Job search Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Job search - Essay Example Further, it is not known when a situation may arise that might bring about the need for extended services beyond the normal routine scheduling, thus requiring that an individual seeking to work as a ground hostess should be flexible and have the ability to work for long hours (Wadhwaney, 2004 p55). Nevertheless, there are several fundamental competencies and attributes are necessary qualifications for the position of a ground hostess. Necessary competencies for a Ground Hostess Pleasing and confident personality Pleasing and confident personality is a fundamental requirement for an individual seeking to work as a ground hostess, considering that it is a position that entails dealing with diverse people directly, and thus there is a need to be able to handle them appropriately, and make them feel comfortable, even when the situation does not speak to the same (Morgan, 2005 p156). Considering that occasional occurrences that may disrupt the travel plans and comfort of the airline trave lers are not inevitable, the pleasant attitude and personality is essential, to give the affected people a reassurance, while also making it possible for those with issues to approach and enquire from the person, since a pleasant personality translates into a welcoming attitude (IGIA, 2013 n.p.). Strong communication skills and command of key languages Communication has always formed the basis of establishing a relationship between individuals, and thus excellent communication skill, coupled with a good command of key languages used in the region is essential, to ensure that there is effective interaction between the ground hostess and the visitors to the airline (Kent, 2002 p27). While the ground hostess is in a position to communicate well with the travelers, then, the person becomes helpful to them, since they will be able to enquire regarding various aspects of their travel, and get helpful information (Canwell & Sutherland, 2003 p53). Further, the ability to communicate efficie ntly with the travelers, and in the language they understand well, forms the basis of visitors achieving a rewarding experience, which may act as the basis of future engagement with the airline (IGIA, 2013 n.p.). Patience While the other attributes are considered essential for the position of a ground hostess, nothing would be more necessary that patience, which is the attribute that allows an individual to keep calm and resilient when handling crisis, without the possibility of escalating the situation (Air hostess, 2012 n.p.). Therefore, patience allows the person working as a ground hostess to address the issues raised by the visitors to the airline amicably, without resulting to unnecessary conflicts with the visitors, even when such visitors could be harsh, rude and condescending (Great Britain, 2012 p41). It is through patience that a person working as a ground hostess will be able to assist, offer guidance and direction to visitors, especially who are first time travelers or those who are new to the airline, and may not understand the necessary procedures. Patience allows the ground hostess

Erich Maria Remarque Essay Example for Free

Erich Maria Remarque Essay â€Å"If you tell the truth, you won’t have to remember anything† (Mark Twain). Throughout my life I have come to recognize many truths. Sometimes I would tell the truth and sometimes I would lie, but when I lied I didn’t always get away with it. Although I do lie about some things and get away with it, I still feel bad about doing it. Throughout my life, Algernon and Jack’s false identities, Father Hooper’s sacrifices, Dr. Heidegger’s experiments, Eldorado’s disappointing truth, and Paul’s journey, we are awaken with the truth. The theme of truth has been revolving around all our first quarter readings. In the poem Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe, a knight is on a journey to find this joyful land, called Eldorado. The knight continues to search for Eldorado, but he knows he has failed. But he keeps searching, and even though, in his mind, he knows that Eldorado is a fictional place, in his heart he still believes it’s real. The knight in Eldorado recognizes a fairly disappointing truth, that Eldorado is a nonexistent place. â€Å"But he grew old-this knight so bold-and oer his heart a shadow fell as he found no spot of ground that looked like Eldorado† (Poe 305). This quote illustrates how the knight realizes there is no Eldorado. Another example of the recognition of truth is in All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, when Paul Baumer realizes the truth about war, and how it really destroys people, physically and mentally. â€Å"I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another† (Remarque 263). This quote signifies that Paul is very young and that all he knows is death, fear, and despair, and it is because of the war. The war had destroyed him and made Paul a different person. Throughout my life I have come to recognize many truths, but one major one is that nothing in this world is free, even if it doesn’t cost any money, because it still requires work. Nowadays everyone wants to buy the new technology being created, and it has been like this for many years. They also want to buy the clothing that is popular and very expensive. But, neither of the two are free, and they both cost money and both take time to get. I realized this when I was about 8 years old. I would still ask for a lot of things, even though I knew whatever I was asking cost a lot of money, and it was just because everyone else had it. However, when you grow older, you come to recognize that nothing is free and that you have to work for everything. Another important truth that I have come to recognize is that revenge is insignificant and for the irresponsible. When someone does something to you that is cruel or hurtful, you are going to want to get revenge on them, and that’s just how every human being is. I learned that revenge was unimportant a few years ago. My brother told on me for something I did, and I got in a lot of trouble. I was grounded for one week, and that made me furious. So I decided to get revenge on my brother. In the end, when I tried to get revenge, I ended up in more trouble and was grounded for even longer. This has happened to me many times, and I have come to realize that revenge is insignificant, it just makes everything worse. A third, and final, significant truth that I have come to recognize is that everyone will die someday. No matter how old or how young you are, you won’t be alive forever, which is just how life is. So everyone must live their life to the fullest and go out and do things. Don’t kill time, because killing time is priceless, and will never grow back, so why do it. Many people have lists of what they wish to do throughout their lifetime, which is amazing, because these people to realize the fact that they won’t be here one day. I have recognized this truth and am taking it as an advantage, and so should everyone else. Everything is revolved around the truth, whether it’s in your life or in a book you read. However, not many people recognize these truths in life. Once they do, they will be taught remarkable life lessons that will help them out in life. Throughout our lives, I, as well as the characters in the books we have read, have come to recognize many truths about life, which have helped us come to discover many things. Many people should need to start recognizing the truths in their lives, as I did, and it will benefit them in the long run. Works Cited BrainyQuote. Xplore, n. d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. Holt Elements of Literature. Fifth Course. Essentials of American Literature. Orlando, FL. : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. Print. Remarque, Erich Maria, and A. W. Wheen. All Quiet on the Western Front;. Boston: Little, Brown, and, 1929. Print.

Analysis of Article about EnClean Case Essay examples -- Harvard Busin

This case analyzes situation described in the Harvard Business Review article about EnClean located at: http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=794115 1. Major issues facing EnClean. A. Stock price is down more than 85% from its high of $22. Company has been losing money since the first quarter of 1992. Financial fundamentals are sagging: Â · Gross margin is dropping; Â · SG&A are too high; Â · debt is huge; As a result, investors have lost confidence in the company. B. Managerial incompetence. COO has lost control over several major company’s SBUs. Since 1989 EnClean has been failing the task of properly integrating acquired companies. Business units such as CMC, AlphaChem, and Sizemore have resisted change and have never accepted the vision, the mission, and the common strategy of EnClean. C. Demoralized personnel. Because of the following problems EnClean is losing highly valuable sales and technical associates: Â · absence of clear goals; Â · lack of training; Â · confusing deliverables; Â · faulty employee recognition system; Â · blame culture, finger pointing; Â · conflict between corporate and divisional interests; D. Uncertain/declining economic conditions. Â · Economy has been in recession for several years; Â · Environmental cause has received a hard blow in 1992 when president Bush Sr. postponed or cancelled many environmental laws. As a result, companies began to postpone environment-related jobs. E. Facing heavier competition. Â · Environmental side of the EnClean’s business faces increased competition due to the business erosion. Competition lowers prices to secure the reduced amount of work. Â · Industrial side of the EnClean’s business faces equal competition. For instance, 1992 saw the emergence of two potent competitors: WMX Technologies and Rust International. F. Losing the focus on quality. Since 1988 EnClean had been basing its strategy on providing high quality service (as opposed to low-cost). Quality improvement and control processes had been developed and successfully maintained. However, by 1992, as a result of rapid expansion, many divisions were executing quality procedures as a formality, just to satisfy the corporate group. Thus, EnClean is undermining its core competency – hig... ...ompany. o Create a learning network to share company’s best practices throughout the organization. o Start building a management development facility to teach and preach company values to managers of various divisions. o Identify and start to fold down businesses that are outside of the company’s core competency. Long Term Action Items o Free up capital by divesting from the business units that are unprofitable or are outside of the company’s core competency. o Use that capital to improve financial fundamentals, especially debt-to-equity ratio. o Put all company’s managers through the leadership development program. o Put in place semi-annual management evaluation survey. All managers must be regularly evaluated on their effectiveness, creativeness, and, most important, whether they are compatible with company’s values, mission, and vision. o Grow EnClean into the strongly centralized company, where planning, even if done on an individual division basis, is then linked back to the overall strategy of the company. Works Cited http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=794115

Pe Reflection

This semester has been great for me in terms of personal fitness. I have had the good fortune of having gym class and a foods class in the same semester. In combination I can stay fit and make healthy food choices which are key to being healthy. I am sure when I recap on my semester in PPL20 I will remember things I have learned, memorable moments, things that have really affected me as a person, some things that I did not enjoy and things I will remember in 5 years. There are a few things I have learned this semester in this class.I feel like the most things I have learned came from health class as we did not have a proper class to do units too in depth. I learned a lot about different drugs and their different names, short term effects, long term effects and legal status. We also learned about steroids and the different kinds of steroids. We also learned about a lot of different side effects and different dangers of steroids. I also learned about how to achieve success without ster oids. I also learned how to play badminton a lot better by placing the birdy away from the opponent on every hit and not hitting it in the middle.In the weight room I was able to apply what I learned from last year and from outside of school to be efficient in the weight room and finish lots of sets in a period of time. I felt pretty comfortable in most units that we studied. I think the biggest challenge for me was to play badminton because I am not really good at that sport. But I did feel like I really did improve a lot with the technique and where to place the birdie. I really enjoyed playing ringette and hockey because I do not play them often but I feel I should.I felt most comfortable in indoor sports that we did in class such as basketball, indoor soccer, and volleyball. I think I did well in those units because those were the sports I was most familiar with so it was easy to adjust to. I wish we could have gone more in depth in the rugby unit because I really do want to imp rove in the sport. I did have some difficulty in games of low organization because they would be usually sports or activities I have never played or heard of before so it would make it harder to adjust to the play style of the game. There were a few memorable moments throughout this semester in gym class.One memorable moment is when we had a lot of international students in our gym class and one of the Iraqi students got angry at Walter and said â€Å"You no good. † which is funny because didn’t know English well at the time. Other than that I do not think there were any other memorable moments during this semester in gym class. I think I have learned some things in this class that have affected me as a person. Most importantly something that really affected me as a person is that it is not how much you lift, it’s how you lift it is an important one since it will help me plenty when I am working out.Another important thing that has affected me is learning about what to do when working out. What I mean by that is to start with the bigger muscles and multi-joints first. It is going to save me lots of time on wasted workouts that do not work my body to their full potential. Another thing that has affected me as a person is understanding the true definition of character. Character is what people do when no one is watching, means that you shouldn’t act like one person when people around and then act like a completely different person when no one is watching. There were something’s that I did not enjoy while participating in this class.One thing for sure was basketball. I did not enjoy it because there was a large skill gap in out class so the good players were pretty much the only players that could touch the ball. I did not enjoy many of the games of low organization as I would much prefer to play sports I am familiar with but sometimes some of the games were fun. Sometimes I didn’t like badminton because it felt like we w ere playing it a lot during that month. There are a few things that I think that I will remember in 5 years. It all comes from the health unit we did at the end. I will definitely remember all the dangers of drugs.What I learned will help me make better decisions in the future. What we learned about steroids will also stick with me for a while. The dangers of steroids outweigh the benefits by a lot and it is not worth taking when you can be a natural athlete. In conclusion this semester has been great as I stated in my introduction. It has helped me become a better person and a better athlete. I will be able to use what I have learned this semester in class to assist me in next year’s gym class if I decide to take it and even to apply what I have learned to use from day to day.

Costco Wholesale Case Study

Stakeholders invest money with the intent to gain return in the future. It is important for stakeholders to gain access to information and evaluate the firm’s performance before they put money in it. On the other hand, it is the firm’s management team job to make decisions that would maximize the long term value of the firm’s common stock. The intent of this paper is to analyze Costco Wholesale Corporation’s financial performance and to assess how efficient the business has been over a five year period as well as to provide recommendation for financial management strategy. The problem identified in this paper is the low margins in the industry. Because margins are low, the profitability of individual companies depends on high volume sales and efficient operations. Costco Wholesale Corporation is high-growth Retail Company. The company has experienced significant growth from 1997 to 2001, which has caught the attention of the competition. However, the numbers are decreasing because return on assets, return on equity, and asset turnover ratios have declined within the same time frame. Costco Wholesale Corporation has been a major player in the retail industry. It is the largest wholesale club operator in the US. â€Å"The company operates about 555 membership warehouse stores serving more than 53 million cardholders in some 40 US states and Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and the UK, primarily under the Costco Wholesale name. † (Hoover's, Inc, 2010) Costco’s strategy is low prices strategy. The management team has been able to pass savings to customers, keep low prices and maintain healthy margins at the same time. This has been a result of the company’s ability to become more efficient over time. The company saves on operation costs in order to provide low price while still keeping high quality products for customers. It has been constructing warehouses with inexpensive concrete floors. Selling items in bulk has allowed for operating efficiencies. Also, carrying less variety of products than other competitors has contributed to keeping inventory costs down. High sales volume and rapid inventory turnover are very important for a firm’s financial performance. Therefore, they should not be overlooked by investors. Costco’s inventory turnover ratio of 11. 7% in 2001 is the highest compared to its competitors. It is a result of operating principle that allows Costco to improve its working capital and operate much more efficiently than its competitors. For instance, Costco buys directly from manufacturers and routes purchases directly to customers in less than 24 hours. â€Å"Cross-docks never stored inventory, so all of the items delivered were reloaded and shipped that same day. † (Case study, p. 6) This has increased efficiency by ensuring the trucks are operating at full capacity. It also has allowed Costco to receive cash in hand before it has to pay for the original merchandise from the manufacturer. This has resulted in a very high operating cash flow for the business. Cash is important to any company’s financial performance. It allows the company to pay its bills and invest in the business without having to use debt. According to Torres’s Common Size Financial statement Interest expense has decreased from – 0. 35% in 1997 to – 0. 09% in 2001. This has demonstrated Costco’s ability to reduce its overall amount of debt during these years. For example, the fact that short-term debts have increased from 0. 46% in 1997 to 1. 93% in 2001 and long-term debt have decreased from 16. 74% of sales in 1997 to 8. 2% in 2001, relates back to the decrease in Costco’s interest expense. This is a representation of the management’s team decision turn on to short-term and move away from long-term debts. In addition, the decrease in long-term debt has helped reducing total liabilities from 53. 32% of total assets in 1997 to 50. 46% in 2001. Costcoâ €™s current ration in 2001 is 0. 94, which is below its competitors. This could be a sign for weak liquidity position. However, the high inventory turnover ratio analyzed earlier in this paper in combination with the low current ratio is an indicator for efficient assets management. The competitors’ higher current ratio might also be a sign for too much inventory that might have to be written-off or too many old accounts receivables that could turn into bad debts. Sears and Walmart’s account receivables are a way higher than Costco and BJs, confirming that there is no significant reason for considering Costco’s current ratio a weakness. Costco’s gross margin has been well maintained over the five year period. Their gross margin of 10. 4% is much lower than Sears’ of 26. 6% and Wal-Mart’s of 21. 5%. Only BJ’s has a lower gross margin of 9. 2%. Costco’s 2001 gross margin suggests ability to remain profitable and very competitive at the same time. The company has been able to provide goods to customers at a very low mark-up and at a lower per unit cost. According to the case study Costco’s management team has decided to reinvest net income back into the company instead of paying dividends. This decision has resulted in earnings retention ratio of 100% as shown on Torres’s sustainable growth model. Absence of dividends could lead to some investor dissatisfaction in the short term. The return on equity (ROE) also has been decreasing during the five year period. It has dropped from 18. 6% in 1998 to 14. 2% in 2001, which could also lead to investor dissatisfaction. ROE tells how well stockholders are doing in term of return on their money. Costco’s 14. 2% return in 2001 is consistent with the current average industry ROE is 11. 5%[1]. Costco’s ratio is consistent with the industry average, but appears to be on the decline. A look at Costco’s ROE since 1997 shows a steady decline. Consistent reinvestment into the company has occurred in the form of new store construction and efficient modifications of old stores during these years. Such capital investments would take time to generate profits. Even though Costco’s ROE in 2001 is lower than in 1997 it still remains a large positive figure. As long as Costco’s management team continues demonstrates ability to successfully reinvest and improve efficiencies, stock price would most likely increase in the future and stockholder would be satisfied with long term returns on their investment. Economic factors should be considered when determining the future of the retail business. Economic factors include the economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and the inflation rate. Economic downturns have forced customers to cut back on expenses. . Any significant decrease to consumer spending has to be considered as a threat. In 2000/ 2001 tough economic environment Costco has shown the ability to persevere and continue growing their business. Passing cost savings to customers is even more important in times of economic slowdowns when businesses and individuals are trying to do more with less. Economic constraints play a major role in wholesale business by forcing companies to be more creative and come up with higher efficiencies in order to provide lower prices. On the other hand, economic growth provides opportunities not only to Costco but to other rivalry as well. Social factors influencing the retail industry include culture, population growth, age distribution, and importance of safety. Costco warehouses are located further away from residential areas such as cities and older suburban areas. This creates inconvenience for customers as they would have to drive further to shop at Costco than a local grocery store. Costco has overcome this with a much better customer environment, larger discounts on bulk purchases and various incentives through their membership programs. Ecological factors include ecological and environmental aspects. For instance, Costco has been offering boxes to customers instead of plastic bags. Such green initiatives are necessary to address environmental concerns. They could also contribute to increased market share. Other factors that should be considered are customer demand, cultural changes, and technology. Today’s advanced technology provides opportunities for higher efficiencies as well as cultural changes. For instance, the internet has been a great shopping resource lately. It gives retailers the ability to offer lower prices and customers the convenience of shopping from their own homes. Costco’s management team should continue to work closely with customers in order to identify their needs and behavior. Costco’s mission is â€Å"To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. † (Costco, 2010). The management team should ensure that systems and processes are in place to carry on the mission. Ensure open communication channels between employees and management. Employees should be considered when the strategy is being implemented because successful strategy implementation requires motivation. The company should clearly communicate its vision and mission to all levels throughout the organization. Communicating the company’s vision and employees involvement in the decision making process would give them a stronger sense of job satisfaction. That would increase motivation and contribute to creativity enforce. Also to increase motivation the executive team should review management’s compensation and rewards. As part of trategy implementation the leadership team should develop support among stakeholders. One aspect of that is to establish global network of strong suppliers and ensure availability of strong partners who share technology, development cost, and speed to market Costco’s goal is to â€Å"Reward our shareholders. † (Costco, 2010) This analysis proves that Costco remains one of the industry’s leading players and there seems to be no reason for Torres to sell her shares. References Brigham, Eugene, & Houston, Joel. (2008). Fundamentals of financial management. South-Western Pub. Brigham, & Houston, 2008) Carpenter, M. A. , & Sanders, Wm. G. (2009). New Jersey, NY: Pearson Education, Inc. Costco wholesale corporation . (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. hoovers. com/company/Costco_Wholesale_Corporation/rkfjif-1. html Costco, Initials. (2010). Costco wholesale corporation. Retrieved from http://www. csrglobe. com/login/companies/costco_wholesale_corporation. html Jun, J. (2009, January 19). Taking stock in costco. Retrieved from http://www. oldschoolvalue. com/featured/taking-stock-in-costco/ ———————– [1] Data collected from Google Finance

U.S. vs Asian School System essays

U.S. vs Asian School System essays In the past twenty years the United States school system has been accumulating quite a bit of criticism. Evidence shows that the United States has been lagging exponentially compared to almost all the industrialized countries. This specifically refers to Asian countries that are statistically blowing the U.S. out of the water. Recent survey results in the universal subject of math show us that the U.S. eighth graders have fallen behind, while the twelfth grade level showed only slight improvement (appositive). This means that the U.S. students are barely floating above water, where as, Asian students have built some sort of super boat (appositive). Yet we all recognize that not any one device is perfect, and are usually leaking water in the most unnoticeable spot. Before one realizes the problem, the boat is sinking. We would potentially look at these education systems as extremes of each other. Each education system being on the different side of the spectrum. Both systems having faults and advantages. Taking the positive aspects from both sides and merging them together, a harmonious education system could be established (verb phrase). The article Japans School System tells us that in an Asian classroom students will feel an incredible amount of pressure starting from grade school and up, while U.S. teachers are too afraid to raise the bar because of potential discouragement of the student. We examine evidence from the article Strengths, weaknesses, and lessons of Japanese education. A negative of the Asian school system, is the conformity that must be upheld. This achieves better education because it becomes the thing to do. When everybody is on the same curriculum there is no other choice but to follow the herd. While conformity creates better math students, it demises the aspect of creativity and individuality. The boat may float, but not posses any ...

South East Asian Crisis essays

South East Asian Crisis essays On the 2nd of July 1997, Asia was hit by one of the most devastating financial crises it has ever seen. Of all the financial crisis that have taken place, this was one of the most distressing in that it was totally unexpected. The purpose of this paper is to show that particular developmental strategies employed by these economies eventually led to their downfall. It will attempt to find out where the origins of the crisis lie, and what events started the cycle that eventuated with this disaster. In order to trace the events that led to the eventual collapse of the Asian economies, one must venture across the ocean to the United States. The issue of liberalisation first gained attention in the US during the Regan Administration. However, it was during the Clinton era that liberalisation became a top priority. Whereas previous governments had pushed for the liberalisation of Japan, one of Clintons main foreign policy objectives was the liberalisation of the Asian economies. This proc ess was pushed forth in Asia with such vehemence because the region held a lot of investment opportunities for American Banks, Brokerages, and other financial sector businesses. Unfortunately, Asias economies were not structurally ready to deal with the influx of capital that was headed their way. They had weak banking and legal systems that were unable, or unwilling, to regulate the flow of foreign capital in the country. The Americans eventually persuaded Korea to relax its capital flow regulations by giving it the option of joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Even then, Korea was concerned that its financial institutions may not be able to deal with an influx of foreign capital. One fatal mistake that Korea, as well as other Southeast Asian countries made, was that they opened their capital markets in the wrong way. They did not allow long term investments in Korean companies, but rather, only short-term inv...

Math Journaling in the Classroom and Out

Math Journaling in the Classroom and Out Journal writing can be a valuable technique to further develop and enhance your mathematical thinking and communication skills in mathematics. Journal entries in mathematics provide opportunities for individuals to self-assess what theyve learned. When one makes an entry into a math journal, it becomes a record of the experience received from the specific math exercise or problem-solving activity. The individual has to think about what he/she did in order to communicate it in writing; in so doing, one gains some valuable insight and feedback about the mathematical problem-solving process. The math no longer becomes a task whereby the individual simply follows the steps or rules of thumb. When a math journal entry is required as a follow up to the specific learning goal, one actually has to think about what was done and what was required to solve the specific math activity or problem. Math instructors also find that math journaling can be quite effective. When reading through the jour nal entries, a decision can be made to determine if further review is required. When an individual writes a math journal, they must reflect on what they have learned which becomes a great assessment technique for individuals and instructors. If math journals are something new, you will want to use the following strategies to assist the implementation of this valuable writing activity. Procedure A journal should be written at the end of a math exercise.Journal entries should be in a separate book, one used specifically for mathematical thinking.Math journals should contain specific details about the areas of difficulties and areas of success.The math journal entries should take no more than 5-7 minutes.Math journals can be done with children and adults. Younger children will draw pictures of the concrete math problem they have explored.Math journals should not be done daily, its more important to do math journals with new concepts in areas specifically related to growth in mathematical problem-solving.Be patient, math journaling takes time to learn. It is critical to understand that math journaling is an entry of the mathematical thinking processes. Theres no right or wrong way of thinking! Math Journal Prompts to Get You Started I knew I was right when......If I missed____________ I would have to__________________.The thing you have to remember with this kind of problem is........Tips I would give a friend to solve this problem are.........I wish I knew more about......How many times did you try to solve the problem? How did you finally solve it?Could you have found the answer by doing something different? What?What method did you use to solve this problem and why?Was this hard or easy? Why?Where else could you use this type of problem-solving?What would happen if you missed a step? Why?What other strategies could you use to solve this problem?Write 4 steps for somebody else that will be solving this problem.What would you like to do better next time?Were you frustrated with this problem? Why or why not?What decisions had to be made when solving this problem?What do you like about math? What dont you like about math?Is math your favorite subject? Why or why not? When one has to write about problem-solving strategies, it helps to clarify thinking. We will often discover solutions to problems when we write about the problem. Another strategy that helps to retain math concepts and support understanding is knowing how to take great notes in math.

On Consumer Surplus and Pricing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

On Consumer Surplus and Pricing Strategy - Essay Example For each commodity marketed, customers assign a certain amount that they are willing to pay. Some business organizations are able to price according to the customers’ perceived value of their offering. However, some may be priced less than what the customers would want to pay for them, thereby robbing the companies of profit potential. Consumer surplus is defined as "the amount that customers benefit by being able to purchase a product for a price that they would be willing to pay" (Economic Surplus 2007). When company prices are less than the amount that buyers are willing to pay for the product, customers will enjoy the consumer surplus in purchasing the product. Thus, companies should be adept in their pricing strategy. They should be able to determine individual consumer surplus and fully expropriate it for their advantage. Identifying the exact value attributed by buyers to a product is a great challenge for a business organization. As individuals are unique, they often h ave different perceptions of the monetary value of an offering. Some price-sensitive customers may find a product too expensive but some may even find it a bargain. One of the things that the company can do is to conduct a survey before releasing the product in order to get an average price that the target market is likely willing to pay. The company can also experiment by raising and lowering the price in the market and monitor the customers' response through product sales and demand. However, all these can be very tedious and can erode the identity and image of the product in the market. It can even bring confusion to the customers.

Secondary Source Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Secondary Source Review - Essay Example the Russian Empire or within the Russian Army during the Seven Years War; due in part to the fact that most of the battles and exploits of the war did not take place within Russian territory of that time. Nonetheless, the shifts and changes that this level of Western exposure effected on the Russian Empire, specifically upon the military, paved the way for rapid success and development that would be effected during and after Peter the Greats reign as Tsar. The main source of primary material that is utilized was drawn from the art of the era and the sketches of officers and cadets that sought to capture in drawing the changes in tactics, dress, and discipline that were being effected on an army that had otherwise changed very little over the past several centuries. The addition of these sketches is essential in helping the reader t o visualize the changes not only in the way that troops dressed but with respect to the way in which military service was performed and the changes that existed between the new Western models and the older traditional model of military strategy and engagement that had been the staple of the Russian army for such a long period of time. The primary argument of the author is concentric upon the fact that even though most scholarship concerning the Seven Years War has been focused on Western Europe, important changes were also being exhibited within the Russian Empire of Peter the Great; changes that would ultimately lead this newly resilient Russian Empire to defeat the Swedish and claim further territory throughout Northern Europe. Moreover, the author also points to the understanding that it was the Seven Years War, and by extension Peter the Great that ultimately set the stage for Catherine the Great and the era in which this Tsaress would capitalize on the modernizations and improvements in tactics, approach, equipment, and training that Peter the Great had made as a means of expanding the Russian Empire to a degree not previously

SOCIALIZATION ASSIGNMENT Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SOCIALIZATION - Assignment Example It seems clear I am not a carbon copy of my parents. I suspect that the greatest socializing influences on my values and beliefs have been my religion, the city where I grew up, and my school. I am a Muslim, from United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East. I spent my childhood and teen years in Abu Dhabi, and went to an international school. I meet many people for whom religion is just something they were born into and direct no effort toward. For me, being Muslim is an active organization of beliefs. By active, I mean it is more than rules and doctrine. It is a way of life that is visible every day, every choice, every relationship with others. I pray toward our holy city, Mecca, and I am reoriented and refreshed in my soul. I pray because God is God, and I feel a part of something very beautiful. I feel the effect of our prayers on the world is a helpful thing. It is a time for quiet, a time for connection to Allah and to the Prophet, (peace be upon him). No matter where I am, in the world, and no matter who are my friends and what are my influences, I pray and know, again, who and what I am. Islam is a religion of which I feel proud. When I read the Holy Qur’an, I am connected into a history of my people and instructions for how to live a right way. Islam is a religion that is not confined to the region of my birth, but has spread all over the world. Some people misunderstand and think it is a religion of conflict, but actually it is a way of peace. We Muslims greet each other in peace, and return the blessing of peace when we are greeted. This greeting is a cultural symbol. It includes us with the Muslim we are greeting and with all Muslims because that idea of inclusiveness is part of the phrase we speak. Muslims have contributed many good things to the world. From the invention of algebra and hospitals to the building of the Hamarabi and the Taj Mahal,

Is direct military action the best way to deal whith problems of Essay

Is direct military action the best way to deal whith problems of terrorism - Essay Example The reality is experience informs that any conceptualization or definition of terrorism reveals that it is vastly similar to peacetime war crimes.7 Today there is a growing perception that terrorism is growing more and more dangerous particularly with the aid of new technologies. Terrorists today are said to be more disorganized than in previous years and more inclined to use weapons of mass destruction and to bring about more catastrophic consequences. Moreover, it is largely believed that terrorists are comprised of â€Å"amateurs†, ad hoc and â€Å"transitory groups† with the result that â€Å"state sponsorship† is no longer necessary.8 In other words, the new structures of terrorism today make it more difficult to use traditional counterterrorism strategies to combat terrorism today. Counterterrorism Strategies Conventional Counterterrorism Strategies Before and After September 11, 2001. The complex and dangerous nature of terrorism today was demonstrated by the terror attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. Internationally, countries have come to the realization that traditional counterterrorism mechanisms are insufficient for preventing and deterring terrorism. As a result, there has been a proliferation of counterterrorism reforms, particularly in Western jurisdictions.9 Many of these reforms however, merely involved the expansion of laws that were directed at defining and prosecuting terrorism.10 Since September 11, 2001, and particularly since the terrorist bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005, counterterrorism has been among the European Union’s (EU) top policy concern. For the EU this involves balancing security against human rights. 11 The EU’s legislative measures taken in the aftermath of the... From the research it can be comprehended that the 21st century has ushered in a new dangerous strand of terrorism. The death toll in the US on September 11, 2001 demonstrated that conventional methods of treating terrorism as a crime and dealing with it within the criminal justice system were futile. Obviously, terrorist were not deterred, but rather reenergized and committed to their political causes. Internationally, governments reformed counterterrorism approaches, but largely left terrorism within the criminal justice system. While the US and its coalition waged war against state sponsors of terrorism (Afghanistan and Iraq), terrorists and insurgents have continued to relocate and complicate the efforts of the US. The Israel experience with direct military action has also proved to be just as counterproductive as the US’s indirect military action. It would therefore appear that counterterrorism cannot be satisfactorily deterred by military action. It might be wise to focus attention on programmes that redirect the youth who are susceptible to recruitment. Providing young people with viable and legitimate alternatives appears to be the best approach to counterterrorism at far less expense to innocent civilians. Military action has proven to be just as costly to civilians and perhaps more so than terrorism. It would therefore appear that military action as an alternative counterterrorism strategy is counterproductive.

South Garden Chinese Restaurant - Company Analysis Research Paper

South Garden Chinese Restaurant - Company Analysis - Research Paper Example It could be noted that the stabilization and the further growth of the company could be achieved under the following terms: the measures suggested should be supported both by the management team and the employees. Cooperation across the organization should be improved; in this way, the resistance to the suggested changes could be controlled, a fact that could increase the chances for successful implementation of the relevant plans. In general, the current business structure and operational rules can be characterized as satisfactory (as also described in the business website). However, the declining popularity of the business is a problem, which should be, resolved the soonest possible – before leading to severe loss of profits. The quality of food is a key criterion for the competitiveness of the organization. Currently, the business offers a menu, which is rather common – among restaurants of this type; however, it is clear that a gap exists in the menu: the needs of p eople who prefer organic meals are not addressed. The introduction of recipes based on organic ingredients would increase the restaurant’s customer base; also, long-term customers would also appreciate the specific initiative – an increase in orders from existing customers could be also achieved (Liu and Jang 338). The realization of such plan would require the training of the restaurant’s chefs, a plan that could be easily developed though taking into consideration the level of expansion of such initiatives in the restaurant sector worldwide. It should be noted that the above plan would also require an accurate cost management plan, meaning that the profits generated – or those expected – from these meals would be higher compared to the cost of the ingredients used for their preparation. Because of the increase of organic farms across USA, a balance between cost and profit could be easily achieved, especially if appropriate arrangements are made w ith the firm’s existing suppliers. Another business sector, which would be reviewed, trying to improve organizational performance, would be the workplace. Reference is made to the firm’s employees who are, in the their high majority Chinese. This practice should be changed; Americans should be also hired trying to show the lack of discrimination in the organization; another benefit of such initiative would be the following one: the number of Americans visiting the restaurant would be increased – preferring to being served by people of the same nationality. At the same time, the firm’s existing employees should be offered appropriate training, aiming to improve their communication with customers. Moreover, the use of innovative features for improving the image of the restaurant – as a competitive business in Miami – could be proved particularly helpful towards the increase of the firm’s competitiveness: the provision to the customers o f a unique Chinese cooking show on a regular basis, for instance once a week or every month, could be a successful strategy of such type. One of the business sectors, which should be thoroughly reviewed for improving organizational performance, would be marketing. Currently, the business uses a common method of marketing, leaflets with the restaurant’s menu and its offers are distributed locally, to residents and businesses of Miami. Moreover, a delivery service is used for reaching customers who do not have the time to visit the restaurant. However,

Is direct military action the best way to deal whith problems of Essay

Is direct military action the best way to deal whith problems of terrorism - Essay Example The reality is experience informs that any conceptualization or definition of terrorism reveals that it is vastly similar to peacetime war crimes.7 Today there is a growing perception that terrorism is growing more and more dangerous particularly with the aid of new technologies. Terrorists today are said to be more disorganized than in previous years and more inclined to use weapons of mass destruction and to bring about more catastrophic consequences. Moreover, it is largely believed that terrorists are comprised of â€Å"amateurs†, ad hoc and â€Å"transitory groups† with the result that â€Å"state sponsorship† is no longer necessary.8 In other words, the new structures of terrorism today make it more difficult to use traditional counterterrorism strategies to combat terrorism today. Counterterrorism Strategies Conventional Counterterrorism Strategies Before and After September 11, 2001. The complex and dangerous nature of terrorism today was demonstrated by the terror attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. Internationally, countries have come to the realization that traditional counterterrorism mechanisms are insufficient for preventing and deterring terrorism. As a result, there has been a proliferation of counterterrorism reforms, particularly in Western jurisdictions.9 Many of these reforms however, merely involved the expansion of laws that were directed at defining and prosecuting terrorism.10 Since September 11, 2001, and particularly since the terrorist bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005, counterterrorism has been among the European Union’s (EU) top policy concern. For the EU this involves balancing security against human rights. 11 The EU’s legislative measures taken in the aftermath of the... From the research it can be comprehended that the 21st century has ushered in a new dangerous strand of terrorism. The death toll in the US on September 11, 2001 demonstrated that conventional methods of treating terrorism as a crime and dealing with it within the criminal justice system were futile. Obviously, terrorist were not deterred, but rather reenergized and committed to their political causes. Internationally, governments reformed counterterrorism approaches, but largely left terrorism within the criminal justice system. While the US and its coalition waged war against state sponsors of terrorism (Afghanistan and Iraq), terrorists and insurgents have continued to relocate and complicate the efforts of the US. The Israel experience with direct military action has also proved to be just as counterproductive as the US’s indirect military action. It would therefore appear that counterterrorism cannot be satisfactorily deterred by military action. It might be wise to focus attention on programmes that redirect the youth who are susceptible to recruitment. Providing young people with viable and legitimate alternatives appears to be the best approach to counterterrorism at far less expense to innocent civilians. Military action has proven to be just as costly to civilians and perhaps more so than terrorism. It would therefore appear that military action as an alternative counterterrorism strategy is counterproductive.

Discussion Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Discussion Topic - Essay Example They are naturally buoyant; this feature helps them stay under water because they keep swimming with ease. Their short tail is not meant for propelling them in water as it is thought; its purpose is storage of fats that enhance their buoyancy. Their mouth looks like that of a duck to facilitate their feeding under water. Platypuses are carnivores. They are bottom feeders. They scoop up shellfish, insects along with their larvae, as well as worms in their bill together with bits of gravel and mud. Since they lack teeth, the bits of gravel plays a major role to assist them chew their food. Other animals also eat platypuses. Their natural predators include snakes, water rats, owls, goannas, and hawks in addition to eagles. There are a reduced number of platypuses in northern Australia due to predation by crocodiles (Nowak, 1999). There are concerns about the reduced population of duck billed platypuses in Australia. Within the past 100 years, their population has been reducing drastically due to a number of factors. The main factor that has contributed to their population is increased mortality because of eaten by many natural predators. The introduction of red foxes for hunting in 1845, has largely contributed to decrease in number of platypuses that live on the main land. Australia is trying to put in place measures that will assist maintain population of platypuses. The climate changes that are being experienced in the world today are not because of nature. In the past years when there were few human activities in the environment, there was no changes in climate as it is being experienced within recent years. Human activities are the main causes of climate changes in the world today. Human activities cause changes in the atmosphere by releasing green house gasses, and aerosols or else small particles into the atmosphere. Major activity that contributes to atmospheric

Mind and Citadel Essay Example for Free

Mind and Citadel Essay Masculinity is the properties characteristic of the male sex. Characteristics include strength, toughness, brutality and many more. All of which are the characteristics of the boys who attended The Citadel in hopes of leaving the school as men. Susan Faludi, author of The Naked Citadel, writes about the problems within the prestigious school, the major problem, being sexism. The Citadel’s problem can be almost clearly supported by Malcom Gladwell’s Power of Context argument from his book the Tipping Point. The militaristic environment at the Citadel changes each cadet’s character into an extreme emotionally ruined version of who they once were. These changes turn into violence in the extreme. Perception is the key to many disagreements within society. This holds true in the situation that affects The Citadel. When a girl, Shannon Faulkner, applies to be the first female admitted to the Cadet Corps. She attempts to mess with the system by leaving out her gender. The perception at the Citadel is that women would not be a good fit in the school. Tradition has a major part with this. It is apparent that Shannon’s entrance to the Citadel has proven to become a threat to the Citadel community since it is an all-male institution, intended to train real men. The Citadel has always been an all boy school as â€Å"except of course, they weren’t really boys at all. These were college men† (Faludi 78). Who’s to say however that they are in fact men? What defines a man? Within the society a man is expected to think, act and live in a masculine manner. Showing emotions or sensitivity is considered taboo among the males. In the Citadel a man can act in a manner in which the threat of breaking the public norms is not eminent. The way of life in the Citadel made it almost impossible to live for a woman. Society as a whole saw the Citadel as an established all male school and they were determined to keep it that way. However, this perception is based on what is seen from an outside perspective. Gladwell defines this aspect of perception of character as the FAE, Fundamental Attribution Error. Gladwell writes, â€Å"The mistake we make in thinking of character as something unified and all-encompassing is very similar to a kind of blind spot in the way we process information† (162). If character is something unified, then everyone must be classified as one in the same. The mistake the Citadel is making is having their all boy school rule become a blind spot for the future. The future that lies ahead can never be, if the Citadel sticks to their tradition. While tradition is what made the school so prestigious, a change in time may also need a change in tradition. A women can just as easily â€Å"be one of the guys† as any other guy. While men have defining characteristics that make them appear different from women, there are many attributes, such as personality that isn’t so distinctive between certain people. The Citadel being filled with men who everyone knew would resist the idea of a women being admitted to the school, needed someone who could â€Å"fit† in. â€Å"Robert Patterson, the Citadel attorney who had previously represented V. M. I. , asked Astin, his voice full of unflattering insinuation about the kind of woman he imagined her to be. Astin: I suppose the same as the kind of men who want to go there. Patterson: Would it be a woman that would not be all that different from men? Astin: Yes. † (Faludi 95). This quick interrogation of Alexander Astin explains that men and women are not different after all. While Patterson thought he found the winning point to his case, he actually put himself and the Citadel in a hole. Women, who would apply to The Citadel, feel that they have the ability to compete with the existing me inside. Everyone knew how the Citadel was run. It was filled with aggressive men under military rules. But Shannon Faulkner still applied. Sharron Faulkner was the type of women that Patterson perceived would be able to attend the Citadel. You could cite her memory that as a small child she preferred playing outside with the boys to playing with certain girls whom she deemed â€Å"too prissy†Ã¢â‚¬  (Faludi 96). Shannon was always, â€Å"one of the boys†. Her background and general attitude is extremely similar to anyone of the â€Å"men† at the Citadel. Even with this, the Citadel is still against the idea. â€Å"The psychologist Walter Mischel argues that the human mind has a kind of â€Å"reducing valve† that â€Å"creates and maintains the perception of continuity even in the face of perpetual observed changes in actual behavior† (Gladwell 162). The way our mind works, it is hard for people to have multiple views on something. In the case of the Citadel, society perceived the school as a strict all boy school that is not suitable for any women. Society also perceived Shannon as just a woman. â€Å"Just† isn’t putting down that aspect, but that is all that society saw her as. So if the Citadel is looked at and known as an all boys militaristic school that women would never be able to step foot into as a student and Shannon was looked at as just a woman then in no way shape or form would she ever be allowed to attend that school. That’s the problem with our society. We base our judgment on what we see, not on what we know. Any women who is willing to put herself through that type of embarrassment and trouble and even death threats just to get into a school, in my mind is more of a man than any of those kids in the Citadel. Society is filled with stereotypes and that is what everyone is based off of. You, the next guy and me will always be looked at by society as part of a stereotype. This is the problem with the Citadel, and society in general. Perception is key in all events that occur at the Citadel. Perception plays a strong role in the Power of Context as wells as sexism at the Citadel. The focus on environment is the main aspect of the Power of Context. It says the people are â€Å"acutely sensitive to their environment† (Gladwell 159). People are therefore prompted to do certain things based on their perception of their environment. This is exactly what was occurring at the Citadel. The cadets were prompted to react physically towards each other based on what their perception of a man was. Knobs told me that they were forced to run through the showers while the upperclassman â€Å"gaurds† knocked the soap out of their hands and, when the knobs leaned over to retrieve it the upperclassman would unzip their pants and yell, â€Å"Don’t pick it up, don’t pick it up! We’ll use you like we used those girls! † (Faludi 105). The Citadel continually expresses the idea of being a man. However, the upperclassman takes advantage of this and confuses strength of a man with violence. These knobs that come into the university as boys, are turning into emotionally stunted individuals. They lack the understanding of a real man. As well as what it means to be in a relationship a part from other men. Women, whether they believe so or not, are a great importance to the future of the Citadel. The reality of the Citadel, however, is that it’s producing less â€Å"men† and more homosexuals. This may in fact be a direct result of no women in the vicinity. â€Å"When a Citadel attorney asked Doucet why female cadets would pose a problem on the campus, the only issue he raised was the humiliation that cadets feel if women observe the cadets’ on-campus interactions† (Faludi 104). Humiliation may be one of the strongest emotions that can alter ones character forever. However, if women were allowed in the school than humiliation would not be an issue because the men would change their ways to please women. Women posed no actual threat to the school, except the embarrassment of the cadets. Is that even a legitimate reason to prevent a girl of getting an education? Shannon was faced with more humiliation and threats than the boys in the school could ever imagine. Then, as they turned back to the house, they saw that across the white porch columns and along the siding of the house, the words, â€Å"Bitch,† â€Å"Dyke,† â€Å"Whore,† and â€Å"Lesbo† (Faludi 94). The Citadel Cadets were criticizing Shannon Faulkner because she wanted to be accepted. It just so happens that all the terms they used all categorized her as a man. Shannon could speak, act and dress like a man but no matter what she will never be able to be fully accepted beca use in their minds only a man a true man is suited for the school. The controversy at the Citadel is a sad but eye opening example of how our society is. Society puts them in a mindset where only one way is the right way. If society can open up their brains to more opportunities than a lot of problems would be alleviated. Malcom Gladwell poses the reasoning of the Citadels problems with the idea of the Power of Context. There is so much that goes on in a situation that it should never be that easy to give an answer. The situation at the Citadel is un-fair and wrong. Women are just as smart and important as men and should have the same rules. But in that argument, if you want to be treated the same, you can’t complain.

Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Demographics

Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Demographics Chapter Five: Discussion The prevalence as well as the severity of obesity in adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate, making it one of the most serious health problems affecting this age group. In this study, a total of 161 adolescents (15.6%) were overweight and 224 ones(21.6%) were obese. A study conducted by National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000) showed thatapproximately 30% of adolescents were at risk for overweight and 14% were severely overweight or obese (Troiano and Flegal, 1999). In this study, the prevalence of overfat was 9.1% and obesity was 21.8%. A study conducted by Lee ea al. (2006) showed thatthe prevalence of total 555 adolescentboys were overfat (20.4%) and 8.3% were obese. In our study, prevalence of obese adolescents, according to both BMI and total fat, was higher than overweight;this could be attributed to high rate of fast food consumption among adolescents 72%. Fraser et al. (2012) conducted a study in the United Kingdom and observed anassociation between obese adolescents and fat food consumption. The prevalence of waist circumferences≠¥90th percentile in this study was 9.4%. This is consistent with Spain’s result, prevalence of waist circumferences≠¥90th percentile among adolescents was 11.6% (Schr à ¶der et al., 2014). Association between anthropometric measurements and socio-demographic characteristics: In our study, the BMI was significantly related to family income (p=0.004). About 25.7% of obese adolescents had families whose income was >800 JD after adjusting variables effects of results including age, smoking and physical activity. Shafaghiet al. (2014) studied the relationship between BMI and family income, 22.4% of obese adolescents were from families whose income was high. Total fat was significantly associated with adolescents age (p= 0.027). Adolescents aged ≠¥12 and ≠¤14 years old were more predictable to have high fat percentage (25.6%) than adolescents aged ≠¥ 15 and ≠¤17 years (18.9%).This finding was consistent with Northstoneet al. (2014). In our study, total fat was related to family income significantly (p=0.022). Kubiket al. (2003) conducted a study of 844 students; the study showed that students with high family income tended to consume sweetened beverages and high-fat snacks. Region affected significantly total fat among adolescents (p=0.049). The prevalence of obese adolescents were higher in middle area than north and south areas; that could be attributed to high fast food intake in middle area (48.2%) comparing to north and south areas (35.3% and 16.6%respectively). Limited data to explain relation between body fat content with father’s and mother’s education. Trunk fat was significantly associated with adolescents age (p= 0.027). Adolescents aged ≠¥12 and ≠¤14 years old were more predictable to have high trunk fat (15.4%) than adolescents aged ≠¥ 15 and ≠¤17 years (10.8%). Fox et al. (2000) reported thatadolescents aged 11- 13 years were associated with high trunk fat using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Association between blood pressure and socio-demographic characteristics: Blood pressure was significantly related to adolescents’ age (p0.01).This relation showed that 35.7% of adolescents aged ≠¥ 15 and ≠¤17 years had stage 2 HT compared to only 20.3% among adolescents aged ≠¥12 and ≠¤14 years old had stage 2 HT. Mouraet al. (2004) concluded a study on 898 adolescents,prevalence of elevated blood pressure in students aged ≠¥ 15 and ≠¤17 years was more than students aged ≠¥12 and ≠¤14 years. Effect of food categories on the prevalence of blood pressure among adolescents: Fruit and vegetables consumption were significantly related to blood pressure (p=0.008 and p=0.033 respectively). This finding was consistent with the findings of studies (Whelton et al., 1997, Whelton et al., 2005, Appel et al., 2006, Witham et al., 2009). Apple et al. (2006) studied the contents offruit and vegetables from vitamins, minerals and fibers. Fruits and vegetablesalso contained potassium;their increase in potassium intake was associated with significantly reduction in blood pressure. The increase in potassium intake had same lowering effect on blood pressure as decrease in sodium intake. Potassium had a major role in balancing out the negative effects of sodium. Wheltonet al. (1997) recommended potassium for prevention and treatment of hypertension. Increasing serum levels of vitamins A, C, E (Appel et al., 2006)and D (Witham et al., 2009)were associated with lowering blood pressure. Meta-analysis suggested that increasing the dietary fiber intake had a lowering effect o n blood pressure (Whelton et al., 2005).According to this study, chocolate was significantly related to blood pressure (p=0.013). Studies explained chocolate’s role to lower blood pressure (Fisher and Hollenberg, 2006, Karim et al., 2000, Taubert et al., 2007). Chocolate contained cocoa that include polyphenols specially flavanols. Strong effects of flavnols on blood pressure as a vasodilator were applied by increasing the formation of endothelial nitric oxide. Families’ health status effect on adolescent’s blood pressure: Father’s and mother’s health status was significantly associated with blood pressure in adolescent (p=0.002, p=0.022 respectively). Many studies (Din-Dzietham et al., 2007, Dasgupta et al., 2006, Martin et al., 2004) confirmed that family history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease were risk factors for elevated blood pressure among adolescents. Family history of obesity including fathers’ and siblings’ obesity was significant with adolescents’blood pressure (p=0.004 and p=0.048respectively).Falkner.(2010) reported a positive relation between blood pressure among adolescents and family history of obesity. Association between blood pressure and anthropometric measurements: Alton. (2005) considered hypertension one of obesity risk factors. Lu et al. (2013) conducted a study in China, and found out that the risk of elevated blood pressure prevalence was 1.5 folds in overweight children and was 2.2 folds in obese children. High BMI increased the risk of insulin resistance. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation led to elevated blood pressure mediated bythe increase sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity (Tsioufis et al., 2011, Poirier et al., 2006). Our findings confirmed previous findings of high odds of stage 1 systolic hypertension among overweight adolescents 1.8 folds and 2.7 folds in obese adolescents, adjusting for confounding variables -age, smoking status and physical activity. Our result observed that adolescents with waist circumferences ≠¥90th percentile proportionally related to increase in blood pressure.Lu et al. (2013) reported a high significant association (p Increase in total body fat in our study was significant with increase in blood pressure proportionally. Pre-HTN, stage 1 HTN and stage 2 HTN were significant (p=0.009,p=0.004 and pet al. (2002)used DEXA and skinfolds to estimate total body fat and it’s relation asa predictor for blood pressure among adolescentboys unlike girls. Landsberg et al. (2013) explained that pathophysiology of fat accumulation in abdominal region led to an increase in blood pressure by increases in insulin secretion, (SNS) activity, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity, angiotensinogen from intra-abdominal adipocytes, aldosterone production and renal sodium reabsorption. Our findings confirmed previous findings of high odds of stage1 systolic hypertension among adolescents with trunk fat ≠¥90th percentile had 4 times higher odds of having stage 1 systolic hypertension (CI 2.2, 7.1) and 5.5 higher odds of having stage 2 systolic hypertension (CI 3.4, 9.1). An association between adolescents visceral fat with blood pressure was observed among boys contrary girls (Pausova et al., 2012).Matsuzawa et al.(1995) explained increase that the in visceral fat to induce high level of free fatty acid excretion in liver via portal circulation after lipogenesis and lipolysis activity, gluconeogenesis, lipid synthesis and insulin resistance were response actions causedby excusive free fatty acid to induce hypertension and eventually atherosclerosis.Our results confirmed previous findings of high odds of stage 2 systolic hypertension among adolescents with visceral fat ≠¥90th percentile by 7.2 folds. Conclusion: The prevalence of total, truncal and visceral fat in our study were high. Excessfat,especially visceral fat significantly increased the risk for systolic blood pressure individually in older adolescents. The physiological relation between obesity and hypertension could not be attributed to a single factor. Factors that minimized the activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system and renal sodium excretion had to be controlled, primarily the factors caused by excess fat. This finding based on measures of fat distribution and blood pressure in adolescent boys is important to help tracks cardiovascular risks from adolescence to adulthood. Strength of the Study This research has been conducted for the first time in Jordan to explain the prevalence and relationship between adolescents’ blood pressure and fat distribution. The study depends on data collected from a large sample that is representative to Jordan as a whole. Limitation of the Study An addition of a 24-hour recall form with this study combined with study’s FFQ could be more precise to estimate dietary and lifestyle habits among adolescents. Recommendations: Serious policies and actions for the sake of prevention, control weight and body fat specially as risks for elevated blood pressure, should be taken to apply an appropriate intervention on affected adolescents. Raise the schools’ role is for mass public enlightenment and health education on the threats of some nutritional behavior and lifestyle.

Essay on the Character of Offred in The Handmaids Tale

The Character of Offred in The Handmaid's Tale Offred is one of the main characters in The Handmaid's Tale. She was the faithful wife of Luke, mother of an eleven month old child and a working woman, before she entered the Republic of Gilead. She was given the name "Offred", when she entered Gilead. This was to make it known that she was a handmaid. Offred becomes psychologically programmed in Gilead as a handmaid, and the mistress of the commander who is in power of all things. She was used for her ovaries to reproduce a child, because they are living in an age where birth rates are declining. Offred was ordered by Serena Joy, the handmaid's barren wife who develops some jealousy and envy towards her to become the lover of Nick. Nick is the family chauffeur, and Offred becomes deeply in love with him. At the end of all the confusion, mixed emotions, jealousy, envy and chaos towards her, she escapes the Republic of Gilead. Offred is given treatment and advantages by the commander that none of the there handmaids are given. During the times the commander and Offred were seeing each other secretly, he began to develop some feelings for her that he tried to hide. Somewhere along the times when Offred and the commander began having secret meetings with each other, Offred too began to develop some feelings for the commander. Offred is also a special handmaid, because she has actually experienced love, the satisfaction of having a child years before. She knows what it is to feel loved, to be in love and to have someone love you. That is all when she has knowledge, a job, a family and money of her own. That is when her life was complete. Because all of that has been taken away from... ...adn't noticed....." (p. 209). Touching was forbidden during the ceremony and showed a sign of emotion and enjoyment, in which he was not supposed to do at all. He had just been caught up in the moment and almost forgot about Serena Joy, his poor barren wife. Offred had been though many mixed feelings throughout this entire book. She has been able to feel, experience and thinks thoughts that she had not ever imagined that she would have. Offred can not escape the fact that in spite of the treatment from Serena Joy and the commander, that they both will have if not already have an impact on her life. Not to mention Nick also. Nick gave her the comfort and the security that she wanted, and at the end nothing done to her by the commander or his wife mattered to her. Living in the Republic of Gilead will always be a memory that she will probably try to forget.

Media’s Portraits of Guns and Violence Essay

Discuss the connection between the portrayal of guns, violence, and victims and the crime-fighting policies that are implied in these portrayals. What criminal justice policies are encouraged by the above portraits and which ones are discouraged? The media distorts the public’s view of violence, guns, and victims, and helps shape the criminal justice policies by doing so. Their portrayal of guns, violence, and victims is of law enforcement or private citizens fighting a constant war against crime, usually with an overabundance of violence from both the perpetrators and the crime fighters. One example of the violence that the media shows is how many of the crimes committed have guns involved. The media makes it seem like it is easy to get a gun, that all criminals have one, and that all citizens need one for protection. â€Å"Whoever has the biggest gun wins†. Then they show the crime fighter coming after the criminal very aggressively, and they violently battle it out. The more the media sensationalizes gun violence, and keeps it fresh in the viewer’s minds, the more the public will believe it is the biggest problem in crime control, whether it is true or not, and public opinion will lead to many debates over the issue of gun control, and other policies that could lessen violence. These media portrayals make it seem ok for private citizens to take the law into their own hands, even violently, as long as they stop the â€Å"bad guy†. A current media example of this is the television show â€Å"Arrow†. The Arrow would be a rogue, although he was never a cop. Criminal Justice policies that discourage these media portraits are gun buy-back programs stricter gun laws, and harsher sentencing for those caught with unlawful guns.

Bamboozled: Black People and White Man Essay

In 2000, Spike Lee wrote and directed the film Bamboozled. When discussing his satirical film, Spike Lee claimed, â€Å"I want people to think about the power of images, not just in terms of race, but how imagery is used and what sort of social impact it has – how it influences how we talk, how we think, how we view one another[. . . ]how film and television have historically[. . . ]produced and perpetuated distorted images. † Spike Lee certainly conveyed this message in Bamboozled. Images are powerful and carry massive social impact. They should never be misrepresented. Are all African Americans either lazy or dim-witted or â€Å"happy servants†, always ready and willing to please the White Man? The short answer is, no. However, throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, many people believed this. The ultimate question is, why? As explained in the film Ethnic Notions, this false perception grew and grew, even past the time of slavery, due to images. Derogatory images of African Americans as â€Å"happy servants† or â€Å"savages,† were everywhere; they were published in children’s books and slapped on cans of food to be used as a marketing tool. People bought into this perception of African Americans, as they became acclimatized to it. Today, our society likes to believe that times have changed and there is no longer an issue of race or false perception of African Americans in the media. However, Spike Lee argues, â€Å"A new â€Å"phenomenon† has emerged in film in recent years, in which an African-American character is imbued with special powers, filmmaker Spike Lee told a student audience ? This new image is just a reincarnation of â€Å"the same old† stereotype or caricature of African Americans ? Lee cited four recent films in which there is a â€Å"magical, mystical Negro† character ? in â€Å"The Legend of Bagger Vance,† a black man â€Å"with all these powers,† teaches a young white male ? how to golf like a champion ? â€Å"How is it that black people have these powers but they use them for the benefit of white people? † Spike Lee seems to be under the impression that African Americans are still misrepresented in the media. They have only improved their ability to mask the fact. False image is still there, but it is subtle. His film Bamboozled ripped viewers’ eyes wide open. The film explored and demonstrated two images of African Americans. The first image, is the Black Man who is just like the White Man or the Asian Man or the Middle-Eastern Man; a man who can be rich and successful like Pierre Delacroix in Bamboozled; a man who can be poor and when without money will do almost anything for it like Manray and Womack. However, when Pierre Delacroix pitched television shows about a Black Man living in an upper-middle-class white, suburban neighborhood, his superior, Thomas Dunwitty turned them down, â€Å"they definitely don’t want to see dignified black people [on television]. † However, the network would allow Pierre Delacroix to create a show which blatantly degrades African Americans; a show which goes back to the 1900s, to the time of black face and minstrel shows; a time when black people were considered subhuman. This is where Spike Lee demonstrates the other image of the African American; an image that the media has gently forced down viewer’s throats. Spike Lee, however, did not do so gently. The fictional television show in Bamboozled, â€Å"Mantan’s New Millennium Minstrel Show†, starred African Americans in â€Å"black face† acting like buffoons. It might as well have been an authentic minstrel show in the 1900s. There was dancing and singing. The two main characters hid from the White Man in a chicken coup, saying â€Å"ain’t nobody in here but us chickens! â€Å"4 The creator, Pierre Delacroix’s initial intention with this show was not to degrade his own race. It was to â€Å"break the stereotypes. â€Å"5 He figured the nation would be shocked and outraged! Instead they ate it up. The studio audience dressed in black face. Children trick-or-treated in black face. It was the latest craze of the nation. Black face is an act which digs back to a time of slavery, a time where African Americans were considered inferior. It was now socially acceptable to publicly highlight a moment in history that pained African Americans. People figured it’s on TV, it’s OK! The black man was degraded, as he has always been, but in Bamboozled no mercy was spared. Spike Lee used the film in a variety of ways. He attacked today’s media and the way in which it portrays African Americans. He explored the wide scope of African American’s lives, which is no different than the lives of any other race. He demonstrated the consequences of greed and sacrificing one’s dignity. Furthermore, he exposed society for what it really is: mindless. The majority of a population does not question the media. Instead it swallows images whole, even if those images are as false and misleading as a painted black face.

Iranian Protest Music

There are a few reasons that I would like to point out as the â€Å"goals† of the presentation. After studying about Iranian Protest Music I feel that it is a good topic to educate yourself on, or more like protest music in general is a good topic to know a little about. One of the goals was to educate our peers on what exactly Iranian Protest Music is, why it happens, and how it is done. We want them to know the history behind it such as how it dates back to the revolution back in 1979.This played a role in the publicity of the protests. We also wanted them to know about the most recent uproar† with the protests in Iran. It is crucial in this topic to know about the protests during the election that happened in 2009, and the reasoning behind it. The Iranians didn't like the fact that Maidenhead was supported by the U. S. So they were protesting the fact that his name was on the ballot. We also wanted them to know that it happens day and night, and what exactly the sligh t differences are between the two.The daytime is for the ones who don't mind being in the limelight, whereas the nighttime chants are more for the ones who don't necessarily want to be associated with the protests. Another topic that we wanted to touch and talk about was the movie Yard-e- Debating-e-Man. This was a very meaningful video that kind of shows the soft side and the â€Å"heart warming† side of the protests. It shows the fact that two people were best friends as children, but life took them on two completely different paths.One went down the path of law enforcement, and the other went down the path of the protesters, two different sides of the fence. Once the masks are taken off though, and they recognize each other, they rekindle those memories, which in my mind kind of wows how everyone is a person, no matter which side of the fence you are on, we all bleed the same. One other point that I believe was crucial, yet a tad graphic, was showing the video with the son g â€Å"Need† from the popular singer Shania Nasal in the background.I don't believe that many people; Americans in the majority realize how serious and violent these protests are. They don't realize that being associated with it can get you killed, and taking part in the protests can do the same. These arena a Joke, and I think that it is a big point to realize. Now on to how it went. Overall I think that it went well, and the information was taken well. I think that they truly understood the history behind the protests, and how they work, day and night. The Powering went over well but in hindsight I think that we should have utilized the Powering more than what we did.We believed that the more information that we had was better, which was true, but I think that if we would have had more slides it may have all been easier to understand and comprehend what we are trying to explain. One thing that I regret the most about the Powering is that we didn't use a map, which was a hu ge mistake in my opinion. It was simple to explain in our eyes because we had studied it for awhile, but I know that I am a visual learner, and without the map to show the exact place that we were talking about I believe that it was tougher to understand.With the video that I talked about earlier in the â€Å"goals† section I believe that it was a hit. We were under the mindset that the video at the end was crucial to the presentation, but we had no idea that it would be the main focal point. We spent more time on the video than we expected but it was good to be able to show our peers a video that was and is a big part of the protests. It is a cartoon that is very simple to follow along with and understand what the message is that's being portrayed.One of the biggest things that I would change if I could is showing the graphic scene that went along with the video. The intent behind it was purely educational, but in hindsight it may have been a tad graphic for the classroom. T hat being said though I believe that it came across in a very serious manner, and it was taken the way we wanted it to be, to help them realize how truly horrible the scene of a protest can become. It is not Just a disagreement but it is people that are very seriously outing their life on the line for the cause, and are willing to do whatever it takes to have their views seen.Overall I think that the presentation was very effective. I think that they took the information that we had to offer well, and can understand more about Iranian Protest Music as a whole. Though there are things that I wish we could change for sure, the biggest would be to dive more into the history. We defiantly had it in there, but I wish we would have emphasized it more than we did. We focused more on the present issue with the election, but I believe that the history is crucial as well.

Entifying Information Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities in Top Assignment

Entifying Information Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities in Top Information Security Breaches of the Decade - Assignment Example If is not resolved, it can lead to very serious information security. The electronic or the physical security systems are not the organization’s weakest security link; human are the one with the weakest links. It is always assumed that the insider threats originate from rogue workers or planted ‘moles’, IT administrators and managers who are privileged to the access of sensitive information, controls and resources poses the greatest risk. They can start and stop a system, make changes that are critical such as giving the rights to access and untraceably deleting security logs. This threat is devoted to describing the mechanisms used for compromising organizational intellectual property from within (Gupta, et al. 2012). A lot of security incidents are caused by insider misuse i.e. accidental or malicious. A lot of misuse occurs within the boundaries of trust necessary to perform duties. Preventing the misuse is difficult as the only way to stay secure is to grant a ccess rights only to those with business need and to keep an eye on their activities. The problem is that the majority of organizations have very limited capabilities to trace specific IT events to specific users, with any certainty. A small fraction of IT teams are aware of what is going on in their infrastructure in a particular time and some organizations look manually through files so as to get answers. Unauthorized access by insiders; by accessing the organization’s secured areas physically, or materials that have data which is sensitive make it very easy for a crime to be committed by malicious insiders. The physical security measures of an organization are as important as the technical security controls. This threat is emerging as a great risk to corporate data. The vulnerability that led to this attacks are; unauthorized access even when credentials are missing, lack of managing the threat of shared password, failing to ensure

Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations Essay

Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations - Essay Example The essay "Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations" overviews some of the contributions from the Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations that still influence the modern world. For instance, the economic, that we practice in the modern times, is majorly influenced by the pre-historic times. Basic pottery and articles used in the homes of people are the contributions of the pre-historic civilizations. There are various contributions that the Egyptian civilization made in terms of humanistic grounds that are widely practiced in the present times. Despite the initial lack of alphabets, Egyptians were able to invent the art of expression through writing. Egyptians also made a groundbreaking contribution to astronomy. They created a calendar on the basis of prediction of an eclipse that was followed by sowing seeds and harvesting the crops. In addition, Egyptian civilization contributed in the field of medical as they were able to preserve the dead bodies by using compounds and mixtures. In this similar manner, they were able to undertake surgery. Mesopotamian civilizations left the tool i.e. art of creating artifacts that are used to represent the ideas and technology of the past for future generations. The irrigation system used in the present times has the base from the Mesopotamian civilization. Through the above assessment of different contributions from the three civilizations, it can be stated that present times are full of comforts and tools that were created in the past by our ancestors.

Stress response Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stress response - Outline Example Stress as it is widely known and is linked to negative effects (Pond 2004). According to Braun and Anderson (2007), communication between cells is a stress response. The authors explain that a disturbance of homeostasis by harmful forces lead to stress. Additionally, stressors cause stress and can be either endogenous or exogenous. Coping with stress depends on various factors. Some of the factors that can determine ways of perceiving or coping stress are health, age, genetic factors and social support. Homeostasis reliability is a stress response. However, destruction of body tissues can occur with time in case there is an excess in response to stress. Neuroendocrine response and hormones are initiated when there is an excess to stress response. Stressors activate different patterns of response which in turn initiate different neuroendocrine pathways and neural. Stress is common to the human body because of its capability and its adaption to experience stress. Stress is regarded as negative if it persists due to challenges met by humans. Psychological impacts of stress vary depending on stressors. Study of stressors common on children or teenagers such as abuse, violence, marital problems and other stressing events in the family provide a clear view of psychological impacts of stressor. Child abuse is the most common problem in the society and has severe implications. For example, a child can view education negatively or perform poorly in school. Marital problems or divorce renders a child anti-social. The child remains depressed, anxious and less social than the peers. In adulthood stage, the child from divorced, or family with conflicts shows more stress and less friend support than a person from a family with no marital problems. Unrelieved stress causes depression, post traumatic stress disorders, panic attack conditions and drug or alc oholism addiction. Research shows that a child develops post traumatic stress disorder later in life when exposed to

International Business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Business strategy - Essay Example The Starbucks Corporation faced many strategic challenges in its international business operations in the year 2006. Main challenges were from the well established local players in the host countries. Business strategies of Starbucks were not supportive for satisfying the international customers for a long term. The follow up of basic principles in the translational business also was helpful only to a certain extent of time period. Business principles like self service rule and no smoking rule in the premises helped to attract the youngsters and non-smoking customers to the shop and helped to attract a large number of customers in the initial stage of the business. But it was not capable of sustaining the customers for a long term. . The quality and taste of Starbucks products is not capable of attracting and sustaining the customers in the competitive environment. Operational costs such as hiring employees and buying leases were very huge and it reduced the rate of business profit. Training of personnel and promotion of products required large amount of investment. Operational problems resulting from lack of a trained work force and suitable real estate for its stores also affected the profitability and market growth of Starbucks in international market. The volatile political environment in the Middle East region imposed restrictions over the business operations of Starbucks. The political attitude in the Middle East was against the US due to its strong relation with Israel. As a US based company, Starbucks faced boycott problems from the customers in the Middle East region. The owner of Starbucks firm is a Jewish personality and it intensified the situations. Resistance from customers as a result of the alleged close relation between USA and Israel affected the business growth in Middle East region. NGOs were also against Starbucks activities and it restricted the availability of certified coffee beans

Given the dynamism of today's market and the ever increasing degree of Assignment

Given the dynamism of today's market and the ever increasing degree of competition globally, produce a critical assessment of - Assignment Example In regard specifically to the business sector, the involvement of certain business tools and frameworks in the promotion of globalization seems to be extended. Reference can be made, for example, to the information systems, in all their forms. Information systems are highly related to globalization. Moreover, these systems are likely to be used by business worldwide as a tool for acquiring competitive advantage. The above role of information systems is presented in this paper. The Porter Five Forces model is used for explaining the involvement of information systems in the increase of business competitiveness, both locally and globally. Table of contents Executive Summary 2 1. Introduction 4 2. IT and competitive advantage 4 2.1 Effects of globalization on business – information systems and their relationship to globalization 4 2.2 Business processes and their relationship to information systems 7 2.3 Evaluation of the use of information systems as tools for increasing busines s competitiveness – Porter’s Five Forces model 10 3. Conclusion 12 References 14 Appendix 15 1. Introduction Aligning business processes with organizational objects is one of the most critical challenges that organizational leaders worldwide have to face. On the other hand, business processes are not standardized. Rather, they have to be changed continuously so that they can keep the organizational competitiveness high. Information systems can be considered as a tool that help business processes to achieve the above target. In practice, the use of information systems in organizations has been related to globalization. This view can be considered as justified if taking into consideration the following fact: information systems have been expanded across business activities of all sectors mostly because certain businesses have emphasized on the particular systems. Since the role of information systems in enhancing organizational profits and improving businesses processes has been made clear, the popularity of these systems worldwide has been increased. The relationship between information systems and globalization is examined in this paper. Particular emphasis is given on the potential use of information systems for achieving competitive advantage. It is proved that, indeed, information systems can play such role. However, it is necessary for the involvement of these systems in organizational activities to be carefully planned and monitored, otherwise the relevant plan will be led to a failure, either in the short or the long term. 2. IT and competitive advantage 2.1 Effects of globalization on business – information systems and their relationship to globalization. The high value of information systems for the development of business activities cannot be ignored. In order to understand the involvement of information systems in modern organizations it would be necessary to refer primarily to the effects of globalization on businesses; then, th e role of information systems in supporting business activities could be understood. Modern market is characterized by a ‘global integration’ (Walker 2004, p.171). This means that a firm can survive in the global market only if it is able to strengthen its processes so that they can secure the firm’s competitiveness towards its rivals (Walker 2004, p.171). At the same time, Doole and Lowe (2005) that globalization has set a new challenge for all businesses: instead of trying to keep their existing market position,

The Price of Peace Essay Example for Free

The Price of Peace Essay I saw some children playing in our neighborhood the other day and the simplicity of how they lived their life amazed me. Here were two kids belonging to relatively the same age group; one had a Popsicle stick and the other had a pack of cookies. Now, I am sure both of them were quite curious as to what the other child had since they would look curiously at each other. Finally, after about a minute or so, the child with the pack of cookies approached the other child. At that point I wish I had the ability to speak the language of children because I have no idea what was said but when the child with the pack of cookies reached for the Popsicle, the other child simply gave him the liberty to taste it. What is even more astonishing is the fact that when the other child offered a cookie without any hesitations! Looking back at this, I would say it was a sublime experience for me. At that point, the world suddenly made sense to me. I thought to myself, â€Å"This is how life should be! † It’s simply living in utter understanding of your fellow man. I have no idea how the course of history shaped humanity into the beasts we are today. We put ourselves on a pedestal and think that our society has reached the pinnacle of success when in fact; we continue to spiral towards decadence. We have left a trail of war, violence, prejudice, and discrimination in our history and yet all we can say is that we have evolved into a more civil society! It is a false consciousness that has become the fabric of our world. Moreover, we have resorted to power and domination as tools to bring about what we refer to as â€Å"peace. † This is quite saddening but nonetheless, it is the reality we are faced with. As we grow and develop into the so called responsible individuals’ society demands, we continually lose the purity and simplicity we possessed as children. As we mature we become more jaded and as a result the lines of what is right or wrong blur before us. We lose touch of the most basic of values; that is to say, loving one another. A basic command left to us by Christ and the key to a utopian society. I came to realize that the world has been reduced to the tangible things; materials and objects have become what define a man. Consequently, it has also made us ego-centric. Our world has become about what I want and what I need†¦we have become apathetic to the plight of others and have been raised to be callous. We no longer have a sense of social equity or justice. As I reflect more on this, I become increasingly convinced that this is the root of all the chaos we have. No wonder we seek to engage in war and look to send our own people to foreign lands just to get slaughtered in the name of â€Å"democracy† and peace! You see peace may be an abstract thought to us simply because we have forgotten about how tangible it can be. It isn’t always about what makes us feel good or what benefits us. It’s about looking at a grander scheme wherein other people, regardless of color, race or creed become a part of who we are. This is a consciousness we must internalize and reintroduce into the fabric of society. Plato, Aristotle and Socrates spoke of this in varying degrees. It is about the common good. Not I but we. Looking back at the two children, it wasn’t about bartering or what one could get from the other. It was simply about understanding the needs of the other person. Applying this rudimentary ideology would be the key to a better society. What would I pay to achieve peace? Not millions in monetary value, not just because I don’t have this†¦well no one could actually put a price on peace. In the end, the price is simple; I would give-up my civil liberties in order for others live more comfortably. Quite a sacrifice, but it is a higher level of understanding we all have to achieve and one I would gladly pay in order to attain peace. After all, if everyone lived in this manner then establishing a world of peace would be child’s play so to speak!