Cal by bernard Maclaverty

Cal by Bernard MacLaverty tells us the tragic story about a young, unemployed Catholic named Cal Maclusky. He lives in Northern Ireland in an ulster where mostly Protestants live and is the son of a stubborn widowed abattoir man who refuses to leave his home even though their house had been firebomb threatened several times. Cal’s life is tough and trouble always seems to find him, his mother died when he was eight, Protestants give him a hard time and as if that wasn’t enough his friend from school a bully named Crilly has dragged Cal into an organization called the IRA where Cal are forced to take part in dangerous IRA activity.To make matters worse Cal finds himself falling in love with a widowed women named Marcella, whose husband was killed by the IRA, a dirty murder in which Cal had participated. All though it wasn’t him who had shot her husband he still felt guilty. The main characters are Cal, Marcella, Cal’s father and Crilly. Cal lacks confidence , is rather depressed, unhappy and has a lot of self-hatred. He has all the needed qualities of being the main character in a tragedy. Cal is the kind of character one would sympathize with and feel sorry for even though he has committed a few mistakes.Every tragedy must have a sad love story and that is why I believe MacLaverty created this character, a forgiving and loving widowed wife who has experienced adversity but hasn’t lost her hope in life. With her she has her young daughter Lucky who she is very protective of. Cal’s father is a stubborn but loving man. He refuses to leave his home even after being threatened. He loves his son but isn’t very keen on showing emotions. Every story must have a â€Å"bad guy† and in this novel Crilly is the one who creates some of the trouble for Cal.Crilly is a fearless and merciless bully who works for the IRA and who puts Cal I difficulties like making him his driver while he is on a mission to murder somebody. The story is very believable and without knowing much about the background one would reasonably assume that the novel is based on a true story. It mainly addresses the complexity of being caught in cultural hubris. It also has an underlying meaning which I believe is to show us how the life of a minority among hostile and aggressive people is.Cal’s life is a struggle and will be until he has taken his last breath. I truly would recommend this story even though it is very sad, but I would also recommend that you reference the IRA as part of ongoing Irish history, which will help your understanding of the novel and what Cal is really going through. Sure the story is rather predictable and we get answers to a lot of our immediate questions, but even when things are revealed there are still surprises and things withheld in meaningful ways. MacLaverty is indeed a great author, with a huge talent.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Essay

I. Key Problem What Steven Ells began with a small taqueria in Denver, Colorado in 1993, one may not have foreseen this venture to become the fastest growing restaurant chain in the last decade. By 2006, Ells’ idea made its initial public offering with 535 restaurants throughout the world. Things were going tremendously well for CMG until late afternoon on October 18, 2012 when Ells finished receiving the company’s third quarter results. While data indicated an overall satisfactory outcome, it was the competition from Yum Brands’ Taco Bell and their recent launch of the Cantina Bell menu that would result in what seemed to be the onset of a major problem. Taco Bell had now become a major competitor to Chipotle since the launch of their new Cantina Bell menu allowing them to enter into the fast-casual segment in offering similar ingredients and items as Chipotle had. At the same time CMG paid a significant amount more for their products forcing them to charge a higher price on their menu items. Taco Bell, however, now offered similar items for half the price. The bottom line: competition was the root of this problem. The fact that Chipotle menu prices were higher as compared to that of Taco Bell’s new menu would lead to consumers or normally loyal customers to give the Cantina Bell menu a try. After the launch of the Cantina Bell menu in the summer of 2012, CMG stock significantly declined just after third quarter results were announced. To add insult to injury, Jeff Einhorn, a hedge fund leader, presented at the Value Investors Conference in New York City proclaiming that CMG was an attractive stock for short-sellers because of the considerable competition from Taco Bell. He further stated, â€Å"23% of Chipotle customers had already tried Taco Bell’s Cantina Bell menu†¦and two-thirds of those customers indicated they would return. What’s more, the customers most likely to return to Taco Bell were also those most likely to eat at Chipotle, a dynamic that indicates to me that Chipotle is most at risk of losing its frequent customers.† This message led to CMG’s stock falling by more than 4% within hours of the conclusion of the presentation. The announcement of projected increases in food costs on the part of CMG also contributed to the competition between them and Taco Bell. While Chipotle stood by its belief that it is â€Å"Food with Integrity† because of better ingredients, the Cantina Bell menu produced something similar while lowering the cost a customer would have to pay for a meal, therefore, causing further competition between the two. II. Relevant Theory By looking at the items offered on the Cantina Bell menu versus those on Chipotle’s menu, I determined that they both have a competitive advantage. Chipotle is a premium product offered at a higher price where it reaches a broader market share that is willing to pay more money. On the other hand, Taco Bell’s main strategic course is cost leadership which enables them to reach a broader market share with a lower price for the desired item. As shown on Example 1 the Competitive Advantage and Economic Value Created are somewhat different between the two companies. Since Chipotle offers a better quality of ingredients, consumers are willing to pay a higher price. As a result, creating a higher Value (V) for a burrito is at the same time creating a greater economic value (Value-Cost.) Meanwhile the economic value created by Taco Bell is smaller since the value of their product is less and consumer’s maximum willingness to pay will be lower. Example 1 Since Yum Brands launching of the new Cantina Bell menu, this new organic ingredient-driven list of selections has been a pretty obvious attempt to compete with fast casual giant Chipotle. This is what has become the major concern for Chipotle where competition is becoming fierce and for practically half the price the Cantina Bell menu is a definite value. However, you do get what you pay for and the overall quality and taste of Chipotle still has a slightly greater edge over Taco Bell. The value someone will be willing to pay for a Taco Bell burrito will be less than the value Chipotle has created with their better quality ingredients, hence creating a greater economic value. III. Assessment of Alternatives How could Chipotle effectively approach their key problem which is Taco Bell’s new Cantina Bell menu? What seems to be the main concern for Chipotle is that Taco Bell is trying to provide a similar product for half the price. Some of the alternatives available to Chipotle to are: †¢ Buy low cost goods to reduce prices using Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) †¢ Another option could be to offer a smaller burrito for a smaller price, or to include less amounts of meat as Taco Bell does †¢ Continue doing what they do best and differentiate themselves Should Chipotle buy low cost goods to reduce prices using Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), it would allow them to offer menu items at a lower cost to the consumer providing greater competition between them and Taco Bell’s Cantina Bell menu. However, in doing so would contradict their philosophy of providing the best quality ingredients in their food. In doing so, it will change CMG’s strategy from being a premium product and higher price to a cost leadership strategy and at the same time reducing the value of its product. Another option could be to offer a smaller burrito for a smaller price, or to include less amounts of meat as Taco Bell does in its Cantina Bell menu. This would also allow for cost effectiveness on both the consumer and Chipotle’s side, however, it would go against CMG’s mission statement of being â€Å"Food with Integrity†, lower its value and become a cost leadership strategy as opposed to being a premium product and higher price. A third alternative is for CMG to continue to compete effectively by doing what they already are doing which is differentiation based on quality and sustainability. This approach supports its philosophical message of better food for the consumer and community as well as being environmentally conscious. This allows CMG to maintain its values and remain within their strategy segment. On the contrary, this alternative force Chipotle to increase their menu prices while reducing its consumer surplus. IV. Suggested Course of Action After carefully analyzing the different alternatives, the best course of action is to continue to compete effectively on differentiation based on quality and sustainability given the mounting competitive and sourcing challenges. Even thought Taco Bell’s new menu seems like a significant threat they are far from creating the same value and reputation Chipotle has created since it opened its first restaurant in 1993. Not only does Chipotle provide the freshest and best ingredients with a bold flavor, they are setting themselves apart from any other restaurant chain and main competitor since they continuously are working toward better practices. They continue to push to sustainable sourcing like getting their meat form non Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) while at the same time contributing to the promotion of good animal health and fighting against animal abuse. In addition, CMG buys products from local farms, builds restaurants to be eco friendly and LEED certified (leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) while trying to keep the cost and price of other items down. As their value statement proclaims, â€Å"Food with Integrity† is a mission of serving good quality food with inputs sourced using sustainable farming practices. Even thought new threats like Taco Bell’s Cantina Bell menu are presenting a challenge there will always be competition. CMG upholds strong beliefs to do what is best for the environment and for its communities in order to provide the best products to its consumers. This is precisely why they have grown so fast from the opening of their first taqueria, to the capital infusion from McDonald’s, to its initial Public offering (IPO.) They have been the fastest growing chain in the last decade and just like any fast growing business, regardless of their success, they will reach a slower growth as they approach maturity. There will still be opportunity for expansion. Chipotle is certainly heading toward a different direction than their competitors making them stand out and become a lot harder to imitate. This alternative is truly the only logical option for Chipotle as it continues to enforce its philosophy of providing â€Å"Food with Integrity.† There will always be competition between companies and products, however, if Chipotle chooses another route for combating this rivalry with Taco Bell, it would not allow itself to differentiate from them. V. Key Takeaways Before reading this case, I knew nothing about Chipotle but after reading it I am quite impressed by the approach CMG has taken choosing to go a different route most companies are afraid of doing because of higher cost prices. I was equally impressed they choose organic products, to buy from local farms, being against massive animal feeding as well as animal cruelty and that they are eco friendly and are looking to make all their restaurants like this. Of course, I should also mention that one knows one will be eating the best ingredients and most fresh available foods. I am confident as the values of this company are brought to the attention of more of the public, Chipotle will reach a bigger market share as the public demand will rise. I would also predict other companies and restaurants will follow similar suit. As mentioned earlier, there will always be competition in business, but a firm must find their differentiation advantage. As individuals become more educated and understand the factor facing the environment people will be willing to make a change and help make a difference.

The Validity of Perception Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Validity of Perception - Essay Example This is because perceptions that are deep habitually draw attention. Organization of what people perceive is paramount in the creation of reality. This is because the selected information should be arranged in a way which is meaningful so as to make sense to the world. Interpretation and negotiations are necessary to realize a reality in what people perceive. In regard to the video under scrutiny by Scott, the report considers a murder that took place in Lynwood, California where a father was advising the kids on how to get home and do their homework instead of horsing around. A car appeared, and the father got shot from the passenger sit of the approaching vehicle. Investigation kicked off, and the first suspect, Francisco Carrillo who lived in the neighborhood was to answer murder charges. According to the kids in the video by Scott, the person appearing in the photo looked similar to the person who had shot their father from the vehicle, which ironically was moving too fast to ide ntify the people who were in the vehicle. The suspect underwent conviction and sentenced to life imprisonment, just because the kids had said that the person was the one who shot their father. In the investigation, no guns are in the area, the vehicle which the shooter uses to stretch his arm also goes missing. This also applies to the driver who drove the vehicle that was in use by the shooter. Discussion The reading according to Adler, Ronald, Lawrence, and Russell (42) is in a rhetorical condition whereby, the author uses rhetorical question to bring out the argument in the case. Some of the rhetorical questions include; â€Å"so what is wrong?† this question makes the reader continue reading and answer the question. This structure of using rhetorical questions is necessary to make sure that the reader can relate the events in the case. This is because a rhetorical question does not have an exact answer; rather the author uses the questions to help the reader perceive the seriousness. A question like â€Å"Mr. Carrillo’s alibi?† makes the reader what to know more about the person. The author does not answer the question; rather the author leaves the readers to answer for themselves. This writing style helps to send the message in the reading since the reader plays a significant role in filling the blanks left by the rhetorical questions. Apart from the use of rhetorical questions, there is the use of rhetorical figures such as Folsom Prison to explain the lock up situation of the suspected shooter since the evidence brought before the judge is not concrete enough to put the suspect to prison. Perception The perception is a process which affects the communication with others according to the reading. In the earlier introduction regarding to perception, there are two define classes, the first order and second order. Influence on perception Perception, which involves the selection, organization, interpretation and negotiation of informatio n, is under the influence of many factors. Psychological influences in regard to the study works of Adler, Ronald, Lawrence, and Russell (41) arise from the physical environment and the difference of one’s body to that of another person. Interpersonal relationships arise from the differences in the way people receive sensory information. Developmental differences shape perceptions since age gives allowance for a vast scope and much experience. The relation

Week 2 #1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 2 #1 - Coursework Example The firm needs technical skills and knowledge to operate effectively. In order to acquire these technical skills, the firm needs to recruit competent and highly qualified employees. These employees can then be used to impart the skills and knowledge to other company employees thus improving the company’s overall level of knowledge, skills and abilities (Staines 2012) Conducting widespread recruitment communications makes it easier for qualified candidates to apply for the vacancies in the firm. This is then followed by thorough interviewing process that seeks to establish the interviewee’s level of knowledge, skills and abilities. After recruiting the most qualified candidate for the task, the firm forms a team around the individual so as to encourage knowledge sharing. According to Zhang et al (2014) knowledge sharing enables the company to access the necessary skills with reduced cost implications while at the same time improving the motivation of staffs that learn new things. Zhang, R., Chen, Q., El-Den, J., Jie, Z., & Wankun, Z. (2014). Team members’ knowledge sharing satisfaction in enterprise competition simulative games: An empirical research. Paper presented at the 436-444. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1674840406?accountid=62741 Politis, J. D. (2003). The connection between trust and knowledge management: What are its implications for team performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(5), 55-66. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230318989?accountid=62741 Staines, G. M., PhD. (2012). Finding the best people in a tough economy: The role of knowledge, skills, abilities, attributes, and the challenges of the talent acquisition process Library Leadership & Management (Online), Retrieved from

Budgetary Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Budgetary Planning - Essay Example In the meantime, if the employees find it difficult to attain the targets then it might instead be de-motivating for them (University of Gothenburg. â€Å"Budget-A Perfect Management Tool†). Organizations can allocate certain percentage of budget in order to motivate the employees when they are performing well in an organization. For instance, the company can arrange for travel program for the sales support team that attains the target on a stipulated period of time. In such cases, the company will bear the complete expenses of the employees sent for travelling along with the family (University of Gothenburg. â€Å"Budget-A Perfect Management Tool†). Such kind of budgets can assist in motivating the employee to a great extent and thus can assist the organization to attain its objectives within a short period of time. It is to be remembered that such budgets help to augment the performance of the employees and thus increase their productivity as well. Budget is one of the significant sources of motivation for the employees. Hence, it is crucial for an organization to plan budgets in a way so that it can be utilized for the purpose of motivating the employees. It is to be remembered by the employers that the budgets will have no motivational effects unless they are accepted by the managers involved as their own personal target. In such circumstances, the employer needs to make the managers involvement compulsory in such activities. It is a well known fact that the demanding budgets are seen as more applicable in comparison to less difficult targets. However, negative attitudes can result in if they are viewed as too complex. Therefore, in such circumstances, allocation of budget needs to be done properly so that it serves as a motivational tool. Acceptance of budgets is facilitated when good upward communication exists. The use of departmental meetings can be quite helpful in encouraging the managers to accept

Investigate the BMW Automobiles - one of the global companies Essay

Investigate the BMW Automobiles - one of the global companies - Essay Example Social media has provided a platform for marketers including BMW to have a voice as well as a way to communicate with customers. It has furthermore provided a way to personalize brands and help spread out the brand message in a conversational and relaxed mode. BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) a Germany manufacturing company that specializes in automobiles, motorcycles, as well as engine making was founded 96 years ago and has operations worldwide with divisions and manufacturing plants in more than 13 countries on all five continents (Robson, 2008). BMW and Honda are two different companies targeting very different clientele. BMW generally invests a lot in technology 85% of their investments is in technology as their target market are the affluent buyers which in turn helps BMW maintain its incredible high margins. Honda, on the other hand, is more focused on price tags and mass production of vehicles to maintain or even make profits. Furthermore, it can be said that customers of Honda can upgrade to BMW status while BMW customers very rarely downgrade to Hondas. Since BMW invests heavily in technology, with the use of their e-marketing strategy, which incorporates social network applications with the likes of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter in order to reach a high number of people at fairly low costs. BMW’s use of social media allows for multimedia as well as interactive communication with numerous customers thus allowing better marketing (Mbwette, 2013). While Honda, on the other hand, has less than 50% investment in technology but rely mostly on pricing and TV commercials to make sales in the various countries that Honda sells because the Honda company is generally reluctant on spending money especially to do with promotions. Regarding BMW, the general overall impressions are impressive their business model is great, everything

Marketing research and information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Marketing research and information - Essay Example This study is concerned about how customers, and even the public feel about J.Sainsbury, as a premier consumer enterprise, considering the fact that often traditional firms may find it difficult, or unwise, to evolve new stratagems to suit contemporaneous business, and unwilling to institute radical changes for better prospects. In the case of JS, this has assumed more significance since the years 1993 onwards has proved tumultuous in its sedate history. However, it is seen that as a consequence of change in top leadership during 1993, the fortunes of JS declined and it lost its long standing market supremacy and has now been relegated into the third position after Tesco and Asda. It is quite possible that it could not institute aggressive competitive strategies and market driven techniques to retain its stronghold in the midst of strong rivalry from Asda and Tesco. "Leadership positions are maintained not only by responding to changing demand but by steering the market using innovative products and consumer education." (Gehlhar et al 2009). 2. It is seen that the main aspects that would impact customers would be in term so what added advantages and price cuts could be gained from purchasing from JS and it is seen that "Sainsbury benefited from strong in-store offers and prices cuts, drawing new shoppers and once again increasing its share to just under 15 percent." (Retail sales start to bloom in UK 2009). Objectives: The purpose of this brief are as follows: 1. To assess present attitudes of customers towards JS and how they perceive its current market position, vis--vis rivals and competitors in the retail food business. 2. The attitudes of non-customers towards JS and the basis for their reasoning. It could be seen in terms of creditors, government agencies or other third parties, including the general public, who may be shopping with JS's rival firms. 3. What differential advantages or benefits are possessed by JS, in the perspective of customers that rate them higher than others in the field 4. What the future prospects of JS are as rated in terms of its past and present performances 5. What are the implications of attitudinal issues in determining the future success of JS Outline of possible method: The methodology for his study could be in terms of group discussions, personal interviews and questionnaires with regard to the proposed study. The aspects of group discussions have been detailed in Task 2. The group discussions would be held with major customers of JS in order to assess their views on serviceability and operational aspects of JS. It is seen that the supply chain management system followed in JS is quite robust and close links have been developed with the vendors in order to ensure that replenishments are received in time and stores are filled with choicest food and non-food items demanded by customers. It could also be seen that aspects regarding individual choices and

Strategic Management Unit 2 DB SA Fourth Week Essay

Strategic Management Unit 2 DB SA Fourth Week - Essay Example Brian Moore is an example of good strategic management that can be emulated by other industries. Although it was unethical for him to stretch the truth to get the job at Footlocker, his hard work was quite apparent. At Saucony, for instance, he resettled the strategy of performance running and classic business strategy (SGB, 2009). Even more encouraging was his belief in teamwork to accomplish organizational tasks successfully. To Moore, an individual is as good as individuals around him (SGB, 2009). Furthermore, he favors consistency and creativity for success. These are fundamental, sincere and valid beliefs that can see the management of different industries successful. Like Footlocker, Finish Line is a company dealing in shoes. The company considers shoes as very important assets in everyone’s that should be at the heart of every person. Shoes go with people to and from various places and are central to customization culture in America. Now, more than ever, consumers need custom-made shoes (Creamer, 2004). Besides, they want original and not counterfeit products which are of high quality. The company realized it was lagging behind and signed the Heavy, a co-opt New York Boutique Branding Agency in an attempt to see it improve to heights of success. This was a bold step on the part of Finish Line. Creamer, M., (2004). Footlocker Shoe Store-Sneaker Maker Takes to Tuners. Retrieved from AIU Online Library-EBSCO, Vol. 75, Issue 43, pg. (6). http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&sid=b59cb214-2192-4012-940441caac93a90f%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9Z Whvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=14881951 SGB, (2009). Footlocker Shoe Store-Brian Moore. Retrieved from AIU Online Library-EBSCO, Vol. 42, Issue 4, pg. (40).

Assessment and Evaluation in aviation learning Essay

Assessment and Evaluation in aviation learning - Essay Example It is widely cited that advancements in technologies have been accompanied by wider research and application of education programs. The claim is a connotation that emphasizes how the effectiveness of these education research models may have gone beyond reproach. This paper carries out a critical evaluation of the claim and its implications on the development of aviation training. It explores the applicability of the ISD model components, focusing on assessment and evaluation as applied in aviation training. While cross examining the use of evaluation and assessment in aviation training, it will be of significant importance to understand ISD and its applicability in the learning process, as well as how its components are interlinked to yield a well structured model. An Instruction design model is a process traditionally utilized by developers of instructions and designers trainers to represent flexible and dynamic guidelines necessary for an effective performance and training for supp ort tools. The ISD model is composed of five phases (Rothwell & Kazanas, 2008). These include design, analysis, implementation, development, and evaluation. Analysis Analysis is the phase in which classification of the instructional problem is implemented. Additionally, it entails the establishment of objectives and goals, as well as identification of the learners existing skills and environment. Design Design phase specifically deals with objectives of the learning process, content, exercise, lesson planning, objectives and assessment criteria, as well as media selection. This phase should be specific and systematic. Development It is the phase in which developers and instructional designers assemble and create content assets blueprinted. In addition, graphics, content and storyboard are made in this phase. Programmers are involved in developing and integrating technology for the learners. Implementation At this stage, procedure used in facilitator’s training is developed. T he training must cover the learning outcomes, testing procedure and method of delivery, as well as Evaluation. Evaluation phase has two parts: summative and formative. The Formative evaluation processes are presented in each ADDIE stages. Summative evaluation, on the other hand, consists of tests that are designed for specific criterion-related item, and provides feedback opportunities identified by the users. Most instruction design models that are currently in use spanned off from ADDIE instruction design model (Rothwell & Kazanas, 2008). These include the dick and Carey and Kemp instructional system design models. The use of photo typing is one such improvement of the model. It involves receiving formative or continual feedback while creating the instructional materials. The model helps in saving time and money i.e. capturing problems when not yet fixed. The figure below shows the ADDIE model. The Jerold Kemp instructional design model and method defines nine components of the in structional design while adopting a continuous evaluation or implementation model (Jerrold, 1977). Jerold Kemp takes a wider view. This model adopts an oval shape that conveys the development and design of continuous cycles that require constant designing, assessment and development. This ensures that the instructions are well

Attitude change Essay Example for Free

Attitude change Essay Technology also brought about a change in attitude to many employees because of its personal approach where despite the fact that it allows teams to work together it is also an ideal partner for individual tasks to get done. Craiger JP (2006) claims that technology resulted to a generation of employees who are self starters and problem solvers. By using technology employees learned to work independently, even if they are also dealing with their work teams and welcoming team initiatives on the side. For instance, an employee who does not have a desktop computer or does not know how to use one will have to depend on an encoder or a secretary for files to be encoded, taking two people to finish one document. When errors occur, it will be an accountability of two people. Often, when the margin of error was crossed is impossible to determine. On the other hand, an employee who has a desktop computer and knows how to operate it can type documents himself and be accountable for the whole task. It will also take just one person for the task to be completed. Computer users and the technologically inclined employees are not the only ones who had an attitude change. Those who do not have access to technological innovations in their respective departments were also encouraged to learn how to operate the new gadgets to be able to contribute to the growth of the company and, of course, to avoid being left behind. For fear of being retrenched or laid off by the company for the benefit of accommodating people who can work with the innovations that the organization is adapting, employees are more open than ever to learn new skills specially those that are technological. The same attitude change affects job applicants, who are otherwise not yet members but intending to become members of an organization. Job applicants are now putting more effort in getting at least the simplest technological skills and know-how to get an edge in their job-hunting process, especially with the fact that the younger graduates are more competitive in this area of knowledge. Issues Most of the changes brought about by technology to businesses were positive. The claims cannot be far from the truth. Technology was created to bring in convenience and efficiency, which is what it delivered right from the very start. However, there are also notions as to how technology has largely affected the way in which employees and organizations function, albeit on a negative light. Communication? Contrary to above claims that technology helped the culture of teams to flourish, and that communication became easier through new innovations that companies were investing on, computers and other technological equipment is also blamed for the downgrade in organizational communication. Craiger JP (2006) stressed that computers did not allow employees to communicate until networks were created. There was a great divide between employees who are operating the new facilities, and those who are not. There is also a sub-divide between employees operating the new equipment. The great divide between employees occurs from the very start, when not all employees have access to technology. People who have the know-how are roomed in with the computers, and those who are still on manual work stay in regular cubicles where other employees are present, allowing for interpersonal communication. After much development, majority of employees in many organizations gained access to computers. The problem which turned out later on concerned the transferring, sharing, and merging of files and information within the organization. Born is the network, and things went well. Employees can drag and drop information from and to a colleague, and even share pleasantries with each other on the side. This is where the communication problem began. The problem with technology is that it allows people to be convenient. In fact, employees felt too much convenience that the simplest things are often put on the hands of technology. For instance, instead of dropping by to the nearby cubicle of a co-employee, one just has to click on some icons and send her message through the computer. The technologically-driven workplace also slowly transformed into an impersonal workplace where every bit of thing was coursed through technology. This posed miscommunication problems—messages and files which were not received, lost files, misinterpretation of messages, errors in routing messages, and so on. The list is boundless, but the solution is not far from reach as well. To aid this problem, companies must orient new employees and train existing employees on the art of effective communication, as well as the proper use of company technology. With proper information and education, it is possible for companies to be technologically inclined but still effective in their communication. Re-trainings and new hiring A necessity for many companies who are just starting their technological stance is the re-training of employees. Companies cannot expect all of their employees to be familiar with the jargons and processes of technology once it is initiated in the company. There is also the need for people to maintain the equipment and to troubleshoot them in case something wrong happens. Thus, even if majority of the existing employees know how to operate technological equipment, the company still needs to hire additional people or get an outsourced service for these. This, however, does not sacrifice the cost-effectiveness of business technology. Even if a company spends for additional people or service, the costs that it will incur will still be offset by the multiplicity of role that business technology can undertake. A good way to minimize the costs in this area is to train employees, including those knowledgeable, on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment and by developing guidelines for reporting any problem or damage so that proper and timely intervention can be made. Telecommuting woes A point of debate in the technological workplace is the telecommuting option for employees. This has long been a trend, which proved to be convenient for both telecommuters and their companies. With off-site jobs, telecommuters need not travel to their workplace and be stuck with an office routine. They can also perform personal tasks while working, and avoid the pressure of being confined in an office cubicle. For companies, it saves them the office space the employee needs, and the costs of electricity and other provisional expenses of keeping an employee on the job site. However, human resources managers have one problem with keeping and working with telecommuters and off-site employees in the organization: performance appraisal and monitoring. When an employee works off the job site, he holds his time and place. He may be calling a client for a presentation while waiting for the kids for a drive to the school, and meet the client for a lunch meeting just before going to the grocery for some things needed for dinner. While this requires incredible discipline for tasks to get done, there is no guarantee that all telecommuters have the required character it takes. This brings about the importance of monitoring and performance appraisal, which is an equally grueling task for human resource persons to do with telecommuters. But for many companies, the solution is easy. Monitoring and performance appraisal can be largely dependent on one thing: end product. Telecommuters should be given deadlines and work expectations, and they should in turn give back results. This can prove when an off-site employee has the discipline it takes to work away from work, of he needs to work with the boss around. Privacy issues The ease of organizing work teams is undoubtedly one of the better benefits of modern technology to organizations, but it is not also ideal at all. With the convenient dragging and dropping of information throughout the network of technologically driven companies, it is easy for information to leak and for privacy seals to be broken. On a smaller scale, it can be as simple as one employee stealing the proposal of another employee; or one team member taking full credits to the collaborative work of a work team. On a larger scale it can be the theft of significant company information, or the leak of personal information of employees. This is a possibility to which all companies are susceptible. The exposure of an organization to modern technology, especially that which binds the company to networking, also puts many of its information and exchanges out in the open. Companies, however, need not fret. As privacy has been an utmost concern for many developers of technology, many solutions are now available for companies to protect themselves and their systems. A wide range of products are available to suit many companies’ generic needs, and many developers have come up with security measures that can be customized according to the needs and preferences of an organization. It should be noted, though, that security software and technology does not erase the possibility of privacy issues from taking place. While it can secure much of a company’s information, proper care and understanding of privacy clauses and measures by employees are equally important. Too fast and too furious Another issue concerning companies is the fast turnover of technological trends. New computers and gadgets are introduced everyday, and what is trendy today can be obsolete in a matter of months. While there are companies who are true to their subscription of technology, and strive to invest in newer, better models to improve their standing and service, not all companies can keep up. It can be disheartening for an organization to invest thousands of dollars in innovations, only to find themselves looking for an upgrade months after. Technology’s game is simple: the newer, the better. However, this game should not work for companies as well as they have financial books to consider. For business technology, the key is that whichever fits the company best is the better alternative. Unless very necessary, companies should not feel pressured in constantly buying new equipment every so often to keep up with competition. Delivery of good products and service is what matters most.

Teachers role in Facilitating Learning

Teachers role in Facilitating Learning To fully understand, appreciate and reflect on this title, I will have to study three, very different, yet at the same time inherently linked facets of the education spectrum. Firstly, the role of the teacher will have to be explored and the functions and responsibilities this position entails. Are teachers just lecturing child-minders, or are they fundamental, not only to a childs learning in school, but to their social and moral development and education? Secondly, what children learn, how children learn, and how we, as educators, learn with them, are crucial aspects which cannot be ignored. And thirdly, I will refer to the aforementioned areas of teaching within the context of key stage 3 and 4 English. The precise role of the teacher varies, but educator and role-model are two essential parts. Teachers have a responsibility and a moral duty (and are legally contracted), to assist the development of a pupils learning throughout their school life, whether they are in a lesson or during any other scholastic situation. Teachers and pupils have to co-exist, live and work within the confines of a school, and the reasons why many children just cannot cope with this set-up are many. To minimize these potential problems, the teacher therefore has to cater for every pupils different needs, (race, gender, SEN etc). A teacher can do this by researching particular pupils asking previous teachers, seeing SAT scores and literacy and numeracy levels. Consulting the Senco can be beneficial if there are concerns over teaching somebody with special educational needs. Understanding and accepting pupils differences, whether they are educational, religious or cultural have to be, not tackled, but worked through with all parties present. A working relationship has to develop where the teacher can initiate and then assist learning and the pupil can respond in their own way. Knowing the pupils individually is of vital importance in knocking down walls and building bridges. The pupils knowing the teacher and the teache rs consistencies of discipline, standards and expectations, can benefit the two-way relationship. Both parties know each others likes, dislikes and boundaries etc. Children are constantly underestimated, they frequently gauge and assess the teacher, acting and reacting in different situations with different teachers, so its important to assert yourself and get that relationship right. This is a key target for me; because I worked as a teaching assistant at The Woodroffe, I had to create a formality between myself and a few of the pupils, whereas before it was beneficial to have a more relaxed approach to get the job done. In English, the teacher has several key tasks which help children to get the most out of the subject: giving the pupils confidence to try when reading and when writing and to give them the relevant skills. Encouraging them to share opinions and interact with their peers through discussion speaking and listening. Introduce literature and language variation. Help them to understand the authors craft reading for meaning. They should be given access to our literary heritage and texts from different cultures and traditions. Recognise where a pupil may benefit from drama and ICT related lessons and then differentiate accordingly. Teachers should consolidate this information with media topics and theories to expand knowledge and understanding. The ability to fuse these areas is a teachers aim. The teacher constantly has to push the boundaries, challenge the pupils to get them out of their comfort-zone. There is an element of risk involved for the teacher in attempting a balanced but chall enging lesson. There is also risk for many pupils in different ways: Some of us are risk tolerant and some of us are risk averse with all points equally represented. If you are in a learning situation and anxiety tips into stress, then what happens next is predictable. There are four categories of survival response available to you. A teacher or anyone is involved in formally educating others will be familiar with them. They are fight, flight, freeze and flock. You show resistance or fight the source of stress, you flee from it, you freeze in the face of it or you hang out with others like you or flock from it. If you have an accumulation of stressors that leave you feeling out of control, then the four Fs are what is left for you.  [1]   The teacher regularly reviews the boundaries to reduce the usage of these defence mechanisms. These four Fs are prevalent in English where in ascertaining whether the students have understood, the teacher will direct questions to random pupils, which in their eyes might be thought of as picking on. Speaking and listening tasks can offer problems to some students who may be good in other areas and some pupils respond by using one of these defence mechanisms because they lack the basic skills needed. What the teacher can do to alleviate this problem is to fore-warn the class that questions will be asked, nominate a table, group or pairs for an answer and say what type of questions you are going to ask, building up from easy questions to harder questions. A quieter student could be asked before the lesson if they felt okay with answering a question/performing a poem etc. A certain degree of sensitivity and common sense is needed when considering this question. Because English is such a varied subject that encompasses many different teaching and learning styles, it can be difficult to teach and consider the different and necessary approaches. Key stage 3 can be problematic at The Woodroffe as the classes are of mixed ability with a vast range of skills and needs. Key stage 4 are put into sets which, although can help with differentiation, means the need to further challenge pupils becomes more apparent. Pupils know every trick in the book, every survival technique that will help them to stay alive in the jungle that is their classroom. The teacher has to remain one step ahead of them, using their motivational techniques along with a good lesson, to keep the class participating. Knowing each pupil and their needs is of vital importance to the teacher. The balance of praise and criticism in teaching is an ongoing debate and an issue of common sense. Educational psychologists, writers, theorists, parents and teachers have all added their ideas to the following questions: Is it three ticks to one cross? Do you give out fewer ticks as the pupils get older? Do you mark in green or red pen? These are just some of the basic questions that are trying to be answered. At my school there is an Assessment For Learning initiative set up where a group of teachers have volunteered to try many of these schemes. They meet up quarterly to share results. From attending one of these meetings and by witnessing them in class, I am now aiming to use one or two of the ideas in my lessons. For instance, the question of how to mark effectively: Within this context it is very difficult to state what type of marking is needed and where. One possible rule offered is that you dont highlight every spelling mistake, especially for the lower ability groups. This issue splits teachers. As previously mentioned, I feel that this is an issue of common sense depending on the context of the situation. There is also the question of summative vs. formative marking, but does there have to be verses, they can co-exist together. Sometimes a comment is more beneficial to the student than a grade. Some students may prefer to see a mark or grade so that they can easily see improvement. There is ongoing research into this area. Choosing which type of marking to use is a matter for each individual teacher and their individual students. Again, it is your knowledge of the pupils as individuals, building on your expectations for them, what they are achieving and what they should be achieving and getting the pupil to recognise these expectations. Just as two pupils are never the same, the marking, comments and grades reflect this. Teachers have to regulate and differentiate and only by knowing the pupils, (SEN, background, social problems etc) will this occur. I have realised that some pupils benefit from formative marking and that some crave a grade or number so that they see if they are progressing. It appears to me that higher ability students like to see the grades. I was asked recently by a higher ability year 12 student to give a grade for a piece of homework where I had just put a constructive comment. Putting crosses in red, underlining incorrect spelling and putting see me! at the end of the work, are all methods which we are familiar with, but how many teachers actually appreciate and celebrate pupils work? At every level pupils like to see their work appreciated by the teacher and the class. They like to know that they understood the question or showed a great deal of effort. They like to be rewarded appropriately and consistently. For some pupils just to finish a piece of work is a cause for celebration. This celebration should be differentiated by the teacher in accordance with individual expectations. Linked with praise and criticism is target-setting. A current theme in schools is for the student and teacher to work together to set the pupils targets for the term/year etc. The theory behind this idea is to involve the pupil as much as possible so they can create manageable targets. Also, they are more likely to resist completely if a teacher were to set their targets and force-feed them to the student. In English, setting targets, no matter how small and achieving them is the basis for progression in learning. Targets could include spelling certain words, taking part more in class discussions, not calling out or handwriting. Again, this target setting is heavily differentiated and that is why I feel it is a good idea to involve the student, they know probably better than the teacher where they need to improve. I have worked with students and other teachers setting literacy targets and behavioural targets in other schools and at The Woodroffe. We adjusted the targets by looking at levels and listening to comments from other teachers, not just in English. This idea attempts to motivate students by shifting the responsibility, from the teacher to the pupil, involving them more in their learning. This is just one facet of an interactive movement within education today; self-marking and self-evaluation are important tools in the classroom for all key stages. Just recently I asked a year 10 group to mark their own work as if they were a teacher. The comments and grades that I were shown were very interesting, the amount of constructive reflection was very surprising. This allows the students to see their work from a teachers perspective what they will be marked on and how the teacher allocates marks for spelling and handwriting, for example. The idea is to create reflective pupils. Pupil responsibility is the current catchphrase, although some students understand the reasoning behind the idea more than others. In my year 9 lessons, preparing for their SATS, I ma ke very explicit what they will be marked on for each type of question. They are given the mark scheme to mark their own mock papers. This seems to help them a great deal and they are beginning to realise that teachers dont just give a random grade with could do better on the bottom. A teacher has to consider the use of the different learning styles: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. Visual learners like to see what they learn, auditory learners like to hear what they learn and kinaesthetic learners like to be physically involved in what they learn. They should be used together and this cross-over is of vital importance in an inclusive learning environment. In English, skills are needed that incorporate different styles of teaching (reading, writing, watching, speaking, listening, performing). When planning, teachers have to accommodate all the methods to make sure they appeal to all the different types of learners in their class. Across both key stages I have aimed to deliver a varied programme within the lesson; when I am explaining something I try to express it clearly and concisely, have what I am saying on the board, sometimes with a picture and by giving out helpful handouts. By demonstrating something as I am explaining it, especially in drama and speakin g and listening, helps to address all the different types of learners. Also, I prefer to set work involving a mixture doing tasks, reading tasks, written tasks, whilst incorporating drama and ICT. Flexibility within a lesson structure is a key theme. Recognising where to be flexible is a trait of a good teacher: (Is this too easy for them shall I move on to something more challenging? Did they get all that shall I go over it again?) Because of the wide range of topics in English, a well-structured lesson should be planned, although digression in a lesson, especially when instigated by a pupils question, can be beneficial to develop. It is beneficial if a teacher is enthusiastic and is able to enthuse students. This enthusiasm should be considered a valuable resource, just like the teachers subject knowledge. The knowledge of, understanding and using resources are essential for enhancing the learning experience. Resources can be varied and obviously differ between subjects, classrooms and teachers. Resources can include such things as: Teacher knowledge Student knowledge Teaching Assistants I.C.T. computers, O.H.P.s, digital cameras, video cameras etc Research Homework A brilliant and effective lesson is very hard to achieve. A well-structured lesson is a must as long as there is flexibility allowed, as previously mentioned. Presentation and delivery are also important aspects to consider whilst not forgetting the power of the teacher to inspire: Use rich language and lots of repetition. Encourage learning behaviours noticing, naming, describing, speculating, questioning. Encourage physical exploration and robust play. (Smith, p.46) Other things that are found in a good lesson vary from subject to subject, factors that I consider crucial in English are: 1) Good planning and preparation. A well planned and prepared lesson is more likely to be a good one. Each learning objective and task to meet that objective is carefully considered to be beneficial to the students. This is an ongoing target, which I feel I have met to a basic level. 2) Knowing the pupils well. By knowing the pupils well you can cater for all their weaknesses and abilities, set achievable targets, expectations and boundaries. Again, I know the majority of my students and some of their weaknesses and strengths but I realise more background research on the pupils is needed. 3) Differentiation/learning styles. This is to benefit each student with their own needs and learning styles tailoring the lesson so that it is accessible to thirty or more students. This is a key aim of mine and although I feel I understand what is needed, I need to spend a great deal of time on this area. 4) Check understanding continually (also from assessment). I check at regular intervals by asking questions, checking books and work in lesson. This is important because it is vital to realise if you are going too fast or too slow. Students that dont understand will switch off. Also, knowing when you are going too fast is crucial and leads on to: 5) Consolidation building on prior knowledge/looking to future lessons. This can be added to the start of a lesson to refresh memories and to let the students know the content of the lesson. I feel I do consolidate consistently but it is an ongoing, rolling target of mine. 6) Appropriate working relationship with students. As previously mentioned, to benefit the student and the teacher, getting the correct balance has to be achieved. This is an area where I realised I needed to focus myself. I think I am gradually achieving that balance. A critical aspect of the facilitation of learning is the actual environment where the learning takes place, usually the classroom. Children are learning all the time, whether they know about it or not: There is a great deal of learning that goes on outside of conscious attention. The brain processes information that is neither attended to nor noticed and this process is pervasive and ongoing. Children can, in some situations, be learning without the involvement of the teacher! (Smith, p.161) There are other ways to make the classroom an enriched learning place and accessible to all. Behaviour is a major factor, if you have bad behaviour constantly and from different students, you may well question your choice of lesson for them. A lesson that is too easy for students is just as bad as a lesson that is too hard for them. Better behaviour means better learning. Classrooms become better places in which to study and more enjoyable to work in.  [2]   It is also beneficial to students and teachers alike, to be consistent when setting and enforcing rules and boundaries. By talking to staff and from my own experiences, I have realised this is an important aspect. Clarification, explanation and the displaying of rules and guidelines are essential as pupils learn best in ordered environments where boundaries are clear.(DfES 2003) It is easy to overlook the actual classroom space. This is an integral part to the students lessons. Is it light and airy? Is it overcrowded or badly set out? Are the wall displays overbearing, too busy? Or, are the displays subtly aiding learning by just being visible? Students are proud to see their own work on the walls and this sense of well-being can only help create a positive atmosphere. It is good for the students to know where everything is in a classroom. Are the dictionaries and other resources easily accessible? Are the tables and chairs set out in rows or in groups? Which way would suit the task you are about to set? I have always thought that this is an area that could easily be overlooked by teachers and although I aim to consider this factor, I find it difficult when I use twelve different rooms, some of them art and science rooms which are not conducive for teaching English. Differentiation is a major consideration in the classroom. Recognising, understanding and catering for every childs individual needs are essential; knowing the pupils, planning for them appropriately and setting achievable learning outcomes. Getting the balance between challenging content and achievement can be difficult, even for experienced teachers. That is why it is so important to know your pupils well, as previously discussed. What special educational needs do they have? What can you do to help them progress in their learning? In English, recognising reading and writing problems, are they dyslexic? Also, speaking and listening problems, autism and understanding these problems is necessary. How can you make your lessons more accessible for them? You can try to understand their problems and talk to the Senco about how to facilitate learning better. Have they any background or social problems? Teachers have to differentiate for the gifted and talented in their classes, with extens ion tasks combined with rewards, whilst not forgetting all the pupils in between. It is also a key aim for teachers to be reflective, recognising the good aspects of their teaching and developing them in order to facilitate progression in pupils learning. It is also necessary for them to realise where their teaching techniques and methods can be improved to achieve their full potential as an educator, which in turn, will improve the student. Although I have only limited experience, one example is fresh in my mind: Whilst beginning to take a year 11 GCSE prep. group, I realised that because of their lack of motivation, they werent really benefiting from my lessons. I discussed the issue with my mentor and approached from a different angle, changing my lesson plans, tasks and delivery to get their attention and to offer the skills they needed to learn. I think that the role of the teacher is an indefinable idea. As times change, so do the responsibilities and duties for a teacher. One thing remains constant however, the main drive of teacher as educator. Although teachers wear many different hats, their actual teaching hat is never taken off, that is the one thing that takes precedence. As previously mentioned, teachers have to be flexible nowadays, and it is this pliability that has helped to make teaching such a demanding but rewarding career. Teaching has evolved and the roles are many and varied across the entire spectrum. There is a shift in telling the children what they need to know, to telling the children how to find out what they need to know, giving them the responsibility for their learning and development. In English, there is a drive towards prioritising what the child needs to progress on, students are marked and evaluated as individuals not as a whole class. Getting the balance between consolidation and moving the class on is a constant consideration and through teaching, teachers are learning how to adapt and improve so they can benefit the students to their full potential.

Analysis of the Coca Cola Company Essay -- Businesses Coca Cola Market

Analysis of the Coca Cola Company History "Coca-Cola enterprises Incorporated, employees 66,199 operates, 444 facilities, 47,235 vehicles, 1.9 million pieces of cold drink equipment and sold 3.8billion unit cases in 46 states in the united states, all 10 provinces of Canada and portions of Europe including Belgium, France, Great Britain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands" (Coca-Cola facts 99). An, Atlanta Pharmacist Dr. John Slyth Pemberton founded Coca-Cola on May 8, 1886. The carmel colored ingredients, Coca leaves and kola nuts. Later the drink was striped of narcotics. The drink was first designed as a drug that will help people feel better. Pemberton sold his new drink for 5 cents a glass. Some time later carbonated water was added to the syrup and that is how Coca-Cola was invented. Dr. Pemberton sold Coca-Cola out of the pharmacy he worked at. The pharmacy was owned by, a man named Frank M. Robinson. Robinson suggested "Coca-Cola" as a name for Pemberton's drink. The two men took an old oilcloth sing and hung it in the window saying "Drink Coca-Cola". They averaged nine glasses sold a day. In 1886 Pemberton became sick he sold some of his portions of his interest too Asa G. Candler. In 1888 Pemberton died, and Asa Candler began buying all the out standing shares of Coca-Cola. Candler was and Atlanta druggist and businessman. Candler knew Coke was going to be something big. He then had complete control by 1891 for $2,300. In 1892, Candler and his brother John Candler, Frank Robinson and two other associates formed "Coca-Cola Company" in Georgia. Candler was a master at marketing. He handed out coupons for one free glass of Coca-Cola. He also promoted the beverage by painted walls, Clocks, outdoor posters, serving trays and fountain urns. Candler marketing stragety worked Coke was available everywhere. The sales took off. People started calling Coca-Cola "Coke" They urged the customers to call it by its full name, but "Coke" just stuck. "In 1894, the company opened its first syrup manufacturi ng plant outside Atlanta in Dallas Texas. The following year plants opened in Chicago and Los Angeles. Three years after the Coca-Cola Company's incorporation Candler announced in the annual report: "Coca-Cola in the now drunk in every state and territory in the United States" (History of Coca-Cola Company). Joseph A. Biedenharn, of Vicksburg, Mississippi installed ... ...ola's target areas are grocery stores, recreational areas, shops, malls and sporting events. The mass of distribution to cus Bibliography Bibliography Associated Press. "Coca-Cola Recalls More Tainted Drinks." Boston Globe [CD-ROM], 3 July 1999, National/Foreign Section, p. A4. Available: BOSTON GLOBE File: 631. Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. "Facts 1999." Atlanta: Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., 1999. "Coca-Cola's Global Dominance." https://www.wiley.com:8082/schermerhorn/ oc/page01.htm (13 Oct. 1999). "Coke Insider." Investors Business Daily. Mahoney, Ed. Distribution Manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Group Interview. 4 November 1999. Pendergrast, Mark. For God, Country, and Coca-Cola. New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Son Publishing Co., 1993. The Coca-Cola Company. "Facts, Figures, and Features." Atlanta: The Coca-Cola Company, 1996. "The Coca-Cola Company Overview." Hoover's Company Profiles. wysiwyg:// bodyframe.14/http://ehostweb14.epnet.com/fulltext.asp (23 Sept. 1999). "The Coca-Cola Company." Profiles. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/ world/world.html (10 Nov. 1999). The Coca-Cola Company. "The Chronicle of Coca- Cola: Since 1886." Atlanta: The Coca-Cola Company, 1950.

The Genre of Cyberpunk :: Literature Science Fiction Essays

The Genre of Cyberpunk Cyberpunk is, as its authors would have it, a revolutionary new genre. The Movement is made up of radical new authors breaking from traditional SF ideology and prose. The style evokes a sense of fear and paranoia while overloading the reader with information. Aside from these indefinable feelings evoked by the genre, cyberpunk contains several concrete, identifiable themes in every story. The central theme is about fringe characters -- outsiders -- living in a grimy, seedy world ruled over by huge, all-encompassing megacorporations. The megacorps permeate the world of these characters with an impersonal, hopeless aura. One can either work for them as a wage-drone in mediocrity, or against them as against gods in a pitiful fight to outwit them. The cyberpunk world is completely overwhelmed, infused, and inundated by corporate technology such as decks, the Matrix, "prosthetic limbs, implanted circuitry, cosmetic surgery, genetic alteration" (Sterling xiii), and artificial intelligences . The megacorporate philosophy that everything can be bought and sold, like the technology that is bought and sold, makes human life cheap and worthless. Technology has replaced humans, much like machines today have already replaced workers on the assembly line. The Girl Who Was Plugged In is an exquisite example of cyberpunk, although it was published about a decade before the Movement. The story examines characters on the fringe of society; characters who are unaccepted and unaccepting of mainstream society. In the tradition of Gina and Rickenharp the rock-and-roll dinosaurs, Mona the prostitute, and Case the burned-out decker, P. Burke is a prime example of such an outcast. In her original and final form, Burke is "the ugly of the world" (Tiptree 45). She does actually worship the corporate gods and comes to love living in the luxury of society, but she would gladly throw it all away for Paul. Although born into the corporate hierarchy/family, Paul is as much an outsider as Burke. He's a revolutionary fighting the good fight against the megacorporate entity of GTX with the corp's own equipment, making shows "pregnant with social protest. An underground expression" (Tiptree 66). This fits with Sterling's comment that cyberpunk is due to th e "overlapping of worlds that were formerly separate: the realm of high tech, and the modern pop underground" (Sterling xi). If Burke and Paul constitute the punk archetypes of the story, then the high tech, the cyber, elements of the story are everywhere to be seen. The Genre of Cyberpunk :: Literature Science Fiction Essays The Genre of Cyberpunk Cyberpunk is, as its authors would have it, a revolutionary new genre. The Movement is made up of radical new authors breaking from traditional SF ideology and prose. The style evokes a sense of fear and paranoia while overloading the reader with information. Aside from these indefinable feelings evoked by the genre, cyberpunk contains several concrete, identifiable themes in every story. The central theme is about fringe characters -- outsiders -- living in a grimy, seedy world ruled over by huge, all-encompassing megacorporations. The megacorps permeate the world of these characters with an impersonal, hopeless aura. One can either work for them as a wage-drone in mediocrity, or against them as against gods in a pitiful fight to outwit them. The cyberpunk world is completely overwhelmed, infused, and inundated by corporate technology such as decks, the Matrix, "prosthetic limbs, implanted circuitry, cosmetic surgery, genetic alteration" (Sterling xiii), and artificial intelligences . The megacorporate philosophy that everything can be bought and sold, like the technology that is bought and sold, makes human life cheap and worthless. Technology has replaced humans, much like machines today have already replaced workers on the assembly line. The Girl Who Was Plugged In is an exquisite example of cyberpunk, although it was published about a decade before the Movement. The story examines characters on the fringe of society; characters who are unaccepted and unaccepting of mainstream society. In the tradition of Gina and Rickenharp the rock-and-roll dinosaurs, Mona the prostitute, and Case the burned-out decker, P. Burke is a prime example of such an outcast. In her original and final form, Burke is "the ugly of the world" (Tiptree 45). She does actually worship the corporate gods and comes to love living in the luxury of society, but she would gladly throw it all away for Paul. Although born into the corporate hierarchy/family, Paul is as much an outsider as Burke. He's a revolutionary fighting the good fight against the megacorporate entity of GTX with the corp's own equipment, making shows "pregnant with social protest. An underground expression" (Tiptree 66). This fits with Sterling's comment that cyberpunk is due to th e "overlapping of worlds that were formerly separate: the realm of high tech, and the modern pop underground" (Sterling xi). If Burke and Paul constitute the punk archetypes of the story, then the high tech, the cyber, elements of the story are everywhere to be seen.

Moby Dick :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The classical selection by Herman Melville, Moby Dick focused on the significance of one man’s obsession over a murderous white whale. As if the central plight of Captain Ahab was not enough of an obstacle to overcome, the piece is thus complicated by the Captain’s mystique. The already complex situation was made more dramatic with the inclusion of Ishmael’s interpretation of Ahab’s character , Moby Dick’s predominant influence and the mellow white birds that seemed to shadow Moby Dick at every step along the way as a moth to fire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The somewhat fearful Ahab played the greatest role on the ship. Whether dealing with the tedious chores of maintaining the ship or the neverending search for truth and redemption through the death of Moby Dick. Ahab somewhat possesing demonic qualities, struggled to contain the evil within his inner self thus controling the earth’s stairway to heaven. The captain’s great obsession ,Moby Dick led to the loss of his leg’s as well as his wings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The great whale, Moby Dick was the sea’s most feared and hunted creature. Moby has come across to Ishmael and the rest of the crew of the Peqoud, as a white god. Able to crush ships when provoked, how many times the inhabitants of the world disrupt nature to fulfill their obsessions as did the whalers to Moby Dick causing his rage. Moby Dick was better left alone, like perfect things made by the hands of God should be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The sight of the great beast of the sea ,as it was known to the inhabitants of the whailing industry, was easily spotted with the appearance the white birds. Those white birds were forever bound to the whale, their white God. Their souls in the embrace of Moby , were the not so innocent souls taken by the whale. They helped serve as a

Food, Inc. Essay

Food, Inc. broadens the consumers prospective on the production of foods such as chicken and cattle. The documentary was convincing in regards to showing the consumer what manufacturers are afraid to show us, consumers. Nowadays, there are approximately 47 thousand products in a grocery store. That of which four producers have 70% of the market. Food, Inc. had many facts and statistics telling the viewers of today’s farmers and other large corporations in the food industry. It used to be that it took three months to produce a chicken from when it hatched to the time it was ready to slaughter, now, it takes only 48 days. Farmers average a borrowing of $500,000 in which they only make $18,000 profit. Large producers are keeping farmers in debt. Rather than letting the plants and animals take the time they need to produce naturally companies are always thinking â€Å"faster, faster, bigger, bigger†. Candy, chips, pop, and hamburgers from McDonald’s are all examples of cheaper food than compared to vegetables or fruit. Although they are higher subsidized, they are low in cost. Food, Inc. could have overlooked the value some Americans have on these cheaper meals. A Hispanic family was shown on the documentary. This family was faced with having to choose between buying medication for their diabetic father or getting groceries. Him, as well as one and a half million other Mexican farmers lost their jobs due to larger corporations and with all the debt that is due, they don’t have a lot of money for the quality of food they may want. Food, Inc. however did overemphasize all the negative larger companies were doing to farmers, as well as animals. Some interesting facts are as follow: at a slaughter house located in Tar Heel, 32,000 pigs are slaughter a day; that’s 2,000 per hour. If a plant is always failing the USDA testing, they are said to be shut down. However, the law never took affect, instead, the plants took USDA to court. In 2008, 90% of soybeans did not have the original seed. Although documentaries are usually biased, there were many times throughout the film where a large corporations were asked to talk, however, they declined. Large corporations could have helped their side of view by taking time to conduct an interview with the Food, Inc. crew. Food, Inc.was very intriguing, although it could have furthered explained through a corporations prospective overall the documentary was successful. The harsh facts with the jaw dropping graphics were just a bonus on the heart touching stories all of the farmers told. The graphics of reality was most bothering. The fact that companies could get away with employing illegal immigrants than do nothing when they were arrested was annoying, as well as knowing that a company could sue anybody for anything even if they knew they would lose. Something that was realized as result from watching this piece, is that to eat well in this country you need money. Questions that could be asked are how can companies like Monsanto have all of one farmer’s bank accounts and check written from the last 10 years. How can this company sue farmers (and win) for the farmer’s crops being contaminated against their knowledge. Why did patenting a seed ever become acceptable when the seed needs to be grown and consumed by millions. And why can the FDA sell food without a GMO label.

Research Paper (Football’s Effects on Personal Health)

Rodney Whitehead Eng 102 Research Paper 12/10/08 Football A person’s health is one of the most important things to maintain throughout his/her life. Playing sports is a fun and effective way to stay healthy mentally as well as physically. Football is an extremely physical, mentally advanced sport and is an excellent example of this. Football is an effective way to improve the physical, mental and social aspects of a person’s health. Football dates as far back as ancient Greece. Greeks made these games, which compare to modern football, to simulate warfare and battle strategies. If you know how an ancient phalanx works, you can find similarities between it and how the offensive and defensive line interact. It’s mostly just a lot of pushing and shoving with intent to penetrate the line and break the phalanx using shields and spears in a tactical fashion to create an ideally impenetrable unit. The linebackers, and defensive backs would represent the secondary defenses. The offensive backs and receivers represented the higher ranks of warriors. It was a game they played to showcase their skills, and it was an alternative of staying in shape without spending hours in the gymnasium. It also gave them more social interactions with people who had similar interests. The game of football has without a doubt become more advanced. It has become an multitude of associations and leagues each with their own individual rules and regulations. The game itself can be very confusing to understand from a foreign standpoint. However, the object of the game is simple. The team with the ball has to get it into the opposing teams endzone. Obviously it is more complicated than that but it’s the basic idea. When weighing the pros and cons of impacts on health with playing football, there are some negative aspects that go along with it such as injuries, risks with playing in severely cold weather, and other minor problems players might have with chronic pain or irritations on the body which include joint damage, turf toe and athletes foot, etc. Injuries in professional football do happen often, but it’s a part of playing the game. I personally would have rather broken every limb on my body than not ever have played football. According to Ernest Needham, injuries are abundant but not overwhelming considering the amount of people who play the sport. â€Å"We all know that accidents will happen in the best regulated of sports (even pedestrians are not free from them); but accidents of a serious or fatal nature are very rare considering the thousands who play, and it is questionable whether the percentage does not compare favorably with those of other pastimes (Unk 1-Par 7)†. All other health risks of football which are but minor compared to injuries should just be something athletes should go through to play such a fun and beneficial game. In my eyes, football is one hundred percent beneficial. One of the best things about football is that there is a spot for and type of person. Basically big, strong men play on the line; small, fast men can usually play as cornerbacks and safeties; strong and fast men will usually play running back or linebacker; and the tall, fast guys who can catch make good receivers. One aspect of football that makes it good for human health and development is the extra conditioning that is required to stay in shape. Conditioning mainly is based around running. A good thing for football players to practice and develop often is sprinting. Speed is the most important factor when playing football and it is extremely beneficial to one's health to sprint on a regular basis. It allows the heart to adapt and operate at higher speeds without such a high exhaustion factor as would usually be the case for someone who doesn't sprint regularly or at all for that matter. Football builds up strength and endurance in every part of your body. It increases your cardiovascular muscles and decreases your resting heart rate. You also become more balanced by learning different techniques and it develops the footwork of athletes to build speed and quickness. Unk 3 Par 2) Sprinting is most commonly practiced in what we call circuits or pyramids. A circuit is a multitude of different types of sprints performed in a row with little or no rest. For example, an athlete would start with seated arm sprints and when the whistle blows, he would get up and sprint to the forty yard cone at full speed. When he reaches the cone he would back pedal 20 yards, then do fifteen seconds of high knees. After this he would then sprint out the remaining forty yards. Circuits can be performed in any order with any combination of sprinting exercises. Circuits promote endurance, acceleration, speed and exercise diversity which is an important part of adaptive health as well as a vital skill one needs to play football. Sprinting pyramids go along with the idea of starting out small and gradually increasing distance and intensity. Let’s say you’re on a standard track. From the starting line, the sprinter would sprint a short ten yards, touch the line and come back. This is followed by increments of ten usually. Once the pyramid reaches sixty yards out, the sprinter gradually goes back down in increments of ten to act as a cool-down. Pyramids develop an athletes agility, endurance and also builds an athletes ability to sprint with stability and control. As a result, sprinting is extremely beneficial to an athletes health and well-being and this demonstrates how the sprinting aspect of football is a major part in the health of an individual. Most teams also coach their athletes to run long distances. Long distance running is an excellent way to boost a human’s cardiovascular stamina and increase the strength in an athletes fast-twitch muscle system in his/her legs. The reason it is so effective in improving someone’s health is because it keeps the heart beating at a high rate for a long period of time. This sends oxygen quickly to all the body’s key receptors which is essential to maintain motor skills, and better a human’s growth and blood flow. It also enables the heart to adapt and strengthen to be able to handle such a strain for such a long period of time. This helps athletes keep energy during games and practice without getting as tired. Long distance running is usually done as a team or in smaller groups throughout the team. For example, the backs receivers will run in one group and the lineman and linebackers will run in the other. The distance teams run always varies based on the coaches, how the practice has gone so far, and the weather, but usually when I say â€Å"a long distance run†, I mean at the very least one mile. Take me for example. I run one and a half miles every day before I strength train. I don’t consider that to be a long distance run at all. It’s more like a little warm up. On Fridays I run three miles which judging by how tired I am after, I consider to be long distance running. What defines the term â€Å"long distance running† is the physical abilities of the athlete and how much they are willing to sacrifice to be a healthy person and an excellent football player. Running in football is a great building block to a healthy lifestyle. Usually people who run and do other exercises regularly will generally have more energy throughout the day than non-athletes. People who have not experienced this first-hand may think otherwise. They might think that if someone exercises everyday, it would drain them and make them tired all the time. That is definitely not the case. Exercise lowers your heart rate in times of inactivity allowing the body to operate using less energy than someone who’s heart rate may be higher during times of inactivity. For example an idle body which has a heart rate of 70 regularly will use more energy than an athlete with an idle heart rate of 52. Therefore an athlete will generally have more energy when not exercising. Overall, running is an important part of football and an excellent way to stay in shape. In the sport of football, it is essential to compete with one another to be the strongest and the fastest. This being said, strength training is extremely important and is also highly beneficial to the sport. Their are many lifts that are specific to football, but weight lifting in general is a remarkably healthy life practice. First of all, it takes a lot of calories to build and maintain muscle, therefore just weightlifting alone could be a great way to get rid of fat. Basically, if someone lift weights to lose fat, he/she will be losing fat and replacing it with muscle making him/her leaner, lighter and stronger. Lifting weights is also a healthy way to socialize. When an athlete lifts weights, he/she usually uses a spotter and if they both are in the same strength range they will usually do all their lifts together and create a friendly relationship with one another. Team chemistry is also something that is taught and practiced in all leagues. The coaches usually try to ensure the cooperation and friendship of all their teammates. This builds builds the bonds that keep a team strong and the benefit an athletes mental and social health. An person’s mental health is probably more important that his/her physical health. Football is an excellent way to develop mental strong mental health. In most cases, players need to remember all the different plays and formation in a playbook to run a solid offense. That should be easy for most people with half a brain but they also have to know how to make quick reads and shifts in blocking to make plays work based on how the defense is aligned. This is a very complex skill that only comes with experience in the game. This trait illustrates a strong mentality which is extremely healthy to develop especially in early years. According to Abby Lerner’s quote from Sian Beilock, associate professor in psychology at the University of Chicago, playing football plays a big role in developing essential language skills students need to understand complex situations. â€Å"Experience playing and watching sports has enduring effects on language understanding by changing the neural networks that support comprehension to incorporate areas active in performing sports skills,† Beilock said. (Lerner Par 4) He also said that the findings may soon be applied to education. For example, the best way to teach kids about momentum and physics may not be assigning lengthy reading assignments, but getting them up from their desks and moving. â€Å"The experience of acting something out may help them understand the concept much better (Lerner Par 5)†. Football also promotes a healthier diet. The coaches stress that their players eat healthy and many of them put their athletes on a strict eating plan. Athletes in professional football and high high division college football are usually given a meal plan to improve their health and well-being. A good meal plan would consist of foods high in protein and carbohydrates in the morning, foods high in carbohydrates at noon, and high protein and vitamins in the evening such as boiled chicken and green vegetables. Such practices, along with exercising, weightlifting and stretching, can actually reduce the risk of injury. A balanced diet can also help keep the digestive system regulated. Eating the right foods at the right times is an important part of staying healthy so it is no wonder that the health driven sport of football practices sticking to a healthy diet. Football is an extremely disciplined and physical sport, but it is probably the most fun a person can have if he/she is trying to stay healthy. Through the coaching of strength, conditioning, dieting and enhanced brain activity, football is a great way to improve the physical and mental health of individuals of all ages. Works Cited Author Unknown1. â€Å"Health Risks of Playing Football†. Publisher Unknown www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/Fhealth. htm This articles focuses on the downside to football. It illustrates certain health risks and diseases that may be caused by playing football, both long term and short term. It tends to use a lot of statistics and credited facts throughout the article. In fact, the bulk of the article is composed of these statistics and facts. Little is shown of the writer’s own input of the subject. Author Unknown2. â€Å"Football improves health of the community†. Publisher Unknown http://www. dh. gov. uk/en/News/DH_4111986 This article illustrates the positive physical effects of football. It points out that the sport promotes a healthier diet, teaches drug and alcohol awareness and promotes good sexual health as well as social inclusion. Author Unknown3. What are the benefits of football†. Wiki-Answers. http://wiki. answers. com/Q/ This is sort of a Q and A format article. It asks the question; What are the health and physical benefits of playing football? It is followed by multiple answers from anonymous contributors. Some answers are straight and to the point and some go in depth with exciting facts in vivid detail. Lerner, Abby. â€Å"The Best Reason to Watch More Football†. Men’s Health. http://www. menshealth. com/cda/article Watching football is had been a proven way of increasing brain activity and comprehension efficiency. This article developes reasons of how and why it does and it explains them in depth. Moor, Craeg(? ). â€Å"Improve mental health through playing football†.  © 2008 Adfero Ltd. craegmoor. co. uk/news/industry/18518880/ The mental health benefits of playing football are beyond significant. Football is a great way to socialize and develop relationships with other players in an informal, fun way which has effects on a person's emotions, relationships, identity and self-esteem. This article develops these benefits in a very compact article in which I will probably have to use sentence numbers.

The boundary between normal and pathological

The boundary between normal and pathological aging is difficult to define because cognition is not homogenous in the elderly. Moreover, there is also a large heterogeneity in the performance within different domains of cognition and even within the subsystems of one specific domain, for example, memory. However, some general factors have been identified in normal cerebral aging, which might be important mediators between age and cognition.There is a decrease in the capacity of working memory and information-processing speed as well as problems in the inhibition of nonrelevant information (Van der Linden et al., 1999). Thus, most elderly persons will exhibit mild difficulties in acquiring new information that do not have any repercussions on everyday activities.Behavioral medicine research over the past several years has identified a number of characteristics that affect the development and course of cognitive impairment and coronary disease in elderly. Included among these psychosoci al risk factors are hostility, depression, social isolation, high job strain, and low socioeconomic status.The specific mechanisms whereby these factors influence the pathogenesis and prognosis of major causes of death such as coronary heart disease (CHD), but considerable research points to accompanying health behaviors (smoking, dietary habits, and alcohol consumption) and biological characteristics (altered functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems) as likely mediators.Finally, research evaluating interventions targeting psychosocial risk factors in groups of patients with CHD and cognitive impairment offer considerable promise that secondary prevention will be shown to have an important place in the treatment and rehabilitation of these aging diseases. The purpose of this work is to review specifically cognitive impairment and coronary disease in elderly and call attention to the important but often overlooked a correlation in cognitive impairment and coro nary heart disease in elderly.Physical and psychological risk factors will be studied in relation to the development of coronary heart disease and cognitive impairment. This research, in which information regarding life events prior to sudden cardiac death was obtained, reveals that there is a reverse process where coronary heart disease can lead an individual to cognitive impairment.Research on what can be done about the modifiable risk factors in order to prevent or at least minimize the chances of getting cognitive impairment and coronary heart disease receives detailed consideration in the work.

Average Joe

As kids, our heroes were Captain America, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Women, or any superhero for that matter. We would look up to them everyday and say, â€Å"I want to be just like them. † As we get older, our heroes tend to be a knight with shining armor, riding into the sunset with a beautiful woman along side. Other people picture the CEO of a top company, making over ten million dollars a year. Some might even picture an ex-president, or even their teacher. In the end, you’re my hero. You’re not a firefighter, a soldier, or the president. You’re not a police officer, priest, or parent. You’re like me. A person stuck in the everyday grind, 9 to 5, trying to make it through to tomorrow. You don’t know you’re a hero, but you are. To me you give me strength and the hope to live on. For this you are greatly appreciated. You might think, â€Å"How can an average American be considered a hero of mine, if there are killers and greedy people out there that only do harm? † He simply hides in the wood works, basically helping to hold doors, donating here and there, or putting in a few extra hours at work, just like an everyday American would. My hero never fails to finish work for his under-paid, under-appreciated job. Never does my hero complain about being a single parent or working two jobs and still having unpaid bills on the counter. He embraces the fact that he’s doing everything that he can to have a roof over their heads. He’s one of the millions that build this country’s infrastructure. My hero makes an honest living doing a day’s work and asks nothing in return. He puts his life on the line knowing that’s he doesn’t have to and would gratefully do it day by day. He doesn’t donate millions of dollars to charity for a tax break or to get his name on the front page of a newspaper, but when he sees a man in need he offers the coat from his back and continue on. So what makes a hero, heroic? Well what is a hero? Words such as brave, fearless, strong-minded, tough, and being a leader come to mind. So does my everyday hero line up to your average super hero? Yes! The average American has to be brave to face an economic recession such as todays. Does he have courage? One would have to assume to face the daunting task of raising children as a single parent. Doing what ever it takes to get there kids the proper education to become a successful American. If anyone is determined it’s this individual. It takes a lot out of someone to give all they got and seem like no improvement is being made. The determined American has to push on to brighter skies. As a father my hero can’t show anything less than strength because when a father is weak there is no hope for the children to feel empowered. This also ties in to the idea of my hero being a leader. He has to be and he is. I think he qualifies as a hero, don’t you? Superman never put food on your table nor did the Hulk, so why are they the heroes and not you and I? Its human nature to assume a hero has to be larger-than-life. Usually this is true but then we tend to neglect the thousands of â€Å"mini-heroes† we have representing great heroic qualities. Its not always about being able to fly or killing bad guys, its about helping others in need. So the smallest deeds that we do can make a difference in someone’s life. Be grateful for what you do, for you’re not just my hero but someone else’s as well.

Establish the topic from the paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Establish the topic from the paper - Essay Example There have been numerous comparisons made of the Federalist Papers to Locke’s theories and also interpretational differences with the Publius political theory by religious groups such as the Muslims. According to Locke’s initiative, an ideal government has as its foundation the natural rights, dignity, and of course unlimited ownership. Self-interest is a dominant trait of political liberalism as people naturally must respect their individual rights while safeguarding the rights of others. The society as a whole must operate according to its needs and not answer to a system modeled on the divine right of kings and queens. Societies, and therefore, governments are best when they become a natural unfolding of the principle of together we stand, divided we fall. Locke deems that a person can give up their right to live by dedication to a cause such as war but property itself cannot be so easily sacrificed since mortality is abstract and property is tangible and acquired as the right of each individual. In short, a governing body can take lives for defense of a system but possessions, such as land, is not under their realm of jurisdiction. The immutable standard of right is contained in a natural state of morality. Morality, in the state of nature, according to Locke, displays no subordination to a ruling dynamic but relies on a natural state of human customs, habits, and most notably, a universal law entombed within the natural human faculty of reasoning. Locke attributes this instinctual inclination of people as a logical avenue of expansion of life in sync with nature. A community consists of a conscientiously guided network, not by rules of compulsion or tyranny, but through the inherent dignity of entitlement scorning superiority. The ultimate standard of a natural state of morality recognizes the sanctity of life through the collective judgment of good or bad behavior or conduct in consideration of all humans.. Society, when striped of all adorn ments, is fundamentally a contract that unites humanity in order to protect their investments, with property ownership being the paramount source of concern. As a community, humankind begins to accumulate more land and more possessions, thereby creating a bona fide and dire need for the protection of these very things. Without a law that is capable of fairly regulating the action of all, society is left open to the corrupted ascendancy of the violation of natural rights. Locke’s society provides the rights, laws, and codes of behavior acceptable to curtail any tresspassing on the people’s perogative to sidestep violence and war. Locke’s ideology of equality adventageouly contributes to society but omits to consider those that are not landowners. Such unfortunates are protected by the rules of the government but their privledges and voice in such matters is diminished. The stability of a society is the strongest indication of a successful centralized authority th at protects the rights and privileges of landowners from arbitrary seizure of possessions. The creation of a division of authority strengthens the checks and balances system on government power over the people. The proper role of people in this manmade law of just, peaceful and protected existence depends on the basic need of interaction and general agreement between each other. The appropriate conduct of people in a society is to take the responsibilities and the duties along with the benefits