Essay on Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection - 2684 Words

Running Head: PSYCHOLOGY THEORIES AND SELF-REFLECTION 1 Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection PSYCHOLOGY THEORIES AND SELF-REFLECTION Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection Introduction â€Å"Scientific psychology has four basic goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change behaviour and mental processes through the use of scientific methods† (Carpenter Huffman, 2008, p. 5). The goal of this paper is not to debate the psychological perspectives, but to give a general focus on three of the more dominant psychological theories, by describing and explaining how the theories relate to personal life experiences, which, in turn, will enable the reader to understand the theories in a more practical way. Some questions that may come†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Modern cognitive psychologists study how we gather, encode, and store information using a vast array of mental processes† (Carpenter Huffman, 2008). The most prominent figures in cognitivism are Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis. Both Beck and Ellis believed the application of cognitive theory could be us ed in overcoming various negative aspects of personality. The belief was, with a change in thought processes, the behaviour and emotion that went hand in hand with those thoughts would change. Research has supported this idea, this is especially so with certain disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The modern belief is that cognitive-behavioural treatment, which is the cognitive perspective combined with techniques such as relaxation, have better results than medication in the treatment of depression (Heffner, 2004). â€Å"Cognitive theory defines learning as „a semi-permanent change in mental processes or associations.‟ Cognitivists do not require an outward exhibition of learning but focus more on the internal processes and connections that take place during learning† (Culatta, 2011). â€Å"I think therefore I have a personality† (Cherry, 2011). From self-help books, to positive self-talk, there is a continuous stream of cognitive psychology in play during daily life. Change your thoughts and you can just about do anything; quit smoking, make more friends, improveShow MoreRelatedPsychology Theories Self Reflection2594 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. It is a broad discipline which seeks to analyze the human mind and study why people behave, think, and feel the way they do. There are many different ways to approach psychology, from examining biologys role in mental health to the role of the environment on behavior. Some psychologists focus only on how the mind develops, while others counsel patients to help improve their daily lives. There are seven (7) majorRead MoreReporting Studying senior social science subjects was the most influential factor which provided a1600 Words   |  7 PagesEspecially, getting an A+ for a psychology report assignment and genuinely enjoying the process have given me a sense of competence in performing similar tasks such as planning and conducting experiments, analysing results, and evaluating research processes. After additional research, I became aware of various viable career paths associated with psychology, and this had allowed me to establish specific goals (e.g., completing an undergraduate and master’s degree in psychology and becoming a registeredRead MoreThe Rogerian School of Thought1093 Words   |  5 PagesRogerian school of thought was developed by Carl Rogers and deviated from Freud’s psychoanalytic and the behavioral theories that were popular at the time. The Rogerian or client-centered approach was seen as an alternative to the then-dominant models in American psychology of behaviorism and psy choanalysis and as such became aligned with the emerging third force of humanistic psychology (Joseph Murphy, 2012). The Rogerian approach does not rely on stages of development or conditioned responses toRead MoreThe Profession Of Counselling Psychology1582 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The profession of counselling psychology has developed hugely during the past decade, this paper aims to provide a concise and general exploration of the nature of counselling psychology, it’s development history, where it stands among other traditional approaches, and how disciplines of psychology is linked with a range of models of psychotherapy. In 1982 counselling psychology started developing as a section within the British Psychological Society, and in 1994 it was then recognizedRead MoreEssay And Peer Reflection : Personality Theory781 Words   |  4 Pages Essay and Peer Reflection: Personality Theory A.J. Molina LeTourneau University â€Æ' Essay and Peer Reflection: Personality Theory Introduction Humanistic Psychology presents insight into understanding human behavior by delving into the individualistic view of each person. The importance of self-actualization infects the Western culture so psychologists need to have an understanding of individuals in order to counsel those who seek counseling. What is it? Humanistic Psychology arose during the 1950’sRead MorePsychodynamic Theory : The Psychosocial Development Stages And The Unconscious Mind934 Words   |  4 Pages2015 Psychodynamic Theory Psychodynamic theory revolves around the basis that the psychosocial development stages and the unconscious mind are essential to understanding human behavior (Walsh, 2013, p. 55). This broad theory encompasses several other theories such as ego psychology, psychoanalysis, relational and object relations theory, and self-psychology. For the purpose of this client intervention, the focus will be on the ego psychology practice theory. This practice theory identifies the clientRead Morestudy skills988 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Using critical self-reflection to improve and refine my study skills Using critical self-reflection to improve and refine my study skills Critical self-reflection refers to analysing one’s personal skills and qualities in depth. 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Piaget argued that children develop knowledge by constructing their experience and observe with their own ideas about how the thing works.(Burton, L.J., Westen, d. Kowalski, R.M. 2015) He developed 4 stages of his theory: Sensorimotor Stage, Preoperational Stage, Concrete Operational Stage and Formal Operational Stage. At the same time, Erik Erikson proposed a psychoanalytic theory of psychosocialRead MoreHumanistic Theory1377 Words   |  6 PagesExperiential and Humanistic Theory As a person goes through life and has ups and downs, their ability to handle the stress varies from person to person. At times, a person has difficulties maintaining all the pressures of issues that sometimes feel to manifest into deep sensations of falling. Not knowing where to turn or where to go to get a clear view of what it is that may has them continuing to feel all of the world is against them. Many people rely on friends and family to get that ear

Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace Free Essays

Working in my family business I face obstacles that hinder communication within the business every day. Within the workplace we have to have effective communication because the business is essentially three businesses in one. Vibes Cuisine is a Dine-in Restaurant, Dance Hall, and a Take-out or Delivery Restaurant. We will write a custom essay sample on Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace or any similar topic only for you Order Now We always have everyone on the same page about the day to day goals and requirements before we even open the shop. Initially the shop was a small diner that only a few people frequented and even fewer newly visited. We as a family and the owners of the restaurant had a goal to triple our demographic and triple the daily revenue. Thus we embarked on a campaign to grow the business and make a concrete communication network between the workers and the customers. First we identified the various problems we as the workers had with communication. Some people wanted to remain a small business others wanted to grow exponentially. We had issue with knowledge of food availability, dance hall times, and information on delivery orders. Firstly we fixed those so that we could effectively run the business and a cohesive manner. We also had issue with contacting workers, and even responding to customer inquiries. In order to fix that we created a call log right next to the telephone where every employee’s number was readily available. We also created a standard procedure of who to call and when to call if any customer had to call out of work or needed to leave early. We made sure everyone was on the same page and heard the same information so that we could have a successful communication tree. We then used networking to not only attract new customers but retain returning ones. We communicated with other business around town and placed advertising in those respective businesses and gave them knowledge of operation times and general menu selections. We also made sure that our business line was open nearly all day and there was always someone there available to answer any questions. After we handled all of the tangible obstacles we then discussed and fixed the intangible problems such as attitude and appearance. Many fail to realize just how important a workers attitude towards the customer is, and how much it can affect the outlook of the business. We enacted an all smiles policy that insured every worker smiled while at work. Now this was not only for worker to customer relations but also worker to worker relations. Being nice and courteous to ones co-workers builds respect and trust. It also helps workers communicate effectively without emotions getting involved. Appearance also factors into communication because if one doesn’t look approachable or pleasant many times communication suffers because works don’t want to talk to certain other workers. Sometimes portraying good body language can overcome many communication barriers. People don’t realize when responding to authority or interacting with customers, even though one might say one thing the body language will tell the true story. How to cite Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace, Papers Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace Free Essays Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace Natalie Manuel Professor Thomas Whenever Intro to Business August 3, 2014 There are a few times where I experienced effective communication in a business environment. One time in particular, I believe everyone demonstrated communicating effectively. At work there is a lot of chaos at times because there aren’t many plans or guidelines put in place for customers regarding certain aspects of the business. We will write a custom essay sample on Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace or any similar topic only for you Order Now My co-worker and I decided to create a few documents that can be .NET to the customer in certain situations. I work for GE oil gas and we deal with customers who may need/want to return their blower for many reasons. We created a ARM authorization return form to keep everything organized. The form was very detailed and provided all the information the customer needs as well as the important information we would need to process the return. Along with this form, we created a standard order checklist. A lot of times we receive customer Pop’s that has missing information, incorrect pricing, wrong export information or incorrect vendor information, among other things. We created a document that was meant to be distributed to all the distributors and Memo’s. The documents were sent to all the sales reps for review. Immediately we were met with issues from them. This is where the communication came in. We set-up for there to be a conference call with us and the sales rep. Once we were able to have the meeting, all questions and concerns were put on the table. Having an open dialogue is important in business and in life. With this conference call, we were able to edit some of the statements on the comments. As well as take some things off. Once that was complete, we were able to send these forms out to the customers. From that point on the effect it had on the business was an increase productivity. There were less Pop send backs to customers for corrections. That pleased the customers so much! Pleasing the customers is always the goal, they help the business grow. Most of the customers really appreciated the help that the forms provided them. Without the conference call, none of this would have been possible. It could have been easy to take the sales rep issues and ignore them. I see in business a lot that people and their ideas are ignored. It only causes tension and mistrust. We understood that none of this was personal. Everyone had a great interest in seeing the business grow. Talking things out, keeps misunderstandings to a minimum. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Effective communication should be the goal for all businesses. â€Å"Effective communication in the workplace helps employees and managers form highly efficient teams. How to cite Fundamentals of Effective Communication in the Workplace, Papers

Increasing Brand Awareness of Shabestan

Question: Discuss about the Increasing Brand Awareness of Shabestan. Answer: Introduction Marketing is considered to be most important in evaluating the brand awareness as well as the desired expansion of the business processes throughout the targeted market areas. Shabestan is one of the finest dining Persian cuisine engaged in offering the best quality of foods and services to all its customers throughout Dubai and the firm has entered in Singapore in 2013 (shades tan, 2016). The primary aim of the firm is to capture the entire market segments. The aim of the restaurant is to deliver all its services to Middle Eastern cuisines including those from that of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Iran. The restaurants unique interior design helps in enhancing the satisfaction level of the customers and draws the attention of the customers towards the restaurant. There are very fewer restaurants throughout Singapore having this type of interior designs and this is one of the major points of attraction for the customers. Main context There are different options available for the promotion of the firm such as by the use of the different brochures, leaflets, marketing media like TV, newspapers etc. another method is the holding relationship with public events and different types of the sponsorship. In this research paper, online and digital marketing has been selected to promote the restaurant effectively in front of the customers concerned. Social media is supposed to be the most important platform that has created the great impact on the minds of the customers (Kotler, 2015). The social media users are increasing rapidly in large numbers and therefore in order to attract the customers towards the firm, the promotion of the products becomes more important with the help of the social media. In this regard, use of the social media marketing, online marketing, and digital marketing is considered to be most effective as to reach a large number of the clients throughout the country. Each of the consumers is attracted b y the use of the online marketing and therefore are different firms who creates of develops their brand awareness with the help of the online marketing (Green Williams, 2016). The development of the website of the restaurant for the particular company is supposed to be more important as this will generate immense impact in developing the brand reputation in front of the audiences concerned. As highlighted above that there are three different methods available to the restaurant for doing their effective marketing such as by the use of the newspapers or TV, by the use of the online and digital marketing or by the use of developmen6 of effective relationships with the public. In all of these three of the methods, the use of the online and the digital marketing is supposed to be effective as it will help in generating the desired impact on the minds of the customers as a large number of the customers are getting attracted to the use of online shopping (Zhang, 2016). The other methods s uch as the use of the newspapers or the TV have become old as compared with the latest trend throughout the different market segments concerned. People are using Smartphone's for doing their shopping and making their lifestyle easy and thus, the use of the online marketing will help in reaching to a huge number of the consumers, moreover, it will help in saving consumers regarding the business processes and selecting best restaurant as per their choice (Tuten Solomon, 2014). The management team of Shabestan needs to plan unique and identical business techniques in order to make the organization expand more. The senior management team should explore the brand awareness by means of online and digital marketing process (Boone Kurtz, 2013). In todays world, every people are aware of the online and digital marketing, and it is the fact that, business at online and digital process is helping the entrepreneurs to expand their brands more. Most of the people are seen to be in touch with the technological ways, whether it is to buy or sell products. Thinking of this idea of online branding system through social media sites, Shabestan plans of branding their business through online, so as to explore their business globally. The company has firstly made a website of their own, uploaded all the information including their product details, pricing list, the category of products, pictures of the different menu of food items, and special events of the company (shabest an, 2016). There has been a payment gateway system so that, that customer could order foods through online process and can pay in the online process too, staying from anywhere in the country. The brand is also been advertising through the digital process by means of television, and other digital means of communication. The digital and online processes of advertising this wonderful Persian dining cuisine are making their business to enhance more, and to spread the awareness worldwide (Zenger, 2015). The business process is going to be very simpler and easier because, customers will be able to place order offline, by visiting the restaurant directly, as well as online too. The global awareness of this fine dine by means of online and digitalized marketing and advertising, will help the business team to gain a huge number of profits even swiftly. The use of the online marketing will help in increasing the brand awareness of the restaurant in front of the large number of clients and thi s need to be done in an effective way (Pohutsky et al., 2013). The ways of online marketing need to be implemented with the help of the management and the marketing team. There are different people associated with the use of the social media as well as with the different online platforms and therefore, it becomes very important to attract these customers toward the business (Mullin et al., 2014). It needs to be understood that the brand awareness can be developed by assisting the customers with good quality of the products as well as the services as compared with the competitors (Pride Ferrell, 2016). It becomes more important to create the desired sense of trust among the customers regarding the delivering of the superior services s these will help in increasing the effectiveness of the Shabestan in front of the audiences concerned. The use of the marketing mix is supposed to be vital for the execution of the business processes of the firm throughout the market concerned. It consists of four of the important element such as the products, price, place, and promotion. The products need to be of good quality as to enhance the satisfaction level of the clients. The pricing strategies should be low as compared with the other outlets as the differentiation in the pricing strategy helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the business in front of the customers (McDaniel Gates, 2014). Next, is the promotion of the restaurants along with the products offered by the firm and this needs to be done effectively with the help of different promotional methods. The use of social media can be done in order towards the facilities and the services offered by the restaurant to a large number of the audiences concerned. Next is the selection of the appropriate places, the firm has already many outlets and therefore the selection of the online place will be suitable for the home delivery f the products and moreover for booking seats in the restaurants for the ease of the customers (Strauss, 2016). The different ways of online marketing need to be understood by the managers in an effective manner. This will help in creating a great impact on the customer by promoting the services and the products offered by the restaurants. Conclusion This research paper critically evaluates the different use of the online and the digital marketing for the development of the brand awareness for Shabestan throughout the targeted market areas. The paper reveals that there are three diverse methods accessible to the restaurant for doing their effective marketing such as by the use of the newspapers or TV, by the use of the online and digital marketing or by the use of developmen6 of effective relationships with the public. The use of the online marketing and digital marketing can attract a large number of the audiences. The other methods such as the use of the newspapers or the TV have become old as compared with the latest trend throughout the different market segments concerned. The social media users are rising rapidly in huge numbers and so in order to draw the customers towards the firm, the promotion of the products becomes more important with the help of the social media. Therefore, the selection of the online and digital mark eting is more useful than other methods and thus, it has been selected for marketing of Shabestan throughout the targeted market areas. References Boone, L. E., Kurtz, D. L. (2013).Contemporary marketing. Cengage learning. Green, Y. N., Williams, J. A. (2016). An Investigation of Restaurant Week as an Effective Marketing Strategy. InAdvances in Hospitality and Leisure(pp. 83-97). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Kotler, P., Burton, S., Deans, K., Brown, L., Armstrong, G. (2015).Marketing. Pearson Higher Education AU. McDaniel Jr, C., Gates, R. (2014).Marketing research. Wiley Global Education. Mullin, B. J., Hardy, S., Sutton, W. (2014).Sports Marketing 4th Edition. Human Kinetics. Pohutsky, M., Ribarich, M., Guido, A., ONeill, O., Weathers, W., Hamilton, C., ... Plett, M. (2013). Choose This, Not That: A Study of Community Based Social Marketing Strategies for Zero Waste Dining at the University of Colorado Boulder Alferd Packer Restaurant and Grill.Fine Dining, Zero Waste: Evaluation and Recommendations for Achieving CUSG Zero Waste Goals at the Alfred Packer Restaurant and Grill. Pride, W., Ferrell, O. C. (2016).Foundations of marketing. Nelson Education. shabestan, (2016). Retrieved 16 December 2016, from https://https://www.shabestan.sg/en/tazeh.html Strauss, J. (2016).E-marketing. Routledge. Tuten, T. L., Solomon, M. R. (2014).Social media marketing. Sage. Zenger, H. (2015).Executing a Social Media Marketing Plan to Increase Sales for a Catering Restaurant(Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Northridge). Zhang, W. (2016). Business Plan for an All You Can Eat Korean Restaurant in Ontario, California.

Julius Caesar And Romeo Essays - Characters In Romeo And Juliet

Julius Caesar And Romeo "A pair of star-crossed lovers", Romeo and Juliet. From the opening scenes of the play these two children of feuding families were destined to fall in love together and eventually die together. How does the reader see this? How do we know it was fate which triggered these events? Coincidence caused the death of these two lovers. For this reason Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies. For coincidence to have caused the death of Romeo and Juliet it must have been evident in the events leading up to their deaths. These events include their meeting and falling in love, their separation, their reunion and finally their suicides. Solving the ancient feud between their families was the only real result of these untimely deaths. How did Romeo and Juliet meet? Was it by fate or could it have been avoided? Romeo and Juliet could not have avoided coming in contact with each other, they were brought together by uncontrollable circumstances. In Romeo and Juliet's time Verona (a city in Italy approximately 100 km west of Venice) was a fair sized city, and "bumping" into an acquaintance was unlikely. During the course of Act I, Scene II, the contrary had happened, and happened by chance. As Romeo and Benvolio were nearing a public area they were stopped by a Capulet servant. After Romeo had read the guest list to the Capulet party and the servant was on his way, Benvolio suggested that to relieve himself of his sadness for Rosaline, Romeo should go to the party and compare Rosaline to the other female guests. Romeo agreed Another example of coincidence is evident here. If Rosaline had not been attending, Benvolio would not have thought anything of the party. During the Capulet's ball Romeo and Juliet had seen each other, once this happened, there was no force that could have stopped them from falling in love. The encounter with the servant in the city set off an unlikely chain of events. Given the information following, none of these events could have been altered or avoided . "And for that offense immediately we do exile him hence," (Romeo and Juliet, III, II, 191-192). Romeo's banishment and the fate involved with it is a prime factor in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Why banishment? In Act I, Scene I the Prince's words were quite the contrary. Was it intentional that a man of such high standard would go back on his word? Perhaps. Romeo's exile poisons all possibility of happiness for himself and Juliet. His exile causes Juliet great sorrow, greater then if he had been executed, as stated by Juliet in Act III, Scene II, lines 130-131. Juliet's sorrow drives her to obtain a "knockout potion" from Friar Laurence which, in effect causes Romeo to make some important decisions regarding his well being. Romeo's banishment (brought about by the death of Tybalt) initiated the Friar's scheme which eventually leads the two lovers to their deaths. In reuniting the two lovers, timing played the largest role in deciding if they would live or die. Friar Laurence had two chances to deliver the message to Romeo regarding Juliet's present state. The first and most practical method of sending this message was through Romeo's "man", Balthasar. The second method was to send the message with Friar John. Timing was an important factor in both of these events. Friar Laurence had missed his opportunity to send the message with Balthasar and reverted to sending it with Friar John. As fate would have it, Friar John was locked up in a condemned house because of the plague. As a result Romeo received incorrect information. The only information he received from the unsuspecting Balthasar was that Juliet was dead. There are two important points to note in this area of the play. One being the reference to star-crossing made by Romeo when he heard of Juliet's death. "Is it even so? then I defy you, stars." (Romeo and Juliet, V, I, 24). The second being that when Romeo received the poison he states "Come cordial, and not poison, go with thee." (Romeo and Juliet, V, I, 85). This is coincidental to what Juliet had said earlier, in Act IV, Scene III, when she drinks to Romeo. Cordial means hearty, or sincere. When someone drinks to someone else it is usually in good health. The reuniting of the two lovers in such circumstances (Romeo's unawareness) could only have happened as it did by timing. One could ask what if the friar had

BELOVED ADENUGA Essays (450 words) - Race And Society, Free Essays

BELOVED ADENUGA Essays (450 words) - Race And Society, Free Essays BELOVED ADENUGA PROFESSOR SEIFERT ENG 102-10 28 August 2017 Newspaper Writing Assignment I was out to protest against the Unite the Right rally organized by Richard Spencer. The rally was a protest against removing a statue of General Robert E. Lee from Charlottesville Park. This statue is a symbol of confederacy and confederacy is all about white supremacy, racism and oppression of the blacks. Though, the white nationalists may argue that taking down this monument would blot out part of America's history but why should the statue of a man that embraced whites supremacy and enslaved the blacks not be removed? This statue serves as a remembrance to how the blacks were oppressed and turned to slaves and in a world where we preach equality a statue like this should not continue to stand. The whites that protested in support of the rally feel that we are trying to take over their country but that's not the case. We are trying to advocate for equality in rights. We shouldn't be judged by the color of our skins. One might feel that racism has reduced compared to the days of Robert Lee, John Wayne and so on but racism is continually growing, the older ones teach the younger ones to be racist and this is evident in the number of protesters that came out to support the rally. Racism today may not necessarily be in the form of slavery but racism is still everywhere. Larger percentage of those subject to police brutality or imprisoned are blacks. In schools, black children face harder punishment for the same offence committed by a white kid. Even in the church! We were out to make sure our voices were heard, the statue of Robert Lee must be removed! The approach of the rally was not the best way to make a claim because it resulted in violence. This shows that the white nationalists are ready to do anything to make sure they preserve ugly remembrances of how the blacks were treated. If a supporter of this rally could do something as terrible and cruel as driving a vehicle into a group of people all because they are not racist, then we are not going to back down on our fight against racism. The death of our beloved Heather Heyer is so painful and from what I heard she lived a good life advocating for equality. We won't allow her death to be for nothing. We will continue fighting for equality. While it will never make up for the loss of a member of our community, we will pursue charges against the driver of the vehicle that caused her death and are confident justice will prevail. Blacks life mater!

National Negro Convention Movement

National Negro Convention Movement Background In the early months of 1830, a young freed man from Baltimore named Hezekiel Grice was not satisfied with life in the North because of the hopelessness of contending against oppression in the United States. Grice wrote to a number of African-American leaders asking if freedmen should emigrate to Canada and, if a convention could be held to discuss the issue. By September 15, 1830 the first National Negro Convention was held in Philadelphia. The First Meeting An estimated forty African-Americans from nine states attended the convention. Of all the delegates present, only two, Elizabeth Armstrong and Rachel Cliff, were women. Leaders such as Bishop Richard Allen were also present. During the convention meeting, Allen argued against African colonization but supported emigration to Canada. He also contended that, However great the debt which these United States may owe to injured Africa, and however unjustly her sons have been made to bleed, and her daughters to drink of the cup of affliction, still we who have been born and nurtured on this soil, we whose habits, manners, and customs are the same in common with other Americans, can never consent to take our lives in our hands, and be the bearers of the redress offered by that Society to that much afflicted country. By the end of the ten-day meeting, Allen was named president of a new organization, the American Society of Free People of Colour for improving their condition in the United States; for purchasing lands; and for the establishment of a settlement in the Province of Canada. The aim of this organization was two-fold:   First, it was to encourage African-Americans with children to move to Canada. Second, the organization wanted   to improve the livelihood of African-Americans remaining in the United States.   As a result of the meeting, African-American leaders from the   Midwest organized to protest not only against slavery, but also racial discrimination. Historian Emma Lapansky argues that this first convention was quite significant, citing, The 1830 convention was the first time that a group of people got together and said, Okay, who are we? What will we call ourselves? And once we call ourselves something, what will we do about what we call ourselves? And they said, Well, were going to call ourselves Americans. Were going to start a newspaper. Were going to start a free produce movement. Were going to organize ourselves to go to Canada if we have to. They began to have an agenda. Subsequent Years During the first ten years of the convention meetings,   African-American and white abolitionists were collaborating to find effective ways to deal with racism and oppression in American society. However, it should be noted the the convention movement was symbolic to freed African-Americans and marked the significant growth in black activism during the 19th century. By the 1840s, African-American activists were at a crossroads. While some were content with the moral suasion philosophy of abolitionism, others believed this school of thought was not heavily influencing supporters of the slave system to change their practices. At the 1841 convention meeting, conflict was growing among attendeesshould abolitionists believe in moral suasion or moral suasion followed by political action.  Many, such as Frederick Douglass believed that moral suasion must be followed by political action. As a result, Douglass and others became followers of the Liberty Party. With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, convention members agreed that the United States would not be morally persuaded to give African-Americans justice. This period of the convention meetings can be marked by participants arguing that the elevation of the free man is inseparable (sic) from, and lies at the very threshold of the great work of the slaves restoration to freedom. To that end, many delegates argued over voluntary emigration to not only Canada, but also Liberia and the Caribbean instead of solidifying an African-American sociopolitical movement in the United States. Although varied philosophies were forming at these convention meetings, the purposeto build a voice for African-Americans on the local, state and national level, was important. As one newspaper noted in 1859, colored conventions are almost as frequent as church meetings. End of an Era The last convention movement was held in Syracuse, NY in 1864. Delegates and leaders felt that with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment that African-Americans would be able to participate in the political process.

Global Expansion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Expansion - Essay Example ether, especially through a common medium like the economy or the Internet.† What this means is that the Internet is the major agent for realizing the dream of globalization. For major companies like Westinghouse, there is a lot of implication to this basic fact. For instance, they have the core obligation of ensuring that they device systematic strategies that will ensure that customers are able to capitalize on access to technology and the internet to be specific to do business with them. Presently, Westinghouse has experienced so much transformation when it comes to globalization. These strategies have essentially been aimed at ensuring maximum expansion of the company’s services and products to all parts of the world. Presently, globalization has ensured that the company has its presence felt in as many as twice the number of countries where they have their physical presence (Conchà ºir et al, 2009). Some of the simplest methods that have been used by the company to make this possible are by ensuring that it allows sponsored and well monitored parcel and courier services to countries where the only option for making purchases is through online marketing. As online marketing continues to gain so much influence on the use of the internet, what has become imperative now is for companies to position themselves in a manner that would ensure that they can track all purchases online and ensure proper delivery (Lute, Eslinger & Jacobus, 2009). This is particularly important because of the insurgence of internet fraud in the face of increasing participation of internet trading. Invariably, companies that do not put in personal measures in ensuring that international customers who make purchases through the internet can trust their services would become major losers in the face of competitors who can do this. Even though the current globalization approaches used by Westinghouse is highly recommended, there remains a basic fact that there still remains a lot more the

Creating Your Dream Job Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Creating Your Dream Job - Essay Example It involves a comprehensive evaluation of an investor’s current and future financial condition by using the current variables to predict future cash flows, value of assets and withdrawal plan. In formulating a business plan, the proprietor must hire the services of tax and financial professionals who enables him to estimate with greater degree of accuracy the financial requirements (Abrams, 2005, p. 248). Financial plan objectively requires before executing a Bookstore small business. This is because a lump sum of capital must be invested to facilitate the establishment and operational needs of finance. It requires a huge amount of capital simply because there are many competing needs such as purchasing of storehouse, the furnishing of stall and stocks required. In addition to this, more finance is required to establish a modern Bookstore that will remain competitive in the Bookstore market. General financial planning The business operates using a store within the town. All le gal formalities of purchasing storehouse will be initiated. The store is worth $ 50,000 which will be finances using two available sources of finance, business mortgage and personal savings. The firm will aim at minimizing the overall debt of finance by taking different loan portfolios and diversified financial investments. The loan will be acquired from local bank based on the interest charged and most preferably, the bank shall offer loan at relatively lower price. In addition to this, measures have to be taken to provide financing for any emergency financial needs of the firm. To this end, regular saving will be made on the firm’s saving account. The main goal of this strategy is to ensure continuity in business operations even under unfavorable market conditions. Special circumstances Prior establishment of the business, considerations have to be made on special circumstances that may occur in day-to-day operation of business. Such circumstances include legal conflict, pr obability of loss due to uncertain events, tax noncompliance dispute and so on (Abrams, 2005, p. 250). To this end, the firm intent to establish various departments under administration to cater for this unforeseen circumstance and financial allocation

Great Pacific Garbage Patch Essay Example for Free

Great Pacific Garbage Patch Essay Everything that we throw into the environment as waste will always come back to haunt us in a larger form than we ever expected. With the level of consumerism that the society today have enjoyed because of the goods available in the market today, wastes also abound and without proper disposal mechanisms, it has led to the degradation of the environment. More so, the convenience of producing commodities in the form of plastic has led more and more wastes to be sent out in the environment. A great number of which has found their way into the oceans to become what is now termed as â€Å"The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. † It is noted for its relatively large size, the contents it has, and the area it has occupied. The Great Garbage Patch is an accumulation of plastic non-biodegradable wastes which have been dumped in the ocean or found its way to the sea from the land. The bottom line is that there is a great amount of garbage found in the ocean that is brought about by human activities. It affects marine life and will later on impact on the health of human beings. Interestingly, it has been noted that the ratio of plastic wastes in the water to that of sea life is 6 is to 1 (â€Å"The Great Garbage Patch,† n. d. ). In light of this information, it is no longer a surprising fact that there are indeed a significant volume of plastics that have been accumulated in the ocean because of the amount of materials dumped in it. The area which this garbage occupies is around 500 nautical miles from the coast of California up to Japan (Jacquot, 2008). The impact it has over the quality of life in the ocean is devastating as it grew more than the zooplankton and affects life within it (Kostigen, 2008). It is indeed proven that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has taken over a large area of the ocean. Knowledge of this term leads people to an informed judgment next time plastics are used and results to a heightened consciousness in terms of their behavior. Moreover, private organizations should adhere to the use of biodegradable plastic or a similar technology in order to help the environment. In the future, the efforts of the individuals and organizations will greatly help in saving the environment. References Jacquote, J. (2008). The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: â€Å"Out of sight, of out of mind. † Retrieved March 9, 2009, from http://www. treehugger.com/files/2008/02/great_pacific_garbage_patch. php. This site provides scientific and factual information regarding the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Kostigen, T. (2008). The world’s largest dump: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from http://discovermagazine. com/2008/jul/10-the-worlds-largest-dump. It is an account of the author’s experience in relation to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The great garbage patch. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 9, 2009 from http://www. greatgarbagepatch. org/. It basically provides information in order to persuade the readers to take action.

Capital Punishment Essay - Beyond Horror and Incivility -- Argumentati

The Death Penalty: Beyond Horror and Incivility       "Capital punishment is the infliction of the death penalty on persons convicted of a crime" (Americana 596). Killing convicted felons has been one of the most widely practiced forms of criminal punishment in the United States. Currently, the states that do no practice the death penaly are Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia and Wisconsin. However, for the remaining states that do practice the death penalty, it has been a topic of debate for many years. There are two parties who argue over its many points, including whether or not it is a fitting and adequate punishment, whether or not it acts as a deterrent to crime and whether or not it is morally wrong. These two classes of people can be grouped together as the retentionists, or the proponents, and the abolitionists, or the opponents (596). For the retentionists, the main reasons they are in support of the death penalty are to take revenge, to deter others, and to punish. They are most concerned with the protection of society from dangerous criminals. In spite of all this however, the death penalty is not a good form of criminal punishment for many reasons: it is morally wrong, it does not act as a deterrent for crime, it is irreversible and can be inflicted upon people who are innocent, it is more expensive than imprisonment and those who are convicted commonly use the costly process of appealing the decision and there is no chance to make restitution to the victim and/or the victim's family.    "People that favor the death penalty agree that capital punishment is a relic of barbarism, but as murder itself is barbaric... ...pectacle of publicly sanctioned killing has cheapened human life and dignity without the redeeming grace which comes from justice meted out swiftly, evenly, humanely" (Draper 44).    Works Cited Amnesty International Report. The Death Penalty. England: Amnesty International Publications, 1979. Bedau, Hugo Adam. The Death Penalty in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982. "Capital Punishment." Encyclopedia Americana. 1990 ed. Draper, Thomas. Capital Punishment. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1985. Horwitz, Elinor Lander. Capital Punishment U.S.A. New York: J. B. Lippincott, 1973. Jayewardene, C. H. S. The Penalty of Death. Massachusetts:Lexington, 1977. Meador, Roy. Capital Revenge: 54 Votes Against Life. Philadelphia:Dorrance, 1975. "Violent Crime Control And Law Enforcement Act of 1994." 3/8/95(date retrieved).   

How Helpful Is Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint?

Avery Parsons Man 1030-Week 3 Professor Nathan Riggs Nov. 4,2012 Please define each of these four forms of business ownership and then respond to the following questions: (1) Sole Proprietorship- A business that is owned and usually managed by one person; it is the most common form. (2) Partnership- A legal form of business with two or more owners. (3) Corporation- Is a legal entity with authority to have liability separate from its owners. 4) Franchisors-Owns the overall rights and trademarks of the company and allows its franchises to use these rights and trademarks to do business. The entity or person owning the rights or license of the business. Do you think that Sonic would have grown as large as it did today if had remained a Sole Proprietorship? Why or Why not ? In my opinion , I would say no due to the fact that it would have caused the disadvantage of limit growth, limited reasons and unlimited liability.In terms of partnership it would bring about conflicts with a partner, division of profits, difficulty termination and unlimited liability. As a corporation , they would have encountered limited liability, the ability to raise more money investments, ease of ownership change and the ease of separating of owner from management. What were the advantages and disadvantages to Sonic each form of business Ownership?The advantages are they have the ability to have as many Sonic Restaurants all over the world, personal ownership, lower failure rate and management marking assistance compared to someone who begin a business from scratch. The disadvantages are that they have large start-up costs, shared profits, management regulations and coattail effect. Another advantage would be having a unified voice to protect their investments. Sonic has survived and continues to be successful, not only by maintaining a strong fast food presence throughout the years as drive –in.While other chains have gone under one by one. There have been lots of drive –in a nd fast food restaurants over time. In your opinion what makes Sonic and other major successful than others? The quality food they serve. The nostalgia of this old time tradition or the novelty of it, depending upon the age of the customers it provides an irresistible attraction to a wide variety of clientele, making sonic potentially a very profitable franchise option. In closing ,Sonic restaurants still are no. through various changes and innovations made rather recently, Sonic Drive in has been able to expand its number of store locations within the past decade. Today there are nearly 3,000 Store locations all across the nation ,and the company boasts market capitalization that exceeds 1. 5 billion. References: Learning activities 1 and 2 Learning video Sonic is Booming Understanding Business McGraw & Hill Chapter 1 pgs. 8-11 Chapter 5 How to form a business-pgs. 114-145

Explain Why the Boycott of Jewish Businesses Took Place in April 1933

Explain why the boycott of Jewish businesses took place in April 1933. [12 marks] In April 1933, only 1 week after the Enabling Act was passed, a boycott against Jewish businesses took place, which targeted mainly Jewish shops and businesses but also Jewish professionals such as doctors and lawyers. There are many reasons as to why this event took place. The most important reason, in my opinion was to introduce explicit anti-Semitic propaganda. When it was decided that the boycott would take place, Gobbels organised an intensive propaganda campaign to maximise the impact of the boycott.The boycott made a big public impact and featured prominently in the news. Gobbels made it clear that the boycott was an act of anti-Semitic violence as he had the Star of David painted largely on the windows of all Jewish businesses and had signs put up saying ‘Don’t buy from Jews’ or ‘Jews are our misfortune’. While some Germans weren’t too bothered about the b oycott, others disapproved. This leads to the next reason the boycott took place. Now that Hitler had the power to do as he pleased, he needed to see how German citizens would react to his extreme anti-Semitic views.The SA stood outside of Jewish shops in order to intimidate people into not going in to the shop. As mentioned earlier, some Germans weren’t too bothered about the boycott. Most of these Germans where owners of small businesses that were afraid that large Jewish chain businesses would eventually put them out of business. This boycott meant that their businesses would be saved. Others, on the other hand, thought the boycott was terrible that it was the work of extremists and that Hitler was sure to put a stop to it soon. Some went purposely went into Jewish shops and Jewish shops only to show their disapproval of Nazi policies.But, whether they were for or against the boycott, it was agreed everywhere that the boycott showed the unleashing of Nazi violence by an ag gressive new dictatorship. The main purpose of the boycott of Jewish businesses was to get German people to start to act and think anti-Semitic. Although the reaction to the boycott was varied, it could be said that they boycott did exactly what it was meant to do; turn normal German citizens against the German Jews. For example, one month after the boycott of Jewish businesses, the Burning of the Books took place. Gobbels announced, â€Å"the Age of Jewish materialism is ended! He then started a fire and, along with gangs of SA men, started to throw in book that were written by Jews. A crowd of some 40,000 people gathered at the scene. This suggests that the boycott ‘eased’ German citizens into the anti-Semitic atrocities that were yet to come. In conclusion, the boycott of Jewish businesses could be both – a success and a failure. It was a failure because the Nazi party only portrayed themselves as a violent dictatorship. But, it was a success because it got G erman citizens thinking and acting anti-Semitic like the Nazis and prepared them for what was to come.

Centro Escolar University An Undergraduate School Essays

Centro Escolar University An Undergraduate School Essays Centro Escolar University An Undergraduate School Essay Centro Escolar University An Undergraduate School Essay A Thesis Presented to Ms. E. Cajayon Centro Escolar University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management by Vlairene J. BracamonteFerdinand Ken Banson Rynyll Dyx G. BernalAce H. Magat Edlloyd R. Panim CHAPTER I The Problem and Its Background Introduction Centro Escolar University is one of the schools that are supporting the program for operational improvement and this is the 7S.The 7S stands for Sort, Sweep, Systematize, Standardize, Safety, Security, and Self- Discipline. The common problems that are encountered by the students are time management, being disorganized, productivity, and attitude problem. Implementing the 7S to Centro Escolar University will be a big help on the students to improve. As it helps them apply the 7S in their attitude make them organized and improve everything they do. Implementation of 7S to the students will greatly improve the students’ problems.This can help them motivate to do things better and can boost their confidence. 7S is posted in every building in Centro Escolar University, this is to remind the students to practice and apply the 7S in everything they do. The researchers are future BSHRM graduates. They feel that 7S are very appropriate to their future career. In this reason why they were obliged to assess the knowledge and practices of 7S among third year HRM students of Centro Escolar University. Background of the StudyThis study is focused on 7S and if the third year HRM students know how to use 7S and if they are applying the 7S in their laboratory exercises and in their daily routine. The researchers have conducted the survey about the 7S by giving questionnaires to the HRM third year students. Statement of the Problem This study aimed to find out how do third year level Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management of Centro Escolar University implement and follow the 7S during laboratory exercises. Specifically, this study soug ht to answer the following questions: 1.What was the profile of the respondents in terms of: 2. 1. Name 2. 2. Age 2. 3. Gender 2. What are the practices of the third year BSHRM students with regard to 7S? 3. What is the knowledge of the third year BSHRM students with regard to 7S? 4. How do the respondents apply the 7S in their laboratory exercises? 5. What is the importance of 7S inside the laboratory? Objective of the Study The objective of the study is to know if the third year HRM students are applying the 7S in their laboratory exercises. Assumption of the StudyThis study is based on the assumption of the respondents that are truthful and honest in answering the survey questionnaire. At the end of the study, the readers will have knowledge about the importance of 7S. This study will also give information not only to the respondents but also to other students, employees, faculty staff, and future researchers. Significance of the Study This study will help the readers gain knowle dge about the importance of 7S. It will also help them to be organized on their daily work.This study will also be beneficial to the students, faculty members, and school employees. This can also help the future researchers; it will help them expand their knowledge about 7S practices and add more details on their future studies. Scope and Limitation of the Study The study is focused on the 7S and if the respondents applying it within the food laboratory. The number of respondents was limited to 40 persons only because the school only has 4 sections open from the third year HRM students. Conceptual framework InputProcessOutput Implementing the 7S being organize Proper time management * Students * Faculty Staff * Employee Survey questions about 7S Chapter II Review of Related Studies Foreign Literature â€Å"The goal and process of the first â€Å"S† is organization. The sort process distinguishes needed items from unneeded items and removes the latter. This process forces p eople to remove all items not currently needed for work, whether they are in the factory or in the office. It is initially the most difficult for people who are afraid to let go of parts, machines, and data just in case they may be needed in the future.However, red-tagging items allows workers to set aside and evaluate items and information in terms of their usefulness and frequency of use. The items and information are returned, stored elsewhere, sold, given away, or thrown away. Red tagging is best done in one target area at a time and within one or two days. When red tagging is completed, problems and annoyances in the workflow are reduced, communication between workers is improved, product quality is increased, and productivity is enhanced. † â€Å"Many believe that 5S is a must-have tool.For any of the tools in the toolkit for becoming lean quick changeover, total productive maintenance, mistake proofing, and so on 5S significantly helps in both the implementation and sustaining of improvements. The Gold Standard for 5S is that anyone should be able to find anything in their own workplace in less than 30 seconds, and anywhere else in the workplace in less than 5 minutes without talking to anyone, opening a book, or turning on a computer. 5S is the foundation for successful lean implementation. S is the tool to begin, support, and sustain the lean journey. † â€Å"The implementation team, typically consisting of supervisors and team leaders, is the next group to be trained. Requiring the same training as upper management plus training in team leadership, they should receive practical training through the implementation of pilot projects. A good approach is to carry out one pilot program under the leadership of the 5S advisor (a consultant or internal resource fully experienced in all aspects of 5S) and then to carry out a second one on their own.A program committee that includes the plant manager and some of the area workers should coordina te the preliminary work. Once the preliminary work is completed, plans describing implementation of the Five S campaign should be prepared and released. When the results are satisfactory, the program can then be launched company wide. † â€Å"5S  has been practiced amongst many Japanese companies for many years and it is unclear when and where it was started. I was certainly before the  Toyota Production System,  Total Productive Maintenance  and even before Total  Quality  Management had been developed.It had been practiced in many companies, long before this time. Initially, it was started as seiri-seiton, as a combination of two words which were easy to pronounce, and later it was more sophisticated by adding the other three words  to make it a more comprehensive concept. The words seiri-seiton was used commonly in non-manufacturing areas, such as in schools, where students  were told by the teacher to do seiri-seiton of their desk, books and notes.? The wo rds were also used commonly in the offices most to mean the arrangements of documents and personal articles. â€Å"My theory is that having a clean, tidy, well maintained and organized workplace is not another post war miracle, or a tool that consultants wheel in and claim to be revolutionary†¦it’s just common sense and part of fostering a  culture  of continuous  improvement. † Notes http://emsstrategies. com/dm103103article. html http://nz. kaizen. com/5s/where-did-5s-come-from. html Questionnaire Name:Yearamp;Sec: Age:Gender: Direction: 1. What do you mean by 7S? 2. How do you apply 7S in the laboratory? 3. How often do you sanitize your workplace in the laboratory? . How often do you wash your hands during laboratory? 5. What is mise en place? 6. Do you still follow mise en place? 7. How do you sanitize your workplace? 8. Are you practicing the 7S? 9. Are you implementing 7S even outside the campus? 10. How do you apply safety in the laboratory? CHAPTER 3 Methodology This chapter deals with research methods and procedure used in conducting the study. This includes the method of research, sampling technique, respondents of the study, questionnaire, validation of the questionnaire and statistical treatment.Method of Research used The researchers used the descriptive method of research. This is designed for the investigation to gather information about presenting existing condition, or simply the systematic process of gathering, analyzing and tabulating the information about prevailing conditions, practices, beliefs, trends, cause, and effect to make accurate interpretation of such data. This method was used because of its quality of representing and containing description. It is used to analyze data taken from the questionnaire answered by the respondents.This described the assessment of knowledge and practices of 7S among 3rd year BSHRM students of CEU Manila. Subject of the Study The subject of the study consisted of the 3rd year B SHRM students of Centro Escolar University Manila. The researchers used survey questionnaire in the collection of data gathered from the respondents. This is a list of research or survey questions asked to the respondents, and designed to extract specific information. The researchers distributed 40 survey questionnaires to selected third year level Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management.The data gathered were then tallied in a quantitative form and expressed in frequency and distribution. Validation of the Instrument The questionnaire was first presented to the research adviser for face validation as well as content validation. Statistical Treatment The researchers used Sloven’s formula as statistical treatment. The size of the sample and the size of the population were derived, by dividing population, by one and add the population multiplied by margin of error. The formula is shown as follows; Formula: Where: n = the size of the sample or respondents N= the s ize of the population e = margin of error

The Legend of Shaolin Monk Warriors

The Legend of Shaolin Monk Warriors The Shaolin Monastery is the most famous temple in China, renown for its kung fu fighting Shaolin monks. With amazing feats of strength, flexibility, and pain-endurance, the Shaolin have created a worldwide reputation as the ultimate Buddhist warriors. Yet Buddhism is generally considered to be a peaceful religion with an emphasis on principles such as non-violence, vegetarianism, and even self-sacrifice to avoid harming others - how, then, did the monks of Shaolin Temple become fighters? The history of Shaolin begins about 1500 years ago, when a stranger arrived in China from lands to the west, bringing with him a new interpretation religion and spans all the way to modern-day China where tourists from around the world come to experience displays of their ancient martial arts and teachings. Origin of the Shaolin Temple Legend says that around 480 CE a wandering Buddhist teacher came to China from ​India, known as Buddhabhadra, Batuo or Fotuo in Chinese.  According to later, Chan - or in Japanese, Zen - Buddhist tradition, Batuo taught that Buddhism could best be transmitted from master to student, rather than through the study of Buddhist texts. In 496, the Northern Wei Emperor Xiaowen gave  Batuo  funds to establish a monastery at holy Mt. Shaoshi in the Song mountain range, 30 miles from the imperial capital of Luoyang. This temple was named Shaolin, with Shao taken from Mount Shaoshi and   lin meaning grove - however, when Luoyang and the Wi Dynasty fell in 534, temples in the area were destroyed, possibly including Shaolin. Another Buddhist teacher was Bodhidharma, who came from either India or Persia. He famously refused to teach Huike, a Chinese disciple, and Huike cut off his own arm to prove his sincerity, becoming the Bodhidharmas first student as a result. The Bodhidharma also reportedly spent 9 years in silent meditation in a cave above Shaolin, and one legend says that he fell asleep after seven years, and cut off his own eyelids so that it could not happen again - the eyelids turned into the first tea bushes when they hit the soil. Shaolin in the Sui and Early Tang Eras Around 600, Emperor Wendi of the new Sui Dynasty,  who was a committed Buddhist himself despite his Confucianism court,  awarded Shaolin a 1,400-acre estate plus the right to grind grain with a water mill. During that time,  the Sui reunified China but his reign lasted only 37 years. Soon, the country once more dissolved into the fiefs of competing warlords. Shaolin Temples fortunes rose with the ascension of the Tang Dynasty in 618, formed by a rebel official from the Sui court. Shaolin monks famously fought for Li Shimin against the warlord Wang Shichong. Li would go on to be the second Tang emperor. Despite their earlier assistance, Shaolin and Chinas other Buddhist temples faced numerous purges and in 622 Shaolin was shut down and the monks forcibly returned to lay life. Just two years later, the temple was allowed to reopen due to the military service its monks had rendered to the throne, but in 625, Li Shimin returned 560 acres to the monasterys estate. Relations with the emperors were uneasy throughout the 8th century, but Chan Buddhism blossomed across China and in 728, the monks erected a stele engraved with stories of their military aid to the throne as a reminder to future emperors. The Tang to Ming Transition and Golden Age In 841, the Tang Emperor Wuzong feared the power of the Buddhists so he razed almost all of the temples in his empire and had the monks defrocked or even killed. Wuzong idolized his ancestor Li Shimin, however, so he spared Shaolin. In 907, the Tang Dynasty fell and the chaotic 5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdom periods ensued with the Song family eventually prevailing and taking rulership of the region until 1279. Few records of Shaolins fate during this period survive, but it is known that in  1125, a shrine was built to the Bodhidharma, a half mile from Shaolin. After the Song fell to invaders, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty  ruled until 1368, destroying the Shaolin once more as its empire crumbled during the 1351 Hongjin (Red Turban) rebellion. Legend states that a Bodhisattva, disguised as a kitchen worker, saved the temple, but it was in fact burned to the ground. Still, by the 1500s, the monks of Shaolin were famous for their staff-fighting skills. In 1511, 70 monks died fighting bandit armies and between 1553 and 1555, the monks were mobilized to fight in at least four battles against Japanese pirates. The next century saw the development of Shaolins empty-hand fighting methods. However, the monks fought on the Ming side in the 1630s and lost. Shaolin in the Early Modern and Qing Era In 1641, rebel leader Li Zicheng destroyed the monastic army, sacked Shaolin and killed or drove away from the monks before going on to take Beijing in 1644, ending the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, he was driven out in turn by the Manchus who founded the Qing Dynasty. Shaolin Temple lay mostly deserted for decades and the last abbot, Yongyu, left without naming a successor in 1664. Legend says that a group of Shaolin monks rescued the Kangxi Emperor from nomads in 1674. According to the story, envious officials then burned down the temple, killing most of the monks and Gu Yanwu traveled to the remains of Shaolin in 1679 to record its history. Shaolin slowly recovered from being sacked, and in 1704, the Kangxi Emperor made a gift of his own calligraphy to signal the temples return to imperial favor.  The monks had learned caution, however, and empty-hand fighting began to displace weapons training - it was best not to seem too threatening to the throne. In 1735 to 1736, the emperor Yongzheng and his son Qianlong decided to renovate Shaolin and cleanse its grounds of fake monks - martial artists who affected monks robes without being ordained. The Qianlong Emperor even visited Shaolin in 1750  and wrote poetry about its beauty, but later banned monastic martial arts. Shaolin in the Modern Era During the nineteenth century, the monks of Shaolin were accused of violating their monastic vows by eating meat, drinking alcohol and even hiring prostitutes. Many saw vegetarianism as impractical for warriors, which is probably why government officials sought to impose it upon Shaolins fighting monks. The temples reputation received a serious blow during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 when Shaolin monks were implicated - probably incorrectly - in teaching the Boxers martial arts. Again in 1912, when Chinas last imperial dynasty fell due to its weak position compared with intrusive European powers, the country fell into chaos, which ended only with the victory of the Communists under Mao Zedong in 1949. Meanwhile, in 1928, the warlord Shi Yousan burned down 90% of the Shaolin Temple, and much of it would not be rebuilt for 60 to 80 years. The country eventually came under Chairman Maos rule, and monastic Shaolin monks fell from cultural relevance.   Shaolin Under Communist Rule At first, Maos government did not bother with what was left of Shaolin. However, in accordance with Marxist doctrine, the new government was officially atheist. In 1966, the Cultural Revolution broke out and Buddhist temples were one of the Red Guards primary targets. The few remaining Shaolin monks were flogged through the streets and then jailed, and Shaolins texts, paintings, and other treasures were stolen or destroyed. This might have finally been the end of Shaolin, if not for the 1982 film Shaolin Shi  or Shaolin Temple, featuring the debut of Jet Li (Li Lianjie). The movie was based very loosely on the story of the monks aid to Li Shimin and became a huge smash hit in China. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, tourism exploded at Shaolin, reaching more than 1 million people per year by the end of the 1990s. Shaolins monks are now among the best known on Earth, and they put on martial arts displays in world capitals with  literally thousands of films having been made about their exploits. Batuos Legacy Its hard to imagine what the first abbot of Shaolin would think if he could see the temple now. He might be surprised and even dismayed by the amount of bloodshed in the temples history and its use in modern culture as a tourist destination. However, to survive the tumult that has characterized so many periods of Chinese history, the monks of Shaolin had to learn the skills of warriors, most of important of which was survival. Despite a number of attempts to erase the temple, it survives and even thrives today at the base of the Songshan Range.

Effects of colonization on aboriginal peoples of North America Essay

Effects of colonization on aboriginal peoples of North America - Essay Example The history of Canada shows that it might have had different geographic divisions if it were not for the influence and roles played by its aboriginal people on the land. As an example, Canada would not have existed and would have been part of the United States were it not for the crucial military role played by aboriginal populations in at least two significant historical events 2006). The aboriginal people formerly held sway and ownership over what we know today as Canada. This is an historical fact which is recognized by the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and other treaties between three British governments and the Sovereign Aboriginal nation. These served as the basis for succeeding treaties. Ironically, it also gave the means by which Aboriginal land titles could be extinguished 2006). The Royal Proclamation of 1763 marked the beginning of efforts to remove the entire aboriginal peoples from their lands, resources and undermine their rights. This effort succeeded partly with military interventions but these armed conflicts were minimal compared to those waged in the United States. In contrast, American government efforts against aboriginal peoples policies and actions which were more militaristic. In Canada, the government approach was characterized by the political process of assimilation 2006). Although it may seem that the aboriginal population of Canada were peacefully cooperating as allies and business partners, underneath the surface was a prevalence of apartheid, assimilation, ethnic cleansing, infractions on human rights, racism, and oppression, which marked the last 350 years of Canadian aboriginal history. Though on the receiving end of much suffering and prejudice, the aboriginal population played a crucial role in the establishment and confederation of Canada. Aborigines were employed in military roles and their involvement during the attempts of the United States to annex Canada helped keep the balance in favor of the British. The Indian forces were also responsible for keeping Americans from succeeding in their persistent encroachments into Canada ( 2006). A modern society with a federal structure was established with the confederation of Canada in 1867. The initiative towards confederation began as early as 1858 and increased in pace in 1864 and 1866. Although the confederation delegates went into extensive discussions to hammer out the details of confederation, there was no time when the First Nations were included in the talks. Neither were they consulted nor their future roles in the federation publicly acknowledged. Their future was determined unilaterally and as the first prime minister, Sir John MacDonald said, "to do away with the tribal system and assimilate the Indian people in all respects with the inhabitants of the Dominion" (GENOCIDE & ASSIMILATION: Canada's Aboriginal People experience "Ethnic cleansing - Canadian-Style !" http://offreserve.tripod.com/articles.html). This was consistent with the British Empire's task of carrying the "white man's burden". This is to mean the civilizing of indigenous peoples within the empire, may they be Indian, Maori, Zulu, etc. The "white man's burden" also serves as the justification for the annexation of the lands and resources of these indigenous populations. For Victorian

Lighthouse international website review Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lighthouse international website review - Article Example Lighthouse International is a website for a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and services on various types of vision related problems. It was founded in New York in 1905 and was one of the first institutions of its time that offered vision rehabilitation services. Throughout the century, it increased its functions and extended its services globally. It began with a goal to prevent blindness and evolved into a mission to assist those with a vision issues to function normally in mainstream society. Its facilities cover research, offer rehab services, and educate both those with vision impairments and professionals. Lighthouse International also is a leading advocate for vision healthcare on both the state and federal level.Information on the website is very easy to find as the site is user-friendly and well organized. The layout of the Home Page is uncluttered and welcoming yet it gives a summary direction to various services offered on the entire site. "Get t he Facts", "Get Help Today", "What's New". This means that a person just arriving on the page does not have to search long to find what interests him or her. The tabs at the top with self explanatory titles also easily direct a user to their destination - "Home, About, Vision Health, Vision Services, Our Schools, Research, and Donate". The Search field on the sidebar also helps a user find their topic of interest. Since this is a site about vision it makes sense that there will be a function that adjusts the size of the print for the comfort of the reader. The "Help Near You" widget addresses users that arrive at the site from around the world. After filling in the appropriate values, the site will give the address and contact information in the country indicated. These first three widgets remain the same on each (Last Name) 2 page that is viewed whereas, the information that follows varies according the content of the page. It is to be noted that most of the tabbed pages are introductions themselves to further information. For example, the tab "Vision Health", lists all the services available to all groups. Each service is a link that takes the reader to another page with the specific information requested. At the end of each page, is an email address that allows the reader to request even more information for their particular need. This design is very appealing as it keeps each page fairly short and manageable. For a website on vision, it is interesting there is not much color on many of the pages. The body of the text is a light color background with black font and deep blue links. The side bar is the inverse, with a deep blue background, and white font. This website itself provides the explanation for this lack of color via one of their links (Home > Accessibility > Effective Color Contrast). Contrasts are easier to read than colors of a similar hue. In other words, the website, although not visually stimulating, is designed for the reading ease for the majority of its readers. It is still neat and attractive with punches of color in either the photographs or the logos. The photographs themselves add interest and are appropriately related to the page content. The Lighthouse International website is specifically designed to cater to those with an interest in vision related matters. It is useful for those with problems looking for answers or assistance. This audience would be the general public, no matter what profession or age. It also offers a portal for those who want to donate and assist in the advancement of vision related research. One tab is dedicated to donations and events that raise funds for the continuation of Lighthouse International's work. The catchy heading "Be a Visionary PhilanthropistDonate Now", is a clever play on words: the funds will not only be for the advancement of research in the field of vision but to support the foresight and imagination of the two sisters who founded the company. In order to attract

Strategic Analysis of Costa Coffee Market Entry to Azerbaijan Assignment

Strategic Analysis of Costa Coffee Market Entry to Azerbaijan - Assignment Example The chosen country is Azerbaijan which is located in Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range. (CIA 2012). It is of utmost importance that the company finds the niche factors that will guaranty its successful entry in Azerbaijan. Initial to the process is a research that analyzes the market. Objectives to be met are: a) to discover any advantage Costa Coffee may have over its competitors; b) To find if there is an unmet need or underserved needs of customers; and c) find the right segment. To complete the analysis, use of Michel Porter's model of analysis is prescribed. 1. Consumer Demographics. Azerbaijan has a total population of 9,643,000 as of 2011 (CIA). It is composed of 3,436,459 females and 3,307,88l males in the bracket of ages 15-64 and a male population of 227,172 and 367,675 bracket of 65 years and above. Population is composed of Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census). Population growth rate is 1.017% with a rank of 114 in world comparison. Baku, its capital holds 1.9 million people. 2. Product/service. Tea and coffee remain to be the favorite hot drinks in Azerbaijan. Euromonitor (2012) reports tea is consumed by almost 100% of its citizens, while coffee remains to be one of the stable areas in hot drinks, Multinationals strongly positioned here are Nestle, Unilever, and Ahmad due to the popularity of their brands. Brand loyalty is very strong in coffee. Their business structures are general partnership agreement with an LLC for Nestle, a trading company for Unilever, and corporation for Ahmad coffee. 3. Distribution channel. Hot tea and coffee products are sold in supermarkets and independent stores.  

Relationship Between Taste and Consumption

Relationship Between Taste and Consumption The links between taste, consumption, social class and power Introduction The renowned French sociologist and philosopher Pierre-Fà ©lix Bourdieu believed that taste and cultural consumption was inextricably linked to social class, which in itself is determined by those with power and position (Bourdieu’s 1994). His detailed research on the subject concluded that the pressures of the society that we live in thus bring about all human acts and, to this extent are not governed by decisions made by solely by the individual. In his view the society in which we live, together with our standing individual standing within that culture will have considerable influence upon both our particular tastes and the choices of taste that we make. Furthermore, Bourdieu finds that those in a position of power, such as the media and government, by virtue of their position, are consistently using the power that they possess to create and feed the social distinctions that we see about us, and therefore manipulating the consumption pattern. The conclusion of Bourdieuâ₠¬â„¢s research therefore is that the individual does not act autonomously from the dictates of his or her society, but rather reacts to patterns of social distinction that are being presented to them. To assess the validity of this theory, it is the intention of this research to identify, examine and evaluate the potential links that exist between â€Å"taste† and cultural consumption and social class. The research will be segmented in an attempt to first of all provide an understanding of consumption and its cultural relevance and how this can be manipulated by those with the power to do so, before examining the relevant aspects of social class. This process will enable us then to reflect upon taste and reach a conclusion as to whether the hypothesis outlined above is still as relevant in modern society as it was when Bourdieu (1994) conducted his research into the subject. Consumption In the context of this research, the term consumption is not simply being examined in relation to the goods or services that we purchase with the purpose to consume, for example grocery items, although that is an integral element of the purchasing act. However, it also is relevant to the purpose and reasoning that lies behind the consumption process itself. The basic concept of consumption is that we make a choice of purchase based upon a number of factors, for example because we like the taste of the content in the case of food products or we are attracted to the look of the item, as would be the case in the decision for non foodstuff, such as furniture, automobiles, homes and a host of other goods. Irrespective of the validity of these determinates of choice consumption is not â€Å"merely the recognition or miss-recognition of the aesthetic intention† (Storey, 2003, p.48). When we make a product choice we are also, either making a statement about our social position, and ourselves, or reacting to a statement that has been placed before us by others. Furthermore, as is reflected in the term â€Å"keeping up with the Joneses,† an element of our buying patterns will be made in relation to what others, our peers, might have that we do not. In terms of the influence of others, be the media or peers, this may be perceived as a guide to move us in a certain direction or to give us a distinction that we previously did not have. Therefore, it is true to say that the way in which we exercise our right to consumption is determined by the social structure that surrounds us (Mackay 1997, p.255). This can perhaps be better seen when viewed in a historical context. In the Victorian era, when the class situation within UK society was more pronounced, the patterns of consumption were seen as an inherent part of that system, in that the purchase should match the social position. A typical example of this process was obvious in the clothing industry, In those days one purchased clothing, that was considered to be commensurate with one’s standing in society, be that class or professional position. It would have been considered â€Å"an offence to dress above one’s station† (Corrigan 1997, p.6). The theory of consumption being relative to position, and objected too if it does not maintain that distinction has been seen more recently in research conducted by Radway (1990, p.705 and p.710). The case being studied here was the emergence of book clubs and the controversial reaction to this in some areas of society. These book clubs were offering products that ranged from the mass-market romantic and detective novels through to the classics and â€Å"highbrow† products. The controversy arose because many believed that this was an unacceptable intrusion into the considered norm of social culture and distinction. Despite the fact that the social strata and distinction has been blurred to some extent in modern times, to a great degree the cultural habits of consumption still exist and operate in society. Irrespective of the wide variety of goods and products available, the patterns of individual purchase are still determined by the social and cultural position. For example, when faced with a choice for holidays, the general perception is still that the package tour and coastal seaside two-week summer break is mainly the domain of the working class element of society. Similarly, purchasing a Ford car instead of the more expensive Mercedes will automatically make a statement about the buyers standing, therefore producing a social distinction in consumption (Miller 2002, p.275). However, nowadays this pattern is tempered with consumption for the purpose of aspiration. Today the objective of bettering oneself is an integral part of the social culture. Peer pressure has also become more intense. People are concerned with being seen to either maintain their status by ensuring that they have the latest product, as may be the case with their neighbour, or wishing to use consumption and purchase as a way of moving up a position in the social ladder. They use consumption to make a statement to this effect (Brewer 1994, p.275). Furthermore, the availability of the product, in terms of price, model and novelty is also important. Consumption will change as a product becomes more popular. For example, a person of high social standing seeks a product that is not generally available to the masses. This can be seen in the case of the Mercedes car, once solely affordable by the few. As it became more popular and therefore more affordable, the novelty and distinction it gav e to the wealthier elements of society wore off (Miller 2002, p.180), and they sought to re-establish their position by transferring their consumption to more distinction and expensive automobile ranges. Typically, the peer-generated influence can be seen occurring with the â€Å"new rich,† such as footballers, corporate moguls and celebrities. Having achieved a position of wealth such people will use the purchasing process to acquire products that make a conspicuous statement about the new position they have achieved within society (Featherstone 2000, p.20). In terms of other influences on consumption, the advertising and marketing media have played a pivotal role. This has become particularly apparent during the period of rapid developments in technological and digital advances being made in the media. Marketers distinguish their target markets by demographic segments, and therefore operate on the basis of class distinction when determining â€Å"consumption criteria† (Miller 2002, p.112). These organisations will use the segment analysis for a number of reasons. In terms of mass marketing, for instance with grocery and low cost household products, the intention will be too attract the working classes to consume their products in preference. Similarly, this system will be used to drive the â€Å"peer-pressure† determinant, using the subconscious cultural message that to maintain one’s individual standing, these products are culturally essential. At the other end of the scale, Marketers will use their message to acce ntuate the difference in social standing that can be achieved by purchasing their product. Again this can be aptly seen with motor vehicles, where the promoter might use the vision of ownership of a 44, or top of the range vehicle as an indication of higher social standing. From this analysis it can be seen that consumption when viewed on a number of levels does reflect, either directly or indirectly, a social struggle to achieve a certain level of distinction. Consciously or sub-consciously it will affect the consumers position and social standing (Corrigan 1997, p.32). Taste Taste in dictionary terms, is defined as being the manifestation of an individual’s particular preference. This will extend beyond the simple food connotation of the word to all aspects of life, including all of the goods, services and activities they purchase or use. In his research Bordieu (1994, p.42) rightly identifies taste as being a matter of choice, which varies from individual to individual. Therefore, by definition taste has both a positive and negative reaction. For example, one chooses a particular food because of the preference to its taste or conversely rejects of food because of individual’s dislike of its taste. In the same way, similar decisions are made about other goods. Furthermore the levels of taste are varied. For example, one may react on a low level of negatively to something simply on a matter of ascetic taste, as in not being keen on the colour, or the level of taste dislike can reveal itself in the emotion of disgust, which in the case of foo d can even lead to sickness. From the individual point of view taste can therefore be attributable as an indications of the specific preferences of a particular person (Featherstone 2000, p.83). However, having previously stated that taste is a matter of choice, a rider should be added to this. Choice in taste is not always a decision that is taken freely. In most areas of life there is limitations and taste is often one such area. As Bordieu (1994) pointed out in his research, often in our daily lives and decision-making processes our taste decisions are restricted by a choice being forced upon us. For example, to return once again to an automobile comparison, it is often the case when faced with a choice of vehicles to purchase, that one’s deep routed preference would be for a Mercedes. However if the income level of the purchaser is only say $10,000 per annum, this vehicle is clearly out of an acceptable price range. In such a situation one has to make a taste decision based upon an affordable, or forced, range of lower standard vehicles. Therefore taste is tempered by the social and economic position that the individual is situated within. Taste can also be applicable in a cultural sense and in this respect Bourdieu (1984, p.56), states that it can act as a class barrier. As with consumption, again this can be seen as more pronounced in historical times, although it still exists. By nature, the individual will aspire to a certain social level and consequently they will have an aversion to a life-style that does not match with their expectations. In respect of society itself, there are two levels of taste that can be deemed to play both an interactive and exclusive role. These are common taste and class taste respectively. In addition to individual taste, the format of society also dictates that there will be a common taste. This is an element that is shared within the specific culture to which one belongs. For example, within the UK there will be commonly accepted tastes in terms of the way that people should behave, and where the limits of acceptable common legislation should be drawn, although this is by no means the only area of taste that would be considered to be common. However, as Bordieu (1994), this common taste scenario produces a dichotomy. Achieving a balance between the common taste and the taste of individual classes of society is often difficulty. By the simple distinction of their class, there will be those elements of society that will wish at least part of their taste to be separate from those of other classes. For instance, the upper class will have a distinct taste that they would perceive to set them apart from the working class (Bucholtz and Sutton 1999, p.355). Taste and choice is another are where those with power, such as the media, can exercise significant influence. One only has to look at the television to notice the wide range of new products and designs that are constantly being promoted. This can serve to create movement in the individual and social taste requirements (Miller 2002, p.216). Whilst consumers demands and tastes for new products may change, as has been demonstrated this is not always as a result of their own changing tastes (Brewer and Porter 1994, p.601). Similarly, as with consumption, often these taste determinants will be directed at particular demographic segments of the community. A typical example of this occurred when â€Å"Wedgewood Potteries, in north Staffordshire, deliberately tried to direct upper-class taste† through design and promotional efforts (Corrigan 1997. p.9). Taste therefore is influenced by a number of factors, not the least of which is the relative position of the individual â€Å"in the social structure† (Mackay 1997, p.230) of their own culture. Similarly, taste can be distinct between the relative class structures and also can create a tension when seen not to be achieving the correct values (Corrigan 1997, p.100). Social Class What is social class and how does it manifest itself? As will be seen within this section there are many aspects to class and numerous influences attached to its creation and maintenance of the class system. The class system in the UK has been in existence for countless centuries and, despite the moves during the last century to achieve equality is has still managed to survive, particularly, as Bordieu (1994) points in his research, within the higher intellectual and ruling class level. Indeed, as Brewer (1994, p.128), points out, in Wigston Magna, an old village, which is now a part of an expanded city called Leicester, social differences were being created as the village grew. Much of the creation of class Bordieu (1994) puts down to education and language. Success in education is achieve not simply by the act of learning, but also as a result of behaviour and even language, which in turn is a reflection of upbringing. Those students from privileged backgrounds will have learnt how to present themselves physically, in speech and their attitude, whereas the less privileged will not, precisely as a result of the way they have been brought up. Language is also important, not simply because it is a way of communication, but because it is seen as an indicator of position within society. To evidence this one only has to look at the immediate perception that is formed in the mind as a result of the â€Å"mannerism of speech of different social groups† (Bucholtz and Sutton 1999, p.101). Automatically, the subconscious seeks to identify not simply the geographical background, but also their position within society. The way that people speak does therefore te nd to create an immediate recognition of class. There is a natural tendency for people to segregate themselves into groups where they feel comfortable, and an equal tendency to reject or distance themselves from those who do not fit into their own â€Å"circle.† This phenomenon is known as social distinction. Social distinction is what creates the various classes. It is defined by different values, tastes and consumption activity. Furthermore, its occupants rigorously protect it. For example, when describing ourselves to others we tend to refer to the social category that we belong to as a way of distinguishing ourselves from others (Mackay 1997, p.68). Mackay (1997, p.205) further evidences this by explaining how the middle classes, in an attempt to maintain their distinctive class, will put â€Å"geographical distance between itself and manual labour† or working classes. Even within classes that can be demonstrated by economic advantage, there still remains a distinction that is closely protected. The latter half of the last century saw a significant increase of wealth created and attracted to people who previously would have been considered to be working or middle class. As the wealth accumulation continued, these people began to acquire the trappings of the upper classes, such as large land estates, international residences and the like. This situation threatened the existence and position that was previously the domain of the nobility and aristocrats. As Bourdieu (1994) explains, the nobility were not prepared to lose their standing within society, based upon position and breeding, nor would they settle for it being diluted by invasion from individuals who they considered to be of a lower class, irrespective of wealth. Thus they encapsulated the retention of their previous distinction by use of the terms â€Å"old money† and â€Å"new mone y,† Individuals and groups within society use numerous ways to distinguish themselves from other classes. For example, the amount of leisure time that is available to an individual is often used as an example of their social standing (Storey 2003, p.37), as might be their house style where a detached property is viewed a social standing distinct from a terraced. Similarly, ones work position can be used to reinforce the social distinction. Subconsciously, when the terms blue-collar worker, white-collar worker and professional are used in relation to the employment of the individual, there is an automatic social and class distinction attributed to them. Power also helps to maintain the social distinction and class. By its terminology, the government is as guilty of this as any other sector of society. For example, consistent references to being a party of the â€Å"working class† by Labour is intended to distinguish them from the more affluent reaches of the conservatives. Similarly, the media makes use of class distinction in promotional strategy. For example, if a retailer wishes to appeal to the masses, for example with cosmetics, its promotion will lead with the term â€Å"Lower-priced cosmetics† Corrigan 1997, 87. Conversely, if it wishes to appeal to affluent classes it will use quality and aspirations as its message. Conclusion From the research that has been studied during the preparation of this paper, it is concluded that there are numerous and significant links between consumption, taste and social class and power. Despite the fact that the modern trend is towards a more deregulated and less controlled society (Featherstone 2000, p.15), these links still exist, although they manifest themselves in different ways to those that were used in the past. Consumption is still driven by an individual’s desire to better themselves, which is deemed to be achieved by improving ones class or standing in society. Taste is still governed by ones upbringing and changed by both peer pressure and a desire to changes ones position in society, and the various social classes still endeavour to maintain their individuality and distinction from other classes. The major difference in the modern world when compared with the historical structure of society is the manner in which all of these links and distinctions are maintained. Today, the concentration is upon the use of signs and images as a method of promoting ones position in society (Featherstone 2000, p.85). Material possessions, together with the work position are used, consciously or subconsciously, to denote where the individual stands in society in terms of their class. Encompassing all of these aspects in the manipulative forces of those with power, such as the media and government. The government, by attributing demographic segmentation to the population, maintains the concept of different social classes with varying tastes and consumption needs. The media, whilst in many ways performing the same social distinction role as government, also use the individual’s distinctive position to create situations that convey how these positions should be maintained and, in addition, provide a perceived path for the individual to exchange the class and position they are currently in for one that would improve their standing in the community. References Bourdieu, Pierre and Nice, Richard (Translator) (1994). Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Harvard University Press. Massachusetts, US. Brewer, J., and Porter, R. (eds.) 1994. Consumption and the World of Goods. Routledge. London, UK. Bucholtz, M., Laing, A.C and Sutton (eds.) (1999). Reinventing Identities. Oxford University Press. New York, US. Corrigan, Peter (1998). The Sociology of Consumption: An Introduction. Sage Publications. London, UK. Featherstone, Mike (2000). Consumer Culture and Post-modernism. Sage Publications. London, UK. Mackay, H (ed.) (1997). Consumption and Everyday Life. The Open University. Milton Keynes, London, UK. Miller. D (2002). Acknowledging Consumption: A Review of New Studies. Routledge. London, UK. Moran, Joe (2005). Hum, ping. rip: the sounds of cooking. The New Statesman. London, UK. Radway, J. (1990). â€Å"The scandal of the middlebrow: the Book-of-the-Month Club, class fracture, and cultural authority†. South Atlantic Quarterly. Fall, pp. 703-7. Storey, J. (2003). Cultural Consumption and Everyday Life. Arnold. London, UK.