World hotels Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World hotels - Literature review Example The location fits the expensive pockets and those who are sourced from selected categories. It is however competent when in business with other hotels and casinos (Aaker, 1997). This Resort is situated in a city space; therefore, the aspect of country or outdoorsy has been violated in the five elements of brand personality. The excitement is not exactly felt by its look as it is presented as more formal than exciting here. It is, however, sophisticated and captures the business class. Grand Macau is sincere in its setting as well as competent among others (Aaker, 1997). The Monte Carlo, Singapore boasts of a ‘classic’ attraction and is located in a large open space. Ruggedness for its outdoorsy and tough look definitely reigns here. It gives a feeling of excitement and sophistication. However, it is not sincere, and no element of down to earth is factored here. It is somehow intimidating (Aaker,

Oil And Energy Industry In UAE

Oil And Energy Industry In UAE The UAE is a rich source of natural resources and it has substantially developed itself as a major player in the oil and gas industry. UAE is one of the member countries of OPEC and has been given a remarkable position in oil and gas industry all over the world by having 10% holding of total oil reserves of the world in the federation (Hellyer). The central theme of the report is to analyze the oil and gas industry of UAE country so as to analyze the contribution and impact of oil and gas industry to the GDP and economic development. Fundamentals of the Oil and Energy Industry: Historical Development of the Oil Sector around the World: The UAE is a member of the OPEC since 1967 and holds superior position in terms of the oil and gas industry with the federation holding of 10% of the total oil reserves of the world. The future holds lucrative prospects in the natural gas sector as it would cater to the manufacturing industry, generation of power and petrochemical industry by providing a source of fuel. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the two prominent emirates responsible for the success and growth of the oil and energy sector in the U.A.E. (Energy and UAE) Importance of Oil in the UAE: The UAE is essentially an imperative provider of oil to global energy markets, by making around 10% of the overall global supply of crude oil reserves. In terms of oil exports, UAE accounts for nearly 30% of its gross domestic product becoming a mainstay in the economy. Also, UAE is emerging as a relevant consumer of energy in addition to being an important global supplier of energy. The UAE will continue to maintain its long convention of being responsible energy stewardship owing to its diversification and development of economy; acceleration of growth of additional hydrocarbon reserves and contributing significantly towards the implementation and development of other alternative sources of energy (The UAE and Global Oil Supply). Production and Reserves: Production: S.No Particulars Capacity (2011) Oil Production 3,096.34 (Thousand Barrels Per Day) Crude Oil Production 2,687.67 (Thousand Barrels Per Day) Natural Gas Production 1,811 (Billion Cubic Feet) Electricity Production 81.08 (Billion Kilowatt-hours) Source: http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=tc Reserves: S.No Particulars Capacity (2011) 1. Oil proved reserves 97.8 (Billion Barrels) 2. Natural gas proved reserves 214 (Trillion Cubic feet) Source: http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=tc OPEC: Background of OPEC: The Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC) has been established with the sole purpose of stabilizing the prices of oil in the member countries and also to impose quotas so as to prevent the wrong and over usage of natural resources which result to their extinction sooner than expectation. As per the current information, OPECà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s combined reserves accounts for 1190 billion barrels of oil. According to the 2008 agreement, the production cut was imposed on the existing quota and continuing to till now. Facts reveal that the OPEC countries produce 2 million barrels a day in excess of the permitted capacity of 24.845 million barrels per day(Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy). Source: (OPEC share of world crude oil reserves) Effectiveness of OPEC in achieving its Objectives: OPEC was primarily formed to keep a check on the oil prices and bridging the gap of demand and supply in the global oil market. But still the quota implementations are not followed by various countries resulting in the production of oil more than the permitted quota. According to the claims of OPEC, the fluctuation in the prices is not due to the changes in demand and supply but due to the overproduction oil other than the allotted quotas (Sousa). OPEC and Oil prices in the last 4-5 years: The following figure shows the fluctuations in the global oil prices with the adherence of OPEC rules associated with oil production: http://gailtheactuary.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/world-oil-supply-and-brent-oil-price.png Source: (Why oil prices are so high: Production shortfall, Iran concerns, and low interest rates) OPEC Quota and how it has changed over time: The OPEC quota for the production of oil for UAE is 2.23 million barrels per day. It had joined OPEC in 1967 and is the Full Member country. It produces 2798000 barrels of oil and exports 3.32% of oil in all over the world. It is ranked as the 6th largest country for the oil reserves in the world. The OPEC aims at providing the stabilization of the price of oil as regards the member countries and also the imposition of quotas as will prevent overuse of the resources which could lead to finishing up of oil reserves sooner than expected. OPEC decides the production quotas for its member countries as per the global requirement of oil which could be changed by the OPEC as per the strategic decisions pertaining to conservation, preservation, demand and supply of the oil globally (Sousa) . Source: (Sousa) Role and the influence of the UAE within OPEC: UAE become the member of OPEC countries in 1967 and acts as an active member since 1974. Since then it act as a major contributor of oil and gas industry among OPEC members. It provides the constant source of oil to the consumers of OPEC by providing approximate 2.3 million barrels of oil per day. In addition to the supply of traditional sources of energy, UAE also contributes to provide new alternatives of energy through substantial development. (UAE contributes to global energy sector: OPEC) Effect of a quota cut by OPEC: The quota cut by OPEC will affect recovery of economy in the global market. As per the evidences, the quotas cut is not helping in controlling the price issues of the oil and gas industry rather it is increasing the problem as countries tends to produce oil other than the permitted quota. The hikes in the prices of oil will increase the prices of other commodities resulting increase the rate of inflation and slowing down the economic development. (Pirog) Analysis: According to the data obtained from the Journal of Oil and Gas, the UAE is an important producer of oil, holding significantly seventh position in terms of proven resources globally. The UAE has been able to sustain its global reserves owing to the advanced enhanced oil recovery technology, EOR being implemented that leads to increase in extraction rates of several major projects in oil sector. The technology combines with high oil prices eventually to make reserves more commercially viable (United Arab Emirates Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis) The policies and procedures of oil in the UAE is primarily carried out by the government under the flagship of the Supreme Petroleum Council, through ADNOC operating at every level of oil and energy sector in UAE. The government has pushed back several its plans to increase capacity in order to increase the production capacity of crude oil (United Arab Emirates Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis). UAE economy, underpinned by its wealth in oil, has recorded a steady growth over the last couple of years. In terms of oil GDP, the figures have doubled from AED 387.8 billion to AED 934.3 in last assessment year. Recent Development in Oil Sector of UAE: With the advent of Habshan-Al-Fujairah pipeline for the purpose of carrying oil from oil fields of Abu Dhabi to the exporting port has been essentially proved as a strategic and economic advantage for the overall sector of the country. The pipeline extending 350 kilometers from oil fields and with this the country will be able to export 1.5 million oil barrels in a single day. (Asoomi) Alternatives to Oil Industry: Keeping in mind the limited availability of fossil fuels and to prevent its overuse to meet the worldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s growing energy demands, various alternatives to energy sources have been identified. Unconventional alternatives Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the upcoming form of natural gas which provides an excellent alternative to conventional natural gas usage. GTL is not only a beneficial alternative but is also environment friendly as there are no harmful emissions on its combustion. Oil sands also provide a source of the extraction of oil from it and its use is significantly increasing with time. The only limiting factor is the increasing cost of setting up the required infrastructure and cost of mining and extraction of oil from it. However the oil sands are accompanied by noxious fumes which are contributing to the global warming issue (Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy). Bio-fuels have been the outcome of recent developments in scientific researches. In this the organic matter is used to derive hydrocarbon based fuels such as Biodiesel, ethanol, etc. The conventional sources of energy include solar, wind and hydro energy all of which are renewable and 100% environment friendly. (Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy) . Recent Developments: UAE has been involved in many new projects including increase in crude oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. This would results to the increase in 40% from current capacity. The major upcoming projects include Bourouge complex expansion projects and the Habshan Gas Complex Expansion. UAE is planning to invest $ 6 billion to develop the infrastructure of oil and gas industry. Abu Dhabi government is planning to invest $ 20 billion in Masdar to develop alternative energy resources to oil and gas industry. (Oil Gas Directory Middle East) Future Scenarios: Future plans of the OPEC and the UAE Oil sector and their effect on the Economy: To promote fair and stable oil prices and strategies of capacity expansion. To examine the technological, economical, political growth and development pertaining to the oil energy and other important sectors. To encourage the oil consuming nations for the enhancement of investment associated with downstream sector. To promote the technological development in order to addressing the issues pertaining to the climate changes. To minimize the bad impact of environmental issues on the developing countries which exporting fossil-fuel (OPEC Long-Term Strategy). Impact of Oil and Non-Oil Alternatives on the future of the UAE: Oil sector is one of the essential components contributing towards the countryà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s economy with special economic consequence on rate of inflation, consumer spending and eventually auto sales of the country. The boom in the oil sector is bringing a gradual shift from trading and fishing to oil sector, making UAE depending heavily on petroleum and crude oil as a main source of foreign exchange earnings. The real output growth of the country is increasing owing to the rising hydrocarbon production and other non oil sectors, especially trade, logistics and services eventually bearing a relative economic growth revival. Recommendations: It is recommended to grab the opportunity from joint ventures to develop the sources not only in Dubai but also all over the UAE. Need to pay attention to other prevailing sectors such as banking, real state, telecom and aviation in order to increase the GDP and economic development. Identification of better source of material and labor should so as invest in major projects along with the implementation of Green initiatives Conclusion: Oil and Energy is a certainly a very important sector of the world that nourishes and contributes as a largest part to the GDP of the country. The production of oil leads to the production of various by-products and therefore the oil producing and exporting companies in UAE earns great revenue. At the same time, country earns most of its export earnings from oil and gas sector. On the other hand, due to emergence of other non oil sectors and slow economic growth, the sector is now facing several challenges including the challenge of diversification and privatization.

The Hunger Games Trilogy Essay -- The Hunger Games Essays

â€Å"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.†, a very well known quote from the book series The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, Pg 19). The Hunger Games Trilogy written by Suzeanne Collins has become enormously popular. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are the three works that make up the series. A major motion picture was released titled The Hunger Games, after the first book in the series, and it instantly became a box office hit. Those who have not read the books may be left wondering why a book series focused on kids ages 12-18 are put into an arena and fight to the death is creating such a commotion. Not only are the books popular among adolescents, many adults have also found the series captivating as well. With books so focused on violence, there must be an underlying factor that draws readers in and makes them feel so passionately about the characters in these books. In all three books, but particularly in the first, Suzeanne Colli ns captivates readers by creating such vivid and emotional relationships between the characters. Suspense is created by the anticipation of not knowing what will happen between the characters. A strong bond between sisters, a broken mother-daughter relationship, and a love triangle are some of the main relationships built and focused upon throughout the book that draw readers in. The main character Katniss Everdeen has a very strong and powerful relationship with her younger sister, Prim. When their father died in a mining accident and their mother slipped into depression, Katniss took responsibility for Prim and became her main source of protection and stability. It is very apparent from the very beginning of the book that Katniss is extremely protective of Pri... ...ident Snow; newcomer Amanda Stenberg as Katniss' young ally, Rue; or the various other young tributes who die one by one, gives their all to this captivating commentary on government, entertainment, and self-identity. The Hunger Games is violent, but in a heartbreaking way that will both make audiences think and count the days until Catching Fire is in theaters (Hunger Games Tops Average April). Works Cited Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print. Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print. Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print. "The Hunger Games." Commonsensemedia.org. Web. 04 May 2012. . "'Hunger Games' Tops Average April." Boxofficemojo.com. Web. 04 May 2012. .

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Multimedia to Enhance Web Sites Cookies & Spyware

Developing websites not only require the knowledge and skills in setting it up in the World Wide Web, but also implementing some elements that help in realizing the purpose of the website, making it attractive and interactive. This aim may be achieved by utilizing multimedia tools and applications in developing the website. Educational website count on multimedia to motivate online users to learn, gaming websites rely on animations for appeal and entertainment, and radio shows available online depend on the quality of audio streaming.Although utilizing multimedia seems to be the most effective way to improve the dynamics of a website to realize its purpose and objectives, it still holds disadvantages both for web site developers, owners, and users. A multimedia website is a dynamic website that utilizes various media of communication and information exchange such as audio and video materials, audio-visual elements, and animations. The objective of injecting multimedia to websites is to improve services and increase its viewers by initially attracting them and keeping them engaged or involved through pure entertainment.It attracts wider populations of online users because it appeals to audio, visual, audio-visual, and kinesthetically motivated individuals. Since multimedia websites are visually attractive overall, first-time visitors become interested and are instantly involved with the elements of the website. (Multimedia Websites, 2005) Aside from these advantages, multimedia websites also allow faster and easier access to larger populations. Access to multimedia websites is not limited to a particular number of online users. Moreover, the content of websites is easily modified when multimedia elements are used.(Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Teaching Media that can be used in a Teleclassroom or on the Web, 2008)The disadvantage of multimedia websites lies in its planning, production, and maintenance stages. Establishing multimedia websites are costly and time-consuming. Website developers who utilize multimedia often require longer periods of time for preparation and development, while setting up multimedia websites require adequate amounts of resources. Maintenance is also key in making sure that the website functions efficiently at all times.However, website owners cannot maintain multimedia websites on their own. They need to require the services of website developers, which is again costly. For online users, it would probably discourage them to view multimedia websites because it takes much time for these websites to download. (Multimedia Websites, 2005) In order to harness the benefits and advantages of multimedia, website developers and owners should consider some important factors. Initially, website owners and developers should determine whether there is a need to utilize multimedia, or to utilize multimedia minimally or fully.This requires determining the purpose, goals and objectives, and content of the web site. Some websites should only use audio or visual elements while other sophisticated websites need to use audio-visual and animation elements. The best way to utilize multimedia effectively is to use it judiciously. Website owners and developers would not want to overwhelm online users with complex and overlapping multimedia structures and they do not want to bore them with plain colors and texts either. (Kit & Kuan, 2006)Learning to control the use of multimedia and knowing when it is appropriate to utilize it is a primary consideration. The time and available financial resources should also be considered. In general, multimedia should be used in developing website if the operator or owner operates on multimedia elements. For instance, radio shows made available online need to establish multimedia website on audio elements. Websites hosting videos, such as YouTube. com for instance, need to maintain audio-visual elements of their multimedia website. Gaming websites, on the other hand, need to utilize animations.One reason for utilizing multimedia in websites is when operators or owners need to do promotions and advertisements through audio, visual or audio-visual means. Another reason is if there is a need to increase user participation and population by targeting user attraction and involvement through multimedia. Compare and Contrast Cookies and Spyware Spyware is an application or data that stealthily manage to enter computer systems or networks to spy on information or computer commands or processes recorded in the computer. The purpose of spyware is to obtain information or data covertly.In addition, the characteristic of spyware is naturally malicious. A user cannot delete it completely because it attaches itself to the system and spies on all computer processes and transactions. Spyware may be used to commit cyber crimes such as identity theft, because it collects private data and information. For example, spyware may be used to collect online bankin g information. Collected data will be used to conduct malicious transactions. (Olsen, 2005) Cookies, on the other hand, are information stored within the computer system.However, cookies are simply recorded for retrieval of information. For instance, cookies may retrieve user names or passwords when logging-in visited websites. (Cookies – Not Spyware, 2008) Cookies, unlike spyware, do not steal but simply make data records (Olsen, 2005) Although cookies seem to be harmless, it may be used instantly to serve the purpose of spywares. This depends on how cookies will be manipulated. For instance, if two people are sharing in one computer, the other might view cookies installed in the computer to determine what websites the other person has been visiting.He may also be able to access private e-mails or accounts on other websites, if the cookies allow automatic user name and password retrieval, and such. Moreover, that person might be able to open online accounts using the persona l information of the other person who he is sharing the computer with. Therefore, although cookies are normally harmless, people might use them to accomplish malicious activities such as identity theft or invasion of privacy. (Cookies – Not Spyware, 2008)

Douglas MacArthur Essay

Carlos Peà ±a Romulo once wrote that each of his careers â€Å"might have been lived in a different country and a different age.† Soldier, journalist, educator, author, and diplomat, he was a definitive world figure of the 20th century. Romulo grew up in the town of Camiling in the province of Tarlac in northern Philippines. He was born within the Spanish walled city of Intramuros, Manila, on January 14, 1898, at the twilight of one colonial regime and the dawning of another. His father, Gregorio, fought in the revolution for Philippine independence against Spain and, until surrender, America. The bitterness of the conflicts left an impression on the young boy—marking â€Å"the beginnings of a rebel,† as he called it—and he made a promise never to smile at an American soldier. His levelheaded father eventually welcomed American schoolteachers who came to Tarlac to teach English, however, becoming the first of the town’s elders to learn the language. Likewise, the young Romulo’s hatred abated not only because of his father’s example but also because he became friendly with an American sergeant. His father’s dream of an independent and democratic Philippines lived on. One of the last to take his oath of allegiance to America, the elder Romulo learned to accept the foreign power’s rulings except—as the young Romulo recounts in his memoirs—â€Å"in the manner of the flag.† â€Å"The American law says we cannot display our flag in any public place,† Gregorio Romulo told his family. â€Å"Well, my bedroom is not a public place.† In World War II Romulo was aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur. As a journalist he wrote a series of articles, after a tour of the Far East, about Japanese imperialism, and predicted an attack on the United States. For this he won the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Distinguished Correspondence, and it was MacArthur himself who delivered to his friend the good news. His skill at using words made Romulo the logical choice to become â€Å"the Voice of Freedom,† which broadcasted news of the war effort to Filipinos and Americans alike. Often contrary to Japanese propaganda, Romulo’s reports earned the ire of the enemy, who put a price on his head. But Romulo kept broadcasting until the Fall of Bataan, and abandoned his post only after MacArthur’s strict orders to leave. He flew first to Australia, eventually ending up in the United States in exile, leaving behind his wife and four sons. In 1924 Romulo married Virginia Llamas, a local beauty titlist. They met at a picnic and they married not long after being crowned King and Queen of a Manila carnival. She once commented that she was the type of wife who preferred to glow â€Å"faintly in her husband’s shadow,† to which one acquaintance quipped, â€Å"this didn’t leave much room to glow in†Ã¢â‚¬â€a jab at Romulo’s height. Standing only 5’4† in his shoes, Romulo often made fun of his height. His book I Walked With Heroes opens with the anecdote about being the newly elected president of the United Nations—the first Asian to ever hold the post—and having to be â€Å"perched atop three thick New York City telephone books† just to see and be seen by all the delegates below the podium. When MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines, with Romulo at his side, it was reported that the American general was wading in waist-deep water. One correspondent, Walter Winchell, immediately wired back asking how Romulo could have waded in that depth without drowning. He also used his height to his advantage. â€Å"The little fellow is generally underrated in the beginning,† he once wrote. â€Å"Then he does something well, and people are surprised and impressed. In their minds his achievement is magnified.† A very early photo of Romulo Team members of the University of the Philippines debate team, with Professor Carlos P. Romulo (center). From left: Pedro Camus, Teodoro Evangelista, Deogracias Puyat, and Jacinto C. Borja. The photo was taken in San Francisco, California, April 18, 1928, and the caption reads: â€Å"Four students of the University of the Philippines, under the leadership of Prof. Carlos P. Romulo of the College Faculty, recently arrived in the United States on a tour of the world to debate the question of Filipino independence. The round-the-world debate on the Philippine question is academic and has nothing to do with politics.† This kind of understanding served him well as he began a career as a diplomat at the United Nations. Describing himself as the â€Å"barefoot boy of politics,† he had never before attended an international conference and was new to diplomacy. To add to this challenge, he was representing a small nation that had not yet achieved independence. (There already had been reports of Filipino delegates being ignored at international meetings.) Romulo—whose lifelong dream was to help build a body such as the United Nations—resolved to make the Philippines the voice of all small nations. As a signatory of the charter forming the United Nations in 1945, he spoke the famous line, â€Å"Let us make this floor the last battlefield† at the first General Assembly. There was at first silence, but then he received a standing ovation—the only one given to any speaker at the conference. Romulo launched himself fully into the world of international diplomacy, standing his ground against the big powers and committing himself to the causes of fledging nations. Dismissed by some, like Andrei Vishinsky, chief of the Soviet delegation, as a â€Å"little man from a little country,† Romulo was undeterred, fighting â€Å"like David, slinging pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths.† President of the UN General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo introduces US President Harry S. Truman to Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky of the USSR, October 24, 1949, during the cornerstone laying ceremony of the UN headquarters in New York City. President of the UN General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo introduces US President Harry S. Truman to Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky of the USSR, October 24, 1949, during the cornerstone laying ceremony of the UN headquarters in New York City. Dubbed by his colleagues â€Å"Mr. United Nations,† he was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1949—the first Asian to hold the position—and served as president of UN Security Council four times, in 1981, in 1980 and twice in 1957. Despite all the triumphs, Romulo hit low points in his life. His eldest son Carlos, Jr., died in a plane crash in 1957, and his beloved wife died in 1968, near the end of his terms as president of the University of the Philippines, his alma mater, and, concurrently, Secretary of Education. â€Å"I had to be outstanding,† he wrote, â€Å"to make the greatest effort to win, to prove I was capable not in spite of having been born a Filipino but because I was a Filipino.†

Foundations of Grammar in Italian

Foundations of Grammar in Italian For many Italian language speakers- even for those whom Italian is their madrelingua- the phrase parti del discorso might seem foreign. English speakers know the concept as parts of speech, but its probably a term vaguely remembered from grade school grammar. A part of speech (whether Italian or English) is a linguistic category of words generally defined by the syntactic or morphological behavior of the lexical item in question. If that definition intrigues you, then an introduction to Italian linguistics might be a jumping off point. Suffice it to say that linguists have developed a classification system that groups specific types of words according to their roles. For anyone whose primary goal is to speak like an Italian, perhaps its enough to be able to identify each of the parti del discorso to facilitate learning the language. Per tradition, grammarians recognize nine parts of speech in Italian: sostantivo, verbo, aggettivo, articolo, avverbio, preposizione, pronome, congiunzione, and interiezione. Below is a description of each category with examples. Noun / Sostantivo A (sostantivo) indicates persons, animals, things, qualities, or phenomena. Things can also be concepts, ideas, feelings, and actions. A noun can be concrete (automobile, formaggio) or abstract (libert, politica, percezione). A noun can also be common (cane, scienza, fiume, amore), proper (Regina, Napoli, Italia, Arno), or collective (famiglia, classe, grappolo). Nouns such as purosangue, copriletto, and bassopiano are called compound nouns and are formed when combining two or more words. In Italian, the gender of a noun can be male or female. Foreign nouns, when used in Italian, usually keep the same gender as the language of origin. Verb / Verbo A verb (verbo) denotes action (portare, leggere), circumstance (decomporsi, scintillare), or state of being (esistere, vivere, stare). Adjective / Aggettivo An adjective (aggettivo) describes, modifies, or qualifies a noun: la casa bianca, il ponte vecchio, la ragazza americana, il bello zio. In Italian, there are several classes of adjectives, including: demonstrative adjectives (aggettivi dimostrativi), possessive adjectives (aggettivi possessivi), (aggettivi indefiniti), numerical adjectives (aggettivi numerali), and degree of comparison adjectives (gradi dellaggettivo). Article / Articolo An article (articolo) is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the gender and number of that noun. A distinction is usually made between definite articles (articoli determinativi), indefinite articles (articoli indeterminativi), and partitive articles (articoli partitivi). Adverb / Avverbio An adverb (avverbio) is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverb types include manner (meravigliosamente, disastrosamente), time (ancora, sempre, ieri), (laggià ¹, fuori, intorno), quantity (molto, niente, parecchio), frequency (raramente, regolarmente), judgment (certamente, neanche, eventualmente), and (perchà ©?, dove?). Preposition / Preposizione A preposition (preposizione) connects nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. Examples include di, , da, , con, su, per, and tra. Pronoun / Pronome A (pronome) is a word that refers to or substitutes for a noun. There are several types of pronouns, including personal subject pronouns (pronomi personali soggetto), direct object pronouns (pronomi diretti), indirect object pronouns (pronomi indiretti), reflexive pronouns (pronomi riflessivi), possessive pronouns (pronomi possessivi), (pronomi interrogativi), demonstrative pronouns (pronomi dimostrativi), and the particle ne (particella ne). Conjunction / Congiunzione A conjunction (congiunzione) is the part of speech that joins two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together, such as: quando, sebbene, anche se, and nonostante. Italian conjunctions can be separated into two classes: coordinating conjunctions (congiunzioni coordinative) and subordinating conjunctions (congiunzioni subordinative). Interjection / Interiezione An interjection (interiezione) is an exclamation that expresses an improvisational emotional state: ah! eh! ahimà ¨! boh! coraggio! bravo! There are many types of interjections based on their form and function.

I Can Fly A Kite Essays - Lynchburg Metropolitan Area, Lynchburg

I Can Fly A Kite Essays - Lynchburg Metropolitan Area, Lynchburg I Can Fly A Kite I can fly a kite, make a great roast beef sandwich, read an entire Patricia Cornwell paperback book in less than a day and change a diaper without flinching. These characteristics combined are what separate me from the hundreds of other students that apply to Lynchburg College, that and the fact that I am applying with only one week left before classes start. Writing this college essay seven days before the start of the spring semester at Lynchburg College is a very unusual move for me to be making; but I have come to the conclusion that this is the only place I want to be. My entire life I have never been spontaneous. All my decisions have been well thought out and planned, this decision is no different, I just went about it a little quicker, with a lot less time to spare. I began my freshman year at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Choosing Roger Williams University was a decision that I made without understanding the important issues I needed to consider in orde r to thrive in a college environment. Now, after experiencing college for myself, I realize that Roger Williams does not have what I am looking for. I didnt consider quality of education when I chose Roger Williams, the school had the major I wanted, communications, but when I started taking classes there the program was not as developed as I would have liked. Although I did well in all my classes, I felt that the education I would continue to receive if I stayed at Roger Williams would not be as beneficial to me as the educational oppurtunites elsewhere. Looking at Lynchburg I saw that not only was there Communications Print/Broadcast journalism major, but a Speech Communications major as well. My original plan was to finish freshman year at Roger Williams, and then go someplace that could meet my needs; this was until I visited Lynchburg College. When I saw the college, all I could think of was how much I would love to attend school there, but I never even considered it an option. I thought I was stuck at Roger Williams, until I realized that the only way I was going to be happy was if I made things happen for myself. I realized that Lynchburg College was exactly what I had been looking for, and everything about the educational opportunities, social opportunities, location and just the general environment I observed was something I wanted to be a part of, and contribute to. I was making this decision hoping that the opportunity would still be there for me to apply to Lynchburg with not very much time to spare. I am determined to get the best of both worlds for myself, I want to receive a quality education and at the same time have a great time and make the best of these next four years of my life. I have come to the conclusion that in order to make this happen for myself Lynchburg College is where I should continue my education. Thank you for the opportunity to try and make this take place.

Using Miscue Analysis to Diagnose Reading Difficulties

Using Miscue Analysis to Diagnose Reading Difficulties Miscue analysis is a means to use a running record for diagnosis to identify students specific difficulties. Not only is the running record a way to identify reading rate and reading accuracy, but it also is a way to assess reading behaviors and identify reading behaviors that need support. A miscue analysis is a great way to get some authentic information about a students reading skills, and a means to identify specific weaknesses. Many screening tools will give you a down and dirty estimate of a childs reading proficiency but provide little useful information for designing appropriate interventions. The Miscues to Look for During a Miscue Analysis CorrectionA common sign of a competent reader, a correction is a miscue that the student corrects in order to make sense of the word in the sentence.   InsertionAn insertion is a word(s) added by the child that is not in the text. OmissionDuring oral reading, the student omits a word that changes the meaning of the sentence. RepetitionThe student repeats a word or portion of the text. ReversalA child will reverse the order of the print or the word. (from instead of form, etc.) SubstitutionInstead of reading the word in the text, a child substitutes a word that may or may not make sense in the passage. What Do the Miscues Tell You? CorrectionThis is good!  We want readers to self-correct. However, is the reader reading too fast? Is the reader miscorrecting accurate reading? If so, the reader often doesnt see himself as a good reader. InsertionDoes the inserted word detract from meaning? If not, it may just mean the reader is making sense but also inserts. The reader may also be reading too fast. If the insertion is something like using finished for finish, this should be addressed. OmissionWhen words are omitted, it may mean weaker visual tracking. Determine if the meaning of the passage is affected or not. If not, omissions can also be the result of not focusing or reading too fast. It may also mean the sight vocabulary is weaker. RepetitionLots of repetition may indicate that the text is too difficult. Sometimes readers repeat when theyre uncertain and will repeat the word(s) to keep the words coming as they regroup.   ReversalWatch for altered meaning. Many reversals happen with young readers with high-frequency words.  It may also indicate that the student has difficulty with scanning the text, left to right. SubstitutionsSometimes a child will use a substitution because they dont understand the word being read. Does the substitution make sense in the passage, is it a logical substitution?  If the substitution does not change the meaning, it is often enough to help the child focus on accuracy, because he/she is reading from meaning, the most important skill.   Creating the Miscue Instrument It is often helpful to have the text copied so you can make notes directly on the text.  A double-spaced copy can be helpful. Create a key for each miscue, and be sure to write the substitution or pre-correction above the word that was miscued so you can identify the pattern later.   Reading A-Z provides assessments with the first books at each reading level that provide both the text (for notes) and columns of each of the miscue types.   Performing a Miscue Analysis Miscue analysis is an important diagnostic tool that should be done every 6 to 8 weeks to give a sense if reading interventions are addressing the students needs.  Making sense of the miscues will help you with the next steps to improve the childs reading. It is worthwhile to have a few questions prepared that let you know about the childs comprehension of the passage read as miscue analysis tends to rely on advising you of the strategies used. Miscue analysis may seem time-consuming initially, however, the more you do, the easier the process gets. Use unfamiliar text, not something the child knows from memory.A miscue analysis will be inaccurate when administered to an emerging reader, but the information may still be of value.Give the student some choice in the reading selection.You will need a quiet place without interruptions, it can be very handy to record the child which provides you with an opportunity to listen to the passage more than once.Photocopy the selection the student will read, use this to record the miscues.Record each miscue. (Use hyphens for skipped words, record each substitution (ie, went for when), use for insertion and record the word(s), circle omitted words, underline repeated words, you may also want to use // for repeated words.

Patient narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Patient narrative - Essay Example Besides, they enable the medical personnel especially the nurses to develop a close relationship with the patient. Since, it makes the patient feel cared for apart from developing trust amid the medical practitioners and the ailing people owing to the practitioners’ exercise of compassion while executing their duties, interacting, listening and advising them accordingly hence, accelerate their recovery (Larsson, P, 2012, p. 17). The health care provider should be skilled at ensuring the patient’s comfort (Alder, B, 1999). This can be done through listening, monitoring and managing the flow of the interactions. During this interview, it became ostensible that the establishment of a rapport is essential in evoking comprehension of the patient’s perspective. The aim of this narrative is to critically evaluate the biomedical and biopsychosocial perspectives, as well as influences on the health and on the well being of a patient, a 32 year old female who is suffering from chronic back pains and type 2 diabetes. In accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery council (2008) ethics, confidentiality of the patient has been maintained, and the patient will be referred to as â€Å"Sally†. This narrative introduces Sally as a patient suffering from obesity. Oakley established that female respondents in a research are happy to open up about life and health issues to female interviewers who could share in the same experiences. Sally has opted to consumption of junk food and intense smoking due to a failed relationship. According to Erickson, a man goes through a series of development phases in which he runs into a conflict between a desirable outcome, which he needs, and an undesirable outcome which he does not need. According to the... A Patient narrative highlights and offers in-depth understanding of an ailing person’s life besides malady’s history (Herman, D, 2011). Principally, this encompasses varied aspects, which comprise one’s life besides medical challenges faced by the patient where if not attended to effectively might worsen one’s condition. This entails socio-economic, environmental, psychological and holistic aspects, which are essential in attaining the full recuperation of an individual (Spury, L, 2008). Besides, they enable the medical personnel especially the nurses to develop a close relationship with the patient. Since, it makes the patient feel cared for apart from developing trust amid the medical practitioners and the ailing people owing to the practitioners’ exercise of compassion while executing their duties, interacting, listening and advising them accordingly hence, accelerate their recovery. In this regard, research has shown out that the fall of the biomedical model came from the fact that it predicts that all illness only have a unit cause, ill health comes about because of a state that is psychological, and that after the correction of the disease, the patient’s health becomes healthy automatically. Nurses need to use the biophysical care approach because it is a model that emphasizes the advantage of getting to know about the human health and disease. It is a model that considers social factors, biological psychology, and their interaction in the understanding of illness, health, and delivery of health care.

Assessing Brilliance in Innovation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Assessing Brilliance in Innovation - Case Study Example It would be within the next year that Enron would begin to go through some major financial difficulties. It will be argued here that the basic tenets of a successful company require three key aspects: profit; sustainability of innovation; and good leadership. First, one should begin with a short history of Enron. In the case of the Houston-based Enron Corporation, a multi-billion dollar institution encountered a crisis situation. The denial of top corporate executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling led to Enron making excuses such as blaming Arthur Andersen, its accounting firm, for its failure. An integral part of understanding Enron's demise comes from learning a little bit about the company and how it grew over the years to its existing status. Houston Natural Gas merged with InterNorth, in July 1985, to form the Enron Corporation. Over the next fifteen years, Enron expanded rapidly, establishing many new businesses worldwide. The first sign of an innovative corporation is that it shows a profit. In about fifteen years, Enron grew from nothing to being America's seventh largest company. Enron employed over 21,000 individuals in more than forty countries. Enron's executives transformed this company, without actually building a company that made significant business profits. By doing this, Enron executives could exaggerate the company's cash flow. To create these profits, Enron's executives also used many accounting procedures that seemed to confuse watchdogs-and, to make themselves look better, they blindsided everyone who thought that Enron was on top of the world, by creating hundreds of fake companies. To prevent anyone from seeing any loss from Enron, they would transfer their debt to the fake companies. By doing this, Enron's debt would seem a lot smaller than they actually were. Like many large companies, Enron had its good and its bad side. In 2002 Enron's bad side was exposed to the nation. So the question is raised, what did Enron make' Enron didn't really make anything. Enron acted as the "middleman" in large natural gas and electricity deals. Enron always admitted it was hard to define their "business" in one sentence, but they finally came up with an explanation that they make commodity markets so that they could deliver physical commodities to their customers at a predictable price. Enron seemed to have trapped employees that worked with the company. The employees were forced to put their pension money into the Enron stock, which was overvalued. The employees at Enron were just doing their jobs, and in fact should not be held to blame. "Such high turnover [at the top of corporations such as Enron] suggests that the real problem isn't a lack of innovation-it's sustained innovation."1 Although many of the future business people attend curriculums that require business law classes, the Enron scandal has proven that corporate corruption is alive and well. Also, the company proved that it could not sustain its innovation over time, because its biggest innovation, mark-to-marketing accounting, was a fraudulent innovation. It was brilliant, in the sense that profits could be estimated and then banked upon, but it was also an illegal practice to put profits on the books that were not truly there. In addition, Enron

Analysis of Dividend Policy Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Analysis of Dividend Policy - Literature review Example If the debt-to-equity ratio is in favor of the former the manager would have greater dispersion in determining the dividend policy. More debt means less tax liability and less dividend payout. When debt holders power increases vis--vis equity holders dividend policy becomes an instrument in the hands of the manager to play each group against the other (Pike, & Neale, 2003). The dividend policy and the capital market structure of the firm can be examined with reference to a number of theories. The Modigliani-Miller Theorem is the earliest of such theories to consider the relevance of capital structure to determine the value of a firm (Ross, Westerfield, & Jaffe, 2002). In recent times these theoretical constructs have been developed in line with an ever increasing tendency to consider the leverage issue of the company. Leveraging by managers to achieve exclusive personal goals is nothing new. In fact, it's the conflict of interests between the principals or owners (or shareholders) and the agents (or managers) that have thrust the issue of leverage to the fore. In other words, the complex issues revolving around the capital structure of the firm are basically influenced by this conflict in which managers tend to have more information about the probable outcomes of future investments than shareholders. Thus this information asymmetry leads to a series of other problems.Disagreement between managers' behavior on the one hand and the shareholders' behavior on the other gives rise to a series of other related problems, e.g. information asymmetry, agency costs, taxation and bankruptcy costs. Information asymmetry refers to the manager's ability to control the flow of information in his favor so that the principal or the owner would have less access to information (Jonathan, & DeMarzo, 2007). Agency costs are related to the principal-agent relationship. For example, when a principal hires an agent he does so with the intention that the latter would act in conformance with certain rules to bring about what the former wishes.However, the motivating factor behind such performance is monetary compensation such a good salary to the manager. Therefore such behavior on the part of the manager would not be in his best interest. His tendency to deviate from what is expected of him is common among all managers. In order to reduce such negative be havior, the manager must be adequately compensated. However, the principal does not know what the agent would do to ensure that his own interest prevails. Costs that are associated with this behavior are known as principal-agent costs or the principal-agent problem.(a). Asset substitution effect Assuming that projects are riskier, there is still a fairer chance of success against failure thus obliging both debt-holders and shareholders to condone such risky investment decisions on the part of managers. However, in the long run with new projects rising, the value of the firm is bound to decrease while a net transfer of wealth from debt-holders to shareholders is more likely.

The competition between 2 fungi in same sugar (food) source can lead Assignment

The competition between 2 fungi in same sugar (food) source can lead to change PH and color - Assignment Example 1. Firstly inoculate the wood samples in wood agar petri dishes as mention be Robinson etal in International Wood Products Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 103–107.After proper extraction of Scytalidium Ganodermopthorum fungi species from wood, petri dishes of the culture are prepared. 2. The second step involves liquid culture growth, the fungus is grown on malt media amended with white rotted maple prepared in half-pint Mason jars with plastic screw lids. The petri dishes are sterilized via autoclaving before use. 3. After sterilization fill the dishes with 50 mL of autoclaved liquid media (2% malt in deionised water) according to Robinson etal,â€Å"Ability of three yellow pigment producing fungi to colour wood under controlled conditions,†Ã‚  International Wood Products Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 103–107, 2014. 5. Incubate the liquid cultures on an open shelf at room temperature for the next twenty two weeks. Over this period the colour measurements were recorded on a Konica Minolta CR-5 chroma meter for each flask of media before use, with output in the CIE L*a*b* colour space. 6. Filter 3 plate of the media using a Whatman Cat. No. 1002150 filter sheet after every 7 days. The pigments collected after filtrations are then solubilised in dichloromethane and standardized based upon their colours using the colour reading machine for distinguished and precise results every 7 days. For the green colour obtained from the readings in the machine S. ganodermophthorum L* = 87.04, a* = −0.54, b* = 22.21.This is a perfect pitch green colour and any pigmentation close to this will be olive green as shown by the media from the 100 plates. Those from the 10 negative plates will retain their colour. Under natural conditions once the growth of a fungal colony is established, or when supplies of vital nutrients become depleted, parts of the

Any proposed area of commercial law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Any proposed area of commercial law - Coursework Example A perspective shared among the technology providers and the companies collecting and mining data is that ethical, privacy-respecting practices simply make good business sense. Are there guidelines in developing privacy policies to help organizations in establishing ethical responsibilities of the organization and the data professionals? How does an organization develop a data privacy policy that provides the environment for trust on the part of the consumers? A major focus needs to be the incorporation of fair information practice principles of notice, choice, access, and security. Management and information technology professionals need to develop an understanding of how to manage data ethically and communicate the policy effectively to the consumers (Samuelson, 1999). More information and experience is needed by students and professionals in management and information technology in the development of a data privacy policy. This research project serves to provide the needed informat ion and experience for both students and professionals. Current technology makes the threats to privacy less tangible and less visible. It is difficult to know when and for what purposes individuals are being watched or information is being gathered and used for purposes that are not endorsed by the individuals. While many organizations have the capacity to collect data from consumers, businesses have a profit motive that adds a greater threat to the privacy dilemma. It is not only the continual compilation of data about individuals that poses privacy trepidation, but the ways in which data can be transformed and sold to other organizations. This consumer profiling can be misleading and damaging. If e-commerce is to succeed, businesses must work to develop a trustworthy, secure online environment. Developing a privacy policy is the first step in creating that trust. Incorporating a privacy

Cause-Effect Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cause-Effect Analysis - Essay Example Through the emergence of these technologies, the sources of reading have increased to include e-learning, e-mail, e-papers, chat rooms messaging and blogs (Miedema, 2009). Majority of the teacher educators, classroom teachers and researchers in the field of education have agreed that engaging in voluntary and school-related readings is essential for all the students. They include those pursuing reading for development of academic achievement purposes (Miedema, 2009). This essay focuses on establishing the effects of the emergence of internet and television as examples of current trends in technology to the reading behaviors of students. Additionally, the paper explores whether the time spent by the students on the internet and watching television interferes with the time the students uses in both academic and recreational readings. Lastly, the essay offers recommendations on how to avoid the new forms of technology from interfering with individual reading habits and skills. Several researches have been conducted in America to determine the cause of declining statistics of American youths and adults who participate in voluntary and achievement reading. The intriguing study resolved that most american youths and adults have ceased from the active participation in reading as compared to others in the previous years. Further to that, the research showed that very few American youths are engaging in reading helpful literature. The statistics are alarming since they have negative implications on the civic, social and economic status of the country. Additionally, most people are unable to recall what they read in a given period. Consequently, it results to downgrading the aspects of good reading habits (â€Å"Programme for International Student Assessment., and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development†, 2010). Many researchers have been conducted

Any proposed area of commercial law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Any proposed area of commercial law - Coursework Example A perspective shared among the technology providers and the companies collecting and mining data is that ethical, privacy-respecting practices simply make good business sense. Are there guidelines in developing privacy policies to help organizations in establishing ethical responsibilities of the organization and the data professionals? How does an organization develop a data privacy policy that provides the environment for trust on the part of the consumers? A major focus needs to be the incorporation of fair information practice principles of notice, choice, access, and security. Management and information technology professionals need to develop an understanding of how to manage data ethically and communicate the policy effectively to the consumers (Samuelson, 1999). More information and experience is needed by students and professionals in management and information technology in the development of a data privacy policy. This research project serves to provide the needed informat ion and experience for both students and professionals. Current technology makes the threats to privacy less tangible and less visible. It is difficult to know when and for what purposes individuals are being watched or information is being gathered and used for purposes that are not endorsed by the individuals. While many organizations have the capacity to collect data from consumers, businesses have a profit motive that adds a greater threat to the privacy dilemma. It is not only the continual compilation of data about individuals that poses privacy trepidation, but the ways in which data can be transformed and sold to other organizations. This consumer profiling can be misleading and damaging. If e-commerce is to succeed, businesses must work to develop a trustworthy, secure online environment. Developing a privacy policy is the first step in creating that trust. Incorporating a privacy

Is skill in implementing coordinated information technology really a Essay

Is skill in implementing coordinated information technology really a competitive advantage for a firm Why or why not - Essay Example nt of the effective human resource and sphosticated technology establshment is simlimy intended for taking a better competetive edge or is also aimed at improving the business, operations managemnt, business managnet and corporate processes handling. This paper will analyze and assess the answer of this question. This paper will also outline differetnt aspects of information technology implementation regarding the corporate business opertions enhancment or simply taking a better competetive edge. Data are collection of unprocessed facts demonstrating events occurring in firms or the physical environment prior to they have been structured and organized into a structure that people can identify and make use of these facts. Data can include text, numbers, images and videos. On the other hand, information refers to data that have been processed or transformed into a form that is valuable and functional to human beings (Shelly, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2005, p. 6; Norton, 2001, p. 4; Laudon & Laudon, 1999, p. 7). Oz Effy (2008) states that decision making and problem solving both require information. Decision making is vital part of everyone’ life, as people perform theirs tasks, play games, communicate or do anything they need information. In a corporation gathering the accurate information efficiently, storing properly so that it could be utilized and manipulated when needed, also making use of it to assist the firm or individuals to accomplish personal or business objectives . Therefore, the main intention of information technology implementation is to facilitate and support the above mentioned areas. We can utilize and apply these understanding and information for getting the success in all the areas. In a corporation an information system (IS) encompasses hardware, data, telecommunications, activities, software, and workers. Oz Effy (2008) mentioned that, an increasing number of ISs are modules of a huge enterprise system, like ERP or SCM system (Oz, 2008; Laudon &

Consumer Behaviour within LOreal

Consumer Behaviour within LOreal In the latter half of the 20th century a rapid growth of the global market resulted in a significant increase in the amount of brands and products present in most, if not all, industries with a focus on the end consumers. Companies are obliged to identify the underlying aesthetic reasons for the consumption as consumers have access to numerous choices. This alteration causes a need for differentiation in order to beat the competition by offering products that not only fulfil basic needs but also add value to the lifestyle customers desire to be a part of. Such brand intangible features of the brands that do not include any explicit qualities, are vital for providing exclusive aesthetic experiences for their customers. The objective of a company is to create an image, a sign of recognition and quality (Schmitt Simonson, 1997). Positive memories created in consumers minds can provide loyalty and premium price setting in the future as people are keen to return to the brands that previously delivered trustworthy satisfaction. The expansion of benefits of a strong brand is crucial (Keller Lehmann, 2006). The company behind the strong brand may, for example, gain easier access to new markets by utilising a brand extension- the process where novel products are released under the existing brand. This strategy effectively stimulates a feeling of recognition and approval the consumer might have towards the original brand line. The professional hair care industry serve as a good example where creating an aesthetic experience plays a big part in influencing consumer behaviour. For instance, we have experienced that many styling products often serve little utilitarian purpose and are not necessarily useful from a practical point of view; nevertheless these products seem to create intangible value and significance for the user. Professional styling products are being sold exclusively in hair salons and departmental stores where a symbolic atmosphere is created. The whole buying process is shaped around generating a social interaction, impulse and feeling. As a result hair product customer is not only influenced by the companies visual output but also by becoming emotionally connected with organisational values and beliefs. People often purchase products spontaneously without any clear consideration whether a certain product is actually needed or worth the price paid. Mick DeMoss (1990), suggest that this self -gifting phenomenon is provoked by the endeavour to motivate and indulge, relieve stress or just do something nice for oneself. Paula Begoun, author of the book Dont Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products without Me (1999), explains in an interview to CBS news (2005), that wasting money is not beautiful at all and asks the question: What is sexy and attractive about rinsing money down the drain? She finishes with the statement that, There is absolutely no difference between expensive products and inexpensive products, and I say that unequivocally. Why do people buy expensive styling products although there are cheaper, easily accessible hair care alternatives? Does the answer rest in getting cleaner, shinier hair or to obtain a confirmation that individuals by using these products will feel beautiful and indeed fit in the picture organisations create? Lastly, are there winning strategies for organisations to pursue in order to beat the competition in this multi-billion industry? This essay discusses the consumer buying behaviour for hair care products. This paper also discusses how marketers address these consumer behaviours using LOreal as an example. Consumer buying behaviour Society, individuals and organisations create a never-ending cycle in which the three largely affect each other. In order to be a part of the society, people have to fulfil certain unwritten norms and communicate in a way that is widely accepted and understood by other members of that same culture (Bowditch Buono, 2005). Consequentially, individuals often base their purchases on these premises to fit in within the group. According to McCracken (1986) this is a cause for organisations to constantly redevelop their product lines in order to match the expectations in society. When this occurs, cultural norms are passed on in products. When these later are purchased the meaning is once more shifted, this time to the customer, and the continuous cultural circle of society, individuals and organisations transform once more (please refer to the figure below). Figure: Transfer of cultural meaning, McCracken (1986). Beauty is a subject which is difficult to grasp especially since it is perceived differently and related to various cultural or social norms. Beauty might be seen as a powerful tool that can help one to achieve higher ambitions which might be significant for future growth and development (Hamermesh Biddle, 1994). According to Eco (2004), the word beautiful expresses something that we are fond of, enjoy looking at. For that reason a sense of personal fulfilment as well as indulgence is created (Prettejohn, 2005). Hair styling has emerged as one of the key fashion points in recent years as individuals, particularly young consumers realise that styling hairs in a trendy manner has an impact on peoples perception of their fashion sense. Hair styling is particularly interesting for consumers because hairstyle is one aspect of appearance which can be set in different styles as compared to rest of the face which the individuals can do little about except for wearing makeup. Aesthetics is defined by Berthon, et al., (2009) as a science of perception that relies on our ability to distinguish value or significance in the object of interest and thereby develop taste. In advertising beauty is produced by aesthetic images and symbols which are interpreted by consumers (Vacker, 1993). For that reason, as Schmitt Simonson (1997) state, aesthetics can be used as an influential tool for organisations to differentiate their products with. However, emotions can be easily abused by organisations and hence produce a false view of the scientific truth (Jensen, 1999). For instance, illusions can be formed by companies, that state that certain products are better than others and that customers gain more for the money they pay. As a result the companies will neglect the truth as long as consumers are convinced that the information is correct. Jensen discusses the problem further by claiming that a false rationality is eventually created in order to justify the purchases made. There is extensive scientific documentation that aesthetic experience undoubtedly affects consumer behaviour in several ways (Berthon, et al., 2009; Hirschman, 1983). Further, by using experiential and sensory marketing strategies (Schmitt, 1999), closely studying consumer attitudes and preferences (Gupta, et al., 2008), creating symbolic (Levy, 1959) and emotional (Bauman, 2001) values organisations can produce a luxurious and overpowering feeling of desire (Belk, et al., 2003) that hopefully end in both increased profits and improved consumer value. Thus, it is essential for organisations to identify what consumers desire, often before they actually know that themselves, and use the marketing strategies to enhance that desire. LOreals marketing strategy involves using attractive models with different hairstyles; Using these models LOreal creates a false perception among consumers that using LOreals products will make them look like the models. LOreals models use extensive makeup which highlight the fact that LOreals consumers are very sensitive about their appearance and may use lot of make up as well. Another key aspect of LOreals marketing strategy for hair care products is using models with different skin colours. This could be a strategy to improve the aesthetic appeal of LOreals hair care products. One key aspect of LOreals marketing strategy is to advertise a single shade of a hair colour. For example; when it advertises red hair colour, all the models in the advertisement will be wearing different shades of red hair colour only. 2.1 Emotional experiences Franzen Bouwman (2001) state that individual perceptions and memories are linked to emotional reactions. The cognitive part of the human brain reflects, analyses and makes decisions, the emotional part of the brain, on the other hand, reacts spontaneously on the perceived external stimulation. When a person is exposed to new information the brain has to make a choice whether or not, or to what extent he has to pay attention. Emotional experiences are actual impulses that cause human behaviour and it is possible to identify two types of recollections of emotional experiences; implicit and explicit emotional experience (Franzen Bouwman, 2001). People perceive most marketing unconsciously and superficially but they are still influenced by it in the future purchasing behaviour. As a result a perception of the brand can be seen as unconscious and implicit unless it has already been connected to concrete experiences which have led to explicit cognitive recollections (Franzen Bouwman, 20 01). LOreals marketing strategy is to market LOreal as a wholesome brand rather than as individual product lines which means that when consumers actually decide to purchase any product they are likely to remember LOreal brand. Through a multi-sensory experience, created by sensory perceptions, people respond to external stimulations as well as they react to emotional images which are either consciously or unconsciously. This creates possibilities for hedonic consumption which is, as explained by Hirschman Holbrook (1982, p. 92), a phenomenon that: designates those facets of consumer behaviour that relate to the multi-sensory, fantasy and emotive aspects of ones experience with products. It is essential for companies to identify the symbolic meaning of consumer goods which are increasingly becoming a part of our consumer identity and image. Symbolic meaning of hair care products such as hair colour is to give the hairs a colour which matches the personality, mood, occasion and the rest of the attire. This is often witnessed in case of air colour advertising by LOreal as often the products are advertised using models who are wearing the clothing and makeup which matches the hair colour. Thus, LOreal tries t o symbolise hairs as one part of the body which needs to be dressed like rest of the body to make the look complete. For hair care products, LOreals marketing strategy is to highlight the hairs as the most important part of the looks. This is often done by highlighting the hairs so that everything else looks meaningless (as is evident from some of the advertisements shown below): All these advertisements highlight hairs as the main part of the look. By highlighting the hairs as the most important part and noticing that it is possible to alter the appearance of hairs (by styling and colouring), LOreal tries to convey the message that it is possible to achieve the model looks. In other words, the highlight are the hairs which have been treated with LOreal products which means that the looks of the model in the advertisement are a result of LOreals product and hence the consumers can get the same looks if they use LOreal products. 2.2 Consumer behaviour and human needs When clarifying the consumer behaviour several authors describe purchases from a need-goal perspective (Schiffman Kanuk, 2000). With some difference in terminology they explain how a need is created for a human being, for example, a feeling of hunger or the aspiration to become an esteemed member of society. Maslow (1943) presents a hierarchy of needs and argues that the level below is always more important than the one above. The lowest level consists of what could be called innate or primary needs and higher up in the pyramid are the acquired or secondary needs. The above example of being an esteemed member of society fits into the second highest of these levels labelled esteem). Figure: Maslows pyramid. The levels represent different parts of the hierarchy. Needs work as motivation to reach a goal that can be generic or product-specific (Schiffman Kanuk, 2000). A generic goal to cleaner hair would be shampoo; a product specific goal would in turn be shampoo from one of the various brands in the market. LOreals marketing strategy targets both. For example, for hair colouring products, the generic strategy can be good and trendy looks while the product specific strategy can be to market LOreal hair colour products. LOreal extensively uses its brand name in marketing LOreal products 2.3 Marketing Gagliard (1996) explains that when the object is being experienced in a physical, tangible reality it is acknowledged through sensory experiences. Organisations can, in this context, be seen not only as physical settings that produce products but also as a brand with the capacity to nourish and promote peoples senses. Artefacts can be defined as a form of message, existing either independently of its creator, or being perceived by the senses. Through these, organisations can contribute to promoting their goals. According to Franzen Bouwman (2001) a brand can be defined as a sign or a symbol of recognition in form of logos, labels, names and colours which evokes associations in people and is commercially linked to saleable goods and services. It is a source of value to both consumers well as the companies. By maintaining a strong brand firms achieve loyalty and steady future sales. LOreal invests significantly in advertising LOreal brand. In fact, the brand LOreal is highlight of almost all marketing communications that the firm undertakes irrespective of the product. By highlighting the name LOreal experts the firm aims to send a signal that it is expert and hence trustworthy at producing the particular product. LOreal also uses the word Paris in its branding; this is to associate LOreal with Paris, the Meccah of fashion. Associating a brand with Paris automatically symbolises a high end fashion product and this strategy is wisely used by LOreal to influence its customers who may exhibit d esire for French fashion. Around the very core of the product there are a more or less equally valued attributes. Not only is a shampoo a hair-cleansing device but there are several other aspects that are taken into consideration during the creation process. Such attributes include quality, design, package, colour, smell and much more. LOreal packs its products in high quality packing with glossy covers. There is also product specific packing; for hair colours the packing will contain the face of a model with the same colour as the one in the pack. This is informative packing as LOreal aims to educate the consumer about how the hair will look after colouring using that particular colour. This is often done to reduce customers disappointment; for example, if detailed picture is not given, consumers may use the colour only to find that it does not look the way they hoped it to and this may lead to divorcing the brand altogether. To avoid this, LOreal, or in fact most of hair colour manufacturers provide an imag e of a model with the same hair colour. Gardner Levy (1955) define the brand as more than a label, established to distinguish the company from its competitors. Instead they view it as a symbol which makes up a complicated net of various attributes which are sent out by the company. Later these are interpreted and re-valued by the customers and results in an overall public image. For the company, the feelings and attitudes the customers have towards the brands are essential not only to promote and sell any current products but also to attempt to launch new products under the same brand umbrella. This view of the brand as a symbol that creates awareness, loyalty and associations has later become known under the summarising definition brand equity (Kotler, et. al., 2005). As Franzen Bouwman (2001) puts it, brands that succeed in strategically linking emotions to them are generally connected to products that have something to do with these emotions. In other words, when the emotional response reflects the brand and also the very product itself, the brand-owner has succeeded in what all companies seek to do today, to create a unified message to the consumer. 2.3.3 Sensory marketing Consumers respond to the overall product or service characteristics, both tangible and intangible, produced by a total product offering. Through sensory marketing, appealing to the consumers through smell, music, design and taste, companies not only differentiate their image and create a strong identity but also construct an overall satisfactory personal experience. The figure below shows how the bodily senses; either separately or in a combined way, creates an experience and reaction from the consumer. Figure: Senses attributing to a combined customer experience, Hultà ©n et al. (2008). For example, the sight sense comes through the visual images such as product design, packaging or particular style. It is essential for people who consume the final product to make sure that they can see the product of interest. LOreal achieves this by providing the customers wit the image of a model wearing the same hair colour as the one in the pack. Kotler (1973) suggests that the key factor is actually the place, or in other words the sensory quality of the space in which the product or service is purchased. In some cases it is more influential than the offering itself and can overrule the primary product.. The right atmosphere does not only draw potential customers but also send a message about its position or status and therefore increase the probability for future purchases. The importance of the possibility for a purchase and the atmosphere is presented by Kotler (1973) below: Figure: The Casual Chain Connection Atmosphere and Purchase Probability, Kotler (1973). The place aspect of advertisement is addressed by LOreal by selling its products through departmental stores and hair salons. 2.3.4 Experiential Marketing This theory states that consumers are viewed not only as rational decision makers, concerned with functionality and personal benefits, but as emotional human beings, willing to achieve something extraordinary, for instance a memorable and enjoyable experience (Schmitt, 1999). This is a strategy often used by LOreal who aims to market the message that by using its products it is possible to achieve model looks. As mentioned earlier, this is done by highlighting the hairs in the marketing images to suggest that hairs the most critical aspects of particular models looks and that the looks of these hairs is because of the marketed LOreal product. In other words, use this particular product and you can look the same. By generating the uniqueness effect and selecting certain attributes that purchasers value, organisation are awarded with premium price which exceeds the extra costs required for the differentiation (Porter, 2004). Figure: Difference in price consumers are willing to pay for professional and retail products. The figure above shows the price difference in products which consumers are willing to pay. The question mark represents the unknown factors that enable consumers to buy professional hair care products at such a high price compared to retail alternatives. LOreal hair colour products are in mid to expensive range and cost more than many of its rivals. These products may be strategically priced a bit high to increase their symbolic value. For example, if hair care products are priced to low, consumers may perceive the product as low standard. Raising the prices Too much would have an impact on the consumption level; consumers will either not buy or will not use the product that frequently. The problem with the latter is that if the consumers tend to become satisfied with their looks without using these products, they might stop the consumption of these product altogether. It is important for these firms to maintain the desire for these products and hence products are priced to stimulat e consumption. Conclusion In conclusion LOreal uses it marketing strategy according to desire aspect more than anything else. It selects the targeted consumer segments and addresses the desires of this consumer segment by using appropriate marketing signals. LOreals marketing strategy involves proving to the customers that it is possible for them to achieve the same looks as the models in its advertisements by using LOreal products. 2,968 Words

Gender Roles in Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Essay

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is an overlaying presence of the typical roles that men and women were supposed to play. During Elizabethan times there was a major difference between the way men and women were supposed to act. Men typically were supposed to be masculine and powerful, and defend the honor. Women, on the other hand, were supposed to be subservient to their men in their lives and do as ever they wished. In Romeo and Juliet the typical gender roles that men and women were supposed to play had an influence on the fate of their lives. The beginning of Act one opens with a brawl in the street between the servants of the Capulets and the Montagues. The origin of the fight introduces the important theme of masculine honor. Sampson, one of Capulets servants, shows this masculinity by saying, â€Å"Draw, if you be men.† (I.i.64). Later on in the play in Act II, scene i. the display of honor and masculinity comes up again during the fight between Mercutio and Tybault. As Mercutio lay slain Romeo says to him, â€Å"Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.† (III.i.96). Even as his friend is dying the two men try and act masculine because they did not want to show their fears. But on the other side of this masculinity is love. For Elizabethan society believed that a man who loved too much lost his masculinity. Romeo clearly subscribes to that belief when he states that his love for Juliet made him â€Å"effeminate.† During Elizabethan times wo...

Authenticity of The Great Santini :: essays research papers

Comparison Between Movie and History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After watching the movie from Hollywood and reading the actual thoughts of Pat Conroy of whom the story is based on, there is significant evidence supporting the basis that â€Å"The Great Santini† was made on and Hollywood very accurately filmed â€Å"The Great Santini†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It isn’t to say that all military veterans were abusive and hard on their families. However, men in the military return from the service and seem to take a great sense of pride in their families and America. To this day some people are the same way as Bull Meechum. There are many similarities between Bull Meechum and Donald Conroy. For instance, they both lived life in the fast lane and to its full extent. In the movie, Bull Meechum mentions how fast and free it feels to fly. Donald Conroy also felt the same way as he flew over the American troops and proceeded to bomb the Koreans. They were both alike in the aspect that they lived for an adrenaline rush. Meechum and Conroy both loved life and lived it to its greatest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The two men also were excellent soldiers. Donald Conroy was said to at one time, been the most decorated man in the military. Bull Meechum moved his family to South Carolina in order to take a position in training other pilots. Although neither were great family men, both soldiers had been trained in the art of killing other people as quickly and as many as they could.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another similarity that Donald Conroy had with Bull Meechum was the way he pushed his family to be better and tougher. In his eulogy, it states that if Donald Conroy would have seen the tears that his family cried at his death, he would have yelled at them and been embarrassed of the fact that his boys were behaving like girls. They both wanted the best for their family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the movie is based on a true story, there aren’t very many parts that happen in the movie that never happened. The movie is extremely accurate in its portrayal of the military emotionally hardened father.

Belief Systems: Personality Effects

There are many ways in which belief systems affect the personality of individuals, however, the most overarching and poignant way is the ability or lack of ability of a person to gravitate towards hope and figuring out personal solutions. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that they are not able to make positive changes in their lives, and these individuals become stuck in cycles of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors (Metcalf & O'Hanlon, 2008). They believe that there are no solutions or actions which can be taken personally to help remedy and positively alter their own lives.In these types of situations, people can become prone to destructive thoughts and behaviors which impede their own life functioning and sometimes also the lives of people in their environment. Destructive behaviors which are linked to negative thinking are physical, observable signs that people’s belief systems are faithless and contributing to their own demise. Some people may demonstrate a signal to others that they possess the lack of believing in the value of self control when they decide to discipline their children through spanking, an antisocial and abusive behavior.Another example of damaging thought is the belief that men do not need to support women through childbirth and raising children, contributing to male narcissism and also to woman and child deprivation of care and finances (Sklare, 2004). It makes sense for people who are stuck in cycles of harm and abuse to help to pull themselves out and to heal their harmful personalities by positively changing the ways in which they think and act. There are many ways in which people’s negative thinking in regard to formulating their belief systems disrupts the relationship of self with self and the relationship of self with others.It is important for people to find hope in their everyday thoughts and actions which lends to the bettering of their own lives and the lives of people in their environment. Life a nd development is only positive, its opposite being death and destruction, and focusing on the paths to workable solutions is the best way for people’s beliefs to contribute to their surviving and thriving, to their characters, even under difficult circumstances. References Metcalf, L. & O'Hanlon, B. (2008). Counseling Toward Solutions. John Wiley and Sons. Sklare, G. (2004). Brief Counseling That Works. Corwin Pre

Followers and Leaders of Animal Farm

Animals on Manor Farm over throw their mean and evil rulers who have overworked and mistreated them. Once the animals get control over the farm they set up slogans and rules the animals must follow in order to have equality and justice on the new farm.The farm is mainly ran by the pigs, who are considered the most intelligent, and also the two main ruler pigs named Snowball and Napoleon. Napoleon uses dogs he took away as pups and trained them to follow his words and also uses them to chase Snowball off the farm. Now Napoleon has complete control over the farm along with the other pigs and the dogs.Napoleon’s number one pig who helps him run the farm the way he likes is named Squealer. Squealer is very persuasive and can manipulate any animal he needs to. The author of the book Animal Farm is named George Orwell and he wrote this story to have a allegorical representation of the Russian Revolution. Orwell shows in this piece of writing that both leaders and followers in a soci ety can act in ways that destroy certain rights such as freedom and equality. One of the followers name is Boxer and this horse believes that everything the pigs say about napoleon is always right.Overall, Napoleon’s right hand pig, Squealer, uses persuasive wording and powerful speeches to manipulate other animals on the farm that Napoleon is always right. In Animal Farm one of the leaders name is Squealer and he is a pig who is very persuasive.The text states, â€Å"The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. † (pg:16) When George Orwell describes Squealer as being able to â€Å"turn black into white†, he is in fact referring to Squealer's persuasive skill. In other words, Squealer has enough persuasive talent to be able to convince the animals in Animal Farm that black is white or vice-versa.Squealer uses his wonderful way of talking persuasively towards the other animals on the farm. When Squealer does this he is being manipulative words to make the animals think what he wants them to.This effects the equality on the farm because the animals may not realize that they are being cheated out of their rights they originally fought for when they ran the original farm hands off the farm. Squealer’s persuasion is powerful because he influences the animals into thinking only positive ideas about Napoleon. This shows that Squealer is very manipulative and takes advantage of his power of manipulation.Squealer keeps his power throughout the novel is by staying as an important aspect to Napoleon. Napoleon uses Squealer to go out and persuade the animals on the farm that the pigs aren’t doing anything wrong or against the rules. This is very relevant to the story because if Napoleon didn’t have Squealer to help him run the farm than Napoleon wouldn’t have too many supporters and without his supporters he wouldn’t have any power. In Animal Farm, Orwell chose the characteristics of the animals t o allegorically represent people or groups from the Russian Revolution.Napoleon plays Stalin who was a cruel ruler who used military tactics to enforce his rules. This overall represents how in Animal Farm Orwell used all of the characters to have an allegorical meaning. Squealer is a representation of the Propaganda Department, and Napoleon represents the Russian Revolutions cruel leader. Squealer’s overall goal is to persuade all of the animals to becoming loyal to Napoleon like how the propaganda department was a way of persuading the people of the Soviet Union to become loyal to Stalin.Squealer is reaching his goal one by one and gains support every time he talks to the animals. Next, in Animal Farm one of the animals who follow Napoleon and Squealer’s words is a very strong and hardworking horse named Boxer. At first, things seem to be going well. He's a hard worker, making â€Å"I will work harder† into his personal motto (ch-3). He's a brave fighter, and the narrator tells us that, during the Battle of the Cowshed, â€Å"the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer, rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion† (ch-4).But it's not enough to keep him safe. At the beginning of the novel, Old Major warns Boxer that he's disposable: â€Å"the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will send you to the knacker, who will cut your throat and boil you down for the fox-hounds† (ch-1). Boxer can see that—but once Jones is forced off the farm, Boxer thinks the threat is gone. He's just not smart enough to see that he's got a whole new species to worry about. Boxer worries about the farm, but he's not smart enough to figure things out on his own.Instead of thinking for himself, he decides to be loyal no matter what—to follow the Party (as in, Communist Party) line. Like, after Snowball is sent into exile, Boxer tries to think things over for himself, but all he can come up with is, â€Å"If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right,† and he takes up a new personal motto: â€Å"Napoleon is always right† (ch-5). Boxer is one of the animals who is easily persuaded and this is why the pigs think of him as a powerful disciple. Boxer absorbs everything the pigs tell him.Boxer would work so hard that it would influence the other animals to want to start and work also. This is not a good thing that is happening because when they are working on different projects on the farm they are taking orders from Napoleon and if they do that than there isn’t equality because this means that Napoleon is of a higher authority. If Napoleon is a higher rank in the social class than there isn’t equality. Boxer does not realize that he is giving up his freedom and he certainly doesn’t know that he is causing the other animals to also.He doesn’t realize this because all he does is follow Napoleons rules and work as hard as he can. Boxer motivates the other animals to work harder when the animals see him trying so hard to work. Boxer’s behavior is not typical of the animals on Animal Farm because he doesn’t ever question Napoleon like some of the other followers on the farm have. Also Boxer is not like the other animals because even though he is a follower he influenced other animals to follow in his footsteps and work harder.This shows that because Boxer is listening to Squealer he worked harder and that influences the other animals to work but also to give away their right to freedom and equality. In Conclusion, Napoleon’s second in command, also known as Squealer, persuades the animals on Animal Farm into thinking he is a wonderful leader. One of Squealer’s followers is a very work dedicated horse named Boxer. The author of this story is name Orwell and his purpose of writing this piece was to have the allegorical purpose of symbolism of the Russian R evolution.Orwell may have written this as a warning to the readers about how human behavior is when they get to much power. When someone gets too much power it goes to their head and they can’t function like they use to and may make bad decisions. From this novel the reader has learned that society is always adjusting itself. Not every situation is perfect nor can one expect perfection. However, the reader also learned that people have morals by which they hold themselves. Any leader who pushes his morals upon a group does not deserve power.

Ancient Chinese Philosophy: How to Live Life Essay

How do I live my life? Since the early beginnings of society people have always been concerned with our behavior in public and conduct towards others: how should I behave towards my parents, how should I treat my friends, and in what way can I best show my respect for the gods? Religion was the first form of moral code; the writers would present their ideas about truth and morality, and reinforce their opinions with omnipotent deities who would, in a way, scare believers into acting accordingly. As society began to develop and powerful empires began to expand religion was no longer a priority. Many of the rituals necessary to appease the various gods were impractical. Furthermore, skeptics and other logical thinkers began to question their existence. However, moral code still needed to be maintained—especially in the growing empires—and people began searching for other forms of guidance. Moral philosophy most likely developed for this reason; to rationally investigate the truths and principles of knowledge, behavior and conduct. Around the fifth century B. C. in China (which today is known for strict guidelines regarding respect and obedience) two great philosophers, Confucius and Lao Tzu emerged who devoted their lives to explaining how to live life virtuously, and righteously. Though the two philosophers differ extremely in the presentations of their ideas, and the ideas themselves, together they create a full and detailed moral code. Confucius, the earlier of the two philosophers, (died in 497 B. C. ) analyzes various daily situations and suggests how one should behave in them in The Analects. The Master, as his pupils call him, repeatedly mentions the importance of behaving like a gentleman. But what exactly does this entail? What does one need to do to be considered a gentleman? There are many virtues that Confucius finds essential to being a gentleman, the most critical one being benevolence, which he discusses primarily in the first four books. Benevolence in the eyes of The Master, however, is very different from our current perception; we see it as kindness and sympathy while Confucius evidently sees it as something much greater. For us today benevolence can be seen in simple acts of compassion. For example, a common act of benevolence is putting your extra change into the plastic cup of a homeless person in Washington Square Park. I see a benevolent professor as one who is respectful of his students’ other responsibilities and gives them ample time to prepare their assignments. To Confucius, this would not be enough; he describes benevolence as a quality that is very difficult to achieve; apparently, it is something that does not even seem appealing to many. According to The Master, it encompasses our values, loyalty, pride, and honesty, and it manifests itself in our relationships with friends, parents, and superiors—only one who is perfect in all these categories can be considered benevolent, and therefore a gentlemen. The idea that Confucius describes as most vital to achieving the status of gentlemen is filial piety, the reverence for ones parents. The virtuous child would give their parents no other cause for anxiety than illness, The Master says. He must never stray too far from their â€Å"fields,† and if he does, he must always make his whereabouts known. To serve one’s parents to the fullest, he must also follow their instructions (or advice) exactly, even if they might not be beneficial or even good for his well-being. This must be done without questioning them. He can try to â€Å"dissuade† his parents on to a more righteous path if it is done subtly and respectfully, but cannot blatantly point out mistakes in his parents’ suggestions. It does not stop there; the child must cover up any blunders the parents make from the eyes of the world. Whether Confucius puts filial piety on a higher level than law is unclear, and he may not have considered extreme examples. But I am. If your father, for example, would murder someone, should you take the Euthyphro approach of bringing him to justice, or should you become an accomplice in his crime by tampering with evidence, or perhaps burying the body? I doubt that any fair gentleman would ever involve himself in a crime so grave under any circumstances. When the parents begin to age the child should take note of it. The old age of your parent’s should bring you anxiety, The Master suggests. It is obvious that at some point the responsibilities of the parents and children reverse; during childhood it is children who bring stress to their parents (or in the case of perfect children, don’t), and during adulthood it is parents, and their health, who should bring stress to the children. Confucius never completely mentions but implies that as the parents’ age advances the child must make changes in his life to accommodate his parents. Perhaps, in today’s society that would mean to spend more time with them when they retire and monitor their health more often than before. The child’s obligations do not end during the lifetime of the parents; to be a good son you must live with reverence towards your parents even after their deaths. One way to do this is to not change his father’s â€Å"ways† for three years. Another is to present their spirits with offerings and sacrifices. Some of these ideas, however, leave the boundaries of respect and move towards expressions of love. You are expected to feel anxious when they are not in good health, but that can only be felt if you truly love them. And how can anyone oversee whether you are presenting their spirits with offerings? You must be truly devoted and love them to continue respecting them even after they are dead (or just very fearful of their spirits). It appears that Confucius never draws a clear line between respect and love; maybe in his view one cannot exist without the other. The respect and awe of parents from an early age shapes the child into a polite and well-rounded adult, one who is not too arrogant and knows his place in society. Whatever filial piety is, it is clear that it is only a small aspect of benevolence an insufficient virtue on the road to becoming a gentleman. But before we can even explore what qualities you need to be a gentleman, we must ask what The Master means when he says â€Å"gentleman. † There is certainly some idealism and imagination involved in his construction of the gentleman. In a way, the gentleman is a perfect and unattainable feat that everyone should strive for. Confucius advocated for respect of tradition, culture and knowledge; without showing interest in these aspects of society, all hope of becoming a gentleman is lost. A gentleman must respect and live by the traditions, but at the same time distinguish himself from everyone around him. Though Confucius advises against questioning what has already been explained and accomplished. So how does he propose to become better? His analects are somewhat contradictory: how do you have any voice if you cannot speak out against old tradition, or create new ones? At the same time, the ideal man should learn from the people around him and be open to criticism. In a society which was so concerned with accordance and conformity, however, his ideas seem reasonable. By following these traditions, you are being polite and respectful, obviously, important qualities. Perhaps his greatest explanation of the qualities necessary to be a gentleman comes in Book V, where he describes the qualities that make Tzu-ch’an a gentleman, â€Å"He was respectful in the manner he conducted himself; he was reverent in the service of his lord; in caring for the common people, he was generous and, in employing their services, he was just. † To be a gentleman, you must have compassion and generosity, qualities that I believe every human has innately; therefore, it would be possible for anyone to be a gentleman if they can harness those traits. In his description of Tzu-ch’an it appears that he had some form of authority over others, possibly a duke or a nobleman in China. It is quite possible that his descriptions of a gentleman aim to describe the ideal ruler. Indeed, all of the qualities he portrays throughout The Analects are vital in a successful ruler: leading by action, not by word (avoidance of hypocrisy), fairness and justice to subordinates, acting reasonably, and using good judgment. Confucius’ teachings are very practical not only to the common man, but to the ruler as well. It is no surprise that this ancient text is still used by today’s societies as guidelines for good leaders. Though it is unclear what exactly a gentleman is, there is an explicit moral code that Confucius believes we should live by. The philosophy recounted in Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, on the other hand, is far less practical, in my opinion. His teachings are more spiritual and are harder to live by because of their vagueness and ambiguity. He created the idea of â€Å"Tao,† which is more than just a way of life, it’s even more than life itself—it is everything! Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and all other complementary opposites are Tao. It is likely that by Tao, Lao Tzu is referring to the Universe and everything it engulfs, as he is known to have theorized about the flow of nature. Lao Tzu explains how Tao should be embraced. His philosophy creates a sense of unity among humans, and encourages them to become one with their surroundings. But there are a few ideas which he must not have fully thought through. Is Tao really everything? Everything includes the good and the bad, and Tao is described as all good. Furthermore, there should be no desire to stray from Tao because of its idealism. But is it even possible to stray from Tao if it is everything? Evidently, Tao itself is an idea too complex and difficult for most people to understand, at least for me it is. For this reason (and maybe others as well), Lao Tzu created Te, which is more concrete than Tao—it is the manifestation of Tao, the person walking on the path, rather than the actual path. Through his use of Te, Lao Tzu is still able to create some moral code. By today’s standards, Lao Tzu’s philosophy is in some ways outdated and obsolete. He values inaction, and feels that everyone should be satisfied with what they know and have. To some this may seem like lack of ambition; how can a philosopher possibly be advising against ambition? But I find his advice to be pointing out the faults of over-ambition, and possibly greed. As with everything, there should be harmony, and an equal balance between ambition and satisfaction with the status quo. This is a sound suggestion because through out history we have seen overachievers fall repeatedly: Alexander the Great and his empire, the Roman Empire, the infamous Hitler and his empire as well. Maybe this is not what he intended at all; maybe he meant that lack of action is better than the wrong action. If the action we make will steer us further from the end of Tao, then it may be wiser to not act at all. Or perhaps, through inaction one can reflect and further his spirituality, and by doing so take one step closer to Tao. Maybe, it is for this reason that Lao Tzu chose to leave Taoism so open-ended—so that the reader could interpret Tao in his own way—one person’s path may be radically different from another’s. Though his value of inaction may not make sense to the modern eye, his idea of simplicity and potentiality resonate strongly with us. He compares potentiality to an uncut piece of wood. There are so many possible directions we can take with that single piece of wood—it can become anything! He suggests that a person remain this way, maintaining innocence and openness to new experiences. No matter what we may have seen or felt in the past, we should not be biased towards what the future holds. This is not easy, but is a desirable trait, and probably must be attained to achieve Tao. He also stresses the values of simplicity, which is completely necessary to follow the path. How can one possibly see the path, if he is distracted by what he does not need? Often, it is our embrace of personal possessions and wealth that hinder us from true reflection and meditation. Maybe, it is for this reason that Lao Tzu speaks out against ambition; because you will never see truth if you are blinded by desires. It is likely that Lao Tzu was in some way associated with Confucius, as there is visible influence Lao Tzu in Analects and influence of Confucius in Tao Te Ching. Confucius mentions â€Å"the Way† numerous times, but never explains what it means. Lao Tzu mentions benevolence and vaguely describes what a good ruler is, â€Å"a shadowy presence to his subjects. † Both place high importance on remaining within society’s norms, Confucius through his awe of traditions, and Lao Tzu through his inaction. Both agree that one should live by their word, and that honesty, integrity, and consideration for others desires are important. On their own, neither of the texts adequately describes a fulfilling way of life; together, with Confucius addressing practical matters and Lao Tzu focusing on the spiritual ones, a complete and detailed moral code is constructed. The way of life that these two ancient philosophers described so centuries ago still holds strong today. Though they are difficult to follow with all the temptations of modern society, and the vices of modern man, every one of us still strives to be a gentleman on the path of Tao.