Anticipatory Socialization

Graduating high school students usually get very excited when they finally realize that they are going to college soon. Anticipatory socialization can take place in this kind of situation, since anticipatory socialization is a process or condition wherein an individual prepares to accept new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors in a certain place or event. Looking back, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation when I realized that I was about to leave high school and get a taste of college life.I tried to visualize the campus, my future professors, classmates, and other things that I would be seeing in college. Choosing a college was quite difficult, so I did a lot of research in the internet and asked several friends about their opinions on which university is the best to study and get my degree. When I was able to choose a school, I gathered information through the internet about the campus, the different courses that the school offers, and the requ irements for applicant students.I took time to look at the college’s website and see all the information that will be helpful, such as the location of the school, facilities, curriculum, and all the information or details that can be seen in the college website. I took the opportunity to visit the school so that I would be able to see it for myself and make an impression whether I was going to like it there or not. I asked different people that I know about the school and the culture inside. It was fun getting varied information and feedback from them.I even learned about the style of clothes that most people wear to that school, so I made a mental note of shopping for clothes before I start going to that college. I was able to set my expectations already in college, and it made me feel ready to accept everything, whether it was a positive or negative thing. It was also because of my expectations that I felt excited instead of nervous about joining a new environment and start ing a new chapter of my life. Thus, anticipatory socialization greatly helps individuals in adapting, making necessary adjustments, and evaluating whether or not a certain thing suits him or her.

An Analytical Biography of The Catcher in the Rye Essay

Critic Jonathan Baumbach explores the significance of innocence in J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. He claims that the novel is not only about innocence, but actively for innocence-as if retaining one’s childness were an existing possibility. Not only that, but he states that Holden wishes to be a saint: the protector and savior of innocence by preventing them from falling into the cruel adult world of corruption and fickleness. Although he also wants someone to prevent his own fall since he is in fact still a child himself. Baumbach states that this is Holden’s paradox, saying that he must shed his own innocence to protect innocence. These statements are what send Holden off into the three day soul-searching quest that dooms Holden to sinking into insanity in our novel. The critic opens with a rather descriptive insight about how others view and critique Salinger’s first and only novel, as well as pointing some of the flaws that Catcher has: â€Å"The novel is sentimental; it loads the deck for Holden and against the adult world, the small but corrupt group that Holden encounters is not representative enough to permit Salinger his inclusive judgments about the species.† Baumbach claims that Holden does not have enough information to comment on the phoniness of humanity as a whole based on his observations of only a select few. As the critic investigates further, he makes a few interesting points. Some of which regard Mr. Antolini: Holden’s former English teacher. Baumbach claims that Antolini’s kindness to Holden is triggered by a homosexual interest that he has in the protagonist. Pointing  out the flaws in his teachers marriage, as well as ambiguous actions that he had done while with Caulfield. Based on Baumbach’s misguided interpretation the reader could be lead to think that of Mr. Antolini’s gesture as one of a perverted old man rather than as one of concerned mentor. Additionally, the critic moves on to discuss Holden’s concern of where the ducks go during the winter. He claims that what Holden really wants to know is whether there is a benevolent authority that takes care of the ducks; for if there is one for the ducks, there is must be one for people as well. Next, Baumbach switches focus to Holden’s prayer to Allie, which takes place before he goes to visit his family’s apartment. The critic postulates that Holden’s prayer to Allie is not so much an act of anguish as an act of love. However, if one closely examines the scene in the novel, the reader will realize that Holden’s prayer is actually the act of one wallowing in self-pity, of one that has truly hit rock bottom. After examining Jonathan Baumbach’s critique I can gather that he is a wonderful writer, he uses a colorful vocabulary and his sentences are perfectly structured. Although a line should be drawn when using more complex vocabulary; for while reading the critique the reader will likely find themselves having to look up several words to understand the points the critic is trying get across. Not only that, but the critic makes several assumptions based on very little information or goes out on a limb to make a point. Moreover, Baumbach’s points regarding Mr. Antolini’s homosexual nature, the significance of the Central Park ducks, as well as Holden’s prayer to Allie are not entirely concrete, and leave themselves open for dispute. When a reader goes through a book more than once, they find things they never caught while reading it through the first time. One would realize that Holden views Mr. Antolini as a father figure and a role model and comes to him looking for all the answers to the questions no one has figured out yet. For example, during the story when Holden arrives at Mr. Antolini’s apartment, He knows that Holden is spiraling downward and is basically aiming to fall into that insanity he has been drifting towards throughout  the novel, he warns him of this and eventually the two head to sleep. Now the controversial action that causes some of the audience to believe that Mr. Antolini is sexually interested in Caulfied, is that he awoke to find him stroking his hair. Holden misunderstood and made such a rash decision to put everyone into that Phony corrupt persona that he believes humanity is composed of, and storms off out of his home. If Holden was thinking more clearly he would’ve probably been able to handle the situation more responsibly, realizing that Antolini was only stroking his hair in more of a concerned fatherly way. The reader can tell by the way Holden refers to Mr. Antolini they have a strong relationship and he views him as a surrogate father, and not some perverted old man that Baumbach has painted him out to be. Additionally, As far as the Central Park ducks are concerned†¦Holden’s obsessive curiosity about what happens to the ducks during the winter shows the more child-like side to his character. Although Baumbach believes that Holden is searching for a higher power, instead helps him relate to that child innocence he is so fond of. It gives him the hope that change isn’t always permanent. It also helps the reader compare Holden’s perfect world in which time stands still (Like in the Museum of Natural History), to the real world which is constantly changing. Proving that he isn’t searching for some sort of â€Å"higher power† in the ducks, but it was a way to keep in touch with his innocence of his childhood. Lastly, when Holden hits rock bottom in the novel he says a prayer to Allie, in which Baumbach claims that it is an act of love and anguish. Although, this isn’t entirely true. Holden is actually wallowing in his own self-pity, how could he pray to Allie for help when while Allie was alive he wouldn’t even allow him to go on his bike with him and a friend? Sure, he feels regret for it now that he is dead and no longer with him, but it happened yet again when Phoebe wanted to run away with him and Caulfied turned her down the same as he had done with Allie. Proving that after hitting rock bottom Holden is desperate enough to pray although he doesn’t actually believe in God, but is hoping that there is one to not only save him but the soul of his deceased brother as well. In conclusion, Baumbach as a critic did write a well-written review of J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye although it was a bit difficult to understand at times, he made a clear point and backed up his point with facts from the novel. He had colorful vocabulary and his critique flowed well together. Although the critique was a bit on the longer side I did enjoy reading it. The Catcher in the Rye which is believed to be J.D Salinger’s most famous work, had been an everlasting favorite of teens and tweens of the literary scene. This novel known for its stylized prose and focus on themes of angst, alienation, and rebellion has received wide acclaim for its extraordinary sense of originality. This novel will endure as a lifetime favorite of adolescence everywhere because it has life and is probably the most original piece of its time.

How does adenosine diphosphate (ADP) activate platelets Essay

How does adenosine diphosphate (ADP) activate platelets - Essay Example ADP induces platelet shape change, calcium flux, and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, leading to aggregation. Kahner et al. (2006) also stated that rapid shape change, release of granular contents, generation of lipid mediators, and aggregation occur during platelet activation. Various surface receptors involved in platelet activation include G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), integrins and glycoprotein receptors. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (released from platelet granules) and thromboxane A2 (generated within platelets) are the secondary mediators that activate other resting platelets, resulting in the amplification of initial physiological haemostatic response. Adenosine nucleotides are released following platelet activation signal through the P2 purinergic receptors on the platelet membrane. The two types of P2 receptors are ligand-gated cation channels (P2X), or GPCRs (P2Y). Till date, seven different P2X receptors (P2X1)) and eight distinct P2Y receptors (P2Y1,2,4,6,11-14) hav e been identified which were cloned from mammalian tissues. P2Y1, P2Y12, andP2X1 subtypes are the P2 purinergic receptors expressed on platelets and their physiologic agonists are ADP, ADP, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), respectively. These receptors, when activated by the agonists, initiate a complex signaling cascade that ultimately results in platelet activation and thrombus formation. The physiological agonist for the P2Y1 receptor is ADP. This receptor can also be stimulated in vitro by 2MeSADP, ADP, APDaS and ADPbS in the decreasing order of potency and is involved platelet shape change and aggregation brought about by ADP. P2Y12 is coupled to Gi2 protein. Upon stimulation, the Ga and Gbc subunits of the heterotrimeric G protein dissociate and activate various signaling pathways. The Gai2 is found to be responsible for ADP-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and subsequent reduction in cytosolic cAMP concentrations. This is one

Does interval training improve fitness in COPD Essay

Does interval training improve fitness in COPD - Essay Example The disease not only impacts the physical well being of the patient, but also poses a burden to the emotional, economic and social aspects of both the patient and the family members (Fromer and Cooper, 2008). The condition is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and affects the quality of life of the patient. COPD cannot be cured, but timely and appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, thereby increasing the quality of life and decreasing morbidity and mortality (GOLD, 2008). The main problem in COPD is breathlessness. Several strategies have been developed to minimize these symptoms in COPD, the most important of which is pulmonary rehabilitation. Evidence-based analyses from several randomized controlled trials have proved that exercise training is critical for improvement of not only the exercise capacity of the patients, but also their quality of life (Yohannes and Connolly, 2004). There are basically two types of exerci se training and they are continuous training and intermittent training. Both types of training have been used for the management of chronic breathlessness in COPD. However, which of the two is better is a much debated topic. In this literature review, studies comparing the two methods of exercise training will be reviewed to ascertain as to which is a better strategy for prevention and management of breathlessness in COPD patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD may be defined as "a disease state characterized by the presence of airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis or emphysema" (Sharma, 2006). Clinically, the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is made when there is chronic productive cough without any other specific etiology for more than 3 months, and emphysema is diagnosed when there is irreversible damage to air spaces beyond terminal bronchioles, with no obvious fibrosis (Fromer and Cooper, 2008). According to NICE (2004), "diagnosis

The case method of stratigic analysis David and Goliath Essay

The case method of stratigic analysis David and Goliath - Essay Example -There are a number of possible solutions to the problem. One solution is to have each side choose its strongest member. For the Philistine this would be Goliath. For the Israelites this would be David. Both individuals would then fight to the death. The winner would determine the resolution for the entirety of their population. While this would provide a resolution and avoid significant death, one recognizes that it is largely an arbitrary means of deciding on the solution; for this reason not all participants may be happy with the final solution. -Another potential option would be to have both organizations engage in diplomacy. While a regular component of international relations in the contemporary environment, during the time of this conflict such actions occurred only in limited form. This then constitutes a major potential option a means of solving this conflict. -Still, another potential option would be to allow both armies to engage in warfare. While this is the most extreme solution it is an option that continues to be implemented through the contemporary world environment. This solution would be effective in providing a strong and resolute answer to the issue, as the stronger party would have the final say in the matter. Still, the human death toll would be significant. One considers that diplomacy functions as the best option as it determines an amenable solution without bloodshed and death. This approach functions within the Ansoff management techniques. One considers that turbulence is a prominent area of concern within the Ansoff approach, and this situation demonstrates a great degree of unpredictability. Ansoff recognizes that managers must meet these challenges with an appropriate aggressiveness of strategy. In this sense, the diplomatic approach recognizes that because of the turbulent nature of the situation, a strong and resolute solution needs to be reached. The diplomatic action then will

Urban tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Urban tourism - Essay Example Increasing worldwide visitation and foreign travel has given tourism a unique status as, not only an extremely lucrative industry, but one with continued growth potential. It possesses almost limitless growth potential, both as an income and a job generator. Accordingly, many countries, both developing and developed, are actively engaged in the integration of the tourism industry in their socio-economic development projects and in the promotion and support of their tourism industry. World Tourism Organisation facts and figures are strongly supportive of the viability and the validity of the aforementioned approach. In 2004, the industry grew by 10% and in 2005 by 5%, far more than the 1.5% long-term average for any other industry. Last year there were 800 million worldwide tourists and the industry generated US$680 billion. Added to that, the sector employed (and continues to employ) 10% of the global labour force (WTO, 2006). These figures quite clearly underscore the importance of the tourism industry and the reason why countries are both promoting it and integrating it into their national socio-economic development plans.The tourism sector is an expansive one, in the sense that there are various forms and types of tourism. When explaining the aforementioned, Hall and Page (2000) clarify that the different types of tourism are determined by vista/destination, intent and activities. It is, thus, that urban tourism, rural tourism, safari tourism, and seaside tourism, among others, have emerged (Hall and Page, 2000). Of these variant forms of tourism, urban tourism is particularly important. This is not simply because, as Hall and Page (2000) point out, because it is one of the oldest types of tourism but because it is one of the most economically lucrative, insofar as it involves comparatively significant volumes of tourist expenditure within major cosmopolitan cities. Given the stated, this paper will focus on urban tourism in two major cities, Paris and Dubai , comparatively outlining the strategies by which these cities attract tourists and sustain tourism and the ways in which the cities themselves are marketed and managed as tourist destinations. The characteristics of urban tourists will also be explored. 2 The Economy of Urban Tourism The economic importance of urban tourism stems from the fact that it improves the quality of life for an urban city's residents, boosts the city's vitality, and improves its economic position (Hall & Page, 2000). Accordingly, many urban governments and policy makers are now relying on tourism for economic regeneration and for strategic local development (Rogerson, 2004). According to Jurowski and Brown (2001), "When attempting to maximize the benefits for a specific community, planners should gather information about individuals who stand to gain economically from the development, those who are currently using the resource to be developed, those who are attached to their community and those with a strong environmental attitude" (p. 9). As may be inferred from the preceding, tourism has become an important and essential element of urban area economics and can significantly contribute to a city's revitalization or recovery (Haywood & Muller, 1988). According to Sirgy and Su (2000), tourism had grown into the "largest industry surpassing automobiles, steel, electronics and agriculture" (p. 342). As such, the industry has become an important part of global economics and tourism research is being centered on direct, indirect, and total effects of visitor spending, which affects jobs, regional output, and taxes (McHone & Rungeling, 2000). The economic impact of tourism is driving researchers to explore several aspects of this industry, including consumer satisfaction, travel behaviour, hospitality opportunities, leisure measurement, and recreation interests (Kozak &

Globalization at General Electric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Globalization at General Electric - Essay Example However, the company’s management is determined to increase the company’s annual revenue by venturing into the international market. The CEO of the company is considering different marketing options that the company can launch its products. Currently the CEO is considering Latin American market and the European markets. If the company launches its products through these markets, it will encounter current market situations as its major problem. For instance, the European market was the worst hit by the international financial crisis. On the other hand, the Latin American market is a developing economy that has not yet reached its stability. This indicates that if the company ventures into either of the markets, it will encounter the current problems experienced in the market. In addition, the products of the company may not fit appropriately in the proposed market. The international market condition and economic forces (Hirschey, 2009) bind the choice for appropriate mar ket. For instance, the company is facing stiff competition arising from the rapid expansion of Chinese and Indian economies. Currently the Asian economies are at their peak and, therefore they have high demand for infrastructures products. On the other hand, the European markets have reached their levels of stability thus making lifestyle commodities the main trade items. Balancing the needs of every economy is the main problem been experienced in the company. GE has aggressively invested in international expansion due to its needs revenue sustainability and market requirements. In addition, the company is targeting to increase its customer base and benefit of large-scale operations. For the company to reach its revenue targets, it requires exploiting the opportunities in the international market as an element of sustainable growth. Although America has a vast economy, the company is willing and ready to face challenges that are related to the international market. Currently the company has

Scientific( Virology ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Scientific( Virology ) - Essay Example This antibody has proved essential in management of the virus development in succeptible children. To date, Ribavirin stands as the only accredited drug against the circus. Nevertheless, the applicability of this sophisticated drug has been subject to cost and toxicity constrains thus limiting its use. As a consequence, there remains an urgent need for research ventures aimed at developing more effective anti-RSV treatments. To fuse with the host cell, the virus uses glycoprotein F; therefore, this knowledge could be used in drug targeting to develop anti-protein F medications. Through research ventures, the first strain of the virus was harvested from the chimps respiratory channel, and has since been widely associated with infants and newly born babies. Notably though, the virus lacks age specificity with its incedences being noted among adult humans. Currently, it is estimated that the disease causes approximately 34 million infections of the lower respiratory tract among children. Out of these, an approximate 10% often require hospitalization to recover. Sadly, up to 7% of the hospitalised children end up losing their battle against the virus, with fatality rates in developed states accounting for just 1% of the total. While world health systems are continuously laying foundations in attempts to develop an ideal vaccine and medication against the infection, this has faced many hurdles. In the end, the world remains stuck with Palivizumab as the only humanized antibody compliant to the guidelines of the Food and Drugs Authority. This artificially articulated MAb targets the virus by identifying its antigenic F-protein and mounting immunological response against the virus. On the other hand, the virus can be managed through transcription arrest in this RNA-virus, an approach that has been exploited in the designing of Ribavirin. However, such RNA targeting drugs are highly costly to produce,, while others

Minorities at War Essay Example for Free

Minorities at War Essay Many people’s lives changed in various ways during and after the World War II. The lives of women and minorities such as African Americans and Native Americans, changed drastically mostly in a positive way. Just like during most wars, women found jobs and opportunities. This was mainly because men and husbands went to work in industries and factories in different parts of the country while others went to war as soldiers. With reduction in the male taskforce, young girls and married women had to take up responsibilities and jobs that were traditionally considered to be for men (Mays 17). Unlike the First World War, where women served as secretaries and nurses, in the Second World War they were placed in more skilled jobs such as: research, electronics, engineering and mechanics (Mays 17). The Women’s Army Corps was created in 1942, which enabled women to participate in combat fields as pilots and other support personnel but not in direct combat. The war served as a major platform for women in society, women started being viewed as useful in various fields and not just as caregivers. The opportunity to take part in jobs that were traditionally considered for men also empowered women psychologically (Mays 17). The fight for equality for all citizens began after the civil war where President Lincoln freed the slaves. The Select Service Act was passed in 1940, allowing Hispanics, Native-Americans and African-Americans to enroll to all the branches of the army. The war offered opportunities for many African Americans to escape poverty in their rural homes (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Many blacks enlisted in the army trying to escape a long period of tenant farming and Depression in the Midwest and South. The army recruited Negroes but still practiced segregation (Reinhardt and Ganzel). In the chaos of war, especially after Pearl Harbor, the army had to work together and segregation was broken. After the war, many blacks opted to remain in towns and do work related to what they did in the army instead of going back to their rural homes (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Movements for fighting for civil rights had been created. The post-war era, was a period of exceptional struggle by the African Americans against the second class citizenship that had been accorded to them. They resisted racial discrimination and segregation through nationwide protests, boycotts, rallies and civil disobedience (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Many blacks joined civil rights movements and legal efforts were made to challenge segregation and inequality through courts. These efforts were rewarded with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 which outlawed racism and segregation. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was also passed allowing all races to vote. The passing of these acts was a great step in the demise of second class citizenship (Reinhardt and Ganzel). The struggle by the blacks to achieve equality inspired and influenced other civil rights groups as well such as Native–Americans and Hispanics. The war as witnessed was a great turning point for both women and minorities in America. They were all empowered by the situations created by the war to improve their status in society and fight for their rights. Work Cited: Mays, Dorothy A. Women in early America: struggle, survival, and freedom in a new world. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO Inc. Publishers, 2004. Reinhardt, Claudia and Ganzel, Bill. â€Å"Civil Rights for Minorities†. Wesley Living History Farm. 26 August 2010 from: http://www. livinghistoryfarm. org/farminginthe40s/life_18. html

Zoo SWOT Analysis and Marketing Mix

Zoo SWOT Analysis and Marketing Mix Jump to: SWOT Analysis | Marketing Mix Analysis Executive Summary: The new event of process scheduled in the recent era is the launch of e-Business. This process is basically an additional method for the growth of productivity and an increase in the zone of profit for the business that is involved. The key structure of the e-Business is the active utility of the computers and online transactions. This also involves various strategies to complete the process and handle the structure with core techniques for the best result. The acquired process of marketing and management in the recent years have grown and taken its place with latest techniques and new acronyms in the global touch. E-Business is the new integration of the activities of the organisation or the company and their products along with their services and procedures in the internet. A old traditional business linked with the new growth of enables e-Business strategy integrating the activities of the organisation or the company featuring sales, accounting, marketing and many more operations that are concerned with the organization and their process involved takes us to the pride of achieving the future growth and their expansion. Outline Segment: This assignment includes the necessary of identifying the principles of marketing and a complete analysis of the structure of e-business in to the chosen illustration. The time to time market explains the product launch and their association with the market for the release. It redirects the right time for the consideration of launch of the project or practice in accordance with the implementation changes that has to take place within the organisation as a matter of fact. Branding: The process of branding shall be concerned as the part of sources provided in the internet and other resources about the brand and by the tasks of business of participation. The web page normally supplies the relevant scope of information about the brand and the organisation with its benefits and service provided on the real. A website establishes the fact of the company or the organization and creates awareness about the offers and availability of the schemes provided by the company. It also brings the latest key on notice to the immediate reach of the customers and creates a satisfaction among the customers. The process of branding not only has an impact on the customers but also enriches the source of customers with a build of trust and raises itself with a value of accreditation in the market of competition. The brand becomes a part of the quality and promise of the customers and the partners along with the employees as a part of flexibility, trust and growth. Singapore Zoo: The Singapore Zoo, Located at 80 Mandai Lake Road, is also known as Mandai Zoo or Singapore Zoological Garden. Popular for its Night Safari attraction, the Zoo has a reaped a long list of awards, both local and international. This has to be the one of the really beautiful zoos, of which there are all too few. It is brilliant laid out, so that the ceclosure fences are almost totally hidden. The expanses of the water of the seletar reservoir are a magnificent additional feature of the setting. The animals are beautifully maintained in good health, in spite of the climatic conditions. All in all, the Zoo shall receive a warn congratulation for the heads that are responsible for them, and declaring it for us was a great experience to see it. The gem of an idea to have a zoo was conceived by Dr. Ong Swee Law. Opened on 27 June 1973, the Singapore Zoological gardens caters to recreational, educational and social needs of Singaporeans and tourist to the republic. The Open Zoo which reflects the absence of physical barriers in enclosure design. Instead cascading waters, lush vegetation and moats cleverly mask the hidden barriers to enhance the illusion of freedom and natural jungle-like atmosphere for the animals. The Zoo began with the humble collection of 270 animals of about 72 species. To date, a total of over 2000 animals of 240 species are displayed in some 70 exhibits. One of the more appealing attractions at the zoo is the animal show. The animal shows Primate Reptile show s and Elephant and Sea-lion shows. Due to popularity and surge in crowds, an Amphitheatre was built in 1985 to centralize these shows and to seat visitors comfortably. The amphitheatre which has a long pool with glass panels for aquatic acts can seat 1,500 and can accommodate up to 2,000 spectators. The Animal Shows are specially designed to incorporate the natural behaviours of the animals to educate visitors in an entertaining presentation. The conservation messages are disseminated to the audience during the shows to heighten their awareness of the environment. In 1987, the Zoo introduced the Special loan exhibit, where rare animals on loan from other Zoos are displayed for a short period. The animals which have been displayed at the special Loan Exhibit include the golden monkeys, white tigers and giant pandas. This novel idea gives visitor s an opportunity to view rare animals which cannot be exhibited permanently at the zoo. The enclosure was renamed Singaporean Press Holdings (SPH) enclosure following its adoption by the SPH group in 1990. Another major breakthrough for the Zoo was the introduction of underwater viewing exhibits. The first was in 1988 the underwater viewing polar bear exhibit enable visitors to rub noses with the Zoos polar bear. Since 1987, the Zoo pas sed the million marks in visitor attendance. The string of awards bagged by the Singapore Zoo attests to splendid inhabitants and services: 2002 Asean Tourism Association (ASEANTA) Awards for Excellence, Best New attraction in ASEAN (Singapore Zoo for Hamadryas Baboons The great rift valley of Ethiopia). 2001: STB (Singapore Tourism Board) Tourism Awards: Leisure Attraction of the Year 2001 (Singapore Zoo). 2001 The Singapore Totalisator Board Excellence Singapore Award: Internationally acclaimed open zoo design and excellent in-situ conservation achievement. 2000: Where Singapore magazines Concierge Choice Awards: Best Place to Take the Kids. 1999: IMA (Incentive Meeting Asia) Awards: Best Theme Attraction. Important Campaigns in the process of integration of the organisation in e-Business are as follows; A new architecture of strategy and launch of business automation by the process of e-Business. An enhanced view and recommendation of the developed solution in the web and front-end legacy applications. A new format of the developed portals of the organization or the company with the update of the latest information. New value chain integrated through the web based application for the company or the organization. SWOT analysis: The SWOT analysis is an understanding of the total result of the current position of the business. It defines the Strength, weakness, opportunities and the threats of the organization matching the external opportunities with the internal strengths. The company or the organization involving for the SWOT analysis has to order the strategies and strengths to hold in control the weaknesses and eliminate the threats in any from the external sources. (S)trengths: They are open 365 days all around the year and it is considered as a most entertained tourist attraction. They open at 8:30 am in the morning and close at 6:00 pm in the evening creating an enthusiastic environment for all ages from 6 to 90 daily all around the year. The last ticket sale everyday is available at 5:30 pm enabling the visitors to enter at the event of closing for short time enjoyments too. The cost of the entry is also reasonable for the attractions available in the theme forest, the Singapore Zoo. Rental of the stroller is available enabling a hassle free travel until the Zoo and the charges are also reasonable as $9 only. Complimentary admission for DDR(Disability Development Registry) card holders and entitlement of beneficiary programmes chosen by the Voluntary Welfare associations. Protection and conservation comes with education. The visit enhances us to understand the necessary of conservation and protection raising awareness. Organising events such as wedding and parties for own reason with reasonable cost guaranteeing the success of the occasion conducted. Sponsorship and adoption also remains as a part of the team along with small donation initiating the success of protection and conservation of wildlife. The location suits the entry itself with a night safari and orchid gardens roaring itself with pride for visiting. Shows are unique and visiting Australian outback, cat country, critters Longhouse, Fragile forest, Elephants of Asia, Hamadryas Baboons, Orang Utan, Polar Bear, Proboscis Monkeys, Primate Kingdom, Rainforest Kidzworld, Reptile Kingdom, Wild Africa, White tiger are the main attractions. (W)eaknesses: Weather: The weather circumstance may be the stop point, as prediction is never accurately right hence the market prediction refers accordingly. Cost: This cost may sound reasonable when considering the factors of the total value and convenience referred in the place. Place: The location depends convenient on consideration upon the general factors but the unique thoughts upon the each visitor vary. Shows: Visitors though they are happy with the shows and preferences that are given or organised by the organisation but they prefer to have more shows. (O)pportunities: The Singapore Zoo is said to be an organised theme with shows, events and attractions. They tend to have increased in their growth along with the years. Now they have become a part of the wildlife protection and conservation creating awareness in the social media. There are quite a lot of opportunities and competition that exist in the field in and around the world. (T)hreats: There are no huge threats when concerned with the whole of the organisation whereas some exist such as the competition between the other themes around the area. There exist another night safari and orchid gardens for visiting. The location Singapore itself refers itself for a calm and roaring entertaining area. The visitor can become a sponsor or a member, he can involve himself as a part of the team enriching the lives of animals the wonder and an escape for the reality in admiration. They are the sources of a living entertainment and they have to be preserved. Marketing Mix: The most important elements of marketing are defined as the 4 Ps. They are Product, promotion, price and place. An organization may change the elements of marketing according to their requirements and tendencies. The target for their own caste in the market is set with official designation with the alteration of the principles of marketing mix if required and are taken in to consideration for the fact of earning their benefits in the resource implemented. The main component to be considered is the addressing of the competitive market and the implementation and the process of support by the operations merged to prove the reach of the target through the marketing mix principles. Taking the marketing mix in this instance for this organisation comprises of the products, place, promotion and distribution. The products offered are the actual offering that is present in the location and the price is the value that remains exchanged for the offering present in the place. The promotion includes the targeting of the audience with the mix of promotions for the attraction of visitors. Distribution covers the place where the product is being offered and located for the targeting of the audience. Place: The location is been chosen as the best suited place for the construction of the Zoo and its the perfect place for the process chosen by the organization. The organization built has various ideas such as scheduling events and wedding ideas indoor or outdoor events. They also categorize themselves in organising the events and catering and all sources for the booked events. The location sets scenic view and way for the other places of attraction such as the night safari and orchid gardens that cover the tourist spots. The major point discovers the area as a whole of tourist attraction and determines itself with a variety of attraction such as night safaris and gardens on way to the Rainforest zoo. They also become a part of other organisations such as the zoos and wildlife conservation within the country. The animal encounters and rides, feeding times, animal photography, zoo shop plays an important role in the pride of being unique among the other attractions. Price: The cost of the entry is effective when considered the shows and features of the Zoo. The price is $20 per adult and $13 for the Child aged within 6-12. Students concession and group allowances are available when booked as a whole and has to be contacted the organization. They have some plans for the disabled and authorised visitors allowing a free entry for the DDR card holders. Product: The zoo comprises of various shows in exhibiting the wildlife of the organisation and other specific animals such as White tiger, fragile forest, wild Africa, Elephants of Asia, cat country, Orang Utan, Reptile Garden, Polar bear, Proboscis Monkeys, Rainforest Kidzworld, Primate Kingdom, Hamadryas Baboons, Critters Longhouse, Australian outback. It is also considered as the finest zoo in Asia and ranks top among the beautiful zoo of the world too. The animals adopt an open concept of living in the landscape and spread across the vivid and spacious environment separated for the curious spectators with wet and dry moats. The shows are of varieties and the spark for enthusiasm lie in high potential for customers to return often in visiting the zoo. It is considered to be the worlds first zoo with night wild life park on may 26th 1994. It covers the second place for the dense forest divided among the east and west loops. An extraordinary experience with the nocturnal species of more than one thousand animals within a count of 100 species toggled in the technique of soft light of visibility. The night safari is said to the wholesome and popular entertainment in the night attracting almost all the visitors of tourist attractions present in the city. Over the past decade it has not let itself one percent down with the novelty. It has loaded itself with four awards in the recent past including the local and international being a part of the IFEA Pinnacle award of the 2001 with a present title as the Gold winner. The Night safari process is also famous for its Gourmet safari Express. Promotion: The promotions of the organisation comprises of the animal photography, guided tours, Animal encounters and rides, feeding times, foods and beverages, shops in zoo, friendly facilities for the disabled and shows organised according to the periods of season. Education and conservation are part of the promotional scheme for the visitors to get involved with the social space. The childrens world was created in the year of 1973 consisting of the play land and the animal land. The famous miniature train ride that connects the lands together and the animals are placed in such a manner that they exist in their natural habitat unlike the artificial influence and stimulation. The animal land in entitled for the childrens to play and with a real life experience as the domestic animals participate in the play. The domestic animals include the chickens, rabbits and sheep. The play land is efficiently placed with conventional equipments used for play enhancing the space of life. The childrens world has been voted the best location for the kids in the magazine Where Singapore inaugural concierge choice 1999 awards. This is the first world wide entertainment promotion among the other specimens in the same category all around the world to introduce the varieties of elements such as the underwater exhibits an opportunity to view the rare animals within the short span of time as the zoo is just 37 years old. The zoo is amphitheatre centralised that was built in the year 1985 and now it has reached the heights of audience including the primate, reptile and elephant shows starting in the 1970s and helping the launch of amphitheatre with more than 1500 to 2000 seats of accommodation. Awards: The awards have been contributed for the specialised services and splendid inhabitants of the zoo. The Zoo initially started with 270 animals of about 72 species and has grown to an extent of 2000 animals contributing from the 240 species displayed in almost 70 exhibits. The awards are both local and international as listed below; 1999 Best theme Attraction- IMA (Intensive and meetings Asia Awards) 2000 Concierge choice awards Where Singapore Magazine Best place for kids 2001 Leisure attraction of the year Singapore Totalisator Board of Excellence for Singapore award 2001 Singapore tourism Board (STB) Leisure attraction the year 2001. 2002 ASEANTA Asean Tourism Association Awards for excellence: Best New Attraction. Experiences: The various attractions that are found in the organisation is said to be dimensional and are the best experience in ones life after the visit. The new vision of administering and maintaining the species of living example and their conservation is the most important feature. The visitors all over the world have always been satisfied and this organisation has taken the pride of providing more than the cost involved per person for the entertainment. The events organised consist of vivid ceremonies personalised according to the booking made by the individual and general events such as wedding and celebrations of specific occasions are organised in such a way that they are most remembered and considered the best in the minds of celebrated individual family. The vast number of crowds and selection of shows organised in the zoo according with the seasons play an important role for the visit of various visitors and audiences. Marketing Controls: Market research, customer surveys, participation, sponsorship, attendance with on-field success is considered to be the main controls of marketing generally. The e-business plays an important role in the marketing roles for this organisation. The website is specially designed to contribute al the efficiency and entertainment lively probing the customer to participate in the visit. The design of the website enhances the quality and governance of contribution in a specialized way. It also shows complete data of the zoo and further to the facts present it also allots a chance for the participation of the visitor along with the excitement offers. Conclusion: The overall consideration and the above report show the complete focus of the organisation. The report after the examination from the history until the latest score of the organisation considering the facts along with the advantages and disadvantages conclude that they are listed in the top ranking for the attractions world-wide. This result shows the specific activity and growth of their marketing through a new median of e-Business launching their complete attractions and consideration with a virtual view over the available charts of the organisation. The marketing strategies that actively participate in the role of increasing their growth from the past decades have contributed much to their heights of enhancement. Hence the process of growth has taken an important ride in the marketing strategy and mix along with core key of E-Business.

Examining methods for allocating overhead costs

Examining methods for allocating overhead costs Overhead cost is an ongoing  expense  of operating a business and is usually used to group expenses that are necessary to the continued functioning of the business, but cannot be immediately associated with the products/services being offered as in the costs do not directly generate  profits. Overhead cost includes indirect product cost or indirect cost of responsibility centre. Indirect product cost is known as manufacturing overhead whereas indirect cost of responsibility centre is known as non-manufacturing cost. Manufacturing overhead is those manufacturing costs that are incurred to a variety of products. It cannot be traced to individual products like depreciation and insurance of manufacturing equipment, cost of occupying, managing and maintaining a production facility. Manufacturing overhead is the cost that could be traced to individual product but it is not worth the trouble to like cost of lubricants and glue used. Manufacturing overhead also include cost that is more appropriately to be treated as cost of all outputs like overtime premium, cost of idle time, utilities cost. Non-manufacturing cost includes customer service, marketing and research development cost. ALLOCATING OVERHEAD COSTS Normally, only manufacturing overhead is allocated to products. However, depending on the industry the business is in and to obtain more comprehensive estimates of product cost, management accountant may allocate non-manufacturing cost to products. One example is Apple Co. with high research development cost, to obtain accurate product costing, they allocate part of the research development cost to product cost. ABSORPTION COSTING Production overhead, or usually refer to as manufacturing overhead, is recovered by absorbing them into the cost of a product. This process is known as absorption costing. Absorption costing means that all of the manufacturing costs are  absorbed  by the units produced. In other words, the cost of a finished unit in inventory will include direct materials, direct labor, and both variable  and  fixed manufacturing overhead. As a result, absorption costing is also referred to as full costing or the full absorption method. Absorption costing is often contrasted with variable costing or direct costing. The fixed manufacturing overhead costs are not allocated or assigned to (not absorbed by) the products manufactured under variable or direct costing. Variable costing is often useful for managements decision-making. However, absorption costing is often required for external financial reporting and for income tax reporting. Absorption costing includes 3 stages, namely apportionment of overheads, reapportionment or allocation of service (non-production) cost centre overheads and also absorption of overhead. For apportionment of overheads, there are no hard and fast rules for which basis of apportionment to use except that whichever method is used to apportion overheads, it must be fair. Unlike direct cost, indirect cost is usually allocated to cost objects and is not directly traced to cost objects. Cost object is defined as item that is assigned separate measure of cost. To facilitate allocation of overhead cost, overhead cost that have common allocation base is pooled together and is known as cost pool. For each cost pool, bases of apportionment are chosen. Bases of apportionment are some factors or variables that allow us to allocate costs in a cost pool to cost objects. The selection of the base of apportionment should be on causal-and-effects grounds, which mean it should be a cost driver. Some examples of bases of apportionment include floor area, net book value of fixed assets and number of employees. Floor area is usually used for rent and rates overhead. It is assumed that the greater the floor space occupied by the production centers, the more rent, cleaning and electricity usage are consumed. Net book value of fixed assets is used for depreciation and insurance of machinery. It is based on the assumption that Number of employees is used for canteen cost. The assumption is when the number of employees increases, the canteen cost will increase. Example: ABC Ltd has two production departments (Assembly and Finishing) and two service departments (Maintenance and Canteen). The following are budgeted costs for the next period: The second stage of absorption costing is reapportionment or allocation of service cost centre costs overhead to production cost centers. Service cost centers (departments) are not directly involved in making products. Therefore the fixed production overheads of service cost centers must be shared out between the production cost centers using suitable basis. Examples of service cost centers or also referred to as support department cost centers include maintenance department, payroll department, stores and canteen. In contrast to operating or production department which engages in production of the products and directly adds value to a product or service, support or service department provides the service that assist and complements the smooth functioning of the production departments in the company. Methods of allocating support or service department cost to production department include direct method, step-down method and reciprocal method. DIRECT METHOD The  direct method  is the most widely-used method where it allocates each service departments total costs directly to the production departments. It ignores the fact that service departments may also provide services to other service departments. Under this method, there is no interaction between service departments prior to allocation. Example: Machining and Assembly are the only production departments that used the services of the Human Resources Department in March. Costs from Human Resources are allocated based on the number of new hires. Machining hired seven employees in March and Assembly hired three employees. Human Resources incurred total costs of RM93, 000 in March. Allocation of H.R. Department costs to Machining:70% of RM 93,000 = RM 65,100 Allocation of H.R. Department costs to Assembly:30% of RM 93,000 = RM 27,900 No information is necessary about whether any service departments utilized services of the Human Resources Department is the characteristic feature of the direct method. It does not take account whether no other service department hired anybody, or whether three other service departments each hired five employees (implying that more than 50% of the hiring occurred in the service departments). Service department to service department services are ignored, and no costs are allocated from one service department to another when using the direct method. STEP-DOWN METHOD Thestep-down methodor known as sequential method allocates the costs of some service departments to other service departments. However, once a service departments costs have been allocated, no subsequent costs are allocated back to it. The choice of which department to start with is very important. The sequence in which the service departments are allocated usually effects the ultimate allocation of costs to the production departments, in that some production departments gain and some lose when the sequence is changed. Hence, production department managers usually prefer over the sequence. The most defensible sequence is to start with the service department that provides the highest percentage of its total services to other service departments, or the service department with the highest costs, or the service department that provides services to the most number of service departments, or some similar criterion. Example: Human Resources (H.R.), Data Processing (D.P.), and Risk Management (R.M.) provide services to the Machining and Assembly production departments, and in some cases, the service departments also provide services to each other: The amounts in the far left column are the costs incurred by each service department. Any services that a department provides to itself are ignored, so the intersection of the row and column for each service department shows zero. The rows sum to 100%, so that all services provided by each service department are charged out. The company decides to allocate the costs of Human Resources first, because it provides services to two other service departments, and provides a greater percentage of its services to other service departments. However, a case could be made to allocate Data Processing first, because it has greater total costs than either of the other two service departments. In any case, the company decides to allocate Data Processing second. In the table below, the row for each service department allocates the total costs in that department (the original costs incurred by the department plus any costs allocated to it from the previous allocation of other service departments) to the production departments as well as to any service departments that have not yet been allocated. After the first service department has been allocated, in order to derive the percentages to apply to the production departments and any remaining service departments, it is necessary to normalize these percentages so that they sum to 100%. For example, after H.R. has been allocated, no costs from D.P. can be allocated back to H.R. The percentages for the remaining service and production departments sum to 92% (7% + 30% + 55%), not 100%. Therefore, these percentages are normalized as follows: For example, in the table above, 59.78% of RM136,000 (= RM 81,304) is allocated to Assembly, not 55%. The characteristic feature of the step-down method is that once the costs of a service department have been allocated, no costs are allocated back to that service department. As can be seen by adding RM 105,522 and RM 134,478, all RM 240,000 incurred by the service departments are ultimately allocated to the two production departments. The intermediate allocations from service department to service department improve the accuracy of those final allocations. RECIPROCAL METHOD Thereciprocal method is the most accurate among the three methods for allocating service department costs. It is because it recognizes reciprocal services among service departments. However, it is also the most complicated method, because it requires solving a set of simultaneous linear equations. Using the data from the step-down method example, the simultaneous equations are: H.R. =RM80,000 + (0.08 x D.P.) D.P. =RM 120,000 + (0.20 x H.R.) R.M. = RM40,000 + (0.10 x H.R.) + (0.07 x D.P.) Where the variables H.R., D.P. and R.M. represent the total costs to allocate from each of these service departments. For example, Human Resources receive services from Data Processing, but not from Risk Management. 8% of the services that Data Processing provides, it provides to Human Resources. Therefore, the total costs allocated from Human Resources should include not only the RM 80,000 incurred in that department, but also 8% of the costs incurred by Data Processing. Solving for the three unknowns (which can be performed using spreadsheet software): To illustrate the derivation of the amounts in this table, the RM36,423 that is allocated from Human Resources to Machining is 40% of H.R.s total cost of RM 91,057. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METHODS AND PROBLEMS USING THE METHODS Direct method allocates support cost only to operational departments and there in no interaction between support departments prior to allocation. On the other hand, step down method allocates support costs to other support departments and to operating departments that partially recognizes the mutual services provided among all support departments. Under this method, there is one-way interaction between support departments prior to allocation. Reciprocal method allocates support department costs to operating departments by fully recognizing the mutual services provided among all support departments. It is full two-way Interaction between support departments prior to allocation. Direct, step-down and reciprocal methods of support department cost allocation gave slightly different total overhead cost and overhead rates for each production department. It is because of the different recognition that each method gives to support relationships. The direct method does not recognize any relationships that exist between support departments whereas step-down method gives only partial recognition to these relationships. Reciprocal method gives the most accurate results when allocating of multiple service departments costs to operating departments. The power of reciprocal method over other methods (direct method, step-down method) lies in its considering the mutual services provided among all service departments which means the costs of service departments are allocated to each service department (except the service provider) besides operating departments. However the application of this more powerful method is rare. It is because it is more complicated than other methods and it requires sophisticated computer aid. Some firms that use ERP software since this method requires additional modification in coding. Therefore most of the companies prefer employing either of direct or step down methods. Reciprocal method considers mutual services provided among all service departments, direct method and step-down method ignore this point. Moreover service department cost used by other service departments are also ignored in direct method. The drawback of direct method is partially reduced by step-down method by following a hierarchy among service departments while considering cost allocation. There is a ranking among service departments as to which department to begin allocation according to different rules which in turn yields different allocation figures. The drawback of step-down method to reciprocal method is that once the cost accumulated in the first in ranking service department is allocated, that department does not take any share from other service departments. Two main rules determine the raking. The first approach considers the number of departments served by the service departments to judge on which service department to begin allocation and which ones to move on. The service department that serves to the highest number of departments is the first department to begin allocation. In case of more than one department serve the highest number of departments, the department with highest accumulated costs is the first in the ranking and so on. The second approach adopts the percentage of service in determining the ranking of service department to begin with and to carry on. The service department with highest percentage of service to other departments is the first in the ranking and so on. In case of more than one department with equal the highest service percentage, the one with higher accumulated costs is set as the first and so on. Lastly reciprocal method or algebraic allocation method (REC) considers all served departments including service departments and operating departments by a service department except the one whose costs are allocated. There is a two way interaction among service departments unlike step-down method. The method yields equations with multiple unknowns which are equal to the number of service departments since the method considers all the costs of the service departments to be allocated. As the number of service departments increase the number of equations with multiple unknowns increase and hence a computer aid is required to solve the equations simultaneously. CONCLUSION Out of the 3 allocation methods to allocate service/ support department cost to production department cost, reciprocal method is said to be the most precise method. It is also the most complicated method as it requires solving a set of simultaneous linear equations. However, direct and step-down methods are simple to compute and easy to understand. Nonetheless, direct method is the most widely used in industry. Direct method allocates each service departments total costs directly to the production departments, and ignores the fact that service departments may also provide services to other service departments. The direct method and step-down method have no advantages over the reciprocal method except for their simplicity, and the step-down method is sometimes not very simple. Nevertheless, the reciprocal method is not widely used. Given advances in computing power, the reciprocal method would seem to be accessible to many companies that are not using it. Presumably, these companies b elieve that the benefits obtained from more accurate service department cost allocations do not justify the costs required to implement the reciprocal method.

Gray :: essays research papers

Gray's "The Epitaph": An Analysis In the Epitaph, Thomas Gray shows his discontent toward the way that life and death are categorized on this planet. He speaks of earth as a place which holds people for the time being that they are going through this grand cycle of what is called life. When somebody only "rests his head upon the lap of Earth" it is not a way of approving the way that people are laid down for their final resting. The Epitaph shows , properly titled, the lot about how people are being brought up and brought down in a dark sort of way. Someone's personal epitaph is just a place where their head rests and Even "Fair Science frowned" on the aspects of the person's life and now the incapacity that they have toward this world. Their one and only sole purpose in this world is to waste space in the earth and rot away for eternity. Gray's style is very intriguing. He speaks of god and how there are certain things around that are only now known as "frailties" of what used to be life. Gray speaks out against the way this person was treated in society which is symbolic of how people are being treated as a whole and the hollowness and shallowness of people in the world. Now the person is dead, there is no other help that you could give him. "Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere" was how the man lived, and although his soul was a true one, he was still a marked man, and now he is only marked with a stone that protrudes from the ground known as The Epitaph. God is a part of life which gray dispises. He goes against the idea of a belief in one immortal being who rules over people and casts judgments and leaves some people for broke. "The bosom of his father and his god" were those that were unhelpful in the dead man's life, because he ended up just as everyone else will, dead, it is just that he was not blessed with as much life.

Doing the Right Thing in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

Doing the "Right" Thing in Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚   When an individual has taken a certain course of action, who is to determine whether that action taken was right or wrong? And what basis should the individual passing judgment use to decide whether that action was right or wrong? Should the individual passing judgment consider the other individual's purpose or intent in taking the action, or should he consider the resulting consequences of the other individual's actions? If the individual passing judgment were to choose to do the first of these two alternatives, he would be taking a deontological stance, as compared to the later which describes the consequentialist view. As Stephen J. Freeman explains, consequentialism is the belief that "actions and/or rules are right as long as they produce the most favorable consequences for those affected by the actions or rules" (Freeman 63). Consequentialists view the morality of a consequence in two aspects. One aspect is what is called ethical egoism. Ethical egoism is "the idea that morality is defined as acting in one's own interest and in such a way as to maximize the consequences of good over bad" (Freeman 49). In contrast to ethical egoism is utilitarianism. Utilitarianists view morality as when an action promotes the greatest balance of good over bad for all people. "Utilitarianism is a teleological, goal-directed theory emphasizing happiness as the end result of human action" (Freeman 49). In Freeman's book on ethics, he discusses Holmes' proposal of two types of teleological ethical theories that apply to these two differing consequentialist views. Holmes' proposal is that of micro and macro ethics. Micro ethics regards the happiness of the individual as the highest good and defines what is right as the action that maximizes that end. By definition, micro ethics is very similar to the belief of ethical egoism. On the other hand, macro ethics views happiness as the well-being of a group as a whole and defines what is right as the action that maximizes that end. As used here, a group can be those people of a specific city, state, nation, or race, and any particular group has "greater importance than any particular individual or subgroup within it, because its good exceeds the sum of any and all of its parts" (Freeman 49). Those in support of macro ethics would justify the sacrifice of an individual or part within the group, as long as it brings about beneficial conseque nces for the group as a whole.

Living in the Country

Living in the country has always been considered the healthiest and most relaxing choice one can make. The beauty of the land, open and friendly neighbours, genuine relationships, the tranquil pace of country life are some of the most attractive images that come to people?s minds when they feel tired of the pressures of city life. However, the dreams of moving away to a distant and quiet farm house are many times abandoned, especially by young people, when they come to think about the lack of opportunities that there are in the country. In fact, many young people feel they can not grow as professionals if they choose a quiet life style in the country, due to the poor quality of education and the lack of employment opportunities. The poor quality of education in the countryside can be perceived when one travels along rural roads and sees a few scattered primary schools, hidden among the mountains or in the woods. Children attend those schools only if it is not raining, and they travel long distances on horseback, or even on foot to reach the institution. Since the number of students is not enough to employ an English teacher, a Music teacher, a Sports teacher or a Computing teacher, those subjects are not taught, so children have no additional lessons. Finally, another factor that makes education reach very low quality standards is the fact that in many places there is no electricity, so it is imposible to imagine children from rural areas connected to the Internet, or having the possibility of watching a video or listening to music. To conclude, children from rural areas are not expected to develop their full potential due to the poor quality standard of education. Once young students finish primary school, and some priviledged adolescents can complete secundary education, they have to think about university or work. University is left only to the priviledged students who can afford to move to the city to continue their studies. The rest of the young population have to think about getting a job. And here comes another drawback of living in the country: as regards employment opportunities, there is a narrow range of jobs available for young people, and they are usually badly paid. Young people have to select among venturing into neighbouring towns, working at one of the relatively few jobs available nearby, or working on their own business. Since they have not been properly prepared at school, and employment opportunities are scarce, the joung rural population have relatively few opportunities to grow economically. Many people put forward many good reasons to live in the country and they are right. First, living in the country is safer than living in big cities, since there are less crimes. Second, it is also healthier because there is no pollution and no loud noises. Third, the pace of living in the country is quieter so sountry people’s lifespans are longer. Finally, many people argue that roads and means of communication have improved a lot in the last decades, so today living far away from the city is not so hard. However, for young people who are still trying to find their way to grow professionaly in order to gain economic stability, the city offers much more educational and economic opportunities than the stillness of the countryside.

Point of Sale System (POS) Essay

Introduction Point of sale (POS) or checkout is the place where a retail transaction is completed. It is the point at which a customer makes a payment to a merchant in exchange for goods or services. At the point of sale the merchant would use any of a range of possible methods to calculate the amount owing – such as a manual system, weighing machines, scanners or an electronic cash register. The merchant will usually provide hardware and options for use by the customer to make payment. The merchant will also normally . issue a receipt for the transaction.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale / Retrieve on February 6, 2013] A Point of Sale (POS) system is a system for managing the sales of retail goods. A POS manages the selling process by a cashier accessible interface. The same system allows the creation and printing of the receipt using the POS printer. The Problem The problem is that many retail stores uses manual sales transaction which result to inaccurate calculation and lost of profit in their business. Manual managing stocks takes a lot of time which is very hassle. Statement of the Problem 1. What are the methods in creating Point of Sale System? 2. How the methods are integrated and implemented to the system? 3. How to test and evaluate the efficiency of the Point of Sale System? Objectives 1. To be able to identify the methods in creating Point of Sale System. 2. To be able to integrate and implement the identified methods to the system. 3. To be able to test and evaluate the efficiency of the Point of Sale System. Definition of Terms 1. Point of Sale (POS) – A system that make sales transaction and manage stocks. 2. Sale Transaction Retail software in which a customer exchanges an agreed amount for an item. 3. Receipt – a piece of paper that shows the item being sold. 4. Cashier A person who receives and pays out money works at a POS. 5. POS Printer A machine that prints a receipt from a computer. 6. Database- Storage of data of the POS. 7. Stock-supply of goods available for sale.

How to Analyze an Advertisement Essay

There’s more to advertising’s message than meets the casual eye. An effective ad, like other forms of communication, works best when it strikes a chord in the needs and desires of the receiving consumer — a connection that can be both intuitive and highly calculated. The following questions can help foster your awareness of this process. You may be surprised by the messages and meanings you uncover. 1. What is the general ambience of the advertisement? What mood does it create? 2. Study the advertisement’s form. Attempt a simple description of what elements it consists of in terms of elements and formal arrangement. 3. What about technical decisions? If the advertisement is a photograph, what kind of a shot is it? What significance do you think long shots, medium shots, close-up shots have? What about the lighting, use of colour, angle of the shot? 4. What typefaces are used and what impressions do they convey? 5. What techniques are used by the copywriter: humour, alliteration, definitions† of life, comparisons, sexual innuendo, and so on? 6. What is the relationship between pictorial elements and written material and what does this tell us? 7. Does the ad essentially provide information or does it try to generate some kind of emotional response? Or both? 8. What action is taking place in the advertisement and what significance does it have? (This might be described as the ad’s â€Å"plot.†) 9. What signs and symbolic codes do we find? Symbolic codes can involve figures e.g. facial expressions, clothing codes etc. What can be said about their facial expressions, poses, hairstyle, age, sex, hair colour, ethnicity, education, occupation, relationships (of one figure to the other)? What role do these symbolic codes play in the ad’s impact? 10. What sociological, political, economic or cultural attitudes are indirectly reflected in the advertisement i.e. does the ad work ideologically?( An advertisement may be about a pair of blue jeans but it might, indirectly, reflect such matters as sexism, alienation, stereotyped thinking, conformism, generational conflict, loneliness, elitism, and so on). 11. How important is the spectator/reader’s own context going to be on his/her understanding of the ad? Who is the presumed reader or public for this ad? Excerpted/adapted from Arthur A. Berger Signs in Contemporary Culture: An Introduction to Semiotics, Longman, White Plains, NY [online]. Available from http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article227.html [accessed 24/04/08] DECODING ADVERTISING IMAGES Ads/images have different levels of meaning: Denotation: what can be seen – the literal, commonsense or ‘natural’ meaning of the ad (first order meaning). Denotation is commonly implied by the use of photography. Connotation: the ‘hidden’ meaning (second order meaning); a range of possible meanings which may depend upon the reader’s knowledge, social background and other factors which influence personal judgement or interpretation. Meaning in an advertising image can be seen as: Syntagmic – the linking process between represented object (signifier) and significance (meaning) is unconscious; Referential – it is understood in terms of structural relationships to other signs. Meaning is made up of a system of differences and oppositions; Ideological – occurring within a wider framework of ideas or way of thinking about social relations; Conventional – socially mediated i.e. is according to accepted ‘rules’ and ‘codes’; Preferred (or dominant meaning) is the meaning that the advertiser (presumably) hopes the image will convey. Stuart Hall, though, notes two other modes of reading ads: negotiated readings and oppositional readings (which subvert the presumed intentional or seeming overt meaning of the advertising image). Connotation There are a number of issues which can be considered when analysing an specific image, factors which can help one to identify the intended connotation of the signs contained within the image, and of the advertisement as a whole. Technical Codes (including): Camera angle – is the implied angle of vision up/down, at an angle, straight on? Camera distance – how far is the implied camera from the subject? Focus – is the image in sharp detail or soft focus? Lighting – what is highlighted or left in the shadows? Information Value: the placement of elements within the whole image is indicative of a relative symbolic meaning. horizontal reading – Left = given, familiar right = new, not yet known vertical reading – upper = promise, emotive lower = Portfolio, actual, information Composition: Salience – the elements of an image attract attention to differing degree according to their position in the whole composition (foreground, background etc.) Framing – the presence or absence of framing devices signifies the connection or separation between the different objects/figures Cropping – is the cropping from a wider image implied? Juxtaposition – have two images been juxtaposed to create a particular effect? Captions: Remember to consider the text in an ad. If an image has no caption it can be considered an ‘open text’ and therefore open to interpretation. Captions generally function as modifiers to ‘anchor’ the primary significance of the image, and to reduce possible ambiguities of meaning in the image. Symbolic Codes: A symbol is a picture/object which stands for something else, where the meaning is widely understood e.g. a dove symbolises peace or the Holy Spirit in western society. Symbols do not necessarily have only one connotation and have to be selected with care by advertisers – it is the image as a whole, the relationship between signs (symbols), which will determine which connotation is intended (a meaning which might be ‘fixed’ by modifiers such as text captions). Body language/non-verbal codes: what is the significance of the figures’ poses or physical posture? what facial expression do the figures have? do the body types (well built, thin, fleshly etc.) connote wider meanings e.g. .stereotypes? Clothing codes: does the clothing connote specific occupations or nationalities? what connotations about class and status does the clothing have? Colour (symbolic value): Does the colour/colour range used suggest a mood e.g. sorrow, gaiety etc.? Does the colour use suggest an abstract meaning e.g. romance, purity etc.? The kinds of colours used – the use of bright, dissonant colours might indicate modernity for instance or a sepia range might signify tradition. Issues which might be activated by use of symbolic code include: Branding – the use of symbolic signs to connote a distinct brand ‘identity’ for a product which in physical composition cannot be differentiated from other examples of the same product e.g. perfume or cigarettes. Celebrity – a meaning structure is created by selling commodities in terms of social (celebrity) identity. The product being sold is ‘given’ the character attributes more usually associated with the celebrity e.g. physical strength, elegance etc.. The consumer buys the product to ‘buy into’ the celebrity’s image (see promise of pleasure principle’). ‘Promise of pleasure’ principle – setting up links between consumption of the product and personal fulfillment or attainment of desired state of being. The consumer is not buying the product itself, but the emotional promise. Commodification – advertising translates statements about objects into statements about human relationships or types of consumer. This implies a denial of individual identity by the translating human beings into objects; Objectification – the use of the part (of the human body) to stand for the whole denies human agency or the wholeness of the individual. This is more often associated with the use of female models. ‘Fragmentation’ of the female body connotes the commodification of female identity; the ‘gaze’ (scopophilia) – where the presumed spectator is gendered male, the notion of the ‘gaze’ connotes unequal power relations between the sexes (inequalities which are presumed to mirror those in wider society); Gender stereotyping- this can relate to ideological expectations as to gender roles and the use of gender stereotypes or sexualisation as a marketing tool; Racial or ethnic stereotyping – this can relate to the exploitation of social ‘difference’ e.g. the ‘other’ (in which one culture is seen as ‘opposed’ to mainstream western characteristics) in a way which reinforces the social stereotype or attracts by the presumption of exoticism; Ideology – objects are used as signifiers within the context of wider signifying systems or ideological contexts e.g. ‘western democracy’/consumerism, and can only be properly understood via a knowledge of this ideological framework. The spectator constructs meaning according to the codes at his/her disposal i.e. meaning is socially mediated and not individualistic; Social identity – the spectator constructs meaning according to the codes as his/her disposal ie the meaning constructed is socially mediated and not purely personal or individual. Context and Audience: Where is the image to be found? You need to consider whether it is/was intended for a magazine, a poster, a street hoarding etc. What is/was the intended public for the image? What impact might identified issues have had upon the design of the image under analysis? When considering a news photograph a number of other questions might be asked – such as the news value of the image itself and the relationship between the image itself and the surrounding text.

Comparing “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Band of Brothers”

All Quiet on the Western Front's primary purpose is to depict the horrors and realities of war and reactions of soldiers towards it. Remarque recounts WWI from the perspective of the defeated, Germany, just after the war was finished. It makes no attempt to glamorise war, instead describing the life of â€Å"a generation destroyed by war. † Remarque uses this book as a voice of the fallen. All Quiet on the Western Front secretly criticises the German government and military for persuading young men to go to war. For this reason, the book was burned and banned in Germany. The book also shows how war has physical and psychological effects on men. Band of Brothers is a television series that follows the â€Å"Easy Company†. Easy company is part of the United States Army. The series is set in WWII in Europe. WWII is more than 50 years before the series in made. It is important to note, that this film shows heroism of these men. This is mainly because the director wants to engage the audience of America. Americans believe that they are victors and for this series to be appealing this needs to be shown. However the horrors of war are still established as well as the soldiers reactions. The director of this series changes the soldiers reactions however towards the end. Mateship and heroism in these dark times are shown to greatly contrast All Quiet on the Western Front's themes. Band of Brothers shows a variety of battle scenes that reveal different reactions of soldiers. In â€Å"Day of Days†, the attack against the artillery gun at the end of the episode is made by soldiers who are fresh to the experience of war. The attack, although confusing to the Audience at times, is organised and orders are given and followed with clarity. Historically this attack is still used by WestPoint as an example of fine military action. The director used some shaky cameras to illustrate the shell fire and the soldiers movements. There are some partially obscured POVs shots helps the audience to sense realism of the event. However mostly the camera shots are midshot and longshot. This gives the audience a relative sense of order to the sequence. The audience is well orientated. Given that this attack is considered to be a American Military Achievement, it is unlikely that the director would use cinematography to reflect chaos of such event. In contrast to the surprise attack in the episode â€Å"Last Patrol† shows different reactions from the soldiers. In this, the soldiers have been engaged in the warfare for some months. Although battle hardened, they are disillusioned with war. The episode emphasises how the soldiers are willing for the war to be over. They are resentful of being asked to cross the river and to take German POWs and know the risks well. When assaulting the building, after Jackson ran into the explosion of his own grenade, there is a change in cinematic techniques. During this sequence a swinging camera coupled with multiple shots is used. This emphasises the chaos as the view takes the role of one of the soldiers in the room constantly moving the sightline. It also close ups to the soldiers' faces emphasising their emotion. The sounds are chaotic and loud. This disorientates the viewer. THe director has used these techniques to show how risky the situation is. The director in this episode shows this point of view as he has more freedom. He no longer needs to produce the idea of the â€Å"American hero. † After crossing the river, they go into the basement. Here it is also chaotic. The soldiers are confused and are not in control as they gather around Eugene who is dying. After his death there is a stop in the gunfire, emphasising the shock. Eugene, the medic has a voice over giving a personal view on the death. â€Å"He enrolled young† makes the viewer feel sympathetic for the soldier. In All Quiet on the Western Front, there are many examples of the reactions of soldiers. In battle, soldiers act violently in order to survive. They â€Å"have turned into dangerous animals. † This shows that they use instinct to kill without any real hesitations. They need to do this to survive.

Project planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project planning - Essay Example Feasibility study is considered as the disciplined study based on three levels. The first level is related to the operational feasibility. The second level includes the technical feasibility. The economic feasibility is identified in the third level. Economic level brings operative and mechanical levels together into a common unit. These three levels of feasibility study are important for the success of a project. The project has earned an important contract from the local health authority to organize and deliver the conferences based on the health issues in the workplace. For the success of the contract, feasibility study is important to determine the economic, technical and operational viability of a project (PMI, 2012; Overton, 2007). The aim of the project is to provide the quality education in terms of health issues in a workplace, which is important for every people (Zilicus Solutions, 2012). The milestones stages of the project have been segregated into set up stage, research and development stage, activation stage and review stage. Based on the milestones stages, the documentations of the objectives as well as goals are to be ensured that they are aligned with the desired project goals. In addition, the significance of the marketing and communication plan should be ascertained. The progress of the different activities should be scrutinised for determining the success rate of the project. The project manager should review the project on a timely basis. In this respect, the project manager would be able to have a better knowledge about the progress of the project. The deliverables or the outcome of the project can be improvement in the several health issues in the workplace. Other outcome can be increased awareness of the local business as well as the agencies of the government of the European Directives regarding such health issues. In

Decline of Michael Jackson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Decline of Michael Jackson - Essay Example he nature of media exploitation and public opinion, the reputation of a talented musician was devastated, contributing to his ill health and leading to his death. In the following dissertation, the topic of the facts of the controversies in comparison to the public perception will be discussed in order to find context for the events that occurred and the truths that they represent. Michael Jackson, named by the music industry as ‘the king of pop’ was a talented, but tormented man who had started his lustrous career in his prepubescent years out of Gary, Indiana in the United States. His career spanned his lifetime and his meticulous attention to detail and his innovative styles supported a talent that was broad and powerful. However, the public image that was created for him and the subsequent events of his life led to public humiliation and suspicions of both madness and deviant behaviour. The nature of celebrity gossip, however, creates stories out of unsupportable concepts and a life that is not led traditionally is open to accusations that are unsupportable and, therefore, suspect. This paper will endeavour to examine the ways in which the rumours and suspicions measure against facts and truths that were not as sensational, but could have clarified and refined the public image that led to Jackson’s downward spiral. The nature of the life of Michael Jackson was a long history of having his life framed by a public ‘brand’ which worked against him both personally and professionally in the end. In the 1980s he had a signature look which included one white glove and white socks. It was said of him that he slept in a hyperbaric chamber and the image that was created around him translated into a feeling of magic and mystery. He was an enigma, strange and mystical with talents that matched the message of his position as someone beyond the average human. What did not help his image was the evolving state of his face as he had multiple plastic surgeries and

Recycling as an alternate form of energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Recycling as an alternate form of energy - Essay Example Japan has already drawn up the sunlight plan, the main focus of which was solar energy that produced around 130,000 kilowatts of electricity. Nuclear Energy: Thermonuclear plants utilize Hydrogen2 (Deuterium) and 3 (Tritium) for its reactions, Hydrogen 2 is obtained from sea. Hydrogen is obtained form lithium, which is obtained from recycled batteries. The reaction between hydrogen 2 and 3 leads to production of Helium atom and neutron. This reaction is an exothermic reaction, thus releasing large amount of energy in the reactors. This reaction is known as Nuclear Fusion (The energy Story). It forms the basic reaction if power plants. Nuclear energy has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. It is cheaper, produced massive amount of energy and the raw material of which is easily available. But the most important challenge in the existing world of nuclear power is to get rid of the nuclear waste. Why is Recycling Important Recycling is not only required to protect the resources, but it will be more significant since it will lay in big way to reduce the natural resources pressure. Recycling is significant since it saves: 1. Raw Materials: Recycling will lead to the reduction in the need for raw materials such as metals, forests and oil and thus leading to reduction of impact on the environment. The level of our consumption in the UK is already having a significant impact on the environment and communities across the world, and alarmingly, UK is consuming an increasing quantity of raw materials. 2. Reduces our impact on climate change: Even though recycling uses energy but it also reduces the climate emissions and it is reported that recycling a material also uses less energy that manufacturing the virgin materials. A recent study done for the Government by the consultants ERM, and a study carried out for the government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). This study reported that the relative greenhouse gas savings in UK is from recycling for paper/cardboard, glass, plastics, aluminum and steel. 3. Generates Cash: After collection, the recycled materials is separated and blended at materials recycling facilities and then sent to reprocessors such as paper mills, glass factories or plastic recyclable. Here the waste is

Nautilus Incorporation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nautilus Incorporation - Research Paper Example The summarized findings of the financial analysis are outlined below: 1. Sales level of the company has been on a declining trend and the company’s sales are reduced to $180 million from $517 million. 2. For investors, both earning per share as well as dividend payout ratio, have shown very disgusting results. 3. The profitability position of the company is quite disappointing as the company incurred losses in first four years, but generated some profits in 2011. 4. Total Assets of the company have been on a declining trend as well, but there is a slight improvement in 2011. 5. Leverage position of the company has reflected negative results such that debt ratio has increased from 50% to 60% and the level of debt is on an increasing trend which is an alarming sign for the company. 6. Equity position of the company has also shown some bitter results such that it is reduced by 6 times from 2007. 7. Operating cash flows have remained quite volatile during last five years. 8. Free cash flows to firm are predicted to be increased by 10% every year. 9. The risk position of the company is not good at all and the company still in high risk zone. 10. A discount rate of 35% is used to discount the free cash flows. Introduction Nautilus Inc. is one of the constituent of NASDAQ member companies. ... well as the predicted free cash flows for the next five years have also been estimated by utilizing a relatively higher but an appropriate discount factor. Appendix has also been attached after the conclusion of this article in which the computations of some ratios have been displayed. Conclusion in the end will summarize financial analysis under this article. Sales Analysis If the sales of NLS are taken into consideration, it can be noticed that the company seems far behind from the objective of maintaining a persistent growth rate. The sales behavior of the company cannot be termed as healthy by any means due to significant shrinkages in the level of sales. From 2007 till 2010, the company suffered a continuous decline in its sales on yearly basis. The overall growth rate of sales level of the company has remained negative. The prime reason behind this sales decline is the change in the preferences of the people after recession as they took a defensive stance and avoided incurring expenditures on health and fitness based equipments. However, there is a very light ray of hope in the year 2011 where the company managed to increase its sales by around 7%. Overall the company’s past record imposes a solid question mark regarding the future level of sales because with this level of growth, the company would not be able to sustain for a longer period of time. The following table highlights the actual sales level and growth from 2007 till 2011: Years 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Sales 180,412 168,450 189,260 411,178 501,471 Growth 7.10% -11.00% -53.97% -18.01% - Investors’ Ratio Analysis There are two basic ratios that have been computed in order to judge the performance of the company with respect to the equity investors. These two ratios are earning per share and dividend

Question 33 & 34 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Question 33 & 34 - Essay Example From this, criminologists developed the term victim precipitation, which refers to murders that result from provocations by the victims. People act on purpose, before doing something; one makes a decision a process that involves the effective coordination of all the senses within the human system. It therefore becomes practically impossible to kill strangers or people, one can be a stranger but his murderer must obtain some prior information maybe from his contractor incases where one is paid to kill the other. In brief, Wolfman argued that murders result from interactions and the actions of the victims. Some murder victims instigate the conflicts that eventually result in their deaths (Simon &Yochanan, 1996). Tedeschi and Richard Felson who avow that the interaction between the victim of murder and his murder is normally to blame borrow the ideas of Wolfman to develop the theory of coercive actions. School bullies are among a group of victims who purposely coerce others into violent attack that may result in their own deaths. The two asserts that in violent attacks, males are normally more likely to injure their victims while females more likely to be the victims. To this, they allude that gender is never a determinant of the violent attacks but physical strength is (Zachary, Patricia &Paul, 1994). With the understanding that people engage in crimes purposely, Ronald Clarke and Derek Cornish developed the rational choice theory, which assert that people make decision to engage in crimes after considering a number of factors. One of these is the need to maximize pleasure and minimize pain (Zachary, Patricia &Paul, 1994). According to this theory, people engage in crimes that are likely to maximize benefits for them, such crimes on the other hand should present as minimal risks as possible, the benefits thus constitute the pleasure while the absence of risks infers to the reduced pain. Additionally, people are more motivated to engage in criminal

Strategic issues of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic issues of Zara - Essay Example It is interesting to mention that the basic retailing theme that is followed by the flagship brand is highly unique in nature. The brand of Zara largely focuses on the process of providing fashionable retail products of average quality at highly competitive prices to the consumers of the world (Morris, 2013). It needs to be mentioned that the brand of Zara is largely present in various markets around the world. Also, the company has attained tremendously high levels of efficiencies in regards to maintaining the distribution channels as well as managing the logistics and supply chain. It can be said that the efficiency of the supply chain attained by the flagship brand Zara helps in attaining significant advantages related to shorter product lifecycle, shorter turn around and reduced time for production. Thus, it can be said that the logistic and supply chain efficiency can be treated as a pillar of strong point and significant advantage for the company. ... Detailed analysis of the competitive forces It can be highlighted that the best way to undertake an analysis of the competitive forces that are affecting the business prospects of the retail company is to conduct an analysis of Porter’s competitive forces. It needs to be mentioned that Porter’s five forces strategy talks about the competitive issues that arises from the multiple factors like bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of consumers, power of substitutes, threat of new entrants as well as inter firm rivalry (HBR, 2008, p. 4). Source: HBR, 2008 p. 4 Now matching Porter’s five forces competitive strategy with regards to organizational issues of Zara, it can be said that several challenges and cases can be highlighted at the same time. Talking in regards to the bargaining power of the suppliers, it needs to be highlighted that more than 50% of the retail merchandise of Zara are produced in an in house fashion. It is important to highlight that bec ause of this particular practice, the globally acclaimed retail organization has developed the advantage in regards to gaining momentum in various complex task based process, lower cycle time as well as minimization of error. However, talking in more details in regards to manufacturing practices, it can be said that the various processes involved in the manufacturing process of the firm’s end products are often outsourced to the network of local cooperatives, who work with the company only on the basis of long term good will. Hence, in this particular case, the negotiation power of the suppliers and local manufacturers are pretty low as compared to that of the organization.