Communication Essay

Companies often organize their departments into teams that support each other to complete tasks or projects. When working in groups, communication is vital to the success of the team. Teams must work well individually as well as a members of a team. Communication on an individual level differs from communication within a group. Individually, you must actively listen and insure accurate understanding, offer to help solve problems, and focus on not being distracted by your own emotions. You cannot allow your emotions to distract you or cause you to miss the key points or misinterpret information. As an individual you must attend all group meetings, provide feedback and input to the discussions, and be respectful to others input and views. It is important that everyone in the group understand their role and responsibilities to the group. Everyone must contribute to discussions and meetings, and there should not be any silent members. To promote group discussion, you can start by going around the group and allowing each person to speak. This will allow each person a chance to be involved in the discussion and will spark topics of discussion. When working in a group, conflicts usually arise and should be dealt with immediately and directly. Ignoring conflict or disagreements will cause the team to be lose focus, become less productive. Most conflicts result from poor communication and misinterpretations. To resolve conflicts, it is important to locate where the break-down in communication happened. By talking through the conflict with the members of the group, and redefining tasks and objectives, the team can resolve these types of issues. To foster good communication within a group every member must listen to each other, work collaboratively to make decisions, adapt to changes and communication styles, assign specific tasks, set clear deadlines and expectations, and conduct follow-up meetings to review.

Converse Target Market Analysis

The Nike-owned American sportswear company has taken over its own distribution in China, moved senior marketing staff to China and put Nike ad agency Wieden & Kennedy in charge of a campaign centered on â€Å"Love Noise,† a documentary film (as well as an integrated marketing campaign) about one of the most quintessential aspects of the music world: the road trip. Two bands, 3,584 miles In August 2008, two Beijing-based groups — the post-punk-rock band P. K. 4, already one of the most influential bands in China, and Queen Sea Big Shark, a hybrid dance-rock group — traveled more than 3,584 miles by bus for two weeks. Alongside local bands in each venue, the two groups performed in six Chinese cities: Nanjing, Hangzhou, Changsha, Wuhan, Xi'an and Beijing. As the tour and story unfold, nine featured musicians reveal their personal journeys on the road to self-expression. The documentary was directed by Liu Feng, a filmmaker who joined Wieden & Kennedy in 2005. The program was created by the independent agency with media-planning support from WPP's Mindshare. Both companies also work with Nike, which acquired Converse in 2003. The documentary rolled out last month and will be distributed to consumers who purchase Converse shoes at local retailers through the end of March. It's a risky move to adapt Converse's music-oriented U. S. strategy for China, because the country's independent music scene is still very small. On tour, unknown bands typically attract dozens or hundreds of people, not thousands. China's independent music scene doesn't have anywhere near the mass appeal it has in the West. It's at the pioneering stage at this point, but it is growing,† said Cheryl Calegari, who relocated to Shanghai as Converse's senior marketing director for Asia/Pacific last January. Close ties with music world Converse has cultivated close ties with the music world for decades. The Chuck Taylor All Star and other Converse shoes have been worn by music legends such as Sid Vicious and Blondie, and Converse created a special-edition shoe for Kurt Cobain. Throughout our 100-year history, we've always celebrated art, music and fashion, so it was a natural fit for us to be a part of what's happening in China,† Ms. Calegari said. Before joining Converse in 2005, she worked with fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Cole. Ms. Calegari arrived in China at about the same time the Nike subsidiary stepped up its presence in the mainland. It has increased its marketing investment and last year switched from a licensing setup to a distributor model. Converse shoes are now sold in more than 1,800 retail outlets in China.

An Argument Against Racial Profiling by Police

Racial analysis, government activities against suspects against suspects are used by police authorities to reduce violent crime. Ethnic profiling reduces crime, but officials are unconstitutional and not participating, so you should not discriminate against citizens. Race profiling is usually done after traffic congestion and pedestrian strikes In many cases, police officers condemn the picking of a person just for race, religious outfit, or other exterior reasons I will. Discussions on race profiling include constitutional issues and practical considerations. According to Professor Kennedy, one of the strongest arguments against race profiling is based on the Equality Protection Clause of the US Constitution (No. 14 revision). Kennedy explained as follows: 'Discussion starts with a special meaning to claim racial discrimination' American life and law. Ethnic differences are different from other aspects of social stratification. Therefore, since the civil rights revolution of the 196 0s, the courts have generally decided Equal protection provision of the 14th amendment. There is enough rationality enough for officials to discriminate based on race. In this case, the court generally insists on strict screening of government action - the judicial review of the most severe level. It is very important to understand racial profiling before beginning discussion on racial profiling. American Civil Liberties Union defines racial profiling as a discriminatory act by law enforcement officials to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality (ethnicity: definition). Using this definition you can judge that race profiling does not include evidence of erroneous behavior and is completely dependent on the above function. We can see again ... See more In the early 1960s, law enforcement officers conducted racial analysis during the civil rights movement. The term race profiling was introduced to criticize the abuse of police acts by people of various r aces, nationality, or nationality. It is important to evaluate how to understand this and how to distinguish it from other problems. Racial characterization is defined as any police-driven behavior that depends on race, nationality or nationality, not action. Discussions on race profiling can be attributed to two basic questions. Is this racial profiling widely used by police agencies in the United States? If so, is this practice useful? Many people think that it is good for a judicial officer to use files. Some supporters believe it is useful when using race, but it is not necessarily the only factor profile. In addition, people who support their use often find complaints about underrepresentation of ethnicity.

Teaching Plan against Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching Plan against Smoking - Essay Example I could notice that she was very eager to read the pamphlet and become familiar with the health hazards of second-hand smoke. She told me that she wanted to do everything that was in the benefit of the young baby, and wanted to prove herself as the best mother in the world. I asked her how often she and James smoked, especially when the baby was around. She told that the baby was around all the time as the house was a small apartment, and they never left the baby alone. So, whenever they smoked, the baby was the victim of second-hand smoke. She told that both of them were aware of the health hazards of smoking, yet they had never given it a serious thought as the birth of the baby had been a serious event in their lives which had taken a toll on their peace of mind, so much so that they had started smoking more than before. She stated that she kept the exhaust fans of the washroom and kitchen turned on all the time so as to ensure proper ventilation of air inside the rooms.   c. Anna was quite receptive to the information I gave her. I told Anna that second-hand smoke poses great risks to young children because they have very low immunity against diseases as compared to adults. According to Associated Press (2006, para.1), â€Å"over one in five children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, where workplace bans don’t reach. Those children are at increased risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; lung infections such as pneumonia; ear infections; and more severe asthma.† I further told her that the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report also states that second-hand smoke is a major cause of sudden death in children, and chances of SIDS is greater for children who are exposed to second-hand smoke either at homes or in public (American Cancer Society, Inc., 2010). Anna understood that toxic gases in the polluted air weigh heavily on the poor immune systems of young kids thus making them ill quite rapidly.   

Report on a mid size business. Soccer scene is the business Essay

Report on a mid size business. Soccer scene is the business - Essay Example It has earned a better reputation because of the technical staff that it has hired over these years which is able to provide the customers with the right thing on the right time. The company excels in possessing all the important things that a shop would have for the fans of the respective sports. The company is not only limited to itself but its strength can also be seen in the press. On several instances the company has been cited in the press which has helped people to know about the store. Soccer Scene is believed to be a developing business which would take over the limits in the coming years. With the quality and expertise that it possesses it can be said that soccer scene might become very successful in the future. In this report the strategies followed by the company would be highlighted along with its current plan of growth and advertisements (Soccer Scene 2010; ECR Newsletter 2006). Situation Analysis SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats The company is dev eloping with the rise in the fans of the football and rugby fans. Currently the company possesses the right expertise and talent required to expand their company in accordance to the needs of the customers. It is creating a brand image which can help them in the future to enhance their promotional activities. The most potent strength of the company is that it has chosen a large audience which can be its customers. It has opened stores in those locations where the sports are commonly seen and hailed. A great part of the population residing in United Kingdom watches the football matches and hence the fans of the sports are more than anywhere in the world. The company uses this as a strength and targets this audience to increase their sales. Furthermore the company is located in specific areas so it is able to attract a large population of fans. The company has some weaknesses which can prove to be a hurdle for it to expand. Currently the company has not created a brand image like othe r brands which exist in the market for a longer time. Soccer Scene is still in its developing stages and hence faces intense competition in the market of sports where already some famous brands exist. Brand loyalty cannot be easily achieved if certain techniques are not employed and this can prove to be a weakness for Soccer Scene. In comparison to other brands it can also be said that it lacks the funds to advertise itself like other brands. It also has limited options as to where it has to choose the audience from as it is located only in some nations. The company has several opportunities which it can avail to make them its strengths. The company can open its outlets in other countries where already some brands exist so it can have a wider market to choose from. It can include other types of goods so that it can attract a wide range of customers which can benefit the business. It can allocate its funds effectively such that intense advertisements are done to create brand loyalty. Furthermore its products can be improved so that it can face the competition in the market. Currently the company is facing many threats in the market which it exists. It faces immense competition from organized brands in the country that it is located. With intense competition it can be impossible for it to expand as its competitors have already created a

Should the Electoral College be abolished Research Paper

Should the Electoral College be abolished - Research Paper Example The topic represents one of the widely practiced political functions which create a considerable impact in the context of politics and elections. However, the greater emphasis will be laid upon the fact that whether the Electoral College be abolished or not? Analysis of this topic will provide an-in-depth insights to the present scenario of Electoral College and its related pros and cons. Nevertheless, the main concern lies upon the fact that whether the Electoral College should be abolished or not? This topic is considered to be one of the widely discussed topics, especially in the US context and in the recent times, it has also raised numerous debates that have cornered the political system to a large extent. This system has taken the overall political arrangement in a one-dimensional manner and it is giving rise to lot of political interventions that is not favored by most of the citizens (Veldman, â€Å"Abolish the Electoral College†; International Debate Education Associa tion, â€Å"Debates†). However, one of the major arguments for the Electoral College is that it magnifies the margin of victory and produces clear winners. The Electoral College is also supported on the ground that it is equated with federalism while the direct popular election does not promote federalism. In addition, the Electoral College system is viewed to eliminate the fraud associated with direct popular voting system. It can be argued that the system of Electoral College is ideal with respect to the interest of nation as well as its citizen. (Heyrman, â€Å"The Electoral College: A Critical Analysis†). Correspondingly, it can be argued that this system discourages the emergence of small and dangerous third parties. It has been viewed that this system promotes political stability and reduces political conflicts to a great extent. Furthermore, it can be stated that the proper utilization of this system, facilitate in overall welfare of the nation’s political system while its abolition ca n be viewed as threat to federalism. Besides, it has been observed that this system promotes benefit of having clear results and legitimate government (Williams, â€Å"Reforming the Electoral College: Federalism, Majoritarianism, and the Perils of Sub constitutional Change†). It has been reported on number of occasion the Electoral College is an outdated system and has potentially less relevancy in terms of modern political system. Subsequently, it can be argued that Electoral College is considered to be anti-democratic in nature and has arbitrary effects on the political set-up. It can be stressed that selection of representatives by Electoral

Cordoba House Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cordoba House - Essay Example People's opinions differ greatly, as not all inhabitants of New York are looking forward to seeing the building being constructed there. Personally, I strongly believe that the Cordoba building should be moved elsewhere. This would be a very sensible step; it would prevent unrest from taking place. Many lives may also be lost in that unrest, hence it is in the best interest of everyone to move the building elsewhere. Based on the First Amendment to the United States, which is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment guarantees freedom of religion, free exercise of religion, and freedom of speech. American society is diverse and is made up of people belonging to different religions. Cordoba house can be built anywhere, even two blocks from ground zero. They do have the right that guarantee by the first amendment, but it does not mean they have right they can make it right. This is relates to human morality. The majority of people, especially those families whose members died on Septe mber 11, feel that the Mosque is a â€Å"slap in the face† for them and for the society in general. This building will always remind on events taking place on that terrible date, and the darkest day in American history .The life of people who suffered from those events would become a terrible nightmare. The Park 51 was initiated by both American and Muslim representatives in order to build the proper relations between these two nations and to enhance the place of religion in the life of people but it was funded by Muslim. It was stated that Cordoba House project calls for a â€Å"15-story community center including a mosque, a temple, a worship place for Christian community and Catholic, performance art center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces† (Bliman n.d.). It sounds very great and easy to attract to all community from every religion, gender, class, ages, and to visit and build relation with each other. The problem is why they have to build religion practic e inside the building, even though their intention is to build better understanding among various faiths. Do they have to build religion practice inside the building. There is a lot of way to unify all the religion they can make events every week or month where every religion can have their own workshop in one place. It is impossible to enhance the place of religion in one place. Imagine Muslim is praying and worship in their room with a loud sound. Next to it, Christian is worshipping their God by singing with a loud song and enthusiasm. Catholic and Jewish is praying with hymn. How they are going to react with each other when they feel being disturbed by other people that being worshipped their own God. It is like putting oil in the water which will never mix together. History has proved it time and again; it is been thousands of year people always fight each other in the name of religion. Many people died because of that do we have to add more pages to history of holy war. Everyb ody knows this building is a beautiful building with very proper architecture and elements, and this building will be added to beautiful constructions found in the New York city. But according to CNN Opinion research Corporation poll it showed that about 70 percent of all Americans oppose this plan. While only 29 percent were in favor of the park. People that want to build Park 51 should listen to this voice. They build this house based on tolerance between people. If they want to show tolerance they should consider this voice. This is like put salt into the wound that

Opposing American Dream in Willa Cathers Neighbour Rosicky and Pauls Essay

Opposing American Dream in Willa Cathers Neighbour Rosicky and Pauls Case - Essay Example Willa Cather’s â€Å"Paul’s Case† was published in the year 1905 and it appeared along with other seven stories in her debut anthology bearing the title â€Å"The Troll Garden†. These two stories captivate the myriad perspectives and essences of the American Dream. The first time the concept was unveiled before its citizens was when James Truslow Adams first pronounced the words in the year 1931. It states a freedom encapsulated with a promise and possibility of success and prosperity. The concept of American Dream envisages a better life which is complete and rich and aims to provide the opportunity for each citizen according to their ability or achievement irrespective of their classes in society and birth circumstances. With this vision, Willa Cather presents the stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† that provide a scale of perception associated with the concept of American Dream and its derogatory cone with the g rowing time (Library of Congress, â€Å"By Topic†). Thesis Statement The essay intends to provide a comparative study of the representation of the conflicting concepts of American Dreams in the stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† from the same writer, Willa Cather. ... Whereas the story, â€Å"Paul’s Case† revolves round the trajectory of a high-school suspended youth in Pittsburgh who is depressed and frustrated from his middle-class life around and wants to break it free along with the people and company around him but fails to comprehend his appreciation for the beautiful things and for refuge, he runs away to the New York city. This story explores the threat encountered by art and the struggle that artists had to undergo along with the conflict of a young artist between his art and the commercial world. Conflict and Opposing American Dreams prevailing in the Short Stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† As the pieces from the same author, it becomes quite intrinsic and interesting to compare the protagonists of both the stories and their contrasting means to achieve their ideas of perfect life which gets manifested through opposing ideas of American Dream operating within the respective life o f the protagonists and stories as well. Anton Rosicky is a symbol of the immigration process which the writer also experienced first-hand when her family first shifted and settled in the Nebraska Valley. Anton could have lived a better life when he first immigrated to New York and started his tailoring work but he felt an earnest need to be in touch with the soil which compelled him to come and settle in a farm and live a happy life of unity, compassion and freedom other than extracting more and more profit from the creamery. He pursues his dream through love and compassion which are his poignant means of pursuing his American Dream. The tragedy with which Paul meets as a young aspirant of American Dream

Assignment 5 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

5 - Assignment Example In the initial phase, there is a need for segregating all junk mails which arrive from different recipients. It is worth mentioning that the mail process would only reply to the issue letters. Thus, after segregating junk mails, it will be decided that whether the letters possess any issue or not. Issue letters are considered as those letters which advocate a position and most of them arrive from arranged campaigns. After identifying the issue letters, they would be scanned and processed for recognizing the issues which require strict attention from senator. Most of the issues which are described in those letters are from several agencies or on behalf of certain citizens. Thus, it is vital for the Senator’s office to scan and process them accordingly to recognize how the issues can be dealt with. A decision would be made regarding whether to respond to the identified issues or not in the letters. In some cases, letters do not contain any kind of return addresses, to which they can be mailed back to the respondents. Besides, at times, these issues also requests for special visits and favors. Thus, in such circumstances, a few of the issue letters would not be responded. In such letters, a position would be created in the computer database of Senator’s office. For the letters that would be decided to respond, they would be printed and then mailed to the respondents. Apart from flow chart, there are several other tools which can be used for improving the process of issue mail processing such as check sheet and cause and effect diagram. Check sheet is considered as an organized method of collecting and structuring information. The objective of check sheet is to collect the information in the most effective way and check them accordingly against prearranged groups of measurements (Soković, Jovanović, Krivokapić & Vujović 1-9). Cause and effect

Healthy Grief Essay Example for Free

Healthy Grief Essay Grief is an inner sense of loss, feeling of emptiness and sadness every human being experience at some point of life and each person feels and handles it differently. But there are some common stages of grief which starts from recognizing a loss to the final acceptance. It is not necessary that grief should occur after the death of a beloved one. Grief is the multifaceted response to death and losses of all kinds, including emotional (affective), psychological (cognitive and behavioral), social, and physical reactions (Stroebe, Hansson, Stroebe, Schut, 2001). Grief is a healthy response to a loss, which should not be prevented. But grief lasting more than two months and is severe enough to interfere with daily life may be a sign of complicated grief and more serious illness such as major depression (grief-mourning, grieving and bereavement, 2012) which has to be treated. Kubler- Ross developed the five stages of grieving process which include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It is not necessary that everybody will go through all these stages in the same order. Knowing all these stages will help us to cope with the loss. Here in this paper the writer tries to compare and contrast the grieving process defined by Kubler – Ross with that of the grieving process of Job in the Bible, and tries to relate the findings with that of the writer’s own preferred method of handling grief and see whether this research has changes the view of grief. According to the Bible, Job was an obedient, god-fearing man, who was blessed with wealth, health and wisdom. One day Job lost all his wealth, health and possessions, including his children. In addition to that Job had developed very bad sores all over his body. This all was because God was challenging the Satan with Job’s faith and obedience. But finally Satan failed. Even after all those terrible loss happened in his life, Job never turned against God, but he turned towards Him and worshiped Him saying, â€Å"Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name† (Job 1:22). While comparing Kubler-Ross’s stages of grief with that of Job’s story, the first stage would have been denial which helps to survive the loss. But there was no biblical narration that says Job use denial as a part of his grieving process. Instead he was asking his wife, â€Å"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept trouble? †(Job 2:10). In stage two, when all these losses occurred one would usually get angry towards self, others, or towards God. Here Job neither got angry towards others or the God, but he got angry toward himself and cursed the day he was born. The third stage is the stage of bargaining, where someone bargains to get the life back as it was before. Job did not go to that stage even after his wife tells him to â€Å"renounce God and die†. In the fourth stage or the stage of depression Job did withdrew from his life and it is evidenced in the chapter 2: 11, 12 that he was sitting in the ashes for seven days and nights since his grief was so great and he was not even talking to his three friends who were sitting with him for those seven days and nights. In the final stage of acceptance, one usually accepts the loss. Here in Job’s example he was accepting whatever God has given him without questioning. He didn’t say any words against Him. He believed that the God does have a plan and He will do the right thing. Once Satan got failed Job was provided with all his wealth and health in double and he was blessed with ten children and lived a long life. The five stages of grief are not definite for each person and it does not occur as a linear fashion in everybody’s life. For example some people may get angry first then acceptance and depression. It depends on each persons living circumstances. it is different for each person. The same way grief can occur in a caregiver’s life too, especially during end-stage care. t is necessary to identify the signs and integrate these normal response to life Grief is not only about pain. Even in grief it can be mixed with joy. In an uncomplicated grief process, painful experiences are intermingled with positive feelings, such as relief, joy, peace, and happiness that emerge after the loss of an important person (Zisook Shear 2009). Frequently, these positive feelings elicit negative emotions of disloyalty and guilt in the bereaved. The writer considers healthy grief as a normal response and it will help to ease the stress and people show it differently. But any signs of prolonged grief should be taken care of seriously and get the support needed. Nurses’ grief resulting from the death of a patient is different from the grief experienced by the family. It may be hard to remain strong for the patient and family, while at the same time compartmentalizing the pain they feel for the loss of relationship with the patient and family. in the article, â€Å"creating a curtain of protection: nurses’ experiences of grief following patient death†, the authors says that nurses’ coping response incorporate spiritual worldview and caring rituals and nurses reate a curtain of protection to mitigate the grieving process and allow them to continue to provide supportive nursing care. In conclusion healthy grief is a normal response to a death or loss and knowing the different stages of grief will help to cope with the loss. The different stages occur differently for each person. Knowing the stages of grief will help the caregivers also to identify the signs of grief and help to cope with that. In a healthcare environment, the nurses have to be strong enough to support the patient and family and should be able to compartmentalize the pain they feel for the patient and family.

Aristotles How To Live Your Life Philosophy Essay

Aristotles How To Live Your Life Philosophy Essay Aristotle, was born in Macedonia in 384 BC. Aristotles father, whose name is Nicomachus, was a court physician. When Nicomachus died, Aristotle had a heritage from his father and according to ancient sources, he spent it in a very short time. Thereafter, he attended the Platos Academy in Athens when he was 17. At the beginning, Aristotle agreed with Platos doctrine. In the process of time when he found a contradiction in Platos doctrine, he had argued with Plato. In other words, Aristotle had opposed to Platos doctrine. On the other hand, Aristotle was the first person who had his own special library. Aristotles book which is Nicomachean Ethics, touch on two basic points. What is the best life for a man to lead? What is the standard of moral virtue? Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim. These words of Aristotles from the Nicomachean Ethics, clearly explain that, as a human being, we can not live without any goals. All human activities have some purposes which aim to get something good for human being. Good is the aim of all inquiry and actions. Furthermore, every action has a purpose which are the meaning of the real and complete life and this purpose is the goodness. So the biggest goodness and our lifes last aim is to reach at point eudomania which means happiness in a very wide meaning in all parts of life. To reach the highest point of eudomania we have to be virtuous and always aim goodness in our complete life. I believe that as Aristotle has mentioned: Since happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue, we must consider the nature of virtue; for perhaps we shall thus see better the nature of happiness. Human good is the soul s action with virtue and I think that Aristotle has added purposely the word complete life because there are people who live their life without thinking and only pass the days to expand their life. But in a complete life, human being is in acknowledgement of his or her life and he or she does not focus only on one perspective of his or her life. Life has different kinds of parts to live and to reach the highest end of that parts. After living the life properly, the person will be satisfied and can reach to goodness on every single part. But it is obvious that person will not reach goodness with same level on each part. Some will be stronger than the other, but the essential point is human being must be satisfied and reach to goodness not only on one point but also in each point of life. Because human being s last and the most important aim is to reach to eudomania. Eudomania has a wider meaning then the happiness. That is the reason that the human must be reach ed to goodness on every part. For instance, he must have enough money, success, love, respect, health, etc.. All of them and more. Being reached to eudomania points means human must be satisfied physically, psychologically and mentally all in one time. For instance, a person is healthy and rich but he hasnt got any respect from other people. Is it possible to say that he has reached to eudomania or even to happiness? Its not. Or is it possible to think a person is happy who has got a lot of money, respect, and love without health? Obviously not. The reason is that as Aristotle has mentioned, the person must be satisfied totally. That is the reason of why Aristotle has added the term complete life. Additionally, related to this, other comment of this term can be explained by the reality that people must aim goodness and act virtuously not only in one area but also in all parts of thier lives. On the other hand, there are some people who live their life spending the days without planning with any kind of aim. What will be the meaning of life? Why we were born ? Why are we living or dying? The answer would be for nothing. This is a starting point of chaos. At this point, a person cannot find the reality of life and if the life has no meaning and no aim, a person can not live a complete life virtuously. Besides, the goodness is not the basis of each action, so why people should not harm to each other or not commit a murder. To aiming the goodness is the biggest educator of the community life. As I mentioned above, getting the highest ending is the terminal stage of the real life which should be lived virtuously for understanding the meaning of it or there are people who believes that money and respect can worth everything. Without health, how can people be happy? As a result, there are the reasons why I agree with Aristotle that human being must be aimed at goodness by being virtuous and the essential point is to having goal goodness in all parts of life. Its very important to think about a complete life because if only one part could be excellent while others couldnt it has no meaning. Human being have to be satisfied with himself or herself in all parts of his or her life.

Traditional And Utilitarian Approaches To The Euthyphro Dilemma Essay

Traditional And Utilitarian Approaches To The Euthyphro Dilemma In the Euthyphro, Plato describes the proceedings of a largely circular argument between Socrates and Euthyphro, a self-declared prophet and pious man, over the nature of piety and even of the gods themselves. The issues raised in this dialogue have been reinterpreted and extended to remain relevant even with a modern theological framework, so much so that the central issue is now known simply as ?the Euthyphro dilemma.? This is based on Socrates? two-way choice which he offers in the dialogue: "Consider this: Is the pious being loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is being loved by the gods?" (10a) In the context of the dialogue, this simply segues to a logical argument about the definition of piety, and the question is more or less rhetorical as Socrates asks it. When Euthyphro chooses the first option, the discussion moves on to his next point without further ado, and the implication that this limits the omnipotence of the gods is ignored, probably because the omnipotence of the pantheon of gods wasn?t an assumption of Greek theology (after all, as we read in the dialogue, the father and grandfather of Zeus were castrated; what kind of omnipotent being would allow that to happen to himself?). However, when read with a Judeo-Christian concept of God in mind, the dilemma becomes this: "Did God decide what goodness is? If so, then "good" is more or less the arbitrary decision of a frightening being to which we cannot relate, and that being could just as easily have made murder and stealing the ultimate moral actions without any contradictions. On the other hand, if God did not decide what goodness is, he cannot truly be omnipo... ...urry now, and it is time for me to go" (15e). Works Cited The Tanakh. Jewish Publication Society, 1917. Grisham, Jules. "Euthyphro, God's Nature, And The Question Of Divine Attributes." Third Mill Magazine Online, Volume 4, Number 20. 20 May 2002 <http://www.thirdmill.org/files/english/html/th/TH.h.Grisham.Simplicity.1.html> Macbeath, Murray. "The Euthyphro Dilemma." Mind, New Series, Vol. 91, No. 364. Oct.1982. 565-571. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-4423%28198210%292%3A91%3A364%3C565%3ATED%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R> Plato. Five Dialogues. Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company, 2002. Rich, Gregory P. "Omnipotence And God's Existence." North Carolina Religious Studies Association, Wake Forest University. 20 November 2002 <http://www.wfu.edu/Organizations/ncrsa/papers/gregrich.pdf> Solomon, Norman. Judaism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford.

Special Topics In Communications :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Communication is defined as creating symbol systems that can be used to exchange and express information and meanings. The different ways that individuals, groups and societies use these expressions to make sense of daily life is know as their culture. Culture itself can be divided into two classifications. Culture spelled with a capital C is usually associated with art such as classical music, opera, ballet and art museums. These examples can also be called â€Å"high culture†. Culture with a lowercase c represents the way people live through fashion, sports, religion, education and history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each culture is a different audience. Mass media takes the audience in consideration to provide information that is relevant to them. Media will target people based on age, gender and race to produce programming or text that each will relate to. When the popular teen drama Dawson’s Creek first aired in 1997, I was 17. The program was intended to reach out to my age group on issues that were important to us. For about a year and a half I was a Dawson’s Creek expert, knowing in detail about the characters and the storylines. Soon after high school I grew restless with the show. I realized it no longer appealed to me because I had grown out of the show. The same network has since come out with programs for the college age group that I now watch. Networks know that they must change just as fast as their audience to keep them. There are many types of mass media today that are available to a large number of people on a daily basis. Sources of mass media and mass communications include newspapers, movies, television programs, radio, books and magazines. Of these mediums, the Internet is the fast growing type of mass communication. I first began using America Online in 1999 for chat rooms. I would go in the rooms and talk to people my age that lived in my area. It was a new way to communicate with people about whatever I wanted. I then noticed people using the chat rooms for a source of spreading their ideas about racism, sexism and general malaise. I believe that most output from the Internet is positive. The Internet is a convenient tool for education, news, entertainment, business and personal communication. Although with a resource with large, hate groups are also going to try and spread their message to the masses. Special Topics In Communications :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Communication is defined as creating symbol systems that can be used to exchange and express information and meanings. The different ways that individuals, groups and societies use these expressions to make sense of daily life is know as their culture. Culture itself can be divided into two classifications. Culture spelled with a capital C is usually associated with art such as classical music, opera, ballet and art museums. These examples can also be called â€Å"high culture†. Culture with a lowercase c represents the way people live through fashion, sports, religion, education and history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each culture is a different audience. Mass media takes the audience in consideration to provide information that is relevant to them. Media will target people based on age, gender and race to produce programming or text that each will relate to. When the popular teen drama Dawson’s Creek first aired in 1997, I was 17. The program was intended to reach out to my age group on issues that were important to us. For about a year and a half I was a Dawson’s Creek expert, knowing in detail about the characters and the storylines. Soon after high school I grew restless with the show. I realized it no longer appealed to me because I had grown out of the show. The same network has since come out with programs for the college age group that I now watch. Networks know that they must change just as fast as their audience to keep them. There are many types of mass media today that are available to a large number of people on a daily basis. Sources of mass media and mass communications include newspapers, movies, television programs, radio, books and magazines. Of these mediums, the Internet is the fast growing type of mass communication. I first began using America Online in 1999 for chat rooms. I would go in the rooms and talk to people my age that lived in my area. It was a new way to communicate with people about whatever I wanted. I then noticed people using the chat rooms for a source of spreading their ideas about racism, sexism and general malaise. I believe that most output from the Internet is positive. The Internet is a convenient tool for education, news, entertainment, business and personal communication. Although with a resource with large, hate groups are also going to try and spread their message to the masses.

America Needs Tort Reform Essays -- How to Fix the Tort System

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, â€Å"The tort system is truly broken and in bad need of repair.† Tort cases are becoming an extremely common fight in the nation’s legal system. Since 1986, 38 of the 50 United States have adopted some sort of tort reform. However, with the many flaws of the tort system today, the suffering American economy will continue to fall behind if the American public does not insist on fighting for justice in the legal system. The governing bodies of these states must continue to seek reform and propose strategies to fix the corruption in the tort system. The legal system set up by the founding fathers will experience corruption in the negligence of these governing bodies. Tort law is a branch of civil law that establishes rights to a person when a damaging act is done to either a person or one’s property. Crimes involving tort occur when negligence or intentional civil wrong is done and it does not arise out of a contract or statute. A tort is an act that injures a person mentally, physically, emotionally, or any other way. Acts of tort also include damage to ones property or reputation. Crimes of tort typically seek compensation which usually results in a dollar amount to cover the cost of the damage. Through the tort system, victims seek reimbursement for a wrongdoing done against them, holding the person legally responsible and hoping to prevent the wrong from again occurring. However, because compensation is involved in cases of tort, the system has begun to become more corrupt and the legal system is beginning to experience abuse. Victims are mistreating the legal system and seeking unreasonable reimbursements to cover their injuries. The people United ... ...e/161666/>. "Medical Liability Crisis Fact Sheet." American College of Emergency Physicians. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. . News Staff. "Fear of Malpractice Lawsuits Prompts Doctors to Work Less." Scientific Blogging Science 2.0. ION Publications, 28 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. . â€Å"Small Businesses: How the Threat of Lawsuits Impacts Their Operations." Harris International. Harris International Inc., 10 May 2007. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. . Weiss, Larry D. "AAEM President's Message: Tort Reform: Our Permanent Issue." Medscape Today. WebMD, 08 Aug. 2008. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. .

Eastern Philosophy Essay

Eastern philosophy is the philosophies of the eastern continents. Many postmodern philosophers believe the only variant of Eastern and Western philosophy is that of Geographic’s however some scholars will disagree that it is not geographical but of natural language and investigated thinking. Eastern philosophy touches base with three traditions —Indian, Chinese and Persian philosophy—which are just as different from each other as they are from Western philosophy. Eastern religions have not spent as much time as western philosopher questioning the nature of God and his role in the creation of mankind. More recently philosophical schools are teaching both religious and philosophical concepts. East Asian Philosophy includes Confucianism, which is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia[1], Taoism which refers to a variety of related philosophical and religious traditions that have influenced Eastern Asia[2], Shinto which is the indigenous religion of Japan[3], Legalism which was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period[4], and Maoism, which is officially known as Mao Zedong Thought[5]. Indian philosophies were several traditions which included but limited to, Hindu philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, Sikh philosophy, Jainism and Carvaka (atheist school of thought with ancient roots in India). Indian philosophers live life by a philosophical custom. They believe this is the righteous way to best live their lives. Whether Indian schools believe in god or not, they all share the same perception of the truth through logical practices. West Asian Philosophies include to Babylonian philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Zoroastrianism, Islamic philosophy, and Sufi philosophy, however they can also be referred to as western philosophies. Babylonian philosophy dates back to the Mesopotamian era which demonstrated certain philosophies of life, in the forms of dialectic, dialogs, epic poetry, folklore, hymns, lyrics, prose, and proverbs. [6] Iranian Philosophy is the same as Persian philosophy and is said to date back to the beginning of the science of philosophy. Zoroastrianism was philosophy influenced Indo-Iranian Philosophy. Islamic philosophy is summed up as the philosophical harmonization of Sufi philosophy reason and faith. Sufi philosophy involves a school of thought, in the form of manuals, dictations, poetry, and other written works as a means of thinking and meditation. In conclusion, Eastern philosophy is more about, the scientific aspect of philosophy without questioning the practically of it. All cultures involved have lived their lives by means of experience and by doing so they have gotten the best out of their lives. Even in religious culture, they do not question the beliefs but rather embrace them without fear of judgment and ridicule from others. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Postmodernist http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Eastern_philosophy#Classification ———————– [1] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Confucianism [2] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Taoism [3] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Shinto [4] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Legalism_(Chinese_philosophy) [5] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Maoism [6] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Eastern_philosophy.

Fire in Religious School in Mecca

Refer to next paragraph. On the 11th of March, 2002, fire struck a girls school in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Firemen and concerned citizens were quickly on the scene. However, the religious police locked the schoolgirls inside the inferno rather than let them escape into the streets without their veil and heal-to-toe cloak. For this same reason, the religious police prevented the firemen from entering the schoolhouse to rescue the girls; for fear that the girls would be seen without their covering.Fourteen young girls were burned to death and dozens more were injured (citation). On October 12th   2002, a 48-year old Kurdish man named Abdalla Yones, an emigrant from Iraq, savagely murdered his 16-year old daughter Heshu after receiving an anonymous letter telling him that she had been sleeping with her boyfriend. (Asthana & Mistry).This treatment of women in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran.This isn’t the real assignment. Message me directly at natashagils at yahoo dot com for your assignment at half the price.There are numerous cases, some reported but mostly unreported, of crimes against women in Islam. Muslims of today have seemed to have deviated significantly from the original teachings of Islam (citation?). Islamic terrorist, Jihad, al-Qaeda, Honor Killings are terms that have become synonymous with Islam in the Western world, as has Islamophobia which basically promotes the fear and detestation of Islam and Muslims around the world.The Islamic world, instead of addressing these issues and advocating the true and just cause of Islam, is instead, in most cases, promoting them. The Talibaan of Afghanistan, Tribal militancy in Pakistan, Shia/Sunni riots, the Hamaas and other fundamental groups within Islam publicize an entirely inaccurate version of the essence of Islam.As the Muslim society deviates from the central philosophy of Islam, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they have deviated too from the societal guidance off ered by Islam regarding the treatment of women. The Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims, and the Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) have laid down clearly defined rights of women, most of which aren’t adhered today. Islam was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula when it was rife with inhumane injustice against women.Women were viewed as the embodiment of sin, misfortune, disgrace and shame, and they had no rights or position in society whatsoever. Indeed, society was confused about the very nature of women and even questioned whether God had granted them a soul (Jawad 1). Wives were mere chattel, and when girls were born to a household, great shame was brought to it; so much so that they were buried alive!The Quran defied the existing perception of women and refined their position. It outlawed female infanticide and restored their birth rights .   Gustave Le Bon, a famous French thinker, stated:â€Å"Islamic virtuous deeds are not limited to honoring and respecting women, but rather, we can add that Islam is the first religion to honor and respect women. We can easily prove this by illustrating that all religions and nations, prior to the advent of Islam, caused much harm and insult to women.† (Bon 488).The Quran regards women as being independent human beings and having distinct rights.   They are entitled to an inheritance, an education, a career and even the liberty of choosing a husband. Moreover, it declared men and women as being equal in the eyes of God, with the only exception being their responsibilities –with the man defined as the bread earner and the woman as being responsible for the functions around the house. According to the Quran,â€Å"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and should not treat them with harshness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Holy Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:19)  The Prophet Muhammad, in this context, is said to have said,‘All people are equal, as equal a s the teeth of a comb. There is no claim of merit of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a white over a black person, or of a male over a female. Only God fearing people merit a preference with God’.Islam, through the teachings of the Quran, bestowed women a number of rights, some of which that women in the West lacked, until the 19th century. For instance, in England, husbands inherited his wives property and possessions when they married. This unfair tradition continued till as late as 1882 (citation?). Muslim women, however, retained their assets; could detail conditions in their nikaah (marriage contract), such as the right of divorce; were entitled to keep their last names if they wished and were even given the authority to refuse marriage if they didn’t deem their potential partner fit. The Quran laid down these injunctions in 610 A.D. (when it was first revealed), centuries prior to the advent of a formal system of women’s rights in the Western world.Some of t he fundamental rights the Quran gives women are:1. Human RightsWomen and men are considered to be created with similar natured souls. They are considered equal to men in all spheres of life.And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women. (Holy Quran, 2:226)Andâ€Å"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.† (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Nisa 4:1).2. Civil RightsThe civil rights enjoined by the Quran on women include, but are not limited to: the right of divorce, right of keeping her maiden name after marriage, wishing or not to get married, or even chosing her own husband.The Quran also states that there is no compulsion upon women regarding religion;â€Å"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut [anything worshipped other then the Real God (Allah)] and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.† (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256).3. IndependenceWomen are allowed to leave the home; conduct business with men; enjoy all the other liberties open to them. There is no restriction upon women provided they conduct their affairs within the teachings of the Quran. Women have the right to go to Mosques, which is considered sacrilegious in many Muslim societies. Not only that, but women have also the right to be Muslim pastors. Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, used to convey the teachings of Islam to men and women alike. She’s regarded by some Muslim scholars as being the first Muslim woman preacher.The Quran is very clear in its laws regarding women. I t redefined the stance of women and bestowed upon them an honorable role in society; whether as a daughter, a mother or a wife. Men are instructed in their fair and kind dealing towards women. According to the Quran:â€Å"And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed?† (Holy Quran, Surah At-Takwir 81:8-9).The Qur'an goes as far as admonishing those men who subjugate or ill-treat women:â€Å"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them – except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and God will bring about through it a great deal of good†. (Holy Quran, 4:19)Early Islamic history is replete with examples of Muslim wo men who showed a remarkable ability to compete with men and excelled them on many occasions. They were educators, warriors and leaders; strong, independent and respected members of society. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case in most of the Muslim world today.Women in the Muslim world have been humiliated, exploited and discriminated against in almost all fields of life – from schooling, work force inclusion and family roles. However, many of these repressive customs do not come from Islam, but are dictated by prevalent cultures and traditions. Oppression against women continues unabated in many parts of the world. Husbands keep their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers secluded from contact with others beside their immediate family members. Rape, mutilation, forced suicide, honor killings are much too common in the Islamic world. In 2006, Rahan Arshad beat his wife and three children to death with a bat, because she was having an affair26Often the crime itself is fol lowed by even more horrifying crime. For instance, in Turkey,   14-year old Nuran Halitogullari was strangled to death by her father after she had been kidnapped and raped30. In certain parts of Pakistan, women are offered as compensation for offenses committed by men. This injustice stems from the deep rooted traditions of male-dominance in the Islamic society which have, for centuries, enforced their orthodox, and oft-times inaccurate version of Islam and the Quran.Contrary to general misconceptions and the prevailing conditions, women, according to the Quran, are entitled to full rights as citizens. Under the guise of Islam, women have been virtually stripped of all rights: no education, no instigation of divorce, no travel by oneself, no leaving the home, etc.A deliberate effort on a global scale has to be made to educate Muslims regarding the fundamental and actual concepts defined in the Quran regarding rights towards women and the awareness that the existing treatment of wo men in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran. Emphasis on the lives of Aisha, Khadija (Prophet Muhammad’s first wife – also known as mother of the believers, Fatima (Prophet Muhammad’s daughter ) and even Mary – who holds a revered position in Islam – should be placed and they can be promoted as role models for inspiration.   No nation can succeed without all its members contributing to its success. Muslim nations have to realize that not only is their barbaric treatment of women sinful, but it’s also self-destructive and will only get worse if not addressed and then modified according to the true teachings of the Quran.â€Å"Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.†(Ismail 83).

Article Rebutal Essay

The flu shot. Should you or shouldn’t you get one? That is a very common question to ask as flu season quickly approaches. The Mayo Clinic offers an article on their website stating that the best way to avoid the flu is primarily by means of vaccination. Does this mean one cannot avoid the flu if they don’t receive the immunization? What happens to the people who cannot afford the shot, or those who cannot access the places to receive one? Is one to be plagued by sickness if they were to go against injecting the inoculation? While the Mayo clinic itself is a reputable hospital and research facility, the article, â€Å"Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza† (Mayo 2012) offered no evidence or support for the claim. There was support for avoiding getting the flu, but no proof that the shot itself would offer such protection. After further investigation, there were numerous studies repudiating the claims that are made regarding the efficacy of the flu shot. One such study (which was actually pro-vaccination) stated that the shot only provided moderate protection and was lacking in evidence in the 65 and up age range (Lancet). In another finding, namely the leaflet that comes inside the drugs packaging, the insert for FLULAVAL states â€Å"there have been no controlled trials adequately demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLULAVAL†. Then why take it? While the side effects of the flu shot can be mild such as soreness at the injection site or aching muscles, they can also be as severe as an allergic reaction causing, guess what, flu like symptoms. Who wants that? Plus there is the chance that the vaccines don’t match the viruses circulating (Mayo). Now wait a minute, somebody is predicting the upcoming viruses and then making the immunization? How does that work? Are these same people consulting a crystal ball or palm reading the other doctors and scientists by any chance? While it may be medically necessary for a person to receive an influenza vaccination while in a hospital setting or nursing home, the bottom line is sick people get sick while healthy people do not. To avoid the flu this season, eat well, exercise regularly, manage stress and take some vitamins. Keep your hands clean by washing them regularly and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth whenever possible but especially if the hands are not clean. Prevention is still the best medicine and as Thomas Edison so fabulously quantified, â€Å"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease†. References (Sept. 2012) Mayo Clinic Staff. Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza retrieved online from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flu-shots/ID00017 (Jan 2012). The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 12, Issue 1, Pgs 36 – 44, retrieved online from: http://www.naturalnews.com/033998_influenza_vaccines_effectiveness.html (Oct 2011). Adams, M. Natural News, retrieved online from: http://www.naturalnews.com/033998_influenza_vaccines_effectiveness.html

Juveniles rights to a jury Essay

There are very few states in the United States that extend the right to a jury of their peers for juveniles. Why shouldn’t juveniles be able to stand a trial with a jury of their peers? By law, minors are incapable of representing themselves or making decisions that are based on the current law presiding for the circumstances. Which basically means that juveniles are only children, children that don’t really know what responsibility or breaking the law is yet. Plus a juvenile’s record is private so if they stood in front of a jury then it wouldn’t be so private now would it? Also, juveniles aren’t convicted for the offenses they engage in, they are convicted for the delinquent actions as a minor. The two exceptions, that I myself have found, are either if the crime is serious enough to try the juvenile as an adult or, as said earlier, the state allows juveniles a trial in which a jury is present. I chose this reason because many people do not understand that juveniles are children, not adults. These days parents treat their children as adults so the children commit crimes as if they were an adult. That being said, people need to realize that juveniles are exactly that. Although they have been taught things about the community, the world, laws, right/wrong, and so forth, they haven’t actually lived to understand all these things so why should they be tried by a jury of peers that don’t understand that fact? This brings me to the next question, why do I believe there are differences in the adult and juvenile justice system and why do I believe so? The answer is basically what I’ve just stated in this whole discussion. Juveniles are children, children who hasn’t actually lived enough in this world to â€Å"know†. Adults â€Å"know better†. So does it make any sense to try people in the court of law whom don’t know any better the s ame as a person who does know?

ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDIES OF ORGANIZATIONS Study

ANALYSIS OF STUDIES OF ORGANIZATIONS - Case Study Example The purpose of this paper is to examine the case studies of North Cumbria Primary Care Trust, London Borough of Redbridge, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council, in which changes in the organizational culture were implemented. According to Cumbria NHS (2006) the former North Cumbria Primary Care Trusts have been replaced by Cumbria Primary Care Trust (PCT). This is a major organization for health, serving a population of nearly five lakh people. The organization is responsible for providing primary and community health services, and for commissioning a full range of hospital sercvices for local people. As with all NHS Trusts, the Cumbria Primary Care Trust is required to conduct a self-assessment related to its compliance with national Core Standards for Health. The results reflect a significant improvement in compliance levels, as compared to the previous year. The newly initiated project Closer to Home provides a unique opportunity for the people in North Cumbria to get high quality health care support as close to their own homes as possible, by working together with the NHS. For specialist care, faster access to first-class services is provided through hospitals (NHS Cumbria, 2008). The Redbridge Council of the London Borough of Redbridge has a Cabinet consisting of ten cabinet members required to carry out various duties under portfolios such as adult social services, community safety, budget and performance, housing and health, planning and regeneration and others. The five main responsibilities of the Cabinet are in the areas of budget and policy framework, promotion of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the region, leading the search for best value with the help of Scrutiny Committees, towards continuous improvement in the delivery of services, to exercise all the powers and duties of the Council, and to implement the requirements of Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunities in the delivery of services (Redbridge Council, 2008). Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council The Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council has twelve departments, with its Social Services Department employing 2500 staff appointed at more than one hundred locations in the region. The council is a unitary authority. The policy of Wigan Council is decided upon after debates held by elected councillors who sit on the full council, and the executive cabinet, with the assistance of committees and the guidance of policy panels (Wigan Council, 2008).The various issues that the Council covers include health, affordable housing, asylum seekers, police resourcing, school meals, teenage pregnancy, youth substance misuse, and several others. Select committees undertake a series of reviews of work done on the above issues and submit a final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Wigan Council, 2008). Chorley Borough Council This is a district authority that provides many public services for residents, businesses and visitors. In the local government, Chorley is regarded as a "two-tier" area, that is where district or borough councils work together with Lancashire County Council, to provide services on

Financial statement analysis project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial statement analysis project - Essay Example Depreciation of company property and equipments is done on a straight line method. Amortization is also deducted from the fixed assets. The longest life spun of equipment is five years which account for its useful life. Buildings are considered for 25 years. From the analysis, there are three things that are interesting about the company. Google Inc provides credit to its specified customers with no need for collateral. These are provided for in the allocation for bad and doubtful debts. More than 40% of revenue is received from unsecured receivables. The company has only class A and B shares in its portfolio. From the analysis, is that from the ratios analysis, strong companies like Google Inc have a current ratio of more than 1. The profit margin of the company goes more that 20% to prove its sustainability in the competitive global market. Application of international standards in financial reporting cannot be avoided even by independent multinationals. The share value continues to shore up in the stock market because of guaranteed return on equity. Treating financial vote heads in the universal standards is not

Media kit project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media kit project - Essay Example The main audience in the release is families who are looking for good scenes to spend their happy times, tourists interested in arts and students that are to learn on the historic aspect of art. The main audiences are the ones that the message is designed to reach (Karnes & Shapiro, 2010). Foundation of the museum was by Moody Currier and his third wife and was originally referred to as Currier Gallery of Art. The establishment was to make sure that there was benefit and advancement of humanity. Expansion of the museum has been carried out in different areas where in 2005, there was moving of the offices from the point is located, Kennedy House to Pearl streets (Karnes & Shapiro, 2010). This was due to the first phase of renovation. In construction of the museum in 1867, the place was considered to be the home where several wealth industrials in the city resided. The closing of the museum for renovation was done in 2006, where there was a 21.4 million dollars expansion completed after 21 months in 2008. Additions and renovation that was carried out in the museum lead it to receiving several awards as the people were satisfied with the new face of the museum and more tourists were visiting the area. The awards that were received by the museum were those of Design Honor Award, People’s Choice awards and American Institute of Architects awards. Both the awards were received in 2008 after there was renovation and expansion. This shows that the place has been made a better place where tourists should be able to visit to enjoy the beautiful art scenes, expansion for family vacations and a point in which history is preserved. The museum has incredible exhibition of the work that was carried out by Escher and a permanent collection that is aimed at regional themes and artists. The museum is not so much big but it is well curated

To what extent does successful workplace learning depend on the social Essay

To what extent does successful workplace learning depend on the social context of the workplace environment - Essay Example This allows the organization to reach the potential growth and success that the organization dreams for. But to transform just a mere dream into reality, the organization must implement learning processes that would change the direction of the organization. This change in direction could change the future of the organization and its employees. As workplace learning is creating sustainable new knowledge, it is considered as an investment by the organization for their most important assets which is the workforce. The workforce could single handedly change the future of the organization, all they need is a training and development program but a program within the boundaries of organizational culture. An organization is a mixture of diverse culture and employees. The only element that combines these diverse employees from different race, religion and origin is the organizational culture. With the passage of time, organizations have become more cultural diverse and they have hired employe es belonging from different cultures and geographic locations. Although, this has been helpful for the organization as it has allowed organization to have diverse thinking and more creativity and better learning from different cultures.... Along with that, the research has highlighted some of the important dimensions that would include the definition of workplace learning, social context of workplace environment and lastly the impact of social context on successful workplace learning. A brief conclusion is also included to summarize and conclude all the major findings of this study. Successful workplace learning Workplace learning is a process that addresses the needs and interests of the employees. This learning process enables the employee to respond to the changing environment and to contribute in increasing the efficiency and productivity of the employee (Lai, and Lo, 2008). This learning process ultimately helps in meeting the employee’s personal and career development needs within the organization (Chen, Bian, and Hom, 2005). Learning at work allows the organization to develop different capabilities and skills and thus it is better able to achieve competitive advantage (Hamlin, and Stewart, 2011). Learning at work happens through the daily working practices of the workers and the biggest influence in this learning process is the work itself. A process that addresses the needs and interests of the employee helps in reducing the absenteeism rate, turnover rate, job dissatisfaction and all those factors that reduce the optimum performance to achieve the organizational goals. Successful workplace learning provides an opportunity for the employees of the organization to develop or improve their skills that would enable them to obtain the best possible outcomes for the business (Clarke, 2005). Employees are worthy investments for organizations as these employees are relied heavily upon for the success and betterment of the organization. Employees are considered to be the most valuable asset within

Questions For A Second Reading Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Questions For A Second Reading - Assignment Example Richard Miller organizes the whole chapter in further sub heading in an easy manner so as to give something useful in his all passage from major points to lower one. Its very first passage tells about the failure of modern world. According to him the problem actually lies in the advancement of technology and all the imagination unrestricted by realities that has called forth, which has dimmed the line between reality world and fantasy, between fact and fiction. Therefore he has given stress on the use of old fashioned and modest way of entertainment like reading novels, books and other story books that create a strong human interaction in man and always keep the man in reality. He first gives the example of modern world with Columbine Massacre and its failure. Miller has described all the problems of modern world in an organized manner and selected the major problems lies in the modern world in a very easy way. He at start tells about two master minded boys, Harris and Dylan Klebold, were outsiders in whom one was follower and one is leader indulged in evil activities, killed many adults and finally were in funerals, himself in his writing did not accept the idea of blaming others on his actions. Miller has started from the problems of Harris then goes to further more critical problems in a very systematic and organized manner. He forces us to think how do the threats of unforeseen and unpredictable can be eliminated either with the help of educational system or legal system. According to him problem should be stopped at its roots. It should not be increased. It is a challenge for legal and education institution to control the problem from its ground. Miller has used lexis phonic and dense style in his writing. His writing style is very cognitive and knowledgeable. He shows that such a long sentence with a lot of antonyms and large words do not always correlate and give such

English Language Learner Assessments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English Language Learner Assessments - Essay Example As the year goes on, it would be easier to see a significant difference in the intensity of work of the Angel, particularly when I contrast the first and last works. I would also adapt rubrics to monitor Angel’s progress. This will enable me to use criteria to see observe the progress of Angel (Black, 1998). Some of the formal assessments that I could use with regards to Angle include oral interview, class presentation, cloze tests, role play and writing samples (Valencia, 2010). Some of the informal assessments that I could use include checking here interaction with other students, as well her interaction with the school staff. I can schedule diverse types of interviews in class (maybe take each learner into the hall to complete a private discussion as the rest of the students do seat work) or schedule with learners separately Asking questions, which use grammatical structures, as well as vocabulary that the class has learnt will help me know exactly what Angel and every othe r student has grasped (Simmons, 2003). It is vital to not penalize a learner for not indentifying content if he or she can make up situationally and grammatically correct questions or statements in response to the questions. Also, Angel came to school to improve her interaction with others. It is, therefore, vital to monitor the way she interacts with others, and see whether it is positive of negative interaction (Simmons, 2003). Diagnostic assessments that would be appropriate for Angel are diagnostic evaluation and summative assessment. The goal of formative assessment is to grant assistance for the learner rooted in her exceptional learning level (Simmons, 2003). This type of diagnostic assessment utilizes practical models to assist learners through an applied approach. In this case, developmental activities, with regards to Angel, will be centered on application of practical tools to enhance the worth of learning for the student. Summative assessment is adapted in grading and ju dging the level of understanding of a student in relation to movement of the learner from one stage to another. In Angel’s case, summative assessments will be utilized for certification purposes. She needs to be rewarded on regular basis in order to make the advancement needed for education. Such assessments should be given under managed environment using numerous other variables, such as start and end time for the assessment (Simmons, 2003). Successful assessment can aid in building self-confidence and motivate learners to make further progress. This takes place when their endeavor is recognized and assessment information is utilized to reveal them what they can do (Scriven, 1991). When students and teachers discuss what they have attained so far, they can learn what they should do next so as to make progress. Data obtained from assessments are extremely significant when it comes to noting the progress of what is being assessed. An educator should device superior ways of mak ing use of the information gotten from assessments of their students. Data obtained from Angle’s assessment would be use to formulate ideas that will to better academic success (Valencia, 2010). The information could be used to create a rubric that will be used to guide Angle to academic success. Cultural diversity, in the classroom, leads to more efficient group work

Ma2.1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Ma2.1 - Essay Example Holzner (2006) found that Dell, from its very early years of business, focused on offering computers as quickly as possible and with greater quality services (p. 4- 6). With its basic marketing strategy of ‘go direct’ and its marketing objective of providing customers with outstanding value and superior quality computers, Dell could rank 34 in the Fortune 500 companies by 2008. It employs more than 63,000 employees in more than 150 countries. This research work is an attempt to analyze the marketing strategies being adopted by Dell Inc in recent years. Rather than describing the strategies that are implemented by Dell, this piece of research work provides an in-depth analysis of why and how these strategies helped Dell success in its business and achieve its goals. This research work helps find out the strategic perspectives and theoretical approaches that explain how Dell made the success story. This work identifies most important strategic methods adopted by Dell including direct business model, Virtual integration, customization and customer focus and these strategies are detailed in order to examine how these strategies can help a business in its success path. This research work is an analysis of international strategy from the example of Dell. Dell has been considered to be a model and illuminating example for successful company with effective international strategies. Not just one strategy, but a number of strategies are virtually integrated in the business story of Dell. This research work identifies certain international management and marketing strategies of Dell including ‘go direct’, supply chain management, customer focus, customization and virtual integration. Dell’s ‘go direct’ model remains to be a powerful strategic tool that not only eliminates the middle men expenses, but, helps the company find and meet specific

Four function of management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Four function of management - Essay Example unbroken line of authority that links all persons in an organization and shows who reports to whom while illustrating the authority structure of the organization. This whole process is an example of effective practice of managing by the managers of any organization. Thus, ‘Management’ can be defined as, the process in which managers carry out activities of planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling to the achievement of organization’s overall goals and objectives1. Although different scholars and theorists have defined the ‘Management’ in their own meaningful perspective, Henri Fayol – the unarguably founder of modern management – has described it as, â€Å"A theoretical subject and practice of performing and integrating managerial skills2†. According to him, management can be classified into four major functions. These functions are as planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Planning: Planning includes identifying goals, objectives, methods, resources needed to carry out methods, responsibilities and dates for completion of tasks. Examples of planning are strategic planning, business planning, project planning, staffing planning, advertising and promotions planning, etc. It is the ongoing process of developing the business mission and objectives and determining how they will be accomplished. It is the function of management, with which, management symbolizes and makes sure while directing employee efforts towards group and attainment of organizational goals. In this function, long-term success of an organization is attempted to be made sure by making it necessary to set immediate and long-term goals, while selecting the appropriate approaches for their accomplishment. By planning, managers try to find answers to questions where? What? How? Who? When? Why? etc. If we look at the example of Imran Khan3 – founder of a famous cancer hospital in Pakis tan – answered these questions in the late eighties and planned day in and day

A Moment that Lasts Forever Essay Example for Free

A Moment that Lasts Forever Essay I turn around to see the audience cheering their lungs out for me. Even though I’ve been through so many competitions before, none of the competitions could even compare to the contrasting feelings I was having at the moment. Although at the time, I still did not know who won in the finals of one of the biggest competitions in California, nor did I know what the judges thought of me, I knew that I had successfully completed a memory that would have a big impact on my life. I knew that I had worked hard and tried my best, and even if I ended up not even winning a place, I would have earned something from this extreme event. My teacher had been trying to decide what piece to give me for my next competition: MTAC, the Music Teacher’s Association of California. What does that mean? It means that I will be competing in one of the biggest, and hardest competition in California again. It would be the 3rd time in this competition for me, after failing the first time, and barely achieving ‘Honorable Mention’ the second time. I knew that this was my chance, my chance to finally show all the critics, all the people that believed I was just a talentless girl with extremely well-known teachers, that I actually was able to play the piano. â€Å"Oh! How about this piece?† my mentor suggested.   I looked up to see my teacher, a young boy stuck in a old man’s body, look at me, so happy and excited about something that he was almost bouncing off the floor. I see him holding a green book, and I see as he opens the book to the 5th page, the words â€Å"Abegg Variations† by Schumann. I nearly fainted right there and then. â€Å"How did this teacher expect me to play this super hard piece that even Lang Lang made mistakes in when he played, when I couldn’t even play my Mendelssohn well?† I thought to myself, â€Å"but I probably can’t do anything about it, especially not with my mom looking like a dog that just managed to get its owner to give it a thousand bones, also.† The first big obstacle came quick enough. My mom announced that I was going to play at her student’s recital, only a few months after I first got the piece. I nearly fainted after all the screaming, crying, yelling I did. â€Å"It would be a good experience and excellent practice for your competition† she said. â€Å"But I’m not ready!† I replied back trying to use imploring eyes to achieve a change of mind. â€Å"You are playing, and that’s final!† she answered. Read more:  My Proudest Moment Essay I knew there was absolutely no point in arguing anymore, and that all I could do was practice. Turns out, I was completely right about one fact: I was not ready for this recital at all. I messed up, and I didn’t mess up small, I messed up humongous, huge, extreme, terrifyingly big. As I disembarked from the stage, I could just see how much practicing I would have to do to prepare for my second obstacle: my piano teacher’s recital. Apparently, all the practicing I did before this next recital was not enough, because I managed to embarrass myself at my piano teacher’s recital also. My fate was inevitable, and I knew by then that I was going to be practicing like crazy now, if I didn’t before. I also knew how furious my mom was going to be at me. My prediction was completely correct, as I was told to practice so much that my fingers were about to fall off. To be exact, I practiced sixty times for each variation, and Abegg Variations has multiple variations. T hough it took more than 4 hours every day, I stayed persistent, and slowly and steadily I improved. As I was about to go into a room for the first round of the competition, all I could think was†¦ â€Å"What if I mess up, what if I mess up†¦ I’m going to mess up, I’m going to mess up, I’M GOING TO MESS UP!!! GAHH~~!!!† The door holder called out, â€Å"Anna Yang†, and it was my turn. I went in, and was surprised to find three judges, different from the previous year. My face literally turned as bright as the sun when I did not see the judge that absolutely detests my teacher, *a*c* *e*s*n (for privacy reasons, I will exclude her name from this essay). I turned as hyper as a kid could become, and I was about to scream from happiness right then. Every single time I am in a competition, and she’s a judge, she always marks me down. Luckily, she was not here this time, and instead, sitting in her place, was a nice, friendly looking old lady, a not very skinny lady who’s facial expressions seemed a bit like the evil stepmother from Cinderella, and a Jasmine look-a-like lady who’s only difference from Jasmine was that she looked like she was about to poison me with a poisonous apple. As I bowed to them, I became more relaxed at the smile of the nice, friendly looking old lady. Although I was still frightened at the prospect of messing up, I was shaking a considerably less amount than I was before. I made a mistake, but I was lucky. Right when I made the mistake, the nice, friendly looking judge dropped her cushion from her chair, and everyone rushed to help her pick it up. My mistake had gone by unnoticed by the crowd. By that time, I was so ecstatic that my smile was about to reach the sky. The results of the first round came out soon enough. As I went on the MTAC website on my phone, I could hear both my mom’s heartbeat, and also my heartbeat beating as fast as a hare would beat while being chased by a extremely furious tiger. The page finally finished loading, and I scrolled down to see: Grand Prize: Anna Yang. I celebrated for about 2 minutes thinking about how all that practice had actually been beneficial, and then I realized what that meant†¦ I was going to have to compete one more time, this time against the winner of the Southern California group. I scrolled down to see who exactly I had to compete against during the final, and I went ballistic when I saw. Sherry Tang was the winner of Southern California. I was going to play against THE Sherry Tang, the girl who was on From the Top and won against college kids. The girl who won a national competition. By that time, I was already dead cast against the fact that I would never win, but my mom calmed me down with her comforting words, telling me that I should not give up, even if there is almost no chance of winning. I did not give up. I continued playing and practicing every day, and I ended up not regretting it. A few months later, a judge called out Sherry’s name before they called my name. As I heard the words â€Å"1st place, Anna Yang†, I walked towards the auditorium stage. As I walked on stage, I did not cry. I could only smile. Who wouldn’t? Why would you be unhappy about the fact that you had just won one of the biggest competitions in California? Though I do not practice as much anymore, I still always have a certain self-confidence while playing piano. I also learned that as long as I put in effort and I have fun, the audience and judges will also have fun, and they will feel the effort I have put in.

Textual Analysis of TV Show

Textual Analysis of TV Show CHRISTOPHER LEA Textual analysis of the TV show â€Å"Gogglebox.†Ã‚   This analysis will look at series 2 episode13 of the Channel 4 television programme Gogglebox. This show is broadcast nationally in the UK on Channel Four and is now in its second season. This episode can be found here: http://tvshows.ec/episode/Gogglebox_s2_e13 It falls broadly into the genre of reality TV. The participants (I will call them the actors for the purposes of this analysis) watch TV and are filmed reacting and commenting on the shows. These clips are edited together within the sequential chronology of the TV show in order to compare and contrast reactions and comments. In analysing this text, I hope to look at how the text portrays the diversity of British life and promotes TV as a unifying social force for good. I am also interested in the version of reality presented here One of my reasons for looking at this text is that it is a popular TV show that is attempting to reclaim the idea of water cooler TV. In the face of competition from on demand services, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, broadcast TV has seen a decline in the number of people who watch a program at the same time and on the same date. I would like to look deeper into the text to look at the ways in which the show tries to offer a view of a shared reality to promote its own validity. The introduction and broadcast paradigm Through the narration, we are informed of the numbers of people who sit down and watch TV every night. The use of statistics and complete lack of modality in the language (present simple tense – used for facts) tells the viewer to think about this as reality, there is no need to watch critically, as this is all true. The references to everyday experience are explicit here. The title sequences show darkening streets and street lights being lit, indicating a return from the toil of work to the comfort and security of home. This is underlined by shots of curtains being drawn, indicating a private space. There are also establishing shots through the windows of the houses, as we see people sitting down with a cup in their hand, looking at the TV. The cup of tea is a signifier of relaxation, while the shots through the window indicate to the viewer that they are part of someone else’s private moment, they are almost spying on them, and they have been given permission to look in from the outside. This reinforces the idea that this is real life, it is not set up for the cameras, but it somehow corresponds to what you would see if you peered in to someone’s living room. The text belongs the broadcast paradigm of reality TV. There is a kind of generic realism at work here. The reality show genre is familiar and has become almost transparent. With this familiarity, viewers lose sight of the fact that there are lights, directors, producers, make-up artists, camera operators and sound recordists working in the same space as the actors. Social codes There are number of social classes and demographics covered within the show. These all conform to their tropes throughout the seasons. The main characters are as follows: The affluent couple; The working class retired couple; The gay couple; The black girl friends; The middle class families; The working class Asian family; The two elderly intellectuals. There are also various other types and tropes that appear from time to time, but these are the main ones. Broadcast codes Travelling shots of the living rooms are put in to create pauses between movements to different actors; they fulfill a similar role to establishing shots in that they help with the invisible editing of the show, which is a way of adding to the believability of the show as the viewer is less distracted by the editing. The actors are all filmed from eye-level, which serves to put them on the same level as the viewer. We have been invited into their private living rooms, and now we are sitting as their peers, friends and part of their families. We are close to them and on the same level, there is no power relationship here, this emphasizes again the inclusivity of this activity. Reaction shots of the actors are shot in close-up to add intimacy and edited in sequences to emphasise these as common reactions. There is the suggestion here that we all do this, we all react in virtually the same ways, no matter what our socio-economic context. Everyone is filmed sitting in close proximity, on a sofa or armchair. This attempts to show the closeness and intimacy of the event. In some cases this looks unnatural as the space is very limited, and this proximity is maintained, even when there are other empty chairs next to them. The shots are also constructed to show people sitting in exactly the same position in every episode. Genre and intertextuality This text contains strong allusions to a popular BBC situation comedy from the last ten years, The Royle Family. This was famously a comedy where nothing ever happened. It showed a working class family in the UK sitting together, occasionally eating, but mostly watching TV. The show was filmed in a very similar way, with the family looking at the TV and the camera mainly pointing from where the TV would be. The script followed the comments of the family on various topics of gossip and their views on the shows that they were watching. Season one was narrated by Caroline Aherne, season two is narrated by Craig Cash. Both of these are actors and writers for The Royle Family. This provides an intertextuality that suggests that this show is to be taken lightly, it is not a serious social commentary, and that it is about people, or rather characters. It asks us to look for the tropes within the text and sets them up very clearly. The narration begins each episode with the line: â€Å"More than twenty million of us choose to spend our evenings in front of the telly.† The tone here is informal and familiar, choosing to refer to â€Å"us† as it is inclusive and refers to the stars of the show and the viewers as belonging to the same group. The numbering, 20 million, shows that we are not alone, that a large proportion (around 30 %) of the population is doing the same thing at the same time. Again, this emphasizes the togetherness of the shared experience. This is followed by reaction shots, such as disgusted recoils, faces covered with hands and utterances such as â€Å"Oh, my God!† By inserting these reaction shots immediately after the narration, the producer wishes here to provoke feelings of empathy, that this is something that we all do when watching TV. It also establishes a certain narrative tension; the TV screen is not shown here, and so the viewer is led to ask what these reaction shots were reacting to, creating the desire to find out the answer by continuing viewing of the show. This is a technique that alludes to other genres of narrative, such as drama serials that hook the viewer in with unanswered questions. The narration continues with the line â€Å"We’re going behind closed doors† over the establishing shots of windows lit in flats and houses, then closer shots from outside of the windows, peering into the various living rooms, the private spaces, where the actors are shown chatting, laughing and drinking tea whilst sat on their sofas. The intended effect here is to grant the viewer privileged access to private spaces, the doors are closed and we will be going behind them, the viewer is peeking in through the windows, and then getting to go actually inside the room. The viewer is drawn in to a secret world, but one that is very similar to their own secret world. This is conspiratorial and is intended to generate intimacy and empathy with the actors. It also serves to reinforce this idea of reality, that this is genuine fly on the wall stuff, which it is not set-up in any way, this is what we would see if we just peered in through the window, and there is no artifice or p erformance here. The paradigm of reaction shots is again used, drawing the viewer further into the narrative with more questions, plus opinions expressed, such as â€Å"I love this show† between the narrator’s voice explaining that we will â€Å"find out what people really (emphasis in the text) thought†. This pushes this idea again of uncut real life, this is the real thing, this is what people thought of the shows, and it is not mediated or censored. Verbal language The show is very informal and contains expletives. The language used is mainly to agree or disagree with comments, to mock or play with someone and to make jokes. It is social bonding that is important in this context. The bonds are created through sharing the medium of TV and commenting on it, these bonds are then reinforced with the viewer as the viewer is implicitly invited to agree or disagree with the actors. There are a number of accents, portraying the idea of a range of social classes and regions of the UK. This again serves to emphasize the idea that this behavior is quite universal and therefore, real and true to life. Bodily and behavioural codes Postures are generally relaxed, and yet most of the actors do not touch at all during the show. There is only one couple who conspicuously hold hands while sitting at opposite ends of the sofa. Dress varies; some of the actors (mainly the younger ones) are very informally dressed, whereas most of the older actors are dressed more formally. This jars somewhat with the idea that this is a time when we relax, but indicates a higher level of media awareness of the older actors. There are two types of shots of the actors; the wide shot that encompasses the whole group, and close-ups. The wide shot is used to show the actors participating together in commenting on the TV. This switches to close-ups when reactions are shown. The effect of this is to become more intimate with the actors, to be really close to them when they show emotion, thereby drawing the viewer into their emotional state. The codes for food and drink vary between the actors and are clearly organized to depict a certain reality, to emphasize their character according to type. For example, the older couple drinks tea, the intellectuals always have a bottle of red wine, the wealthy couple enjoys copious amounts of alcohol from a well-stocked drinks cabinet, the Black friends always have a large quantity of take-out food, the gay couple always eats from a box of chocolates. Ideological codes While the whole premise of the show is based around the idea that we are glimpsing what really goes on behind closed doors, the reality of the show is that it is produced like any other TV show, it is just that the dialogue is unscripted. In many ways, it is more like an improvisation with amateur actors playing themselves, on the themes of whatever they are told to watch by the producers. Taken as a whole, this show falls into a broadly conservative ideology that supports the dominant ideology of the UK. The close family unit is celebrated, and while diversity is portrayed through the inclusion of the gay couple and the black friends, there are still many absences that are conspicuous. For example, single people are not portrayed, including single parent families; neither are students, the unemployed or anyone who watches daytime TV shows. The focus here is on evening TV, and this period is lionized as the time when we all watch TV. This serves to promote the idea that typical members of society have busy lives during the day, and get together in the evening to relax together with the TV. The show also promotes consumerist values. The actors are all engaged in comment and discussion, but are, in fact, passively consuming the media, along with consuming their food and drinks. The actors all have houses and we are invited to look both inside and outside of these and comment on them. Benefits of semiotic analysis By looking at how this version of â€Å"reality TV† is manufactured, I have tried to show that it is a creation of the producers. The actors are real people, who all now have managers for their burgeoning media careers. The show has become a hugely popular format in the UK and reviewers and online comments have referred to its warmth and feel good factor. However, this is a carefully managed response that is the goal of the producers, not just a happy coincidence that has popped up from filming people being themselves. References http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html (Last accessed 13.01.14) http://tvshows.ec/episode/Gogglebox_s2_e13 (Last accessed 10.01.14)