Media, marketing and advertisment Research Paper

Media, marketing and advertisment - Research Paper Example This is more compounded in the fact that marketers have increasingly stated that with advancement in advertising, the level of copying by target audience or consumers need to be scrutinized. This is given that some pundits have constantly argued that consumers tend to be inexperienced with technology (AMS 2011). It is increasingly clear that a consumer in the modern world is exposed to a number of choices emanating from adverts and marketing. This comes with a number of dimensions as we live in a postmodern world and attempt at building a culture of consumers being the driver of decisions and processes that manufacturers and distributors engage in. Postmodernism as an age and a phenomenon had increasingly bore the greatest responsibility as far as consumerism is concerned. In the United Kingdom for instance, a number of departmental stores have cropped up in response to consumerism (Hincliffe 2009). Hincliffe (2009) again notes that one of the escalating habits nowadays is that with the arrival of convenience stores, people spend a great deal of their money shopping in supermarkets and the decisions they make have to do with adverts they see in the media, whether mainstream or otherwise. On average in the USA, most people consume 275 pounds of meat which is quite a high margin and this is attributed to advertisement regarding this commodity. Further, according to him, there is an average of one passenger car for every two people in the US, One passenger car for about three people in Europe and one passenger car for 49 people in the developing countries. Overall, the argument that consumer society is driven by choices or that it drives choices as far as consumption of goods and services are concerned must be examined in a number of ways. These should include understanding what consumer society is all about, the features of the Consumer Society, the drivers of Consumer Society as it is today with advertisement and phenomenon e.g. technologies like the internet, and other gadgets used nowadays by people all of which ensure that consumers purchase more and more. This paper focuses on the advertising and promotion within the context of media, taking into account consumerism as a recent phenomenon which has necessitated consumption landscape and other market changes. It focuses on overall view of advertisement and zeroes on the forms of media other than the traditional media technology. Advertising as a Promotion and Marketing tool: Overall View Advertising is considered to be a central part of marketing and distribution mechanism of a variety of goods and by large, creation of choices in a consumer society tod ay. This is more because, it is mostly propagated by the media. Even though advertising is relatively new as a profession, its effects beat those of religion and education in shaping public view and perception. In the United States for instance, the money spent annually on advertisement outsmarts the total public expenditure on natural resources, higher education and police protection combined. Usually if one goes to a departmental store the goods they see displayed are often correlated with adverts they have seen either on billboards, in the media (print and otherwise) and this aids in decision making (Hincliffe 2009). Today, advertising is seen as quite crucial in promoting the Consumer Soci

Research Proposal on Banking Essay Example for Free

Research Proposal on Banking Essay Introduction Over thirty-five years have passed since academics began speculating on the impact that information technology (IT) would have on organizational structure. The debate is still on-going, and both researchers and managers continue to explore the relationship between IT and organizational structure. As organizations need to process more information under these uncertain conditions, IT is one possible way for organizations to increase their information processing capability. We are conducting a research in HBL bank that, how bank increase the number of account holders using Internet banking among its Current Account holders. IT has a dramatic effect on both peoples personal and professional lives. IT is also changing the nature of organizations by providing opportunities to make fundamental changes in the way they do business. The technology is changing rapidly, with computing speeds and the numbers of transistor equivalents available in a given area of a microprocessor chip both doubling in very short time. Organizations are acquiring more and more technology systems to assist in everything from manufacturing to the management of information to the provision and improvement of customer service. Harnessing and coordinating this computing power is the challenge. New tools and innovative perspectives with which to examine, interpret, and comprehend these rapidly evolving environments are always needed and sought. Background / Literature View: IT is transforming the way that business is conducted. Computers prepare invoices, issue checks, keep track of the movement of stock, and store personnel and payroll records. Word processing and personal computers are changing the patterns of office work, and the spread of information technology is affecting the efficiency and competitiveness of business, the structure of the work force, and the overall growth of economic output. Many people believe that the primary driving force behind this information revolution is progress in microelectronic technology, particularly in the development of integrated circuits or chips. Thus, the reason that computing power that used to fill a room and cost $1 million now stands on a desk and costs $500 or that pocket calculators that used to cost $1000 now cost $10 is that society happens to have benefited from a series of spectacularly successful inventions in the field of electronics. But fewer people understand why the introduction of information technology occurred when it did or took the path that it did, why data processing came before word processing or why computers transformed the office environment before they transformed the factory environment. Because this technology oriented view of the causes of the information revolution offers little guidance to the direction that technological developments have taken thus far, it offers little insight into the direction that they will take in the future. Electronic banking is one of the first things that come to mind when one thinks about the future of banking. It is generally assumed that electronic banking is new and that it will replace or supplement many channels of delivery of retail banking services. The term electronic banking as used here refers to any banking activity accessed by electronic means. It includes Online Banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Automated Call Centers, Digital Cash, Internet Banking, Screen Telephones, E-Utility Bills and so on. These channels of delivery can be used for presenting and paying bills, buying and selling securities, transferring funds, and providing other financial products and services. Electronic banking can be used for retail banking and business-to-business (B2B) transactions, as well as for facilitating large-amount transfers. Equally important, electronic banking is a worldwide phenomenon. As the term is used here, it involves transactions. Web sites that are transactional are considered electronic banking. Electronic banking and the Internet in general are forcing a shift in the way banks and other businesses organize and the way they think of themselves. A shift is taking place from vertical integration to virtual integration. Banks and other financial intermediaries must realize that they are in the financial information industry. The Internet makes it possible to bring both customers and suppliers together to share critical business information. E-banking helps banks relay and show to their clients how good their services are, how many services we are providing and that the services they offer are of better standards. Through E-banking the company can show the clients that they are better than competitors and can give them satisfaction guaranteed. Statement of the problem The internet and the different things it can do to uplift business procedures, products and services is a current necessity for business. One of internets products is Electronic banking. Electronic banking is a faster way for clients to transact with the banks personnel. Clients can still transact with banks while on the comfort and safety of their homes and Offices. The main purpose of this proposed research is to determine, how we will increase Internet Banking Users among their present Account holders. Theoretical Framework: Increase Internet Banking Users Quality Products (websites) A Bank Manager observed that, if he provides the better Quality Products (Websites) and Low Bank Charges on Internet-Banking to his Account holders. This will increase the number of Customer of Internet Banking. But it will not affect on those Account holders with less qualification and do not use internet. Qualification of account holder and use of internet Low Bank Charges on Internet Banking Research Objectives: This Research intends to find out, If Bank updates its website and gives quality products, easy use and as well as reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the number of users using Internet Banking among its Account holders. However, according to the literature review, the qualification of account holder is plays an important part in this relationship. Our objective is if we increase quality products and reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the Internet Banking users. Research Question: * If we increase quality products and reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the Internet Banking users or not? * Qualification of customer and use of internet is effect on internet banking users or not? Research Design/Methodology: Type of research This research will use the descriptive type of research. Descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition and solving the problem. The descriptive approach is quick and more practical financially. Moreover, this method will allow for a flexible approach, thus, when important new issues and questions arise during the duration of the study, a further investigation may be allowed. The study opted to use this kind of research considering the goal of the study to obtain first hand data so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study. Research Strategy For this research data will be gathered through collating published studies from different books, articles from different related journals and studies, and other literary instruments. Afterwards make a content analysis of the collected documentary and verbal material. The study will then summarize all the necessary information. The study will then make a conclusion based on the said information and provide insightful recommendations on how to solve the said problem. Sample and Sampling Technique The respondents of the research came from the different branches of bank mentioned from Karachi. Due to time constraint and also, for the convenience of the researcher, only hundred (100) respondents were considered for the study. The convenience sampling technique was imposed in the study to pick up the hundred respondents, mainly because the availability of the respondents from the different branches was considered. This part of the study is important because the most important data needed to fulfill the objectives and aims of this study will only be supplied by the respondents from the Branches of HBL bank Karachi. Primary and secondary data collection The primary source of data will come from a survey using questionnaire and interviews that will be conducted by the researcher. The primary data frequently gives the detailed definitions of terms and statistical units used in the survey. These are usually broken down into finer classifications. The secondary source of data will come from research through the internet; books, journals, related studies and other sources of information. Acquiring secondary data are more convenient to use because they are already condensed and organized. Moreover, analysis and interpretation are done more easily. Validation of the instrument For validation purposes, the researcher pre-tested a sample of the set survey questionnaires. This was done by conducting an initial survey to at least five respondents from the different banks from Karachi. After the respondents answered, the researchers then asked them to cite the parts of the questionnaire that needs improvement. The researcher even asked for suggestions and corrections from the respondents to ensure that the survey-questionnaire is effective. Automatically, these five respondents were not included as respondents for the study. Data analysis Data gathered will be analyzed through frequency distributions. These will give way to reviewing the data categories and the number of referrals in each category. The data acquired will be analyzed according to the different categories and importance. The information that will be gathered and analyzed will be important to achieve the objectives desired by the study.

Renaisance Education: Values and Purposes :: European Europe History

Renaisance Education: Values and Purposes The Renaissance was a time of change. It began in Italy during the 14th century, and spread throughout the North. People all over Europe were affected, for the better and for the worse. Some people finally had a chance to control their own fate. Others, like upper class women, lost their social status. The values and purposes of Renaissance education were to improve the society, increase the economy, and restore the religious beliefs. The social lives of people were greatly influenced by advancements in education during the Renaissance. More people then ever before were send to schools and educated. Schools for girls were built, and they were taught sewing, reading, writing, and dancing. Some of these schools even had teachers for singing and playing instruments. Upper class women were taught language, philosophy, theology and mathematics. But their education only prepared them for social life at home. Women lost political power, access to property and their role in shaping society. People were taught to understand and judge the writings of others. Courtiers, aristocrats and nobles were able to write poetry and text. By being well educated, having good penmanship, knowing how to ride, play, dance, sing, and dress well, men of high status gained respect and reputation. These skills also helped attain preference and support among princes. Nevertheless, the school system did not teach youth how to behave in daily life situations. They spent too much time on Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic. Those studies that were realistic, enlightened men's minds, and prepared them for life, were reserved for the Universities. Therefore, students had a slight understanding of the meaning and the true use of knowledge. They were only able to write Latin, which no one of judgement would want to read, and when they went to universities, they wasted their friends' money and their own time. Afterwards, they would return home again, as unsophisticated and uneducated as they were before. In addition, many individuals thought that having to many schools was a terrible thing. They believed that only a minority of men should study literature, because more farmers were needed than judges, more soldiers than priests, more merchants than philosophers, and more hard working groups than dreamy and thoughtful individuals. Italian humanist Piccolomini, who himself was educated, believed that philosophy and literature, should be taught to every individual, because these studies reveal the truths about the past, the reality of the present, and the prediction of the future. Renaisance Education: Values and Purposes :: European Europe History Renaisance Education: Values and Purposes The Renaissance was a time of change. It began in Italy during the 14th century, and spread throughout the North. People all over Europe were affected, for the better and for the worse. Some people finally had a chance to control their own fate. Others, like upper class women, lost their social status. The values and purposes of Renaissance education were to improve the society, increase the economy, and restore the religious beliefs. The social lives of people were greatly influenced by advancements in education during the Renaissance. More people then ever before were send to schools and educated. Schools for girls were built, and they were taught sewing, reading, writing, and dancing. Some of these schools even had teachers for singing and playing instruments. Upper class women were taught language, philosophy, theology and mathematics. But their education only prepared them for social life at home. Women lost political power, access to property and their role in shaping society. People were taught to understand and judge the writings of others. Courtiers, aristocrats and nobles were able to write poetry and text. By being well educated, having good penmanship, knowing how to ride, play, dance, sing, and dress well, men of high status gained respect and reputation. These skills also helped attain preference and support among princes. Nevertheless, the school system did not teach youth how to behave in daily life situations. They spent too much time on Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic. Those studies that were realistic, enlightened men's minds, and prepared them for life, were reserved for the Universities. Therefore, students had a slight understanding of the meaning and the true use of knowledge. They were only able to write Latin, which no one of judgement would want to read, and when they went to universities, they wasted their friends' money and their own time. Afterwards, they would return home again, as unsophisticated and uneducated as they were before. In addition, many individuals thought that having to many schools was a terrible thing. They believed that only a minority of men should study literature, because more farmers were needed than judges, more soldiers than priests, more merchants than philosophers, and more hard working groups than dreamy and thoughtful individuals. Italian humanist Piccolomini, who himself was educated, believed that philosophy and literature, should be taught to every individual, because these studies reveal the truths about the past, the reality of the present, and the prediction of the future.

Trapped in the Middle :: Essays Papers

Trapped in the Middle The middle. When one thinks of the middle, he or she may think about the middle of a street, a class, or the middle of the country. One may also consider the middle of thought, traffic, or of an argument. After asking more than ten people what they thought of what the middle was, none of them ever mentioned the middle of two cultures or traditions. In the essay, The Homeland, written by Gloria Anzaldua, Anzaldua describes her homeland as being a little of both Mexican and American cultures. She talks about the history of Mexico and how the borders between Mexico and the United States were created. She explains how the creation of the border has dramatically changed the lives of the Mexican people. She describes the border by using many metaphorical devices; one such example is that of the ocean, â€Å"where earth touches ocean, where the two overlap; a gentle coming together, and at other times and places a violent clash† (Anzaldua, 319). Anzaldua is very rea listic and descriptive in her text. She uses many forms of writing in her personal narrative, which creates an eye-opening and touching story. She concludes her essay with giving the reader a metaphor of what her homeland is to her, a â€Å"thin edge of barbed wire† (327). Anzaldua explains how she is stuck in the middle of two cultures due to a variety of reasons. Those reasons include, the fact that she struggles knowing that the Mexicans must depend on the Americans to live; yet the Americans are too ignorant to even know what is going on. Moreover, the fact that she lives in America yet her heart and soul lie in the Mexican culture causes her to feel split between the two traditions. I, too, feel for Anzaldua, yet I am Portuguese and not Mexican. Though I do not relate completely with her, I do in many ways. After reading The Homeland, I was opened up to a new story about another culture and at the same time it opened myself up to new ideas about my own. After reading Andaldua’s The Homeland, I was shocked to see myself realize that much of the information that she presented had already been exposed to me, yet I never bothered to look at both perspectives.

Inspector Goole

Inspector Goole in Priestley’s play An Inspector Calls’ is arguably the most important character. An agent of change and a voice and a voice of personal and social conscience he delivers the main message of the play in his parting speech challenging the Birlings, and the audience, to â€Å"Remember† that there are â€Å"millions and millions† of people like Eva Smith, all â€Å"linked† in some way. Clearly at this stage his examination of the Birlings behaviour and the investigation of the suicide of Eva Smith proves he is the voice of morality.Goole states â€Å"we don’t live alone† and are â€Å"responsible for each other†. This message is in direct contrast to the one delivered by Arthur Birling at the start of the play where he claims a man has to â€Å"look after himself and his own† I believe it is no coincidence that Inspector Goole joins the play at this point and sets the tone for the conflict the two are going t o have throughout the entirety of the play.The way that Inspector Goole conducts his â€Å"investigation† of sorts not only exposes Eva Smiths tragic â€Å"chain of Events† which leads to her eventual suicide but also enables the audience to understand each individual characters role in Eva’s death for Sheila getting her fired from her last steady job and Arthur Birling caring to much about â€Å"lower costs and higher prices† than his workers welfare.Goole is very clear when informing the Birlings and Gerald Croft of the way he like to â€Å"go to Work†! He states he will use â€Å"one line of inquiry† at a time. He feels to do otherwise would result in a â€Å"muddle†. Certainly his way of investigation highlights his polar opposite opinion to Arthur Birling whereas he believes in a â€Å"butterfly effect† where each character has individually contributed to the downward spiral of Eva Smith’s life. Goole exposes the gu ilt of each character.The Birlings seem, at the beginning of the play to be a respectable â€Å"up market† family even Gerald Croft comments that they appear a â€Å"nice well behaved† family, but Goole shows this too all be a fake disguise when he reveals through his research methods that they are actually a family which thinks they are â€Å"socially† superior and one that is totally centred around power this statement is proved when Arthur Birling says â€Å" ex Lord Mayor† and â€Å" I was on the bench† and this so fought over power is abused many times in the book by the haracters for example when Gerald Croft uses his monetary advantage to abuse Eva for sex and when Sheila uses her father’s name to get Eva fired from her job at Millwoods. The Inspector quickly creates a conflict between the age generations with the elders staying â€Å"stuck in their ways† and not taking any kind of responsibility for their role in Eva Smithâ₠¬â„¢s death, whereas the younger generation know they have to â€Å"share the guilt† respectively as they are all to blame for Eva’s death.When Priestly wrote this play I believe he invented the character Inspector Goole to spread his message of â€Å"responsibility† through his dialogue this point is proved on many occasions when the inspector speaks to the Birlings about how they must â€Å"take responsibility† for their actions† and â€Å"share the guilt†. He also has a massive speech just before he leaves the Birlings house to round off everything he has tried to get them to learn. Which even though they later find out he was not actually an Inspector teaches the younger generation at lesson about â€Å"responsibility† and the effect their actions had on others.

Postal Codes in Canada Information

Postal Codes in Canada Information In Canada, postal codes are used as part of every mailing address. They are designed to help Canada Post, the Canadian Crown corporation which provides postal services in Canada, sort mail efficiently and accurately, whether its done mechanically or by hand. Note: postal code is an official mark (OM) of Canada Post Corporation. Look up Postal Codes for CanadaLook up postal codes for street addresses and rural addresses, or find a range of addresses for a postal code. Postal code locator tool from Canada Post. Find an Address for a Postal Code in CanadaFormerly called Reverse Search, Canada Post helps you find full address information for a postal code you enter in this tool. The Format of a Canadian Postal Code A Canadian postal code has six alphanumeric characters. There is a single space after the first three characters. Example: ANA NANwhere A is a capital letter of the alphabet and N is a number. The first character in a postal code represents the province, or part of a province, or territory. The first set of three characters is the Forward Sortation Area or FSA. It provides the basic geographic sorting for mail. The second set of characters is the Local Delivery Unit or LDU. It could indicate a small rural community or in urban areas a location as specific as an individual building. The Canadian Postal Code in an Address Label In address labels, postal codes should be placed on the same line of the address as the name of the municipality and abbreviation of province or territory. The postal code should be separated from the province abbreviation by two spaces. Example:NAME OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENTHOUSE OF COMMONSOTTAWA ON K1A 0A6CANADA(Note: Canada is not required for domestic mail) Handy Uses of Postal Codes As well as making the sorting and delivery of mail more efficient, postal codes are used for a variety of other purposes in Canada - in marketing for instance. There are many ways for postal codes to be helpful in day to day life. For example: Use a postal code to find the nearest postal outlet.Find your federal riding and member of parliament.Find a Service Canada office near you to access information on federal government programs.The Web sites of major stores in Canada provide store locators to find the nearest outlet using a postal code.Most Canadian banks also have  online tools that use postal codes to find the nearest bank branches and ATMs and bank machines. Did You Know? Here are a few little-known facts about Canadian postal codes. The Canadian postal code was first introduced in Ottawa, Canadas capital, in 1971. For other significant milestones in the development of postal services in Canada, see The Chronology of Canadian Postal History (since 1506) from the Museum of Canadian History.In 2011, there were approximately 834,000 postal codes in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.Santa Claus has his very own postal code. See Write to Santa.All members of parliament have the same postal code - K1A 0A6. International Postal Codes Other countries have similar postal code systems. In the United States, ZIP codes are used. In the United Kingdom, they are called postcodes.

What Is Air Pollution Essay Example Essays

What Is Air Pollution Essay Example Essays What Is Air Pollution Essay Example Essay What Is Air Pollution Essay Example Essay What cause air pollution We realize that, a living being cant live without anyone elses input. Living beings connect among themselves. Henceforth, all creatures, for example, plants, creatures and people, and in addition the physical surroundings with whom we interface, frame a piece of our condition. Every one of these constituents of nature is reliant upon each other. In this way, they keep up adapting the changes presented by the environment. As we are the main life forms attempt to alter the earth to satisfy our requirements; it is our obligation to find a way to control the natural irregular characteristics. The current developing worry for the nature of our condition has fortified the idea of ecological checking which requires normal periodical estimations of condition took after by opportune appraisal and understanding of information got. Dependable observing information are important to know contamination issue. Condition is weakening step by step because of mechanical contamination, harmful chemicals, car emanation and regular asset exhaustion. Contamination in its different structures is expanding massively. Ecological administration goes for the investigation of every one of these issues and checking contamination with the goal that the earth fulfills the essential human needs at the base and thats just the beginning, if conceivable, for an uncertain future. The primary point of ecological administration is general improvement of condition. Reason for ecological administration is to see whether air is fit for breathing, water is fit for drinking and soil and ocean assets are fit to give all needs. One additionally expects that individuals are all around bolstered, all around housed, knowledgeable and appreciating cheerful and sound life.; Measures incorporated by USA take to control air pollution Flammable strong squanders ought to be scorched in incinerators. This technique does not take care of the issue in a genuine sense in light of the fact that in this, strong waste is being changed over into vaporous squanders causing air contamination. Unless it is appropriately controlled, burning may cause more irritation.; Strong natural squanders including fecal issue and squanders from tanneries ought to be changed over into compost excrement at the spots far from the urban areas and human homes. The treating the soil ought to be done in pits or in piles enough secured with layers of soil no less than 8-10 cm thick to avert fly rearing and rodent hazard which are essential transporters of different maladies.; Non-ignitable strong waste materials like powder, garbage, tins, glass pieces if not recoverable for common purposes ought to be discarded via landfill strategy in low-lying regions.; Anaerobic septic tank treatment can be utilized for singular houses or little groups. Plus, vigorous natural treatment frameworks including streaming channels, initiated slop treatment and oxidation lakes can likewise be utilized for fluid squanders or sewage transfer.; Cars must be either made to dispose of utilization of gas and diesel oil or finish burning is gotten in the motor with the goal that harmful mixes are not radiated. The cars, trucks and other transport frameworks must have an antismog gadget. In a few nations manufacturing plants are utilizing gadgets like scrubbers, typhoon separators or electrostatic precipitators to limit contamination.; Wipes and towels ought to be utilized as a part of place of paper towels and furthermore the utilization of paper containers and plates and comparative materials ought to be halted. ;

Free Essays on Kashmir War

FROM THE PRECIPICE OF WAR TO THE PATH OF PEACE: A SYMPOSIUM ON KASHMIR CONFLICT QUEST FOR THE RATIONAL SOLUTION TO THE KASHMIR DISPUTE IN THE DIRECTION OF STABLISHING A LONG LASTING PEACE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN The state of Jammu and Kashmir as it is officially called has been one of the oldest unresolved disputes in the post second world war era. The claim over this picturesque Himalayan state has been the bone of the contention between India and Pakistan, the two of the largest countries of South Asia. Both these countries were carved out of the former British India in 1947 and since then both of these neighboring countries have fought three wars over the disputed region. The Kashmir dispute is highly complex web of conflict of interests involving in both the countries. And what adds to this complexity is the highly heterogeneous composition of the regional, linguistic and religious demarcation of the people of the state. Even though the state is predominantly Muslim, it also has a substantial Hindu and Buddhist minority. The state has three major geographical regions. The largest of all is the Ladakh, which is a Buddhist majority part of the state with a Shiite minority. The Ladakh is the least populated of all the three regions. It is followed by Jammu, which is predominantly a Hindu majority region with a substantial Sunni minority. The smallest in area but the most populous part of the state is the Kashmir, which is an overwhelmingly Muslim. And on top of this, the state is unevenly divided among India, Pakistan and China. Roughly two-thirds of the state lies under the control of India and the rest is divided between China and Pakistan. The political significance of the state and the possible consequences of the dispute can also be gauged from the fact that apart from the India and Pakistan, it is also strategically located at the crossroads of the Muslim majority Xinjiang province of China, the new Islamicaly... Free Essays on Kashmir War Free Essays on Kashmir War FROM THE PRECIPICE OF WAR TO THE PATH OF PEACE: A SYMPOSIUM ON KASHMIR CONFLICT QUEST FOR THE RATIONAL SOLUTION TO THE KASHMIR DISPUTE IN THE DIRECTION OF STABLISHING A LONG LASTING PEACE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN The state of Jammu and Kashmir as it is officially called has been one of the oldest unresolved disputes in the post second world war era. The claim over this picturesque Himalayan state has been the bone of the contention between India and Pakistan, the two of the largest countries of South Asia. Both these countries were carved out of the former British India in 1947 and since then both of these neighboring countries have fought three wars over the disputed region. The Kashmir dispute is highly complex web of conflict of interests involving in both the countries. And what adds to this complexity is the highly heterogeneous composition of the regional, linguistic and religious demarcation of the people of the state. Even though the state is predominantly Muslim, it also has a substantial Hindu and Buddhist minority. The state has three major geographical regions. The largest of all is the Ladakh, which is a Buddhist majority part of the state with a Shiite minority. The Ladakh is the least populated of all the three regions. It is followed by Jammu, which is predominantly a Hindu majority region with a substantial Sunni minority. The smallest in area but the most populous part of the state is the Kashmir, which is an overwhelmingly Muslim. And on top of this, the state is unevenly divided among India, Pakistan and China. Roughly two-thirds of the state lies under the control of India and the rest is divided between China and Pakistan. The political significance of the state and the possible consequences of the dispute can also be gauged from the fact that apart from the India and Pakistan, it is also strategically located at the crossroads of the Muslim majority Xinjiang province of China, the new Islamicaly...

Personal Development Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Development Plan - Essay Example is goal is going to develop my skills during the transition period and enable me to make the right career decision by helping me develop intellectual and emotional ability and helping me overcome my anxiety of entering into the professional world from the academic world. The goal is relevant and attainable because I intend to develop my career in a field whereby I’d require confidence and excellent public speaking skills to excel. Thus, I realize that not only do I have to be successful in my academic life but also in my professional career. I have the ambition and conviction to attain it and also have ample time before I enter into my professional life. Part 3) Goal 4: The action I’d take is to book a hall for my presentations at Community Club in my neighborhood by 15th November, 2011. The resources required shall include around $300 for books, another $250 for online classes and Joe, my mentor. These resources shall pinpoint the areas of improvement for me. I might have to collect more pocket money from my parents and earn from a part-time job which is a challenge. If I do well, however, I shall reward myself by hosting an event at my school. Goal 5: The action I’d take is calling the Yoga centre to enroll for the Yoga classes by 13th November. The resources I shall require include a yoga mat costing around $30, $300 for the Yoga classes. I’d do Yoga for 2 hours a day for 6 weeks and I’d also take along my friend Harry for the Yoga. I shall mark my attendance everyday and mark my stress each day on a scale of 10, a higher number indicating higher stress. If I succeed I shall reward myself by buying myself a videotape of the world’s best Yoga experts. Part 4) I developed a PDP where my goals were to create an effective PDP that results in my getting at least 18/20 points of a length of roughly 2 pages using MLA referencing style. The action required was writing a draft and researching on the essentials of a PDP. The resources required were 2-3

The Cold War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Cold War - Essay Example The thrust of his call for unity was the English speaking world and the Commonwealth. The US being the biggest power in the world, and English speaking, was a natural ally that he wanted to woo. He indirectly told his American audience that support for communism in many countries was a direct threat to US itself whose influence over the â€Å"free† world would diminish as a result. Churchill expressed his fear that the emerging polarization between communist and democratic blocs of the world may result in war. He asserted that the Russians, even if they didn’t like war themselves, desired â€Å"indefinite expansion of their power and ideals† and enjoyed â€Å"fruits of war† (Churchill). Indirectly mentioning sea, land and air capabilities of the military, he advised that it was through military strength that a sense of security would prevail. This strength could also provide the negotiation leverage to find a mutually agreeable formula with Russians under the umbrella of United Nations Organizations. Joseph Stalin, in an interview to Pravda some time later, responded to Churchill. At the outset, he termed the idea of a brewing war ludicrous and a product of the mind of someone â€Å"who lost one’s reason† (Stalin). Picking up cleverly on Churchill’s call for the English speaking world to unite, Stalin termed it as an attempt to create a racial divide, linguistic superiority and a holier-than-thou approach to achieve his goals of fomenting an imaginary war. He compared Churchill’s speech with Hitler’s policies who believed in the superiority of those who spoke the German language. Stalin recalled in detail the sacrifices Soviet Union had made during the world war and termed them higher than any other country involved in the war. In doing so, he tried to bring home the point that Russia was committed to peace in the world

Non-Traditional Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Non-Traditional Advertising - Essay Example One common example linked to narrowcasting is the use of electronic mailing lists used over the internet. Internet users get to subscribe to mails or newsletters from websites they frequent or post web content parallel to their areas of interests. For instance, I receive emails and newsletters from business blog and news sites such as the Huffington Post, an online news that offers news and content on technology, environment, business, politics and lifestyle among others. The emails received from the sites are usually coupled with links to the specific content as requested. The email provides the reader with the headlines and links to their web content, which the reader has the freedom to open and explore more. As such, I find the mailing lists overly resourceful and I receive them positively since I get the chance to access information with one click of a button. The mails and advertisements received in such a manner are long lasting and it is only upon deletion that the data is dis carded. From my point of view, the method is effective since the information is only displayed to interested parties and usually gets the attention it requires to be effective. This method of advertising or promoting products heavily relies on innovation and creativity to have the message delivered to the intended audiences. Companies get to design advertisements that the public may find it difficult to ignore. An example of such a demonstration was a blue leather couch I saw in a hall, the couch was divided into two parts – A rough side and a smooth side.

Identity theft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Identity theft - Essay Example Personal data like Social security number, credit card number, bank account, etc. are not unique like for instance fingerprints and can be misused when they fall into the wrong hands. In the United States many people have suffered huge losses on account of unauthorized persons withdrawing funds from their bank or financial accounts and very often these persons who have stolen the identity have committed crimes and run huge debts using the victim’s identity. In short a criminal can use an individual’s identity to commit a wide range of crimes such as fraudulent withdrawal of money from banks, apply for credit cards and loans, fraudulent use of telephone calling cards, or buy goods or services which might not have been possible if the criminal had used his name hurry respond to "spam"  ­ or unsolicited email  ­ that request identifying data in the pretext of offering some benefits. Here people do not realize that in many of such cases the person who has requested for personal information has no intention of passing on any benefit to them. However Internet is not the only source. Misplaced or stolen wallets containing credit cards or other personal information, stolen laptops again containing personal data can prove easy targets for identity thefts. To prevent any kind of fraudulent use of one’s identity one must have a security policy and certain guidelines in place about what personal information should not be given to third parties especially through electronic means like the email. The guidelines to be followed are: 1) There should be no personal or financial details in any of the emails sent. 2) Open only those mails that have come from known persons or trusted parties. 3) All suspicious mails should be reported to the conce rned authorities. 4) Online passwords must be changed frequently and passwords that can be easily be hacked, such as those related to birthdays and

The lack of specific statutory legislation to deal with media Essay

The lack of specific statutory legislation to deal with media intrusion can be regarded as a weakness in English law. The Irish Privacy Bill 2006 represents a m - Essay Example In UK there is no specific statutory provision for the protection of privacy. However, because the violation of personal life cannot remain in certain circumstances without punishment, for this reason, the courts use instead the principles of law that are related with Human Rights in general. In this context, Human Rights Act of 1998 is the most common legislative text used by courts in UK in order to provide protection to people that have suffered an intrusion to their personal life by media. It has to be noticed though that English courts deal with the issue only at the level that the relevant freedoms provided by the English law are violated. In accordance with the article 2 of the Human Rights Act of 1998 ‘Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by the law’ (article 2, par.1). Furthermore, Human Rights Act of 1998 include a series of articles that provide protection in many cases when human rights are been threatened. We can indicatively refer to ‘th e right to liberty and security (article 5), the right to a fair trial (article 6), the right to respect for private and family life (article 8), the freedom of thought, conscience and religion (article 9), the freedom of expression (article 10), the freedom of assembly and association (article 11), the right to an effective remedy (article 13)’ and so on. At the European level, the right of privacy is also protected using the European Convention on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of 1948 as it has been amended by a series of protocols (no. 4, 6, 7, 11 and 12). An interesting legislative text in the area of protection of privacy is the Irish Privacy Bill 2006 which covers all possible aspects of personal life that can suffer an intrusion and violation. Generally, it has been stated by Ellis (1993, 85) that ‘British law recognises no statutory right to privacy but The Data Protection Act 1984 was the first Act to address this

Identity theft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Identity theft - Essay Example Personal data like Social security number, credit card number, bank account, etc. are not unique like for instance fingerprints and can be misused when they fall into the wrong hands. In the United States many people have suffered huge losses on account of unauthorized persons withdrawing funds from their bank or financial accounts and very often these persons who have stolen the identity have committed crimes and run huge debts using the victim’s identity. In short a criminal can use an individual’s identity to commit a wide range of crimes such as fraudulent withdrawal of money from banks, apply for credit cards and loans, fraudulent use of telephone calling cards, or buy goods or services which might not have been possible if the criminal had used his name hurry respond to "spam"  ­ or unsolicited email  ­ that request identifying data in the pretext of offering some benefits. Here people do not realize that in many of such cases the person who has requested for personal information has no intention of passing on any benefit to them. However Internet is not the only source. Misplaced or stolen wallets containing credit cards or other personal information, stolen laptops again containing personal data can prove easy targets for identity thefts. To prevent any kind of fraudulent use of one’s identity one must have a security policy and certain guidelines in place about what personal information should not be given to third parties especially through electronic means like the email. The guidelines to be followed are: 1) There should be no personal or financial details in any of the emails sent. 2) Open only those mails that have come from known persons or trusted parties. 3) All suspicious mails should be reported to the conce rned authorities. 4) Online passwords must be changed frequently and passwords that can be easily be hacked, such as those related to birthdays and

The Methods of Statutory Interpretation Available to the Judiciary Essay

The Methods of Statutory Interpretation Available to the Judiciary - Essay Example The primary rules are the mischief rule, the literary and the golden rule. The judiciary also uses what is referred to as the purposive approach and typically enter the statutory interpretation process based on a set of presumptions.4 This research study analyses how the judiciary uses these rules, presumptions and the purposive approach for maintain consistency in the application of statutes. Presumptions The judiciary applies presumptions to guide them in the construction of statutes. There are essentially six main presumptions used by the judiciary. The first well known presumption is the presumption that penal laws are interpreted â€Å"strictly in favour of the citizen†.5 In R v Cuthbertson the House of Lords construed the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in favour of the defendant. Under the 1971 Act, forfeiture was permitted in respect of any items the court felt were related to the offence. However, the House of Lords rules that since the provision did not state conspiracy to commit the offence, but rather specified the actual offence, forfeiture would not be permitted for a conspiracy offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.6 Other important presumptions include the presumption that statutes are not meant to alter the common law; statutory criminal offences are typically require the mental element of mens rea; Parliament does not intend to usurp the court’s jurisdiction; and statutes do not have â€Å"retrospective effect†.7 There are also a number of linguistic or language-based presumptions used by the judiciary in the interpretation of statutes. For example, the maxim noscitur a sociis dictates that words â€Å"take meaning from the context†.8 The maxim noscitur a sociis was applied in Muir v Keay in relation to the construction of the Refreshment Houses Act 1860. Under the 1860 Act houses to which the 1860 Act referred were house that provided refreshments, resort and entertainment to the public. It was held that entertainmen t in the context of the 1860 Act could not refer to theatre or music but rather applied to refreshment, reception and accommodations.9 Another instructive maxim related to the language of a statute used by the courts as a guide for the interpretation of statutes is expression unius exclusion alterius which means that: The express mention of one member of a class by implication excludes other members of the same class.10 For instance should a statute use the word â€Å"land† it can be assumed that land includes mines. However, if the word is grouped together with other words such as â€Å"lands, houses and coalmines† it can be assumed that the word land does not refer to any other mines aside from coalmines.11 The maxim ejusedem generis is also used by the judiciary as an aid in the interpretation and application of statutes by reference to the language used. The maxim ejusdem generis presumes that where a statute provides a list of specific words, any general term appe aring at the end of the list will be interpreted by reference to the list of particularized words.12 Maxims are methods of linguistic interpretation that help the

The Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders Essay Example for Free

The Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders Essay When a counselor has a new client they are working with, the client has to be assessed. When being assessed the counselor has to determine what issues the client may have. Through being assessed, the counselor may come to realize the client has more than one issue which is called co-occurring disorders. At this point the client will have to be treated for more than one disorder to effectively overcome the problems they are facing. Within this paper one will locate the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, mental health and substance abuse or dependency. Services, U. D. (2005) states that substance abuse and mental disorders became associated in the late 70’s. Both substance abuse and mental disorder communities realized that the two were associated with not just depression but substance abuse as well. At that time, 50 to 75 percent of clients were reported to have co-occurring mental disorders and co-occurring substance abuse users were between 20 to 50 percent. Researchers have demonstrated that clients with co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness disorders can be beneficial with treatment. Even if the clients have serious mental disorders (Services, U. D. , 2005). With the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, Services, U. D. (2005) states that effective treatment and services is needed to be readily available for those who are in need of help. Many treatment facilities are not ready to treat those who have more than one disorder which means that one disorder is treated, while another is left untreated. After which, the client can continue to have relapses with abuse because the other disorders were not treated. What was considered to not be surprising personally is that fifty-three percent of those with COD whose addictive behaviors with alcohol abuse or dependency also had mental disorders sometime during their life (Services, U. D. , 2005). Also 59 percent of the respondents who had lifetime mental disorders were illicit drug abusers, while 71 percent of those who used illicit drugs over their lifetime had alcohol abuse or dependence as well (Services, U. D. , 2005). This is found not to be surprising because so many people abuse drugs over a lifetime that once they have reached their personal level of high, they tend to switch out to another drug which they believe will fulfill the gap in the word â€Å"high† they are looking for. A statistical piece of information that was interesting is that how the number of mental disorders increases as the number of substance abuse disorders increases as well. Services, U. D. (2005) states the likelihood of mental disorders rises alongside with substance abuse dependencies. With the rise of both abuses at the same time, it complicates treatment for the mental disorder patients that have drug use however, multiple drugs is normal for those who are substance abusers (Services, U. D. , 2005). The reason this information is found to be interesting is because with the two disorders rising at the same level, it appears that the challenges will be harder and more co-occurring disorder patients are going to need help with their issues. As a counselor, one must be dually competent to treat these clients or have staff available to treat the clients who have co-occurring disorders to ensure an effective outcome. Differences and Similarities in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Systems One similarity of the two systems is that they both are defined by a combination of administrative leadership, regulatory oversight, and the funding. Another similarity is both systems have services that are organized into programs that treat individuals for the illness they are suffering from so the client can learn to have stability in their life. Ongoing treatment and rehabilitation is another service that both systems have available for the clients (Services, U. D. , 2005). One difference between the two systems is that the substance abuse treatment system treats substance use disorders. The services for the substance abuse treatment system are geared towards acute stabilization, active treatment, and engagement. The mental health service system treats individuals for mental health disorders. The services for the mental health service system are geared towards acute crisis intervention that is available for individuals who has been diagnosed with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI). Another difference is the substance abuse treatment system is focused towards treating the client to become abstinence from illicit drug and or alcohol use. The mental health service system has case management, psychiatric rehabilitation services, and if needed services that will house the patient if they have been classified with having SPMI (Services, U.  D. , 2005). With all said co-occurring disorders can be located in just about any population. If one is dependent on a drug and or alcohol and has mental issues as well, both substance abuse and mental health disorders need to be treated. One issue cannot be treated and the other left untreated. Ongoing treatment programs and rehabilitation services is available to clients so each individual can live a healthy stabilized life.

Importance Of Experts Opinions In Search For Knowledge Philosophy Essay

Importance Of Experts Opinions In Search For Knowledge Philosophy Essay Searching through newspapers, TV news or radio I can easily find the so called: opinions of  experts. Almost every article in The Economist, Guardian consists of at least two quotations of economists, sociologists or lawyers who are mainly professors of the world most famous Universities such as  Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yell or workers of the specialised institutes. All these opinions may be useful in gaining knowledge yet would it  be  reasonable to uncritically accept them as  a  definite knowledge or call it my own knowledge? To answer the question of how important are the opinions of experts in the search of  knowledge I will carry out an in depth analysis of  three main aspects. First of all I  will try to examine who an  expert is and what conditions need to be completed in order to  call someone an authority in  a  specific field. Secondly, I will focus on the process of  transforming an  opinion into my  own knowledge. The last aspect will set down where do  experts gain their knowledge and what are the bases of their opinions. I believe that an  analysis of these three dimensions, extended by an examples of my everyday life and based on specific areas of  knowledge, will be,  to large extent, sufficient for answering whether experts and their opinions are able to  provide me  with an adequate evidence to accept it  as  a  reliable component of  my  knowledge. As I was thinking of how to define an expert I ended up realizing how complex the perception of experts is. I would say that there is no one, ideal definition. However as I think about it,  this is  a person who possess an in depth knowledge in a specific field and relying mostly on the empirical evidence makes researches developing his/hers own understanding of  a  specific phenomenon. My brief definition seems to find an  application in everyday life for example professors from Universities specify only in narrow fields and by probing particular factors, they form their own proven conclusions which are further presented in  magazines or books as  experts opinions. As  I  am most interested in  economics it seems most reasonable to evoke an  authority specialising in this area. Let me focus on Leszek Balcerowicz, who is considered an  expert in regulating the interference of  the government on  the market. First of all he  graduated from the economics faculty, performed in  the most respected national and European posts and was an author of the famous Balcerowicz Plan which transformed Polish economy what provided him with an  empirical evidence. To  my  mind he  possesses enough knowledge to form reliable conclusions of  what he  observes in  market. Yet we need to be aware that he  is  devoted to  a  specific economics school monetarism, therefore his opinions may be  to  some extent subordinate to  his personal beliefs or  biases. However whenever I see his opinion being expressed I know that it will for sure affect my understanding of a given case as  his authority based on experience, reasoning and although inevitably emotions and personal attitude are sufficient for me to call him an  authority whose opinion I base on when creating my own conclusions, point of view that I  call my own. It  may be claimed that I treat Balcerowicz as an expert just because I  am  sympathetic to his creed yet even people that have contradictory economical opinions do  accept his high appointments and take his opinion into consideration at least to confront their and Balcerowiczs ideas. Therefore an authority is not only a person that people agree with and share the same opinion but rather  someone who can  provide us with evidence of his claims. The process of transforming opinion into knowledge is also worth focusing. Studying in the IB programme I realized that experts opinions are only hints that help to interpret facts more widely. The most important thing for me was realising that even if  an expert does his/her best to be fair minded a bit of subjectivity is inevitable. Yet as I became aware of it the subjectivity turned out to have its positive effects. Historical experts seem to  thrive on the conflicts between their opinions about events in their search for knowledge and better understanding of  the past. The same event can attract vastly different opinions, for example the causes of the First World War. Marxist historians blame the development of capitalism whether as German historian, Geiss blames the failure of  diplomacy.  [1]  Hence being a critically thinking person the contradiction of experts opinions makes me understand the problem in  a  wider way, analyse of who I  trust more, whose evi dence is strongly supported and hammer out a compromise. Experts are not born specialists, they gain knowledge and due to  work and understanding of  specific processes they may start being perceived as authorities within the area of their interest. Yet my look concerns mainly history, natural sciences, human sciences but when it  comes to ethics the knowledge that books or expertises may provide becomes less usable. For example my mother is for me the expert of husband wife relations instead of  the fact that her knowledge is   based only on personal experience. Yet the evidence she can provide me with her successful relationship with my father is at that point sufficient for me. The evidence is in my opinion the most important thing while starting to believe in  something and gaining my own understanding of a given thing (note that in the presented essay I am not discussing religion beliefs). First of all the opinion needs to have rational grounds. This means that if my history teacher said that the First World War started as  a  consequence of the assassination of Grand Duke Constantine without giving any proof or  explanation I would probably doubt whether it  is reliable and true. However if he supported it with opinions of  other experts, primary sources (which may be for example some political documents) or  other evidence the thesis would became more reliable and therefore probably accepted by  me for further consideration of context. The last aspect of my concern is the origin of the need to rely on the opinions of experts. Looking for example at arts, what do I need experts opinions for? As it is the most subjective area of knowledge at first I almost saw no difference whether a painting was commented by  an expert or  a  non expert. The only difference that I considered worth pointing was the fact that experts may be more used to commenting on arts and therefore their language and ability to  express feelings may be clearer and more focused. However, as I thought about it more I realized that there is at least one more aspect. A good example is De Aardappeleters (The Potato Eaters) by Vincent van Gogh which I found to create different interpretations in  different context. When I showed the painting to my friends, almost all of them found it  ordinary and only one person out of ten recognized the author. However when I showed them the painting once more, but prefacing it with a history of masterpie ce and Van Goghs assumptions (therefore I was acting like an  expert) all of them changed their attitude towards the painting and started to see it with a wider perspective appreciating the atmosphere and bright idea. To my mind when it comes to history experts opinions are one of the most important aspects in  gaining knowledge for me. Even the primary sources, which seem to be most reliable and unspoiled source of knowledge, have to be interpreted as well. Therefore experts act like an interpreters. Due to their contrary opinions they create an  opportunity for me to see different attitudes to the same event. This not only extends my  perspective but also reminds me that looking at things from only one point of view is like not looking at them at all. To conclude in my opinion experts opinions are valuable in the search of knowledge. Authorities opinions may be sometimes misleading, lack evidence but as I take them into consideration while creating my own point of view I believe that it provides me with better analysis of the subject. Each opinion is somehow true therefore, whenever an expert or a  non expert expresses an opinion I think that it expends my perspective and hence makes me  think more specifically on the problem, analyse it and create my own conclusion.

Human Concepts of Aging :: Sociology Age Agism Stereotype

In this essay about aging, I will focus not only on the stereotypical view of what aging can mean to most, but also the broader focus on the many ways aging can be defined. The essay will look at what aging means to different cultures and historical periods and take a broad overview of the concept from different perspectives. Moreover it will also discuss social factors relating to aging. It will show the significant changes of aging historically and various underlying factors as to the changes. Finally, I will discuss what the changes suggest for our future. What does the concept of aging mean? Aging is defined into a definition as "Changes that significantly decrease the probability of survival caused by processes within the individual that are universal, inevitable and irreversible" (Schulz & Ewen, 1993 p. 5). However it is a narrow definition of what aging means as there is not one person who would define aging in the same manner. Most of what we think and know about aging are opinions that reflects the stereotyped and exaggerated attitudes about decline and fall that are so common in the western culture. Even though it can be defined in biological terms aging also has another perspective, an entirely social construction and the way we perceive age varies from culture to culture and from one historical period to another (Coleman & O' Hanlon, 2004). Defining what is old to oneself depends on who we are and our own social position. According to the NSW Department 1989 Report of the Healthy Older People Project, age is defined differently according to the individual. For example a medical professional would state post-menopausal women and retired men as being old. To a fifteen-year-old, parents, grandparents and 30 year olds would be seen as old, and sick elderly people are viewed as older than healthy older people. This shows that there is not one ideal for what old and age is supposed to mean. Since 1900 life expectancy at birth has increased by more than 20 years for females and males. This therefore has influenced our definitions of old age. NSW Health Department (1989) categorised old into groups. Group one `young old' 60 years and over. Group two ` Old old' 75 years to 84 years and group three, the oldest, being 85 years and over. Moreover although old can be defined to Australians somewhat differently depending on the individual it also can't be forgotten that our Australian Indigenous population vary what old age is once again.

Activity-Based Costing ( ABC ) Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Course

Activity Based Costing ACTIVITY BASED COSTING AND MANAGEMENT : AN OVERVIEW Activity Based Costing (ABC) is more relevant than traditional costing in companies, where product mix is diverse in; batch sizes, physical sizes, degree or complexity, and raw material characteristics. ABC will also provide more decision useful information for the service industry, characterized by diversity in range of services provided. If the products in a plant or services provided posses similar characteristics, wither volume based or an activity based cost driver will provide reasonably accurate costs. The strategic goal of ABC is to provide decision useful cost and profitability information for optimal pricing decisions, appropriate product mix, and operational improvements by focusing on activities and cost drivers. (Burch 1994) ABC provides a closer approximation of the cost of product, than that provided by the traditional volume based costing method. The use of ABC in itself will not lead to better profitability management uses information provided by ABCs to decide the optimal product-mix. The action of the management will lead to improved results. What is ABC ? There are several elements worthy of note. First is that activities happen because an input has triggered them, e.g., an activity such as "purchase supplies" is caused or triggered by a requisition, secondly, we see that resources are consumed by an activity. Resources are the things that an organisation pays for, such as people, machines and equipment and facilities. We can measure the consumption of resources by activity for example, the activity "purchase supplies" consumes one hour of an employees time per requisition. Activities can be associated with the outputs or cost objects of the organisation examples of a few of the cost objects for service organisations that we have worked with include such things as mortgages, chequing accounts, railcar movement from point A to point B, or B to C. Cost objects consume activities in much the same way that activities consume resources consequently, we can measure how much of an activity such as "purchase supplies is required by an organisations service output such as "engineering training course". The measurement of consumption is called an activity- cost driver. Of significant note here is that different cost objects do consume activities " in diffe... ...self rather than using the cost of the final products only. The cost drivers that trigger the activity are also identified and monitored. These cost drivers may be different from the resource or activity drivers. In addition performance measures are developed and monitored to judge the efficiency at which the activity is being performed. These measures may be financial or non-financial variables such as cost per units of activity driver, defects per million items produced or time taken per unit of item produced. These measures then provide a sound basis to the control the performance of the activity with accurate information about the costs involved. ABM has number of benefits to offer. Here, the focus of attention is an activity rather than a department. A department may have a number of activities which if not segregated may diffuse the vision of the managers while making a particular decision. The areas where specific benefits have been derived from ABM are following A. Determination of product/service costs B. Improvements in performance and activities C. Cost cutting and downsizing D. Other applications. Number of benefits are high and harmful effects are less.

Love and Loneliness

As a human, there are a lot of characteristics a human should have, but, what does it mean to be human? The most part of being human is loneliness. Humans must understand that loneliness is a part of everyone’s life, humans must learn how to cope with loneliness, and, finally, the only way to get rid of loneliness is to have love in your life. There is a book, which name is Gilgamesh, and it is written by Herbert Mason. In this book, the author teaches people how to be human from an old story, about a man who loved and lost a friend to death. This man is named Gilgamesh, his friend is named Enkidu. First of all, a human should understand that loneliness is a part of everyone’s life, and only someone goes through the loneliness, he/she can be called a human. So, Gilgamesh is a person who went through the loneliness in his life, and then he becomes a real human. In this book, Gilgamesh said â€Å" I am alone and I have longed/ For some companionship. My people/ Also have grown tired of my solitude. † (20). According to these sentences, Gilgamesh was a king of Uruk, he had a lot of power, but he was lonely, he didn’t have any friends. Also, people thought Gilgamesh was the God, he was not a human. But he was becoming a human, because he was going through loneliness at that time. Loneliness is a part of everyone’s life, especially for a human. So, at that time, Gilgamesh was going through loneliness, he was becoming a human. Besides, Herbert Mason writes â€Å" Gilgamesh’s fear at the thought of his own solitude:/ I can’t imagine being left alone,/ I’m less a man without my friend. † (47). So this sentences suggests, after Gilgamesh lost his friend Enkidu, he was lonely, and he was fear. He was going through the part a human should go through. He was becoming a real human, he was knowing that loneliness is a part of everyone’s life. So, he was not a God any more, he was trying to become a real human and learn to understand loneliness. On the other hand, human should know how to cope with loneliness also. Loneliness is a gift from God, real human can cope with loneliness and gain the courage. After lost the best friend, Gilgamesh must learn how to cope with loneliness. Herbert Mason writes â€Å" I have been through grief! Gilgamesh screamed. / Even if there will be more of pain,/ And heat and cold, I will go on! / Open the gate to the mountains! † (57,58). Well, Gilgamesh decided to find his best friend, and tried his best to get him back. To begin with, Gilgamesh was lonely because he lost his best friend, but now, he decided to get him back, he was not afraid of the heat or cold, he just wanted his friend back. He wanted to cope with loneliness, so he went to find his friend. A real human must learn how to cope with loneliness, and Gilgamesh did that, he was coping with loneliness now. Also, Herbert Mason added â€Å"He entered the Road of the Sun/ Which was so shrouded in darkness/ That he could see neither/ What was ahead of him nor behind. † (59). Obviously, Gilgamesh was finding his friend, there was darkness in front of him only, but he was not afraid. He got rid of loneliness, he was thinking of his friend back at that time, he was coping with loneliness. Humans must learn how to cope with loneliness, so now, Gilgamesh was learning that, he was not a God any more, he became a real human, because he can face the loneliness with courage. Finally, the only way to get rid of loneliness is to have love in your life. Humans’ hearts are filled with love, so they can get rid of loneliness. Gilgamesh was becoming a real human, he had love in his life. Herbert Mason writes â€Å" In the silence of the people they began to laugh/ And clutched each other in their breathless exaltation. (24). Gilgamesh was laughing at that time, as a king and a God in people’s hearts, he never felt happy before, but now he laughed, with Enkidu. He felt happy, maybe at that time, Gilgamesh’s heart was filled with love of friendship, also Enkidu’s heart also was full of love of friendship. They both had love in their life, and at tha t time, Gilgamesh did not feel lonely any more, because he had a new friend. Friendship is an important part of people’s life. So, Gilgamesh became a real human, he was an ordinary person as others, he became a human, because he had the love of friendship in his life, also in his heart. After Enkidu died, Herbert Mason added â€Å" Many years ago through loss I learned/ That love is wrung from our inmost heart/ Until only the loved one is and we are not. † (74). According to this sentences, Gilgamesh thought highly of his friend, he would not forget him, and their friendship was eternal. Love of friendship is in Gilgamesh’s life forever, even if there is no his friend in his rest life, he can cope with loneliness by himself, because the friendship is always in his heart. Gilgamesh is alone, but he is not lonely. At the end of the story, Herbert Mason said â€Å" To keep the names of friends/ Whom we have lost. (92). Well, Gilgamesh will remember his friend forever, he has love of friendship in his whole life. Now, he is a real human, he has an eternal friendship, which a real human should have. Entiku is dead though, he is alive in Gilgamesh’s heart. To sum up, in the book Gilgamesh, which is written by Herbert Mason, the man whose name is Gilg amesh becomes a real human finally. To begin with, Gilgamesh feels lonely because he is a king, no friends, no love in his life, then he loses his best friend, he is lonely still, but then he learns how to cope with loneliness, finally, he gains an eternal friendship and love. So, Gilgamesh becomes a real human, he understands that loneliness is a part of everyone’s life, he learns how to cope with loneliness, and, finally, the only way to get rid of loneliness is to have love in his life, and he gains an eternal friendship and the love. In a word, after he knows loneliness and he has love in life to cope with loneliness, he is not a God or a king any more, he becomes a real human, a human likes others.

Abortion should only be used to empower women Essay

Dear Chris Christie, â€Å"The advocates of abortion on demand falsely assume two things: that women must suffer if the lives of unborn children are legally protected; and that women can only attain equality by having the legal option of destroying their innocent offspring in the womb.†(Casey). Abortion is a legal common act in almost most countries, leading to an estimate of 2 million destroyed unborn babies. Although abortion seems like an equal fair right towards women, murder isn’t an â€Å"equal right† to embrace or granted to a certain gender. As of the law, it is illegal to commit a crime of harm or death to a human being (murder). Robert Casey is trying to say that abortion shouldn’t be viewed as a positive right. Abortion officially started in the late 1800s, â€Å"women healers† in Europe and the U.S. Provided abortions and trained other women to follow along with this same act (Reproductive Health).Now, abortion is still taken action and is in some cases 100% legal without any strict rules/cases. In this case, abortion should be strictly looked after, but legal for medical emergencies. The fetus shouldn’t be harmed but available to put up for adoption. Before delving deeper into the history of abortion, it is important to simply look at the fact of its existence and participants in the United States. According to studies released in 2005 by the Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH) and The Guttmacher Institute, there were 1.29 million abortions performed in this country. Research by the same group shows that in 1994, approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States were unintended, with only about half of those actually ending in abortion. In comparison to other countries, the U.S. accounted for three percent of worldwide abortions in 1995 (PRCH and Guttmacher). With that said, the political history of abortion has been a bit scary and the position that the Supreme Court takes on abortion 100% influences the issue. Although, with the many performances of abortion there leads to ongoing reasons for the pro choices of this action. From the point of view of many humans, decisions makeu  human’s everyday lives and gives us the right to independence. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in the 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, â€Å"The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.† (O’Connor). From this point of view, because women are now financial to equality in the U.S, having the right to control their own bodies is an improvement to the ranking of fair treatment and the act of fitting into society’s social and economic requirements. Therefore, there is an automatic option for women with the struggling fetus issues. Not only does this advantage their rights, but it puts their privacy in control. The Constitution gives a gu arantee of certain areas or zones of privacy, and that this right of privacy is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy (The 7-2 decision). This gives women the advantage of safe privacy, in which their business is only open to them and/or their partner. The government cannot and should not control a woman’s fetus and if so, this will Outdo the exact purpose of the 7-2 decision. Not only that but, but abortion can be a serious decision to prevent financial future conflicts. â€Å"Many couples†¦ don’t have the resources, don’t have the emotional stamina, don’t have the family support [to raise a child with disabilities]. As of the United States, 1 billion babies have been bored with a disability.† (UOP Student) .Going through the pain of raising a baby without the advantage of fair money (for medication), family support, or strong determination towards the child isn’t worth raising an offspring. In which, may lead to the option of abortion. However, there are many serious outcomes and effects that make abortion a strict case. From sources of doctors and professional professors, abortion leads to health risks involving serious amounts of pain. Doctors who perform abortions at this stage of pregnancy -a rarity, according to a 2012 Italy by the Centers for Disease control and prevention- must provide Anesthetic or analgesic to alleviate organic pain to the unborn child. It also requires doctors to tell women that Substantial medical evidence shows that a 20-week fetus may feel pain during an abortion.(USA law). Babies may come to a chance of experience of pain, resulting in an act of murder. Based on the government, murder is viewed as a crime, so abortion should be considered as an illegal practice. Not only does this affect the fetus itself, but it’ll result in health issues towards the actual human carrying the fetus.   Approximately 10 percent of women undergoing induced abortion suffer from immediate complica tions, of which one fifth was considered major. Many women who had an abortion state that they went through these types of physical and mental complications of abortion (Elliot Institute). Abortion can lead to lack of healthy mental states and may even cause serious important health risks. This will vastly impact the lives of these women in a negative way and may lead to a reduced lifespan. Lastly, the act of abortion affects a woman’s happiness. This lowers the chance of adoption rates. According to the U.S department of health and human services, â€Å"as the result of lack of women putting their children up for adoption, The number of infant US adoptions dropped from about 90,000 in 1971 to 18,000 in 2007. Around 3.6 million women were trying to adopt children as on 2002 .† (USDHHS). Due to abortion, there were and still are, fewer chances of other families with the abilities to have a child and becoming parents. The rates of women in want of children are outrageous while the rate of orphans is accurate but has drastically dropped. So far, Mothers are throwing away their opportunities of life and aren’t creating a positive perspective. In conclusion, abortion is supportive of a women’s rights and own decisions but does lead to health risks and blocking the ability of a precious treasure. Therefore, abortion needs to be strictly looked after and MOSTLY used for important serious issues. But a Woman should ALWAYS have full privilege over their bodies.    Works Cited â€Å"Abortion ProCon.org.† ProConorg Headlines. Web. 30 May 2017. â€Å"Pros and Cons of Abortion.† HealthGuidance.org. Web. 30 May 2017. â€Å"[query].† InstaGrok. Web. 30 May 2017. CONDADO, ANAKAREN. â€Å"Abortion Pros and Cons.† DiginetXpress. N.p., 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 May 2017.

Liverpool City Brand and a Case for Rebranding Essay

Liverpool City Brand and a Case for Rebranding - Essay Example The present research has identified that the concept of city branding is fairly new and it corresponds to the development and growth of the tourism industry over the past century. This is because most cities have sought to become more competitive. This is done by packaging and presentation of their position as a tourism destination in a unique way and manner. This section of the report will provide a critical review of the concept of destination branding and brand strategy are the main tools employed by cities and communities to deal with the marketing needs of their destination. This section will examine the concepts and ideas of destination branding and how it occurs in the natural setting. Brands are marks of identification of a given kingdom, country or civilization. Destination branding creates an image and perception of a given place. In other words, it is a tool employed by city authorities and other stakeholders to present the destination to the markets and also get people to become interested in visiting the destination. This builds emotional connection as well as brand equity. â€Å"A destination brand is the totality of perceptions, thoughts, and feelings that customers hold about a place†. This implies that destination branding. This implies that destination branding is a way of creating a mental image and view of a given space or place in order to connect with the average consumer and potential tourist. Destination branding leaves an impression o a consumer and gets the consumer to build some kind of affinity or connection to a given place or destination. â€Å"Destination branding is an organizing principle that involves orchestrating the messages and experiences associated with the place to ensure that they are as distinctive, memorable and rewarding as possible. Successful destination brands reside in the customer’s hearts and minds, clearly differentiate themselves, deliver on a valued promise and supply customer desires.†

Mr Cod Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Mr Cod - Essay Example The company manages its operations through specialised American machinery to international standards, but with a difference. Mr Cod has its roots firmly targeting British sentiments and maintains a high quality that is synonymous of its service. Mr Cod's special Fish and Chips and other famous chicken products are, in the opinion of its staunch supporters and existing franchisees, superior to any multinational competitor. Mr Cod is the brainchild of Mr John Brewer, a pioneer of fast food franchising in the UK, and a former director of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He became a founder member of the British Franchise Association in 1977, and a founder member of the British Fast Food Federation in 1978 (Mr. Cod, Mr. Cod Background and History, www.mrcod.com). The fast-food industry has seen a remarkable upward trend in recent years in the UK. It was estimated that this business industry, which, if coffee shops were included, was valued at around 10.78bn, in 2005, an increase of 4% to the corresponding period the previous year. It's quite easy to predict the cause for this growth pattern. With globalisation come opportunities. Its not just here in the UK or in Europe, but the world itself is becoming one big union. China was the first to break the communist jinx and follow a path to liberalisation and open market. This opened the floodgates and multinational companies took advantage of the benefits of cheap labour and raw materials to establish and expand their market presence there. It didn't take long for other Asian countries to recognise the benefit of liberalisation. Soon others joined the bandwagon to economic freedom and FDI. Perhaps one might wonder what this has got to do with the fast food industry. Time! Just about everyone competes with the other for space. Fast-paced and time restrained, the people who make things happen, have just no time to share the table with their colleagues and family. Gone are the days when families got together on weekends over a barbeque and had fun. Today, the world is fast-paced. Only those who have the inclination and dedication for fast-paced life, survive. Breakfasts during transit, business meetings over lunch, and late dinner are a part of an executive's life. Liberalisation and globalisation has brought countries closer to each other. With more and more conglomerates setting up their business in other countries, competition has become stiff. Time is money and people just don't seem to have the time to sit over a cup of coffee with a paper in their hand. This phenomenon has created opportunities for hoteliers and other like-minded entrepreneurs as well. Fast food for the fast-paced! Just about every corner of the street is occupied by a burger or hot dog vendor making a decent income by sunset. Welcome to the world of fast foods. This tradition has caught the imagination of almost all people

DESCRIPTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DESCRIPTION - Essay Example As a representation of that faith in mankind and the belief in a higher power the building I have chosen to observe is a church. The church itself is non-denominational and it is called the Christ Fellowship. It is set slightly off the main road which makes it accessible yet offers the peace and quiet which is a requirement for meditation and contemplation. While the typical church may exalt in the beauty of architecture with high roofs, steeples and a narrow structure this building is rather squat since it only has two floors but it looks very modern since it is a beige structure and makes liberal use of glass in its construction. The entrance is covered with an overhang that is supported by four white pillars and which put a person at rest soon as one lays eyes on them. Evenly spaced windows all around the building not only let the sun in they also give a beautiful well-lit outlook from the inside. Looking at it one would think it is a school building or another utilitarian office since there is no stained glass or much Christian imagery around the building. That certainly helps the purpose of the church since it is supposed to be a centre of learning and holds quite a lot of utility for us. While there are a number of trees which run around the building perimeter, there is also a significantly large car park attached to the building which is large enough to hold a hundred cars or more. Behind the building there are several open fields where a person can take a walk or children can use as play grounds. I have been told that once enough funds are generated, the empty space behind the church will be utilized for further development. On a typical Sunday morning you would find the car park almost filled to capacity and people of all races coming into the church. Most of the people who are coming in are in SUVs or family sedans and looking at them you would be able to guess that they are middle class or upper middle class

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 review Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Movie Review Example Given below are some of the movies I had chosen to discuss about. HOW TO DIE IN OREGON The Sundance festival has always screened films for crazy movie goers who rush to occupy limits seats along with frenzied reporters who don't want to miss a moment of the 'Sundance Festival' madness. But this was not the case at the screening of the much acclaimed but brutally numbing to the soul movie ' How to Die in Oregon'. This film was directed by   Peter D. Richardson who worked for 4 years and spent close to 75,000 USD on it. This movie has been so heart wrenching that even the producers of the film, which is HBO, had a hard time finding an audience with their staff as they would be bursting into tears or tearing out of the room, not being able to stand the agony that Cody Curtis the real life protagonist faces every single day. Oregon is the only state that has legalized 'Physician-assisted-suicide' commonly referred to as euthanasia and this story is about a 52 year old mother of two, wh o battles Cancer and has to succumb to it eventually but nevertheless wants to die with some respect. She tries her best to be there for her children and crams in all the life's teachings. She wishes she could be alive for a longer period, but unfortunately she cannot because all she has left are a few precious months of her life. Nothing prepares her family for the hopelessness they feel when Cody is granted a lethal dose of   Morphine to give her permanent respite from her endless pain and agony.  This tragic story is so touching that it brings tears to the eyes, especially when they come to know that Cody is a real person. This film has won the Grand Jury Prize for American films at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Awards ceremony. BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer's Journey. The 'Sundance Fim Festival' happens every year in the United States as an effort to bring to the forefront new and independent filmmakers who are exceptionally talented and need that big break.   Once such brilli ant movie is 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey'. Elmo is an international icon that millions of children from all over the globe love and adore. But, only a few know of the man behind the creation of this character, Kevin Clash. Having watched Captain Kangaroo and Sesame Street, Kevin always dreamed of creating his own puppets and becoming a performing puppeteer. As fate would have Kevin Clash got a dream break from none other than his idol and master puppeteer Jim Henson himself, paving way for one of the most favorite and famous characters in The Muppets universe. Kevin Clash has always been a very private person and the movie revolves more around his art and creation than the man himself.Even his colleagues focussed more on praising his talent than delving into any personal trivia about him. A steady, focussed and passionate Kevin Clash has shows us how perseverance and hard work really pays off through this film. This film has been selected in the following categories -   OFF ICIAL SELECTION - SXSW FILM FESTIVAL 2011 OFFICIAL SELECTION - FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2011 OFFICIAL SELECTION - INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL BOSTON   OFFICIAL SELECTION - HOT DOCS (OUTSPOKEN OUTSTANDING) OFFICIAL SELECTION - DALLAS FILM 2011 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEERS JOURNEY HAS WON IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES -   WINNER - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 LIKE CRAZY The 'Sundance Film Fest

Discuss critically the role of secured creditors in business Essay

Discuss critically the role of secured creditors in business insolvency - Essay Example The security grant provided to the creditors is entirely dependent upon the whether the debtor is able to conform to the loan covenants. In case, the debtor is not in default, the creditor does not have control on the security3. However, if the debtor is in default, the creditor has complete control on the collateral, subject to any limitations imposed by insolvency law. Additionally, the secured creditor gets priority at time of settlement from the sale of security compared to other creditors. If one sees it with a creditor’s point of view, the provision of collateral reduces the default risk of creditor and in return, the debtor expects some valuable terms of loan, which create flexibility for debtor in repayment. One of the valuable terms is less interest payment on secured credit than an unsecured credit4. The priority given to secured creditors in repayment create a less advantageous situation for unsecured creditors, which does not allow them to agree on flexible terms i n loan. This often leads to consensus on a higher interest rate in case of unsecured loan. If all these terms are seen with the eyes of a debtor, both secured and unsecured creditors try to reduce their risk by agreeing on particular terms of loan. In one case, there is a grant of security with a reduced interest on loan; in another, there is a higher rate of interest on compensating for no security and less priority. There has always been debate over this matter in the literature and it suggests the debtor not bother much while choosing between the two. History US federal bankruptcy law offers two choices for formal bankruptcy, which are Chapter 7 or Chapter 115. Chapter 7 involves the transfer of control of the firm to a creditor-appointed trustee. In Chapter 11, the debtor’s management usually remains in control of firm during the proceedings. Earlier, debtors had more control in the proceedings of insolvency, which the creditors noticed and did not prefer6. This later led creditors to come up with more strict contracts regarding provision of finance in Chapter 11, which shifted a significant control to the creditors from debtors. Despite this control, chapter 11 is weaker when compared to Recent UK Bankruptcy situations enjoyed by secured creditors. English insolvency law did not factually enforce a stay on the implementation of secured claims. This allowed a secured creditor having an all-encompassing security interest, commonly known in UK as a ‘floating charge’—to impose against the entireness of the debtor firm’s assets. In effect, the floating charge holder (FCH) led to a private liquidation, known as an ‘administrative receivership’ (or ‘receivership’ for short)7. When a company is financially distraught, a secured creditor or court takes the company into receivership. A company is in receivership when a secured creditor or a court appoints a receiver who can control all the assets of the co mpany. The appointment of receiver comes under the security of fixed charge such as land, plan, machinery, equipment etc. It also comes under the security of floating charge such as cash and stock. The receiver can also have right to manage the company matters subject to terms of

The Emergence of New Consumer Culture and Its Effect During the Turn-of-the-Century Essay Example for Free

The Emergence of New Consumer Culture and Its Effect During the Turn-of-the-Century Essay The Emergence of New Consumer Culture and Its Effect during the Turn-Of-The-Century Period People living in the period from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century witnessed a huge industrial change in American society. This change led to the â€Å"opening up of huge factories, the development of electricity in the 1880s which augmented factories more than ever, the revolution in mass communication, the invention of telephone, the construction of railroads, the incredible rise of population with the rushing of immigrants into this country† (Cassuto and Eby, 2004, p. -3). More importantly, this turn-of-the-century period marked the emergence and the development of mass production and consumption, which was considered as a new kind of culture that bore fantasy to many people, especially women of all different classes, at that time. Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945), an American novelist, and Kathy Peiss, a history professor at University of Pennsylvania, are both interested in this aspect of change in the society. As a result, they both published works to depict the inner lives of Americans in response to this change. Sister Carrie and Cheap Amusements are two best representations for their works. Interestingly, through reading those two novels, readers can easily tell that both Dreiser and Peiss pay more attention to young working class women when examining the new consumer culture. Sister Carrie is a novel written by Theodore Dreiser and published in 1900. Through this novel, he told readers a story about a girl named Carrie Meeber who was born into a poor family and came to Chicago to make her American dreams come true. There, she stepped into a struggle in the society where people’s social statuses were recognized through the items they had on themselves. It can be said that consumerism developed and played an important key in each of the American life from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. It cannot be denied that mass consumerism is a good indicator of the development of the industry of the country; however, consumerism indirectly makes the gap between the rich and the poor become much bigger. Production of goods definitely needs consumers. But not everybody can afford those goods. Consequently, just by looking at these goods, people could distinguish the poor from the rich and vice versa. In other words, social classes at that time were categorized based on material things. Coming from a small rural town and a poor family, the young girl Carrie was totally fantasized by the mass consumerism world she was entering in. There, she got the chance that she never had before to experience what the modern American culture looked like. Specifically, she got the chance to see what were called â€Å"genuine† products such as â€Å"real† shoes, â€Å"real† bags, and â€Å"real† clothes. Of course, she knew that these products were totally different from her outfit on her way to Chicago that â€Å"consisted of a small trunk, a cheap imitation alligator-skin satchel, a small lunch in a paper box, and a yellow leather snap purse† (Dreiser, 1982, p. 3). And just like any other young poor girls, Carrie could not resist the temptations coming from these â€Å"genuine† products. She felt jealous of higher class women who could afford enticing objects that she always dreamt of. Those kinds of feelings provoked her endless human desires. When Carrie first came to Chicago and looked for a job in a department store, she was mesmerized by â€Å"the dainty slippers and stockings, the delicately frilled skirts and petticoats, the laces, ribbons, haircombs, purses† (Dreiser, 1982, p. 23). And even when her life got better, her obsession with clothing did not cease. Instead, it was built up: Fine clothes to her were a vast persuasion; they spoke tenderly and Jesuitically for themselves. When she came within earshot of their pleading, desire in her bent a willing ear. The voice of the so-called inanimate! Who shall translate for us the language of the stones? My dear,† said the lace collar she secured from the Partridge’s, â€Å"I fit you beautifully; don’t give me up. † â€Å"Ah, such little feet,† said the leather of the soft new shoes; â€Å"how effectively I cover them. What a pity they should ever want my aid. † (Dreiser, 1982, p. 106) In other words, it is the consumer culture that led Carrie to ambition for a luxurious life. The more the consumer culture developed, the more ambitious Carrie got. Indeed, Carrie left her sister, the only person she knew in Chicago to move in with Drout, a stranger she talked to in the street. The reason behind is that she got so tired of the life in which all the money she made was just merely enough to pay for the rent of her sister’s house. She could not even afford a pair of shoes for herself. She was unsatisfied with the life that suppressed her from good clothes and decided to challenge her fate. But Carrie refused to work hard; instead, she chose to use Drout as a tool for her to get things she wanted in life. Later, she was disappointed when she found out that Drout was not â€Å"genuinely† rich. She then got into an affair with Hurtswood, a married manager of a saloon in Chicago. She had high hopes that this guy could bring her a wealthy and stable life because Hurtswood did not look as â€Å"fake† as Drout. Unfortunately, one day Hurtswood collapsed. Carrie recognized that Hurtswood was not a reliable source of wealth for her anymore. She left him and continued her path of chasing after luxury by becoming an actress. So it can be concluded that Carrie manipulated both Drout and Hurtswood to climb up her life ladder. Here, Dreiser attacked on the materialism, the key character of this turn-of-the-century period. According to Dreiser, materialism destroyed what is called â€Å"humanity† at that time. Through the character Carrie, Dreiser indirectly criticized the society in which the mass production and consumption took control for bringing down the values of morality and ethics. He said, â€Å"not evil, but longing for that which is better, more often directs the steps of the erring. Not evil, but goodness often allures the feeling mind unused to reason† (Dreiser, 1982, p. 256). The â€Å"coldness† of the consumer culture is also represented through other characters in Sister Carrie. The revolution in industry and technology put pressure on each of the individual so that they had no choice but lived coldly and heartlessly. In order to survive, the relationship between family members, friends, and strangers meant nothing. Carrie’s sister and her husband took away almost all of the money Carrie earned to pay for the rent of their house. They did not even care about their younger sister when she left them and lived with a stranger. Meanwhile, to Hurtswood, his wife Julia was nothing more than a means of creating the illusion of a happy marriage, which in some ways consolidated his social status in front of other people. Another key feature of the consumer culture is that clothing was considered as an indispensable confidence booster. Carrie believed that material could bring her happiness. For an instance, Carrie assumed people living happily just by material things she saw: She imagined that across these richly carved entrance-ways, where the globed and crystalled lamps shone upon paneled doors set with stained and designed panes of glass, was neither care nor unsatisfied desire. She was perfectly certain that here was happiness. (Dreiser, 1982, p. 122) It can be inferred that in Carrie’s eyes, people without good clothes were living miserable lives. This explains for the fact that Carrie did not show any reluctance when she left her sister to move in with Drout or when she got into the affair with Hurtswood. Impressed by their appearances, Carrie regarded them as her superiors. In the first chapters of the novel, Dreiser carefully portrayed Drout in the way through which readers can easily recognize the impact it would leave upon Carrie: His suit was of a striped and crossed pattern of brown wool, new at that time, but since become familiar as a business suit. The low crotch of the vest revealed a stiff bosom of white and pink stripes (Dreiser, 1982, p. 4) Without this outfit, Drout would be nothing. Apparently, human values during that period were all about material things, especially clothing. In the consumer culture, clothing is the sign for not only for happiness but also beauty and success as well. Kathy Peiss, in her book Cheap Amusements, illustrates different forms of leisure activities of young working class women in New York from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. Even though clothing and department stores are not as focused in this book as in Sister Carrie, Peiss is somehow still able to express her attitudes towards the rise of mass produced clothing. She shares Dreiser’s perspective in the sense that clothing characterizes identity, â€Å"It was in leisure that women played with identity, trying on new images and roles, appropriating the cultural forms around them clothing, music, language to push at the boundaries of immigrant, working-class life† (Peiss, p. 2). Just like Carrie, young working class women in Cheap Amusements believed that expensive clothes could really change their fates, at least making them feel like they belonged to a higher class and washing off the dirt coming from their poverty. Peiss wrote, â€Å"For newly arrived immigrants, changing one’s clothes was the first step in securing a new status in America† (Peiss, p. 63). Again, Peiss emphasizes on the strong correlation between the appear ance and social status in the consumer culture. In conclusion, both Dreiser and Peiss use their words to convey their disagreements about the American society during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Consumer culture, besides speeding up the development of the society at that time, caused people a lot of sufferings from their â€Å"unceasing voice of want† which dominated their â€Å"voice of conscience† in most cases. As a result, morality and ethics became overshadowed by materialism.