Foundation and Empire 16. Conference

When the twenty-seven independent Trading worlds, united only by their distrust of the mother planet of the Foundation, concert an assembly among themselves, and each is big with a pride grown of its smallness, hardened by its own insularity and embittered by eternal danger – there are preliminary negotiations to be overcome of a pettiness sufficiently staggering to heartsicken the most persevering. It is not enough to fix in advance such details as methods of voting, type of representation – whether by world or by population. These are matters of involved political importance. It is not enough to fix matters of priority at the table, both council and dinner, those are matters of involved social importance. It was the place of meeting – since that was a matter of overpowering provincialism. And in the end the devious routes of diplomacy led to the world of Radole, which some commentators had suggested at the start for logical reason of central position. Radole was a small world – and, in military potential, perhaps the weakest of the twenty-seven. That, by the way, was another factor in the logic of the choice. It was a ribbon world – of which the Galaxy boasts sufficient, but among which, the inhabited variety is a rarity for the physical requirements are difficult to meet. It was a world, in other words, where the two halves face the monotonous extremes of heat and cold, while the region of possible life is the girdling ribbon of the twilight zone. Such a world invariably sounds uninviting to those who have not tried it, but there exist spots, strategically placed – and Radole City was located in such a one. It spread along the soft slopes of the foothills before the hacked-out mountains that backed it along the rim of the cold hemisphere and held off the frightful ice. The warm, dry air of the sun-half spilled over, and from the mountains was piped the water-and between the two, Radole City became a continuous garden, swimming in the eternal morning of an eternal June. Each house nestled among its flower garden, open to the fangless elements. Each garden was a horticultural forcing ground, where luxury plants grew in fantastic patterns for the sake of the foreign exchange they brought – until Radole had almost become a producing world, rather than a typical Trading world. So, in its way, Radole City was a little point of softness and luxury on a horrible planet – a tiny scrap of Eden – and that, too, was a factor in the logic of the choice. The strangers came from each of the twenty-six other Trading worlds: delegates, wives, secretaries, newsmen, ships, and crews – and Radole's population nearly doubled and Radole's resources strained themselves to the limit. One ate at will, and drank at will, and slept not at all. Yet there were few among the roisterers who were not intensely aware that all that volume of the Galaxy burnt slowly in a sort of quiet, slumbrous war. And of those who were aware, there were dime classes. First, there were the many who knew little and were very confident. Such as the young space pilot who wore the Haven cockade on the clasp of his cap, and who managed, in holding his glass before his eyes, to catch those of the faintly smiling Radolian girl opposite. He was saying: â€Å"We came fight through the war-zone to get here-on purpose. We traveled about a light-minute or so, in neutral, right past Horleggor-â€Å" â€Å"Horleggor?† broke in a long-legged native, who was playing host to that particular gathering. â€Å"That's where the Mule got the guts beat out of him last week, wasn't it?† â€Å"Where'd you hear that the Mule got the guts beat out of him?† demanded the pilot, loftily. â€Å"Foundation radio.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, the Mule's got Horleggor. We almost ran into a convoy of his ships, and that's where they were coming from. It isn't a gut-beating when you stay where you fought, and the gut-beater leaves in a hurry.† Someone else said in a high, blurred voice, â€Å"Don't talk like that. Foundation always takes it on the chin for a while. You watch; just sit tight and watch. Ol' Foundation knows when to come back. And then – pow!† The thick voice concluded and was succeeded by a bleary grin. â€Å"Anyway.† said the pilot from Haven, after a short pause, â€Å"As I say, we saw the Mule's ships, and they looked pretty good, pretty good. I tell you what – they looked new.† â€Å"New?† said the native, thoughtfully. â€Å"They build them themselves?† He broke a leaf from an overhanging branch, sniffed delicately at it, then crunched it between his teeth, the bruised tissues bleeding greenly and diffusing a minty odor. He said, â€Å"You trying to tell me they beat Foundation ships with homebuilt jobs? Go on.† â€Å"We saw them, doc. And I can tell a ship from a comet, too, you know.† The native leaned close. â€Å"You know what I think. Listen, don't kid yourself. Wars don't just start by themselves, and we have a bunch of shrewd apples running things. They know what they're doing.† The well-unthirsted one said with sudden loudness, â€Å"You watch ol' Foundation. They wait for the last minute, then – pow!† He grinned with vacuously open mouth at the girl, who moved away from him. The Radolian was saying, â€Å"For instance, old man, you think maybe that this Mule guy's running things. No-o-o.† And he wagged a finger horizontally. â€Å"The way I hear it, and from pretty high up, mind you, he's our boy. We're paying him off, and we probably built those ships. Let's be realistic about it – we probably did. Sure, he can't beat the Foundation in the long run, but he can get them shaky, and when he does – we get in.† The girl said, â€Å"Is that all you can talk about, Klev? The war? You make me tired.† The pilot from Haven said, in an access of gallantry, â€Å"Change the subject. Can't make the girls tired.† The bedewed one took up the refrain and banged a mug to the rhythm. The little groups of two that had formed broke up with giggles and swagger, and a few similar groups of twos emerged from the sun-house in the background. The conversation became more general, more varied, more meaningless. Then there were those who knew a little more and were less confident. Such as the one-armed Fran, whose large bulk represented Haven as official delegated, and who lived high in consequence, and cultivated new friendships – with women when he could and with men when he had to. It was on the sun platform of the hilltop home, of one of these new friends, that he relaxed for the first of what eventually proved to be a total of two times while on Radole. The new friend was Iwo Lyon, a kindred soul of Radole. Iwo's house was apart from the general cluster, apparently alone in a sea of floral perfume and insect chatter. The sun platform was a grassy strip of lawn set at a forty-five degree angle, and upon it Fran stretched out and fairly sopped up sun. He said, â€Å"Don't have anything like this on Haven.† Iwo replied, sleepily, â€Å"Ever seen the cold side. There's a spot twenty miles from here where the oxygen runs like water. â€Å" â€Å"Go on. â€Å"Fact.† â€Å"Well, I'll tell you, Iwo-In the old days before my arm was chewed off I knocked around, see – and you won't believe this, but† – The story that followed lasted considerably, and Iwo didn't believe it. Iwo said, through yawns, â€Å"They don't make them like in the old days, that's the truth.† â€Å"No, guess they don't. Well, now,† Fran fired up, â€Å"don't say that. I told you about my son, didn't I? He's one of the old school, if you like. He'll make a great Trader, blast it. He's his old man up and down. Up and down, except that he gets married.† â€Å"You mean legal contract? With a girl?† â€Å"That's right. Don't see the sense in it myself. They went to Kalgan for their honeymoon.† â€Å"Kalgan? Kalgan? When the Galaxy was this?† Fran smiled broadly, and said with slow meaning, â€Å"Just before the Mule declared war on the Foundation.† â€Å"That so?† Fran nodded and motioned Iwo closer with his head. He said, hoarsely, â€Å"In fact, I can tell you something, if you don't let it go any further. My boy was sent to Kalgan for a purpose. Now I wouldn't like to let it out, you know, just what the purpose was, naturally, but you look at the situation now, and I suppose you can make a pretty good guess. In any case, my boy was the man for the job. We Traders needed some sort of ruckus.† He smiled, craftily. â€Å"It's here. I'm not saying how we did it, but – my boy went to Kalgan, and the Mule sent out his ships. My son!† Iwo was duly impressed. He grew confidential in his turn, â€Å"That's good. You know, they say we've got five hundred ships ready to pitch in on our own at the right time. â€Å" Fran said authoritatively, â€Å"More than that, maybe. This is real strategy. This is the kind I like.† He clawed loudly at the skin of his abdomen. â€Å"But don't you forget that the Mule is a smart boy, too. What happened at Horleggor worries me.† â€Å"I heard he lost about ten ships.† â€Å"Sure, but he had a hundred more, and the Foundation had to get out. It's all to the good to have those tyrants beaten, but not as quickly as all that.† He shook his head. â€Å"The question I ask is where does the Mule get his ships? There's a widespread rumor we're making them for him.† â€Å"We? The Traders? Haven has the biggest ship factories anywhere in the independent worlds, and we haven't made one for anyone but ourselves. Do you suppose any world is building a fleet for the Mule on its own, without taking the precaution of united action? That's a†¦ a fairy tale.† â€Å"Well, where does he get them?† And Fran shrugged, â€Å"Makes them himself, I suppose. That worries me, too.† Fran blinked at the sun and curled his toes about the smooth wood of the polished foot-rest. Slowly, he fell asleep and the soft burr of his breathing mingled with the insect sibilance. Lastly, there were the very few who knew considerable and were not confident at all. Such as Randu, who on the fifth day of the all-Trader convention entered the Central Hall and found the two men he had asked to be there, waiting for him. The five hundred seats were empty – and were going to stay so. Randu said quickly, almost before he sat down, â€Å"We three represent about half the military potential of the Independent Trading Worlds.† â€Å"Yes,† said Mangin of Iss, â€Å"my colleague and I have already commented upon the fact.† â€Å"I am ready,† said Randu, â€Å"to speak quickly and earnestly. I am not interested in bargaining or subtlety. Our position is radically in the worse.† â€Å"As a result of-† urged Ovall Gri of Mnemon. â€Å"Of developments of the last hour. Please! From the beginning. First, our position is not of our doing, and but doubtfully of our control. Our original dealings were not with the Mule, but with several others; notably the ex-warlord of Kalgan, whom the Mule defeated at a most inconvenient time for us.† â€Å"Yes, but this Mule is a worthy substitute,† said Mangin. â€Å"I do not cavil at details.† â€Å"You may when you know all the details.† Randu leaned forward and placed his hands upon the table palms-up in an obvious gesture. He said, â€Å"A month ago I sent my nephew and my nephew's wife to Kalgan.† â€Å"Your nephew!† cried Ovall Gri, in surprise. â€Å"I did not know he was your nephew.† â€Å"With what purpose,† asked Mangin, dryly. â€Å"This?† And his thumb drew an inclusive circle high in the air. â€Å"No. If you mean the Mule's war on the Foundation, no. How could I aim so high? The young man knew nothing – neither of our organization nor of our aims. He was told I was a minor member of an intra-Haven patriotic society, and his function at Kalgan was nothing but that of an amateur observer. My motives were, I must admit, rather obscure. Mainly, I was curious about the Mule. He is a strange phenomenon – but that's a chewed cud; I'll not go into it. Secondly, it would make an interesting and educational training project for a man who had experience with the Foundation and the Foundation underground and showed promise of future usefulness to us. You see-â€Å" Ovall's long face fell into vertical lines as he showed his large teeth, â€Å"You must have been surprised at the outcome, then, since there is not a world among the Traders, I believe, that does not know that this nephew of yours abducted a Mule underling in the name of the Foundation and furnished the Mule with a casus belli. Galaxy, Randu, you spin romances. I find it hard to believe you had no hand in that. Come, it was a skillful job.† Randu shook his white head, â€Å"Not of my doing. Nor, willfully, of my nephew's, who is now held prisoner at the Foundation, and may not live to see the completion of this so-skillful job. I have just heard from him. The Personal Capsule has been smuggled out somehow, come through the war zone, gone to Haven, and traveled from there to here. It has been a month on its travels.† â€Å"And?-â€Å" Randu leaned a heavy hand upon the heel of his palm and said, sadly, â€Å"I'm afraid we are cast for the same role that the onetime warlord of Kalgan played. The Mule is a mutant!† There was a momentary qualm; a faint impression of quickened heartbeats. Randu might easily have imagined it. When Mangin spoke, the evenness of his voice was unchanged, â€Å"How do you know?† â€Å"Only because my nephew says so, but he was on Kalgan. â€Å"What kind of a mutant? There are all kinds, you know.† Randu forced the rising impatience down, â€Å"All kinds of mutants, yes, Mangin. All kinds! But only one kind of Mule. What kind of a mutant would start as an unknown, assemble an army, establish, they say, a five-mile asteroid as original base, capture a planet, then a system, then a region – and then attack the Foundation, and defeat them at Horleggor. And all in two or three years!† Ovall Gri shrugged, â€Å"So you think he'll beat the Foundation?† â€Å"I don't know. Suppose he does?† â€Å"Sorry, I can't go that far. You don't beat the Foundation. Look, there's not a new fact we have to go on except for the statements of a†¦ well, of an inexperienced boy. Suppose we shelve it for a while. With all the Mule's victories, we weren't worried until now, and unless he goes a good deal further than he has, I see no reason to change that. Yes?† Randu frowned and despaired at the cobweb texture of his argument. He said to both, â€Å"Have we yet made any contact with the Mule?† â€Å"No,† both answered. â€Å"It's true, though, that we've tried, isn't it? It's true that there's not much purpose to our meeting unless we do reach him, isn't it? It's true that so far there's been more drinking than thinking, and more wooing than doing – I quote from an editorial in today's Radole Tribune – and all because we can't reach the Mule. Gentlemen, we have nearly a thousand ships waiting to be thrown into the fight at the proper moment to seize control of the Foundation. I say we should change that. I say, throw those thousand onto the board now – against the Mule.† â€Å"You mean for the Tyrant Indbur and the bloodsuckers of the Foundation?† demanded Mangin, with quiet venom. Randu raised a weary hand, â€Å"Spare me the adjectives. Against the Mule, I say, and for I-don't-care-who.† Ovall Gri rose, â€Å"Randu, I'll have nothing to do with that, You present it to the full council tonight if you particularly hunger for political suicide.† He left without another word and Mangin followed silently, leaving Randu to drag out a lonely hour of endless, insoluble consideration. At the full council that night, he said nothing. But it was Ovall Gri who pushed into his room the next morning; an Ovall Gri only sketchily dressed and who had neither shaved nor combed his hair. Randu stared at him over a yet-uncleared breakfast table with an astonishment sufficiently open and strenuous to cause him to drop his pipe. Ovall said baldly, harshly. â€Å"Mnemon has been bombarded from space by treacherous attack.† Randu's eyes narrowed, â€Å"The Foundation?† â€Å"The Mule!† exploded Ovall. â€Å"The Mule!† His words raced, â€Å"It was unprovoked and deliberate. Most of our fleet had joined the international flotilla. The few left as Home Squadron were insufficient and were blown out of the sky. There have been no landings yet, and there may not be, for half the attackers are reported destroyed – but it is war – and I have come to ask how Haven stands on the matter.† â€Å"Haven, I am sure, will adhere to the spirit of the Charter of Federation. But, you see? He attacks us as well.† â€Å"This Mule is a madman. Can he defeat the universe?† He faltered and sat down to seize Randu's wrist, â€Å"Our few survivors have reported the Mule's poss†¦ enemy's possession of a new weapon. A nuclear-field depressor.† â€Å"A what?† Ovall said, â€Å"Most of our ships were lost because their nuclear weapons failed them. It could not have happened by either accident or sabotage. It must have been a weapon of the Mule. It didn't work perfectly; the effect was intermittent; there were ways to neutralize – my dispatches are not detailed. But you see that such a tool would change the nature of war and, possibly, make our entire fleet obsolete.† Randu felt an old, old man. His face sagged hopelessly, â€Å"I am afraid a monster is grown that will devour all of us. Yet we must fight him.†

Downfall of a Leader

The Foolishness of Achilles’ Anger What causes a great leader to fall? Why do people who have such large potential fail? Could it be pressure? Expectations? Circumstances? All these things may contribute but the final blows are made by a serious character flaw or a series of unwise choices. Two men help to illustrate this fact. First, Achilles, who was brought down by over-reacting and his own anger, faced failure as a leader. Second, Samson made foolish decisions and paid for them with his life. Achilles, who was one of several Greek princes under King Agamemnon, demonstrates the foolishness of anger. Agamemnon and Achilles had each earned attractive women in battle. When Agamemnon had to return his woman to her father, the King took Briseis, Achilles’ prize, for himself, thus removing Achilles’ glory from him. Foolishly, Achilles responded with rage. He would not fight for Agamemnon against the Trojans until his honor was restored. He stomped back to his own hall and his own ships, taking his own countrymen with him. The Trojans almost slaughtered all the Greeks before the two quarreling captains made peace and Achilles willingly fought for his country. Achilles’ anger caused many unfortunate consequences. One consequence was his own misery. Selfishness equals misery. Since most of his friends did not like him anymore, he felt very lonely. A second outcome of Achilles’ bitterness was the death of many people. Because he continued his pouting, the war lasted several days longer and many soldiers perished needlessly. Lastly, the irritation resulted in the untimely end of his best friend, Petroclus, who bravely marched into battle wearing Achilles’ armor. Achilles, although he was a skillful, courageous warrior, provides a clear example of the nasty effects of resentment. Another potentially great leader was Samson. Samson was born to deliver the Israelites because they had fallen into sin again. Although he had to follow strict rules, he would be a great and strong man. He could not cut his hair, or touch any unclean animal, and he was required to follow all the rules of the Nazirites. Samson thoughtlessly broke many of the rules on him. He married a woman who was not from Israel, he touched an unclean animal, and wholly rejected his calling to save Israel. God however, was going to have his way, with or without Samson’s obedience. While Samson had destroyed many Philistines, the Israelites captors, he was still unwilling to obey. At last Samson made an incurable mistake; he told Delilah how to make himself weak. Samson spent the rest of his short life as a captive to the Philistines. His eyes were plucked out. He worked like an animal. He was treated like dirt. In the end he did destroy the Philistine army, but only with his own death. His bad choices led him to a place he never intended to go. When he was born, he had the potential to be Israel’s greatest and grandest judge, but instead he became a blind man who had to die to fulfill his purpose. Although both Samson and Achilles were great men, they failed because of their anger, foolishness, selfishness, and resentment. They ruined their possible success by making unwise decisions. Even though they were born to greatness, their reputations are marred by their reckless behavior. These two men’s lives reveal the stumbling blocks that cause leaders to fall.

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Matisses Dance - Essay Example Henri Matisse received an important commission in 1909 from Sergei Shchukin, who was a wealthy Russian industrialist. Shchukin asked Matisse to pain three large scale canvases that would be used to decorate the spiral staircase of his Trubetskoy palace Mansion located in Moscow. After the Russian revolution of 1917, these panels were obtained by the Hermitage. the Large and well loved painting Dance 1 is considered to be rather disingenuously titled and although it is essentially a full scale in oil, of interest is that Matisse did not initially consider it to be more than a preparatory sketch (Rubin & Matisse, 2008). Henri Matisse was already an established law clerk in Paris when he began to keenly follow his interest in art and painting. He conducted an intense study of the works of some of the post-impressionistic painters such as Paul Cezanne before he and some of his contemporaries went on to create what was dubbed as the Fauvism movement. The Fauvism movement was their perception of the post-impressionistic era. However, this movement lasted for a relatively very short duration and its signature brush strokes eventually disappeared from Matisse’s work which later on went to encompass the Cubist movement style. The Dance 1 painting is considered to be one of the most noteworthy pieces that Matisse was able to produce during his Fauvism period (Zibas, 2011).

Introduction to Brand Management (Cadbury Dairy Milk) Coursework

Introduction to Brand Management (Cadbury Dairy Milk) - Coursework Example Being unique is the ultimate goal of branding. Cadbury Dairy Milk offers a wide range of products in different countries all over the world. These products range from chocolate bars of different flavors to additives that can be used in beverages. This ensures the company to cater to a wider base of consumers who have different tastes. For a brand to be competitive and successful a company should customize its products according to the needs of its consumers and make it appealing to them (Ahonen 2008). Cadbury has used brighter colors on its chocolate bars and beverage additives so at to assist consumers to spot their favorite bars on the shelf and make their products attractive to capture more consumers. To stand out as the leading organization in the confectionery industry, Cadbury maintain uniformity and consistency. Uniformity ensures that its products all over the world have the same taste and quality. Consistency is to ensure that ingredients of the products do not vary a lot, for instance, a situation where similar products tend to differ in the sugar levels, color, among others. Having a flawless brand enables consumers to have a good perception of the products, and they will tend to purchase them whenever they are out for shopping. Cadbury Dairy Milk has risen to greater heights through its quality branding, and this has made their consumers develop trust towards the company’s products, ensuring repeated purchases of their products by their consumers. In addition, individuals who have never used their products can also buy their products due to the trust they have developed from its quality branding as they are sure even their products will satisfy them (Laforet & Saunders 2005). Brand Awareness is the magnitude to which a service or product is known by prospective consumers and is appropriately related to a specific product. It is associated with the functions of brand identities in the

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Hospitality History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hospitality History - Essay Example As many organizations continue to struggle in the market segment, the hospitality industry continues to record impressive profits (Gray, 2009). Statistics in the US reveal that between 2009 and 2014, the industry has been postulated to create 17% more jobs to people. The industry has been providing young people with well paying jobs and of these, 21% are aged between 16 and 20 years. This implies that the industry has a great future because a bulk of its workers is young people, who are growing in experience every year. The success that this industry is currently enjoying has not originated out of the blues. The foundation was set hundreds to thousands of years ago, and there has been gradual evolution over time. However, with evolution of the hospitality industry, profit generation has been injected into the process whereby, visitors are given noteworthy treatment in exchange for money. The money in turn is used to expand the industry. Therefore, the difference between hospitality f rom medieval times and the current era is that, the former was not a profit generating course while the latter is a large industry that generates a lot of profit and employs very many workers (Clayton, 20070. The hospitality industry’s origins span back to the colonial era in the late 17th century. Later, it began to take shape, evolving into the dynamic industry that we know in the current world. In its development, it has encountered world wars, natural calamities and social changes, but none of these suppressed the industry. Even in the biblical setting, we are introduced to hospitality whereby visitors were well received by people from other areas. For example, Abraham had his tent, and upon looking at it closely, he felt that if visitors saw that he had one entrance, they would not feel welcome. He, therefore, decided to create four entrances to his tent, visitors would be encouraged to come. After he did this, visitors multiplied in numbers, and many of them would pass by his tent as they were travelling. Abraham would welcome and feed them well and after a few days, they would continue with their journey. Later, Japanese dynasties, Native American Indians and European Monarchs set up quarters in their residences for visitors where meals and recreational facilities were offered (Lashley, 2008). Early hospitality was noted in Greek and roman cultures as early as 40 BC. During this era, people began travelling which necessitated the establishment of hospitality cultures. Later in the medieval period, English travelers emerged. During this period, people started using other transportation means apart from foot transport. Stagecoach became the favored form of transportation and inns were established for travelled. As time went by, the hospitality industry grew and became a bit profitable. Furthermore, employment opportunities were enhanced in the industry. In the renaissance period (16th century), there was a high demand for taverns and inns since tra velers were increasing in numbers. The first hotel in this period was the Hotel de Henry IV that was built in 1788. With a bed capacity of 60 beds, it provided noteworthy services to travelers. This was the beginning of hotel establishment in the hospitality industry. Coffee houses were a popular destination for business travelers (Cummings, 2009). The 18th century marked the beginning of the New World.

Accounting Final Common Assessment Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Accounting Final Common Assessment Paper - Essay Example This is also carried out to ensure that the information provided by the accounting function is meaningful and relevant to its users. Every organization does have an accounting function to assist in recording and reporting of financial information generated from different activities of the business. The data processed by the accounting function can be useful to users of this information in many ways. This paper looks at the role of accounting in organizations and its importance in terms of managing a business. Furthermore, it will delve the usefulness of the accounting information generated the accounting function. The importance of accounting function in any organization cannot be ignored. It is considered as an independent function which is responsible for gathering information from different business activities and then compiling and publishing them in accordance to the reporting standards. The role of accounting has changed over the years. It is not just limited to reporting of financial information to external users, but also is responsible for performing various other tasks in any organization. Accountants are involved in planning and implementation of the company’s strategies through different processes.... For example, inventory of a company can be recognized and recorded using four different methods such as First In First Out (FIFO), Last In Last Out (LIFO), Average Cost, and Output Method. It should be noted that different methods of recording inventory will yield different results in the same year, and companies have the choice of selecting a method and reporting their inventory according to the requirements of reporting standards. However, it should also be highlighted that the choice of different accounting methods should be in accordance to the requirements of accounting standards. In the recent years, several frauds surfaced the US corporate sector, which were blamed on the inherent loopholes and too much flexibility in the US GAAP. Since then, efforts between FASB and IASB are being carried to improve the accounting standards and reconcile methods of recording and reporting different elements of a business. One of the core functions of accounting is to collect data from differe nt business segments and process it into a form of information, which is understandable, relevant, and complete. Each business segment performs different activities and produce data which has to be consolidated by the accounting function of organizations. This information is referred to accounting information that may exist in different forms. Traditionally, this information was only available based on paper based working methods. However, as information technologies have been developed the accounting function has been shifted to computerized systems. These systems allow systematic entry of data and then making this information accessible to accountants who then process this data using various tools to generate financial information. In

Analysis of the Existing Strategy of the TUI Group Essay

Analysis of the Existing Strategy of the TUI Group - Essay Example The modern critics of the modern forms of planning and management postulate the notions that the modern world is dominated by uncertainty, complexity and widespread of ambiguity. It is, therefore, noted that in such dynamic environment, there is need of being flexible to respond swiftly to the changing conditions and this often calls for the alteration of the already established organization’s strategies to suit the current market structures (Weaver & Oppermann 45). Business and organization strategies offer the illustrations on the activities that the managers and stakeholders undertake as designed to achieve the firm’s objectives either in the short run or long run. Every organization has a purpose to accomplish and a defined direction of achieving it and these are always clearly articulated and embraced in their mission statement thereby acting as a guiding principle (Holloway 65). In a broader sense, business strategies are considered to be game plans that enable an organization to execute its activities that are geared towards achieving their objectives such as the expansion of market share and sales. Definition according to Ansoff takes business strategy as the common thread among firms, activities and the product markets that are aimed at defining the fundamental nature of the business that the organization has planned to be in the future. He, therefore, introduces the Ansoff Matrix that gives four main strategies that when impleme nted by an organization helps in the attainment of business growth.

American Wartime Music Composers - Cohan & Berlin Term Paper

American Wartime Music Composers - Cohan & Berlin - Term Paper Example The 20th century was such a juxtaposition of styles, forms, and genres of music that it was difficult to chose two "composers" who had something in common. Perception is one of the most important tools of propaganda. For the first time aural perception was combined with the visual. Audiences became more demanding as the subjective choice of music was more diverse and more complicated . The radio was a significant factor in the mass distribution of different types of music. By World War II, composers of all genre were put in the forefront for the first time in history . Contrary to social believe, composers were highly touched by the effects of the number of deaths of the World War I and the number of deaths by the flue pandemic which closed theaters for almost 3 years. The two World Wars created different levels of propaganda and thus music was used differently. By World War II, audiences expected to be entertained by going to dance halls, jazz bands, musicals, music revues†¦. A s radio was a major form of entertainment in the majority of American households, music stations flourished. By World War II, it was common to go to cinema once a week. The United States War Office had a "Wartime Music Committee". (Sheppard 304) Audiences at home were under the influence that all was going well in both wars and soldiers were played music when they were in the mess hall; saw movies and were fed propaganda that the Americans were winning battles. Music was an important part of the war effort Each soldier was given a book of military songs. Over 9 000 songs were composed from the start of World War 1. Composers and producers were drafted or volunteered to entertain the troops. At the turn of the century, Musical theatre was a juxtaposition of a group of songs with a slight story line. George Cohan (b. 1878 d.1942) was raised in a family of vaudeville performers. (Kenrick) In the early 1900's the US was in a state of economic stability and patriotism. American Musical t heater was in its infancy. Vaudeville performances were still common. A group of diverse traveling performers would perform on stage with no continuity in the program. He is quoted as saying his family was making $1 000.00 a week in the late 1800's. (Kenrick)When he came to New York, he began writing and composing his own songs and "sketches". They were the equivalent of musicals but they were simplistic and missed the continuity of full musicals of today. They were a group of songs, perhaps in different keys without any or a few common musical themes. He is considered the father of American Musical Theatre.(Ewan 68) As a proud chauvinist, his song writing was one of the first to be used to promote national cause or "national propaganda". As soon as President Wilson declared war, his most famous song "Over There" became a national hit. (Kenrick) It showed the value of fighting the war. His war songs showed the negative side of staying out of the war. His songs did not take into acco unt the human emotional side of fighting a war. Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was one of many Jewish immigrants who came to the US as a child. He lived in abject poverty. His father was a singer (cantor) in the synagogue so his son would have had vocal religious training. This fact is not to be neglected as a young orthodox Jew he chanted his studies. (Kenrick) Once in the US, his father died within 2 years and as a child I Berlin went to work on the streets to help support his family. Little by little

Ben & Jerrys Company Analysis - Short Essay Example for Free

Ben Jerrys Company Analysis Short Essay Companies like Ben Jerry’s could definitely be affected by high inflation because of the consumer spending. When the consumers are forced to pay higher prices for products or services that are a necessity, they cut back on products or services that are a luxury. Luxuries that are not a necessity to live like gasoline for vehicles or gas to heat homes or even food will not be bought. Any company that sells a luxury item that is not a necessity to live can be affected by high inflation. With inflation, the price of everything goes up. With that said, the price for companies to buy supplies goes up, meaning that in order to cover their overhead, they will need to find a way to make that money back which could mean layoffs or raising the price of their goods or products. In a recession, companies like Ben Jerry’s could also face the possibility of being negatively affected because of the demand of consumers. Very much like inflation, recession has the same effect; the consumers do not want to spend their money on luxury items. With the recession, there are more people unemployed who are just barely getting by, therefore, will refuse to spend any money on something that does not decide whether they have a home or not, which includes a luxury item like ice cream. Ben Jerry’s could also be affected because of their stock prices. During a recession, the price of stock usually declines. So, their revenue would be affected as well as their stock, which would result in bad overall performance of the company. Speaking from personal experience, any luxury item that I absolutely do not need, I do not buy. I simply cannot put myself in a position to not pay a bill because I want to â€Å"treat† myself. With all this said, Ben Jerry’s provides a reasonably priced luxury item that I would consider a â€Å"feel-good† luxury item. Everyone loves ice cream, young and old. Consumers still need to have a quality of life with the changing economic conditions and if buying an affordable luxury item gives them that, they are going to splurge and buy it. Unlike other luxury items, such as getting clothing and spa appointments, the consumer still gets to feel good and not go broke. Ben Jerry’s makes a one of a kind product, their flavored ice cream, which makes it an easy buying decision for the consumer. The text book also explains that McDonald’s is not hit as sensitive to the economic conditions for the same reason. Their food is reasonably priced and the consumer still gets to feel like they are â€Å"treating† themselves to restaurant food without breaking the bank. Ben Jerry’s has social, product and economic condition missions that make them popular in their industry. Not only do they care about making a profit, but they care about their people, environment and planet. They have mission statements for each of these and they follow through. As a consumer, I would rather buy my luxury item from a company that cares about something other than making a buck like their competitors. They make their ice cream to support causes like the recent Imagine Whirled Peace flavor that hosted a competition and donated money to them to support their peace cause. They also have a foundation that gives grants to non-profit organizations that are working for progressive social change. They hold fund-raisers and rally days. They provide hope, awareness and celebration. They also use naturally and humanly produced ingredients as part of one of their missions as well, which is something that would usually increase the price of any products, but with this company, it is just part of their offering. All in all, they provide more than just ice cream to the consumers which makes them less vulnerable to the economic shocks.

Ethics of Human Trafficking

Ethics of Human Trafficking The problem of trafficking of humans is widespread and it is estimated that annually, approximately 14,500 and 17,500 individuals are victims of trafficking into the United States. This is a hidden population involving factories, restaurant businesses, agriculture, the commercial sex industry, agriculture, domestic workers, some adoption firms and marriage brokers. 80% of individuals who are trafficked individuals are female; therefore, those who provide health care for women can best serve this diverse patient population with increased awareness to the problem. Exploiting persons of any sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender, is not acceptable at any place or time. After applying the utilitarian and deontological perspectives and the egoism and emotivism theories to the question of human trafficking, it is evident that the ethical response to this is that is that it is one the most unethical practices any person can engage in. Human trafficking is a complex, multi-faceted crime with no single solution. Many countries are affected by it in some way, and Australia, as a destination country for trafficking victims, is no exception (Healey, 2012). Human trafficking is one of the most heinous and degrading thing that can happen to anyone and for those unfortunate enough to be caught in this web, it is a life of living hell. Slavery exists today and its called Human Trafficking. Nothing stirs the emotions or drives the passions, specifically in the US, more than the bone chilling stories of modern day human slavery. Whether it is labor, domestic or sexual, the terror that human trafficking victims have endured is so horrendous that it leaves us gasping for breath. For people who work in human and health service fields, they have heard the firsthand accounts of survivors. We have heard of the dedicated law enforcement officers and health care practitioners and who are involved in the apprehension and prosecution of traffickers, and are the advocators for victims in these complex cases. Realizing that this could be taking place in our neighborhoods and towns and, unseen as we go about our daily comfortable lives, is unimaginable. It is no surprise to anyone that when we hear these stories, there is a huge outcry by the citizens to our legislators to pass laws where none exists or for stricter laws and more enforcement. Since 1999 when this issue was first addressed by congress, the United States have spent over 150 million dollars to help in the fight against human trafficking. Human traffickers tend to look for vulnerability when searching for their victims. There is not one single type of person that they prey upon so victims tend to be from all walks of life and social status does not exclude someone from being potentially trafficked (McNamara, 2015). Trafficking in persons is the illegal sale or trade of human beings for labor through abduction, the use or threat of force, deception and fraud or for sexual exploitation. Societys most vulnerable members such as those burdened by disabilities, discrimination and poverty, are preyed upon by traffickers. Human Trafficking doesnt only occur in the US, it is manifested globally in the form of organ trafficking, bonded labor, and sex trafficking. In sex trafficking, women and children is a commodity used purely for paid sexual gratification. With the globalization of human trafficking, forged documents, financial and legal assistance and transportation are services that are provided allowing it to become an organized billion dollar industry. Victims are lured with false promises of a better life and their broken, unsure environment is easily exploited. Sexual exploitation is the most common form of human trafficking. Initially, they may travel with their traffickers of their own free wi ll under the guise of a better life. Once they have been lured into a false sense of safety, these victims are then isolated, beaten, restrained, threatened, and coerced. In cases involving international human trafficking, the victims identification papers or passports are often withheld or destroyed by traffickers and since they have been illegally brought into the host country, these victims are programmed to fear the countrys law enforcement agencies. Imprisonment in extreme isolation is par for the course for these victims who then become dependent upon their captors for simple necessities as shelter and food. Violence against their family members at home is also another way traffickers control their victims. Many are aware that this is widespread problem but most of them think it is happening somewhere else, not in our backyards, therefore out of our reach and not our problem. This type of rationalization causes major problems because it is happening everywhere; and yes sometimes in our very backyards, right under our noses. Victims are hiding in plain sight, seeking help by their furtive glances or skittish movements, yet we remain blind, content to live our lives without a care in the world. The trafficking of human beings is not easily detected and is both a national and international crisis that everyone should be aware of. It is a major world crisis that needs to have a spot light aimed directly at it, one that shines brightly give hope to these hopeless victims. Some tips that we can all benefit from knowing about are: where to look, what to look for, when to question and when to not to question. For example, law enforcement has seen a pattern in businesses such as restaurants empl oying workers to bus tables and wash dishes, strip clubs, sweatshops where garments are manufactured , massage parlors, and brothels to name a few. Legitimate businesses such as nail shops may also offer commercial sex. Trafficking victims are guarded by other employees or family members of the traffickers, receive very little to no pay, work long, grueling hours, restricted movement and scared of their employers. Signs that are visible are bruises, malnutrition, and fatigue, withdrawn workers who are afraid of unsolicited contact with others, or who are not allowed to speak for themselves. Forms of domestic slavery can be found in recreational areas or parks where babysitters or nannies take the children and pets. Look for the signs stated above with an extra precaution, are the women older, if they are younger do they look healthy or scared? All things that we never give a second thought to, while the victims suffer in silence. If you suspect Human Trafficking, dont confront the s uspected trafficker, take pictures of those who you suspect if possible and pictures of the location where you suspect criminal activities are taking place then contact the police or FBI. Give any and all information you have gathered and let them decide if the case meets the requirements of human trafficking. We all need to be aware and know what we can do to prevent this cancer from spreading and prevent the global destruction families. If the problem of Human Trafficking was widely understood and the consequences to those who are trafficked, it would no longer be the second fastest and largest growing crime in the world. A drug can only be sold once, but a human being can be sold multiple times until they are no longer useful and if they are lucky, they get to die in peace. I will discuss human trafficking from an ethical point of view starting with the utilitarianism perspective. A natural way to see whether an act is the right thing to do (or the wrong thing to do) is to look at its results, or consequences. Utilitarianism argues that, given a set of choices, the act we should choose is that which produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice (Mosser, 2013). According to this perspective, promotion of happiness for the greatest number is ideal, but however looking at human traffic from this standpoint is very easy. Utilitarianism is the natural way to look at something to decide if it is wring or right. It argues that we should choose the result which best serves the needs of the greatest number affected by the choice (Mosser, 2013). Looking at human trafficking from this point of view is rather easy. The only people who benefit from human trafficking are the traffickers who will stop at nothing to get their victims. Due to the fact that many are looking for a better way of life, they become easy prey for those who are up to no good. According to (Smith, 2014), human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry which is estimated to bring in about $32 billion worldwide, however the people who are in charge are the ones who benefit the most from the misery of those who are trapped in this trade (Smith, 2014). Corrupt public officials, unscrupulous recruiters and investors are principal participants and are the very core of this horrible practice. There are more victims than there are trafficke rs, so this perspective doesnt fill the goal of happiness for the greatest number. The other perspective I will discuss is deontology. The deontology perspective places focus on the reasons why an act is done rather than focusing on the consequences (Mosser, 2013). When it comes to human trafficking, those involved do so purely greed for monetary gain. The definition of human trafficking is when someone consents or agrees to pay someone to take an individual somewhere else, either across state lines, another country or simply smuggling them away from their general living area. These individuals are now caught in the web of trafficking whether its labor, domestic or sexual, the terror that human trafficking victims have endured is so horrendous that it leaves us gasping for breath. Deontologists argue that we have a duty, or some would call it an obligation to treat others with respect, and we must take that dignity into consideration when dealing with them (Mosser, 2013). Human trafficking goes against every basic human right and in that aspect can be viewed as imm oral and wrong. When a victim is taken, often against their will they lose the basic freedoms we take for granted. . The law enforcement framework is excessively prosecution focused, with little focus on prevention and is dependent on the innocent victim. (Bravo, 2008) Ethical egoism argues that moral evaluations should be made based on our desires and goals. Quite simply put if it benefits me its right, if it hinders me its wrong (Mosser, 2013). The offenders in human trafficking fall under this perspective. They are in the business solely for their own personal gain and do not care who is hurt and destroyed in the process. Emotivism is a view that quite simply is based upon if we do or do not like something. It is often referred to as the Boo Hurrah theory of ethics (Mosser, 2013). They have a fast way to make often quite a substantial amount of money at little to no cost for them. They sniff out and prey upon a victims vulnerability regardless of where they find their victims. CONCLUSION To exploit a race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is not acceptable in respectable society. The cost on both the citizens and the nation is untold. It is going to take the collective efforts of law enforcement, government agencies, and the public to defeat a problem of this magnitude. Things that stand in the way to getting a grip of Human Trafficking is fear, lack of public awareness, secretive nature of trafficking, limited resources for training those working in that field for what signs to look for when there is a suspicion of human trafficking, and limited legal assistance. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the primary care givers of female Human Trafficking should strive to assist anyone has been identified as a victim or at the very least recognize females who may have fallen prey to trafficking. This may not be the only option available; however, as those with first contact, they may be able to develop tools that can help in the fight of Human Trafficking. Human trafficking from a Utilitarianism standpoint isnt moral or prudent; and from a Deontology perspective the fiscal additions for the traffickers for offering their victims into servitude is not a righteous or moral act. A victim losing their opportunities and personality just so the guilty parties can profit is not virtuous or ethical on any level we have discussed. References Karen E. Bravo, Toward a Labor Liberalization Solution to Modern Trafficking in Humans, 102  Am. Socy Intl L. Proc. 66, 66 (2008) Justin Healey, Human Trafficking and Slavery, vol 347, Balmain, NSW, Australia] : Spinney  Press. 2012 McNamara, P. (2015). Trading Lives. Girls Life, vol. 21 Issue 6, p74 Retrieved from  http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/102324348/trading-lives Mosser, K. (2013) Ethics and Social Responsibility, (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved  from https://content.ashford.edu/ Smith, R. (2014). Selling Lives Seeking a Unified Solution to Human Trafficking. Policy   Practice (19426828), 72(6), 5.

Causes of Obesity and Strategies for Change

Causes of Obesity and Strategies for Change Introduction Generally, obesity is the accumulation of fatty deposits build up inside a persons body. This occurs when the tissues become excessive fat. Worse, obesity may interfere with and injure organs and eventually cause serious health problems. Being overweight is associated with a higher risk if you have a medical problem such as diabetes and heart disease. Apart from limiting the physical and social activities, life expectancy was much shorter in the patient. The problem of obesity is becoming more prevalent among students. Obesity is the second most common disease in Malaysia after heart disease. Studies show that 15% of children aged 12 to 19 years have a problem of overweight and fatness. This problem is higher among children who come from poor families because of a lack of awareness of the importance of having the ideal body weight as compared to richer households. In this assignment, students are required to tell the causes of obesity and the ways to overcome it. Main body What causes obesity in teenagers? Among them are neither balanced diet. Balanced means that the calories and energy that must be earned at a rate equal to the amount of energy released or calories to be obtained through the diet and can only be removed through activities, exercises and so on. Teens often take advantage of snacks such as crackers, instant noodles and soft drinks as well as foods that are high in fat. They did not know that actually these foods contain high calories. Increases a persons weight when they eat more than what can be burned by the body and excessive calories are stored as fat. Weight gain and obesity and obesity resulting from excess intake of calories will not occur in a certain number or a week, but the fat in the body will be collected and stored for several months and years. To ensure that weight is always on a normal BMI or ideal weight, one must ensure that the energy in the body is at a normal, balanced diet. In addition, the duration of sleep can also contribute to obesity. If a person in bed, the individual is likely to have the disease of obesity. If a lack of sleep, the same problem will be faced, namely the risk of weight gain. Hormone released by the body during sleep will control the rate of appetite and energy levels in the body. For example, the hormone insulin to control sugar levels in the body when a person is sleeping. Therefore, if a person lacks sleep, the energy content of sugar in the body similar to diabetics. If teens do not have to sleep on an ongoing basis, they will have high hormone in the body called ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that is responsible for increasing the rate of an appetite. At the same time, when a lack of sleep, the individual will also have low leptin content in the body. Leptin is responsible to suppress appetite. The main causes of this obesity is genetics. A gene of a person have a strong influence on a person’s weight. It is like, if a person has obesity, the person maybe inherited it from the parents. Obesity also tend to run in their families, or few of a family member has obesity since young. The chances of being obesity are greater if any one of their parents are obese or both mother and father are being obese. The genes in a person’s body could affect the amount of fat which is in your body. Even a child could adopt the habits of or from their parents, which is something like eating habits. Eating not in a very proper and controlled way will lead a person to obesity too. A person’s lifestyle choices are one the causes of being obesity. Overeating also can contributes to obesity. Nobody is following the food pyramid and control their eating habits according to the food pyramid. Some of them are in diet, but are they following the proper diet? These peoples thinks that they are in a correct way and following a good lifestyle. But they are eating a diet which is very high percentage in calories come from sugary, high in fat, refined foods promotes weight gain. In children lifestyle, there is no activity, outdoor activity which involves physically. These children are very inactive in physical activity. They are more interested in inactivity such as playing games, watching television, listening to music and so on. Lack of exercise contributes obesity to adults and it also makes them difficult to maintain weight loss. Age of a person is also playing an important role of being obese. As a person get or grew older, the person will tend to loss muscle if the person is less active. Muscle loss of a person can slow down the rate which it burns calories of a person’s body. If a person does not reduce the calorie intake as he grew older, the person might gain weight and being obese. Menopause is another cause of being obese. Many women gain their weight during menopause and gain more fat around their waist. Pregnancy is another factor for a woman being obese. Women gain weight when they are pregnant to support their babies gowth and development. But after giving birth, some women can easily lose their weight and for some women it is very hard to lose their weight. They even gain more weight. This may lead them to obesity. Lack of sleep can increase the risk of obesity. People who sleeps fewer hours are like people who likes eating food that is higher in calories and carbohydrates, which also brings them to overeating, gain weight and obesity. Getting a good sleep helps us maintain a healthy balance of the hormones which can makes us feel hungry or full. Lack of sleep results in a higher sugar level, which may increase our risk for getting diabetes. To prevent obesity caused by this problem, we should eat more vegetables, fruits and other protein sources such as fish. We also need to reduce the use of oil to fry food and cooking by steaming, baking or boiling. In addition, laziness and dislike of exercise is also a cause of obesity. When we pamper the body by not doing any exercise movement, the fat will continue to accumulate in our body. Finally, a chubby little body, plump, and fat. Therefore, we must exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Among the exercises that can be done by those who are lazy or difficult to perform the movement was brisk walk, swim, or play badminton. This exercise can prevent injuries. In addition, the increase in fast food restaurants and food sold in packages or cans also be a cause of obesity. Fast food restaurants such as KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut favorites, especially those who work because they no longer need to bother to cook a meal after a hard days work. Although the food is provided by fast food restaurants are tempting, people should be aware that food intake should be reduced because the food is not nutritious and contain levels of salt, sugar, and fat. Among the steps that can be taken to prevent ourselves from this problem is to adopt a well-balanced diet. We must take into account the need of carbohydrates, fat and nutrition in accordance with age. Therefore, we must make the food pyramid as a guide in the selection menu or foods for a healthier life. In addition, we must eat on time regularly, especially the three main meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) was the slogan healthy eating, healthy life to ensure that people eat a healthy diet. This is because we are not only healthier but happier and more secure life without diseases if we are wise in choosing healthy foods and a balanced diet every day. Aside from the diet and doing regular exercise, we should not be fooled by slimming products rising galore in the market. Various slimming products sold and advertised that can obscure the users eyes. Users should be careful because often ingredients in slimming products can be harmful to health, but, most of the product is not a guarantee of safety from the Ministry of Health. Therefore, use of this product is not safe and can cause a variety of negative effects that can affect health. Use of these products is not able to lose weight otherwise detrimental to health. Therefore, we must seek the advice and insights of a qualified physician before using any slimming products available in the market.

Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy Case Study Conceptualization and Tr

Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy Case Study of Sarah: A Conceptualization and Treatment Plan Rational emotive behavior therapy, REBT, was developed by Albert Ellis and holds the central belief that the events in our lives do not cause our disturbances but that they are instead caused by our view of the events (Murdock, 2009). Murdock (2009) states that â€Å"people are seen as responsible for their behavior† (p. 279) but, because they are constantly changing and processing, their value or worth is not measured by their behavior. According to REBT, healthy individuals function with rational beliefs (Murdock, 2009). Sarah’s needs can best be met through the use of REBT as the therapist incorporates the interventions of role-playing and disputing, stop and monitor, and recognizing and changing irrational thought patterns, while striving for the goal of eliminating irrational thinking, dysfunctional emotions, and behaviors and teaching Sarah the philosophy of REBT. REBT will allow Sarah to overcome and replace her irrational beliefs and in turn experience healthy consequences and emotions. Presenting Concerns Sarah James, a 26-year-old Caucasian female, is seeking counsel in response to the unveiling of a family secret. Upon learning of the existence of an older brother and the, in her mind, poorly handled events surrounding the secret, Sarah is questioning her relationships and views of her family members. Sarah is unsure of what to do with the information she has been presented and is reevaluating her childhood, which she once thought had been near perfect. She is feeling confused, frustrated, angry, and isolated and these feelings and emotions have brought her to seek counsel over the situation. Case Conceptualization Ba... ... and religion. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 31 (1), 29-33. Jones, S.L., & Butman, R.E. (1991). Modern psychotherapies: A comprehensive Christian appraisal. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Lega, L.I., & Ellis, A. (2001). Rational emotional behavior therapy (REBT) in the new millennium: A cross cultural approach. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 19 (4). 201-222. Minor, J. (2007). Some reasons why I use REBT in my private practice and personal life. Et Cetera, 64 (4), 320-323. Murdock, N.L. (2009). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill-Pearson. Ziegler, D.J. (2000). Basic assumptions concerning human nature underlying rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) personality theory. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 18 (2), 67-85.

The Meaning of Smoke :: Smoke Essays

The Meaning of Smoke Sometimes people feel that things are better left unsaid. Such is the case in Chris Avellone's, smoke, which tells the story of two friends who have a good relationship until one speaks the truth that both had been hiding. The smoke in the essay can be looked at as a veil that is concealing the true feelings of the two characters. The setting, which is in a smoke filled bar, can be looked at as a secret hide away that the two friends go to. It is when Kyle starts to bring what is really going on that the conflict starts. When the story starts, the two friends are at a bar playing darts and drinking beer. When Kyle start smoking a cigarette it is then that Dave starts to open up and let the audience know that the two friends have not seen each other in a while. He also starts to describe his friend physically paying special attention to his eyes. Throughout the story Kyle is very vague when answering Dave's questions about his new relationship. Finally he asks his friend if his girl knows about what was going on between the two of them. Dave tries a first to shrug the conversation off but it is at this point that smoke the cigarette is giving off is starting to make sense. "Smoke curled from his nostrils out onto the table, like some kinda dragon" (Avellone, 3). Throughout the entire story the smoke seemed to make Dave feel more comfortable. It seemed as if the presence of the smoke made him telling the story and him even being around Kyle okay. With the smoke curling from his friends nose the reader is able to get a picture that the smoke is starting to clear. It is only when the smoke seems to be clearing in his eyes, revealing both his and Kyle's true feelings that he started to get uneasy. At this point he attacks his friend and calls him all kinds of vulgar names. He says that he cannot see much because of the smoke and that at that point, "Kyle just faded out into the smoke in Shoop's" (Avellone, 3). We can see here that he knows he has lost his friend to the smoke, which is a representation of his repressed feelings. From his descriptions of Kyle as well as his annoyance at the relationship he is in, the reader knows that Dave is in love with his friend, but the smoke made it all right because no one could really see what was really going on.

Capybara :: essays research papers

Capybara The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. The capybara’s name comes from the native people of South America. It means "master of the grass." The scientific name of the capybara is hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, which means "water pig" in Greek. Capybaras have been in existence since the Pleistocene epoch. Their ancient ancestors were rodents that lived about sixty million years ago. The average size of a capybara is four feet in length and two feet in height. This is about the size of a sheep. Capybaras usually weigh between sixty and one hundred and forty pounds. Many people think the capybara looks like a larger version of a guinea pig. All capybaras have large flat noses, webbed feet, short legs, and no tail. Their fur is very coarse and it is usually a reddish-brown color. Capybaras also have large incisor teeth that continuously grow. Capybaras must constantly gnaw and chew on wood and nuts to wear their teeth down. To protect themselves from the hot sun, capybaras will often rest in nearby pools of water. They will also be found lying mud or in the shade. Capybaras are found in South American countries such as Brazil and Venezuela. They are well adapted for living on land and in the water. Herds of capybaras, consisting of twenty or more capybaras, live on the grasslands and near riverbanks, or in swamps and marshes. Capybaras are herbivores whose main diet is water plants and grasses. Occasionally a capybara will also eat leaves, seeds and the bark of young trees. Because they are herbivores, they do not have any distinctive hunting habits. Capybaras are shy creatures that don’t interact with other animals on a frequent basis. They are intelligent but quiet and they rarely fight each other, or their enemies. Within a herd of capybaras, there is one dominant male who keeps the herd in order. He also defends the herd from intruding animals. Capybaras reproduce sexually by mating in shallow water. They can mate during any time of the year but capybaras most often mate during the start of the rainy season. A female capybara typically gives birth from one to eight babies. A baby capybara is born with fur and it’s eyes open. The babies can eat grass just like the adult capybaras and they can take care of themselves much better than most baby mammals. However, baby capybaras drink their mother’s milk and stay with their mother for at least four months after their birth.

Banh Xeo an La Ghien

Executive Summary This report will discuss about ‘An La Ghien’ Restaurants (Dang Truong Ltd Company) in Vietnam. These restaurants provide to consumers Banh Xeo, which is one of the most famous traditional food in Vietnam. Firstly, the report will mention about the background of the company. Due to the passion of the traditional food of the owners and the high demand of tradition food in Vietnam, Dang Truong Ltd Company opened their first ‘An La Ghien’ Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. Secondly, the innovation of the owners that adds the value to the success of the company is also discussed.Their Innovation type is Duplication. Next, the report will analyze the strategies that the firm has applied that are Product & market development strategy, Positioning & differentiation strategies, store expansion and brand building. The last part is some recommendation that the firm should concern to continue growing and expanding in this industry. Contents Executive Summ ary3 I. Introduction:5 II. Company Background:5 III. Innovation:6 IV. Business Strategies and Success Factors:8 a)Product and market development strategy:8 b)Positioning and Differentiation strategies:8 c)The Store Expansion Strategy:10 )Building a strong brandname:10 V. Recommendation:11 a)Geography Expansion Strategy:11 b)Promotional Mix:11 VI. Conclusion:12 VII. Reference List:13 Introduction: Dang Truong Ltd Company or ‘An La Ghien’ Restaurant has opened since 2008. It was established by Mr. Dang Hoai Phong and her wife, Truong Thi Thanh Truc, because of their traditional food passion. ‘An La Ghien’ provides many kind of ‘Banh Xeo’, a kind of Vietnamese traditional pancakes. With the unique taste of their products, Banh Xeo â€Å"An La Ghien† has become one of the famous traditional food restaurants brand names in Ho Chi Minh City after 5 years operation.Until now, Dang Truong Company has 4 ‘An La Ghien’ Branches along H o Chi Minh City. According to Huy Hiep (2010) ‘An La Ghien’ restaurant becomes one of the top 10 distinctive food restaurants of Ho Chi Minh City. This document will analyse the strategy of the company and the critical success factors that has led â€Å"An La Ghien† to survive and grow rapidly. Moreover, it also gives the recommendations for the company in order to sustain their growth. Figure 1: Reproduced from: An La Ghien restaurant 2008 Company Background: It can be seen that â€Å"Banh Xeo† is a traditional food of Vietnam; it was highly accepted by Vietnamese for a long time ago.People who live in Ho Chi Minh City are mostly from countryside of Vietnam, they migrate to Ho Chi Minh City in order to work and live. Therefore, those people always miss the taste of countryside foods. It has led to the high demand of Banh Xeo that has traditional taste, countryside taste. Moreover, the tourism of Vietnam has been developed rapidly in recently years. It is the fastest growth in ASEA (My Hanh 2010). It means the number of tourist come to Vietnam is increased. Furthermore, foreign tourists always want to try Vietnamese traditional food and have countryside sightseeing. According to Ngan Hao (2010), Mr.Phong and Mrs. Truc, the owners of â€Å"An La Ghien† Restaurants, are from the South-Western of Vietnam where is known as the original place of â€Å"Banh Xeo†. In the past, family of Mr. Phong and Mrs. Truc had tradition of making Banh Xeo, so they have the hereditary formula for making origianal ‘Banh Xeo’. With above condition of development of tourism and high demand of traditional foods in Ho Chi Minh City, ‘An La Ghien’ Restaurant was opened the first branch in 2008 by Mr. Phong and Mrs. Truc. With that hereditary formula, Banh Xeo of â€Å"An La Ghien† is very crisp; it has a unique flavor and traditional taste.Besides the unique taste, the firm are design follow the countryside style; all of tables, chairs are made from bamboo. It attracts a huge amount of foreign customers come to â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants. [pic] Figure 2: Reproduced from An La Ghien 2008 Innovation: The factor that contributed in the success of â€Å"An La Ghien† Restaurants is Innovation in Thinking. Innovation is the development of original ideas that create a new, better things (McShane & Travaglione 2007). With the Innovation of Mrs. Truc and the group of chef of â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants, they have created many ideas of making â€Å"Banh Xeo†.In tradition, there is only one kind of Banh Xeo that is made from rice powder, shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. Adopting the ideas from making pizzas, â€Å"An La Ghien† has try to apply many new kind materials in order to create a new kind of Banh Xeo. Untill now, there are approximately 10 kinds of Banh Xeo in â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants, for example, White crab mushroom Banh Xeo, Japanese Abalo n Mushroom Banh Xeo and Day-Lily Flower Banh Xeo. [pic] Figure 3: Adopted from An La Ghien website (2008) All kinds of new Banh Xeo that are created by â€Å"An La Ghien† are very delicious, good for the health.The Innovation of â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants has strengthened the product development strategy of the company, it help attracting more and more consumers by those unique products, taste and quality. The unique products are the differentiation of the company. According to Kuratko (2009) the innovation of ‘An La Ghien’ Restaurant is Duplication which is the replication of an existing product. Banh Xeo is a traditional food of Vietnam, but it has only 1 kind of Banh Xeo. ‘An La Ghien’ has used their creative thinking to create many new kinds of Banh Xeo. Business Strategies and Success Factors: Product and market development strategy:According to Kotler et al. (2006) in order to achieve profitable growth for the company, the firm must evaluate and choose the development strategies. Product and market expansion grid is the most popular tool for choosing the growth strategies. [pic] Figure 2. Product/Market expansion Grid (Reproduced from Kotler et al. 2006) It can be seen that â€Å"An La Ghien† is using both Market Penetration and Product Development strategies. â€Å"Banh Xeo† is a traditional pancake of Vietnam. It has been accepted by Vietnamese for long time ago, so the firm has used traditional â€Å"Banh Xeo† in order to penetrate Ho Chi Minh City market.Moreover, in order to attract potential customers and keep the loyal customers â€Å"An La Ghien† also uses product development strategy. It has led that the firm has created and modified many new kinds of â€Å"Banh Xeo† besides the traditional taste. Positioning and Differentiation strategies: In order to build competitive advantages, â€Å"An La Ghien† decides to use differentiation strategy in the Porter’ s Competitive Strategies (Daft 2007). It means they provide distinctive products that have high quality, unique taste to a broad targeted market. [pic] Figure 3. Porter’s Competitive Strategies (Reproduced from Daft 2007)By using Differentiation Strategy, the Firm has build for them a high position on the market because most of â€Å"Banh Xeo† providers in Ho Chi Minh City are small restaurants or Roadside restaurants. They provide â€Å"Banh Xeo† with lower quality for example, lower healthy standard. Banh Xeo â€Å"Dinh Cong Trang† Restaurant is one of the most popular Banh Xeo providers in Ho Chi Minh City. They provide high quality Banh Xeo, but they have lower service quality and less positional advantages because they have online 1 restaurant compare with 4 branches of â€Å"An La Ghien†. Figure 4. Position of â€Å"An La Ghien† on the marketThe Store Expansion Strategy: According to Strickland and Thompson (1999) by using geography ex pansion strategy, the firm will open new stores in the targeted market. It will help the company penetrate the market successfully. Dang Truong Company is also using this strategy in order to penetrate the market and build the strong brand name, competitive advantages for â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants. After 5 years existing on the market, Dang Truong Company has had 4 â€Å"An La Ghien† branches in around Ho Chi Minh City that are District 3, District 10, District 1 and Phu Nhuan District Branches.By opening these branches, the targeted customer can easily find and come to try the products of company. It will increase the convenience of consumers and the number of loyal customers. Building a strong brandname: According to Kotler et al. (2006) â€Å"a good name can add greatly to a product’s success†. It was greatly true for â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants. Dang Truong Company decided to name their restaurants â€Å"An La Ghien†; it was a co nfident name. That name is a Vietnamese name, it means â€Å"if you try, you will be addicted†.At the first time seeing that name, people will be shocked, feel curious and want to try in order to fulfill their curiousness. That has led the number of customers of â€Å"An La Ghien† was pretty high at some first periods operation. Moreover, combining with the unique flavor and special kinds of Banh Xeo, most of customers are satisfied or addicted after trying Banh Xeo of â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants. â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurant received the certificate to become one of the top 10 distinctive food restaurants of Ho Chi Minh City from People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh city in 2010 (Huy Hiep 2010).It has made â€Å"An La Ghien† become an image of popular restaurant for both foreign tourists and local people. Furthermore, in recently years, people are more concern about the safety and hygiene of food. Knowing about the trend of market, â€Å" An La Ghien† had enough condition to get certificate of achieving the hygiene and safety food standard (An La Ghien 2009). Moreover, they also participate in many Food and Beverage Fair of Vietnam. It helps raising the position of â€Å"An La Ghien† image on the market. Recommendation: After about 5 years openning, Dang Truong Company have been successful in operating â€Å"An La Ghien† Restaurants.However, in order to keep growing the business in the future, there may have some strategies that company should follow: Geography Expansion Strategy: It can be known that â€Å"An La Ghien† is using geography expansion strategy. They currently have 4 branches over Ho Chi Minh City and it helped Dang Truong to be successful on the market. However, in order to sustain the growth of their business, â€Å"An La Ghien† Restaurant should continue expanse the number of their store. The Stores Expansion will help firm reaching all of potential customers on the m arket (Strickland and Thompson 1999).Beside 4 Districts that already had â€Å"An La Ghien† branches, Dang Truong Company should open some new branches in the other districts where have high population or high number of foreigners such as district 11, district 7, Tan Binh district in order to penetrate Ho Chi Minh City Market. Starbuck is a good example of using this strategy; it was developed by Starbuck (Strickland and Thompson 1999). By using this strategy, Starbuck already had more than 16,000 stores in more than 50 countries around the world (Starbuck 2009). Until now, Starbuck is the most successful and respected coffee brandname over the world.Therefore, for continue growing in the future Dang Truong Company should open many other â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants in other places of Vietnam such as Ha Noi, Hue after penetrate Ho Chi Minh City Market. It will help building a strong brand name for â€Å"An La Ghien† restaurants over Vietnam. Promotional Mix: A fter 5 years operation, â€Å"An La Ghien† has achieved many successes in the food industry. However, they did not really focus on their marketing plan, so Dang Truong should create a good marketing plan in order to expand the market.According to Allen (2007) Promotion Mix is a strategy that help company building relationship with customers and increase the repeat sales. †¢ Advertising: in order to create products awareness, â€Å"An La Ghien† should have an advertising plan. Therefore, the firm should choose for them the reliable media. There are some media that suitable for Dang Truong Company that is newspapers, magazines and internet. Newspapers is a cheapest media for advertising, Company can choose TuoiTre Newspaper or ThanhNien newspapers. The Company should advertise their products to foreign customer through tourist magazine.Lastly, social networks such as Facebook are become more popular in recently years, by using Internet Dang Truong Company can advert ise through social network, it is more efficient. †¢ Sales promotion: In order to increase the sales, we should create some sales promotions in the special festival or holiday of Vietnam; for example, the company can create some combos with bundle price for their food in Tet holiday, Christmas, happy new years, Valentine Day, etc. Moreover, in order to increase the repeat sales, Dang Truong Company should provide promotion to the loyal customers such as vouchers, coupon.Conclusion: Although Banh Xeo â€Å"An La Ghien† has just opened for 5 years, it has become one of the most tradition Banh Xeo restaurants in Vietnam because they had applied very well their strategies in order to grow such as product and market development strategies and Geography exapansion strategy. Besides those strategies, there are some factors that contribute in the success of the firm, for example, the innovation of the chefs, the tourism and successful brand name building. However, in order to su stain the growth of he company in the future, the firm should continue expanse their store not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but also over Vietnam. Moreover, they should apply some new strategies that are diversification strategy and doing more promotion. Reference List: Allen ,K 2007, â€Å"growing and managing a small business – an entrepreneurial perspective†, Houghton Mifflin Company, viewed 13th Jan 2013. An La Ghien Restaurant 2008, â€Å"IMG_24002†, image, An La Ghien website, viewed 12th Jan 2013, An La Ghien Restaurant 2009, â€Å"Products picture†, image, An La Ghien website, viewed 12th Jan 2013, An La Ghien Restaurant 2009, â€Å"GI?Y CH? NG NH? N AN TOAN V? SINH TH? C PH? M†, An La Ghien Website, 12th Jan 2013, Daft, R. L 2007, â€Å"Understanding the Theory and Design of Organization†, Thomson South-Western, USA, view 13th Jan 2013 Huy Hiep 2010, â€Å"100 dieu thu vi kham pha thanh pho Ho Chi Minh†, Vietnamtourism, February 27th 2010, viewed 13th Jan 2013, Kotler, P, Armstrong, G, Hoon Ang, S, Meng leong, S, Tiong Tan, C and Tse D 2006, â€Å"Principles of Marketing: An Asian perspective†, 7th edition, Pearson Education, New Jersey, viewed 14th Jan 2013.Kuratko, D. F 2009, ‘Introduction to Entrepreneurship’, 8th edition, Shouth-Western Cengage Learning, viewed 12th Jan 2013. Ngan Hao 2010, â€Å"An La Ghien Thiet! †, Kien Thuc online, January 23rd 2010, viewed 13th Jan 2013, McShane, S and Travaglione, T 2007, â€Å"Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim†, 2nd edition, McGraw Hill Australia Pty Limited, Australia, viewed 13th Jan 2013.My Hanh 2010, â€Å"Du lich Viet Nam tang truong cao†, Saigon Giai Phong online newspaper, May 8th 2010, viewed 13th Jan 2013, Starbuck 2009, â€Å"company profile†, Starbuck website, viewed 12th Jan 2013, Strickland, A. J and Thompson, A (1999), â€Å"Strategic Management†, 11th edition, The McGraw-Hill Compani es, viewed 12th Jan 2013, ———————– Price Service, products quality Banh Xeo â€Å"An La Ghien† Banh Xeo â€Å"Dinh Cong Trang† Roadside Restaurants

Hot-Button Issue Paper Essay

Nowadays one of most concerning topic in today’s media is sex and violence. Determining what’s â€Å"too much† for children is not an easy task, because every parent has their personal preferences about such matters. But determining the actual effects of media violence on children gives rise a problem in itself, as it’s quite tricky to actually determine what â€Å"violent media† means to the children (Cutler, 2002). There were many children friendly shows back in the days, shows that taught some useful lessons to the children in a non-violent manner. Shows like Ducktales or Darkwing Duck are examples of such shows that children not only could enjoy, but also learn some valuable lessons from. Even vintage video games like Super Mario was just a fun seeking game that children could enjoy and parents didn’t have to worry about their effects on their children too. But if we look at the TV shows, movies and games in the present, it’s quite obvious that the use of excessive violence has crawled its’ way into almost every form of media. Another problem is the increase of usage of sexual acts in the media. There are open discussions of sex and enactments of sexual activities in almost all the TV shows and movies. In the past, TV shows mostly showed two persons getting into bed and the next scene took us to the next day. There were no enactments of sexual activities in the shows. But today, almost every show on every premium channels show fully nude persons or even the acts of having sex. The media industries have been strongly resisting such arguments that the usage of scenes containing sex, violence, and drug usage in TV, music, radio and movies is directly related to the increasing cases of negative behavior buildups in the society, (Anderson, 2002). Canceling such shows is the only way to get rid of sex from the TV. But doing so creates the possibility that children will grow up without the knowledge of sex. They might grow up and have to face the big bad world without anyone to properly guide them into making the right decisions. So it’s essential for them to learn the correct decisions at an early age, so  that they don’t make any decision that could destroy their life forever. You might be able to control the TV shows on their usage of sex and violence; but what about other for ms of media such as magazines, internet, books, music, and movies? Nowadays media has an array of methods to attract peoples’ eyes. They can target audiences of any age or group by tempting their senses. Teenagers are often attracted by violent acts, and by using this they can easily influence them. It doesn’t matter if it’s TV or the movies or the internet, violence is everywhere and trying to shut down all of them is simply not possible. Imagine yourself in a scenario where you’re changing through channels on the TV and you can’t find any shows with violence, shooting or sexual scenes. What would you do in that case, keep on watching the TV or turn it off and do something else? Doing the later would cause the viewer ratings of TV networks to go down and thus giving them the impression that they need to show more violence and sexual acts to attract the audiences. There’s no point in denying that sex and violence attract people or â€Å"sell†, so to say. Although almost 60-70 persons out of 100 say that there’s excess use of sex and violence on TV, they have to firstly watch such usage to find that out. Imagine a show that you watch on a regular basis, and you’d realize by yourself that sex and violence sell. Not a single person can be found who hasn’t seen or doesn’t know of a show that uses violence or sexual references, at the very least. Just as a children mig ht want to smoke if they see their parents smoke, they also might have the inclination towards committing crime if they see their favorite TV character commit a crime. Recently several methods have been developed to control or even block specific shows at specific times. A parental control, that gives the parents the power to block certain TV shows, is offered by every cable provider. But still, it’s the parent that must decide whether to block or not. The V-chip is a recent controlling method developed to restrict sex and violence scenes from being showed on the TV and it’s done by incorporating a small chip in the TV. But to some extent, this seems to be violating the first amendment. What someone wants to watch on their TV is their personal choice; why should they be restrained from watching something they want? It’s understandable that children shouldn’t be exposed to such shows that negatively impact their sense of judgment, but what about someone who’s an adult and willing to watch those shows? Whether you allow play in  shows containing sex and violence in your household premises is a decision that you should make, not the government. If there are children in the house, the parents should be responsible for keeping them away from shows that contain sex or violence. Another point is that most of these shows are aired at nighttime, and it’s safe to assume that children should be in the bed by that time. If kids are staying up at nights to see such shows, it’s not the networks’ fault that they are airing these shows, but it’s the parents’ fault that they can’t fulfill their responsibilities as a parent. On average, a child in the USA watches almost 28 hours of TV shows per week. Also, by the age of eleven, before finishing elementary school, a child views about 8000 murders on these TV shows. And the most terrifying fact is that in almost 75% of the cases shown in the TV, the criminal is shown to get away without being caught and feeling no remorse for their violent acts. This creates a false impression on children about violence. They often get an impractical idea about the acts of violence. Some of them feel no affect of violence whatsoever and even think that it’s cool, while other few become scared of everything around them. In 2009, the National Organization of Women reported that the most violent shows that were being aired were- Alias of ABC, Law & Order: SVU of NBC and WWE: Smackdown of CW (NOW, 2009). When children watch TV shows that show someone committing a crime and getting away with it, it creates an impression on their mind that even they can get away without suffering the consequences of their actions. It’s also possible to link violent movies to several cases of assault, robbery and other anti social behaviors. People, particularly teenagers, often confuse things they watch on TV or movies with reality. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the Columbine shooters, are a perfect example of such delusional cases. They tried to du plicate scenes from the movies The Matrix and Basketball Diaries and even dressed up in trench coats and armed themselves with guns to depict those scenes. But just watching violence on TV and movies is not the entire story, there are several other factors that shape the thoughts of persons. Information obtained from several social research studies prove that what a child learns from what he/she watches is greatly affected by his/her surrounding environment (Anderson, 2002). For instance, if a child grows up seeing domestic violence in his/her household, he/she is more likely to think that these acts of violence is acceptable in the society. He/she would  be more prone to act according to what he/she saw when growing up, thus giving him/her a completely false sense of what’s acceptable and what’s not. To those who are mentally handicapped, these effects are much more severe. Since they often have problems differentiating what’s right and what’s wrong, exposure to these sexual acts and violence change the way they think about the world and often clouds their judgments. Watching people commit crimes in the media might give them the impression that it’s okay to do such acts. In one of her studies, Sue Bailey declared that people would of ten enact scenes they saw in the media, even if those scenes were to contain violence or sexual exploitation (Anderson, 2002). This is in fact the main reason why we see so many copycat criminals nowadays. This reminds us of the Bandura’s theory of modeling (Sparks, 2013). Children often idolize these TV and movie characters and watching their idols beat someone, sell drugs, and committing crimes makes them want to do the same. The act of violence and their rate varies in every society, but what’s alarming is that the USA has a horrifying rate of killings and suicides in the 15 year age group. In 1995, the combined death toll of children among 26 countries was at 2872. Out of these 2872 deaths, 1446 were in the USA alone and compared with the other 25 countries; this rate was almost 5 times higher. A child’s personality also plays an important role in their vulnerability to these violent acts. From an early age, some children might have the tendency to be temperamental. Watching violent acts in the media might increase their tendency to act violently. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to acts of violence increases their chance to act according to what they see in the media. Showing sexual acts and violence in TV can, in many ways, negatively impact the society. But the most argued point is the belief that a persons’ behavior is affected by what they watch. But this seems likely only if someone was to watch only these type of shows at all times. Watching such acts on TV or movies once or twice is not going to affect someone’s personality or turn them into violent sexual offenders. Moreover, the choices someone make is their and theirs’ only to make. No one else can be blamed for their personal faults. To conclude all this discussion, today’s TV can’t be compared with the TV from 30 years ago. Today’s shows cover a more wide range of topics, represent different cultures and languages and they’re targeted for every age group. The increase in sexual scenes and acts  of violence in the media reflects the change our society has undergone in the past years. This change can’t be denied and sooner or later society has to accept that these shows are a part of this change. So rather than demanding to stop this change, it’s practical to demand that these shows should be aired at a certain t ime, thus enabling the viewers to choose what they see and what they allow their children to see. References Anderson, C. A. (2002). Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations. Retrieved from http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/02BApspb.pdf Bandura, A. (2006). Social Learning Theory. Retrieved from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/social-learning.html Cutler, Maggie: Research on the Effects of Media Violence on Children Is Inconclusive†. Is Media Violence a Problem? James D. Torr, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press 2002 National Organization of Women. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.now.org/organization/conference/resolutions/2009.html Sparks, G. G. (2013). Media Effects Research (14th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook.