Carolines Real Bread Company SWOT Analysis Essay

Executive Summary Caroline’s Real Bread Company are a small village bakery who produce and sell a variety of niche breads to cater for specific needs. Emphasis is placed on high-quality, fresh organic products. Their products are sold through their website, farmers markets, food festivals and other outlets. They also provide bread for specialist restaurants and cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s. This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current state of the grocery market, and provides recommendations on the possible actions that should be undertaken for Caroline’s Real Bread Company to expend and take advantage of the current state of the industry. Methods of analysis used in this report include PEST analysis which analyses the external factors†¦show more content†¦The report will highlight the recommendations to Caroline concerning her company and its current position in the market. 3. The Grocery Market 3.1 Political The government launched an advertising campaign in early 2013 to promote healthier eating habits in the UK (BBC 2013). The main aim of this campaign is to increase the awareness of â€Å"hidden nasties† such as fat and sugar in popular foods. This campaign is the latest in a long line of government aided movements in order to increase health awareness in the UK, some examples of others being change4life and 5 A Day. This latest movement shows that healthy eating is high on the agenda of the current government. The government are under pressure to introduce new legislation to reduce the salt content in foods. The coalition is currently working with the industry, through the ‘Responsibility Deal’, to improve food content and labelling (Department of Health, 2013); however they are being challenged by labour to scrap this voluntary approach and to introduce tougher regulation and legislation in fighting foods high in fat, salt and sugar. One proposition includes a 30% cap on sugar content in cereals aimed at children. The on-going debates and propositions are increasing public awareness of healthy eating habits which benefit specialist local producers such as Caroline’s Real Bread Company. According to new government rules, the UK’s food industry will be required to

What Makes Me a True Filipino Free Essays

WHAT MAKES ME A TRUE FILIPINO? ORIGIN: According to Sociology, Filipino is a hodgepodge, a mixture of primitive strains ( Negrito, Ita, Aeta); eastern strains (Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese) and western strains ( Spanish, English, American). primitive strains + eastern strains + western strains = A FILIPINO Therefore, we Filipinos are unified from different races. . We will write a custom essay sample on What Makes Me a True Filipino or any similar topic only for you Order Now I may say that I’m a Filipino. VALUES: Some says Filipinos are wonderful people. We are friendly, loving, caring, family oriented, loves adventures, talented, religious, etc. They are also hardworking. We are hospitable, that’s the no. 1 thing most common in our personality. We are also jolly people. . I may say that I’m a Filipino. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Filipinos are known for flat, small or big nose; medium or tan skin (kayumanggi); black hair and who are small ones etc. I may say that I’m a Filipino because I have those. We are plenty of gorgeous Filipino men and women out there who have unique appearances†¦ But some are ashamed with their beauties. When you disrespect the traits of your ancestors, you are only insulting yourself. MANNERISM AND PERSONALITY TRAITS: Filipinos point with their lips. They eat with their hand and have it down as a technique. They nod their head upwards to greet someone. They put their foot up on their chair and rest their elbows on their knees while you eat. etc I may say that I’m a Filipino. VOCABULARY: Filipinos say ‘Aray’ instead of ‘ouch’. They make acronyms for phrases: ‘OA’ = overacting, ‘DOM’ = dirty old man, and ‘TNT’ for†¦ You know. They also pronounce the ff. words: ‘Hippopo-TA-mus’, ‘com-FOR-table’, ‘Bro-CO-li’, and ‘Montgo-marry Ward’. Filipinos say ‘Ay’ or â€Å"Uy† instead of ‘oops’ etc. I may say that I’m a Filipino. CLOTHING AND APPEARANCE: Filipinos – There’s Angelique eyeliner and Johnson’s Baby Powder compacts lurking in your makeup drawer. They check labels on clothes to see where it’s made. Their ponytail ribbon covers half your head. I may say that I’m a Filipino. These are some ways to know you are Filipino. It is very interesting. It is quite funny but we must admit that we are one of them. And regardless of all this, WE are FILIPINO for life. How to cite What Makes Me a True Filipino, Papers

Strategic Planning in Marketing Corporate Objectives

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Planning in Marketing for Corporate Objectives. Answer: Introduction: Hazy bank operates in an environment that is characterized with competitors who are a threat because they offer the same services as Hazy bank. Understanding of the business constraints is important in ensuring that proper scanning of the environment inside and outside the institution is complete. The bank as leader in the industry ensures that the customer satisfaction is attained by obtaining feedback immediately in order to rectify any error or weakness detected. The strength of the bank is that it has favorable interest rates for the loan products as compared to its competitors. There is dominance is the credit facility of the finances and thus the leading aspect in the industry is ascertained. Wilkie said that Overcoming late entry is the importance of entry position, inferences and market leadership (Thomas, 2005, p.192). There is strategy of a challenger by engaging in critic discussions with other banks to spot the faults in their processes of facilitating financing to client s. The organization is a banking institution by the name of Hazy bank that is located in my country of residence. The corporate objective is briefly tells us what the organization is for hence the sole purpose of the entity. Corporate objectives are the key fundamental concepts which aim to enhance planning strategically by adhering to performance standards. The corporate objective of Hazy bank is to lend money through credit facilities that have been incorporated inform of loans and to offer financial advisory services to clients as well as keep their finances for safety. The bank is regulated by the central bank acts and provisions and it thus offers credible services and banking the money in line with the guidelines and the acts of the institutions. Haleblian said that exploring firm characteristics that differentiate leaders from followers in industry merger waves is recommended (Gabriel, 2012, p.143) Marketing orientation program entails use of professional skills to match qualities with abilities to create awareness to the staff members. Hazy bank has got a special training department for its sales consultants and marketers in general. They are recruited to the business by a well-planned strategic plan that involves induction after employment is guaranteed. The marketing department is mandated with the responsibility of training the junior employees step by step into professionalism. They are equipped with the necessary skills that are required in representing the bank to the world. There is frequent observation from the team leaders to identify areas of weakness in an agent and rectify by offering additional training formally or by word of mouth. Sullivan said that the market pioneers intrinsically are stronger than later entrants who preceeded (Jackson, 1992, p.287). The code of conduct and is emphasized by the manager who takes part in the induction process of the marketers. There are qualities that are cultivated in these individuals such as honesty, integrity and professionalism. After this important step they are allowed to sell the products to customers having been equipped with the appropriate tools of work. The field agents work hand in hand with the inside departments such as the credit section by adhering to the social corporate responsibility. The products are insurance policies, loan products, asset financing and financial advisory services. The organization core marketing strategy aims at increasing the sales and creating a competitive advantage in the industry. Hazy bank operates in an environment that is characterized with competitors who are a threat because they offer the same services as Hazy bank. Understanding of the business constraints is important in ensuring that proper scanning of the environment inside and outside the institution is complete. The bank as leader in the industry ensures that the customer satisfaction is attained by obtaining feedback immediately in order to rectify any error or weakness detected. The strength of the bank is that it has favorable interest rates for the loan products as compared to its competitors. There is dominance is the credit facility of the finances and thus the leading aspect in the industry is ascertained. Wilkie said that Overcoming late entry is the importance of entry position, inferences and market leadership (Thomas, 2005, p.192). There is strategy of a challenger by engaging in critic discussions with other banks to spot the faults in their processes of facilitating financing to clients. The weakness that the bank has is that there are fluctuations in the rates due to the interference from the central bank and this reduces the number of operations of the company by ensuring that strict central bank rules are complied with. Robinson said that product development strategies for established market pioneers, early followers, and late entrants". (Jacob, 2001, p. 345). The strategy implemented by the bank as a follower of the trends that already exist and have been successful. The technological trends and environment ones are necessary in ensuring that the bank employees and the top senior most managers are aware of these changes to avoid conflict of interest. Conclusion The market Niche strategy enhances Hazy to remain competitive and relevance in the industry which is characterized with challengers who are ready to outshine. The market niche is the space that the bank occupies in regards the geographical location and the extent to which the information has been spread by the field marketing agents. Works cited Robinson, W. L., Chiang, J. F. (2002). Product development Strategies for established market pioneers, early followers, and late entrants. Strategic Management Journal. 23: 855866. Sullivan, M. B. (1992). Are Market Pioneers Intrinsically Stronger than Later entrants. Strategic Management Journal.13: 609624. Haleblian, J. C., Mcnamara, G. A. (2012). Exploring firm characteristics that differentiate leaders from followers in industry merger waves. London: European press. Wilkie, D., Johnson, L. W. (2015). Overcoming late entry is the importance of entry position, inferences and market leadership. New York: Times press.

Providing of the require resources for students

Introduction The main objective of many schools is to ensure that learners perform well in their studies for them to attain success in life. This is a task that requires all schools to have set curriculum which make it possible for the determination of the progress of the learners in their studies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Providing of the require resources for students specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, my school has no set curriculum that shows true learning progress for the learners. The current need in my educational setting is providing adequate resources to our students such as student workbooks, proper classroom materials to support lessons and materials for activities. It is important to provide adequate resources for our students to ensure that they learn well. Body There are various methods that can be used to identify specific needs for learners in an educational setting. The met hod used to identify the needs of learners in this study is conducting an evaluation of their academic performance. Through such an evaluation, it is possible to identify the areas that the learners show weak performance and find ways of improving it (Good and Brophy, 2008). In this study, the performance of the learners is analyzed in relation to the learning resources they already have. For instance, the performance of learners who do not have all the required resources is compared with that of other learners who have the required resources to determine the extent to which availability of resources affects the performance of the learners. It is important to identify this need and address it fully because unless the need to provide adequate resources for learners is identified and addressed in the right manner, it is not possible for them to attain the expected performance. This ensures that the school administration puts the right strategies in place that assist the learners to ge t the quality education they are supposed to get. There are various ways of addressing the needs of learners identified in this study. The first method of ensuring that this is achieved is by putting in place a well equipped library where learners can access the materials they require in order for them to perform well in their studies. This is an effective way of addressing their needs since they can access the library at their own convenience. The second method of addressing the needs is by partnering with organizations that support education in order to acquire materials that are necessary for proper classroom instruction.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Classroom instruction is an important tool that should be utilized in the right manner to ensure that the learners achieve the desired results. In situations where there are no adequate materials for classroom instruction, the performance of the learners definitely goes down. It is important to address the frameworks of motivation, management, instruction and assessment in the action plan. Motivation is important for learners since it ensures that they work harder towards achieving the best results they can achieve. Some of the methods of motivating learners include giving them rewards after good performance and complementing their good work. Management involves ensuring that the learners do what they are supposed to do without failure. This is achieved through monitoring them very closely. Instruction is achieved through the teachers who deliver the knowledge learners are supposed to acquire in class. Finally, assessment is important and is achieved through class examinations (Farrell, 2003). Conclusion It is important to ensure that learners get the resources they require for them to perform well in their studies. Learners who are supplied with the necessary resources exhibit good class performance as opposed to those who lack the resources. References Farrell, M. (2003). Understanding Special Educational Needs: A Guide for Student Teachers. New York: Routledge. Good, T., Brophy, J. (2008). Looking in classrooms. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. This research paper on Providing of the require resources for students was written and submitted by user Tessa Mercer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Kenya essays

Kenya essays Kenya is a country on the eastern coast of Africa, right on the equator. It is a land of striking landscapes, ranging from snow-capped Mount Kenya to rich farmlands, barren deserts and tropical beaches. A former British colony, Kenya is now made up of eight provinces in that range in geographical size from the small Nairobi Province to the much larger Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces. The Provinces also range in population from the densely populated Nairobi Province, to the sparsely populated North East. The eight provinces are: Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North East, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western Province. Each Province is subdivided into districts. Kenya borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan in the north, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the East. Kenya's capital city is Nairobi with a population of approximately 1.4 million people. The other major towns are Mombasa the main port on the Indian Ocean with an estimated population of 1 milli on and Kisumu on Lake Victoria with an estimated population of 400,000 people. Kenya's population is growing rapidly. Most Kenyans are country people - small-scale, independent farmers and ranchers. Only about 25% of the people live in urban areas, one of the lowest percentages in the world. For thousands of years, ships have sailed to the coast of Kenya from Arabia and southern Asia exploiting Africa's natural resources for the sole purpose of bringing money back to their homelands so their countries businesses and economies could flourish. Because of the extensive exploitation and dependence on other country's materials and agriculture, there has been a tremendous impact on Kenya's economy, society, and government especially since Kenya's independence in 1960. Before the turn of the twentieth century, Kenya was mainly inhabited by the African peoples and its economy was almost entirely at a subsistence level. Because money as we know it today did...

How to Avoid Burying the Lede of Your News Story

How to Avoid Burying the Lede of Your News Story Every semester I give students a news writing exercise from my book about a doctor who is giving a speech about fad diets and physical fitness to a group of local businesspeople. Midway through his speech, the good doctor collapses of a heart attack. He dies en route to the hospital. The news of the story may seem obvious, but a few of my students will invariably write a lede that goes something like this: Dr. Wiley Perkins gave a speech to a group of businesspeople yesterday about the problems with fad diets. Whats the problem? The writer has left the most important and newsworthy aspect of the story - the fact that the doctor died of a heart attack - out of the lede. Typically the student who does this will put the heart attack somewhere near the end of the story. Thats called burying the lede, and its something that beginning journalists have done for eons. Its something that drives editors absolutely nuts. So how can you avoid burying the lede of your next news story? Here are some tips: Think about whats most important and newsworthy: When you cover an event, think about what part of it, whether its a press conference, lecture, legislative hearing or city council meeting, is likely to be the most newsworthy. What happened that will affect the greatest number of your readers? Chances are thats what should be in the lede.Think about what you find most interesting: If youre hard-pressed to figure out whats most newsworthy, think about what YOU found most interesting. Experienced reporters know that all people are basically the same, meaning we generally find the same things interesting. (Example: Who doesnt slow down to gawk at a car wreck on the highway?) If you find something interesting, chances are your readers will as well, meaning it should be in your lede.Forget chronology: Too many beginning reporters write about events in the order in which they occurred. So if theyre covering a school board meeting, theyll start their story with the fact that the board began by reciting the pledge of allegiance. But no one cares about that; people reading your story want to know what the board did. So dont worry about the order of events; put the most newsworthy parts of the meeting at the top of your story, even if they occurred midway through or at the end. Focus on actions: If youre covering a meeting, such as a city council or school board hearing, youre going to hear lots of talks. Thats what elected officials do. But think about what actions were taken during the meeting. What concrete resolutions or measures were passed that will affect your readers? Remember the old saying: Actions speak louder than words. And in a news story, actions generally should go in the lede.Remember the inverted pyramid: The inverted pyramid, the format for news stories, represents the idea that the heaviest, or most important, news in a story goes at the very top, while the most lightweight, or least important news, goes at the bottom. Apply that to the event youre covering and itll probably help you find your lede.Look for the unexpected: Remember that news by its very nature is usually the unexpected occurrence, the deviation from the norm. (Example: Its not news if a plane lands safely at the airport, but its definitely news if it crashes on the tarma c.) So apply that to the event youre covering. Did anything happen that those present didnt expect or plan on? What came as a surprise or even a shock? Chances are, if something out of the ordinary happened, it should be in your lede. Like when a doctor has a heart attack in the middle of a speech.

Lean implementation and supply chain development at Oak Hills Case Study

Lean implementation and supply chain development at Oak Hills - Case Study Example The mergers and acquisitions which characterize the company have an implication on the supply chain and thus it is necessary that the company implements strategies which will not impact negatively on the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain. The competition in the market is growing as illustrated by the rise of competitors such as Triangle Corps. The competition is stiff within the market because the two companies deal in the same products and services. The essence of effective supply chain development within Oak Hills is attributed to the fact that the company is in the process of being acquired even though the acquisition process has not been successfully completed. The revenues of the company are expected to rise as the combination of companies is to offer an array of upstream services. Oak Hills is in dire need of improving its supply chain processes in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. The special testing instrument as the main product of the Oaks Hill manufacturing facility requires applying a lean system in ensuring that all of the operations within the supply chain are coordinated. With the headquarters of Oaks Hill being in Houston, it needs to coordinate the activities of all of its branches so that they are integrated into a common business unit. As a result, the special project of the facility in testing oil and gas exploration can achieve its goals and objectives. The most important stakeholder of any supply chain is the customer (Hilletofth and David 264). This means that customers must be given priority consideration in the processing of the activities of a supply chain. Both the external and internal customers of the facility must be given due consideration in the supply of the products so that their needs are met. The effectiveness of a supply chain can only be achieved through the

Sales and Financial Forecast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sales and Financial Forecast - Essay Example ocate resources where they are most needed in an order of priority, and this would allow one to control the business cash flow instead of the cash flow controlling them. The strategy would be to use sales promotion campaigns and advertising through posters at least 5 hours per day to create awareness of the product in the upper market areas of New York. Below is a sales and expense forecast that would be expected to be incurred in selling a new cosmetic brand from a small enterprise to the upper market New York. It is expected that these products are sourced directly from the warehouse already packaged in bundles. Sales promotion $ 300 (marketing and selling are different concepts and some products might be offered free to customers who meet certain criteria as a sales promotion strategy, including posters for advertising) The four Ps in marketing mix will affect the sales. With the 3 well trained employees in sales and noting that the upper New York residents and visitors have a high purchasing power, and that the sales will increase with time as customers have the awareness of the new cosmetic

Tracing the Stars Essay Example for Free

Tracing the Stars Essay I. Introduction One of the biggest global brands in history is Converse, which stands for a casual and sports-oriented lifestyle popular among the young, and often with specific subcultures. Of its several lines, arguably the most recognized is the Chuck Taylor All-Stars or Chucks, which are combination canvas and rubber sneakers. First produced in 1917, these were originally known simply as the â€Å"All Star† until they were modified and endorsed by Chuck Taylor—one of the biggest basketball players of the time. To this day, the shoes carry Taylor’s signature and go by his name. Currently, the brand is no longer an entity on its own as Converse had been bought by Nike in 2003—thereby resulting in several physical and noticeable changes in the original design and make—yet is still a symbol of youth, vibrancy, and active lifestyle. II. From Basketball to Popular Culture The 1950s marked a landmark episode in the Chucks’ history as it made the successful shift from being exclusive to basketball to becoming part of American consciousness. The appeal of the shoes’ casual and affordable nature made it a status symbol for American teenagers, particularly when Hollywood actor James Dean made the white version part of his t-shirt-and-jeans image. Musicians ranging from rockers in the 1960s to 1980s punk rock artists emulated Dean’s choice, and started wearing Chucks as their uniform—particularly those in black canvas. Because of this growing popularity, Converse decided to add more colors and styles to the Chucks line. Currently, Chucks are still the shoes of choice of many young artists and celebrities; pop musician Avril Lavigne and actress Reese Witherspoon are just some of the personalities who prefer wearing the sneakers—with a particular preference of Lavigne for black ones—which echo the choices of legendary 1970s punk rocker Joey Ramone, who was never seen without a pair of well-worn black Chucks. Fashion designers and models have also been noted as being fans of the sneakers, owing to the rock-and-roll persona alluded to by a classic or trendy pair. III. Chucks in Sports In the midst of the shoes’ popularity among the younger set, Converse stayed true to its original intent for Chucks; during the decades of the 1960s and 70s, its move to add more colors to its classic line was also evident in the basketball industry. While this was not always met with complete approval by the athletes who wore them, the new hues definitely created yet another trend among the sport’s fans. However, the 1980s came and with it arrived the obsession for technology and new materials. The brands of Adidas, Reebok, and Pony arrived to take much of Converse’s basketball shoe business, and the inimitable Nike sealed the deal by having its basketball shoes endorsed by then-rookie Michael Jordan. This caused the decline of the Chucks brand in the sport, and by 1988 they were no longer the staple basketball shoes of serious athletes. Most of them now opted for the leather make and quality offered by other brands, which gave better support compared to the canvas body of the All-Stars. IV. Nike and Controversies Nike bought the brand in 2003, and immediately modified some of the signature details of Chucks—form material to design. The company enjoys a wildly popular following to this day, and is apparent in the use of high-profile athletes as endorsers in its multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns. But the reputation of Nike as a supporter of sweatshops set up in developing countries goes against the established image of Chucks associated with punk and left-wing ideologies—thereby forcing former Chucks patrons to shift to any of several Chucks imitations that are not produced through this kind of arrangement. V. Stepping Forward In a Pair of Chucks The enduring fame and existence of Chuck Taylor All-Stars is as permanent and unchanging as its classic design; materials may be altered, a few details may be added—but the concept remains the same. The future of Chucks may still be seen in the realm of the youth culture, through a role of greater relevance to the rest of the world. Using recyclable materials to produce a pair of Chucks may be one of the directions best for the brand, considering its tried-and-tested design principles. Environmental awareness should now be the focal point of the young and vibrant lifestyle it represents, which will also negate any bad impressions regarding its association with controversial Nike work processes. The time is right for Chucks to assume an image both traditional and innovative, without resorting to technology-related improvements. Ecology, rather than technology, is most apt for Chucks as it celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, and as it represents the kind of mindset that has made it the shoe of choice of millions worldwide.

Arousal Essay -- essays research papers

Discussion: Arousal is an integral element that is needed when preparing ones-self for sporting competition ( or practice for that matter). According to Weinberg and Gould, the athlete must become aware of his or her psychologigal states before they can control any thoughts or feelings they may have. This means when preparing for competition it is important to create an arousal state that is indicative of the competition you are competeing in and be aware of that state in order to set yourself up psychologically to compete. The athlete must energize him/herself when feelin flat and be aware of what he or she is doing in order to enhance his/her sport performance. With that said, if arousal levels are too high then sport performance can be hindered due to the athletes attention be focused on more than just the competition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anxiety is a pshychological state that, if uncontrolled, can hinder a performance greatly. Individuals must be able to cope with this anxiety in a positive mannner so that it doesn’t consume them and cause catastrophic results. Anxiety as a form of arousal is beneficial if kept in check because it make the athlete aware of what is about to transpire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When dealing with arousal it is important to understand the theories behind it. The Drive Theory states that â€Å"as an individuals arousal or state anxiety inreases ,so too does his or her performance†. The Inverted - U Hypothesis states if arousal is too...

Cicero: on Friendship Analysis Essay

Aristotle once said, â€Å"Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.† There are many things that go into the process of friendship. Some people deal with friendship one way while others deal with it in another way. Cicero had a lot to say about the different aspects of friendship in his time, but how would he view modern friendship? Some friendships Cicero may not be proud of; like the common relationships that are forced on in a classroom or work place and the lack of allowing nature to take control and make the friendships that are meant to happen. However, Cicero would be happy with the way the higher level friendships have developed in virtue and value. Cicero dwelled on the fact that friendship must have common factors. Friends should share â€Å"the greatest agreement of desires and interests and opinions (Cicero, 7).† Modern friendship has turned into something that makes â€Å"common people† feel like they have to be friends. For example, in the classroom or workplace it is encouraged to make friends with everyone that you are involved with daily. Does building a friendship based on common surroundings make a good one? Cicero would say no. He would say that friendship has to be built on something more than just a desire for common interests like a job. It must agree on things that build a relationship such as these desires, interests, and opinions. There is no way that Cicero would be happy with the encouragement to build false relationship only on the grounds that someone works in the same place as someone else. He is not saying that you need to be enemies with these people because he knows the importance of common friendship. He knows that if you were to take friendship out of the world then â€Å"no home or city could stand, (and) no farms would stay in cultivation (Cicero, 9).† There is nothing wrong with a temporary friendship but he says, â€Å"If mutual advantage is what stitches friendship together, those friendships would dissolve whenever that condition changed; but since the nature of things cannot be changed, true friendship will last forever (Cicero, 12).† The condition that may change in common, modern relationships is the job or the class that you have made those friends in. You can still make good friends within the workplace or classroom, but the friendship cannot solely rely on the fact that the friends have the same surroundings. Human nature is what makes people want to have friendships. This is one of the main things that Cicero continuously touched on in his book. â€Å"†¦Friendship arises from nature as such, rather than from some neediness: from application of the mind, along with a kind of love, rather than from thinking about how much advantage the relationship might bring (Cicero, 11).†Cicero would be very disappointed in how many relationships are built for the need of a person instead of letting nature take control of the friendship. There are a lot of corrupt and wrong friendships in today’s society that Cicero would look down on. The fact that one person uses another person for their own will is not the kind of relationship that Cicero was wanting people to build. He brings up the nature of human beings a lot in this text because people take advantage of other people and he knew that. â€Å"†¦ Friendship is not something we are led to by the expectation of making a profit; we think it worth seeking because the whole enjoyment of it consists in the love itself (Cicero, 12).† The love and nature of friendship go hand in hand when building relationships because without love for that person there is no need for a friendship to be kept. The friendship should happen naturally. Unlike in today’s world, friends were found to feel wanted. Now the person with the most friends is considered the best because of their popularity; however, that should not be the case. It is better to have three great friends than a thousand false ones. Friendship must be formed by nature. â€Å"†¦ That feeling of love and affectionate goodwill come naturally into existence, once there has been a recognition of goodness (Cicero, 12).† This nature founded by goodness, virtue, and value are what really builds a solid friendship that Cicero would be very proud of. Higher levels of friendship are the ones that hold strong for years. Cicero would be ecstatic to see that the virtue and value of friendship has grown since his time. Once you get passed the lower levels of friendship such as the common relationships and the lack of control nature has on friendships you can see that. Virtue and value are the greatest aspect that friendship has today and did have back then. Friends are there for each other when they are going through the good and bad times. â€Å"Friendship makes good times yet more splendid, and takes some weight off of unfavorable times, by sharing them (Cicero, 9).† Without friendship there would be no point in living. Cicero realizes that friends are what get people through their day to day lives. â€Å"†¦Everything that exists and moves in the universe is brought together by friendship†¦ (Cicero, 9)† There is no love without friendship, no teams without friendship, no jobs, and no country without friendship because friendship is what makes everything work. Cicero would be very happy with the way people value friendship today. A good, modern friendship is hard to come by in today’s society with everyone wanting something from someone else. Cicero knew all about what made friendship work. The world has changed the way friendship is viewed. Cicero would love to see that the virtue and value of friendship has developed. â€Å"Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.† Albert Camus said that about what he thought a friend should be within the friendship; not lead, not follow, just to walk beside him. It takes a long time and a lot of work to build a solid friendship but, according to Cicero, once you have it is the greatest treasure of all.

Legalization of Marijuana Essay

The terms ‘weed’ or ‘grass’ strike meaning to many Americans. When thinking of these terms, they are commonly associated with having the ‘munchies’ also known as being extremely hungry due to the side affects of smoking marijuana. What most Americans don’t realize is the benefits that can come from legalizing marijuana because their minds are clouded by the stereotypes associated with the average ‘pot smoker’. Dismiss the corny jokes and stereotypes for a second and consider the truths that are unveiled. In Timothy Egan’s â€Å"Give Pot a Chance,† Egan looks beyond the stigma of smoking weed and points out the benefits that will come from legalization. Although the government is wrongfully hindering us from legalizing marijuana, it should be a national wide policy due to the large benefit of tax regulations that will and has already arise. Egan starts his opinion with three main arguments: marijuana related drug wars, hypocrisy, and the most important argument he points out is the tax revenue that will be generated. Drug related wars are extremely prevalent today. Egan states that there are over 853,000 arrest made for marijuana related offenses. 60,000 people have been killed because of drug wars and violent crimes regarding the distribution of marijuana. Many people are being affected by the violence of the underground markets. He briefly goes over statistical numbers and significant data to further emphasize his argument for legalization. He quickly delves into the hypocrisy of not legalizing marijuana. He explains how our sports industry would completely collapse without all the legal drugs provided by various companies. Popular products include five-hour energy, red bull, and other pills for other uses. He points out how there were thousands of illnesses and fatalities regarding Five Hour Energy. This is an over the shelf product that can be obtained by anyone. In retaliation, Egan brings up how there are little to no people dying from marijuana ingestion. This also brings attention to one of the most common argument as to why people oppose legalization: that it is  unhealthy for the human body when taken in large doses. Although not explained very well, Egan points out the hypocrisy in the rationale of people thinking this way. Any substance taken in large doses is harmful to any human. Even something as healthy as water is bad in large doses. Although this is not a big part of his argument and does not explicitly say why marijuana is good for one or for the nation, it leads up to and adds to his claim of legalizing marijuana. The main argument for legalization and data that Egan gives is the tax revenue that will come from it. Egan arrives at this data by carefully studying the states that already have legalized medical marijuana including the District of Columbia and 18 other states. Washington State officials estimate that licensed marijuana stores will generate 532 million dollars in revenue every year. On top of that, legalization will decrease all the billions of dollars currently wasted on prosecuting and investigating marijuana cases. Money is being wasted on investigating marijuana cases while in reality most do not even get prosecuted or even fined. Since it is legal in some states and not others, enforcement of marijuana laws are clouded making the United States lose more money. If all states had the same rules it would be easier to regulate and gain an abundance of tax revenue from. Legalization of marijuana will benefit the United States as a nation. Egan agrees that a â€Å"whiff of positive and even monumental change is in the air†. He claims that legalization will benefit us tremendously in many ways, but specifically with the generation of revenue from tax. An influx of money from marijuana taxation would greatly help the United States with financial debt. Egan explicitly links his data to his claim by openly asking his audience to consider his data and apply it to the whole nation and then stating that the taxation would help the United States. He explains that the success from the state of Washington proves that other states will strive as well, thus adding to the success of the nation as a whole. Because there are so many issues and contradicting conflicts surrounding the issue of marijuana, Egan has to state his warrant to further emphasize his reasons for legalization and make apparent the change that could happen. The rhetor, Egan, suggests that the change will most likely happen by stating that â€Å"Obama is uniquely suited to make the argument for change. On his issue, he’ll have support from the libertarian right and the humanitarian left.† Egan implies that since 19 states have  already legalized the use of medical marijuana, many states will follow in their footsteps so it is only a matter of time. Unfortunately Egan had a very powerful qualifier that was not adequately explained. Egan implicitly argues that we, as a nation, should not wait for other states to slowly make the change to legalize. Obama and his administration have the power and more importantly the support to change it now. The lack of explaining this weakened a crucial part of his argument for national legalization. Egan believes national legalization should is needed soon rather than legalization by individual states. At the end of his speech he starts delving into his opinion he quickly adds how the law system is not enforced enough. Egan argues that with legalization nation wide, everyone would be on the same page, which is completely true. With nation wide legalization, the issue of use and abuse can be properly discussed and determined. He uses the example of alcohol and how campaigns against drunk driving have saved countless of lives when alcohol is so easy to obtain. This could be the same way as marijuana. With proper laws, marijuana could be regulated efficiently and safely. Unfortunately he only briefly states this and does not fully explain it clearly. He is implying that marijuana is a problem because congress has chosen to make it a problem because they decided not to deal with it. I thought this did not necessarily weaken his argument but left his audience thinking. Egan was successful at proving his point because of his strong claim, data, and warrant. He chose an engaging and interesting claim that is relatable to many Americans. The sets of data he chose to support his argument was tacitful because all Americans can benefit from money therefore everyone is in some way going to benefit from legalization. Egan makes clear the clouded stereotypes and stigma of marijuana and illuminates the truths involved. No matter our opinion or feelings on the issue, the presentation of information for the audience makes a very convincing argument. Work Cited: Egan, Timothy. â€Å"Give Pot a Chance.† Opinionator Give Pot a Chance Comments. New York Times, 22 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. .

Sullivan Surname Meaning and Family History

Sullivan Surname Meaning and Family History The common Sullivan surname means hawk-eyed or little dark-eyed one, derived from the Irish sà ºildhubhn, from suil, meaning eye and dubh, meaning black. Sullivan is the 92nd most popular surname in the United States and the third most common surname in Ireland. Surname Origin:  Irish Alternate Surname Spellings:  OSULLIVAN, OSULLIVAN Famous People with the SULLIVAN Surname Arthur Sullivan - 19th century British conductor and composerLouis Sullivan- widely considered Americas first modern architectAnne Sullivan - American teacher  best known for her work with Helen KellerEd Sullivan -  Ã‚  American journalist, producer and TV host; best known for his successful variety program, The Ed Sullivan Show. Where is the SULLIVAN Surname Most Common? The Sullivan surname, according to surname distribution information from  Forebears, is most prevalent in the United States, where it comes in as the 81st most common last name. There are more individuals named Sullivan in Ireland, however, based on percentage of population. It is also fairly common in Australia and Wales. Genealogy Resources for the Surname Sullivan 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their Meanings: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census?Sullivan/OSullivan DNA Project: More than 400 members have joined this project for the Sullivan surname (and variants such as OSullivan) to  work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information.SULLIVAN Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Sullivan ancestors around the world. Search the forum for posts about your Sullivan ancestors, or join the forum and post your own queries.  FamilySearch - SULLIVAN  Genealogy: Explore over 4.9 million  results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Sullivan surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet - Sullivan Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Sullivan surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. Ancestry.com: Sullivan Surname: Explore over 11  million digitized records and database entries, including census records, passenger lists, military records, land deeds, probates, wills and other records for the Sullivan  surname on the subscription-based website, Ancestry.com.

The Duma in Russian History

The Duma in Russian History The Duma (Assembly in Russian) was an elected semi-representative body in Russia from 1906 to 1917. It was created by the leader of the ruling Tsarist regime Tsar Nicholas II in 1905 when the government was desperate to divide the opposition during an uprising. The creation of the assembly was very much against his will, but he had promised to create an elected, national, legislative assembly. After the announcement, hopes were high that the Duma would bring democracy, but it was soon revealed that the Duma would have two chambers, only one of which was elected by the Russian people. The Tsar appointed the other, and that house held a veto over any actions of the other. Also, the Tsar retained ‘Supreme Autocratic Power.’ In effect, the Duma was neutered right from the start, and people knew it. There were four Dumas during the institution’s lifetime: 1906, 1907, 1907–12 and 1912–17; each had several hundred members made up of a mix of peasants and ruling classes, professional men and workers alike. Dumas 1 and 2 The first Duma was comprised of deputies angry at the Tsar and what they perceived as backtracking on his promises. The Tsar dissolved the body after only two months when the government felt the Duma complained too much and was intractable. Indeed, when the Duma had sent the Tsar a list of grievances, he had replied by sending the first two things he felt able to let them decide on: a new laundry and a new greenhouse. The Duma found this offensive and the relations broke down. The second Duma lasted from February to June 1907, and, because of the actions of Kadet liberals shortly before the election, the Duma was dominated by extremely anti-government factions. This Duma had 520 members, only 6% (31) had been in the first Duma: the government outlawed anybody who signed the Viborg Manifesto protesting dissolving of the first one. When this Duma opposed the reforms of Nicholass Minister of the Interior Pyotr A. Stolypin, it too was dissolved. Dumas 3 and 4 Despite this false start, the Tsar persevered, keen to portray Russia as a democratic body to the world, particularly trade partners like Britain and France who were pushing forward with limited democracy. The government changed the voting laws, limiting the electorate to just those who owned property, disenfranchising most peasants and workers (the groups who would come to be used in the 1917 revolutions). The result was the more docile third Duma of 1907, dominated by Russia’s Tsar-friendly right wing. However, the body did get some laws and reforms put into effect. New elections were held in 1912, and the fourth Duma was created. This was still less radical than the first and second Dumas, but was still deeply critical of the Tsar and closely questioned government ministers. End of the Duma During the First World War, the members of the fourth Duma grew increasingly critical of the inept Russian government, and in 1917 joined with the army to send a delegation to the Tsar, asking him to abdicate. When he did so, the Duma transformed into part of the Provisional Government. This group of men tried to run Russia in conjunction with the Soviets while a constitution was drawn up, but all that was washed away in the October Revolution. The Duma has to be considered a significant failure for the Russian people, and also for the Tsar, as none of them were either a representative body or a complete puppet. On the other hand, compared to what followed after October 1917, it had a lot to recommend it. Sources Bailey, Sydney D. Police Socialism in Tsarist Russia. The Review of Politics 19.4 (1957): 462–71.Briman, Shimon. The Jewish Question and Elections to the First and Second Duma, 1905-1907. Proceedings of the World Congress of Jewish Studies 1997 (1997): 185–88.Keep, J. L. H. Russian Social-Democracy and the First State Duma. The Slavonic and East European Review 34.82 (1955): 180–99. Walsh, Warren B. The Composition of the Dumas. The Russian Review 8.2 (1949): 111–16. Print.Walsh, Warren B. Political Parties in the Russian Dumas. The Journal of Modern History 22.2 (1950): 144–50. Print.

Every Child Matters Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Every Child Matters - Literature review Example The Children Act 2004 obliges schools and children's service agencies and other agencies, such as police, prisons and NHS trusts to protect children and promote their welfare. The agenda includes everything from "maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation, accidental injury, and death, bullying and discrimination, to crime and antisocial behavior."   The areas of focus have been an educational failure, ill health, substance addiction, teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect, crime and anti-social behavior among children and young people.The policy includes five main aims   of focus - be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution to society and achieve economic wellbeing. The aims of the program have been good health (mental and physical, health lifestyles), skills development, community and society participation, economic well-being, creating Sure Start Children’s Centres in at-risk neighborhoods. The Sure Start children's centre programme offers early learning opportunities for children. The program is based on the belief that high-quality play and books at early age help in further learning effort at later stages of schooling. This helps to identify early learning abilities of children and prevent any possible defects. Along with other planned activities the policy aimed to boost child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) through creation of a Young People’s Fund. The policy also targets improvement of speech and language therapy. There are also many other activities planned to boost the level of child protection and development.  

2 Million Minutes Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

2 Million Minutes - Movie Review Example Directed by Robert Compton, Adam Raney and Chad Heeter; 2 million minutes is a documentary film which raises stark questions on the competitiveness and efficiency of education system of America.Taking examples of students from three major competing nations ought to become superpowers- America, India and China, the film addresses issues of schooling, establishing balance between education and extra-curricular activities and overall power of these nations in supplying innovative and intelligent minds (Harvard Educational Review 2011). The movie revolves around 6 students- two each from America, India and China. While American students get themselves more involved in friends and extra-curricular activities; students of India and China not only develop long term goals in fields of Science and Math, but also maintain a balance between other activities. All in all, schooling system in India and China exposes its youth to more comprehensive education and extra-curricular experience than do American system. This is why Indian and Chinese students aspire to become scientists, engineers and doctors, while American kids are dazzled by football players, actors and sports persons. Issues raised in the film The film highlights numerous issues which the American economy is exposed to. Dealing with education system and its contribution in making a nation competitive and self-sufficient; the movie revolves around seeking answers to how American system has lost its motivation of developing entrepreneurs and inventors and how parents are setting deviated priorities for their children. Lack of motivation and unclear priorities Aspirations of students take shape by prominent inventions and research work going on in the nation. America was once the land of space research, math and science geniuses which molded student aspirations to become scientists, engineers and researchers. Now when students see football players, sports persons and actors steal the show, their motivation level a nd direction has changed. This is seriously going to hurt the American economy in the long run as the latter category of careers do not make a nation self-sufficient and competitive in the fight of global reliance. Responsibility of parents In India and China, most of the poor parents want their children to be educated and independent as they themselves have been living in miserable plights. As such, both the parents and children have their goals clear and focused upon. This is not the case with American parents who have been living affluently and whose children do not understand what poverty is. Thus, American education system suffers from confusion between what parents think and what children want. Another point revealed from this discussion is the level of involvement and responsibility sharing by parents in making their children competitive globally. In India and China, parents are equally responsible for how their children fare in their exams and career. They invest time, effor t and obviously money in their child’s endeavor to fly with bright colors. American parents, however, do not take this much of their child’s academic responsibility as they prefer sports and athletics to academics. This is something which raises brows on how students are supported in their goal formation, planning and execution in America, India and China because after school or college, children learn from their home and parents. Stress taking Many experts opine that Indian parents put unnecessary pressure on their children. Students get stressed by subjects and are also not allowed to play or socialize much. To some extent, this is true. But on close observation, it is actually the need of the hour. The world has already been grappled with economic crisis, employment levels have plummeted and careers are not secure. In such circumstances, students need to be accustomed of functioning under stress conditions; otherwise hardships and challenges of life could not be fac ed. This is what Indian

Benefit from reading newspapers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Benefit from reading newspapers - Essay Example Knowledge plays a key role everywhere. The world has transformed into a global village through knowledge-based system and processes. Needless to say that knowledge has become a center point of all activities whether in office, manufacturing, services, research and development or even for household functions. And it is equally important to note that newspapers and magazines are a good source of knowledge for any individual to grow, develop and survive. School syllabus or curriculum just cannot suffice the purpose. Importance of newspaper reading can be gauged from the phrase of Emerson when he referred newspaper reading as the â€Å"second breakfast† of Americans (Lehuu, 134). In the following paragraphs, several benefits of reading newspapers and magazines are described; however, the list is not exhaustive. Newspapers provide a variety of information that ranges from current political events to economic affairs, from social to educational issues, from sporting activities to cu ltural events, from business to commerce, from fad to fashions, from weather reports to climate changes due to increased emissions and pollution impact. The list is unending as far as information and knowledge is concerned. Magazines and newspapers provide information on varied subjects much in detail presenting all pros and cons in black and white. Reading all of this, and that of our interest, boosts our knowledge enormously. Newspaper reading has other major benefits in improving our language. Newspapers help us not only in enhancing our vocabulary but also it informs how to use them correctly. Everyday reading of newspapers and magazines can increase our word power manifold related to a variety of subjects in a short period of time; that is a big task indeed! Expressing ourselves effectively, verbally and in writing, is certainly a daunting task. It is an undeniable fact that language skill is one the most useful and needed skill in one’s life regardless of position and n ature of work (Garrett, 2013). All good speakers such as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King were voracious readers. It is true that they were natural speakers but much of the speaking skill was acquired by them over time through widespread reading. One who wants to become a leader needs to have a powerful and impressive oratory to communicate and put their point across effectively. Newspaper reading certainly sharpens the skill, if tried diligently. Regular newspaper reading improves one’s language comprehension skills because the reader comes across a variety of writing style, expressions, word usage, arguments; this makes the reader familiar with several ways of expressions. At times, it could be a plain and simple language on a given topic and at some other times, the piece of writing could be full of sarcasm with implied meanings. Satirical writing, full of humor is more directed towards the politicians and bureaucrats. A detective p iece of writing leaves a space for readers to make out what author wants to convey. In the beginning, a novice has to read again and again to understand the real meaning of what has been said but more we read more we increase our ability to comprehend (Garrett, 2013). Those who want to build their careers in the fields such as journalism, politics, report analyst, or a teaching profession; they need to cultivate the habit of reading newspapers and reputed

Individual Differences and Emotion Recognition Scores

Individual Differences and Emotion Recognition Scores ABSTRACT This study investigates the extent to which individual differences such as age, gender and levels of depression affect emotion recognition. Participants were tested by being shown pictures of different facial emotions – happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust and fear. Their scores were then compared against the 3 factors. The findings show significant evidence for gender and levels of depression differences, but no significant negative correlation was found for age. The findings were also supported by previous studies, except for age. The results show that the hypothesis can only be partially supported. INTRODUCTION Terracciano, Merritt, Zonderman, and Evans (2003) study tested 2 groups – African American and Caucasian of 106 and 46 participants respectively. The African American sample consisted of 51 males and 55 females and had low- socioeconomic status with an mean of 12 years of education. The Caucasian sample consisted of 24 males and 22 females with higher socioeconomic status, and an mean of 16 years of education. Two types of perception of affect task (PAT) were used – face and sentence subtask (Lane et al., 1996). The results showed that the African American group fared poorer than the Caucasian group on both the faces and sentence task. Also when education was controlled for, the differences in scores remained. The Caucasian group had significantly higher results for females over males in the face task, and also higher scores in the sentence task. However, no gender difference was found in the African American group. These results suggest that there could be also be a cu ltural variance in emotion recognition. Calder et al. (2003) study examined 48 participants, half were between 18 to 30 years old and the rest were between 58 and 70 years old. Within each age group, genders were split evenly. Also, IQ was matched between groups. There were shown a total of 60 photographs taken from the picture of facial affect series (Ekman and Friesen, 1976). Participants were shown these pictures in a random order and asked to choose the best expression label for the picture, with no time limit. Their results showed there was a significant link between emotion and age group. They also found that the older participants were significantly better at recognizing disgust. Further experiments showed that there was a clear negative relationship between recognition of facial expression and increasing age. Also, it again confirmed previous results that recognizing disgust improved with age. Comparing results between age groups showed that, there was also no significant relationship between decline in recognition scores of other emotions and age. This suggests that poorer recognition in later age might not be due to general cognitive impairment. The aim of this experiment is to determine whether individual differences like age, gender and depression levels could affect emotion recognition abilities. In the last measure –depression levels, this experiment will compare differences in scores against different facial expressions. For example, Gollan, Pane, McCloskey and Cocarro (2008) investigated patients with major depression and healthy patients, 37 and 29 participants respectively. Gender was split evenly in both groups. They measured their responses for emotion recognition task using the Picture of facial Affect (Ekman and Friesen, 1976). Their results showed that depressed patients tend to recognize neutral faces as sad faces as compared to the healthy group. However, the healthy group tend to identify neutral faces as happy faces. My hypothesis is that the ability to recognize emotions is affected by individual differences, like gender, age and levels of depression. RESULTS In this experiment, we were interested in the overall effect of gender on emotion recognition. There was one independent variable which was gender, and this was an independent measures design. The dependent variable is the sum of recognition scores, a higher score indicated better accuracy of identification. An Independent samples t-test was used. The Levene’s test of homogeneity was significant F (38, 29.01) =12.257, p=0.001. This means that the assumption of homogeneity of variance is violated. The Mann-Whitney U Test showed that there was a difference between male and female scores in recognising emotions. The mean rank of males and females was 13.75 and 27.25 respectively, z=-3.665, p Figure 1: Bar graph showing the difference in mean recognitions scores by gender. In this experiment we were interested in the relationship between age and overall emotion recognition scores. There were two variables, which was age and sum of recognition scores. A higher score indicated better accuracy of identification of emotion. The Pearson’s correlational test was used, because we want to find the relationship between two variables. The correlational test showed that there is no significant negative relationship between the two variables, r=-0.184, n= , p=0.256. Two- tailed test. Figure 2: scatterplot showing no correlation between age and sum of recognition scores. In the last experiment we were interested in the effect of level of depression on emotion recognition scores. There was one independent variable- level of depression, and 3 levels normal, mildly depressed, highly depressed by splitting the depression scores. Scores are split by 0- 9, 10-21, 22-36 respectively. The dependent variable was emotion recognition scores. A higher score indicates a better accuracy of emotion recognition. A one- way independent measures ANOVA was used. It is predicted that there would be differences between level of depression and recognition scores. Levene’s test of homogeneity was significant F (2, 37) =11.67, p A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to determine the differences between levels of depression and ability of emotion recognition for different facial expressions. A non-significant box’s M test, p = 0.001 indicated homogeneity of covariance matrices of the dependent variable across the levels of depression. At alpha level of 0.05, Wilk’s test was significant, p =0.022. This means that there are significant differences between levels of depression on the ability to recognize emotions. The Levene’s test of homogeneity was only significant for scores of expression of anger, disgust and happiness (p =0.007, 0.002 and Thus, the findings show that there is significant difference between levels of depression and emotion recognition. Also, there is significant difference between the levels of depression and accuracy of disgusted expression recognition scores. Figure 3: Mean total sum of recognition scores for the groups, where 0 represents normal, 1 represents mild and 2 represents high level of depression. DISCUSSION This study has found evidence that suggests individual differences, for example gender and levels of depression affects emotion recognition. However, there were no significant correlations for age. The findings from the first experiment suggest that there was significant difference in performance between genders. It suggests that females were more accurate overall at identifying emotions compared to males. It is consistent with our prediction that individual differences have an effect on emotion recognition. Our findings of females with significant higher mean scores also support Terracciano et al. (2003) study that had similar results within the Caucasian group. In the second experiment, the results suggest that there is no negative relationship between age and emotion recognition scores. These findings are not consistent with our predictions that individual differences will affect ability for emotion recognition. However, our findings also support the study of Calder et al. (2003) that also had no significant correlation between age and emotion recognition. This could suggest that emotion recognition is not a dependent variable of age. Finally, in the last experiment the findings support our hypothesis that individual differences affect emotion recognition. The findings were similar to those of Gollan et al. (2008) to a certain extent. Gollan et al. (2008) found that depressed participants had a negative processing bias for facial expressions. However, evidence in our study suggests that highly depressed participants were only significantly better in accurately recognizing disgusted expressions. Thus, from the evidence we can see that our hypothesis is only partially supported. Furthermore, a correlational test only confirms a relationship exists, it does not show a definite cause and effect. Also, the number of highly depressed participants is not equal in proportion to the whole sample. It also has a small sample size and this could result in sampling error, thus making our results unreliable. This could explain lack of other differences found between other expression scores and levels of depression. Future research should also explore cultural differences between emotion recognition. The study by Terracciano et al. (2003) found differences in performance between African American and the Caucasian group. Although one possible reason could be, that the differences in results is due to better environmental factors in the Caucasian group. Further experiments have to be carried out to determine if there was a cultural effect on emotion recognition, or if it was due to other variables. Also, another study by Matsumoto (1989) examined 15 cultures and compared t heir scores against 4 factors – Power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity. All four factors vary differently between cultures. By comparing their correlation we can determine if there is a culture effect on emotion recognition. Matsumoto (1989) found that there were significant negative correlations between power distance and intensity ratings of negative emotions. Also, a positive correlation between individualism and intensity ratings of anger and fear, but no significant correlation for uncertainty avoidance was found. Although Matsumoto (1989) did not find full support for his hypothesis, it is still useful to explore this area of study. Examining cultural differences in emotion recognition is useful as it can be applied to real life uses in our global environment. The experiment has shown that this hypothesis has not been fully supported. Thus, we cannot conclude that there is a definite effect of individual differences on emotion recognition. REFERENCES American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(4th ed). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Caldera, A.J., Keanea, J., Manlya, T., Sprengelmeyerb, R., Scott, S., Nimmo-Smitha, I. Young, A.W. (2003). Facial expression recognition across the adult life span, Neuropsychologia, 41, 195–202. Ekman, P. Friesen, W.V. (1976). Pictures of Facial Affect. Palo Alto CA:Consulting Psychologists Press. Gollan, J.K., Pane, H.T., McCloskey, M.S. Coccaro, E.F. (2008) Identifying differences in biased affective information processing in major depression.Psychiatry Res, 159,18–24. Hamilton, M. (1967) Development of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. Br J Soc Clin Psychol,6, 278-296. Lane, R.D., Sechrest, L., Reidel, R., Weldon, V., Kaszniak, A. Schwartz, G.E. (1996). Impaired Verbal and Nonverbal Emotion Recognition in Alexithymia, Psychosomatic Medicine, 58, 203-210. Matsumoto, D. (1989). Cultural influences on the perception of emotion. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 20, 92–105. Terracciano, A., Merritt, M., Zonderman, A.B., Evans, M.K. (2003). Personality Traits and Sex Differences in Emotion Recognition among African Americans and Caucasians. Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1000, 309–312.

The United States from 1865 to 1950 Essay example -- essays research p

The United States changed dramatically from 1865 to 1950. Many changes occurred in industrialization, foreign affairs, government, as well as in society and culture. The events that took place within this time period helped shape this country into what it is today. Industrial development began with the railroad, with the help of Republican governments, who provided subsidies, loans and tax exemptions to railroad corporations. Over 52,000 miles of railroad were laid all over the nation between 1854 and 1879. Railroads stimulated growth. They required many resources to build, such as coal, wood, glass, rubber, and brass. Most importantly, the railroad connected the country. Although small factories were already up and running three decades before the Civil War, it wasn’t until after the 1850’s that the industrial economy boomed. Larger factories that produced goods to sell nationally and internationally were being built. These factories transformed the United States from a farming nation into the most industrialized nation in the world. There were advantages and disadvantages to this new industrial order. One disadvantage is the damage that industrialization did to the environment. Forests were cut to make way for big factories which, in some cases, left rivers, such as those in the Northeast, toxic. Another disadvantage was the working conditions. Industrial workers were overworked and underpaid. In 1890, an unskilled worker took home $1.50 for a ten hour work day. Children were exploited, working 60 hour work weeks and taking home a third of what an adult male made. African Americans faced an even greater challenge at work, discrimination at the workplace. They were given menial jobs and paid less than wh... ... case, Plessy vs. Ferguson, made it to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that segregation was not discrimination as long as the accommodations for both races were â€Å"separate but equal.† In 1954, the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education overturned the Plessy case. In 1894, African-American males were given the right to vote, even before women. In 1917, women were picketing in front of the White House for a right to vote. Some women became militants and initiated violence for which they were thrown in jail. Women were granted the right to vote in the United States in 1920. The United States went through a lot between 1865 and 1950. It has seen many changes in industrialization, foreign policy, government, and society and culture. I believe that these events, along with many, many others, have shaped the United States into the great nation it is today.

Community Service Organization in Florida Essay

The aspect of community service plays an important role in the contemporary community as this serve the most critical and significant needs of the public through actual interaction and organization dedication. Community service organizations are mainly established to provide effective and efficient public works for the benefits of the society on a non-profit agenda. These organizations are motivated by their selfless intentions to address the critical needs of the public, which they find to be overlooked by the general social system. As founded by individuals who are motivated to cater to the needs of the common people, community service organization becomes the tool sufficing for the intricate needs of certain individuals in different aspects. In the state of South Florida, the Jewish Community Services manifests to be an important community organization addressing senior adult needs in their locality. The JCS organization has many service pursuits ranging from healthcare, employments assistance, rehabilitation, food services and others, which are all viewed to be among the important social service needs in the Florida state. As this state tends to rapidly progress, their general social system tends to overlook certain social needs, which are still important in the humanitarian aspect. Because of this, organizations such as the Jewish Community Services are founded to attend to their certain community services for selfless idealism. Indeed, this organization is making an important contribution for the betterment of their society establishing them as an important cogwheel in the Florida’s humanitarian aspect. Organizations such as the JCS give off important social services without expecting financial commensuration from their target patients as part of their idealism for selfless contribution. As such, it is only appropriate to give due support to the cause of these organizations namely the JCS. Putting in contributions and manpower involvement to their cause will further enhance their effectiveness and efficiency towards addressing their purpose in the Florida’s social community. Indeed, through participating or contributing to the activities and programs of the JCS social service organization, every individual can realize a humanitarian purpose of selflessly addressing the critical needs of others for the betterment of their life as human beings. Bibliography Jewish Community Services of South Florida. October 23, 2007. http://www. jcsfl. org/.

Is It Fair to Criticise General Haig as a Donkey Who Led Lions

Is it fair to criticize General Haig as a donkey who led lions? Douglas Haig was a General during World War One. There is much controversy over General Haig’s reputation due to the high level of losses during his battles in command. Many people agree with David Lloyd George’s attitude of Haig and many other British Generals of World War One. They are said to be â€Å"donkeys†, incompetents who sent the â€Å"lions† (the soldier) into futile bloody battles. Many popular books, films and television programs also agree with David Lloyd George.The sad truth, however, was between two evenly matched opponents, that there was no other way of solving the conflict. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that that Douglas Haig was a poor General, or a donkey. The evidence is that General Haig, along with many other Generals, were used to handling small-scale forces in colonial warfare. They had a lot to learn about this type of warfare, for which they were very un prepared. Furthermore, communications were poor, and armies were too big and dispersed to be commanded by a General himself.Haig should have, however, made sure that all his soldiers knew what the plan was before they set off, and Haig should have planned how he was going to communicate with them. Moreover, if the infantry and artillery did manage to hit the enemy Haig lacked a fast moving force to use the situation effectively. Additionally, General Haig’s 1914 tactics had yet to catch up with the range and effectiveness of modern artillery and the latest machine guns. Likewise, Haig learnt the wrong lesson from previous attacks, instead of persisting with short times of extreme amounts of fire.Haig used heavier guns and longer bombardments that just churned up the ground and eliminated the element of surprise. Haig was not able to accept information passed on to him, a great example of this was when it was suggested that much of the barbed wire on the Somme was not cut, he admitted that himself, but he still continued with the attack. Another example of this was during Aube Ridge, when he also knew the wire was not cut in 1915, but he insisted the attack should continue and 1,000 men lost their lives for no gain.Not to mention, Haig’s ordering of successive attacks on the Somme during October and November 1916, with the ground reduced to a boggy area that gave way underfoot, achieved nothing but a degradation of morale and manpower. In 1917 other Generals were telling Haig that it was pointless to continue. No matter, Haig continued to hammer away for a further three months. Haig consistently told his soldiers that German morale and manpower were on the verge of collapse and that just one more push could break the enemy.To Haig’s defense it can be said that his army played a main part in defeating the German forces in the crucial battles of 1918. Furthermore, the Somme and Passchendaele, which are battles that have been known as unnecess ary murder of British troops, had sensible strategy, not least in the amount of damage they inflicted on the Germans. Moreover, Haig was not given a professional force; he was given a citizen army, which had less training and preparation for the battles. Additionally, the French tended to decide what to do during the battles, even though Haig was an independent commander.Besides, Germany had been working on placing high tech weapons onto the battlefield (quick-firing artillery and machine guns) and also low-tech defenses (trenches and barbed wire), which made Haig’s job considerably harder. At the battle of Loos, Sir John French wanted personal control of reserves. He therefore didn’t allow Haig (commander on the spot) to have them until it was too late, and the attack consequently failed causing thousands of casualties. Not to mention, at the battle of Neuve Chappelle, poor communications hampered the ability of Haig and the British Commander Sir John French, to send in reserves where they were needed.Also, when General Haig wanted to attack in Flanders, around Ypres, where the British army was closer to supplies and also to strategic targets just behind the German’s lines (coastal ports and coal mines). However, for the sake of unity in the alliance with France, the politicians at the time decided that the attack must come on the River Somme simply because this was where the British and French armies met in the trench line. The blame for the slaughter cannot, therefore, be placed entirely on Douglas Haig himself, simply because it was not his plan to attack on the River Somme.In addition, the German commanders would be fighting on ground they knew well, they also had the advantage of telephone cable which was deeply buried and therefore harder to cut. The German generals would therefore be able receive information far more quickly than their British counterparts. In conclusion, I think it is fair to criticize General Haig as a donkey who led lions. This is justifiable because Haig was often unprepared for the battle where he was responsible for thousands of men.Communication was a big problem for Haig; he did not insure that his soldiers were able to communicate messages during battle, which meant that soldiers were left confused, not understanding what there next plan of action was. Furthermore, General Haig’s had not been able to catch up with modern artillery and machine guns, which meant his battle tactics were often old fashioned and ineffective. Moreover, Haig was not able to accept intelligence that was passed on to him which meant he made drastic decisions, which would lead unsuspecting men to their deaths.