In What Ways Can Film Be Seen as a Specific Art Form Essay

In What Ways Can Film Be Seen as a Specific Art Form - Essay Example The world is transformed first through the eyes of the director since he is the one visualizing, creating and re-creating a world for the public. Art centers on two ideas: beauty and life. Likewise, cinematic art focuses on aesthetics (the depiction of a portrait to appeal to the senses) and incorporates life images and themes. Through cinema, the author of the film production has the liberty to be unconventional and he can still adhere to the real by embracing a realist approach. improvisation, individual interpretation, reality, illusion, and entertainment of the senses. According to (Gazetas, 2008, 18), â€Å"the  art  of the  cinema  is the  art  of the mind insofar as movies are capable of transforming reality into an object of imagination that completely isolates the viewer from the real world.† Cinema has the ability to transform real objects into imaginative ones and to manipulate lighting, space, and color to explore different themes in-depth. Artists are bestowed with enviable liberties which renders them and their work very flexible. In other words, although the artist aims to give a true-to-life translation of an art piece (an episode in a character’s life), he is free to twist, distort and imagine facts in the real to simulate his own world and orchestrate the course of events. Chris Columbus, through J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, represents a transformed world which evokes a wonderland of childhood bliss and even  utopia. Set in a child’s paradise Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, one sees through the lens of fantasy, an idealized childhood, illusion, and nostalgia. The possibilities are unlimited, unrestricted from the boundaries of reality. On this stage, the artist makes modifications to the real. Fantasy is the art of infusing the supernatural within the mundane. Columbus as film director fully exploits the power of fantasy in the film, recreating a world in w hich the wizards and witches have constant encounters with the spiritual world. As a result, one sees the intermingling of both imagination and reality in film and in the real world. They do not inhabit separate spheres anymore.

Computer in Life Essay Example for Free

Computer in Life Essay What do you think of when you hear the word ‘computer’? Do you think of technology? Or maybe one of the ways to get on Facebook which I am sure many of you are thinking right now or you might even imagine a boring office full of screens and keys with people typing frantically in front of. All of those visions are correct, but first let’s take a look at the history of several inventions that led the creation of computers which has dramatically changed the world of technology. The first machine that was invented, which worked like a computer, was a gear-powered German device dubbed the Calculating Clock created by Wilhelm Schickard in 1623. It operated by pulling or pushing rods set inside a glass case. 20 years later, in 1640s, a similar device known as a Pascaline was invented and became famous dramatically.. In 1944, the Harvard Mark-1 computer was completed. That computer was approximately similar to a modern computer, but it was a large calculator driven by a camshaft with no stored programs. This massive computer filled a large room and was a joint effort between Harvard University and IBM. Personally, I believe that one of the most important inventions in my life has always been a computer. I was raised in this technological world where computers are a necessity. Computers dramatically transform my life in terms of education. They acknowledge me with the events that happen around the world, which I think are extremely important to learn. They give me an efficient, convenient and cozy way of work and study. Computers do not just provide me with education or learning experiences, but they are also one of the means of entertainment and globalization. They provide me with leisure time watching movies online or listening to music. According to me, it is one of the most relaxing ways to release the stress from studying and working day and night. Also in terms of globalization, with the aid of computers, I can visualize and make conversations with my long distance family and friends. They assist me in keeping relations with my family and friends, even though I am extremely far from them. I, as a student, strongly believe that computers are extremely important in terms of education as I mentioned before. Before computers were invented, I (you were born after computers were invented) as well as everyone else relied on books to provide them with educational knowledge. Now that computers are available, I never search through hundreds of pages of books. I can just surf the Internet in the blink of an eye to research for learning information. If I need to type anything or write an essay, I have easy access to my Microsoft word or Notepad in which I can also save the information and open it whenever I desire to and if I make any errors typing, it provides me with the correct word or information. Isn’t that amazing? It’s like a human sitting in the back of the computer screen reading my essay and correcting it of any mistakes I may make. Furthermore, the computers also assist me when it comes to math, such as math problems like logarithms, sine, cosine, and tangent can be awfully difficult to calculate and may take students a long time to do so manually. Luckily, with the help of computers, students may turn a five-minute problem into a one-minute problem. Computers have also made a major impact in the business field. They have gained importance as they have increased the productivity and efficiency of workload. Large amounts of data in the personal lives as well as in business and industrial sectors are stored on computers. Overall, as I provided you with all the benefits of computers, according to me, computers are one of the necessities in today’s technological world. In today’s world, it is almost impossible to think that one can survive without computers. They have become a gadget of almost daily use for people of every age. With the computer industry growing rapidly, the computer technology has also brought about a revolution of laptops and palmtops replacing the desktop, which are still popular in many of the industries. With the reduction in size, it has become quite easy to carry the computers and use them to the fullest. Computers are extremely helpful in terms of education, entertainment, globalization, etc. People might think that there might be negative aspects to the inventions of computers, but as far as I am concerned, I do not believe that the statement is true. The computers have had numerous positive effects and they will continue to do so in the future as well.

Good and Bad Aspects of the Atkins Diet Essay -- Health Nutrition Diet

Good and Bad Aspects of the Atkins Diet      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The notorious and renowned Atkins diet has Americans and the rest of the world believing that if they simply "eliminate carbs" from their everyday food regimen, they will find the "fountain of fit". This idea among many others has come to be just another one of today's "fad dieting" techniques. The population doesn't seem to know or to even care if the plan will keep them fit for life, or if it will just be a quick fix to a nagging weight problem. Due to the fact that people want such quick results they tend to attempt the diet without knowing all that it actually entails. In reality, the Atkins diet is a quite complex way of eating, including various stages and limitations on many foods. Starting with an "induction" period consisting of two weeks, the Atkins diet allows no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. Within this period, dieters are not allowed any sort of milk, fruits, grains, breads or any "high glycemic" foods such a s potatoes and corn. Instead, dieters are encouraged to consume meats, seafood, eggs, cheeses...

Saurer

Saurer: The China Challenge Question 1 Comparing with the China staple fiber twisting machines, Saurer Twisting Systems (STS) has a number of strengths. The STS are leading product and incorporated state-of-the-art engineering. The technology and R&D helped STS to build up functional brand, the STS machines helped the customers to improve efficiency, quality and productivity. Hence STS is a strong brand and highly regarded by many customers. Being the largest manufacturer of textile machinery, Saurer can offer full solutions to customers.According to Exhibit 4, there are Sauer’s products in different steps of the textile value chain from spinning to embroidery. Thus, Saurer has the capability to penetrate into textile industry in a great depth by extensive product offering. However, STS do not have the price advantage comparing with local Chinese competitors. STS had simplified the functions of the sophisticated machines into â€Å"good enough† machines so as to cater f or the needs of China market, however, the pricing is 31. % more than Muratec, and twice the price of Rifa i. e. the close competitor. As Chinese customers tend to be price-sensitive, they would prefer low-priced manufacturers like Rifa for faster pay-back. In addition, STS products are imitated and the functions copied by Chinese competitors because of weak protection of intellectual property in China. This weakened the strength of STS in terms of product functionality. Most of the locally made twisting machines were copies of those manufactured by Saurer or a Japanese competitor.In some cases, the colors of the machines and the brochures – including printing errors – were reproduce Saurer’s usual position in the high-end market meant that identifying and reaching customers for low-end solutions would be challenging for its sales force. Since the company had historically focused on customers with high-end needs, it sales force had little contacts with the low-e nd segment. Saurer also encountered the difficulty to adopt to Chinese market.The Chinese customers only ordered new machines after receiving orders for yarn, which meant that they then needed very quick delivery. Additionally, they tended to be less interested than their Western counterparts in machine ergonomics – labor costs were low and replacing workers was easy – although some had begun to appreciate that more efficient machines could enable them to increase revenue. Question 2 Saurer should enter the China market with lower functionality. Firstly, Chinese customers are price-sensitive and they concern about the pay-back period.By offering low-functionality machines at lower price, Saurer can captured this low-end customer groups by fulfilling their basic needs. Secondly, Saurer can build up the customer base for future business, as Saurer can introduce other textile machines for their customers. However, margins on the new product were likely to be significantly lower than on their existing products, and even if they managed to achieve some aggressive cost targets, there was a concern that the new product could cannibalize their high margin, premium machines.So Saurer lost its product leadership by lowering the machines functionality. Hence, the good enough machines do not help Saurer to win customers by brand and functionality for this low-end segment. The pricing of STS machines become critical as customers are price-sensitive. Question 3 To protect Saurer’s brand, they should use a dual brand marketing strategy for the new products and sophisticated products. Its Volkmann brand was the leader in the premium end of the market, both in China and globally.In order to avoid jeopardizing the brand and minimize sales canalization, Saurer should adopt a different brand name for its low-end and lower-priced machines. As for pricing, Saurer should try to match with the competitors so as to win a bigger market share in this low-end market. To improve the margin, Saurer may consider to lower the production cost. As the low-end customers had little interest in preventive maintenance and annual contracts, Saurer had to change its business model for the low-end market segment.Since customers preferred quick repair service in proximity, Saurer may consider to develop partnership with local machine repairing centers by supplying the components at lower cost, so as to increase the competitiveness of Saurer machines as comparing with other low price competitors. Currently, Volkmann had 7 sales staff for China market. To cater for this fast growing low-end segment, the company should develop a separate local sales team for low-end market so as to penetrate into the low-end market. According to the company’s quick analysis, 85% of the potential demand of the new machines would be in 6 of China’s 22 provinces.Saurer may allocate the sales team into 6 geographical areas and launch the new machines. Question 4 If Sa urer decided not to introduce the new product, it will have to set its premium position and target the high-end segment, i. e. the export-oriented state-owned firms which were typically able to get licenses to buy imported textile machines. Being the global leader in textile machines, Saurer can ride on its competitive advantage by offering full solutions in different stages of value chain and helping these high-end customers to achieve economy of scale.

How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Tiayna Bradford BRADFORD 1 Mary Jo M. Keiter English 051 Oct 18, 2012 How to make a grilled cheese sandwich on an electric stove. First you need to make sure that you have all the things needed for this process. 1. Frying pan 2. Bread 3. Butter or Margarine 4. Butter knife 5. Cheese 6. PlateFirst you take out two pieces of bread and lay them on your plate. Then you open up the butter, get the butter knife; put some butter on the knife, then spread it on one side of the bread. Make sure that the side you put the butter on is the side down. The other side of the bread that is faces up; put two slices of cheese on it. After you put the cheese on it; put piece bread on it, then spread butter on that side too.When that part is done, turn the stove on number four; so that it is not up to high; or to low. Place the frying pan on the eye that you turned on. Once it gets hot put the sandwich in the pan. You can put a lid on it to make it cook faster or just leave it open. Let it cook for lik e two minutes and then turn it to the other side and repeat the same thing. Once you see that the bread is brown a little, you can take it out using a spactula. It is then ready to eat. How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich My Recipe For Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Topic: How to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Audience: Parents that need to cook something quick for there children. Purpose: To teach someone how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Format: An expository paragraph. ——————————————————————————————————————— You will need: An electric frying pan, 2 slices of bread (preferably white), (softened) butter, and some cheese of your choice Step 1.Plug in and pre-heat the electric frying pan to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Step 2. Take your butter and spread it on one side of both pieces of bread. Step 3. Then you need the cheese (if you are cutting it of a block, 1 eighth of an inch is my recommended thickness) But I like to use singles chee se slices with mine. Step 4. Place your cheese in-between the un-buttered sides of your bread so that the buttered sides are facing out. Step 5. When your electric frying pan is fully heated, place the sandwich on it. Step 6.Let it sit for around 3 minutes, if you want a panini style sandwich, then you can lightly press on the sandwich with a a spatchula while it's cooking. Step 7. Then flip it and let the other side sit for only about 2 and a half minutes. Step 8. Then it's done! Step 9. If you want to make it better, try adding Ketchup on the side, along with a pickle. Step 10. Part of the process of making anything is the clean up so don't forget to put away everything, including turning off and unplugging the electric frying pan. Step 11. Eat up! By: Adam Brice

Comparative Musicians essays

Comparative Musicians essays Music can bring all types of people together. The communal bond between people while listening to a band on a cd, or seeing a live performance can be inspirational and motivating. That energy has created some of the best talent within the music industry, but not all of them have the same approach to learning or expressing their skills. There are many ways to express your self within music, but to some playing music can be much more organic then to others. The intuitive self taught musician can leave you wondering the mysticism of their ways, and the musician may wonder the same at times. Much of the talent the self taught musician comes natural, and they feel the rhythms and notes just as one can feel sadness and tears. They tend to exercise their skills with music that is more improvisational like jazz and blues. Not all who make it as a musician take the steps of a self taught player. The trained musician tends to know the theory in music. They strive to know why things happen and tend to analyze the music much more. These type of musicians tend to have a great capability at teaching music or going off to produce some of the best talent out there. The technical approach they take is usually backed by years of training, in school and out. They also tend to have a good ear for structured music such as classical There are many styles of music and musicians out their each with their own approach. Like enjoying the many colors of the rainbow having just one to choose from would be very bland and boring. To have as many different colors, sounds, and people keeps life moving forward and exciting. As different as it can all be we still gather around the stage, and lights smiling, dancing, and laughing forgetting the pressures of everyday life. ...

Editing in Science Fiction Film

Editing in Science Fiction Film Free Online Research Papers Before discussing editing in the genre, it is necessary to first identify it, in order to be able to compare atmospheres, themes, visual elements or characters†¦ and see how the editing could meet and match these characteristics. To start, it would be interesting to mention the difficulty of defining science-fiction, which (unlike the western, for example) is not a very well defined film genre. If we tried to clarify it in one sentence, it would be a novelistic genre using the themes of time-travel and extraterrestrial space in which the author imagines the evolution of humanity, in particular, the consequences of its scientific advances (Larousse dictionary). Science-fiction develops, upon many diverse subjects, different narrative patterns, going from speculative fiction to the marvellous; from space opera to heroic fantasy. To simplify things, we could talk about the mise-en-scene of unimaginable realities made tangible by the technical and scientific power of modern civilization. One of the major points of this study is that one of the purposes of the image in science fiction is to make us believe in what we see, e.g. recreate elements that are familiar to us in an environment or context that is not, or vice versa. Anyway, imagery of most films refers to humanity and to our behaviour towards those around us. Although they strive to extend the limits of human experience, they remain restricted by the understanding and identification of the public; and thus contain prosaic aspects, to say the least, rather than being completely supernatural or abstract. We will try to put all this information together with the editing in science- fiction film; through several examples of movies that have marked this genre, especially three of them: Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1926), 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968), and Star Wars, Episode III (George Lucas, 2005). RESEARCH AND COMPARISONS Thus, a major feature of the genre is to operate an absolute change of scene, a total eradication; that projects us far from our familiar space and time landmarks, by the miraculous effect of scientific and technical power. When modern cinema tends to avoid traditional establishing shot which is said to uselessly extend a scene; science fiction must restore it. Indeed, it is necessary to present to the public the unknown, unfamiliar environment in which the action is set. Technologically, the use of collage effects (chroma key, matte keying, etc.†¦) surely exists in science fiction but would more suit to a study of special effects, not editing. However, what would be interesting to discuss here is the use of internal editing. Indeed, one may talk about visual collage from the moment one knows that the shot was recomposed after shooting. Two cases apply: either the collage â€Å"hides itself†, â€Å"the shot is presented as a hybrid to be dissolved† (incrustations, trick pictures, compositing); or it shows up: The shot gives itself as a hybrid to leave as it is  ¹. The codes of SF and fantasy genre require using the first case, where we are supposed to melt the characters in their set, when we know they’re not a result of single shot. In the Star Wars trilogies, we suppose the actors didn’t actually stand in front of a galactic empire in which wander vessels and flying saucers. This use of effects is due to the desperate attempts of SF to permanently escape the narrow limits of body and the laws of brass of reality. Those achievements in space can also apply to time. That is why the crosscutting, flash-backs or flash-forwards can also be recurring elements of the genre. We can mention Anakin’s visions in Star Wars; or George’s flash-backs in The Time Machine (Georges Pal, 1960). The SF is also the encounter between the unrealistic core of the marvellous and the realistic form of science. One of the major aims is to make us believe, and here the only use of effects is not enough. Despite this ocean of improbable images, it is important that the characters and their environment, even though sometimes seeming nowhere near our familiar universe  ², appear close to us at the same time, close to our fears and desires. That is why the traditional editing techniques are not forsaken, but are still used at the proper time. An intimate dialogue between two characters, despite a fabulous decor, can still be done in a traditional over the shoulder technique. Nevertheless, and still more specific to the genre, the over the shoulder can be done with human and machines (Dave Bowman and computer HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey), robots (C3PO and R2D2 in Star Wars, Rotwang in Metropolis), or even monsters (Frankenstein, James Whale, 1931) that may, on screen, be treated as humans. Indeed, let us base upon the example of the Star Wars saga. Its success is, among other things, due to the detailed, contradictory and fanciful exploration offered by the trilogies of the distinction between human and non-human. Thus, the hero Luke embodies, over the episodes, different states of relationship with the machines†  ²: fully human at the beginning of the saga, he slowly becomes master of the machines before he mechanizes as well. This fact contrasts with the two faithful robots of the saga, more human than humans†¦ Translating this to editing, we’d say they simply gain their rights to close-ups. On the contrary, editing can emphasize dehumanization or lack of feelings among ‘robotized’ heroes through a very small variation of camera angles, and absence of close up shots. One can think of Floyd’s dialogue with his daughter he hasn’t seen for a long time, in the beginning of 2001: A Space Odyssey: shots only alternates between the character (whose value is reduced to a mid-close shot) and the image of his daughter on the screen, whom you see a lot more even though the father is the one monopolizing the conversation. Plus, we see him in the boundaries of a regular 16/9 shot; reminding us he is part of a film: he is fiction; conversely, his daughter is inscribed in more â€Å"vertical† borders, which resemble more our real view angles. All this makes us feel he has already lost all humanity. Moreover, we can think of the opening scene of Metropolis where workers are shown only in two different shots, and always large, so as not to clearly see and identify any face. This contrasts with the large number of various shots that will be used to describe people on earth, in a much faster editing that establishes dynamism and vitality. On the other hand, science fiction films can often be spread over large time periods. Such is the case with Bicentennial Man (Chris Columbus, 1999), and of course, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Big time ellipses are therefore required, which often leads them to make transitions more elaborated than simple cuts. We can cite the famous match cut comparing bone / starship at the start of 2001: Space Odyssey: the juxtaposition of two shots, the second breaking the narrative logic installed by the first. This implies the figurative sense of the connection, creating a relationship between the two objects: two tools, respectively primitive and advanced, but still weapons. A similar match cut is at the end of AI : Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg, 2001), when David brush his mother’s hair, or at the beginning of Aliens (James Cameron, 1986), where a pod of glass becomes a planet. This transition effect can darken the editing, making it invisible as says Spielberg; for in the end, the desired effect is to merge two images, to link them. This effect is quite present in science fiction as it provides a dimension that doesn’t come from a realistic aspect, but more a fantasy or unknown one. In the same thematic of transitions, it is appropriate to cite the rare use of wipes that we practically only find in George Lucas’ work (Star Wars) or Kurosawa’s Dreams, which also confers an epic tone to the film. It is also worth mentioning the fades that often replaces cuts in Elephant Man (David Lynch, 1982), which are used to restore the atmosphere of old classic films that unfolds throughout the entire movie (in black and white). Regarding the rhythms of editing, they are highly variable and differ depending on movies and sequences within movies. For example, the rate in Star Wars or Metropolis remains fitted to the register and tone of the scene (fast in action scenes, saber combats, etc.†¦ and slowest in the lyrical scenes, for example). This technique brings the dynamism and speed to the action that it is necessary to find in the SF works where the action itself is an important aspect of the film. Lucas actually believes that we need to know â€Å"how to measure out the scenes, interrupt them for a maximum emotional impact†. Contrastingly, in 2001, or Solaris (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972), the pace is slow throughout the film, the scenes take place as in real time, and the music often plays the role of bridge between a scene and another. Here, anxiety and tension rise more slowly and naturally. Furthermore, we should mention the very jerky editing corresponding to the movement of workers at the beginning of Metropolis, where the cuts are synchronized with the continuous and mechanical movement of workers- mechanized humans too. Finally, the genre has certainly evolved over the years, not only through the development of cinematographic techniques. Admittedly, â€Å"the use of pyrotechnic special effects and computer graphics transforms the diegetic universe of science fiction into games spaces where the succession of sequences often obeys a parataxic logic. [†¦] It is therefore not the use of a new semantic equipment, such as biotechnology, which has largely modified the format of the genre, but syntactic changes: the linearity of a narrative where episodes follow one another (Metropolis) was abandoned in favour of a juxtaposition principle, which is manifested by both coexistence of creatures or objects of all kinds in the field and by the succession of action scenes (Star Wars)  ³. In conclusion, it is necessary to recall that the features mentioned are not exclusive characteristics of science-fiction film, but rather gender-recurring items which often contribute to retransmit the themes and issues that are dealt with. In addition, each film has its own style, each director has his own idea of fantastic†¦ otherwise, the film wouldn’t have much interest. References:  ¹ â€Å"L’analyse de sequences† by Laurent Jullier, Armand Colin  ² â€Å"Panorama des genres de films† by Claude Brillard, 1995  ³ â€Å"Les genres de films au cinà ©ma† by Raphaà «lle Moine, Armand Colin. Research Papers on Editing in Science Fiction FilmWhere Wild and West MeetRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHip-Hop is ArtAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementGenetic EngineeringPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThree Concepts of PsychodynamicBringing Democracy to AfricaEffects of Television Violence on Children

How to Focus When Youre Writing

How to Focus When Youre Writing How to Focus When Youre Writing How to Focus When Youre Writing By Ali Hale Do you ever find yourself distracted when you’re writing? I don’t think I’ve ever met a writer who could honestly answer â€Å"no† to that question! Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, checking the news headlines, browsing a few webcomics, answering emails, ordering that book from Amazon you’d forgotten about there are so many distractions just a click away. The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to help yourself to focus as you write. I’ve split my suggestions into three different categories, so you can tackle whichever area you feel is holding you back the most (or whichever is easiest for you to change right now). They are: How to make your writing environment work for you What to do before you write What to do while you’re writing I’ve also included a bonus tip on something you can do after you write, to help you gradually focus better over time. How to Make Your Writing Environment Work For You #1: Get Away from Home If you normally write at home, try writing in a local coffee shop (or library, etc) instead. This cuts out a ton of potential distractions and a change of scene can make it much easier to be creative. Some of my best, most focused, writing happens when I get away for an afternoon, evening and morning at a local hotel. There’s no laundry pile, no dishes, no kids, no TV, and the wifi there doesn’t work on my ailing laptop. I can write for hours! Even if you can’t get away for very long, just an hour in a coffee shop might be enough to help you get past a creative block that you’ve been struggling with. #2: Get Rid of Intrusive Noise When I’m in the writing zone, I tune out pretty much everything (including my long-suffering husband). But getting into that zone in the first place can be tricky if there’s a lot of distracting noise going on. In our house, â€Å"noise† is normally the kids playing / fighting / singing at the top of their lungs. Maybe that sounds all too familiar to you – or maybe the noise you’re trying to block out is construction work going on nearby, or your roommate watching yet another repeat of Friends. Whatever the noise, a pair of headphones will help (I like in-ear ones, because they’re cheap and act a bit like earplugs to muffle external noise). It’s entirely up to you what you listen to: some writers like to focus with ambient sound from a site like Noisli.com; others like movie soundtracks; still others pick a particular artist, album or even song that fits with the mood of their work-in-progress. Do whatever works for you. #3: Sit at a Desk or Table If you normally write while sitting on the sofa, or even while lying in bed, try sitting at a table or desk instead – even if that means clearing some space or rearranging a room. You might find it makes a huge difference to your concentration levels. As well as feeling more like a â€Å"work† space, a seat at a table or desk is likely to be better for your posture than hunching over with your laptop on your lap, or lying in bed with your laptop propped up on your knees. (If you do decide to stick with your sofa or bed, though, you might want to   look into something like a laptop bed tray to make it easier to write there.) What To Do Before You Write #4: Make a Plan Whatever you’re about to write, you need a plan. That might be a few words scribbled on a sticky note, or it might be a detailed document outlining your whole book. But whatever your plan looks like, it’s a vital tool for keeping you on track and focused. If you begin writing without a plan, it’s all too easy to lose focus. You don’t know where you’re going next – and as soon as you come to the natural end of one train of thought, you’ll probably find yourself getting distracted by something that has nothing to do with your writing at all. #5: Set a Goal for Your Writing Session What do you want to achieve during your writing session? If you’re writing, say, a blog post, you might simply want to work through your plan – but if you’re working on part of a longer project, you may need to come up with a specific goal. For instance, if you’re writing a novel, your goal might be â€Å"write the first 1,000 words of chapter 10† or â€Å"write the scene with Jo confronting Dwayne†. If you find that setting goals can be daunting or off-putting rather than helpful, you might want to set a â€Å"minimum† goal and a â€Å"stretch† goal – that might be â€Å"write 200 words† as the minimum and â€Å"write 1,000 words† as your stretch goal. Even if you only achieve the minimum, you can still give yourself a pat on the back. #6: Decide How Long You’ll Focus For You don’t necessarily need to work with 100% focus for the whole of your writing session. You might decide to focus for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. (Those particular time intervals are part of the Pomodoro technique, which you might find helpful.) Set a timer to keep you on track as you write. While the timer is running, your job is to only write – you can’t check emails, go on Facebook, and so on. It might feel surprisingly hard at first to stay focused in this way, but you’ll soon find it becomes more natural. If you’re fighting a long-entrenched distractibility habit, you might want to use an app like Freedom.to to help you – you can block specific websites, or even the whole internet, for a period of time. What to Do While You Write #7: Keep a â€Å"Distractions† Notebook to Hand One simple tool that I find very helpful is a notebook, diary or even scrap of paper where I can jot down distractions. These are often things I need to remember to do (â€Å"Order Le Guin book† is on my list right now, because as I was drafting this post, I remembered that the science fiction book group I attend is meeting in a couple of weeks) You can use a distractions list not only for â€Å"to do† items, though, but also for impulses that crop up. Stuff like â€Å"see what’s new on xkcd† or â€Å"look up next season of Lucifer† can go on your list, too! Once you get to a break, you can delve into some of those distractions, guilt-free. #8: Don’t Stop to Look Things Up How often are you writing a blog post (or a scene of your novel, or a chapter of your book) – only to realise that you need to look up a name or a fact or a link? And how often do you stop, look it up and end up spending the next half an hour in an internet rabbit-hole? I do this more often than I’d care to admit! But as much as possible, I try to not look things up when I’m writing. Instead, I put a [note to self] in square brackets in my draft, so I can come back and insert the name/fact/link/etc later on. Here’s an example from the draft of this very post: #9: Don’t Edit While You’re Writing I know you’ve been told this one already, but it’s a piece of advice that always bears repeating: don’t edit while you’re writing. Is it okay to occasionally backspace and fix a typo, or restart a sentence that somehow came out wrong? Sure. (Though some â€Å"don’t-edit† purists might disagree with me!) However, if you draft a paragraph, change three sentences, draft another paragraph, cut everything you’ve written so far and start again you’re not going to get far. If you change your mind about something as you’re writing, just pop the section you’re unsure about into italics. Make a quick note about what you’re thinking about changing (e.g. â€Å"remove John from this scene†) and then proceed as if you’d already made that change. That way, you don’t lose momentum – and you don’t waste time editing something that you might later decide to change yet again. What to Do After You Write #10: Record How Your Writing Session Went If you’ve never tried keeping a writing journal before, give it a go. You could have a document on your computer where you jot down how you got on, you could make an entry in your diary, you could use a notebook whatever works for you. Each time you finish a writing session, take a minute or two to note what went well and what didn’t quite work out. For instance, â€Å"started well but got distracted half-way by answering an email from Jenny† or â€Å"took ages to get going but really got into the flow after a few paragraphs†. If you keep up your journal for a few weeks, you’ll find that you can spot patterns – and that you become more aware of what does (and doesn’t) work for you. All writers can focus, and often, being distractible is simply a bad habit. How could you make your next writing session a great one? Pick one idea – or more! – from the list above, and let us know in the comments how you get on. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesWhat to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowPreposition Review #1: Chance of vs. Chance for

Social DQ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social DQ - Essay Example It can be disingenuous to look at science as free of values as from the practices of good sciences only more immediate values concerning norms and customs may pursue. A comprehensive study into the theories and practices reveal that science is not let off from ethical behavior. Science captures the kind of behavior that is in interest for ethics. Gender and creed have not been the only component to mould good sciences but regional origins religious believes and traditions, social class and personality traits have major contributions too. Scientific values and ethics can permeate through society and social classes. Human psyche is habitual of assimilating the scientific values with other ethics and values. In the practice of good sciences, the operation of concrete facts in always in coherence with social values and ethics. Improbabilities and human interpretation causes some tribulations in applying scientific values. Sciences do not generate new ethical principles but its practices impart information and explore the matter inside them. Some technologies influence values in a more subtle manner. (Allchin) (Goguen, 2003) More often drug abuse starts while trialing and testing the affects of different drugs.

Assessing a Student Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assessing a Student - Personal Statement Example Based on the assessment table above, the average score for the student is 2.67. The scores from the able reflect that there are areas that the student needs support. These include problem solving skills, self-engagement, initiative taking, and decision making. In this case, the strategies that a teacher should adopt include understanding the individual needs of the students, making sure that the students know what is going on in class, and encouraging students to participate in class activities. In the case of this student, differentiation is important since he seems to be a below average student. In order for the teacher to improve the performance of the student, he should set different tasks for the student based on the performance of the student. Moreover, the teacher should set different open-ended tasks in order to assess the abilities of the student at different levels. The different forms of formative assessments that the teacher should use to gauge the performance of the student include questioning, discussions, peer/self-organizers, think pair share, and constructive quizzes. May, K. (2005). Teaching Strategies for Asperger Students. Retrieved from

Religious movements in Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Religious movements in Asia - Essay Example nged into social and political movements, which forced the governments revise their foreign policies in so many western and eastern countries at international level. The most dynamic religious movements are launched by the Jewish and Islamic fundamentalist parties, which has split the whole world into extremist groups and factions, who are always engaged in terrorist activities and hostilities against their rival factions on the one hand, and against the peaceful citizens of the world on the other jeopardizing the very peace and stability of the world at large. The most significant and influential social and political movement that made imperative alterations in the social and political establishment includes Marxism. Named after eminent German socialist thinker and philosopher of nineteenth century i.e. Karl Marx, the movement got the masses realized at global level regarding their rights and privileges that must have been established on equal foundations on the noble principles of social justice, brotherhood and equality. It was Marxist perspective that gave birth to all social movements in Asia, Europe and Africa during the twentieth century. The people of Africa and Asia stood up against imperialism and demanded freedom from the western imperialism. The movement influenced the American society in such a way that the minority groups particularly the African Americans strived to break the shackles of slavery and successfully won the battle against prejudice and racial discrimination after a long and tiresome struggle against the dominati ng majority group i.e. White Anglo Saxon Population (WASP). Karl Marx views conflict as inevitable in every culture and social set up, which is necessary for its progress and prosperity. Since Marxist perspective was a reaction to the exploitation of the lower stratum at the hands of the upper classes, all the future movements related to it also united to eradicate inequality from society. â€Å"Marx notes how the separate

Marketing Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 3

Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example This market target is viable because the foods are purchased for consumption in offices, schools and sometimes at homes. This represents a real market audience. The NRO plays a fundamental role in meeting the demands of this market niche and expanding its market base of existing and new products. The NRO through its strong distribution channels intends to expand its market by advertising the Company’s products. The NRO’s employees in marketing and advertising section should embrace online marketing and ads to increase its customer base (Wood, 2003).2.2 Marketing strategy Online marketing should be facilitated by online marketing and advertising channels. Tools such as Google, twitter and other online platforms need to be used in a bid to expand awareness and accessibility of the General Mills products. The ads should include the types of products, prices and locations of retail outlets. Sustaining of the current international sales of $3 billion, the superiority of the company’s brands should be strategically put into both the new and existing market niches (Luther, 2001). Equally, the NRO should break down the current barriers to expansive market. For instance, the issue of retail placement fragmentation, for the case of single-serving pre-prepared meal group should be rectified, defined and facilitated. The placement channel is fundamental in sustaining the product market through flow of product information to the market audience in a consistent manner with the current GIS distribution channels (Luther, 2001).

The Constitutional Issues Raised by City of London versus Samede Essay

The Constitutional Issues Raised by City of London versus Samede [2012] EWHC 34 (QB) - Essay Example The counsels for the claimant were David Forsdick and Zoe Leventhal (instructed by Andrew Colvin, the Comptroller and City Solicitor, City of London Corporation) while John Cooper QC and Michael Paget (instructed by Kaim Todner) were Samede’s counsels (Practical Law Publishing Limited, P. 1). The City of London Corporation made claims before the Royal Court that the said protestors had possessed and turned into a protest camp, the highway and the Churchyard at the St. Paul Cathedral. In the claim, the City of London Corporation also sought an injunction ordering that the tents and other structures erected at the said site by the protestors be removed (DeLaney, P. 7). The City of London thus claimed authority of the campsite and the surrounding land, citing various Acts of Parliament such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government Act 2000. There are numerous constitutional issues touching on the defendants and the claimant that arose in the Samede versus City of London Corporation (2012), some of which this paper explores. The Constitutional Issues in the Case The scope of the claim placed by the City of London Corporation covered two types of land: the highway and the open land under St. Paul’s Cathedral’s ownership. ... Among the constitutional issues that were immediately identified in the case was whether the City of London Corporation had established beyond reasonable doubt that it was entitled to possess the land under question (DeLaney, P. 5). In this regard therefore, upon considering any chances of interfering with the rights of the protestors (defendants), the Court would not err in granting the City of London the possession of the highway land. That is, the court had to ensure that granting the City of London possession of the land would not only be lawful but also necessary and proportionate (Practical Law Publishing Limited, P. 23). Central in the City of London versus Samede and others (2012) were the various relevant statutory laws and powers that govern possession and injunctive relief. First, these statutory powers mandate local highway authorities to ensure the protection of the rights of the public to use and enjoy the highway and all the services it offers. According to section 130 (5) of the 1980 Act, and under section 222 of the 1972 Act, such an authority may institute any legal proceedings against an individual or groups that interfere with the public’s rights and freedom to enjoy and use such a facility. Human Rights Issues Human rights issues also featured prominently in the City of London versus Samede and others case. Among these human rights issues are rights and freedom of religion, thought and conscience, as provided for in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Folsom, P. 67). In other words, every citizen or community has the right and the freedom to change religion and practise it in public or in private, alone or with others. In addition, there is freedom and right to manifest one’s religion through means such

Marketing Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 3

Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example This market target is viable because the foods are purchased for consumption in offices, schools and sometimes at homes. This represents a real market audience. The NRO plays a fundamental role in meeting the demands of this market niche and expanding its market base of existing and new products. The NRO through its strong distribution channels intends to expand its market by advertising the Company’s products. The NRO’s employees in marketing and advertising section should embrace online marketing and ads to increase its customer base (Wood, 2003).2.2 Marketing strategy Online marketing should be facilitated by online marketing and advertising channels. Tools such as Google, twitter and other online platforms need to be used in a bid to expand awareness and accessibility of the General Mills products. The ads should include the types of products, prices and locations of retail outlets. Sustaining of the current international sales of $3 billion, the superiority of the company’s brands should be strategically put into both the new and existing market niches (Luther, 2001). Equally, the NRO should break down the current barriers to expansive market. For instance, the issue of retail placement fragmentation, for the case of single-serving pre-prepared meal group should be rectified, defined and facilitated. The placement channel is fundamental in sustaining the product market through flow of product information to the market audience in a consistent manner with the current GIS distribution channels (Luther, 2001).

Implementing Strategy and Managing Change Essay - 1

Implementing Strategy and Managing Change - Essay Example In case it does not, then there is a need to undertake strategic thinking and action that could channels it into constructive and positive changes, designed for common good. Besides, â€Å"as the operating environment ways, over time, it is important that we take stock at regular intervals† (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service: Risk Management Plan: 2008-11, P.4). In the context of the UK Fire Force Department, it keeps confronting challenges, both big and small, seemingly insurmountable or mundane occurrences. Each day presents a new challenge- for life and survival for the safety and well being of the citizens of this country and to safeguard properties both public as well as private. There are, to be enforced, â€Å"additional responsibilities including fire safety enforcement, emergency planning and ensuring that the work of the fire and rescue service is efficient, effective and providing value for money† (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report and Ac tion Plan 2009 : incorporating Emergency Cover Review, P.3). There are two important aspects that underpin strategic management and change. These are accountability and performance. However, accountability needs to be assessed and modulated to address the current requirements and also needs to be a continuous process designed to ensure that all responsible personnel know their roles and responsibilities. According they must work towards achieving pre determined levels of performance. â€Å"Continual assessment of practice is at the forefront of developing policies and processes to assist the modernisation of public services. This unit seeks to identify the key stakeholders within organisations with regard to managing constant change. In addition, monitoring change and evaluating suitable training is also assessed. How such change influences the organisation is also developed† (Implementing Strategy & Managing Change: Module Handbook: University Centre at Blackburn College). N eed for Implementing Strategy and Managing Change There are many reasons why strategic change needs to be enforced - it could be due to changing market conditions, entry of newer and stronger competitors, internal and external management issues and also the need to evolve and adopt to changing business environments. Besides, there also exists the need to address challenges in performance and accountability at the micro and macro levels. However, all major challenges encountered by the organization have the support and leadership of top management and the Board of Directors, apart from stakeholder commitments. â€Å"The Corporate Management team (CMT) offers strong leadership and has the confidence and support of both staff and elected members. There is a real sense of ownership and pride amongst staff in driving forward service improvements† (Performance Report 2004-2007 and Integrated Risk Management Plan 2007-2010, P.28). Performance of London Fire Brigade: Coming to the as pects of the London Fire Brigade, it is indeed a strong and unified fire and disaster fighting unit and they are also empowered to seek novel strategies and articulate them to improve their performance in terms of containing fire accidents and lesser loss of lives over the years of their outstanding exemplary performance. Today, Fire fighting services could aptly boast of being a strong and efficient unit, fully equipped and

The Influence That Criminology Has Had on the Criminal Justice System Since 1750 Essay Example for Free

The Influence That Criminology Has Had on the Criminal Justice System Since 1750 Essay The question is what is criminology and what effect has it had on the criminal justice system? The study of criminology has had a significant effect on the criminal justice system since the 1700’s. There are three main schools of thought within criminology, they are -Classicist -Positivist -Chicago/Subculture theory Discussion Criminology is the study of causation, correction and the prevention of crime. Criminology was brought about during the late 18th century when people sought the reform of the criminal justice and penal systems. This was because they saw the system at the time as cruel and inhuman, because the systems were applied unequally and were subject to large amounts of corruption. They were seen as inhuman as they often used death or torture as forms of punishment no matter what the crime committed was (Farlex, n. d). During the early 18th century there is an obvious decrease in the amount of power held by the church and an increase in poverty. Also at this time there is a marked increase in crimes being committed. There was a great need to establish a better criminal justice system (Dawkin, J, 2011). This brought about the classicist school of thought, the leading writer within classicist theory is Cesare Banesano Beccaria (1738-1794) he wanted the law to apply equally to everyone, instead of some people being able to buy their way out of punishments others who held positions within society which allowed them to be exempt. Baccaria also wanted crimes to hold specific punishments and that these punishments should be standardised by legislatures, he believed this would avoid abuses of power within both the criminal justice system and also the penal system to some extent (Farlex, n. ). Jeremy Benthem, was also a leading writer of classicist theory, both he and Baccaria wrote that all people are rational and have free will, so therefore commit crime by choice. Benthem also believed that people made the choices they did because they are seeking pleasure and that people will avoid causing themselves pain. Baccaria and Benthem concluded that the punishment received for committing a crime could be seen as a form of pain and so should be one greater than the pleasure gain from committing that crime (Farlex, n. d) The beliefs: -That all people are rational People commit crime by choice -The punishment of a crime should be equal to the pleasure gained create the foundation of what is seen as classicist theory today, classicists believe that preventing crime is as important as punishing crime but also that it is important restrict people as little as possible. (Farlex, n. d) During the 19th century it was noticed that even though there had been changes made to the criminal justice system, in line with classicist theory, there did not appear to be any changes to the crime rates (Dawkins, J, 2011). At this time positivist theory were becoming apparent, they give a more scientific approach to criminology, Cesare Lombroso was the most well know of the positivist writers. Lombroso was mainly influenced by Dawins theory of evolution, he believed that a persons physical features could determine whether they were likely to display criminal behaviour. Lombroso believed that a persons cranial, skeletal and neurological malformations could give a clue to whether a person would commit a crime or not, he believed that biology created aa criminal class. However since lambroso wrote about this theory, he has been disagreed with harshly (Farlex, n. d) Lombroso did have a much bigger effect on criminology, when he emphasized the difference causes of crime, those included environmental causes that have no biological basis (Farlex, n. d) he also believed that somebody could be born a criminal and that criminality was not a choice but in you genes, this is known as â€Å"Atauism† (Akeis, R. L and Sellor, C. S, 2004) The Chicago school is the scientific study of social problems, if there is an understanding of how social, physical and environmental factors affect people then by studying them it may be possible to find a solution to them. This school of thought believes that the community plays a big factor in how and why people behave the way that they do (umsl, n. d. ). Albert Cohen was the first sociologist to develop a Chicago/subculture theory. The main idea within the Chicago theory is that the area people live in has a direct effect on the way in which those people act. In particular the study looks at younger boys who have underachieved in education, living in inner city areas. Cohen found that mainstream values of success created problems for young working class males -They did badly at school -They failed to gain the skills needed to succeed in society Cohen coined the term â€Å"Status Frustration† to describe the way in which young working clss males became easily frustrated with their low status in society as a result of their lack of income and they underachievement. Due to status frustration and all the elements that cause status frustration they are often labelled by their peers and elders which results in them getting little respect, this often leaves young working class males to believe that there is no other alternative than committing crime, specifically stealing the things that they want in order to stop being labelled as a â€Å"loser† and gain the respect that they crave from the peers and elders (Smith . D, n. d). The subculture that these young working class males often belong to actually support the idea that school in a â€Å"waste of time† and â€Å"not and important part of their future†, which leads to them believe that they do not need to succeed within education (Smith . D, n. d) â€Å"Members of such subcultures take the norms and values of mainstream society and turn them â€Å"upside down†, where as anti-social and criminal behaviour is looked down upon by wider society, it is highly valued by the delinquent subculture† The consequences of turning mainstream norms and values on their head, provides a release from subculture frustration. By succeeding the norms and values they created the young working class males gain respect from their peers, which in turn encourages this criminal behaviour. Among certain peer groups the committing of some types of crime such as joy riding and vandalism helps to gain respect and to increase their status within their social group (Smith . D, n. d) The current criminal justice system is based almost completely on the posivitist and classicist theories, these make little or no allowance for why women commit crime. If there is no understanding of this, how can there be an accurate solution? People should look at a gender specific approach to the criminal justice system (Sentencing project, n. d). Feminist criminology is mostly concerned with the victimisation of women, along with victimisation; feminists also look at female delinquency, and inequality between genders within both the law and the criminal justice system (hermida. J, n. d) Feminist’s theory is split into four main areas: -Liberal Feminism -Marxist Feminism Radical Feminism -Socialist Feminism Liberal feminism came about in the 1960’s; there main issue is that women are discriminated against because of their sex. The two most well-known of liberal feminist theorists are Freda Alder and Rita Simon (hermida. J, n. d) Both Alder and Simon challenge the â€Å"sexist† assertions made by Lombrosian criminologists. They believe that it is sociological factors and not physiological factors that are the best way to explain why women commit crime in today’s society. They also believe that the more women become involved in and have full time jobs the more likely they are to commit crime that are seen to be male orientated, but this lack support as most crimes committed by women are not related to labour market opportunities (hermida. J, n. d). Marxist feminist theory generally agrees with liberal feminists is that women are often dominated by men which prevent them from fully participating in society. They believe that rape is made more common in our society because of how women are dominated by men, they believe that society has made it more acceptable in our society (hermida. J, n. d). Radical feminism focus mainly on the abuse of women, the see male power as the cause of all problems in society including crime (hermida. J, n. d). Socialist feminists’ most well-known theorists are Piers Beirre and James Masserschmidt. It comes from both Marxist and radical feminism; they see crime as a product of our capitalism society (hermida. J, n. d) Conclusion Since the 1700’s when people began to want change within the criminal justice system and the penal system, criminology has had a big effect on the changes made within the criminal justice system. Initially the new criminal justice system was just based on the classicist point of view and when there was no change in the crime rates, it was changed again to include both the classicist, positivist and subculture theories. There are still changes that need to be made as there is no consideration made for feminism and why women are committing more crime in today’s society than ever before.

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology Modern Technology In the past two decades, technology has advanced and changed the manner in which people relate within family ties and social groups. Research suggests that in the 1990s, mails and letters were the most used channels for long distance communication and the postal services were very essential in fulfilling this duty. At the moment, communication has evolved from the use of land lines fixed in peoples homes to mobile phones carried everywhere to facilitate easy and quick communication. In this paper, the new possibilities unlocked by modern technology are examined and analyzed in an argumentative manner with close reference paid to mobile phones and communication. The mobile phone is a very interesting device that among all emerging trends in technology has captured the greatest number of audience with a great percentage of people owning one in reference to Elliott et al (25). The services offered by the mobile phone are so diverse from making of voice and video calls, sending text messages, to accessing social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, and also taking pictures among many other functions. The rate at which this device has been embraced by consumers of all age has brought a controversial debate on its impacts and whether people are over relying on it. The debate majorly lies on the question of whether mobile phones have taken over real human interaction and changed the manner in which people relate. A person with a mobile handset can reach anyone they want to, despite of the geographical distance between them in an instant based on Elliot et al (85). Today, text messages and the WhatsApp application have revolutionized communication by enabling people to chat and send each other pictures and videos with a lot of ease. The current generation enjoys all these services availed by the modern technology and have a different experience from their parents and guardians who grew up in a different era. Take for instance, the manner in which people in the 1900s depended on newspapers for daily updates and every morning crowds of people could be seen grasping to get a copy. A hundred years later in the 2000s, the difference is notable as one can easily witness a mobile phone in every persons hand at any time of the day, performing different tasks with their device. In this controversial topic, there are two kinds of groups, those who would condemn the embracing of mobile phones and label them as an obsession while others label it as a necessity and defend its presence. In my opinion, the mobile phone is being misused and overused. The percentage of people owning a mobile phone in the United States is approximated to be at 70% of the entire population with the rates continuously increasing in each year. The major users of these devices range in between the age of 16 years and 30 years while those above this age bracket having a lowered dependency on their phones despite owning one. The major functions performed using the mobile phones by this dominant group include; WhatsApp chatting, taking of pictures, listening to music, playing games and accessing social media sites in the internet. According to research, individuals in the mentioned age group spend more than 50% of their time on the phone, and their subconscious mind is fixed on the functions they could be doing on their phones 75% of the time. It is practically impossible to separate some individuals from their mobile phones even at family gatherings and during outdoor activities as they remain engrossed in their handsets. This is the kind of attachment associated with the mobile phone as one of the most popular modern technology. The mobile phone is associated with the most amount of distraction based on psychological research which reveals how peoples brain responds to notifications from the phone. In most cases, people have set a notification sound on their phones which alerts them in case of an incoming message or call. The notification sound takes a minds attention from whichever activity it was performing to first respond to the incoming message or call. The amount of time taken to achieve a similar level of focus by the mind after such distractions from the phone could be significant in conclusion of the ongoing activity and thus such distractions are obstructions to progress. In the case of human interactions, mobile phones have been constantly viewed as obstructions to how people relate. In the present times, it is common to find people during a face to face conversation frequently checking their mobile phones for communication with people in other parts of the world according to research from Siemens (42). The intrusion of mobile phones in human interaction is to the extent of family set ups where teenagers and kids with mobile phones carry their handset to the table during meals and repeatedly get carried away from the rest of the family. It is such behaviors that cause parents and their kids to clash during family time as real family conversations cannot be addressed while the phones are at the table. The family bond is ruined and at times, the entire family is engrossed on their phones interacting with distant friends and ignoring family members. The vice in this act is that distant connections are nurtured at the expense of real life relations where family values and bonds should be first in the priority from Turkle (135). The mobile phone was invented to ease communication and improve peoples relations but it can be said to be doing the exact opposite. The handset created a platform for people to interact, exchange information and more importantly socialize. These functions are in relation to the positive side of using a handset as it was intended to perform. The real life facts on the immediate effect of handsets on peoples relationship suggest that mobile phones are harmful to couples relations. Technology is prevalent to introverted people who find comfort in inanimate interactions rather than personal relations. The introduction of the social media technology in the mobile handset, therefore, has caused people in the modern world to become antisocial in real life. Interactions are based online and people are more comfortable relating on the Facebook and WhatsApp platforms in comparison to personal face to face relations. The negative impact on dating couples brought by the mobile phone is the stress placed on relationships due to a diversification of attention to the distant population rather than the ones nearby. The platforms introduced by social media through the mobile phone also ruin relationships by enabling couples to cheat on each other through these avenues. The internet is a hub of all possibilities, dating sites and hook up sites have been established to connect people who may intend to find new lovers online. In this way, couples who intend to cheat are aided in this task by their mobile phones through the internet access. They are also able to hide these connections by erasing any evidence which may exist on their devices or by simply locking their phones with passwords and patterns availed in the handset during the infidelity process. Modern technology aims to make peoples lives convenient by introducing an easier way of doing things that is less stressful. A shift of attention from the mobile phone and its impacts on human relations suggests that the general incorporation of technology in individuals lives contributes to a significant percentage of laziness among people. Take a remote control for instance, it is meant to facilitate easy control of technological gadgets from distance and in the process it contributes to laziness. Research indicates that most people with remote controlled gadgets within their houses have less mobility and perform such tasks at the comfort of their seats denying themselves any physical exercise. At the moment, kids have gadgets within their houses such as play stations which they use to play games after school. These indoor games have denied the kids in the current generation from engaging in outdoor activities and games which are beneficial to their health. The importance of outdoor games has been lost due to technological games which slowly replace the physical aspect of child growth. Playing outside is very healthy to the development of kids according to medical practitioners since it offers children the chance to exercise and also interact with each other. Take for instance, kids engaging in a game of baseball with a neighboring child of the same age, this fosters new friendships and improves their physical health as well as their social skills. The games played on technological devices are also very addictive and in some instances harmful to the mind. Once a child begins playing the computer games, their minds get engaged with a sense of excitement which makes them to want to play it more. In this attachment, their brains can be harmed by an increased level of anxiety and loss of sleep when they reach this level of attachment. Technological advancements in the modern day have increased dependency on easy quick fix solutions for every human problem. The easy fix solutions to problems are beneficial to individuals who gain an easy way of performing stubborn functions such as cleaning among many other operations but the general result is negative. Take for instance, an introduction of a machine or robot which performs the task which used to be performed by a human being in the early days. The indirect result is that many people will be laid off in the process of easing a specific task through technological advancements of this kind. Modification is a superb inclusion in the modern technological world but too much embracing of technology in every service is detrimental to the jobs of some human beings. When technology is embraced in every sector, it solves some problems as it creates others. The ultimate aim of human beings is to fix their problems and not to transfer them to another field. Technology in this case offers new ventures for human beings to explore while directing them to new challenges as suggested earlier. Take the practical example of the introduction of plantation harvesting machines within a society that depends on agricultural labor as their main source of employment. The owner of the plantation enjoys a reduced labor cost solving one problem while the people of the society risk losing their jobs due to the introduction of a technological solution to their work place. The level of unemployment in such an area will definitely rise as the machine eliminates the need for physical labor. Technological solutions in such a case will solve one problem and create another one. Modern technology is creating more harm than good in other areas where their complexity is too high for all humans expected to utilize its services. There is a close difference between the ways in which modern technology should be applied and how human beings without the necessary knowledge apply it. Utilization of chemical fertilizers is an additional modern technology aimed at improving the manner in which people farm and the products grown from the farms. In the process of applying fertilizers, heavy chemicals used in its preparation require an informed procedure of application that will not be harmful to the soil or the crops themselves based on Elimelech and William (712). The wrong use of these fertilizers is the reason some crops have become extinct while the soils lose their productivity after a period of application. The inability of some farmers to follow the application instructions is responsible for the environmental degradation being experienced. The soil loses its natural fertility and is unable to sustain the growth of crops as it is required. In the long run, continued application of chemical fertilizers could lead to soil poisoning which eventually harms the health of other living organisms such as animals and even human beings. The climate on the other hand has been on the negative end of technology as pollution from companies with mechanical advancements is a common aspect in the modern world. These machines require a source of fuel to run them and in the process of operation, some produce smokes known to be harmful to the earths atmosphere. Mechanization in this essence brings a negative impact to the climate and as humans embraces its operations in their daily routines the world climate suffers the most. It would be wrong to label modern technology as a demon in the current society due to human beings obsession and wrong use of the inventions brought to them. The reliance placed by human beings is the part where vices are created and modern technology produces negative results that were not expected in the start. For instance, the mobile phones inclusion in the modern world can be a very beneficial tool in the society with its capability to connect people even in different localities. The vices of the use of mobile phones appear when people get addicted to their phones and in the long run misuse them losing sight of real life connections in reference to Elliott et al (113). According to research from Bertot et al (30), addictions are harmful to ones mental and emotional health as signs of anxiety and restlessness appear when people are detached from their items of comfort such as mobile phones. People who are used to carrying their phones everywhere display a sense of stress when they forget them at home and at times compare the feeling to being naked. In terms of couples, this may be due to insecurities of what ones lover might discover in their phones during their absence. The stress associated with the mobile phone in this case becomes negative and this solidifies the argument that modern technology should be limited according to Ayyagari et al (831). The solution to this kind of dependency on modern technology lies in replacement of the gadgets with other physical activities which can shift ones focus to social events and interactions. The elimination of modern technology in this century is an attempt close to impossible but limitation of time spent on ones devices, and restriction of how people apply mechanization in all their daily routines. References Bertot, John Carlo, Paul T. Jaeger, and Derek Hansen. The impact of polices on government social media usage: Issues, challenges, and recommendations. Government information quarterly 29.1 (2012): 30-40. Elliott, Anthony, and John Urry. Mobile lives. Routledge, 2010. Siemens, George. Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. (2014). Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2011. Print. Elimelech, Menachem, and William A. Phillip. The future of seawater desalination: energy, technology, and the environment. science 333.6043 (2011): 712-717. Ayyagari, Ramakrishna, Varun Grover, and Russell Purvis. Technostress: technological antecedents and implications. MIS quarterly 35.4 (2011): 831-858.

The Bachelor: Expectations For Love Essay -- reality TV, culture

What does the show, "The Bachelor", say about our expectations for love in our culture? The search for love is a dilemma most people are faced with at some point. Many different reality shows have been released over the years focusing on relationships. However the television show, The Bachelor, takes reality T.V. dating to the next level. Different from most dating reality T.V. shows, the participants on The Bachelor are looking for much more than just a relationship; the end goal is a proposal. The show revolves around a single bachelor who is essentially dating an entire group of woman, typically starting the first episode with around 25. As the show advances the bachelor eliminates women by not offering them a rose during the ceremony. All of the women that do receive a rose are invited to stay another week at the house while continuing to go on dates with the same man. Early in the season, the bachelor goes on large group dates with all of women at once but as the season progresses; the remaining women are also invited on one-on-one dates. The problem with this sh ow is that it depicts love in an illogical way. Because she is the last woman, the bachelor’s logic dictates that she must be the right woman for him. The women and the bachelor of the show are whisked away to romantic and tropical areas to live while dating each other. Aside from the fact that the man these women are dating also is dating 24 other women, the participants in this show are completely removed from actual reality. There is no strain or issues that they have to work through like the real world with honest relationships. In this paper I will explain the issues with The Bachelor and what affects it has on our culture. My research question is: What does... ... together. Just because a person feels passionate love does not mean it leads to companionate love. The Bachelor leads our culture to believe that simply by longing to be with someone means you are in love. If our culture continues to attempt to keep up with the definition of love according to The Bachelor then real love, companionate love, might fade out all together. Works Cited Mickel, E., & Hall, C. (2008). Choosing to Love: The Essentials of Loving (Presents and Problems). International journal of reality therapy, 27(2), 30-34. Kito, M. (2005). Self-Disclosure In Romantic Relationships And Friendships Among American And Japanese College Students. The Journal of Social Psychology, 145(2), 127-140. Sassler, S, F Addo, and D Lichter. "The Tempo of Sexual Activity and Later Relationship Quality." Journal of Marriage & Family 74.4 (2012): 708-725.

My Best Life Trip

In 2007 our trip to Jordan was very exciting . I remember it as if it happened yesterday. It was a few years ago with my friends , and it was the best trip of my life. I remember flying to Jordan by Gulf Air . When we arrived Amman, the capital of Jordan at Queen Alia International Airport , the weather outside the airport was very nice and drizzling.We had already booked with the travel agency in Oman for a flat in a place in Amman called (Alrasheed suburb) one of the busiest tourist locations in Jordan during summer, perhaps even busier than the infamous (Dead sea beach resort) because the infrastructure there is new (new malls and theme parks ) and also from there you can go to Syria by car . In fact we are lucky because the flat we rented was near the Omani student club in Jordan. Amman hosts a huge cultural festival each year and fortunately at the time we arrived the next day the festival started.Jordan has a lot of historical locations attracting all kinds of people, whether t hey are children, adults, citizens, or foreigners. You wondered how a non-oil rich country like Jordan is so well organized . On the first day we took rest and made a schedule for out trip. The same day at night we went around in Amman malls , sitting in a traditional restaurants that present old folklore session with delicious variety of food and people there were so friendly and hospitable .In the morning we went to visit historical places like (Grash Theater ). When we reached there and saw that place we were surprised to see how old it was and we found there a lot of entertainment . Second day at night we went to the festival and attended the concerts of Arab singers who enjoy the crowd with their songs . After that we take around in the festival locations to see other activities and know Jordanian culture.Third day we decided to visit (Alpetra City) , so we rented a taxi and went there , far from Amman taking four hours . Its a beautiful historical place and we wondered how a h uman can build and carve a city in a mountain like that. We enjoyed our time there and took souvenirs with us . The day before we left we rented a car and went to see the Dead sea beach. The trip by car took around five hours but we enjoyed that because we learned how to use the GPS and that was our first time . We arrived and it’s a huge splendid resort .We ate our lunch on the warm sand and regardless that no one of us can swim but we swim in that sea because it's water salty and no one can drown there. The days passed like hours and our trip reached its end , but we gained a lot sightseeing and knowing the country's customs and traditions and mingle with different people ,besides that we learned how to depend on ourselves . Finally we departed from Jordan to Oman with big treasure of experience mixed with pleasure . It is a place one must visit at least once in their lifetime.

Hurricane Sandy: What Went Wrong Essay

Hurricane Sandy introduced herself to the United States in October of 2012. The super storm began its course in the Southeast, and moved all the way up to the Mid-Atlantic. The aftermath of this storm caused massive amounts of devastation to homes, businesses and shore areas. It left families grieving for those who were lost, and left a nation feeling sorry for those that were now homeless. The preceding actions that took place after the storm are what might be remembered most about this devastating storm. Epic Failure The post storm relief effort of Hurricane Sandy or lack of it is what is making news today. The lack of both a tactical and strategic plan from important leaders of our country has left victims of the storm still struggling to pick up the pieces nearly three months affect the storm. With strategic planning, â€Å"issue x is staring us in the face and we need some way to help us think about its resolution, or else we will be badly hurt.† (Bryson, 2011) But months after the storm it seems that our leaders are still thinking and not reacting. In parts of Long Island, many are still without power. New York councilmen, Mark Cuthbertson was quoted saying, â€Å"This was among other things an epic failure of communication.† (Cuthbertson, 2012) A failure of communication all comes back to a lack of planning. Everyone knew this storm was coming and the possible effects it could have so there really shouldn’t have been an excuse for a lack of communication. A benefit concert held at the famous Madison Square Garden was held to give relief to those affect by the storm. The concert producers announced the benefit performance â€Å"raised about $50 million for people affected by Hurricane Sandy.† (Mckinley, 2012) To this day however, no one really knows where that money has gone. Perhaps there giving little by little to victims but not a significant amount to start the rebuilding process. Everyone has begun to assume where the money has gone. This money was raised to help the victims out immediately, but no one has seen anything yet. Organizations like FEMA have also made mistakes after hurricane Sandy. While FEMA did give some emergency checks to some victims, the process to get any money from the organization was faulty. Many of the victims lost a lot of property if not everything. FEMA seemed to be giving a lot of the victims the run around. They were asking for documentation that many lost in the storm, which allowed FEMA to slow down the process of giving this relief money. Instead, Joel Rose of the National Public Radio reported, â€Å"FEMA is encouraging victims to apply for a low-interest loan from the small business administration.† (Rose, 2012) Many victims choose not to do this, because they were out of work and would have to pay back the loan. Relief efforts were also interrupted by politics. President Obama passed a bill giving 50 billion dollars in relief money. Many Republicans voted against this bill because they felt it puts the country into more debt. Republicans argued, â€Å"it’s spending that’s traditionally been untouchable, but it’s still spending.† (Keith 2013) They agreed to vote for the bill as long as the bill was offset by cuts elsewhere. Conclusion/ Summary The hesitation of the United States leaders in regards to planning are the key to what went wrong after Hurricane Sandy. The inability to show us where relief money is going has caused uproar. The faulty application process of FEMA has caused more headaches then relief. If money was raised it should be spent and spent on relief immediately. A plan should have been outlined and shown to the victims with a timeline of when, how and where the relief effort and rebuilding will occur. Hesitation only gives doubt to Americans, and that seems to be what is happening. References Bryson, John. M. Strategic Planning For Public and Nonprofit Organizations (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass, 2011 Cuthbertson, Mark. N.P.R. Group Probes Delayed Power Restoration Post Sandy, December, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2012/12/12/167029241/commission-probes-n-y-power-loss-after-hurricane-sandy Keith, Tamara. N.P.R. House Takes Up Sandy Relief Bill After It Was Dropped By Previous Congress, January, 2013, http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169452224/house-takes-up-sandy-relief-bill-after-it-was-dropped-by-previous-congress Mckinley, James. The New York Times. 12-12-12 Producers Say Concert Brought In $50 Million, December, 2012, http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/12-12-12-producers-say-concert-brought-in-50-million/ Rose, Joel. N.P.R. Some Sandy Victims Tied Up With Bureaucracy, November, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2012/11/15/165233716/some-sandy-victims-tied-up-with-bureaucracy

Marketing Environment Essay

Marketing is a organizational function and a collection of processes designed to plan for create, communicate, and deliver value to customers and to build effective customer relationship in ways that benefit the organization and its stake holders. Profits and other organizational goals are achieved by creating value for customers. The creation of value is the realization of benefits that exceed the cost of products, services or other items. One important concept in marketing is the idea of utility. Utility is the satisfaction received from owning or consuming a product or service. In a market sense, utility is the value that marketers intend consumers to attach to that marketer’s product or services. A need is a necessity to meet an urgent requirement. A want is a desire for something that is not essential. Furthermore, demand is the financial capacity to buy what a person wants, for that business’s brand of products or services through marketing activities such as advertising. A brand is a promise to deliver to consumers specific benefits associated with products or services. Marketing influences you as a consumer through your current and future career choices, and through the economy. Marketing extends to a variety of tangible and intangible items; they are products, services, people, places, causes, events and ideas. Marketing concept is an organizational philosophy dedicated to understanding and fulfilling consumer needs through the creation of value. Marketing concept mainly focus on customers relationship. Customer relationship created when businesses and consumers interact through a sales transaction of a product or service. It will refer to customer relationship management (CRM). Marketing functions are activities performed within organizations that create value for specific products or services. In terms of understanding all these theory, we started Butterfly Travel Agency Sdn.Bhd to gain experience and knowledge in marketing as practically. Marketing Environment Marketing environment is a set of forces, some controllable and some uncontrollable, that influence the ability of a business to create value and attract and serve customers. Many factors influence value creation and the nature of customer relationships, including factors that are external to the business. Internal marketing is the implementation of marketing practices within an organization to communicate organizational policies to employees and internal stakeholders. Internal marketing efforts are the business’s resources, including human and financial capital. The external environment of a business involves activities, such as supplier and customer actions, that occur outside the organizational functions of a business. External marketing can be implements into microenvironment and macro environment. Microenvironment (Porter’s Five Forces) The microenvironment includes these forces close to a company, yet outside its internal environment, that influence the ability of a business to serve its customers. A tool that helps determine the power of microenvironment of a business is Porter’s Five Forces of competitive Position Model. Porter analysis can assist a business with understanding the potential for new product development the attractiveness of a particular market segment or the potential to reduce costs of supply or distribution among many applications. Macro environment The macro environment includes societal forces that are essentially uncontrollable and influence the microenvironment of a business. The macro environment contains the following variety of sub-environments are economic, social and cultural, competitive, legal, political and technological.

Social Networking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Social Networking - Research Paper Example Introduction In the recent decades, there has been an increase in the amount of social networking sites (SNSs) on the Internet, which include Friendster, CyWorld and MySpace. These social networking websites have had different intentions, for example LinkedIn.com is widely used for work-related tasks, while others may help in initiating romantic relationships, for instance, Friendster.com. These networking sites may connect people of the same shared interest or to engage a particular social population. While it is claimed that these websites have sought to connect those people, who already are in touch with each other in the real world, there may be instances, when this is not the case (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). Therefore, the intent of these websites has been focused, and not all have lived with their initial aim. Additionally, since such websites have been initiated, they have gained millions of users, whose lives constitute of this interaction. This has led to the emergenc e of different cultural networks (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). The dynamics of this technological advancement are huge, and they have encompassed people from different parts of the world. Hence, before moving onto understanding these changing dynamics, the research paper identifies the definition of these social network sites and the technological features behind it. It moves onto elucidate upon effects of social networking sites (the advantages and disadvantages), focusing broadly on privacy of these networking websites, and discusses the changes that have occurred. a) Definition of Social Network Sites Before moving onto define these websites, it is imperative to discuss the idea behind the use of term â€Å"social network sites†, instead of â€Å"social networking sites†, as Boyd and Ellison discuss in their article. The authors of the particular article use this terminology, because the word ‘network’ emphasizes upon the relationships between users, who know e ach other, while ‘networking’ may result in initiation of friendships among strangers. Moreover, these authors also claim that the aim of computer-mediated communication (CMC) is to help people, who know each other already communicate better (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). Therefore, to put it simply, social network sites, according to Boyd and Ellison, are services on the web, which help the users in creating public-or semi public profiles, within certain restrictions, and connect people of the same shared networks, and also allow its users to view the list of connections, which they, themselves and their connections have made. Although, as mentioned above, the aims of these websites are different, and may target a specific population (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). The aim of these online networking sites remains to maintain social ties that already exist, and also in the formation of new connections. (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). b) Features of SNSs SNSs connect indivi duals into â€Å"latent ties†; people who may have some offline connection (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). While different network sites have different features, generally all websites have profiles, which consist of friend lists, which also are on the same website. Profiles are pages that define an individual, according to Sunden (2003,

Exchange Mergers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Exchange Mergers - Essay Example Mergers continued to occur in the 1970’s and 1980s but it wasn’t until the 1990s that mergers started to occur for a different reason. After 1990 mergers were being form to obtain operating efficiencies among two entities to compete against other players in an industry. Mergers have occurred in many industry including the airline, computer and retail industry. A particular business segment in which merger activity was not a common occurrence was among stock exchange institutions. There had been mergers in the past, but recently this segment of the financial services industry has been bombarded by multiple huge types of merger transactions among players in this industries including transaction across different international boundaries. This industry has changed and new alliances are changing the rules of the game. This paper studies the new tendencies of merging among stock exchanges and it describes the implication these new tendencies have in the Canadian exchanges and the investment atmosphere. A stock exchange is a place on which shares of stocks and common stocks equivalents are bought and sold, basically a marketplace for financial assets (Investorwords). There are numerous stock exchanges in different parts of the worlds such as Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, London, China, Europe among other locations. All these marketplace work independently but always have cooperated with each other when possible to satisfy the needs of clients when orders where placed for stocks not traded in their particular marketplace. The stock exchange business interest in the stock market is to have companies registered their stocks with their particular stock exchange to benefit from commission transaction of having companies participate in their particular exchange. The competition among exchanges became fierce and like other industries cost began to rise due to inflation and

Critique Writing of Cinderella Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critique Writing of Cinderella - Essay Example The feelings lead to fear of rejection by the child giving them the distress of others being favored over them. Therefore, sibling rivalry arising. Among the fairy tales best known, â€Å"Cinderella† puts a mark. The story has its origin related to the German and Chinese culture. Bettelheim applies reasoning that the bona fide meaning behind the fairy tale, â€Å"Cinderella† is sibling rivalry. However, he theorizes that the use of stepmother and stepsisters is intentional to condone the antagonism present among actual brothers and sisters. Granted, realistic situation do not tend to be as inordinate as that of Cinderella, in the child’s perspective, they feel just as degraded. The phrase â€Å"Sibling rivalry† is used by Bettelheim to advert pattern of intense emotions evoked in a child. Sympathy and empathy are present in a child’s feelings toward Cinderella (Behrens & Rosen, 2008). A child may be aware that their situation is not as worse as Cinderella’s but not fully be able to look at his own predicament in an unbiased manner. Bettelheim points out that a child tends to see things in an abstract way, therefore in the majority of circumstances, the way they feel is an inconsistency of excerption on Cinderella. A child’s imagination brings a feeling of degradation by their siblings as Cinderella by her stepsisters. However, the other aspect of this story that brings appeal to children is the successful conclusion. A child will hope for the same ending, a rescue from the current situation. The happy conclusion gives conviction and optimism to the child lacking confidence to gain triumph in future. Bettelheim suggests that the fairy tale gives hope to children. At the same point, every child is overwhelmed by the feeling of debase due to lack of confidence; When something unpleasant happens to them, they feel as if they deserve it. The child craves for assurance of