th edition. McGraw-Hill Education. * Chisnall, P (1975). Marketing: A Behavioural Analysis. 1st edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK) Limited. * Williams, K (1981). Behavioural Aspects of Marketing. 1st edition. Butterworth Heinemann. The Internet and databases used were accessed privately and also from the University of East London library, Docklands campus. Books were borrowed from this library as well. 3.0 Cultural Factors Culture affects consumer behaviour in a variety of ways. It relates to customs and beliefs that are learned from the society in which an individual grows up. Culture is a huge area of study that often has unclear boundaries and fluctuates in degree of influencing consumers. Aspects of our socio-culture, such as sub-culture, social class and reference groups play different roles in influencing consumers. A common pattern of behaviour can be observed within groups. Cultural change occurs at a very slow pace and can be seen to marketers as threats or opportunities. Cultural elements that influence consumer behaviour can also be said to be environmental influences. 3.1 Reference groups ‘A reference group is one that the individual tends to use as the anchor point for evaluating his/her own beliefs and attitudes, (American Marketing Association, 2004) There are many different types of reference groups, which may have a direct or an indirect influence on attitudes, behaviour and self-image. Primary reference groups are those that an individual has continuous contact with, they may consist of family, friends, colleagues etc, and they hold the strongest influence over the individual. In secondary reference groups the individual has less contact, such as an activities club, but still feels pressure to conform. Aspirational groups have the least contact with the individual, but the individual still strives to become similar. Celebrity endorsements could be said to be aspirational groups. Regardless as to whether an individual is, or seeks to become a member of a particular group, the group can still influence the individuals values, attitudes and behavioural patterns. The influence a reference group holds on an individual can be seen as positive, negative or both. A good example of primary reference groups is the street gangs in Manchester. Moran (2004) writes of the gangs of youths in which members must dress according to the code of their gang. The gangs can be identified through wearing hooded tops, bandanas, balaclavas and gold chains. However, the Manchester Magistrates Court has banned four members of a gang from wearing hooded tops, bandanas and balaclavas in an attempt to make them look less threatening and dilute the gang dress codes. Members and individuals who are influenced by the gangs are in an attempt to conform, more likely purchase items of clothing such as hooded tops and bandanas. Figure 1 demonstrates the appearance of a typical gang member. 3.2 Sub-culture A sub-culture could be defined as a group of individuals whose beliefs, values and behaviour differ from that of the predominant culture. There are many different sub cultures that are often referred to as segments. Some examples of subcultures include: nationality groups, religious groups, geographic groups and age groups. ‘Sub-culture plays an important part to marketers because of their influence on brands and types of product and services demanded by their members. Chisnall (1975) p.98. Mintel (2003) reports of an emerging fashionable youth sub-culture, in which extreme sports is the focal point. This culture is rebelling away from long working hours and heavy television watching lifestyle. In this alternative culture the interest and participation of extreme sports has merged with music and clothing. A strong emphasis of this culture can be seen through clothing and footwear in particular. Baggy clothing is a dominant dress code. (See figure 2) Mintel estimates that consumers spent  £4.5 billion on extreme sports goods in 2003, an increase of 29% on 1998. (See appendix 1, figure 3) Mintel also reports that levels of disposable incomes have influenced the rise in extreme sports. Between 1998 and 2003 disposable incomes have increased by 21%. (See appendix 1, figure 4) 3.3 Social Class Within every society there exists a class structure. This refers to individuals who share certain similar characteristics, such as occupation, socialisation, education and income. The rigidity of the class structure varies greatly in different societies. England could be said to have an open society, within which it is easy to move from one class to another. However, less developed countries such as Cambodia, where there is very little chance of social mobility, could be said to be a closed society. Since members from the same social class have alike characteristics they will also exhibit a similar pattern of behaviour. Social class plays a very big role in consumer behaviour. It can influence where an individual shops, such as market stalls, shopping malls or online, when and how often an individual shops, such as every day, weekly or monthly and what an individual shops for. The National Readership Survey has determined a popular and effective classification of social groups. (See appendix 2, figure 5). Williams, T (2002) examines consumer behaviour in relation to social class. In a study involving 612 respondents it was found that income doesnt have a direct relationship with class because there are huge overlaps between incomes of different classes. For example a doctor earning  £30,000 a year would be middle class while a brick layer earning  £50,000 a year would remain working class. However it was found that income does influence consumer behaviour within the context of social class. It was also found that education has a large bearing on consumer information processing and decision-making. More educated consumers; such as university graduates tend to be knowledgeable of market forces and opportunities than the school leaver. ‘They read more, read different magazines, spend less time watching television, rely less on well know brands and put more time and effort into purchasing decisions. Varying levels of knowledge and comprehension lead to different behavioural patt erns in decision making processes. 4.0 Demographical Factors Demographic elements, such as: age, sex, income, education and occupation are all individual factors that can significantly affect consumer behaviour. These elements influence the type of product an individual may want, where the individual may shop and also the purchase evaluation process. Demographic variables are some of the major factors targeted in market segmentation. As an individuals stage of life progresses, so the will needs and wants of a product. To help marketers make a clearer distinction between demographic groups for market segmentation classification bases have been developed. ‘A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods (ACORN) is a popular geo-demographic technique used as a segmentation base. ACORN maps geographically the concentrations of a particular type of individual and can be useful for helping marketers decide upon store locations and targeting direct mailing. The American Marketing Association (2004) looks at of the spending habits amongst teenagers. From surveys carried out in America its said that increasing amounts of teenagers are trying to look more trendy and fashionable. As a result they are becoming more responsive to marketing and spending more money than ever on clothing. American youths aged 12 – 19 spent $175 billion in 2003 on clothes, which is an increase of $20 from 2000. Marketers have become aware of how impressionable teenagers are. They have reacted by segmenting the youth and marketing directly to them. Shops such as Urban Outfitters target the youth market by watching their choices carefully to set the trends. 4.1 The Life Cycle Stage An individual goes through various stages throughout their life. Each stage of life will affect what the consumer needs and wants, the purchase evaluation process and volumes of expenditure. Consumer behaviour of a single individual will vary greatly for that of an individual who is married with children. For a marketer to successfully target a market it is important to identify the main stages in an individuals life. Lansing, J and Morgan, J (1955) have devised a popular and successful break down of the life cycle of families. Each stage influences consumer behaviour in a different way. The stages are as follows: 1. Bachelor stage; young single people. 2. Newly married couples; young, no children. 3. The full nest 1; young married couple with dependent children. 4. The full nest 2; older married couples with dependent children. 5. The empty nest; older married couples with no children living with them. 6. The solitary survivor; older single people. Mintel (2001) reports that the greatest time of expenditure for a women in the AB social grade is during the bachelor stage. During this period 56% of women spent more than  £500 on clothes in a year. However, during the newly married couples, full nest 1 and full nest 2 periods the percentage of women that spends  £500 a year on clothes decreases to 35%. This percentage increases at the empty nest stage to 46%. (See appendix 3, figure 6) 5.0 Psychological Factors Psychological factors are related to perceptions, motivations, attitudes and personality of a consumer. These are all individual elements that can affect consumer behaviour. Although demographical research and the life cycle stage help to classify and quantify consumers it is necessary to have a broader view, which will help to explain how life patterns influence purchasing decisions. ‘Psychographics are usually based on demographic information as well as ratings of consumers activities, interests and opinions. Williams, K (1981) pg.91 5.1 Lifestyle Variables Lifestyles and patterns have strong influences on consumer behaviour. Figure 7 illustrates the main factors that form a lifestyle. 5.2 Perception and Motivation Perception relates to an individuals interpretation of a product and company. An individual will subconsciously select and organise information presented by a company. As well as direct experience of sensory data, perception is also influenced by learning, attitudes and past experiences. It is important for a marketer to convey good brand awareness. Maslow recognises that people have varying needs and if the need is intense then they are motivated to purchase the goods that will satisfy it. To illustrated this a hierarchy of needs has been created. Lancaster, G, Massingham, L, and Ashford, R (2002) pg. 80. Goldsmiths, R (2002) examines the personal characteristics of frequent buyers. From a survey involving 533 consumers a link was found between that of frequent clothing buyers and similar psychological and motivational traits. The survey concluded that frequent clothing buyers were more likely to buy fashion items and were more susceptible to marketing efforts. 5.3 Personality The subject of personality is a very complicated area. There are many variables that must be taken into account when trying to obtain a comprehensive view of a personality. This makes it difficult for marketers to understand the link personality has with consumer behaviour. Williams, K (1981) pg.133. 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Marketing and Product Positioning. For a marketer to satisfy customer needs efficiently and lucratively, understanding consumer behaviour is essential. Research into consumer behaviour has allowed the marketer to create target groups of people with common interests, values, beliefs and patterns of behaviour. Once a market segment has been identified, marketers can research the target market more thoroughly and the marketing mix, product, price, promotion and place can be adjusted to ensure the product position is correct. Batista (2004) reports of the clothing manufacturer Benetton who plans to weave radio frequency ID chips into its garments to track its clothes worldwide. Having the ability to track a customer would give the company extremely detailed information on customer buying habits. Benetton would then have a much better understanding of their target market, and be able to manipulate elements of the marketing mix, such as price, product, place and promotion for effectively. The clothing manufacturer Prada already embeds RFID chips into its clothes. 7.0 Conclusion To conclude it is evident that consumer behaviour, in relation to buyer fashion items, is influenced by a huge array of factors. To grasp a more complete and accurate understanding consumer behaviour needs to be examined more thoroughly. This report has identified the basic factors that influence consumer, including: culture, socio-culture, demographical, and psychological variables. Designers and retailers react to such behavioural characteristics by trying to break down and identify what causes them. It is important to investigate whether consumers can be grouped by similar patterns of behaviour. Once a market has been segmented through geographic, demographic, psychological, psychographic and socio-cultural variables the retailer can focus a particular product to a particular type of person. The marketing mix is used to manipulate the product, place, price and promotion. Examples of retailers aiming at different segments of the market include Gucci and TopShop. While Gucci captures a more wealthy, professional and elite market, TopShop aims at a much larger and more varied market. 9.0 References * American Marketing Association (2004). Dictionary of Marketing Terms: reference group. Retrieved 2nd March 2004. http://www.marketingpower.com/live/mg_dictionary-view3860.php.  · American Marketing Association (2004). Whats Hot Whats Not: Teens tastes in fashion change and change often. Teens also spend, and spend†¦. * Retrieved Friday 5th March 2004. http://www.intellisearchnow.com/mp_pwrpub_view.scml?ppa=7iempYZhklooprVSlj%216%3C%22bfej%5B%21 * Batista, E (2004). Wired News: What Your Clothes Say About You. Retrieved 16th Feburary 2004. * http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,58006,00.html * Chisnall, P (1975). Marketing: A Behavioural Analysis. 1st edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK) Limited. * Goldsmith, R (2002). Some Personality Traits of Frequent Clothing Buyers. Emerald, journal of consumer marketing, volume 6, number 3. Retrieved Friday 5th March. http://oberon.emeraldinsight.com/vl=3977275/cl=13/nw=1/fm=html/rpsv/cw/mcb/13612026/v6n3/s6/p303 * Lansing, J, and Morgan, J, (1955). Consumer Behaviour: Consumer finances over the life-cycle. 1st Edition. Clark, L.H., New York University Press. * Mintel, (2001). Marketing to ABs – UK – June 2001. Retrieved Saturday 6th March 2004. http://reports.mintel.com/sinatra/mintel/searchexec/fulltext=family+life-cycletype=reportsreport_titleresults=1000proximity=anywherevariants=trueorder=2/report/repcode=S192anchor=accessS192/doc/712626029repcode=S192#0 * Mintel, (2003). Extreme Sports – UK – November 2003. Retrieved Friday 5th March 2004. * http://reports.mintel.com/sinatra/mintel/searchexec/fulltext=sub-culturetype=reportsreport_country=224report_titleresults=1000proximity=anywherevariants=trueorder=2/report/repcode=L439anchor=accessL439 * Moran, C (2004). Fashion Crime: hoodlums love their hooded tops. The Times. * Williams, T (2002). Social Class Influences on Purchase Evaluation Criteria. Emerald, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Volume 19, Number 3. Retrieved Friday 5th March 2004 http://titania.emeraldinsight.com/vl=7203230/cl=70/nw=1/fm=html/rpsv/cw/mcb/07363761/v19n3/s5/p249

Friday, September 20, 2019

Leadership Strategy Of KFC

Leadership Strategy Of KFC KFC was first introduced by Colonel Sanders. His first franchise was in year 1952. Under new management, the first sale was for $2 Million. In 1980, there were more profit and expansion of KFC was carried out. Within 50 years, the profit went up to $ 7 Billion. In 1952, Col. Sanders started franchising his recipe door to door financed by his $105.00. Col Sanders had more than 600 franchised outlets in the US and Canada by year 1964. He sold his interest in his company for $2 million to a group of investors. In 1966, KFC went public. KFC was listed on the NYSE in 1969. Current Market Cap value on the NYSE is 7.2 Billion. A competitive marketing strategy in the international market focused on the Latin American countries is the reason why KFC can maintain a market leadership in the global fast-food industry. Key to continued growth was to find, motivate, and retain hard-working and entrepreneurial managers and franchisees around the globe .In addition to short term profits, store managers were also responsible for building local public relations, maintaining employee morale, developing customer good-will, keeping tab on the competing chains and creating a legacy of special chicken cooking recipe. KFC had a refocused international strategy to grow its company and franchise restaurant base all over the world. Their Competitive marketing strategy: was to developed three types of chicken, original recipe (pressure cooked) ,extra crispy (fried)and also tender roast (roasted) .Sweeping changes into the culture was initiated by the new management- this brings about demoralization to old KFC employees and even franchisees. Several restructurings led to layoffs throughout KFC, replacement of KFC managers with PepsiCo managers .Conflicts between KFC and PepsiCo cultures- this is manifested with PepsiCos stronger emphasis on performance rather than loyalty expressed by Col. Sanders to KFC employees over the years. According to SWOT ANALYSIS, the weaknesses of KFC are as follows.KFC finds difficulty in entering the German market (culture incompatibility) .KFC sales stagnated. There was widespread discontent among the franchisees, some of whom felt the new owners did not understand the chicken business and were not providing leadership expected from a franchisor. Company stores floundered and become underperforming the franchised operations, further convincing franchisees that the company did not know its own business. (KFC HQ acquired them to company-owned) .Overseas expansion with the rapid economic growth and trend toward two-income families that had fuelled the growth of fast-food industry in the 1950s and 1960s were appearing in the late 1960s in the other country.  [1]   Primary objective is to take advantage of the potential growth in other countries, to establish a strong position and to develop their image. Key Success Factors are ever continuing cost savings through RD, innovations and use of new technology to work efficiently. These success techniques will lower costs and increase profits in the industry. KFC uses an integrated low cost/differentiation leadership, since it can count on its brand name and original taste and recipes to be unique while at the same time compete on price using the benefits of cost savings from economies of scale. Based on the analysis, we can conclude that they should start by solving their internal issues such as management and restaurant menu before thinking about expanding. They should work on the management issues to create a good atmosphere where employees are happy to work in. I certainly do not believe that by treating employees poorly, a company can be successful. They also need to make sure that their restaurants offer a diversified menu, provide their customers with quality food, excellent service and restaurant cleanliness. KFC should always listen to their customers and try to follow the new trends on the market in order to fully satisfy their customers. Otherwise, competitors will satisfy them and will eventually outperform you as Boston did with its grilled chicken. Even though, KFC seems to have an emotional attachment to their original recipe that made their success, they definitely need to move on and develop new products that customers want in order to increase their financial performance and value. We have seen that Boston and Popeyes are stealing customers away from KFC because they understood what customers wanted and started offering healthier items. KFC should certainly do the same and enhance their menu.  [2]   On the other hand, it is time to talk about another local business success story and how can we talk about successful organizations without talking about Al-Baik. It is next to impossible that you are living in Jeddah or ever visited it without being to Al-Baik. The local fast food chain has been around since 1974. After 35 years by now, the restaurant is mainly operating in Jeddah with minimum number of branches in Makkah, Madinah, Yanbu and Taif. Arguably, Al-Baik possesses the highest market share and customer loyalty amongst its competitors especially in Jeddah; noting that when I say competitors, I mean international multibillion brands like McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc. For those of you familiar with the debate surrounding Porters Generic strategies, Al-Baik is a living proof that you could follow a strategy that combines both differentiation and cost leadership. Although there are a lot of restaurants serving fried chicken, the quality and taste of Al-Baik are certainly unique and its prices are way below the average. Al-Baik has very strong brand equity whether we are measuring it by evaluating the restaurants products or by studying its brand impact on customers. Al-Baik brand communicates strong messages of quality, fast service, trust, affordability, convenience, and social responsibility. Its management has been very smart emphasizing these values into the brand using different methods of advertisements, public relations, or even by spreading stories about the brand. The entrepreneurial story of its founder and how he struggled to raise his community awareness about eating outside the home which was strange back then and how he has been working alone in the restaurant preparing the food, serving it, and then cleaning the small shop are all meant to build some kind of connection with its customers. Also, some suspense and mystery would not hurt either; the secret chicken formula that is only known by few individuals is one of the most preferred stories amongst such food and beverages organizat ions. Whether we are talking about fast service, servicescape design, or cleanness of the restaurants environment; Al-Baik is providing exemplary services in all of that. Even more, Al-Baik is one of the few restaurants that introduced items to the menu based solely on customers suggestions. Al-Baik marketers are masters in choosing locations for their restaurants. One has never seen a branch of Al-Baik without it being packed with customers. The huge expansions they carried out in Jeddah have been built on population distribution analysis. That is why wherever you live in Jeddah now; there must be Al-Baik branch within your easy reach. Al-Baik has always been known for its socially related campaigns. They have a regular presence in Hajj seasons providing free meals to pilgrims and they are periodically campaigning for environmentally related causes like banning smoking in their restaurants or preserving the city clean image. Furthermore, their active participation in the aftermath of Jeddah floods by providing free meals to those devastated by the catastrophe is one shiny example of how organizations could be interacting with its society. Nevertheless, staying on the top is not an easy job. Al-Baik management has to deal with many issues to facilitate its growth. One of these important issues is on the mind of every fan who happen to live outside Jeddah; how much should they expand? Should they consider opening new branches in other cities at the Kingdom? What about being multinational or even global? Moreover, how Al-Baik should respond to the growing concerns raised by healthy and organic foods advocates. And most importantly, how its managers are going to maintain its competitive advantages and how are they going to nurture its sustainability strategy.  [3]   As conclusion, the best selling food in my view is KFC. People nowadays has less time to eat since they are busy working. Therefore, they would choose fast food restaurants as their choice. Thus, the managers of these restaurants need o ensure on cost leadership and make sure they can get the best way to keep the price reduced. This is a marketing strategy in a way to attract customers. More customers make the business more powerful and expand fast. (1505 WORDS)

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay examples --

Living in today’s American society is a blessing and a curse. Never has information been so easily attainable, knowledge is literally at our fingertips, that being the blessing. However, so are advertisements, movies, songs and general media that are coming at us so fast that we have no idea how to handle it. The average American is subjected to about 3000 ads per day (Kilbourne, 2006). The curse is what it does to our generation’s ideal perception of the perfect body, advertisement being the biggest culprit of them all. Hyper sexualized women and men in the media are the reason that 80% of children by the age of ten years old are afraid of being fat. According to a recent study in Spain found that adolescents consume an average of 3 hours to 3.2 hours a day of television on weekdays and weekends, respectively (Bercedo Sanz et al., 2005). Children are still in their developmental stage, their brain and ideas are still forming which is why they are so easily targeted. Television, magazines, films, billboards, and the like frequently offer a distorted vision of the world (Bercedo Sanz et al., 2005; Shrum, 2009), and it may be difficult for children and adolescents to distinguish whether what they see is real or not, so that they are more vulnerable to the messages transmitted (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). Men and women are each targeted very differently in media. Although sex sells, it is the image in the advertisement itself that is what is engrained in our minds. Media tells us that wome n are supposed to be skinny, dainty and delicate. Whereas men they are supposed to be big and strong so that women will faun all over them and their muscles. These images are making young children’s self-esteem plummet way faster in th... ...ian body builder Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian is considered a god amongst men in the body building community. He died of a heart attack in a sauna due to steroid abuse while on vacation in Thailand. Why people consider him a hero is still a mystery. In the media the seemingly over weight men never get the posy and are never taken seriously. Men must be stern chiseled and highly sophisticated. Not only that but they must also take charge and be animalistic, women in the media are often portrayed as objects for the men’s pleasure. Media is a vessel in which women and men a like use in order to try to better themselves. In trying to duplicate what they see they really are only causing themselves heart ache and emotional and psychological damage. Until we can passively look at media and still be happy with whom we are; we as a society can never be happy and healthy.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

William Faulkners A Rose for Emily is a Gothic Horror Tale :: A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner

William Faulkner is widely considered to be one of the great American authors of the twentieth century. Although his greatest works are identified with a particular region and time (Mississippi in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries), the themes he explores are universal. He was also an extremely accomplished writer in a technical sense. Novels such as The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom! feature bold experimentation with shifts in time and narrative. Several of his short stories are favorites of anthologists, including "A Rose for Emily." This strange story of love, obsession, and death is a favorite among both readers and critics. The narrator, speaking for the town of Jefferson in Faulkner's fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, tells a series of stories about the town's reclusive spinster, Miss Emily Grierson. The stories build up to a gruesome revelation after Miss Emily's funeral. She apparently poisoned her lover, Homer Barron, and kept his corpse in an attic bedroom for over forty years. It is a common critical cliche to say that a story "exists on many levels." In the case of "A Rose for Emily", this is the truth. Critic Frank A. Littler, in an essay published in Notes on Mississippi Writers regarding the chronology of the story, writes that "A Rose for Emily" has been read variously as ". . .a Gothic horror tale, a study in abnormal psychology, an allegory of the relations between North and South, a meditation on the nature of time, and a tragedy with Emily as a sort of tragic heroine." These various interpretations serve as a good starting point for discussion of the story. The Gothic horror tale is a literary form dating back to 1764 with the first novel identified with the genre, Horace Walpole's The Castle of Ontralto. Gothicism features an atmosphere of terror and dread: gloomy castles or mansions, sinister characters, and unexplained phenomena. Gothic novels and stories also often include unnatural combinations of sex and death. In a lecture to students documented by Frederick L. Gwynn and Joseph L. Blotner in Faulkner in the University: Class Conferences at the University of Virginia 1957-1958, Faulkner himself claimed that "A Rose for Emily" is a "ghost story." In fact, Faulkner is considered by many to be the progenitor of a sub-genre, the Southern gothic. The Southern gothic style combines the elements of classic Gothicism with particular Southern archetypes (the reclusive spinster, for example) and puts them in a Southern milieu.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Ethics Dilemma Paper Essay

ETHICS DILEMMA PAPER One of the most difficult things in the criminal justice field is related to ethics in the criminal justice profession. Whether it being a corrections officer, police officer, or a judge. The main goal is to ensure you as a professional are making the right decision for the greater good and that it falls within the guidelines that are set before you in the laws that have been written. In the recent dilemma that occurred in Broward County on February 19, 2014 is an example of an ethics dilemma in the criminal justice field that happens much too often. I will explain to you the nature of the dilemma, the ethical/unethical decision that was made, the outcome of the situation, and suggest some alternative courses of actions that could have taken place instead and why. NATURE OF THE DILEMMA On February 19, 2014 a Broward County Sheriff’s deputy of 20 plus years on the force conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle traveling unlawfully in the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. Once the deputy had the vehicle stopped he was informed by the woman in the driver’s seat that she was recording him conducting the traffic stop. Once the sheriff’s deputy gained knowledge of  this he proceeded to force his way into the woman’s vehicle trying to grab her phone, then pulling her out of the vehicle and dragging her onto the ground causing injuries in several places as another deputy stood by with his gun drawn. All the while this was going on he continued to yell at her stating she was committing a felony and telling her â€Å"I know the law better than you† , and placing her under arrest. The ethical dilemma this situation brings forward is: was the actions taken by this deputy really necessary and justified on an ethical basis? (Miller, 2014). ETHICAL DECISION MADE In this particular situation an unethical decision was made based on the circumstances of the incident at hand. The deputy was committing a crime (felony) himself by unlawfully forcing his way into her vehicle, and detaining her against her will for a crime she did not commit. All for a simple civil infraction (driving in an HOV lane), that could have been handled in a totally different and professional manner. This was the only law the woman was breaking at the time, and the only probable cause the deputy had to go on for the actions that he took. OUTCOME OF THE SITUATION Once the dust settled upon this unfortunate situation, the deputy assumed and thought that the woman was breaking the law by recording the audio and video of the deputy. He assumed that he had to give the woman permission to audio record him. Unfortunately to his disadvantage the Florida courts ruled upholding a â€Å"expectation of privacy provision† (Silverman, 2012) to their all-party law, which the courts ruled does not apply to on-duty police (or anyone in public), as long as you are not interfering with them in conducting their duty. In this particular case the deputy appeared to be uneducated in this revision to the law that the law enforcement agency clearly neglected to educate its department on. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION/ WHY According to the situation at hand some of the alternative courses of actions that the deputy could have taken and the woman that was being stopped could have been drastically different. Ethically speaking the deputy could have not taken his actions to the extreme that he did all over the simple recording violation that he thought the woman was committing. His life was not in danger nor was there any indication of any physical threat coming from the woman. The deputy totally handled that situation in a very unprofessional and unethical manner. On the other hand the woman could have easily been justified in using deadly force on the deputy if he was not a law enforcement officer. She would have been justified well within the guidelines of Florida’s Justifiable Use of Force law considering he unlawfully forced his into her car and violently dragged her out. Fortunately for him he was a law enforcement officer or he could have been killed. Another course of action for the sheriff’s deputy and the department could have been to properly educate themselves and their officers of the most current laws regarding these types of situations. In addition to making sure each and every deputy gets a refresher course on the necessary use of force procedures every few years. CONCLUSION In conclusion of this ethical dilemma situation, what I can draw from this is several things. One being always treat people in a way I would like to be treated unless circumstances dictate otherwise; it is the right and ethical action to take. Sometimes we just do not get that luxury of doing such an action when dealing with certain types of people and situations and yes certain actions are necessary. Always take the time to educate yourself on certain laws or information you are not sure of before acting on what you think may be correct. Just like the famous saying, â€Å"Ignorance of the law is not an excuse†, and this is very true but it does go both ways for law enforcement and the public. References Miller, C. (2014). Photography is not a crime. Retrieved from http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2014/02/19/broward-sheriffs-deputy-violently-attacks-woman-recording-traffic-stop/ Silverman, S. (2012). Reason.com free minds and free markets. Retrieved from http://reason.com/archives/2012/04/05/7-rules-for-recording-police

Monday, September 16, 2019

Purdue Owl

Engagement Welcome to the Purdue OWL This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue (http://owl. english. purdue. edu/). When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice at bottom. Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen Brizee. Summary: This resource describes why outlines are useful, what types of outlines exist, suggestions for developing effective outlines, and how outlines can be used as an invention strategy for writing. Four Main Components for Effective Outlines Ideally, you should follow these four suggestions to create an effective outline.The examples are taken from the Sample Outline handout. Parallelism – How do I accomplish this? Each heading and subheading should preserve parallel structure. If the first heading is a verb, the second heading should be a verb. Example: 1. Choose Desired Colleges 2. Prepare Application (â€Å"Choose† and â€Å"Prepare† are both verbs. The present tense of the verb is usually the preferred form for an ou tline) Coordination – How do I accomplish this? All the information contained in Heading 1 should have the same significance as the information contained in Heading 2.The same goes for the subheadings (which should be less significant than the headings). Example: 1. Visit and evaluate college campuses 2. Visit and evaluate college websites 1. Note important statistics 2. Look for interesting classes (Campus and websites visits are equally significant. They are part of the main tasks you would owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/owlprint/544/ 1/4 29/10/2010 Purdue OWL Engagement need to do. Finding statistics and classes found on college websites are parts of the process involved in carrying out the main heading topics. )Subordination – How do I accomplish this? The information in the headings should be more general, while the information in the subheadings should be more specific. Example: 1. Describe an influential person in your life 1. Favorite high school teacher 2. Gran dparent (A favorite teacher and grandparent are specific examples from the generalized category of influential people in your life. ) Division – How do I accomplish this? Each heading should be divided into 2 or more parts. Example: 1. Compile resume 1. List relevant coursework 2. List work experience 3.List volunteer experience (The heading â€Å"Compile resume† is divided into 3 parts. ) Technically, there is no limit to the number of subdivisions for your headings; however, if you seem to have a lot, it may be useful to see if some of the parts can be combined. Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen Brizee. Summary: This resource describes why outlines are useful, what types of outlines exist, suggestions for developing effective outlines, and how outlines can be used as an invention strategy for writing. Why and How to Create a Useful Outline Why create an outline?There are many reasons; but in general, it may be helpful to create an outline when you want to show the h ierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information. For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information. For creative writing, an outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits. Many people find that organizing an oral report or presentation in outline form helps them speak more effectively in front of a crowd. Below are the primary reasons for creating an outline. Aids in the process of writing owl. english. purdue. du/owl/owlprint/544/ 2/4 29/10/2010 Purdue OWL Engagement Helps you organize your ideas Presents your material in a logical form Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing Constructs an ordered overview of your writing Defines boundaries and groups How do I create an outline? Determine the purpose of your paper. Determine the audience you are writing for. Develop the thesis of your paper. Then: Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper. Organize: Group related ideas together. Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.Label: Create main and sub headings. Remember: creating an outline before writing your paper will make organizing your thoughts a lot easier. Whether you follow the suggested guidelines is up to you, but making any kind of outline (even just some jotting down some main ideas) will be beneficial to your writing process. Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen Brizee. Summary: This resource describes why outlines are useful, what types of outlines exist, suggestions for developing effective outlines, and how outlines can be used as an invention strategy for writing. Types of Outlines and Samples Alphanumeric OutlinesThis is the most common type of outline and usually instantly recognizable to most people. The formatting follows these characters, in this order: Roman Numerals Capitalized Letters Arabic Numerals Lowercase Letters If the outline needs to subdivide beyond these divisions, use Arabic numerals inside parentheses and then lowercase letters inside parentheses. Select the â€Å"Sample Outlines† PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline. The sample PDF in the Media Box above is an example of an outline that a student might create owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/owlprint/544/ 3/4 29/10/2010 Purdue OWL Engagement efore writing an essay. In order to organize her thoughts and make sure that she has not forgotten any key points that she wants to address, she creates the outline as a framework for her essay. What is the assignment? Your instructor asks the class to write an expository (explanatory) essay on the typical steps a high school student would follow in order to apply to college. What is the purpose of this essay? To explain the process for applying to college Who is the intended audience for this essay? High school students intending to apply to college and their parents What is the essay's thesis statemen t?When applying to college, a student follows a certain process which includes choosing the right schools and preparing the application materials. Full Sentence Outlines The full sentence outline format is essentially the same as the Alphanumeric outline. The main difference (as the title suggests) is that full sentences are required at each level of the outline. This outline is most often used when preparing a traditional essay. Select the â€Å"Sample Outlines† PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline. Decimal Outlines The decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline.The added benefit is a system of decimal notation that clearly shows how every level of the outline relates to the larger whole. Select the â€Å"Sample Outlines† PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline. Copyright  ©1995-2010 by The Writing Lab ; The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Please report any technical problems you encounter. owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/owlprint/544/ 4/4

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Safety on Water Refilling Station

1. Abstract This study tackles the safeties of processes used by water refilling stations in the Philippines, specifically on the National Capital Region, on the purified water it sells to its customers. The study focuses on the processes the water refilling stations implements to purify the water from its concessionaires not in the working place of water refilling stations. The group chose to research on this topic since nowadays, as the demand for cleaner water becomes higher, the price of household water purifiers and bottled water has become prohibitive.Water refilling stations managed by private entrepreneurs offer a cheaper and more convenient solution to the public’s drinking water needs than bottled water or the use of household filters. The demand at the water refilling stations – water stores that sell purified water is now increasing. The quality of purified water conforms to the national standards for drinking water and is even better than the quality of wat er produce by traditional water supply systems in terms of removed impurities. At present, about 3,000 water refilling stations have proliferated nationwide.They sell purified water of comparable quality with bottled water at a lower price. For example, the current price per gallon of refilled purified water in Metro Manila ranges from P 50 to P 120 per 5-gallon container or about P 2. 50 to P 6. 00 per liter while the bottled water is sold at P 12. 00 to P 25. 00 per liter. Household filters, on the other hand, cost P 5,000 to P 25,000 per unit. In Metro Manila, most of the water refilling stations is connected to the pipes of two concessionaires: Maynilad Water Company or Manila Water Company for their source of raw water while in other areas they opt to use private deep wells.The â€Å"potable water† supplied by the providers is then further purified by utilizing a combination of water treatment equipment, such as sediment filters, carbon filters, water softeners, reverse osmosis membranes, ultra-violet lamps, and ozone generators. Typical water refilling stations can produce 3,000 to 12,000 litres of purified water per day. In previous years, most of the people were bringing a container to a water refilling station to buy purified water. Nowadays, because of convenience on the part of the consumers, purified water in 5-gallon (22. litres) containers is delivered by the station directly to the people’s home. Aqua Sure, a water refilling station in Metro Manila, can deliver 5,500 gallons (25,000 litres) a day to its 8,000 household client.2. Introduction 3. 1. Problem Statement The proponents want to know how dirty water is being processed in the water station, what processes does the water goes through, what is the quality of the water being produced and how safe it is to drink that water after. 3. 2. Significance The study will: determine the physical, chemical and bacteriological quality of the product water produced * determine if the water produced is potable * assess the current guidelines used for evaluating and monitoring the quality of the water produced * provide basis for decision making and strategy for regulation and monitoring of water stations to ensure a continuous production of quality and safe drinking water 3. 3. Review of Related Literature Water is the only substance found on earth in three forms solid, liquid, and gas. It regulates the earth’s temperature.Drinking water or potable water is water safe enough to be consumed by humans or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry meets drinking water standards, even though only a very small proportion is actually consumed or used in food preparation. Typical uses include toilet flushing, washing and landscape irrigation. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues , and removes wastes.Adverse health effects from contaminants that may occur in drinking water include acute effects that may immediately impact health and chronic effects that may occur if contaminants are ingested at unsafe levels over many years. Drinking water that meets US EPA’s health-based standards is generally safe. People who are not healthy as a result of illness, age, or weakened immune systems, are more likely to be at risk from certain contaminants that may be found in drinking water. Infants and very young children are also more susceptible to some contaminants.Individuals concerned about their particular situations should consult their health care providers. 3. 4. Research Questions Below are the guide questions which the proponents of the research work considered in conducting this research paper: * What is a safe drinking water? * What is the process of cleaning the water? * What are the problems in the process? * How would the proponents go about investigat ing the causes of the observed problems? * What are the effects of these observed problems? What are the unsafe conditions in the process? * What is the quality of the water after the process? 3. 5. Methodology The proponents did an actual observation inside a water refilling station by identifying the process and the worker demonstrated how the process works. Next is that the proponents researched on the safety of drinking water of water stations by looking up at articles, assessing and analyzing which causes the impurities of the water and if there are problems on the process and if the process needs improvement.After is that they establish a conclusion and the proponents monitor and implement the correct process. They also see if it’s compatible with the system. Lastly, they did adequate measures and controls to ensure that the correct process will be established and if the water station is implementing it always. It is important to follow the correct process so that they can say that the water is safe for drinking. 3. Discussion Unsafe water * More than one billion people lack access to an improved water source. 88 percent of the 4 billion annual cases of diarrheal disease are attributed to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene. * 2 million people suffer diarrhoeal deaths each year. Drinking water Parameters * Alkalinity * Color of water * pH * Taste and Odor* Dissolved metals and salts(sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium) * Microorganism * Dissolved metals and metalloids ( lead, mercury, arsenic, etc * Dissolved organics * Radon * Heavy metal Machines for processes Multi-media sediment filter – removes sediments such as rust, sand and particles that are invisible to the naked eye. * Ion exchanger – replaces hard minerals with soft minerals. * Activated carbon filter – removes all organic chemicals, herbicide, pesticide, offensive odor and bad taste.* Reverse osmosis membrane – the hear t of the system and the most expensive unit; removes inorganic minerals, bacteria and viruses while retaining its oxygen content. Since the filter size is very small at less than 0. 5 micrometre, the product water could have a total dissolved solids (TDS) of less than 10 ppm. The filtration process rejects about 50 percent of raw water volume. * Post-carbon filter – improves the taste of water. * Ultraviolet lamp – ensures that the water is free from disease-causing micro-organisms. * Ozone generator – inhibits the growth of bacteria in the product tank and prolongs the shelf life of water. Water quality monitoring* Bacteriological quality – at least monthly * Physical quality – at least every six (6) months Chemical quality – at least every six (6) months * Biological quality – at least once a year * Monitoring of radioactive contaminants shall be done only if there is significant input of radiation from the surrounding environment. 4. Conclusion Water refilling stations can be a good source of safe drinking water in the Philippines. Purified water can meet the aesthetic standards easily detectable by the people in terms of taste, odor and color. The efficient water purification processes can make the quality of water superior to the traditional water systems.However, the risk of contamination is possible if the handling practices are not closely monitored. The water production has designed its facility to the high quality state of the art which can process and purified water into a colorless and free from objectionable taste and odor. That the product water is free from substance that may contain to endanger the lives of consuming public the design of the water treatment purification process was based on the character of the source of water the availability of appropriate purification technology. 5. About the AuthorsThe ideas behind this study are from four 3rd Year Safety Engineering students of the Industria l Engineering Department of the University of Santo Tomas namely: Christian Domingo Bascon, Mishael Ann Asuncion Belocura, Edmond Ray Dela Cruz Divino and Wyanet Dy Yang The four students have a strong passion on Safety Engineering and want to contribute as early as now in the safety of everyone. 6. Acknowledgement First and foremost, we would like to thank to our professor Sir Nestor Ong for the valuable guidance, technical discussions and relevant discussions.He inspired us greatly to work in this project. We also would like to thank him for showing us some example that related to the topic of our project. In addition, we would also like to thank Antipolo Spring Water Refilling Station which provided us valuable information as the guidance of our project which helped us in completing this task through various stages. We also wanted to thank our families who inspired, encouraged and fully supported us in every trial that came our way. Also, we thank them for giving us not just fina ncial, but moral and spiritual support.And all of those who supported us in any respect during the completion of the project. Lastly, we offer our regards and blessings to God the father of all, we are thankful for the strength that keeps us standing and for the hope that keeps us believing that this affiliation would be possible and more interesting. 7. Notes * Especially in urban areas, water quality does not meet the standards set by the national government. As a result, waterborne diseases remain a severe public health concern in the country. About 4,200 people die each year due to contaminated drinking water. Your local water supplier is required by law to notify you if there’s any reason your water is unsafe. Furthermore, the Safe Water Drinking Act requires all water suppliers to issue their customers an annual report on the source and quality of the water—including a list of contaminant levels. Municipal water is tested for micro-organisms, organic and inorgani c chemicals, disinfectants, disinfectant by-products, and radioactive substances. If your copy of the report has not come in the mail, call your water company.Though your water company is responsible for keeping the water safe, lead can get into the supply after the water has left the treatment plant. Arsenic may also be a problem in some areas, mainly the Southwest. * Filtering the water If you are simply trying to improve the taste of your water, a filtering pitcher will do. But if you are trying to remove lead, arsenic, or specific contaminants, you may want a permanent installation. Before you buy, be sure you know which contaminants the system will filter out. NSF is an excellent source of information.Water filtration systems come in two basic types, ranging from cheap to expensive: * Point-of-entry systems are installed on the main water supply and treat most or all the water entering a house. These include water softeners, which remove calcium and magnesium. There’s no harm in drinking softened water, and it does not cause heart disease, as has been alleged. But the softer the water, the more likely it is to leach lead from the pipes. * Point-of-use systems include faucet-mounted filters, faucets with built-in filters, pitchers, and under-the-sink filters.Whether it’s installed under the sink or at point-of-entry, the most effective filter is a reverse-osmosis system, which filters out lead and other toxic metals and other contaminants. This type of filter can be expensive ($500 to $1,000 or more) and the cartridges have to be replaced every year at a cost of up to $200. Faucet-mounted systems and faucets with built-in filters work well against specific contaminants (check the labels and NSF certificates), as do most countertop pitchers. Simpler systems such as these represent a small investment, but replacement filters can cost as much as $100 a year. The agencies directly involved in the establishment operation of water refilling station s are as follows: a. The Department of Health (DOH). DOH is the main agency responsible for protecting the health of the people. The Sanitation Code of the Philippines mandates DOH in protecting drinking water quality. Consequently, DOH issues implementing rules and regulations prescribing sanitary standards for water supply systems, including water refilling stations. b. The Center for Health Development (CHD) is the regional branch of DOH.Its main function is to provide technical assistance to local government units and to monitor DOH programme implementation which includes water quality and sanitation standards. For water refilling stations, CHD is mandated to issue initial and operational permits. c. The Local Government Units (LGUs) are mandated by Presidential Decree (PD 856) to issue sanitary permit, sanitary clearance, health certificates, certificate of potability, drinking water site clearance and closure order (if necessary) and to conduct sanitary inspection of WRS. d.Th e Water Quality Association of the Philippines Inc. (WQAP) is an organization of private firms who are engaged in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of water refilling station equipment and supplies, as well as water treatment and purification equipment and technology for household, institutional, commercial and industrial applications. About 85 percent of its 250 members operates water refilling stations. e. Association of Water Refilling Entrepreneurs (AWARE) concentrates on resolving business management issues of its members. * Presidential Decree No. 56 (PD 856) or the Sanitation Code of the Philippines is the main law requiring all establishments to comply with existing sanitary standards to protect public health. Guidelines for operating a water refilling station are indicated in the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations on Water Supply of PD 856 issued in 1999. 8. References (2006 october 6) EntrePinoys atbp.A study on water refilling stations http://www. mixph . com/2006/10/a-study-on-water-refilling-station. html http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_the_Philippines#Drinking_water_quality Water Sanitation and health. ttp://www. who. int/water_sanitation_health /en/ http://www. wellnessletter. com/ucberkeley/foundations/drinking-water/#sthash. bNGyupzl. dpuf EPA 816-F-04-036 June 2004 www. epa. gov/safewater 9. Editorial History Paper received 02 March 2013; accepted 09 March 2013; revised version received 09 March 2013. Copyright  © 2011, Copyright  © 2011, Christian D. Basco, Mishael Ann A. Belocura, Edmond DC. Divino & Wyanet D. Yang 10. Disclaimer This article is only edited by Christian Domingo Basco, Mishael Ann Asuncion Belocura, Edmond Ray Dela Cruz Divino and

Friday, September 13, 2019

2012 Budget Proposal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

2012 Budget Proposal - Research Paper Example Such cut-and-invest agenda would create winners and big losers because the President’s budget proposal presumes using the money from some domestic programs to reduce the deficits and increase spending for education, clean energy, infrastructure, innovation and research in order to promote long-term economic growth and global competitiveness of the United States. Definitely, there are certain differences between the Presidents FY 2012 budget proposal and The House of Representatives FY 2012 budget proposal, which will be discussed further in the current paper. President Obama emphasized that the administration needs to construct a new foundation for long-term economic growth with pillars necessary to win in the world economy. Such pillars include an educated and skilled workforce, cutting-edge research into the innovations to power the industries of tomorrow, a modern infrastructure to support a growing, high-tech economy, and the jobs to support a growing middle class. As a re sult, Americans now face a monumental choice about the future of their country. The Republican response toward the President’s call for economic changes came in April, when Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin announced 2012 budget of his party. The main three purposes of The House of Representatives FY 2012 budget proposal is to (a) lift the crushing burden of debt; (b) guarantee health and retirement security for all Americans, especially seniors; and (c) strengthen the base of economic growth and creation of the jobs (Becker, 2011). Paul Ryan informed that the plan would reduce the deficit by $5.8 trillion over the next decade. It can be accomplished due to deep cuts in discretionary spending programs and turning Medicare into a "defined benefit, under which seniors would get vouchers to purchase private insurance. Medicaid would get smaller as the federal contribution to state

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Find legal arguments to have ECB exempted from the PSI Essay

Find legal arguments to have ECB exempted from the PSI - Essay Example In response to these, different bodies create liaisons in a bid to address these emergent challenges with ease. One of the most common options for countries and firms has been the creation of alliances. In this respect, countries or corporate bodies with common economic and social interests form groupings and develop viable policies to govern their operations. With the characteristic conditions, they create an environment that is supportive of economic growth and development. For instance, they provide better and mutually benefiting trade terms and conditions amongst others. To a great extent, this has been instrumental in cushioning them against the negative effects that stem from the aforementioned dynamic trends. Recent economic trends ascertain that the entire globe has been affected by incidences of inflation. One of the strategies that most countries, states and corporate entities have assumed to curb this pertains to financial borrowing. In this regard, it is worth appreciatin g that countries whose economies are directly influenced and controlled by the larger global economy cannot be financially independent. Put differently, their financial decisions are directly informed by the global trends. Fundamentally, nation states share intricate and augmenting relationships and due to the effects of globalization, they cannot operate singly. This can be used to explain why most countries suffer when the global economy is affected in any way. In such instances, economic instruments such as local banks, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and so forth offer the financial help accordingly. It is against this background that this paper explores the legal arguments that would enable the European Central Bank (ECB) to be exempted from the Public sector Involvement (PSI) debt. To ensure a harmonic consideration, it begins by presenting the history of the problem, role of PSI and the responsibility of ECB in the relative debt. Historical Underpinning From a general point of view, the Euro zone is currently grappling with sovereign debt crisis. Statistical evidence indicates that various countries including Portugal, Ireland and Greece have been adversely affected this1. In particular, their debts are very high and therefore potentially unsustainable. With particular reference to Greece, the buildup of its debt in the 2000s was influenced by increased investor confidence as well as its easy access to very cheap capital. The subsequent competitiveness presented various financial challenges that made it difficult for the country to maintain a positive economic growth2. This was further compounded by the global financial crisis that occurred between 2008 and 2008. In essence, it increased the borrowing costs of the country to unsustainable levels. Various policy interventions have been undertaken by different stakeholders to address this problem. The European Central Bank, European Union and the International Monetary Fund have all contri buted directly to this good. In this respect, they all agreed that Greek’s possible default could have lasting negative impacts to the entire global financial market. They proposed the first financial aid package in 2010. Nonetheless, Haldane, Penalver, Saporta and Chin argue that this did not yield any beneficial outcomes3. The financial stability of the

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Is America a country that is in a constant state of flux as it is in a Essay

Is America a country that is in a constant state of flux as it is in a constant state of flux as it relates to identity or is it - Essay Example Therefore, it is only appropriate that debate regarding the character of the nation, one which is shaped by political convictions and cultural factors should be pushed towards a decisive conclusion. It is only through the resolution of such debate can there be a better appreciation of national and social traits be achieved, which would consequently lead to solutions for other problems in society. In presenting the arguments involved in the said debates, two articles may help. These are Who and What is American: the Things We Continue to Hold in Common by Lewis Lapham and Dinosaur Dreams: Reading the Bone’s of America’s Psychic Mascot by Jack Hitt. Both articles are attempts at understanding the American psyche, especially in relation to identity. Lapham’s article is more direct in presenting his arguments that Americans have the tendency to constantly make changes in there perspectives, stand, or tastes, many aspects, from the most important to the most trivial. On the other hand, Hitt insists that Americans are to use old symbols in order to represent their resilience and their proclivity to stabilize everything. Although both may have differences, it is obvious though these articles ultimately reach an agreement that the American mode of thinking is actually open to changes. Therefore, it is clear that the country itself cannot avoid being a state of flux always. Just like all other societies in different parts of the globe, America continues to evolve. Naturally, this means that changes are still occurring in whatever aspect, whether it is political, cultural, and economic. Even if the country is actually centuries old, its development never ceases because of the simple fact that its people are never contented about what they already have. This is not a bad thing though. In fact, the reason why innovations are made, ones that improve industry, make lifestyles more convenient, and cultures more advance is that Americans are always trying to discover something new. As American society continues to evolve, it can only be in a state of flux, largely triggered by its response to challenges of existing situations. One proof of this continuous instability is in the field of politics. It is quite clear that a huge majority of Americans voted for President Obama in the 2008 elections. However, now that he is in power, it did not take long for many to shift sides in politics. Lapham explains that â€Å"democratic politics trades in only two markets – the market in expectation and the market in blame.† (January 1992) This means that when Americans feel that their expectations are not met, they automatically lay the blame on the on the person which they previously believed could solve problems of society. Because of this attitude, there will always be the impression that Americans are rarely contented with what they have; hence, the inclination towards flux. There is, however, a counter-argument to Lapham’ s theory. This articulated by Hitt as he tries to explain the Americans’ penchant for dinosaur, particularly the T-rex. Hitt points out that they tend to hold on to old symbols or extinct objects such as the dinosaur. He explains that the dinosaur’s â€Å"periodic rebirth in pop culture neatly signals deep tectonic shifts in our sense of ourself as a country.†