Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Statistics - Essay Example Therefore, this paper presents carbon dioxide data and a presentation of its trend over the years. In addition, the paper presents data on unemployment and house prices and their relationship in United Kingdom over the years. The above chart represents an upward trend in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The horizontal axis represents the years from 1991 to 2011 whereas the vertical axis represents the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Looking at the data, the mean of CO2 is increasing from year to year thus creating an upward trend. This being a period of industrial revolution, this rise is associated with the heavy or rather increasing human and industrial activities across the globe. A snapshot of the above chart depicts that in every year there was a rise in carbon dioxide up to a certain level whereby it reduces before it began rising again. For instance, in the year 1991, the first five months reported an increase in CO2 concentration. Thereafter, the next four months depicted or rather reported a decrease in CO2 concentration. Finally, the last three months of the year showed an increase in the level of CO2 in comparison with the previous four years. Therefore, this rising trend in CO2 concentration is due to factors such as increased use of the fossil fuel across the globe and other agricultural or industrial activities that contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Looking at the unemployment rate chart, there is a downward trend in the rate of unemployment over the years. The vertical axis is the rate of unemployment in every year whereas the horizontal axis is the years; from 1991 to 2013. The mean of unemployment rate is reducing from year to year. For instance, the mean in the year 1991 is 7.675, in 1992 is 9.341 and in 1993 is 9.891667. The trend in house prices chart shows an upward trend in house price over the years. The horizontal axis of the

Journalism: News Access And Source Power

Journalism: News Access And Source Power In the study of mass communication, there has been a continuous debate about the more or less powerful effects of the media on the public. This power is not restricted to the influence of the media on their audiences, but also involves the role of the media within the broader framework of the social, cultural, political or economic power structures of society. Ideally, a media system suitable for a democracy ought to provide its readers with some coherent sense of the broader social forces that affect the conditions of everyday life. However, it is difficult to find anyone who even remotely approaches this ideal (Gamson et al, 1992). The overwhelming conclusion is that the media generally operate in ways that promote apathy, cynicism and quiescence, rather than active citizenship and participation. This essay will explore the evidence that is offered that suggests why the nature of source/media relations matters in environmental issues and non-governmental organisations. It will also look at why communications and media researchers continue to investigate the topic and why source/media relations are important. Media discourse analysis has traditionally focused on the news product. These studies have not only yielded important insights into the structure (Bell 1991, 1998), function (Jaworski, Fitzgerald and Morris, 2003; Khalil, 2006) and effect (Fairclough, 1995; van Dijk, 1998) of media language, but have also described micro level aspects such as the mechanics of turn-taking, repair and pause length in news interviews (Clayman and Heritage, 2002). Recently, however, the scope of media discourse analysis has started to broaden to include the complex discursive practices that lie at the heart of the news production process. Additionally, with the advent of new technologies, crucial ingredients of the news production process are now being opened up to researchers, with corporate websites parading massive press release archives and internet based news agencies and e-mail distribution services spreading breaking news in real time to whoever is interested in it (Geert, 1999). News access and news selection are the yin and yang of news production studies (Geert, 1999). Cottle (2000b) distinguishes the sociological and a culturalist paradigm in theories of news access. While the former investigates news access in terms of strategic and definitional power, examining patterns of news access, routines of news production and processes of source intervention the latter theorises news access in terms of cultural and ritual power, [sensitive], to the symbolic role of news actors and how they perform/enact within the conventions and textual structures of news representation ritual, story, narrative (pp. 28-9). News sociology has a long standing tradition. Early, seminal studies of deviance (Becker, 1963), newsworthiness (Galtung and Ruge, 1973), news management (Schudson, 1978), hegemony (Hall et al, 1978) paved the way for political economy views of corporate control (Herman and Chomsky, 1988) and mediatisation (Thompson, 1995) on the one hand, and social constructionist approaches to news production (Gitlin, 1980) on the other. The classic newsroom ethnographies of the 1970s and 1980s (Tunstall, 1971; Tuchman, 1972, 1978; Gans, 1979; Golding and Elliot, 1979; Fishman, 1980; Erickson, Baranek and Chan, 1987) crystallised a radical moment in the historical development of news study. Taken together these studies forced attention to the structural and institutional forces at play in newsrooms, focusing on how news is an organisational and bureaucratic accomplishment of routine (Cottle, 2000a, p. 21). For example, Tuchman (1972) sees source dependence as a strategic ritual, borne out of a pro fessional ideology allowing journalists to frame their work as objective accounts of news events. According to Geert (1999), while this early generation of social scientists drove home the importance of professional routines, norms and settings of news production, other scholars have pointed to theoretical blind spots. With new technologies being introduced in newsrooms (Pavlik, 2000), come new concepts of journalistic practice (Carlson, 2007), leading to questions of continued theoretical validity and calls for updating newsroom ethnography (Cottle, 2000a; Zelizer, 2004). Schudson (2005) has warned against the dangers of a reductionist or determinist approach to the media in which the news production process is seen as the direct result of underlying economic and political forces. Such an approach does not account for the agency of journalists as social actors, which, given in todays changing news ecology, is especially pressing. Indeed, it could be argued that, from an analytical point of view, media sociology has largely disregarded journalistic agency in favour of organisatio nal and institutional levels of analysis. Recently, however, some scholars have pointed their attention to alternative theories of cultural production, most prominently, Bourdieus field theory (Couldry, 2003; Benson, 2006; Hesmondhalgh, 2006; Neveu, 2007). In contradistinction of grand sociological debates, cultural and anthropological studies of news production such as Peterson (2001) and Stà ¥hlberg (2002) apply notions of social mediation, cultural production and reflexivity in analysing the situated practices of media production and consumption. This burgeoning field which has come to be identified as media anthropology (Askew and Wilk, 2002; Ginsburg, Abulughod and Larkin, 2002; Peterson, 2003; Rothenbuhler and Coman, 2005; Boyer and Hannerz, 2006) theorises the ethnography of media production as an emergent effort, to talk about the agency of media producers within a cultural system while still recognising their embeddedness in larger structures of power, (Peterson, 2003, p. 164). van Dijk (1990) notes that a brief conceptual analysis is needed in order to specify what notions of power are involved in such an approach to the role of the news media. Social power as van Dijk explains is summarily defined as a social relation between groups or institutions, involving the control by a (more) powerful group or institution (and its members) of the actions and the minds of (the members) a less powerful group. Such power generally presupposes privileged access to socially valued resources, such as force, wealth, income, knowledge or status. van Dijk goes on to explain that media power is generally symbolic and persuasive, the sense that the media primarily have the potential to control to some extent the minds of readers or viewers, but not directly their actions. Except in cases of physical, coercive force, the control of action, which is usually the ultimate aim of the exercise of power, is generally indirect, whereas the control of intentions, plans, knowledge, bel iefs or opinions that is mental representations that monitor overt activities is presupposed. Also, van Dijk (1990) notes that given the presence of other sources of information, and because the media usually lack access to the sanctions that other such as legal or bureaucratic-institutions may apply in cases on noncompliance, mind control by the media can never be complete. On the contrary, psychological and sociological evidence suggests that despite the pervasive symbolic power of the media, the audience will generally retain a minimum of autonomy and independence and engage more or less actively, instead of purely passively, in the use of the means of mass communication. In other words, whatever the symbolic power of the news media, at least some media users will generally be able to resist such persuasion. Another notion in the analysis of media power is that of access. According to van Dijk (1990), it has been shown that power is generally based on special access to valued social resources. Thus, controlling the means of mass communication is one of the crucial conditions of social power in contemporary information societies. Indeed, besides economic or other social conditions of power, social groups may be attributed social power by their active or passive access to various forms of public, other influential or consequential discourse, such as those of the mass media, scholarship or political and corporate decision making (p. 12). Although ordinary people may make use of the news media, they generally have no direct influence on news content, nor are they usually the major news actors of news reports (van Dijk, 1990). Elite groups or institutions, on the other hand, may be defined by their broader range and scope of patterns of access to public or other important discourses and communicative events. Leading politicians, managers, scholars or other professionals have more or less controlled access to many different forms of text and talk, such as meetings, reports, press conferences or press releases. This is especially true for their access to media discourse. Journalist will seek to interview them, ask their opinion, and thus introduce them as major news actors or speakers in news reports. If such elites are able to control these patterns of media access, they are by definition more powerful than the media. On the other hand, those media that are able to control access to elite discourse, in such a way that elites become dependent on them in order to exercise their own power, may in turn play their own role in the power structure. In other words, major news media may themselves be institutions of power and dominance, with respect not only to the public at large, but also to other elite institutions. (van Dijk, 1990, p. 12). For some areas like risk and the environment as well as issues like trade unions which are non-governmental organisations, media discourse is to a significant extent, a discourse dependent upon the voices of official experts. Environmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, industry, scientists, and government offer their own particular competing accounts of the reality of the situation. Issues concerning differential access to the news media are crucial when considering who comes to define the event. Accordingly, the following examines news/source media relations as it relates to 1) environmental issues and 2) non-governmental and the various news sources involved in influencing the symbolic representation of public issues. News/Source Media Relations and Environmental Issues Over recent decades a growing environmental promotion industry has emerged, alongside an increasing emphasis upon environmental advocacy. A number of information crises (eg. The Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989) have forced sections of industry to take a more proactive approach to environmental communications as potent imagery has directed contradicted assurances that environment protection is not compromised by their activities (Anderson, 1991). At the same time, the public exhibit a growing sense of distrust of scientists (Beck, 1992). The sense of distrust has partly emerged from news media formats that favour confrontational dialogue among experts and offer the public little means of evaluating opposing viewpoints. There has been a tendency to display the debates in dramatic, sensational headlines rather than a considered approach that furthers public understanding of the issues (Anderson, 1991). The sheer complexity of many environmental issues acts as a major constraint, particula rly considering that relatively few journalists reporting on these matters possess a scientific background (Anderson, 1997; Nelkin, 1995; Peters, 1995). The news media possess a great responsibility in relaying scientific issues to the public, since they contribute a major source of information about science within our society (Adam, 1991). Through their mediation, interpretation and translation of otherwise in accessible knowledge into a publicly accessible form, news workers are not only prime sources of public information but also the principal social; theorists of contemporary industrial societies. As such, they carry a heavy burden, a responsibility they are poorly equipped to provide and that does not sit comfortably with their own self-perception. That is their understanding of themselves as harbingers of news, disseminators of matter of human interest and providers of a critical perspective on the more shady aspects of socio-political and socio-economic life (p. 125). Routine news media reporting of environmental issues is often mediated through the expert as the voice of authority. However, it is important to note the ways in which the news media present certain expert voices as being self-evidently authoritative whilst competing views are frequently portrayed as non-credible, irrational and partisan. This can have the effect of discouraging critical thinking and the brushing aside of lay views. However, as Beck (1992) observes there are some grounds for optimism since the media also potentially play a part of opening up the critique of science and exposing conflicts of opinion and ideological standpoints. At the same time research suggests that while official news sources may not automatically enjoy the most statistically prominent level of news coverage, they are far more likely to appear in news formats where they enjoy a larger degree of editorial control. Also they tend to provide analytical knowledge as opposed to subjective/experiential kn owledge (Cottle, 1999). It has been frequently observed that the news media representation of environmental issues is pre-occupied with bad news. Much environmental coverage is centred on events rather than issues (Hansen, 1990, 1999; Molotch and Lester, 1975; Singer and Endreny, 1987). This partly reflects the fact that much news coverage is based on a 24 hour cycle and especially applies to television news (Anderson, 1997). This orientation towards events may encourage audience members to place blame upon particular companies or individuals within a company, rather than see this in terms of broader structural problems. One such example is the Exxon Valdez disaster with event-centred coverage. Coverage of the oil spill tended to be framed around the allegation that it was caused by the drunken state of the Captain, Joseph Hazelwood. This played down other possible angles concerning cutbacks in maritime safety standards or the oil industrys poor capacity to clean up large oil spills in areas such as the Pri nce William Sound (Dyer et al, 1991; Hannigan, 1995). News media representations of the environment are also influenced by socio-political and cultural factors. Particular issues or events that capture attention tend to be mediagenic and can be easily situated within the established institutional framework. Often these resonate with deeply held cultural beliefs and values that operate at a powerful symbolic level. Another key aspect of news discourse, which particularly applies to television, is the reliance upon strong visual images to capture the audiences interest. In many cases the availability and quality of pictures becomes a central factor affecting broadcasters judgements about the news worthiness of a given environmental issue and is especially salient for short news bulletins. Political agendas and the perceived importance that politicians place upon particular issues also influence news values. Routine reporting on environmental issues is to a significant extent based around the voices of official experts, particularly indivi duals within government departments who are more likely to gain extended news actor entry through, for example, appearing in live interviews (Cottle, 1999). Since the late 1970s environmental pressure groups in countries such as Britain and the United States (US) have become increasingly in their approaches to the news media. Particularly, they have become more adept at packaging their material in media friendly ways. Some groups have enjoyed some notable successes in manipulating news values to their own ends, but this has imposed significant constraints in terms of how they have been able to frame issues (Gramson and Modigliani, 1989). Issue sponsors, such as environmental pressure groups, play a key role in communicating environmental affairs. These competing sources have differing levels of information subsidies in terms of resources such as cost and time, which affects how far the media rely upon them on as routine basis. Ericson et al (1989) note: News is a product of transactions between journalists and their sources. The primary source of reality for news is not what is displayed or what happens in the real world. The reality of news is embedded in the nature and type of social and cultural relations that develop between journalists and their sources (p. 189). Many studies of environmental reporting have found a tendency for official sources to gain the most privileged access to the media (Anderson, 1997). Molotch and Lesters (1975) seminal study of the press coverage of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill found that federal officials and industry spokespersons gained more access to the media, compared with local officials or conservationists. However, they note that initially an accident may bypass the usual routine bias towards official frames due to its unexpected nature. This suggests that non-routine environmental reporting may, in some instances, open up new channels to groups who may often be marginalised within the media. This was found to be the case in the United Kingdom (UK) national press coverage of the seal plague a virus, which killed a large number of common seals of the Norfolk coast in the UK during the summer of 1988 (Anderson, 1991, 1997). The way in which the seal plague came to serve as an icon for an environment in crisis s hares some striking similarities to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The seal plague, with its emotive, visual appeal came to mark an issue threshold for environmental issues in the late 1980s. This was strongly linked to the cultural and political climate at the time. It generated much media coverage and one national mid market newspaper The Daily Mail launched a sustained campaign Save our Seals, which ran over several months. As such it can be seen that the reporting of environmental issues within the news media cannot be divorced from socio-political values regarding the environment. News/Source Media Relations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Just like environmental issues seek the piece of the pie when it comes to the media, NGOs also seek to have their stories told in the media. However, in discussing news/source media relations, it must be noted that over generalising when discussing NGOs must be avoided. As Deacon (2001) notes the relative importance of profile, resource and motives in the communications strategies of different NGOs is to some extent dictated by the specific context of their operations. Additionally, there are also structural variations, reflecting the different political and economic roles of various NGO sectors. Deacon address source/media relations as it relates to three types of NGOs namely, trade unions, the voluntary sector and quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations (quangos). He points out the first broad acceptance that these disparate groups, organisations and movements have proliferated in many political systems over recent decades, and in doing so have assumed greater social and po litical significance (Deacon, 2001, p. 8). However, where there is disagreement is whether these represent positive developments. Some commentators construe them as revitalising pluralist democracy, or challenging centuries of elite control. Others see this change as more of a mixed blessing. In Berrys assessment interest groups are no less a threat than they are an expression of freedom (1984, p. 2). The second point of consensus relates to the reasons for the proliferation of these organisations. Various commentators point to, on the one hand, the widening of educational opportunities and concomitant rise of sophisticated citizenry (Mazzolena and Schultz, 1999), and on the other, emergent environmental, material, social and ideological conflicts both within, and between, advanced capitalist nation states (Blumler and Gurevitch, 1996, p. 126-7) These have produced a shift away from party-based politics, towards other forms of political engagements and the rise of issue politics. Th irdly, theorists from all perspectives acknowledge variation in these processes across different political systems, due to historical, cultural, structural and political factors (Eyerman and Jamison, 1991, p. 36). Additionally most accept that the influence of specific types of interest groups/pressure groups/social movements/ or NGOs tend to fluctuate over time (Deacon, 2001). The final point of agreement is that public communications are now integral to the operations of these political sources, and that the media have particular significance. Blumler (1989) labels this as the emergence of a media-centric model of pressure group activity. Deacon (1991) explains as the social and political roles of many NGOs expand so do the pressure and expectations upon them which in turn create a range of specific communications imperatives to do with establishing a political presence and attracting resources among others. For some NGOs, increased investment in strategic communication represents a defensive response to harsh political realities, in which they can no longer assume their views will have political resonance. Additionally, as a consequence of broader political, social and fiscal uncertainties, a diverse range of private and public institutions are becoming ever more concerned with image maintenance and achieving a prominent and positive public presence. In this new and competitive promotional environment (Wernik, 1991), media engagement has become a significant prerequisite for effective political engagement, particularly for those without direct access to the levers of political and economic power (McNair, 1998, p. 156 ). In what Blumler and Gurevitch label a communication dependent society certain organisations and institutions enjoy distinct competitive advantages in promoting their views and values. In particular, those with the greatest material resources at their disposal most notably state and big business can launch and sustain the most expensive and extensive paid media access. However, free media access can disrupt this market logic, providing opportunities for the resource-poor agencies to achieve levels of national and international exposure that even the best resource could not fund directly. Additionally there are also other considerations such as profile, resource and issue to be taken into account. However, as Deacon (2001) points out these various communications considerations will not apply uniformly across NGOs. For example, the precise blend of resource, profile and issue motives will vary depending on a range of factors, some of which will be highly context specific. The relative importance of profile, resource and issue motives in the communications strategies of different NGOs is to some extent dictated by the specific context of their operations. However, there are also structural variations, reflecting the different political and economic roles of various NGO sectors. For example, Deacon highlights that most quangos receive direct statutory funding, they will tend to place less emphasis on financial resourcing motives than voluntary organisations, where dependency on public and corporate giving is high, and their financial state is generally more parlous. On another level, trade unions will tend to be more comfortable with open issue campaigning than voluntary organisa tions and quangos, partly because of their primary political function, but also because they are not bound by conventions and regulations governing neutral public management and non-party-political charitable activity. Davis (1995) suggests that the salience of communications media strategies can also depend upon the nature and political context of the matter at hand. They are most crucial in policy struggles that are highly ideological and involve (at least for one participant) non-material, non-distributive goods: Policy battles that range over intangible goals and values, such as the abortion issue, tend to evolve into virulently zero sum affairs. Such zero-sum politics, because of the heated struggle for competitive advantage that often marks it, relies heavily on pre-decisional, communication oriented efforts to frame or construct issues (p. 28). Another significant factor can be the relationship between an organisation and the dominant institutions of state. In an influential categorisation, Grant suggests that pressure groups can be placed along a continuum that reflects their relationship to government. However as Deacon (1991), warns if media prominence can deliver advantages to NGOs, there are associated risks. The most obvious of which is receiving negative and hostile treatment, which can compromise an organisations reputation. In this respect some NGOs are more valuable than others. A trade union for instance, that can depend on the complete solidarity of its members has less immediate grounds for fearing the spate of media opprobrium than a charity that is entirely dependent upon public donations. On a less obvious level, there is the possibility that courting media attention, and playing the media game, can have an effect upon organisations core values. Miller (1997) suggests that this can be particularly threatening for radical organisations, there The suspicion within the organisation that newly visible spokespersons might become infatuated with their own celebrity and have sold out is never far from the surface. But this observation about the potentially corrupting influence of media logic also applies to organisations operating in the political mainstream. Blumler (1989) terms the risk of spurious amplification, a process by which inflammatory rhetoric and extravagant demands to make stories more arresting, distort what groups stand for, (p. 352). Until recently, evaluations of media coverage of trade union sector in the UK tended to fall into two camps the critical research position which enjoyed considerable theoretical dominance during the 1970s and the revisionist critique which emerged during the 1980s (Manning, 1998). More recently a third position has started to form which conforms to what Curran (1997) labels a radical pluralist perspective. The latter negotiates a position between the extremes of critical outrage and revisionist sanguinity (Manning, 1998; Davies, 1999; Negrine 1996). Although these studies also analyse the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of news coverage of industrial disputes, their main contribution has been to go beyond the texts to investigate the dynamics of news production directly by examining the links between journalistic practices and trade unions communications strategies. Such insights have been largely absent from most critical and revisionist accounts (Cottle, 1993). The value of this new perspective is illustrated by Davies (1999) case study of media reporting of the British governments proposal in 1992 for privatising the postal service. These plans were strongly opposed by the Union of Communication Workers (UCW), who instituted a carefully orchestrated public relations (PR) campaign against the privatisation programme. Davies content analysis revealed that although UCW sources came to be treated more positively or neutrally that either government or management sources as the dispute unfolded, the union received considerably less coverage than their political opponents. These results suggest that the recruitment of mainstream, media support to the anti-privatisation cause was due to elite divisions within the party of government and the vehemence of public antipathy. The union benefitted from wider political developments, it did not instigate them. However, by linking analysis of media reporting to an analysis of the unions communication strat egy, Davies shows the error of this interpretation. The unions PR strategy played a key role in galvanising public, party political, professional and expert opinion against the privatisation proposals, which in turn had significant effect on media framing. In particular, by commissioning polls and lobbying influential opinion leaders, the union bypassed the need for institutional legitimacy and direct access. Instead they gained a voice by using the legitimacy and access possessed by other sources: the public, economic experts, politicians and assorted neutral user groups, (p. 182). Mannings research also provides an overview of contemporary trends in media relations and identifies two ideals of union structure. On the one hand, there are unions where press and publicity functions are marginalised and rigidly trapped within a civil society service style hierarchy , and on the other, organisations that permit a higher degree of integration for their media and PR operations with their organisational leadership. These differences can in part be explained by the dilemma of incorporation unions have had to confront in their response to the harsh political realities they face. In this period of his research, Manning found a stubborn residue of suspicion within certain unions towards the media that readily characterised journalists as inevitable class enemies, working at the behest of state and capitalist interests. Thus, the embrace of promotionalism in this context is not an act of assertion, but of defence: attempting to avoid marginalisation in a changing political and economic context (Deacon, 2001). It is also clear from Mannings work that journalists perceptions of the political role and characteristics of trade unions frames their utilisation as news sources, and helps account for the predominant emphasis on their collective rather than constructive roles. A distinction developed by Peter Golding and Deacon (1994), identifies trade unions as advocates by jour nalists. As news discourse is inherently conflictive this can enhance their news value in political disputes. However, this clear perception of unions political role prevents their deployment as arbiters in news coverage. Therefore, to influence the terms of media debate at this level, Davies demonstrates in his case study, that trade unions often have to recruit the support of external experts to validate their arguments. Additionally, for such a strategy to work, it is often necessary to maintain a degree of public dissociation between the union and the expert, for fear that any links may erode the perceived authoritativeness of the latters proclamations. This trend contrasts with common strategies deployed within the voluntary sector, where publicists strive to encourage a situation of association between the work of a voluntary organisation and the views of significant public figures. The main studies thus far into reporting of the voluntary sector suggests that there is limited but indulgent treatment, based on an antiquated impression of the sector. As Brindle (1999) notes It is as if the media do not want the sector to grow up. Coverage remains very much stuck in the 1950s charity time warp of good cause fundraising, lifeboats, guide dogs and helping sick children. Even on the broadsheet national newspapers, there is a clear antipathy to stories that treat the leading charities as the big businesses they have become, (p. 44). Looking at trends in media reporting towards communications and media strategies in the sector, Deacon notes an increasing emphasis on public communication similar to that noted in the union sector is eviden t. However, the embrace of promotionalism appears more uneven. As Davies suggests, it is tempting to simply conclude that in free media just as in paid media, financial resources deliver insurmountable competitive advantages to those who hath. The fact that the media

Use of Conceit in The Flea, by John Donne Essay example -- The Flea Jo

Use of Conceit in The Flea, by John Donne   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Donne, an English poet and clergyman, was one of the greatest metaphysical poets. His poetry was marked by conceits and lush imagery. The Flea is an excellent example of how he was able to establish a parallel between two very different things. In this poem, the speaker tries to seduce a young woman by comparing the consequences of their lovemaking with those of an insignificant fleabite. He uses the flea as an argument to illustrate that the physical relationship he desires is not in itself a significant event, because a similar union has already taken place within the flea. However, if we look beneath the surface level of the poem, Donne uses the presence of the flea as a comparison to the presence of a baby, thus making the sub textual plot about aborting the baby.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker develops similarities between the fleabite and lovemaking. The first two lines of the poem, â€Å"Mark but this flea, and mark in this, How little that, which thou deny’st me, is;† I interpreted to mean that the woman doesn’t deny the flea access to her body, yet she denies the advancements of the speaker. Next the speaker uses conceit to illustrate the similarities between their lovemaking and the mingling of their blood within the flea. â€Å"Me is sucked first, and now sucks the, An in this flea our two bloods mingled be.† The speaker uses this argument to show the woman that the same physical exchange, which t...

Department of Planning Essay

Prescribed Text There is no prescribed text for this course. Course materials will be provided electronically via Cecil. Lecturers will provide additional reading lists for their particular sections of the course. Preparation Approximately 1 hour preparation is expected for every one hour of class time. You will be required to complete readings allocated in class, in preparation for the next class. However, students are encouraged to add time for background reading. This is particularly important for international students and students for whom English is not their first language. Course Assessment Course assessment is comprised of: Law Assignment (15%)Friday 23 August 2013 at 10AM Class Test (15%)Friday 30 August 2013 at 9AM (1 hour) Politics Essay (20%)Thursday 17 October at 10AM Examination (50%)3 hour examination scheduled for the end of semester 2 When submitting assignments and essays, please use the Planning cover sheets provided beside the assignment hand-in boxes on level 4. Please ensure that you read the academic policies and procedures information in the Planning Undergraduate Handbook at the outset of this course. You will be treated as having read this information. Brief Description of the Course Content This course introduces students to key aspects of New Zealand’s legal system. This is complemented by consideration of the development of local government legislation and by comprehensive discussion of the functions and relationships between essential institutions of a representative democracy. Treaty of Waitangi issues are an integrated aspect of this course. Learning Outcomes The learning outcomes of this course include: * acquisition of basic statutory interpretation skills and case law analysis; * an understanding of the core structure, processes and issues inherent in the New Zealand legal system; * an overview of local government reform since 1989; * an understanding of the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi to institutional and legal frameworks in New Zealand; and * an understanding of key political institutions and processes in New Zealand. Structure Julia Harker will begin the course by lecturing on the New Zealand legal system. This will be followed by a series of lectures given by Ian Munro on local government. After the mid-semester break, Vernon Tava will give a series of lectures on the New Zealand political system. Lena Henry will take the remainder of the course, lecturing on Treaty of Waitangi issues. Reading list relating to the New Zealand Legal System In addition to the prepared course materials: R Miller (ed) New Zealand Government and Politics (OUP, 4th ed, 2006), in particular: Part B – chapters 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and chapter 3.7. Webb, Sanders and Scott The New Zealand Legal System: structures, processes and legal theory (Butterworths, 5th ed, 2010). R D Mulholland Introduction to the New Zealand Legal System (Butterworths, 10th ed, 2001). G Palmer Unbridled Power (OUP, 1987). G Palmer and M Palmer Bridled Power (OUP, 2004). K Palmer Local Authorities Law in New Zealand (Brookers, 2012). See The Constitution Conversation website for resources

Costing Methods Pape Essay

Write a paper of no more than 700 words addressing the following questions:  · What strategies did the management of Super Bakery, Inc. use?  · Why did Super Bakery’s management think it was necessary to install an ABC system? Do you agree with their reasoning? If you disagree, identify your recommended costing system, including your rationale, to management.  · Would a job order cost system or a process order cost system work for Super Bakery. Why or why not? Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. College is too important not to give it your all, no matter what you face throughout your collegiate career. Hopefully, this article has given you some very useful advice that will help make college life easier for you and getting to that all important graduation day with confidence a little less challenging. In this document ACC 561 Assignment Week 4 Costing Methods Paper there is a review of the following parts: Strategy ABC Installation Cost System Conclusion Business – Accounting Resource: Accounting Read BYP17-5, titled Communication Activity, in the Ch. 17 â€Å"Broadening Your Perspective† section of Accounting . Write a paper of no more than 700 words addressing the following questions:  · What strategies did the management of Super Bakery, Inc. use?  · Why did Super Bakery’s management think it was necessary to install an ABC system? Do you agree with their reasoning? If you disagree, identify your recommended costing system, including your rationale, to management. To get more course tutorials visit – https://bitly.com/12Binkm College is something that you want to make sure that you’re ready for as much as possible. While you have to live into much of it, there are many things you have to do ahead of time in order to make sure you’re successful. Make sure you continue reading in order to find out the information you need. Business – Accounting

Abortion Prices from a Clinic essays

Abortion Prices from a Clinic essays ABORTION: Through 22 menstrual weeks (Florida presently does not require parental consent or notification) A. Early Medical/Chemical Abortions (1-7 weeks) B. Surgical Abortion - One fee through 14 weeks (end of 1st trimester) 1. Lab Studies (blood 2. Video 4. Local anesthesia, nitrous oxide/O2 gas, IV sedation/analgesia 5. Partner/friend/parent (1) can accompany in surgery if desired 7. Complete physical at follow-up visit A - Early Medication Chemical $400 6 14 weeks (last menstrual period) $325 19 weeks $840 (depending on # of births) - For any competent adult male. Personal counseling. Partner may sit in - Local anesthesia: 1% lidocaine, 3cc; IV sedation/analgesia optional. Single, midline, 1/2-inch scrotal incision, closed with two sutures (self-removal in 8 days). Tube segments excised, ends cauterized. Approximately 40 minutes. - Can return to light work next day. - Includes sperm check after 10 ejaculations. - For any competent adult female. Excluded: Obese women, those with backward (retro) uterus, with very enlarged (fibroid) uterus, or who are fearful or emotionally unstable. - Mini-Laparotomy (supra-pubic) approach with field block anesthesia. Experienced assistant. Hulka clips on tubes ...

What Is Ethnocentrism Essay Example

What Is Ethnocentrism Essay Example What Is Ethnocentrism Paper What Is Ethnocentrism Paper In America, the greatest supremacy of the world, we have the most advanced and sophisticated culture in history. The inferior British drive on the wrong side of the road, and Greeks reek of the scent of Garlic. Does garlic really smell bad? Maybe the right side is the wrong side of the road, and other countries may feel the same way about their culture as those Yankees feel about their USA. What do we call the sense of cultural superiority? Sociology has a term called ethnocentrism, which is defined as â€Å"the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own culture† (about sociology). Many claim that ethnocentrism occurs in every society. The opposite of ethnocentrism is multiculturalism, which is the belief that all cultures are basically equal. Ethnocentricity is essentially a double-edged sword, and has been shown to be a powerful force that exhibits both positive and negative consequences inside a cultural group. There are three major causes of why ethnocentricity exists: individuals’ different life experiences, social and political power, and economic rationale. The truth is there is no one who can wholly abstain from being ethnocentric. Since it is impossible to experience the life situations of everyone in the world, we will always base some assumptions on life built from our existing finite life experience. It must also be noted that a worldview in which someone does not consider their view as the correct one, is inconsistent as it would be admitting falseness. In a social group or culture, ethnocentrism can produce a diligent, productive, and innovative society, while unchecked or distorted ethnocentrism can lead to racism, chaos, or war. Causal support for the existence of ethnocentrism can be found in the very definition of ethnocentricity itself, â€Å"characterized by or based on the attitude that ones own group is superior† (Merriam-Webster). The belief that one’s own group is better usually brings a sense of entitlement or power. Ethnocentrically based lust of power has created numerous instances of human rights violations, wars, racial conflicts, and colonization. The power struggle in the Darfur region of Sudan is a tragic example of ethnocentricity between two groups engaging in a civil war. The battle between the totalitarian Muslim government and African rebel groups has left approximately 400,000 people dead, and millions displaced (Associated Press). The Sudanese government has been accused of supporting the Arab terrorist group Janjaweed commit genocide throughout the country with an aim to annihilate the African insurgent groups that want a larger share of influence in the Sudanese government. The ethnocentric view of national imperialism has greatly affected most developing nations around the earth. An illustration of imperialism would be the European nations’ colonization of Asian nations. After monopolizing many Asian countries resources by gaining control of their trading ports and routes, the Europeans impressed much of their cultural ideals on these nations. As a result, people living under the British came to adapt their culture to match the British perspective. The colonies’ commercial interests, education and other concepts revolved around the British. The same occurrence happened to colonies under the Dutch, French and Spanish too. 831 was the year that Alexis de Tocqueville coined the term American Exceptionalism, which refers to the belief that qualitatively the United States differs from other developed nations, on account of its unique credentials, origins, and political system. This national pride has helped the United States in the past, including declaring their independence from being a British colony, and winning the Revolutionary War. Abraham Lincoln had a pro American Exceptionalism outlook and said, â€Å"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth. Critics of American Exceptionalism argue that the United States is not the only country founded as a republic with those ideals, and they feel that foreign policy has been economic self-interest than an actual desire to spread their ideals. A case for American Exceptionalism rationale can be made because of statistics that show that that the United States has the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any nation in the world at 14. 265 trillion dollars (worldsrichestcountries. com), and a Gallup poll states that Americans generally are happy,† More than 8 in 10 Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives at this time. So while obviously there are many problems in the United States, American Exceptionalists have ethnocentric pride in their culture. Additionally, economic systems are reasons for ethnocentricity, whether it is socialism, capitalism, or communism. The majority of citizens that inhabit most socialist and capitalist countries believe that their system is better since they have not experienced living in a dissimilar economic environment. One needs to look no further than Korea for the occurrence of economic ethnocentrism. North Korea, one of the worlds most centrally directed and least open economies has a GDP of only 40 billion dollars according to the website CIA. gov. As a result of governmental control and lack of free enterprise, a large proportion of North Korean citizens suffer with poor living conditions and malnutrition which is a serious predicament. South of the border, South Korea has a more open economic policy and therefore has the 15th largest GDP in the world of 1. 364 trillion dollars. Ethnocentricity is inevitable; my very writing about the subject is from an ethnocentric point of view. Applied correctly, ethnocentrism produces a diligent, productive, and innovative society, while unchecked and perverted ethnocentrism is leading to many atrocities happening all around the world. Cultures must learn to embrace and accept other groups’ differences, and learn from the positive and useful aspects of other societies. An ethnocentric philosophy is necessary in order to recognize violations of basic human rights, and just like in science, grounded understandings are not developed from the complete absence of bias, but instead the recognition and control of biases.

Theme - Definition and Examples in Composition

Theme s in Composition Definitions (1) In literature and composition, a  theme is the main idea of a text, expressed directly or indirectly. Adjective: thematic. (2) In composition studies, a theme is a short essay or  composition assigned as a writing exercise. See also: Composing My First College Essay, by Sandy KlemFive-Paragraph EssayModels of CompositionTheme WritingWhats Wrong With the Five-Paragraph Essay? See Examples and Observations below. Also, see: EpiphanyMotifPlotThesis Etymology From the Greek, placed or laid down Examples and Observations (definition #1): Simply put, a storys theme is its idea or point (formulated as a generalization). The theme of a fable is its moral; the theme of a parable is its teaching; the theme of a short story is its implied view of life and conduct. Unlike the fable and parable, however, most fiction is not designed primarily to teach or preach. Its theme, thus, is more obliquely presented. In fact, theme in fiction is rarely presented at all; readers abstract it from the details of characters and action that compose the story.(Robert DiYanni, Literature. McGraw-Hill, 2002) Orwells Theme(s) in the Essay A Hanging- A Hanging is [George] Orwells first distinctive work. It gives an apparently objective account of a ritualistic executionfrom fixed bayonets to a bag over the head of the condemnedin which the narrator officially and actively participates. . . . At this halfway point Orwell states his theme: till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. When I saw the pris oner step aside to avoid the puddle, I saw the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide. Instead of invoking religion, he asserts a quasi-religious sense of lifes sacrednessthe first expression of the instinctive humanism that characterizes all his work.(Jeffrey Meyers, Orwell: Wintry Conscience of a Generation. Norton, 2000)- A variation on this theme occurs in several of Orwells most famous texts containing epiphanies, moments of illumination in which the humanity of people he has hitherto viewed in terms of dehumanizing generalizations suddenly breaks through, and Orwells perception is jarred as he understands, with a shock, that these are people like himself. . . . In the early sketch entitled A Hanging (1931), Orwell describes how his idea of what it means to kill a man is altered by the Hindu prisoners gesture of stepping aside to avoid a puddle on the way to the gallows. What the text reveals, however, is that the prisoner at first l ooks to Orwell like a mere insignificant object. Into this scene, well defined in terms of the prisoners already marginal existence, breaks the unexpected gesture, making Orwell (or the Orwellian narrative persona) realize that the prisoner is alive, just as he is . . . . This chronicle is generally interpreted along the lines Orwell lays down, as the revelation of the barbarity of execution, but its primary meaning, I believe, is another. An inferiorized human being has for an instant become a genuine person in the eyes of one of the masters.(Daphne Patai,The Orwell Mystique: A Study in Male Ideology. University of Massachusetts Press, 1984) The Themes of the Novel Charlottes Web- Themes are subject to readers interpretation, so different individuals may identify different themes in the same book; the dominant idea or theme, however, should be apparent to readers.Charlottes Web offers many layers of meaning to readers. Younger children are apt to understand this book as an animal fantasy. Older children are ready to apprehend the cycle of life and death, while adults recognize the irony in a situation that gives one character credit for the creativity of another. This is why we recommend using Charlottes Web in the third or fourth grade, when children are ready to understand its major theme.(Barbara Stoodt et al., Childrens Literature:Discovery for a Lifetime. Macmillan, 1996)- Identifying theme is typically a bit more difficult perhaps because theme is often confused with plot summary or motif. . . . Charlottes Web (White, 1952) is a story about a pig whose life is saved by a spider is not a theme statement! It is a pl ot statement. Charlottes Web is a story about friendship is also not a theme statement! Rather, it is a statement identifying one of the most important motifs in the storyfriendship. A theme in Charlottes Web is that true friendship involves responsibilities as well as privileges is a theme statement!(R. Craig Roney, The Story Performance Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2001)- Besides mortality itself, throughout many idyllic scenes [in Charlottes Web] Andy [White] dabbed colorful spots of melancholy. He translated the song sparrows aria as sweet, sweet, sweet interlude and informed the reader that it referred to lifes brevity. Crickets harped on the same theme. But overall Andys theme was the joy of being alive, of reveling in the moment with visceral attention. What seemed like two themes were really one.(Michael Sims, The Story of Charlottes Web. Walker, 2011) The Difference Between Plot and ThemeIf you sometimes confuse plot with theme, keep the two elements separate by thinking of theme as what the story is about, and plot as the situation that brings it into focus. You might think of theme as the message of the storythe lesson to be learned, the question that is asked, or what it is the author is trying to tell us about life and the human condition. Plot is the action by which this truth will be demonstrated.(Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, quoted by Kenneth John Atchity and Chi-Li Wong in Writing Treatments That Sell, rev. ed. Henry Holt, 2003) Thesis and ThemeThe thesis is the main point you are trying to argue [in a composition]: for instance, that abortion is every womans right or that housing discrimination is wrong. The theme, on the other hand, is a motif established by orchestrated connotative language that reinforces the thesis. Theme differs from thesis in that theme relies on inference and suggested meaning rather than on direct st atement.(Kristin R. Woolever, About Writing: A Rhetoric for Advanced Writers. Wadsworth, 1991) Pronunciation: THEEM

Asses the ministry to the poor of a historical evangelical leader of Essay

Asses the ministry to the poor of a historical evangelical leader of your choice (Martin Luther King jr) - Essay Example The triple evils of materialism, poverty and racism made up the philosophy of martin Luther in most of his speeches and sermons during his times. King was quoted saying that these three martliaism, poverty, and racism were all were all forms of violence that existed in merry round cycle. He always described them as the barriers to the existence of a unified credible society. To fight the triple evils king called for a nonviolent way he always encouraged the African Americans to have in mind the six principles of nonviolence . He further illustrates his call for peaceful resistance through the Kingian model of social actions stipulated in â€Å"six steps for nonviolent social change†. Martin Luther king had a very strong stance when it came to the famous triple evils taking on each at a time his publications and sermons. king was categorical about poverty describing issues like illiteracy, unemployment, hopelessness, mal-nutrition infant mortality as major effects of poverty ki ng is quoted in one of his sermons saying â€Å"nothing is strange about poverty but what is new is that we now have resources to get rid of it† king goes ahead to declare absolute war on poverty.... rs, king would later attend Boston University for his doctoral program in Boston where he met his future wife and they married in 1953.king moved to Montgomery Alabama where he started his preaching ministry at the Dexter Baptist church. Kings ministry involved the fight for the less privileged in the society a high percentage of kings congregation were poor Negroes. This would culminate to a political and civil process of fight against discrimination and racism. King would later remain true to his calling and head the biggest ever Negro association of the times pressing for better living standards for the black citizens. Martin Luther king’s philosophy The triple evils of materialism, poverty and racism made up the philosophy of martin Luther in most of his speeches and sermons during his times. King was quoted saying that these three martliaism, poverty, and racism were all were all forms of violence that existed in merry round cycle. He always described them as the barriers to the existence of a unified credible society. To fight the triple evils king called for a non violent way he always encouraged the African Americans to have in mind the six principles of non violence4. He further illustrates his call for peaceful resistance through the Kingian model of social actions stipulated in â€Å"six steps for non violent social change†. Martin Luther king had a very strong stance when it came to the in famous triple evils taking on each at a time his publications and sermons. king was categorical about poverty describing issues like illiteracy, unemployment, hopelessness, mal-nutrition infant mortality as major effects of poverty king is quoted in one of his sermons saying â€Å"nothing is strange about poverty but what is new is that we now have resources to get rid of

Analyze color developments in 17th-century Flemish and French Research Paper

Analyze color developments in 17th-century Flemish and French tapestry, focusing on Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Simon Vouet and Mich - Research Paper Example There has been an extensive list of tapestries as well as tapestry workers with all the precisions and details that are required with regards to the subjects (Delmarcel, 1999). During the late 16th Century the Flemish painting was very much influenced by the Italian Renaissance. Most of the Flemish painters were influenced by this and thus there emerged the adoption of the Italian baroque in the French baroque in the 17th Century. The Flemish baroque flourished especially through the hands of great painters such as Rubens and Jacob Jordaens. Most of the tapestry which were mainly expressed the same way as paintings took the centre stage in this era. Tapestry is referred to as a type of work that involves coloured threads that are intertwined on lines that are stretched horizontally or vertically to form a substance, a web and also produce a combination of lines as well as tones that are similar to those derived from a painter with his brush. Woven tapestry is regarded as one of the b est forms of art expression that is known in the world. In the Middle Ages period tapestries were known to have a utilitarian function (Delmarcel, 1999). The main aim for their development was to be able to protect the medieval rooms against cold weather and damp, to insulate big rooms so that they could be comfortable quarters or to cover the austere walls of the big castles. Tapestry with regards to France is one of those traditions that have made a great contribution towards the beauty of the French heritage. In the 17th Century tapestry in France led to the formation of the Gobelins factory during the reign of King Louis the fourteenth. The factory which was based in Paris employed up to about 800 artisans who were majoring in the production of tapestries meant for the royal courts. Tapestry weaving has been established over the years among various cultures. The ancient Incas and the Egyptians buried the dead using tapestry woven clothing. The civic buildings of the Greeks had t heir walls covered in tapestry too. However, it is the French based medieval weaver who brought up the craft (Harris, 2005). The medieval weavers were able to extract their dyes from insects and plants within a range of close to twenty colours. For instance red colour originated from madder, pomegranates or poppies and blue was produced by woad. The medieval weaver based their work on sketches that they used from their imagination as well as humour. With regards to the Flemish and French tapestry the focus of this paper is going to analyse the colour development in the 17th Century with focus on Jacob Jordaens, Rubens, Michel Corneille as well as Simon Vouet. It is goes with no doubt that the history of past art was reliant on the use of colour. We are only left to imagine and picture the extraordinary concept that was adapted by the renaissance and mediaeval palaces and churches with the use of the tapestries and wall paintings (Harris, 2005). History of colour in the Flemish and F rench tapestry among other forms of art is partial due to the fact that a lot of the artwork and the colour in the art has survived or perished but only in a changed form. Colour in art is regarded to as an element of art which is produced when there is presence of a light striking on an object and then it is reflected back to the eyes. There are three aspects of colour that were used to describe the French tapestry which were designed in the 17th Centur

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Term Paper

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Lifestyles During the 1950s - Term Paper Example These changes transformed standards of living, where people evolved from being small-time energy users to ultimately becoming insatiable energy consumers. Second, Goldstein discusses Hubbert’s prediction on oil, coal, and natural production and consumption levels. Hubbert forecasted that the United States will reach the peak of its oil production in the 1970s. Furthermore, Hubbert also showed that the estimated two trillion barrels of oil in the world will run out too, and that the crisis will begin, not until people have consumed the last drop of oil, but when they reached the peak of its production. Goldstein is arguing that people should wake up to the certainty that the world is running out of gas, and that continuously depending on fossil fuels alone would not be enough to respond to the energy needs of the future. He explores different alternative energy resources and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each source. He predicts that based on the rate-of-conversi on problems, the production of existing alternative fuels will not be enough to substitute for oil demand, unless vast progress on their technologies can be attained in a few years. Goldstein notes that ethanol is renewable energy, but is a negative energy resource, because of the production costs. ... On the contrary, it presents considerable safety and nuclear waste issues. Moreover, it cannot power ordinary automobiles. Goldstein finds promising developments in hydrogen-based energy production and improving battery technology to power up the transportation industry. Cars can run on advanced batteries and transport people and goods over short routes. Hydrogen is clean energy, but further research has to be done to improve its efficient production. Moreover, Goldstein is asking his readers to live simpler lives that will reduce energy consumption. I believe in the Hubbert Peak Theory, because the moment society reaches the peak of oil production, tumbling down becomes much faster, like the bell curve production that Hubbert generated. We just need to take a good look at our own lives and around us to see how much we use up energy. We use it in everything we do. In our cars, in lighting our homes and workplaces, in using our computers, tablets, cellular phones, and MP3 players, and even in producing gadgets that do not use up electrical energy like brooms and pens. Multiply that usage across the world, and especially in booming economies, where energy expenditure rises like tidal waves, and we get a rough idea of what unbridled energy consumption means. Once we reach peak oil, gas, and coal production, by that time, our consumption rates must have increased too, as population rates soar and people grow older and use more goods and tools. As a result, our consumption exceeds the rate of oil production, and we plummet down Hubbert’s bell curve. And we do not get to rise up again in another bell curve of oil production, since oil reserves are not unlimited. This is reality, a reality we have to face and to prepare

Supervision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supervision - Essay Example The third issue is that Barbara does not appear to appreciate the needs of special education students or the approaches which should be adopted vis--vis this particular group of learners. As regards the second, the issues are more directly related to Barbara's bilingualism and her relationship with the parents. Indeed, as may be deduced from the case study, rather than facilitate the development of a relationship between Sondra, the teacher, and the parents, Barbara quite effectively functions as an obstacle to the evolution of such a relation. In other words, the issues in this case are, in one way or another, directly related to Barbara's attitude towards, not just Sondra, but the teachers she had previously worked with. 2) It is difficult to categorically state that the identified issues could have been avoided but one may posit that their consequences could have been minimised had Sondra taken a firmer stand with Barbara.

International Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 2

International Business Strategy - Essay Example Audi has been recording impressive growth in revenues and profitability due to its aggressive international expansion strategy that aims at attaining a global market leadership luxury vehicle market (Majaro, 2012, p 56). For instance, Audi recorded 4,440 million Euros in profits which were an increase of almost 69 percent of the previous year performance (Majaro, 2012, p 110). The paper will assess the international business strategy of Audi over the past five years and highlight the past failures and successes of the company. The paper will conduct as PESTLE analysis of the international markets of operation and identify how Audi has succeeded in effectively marketing its products in the international market. The paper will also assess the resource capability and competitive strengths of Audi in its international business strategy. International business strategy for the last five years Audi has followed a long-term expansion plan in to emerging markets for the last five years. The marketing strategies entail development of new markets and expansion of the existing European markets. Audi has relied on superior manufacturing technology in order to increase its market presence in emerging markets such as China and India (Majaro, 2012,p 45). Audi has also standardized its products across all the markets. Audi has invested heavily in development of Eastern Europe markets such as Russia and Latin America markets such Brazil and Mexico that will offer additional revenues and reduce the business risks in the European market. The rapid economic development in the emerging markets offers vital business opportunities for Audi especially Chinese and Indian markets that have witnessed high growth in industrialisation and high direct foreign investments. Global manufacturing and exportation Lock (2003) asserts that Audi deals with luxury-oriented car brands and has maintained sophisticated manufacturing technology in its international business strategy (p 90). Audi constan tly depend high quality cars that are fuel-conserving in order to offer the customers advanced and modern driving experience that resonates with the target market expectations (Peng, 2009, p 110). For Audi’s IngoLstadt plant produces the A3, A4 and Q5 vehicle models that attract a huge demand in China market. The German manufacturing plant that is based at Neckarsulm manufacturers more advanced cars such as the A7, A8, RS6 and R8 models that are innovative and have high performance-levels. In addition, Audi relies on the Gyor plant that is located in Hungary to manufacture the Audi’s engines for the small car line such as Audi TT and Audi TT roadster. Audi has also expanded its manufacturing centers to China and has established a manufacturing center at Changchun that mainly produced the car models that are desired by the local market such as A6L and Q5 vehicles. Surprisingly, Audi expanded further in the European market through establishing new plants in Spain where t he Q3 model is manufactured and sold to the adjacent European countries such as Slovensko. Audi has easy access to manufacturing technology and can convert the raw metal materials in to blank parts through the Audi production systems that improve the quality of the processing process (Loch, 2003, p 223). Audi has also used exportation to enter the international markets such as African countries and Middle East countries.

Gala Dinner and the Media Launch Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Gala Dinner and the Media Launch - Case Study Example The planning should include all the aspects of the conference or event. The organizations also need to establish the SWOT analysis to overcome the threats that they may suffer during the event and to maximize on the opportunities that arise. Success of event and festival occasions lies under the marketing research section of a company. Events and festival activities will continue to be a major selling tool of organizations in future. The purpose statement is that the Gala Dinner and the Media Launch concerns the Australian Olympic Committee and they would like to organize the Gala Dinner and the Media Launch through our company. One of the general tasks that we have include; Organizing the Gala Dinner for the whole group and later conduct the media launch, allocation of portfolios to committee members including the entertainers, hotel mangers, chairman, the treasurer and the secretary. To also making a decision on whether a coordinator for the conference is necessary or not. The management of the Gala Dinner and the Media Launch will specifically be left to the organizers starting with the chief executive of this company. Although duties will be dedicated to every individual at the two events, more work will be done by the conference management committee in order to ensure that everything goes as planned. The management committee will also be responsible for the budgeting considerations for the company and that all work will handled by the Gala Dinner and the Media Launch committee. Major stakeholders The major stakeholders here will be; Executive members of the Australian Olympic Committee Members of the Australian sports council Ten members of the athletics team Gala Dinner and th

International Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 2

International Business Strategy - Essay Example Audi has been recording impressive growth in revenues and profitability due to its aggressive international expansion strategy that aims at attaining a global market leadership luxury vehicle market (Majaro, 2012, p 56). For instance, Audi recorded 4,440 million Euros in profits which were an increase of almost 69 percent of the previous year performance (Majaro, 2012, p 110). The paper will assess the international business strategy of Audi over the past five years and highlight the past failures and successes of the company. The paper will conduct as PESTLE analysis of the international markets of operation and identify how Audi has succeeded in effectively marketing its products in the international market. The paper will also assess the resource capability and competitive strengths of Audi in its international business strategy. International business strategy for the last five years Audi has followed a long-term expansion plan in to emerging markets for the last five years. The marketing strategies entail development of new markets and expansion of the existing European markets. Audi has relied on superior manufacturing technology in order to increase its market presence in emerging markets such as China and India (Majaro, 2012,p 45). Audi has also standardized its products across all the markets. Audi has invested heavily in development of Eastern Europe markets such as Russia and Latin America markets such Brazil and Mexico that will offer additional revenues and reduce the business risks in the European market. The rapid economic development in the emerging markets offers vital business opportunities for Audi especially Chinese and Indian markets that have witnessed high growth in industrialisation and high direct foreign investments. Global manufacturing and exportation Lock (2003) asserts that Audi deals with luxury-oriented car brands and has maintained sophisticated manufacturing technology in its international business strategy (p 90). Audi constan tly depend high quality cars that are fuel-conserving in order to offer the customers advanced and modern driving experience that resonates with the target market expectations (Peng, 2009, p 110). For Audi’s IngoLstadt plant produces the A3, A4 and Q5 vehicle models that attract a huge demand in China market. The German manufacturing plant that is based at Neckarsulm manufacturers more advanced cars such as the A7, A8, RS6 and R8 models that are innovative and have high performance-levels. In addition, Audi relies on the Gyor plant that is located in Hungary to manufacture the Audi’s engines for the small car line such as Audi TT and Audi TT roadster. Audi has also expanded its manufacturing centers to China and has established a manufacturing center at Changchun that mainly produced the car models that are desired by the local market such as A6L and Q5 vehicles. Surprisingly, Audi expanded further in the European market through establishing new plants in Spain where t he Q3 model is manufactured and sold to the adjacent European countries such as Slovensko. Audi has easy access to manufacturing technology and can convert the raw metal materials in to blank parts through the Audi production systems that improve the quality of the processing process (Loch, 2003, p 223). Audi has also used exportation to enter the international markets such as African countries and Middle East countries.

Progressivism and Naturalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Progressivism and Naturalism - Essay Example he main contribution was that through practical political action and innovative political theory, they reformulated the concept of a liberal state in a way that rejected both traditional liberal minimalism and revolutionary socialism (McGerr 2005). III. I suppose that the progressivism was a great leap towards democracy and social equality. As administrators and legislators, they addressed such problems as insufficient medical care, unsafe working conditions, and exploitation of women and children. Yet for all their concern with the most vulnerable among the working classes, they rejected a politics of class conflict. Many, surely a majority of those who identified themselves as Republicans, were uncomfortable with labor unions; so were most non-urban Democrats. I apply the concept of Progressivism to modern life analyzing economic and political events. Progressive leaders did so without rejecting the forces of change. Many of the progressives eagerly embraced modernity, employing its intellectual tools with zest in their bid to refashion America. Naturalism I. Naturalism is movement of thought that not only takes its name from "nature" but assigns an unqualifiedly positive valence to the fact of our being part of nature. In the tradition of the Enlightenment from which it is itself descended, naturalism was originally a reaction against religious ideas of a supernatural domain to which human beings were supposed to be somehow akin. It was also directed against philosophical systems like idealism that were thought to have much (Clark 2007). II. Contributors: W.V. Quine, Karl Popper (philosophy), Jack London, Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Theodore Dreiser (in literature). Naturalism as a movement of opposition to the systems of belief also came to be associated, in... The movement's critical mass was in the "urban middle classes interpreting "urban" as did the census bureau to include small towns and cities, not just metropolitan America. The "middle classes" included small business enterprisers of all types, squeezed by enormous corporations, resentful of what they considered railroad rate gouging, insecure about their future livelihoods Naturalism shows how different the world we live in and we ourselves are from the standard accounts that both science and philosophy have given of such matters. Naturalism does not explain the structure of the natural world in which everything took place. These issues do remain and that chief among them is precisely this question about the unique authority of the natural sciences to determine what there is in the world. I suppose that naturalism assumes that whatever is described as being "given" or "present" must be "in the mind" in some objectionable dualistic sense of that expression. Naturalism, accordingly, rejects root and branch anything that is so described and it does so without any sense that it may thereby have cut the ground out from under its own familiarity with the world about which, after all, it has a great deal to say. I use this concept to understand everyday life and our role in the world. y argument will be that the way human beings are in the world with other entities cannot be understood on the model of physical systems.

How Do Drugs Interact With Receptors Biology Essay

How Do Drugs Interact With Receptors Biology Essay Illustrate with named drug examples. Receptors are highly important in cell function as they allow communication between a cell and its neighbours and controls the way a cell functions with stimuli or depression, usually from the central nervous system via the brain and spinal cord (Patrick, 2005). The nerves that communicate with their respective cells do not connect directly to their target cells, and there has to be some way of carrying their message across a gap of only 100 Ã…, and this is achieved by the release of chemical messengers from the nerve cell to interact with receptors in the target cell membrane (Patrick, 2005). These receptors are protein molecules, usually embedded in the cell membrane, with a certain area of this protein on the outside of the cell which is able to bind this chemical messenger due to the proteins structure. This binding of the chemical messenger leads to the activation of the receptor which leads to the desired effect which can occur via a numb er of methods (Katzung, 2001). When this process goes wrong, for example of too much or not enough messengers are released, then disease states can occur, with Parkinsons disease, depression and psychosis being among many diseases thought to be resulting from this sort of pathophysiology (Patrick, 2005). When this occurs, drugs, which may be defined as any substance that brings about a change in biological function through its chemical actions (Katzung, 2001), can be used to have an effect on the desired receptors to increase or decrease their activity, and hopefully restore the balance as close to the physiological normal as possible. In this essay, I shall first discuss how drugs can have their effect on receptors and will then go on to discuss how these drugs work on different types of receptors to treat disease. There are many, many different receptors in the body with different shapes, sizes, regulating factors and functions. These can be classified into five main classes: (i) ligand gated ion channels, (ii) intracellular receptors for lipid soluble agents, (iii) ligand regulated transmembrane enzymes, (iv) cytokine receptors, and (v) G proteins and second messengers (Patrick, 2005). Throughout the essay, I will try to explain how drugs interact with receptors and how this can affect their function. I will also try and use a balanced coverage of the above receptor classes as examples when describing how drugs can affect a receptors function. Firstly, a drug may be used to mimic the action of a natural chemical messenger to activate the receptor and cause an increase of activity at that cell, for example, initiating muscle movement or secretion of a hormone (Patrick, 2005). These types of drugs are called agonists, but their function at a receptor depends on a number of factors that need to be considered when designing new drugs. One requirement is that the drug has to have the correct binding groups, so that the required number of interactions, for example, ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals interactions etc.; can be made between the drug and the receptor, and that these interactions are strong enough to stimulate the receptor, but not too strong so that the drug does not leave the receptor after binding (Katzung, 2001). The drug must also have the correct size and shape to fit into the receptor binding site and allow these interactions to occur. If the drug is too small, the drug will not be able to sufficie ntly form the required interactions with the receptor, and if too big, the drug will not be able to fit into the binding site at all. This has become a lot easier since the protein structures of many receptors, and their binding sites, have been identified via genetic engineering, computer based molecular modeling and X ray crystallography, allowing for the design of specific drugs to fit these binding sites (Patrick, 2005). In terms of how the chemical messengers and drugs have their effect on the receptor to activate it, it is thought that the binding interactions of the messenger molecule cause the receptor to change shape. As an example, if a receptor had three binding sites, when the agonist reaches the receptor, it may only interact with two of the three required interactions. In order for the third interaction to take place, the protein must undergo a conformational change, and with this change, the receptor will become activated and cause a change in the cells activity (Katz ung, 2001). This is a very simplified view and in reality, the conformational changes needed to open a channel such as an ion channel are complex and often, the lock gate is not in close proximity to the receptor binding site, but the same ideas are common to both. A very common prescribed agonist is Salbutamol, a selective ÃŽ ²-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, in the treatment of asthma (Waldeck, 2002). This is a G protein coupled receptor which is expressed mainly in the lungs in the alveolar walls. When this receptor is activated, levels of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) via G-protein activation of adenyl cyclase. The increase in cAMP in the cells influences cAMP dependant protein kinases which contribute to regulation of muscle tone and reduce free calcium ions on the cell by stopping their influx from outside the cell and also their release from intracellular stores (Kroeze, 2003). This then results in relaxation of the central and peripheral airway smooth muscle and therefore bronchodilation (Sears, 2005). Benzodiazepines can be used as anticonvulsants for treatment of epileptic seizures and work by acting as agonists of the GABAA receptor in the central nervous system. These work by binding to a specific benzodiazepine binding site at the interface of the ÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ³ subunits which is present on a subset of GABAA receptors (Treiman, 2001). When a benzodiazepine binds to this site, it increases the affinity of the receptor protein to bind GABA, and therefore increases the chance that the channel will open. With the channel more likely to be open, this allows the flow of chloride ions through the channel and therefore hyperpolarizes the membrane and makes the associated neuron less likely to potentiate an action potential, hence the drugs sedative properties (Treiman, 2001). Agonists are a good therapeutics agent for when there is not enough chemical messenger in a system, but what if there is too much being produced? In this situation, an antagonist is used. An antagonist is a drug that can bind to a receptor binding site but does not produce a functional conformational change like an agonist, or if it does change the shape of the receptor protein, it does so in a way in which the desired effect on the cell does not occur (Patrick, 2005). These are called competitive antagonists as they compete with the natural chemical messenger for the receptor binding site and therefore block the action of the messenger, preventing it from having its effect. Competitive agonists are usually designed to bind to the binding site more strongly, so enhancing its anagonistic effects (Patrick, 2005). Antagonists can also work on the receptors but not actually at the binding site. These are termed allosteric antagonists with the drug binding to a different part of the recep tor and the interactions involved may then distort the shape of the receptor in such a way that the natural chemical transmitter cannot bind as the binding site will no longer be compatible. This is an example of non-competitive antagonism as the drug is not competing with the natural chemical messenger for the same binding site (Katzung, 2001). An example of an ion channel antagonist is Amlodipine, which has its effect on voltage gated L-type (slowly inactivating) calcium channels (Abernethy, 1999). This drug is used for a variety of cardiovascular diseases, for example, hypertension and angina pectoris (Abernethy, 1999). With the calcium channels blocked, there is less influx of calcium into the cell, and in smooth muscle cells, this decrease in the intracellular messenger leads to a reduction in muscle contraction. This means that vasodilation takes place and leads to a decrease in blood pressure (Abernethy, 1999). Sometimes, a drug is discovered that cannot be classed as a pure agonist or a pure antagonist, its action involves it having some effect on a receptor to produce its activation, but not as much as would be seen with an agonist. These are termed partial agonists. There are many theories into how these work because it does seem strange that an agonist can only work partially. One such explanation is that when the partial agonist binds to the binding site, it does form the required interactions to produce a conformational change, but this change is not exactly the same as a pure agonist, and so may only activate the channel partially, for example, by only partly opening an ion channel (Patrick, 2005). Another theory involves the partial agonist being able to bind to the receptor in more than one place, so one method of binding would produce an agonist effect and the other an antagonist effect. This balance between the two would result in only a proportion of the receptors being activate d, hence, the partial antagonistic effect (Katzung, 2001). An example of a partial agonist is clozapine which is classified as an atypical antipsychotic and can be used for its anti-depressive and anti-anxiolytic effects in some patients. Along with effecting dopamine receptors, it also binds to serotonergic receptors, particularly the 5-HT1A receptor, to which it has its partial agonist effect (Meltzer, 1989). There is another way drugs can interact with receptors and this is in the form of an inverse agonist. These work on the principle that some receptors have constitutive activity, for example the GABA receptors, in which they are active at all times, regardless of signals they are receiving, so can be active even without the presence of a natural chemical messenger or an agonist (Patrick, 2005). This can even be true when an antagonist is present as the antagonist has the same binding affinity to both the active and inactive receptors, so there is no change in biological activity because the active receptor remains active. An inverse agonist has the effect of binding to the receptors and stabilising them in the inactive state, so will reduce the number of active receptors that are functioning, so will almost prevent any receptors from being active as it even stops the constitutive activity, so has a negative efficacy (Patrick, 2005). Figure 1 represents a diagrammatical representation of this (Lambert, 2004). Cimetidine, a H2 receptor inverse agonist, is used for the treatment of dyspepsia and peptic ulcers (Wallmark, 1983). It works by blocking the binding of histamine to the receptor on the parietal cells which reduces the amount of acid that is secreted by these cells into the stomach (Wallmark, 1983). The parietal cells secrete more acid when stimulated by histamine release after a meal, but also have a constitutive activity, which the inverse agonist also suppresses (Wallmark, 1983). Fig. 1 Graphical representation of the negative effect that inverse agonists have on receptors when compared to an antagonist and an agonist (Lambert, 2004). In conclusion, there is many ways in which drugs can act on receptors to modify their effect and this can be utilised for treating disease when a system goes out of balance. As mentioned previously, huge advancements have been made since more is now known regarding the structure of receptors and their binding sites. In the future, with more knowledge acquired in this field, further drugs can be manufactured which can be much more specific to their respective receptor and so can produce specific desired effects. This is of particular importance in conditions affecting the brain as disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and Parkinsons disease are associated with an imbalance in neurotransmitters and improvements in the drugs available to us to treat such conditions will benefit millions of people all around the world.

God Defines Gender Roles in American Society :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

God Defines Gender Roles in American Society What are men's and women's roles in society? Are men and women equal in ability and opportunity? Should they be equal or do they have distinct roles they should play? In this day and age, people like to be "politically correct" by attempting to make both sexes equal. Most people feel that it is unfair to say that men can do certain activities better than women and women can do other activities better than men, but is it actually unfair, or has God actually made men and women differently and given them different roles in life and society? As was stated, most people like to consider males and females equal in ability and in what their roles should be in society, but I don't think that is actually the case. God has made men and women differently - HE has made them to fit certain roles HE has defined. The Bible talks a lot about God's roles for men and women. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, talks about Creation and how sin (disobedience to God) entered the world. When God created everything, it was perfect and good. Right after Adam and Eve (the first man and woman) disobeyed God, God kicked them out of the perfect place he had made for them called the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:16-19 says: "To the woman He said, 'I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.' Then to Adam He said, '... Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread...'" This is the first example of God's giving roles to men and women. He said that women would give birth to children (and, obviously, raise them), while men will take care of the land and work it for food. Many people today believe that since the Bible was written quite a long time ago that it doesn't apply to the world now and that the roles God has given men and women are changing, but that's not true. Just because something is old doesn't mean it's irrelevant to the world today.

Sociology of The Simpsons :: Sociology Essays

Sociology of the Simpsons The definition of what consitutes a â€Å"familyâ€Å" has definatly changed over time. Usually, what constitutes making up a family is relative to a specific culture, but as always, there are exceptions to the rule. Ever since the golden age of television had sprung upon American culture, it has tried to mimic the "ideal" American family through it's programming. Even as early as the 1950's, television producers made programming that would represent what exactly the ideal American family was. Take for example the show "Leave It to Beaver". There was a father figure, his job, or responsibility rather, was to financially support the family, while being an exemplary father to his children. The mother on the other hand, was solely responsible for being a typical housewife, while not neglecting the rearing of her children. The children did not have any real responsibility, but they respected their parents and attempted to stay out of trouble. Television shows for the most part in this early era of programming followed among these guidelines. However, it is not in a drama that American family life is best represented in the 1990's. Instead, it is in the animated series, "The Simpsons". "The Simpsons" follows suit with the other dramas that reflected the decade in which they aired. According to the U.S. consensus for March 1998, the majority of households in America are married couples (U.S. Consensus pp. 1, 3,4,6). The Simpson's meet this. Also according to the consensus, the average married couple has approximately 2.6 children per household (U.S. Consensus, Household Characteristics p.1). Since there cannot be six-tenths of a child, I will round up to three children, in which the Simpson family has: Bart, Lisa and Maggie. Also, the average American is a blue-collar worker. The father figure, Homer, meets this factor with his job at the nuclear power plant within his hometown of Springfield. So according to the statistics, the Simpson family could be considered an average American family. Homer Simpson is the father figure of the household, whose responsibilities include financially supporting the household, since he is the household's primary source of income. He has his flaws like any person would, but somehow he and his family tend to work it out. Some of his mishaps are very similar to those that most of us have had to face.

Executive Summary Branding the Nation

Executive Summary: Branding the nation: What is being branded? Journal of Vacation Marketing Volume 12 Number 1. 2005 p. 4-13 The author: The paper is written by Ying Fan a senior lecturer at Brunel Business School, Brunel University in London. Dr Fan has held faculty positions at the universities of Lincoln, Hertfordshire and Durham. His research interests surround branding and marketing communications, and cross-cultural management issues. Topic: Branding the nation: What is being branded? The major topic of the paper is what nation branding is and what the purpose of nation branding is. Research question : What is being branded? Is a nation brand a separate entity, or an element in the product brand? What is the direction of the correlation between countries that have produced strong brands and those that are strong brands themselves ? Method : The research method is a literary analysis Material and Structure of the paper: On the first page of his paper contact informations, informations on the author including a photo of Fan are given. An Abstract sums up the Keywords and gives an overview over the article. All in all the paper of Fan is 9 pages long and is structured in the chapters: Introduction What is Nation Branding? What is being branded? Nation branding and product branding Nation brand image and product-country image Paradoxes The broader context For a further understanding Fan gives 3 Tables: Terms used in the literature ; Examples of nation branding where he gives 5 examples and explains what is being branded and a table on Comparison between nation branding and product branding . In his paper Fan makes indirect citations which are listed in the references. Here the references are ordered by appearance in the text not alphabetically. The paper is easy to read and understand, it gives a good overview of the topic nation branding. The structure is easy to follow. The paper is anonymously refereed. Finding of the article : The author points out that there is no single definition on nation branding but gives a working definition for the paper: ‘Nation branding concerns applying branding and marketing communications techniques to promote a nation’s image. Nation branding can be used in different ways: using the nation’s image to promote sales and exports ; place branding which is part of tourism marketing ; political marketing for example the expression â€Å"axis of evil†; Nation branding in it's true sense like Cool Britannia. The author points out that a nation is not a product in the conventional sense . The Nation itself can hardly b e changed, the benefits are purely emotional, the Image is complicated and the ownership is unclear. A nation brand is not centered on any specific product, service or cause that can be promoted directly to the customer. But Nation branding concerns a countries whole image, covering political, economic, historical and cultural dimensions. A Nation has not one but multiple images. What image is retrieved depends on the audience , the context and the time. The author finds out that negative national image does not necessarily affect the purchase of products made by that country, by giving the example of Japan and China. The author tries to find out the direction of the correlation between countries that have produced strong brands and those that are strong brands themselves . Nation branding must be distinctive and help the country to position itself against competitors . A difficulty is that an international audience have a different degree of knowledge of a nation and each country has different cultural values, thus decodes the message differently. Nation branding often try to communicate a single image or message to different audiences in different countries . This renders for the author the message meaningless, but to try to be all things to all people will in the opinion of the author inevitably fail . What is the message a nation wants to send, give up a old but unique image in favor of the new image. This can fail like for example â€Å"Cool Britannia† did. Another difficulty in nation branding is that a national identity is very difficult to define. Furthermore in nation branding, an understanding of the customers’ existing perception of the nation is very important. A certain image is made over time. Another important aspect of nation branding is the internal audience. The author points out that Nation branding is just one part of a marketing strategy which is part of the business strategy and that often nation branding is overestimated even if it is a powerful tool. It is for example not sufficient for the country to promote its image enthusiastically to other nations if the economic basis for the nation brand is not there or the political situation is unstable. The image problem of a region or nation most often results from political and socio-economic troubles which must be solved, nation branding will not solve a country’s problems but only serves as the final touch .