Progresso You Gotta Taste This Soup Essay

Progresso grew from an Italian Import Company to a Quality Soup Company with an Italian Heritage. The company seal and name Progresso (meaning â€Å"progress† in Italian) was designed to communicate the vision of progress, a cornerstone of the Progresso philosophy. The first Progresso soups were taken from real family recipes; made with the same ingredients and in the same way as the homemade soups. In 1949 Progresso introduced the first canned ready-to-serve soup in America and has grown to become the No. 1 ready-to-eat soup brand in America by using quality ingredients. Progresso continues to build on its rich history of flavorful products that delight the consumer. Gender & Age: Their commercials appear to target both men and women – mostly women. Those who are middle aged as opposed to teen and younger or senior citizen and those who are looking for something that is nostalgic and from their past. The reason I think they appeal mostly to women is because their message is positive and focuses on how it can improve and help a women’s life. They involve them with the brand and tell stories that resonate with females. One commercial shows a woman in a wedding dress calling to tell the Progresso Soup kitchen thanks for the help to achieve that goal. When the kitchen asks when’s the big day, she says â€Å"Oh, it was years ago, but the dress still fits! † Education & Income: I’m assuming their education levels are higher than high school as many of the commercials show people who are in offices or nice home settings which would mean their income is more middle class as opposed to lower or upper. ? Ethnic Group: Their company history can be traced back to Italy. Their soups like Traditional, Classic and Rich & Hearty all suggest a homemade flavor like Grandma’s. One commercial shows a woman in an office calling the kitchen asking if she can talk to her Grandma. They tell her she’s in the garden picking herbs to which she says, â€Å"She’s so cute, I’ll hold. † In 2010, Progresso stepped up its emphasis on superior taste with the rollout of World Recipes soups and the first four are Mexican-inspired flavors. Psychographics: I think the customers Progresso is reaching out to are Thinkers, Achievers and Believers. All three of these have similar qualities; conservative, focus on family, tradition. Thinkers and Achievers look further for functionality, value and brands that demonstrate success to their peers. One commercial shows how a soup with fiber doesn’t have to compromise good taste making it convenient for consumers to get more fiber in their diets while enjoying a wholesome, satisfying meal. Believers also favor American-made products and here’s where I think Progresso’s packaging is effective. The can colors are blue, the lettering is mostly white and their Progresso banner resembles a flag and has red trim – what is more American than Red, White & Blue? Benefit Segmentation & Usage: Progresso focuses on the advantages their customers receive rather on the characteristics of the customers themselves; mostly weight loss and receiving fresh ingredients. One commercial shows a guy calling to ask if the clams are fresh in his Clam Chowder soup. The kitchen â€Å"connects† him to the boat to talk to the captain. ? Product Positioning Progresso Soups have almost 50 flavors from which to choose and seven categories, each targeting a different market segment: Traditional, Vegetable Classics, Rich & Hearty, Reduced Sodium, Light, High Fiber and World Recipes. Their biggest attribute is their endorsement from Weight Watchers. They are the only soup endorsed by Weight Watchers. As for their competition, they show contrast by showing their soup is for grownups and it’s better than condensed soup (Campbells Chicken & Stars). They show different uses for their soup by creating recipes that can be found on Pillsbury. com or WeightWatchersOnline. com. Their price/quality relationship is shown when their commercials show whole, fresh vegetables going into the top of the can and their tagline over the years has been â€Å"It’s time to go to the better taste of Progresso. † Their product user is targeted, I think, to those who are looking for their past weight. Progresso Soup is a sponsor for The Biggest Loser and they hold contests for people who’ve lost weight using their product to receive makeovers. One lady who won said she had to â€Å"get my life back† and this was easy. Many of their commercials suggest that one will lose weight by eating Progresso. One shows a woman calling the kitchen to say her husband has been eating their soup and now looks like he did 20 years ago. Not only that, he’s wearing the clothes he wore 20 years ago and when the other can phone rings it’s him to say, â€Å"Relax and enjoy the view! † The funniest part, he’s wearing clothes from the 70’s complete with tube socks. Another is when a lady calls the kitchen to say she’s been eating Progresso and now her favorite old jeans fit. It’s easy to see that there are many benefits when eating Progresso Soups; as they said in their commercials from the 80’s, â€Å"P. S. I love you. †

PSY 475 Week 2 Learning Team Assignment Essay

Select in preparation for this assignment a psychological measure of depression, such as the Beck Depression Inventory or Children’s Depression Inventory. Obtain faculty approval of your selected measure prior to beginning this assignment. Individual portions due to the team forum by Friday. Please make sure a team member will be compiling the project and submitting it to the assignments link. Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze your selected psychological  measure. As a part of your analysis, address the following items: Using the University Library, the Internet, or other sources, select at least two scholarly journal articles that discuss the use of your selected psychological measure. Briefly summarize your selected articles, and compare and contrast their findings. Based on the analysis of your articles, discuss the use of your selected measure. Explain who is qualified to administer and interpret the  measure and the settings—such as occupational, academic, or counseling—in which it would be appropriate to use the measure. Differentiate between the populations for which your selected psychological measure is valid and invalid. To purchase this material click on below link http://www. assignmentcloud. com/PSY- 475/PSY-475-Week-2-Learning-Team- Assignment-Psychological-Measure-Paper For more classes visit http://www. assignmentcloud. com.

Character analysis of Curleys wife and Slim.

Corey's wife and slim character analysis. Steinbeck 's management told clearly about the role of Cory' s wife and the role of Slim. Because it was heard people's thoughts. We judge about their personality. When he told George and Renee, we first heard the wife of Kelly's wife Curly. This is what Candy told George about some of Collie's wife's gossip, which is also the opinion of most pasture workers. Curly came to two stories to find his wife. When he discovered that Slim was not in a two-story house, he thought that his wife and Slim were together and shows that Curly did not believe his wife. The first place we saw was that Curley assumed that his wife wanders with a man in a two-story house. Curley is a cumbersome person and problems may arise between Curley, George and Lennie in the latter part of the novel. In explaining their future, George told Renee they would have a dog and several cats, but Lenny would have to make sure that the cat does not catch the rabbit. To answer this , Lenny said, Let's make them catch a rabbit really, I am going to break their head.This sentence shows Lenny's absurdity, It helps to explain why he can not survive on his own.In addition, Rennie's statement reflects violence in male society. When George and Renee came to the ranch for the first time, the reader first introduced Carly 's wife through Candy. He has been married for two weeks, but Colley's wife said I have attracted people's attention and I am watching slim eyes. This means that Curley's wife is not satisfied with her marriage and is seeking other men's attention due to Curley's lack of attention. In addition, Candy will call Collie's wife Pie and Wanderer. Candy recommends that you understand that Curly's wife may not be trusted and may be harmful. This word reflects a negative attitude towards women at the time and is also reflected in the text of Steinbeck. Candy's comments to readers Collie's wife looked away. We were told that her eyes for Slim and Carlson were made by Kant's Candy. As I said before, it was abnormal just after two weeks and it showed the lack of love between Curly and his wife. Colley 's wife revealed their relationship in Chapter 5. In general, we learned that Curley 's wife is like everyone else. She dreams and is lonely, but she is ignored because she is a woman. Women, blacks, nephews, foolish people, and old people can not realize their dreams. Curley's wife represents a woman. Loneliness is the reason why pastoral society is very meaningful, and only the humble people can realize their dreams.

Start Up Shoe Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Start Up Shoe Business - Essay Example high heel, medium heel and low heel. All these three heights can be adjusted in a single product. The heel of this innovative product will be of hard plastic. It can be rotated to adjust the desired heights from three default sizes. This feature is the key attractive feature of the product. Manufacturing cost of this product would be $25. The company will manufacture this product through their own production unit. It will source leather and other required raw materials from the local suppliers. The quality of this multi-featured shoe will be of premium standard so that it can be positioned in the market among the premium brands. Quality will be checked by the expertise of the company’s manufacturing department. Quality control activity involves checking of quality of lather and pasting. These two components of a shoe determine the overall quality of the product. Customers’ feedbacks about the product at initial stage need to be evaluated to find out necessary revisions in production process or product raw materials. Quality control is one of the most important parts of production process. The quality control department always needs to focus on the industry quality standard and position the brand by comparing general feedback of the customers about quality of this product with respect to other brands. This product will be offered in the market with high standard of customer service like 6 months after sales warranty for any kind of damages of the shoe. New shoe will be provided in case of major damages within 6 months. Production flow of this product will be controlled on the basis of the demand of the product in the market. This strategy will be adapted to faster liquidation of the inventory and lower inventory cycle. Customers’ feedback will be given higher priority for further product development in terms of quality and design of this innovative product. Location HIGHLOWS shoe will be manufactured in Springfield, MA. Springfield is one of the most popular cities in England. The manufacturing unit of this product will be established in this location. Therefore, availability of resources needs to be analyzed in this location. For developing manufacturing and warehousing unit, a large hall will be leased for the next 5 years, and the interior of the hall will be designed. This includes separating the total space into two different divisions like manufacturing unit and warehouse. In the manufacturing unit, required machineries will be installed. Electric wearing will be fixed before the installation of the machineries. The generator facility will be necessary to ensure 24 hour electric supply. Renting the required building will be cost effective for this new business as the initial investment needs to be allocated in various activities like marketing, transportation, working capital management etc. Therefore, the cost of developing a building will be allocated in other operating activities. It is the most effective busi ness strategy for a new business to use rented fixed assets at initial stages, which also helps the company to easily withdraw the business in case of the worst case scenario in terms of market demand of the product. 2 to 3 vehicles are necessary for carrying raw material and also for supplying the products to the wholesalers as well as retailers. Again, to reduce initial capital requirements, this service will be outsourced from local transport service providers. To avoid delayed supply of raw materials, local suppliers will be involved in the production of this product. Legal Environment In order to obtain the licensing of the shoe business, an experienced attorney will have to be hired in order that all the legal requirements of the business are fulfilled and necessary

HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

HISTORY - Essay Example The aim of Grady was to develop a dynamic and prosperous country. After the fire accident in the year 1864, the city of Atlanta raised to a much beautiful and bold city. Since then, leaders like Grady wanted America to be one among the best countries in the world. He wished the New South to be a united and democratic place. The main aim of Grady was to bring a nation where people had the freedom to express their views. He wanted to bring about a change in the history of America. This was made possible since southern nation changed to a nation with more freedom. Grady aspired to make New South a place with diversity. Since agriculture was the only form of occupation, it did not yield much of an income. Then Grady wanted the people to work in all the fields like the people of Northern nations. (Grady 1890).He wanted to indulge people in all sorts of industries and improve their standard of living. Grady encouraged the public to invest in capital funds which will improve the financial status of the country. Another aim of Grady was to improve the industries so that job opportunities would increase. Grady wished to abolish labor unions and slavery. This was ruining the people of America. Another major aim of Grady was to remove racism and treat everyone as same. He strived hard to put an end to racism. Due to racism, many Americans and African-Americans found it difficult to work in the industries. A high rate of difference was prevailing in the industries which led Grady to abolish racism. African-Americans were not given opportunity to work in the industries were Americans were working. After a struggle Grady managed to change this situation. Blacks were also treated as other Americans. His dream of bringing blacks into â€Å"New South† came true. This gradually led to the improvement in the lives of slaves. Many people were living in the South as slaves’ pre and post war. (Grady 1890).Grady freed the slaves from the Southern job market. He initiated a

Managing a small business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing a small business - Essay Example In Australia, for a business to be referred to as small, it must have fewer than 15 people employed in it. In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, other classification of businesses also takes into consideration the aspect of total assets, sales or the net profit of the business. All over the world, small businesses forms a substantial number of businesses and it is dependent on the economic system prevailing. Small businesses supplement the ‘big’ businesses in commercial activities as they ensure that products reach the remotest parts of the country. Typically, most small businesses include; convenience stores, restaurants and pubs, hairdressers, tradesmen, and guest houses among others. In this regard, this paper endeavors to find out a number of issues related to small businesses (PUB) in Canterbury by interviewing the proprietors. Methodology The mode of information collection in this research paper was direct interview of the proprietors. Since the information was to be gathered on a single business premises, the proprietors were contacted prior and agreement was reached on the best time and day. In this case, I chose to consider a Pub in Canterbury named Dolphin. Dolphin is a modernized dining pub that provides a range of services to their customers. The information relating to the business was collected using a radio recorder coupled with note taking, the proprietors were found to be six and because of the nature of the question and considering time, all the proprietors were assigned sections of the inquiry to respond to so that the interview could not be skewed to an individual. Interviewing one person on all the areas of concern could lead to inaccurate information from the interviewee given fatigue and boredom. The questioned were then designed separately and spread amongst the six proprietors in Dolphin business from which the information regarding the business was collected. Market Research – Information Gathering Market res earch involves identifying what the people want and conform to it so that you can have a business competitive edge over the competitors. Market research is thus a very important tool in business survival as it enables one to make a determination on how to do marketing of their product. In this case, I interviewed the first proprietor and collected the following information about the market research. I. Primary Research Dolphin realized that they have to cut themselves a niche in the business environment by standing out as the best provider of services to the customers. They decided to do a primary research that was aimed at giving them insights on the taste of the people on varieties of foodstuffs, peak period of the business, and on issues of references. To acquire all these information, the management used questionnaire to source for information, in some instance, they asked the customers to rate their performance on specific issues like hygiene, satisfaction and so on. Rating of Dolphin’s performance was considered against what customers considered the best pub in the area where the business is situated. The information obtained from such responses is to be used for making the necessary improvement on the customer’s satisfaction. II. Secondary Research: A part from primary research for improving the performance of the business, Dolphin also relies on the secondary sources in its effort to understand the management of the business such that customer can be satisfied

Research Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Research Plan - Essay Example For instance, price competition, the pressures brought about by price increases, changes in customer trends and preferences, and industry concentration. These factors have made it extremely challenging for supermarkets to keep their customers, let alone encouraging them to be loyal. As a result of these changes, there are a number of ways through which retailers respond. Tesco, in particular, has always been a leader in influencing the market, and retaining customers, largely due to their technology driven strategies, that focus on marketing the products and services with the help of technology. In addition, the company also emphasizes on establishing and developing relationships with their customers. On the other hand, other companies like Asda and Safeway have decided to take another path, focusing on offering goods and services at a more competitive price. Sainsbury, at the moment, is still trying to gain back the market share of what Tesco has taken from them (Obitz, 2009). This chapter shall focus on the concept of relationship marketing and customer relationship marketing, both of which aim to preserve the loyalty of existing customers, instead of simply aiming to gain new ones. In order for this to happen, companies need to be innovative in its marketing approach, and this study shall investigate the approach of supermarket retailers such as Tesco, which has opted to make use of the Internet as part of its marketing strategy. The following sections shall therefore discuss the integration of technology with customer relationship marketing and relationships marketing (both of which are two different concepts, as will be discussed later on). As was described in the previous paragraph, the leading supermarket retailers all have their own unique marketing approach, especially when it comes to the kind of relationship that they are able to establish with their customers. Apparently, there are two types of marketing

Female Gender Dynamics in Elementary and Secondary Education Essay

Female Gender Dynamics in Elementary and Secondary Education - Essay Example When addressing the gender bias it has frequently been asked if males and females are different as a result of social or biological reasons (Frawley, 2005). Unfortunately, the answer does nothing to change the fact that men and women are viewed in different ways and are expected to act in different manners. The differences that exist in the educational arena can be traced to society's views on acceptable behavior of men and women. Because males and females are expected to act in different ways, it is impossible to expect them to act in the same ways within the classroom setting. Instead, the differences in male and female behavior need to be correctly identified and taken into consideration when it comes to curricula in schools. The differences that exist in the education of men and women can be traced back to social views of the two genders. Traditionally, males have been more educated than females. In addition, males have been expected to achieve more intellectually as a result of the belief that men are smarter and more capable of intellectual accomplishment than women. In addition, women have been viewed in as inferior in academic settings and as a result, less encouraged to excel in academia. The effects of these views can still be seen in the behavioral differences that exist between males and females in classrooms (Banks, 2004). In colonial America, females received a very minimal education in the form of dame schools only at a very young age. The education of females at these schools consisted of learning how to correctly perform household duties that would be expected of them when they married. Classes consisted of cooking and sewing. Very few females knew how to read or write. In fact, "less than one-third of the women in colonial America could even sign their names" (Banks, p. 136). The reading females were taught was for the sole purpose of reading the bible to their children. In order to fully grasp the inferior education females have historically received, understand that "not until the 1970s and 1980s did they win the right to be admitted to previously all-male Ivy League colleges and universities" (Banks, p.136). Only thirty-six years have passed since then. When looking at education from a historical perspective, the education of women is still extremely recent and we have a long way to go before gender equality is reached in classrooms. The gender inequality has been so documented that in 1995, a Gender Equality Act was passed. As a result of this act, many teachers received special training on how to create a sense of gender equality within their classrooms (WikEd, 2005). Because much of the gender bias of teachers was subconscious, training in this area has been extremely beneficial in creating more equality for females in elementary and secondary schools. Use of Language, Time and Space Males and females are proven to have different linguistic styles. Males are louder, more assertive, and more aggressive in their speech than women. Females tend to speak in a softer tone with more hesitation. In addition, women are more likely to turn a statement into a question and follow it with a "tag" question ("don't you think"). Because of their linguistic

Acme Company Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Acme Company - Speech or Presentation Example The current ratio is 1.9. That indicates that the company is in a position to furnish its short-term obligations. As for the quick ratio, it is 0.67. That indicates that the value of liquid assets available to furnish current obligations is less than the current liabilities. The current ratio for 2013 is -2.08. That indicates that the company is not in a position to meet its current obligations from its current assets. In 2012, the company had a better current ratio of 2.04. Response to Problem 3 1. Assets = 32,666 Million Liabilities = 18,809 Million Owner’s Equity = 13,857 Million 2. If the company was to go through liquidation, the shareholders would get the $13, 857 million as it is the difference between the assets and liabilities. 3. Non-current liabilities for the year 2012 = 18,809 – 7,708 = $11,101Million 4. Current Ratio = 9,784/7,708 = 1.3 5. In 2012, the company had a cash outflow. The cash outflow was $903 million 6. The cash flow from operating activities in 2012 is $3,762 million. The amount is not the same as the operating income due to the depreciation, interest and taxes charged against the income in the income statement.

The Reasons for Participating in the MMPA Program Essay

The Reasons for Participating in the MMPA Program - Essay Example The University of Toronto seeks a diverse and unique entering class of current and future managers. How will your distinctiveness enrich the learning environment and enhance your prospects for future success? In the midst of the overwhelming competition in the business world, it is becoming increasingly important to have a strong sense of maturity in the learning process. Having realized this, I have taken time to develop myself as an accounting student. My past learning experience during the undergraduate program in U of T’s Mississauga campus has enabled me to develop and nurture a mature student status. My maturity as a student and profound learning skills coupled with strong determination to succeed will be a strong boost to the learning environment in The University of Toronto. I will, therefore, use my learning experience, positive influence, and power to motivate others to nurture a learning environment amongst fellow students. If we are all united together as students towards a common objective of getting the best out of the program, then my chances of succeeding in the master’s program will be secured. More importantly, the favourable learning environment that will have been nurtured will be a good platform for me to maximally gain all the required skills for my future practice. What sets me apart from the rest is my resilience. Life experiences have taught me to be resilient even in distressing conditions. Actually, my resilience enabled me to go through the undergraduate program despite having accidents and fee problems.

Originally and Lanarkshire Girls Essay Example for Free

Originally and Lanarkshire Girls Essay Compare and contrast two poems, one by each poet, taking account of the methods (situation, form and structure, and language, including imagery and tones) which each poet uses to write about her mother.  The poems ‘Originally’ by Carol-Ann Duffy and ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ by Liz Lochhead both deal with the theme of journeys. The former poem is about a situation in which the speaker and her family moved cities. It describes the speaker’s uncertainty with regards to her identity. The second poem, ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ recalls the first time the speaker as a fourteen year old took the bus into the city of Glasgow with her friends. For both the speakers, the journey and experience are new to them. They both share similar environments in which they travel, with the speaker in ‘Originally’ riding in a ‘red room’ and the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ travelling in a ‘red bus’. In exploiting the colour red, the poets may be conveying a sense of anxiety that accompanies the speakers on their unfamiliar journeys. However, any sense of anxiety felt by the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is short lived and replaced with excitement as with, ‘money burning a hole’ in the girls’ pockets, they began ‘dreaming’ themselves up. On the other hand, the anxiety felt by the speaker in ‘Originally’ doesn’t deteriorate but worsens and affects not only the speaker, but her entire family too, ‘My parents’ anxiety stirred like a loose tooth.’ This speaks to the permanency and consequences of each journey. For the speaker in Duffy’s poem, the consequences of the journey are large and the relocation is permanent as although she wants to return to her ‘own country’ desperately, she cannot. In contrast, the journey taken by the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is temporary and the consequences, little. Once the speaker has explored her destination of Glasgow city, she and her friends will return to t heir rural homes. ‘Originally’ is arranged in three stanzas, each with eight lines, this ridged structure allows the reader to consider fully, the impact of the journey. In addition, each stanza takes a different viewpoint; therefore by taking a separate stanza for each one the reader can follow each perspective more easily. The first stanza describes the journey through the eyes of the speaker as a child, the second takes a generic view of childhood overall and considers it metaphorically, and the third is from the speaker’s perspective again, this time as an adult who is still struggling with her identity. Similarly, ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is arranged into three stanzas, however, each with a different number of lines, the poem is in free verse. This is to accommodate the anecdotal style of the poem. The poet arranges this poem into three stanzas to represent the three different stages of the journey, the first as the speaker is leaving the rural country-side, the second deals with the approach to the city, and the third describes the city of Glasgow itself.

Social Media Marketing Impact on Consumer Behavior

Social Media Marketing Impact on Consumer Behavior In recent times, the term social media has emerged as a catchall expression (Zarrella, 108). It is a new form of marketing that concentrates on opening new horizons for marketers in order to promote a product or service. It differs from the conventional media as it mainly emphasizes on consumer generated content rules (Zarrella, 109). It incorporates the use of wide ranging applications that are based on Internet, which are based on the Web 2.0 technology. Consumer behavior is an important aspect of marketing as it assists marketers to devise strong and robust marketing strategies and techniques. For instance, organizations launch new products or services, which are generally bought by few customers in the initial phase and gradually, there is an increase in the users. It is essential for an organization to devise a strong and robust marketing strategy that would ensure commercial success. The satisfaction of initial consumers is dependent on the marketing strategy as their satisfaction and contentment would make an impact on the subsequent brand choices of the consumers. (Kim, Fiore, and Lee, 96) Today, organizations are employing social media technique in order to change consumers behavior and to win their loyalty. The aim of this paper is to study the impact of social media marketing on consumer behavior in the lights of broad and diverse academic resources (Kim, Fiore, and Lee, 97). Overview Social media marketing is the form of marketing which consists of internet based applications such as social networking sites, podcasts, blogs, microblogs, etc and have become part of the marketing strategy in order to promote a product or service, improve efficiency of the organization and to attain new customers. From research, it is evident that social media marketing has been adopted by different organization in order to target wider audience and to influence consumer behavior(Zarrella, 115). In the new era of marketing, organizations no longer depend on traditional forms of marketing in order to interact with the consumers. Similarly, consumers have power the raise their voices and opinions. The contemporary consumer can voice his or her opinion in a louder and clear manner as he or she has access to Twitter, Facebook, blogs, websites, microblogs, YouTube, etc. therefore, it has become necessary for companies to utilize social media marketing in order to change the way they conduct their business. Social media marketing plays an important and significant role in changing the buying behavior of the consumers. A study conducted by Kim, Fiore, and Lee , concentrated on studying the importance of social media marketing and its impact on consumer behavior (Kim, Fiore, and Lee, 99). The research demonstrated that more than fifty percent companies in the United States have adopted social media marketing in order to target new markets and to win new customers. The same research revealed that more than seventy percent of the users used social media in one form or another and it gave them the power and control to do things their way (Kim, Fiore, and Lee, 101). Study conducted by Chiang and Dholakia, concentrated on studying consumer behavior and social media marketing(Chiang and Dholakia, 177). For this purpose, three hundred participants were interviewed. Eighty percent of the users agreed that social media made an impact on their purchase decision. The same study revealed that users of social media are most likely to trust social media more as compared to traditional form of product advertisement and promotion (Chiang and Dholakia, 179). This clearly demonstrates that social media marketing plays an important role in influencing the purchase decisions of the users and therefore, it is important the company employs a strong and robust social media marketing strategy in order to win the loyalties of the new customers. Koufaris, Kambil, and Labarbera conducted a study, in which two hundred marketers were surveyed. Sixty percent of the marketers had employed social media marketing in order target and win new customers (Koufaris, Kambil, and Labarbera, 115). Their study demonstrated that the connection between social media marketing and consumer behavior is directly proportional (Koufaris, Kambil, and Labarbera, 120). A strong, well planned and well structured social media marketing strategy to promote a particular product or service is most likely to win the attention of the consumer. Social media marketing changes and influences the buying behavior of the consumer. The same study demonstrated that the chances of recommending a brand or product by means of social media marketing is higher as compared to traditional forms of marketing (Koufaris, Kambil, and Labarbera, 125). The study demonstrated that more than sixty percent of Facebook fans show the possibility of recommending the brand they use and more than fifty percent of the fans are most likely to buy the product. Conclusion Social media marketing is the contemporary style of marketing as it concentrates on opening new horizons for marketers in order to promote a product or service as compared to conventional media. In recent times, consumer behavior and satisfaction has become an important asset for any organization to attain its position in the market and to increase its profitability. For this purpose, organizations are employing social media technique. From research, it is evident that companies are employing social media marketing in order to interact with the consumers. Social media marketing has given organizations a new way of dealing and changing the buying behavior of the consumers. Work Cited Zarrella, Dan. The Social Media Marketing Book. OReilly Media, November 2009. Kim, Jihyun, Ann M. Fiore, and Hyun-Hwa Lee. Influences of online store perception, shopping enjoyment, and shopping involvement on consumer patronage behavior towards an online retailer. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 14 (March 2007): 95-107. Chiang, Kuan-Pin and Ruby R. Dholakia. Factors Driving Consumer Intention to Shop Online: An Empirical Investigation. Journal of Consumer Psychology 13 (2003): 177-183. Koufaris, Marios, Ajit Kambil, and Priscilla A. Labarbera. Consumer Behavior

Sophiatown in the 1950s

Sophiatown in the 1950s Sophiatown is a suburb in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located on a Johannesburg ridge called Melville Koppies. Sophiatown is an example of how apartheid was bad for the native inhabitants and that it had to go. Before apartheid Sophiatown was established for Europeans, but as the city Johannesburg developed and a sewage dump nearby, the Europeans left and the land was then rented by the native people. The natives were allowed to settle in Sophiatown because it was near the sewage dump and the Europeans in the city didnt want the miners to settle within the city limits. Sophiatown shows how South Africa developed under apartheid. The apartheid caused multiracial communities in Sophiatown that developed to become multicultural. Sophiatown was the only place the people could rent themselves in Johannesburg that was not owned by the government. Apartheid was the ruling of Europeans in South Africa over the natives during 1948-1994. The Europeans found that South Africa had rich res ources, especially gold, for mining and that they could use the labor of the natives to get it. They developed a government system, Nationalist Party, which kept the natives down to maintain the European authority which was known as Afrikaners. The population of South Africa migrated to the sites the Europeans were building to mine the resources but they were required to abide by discriminatory laws made by the Europeans. Sophiatown developed as Johannesburg did and helped to end apartheid. Sophiatown was originally a farm outside of Johannesburg bought by Hermann Tobiansky. Tobiansky named the suburb after his wife Sophia, and the suburb was only for Europeans. However, when a sewage dump was built nearby the Europeans didnt want to settle there and the owner allowed natives and other nationalities to settle there. During the beginning of the first world war natives moved to cities for the jobs in mining and factory work. During and after the first world war the Johannesburg City Council (JCC) passed slum clearance programs, which removed natives from the inner parts of Johannesburg. These people had nowhere to go so they moved to Sophiatown (SA History). Because of the multiracial communities, the music culture of Sophiatown continued to develop in spite of the apartheid rule. During the 1920s the slums of Johannesburg were packed with hundreds of people that set up clubs like the Marabi where most of the indigenous jazz of South Africa developed. The specific styles in Johannesburg were known as Tsaba-Tsaba which was a working class form of dance music. However, during the 1930s when the JCC was clearing out the slums, people had to move to Sophiatown where shebeens and dance-parties were still held, but the South African Jazz was influenced by the American Jazz on the radio stations in the shanty town. Because of the American influence groups in Sophiatown would play American swing instead of the old Jazz from Johannesburg. The old Jazz came back and was combined with the new American swing to create Kwela which was basically penny whistling. The kwela culture in Sophiatown also developed different dance forms, one of which was pha ta-phata or touch touch. The kwela culture was part of the shady part of Sophiatown, people would gamble. Since the people were raided by the police, people would set up look outs and when the police were nearby the people would put up all evidence and they would play kwela as an excuse for a gathering. During the 1950s kwela culture had piano and saxophone added to the instrumentation and it became Majuba. The name was eventually changed to Mbaqanga (SA History). The culture of Sophiatown was greatly influenced by the theatres Odin and Balanskys. The Balanskys theatre played many movies from the United States. The gangs of Sophiatown patterned their behavior after the gangsters in the movies they saw. The Tsotsis gang based their dress patterns and language after Street with No Name, they dressed in trench coats like in the movies and they used slang like Remember guys, Im de brains of dis outfit!(SA history). Other gangs in Sophiatown were named after famous foreign parties like the Nazis and foreign gangsters like the American Vultures (Sophiatown) The day to day living of Sophiatown was difficult and was based on any way that they could survive. Because the people were forced out of the city to Sophiatown, the people lived in close quarters and poor living conditions. In Sophiatown the natives were not required by the government to acquire a permit. The black land owners had to pay huge mortgage so they allowed others to settle in their backyards. The population grew exponentially because of this and people had to become tenants and subtenants on other peoples backyards. Since they were usually poor, the people who migrated to Sophiatown had to build houses out of metal sheets and excess materials. Since all the adult males were working in the mines, the adolescents were unsupervised and could do whatever they wanted to do and joined gangs as well as common theft and murder. The women in Sophiatown had to find work as prostitutes or they worked as alcohol queens in shebeens. Shebeens were similar to speak-easies in the United States, they were places that people could drink alcohol and talk about local problems. Shebeens were usually held in the queens homes with bands playing for entertainment. Shebeens were risky business since police could raid and arrest anyone within the Shebeens and the methods for brewing alcohol were dangerous at the time. However, Shebeens werent all bad they were places were politicians met and discussed ideas to people, and they werent all dirty dark rooms but were sometimes clean respectable places with imported furniture (Hannerz). The most important event in Sophiatown was the removal and destruction of Sophiatown. The head of the South African government was the Nationalist Party which controlled the JCC. Because the Nationalist Party was part of the apartheid, it passed laws to suppress the natives in Sophiatown and they rationalized this because Johannesburg was growing and the black neighborhoods were getting too close to the white suburbs. The removal of the residents of Sophiatown was organized by the Native Resettlement Board, which was a more localized part of the NP. The people were moved to Soweto where the NP established a housing system from a census about the population within the shanty town, but they didnt know about the housing that was being provided which was generally better than the current living quarters of the average person in Sophiatown. The people refused to leave and the slogan of the people was ons dak nieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.ons phola hierso which meant we are not moving We are staying (SA history). The people rebelled and used guns and explosives to keep the government officials from forcing them out, but the government eventually won and forced thousands to move to the meadowlands of Soweto. The destruction of Sophiatown continued from 1955-1960 during which the people were forced to move and their homes were bulldozed. The removals in Sophiatown brought peoples attention to the apartheids unjust rule, because it was the only place the government didnt strictly regulate. After the removals political leaders made speeches specifically naming the incident to inspire people to rise against the apartheid rule. One of the people who made such speeches about Sophiatown was Nelson Mandela. As well as the revolts in Sophiatown, people in Soweto were revolting because they lost everything they owned when they moved and the land owners lost all sources of income (SA History). Sophiatown was a suburb in Johannesburg during the rule of apartheid in South Africa. Sophiatown was the only place in Johannesburg that the government didnt own and exert its discriminatory rules over during the apartheid. However, after Johannesburg grew closer to Sophiatown the government decided to destroy it and relocate the entire population to Soweto. The results of the destruction of Sophiatown were revolts that occurred both in Johannesburg and is Soweto where the people were relocated to. The destruction of Sophiatown helped cause the end of apartheid and developed a specific culture of its own.

The Outsider in Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own Essay -- Virginia

The Outsider in Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own In A Room of One's Own Virginia Woolf writes: "I had no wish to enter had I the right, and this time the verger might have stopped me, demanding perhaps my baptismal certificate, or a letter if introduction from the dean"(8). This particular line jumps out at me for several reasons. First off, I find it rather humorous. I was rather surprised by this remark as well. I did not think that I would be reading anything that would make me laugh even the slightest bit. Despite this, Woolf is angry after being refused entrance to the university library, and she shows it with this bit of wit and sarcasm. She does not think that it is fair or proper to keep women out of such places. I am also willing to bet that this is not the first time that she has ever been asked to leave a place solely because she is a woman. In this respect she is an outsider in two ways: she is not a member of the university, and she is a woman. This frustrates her greatly, but she does not just explode in her writing. She makes little comments here and there tha...

Kachina/Katsina Doll :: essays research papers fc

We believe they (Kachina Dolls) are personifications of the katsina spirits, originally created by the katsinam in their physical embodiment. ..." - Alph H. Secakuku To understand the meaning of the kachina dolls, it is necessary to understand Hopi culture, because one does not exist without the other. It has been found that the Hopi's main ancestors were the Anasazi, a group of people who at about the time of Christ came to depend on agriculture. They represent various beings, from animals to clouds. They are believed to be in some form of hierarchy, a form of kingdom. Kachina dolls are depictions of masked men impersonating supernatural beings that predominate the Hopi, Zuni and Pueblo Spirit dances. These Spirits are believed to be descendants of a prehistoric people. They have lived in the Northern parts of New Mexico westward into Arizona near Flagstaff for some fifteen hundred years. To honor them they have many sacred dances throughout the year. The dolls which contain the kachina spirits are often given to children to remind them of their heritage and of their Gods. However, the Kachina Dolls are not just toys, but objects to be treasured and studied. Through these dolls they learn about Kachinas as part of their religious training and background. In Pueblo Indian religious practice, any of more than 500 divine ancestral spirits who act as intermediaries between man and god. They will allow themselves to be seen by the community if the men properly perform a traditional ritual while wearing kachina masks. The spirit painted or carved on the mask is thought to be actually present with the performer, temporarily transforming him into a Kachina spirit. The identity of the spirit is depicted not by the form of the doll, which is usually simple and flat, but primarily by the applied color and elaborate feather, leather, and, occasionally, fabric ornamentation of its mask. Also the identity of a true Kachina doll is depicted and then carved of cottonwood root. One of the purposes is to help bring the rain for the crops to grow and since the cottonwood is always found near water, the Kachinas are carved from it’s roots. The roots from which the dolls are carved are chosen with care, since they are seen to draw life and precious moisture from the earth. Very few dolls were carved out of a single piece of wood. The arms and legs and head were carved separately and glued to the torso.

Heart Of Darkness :: essays research papers

Every man, or woman --to be politically and socially acceptable-- has buried, within himself, beneath centuries of societal norms and restrictions, a dark side, a savage side. When a man is taken out of society, and left to create his own norms, he must rediscover those primordial instincts which have sustained his species since the beginning of its existence. Survival of the fittest, physically and intellectually, cliqued as it may be, is the foundation of these archaic yet prevalent instincts. Persons who dominate one or many through mental or physical prowess develop a sense of superiority. This feeling, if fostered by the environment, and intensified to the extreme, produces a sense of having god-like powers. A man believing himself to be a or the God is seen, by the society from which he was taken out of, as a monster. Since monsters can not be allowed to roam the civilized world, someone must be sent to destroy it. To find the monster, the person selected must take the same pat h as the monster. This path is a journey into one’s own mind, soul, or true-self. The person on this path will never see evil so singularly personified as in the face looking back at him. In taking this path, the person runs the risk of becoming the very thing he is trying to destroy. In Joseph Conrad’s macabre story Heart of Darkness, the protagonist represents the person selected to seek out and destroy the monster. Conrad uses many techniques to bring the reader into the darkness: archetype, symbolism, and foreshadowing. The theme of this classic tale is succinctly made through the words of the western philosopher Nietzsche; when fighting monsters the person fighting should be careful not to become one, and when looking into a void the person must be aware that the void also looks into him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The readers are first introduced to the protagonist, Marlow, as he is being commissioned --by the “Company';-- to hunt down the monster, Kurtz, who is considered by some to be the main character. Marlow, a boat captain, almost nomadic in his need to travel, is also a man of simple morals, simple to the point of religious, the most prevalent commandment seen in his character is “thou shall not lie.'; Marlow, after spending a little time in London, embarks on his journey. The purpose of this journey is to find Kurtz, a man who is also employed by the “Company'; --which is in the ivory business, and has its greedy hand spread over Africa like a malignant tumor (Gatten).

A View From the Bridge

‘A View From The Bridge’ is a play that was first staged in 1955. It was written by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller was born into a Jewish family in New York in 1915, whose grandparents had come to America from Poland. When the family business failed, they moved to Brooklyn, where A View from the Bridge is set. There, Miller worked in a warehouse to earn money for his university fees. He began to write plays when he was in university and continued to write them after he graduated and became a journalist. In the play, loyalty dictates the events very strongly as because of Eddies mixed emotions for Catharine he chooses to be more loyal to her than to all of his family. Miller shows the importance of loyalty through Eddie telling Catharine the ‘Vinnie Bolzano’ story. Catharine’s reaction shows the audience that in Italy, family loyalty is the most important thing as Catharine is both shocked and horrified that Vinnie snitched on his own Uncle this is why she shockingly says ‘The kid snitched? . Miller uses this as an opportunity to tell the audience that the Italian American community is very loyal, which makes Eddie’s betrayal even more shocking. Because Vinnie snitched on his Uncle he could never show his face in public because every one despised and loathed him this is why Beatrice says ‘I never seen him again’. This also shows that the Italian American Community has a very ‘if you snitch on one of us, you snitch on all of us’ mentality. Another way that Arthur Miller portrays the importance of loyalty in the play is the references Eddie uses to Catharine’s Mother. this quote shows that Eddie tries to use the promise he made to Catharine’s Mother as an excuse for being so strict and this is why he says ‘I promised your Mother on her death bed’. This is why he doesn’t want her working in the dodgy part of town; where as it is because of the emotions he feels toward Catharine and he doesn’t want her to have another male figure in her life who could be more important than he is. One of the most important scenes in the play is the ‘Phone Call’ scene which shows Eddie changing his loyalties from his family and friends, to just Catharine. ‘Give me the number for the immigration bureau’ this shows Eddie doing what Vinnie Bolzano didand snitching on Marco and Rodolpho, he does this because of the mixed and confusing emotions he feels for Catharine. Miller also uses stage irections in the scene such as ‘A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the stage; a faint, lonely blue’ I think that Miller uses the Lighting on the phone booth to show the audience the conflict going on in Eddie’s head; to loose every thing (his family and friends friendship, love, trust and loyalty) but keep Catharine for himself When the immigration officers arrive at the house, Eddie looses the respect and loyalty from his family. Beatrice realizes what Eddie has done when she says‘My God, what did you do? ’. She is completely shocked and horrified as Eddie was a loyal and family orientated man. Miller uses this quote to show the audience that Beatrice is astounded and aghast that Eddie has chosen Catherine over her, even though she is his wife. Marco is furious with the fact that Eddie has just ruined any chance of him getting an American citizenship, this now means that Marco wouldn’t be able to get a well paid job and support his family back in Italy. This is why he says ‘That one! He killed my children! That one stole the food from my children’ this is because although Eddie hasn’t directly murdered Marco’s family, his actions will lead to Marco getting deported and he wouldn’t be able to give his family money to buy food and they would consequently die. The audience would be shocked by what he is saying as he is insulting Eddie who Miller has made out to be the confused character who although he is doing something terrible he thinks that he is doing it for the right reasons, and the audience would therefore feel sorry for him. Miller uses the loyalty theme to show the weakness of men, Eddie betrays his family and community because of the mixed emotions he feels for Catharine

Daycare Observation of Toddlers Essay

In today’s working society, parents need to rely on quality daycare for their children. However, finding a daycare that will strive to nurture each child’s unique qualities and create a work environment that encourages professionalism, growth, and diversity can be stressful for a parent because of the realization of how important this decision may be. A daycare teacher must focus on many different areas to provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. As a teacher in a toddler room, my girlfriend Christine needs to communicate to her peers, children and parents on a daily basis both verbally and non-verbally. As I entered the room, early this morning, I noticed five children, each of them doing his or her individual thing. About 70 percent of children, at this toddler age, have a vocabulary consisting of 50 to 250 words (Ginny Graves, 2003); however, only one of them spoke when I entered the room. Once the two females of the room noticed me, they immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at me in a disapproving way. One of the females hid behind the shelf, exposing only her part of her face, while the other turned her back to me to continue playing in the â€Å"dramatic play† sand box. As for the three boys, they seemed content, as if I were not a foreign object in the room. The set of twins waved to me as if to say â€Å"Welcome to our room† while the third boy said â€Å"Hi† with a big smile. I previously met the set of male twins on a recent previous trip from a few days ago; therefore, the warm welcome from the boys was expected. As I said, â€Å"Hello friends† to the children of the room, Christine immediately said â€Å"Hello Pete†, along with a big wave and smile to give example to the children. After taking a few steps into the room, I was asked to bend down so that I was at there level. Christine began to associate me with a picture of myself, which is posted on the closet door at the toddler’s eye level by saying, â€Å"Friends, we know Pete, he is in the picture†. Christine held the hands of the two females and brought them over to the picture and pointed to the picture of me and asked, â€Å"Do you see Pete in the picture†? One of the girls pointed reluctantly and the other bowed her head as in an uninterested manner. A few minutes into the observation and it was snack time, well at least to one of the twins it was. The boy was pointing to where they keep the snacks so Christine bent down to his level and began to say â€Å"You are pointing to the cabinet, does this mean you want snack†? The boy grunted as if to say yes. Christine said, â€Å"Yes you are right, it is time for snack, but what do we do right before snack?† Once the rest of the children heard this, they began to jump up and down to show their appreciation of snack time. The children understood what had to be done by placing his or her hands in the air. â€Å"That’s right. We need to wash our hands first before we eat†. Christine gave each toddler one direction at a time as to not overload them. She asked that they stand in a line in front of the sink so each of them could wash their hands, independently reinforcing with word labels as to how the child is washing his or her hands. She then played a game with them to find their appropriate place at the table. For each child, she asked them to sit in a colored chair that she announces for them to sit in, and then repeat back to her the color; this seating arrangement changes daily so that they learn their colors and as well as how to appropriately say them. This exercise helped them with speaking to others at a proper tone by not shouting. Once they all sat, she gave each child the option for apple juice or cranberry juice. Only one boy was able to make the decision on his own using words while the other grunted and pointed. As one of the females finished her first sip, she said the word â€Å"cold†. Whenever a child uses telegraphic speech, it is highly recommended for the instructor to reiterate what was said by the child in complete form (Michael K. Meyerhoff, 2002). Christine said, â€Å"That’s right. The juice is cold. Can everyone say cold? What else is cold?† The snack chosen by Christine was a common snack consisting of â€Å"Gold fish† and craisins. As the children began to eat the snack, there was one disapproving member of the bunch. This child immediately tossed her plate on the floor to show she was not satisfied with her snack. Christine immediately displayed her disapproval of this children’s action by saying to  her â€Å"Please use your words. We do not throw the craisins on the floor. They are for eating†. This child acknowledge what she heard by trying to speak the word â€Å"Sorry†. Once the children were finished eating, they were notified that they would be going outside in 10 minutes. Again, the children showed their appreciation by jumping up and down in excitement. Toddlers communicate with a combination of grunts and gestures as a preferred method of communicating. Understanding what the toddler is attempting to communicate, through these combinations, comes with time, dedication, understanding and patience. ;Spending just a short amount of time sheds new light as to why Christine needs a few minutes alone to herself when she arrives home. All day long she has keep all her non-verbal communication positive in front of the children for eight hours a day; this includes showing her pearly whites in the room even when she wakes up on the â€Å"wrong side of the bed† (Christine, personal communication, August 19, 2005). References: Ginny Graves (2003, April). Parents magazine: Toddler Talk Michael K. Meyerhoff (2002, April v20) Pediatrics for Parents: Perspectives on Parenting: Communication and language acquisition skills in toddlers. P8(2)

“Chemistry” written by Graham Swift Essay

In the opening of the story, Graham Swift uses descritptive writing to give us a striking image of the pond, where he went with his grandfather and mother, â€Å"The pond in our park was circular, exposed, perhaps fifty yards across. When the wind blew, the little waves travelled across it and slapped the paved edges like a minature sea.† This helps the reader gain a more precise image in their head of the park where the narrator is, and it also helps make the story more interesting to read. The opening of the story is also parallel to the end. The narrator in the story, goes back to the pond at the end of the story, and again gives us good imagery description of it, â€Å"Dead willow leaves floated on it†. I found this interesting, because it makes the story cyclical, and may be a reminder of the journey of growing up and of the acceptance ‘ â€Å"You must accept it – you can’t get it back† ‘. It also convinces us to believe that the na rrator went back to the park, for wishful thinking – hoping that his grandfather would return and not wanting to left go of the past. When I first began reading the story, I believed that it was a female narrator. One of the reasonings for this is because it said, â€Å"My grandmother died suddenly†¦ all I know is that I must have had her looks.† However, we are later informed that the narrator is a ten year old boy. We aware of this because his mother calls him her â€Å"little man† and she also says, ‘ â€Å"He’s only ten, what can he know?† ‘. I find this extremely interesting in the story, because he appears to be extremely mature, intelligent and formal. Although he is only ten years old, he uses complex words and sentences such as â€Å"fundamentals of chemistry†, â€Å"haunches† and â€Å"reconciled them in mutual grief†. However, he is cold blooded as he rarely describes how he is feeling and has never mentioned about being upset when his father and grandmother died. This is an unusual perspective to use as he is so young, yet faced with traumatizing experiences, but I believe that the author has done this to highlight his innocent and because he will have few prejudices. This means he will tell the story how it is, without changing it to suit what he believes or his own opinions. An example of this, is when his father comes to see him. Although I believe that it is a dream, the narrator is convinced that his father came to see him – â€Å"That night father came to the bedroom. I knew it was him†. At the beginning of the story, I find it interesting, that the author describes the boat journey, over the pond towards grandfather as â€Å"trouble free†. Then, all of a sudden the boat sinks. I believe that the author purposely makes the boat sink when Ralph is immediately introduced to the story, â€Å"Then one day – it must have been soon after mother met Ralph – we watched the boat†¦ become deeper and deeper in the water.† This contrasts greatly with the boat journey on the pond before the boy’s mother met Ralph, and poses questions in the readers mind that Ralph is going to stop the boy’s and grandfathers â€Å"trouble free† life. I believe that this is interesting because he is indirectly warning the readers that Ralph is going to make things worse, which is symbolic of the sinking boat. An example of Ralph making things worse later in the story, is during meal times. This is because since Ralph’s appearance, the narrator’s mother would cook the things that only Ralph liked and forget to produce meals that grandfather was of. Thus resulting in arguments at meal times, when grandfather was sent out to his shed. Although the story is quite dull and morbid, the author uses humour, when the boy says, â€Å"I wondered how Grandmother could be at the bottom of the Irish Sea and at the same time what Father was doing there†. Again, this highlights his innocence and although it is humerous we are not laughing with him, but at his ignorance. In the story, there are many time shifts. Numerous times the narrator goes back in time, to update and tell the reader of a previous event, such as the relationships between his mother and grandfather before Ralph came along, and explaining why his mother and him came to live with his grandfather . This may be significant in the story because he preferred things in the past, compared to now. I find the relationship between the narrators mother and grandfather interesting. â€Å"He refused to leave the house in which my grandmother had lived, and my parents refused to leave theirs†, tells us that they are both arrogant and selfish and will not give in to their stubborness for one another. The narrator tells us that his mother is also hypocritical towards her father, â€Å"no matter how neglectful and even hurtful she might be to Grandfather herself, she wouldn’t have forgiven someone else’s hurting him†. Also, she tries to punish her father by isolating him from them (as he was â€Å"runing their meals†) by saying â€Å"do you want to take yours out to your shed?!† When he dies, her mother shows no remorse and â€Å"did not cry†. The narrator tells us that, it was as though she had â€Å"this look of relief, as if she had recovered from an illness†. The narrator does not say this, but we assume that the illness was her father. The boy believes that his mother is in love with Ralph, and would choose him over her father, â€Å"If Ralph hurts Grandfather it means I’m right – he doesn’t really care about mother at all; but if mother is cruel to Grandfather it means she really loves Ralph†. However, he also says â€Å"She looked trapped and helpless†, when Ralph and his mother were cuddling, which puts questions in our mind about their relationship and if she is truly happy. Within the story there are many hidden messages and meanings. There are many questions that remained unanswered too. An example of this is when the boy’s father came to visit him during the night. He says to him, ‘ â€Å"It was her. She made a hole in the bottom of the boat, not big enough to notice, so it would sink – so you and Grandfather would watch it sink. The boat sank – like my plane† ‘. The questions that this poses in my mind are: Did the boy’s mother kill her father? Did she kill the boys Grandfather? Is he looking for someone to blame? Did she purposely sink his boat? I think it is ironic that his father â€Å"visited† him, on the night that his Grandfather had died. I believe the author did this purposely to add more mystery and confusion to the story. Another example which raises hints and questions to the reader is the cherry laurel bushes that were growing in their garden. He says, â€Å"Only the cherry-laurel bushes were partly denuded – for some reason Grandfather had been picking their leaves.† Further on in the story, when the boy goes out to the shed, he begins questioning his Grandfather about the chemicals he had. ‘ â€Å"Laurel water. Prussic acid.† He smiled. â€Å"Not for drinking.† ‘ The smile may indicate to the reader that he is smiling to the boy through innocence; telling him to politely and informaly not to drink it, or he his smiling to himself, asthough he has something planned. Again, this poses more questions in my mind but it contradicts my believing that the boys mother killed the boys Grandfather, and because of this it adds more unanswered questions. Also in the story, I find interesting that the official verdict was â€Å"suicide by swallowing prussic acid†, which is an argument for his Grandafther commiting suicide (as he had some prussic acid in his shed), yet the boy is extremely cynical and believes his mother murdered her father. † But all of the other things that should have been explained – or confessed – she never did explain†, and â€Å"I wanted to tell them – about how suicide can be murder† indicate this to us. His mother says to the boy, ‘ â€Å"†¦he wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway† ‘ which may inform the reader that she is trying to justify her actions (murder). Throughout the story is the theme of chemistry and how things are â€Å"changed – not made†. His Grandfather’s job, before retirement, was gold-plating and now, in the shed in the garden, he carries out many experiments, â€Å"I don’t think Grandfather practised chemistry for any particular reason†.The chemistry Grandfather experiments with and changes is a metaphor of what is happening in the home, ‘ â€Å"People change too, don’t they?† ‘ His Grandfather replies with â€Å"They change. But the element’s don’t change.† This is telling the reader, that although people/elements can change and become something else, underneath it all they are still made of the same as they were before.

John Constable

Constable, John – 1776–1837, English painter, b. Suffolk. Constable and Turner were the leading figures in English landscape painting of the 19th cent. Constable became famous for his landscapes of Suffolk, Hampstead, Salisbury, and Brighton. The son of a prosperous miller, he showed artistic talent while very young but did not devote himself to art until he was 23, when he went to London to study at the Royal Academy.Influenced by the 17th-century landscape painters Ruisdael and Claude Lorrain, his poetic approach to nature paralleled in spirit that of his contemporary, the poet Wordsworth. Constable's direct observations of nature and his free use of broken color were extraordinary in his day. He received but modest recognition in England, being tardily admitted to the Royal Academy in 1829. His work was more popular in France. In 1824, his View on the Stour (1819) and The Hay Wain (1821; National Gall. London) were exhibited at the Salon in Paris, winning gold medals . His work made a profound impression on the French romantics including the young Delacroix and Bonington. Later his painting influenced the Barbizon school and, more indirectly, the general course of French 19th-century landscape art. In the United States he is represented in the Metropolitan Museum and the Frick Collection, New York City, in the Mellon Center for British Art, New Haven, Conn. , and in the galleries of Philadelphia, Toledo, and Chicago.Splendid examples of his work are contained in the National Gallery, London and the Victoria and Albert Museum. See catalogue of the latter collection by G. Reynolds (1960); C. R. Leslie, Memoirs of the Life of John Constable (enl. ed. 1937); collections of his letters by P. Holmes (1931) and R. B. Beckett (1962); biography by B. Taylor (1973); studies by C. Peacock (rev. ed. 1972) and R. Gadney (1976). The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Produ cts N. V. All rights reserved.

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Project Management - Essay Example The Belgian biscuit launch shall be used as the take-off point for revitaliseing sales and marketing efforts, in order to help assure a business turnaround for BIX-FIX. Determine the final version of the new product through product development processes, including test marketing, in terms of standardisation of ingredients, product shape, packaging, and packaged quantities Several mechanisms need to be in place to successfully manage the project and help ensure its success. Project management needs careful planning and organising in order to achieve objectives. Aside from defining goals and objectives, there is a need to identify the various tasks needed to be accomplished to achieve the goals, quantifying the resources needed, determining the budget, and defining the schedule for completion. Upon completion of the plan, implementation, evaluation and maintenance follow (Free Mgt Lib 2009). In the area of Product Development, the proposed new Belgian biscuit will need to undergo a series of trial production runs to be able to standardise quality and quantity of ingredients, biscuit shape and other considerations for packaged food products. In coordination with Marketing, trial production with different specifications for packaging and size also need to be tested. The final product version that will pass the test will also need to be tested to confirm that the design of the new product is compatible with mass production. In the area of Production, as was decided by the board of directors, a new production machine shall be installed to handle increased production arising from the introduction of the new product. The ordering, delivery and installation time of this new equipment should be considered in the Project Schedule, as this is projected to be needed from Year 2 onwards after launch. A new 2-shift working system will need to be adopted compared with the current day only working pattern. This

Aviation - Eastern Airlines would need to have their business plan, Essay

Aviation - Eastern Airlines would need to have their business plan, marketing, route network, aircraft fleet or anything else look like what in order to be successful in todays current aviation market - Essay Example In this context, the example of Eastern Airlines can be taken into consideration. Eastern Airlines was one of the major airline companies based in the USA. The company was founded in the 1926 and headquartered at Miami International Airport, Florida. The company ceased its operations in January 18, 1991. The paper is directed to reveal some of critical reasons due to which Eastern Airlines had to be out of the business. For this purpose, the paper throws light of conditions of different crucial operations of airlines such as route structure, fleet, marketing, and business plan when they went out of business. In addition to this, the paper also provides some of the crucial recommendations to the company regarding different areas of business operations, which can allow the company to remain in the competition. There were a number of different reasons behind the demise of Eastern Airlines. Ill-business operations were one of them. There were several shortfalls in the different areas of its operations such as route structure, fleet, marketing, and business plan. From the perspective of route structure of the company, the span of business activities of the company was quite restricted. The international business of the company was not quite developed as it was expanded in Mexico, Caribbean and Canada only. The major hubs of the company were Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City), Kansas City International Airport, LaGuardia Airport (New York City), Luis Muà ±oz Marà ­n International Airport (San Juan), and Miami International Airport. In this way, the route structure of the company at time when they had to cease their operations was quite centered in the North American continent. The lack of international flights was major aspects of the business operations of the organization that made the company worthless for international passengers and tourists

Advertising and Globalization in India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Advertising and Globalization in India - Essay Example This paper illustrates that every country or region presents unique opportunities and has strategic challenges to multinational businesses about the most effective advertising strategy. Advertising campaigns that work best in a country in Asia such as India may not necessarily have a  similar impact to that in the west such as the U.K. or the U.S. Furthermore, social, economic, and legal factors have a central role as determinant factors of advertisement. This concept forms the basis of a study conducted by Ciochetto in India. Ciochetto investigated the dynamics of advertising development in India in the wake of globalization trend and expanding operations of multinational companies and business. The study focuses on the development of television and satellite advertisement in India as used by multinational companies and businesses. Advertising in contemporary India has experienced notable advancements prompted by trends that emanate from the influence of globalization. Ciochetto e xplores contemporary trends in advertising as related to globalization, with reference to India. It is noteworthy that India has experienced massive developments in the advertising sector since the 1990s. Among the great developments is the expansion in satellite and television as the greatest media of advertising in India. Tabassum discusses the positive implications of the advent of satellite technology to globalization in India. Among the key importance highlighted are the advancements in advertisements through high technology. The advertising sector is subject to notable improvements in the use of technology. Ciochetto outlines the reforms in international advertising in India under the current trends of globalization. Advertising involves diverse aspects of idea presentation, mainly to the target market. Ciochetto also addresses the influence of reforms in the Indian society and culture. The study outlines various environmental factors that affect international advertising in I ndia. The factors include the economy and culture. In addition, the legal and political systems are also considerable factors that influence international advertising in India.

Public and Private Censorship Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public and Private Censorship - Term Paper Example Rather, it is much more reasonable to assume that profit and market dominance will be the driving force. This brief editorial will seek to analyze the ways in which the media has recently come to be dominated by just a handful of players, what this means for journalistic integrity, and how this bodes for the future of democracy within the United States. Regardless of the individual branding that greets the reader, listener or viewer of the particular media outlet in question, the fact remains that Viacom, NBC Universal, Walt Disney, CBS Corporation, News Corp, and Time Warner ultimately are the owner and/or the fiduciary agent behind whatever firm is being represented (Taylor 1). Whereas just 20-30 years ago, the field of media firms could not be described without tracing a complicated tree of ownership back to about 40 distinct and separate firms, the field has been progressively narrowed as a mass of mergers have taken place. Just as with the banking industry, these mergers have co nsolidated power within the hands of but a few ultra-dominant market forces which have the power to mold and shape the way that Americans view the world and what particular items of interest are presented to them in any given instance. As such, the level of journalistic integrity that comes to be displayed is highly suspect as the goal and point of the controlling interests is to display their own point of view, gain further profit margins, and provide a powerful form of competition to their rivals. As can be noted from the direction that the news media has shifted within the past few years, the main drive is focused on sensationalism, high definition graphics, and other somewhat â€Å"cheap† ways of integrating with the audience (Morris 1). This can be seen as a means of compensation for the lack of journalistic expertise and excellence within the field. As a function of the fact that stories are not researched and fact-checked anywhere near the level that they used to be du ring the heyday of American journalism, poor quality and a litany of misprints and outright false information have been foisted upon the viewer, reader, and/or listener. Naturally, such a concentration of media power begs the question of to what degree the journalism is consumed is tainted by a high level of propaganda. One need look no further than the recent raucous with regards to the New York Times and the way that government â€Å"gatekeepers† give the final clearance for each and every quote that is attributed within the paper to understand the level to which a â€Å"free and impartial† media is merely a figment of the imagination. The scandal in question began when the Romney and Obama campaigns had ultimate access to the newspaper’s publications before they went to the presses (Michelson 1). The reason that these â€Å"handlers† were allowed to review the news before the rest of society did was given to ensure that the campaigns stayed â€Å"on m essage†. However, as the reader can quickly infer, the message that is being presented is only a doctored view of reality and is likely oftentimes not the truth that would otherwise be presented.  

Personal paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal paper - Essay Example While growing up, I had a deep desire within me to pursue and advance my career in film production. This instigated my desire to advance my studies in high school and college. At some point, I was unable to full attain my goals until now when I discovered this internship. I must admit that this internship has changed my perception as a film producer in the marketplace. In my internship, I have learnt that my career is more of a personal experience than being taught in the classroom. I have gained great insights on entertainment industry specifically about film production. My experience in this internship has adequately prepared me to understand what is required to shoot a film or a commercial. I have been motivated to apply in different placements such as TV Board and MN film. I am privileged to understand the things that take place when shooting a film such as the best location to make the movie, the equipments required, and the funding just to name a few. In life, mentors cannot be underestimated in that they help many people understand their personal and career goals. Craig Rice has been a great mentor in my career in that he has equipped me with skills and abilities that help one to become a competent film producer. With this, I am ready to face the modern world that value films and commercial adverts. When we first met, Craig promised me that he would usher me in my career as a producer. Since I met him, I have discovered more about myself especially in the arena of film production. I have expanded my knowledge in the film production by ensuring that I am challenging myself. This internship has been a tremendous opportunity to integrate practices and theories that I learnt in high school and college. I have studied a lot of practice in my classes, and even applied some to application. However, this internship has changed my role as an observer to being more of an active participant in the field. My experience has challenged my theoretical base in the class room in that I practically utilized what I have been taught in the classroom to the field. My knowledge in film production has increased from one level to the other. As previously mentioned, I have learnt how to make a film or a commercial and the best location that suit the production process. I have developed some principles in my work. In essence, I have obtained these principles from my personal experiences in school, in the workplace, and life. The intern has helped me understand what my weaknesses and strengths are in given situations. Understanding what works for me has expanded my skills in my area of professionalism. I have moved into another phase of learning where the focus differs from learning the work to understanding and learning how to perform the task effectively. This internship has helped me to acquire new skills and abilities, and I am now grateful since I can think about skill development in broad terms. Internship is an opportunity for a student to measure thei r learning in class to the actual work. The knowledge and skills acquired from the class can be applied in the field and will effectively help a student succeed in their work (Frederick and King 8). The greatest importance of attending an internship is to understand the real issues inherent in the field, as opposed to the theoretical learning in the class. It is more of a practical class that is not learnt in a learning institution. Skills are acquired, which help the intern to handle similar situations in their jobs.

VICA - Enjoy the difference Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

VICA - Enjoy the difference Company - Essay Example From this research it is clear that VICA - â€Å"Enjoy the difference† Company is keen to check the profit and losses incurred by the company. Focus on the workers’ demands is among the company’s major concerns, to develop a rapport between the management and the workers as well as, keep the company on its toes. The target group of the company’s City car falls below 25years while the Large car is persons between the ages of 41-55years. On the part of the City car the vehicle is suitable for short distances, and is affordable for the youngsters. On the other hand, the large car is suitable for the old people who require carrying luggage of varying sizes and moving over long distances. In the first round, the researcher’s group selected the City car and the Large car to be a man product. They found out the City car to be of low price, high volumes and makes the most profit. The group attempted to categorize the different characteristics of the target market. In terms of the City and large cars, the researcher’s group put in focus attributes of comfort, safety, speed, technology and style of the car. The reasons behind the selection of these attributes is that is the age group under the age of 25 years are more concerned with safety, style and technology of the make of the car. Contrary, the age group between 41- 55 years prefer a car that is comfortable, has a sense of style and high technology. In Round 1, the market share was designed in such a way that, it would target 1% of the City and Large cars. However, it proved extremely tasking to fit in the new market, with the competition posed by the gurus. The Company embarked on a mission to produce Citizen-the City car and Lugano- Large car. The two makes of vehicles incorporate a large percentage of the market share that contributes greatly to Round 4. In this round, there indicated a great deal of drop in the market share of the Citizen to 0.95% and Lugano, 1.39%. By th e end of the first year, the Citizens cars stood at 53,300 while Lugano’s was 40,950. The gross margin was 14.52% and 27.46% for Citizen and Lugano respectively. The drop indicated after the first round stood at 9.09% and 1.59% correspondingly. The reason behind this occurrence is the fact that, the number of vehicles selected by the target groups was slightly higher than what had been budgeted for in the earlier

Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Writing - Essay Example An excellent example is this: there are many stories told about historical events that nobody has ever participated in, and many authors have written about things that happened long time ago. Most people believe that these things are true although they do not have evidence to proof that. This is the intuition. In â€Å"Predictable Irrationality† by Dan Ariely, the author gives an example of his own experience in the hands of nurses. He narrates about a period when he was in a hospital after having suffered 70 percent body burn. He tells of the manner in which nurses would bandage and un-bandage his wounds. He would try to ask them to do it slowly or to give him some time to rest but they could not. According to him, the nurses ought to have ripped the bandages slowly. He thought the nurses were wrong and so he advised them to do it his way, but since the nurses thought they were right, they believed that their way of ripping of the bandages was the best for a patient of Ariely’s kind. This caused him a lot of pain. The experience also led him into researching on how to take off bandages from burn wounds. He bought a carpenter’s vice with which he could crunch people’s fingers at the workshop for short and long periods of time and then test all the different typ es of pain they felt. Upon carrying out numerous experiments with different people and objects, Ariely realized that ripping off bandages from burn wounds at a low intensity and over a long time combined with allowing patients some time in between to rest reduced pain a lot. The facts he got after the research showed that the nurses’ way of doing it was wrong indeed. Although the nurses were wrong, they all along had been thinking that they were right, since they believed their intuition to be correct simply because they had strong but untested beliefs. In most cases, we make a decision through intuition and we believe it to be right. What can be said about the general

Policy making in carbon capture and storage Essay

Policy making in carbon capture and storage - Essay Example CCS is very attractive because it has the capabilities of enabling the biggest global economies to utilize abundant and cheap coal resources. The coal usage is without releasing large volumes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There are four key policy recommendations that can enhance the widespread adoption of CCS in the United States. Firstly, the United States federal government should provide subsidies to enhance commercial scale CCS. The subsidies should cater for several approaches of geological storage. Though CCS can be a profitable venture, the government should provide assistance during the short term to illustrate the technology at commercial levels. The government support should also cover several costs, like expenses involved in independent monitoring of the CCS projects. Grants are needed to support the financing of the present PC plants that have the post combustion capture processes. The awards should cover only part of the expenses in the CCS projects; this is because the projects possess several factors that ensure economical benefits. For instance, accelerating state subsidies for the CCS

Obesity Debate Essay Example for Free

Obesity Debate Essay In the five section article, â€Å"Rethinking Weight† by Amanda Spake, the author outlines the conflict surrounding whether obesity classifies as a disease. Spake discusses the prevalence of obesity in America and sheds light on the idea that obesity may contain genetic roots. The article continues with the author’s insights into whether weight or fitness retains the most importance. Spake concludes the article with thoughts on the growing concern of insurance coverage and obesity treatment. The author claims that â€Å"At the heart of this obesity epidemic is a debate over whether obesity is a biological ‘disease’ and should be treated like any other life-threatening illness – cancer, heart disease – or whether it is simply a risk factor for these killers† (282). Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychology, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how society may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the idea of obesity qualifying as a disease when she describes the role insurance companies play when paying for obesity treatment. The article begins with a narrative account of Maria Pfisterer. Spake uses Maria Pfisterer’s story to reveal the struggles obesity and dieting inflict upon a person. According to the author, Pfisterer’s many attempted diets, in terms of weight â€Å"All resulted in a little lost and more regained,† which supports the idea of weight and dieting inflicting a constant burden in the lives of many Americans (282). Spake also included in the story of Pfisterer’s weight battle the idea that no matter how hard Pfisterer tried to lose weight or what method Pfisterer thought to try, the weight never permanently disappeared, which in turn supports the concept of obesity being more than just a physical ailment. The author also discusses the possible treatment of gastric bypass surgery for Pfisterer, which remains unavailable to Pfisterer due to the high cost and specific criteria an individual must possess in order to receive the surgery. The narrative story provides an appeal to emotions by showing one woman’s struggle with weight and the effect that struggle embodies in Pfisterer’s life. The story also provides a persuasive element, influencing a want for Pfisterer to achieve her personal weight goals. The author pinpoints a person’s biology and psychological state as possible factors in the development of obesity. Xavier Pi-Sunyer from the Obesity Research Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital suggests â€Å"†¦obesity is a biologically determined process† (282). Many weight researchers also believe that â€Å"obesity is controlled by a powerful biological system of hormones, proteins, neurotransmitters, and genes that regulate fat storage and body weight and tell the brain when, what, and how much to eat† (284). Rudolph Leibel, a Columbia University geneticist, also states, â€Å"I believe there are strong genetic factors that determine susceptibility to obesity† (285). The given beliefs demonstrate how obesity qualifies as more than a personal decision. A person’s biology resists changes; therefore, the idea of obesity as a biological condition contains validity for Spake’s claim. The author also includes Brian Wansink’s perspective, â€Å"obesity is not just biology; it’s psychology† (286). The brain plays a key role in how obesity operates differently in individuals. The author continues to explain how, psychologically, obese individuals hold no control over the eating habits the overweight display. Spake’s inclusion of biological and psychological ideas presented by reliable professionals persuades critical audiences to agree with the author’s claim. Scientific research also plays a part in the obesity debate. Spake uses a variety of logos and ethos information to support the claim of the ongoing debate over the classification of obesity. The article incorporates the use of statistics from various studies on weight and obesity to solidify the author’s beliefs. The author gives a shocking statistic that â€Å"A majority of Americans—now 64   percent—are overweight or obese and struggling to conquer their expanding waistlines before their fat overtakes their health†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (282). A study done of twins showed that 20 to 70 percent of weight issues developed through inheritance. Another study conducted by RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions stated, â€Å"the nation is spending about $75 billion a year on weight-related disease† (283). Spake even includes the statistic saying that, â€Å"Simply eating with one other person increases the average amount eaten at meals by 44 percent,† which refers to the psychological aspect of obesity (286). The author’s use of statistical information provides a strong backing for Spake’s claim about the obesity debate. Although not officially categorized as a disease, some organizations in society already list obesity as a disease. Spake chooses to include examples of situations in society where obesity may already encompass similar characteristics to a disease. The diseases that result from excessive amounts of weight embody a prominent situation described by the author. â€Å"Almost 80 percent of obese adults have one of these conditions, and nearly 40 percent have two or more,† Spake suggests when referring to diseases, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, and high cholesterol that relate to the presence of obesity. Another example the author mentions confirms that, â€Å"The WHO has listed obesity as a disease in its International Classification of Disease since 1979.† Spake raises concern as to why obesity still remains uncategorized as an official disease when large quantities of overweight individuals contract other diseases due to the affliction of obesity and when a substantial organization already includes obesity in a database of diseases. Another statistic included in the discussion reads â€Å"About 325,000 deaths a year are attributed to obesity† (283). This shocking statistic sparks the question of why obesity lacks the definition of a disease even further. However, the author strays from her claim when insurance problems come into the article. Bringing the topic of insurance into the discussion provides no backing for any of the author’s claim. Spake chose to incorporate that â€Å"The health insurance industry argues that obesity treatments  can’t be covered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (287). The claim refers to whether obesity classifies as a disease, not the effect of insurance coverage on those affected by obesity. Also, the author included that â€Å"the cost†¦of treatment and health insurance will escalate† (288). The price tag of treatment and rising insurance costs gives no support to the debate of obesity classifying as a disease that Spake claims as the purpose of the article. The inclusion of the insurance debacle distracts from the key issues the article puts forth, leaving readers to question the main idea of the article. In summation, Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychology, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how society may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the claim when she describes the role of insurance companies in paying for obesity treatment. Works Cited Spake, Amanda. â€Å"Rethinking Weight.† Writing and Reading for ACP Composition. Comp. Thomas E. Leahey and Christine R. Farris. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2009. 285-88. Print.

Fossil Fuels and Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Fossil Fuels and Global Warming Essay The use of fossil fuels as the primary source of energy has unwittingly landed humanity into its greatest challenge yet. As oil and coal are burnt up, the greenhouse gases are causing the melting of polar ice, leading to a chain reaction that threatens every other aspect of the ecosystem. This paper looks at the crisis that fossil fuels have brought about, as well exploring existent and proposed solutions, both at the collective and the individual level. Introduction Global warming technically refers to the overall rise in global temperatures. Its widespread use however also encompasses the courses of this rise in temperatures and the effects thereof. More importantly, it is synonymous with the role of human beings’ activity in contributing to these rises. Carbon emissions from planes, cars and industrial plants rise up into the atmosphere and create a blanket of heavy air that traps heat that radiates onto the earth’s surface. By not letting heat escape, over time the globe becomes warmer. This has a direct effect on the flow of ocean currents, directly responsible for weather patterns. It also causes the melting of polar ice, which besides also affecting climate, also causes the sea levels to rise. (Guggenheim D Gore Albert, 2006). Effects of Global Warming Some critics are skeptical of the whole notion of global warming. Despite this criticism, it has grabbed the attention of masses, and they are increasingly examining its effects. The following is a brief insight; Agriculture is fundamental to life, as it is the source of food. Without food, human beings are at risk of extinction, and conflicts are bound to arise. Yet global warming is threatening agriculture. Due to climate change, the environments where bees and other creatures vital to pollination are used to dwelling in are no longer suitable, and the bees are disappearing in droves. More than that, rainfall and sunshine patterns are changing, rendering farmlands unsuitable for the crops that are used to growing there normally. The combined effect is that agricultural yields are negatively affected, and there arises a shortage in overall supply of food worldwide. In early 2008, with the human race hungrier, food prices rose to their highest levels ever, and inflation in many countries became unprecedented. This trend came to a head at the beginning of 2008, with riots and revolts in numerous countries. In the Philippines, soldiers were deployed to guard food crop farms from being raided. Haitians on their part overthrew their government in protest over untenable food costs. It is also here that people were reduced to eating mud, if only to fill up their stomachs. Similar scenarios were reported in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and a good number of Asian emerging economies. Global warming is not the only factor in bringing about food shortage, but it does play a major role, and has come to the attention of masses around the globe that are willing to act to mitigate the negative effects (Auken, 2008). Another set of negative effect that has been tied to global warming are the now prevalent natural disasters pounding various parts of the world. Hurricanes that have brought devastation to New Orleans, Mexico and more recently Jamaica over the past few seasons have been the worst in recorded history. They have been attributed to rises in sea level resulting from glacial melts owing to global warming. They have brought unprecedented destruction, forcing many coastal cities to adopt new strategies to combat such events. Billions of dollars are now being invested in disaster prevention, and are resulting in an increase in taxation. Similar amounts are being invested in reconstruction efforts to restore damaged infrastructure. Housing models are being radically changed, with cheaper housing being favored to cut losses in case of any eventualities. Prevalent Solutions Such tools as carbon footprints and green qualifications are now being employed to influence the conduct of the common person to contribute toward reducing their personal negative impact on the globe; consumers in Europe and America are increasingly becoming conscious to purchase food with minimal carbon footprints for example. Carbon footprints refer to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the process of developing a product from scratch to the point where it gets to the consumer. In effect, products which use plenty of machinery to produce and have to be transported by heavily fuel reliant means such as planes and trucks have much higher carbon footprints than those that are produced using minimal fossil energy and are close to the market. Labels indicating the carbon footprint are put on products by organizations who take the initiative, in a bid to persuade consumers to buy the least destructive products. And the method seems to be working. In Europe especially, consumers are increasingly cutting on their contributions environmental degradation and products with high carbon footprints and finding increasingly limited market. Closely related is the issue of organic foods. These are gaining preference for the reason that they are produced using only natural material, rather than chemicals that are hazardous to human beings and detrimental to the environment. The level to which a product is free of chemical toxicity is referred to as its organic rating, just like carbon footprints are used to depict the level of carbon emissions of a product. Publications and other forms of media are used by proactive organizations to sensitize the public on which products are environmentally friendly, and these do have a major influence on consumer choices. The result is that farmers serving the European markets are using increasingly less machinery and chemicals, thereby reducing the emissions and chemical pollution of the agricultural industry to the environment. Manufacturers also have to adapt to a new way of production- with their carbon footprints being closely monitored, they are increasingly adjusting their production processes to get favorable ratings (Organic Trade Association, 2008). My Solution Proposal In the fight against global warming, I believe efforts should now be geared toward experiments on entirely new lifestyles and forms of organization, with successful experiments being replicated across the globe. In my case, I propose an experiment with a new eco city, preferably in an arid area, at a waterfront (e. g. a lake) for sustainability of life. This will kill quite a few birds with one stone, as the problems of food insecurity, unsustainable energy and wasted land would all be addressed. Implementation In designing such an urban development, cutting edge technology and radical thinking are required at every step of the way. Ecological urban planning concepts are necessary to take advantage of the lake breeze, which can be harnessed for wind energy to cater for a significant part of the new city’s energy requirements. The city plan should also allow for the breeze to penetrate the streets and residential areas rather than block it. When this is done, ecological architecture can be employed in designing self-cooling buildings, which have the advantage of not only saving on air conditioning. This is desirable because it both saves on energy and preserves the environment, seeing as most air conditioners are environmentally harmful. The urban plan also needs to take care of existing ecosystems – if there are any streams, trees or wildlife habitations, the city and building designs should be made around them. Buildings will need to be fitted with solar panels to take advantage of the abundant sun in arid lands, thus further adding to the energy supply provided by wind. Wherever possible, buildings should have green roofing. This is where gardens are made on top of roofs for purposes of food, beautification and more. This will have a number of advantages; food will be more abundant, a cool microclimate will be created (further reducing the need for air conditioning), and the carbon footprint will be drastically reduced or eliminated. The buildings can also be constructed with double walls using recycled material (for sustainability). Double walls have the effect of keeping temperatures low when it’s hot outside and warm when it’s cold outside. Stretches of idle land just outside the city can be used to plant ecologically friendly biofuel crops such as Jatropha Carcus, which is drought-resistant, to complete whatever energy requirements that may remain. Being at the lakefront, clean water for most chores might prove a challenge to get, thus the need to preserve and recycle whatever water can be harnessed. One of the ways to do this is by use of a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), which filters sewerage to produce water for irrigation and gas for cooking. This way, other clean sources of water can be less burdened. Energy needs will also be met. Gardens and parks should be organic to reduce the amount of fertilizer and chemical pesticides necessary to maintain them. Sustaining the Gains All the outlined gains of an eco-city would be to naught if the residents do not sustain them. Residents should be encouraged to carpool when going to work, or better still to cycle to work to minimize the carbon footprint. As much as possible, recycled material should be used and other material should be recycled. The use of plastic bags should be banned, instead encouraging the use of bio-degradable baskets. For lighting, energy-saving fluorescent bulbs and tubes should be used. Each home should have a garden in its compound, with at least a tree or two. The gardens, for domestic food consumption, should be grown organically. The beach area should be kept clean, with no littering or dumping of chemicals or effluent into the lake. This will help preserve marine life and overall aesthetic beauty. If such a city can be constructed, myriad gains will have been made; Positive Environmental Impact The immediate impact of all the new vegetation – the green roofs, home gardens, biofuel crops, etc – would be the creation of a cool microclimate in the developed area. Being in front of a lake, the arid land as it currently is cannot benefit because all the moisture being brought in by the breeze either evaporates or travels long distances inland, benefiting other areas with vegetation. With the new vegetation however, the moisture would be trapped, and as the plants perspire, vapor would rise into the local sky, thereby creating rain at that local level. The overall reduced heat levels would also slow down evaporation rates, ensuring that the soil remains moist, helped also by the increased rain. Naturally, more rain is bound to increase vegetation cover, further enhancing the value of the land and creating a positive cycle. Positive Impact on Soil As the vegetation grows and dies, the soil would be enriched organically as the foliage decomposes, increasing its productivity. This happens when the decomposed foliage turns into humus, and mixes with the local sand. This has the effect of bonding the soil together while creating an acceptable level of drainage and porosity within it. If the soil is further enriched with the waste products of the STP process, the overall composition of the soil will become highly favorable to agriculture. It would also be conducive for worms and other soil organisms to grow, which in turn further enrich the soil with vital nutrients. Positive Economic Impact Another area of profound impact will be economic; from the time of construction right through to the establishment of offices and residences, employment opportunities will abound for both locals and immigrants. The eco-friendliness of the area will also attract investment a lot of which these days is conscientious – thus spurring growth. Being at the lakefront, the city is also highly likely to attract considerable international tourism as tourists seek clean and new areas to escape from winter or simply to unwind. At the same time, the marine fishing industry is bound to experience a boost from the clean fishing areas, with ready market locally provided by residents within the new city. They may even be able to export, depending on other factors. At the domestic level, people will be able to grow food and reduce their household budget. They may even be able to sell some of it and generate income – the city can be a net exporter of food. Conclusion Global warming has blessed the world with a lot to ponder upon. With effects ranging from food shortage to natural catastrophes, mitigation should not be a question of whether, but how and when. Coupled with this is the need for newer energy sources, to reduce the globe’s dependency on fossil fuels. With concerted efforts and due diligence, the problems that these two factors portend can be contained to an extent. I propose an experiment with an eco city built on a waterfront as a means of studying how human beings can adopt a top down approach to addressing these pressing issues. I believe the gains to be made will not just be environmental but economic as well. Works Cited Associated press, June 20th 2007, Fossil fuels Tycoon plans largest wind farm- green machines- MSNBC. com, Retrieved 12th Feb 2009. , http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/19231397 Auken, B. V, 15th April 2008, Amid mounting food crisis, governments fear revolution of the hungry, Retrieved 11th Sep, 2008, http://www. wsws. org/articles/2008/apr2008/food-a15. shtml The British Council (no date). Effects of Global Warming: Social Impact-Climate Change. Retrieved 12th Feb 2009. http://www. britishcouncil. org/climatechange-fact-sheets-global-warming-social-impact. htm Green Africa Foundation, 2008, Retrieved 12th Feb 2009, http://greenafricafoundation. org Guggenheim D, Gore Albert, 2006. 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