Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Position paper why i agree with the 3 strikes your out law Research

Position why i agree with the 3 strikes your out law - Research Paper Example These are the very people that the 3 Strikes Law was designed to protect the population from and I for one am very happy that this law is in place to protect me from the harm that can be caused by such offenders and criminals (Reaves, Jessica â€Å"Whats Wrong With â€Å"Three Strike† Laws?†). According to Californias Legislative Analysts Office, this law is the reason why the judicial system in the state has seen an increase in felony cases. This is mainly because the repeat offenders would rather take their chances in a jury trial in the hopes of an acquittal rather than using the plea bargain in order to lighten their sentences (Brown, Brian & Jolivette Greg, â€Å"A Primer: Three Strikes After More Than a Decade†). Although the law seems to be creating a backlog in our justice system, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the DOJ California Crime Index has actually shown a decrease in the crimes rates of the state since the passing of the law: The crime rate continued to decline after Three Strikes, falling by 43  percent statewide between 1994 and 1999, though it has risen by about 11  percent since 1999. Similarly, the violent crime rate declined by 8 percent between 1991 and 1994 and then fell an additional 43  percent between 1994 and 2003. (Brown, Brian & Jolivette Greg, â€Å"A Primer: Three Strikes After More Than a Decade†). The laws of our land are not perfect. In fact, it is full of flaws that are not realized until decades later when the criminals begin to flaunt those legal loopholes that are found by their lawyers. It is this reality that has always put offenders who should have been put away for life back on our streets. The 3 Strikes Law makes sure that they are kept off the street and prevented from doing any further harm to the public. Those who oppose the law say that it is an unjust and cruel punishment for those convicted of petty crimes. If a person has

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Analysis of the Escape by W.S. Maugham Essay Example for Free

The Analysis of the Escape by W.S. Maugham Essay What we call a Chicago accent is actually called the Inland North American dialect. This encompasses the major cities around the Great Lakes. The dialect used to be considered the standard American accent until the region experienced a vowel shift, now called the North Cities Vowel Shift. Who Speaks the Chicago Dialect? Or rather, who doesnt? The answer, of course, is African Americans in the Chicago region, who have their own (and infinitely more interesting) dialect. Though this may be obvious. African Americans are the largest population group in Chicago, and it would be irresponsible to overlook the fact that the Chicago dialect is not used by the largest sector of the citys population. The most salient feature of the Chicago dialect is that it is undergoing the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. This is most noticeable in words with the /ae/ vowel, which gets raised so that its close to /e/. Thus, bad sounds a bit like bed, or, beead. Another notable aspect of this vowel shift is that /o/ is fronted so that it is closer to /ah/. So hot sounds a lttle like hat. As an ongoing change, it is more prevalent and more pronounced among young people, middle-class people, and females, but it is quite widespread. nearly all white Chicagoans exhibit this vowel shift, at least to some extent. A more local vowel development is a monophthongization of /ow/ to /oh/, so that south becomes soth and down becomes don. This is more conservative and less widespread. Also we can notice that when a vowel sound moves into another vowel’s territory, the result may be a merger —as when the sound of caught comes to be pronounced with the tongue in the same region of the mouth as for cot. In a different pattern, the movement of one vowel spurs a reactive movement in a neighboring vowel. As with strangers in an elevator, one vowel shifts to keep its distance when another enters the space. These coordinated movements are heard in the Northern Cities Shift, which affects six different vowels, those appearing in caught, cot, cat, bit, bet and but. In this change, caught takes on a vowel similar to that originally used for cot. The cot vowel also shifts, becoming more like the vowel of cat. The vowel of cat takes a position closer to that ordinarily heard with bit and sometimes sounds like the â€Å"ea† in idea. Words like bit are pronounced with a vowel nearer to bet or even but whereas bet words have a vowel similar to that in cat or but, and the vowel but words comes to sound more like that of caught. When these changes are plotted according to the positioning of the tongue, the connections among them are clear and the shift resembles a clockwise rotation of the vowels in the mouth. The Northern Cities Shift: These guide words are positioned to represent where in the mouth the tongue is placed for those vowel sounds. The arrows indicate the directions of change affecting the sounds. Consonants The stereotype about Chicagoans is that they say dis instead of this, but thats not entirely accurate. The real pronunciation is somewhere in between. To approximate it, first pronounce /th/ the standard way, with the tip of your tongue between your teeth. Then, keeping your teeth apart, move the tip of your tongue to the back of your teeth. Thats the typical Chicago /th/. Contrast it with /d/, which is made with the teeth closed, and the tongue against the roof of the mouth. This is a conservative trait, and is more common among older people, working class people, and males. The unvoiced equivalent, that is, the /th/ of in the word thick is even more conservative. Vocabulary Chicago vocabulary is fairly unremarkable. As a cosmopolitan place, the vocabulary is more generalized than in rural areas, so that Chicagoans are at least familiar with words that were formerly used by dialectologists as markers of Southern dialect or Midland that is, the dialect in between Northern and Southern. Nevertheless, there are a few localisms which are worth mentioning: What other people call rubbernecking, Chicagoans call gaping thus an accident on the side of the road can cause a gapers delay or gapers block. Also, Chicagoans are more likely to use the term gym shoes. Grammar In Chicago, like in other American cities that had lots of German-speaking immigrants, with can be used more frequently as a verbal complement. Thus, while most Americans might say come with, Chicagoans can also say take with and have with. Consider the following bit of dialogue from Chicagoan David Mamets play American Buffalo,: Donny: (Talking about a gun) I dont want it with. Teach: Well, I want it with. In the 1996 film version, Donnys line sounds fine when delivered by Chicagoan Dennis Franz, but Angeleno Dustin Hoffman has trouble making Teachs line sound natural; hes clearly uncomfortable saying it.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Year 10 pre 1914 drama coursework :: English Literature

Year 10 pre 1914 drama coursework How does the presentation of Jo in a taste oh honey by Sheilagh Delaney link to the â€Å"kitchen sink drama† genre, popularised in the 1950’s and 1960’s In a taste of honey Helen is the mother of Jo. Helen and Jo both live together and they have just moved into a small bed-sit. Helen often argues with Jo. Jo, Later on in the play, has a black boyfriend, who, in the play, is only known as boy In a taste of honey all the characters experience a little bit of pleasure in their life. Helen marrying Peter, Jo and the black boy. However they all have to pay for this pleasure. Jo gets pregnant and the black boy leaves. Helen leaves Jo for peter and when this doesn’t work out Helen comes back to Jo. In the play Jo is subject to neglect. This is because her mother, Helen, leaves her alone at 15 to fend for herself. â€Å"I’ll be seeing you. Hey! If he doesn’t show up I’ll be back† This is the start of the period when Helen leaves Jo. At this stage in the play the readers don’t know if Jo will survive for long without Helen. Peter however se this and gives Jo a pound to have so she could buy food to eat. Jo’s role in the play is to show what it would be like in those times to be a single expectant mother. She also has the purpose of showing us how parents have influences on their children: for example Jo was created after Helen and Jo’s dad had a one-night stand. â€Å"I didn’t do it on purpose. How was I supposed to know that you’d materialize out of a little love affair that lasted 5 minutes?† this shows that Jo was a mistake and that Helen was an unmarried mother. However no matter how hard she tried Jo made that same mistake as Helen. In the 1950’s and 1960’s Jo would be called illegitimate because Helen wasnÂ’t married when Jo was conceived. However in today’s times Jo would not be called illegitimate because there are lots of people who have children before they get married. Helen doesn’t treat Jo with a lot of respect, as she doesn’t often tell however she is going. She also doesn’t support Jo when she needs her the most. Jo in this time left school at 15 because she didn’t have a full education so she wouldn’t have been able to get a properly paid job. This is typical of a kitchen sink drama because in those drama’s they were all about real

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Aims of Higher Education

Students may have divergent aims while receiving higher education. They may chime with expectations of policymakers, employers, the faculty, society, or they may concern some other personal needs of students. All in all, the main purposes of getting higher education are getting a desirable position, developing personal skills, respect in society and preparation for future life.The major aim of higher education is getting a good job because it is necessary for a good position and high salary. Nowadays presence of a diploma is a ticket to a good job. During the whole life a person is told by his or her teachers that without higher education it is very hard to get fixed up in a good job. From this follows another aspect – high salary. According to Russian Centre of Society’s opinion poll, 76% of recipients claim that without higher education it is almost impossible to get a well-paid job.These examples show that higher education is significant for employers to offer one a desirable and well-paid position. Secondly, studying in a university is a challenging, life-enhancing experience for two reasons: students gain substantive knowledge and develop personal skills. Graduation from university supposes that students will have a common level of knowledge and information literacy. As my Mathematics teacher said, that every piece of knowledge we get will come I hand. Developing personal skills is also important.Tatyana Nikishina, university teacher believes, that socialization is an essential part of educational process, and it develops a lot of other skills, which will be helpful in future. The evidence suggests that higher education will help to improve one’s knowledge within a particular field and individual skills as well. Moreover, getting higher education is essential nowadays, as without it one will not be respected and with it one can assume leadership roles in community.Today more people within the society have higher education and it really hard to be treated with respect without one. My mother says that now people would communicate only with those who have a diploma, although its presence does not mean that a person is intelligent. It is not a secret that people with higher education are more likely to assume leadership roles. From my own experience  I can say, that higher education plays a great role in forming a company of friends, collegues.In brief, it is quite obvious that today people with higher education gain more respect within society and are able to take leading roles. Furthermore, studying in a university will prepare students for future life: they will have career-related courses and will be able to use their knowledge in everyday life. Students are supposed to enter those universities that will help them in their future career.A. Shebistova, Curtin University teacher claims that with choosing a faculty, a student studies within a particular field of knowledge, and this theory would definitely help in practice. To sum up, getting higher education is needed to get ready for future career and knowledge received will be useful in common life. To conclude, the major aims of higher education are getting a good job, improving personal skills, being an authority among community and getting ready for further life. But still, some people suppose that one can be successful even without higher education and it is just waste of time. It is up to everyone to decide whether he or she needs higher education or not.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A Modest Proposal for holding Fathers Equally Essay

Traditionally, the concept of abortion, child-rearing, home management, prostitution and even pornography are all attributed to women – women as subject. In the issue of abortion, women are more likely judged as immoral or not good parent for either aborting or not aborting her child (for certain reasons). In Child-rearing, the mothers are the very ones who are blamed if it happened that her children grew rebellious and defiant. Home management is in all likelihood tagged as women’s function. In the issues of prostitution and pornography, women are the central subjects for judgment. They are more seen as immoral as compared to how men are treated. In short, there are still unresolved problems regarding gender roles and gender biased structure of society. This essay addresses the issue of making fathers or men also accountable for the occurrence of such societal conflicts. Traditional Gender Roles By tracing our history, we could arrive at an evaluation that women and the mothers were discriminated in the society. Having a patriarchal structure of society wherein men or the fathers are labeled as superior over women or the mothers. The traditional structure inside the house was that the father was regarded as the head of the house whom has the highest authority. He has the final say in all things concerning the family. His well-established role as father was providing the needs of the family. Consequently, given such structure inside the home, the community and even the whole society became attached to that particular belief that only men or the fathers have the right to be the head or the bearer of the highest authority otherwise conflict would arise. Because of this traditional conception women and mothers were viewed as the destroyers of order and peace in the society if they would insist themselves as equal as or higher than men and the fathers. Recommendation According to Katha Pollit, the fathers should also be accountable for all the conflicts that arise inside the house, in the community, and in the society. (Barnet & Bedau, 2004) They (the fathers) are not really attributed with perfect characteristics. They have also the predisposition of doing wrong things just like the mothers. When the marriage relationship failed, the mother should not the only one whom should be blamed. The father has also part in that failed relationship. When a child grew up as disobedient and rebellious, the mother is not the only one who is responsible for disciplining her child. The father, being also a parent of his child, has the responsibility of disciplining and molding his child’s attitude. In the case of abortion, mothers are not the only persons who make the problem. The father has also a responsibility towards the pregnancy of the mother. In this contemporary period, women are asserting and fighting for their equal rights with men. They are consistent with their campaign of establishing laws that would make them equal with men. In cases of parenting and marriage relationship, it is really unintelligible to say that only women have this responsibility of taking care and disciplining the children and working out their marriage life. The father has also such responsibilities toward his children and his wife. As a conclusion, all must be enlightened with the fact that everyone has a responsibility towards each other and towards the society. Men and the fathers are not exempted from this kind of responsibility. Women or the mothers cannot manage the home without the assistance and aid of her partner, the father or her husband. Both of them are responsible for molding and guiding their children. And truly, it takes two to tango. Reference: Barnet, S. , & Bedau, H. (2004). Current Issues and Enduring Questions (7th student ed. ). Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

My Sisters Keeper Essays

My Sisters Keeper Essays My Sisters Keeper Paper My Sisters Keeper Paper Introduction, and Thesis: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) to provide a genetically matched donor for an older sick child and to use the organs of the younger to the medical benefit of the elder is not morally justifiable using rule utilitarian ethical theory. This principle is not justifiable due to both the nature of the proposed rule regarding PGD and, primarily, to the nature of utilitarian ethical philosophy in general. Arguments Supporting Thesis: Rule utilitarianism is a moral philosophy holding that general rules for moral guidance should be developed that will act as an aid in making ethical decisions. For example, one such rule might by that one ought to keep promises. Given this general rule, when faced with a moral decision, an individual should look at the list of rules and see if any of these rules apply to the current situation. Using the above example, if the situation involves keeping a promise or not, then one should keep the promise. According to this philosophy, even if the consequences of a particular act of promise keeping are bad, the person behaving in accordance with the established utilitarian rule is morally not at fault. However in an attempt to establish a new utilitarian moral rule, each individual event will affect the attempt to establish a moral rule. This ethical theory requires development of rules of action based on the potential rules likelihood to bring about the most good for the most people. For the purposes of this discussion a reasonable rule would be: parents should use PGD to provide a genetically matched donor for an older child and use the expendable organs of the younger child to repair life threatening medical conditions of the older. For the sake of argument, this paper assumes that any procedures that would necessarily result in the death of the younger child would not be performed. For example, if the elder child needs a heart transplant, this rule could not be used to justify the death of the younger by removing the younger siblings heart and transplanting it into the elder. The suggested rule makes use of other, more fundamental utilitarian rules such as one shouldnt cause pain or one should prevent pain. Neither of these rules in itself is sufficient to establish the more specific utilitarian rule suggested in the preceding paragraph. To determine if this potential utilitarian rule should be adopted, some cases, using Picoults novel My Sisters Keeper as a springboard should be examined. The first case to examine is the simplest case. If the proposed rule proves inadequate for a simple application, it is unlikely that more complex, and more realistic scenarios will be adequately served by the proposed rule. The simplest case within this context would be the case originally conceived of by Kates parents, Sara and Brian Fitzgerald. In this scenario Sara and Brian had two children, the elder, Jesse, is approximately seven years old. His little sister, Kate is a about two years old when she is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Since Jesse is not a compatible donor, her parents elect to use PGD to produce a genetically compatible donor as a potential solution for their daughters health problem. Initially, the younger daughter, Anna, is to be used to donate blood cells from the umbilical cord to provide needed blood cells for Kate. Theoretically, these cells would put Kates APL into remission and that would be the end of medical treatment. All three children would be healthy, have little or no memories of the procedure and the Fitzgerald family would live happily ever after. Does this scenario provide the greatest good for the most people? Although others are involved in My Sisters Keeper, such as the nurses, surgeons, and hospital staff, it is reasonable to consider just the impact of the Fitzgerald family. It appears that the most people have received the greatest good. Kate has her normal life expectancy back, Jesse now has not one, but two little sisters to tease and torment, while Sara and Brian have three happy, healthy children. It appears to be a winning situation for everyone. This scenario provides support that the proposed rule may be a viable utilitarian rule, at least in this simplified situation. Unfortunately, all the cases this proposed rule are to be applied to arent this simple. The Fitzgeralds experiences provide an example where the simple case doesnt prevail and the situation is complicated by other events. Initially in My Sisters Keeper, it appears the umbilical cord blood cells take at Annas birth have done the job. Kate goes into remission for five years. However, at this point Kates APL flairs up and lymphocytes are drawn from Anna three times and inserted into Kate. Again this appears to work for the short term, but ultimately, the procedure fails. For the next eight years the process is repeated over and over again; Kate becomes ill, Anna donates something which should help her get better, the treatment works for a while but then stops working and a new, more invasive and painful donation and treatment is attempted. The situation during this period is not so simple and clear-cut. In the process, everyone in the family suffers: physically, emotionally, financially, and/or socially within the family and outside the home. Both Kate and Anna suffer physical pain with each procedure. Jesse begins to act up in an attempt to get attention from both his parents. The relationship between the parents suffers as Sara becomes more and more obsessed about the physical needs of Kate. The family is not the happy unit anticipated in the simpler case. In fact, at the time of Anna filing the lawsuit for medical emancipation, the only good that has resulted is that Kates life as been extended for twelve or thirteen years. All of the benefits of the Kates continuing to live have come at the expense of the rest of the family and of Kate herself, who suffers considerable pain during the process. In these more complicated circumstances it is not so easy to determine the net good or the net harm. It is no longer so clear that a rule utilitarian imperative can be established to justify PGD and the subsequent harvesting of organs. As long as the medical procedure works, it is more easily justified on a rule utilitarian basis. When the procedure fails, the amount of good, if any doesnt appear to outweigh the amount of harm. This points out a fundamental weakness in moral rule utilitarianism as an ethical theory. It does not have much utility. First, calculating the potential harm and the potential good resulting from a proposed medical procedure is difficult, perhaps even impossible, to calculate. In the simple case, it is easy to calculate the net good because only two people are involved in the process: Anna the donor doesnt suffer at all, and Kate has her pain relieved for five years. It is clear that more good than harm results from the PGD, birth of Anna, and Kates used of the cord blood cells from Anna is a good thing on an utilitarian basis. However, with every additional complication, the calculation of net good becomes more difficult. When lymphocytes are drawn from Anna three times at the age of five, it is clear she feels pain and is at some amount of risk of life due to the use of general anesthesia. It is also clear that Kate receives some benefit from the donated cells. What isnt clear is how much physical pain Anna suffers and how much benefit Kate receives. There are no clearly quantifiable measures of pain. There are scales of pain used by physicians to try and measure pain, but they are estimations by the patient and extremely subjective. Suppose, to salvage the utilitarian principle, one were able to establish a unit measure of pain and relief of pain. Suppose Anna reports that she has pain at a level three for twelve hours for a total of thirty-six pain hours, level two for six hours for twelve pain hours and pain level one for 3 hours for three pain hours. This gives Anna a total of fifty-one pain hours. Presumably, on Kates side, if one assumes a one for one exchange of pain values between Anna and Kate, as long as her net relief of pain is greater than fifty-one pain hours the procedure is justifiable from a rule utilitarian point of view. This result is remarkably similar to the conclusion above in that as long as the medical procedure is successful, the performing of the procedure add credence to the establishment of a new moral rule. This is not a satisfactory moral principle. It fails to consider far too many aspects of the entire situation and bases the moral evaluation purely on the result. For example, as any medical provider knows from personal experience, sometimes people die regardless of the treatment they have received. In the above case, suppose that Kate, after receiving the lymphocytes, and despite the fact that the medical team is well qualified and performed the procedure in accordance with the best established procedures, dies shortly after the procedure. Autopsy and postmortem investigation finds no particular reason for the death. For all intents and purposes, Kate randomly dies when she was expected to live. According to rule utilitarian ethics, this procedure was a failure and should not be used to support a potential rule for future behavior and presumably should count against the potential rule. However this wasnt the fault of the procedure and, intuitively, shouldnt count against PGD and the subsequent use of donor tissues. A second objection to utilitarian rules is that it is unclear when a new rule becomes established. Except for fundamental rules which lack substance, such as truth telling is good, loyalty is good, promise keeping is good that are already established, when does a proposed rule have enough evidence to be a new moral imperative. There isnt a Governing Board of Utilitarian Theory (GOUT) that meets periodically and either approves or denies potential utilitarian rules of ethics. One wonders then if a utilitarian rule can ever be established beyond basic, fundamental rules such as those mentioned above. It is counterintuitive to think that an ethical rule can only be established when it has been tested a sufficient number of times. The whole point of ethical rules is to give people ethical guidance. If one is forced to rely on only the more basic rules such as causing pain is bad and relieving pain is good until the new rule has been established with sufficient data, one is often at a loss since such rules are extremely general and can be, and often are, contradictory. In the case of My Sisters Keeper to relieve Kates pain, Anna must be caused pain. This is essentially a wash that really leaves one with no answer at all. Objections that Rule Utilitarian Cannot Justify PGD: The biggest objection to the conclusion that rule utilitarianism cannot justify using PGD to provide a potential donor for a critically ill child is that if feels like one should be able to use rule utilitarianism to make this decision. One ought to be able to look at this issue and say yes it is moral to provide a potential donor for a child using PGD or no, it is not moral do so. If one cannot use rule utilitarianism to help make a decision what good is it? Response to Objection: That is precisely the point. Rule utilitarianism, in fact even act utilitarianism as well, is inherently flawed. Instead of looking at the entire issue of is it moral to perform an act it shifts the focus to will performing such an act result in a net positive value instead of dealing with the social issue the person who posed the ethical question, utilitarianism deals with an unwieldy ethical system of bookkeeping. This is unsatisfactory because it skirts the real issue. Human ethics is not bookkeeping. Results of an act are important in evaluating the morality of an act, but this is only one part of the entire equations. Equally important, and oftentimes more important are other factors that ought to be considered: motive of the people involved, capabilities of those involved and the rights of those involved are essential ingredients in making ethical decisions and rule utilitarianism makes no allowance for these vital concerns. In fact, it is the question of the rights of Anna Fitzgerald that is central to this novel. It is these other factors that are most revealing and the most interesting from an ethical and sociological point of view. Summary of Paper: Rule utilitarian ethics is unable to establish the rule that using a PGD child to provide a transplant source for an older, critically ill child. This is due to rule utilitarianism ethics not being a particularly viable ethical system. The unwieldiness of trying to calculate the net good or bad makes rule utilitarianism impractical. In addition, rule utilitarianism fails to account for anything other than the results which are a small, uninteresting part of any ethical dilemma. This bookkeeping approach to ethics is inadequate. A moral dilemma is not easily solved and is never solved without considering, the agent, the act and the reasonably expect consequences of the act. It is for this reason that utilitarianism cannot, in fact, justify itself as an ethical system.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Recent The Most Interesting Narrative Essay Topics - Paperell.com

Recent The Most Interesting Narrative Essay Topics Recent The Most Interesting Narrative Essay Topics Chances are academic writing will not pass you by if you are attending any educational institution because the modern program of studies is pretty much based on written assignments of varying complexity and purposes. One of the most often tasks that you should face is an essay. Or we should say different types of essays, to be more specific.In fact, students of all schools, colleges, and universities have to deal with a huge load of different essays every week and, despite a common belief, one of the most challenging types of this task is a narrative essay. It usually sounds like a simple task. However, coping with it is not that easy because of numerous requirements and pitfalls that are waiting for a student when he is assigned to prepare such paper, and the first trouble comes along with the process of selecting a topic. How can it be difficult to choose a theme? Although it sounds exaggeratedly, selecting a good subject of your work is the recipe for your success as nothing influ ences your paper’s quality as much as the theme you have chosen! What should you do then? The easiest way to avoid troubles is to request help from a narrative essay writing service but here, we would like to give you some useful tips on how to pick a top-notch theme and will give you some fresh ideas to start with!Topics Ideas For Narrative EssayHow to pick one? Looking for your perfect topic for a narrative essay, you should take into account several moments including the following:Understanding of the task – the first step to finding a great theme is clarifying your task’s details (you will find a theme faster if you know the type of work, its volume, and general expectations of your teacher);Defining your goals – every type of work has different purpose and you need to keep it in mind as well;Look through the list of offered themes if you were provided with one;Keep your strengths and weaknesses in mind in order to avoid choosing a too complex subject .There are many other things to remember while making a choice. However, we are going to simplify the process a bit for you by providing you with this great list of the most interesting topics for a narrative essay.Your most precious childhood possessionFavorite childhood gameTell about the objects tell the story of your lifeBest friends from childhoodYour childhood role models and how they were changing as you were getting olderThe most memorable childhood memoriesWrite about an experience that helped you to grow upThe first day at school and your impressionFavorite subjects in middle schoolRole models among your first teachersTell about the most instructive experience from your teenage yearsThe most embarrassing situation you have experiencedAn experience that showed you real life valuesTell about a situation that changed your attitude to lifeWrite about your relationships with parents and how they changed over the yearsAn example of difficult decision you had to makeDescribe the morality problems that have ever bothered you and explain whyYour personal morality challenge – what was itWhat, in your opinion, is the reason why older generations misunderstand the younger ones?What can your peers teach the older generation?Write about a challenging life experience, which brought something good and was worth itTell about a character from history, movie or book that you can associate yourself withWrite about the most memorable beginning of a friendship or relationshipTell about the most emotionally difficult end of a friendship or relationshipTell about an experience that forced you to hide your racial or ethnic identityA situation when you really made parenting difficult for your parentsExperience of a comic or ridiculous misunderstanding with another personWrite about someone you are afraid to lose the mostWrite about a situation when you behaved like a real leaderWhat assumptions do people make about you?Your most right or wrong reaction to someoneâ€⠄¢s provocationShare an experience when, you believe, people who were â€Å"only trying to help† made everything even worseList top five issues that you are facing daily and explain what do you believe you can do to change this;Parents often have different standards and expectations for their daughters and sons: do you agree with this statement?Where would you go if you could spend only one day in any place of any year?What can you learn from other religions?The first day of your adult lifeThe most memorable moments at collegeThe places you want to visit in your lifeYour first visit to the countrysideShare the experience from your first journey abroadThe best vacation in your lifeThe difference between cultures of different countries that you have experienced (observed) yourselfTell about a weird encounter with a strangerHow to have more privacy online?What are your longtime interests or passions?A random act of kindness that you are proud ofIf you could choose where to be bo rn, which city or country would you pick and why;Imagine if you were an animal, which animal would it be and whyWhat would be your first purchase if you win a million?If you were a superhero, what superpower would you like to have and why?

Sunday, October 20, 2019

10 Fascinating Facts About Fireflies and Lightning Bugs

10 Fascinating Facts About Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Fireflies or lightning bugs are from the family Coleoptera:Lampyridae, and they may well be our most beloved insect, inspiring poets and scientists alike.  Most importantly to remember, fireflies are neither flies nor bugs. Fireflies are actually beetles and there are 2,000 species on our planet. Here are other interesting facts about fireflies. The Flight of Fireflies Like all other beetles, lightning bugs have hardened forewings called elytra, which meet in a straight line down the back when at rest. In flight, fireflies hold the elytra out for balance, and rely on their membranous hindwings for movement. These traits place fireflies squarely in the order Coleoptera. Fireflies Are the Worlds Most Efficient Light Producers An incandescent light bulb gives off 90 percent of its energy as heat and only 10 percent as light, which is something you know if youve ever touched one thats been turned on for a while. If fireflies produced that much heat when they lit up, they would incinerate themselves. Fireflies produce light through an efficient chemical reaction called chemiluminescence that allows them to glow without wasting heat energy. For fireflies, 100 percent of the energy goes into making light; and accomplishing that flashing increases the firefly metabolic rates an astonishingly low 37 percent above resting values. Fireflies are bioluminescent, which means they are living creatures that can produce light. That trait is shared with only a handful of other terrestrial insects, such as click beetles and railroad worms. The light is used to attract prey and members of the opposite sex, and warn off predators. Lightning bugs taste bad to birds and other potential predators, so the warning signal is a memorable one to those that have sampled before. Fireflies Talk to Each Other Using Light Signals Fireflies dont put on those spectacular summer displays just to entertain us. Youre actually eavesdropping on the firefly singles bar. Male fireflies cruising for mates flash a species-specific pattern to announce their availability to receptive females. An interested female will reply, helping the male locate her where shes perched, often on low vegetation. Fireflies Are Bioluminescent Throughout Their Life Cycles We dont often see fireflies before they reach adulthood, so you may not know that fireflies glow in all life stages. Bioluminescence begins with the egg and is present throughout the entire lifecycle. In fact, all firefly eggs, larvae, and pupae known to science are capable of producing light. Some firefly eggs emit a faint glow when disturbed. The flashing part of fireflies is called a lantern, and the flashing is controlled by the firefly using neural stimulation and nitric oxide. The males often synchronize their flashes with one another during courtship, a capacity called entraining (responding to an external rhythm) once thought only possible in humans, but now recognized in several animals. Colors of firefly lights range widely among different species, from yellow-green to orange to turquoise to a bright poppy red. Fireflies Spend Most Their Lives As Larva The firefly begins life as a bioluminescent spherical egg. At the end of the summer, adult females lay about 100 eggs in soil or near the soil surface. The worm-like larva hatches out in three to four weeks and throughout the fall hunts prey using a hypodermic-like injection strategy similar to bees. Larvae spend the winter below ground in several types of earthen chambers. Some species spend more than two winters before pupating, in late spring, and they emerge as adults from their pupa after a period of 10 days to several weeks. Adult fireflies live only another two months, spending the summer mating and performing for us before laying eggs and dying. Not All Adult Fireflies Flash Fireflies are known for their blinking light signals, but not all fireflies flash. Some adult fireflies, most notably those that inhabit the western areas of North America, dont use light signals to communicate. Many people falsely believe that fireflies dont exist west of the Rockies since flashing populations are rarely seen there...but they do. Firefly Larvae Feed on Snails Firefly larvae are carnivorous predators, and their favorite food is escargot. Most firefly species inhabit moist, terrestrial environments, where they feed on snails or worms in the soil. But a few Asian species use gills to breathe underwater, where they eat aquatic snails or other mollusks. Some species are arboreal, and their larvae hunt tree snails. Some Fireflies Are Cannibals We dont know much about what adult fireflies eat. Most dont seem to feed at all, while some are believed to eat mites or pollen. We do know what Photuris fireflies eat, though- other fireflies. Photuris females enjoy munching on males of other genera. These well-known Photuris femme fatales use a trick called aggressive mimicry to make meals of other fireflies. When a male firefly of another genus flashes its light signal, the female Photuris firefly replies with the males flash pattern, suggesting she is a receptive mate of his own species. She continues luring him in, closer and closer, until hes within her reach. Then her meal begins. Adult female Photuris fireflies are also kleptoparasitic and can be seen feeding on a silk-wrapped Photinus species firefly (occasionally even one of its own kind) hanging in a spiders web. Epic battles can occur between the spider and the firefly. Sometimes the firefly can hold off the spider long enough to consume the silk-wrapped prey, sometimes the spider cuts the web and her losses, sometimes the spider catches the firefly and the prey and gets them both wrapped up in silk. Firefly Luciferase Is Used in Medical Research Scientists have developed remarkable uses for firefly luciferase in the research lab. Luciferase is the enzyme that produces bioluminescence in fireflies. It has been used as markers to detect blood clots, to tag tuberculosis virus cells, and to monitor hydrogen peroxide levels in living organisms; hydrogen peroxide is believed to play a role in the progression of some diseases, like cancer and diabetes. Fortunately, scientists can now use a synthetic form of luciferase for most research, so the commercial harvest of fireflies has decreased. Firefly populations are decreasing, and the search for luciferase is just one of the reasons. Climate change and modern construction have resulted in the loss of firefly habitats, and light pollution depresses the ability for fireflies to find mates and reproduce. Some Fireflies Synchronize Their Flash Signals Imagine thousands of fireflies lighting up at precisely the same time, over and over, from dusk to dark. This simultaneous bioluminescence, as it is called by scientists, occurs in just two places in the world: Southeast Asia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, right here in the U.S. North Americas lone synchronous species, Photinus carolinus, puts on its light show in late spring each year. The most spectacular show is said to be the mass synchronous display of several Pteroptyx species in Southeast Asia. Masses of male fireflies congregate in groups (called leks) and in unison emit rhythmic courtship flashes. One hotspot for ecotourism is the Selangor River in Malaysia. Lek collective courting happens occasionally in American fireflies, but not for long periods. In the American Southeast, male members of the blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulate) glow steadily as they fly slowly over the forest floor searching for females from about 40 minutes after sunset until midnight. Both sexes emit a long-lasting, nearly continuous glow in the forested regions of Appalachia. Annual tours to see the blue ghosts can be joined at state forests in South and North Carolina between April and July. Sources Buschman, Lawrent L. Biology of the Firefly Pyractomena Lucifera (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Florida Entomologist 67.4 (1984): 529–42. Print.-. Larval Biology and Ecology of Photuris Fireflies (Lampyridae: Coleoptera) in Northcentral Florida. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 57.1 (1984): 7–16. Print.Day, John C., Tim I. Goodall, and Mark J. Bailey. The Evolution of the Adenylate-Forming Protein Family in Beetles: Multiple Luciferase Gene Paralogues in Fireflies and Glow-Worms. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50.1 (2009): 93–101. Print.De Cock, Rapha, et al. Courtship and Mating in Phausis Reticulata (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): Male Flight Behaviors, Female Glow Displays, and Male Attraction to Light Traps. The Florida Entomologist 97.4 (2014): 1290–307. Print.Faust, Lynn, et al. Thieves in the Night: Kleptoparasitism by Fireflies in the Genus Photuris Dejean (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 66.1 (2012): 1–6. Prin t.Lewis, Sara M., and Christopher K. Cratsley. Flash Signal Evolution, Mate Choice, and Predation in Fireflies. Annual Review of Entomology 53.1 (2008): 293–321. Print. Martin, Gavin J., et al. Total Evidence Phylogeny and the Evolution of Adult Bioluminescence in Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 107 (2017): 564–75. Print.Moosman, Paul R., et al. Do Courtship Flashes of Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Serve as Aposematic Signals to Insectivorous Bats? Animal Behaviour 78.4 (2009): 1019–25. Print.Wilson, Margaret, and Peter F. Cook. Rhythmic Entrainment: Why Humans Want to, Fireflies Can’t Help It, Pet Birds Try, and Sea Lions Have to Be Bribed. Psychonomic Bulletin Review 23.6 (2016): 1647–59. Print.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Colonial New York Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Colonial New York - Essay Example The population did contribute to the growth of New York into a big city with surrounding urban areas. The colonial masters did focus on settling in areas having a sea outlet. These areas were excellent sites for trading with external worlds and communication. They could also ease the transportation methods via water. Areas that were far from the sea exposure did remain far behind in terms of development. Whereas the East New York had a harbor from the East River, the western New York did remain less occupied. The western New York did not offer a good site for the British colonialists as they gather the raw materials for production of goods and services in their countries. Most of the residents of these areas remained enslaved. Slave trade remained the main economic activity of the people. It was the cornerstone of New York economy1. The environmental areas did not favor the growth of urban centers. In 1730, census, about 97% of the total population did reside in rural areas. The poor people did reside in back alleys and the streets. However, with the eruption of Industrial revolution, there was a rapid transformation of the living standards of people. There was a sudden urge to construct industries in a bid to create employment. Transportation and communication facilities also did expand2. During the colonial times, there were poor transport and communication facilities that could enhance movement from one place to another. Roads and railways were a historical issue. Failure to have these facilities did contribute immensely to lack of development in New York. Furthermore, it did translate to a fact that these areas were under exploited in terms of natural resources and raw materials for industrial utility. Development is seen in the area after the industrial revolution when roads, railways, telephones and telegraph networks are available. Poor technology did exhibit the colonial session. Electricity had not yet disseminated

Influences in the teaching enviroment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Influences in the teaching enviroment - Essay Example This primarily requires the teacher to understand the nature of disruptive behavior and form strategies to deal with such students. A good teacher is one who is prepared for everything and is always ahead of the students. A good teacher will never lose any of his/her audience. They will always maintain a connection and eye contact with the pack to ensure maximum participation (Ryan, & Patrick, 2001). The most common factors which lead to disruptive behavior of students in the classroom are the following The students lose interest in the subject and get bored from the confined environment. When the students lose their focus from the topic they start behaving in a disruptive manner. Misbehavior with the teacher and violating the rules of school by the students is the most common form of disruptive behavior. Students indulge into wrong habits or they feel good by bullying others. Some students deliberately behave badly to get noticed. They do this to get famous amongst their peers. Stud ents who are self centered and like it when people circle them while walking often argue without any reason. They think that they are always right and always have an argument ready. Some students genuinely have a bad behavior and they cannot do anything to control their behavior. Autism and other disorders like the spectrum disorder are observed in such students. This disruptive behavior which the students show affects the teachers and makes it difficult for them to control the class. A good teacher is one who exactly knows the audience they are addressing to. They maintain full contact with all the students and the lecture delivery is such that the students don’t feel bored at any point. For teachers it is said that when the attention of one student is lost the whole class is lost (Kaplan, Gheen, & Midgley, 2002). The classroom environment is very impulsive and volatile. The mood, reaction and the behavior of the students keep on changing. In professional education teachers fail to deliver because of disruption and misconduct in the behavior of the students. Disruptive behavior is like a virus, it spreads throughout the class. If one student misbehaves the whole class gets an urge to misbehave. The examples of disruptive and negative classroom environment behavior are Personal attack by the students either physical or verbal Excessive use of electronic devices in the classroom Leaving of class without the permission of the teacher Sleeping during classes and not paying heed to the teacher Ignoring teachers instructions and arguing with the teacher unnecessarily by showing an aggressive or hostile behavior Bullying the students or the teachers or portraying displeasure through an unacceptable behavior like shouting and arguing unnecessarily (Teaching Academy, n.d) The most efficient strategy which the teachers can use to deal with the disruptive behavior of the students is to ensure that the interest of the students is maintained constantly. The course material must be made interesting and relevancy of the subject must be delivered to the students. New methods and interactive techniques must be proposed to make learning and interaction easy like discussion, games and group activities. A teacher must encourage participation because it is the only way they could get feedback of whether the topic is being delivered to the students or not. This is the technology age and to attract the attention of the students new methods

Friday, October 18, 2019

Second Language Acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Second Language Acquisition - Essay Example Children respond according to their imagination. This way they are able to make a link between the country and the food. The teacher also speaks the adjectives and nouns loudly, for example, emphasizing on the word delicious. This makes the students grasp words and makes them learn how to use them in sentences. The teacher does not point out their mistakes; instead, she encourages them and repeats what every one of them speaks. She knows how to be lenient with non-native speakers. She involves all the children in the lesson and aims at making them participate actively so that they are able to think on their own and to recognize things and assign names to them. In short, the teacher uses interesting strategies to address the needs of non-native speaking English students by making use of the most modern technological tools like multimedia and by making the whole class participate in the learning process.

Responsibilities of Personal Protection Officers Assignment

Responsibilities of Personal Protection Officers - Assignment Example As a management representative, the personal protection officers decide and manage the type of people that their client is supposed to meet. In addition to managing the client, their major task is to carry out the enforcement and compliance duties through the use of firm but diplomatic skills that do not compromise the general standing of their client within the society (June, 2000).   Personal protection officers are also tasked with making legal judgments that must be in line with the security demands of their clients so that they are seen to be law-abiding citizens. An important responsibility of the personal protection officer is to gather intelligence with regard to the normal operations of the place that his client is likely to visit in order to take a timely action in case of potential danger or harm. This intelligence role by the personal protection manager also involves smoking out any behavior that may be assumed to be criminal in nature, extremist or act of espionage (Ju ne, 2000).  This ensures the absolute safety of the client, which is the core function of a personal protection officer. The rationale for having personal protection officers is informed by the increasing dire situation of the security of every one especially government officials and very important persons and the threats posed by criminals, terrorists and extremists (Nemeth, 2012). In the current world where acts of terrorism have escalated, personal protection officers have been called upon to offer additional security to deal with the sophisticated and complex nature of guaranteeing the security of the clients that they are attached to. Personal protection officers have also become increasingly relevant hence the need to have them as they continue to offer other services, which even though not directly related to security enhance the safety of an

Thursday, October 17, 2019

DB 1 Your thoughts Al Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DB 1 Your thoughts Al - Assignment Example They would be in step with the times, bringing brand new ideas, creating innovations and developing companies they would work with. People of generation Y or Millennials are the most connected generation in history with the ability and want to face new challenges, have a strong will to mean something to the world and are ready for the constant development of themselves and the environment they live in. They know what they worth, because of the right skill set; they are aware of how much others are paid for doing the same job. And they know how much they need to live. That is why the question of salary is important to them, it is their best motivator. However, most of Millennials do not negotiate about the salary, preferring to find out all necessary information from the Internet, rather than from the employer. This is one of the sides for improvement, especially of those, who know what they are worth. Millennials pay much attention to the meaningful of the work they perform. They con sider themselves the driving force of many of the processes around them and want to be an important part of something bigger. Together with the positive relationship with co-workers such a driving force is one of the keys to the creation of something new and innovative. Flexibility of hours and the possibility to work in teams, making friends with people at work, creates for Millennials unique opportunities for development and moves them up in their wants. For companies, ensuring Millennials with good salaries, learning opportunities, respectful attitude to their ideas, more responsibilities and balancing of work and life spheres will make people of generation Y work at their best for the benefit of themselves and the company. Mooney, J., 2014. Pay Is Millennials’ Top Job Concern, Survey Says, Society for human resource management, Available from

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Marketing - Essay Example To change the image, those in the fashion industry are required to think like the customer by finding presentations that ensure high quality and modern looks for the fashion styles that are being presented (Cachon, Swinney, 2009: pg. 15). The strategic buying of those interested in fashion, as well as the decisions which are made is based on the trend of fashion conscious behaviors that are within society. This is especially high among females who are interested in different looks and styles and which are trying to find an image which can present them most effectively in a given situation. The style includes the shape, fit and the colors that work together to present a specific image (Nam et al, 2007: pg. 102). The fashion conscious behaviors make the celebrity endorsement practical to use. When one can see the celebrity approving the styles and looks, it changes the decisions by consumers while showing the effectiveness of the specific look. Celebrities can be used to communicate a message about the specific style, how effective it is and the quality that the brand maintains, allowing conscious consumers to respond in a positive light. While the general trend with using celebrities is one which produces a positive response, there are also non – practical applications of using celebrities. The main problem which occurs is based on negative information transference to consumers. If the celebrity isn’t regarded as fashionable or has a reputation which doesn’t fit with a specific person, then it can lead them away from the brand. This is not only specific to general attitudes, but is also reflective of demographic differences that are in society. If an older woman wants to buy a brand but finds a celebrity that is focused on youth, then they may not think the brand will fit their style or will have a quality that is negative. The brand meaning can change according to the celebrity and alters based on the impact that the celebrity has in societ y (White, Goddard, 2009: pg. 322). The negative information may include pricing, quality and the overall brand image that fashion conscious individuals are looking for within a given trend. This paper will examine the effects of celebrity endorsement as well as the practical and non – practical uses of having an individual represent a brand name. The hypothesis states that the celebrity endorsement is based on attractiveness and credibility of the celebrity. If this is positive, then it can raise the purchase intention of those who are interested in a brand; however, if it is negative, then purchases will diminish. This hypothesis can be seen in figure 1. Figure 1: Celebrity Endorsement This particular chart shows how there are both positive and negative implicatinos that are based on the celebrity endorsement as well as the conscious of those who are interested in buying a specific product. By creating the correct image, brands can leverage their identity; however, without t his, there isn’t the ability to build a strong reputation among potential customers. Examining the ways in which this works positively and negatively can then help determine how the fashion industry can redefne the way that fashion is presented in given circumstances. Celebrity Endorsement and Communication Processes The first way that celebrity endorsement affects those who are interested in a given product is through the communication processes exhibited through the image. When a celebrity endorses a specific fashion product, it is considered as a

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

DB 1 Your thoughts Al Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DB 1 Your thoughts Al - Assignment Example They would be in step with the times, bringing brand new ideas, creating innovations and developing companies they would work with. People of generation Y or Millennials are the most connected generation in history with the ability and want to face new challenges, have a strong will to mean something to the world and are ready for the constant development of themselves and the environment they live in. They know what they worth, because of the right skill set; they are aware of how much others are paid for doing the same job. And they know how much they need to live. That is why the question of salary is important to them, it is their best motivator. However, most of Millennials do not negotiate about the salary, preferring to find out all necessary information from the Internet, rather than from the employer. This is one of the sides for improvement, especially of those, who know what they are worth. Millennials pay much attention to the meaningful of the work they perform. They con sider themselves the driving force of many of the processes around them and want to be an important part of something bigger. Together with the positive relationship with co-workers such a driving force is one of the keys to the creation of something new and innovative. Flexibility of hours and the possibility to work in teams, making friends with people at work, creates for Millennials unique opportunities for development and moves them up in their wants. For companies, ensuring Millennials with good salaries, learning opportunities, respectful attitude to their ideas, more responsibilities and balancing of work and life spheres will make people of generation Y work at their best for the benefit of themselves and the company. Mooney, J., 2014. Pay Is Millennials’ Top Job Concern, Survey Says, Society for human resource management, Available from

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Contemporary ethical theory of Haidt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Contemporary ethical theory of Haidt - Essay Example In Haidt’s paradigm, intuitions are primary in making human moral judgments; moral reasoning only does the labor of a lawyer, which provides justification for an already taken point of view. In other words, moral judgments are taken without a judge who could have weighed all considerations impartially. And, the only ones who are capable of making moral judgments based on moral reasoning are professional philosophers and such ilk. Needless to say, it is more than an elitistic argument as ordinary people too face many ethical challenges in their lives but attend them with considerable force of moral reasoning. The purpose the paper is to weigh the arguments of Haidt in favor of social intuitionism and counter-arguments by Pizarro and Bloom against each other to have better understandings of the ways moral judgment functions. Intuitions, Reasoning and Moral Judgments Haidt introduced and formulated the social intuitionist model as an alternative to the rationalist model of moral thought. He considers that intuitions as paramount in moral judgments as they are automatic affective reflexes. Moral reasoning is a chicken and egg question that attempts to find what determines moral judgments. Haidt argues that judgments are based on spontaneous intuitions while moral reasoning has only the role of justifying. In other words, moral reasoning is just the spokesperson of the moral judgments. ... Since it is social model, it cannot â€Å"deemphasizes the private reasoning done by individuals and emphasizes instead the importance of social and cultural influences† (Haidt, 814). More than moral reasoning, moral judgment takes place as a result of spontaneous intuition based evaluations. A moral judgment is often immediate and spontaneous; moral reasoning just follows it. It means after reaching at a moral judgment only, people look forward for moral reasons. Many of the laboratory researches have shown that human beings are actually governed by the forces of their unconscious when they pronounce moral judgments. Still, it is necessary to look at the role played by rational deliberations and the cognitive abilities in directing moral judgments. Moreover, people actually engage in moral reasoning while they confront ethical dilemmas. No moral judgments are taken all of a sudden and forever. The rationalist model, according to Haidt, portrays that â€Å"moral knowledge and moral judgment are reached primarily by a process of reasoning and reflection† (814). Here, moral emotion could play only a lesser role by adding some inputs to the process of moral reasoning. Simply speaking, the rationalist model assumes that every human being plays a role of judge while pronouncing is/her own moral judgments. Social intuitionism has many philosophical underpinnings as it is at the core philosophical thought. Haidt asserts that â€Å"[i]ntuitionism in philosophy refers to the view that there are moral truths and that when people grasp these truths they do so not by a process of ratiocination and reflection but rather by a process more akin to perception† (814). Here a person sees a thing and adopt a position without critically engaging

Monday, October 14, 2019

Bach (Acorus Calamus) Essay Example for Free

Bach (Acorus Calamus) Essay Bach or Sweet flag is thought to have originated in Central Asia and probably indigenous to India, found common in areas that surround the Himalayas. As a result of cultivation, it has spread throughout the globe, found across Europe, in southern Russia, northern Asia Minor, southern Siberia, China, Japan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Australia, as well as southern Canada and northern USA. Calamus has long been a symbol of male love. The name is associated with a Greek myth on Kalamos, son of the river-god Maeander. In Japan, the plant is a symbol of the samurais bravery because of its sharp sword-like leaves. Teton-Dakota warriors chewed the root to a paste, which they rubbed on their faces. It prevented excitement and fear when facing an enemy. In Penobscot homes, the root was cut and hung up. Steaming it throughout the home is thought to cure sickness. have also been used as a thatch for roofs. Food and Flavouring: An essential oil from the rhizome is used in perfumery and as food flavouring, it has a fragrance reminiscent of patchouli oil. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and for making aromatic vinegars. Insect repellent: The essential oil is also an insect repellent and insecticide. It is effe c t i ve a ga i n st houseflies. When added to rice being stored in granaries it has significantly reduced loss caused by insect damage because the oil in the root has sterilized the male rice weevils. All parts of plant can be dried and used to repel insects or to scent linen cupboards. Incense: The leaves and the roots have refreshing scent of cinnamon. They can also be burnt as incense. Medicine: In Ayurvedic system of medicine, the rhizomes of Sweet flag are considered to possess anti-spasmodic, carminative and anthelmintic properties and have been used for a number of beneficial reasons. Vacha is considered as a sattvic herb which feeds and transmutes the sexual kundalini energy. It is forms a popular remedy for cough and cold and also the other respiratory disorders like bronchitis. In raw form it is used as cough lozenge. Sweet flag provides aid to the digestive system and acts against flatulent colic, dyspepsia, and vomiting. Acorus calamus depresses central nervous system and is a well known ingredient in formulation for psycho-somatic disorders like epilepsy. The vapours of Sweet flag repel some insects. THE PLANT Sweet flag is a perennial, semi-aquatic and smelly plant, found in both temperate and sub temperate zones. It is up to 2m tall, aromatic, sword-shaped leaves and small, yellow/green flowers with branched rhizome. Plants very rarely flower or set fruit, but when they do, the flowers are 3-8 cm long, cylindrical in shape, greenish brown and covered in a multitude of rounded spikes. The fruits are small and berry-like, containing few seeds. CULTIVATION Its a hardy plant found growing from tropical to sub-tropical climates. Plenty of sunshine should be available to the plant during its growth and after harvesting for drying the rhizomes. This species comes up well in clayey loams, sandy loams and light alluvial soils of river banks. The land should be ploughed twice or thrice prior to the onset of rains. Acorus is propagated through rhizomes obtained from earlier planting. The best time for planting is the second fortnight of June. The river or canal bank where the land is saturated with water is very suitable for its growth. Timely weeding and hoeing to control the spread of weeds and to obtain good yield is essential. After each weeding the growing plants are pressed down into the soil. After 6-8 months, in December, the lower leaves turn yellow and dry indicating their maturity. The field should be partially dried only leaving sufficient moisture for uprooting the plant. The uprooted rhizome is cleaned after washing with water and cut into size and fibrous roots removed. The cut rhizomes are dried by spreading under the shade so that the amount of oil present in it is not harmed. TRADE AND COMMERCE Sweet flag has been an item of trade in many cultures for thousands of years. Sweet flag forms a useful adjunct to other tonics and stimulants. Its domestic demand is quite large. As the production is much less in India, the internal market itself is highly potential. Importers, buyers within the country, processors, traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic and Siddha drug manufacturers throng the markets for procurement of this plant every year.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Essay --

Twyla Tharp Twyla Tharp, an American dancer and choreographer, was born on July 1, 1941 in Portland, Oregon. When Twyla was a child her and her parents moved to Southern California and the family opened a drive-in movie theater the Twyla worked at from the age of eight. Twyla began taking piano lessons at the age of two and dance lessons at the age of four. Twyla’s mother wanted her daughter to be accomplished in many fields so she enrolled her daughter in various arts and other classes such as French, German, and shorthand. Soon after beginning her dance lessons Twyla developed a deep interest in all the types of dance available to her. Twyla attended Pacific High School in San Bernardino, California and studied at the Vera Lynn school of Dance. After High school Twyla left home to attend Pomona College and later transferred to Bernard College in New York City where she studied art history. Twyla later found she had an intense passion in dance so she took dance classes off campus and be gan to study at the American Ballet Theater School where she studied with many great dancers and...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Goal, By Eliyahu Goldratt Essay -- Productivity, Bottlenecks

When reading the book The Goal written by Eliyahu Goldratt, there were many lessons that I learned in order to have a clear and concise understanding of a positive level of productivity in a company. To have a positive level of productivity there are may components that are taken into consideration. Understanding what it actually means to be productive and how to increase the level of productivity by knowing the actual goal of the company that is trying to be reached and the components that go into the process of being productive. There are many factors that contribute to the level of productivity and being able to identify these factors is the key ingredient to having a successful level of productivity. When trying to improve productivity for a company, one must first understand what it means to be productive and what it means to not be productive. Jonah classifies that, â€Å"I have come to the conclusion that productivity is the act of bringing company closer to its goal. Every action that brings the company closer to its goal is productive. Every action that does not bring a company closer to its goal is not productive† (Goldratt, 32). But when determining on what is productive and not productive, the actual â€Å"goal of the company must first be determined. â€Å" If the goal is to make money, then an action that moves us toward making money is productive and an action that takes away from making money is non-productive† (Goldratt, 41). Alex has finally realized what it means for his company to be productive, but the key is to know how to see if the company is meeting the goal that is desired or in this case making money. There are certain measurements that ca n â€Å" express the goal of making money perfectly well, but which also perm... ...ventory and operational expenses decrease. Once the constraint is determined, the five-step process is followed to find out how to fix or correct the restraint. From what I haven taken from this book, I have come to a conclusion that with a few steps, you can find a way to make your company productive and meet the overall goal of your company. A clear understanding of what your company’s goal is and to be able to use this goal to understand what being productive means in terms of your company. Knowing the measurements that are needed to reach your goal. The ability to try new experiments and be able to brainstorm and talk together with a dedicated team of researchers that want to reach the goal and wont stop experimenting different processes until the end goal is met. Works Cited Goldratt, Eliyahu M., and Jeff Cox. The Goal. N.p.: Gower, 1989. Print.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Labor Relations

In this paper, unions and labor relations will be defined and their impact on organizations will be elaborated. Also, the impact of changes in employee relations strategies, policies, and practices on organizational performance will be examined. After this, the question â€Å"Are unions still relevant in the U.S.?† will be answered. Furthermore, the campaign, the election, contract negotiations, grievance handling, arbitrations, labor relations, and strikes will be addressed. Labor unions and labor relations Labor unions, which are the watchdogs and negotiators for the American workforce, are a way of collectively bargaining with employers for fair working conditions and fair wages. The craft unions or skilled laborers and industrial unions or laborers in the same industry, regardless of skill are the two types of labor unions that are organized. In the U.S. Groups of highly-trained carpenters, tailors, printers, and weavers in the colonial age, the seed of modern labor unions were the guilds. Guilds, which are economic and social in nature, are associations of persons who are involved in the same craft or business. The workers who members of guilds are banded together so that the quality standards would be maintained and the employers’ hiring of skilled laborers from home would be ensured. In the mid-19th century, there was an increase in the number of new industrial unions which were created for the assertion of workers’ rights. This change in the personality of the American workforce was due to the invention of the steam engine and other industrial advancements. The Knights of Labor, which inaugurated the Labor Day holiday in 1882, was one of the most important industrial unions. In the 1890s, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed. It is composed of the craft unions which include both skilled and unskilled laborers. The federation was formed because its member craft unions were opposed to the composition of the Knights of Labor’s membership. The United Mine Workers and the Danburry Hatters case in 1902 were ones of the early conflicts and strikes included in this period. In the 1930s, when the Great Depression took place, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was formed. Many of the members of CIO were the dissidents of the AFL who favors industrial unionism. Workers in the steel, rubber, auto, maritime, glass, and meat packing industries were some of the major constituents of the CIO. In spite of the conflicts during the 30s and 40s, a powerful body known as the AFL-CIO was formed from the merging of the two national organizations in 1955. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent agency of the U.S. government. It was created under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 or the Wagner Act and was amended by the acts of 1947 or the Taft-Harley Labor Act and 1949 or the Landrum-Griffin Act. The board affirmed the rights of the labor to organize and bargain collectively through representatives they chose or to refrain from such activities. The board which is composed of five members is assisted by 33 regional directors. The members are appointed by the U.S. President with the approval of the Senate for five-year terms. The proper bargaining units are determined, the elections for union representation are conducted, and the charges of unfair labor practices by employers are investigated by the board. Coercion, interference, or restraint in labor’s self-organizational rights is included in the unfair practices (Villanueva Siasoco). A research study revealed that the collaboration of an organization (such as community organizations) and a labor union is an impetus for change. For example, the labor unions and community organizations in Greater Boston, which have worked together in recent years, have achieved remarkable successes. Some of their victories include the passing of a Boston living wage ordinance, an increase in the minimum wage in Massachusetts, improvement in union contracts and in workplace conditions, an earned income tax credit on state income taxes, $6 million state job training program for 1, 500 workers, and a number of progressive tax policies which includes a new tax on capital gains. These significant achievements in Boston are reverberated throughout the country. This is manifested by the continuous formation of alliances by community organizations with the organized labor. Again, these alliances are formed for the purpose of tackling problems that affect the lives of the low-wage workers. The Service Employees International Union, which is known for its successful Justice for Janitors campaigns, is one of the unions that organize low-wage workers. The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Union is also a low wage-workers union. These unions are included in the most vibrant and fastest growing organizations in the country. The collaboration of labor unions and community organizations is really needed for the achievement of long-term goals of economic and social justice. The need for the collaboration is being intensified by the changes in the national economy over the last few decades. One the changes that forces for a collaboration of labor unions and community organizations is the shifting of the economy from higher-paying manufacturing jobs to lower-paying jobs in the service sector. Similarly, the public policy efforts for the promotion of the welfare of working families in general are being broadened by the labor movement. The national AFL-CIO, under the new leadership since 1995, has devoted increased resources to advocate policies. These policies include the universal health care coverage which is intended to benefit all American who are working (not only those who are members of unions) and the raising of the federal minimum wage. One of the impacts of labor unions in policies is the announcement of support of amnesty for undocumented immigrants by the AFL-CIO in February, 2000. In addition, the AFl-CIO also played a major role in organizing, planning, and supporting the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride of 2003. This ride is a nationwide effort which aims to raise the visibility of the issues of the immigrant workers (Ranghelli 4). On the other hand, the impact of changes on employees is the decrease in the purchase of labor by employers because of the higher wages won by unions. The success in asserting for higher wages and better working conditions also reduced the number of jobs available (Reynolds). Are unions still relevant in the U.S.? The question â€Å"Are unions still relevant in the U.S.?† does not need anymore time to think about. Unions are absolutely relevant in the U.S. Considering the economic situation today, wherein the trend is to shift from higher-paying jobs to lower-paying jobs, to use more machines than labor force, and to employ contractualization, the exploitation of the labor sector becomes more intense. Thus, unions play a vital role in achieving economic and social justice. Considering the opinions raised by Reynolds, it is very shallow to say that the labor unions are the anticompetitive force in the labor markets. It is very inhumane to think of workers as simply inputs that are needed to be purchased in order for a process such as production or manufacturing to materialize. It is in this thinking where the exploitation of the laborers’ rights arises. Regarding campaigns and elections, union officers are elected based on the standards established by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). Officers in the local unions are elected through secret balloting. On the other hand, officers of the national and international unions are elected either by secret balloting of the members or by delegates who are chosen by the secret ballot. The election of the officers of the national and international unions is held at least every five years. For the intermediate bodies, the election of officers is held at least every four years and for the local unions, election of officers is held at least every three years. The funds of a union may be used in conducting an election. Also, it is an option for the employers and unions to use their funds in promoting the candidacy of any candidate (http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/unions-elections.htm). Collective bargaining refers to the negotiations between an employer and a group of employees. Negotiations are done so that the conditions of employment would be determined. The result of the procedures of the collective bargaining is called collective agreement. Union or other labor organizations represent the employees in bargaining. Federal and state statutory laws, judicial decisions, and administrative agency regulations govern collective bargaining. Arbitration refers to the method of dispute resolution. This method is used as an alternative to litigation. Arbitration is usually used to resolve disputes between employers and employees during a collective bargaining (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Collective_bargaining#collective_bargaining_and_labor_arbitration:_an_overview). Usually, strike is the last resort taken by workers in addressing their grievances. Holding mass pickets is the most effective way to involve all strikers. Although strikes may mean decrease in wages or dismissal from work, success in such solidarity actions is effectively achieved through picketing the workplaces of the workers (http://libcom.org/organise/guide-to-taking-strike-action). The aforementioned concepts support the answer that unions are still relevant in the U.S. For example, the funds of unions are very vital during an election because may be used to promote the candidacy of a certain candidate who, when elected, must address the concerns not only of the workers but the families in general. Also, it is very significant in addressing the welfare of the people because what labor unions fight for is not just their interests but the interests of the masses. Again, labor union should not be viewed as a hindrance for the economic development. It is not enough to say that a country is developed based on a high gross national product which is achieved through lower cost of production that includes lower wages for the laborers. Higher gross national product which is achieved through exploitations of workers does not mean economic and social justice. Reference Collective bargaining and labor arbitration: an overview. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Collective_bargaining#collective_bargaini  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ng_and_labor_arbitration:_an_overview John. (November 11, 2006). Guide to taking strike action. Retrieved November 18, 2006,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://libcom.org/organise/guide-to-taking-strike-action National Labor Relations Board. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/bus/A0834954.html Ranghelli. (March 2005). Joining Forces Community Organizations and Labor Unions Form   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New Collaborations. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from Unions and Union Members: Union Elections. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/unions-elections.htm Villanueva Siasoco, Ricco. Hard Labor. How unions fought to honor the American worker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved November18, 2006, from http://www.factmonster.com/spot/labor1.html       Labor Relations Labor relation entails policies and daily practices that are concerned with the regulation and management of individual and team relationships within the organization. Essentially, employee relations are centered on the ability to resolve and prevent conflicts that involve either an individual or the teams in the organization which directly affect work situations and performance. Efficient communication ensures that information is passed to the employees in order to allow them understand better the company’s goals and objectives. Most employee relations managers uphold the responsibility of handling grievances, individual code of conduct while in the office, evaluation of employee performance and counseling programs. Sound employee relations are based on participation and effective communication for both the management and the employees. There are various management styles that cover the way employee relations must be conducted in order to achieve the best from the employees. (Selid, 1995) Trade unions are organized groups of employees officially recognized by both the government and their employer that have come together to promote their common interests. Trade unions have a responsibility of ensuring get the value of what they work for. They are directed to provide a communication channel between the employer and the employees. In some cases, In the United States, trade unions are registered by the specific State that it operates from and they are ratified by the federal government. The United States have a national advisory board referred to as Employee Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) that is concerned with formulating national policies which must be adhered to by individual Employee Relations Advisory Organization (ERAO) which every institution including airline companies must have. At least one representative of ERAO is elected to sit at the Employee Relations Advisory Board. In an airline setting for example, their union is responsible for providing the company’s management with suggestions on how to solicit and disseminate information on plans and programs that are designed for employees who will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace. (Employee Relations Advisory Organization, 2004) There are impact of changes in employee relations strategies, policies, and practices on organizational performance. For example if employees within an organization are represented by a trade union fully recognized by the same organization e.g. the airline company and the government, cooperation between the employer that is airline company and its employees will be enhanced the workplace. Good and sound formulated strategies and policies that relates to labor relations in organization particularly the airline companies will lead to attainment of organizations goals and pursuing the company’s mission statement in the direct path. There are various management styles that cover the way employee relations must be conducted in order to achieve the best from the employees. These management styles are intended to teach employees the following; applicable regulations and policies, bargaining agreements, grievance and appeal rights, and discrimination and protection of whistleblowers. The impact of changes in employee relations has broadened its definition from the initial industrial relations to such aspects as employer-employee relations, personal contracts, workplace environmental safety, and socio-emotional factors. In developed countries like in the U.S and mostly in airline industries, there is a growing trend of harmonization in almost all levels of government mainly because of the government commitment to enhance employee relations programs. (Sparrow and Hilltop, 1994) Trade unions plays a very major role in trying to protect the rights of employees who form there membership and research indicates that they still relevant in the U.S. administration because they have the task of ensuring that employees rights regarding to the workplace are protected. However, due to corruption and other malpractices the effectiveness of these trade unions has been compromised over the last few years. Research indicates that the employers in the U.S. for example employers in the airline industry are reported to be harassing there employees in the pretext that they are giving out instructions to be obeyed in order to achieve the stated organizational goals, a development which does not auger well with trade unions in the U.S. (Delaney and Huselid, 1996) In general, these trade unions has the following roles, labor climate assessment, positive employee relation programs, union campaigns and election objectives, unfair labor practices such as poor wages and unfounded dismissals, dealing with workplace harassment, coordinating and implementing cooperate relations programs, and handling complaint/issue resolution processes in the respective organizations among others. The only problem that normally cause misunderstanding between the trade unions and the companies or government is that the trade unions can organize go slows, strikes, destructions etc when round table solutions to issues fails. This is very hard for a company to control but with negotiations, it can reach an agreement. Trade unions officials are responsible to their members and they are usually elected to office mainly through secret ballots. This implies those vying for any seats have to campaign for votes from the union members. Sometimes some officials use unfair campaign strategies that do not foster fairness and equality among the contenders. Also these trade union officials play a significant role in any country’s general election because they can influence their members on what directions to vote e.g. advising the members to vote out the present government because of some dissatisfaction that they have with it. Trade unions plays an important role contract negotiations; almost everything can be bargained these days and therefore with employee relations through trade unions such issues as awarding contracts, compensations, benefits, and work schedules can be sorted out by discussing them until a solution is achieved. The bargaining approach settles conflicts that arise as a result of contract matters. It also outlines the rules with which the basis of handling specific work agreements is sorted out. Normally, if this approach is well utilized, employee relations are greatly improved. Grievance handling in any organization is very crucial to all organizations and at least every company has some way of dealing with their grievances. In fact, it is considered that a few individuals in a company are so arrogant that they are font of harassing their workmates leading to poor productivity. Companies need to develop a grievance handling procedure that will ensure that conflicts are eliminated in the organization. Without proper handling grievances of the employees well trade unions may call for strikes to force the government to implement their desired changes. In the recent past strikes and go-slows have become common methods which employees use them to pass their grievances to their employers. (Brewster, 1995) It is therefore prudent for management of any organization to adopt employee recognition strategies. This is another factor that the employers put into consideration for the organization to improve its employee relations; this is basically a communication instrument, which strengthens and compensates the most significant production that the employees have created for the organization. The recognition structure is always made simple, instant, and effectively supportive to the employees’ relations and the organization at large. (Chevrier, 2003) Reference: Brewster. C (1995): Towards a European Model of Human Resource Management- Journal of International Business. Vol 26 Pp 45-67 Chevrier, S. (2003): Cross-cultural management in multinational project groups Journal of World Business. Vol.38. Pp 77-89 Delaney. J and Huselid. M (1996):- The impact of human resource management practices on perceptions of performance in for-profit and non-profit organizations. Academy of Management Journal. Vol 39. Pp 34-56 Employee Relations Advisory Organization, (2004): Labor Relations Washington D.C, Article 2. Pp 5-29 Murray, A. (1989): Top management group heterogeneity and firm performance. Strategic Management Journal Vol. 10, Special issue. Pp 13-34 Selid, M. (1995):- The impact of human resource management practices on turnover, productivity, and corporate financial performance- Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 38. Pp 54-76 Sparrow, P. and Hilltop, J. (1994): European Human Resource Management in Transition. Prentice Hall, New York. Pp 23-45               

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Nordsee – the Different Fast Food Restaurant

The Different Fast- Food Restaurant (Case Study for Marketing Course) [pic] MK 300 Michaela Ouzka F03 B April 27, 2005 Summarizing the Facts: As Slovakia becomes an integrated European country, it is increasingly involved in globalization. As a result, many foreign citizens, Slovak business people, and professionals come especially to Bratislava for investment or for other reasons and obviously, as they spend more time in town, there is a higher demand for good quality restaurants.Nordsee is a non- traditional fast food restaurant; it offers quality sea food with self- service. Moreover, a part of the restaurant is a snack-bar for the busier people or for students and there also exists a sea-food store with delicate and fresh sea specialties for the more demanding customers. Nordsee is a German company which was established in 1896. Originally, it was a small firm that consisted of 7 steam boats and was fishing all kinds of sea-food in order to sell it in its own store as fresh as po ssible. Nowadays, this company is Europe’s No. sea-food restaurant with stores all over Germany (364 restaurants combined with snack-bars and stores), Austria and Switzerland due to its 100 years of know-how, its technology, and its outstanding product quality. State the Problem/ Opportunity: Other fast-food chains have already entered the Slovak market and did very well, as for instance McDonald’s or Pizza Hut. However, Nordsee differs a lot from these traditional high-sugar, high-fat burgers and low-carb pizzas. Its meals are very healthy, tasty, and even suitable for vegetarians.It these days, more and more people care about their weight and their lifestyle, and Nordsee can certainly help to reduce the people’s weight and to stay in shape. The main dishes in the restaurant are for instance salmon, shrimps, and many different kinds of sea-fishes, squid or lobster for attractive prices combined with salads, potatoes or soups and sauces. Slovakia represents a go od opportunity for Nordsee to expand to Eastern Europe. It provides low labor-cost and a still rather open market.The target market would be students (snack-bar), labor, professionals or business people (self-service restaurant), and the gourmets (store). The probably biggest problem would be the relatively high prices for the top-quality sea food and the competition from other already existing fast food restaurants. Analyze the Causes of the Problems: †¢ Problem No. 1: Relatively High Prices of the Products This is certainly true if we are speaking about top-quality lobster or salmon. But there are also other, cheaper products in the self-service store or in the snack-bar, as a part of a restaurant.As you can see there is a wide range of many different products and therefore of many pricing levels from cheap to affordable, but of top quality. An average salmon sandwich with salad and a tasty herb-sauce would probably cost just as much as a high-fat McRoyal. Which one would you chose? †¢ Problem No. 2: Competition Obviously there are already fast-food restaurants or baguetterias, but they offer almost no variety and they are incomparable with a Nordsee restaurant, as you sit down in a nice atmosphere and you eat the dishes with knife and fork, and not with your bare hands.You can also have a special fish-soup or a salad with shrimps if you chose to. It is a self-service restaurant; therefore, it wouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to eat a full meal. It would be completely innovative and that is why there would be no real competition in that sense. Of course it would be necessary to open such a store in some shopping center or in the city center of Bratislava where there are many potential customers located. Alternative Solutions: 1.Nordsee opens its own store in Bratislava and if it approves, other stores can be opened in Banska Bystrica or Kosice. Strenghts: Over 100 years of know-how, technology, excellent product quality Weaknesses: It is a German company and it does not completely know how to operate in Eastern Europe (lack of knowledge and experience) Opportunities: Number 1 self-service restaurant with sea-food in Slovakia Threats: Competition, too high prices for Slovak market 2. FranchisingStrenghts: Low risk-taking for Nordsee, other Slovak entrepreneurs invest their money and have better know-how of their domestic market Weaknesses: Nordsee has to provide them with their technology, their expertise and product supplying Opportunities: Nordsee receives payment from Slovak entrepreneurs and without much risk-taking it can become leading fast-food restaurant Threats: Entrepreneurs can stay profitless, Nordsee Company may have therefore damaged reputation, it can no more expand successfully on its own to other Eastern European countries . Slovak entrepreneurs open a similar store with other brand name on their own Strenghts: They do not have to pay Nordsee for franchising; they do not have to obey the standards and orders from Nordsee (independence) Weaknesses: They might not have the required equipment and know-how Opportunities: Opening a similar store but with a different product line and therefore a different, eventually lower pricing Threats: Competition from other, already existing fast-food chains, which are more organized and already experienced Recommended SolutionFranchising would probably be the most suitable choice in order to successfully expand to Slovakia. It would be inevitable to go to Nordsee headquarter in Germany to have a negotiation with the suitable persons to ask for a license to distribute their products and to receive their technology for the preparation of their food. After their agreement, it is necessary to pay for this license and for the equipment for the stores, as they are standardized and are therefore almost identical in every location. This would be called â€Å"niche-marketing†, as there is no other sea-food self-service restaurant in Slovakia yet.J ustification and Evaluation: Franchising would be the most effective choice, as I have worked out the 4 P’s (marketing mix): †¢ Product: Sea-food (fish specialties, shrimps, soups, salads, etc. ) †¢ Price: In a similar range as already existing fast-food restaurants in Slovakia (e. g. McDonald’s) †¢ Promotion: Advertising through TV-spots (depending on the extent of the promotion budget), billboards, flyers, free samples in the stores within the first week of the opening, newspapers, magazines, fitness centers, etc. Place: Bratislava’s city center, shopping malls, etc. (eventually Banska Bystrica and Kosice) To sum up, Nordsee has an enormous potential in Eastern Europe, especially Slovakia through franchising. It is evident that it would certainly do quite well under such conditions especially in Bratislava. There are still no, or just very few, good restaurants with high-quality food where you can eat within a few minutes. There would also be sp ecial offerings for small children with an exceptional dish with a little toy (such as the â€Å"Happy Meal† in McDonald’s stores).As you can see, the potential market is wide-spread and I am positive that Nordsee would definitely be a good alternative to all the fat pizzas and burgers that we all weekly consume with disregard to our health.