Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, pillars of society

Neither Langston Hughes nor Maya Angelou were just poets in the world of the twentieth century but instead heroes and leaders who showed the world that race wasn t what made you but whom you are instead. Though both grew up during times and events in the world, both have similar ideas while also different. Though both poets were put down by society, neither let what people said get to them. Both instead wrote poems about how what people say doesn t matter. Maya told those people that despite what you say, I will still rise. You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I ll rise. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill†¦show more content†¦Despite his own very liberal beliefs, Hughes defended African American activists who held more conservative views. Langston Hughes was not just a poet but an artist, who used words to express himself, but other forms of art influenced him, and his work crossed over into other mediums. Langston Hughes influenced many other people with his art -- young writers and artists looked up to him. African Americans found in him a voice for their own experiences and culture -- a voice that hadn t been heard until Langston Hughes. He inspired many other artists of all races to write, draw, play, and sing. Unlike Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou devoted her life to inspiring African Americans to do whatever they wanted to do no matter what other people said. She also wanted to inspire people. Her poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise inspired not only the African American people, which is was intended to, but the whole world including men. Like Hughes, Maya Angelou did not think that one day she would be reading one of her poems at President Clinton s inauguration. But she did think that she would inspire young African American writers that they too could become wonderful writers in a white society. Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. Both of these people have inspired many people in the world including me. Langston Hughes

Ford Motor Company Case Study - 1124 Words

Introduction Ford Motor Company is the fifth biggest automobile manufacturing companies in the world and they offer a wide range of products and services for consumers. Ford Motor Company offers automobile products that are cars, crossovers, SUV’s, trucks, vans, and Lincolns. Ford Motor Company has recently celebrated their 100th anniversary of the moving assembly line invented under Henry Ford. Ford Motor Company has built on its legacy of innovation by expanding advanced manufacturing and ground breaking technologies. Current brands within the country and outside the country for Ford Motor Company include Ford (U.S), Lincoln (U.S) and Troller (Brazil), and former brands of Ford inside and outside the country are Mercury( U.S0, Edsel†¦show more content†¦The problem with this model was that it was prone to deadly fires in rear end collisions. â€Å"Ford s internal documents showed the company knew of the potential problem but chose not to fix it, calculating that it would be ch eaper to pay out possible injury claims. Following the deaths of three teenage girls in Indiana, Ford was indicted for negligent homicide -- although the company was acquitted† (Levin, 2015). This model was finally recalled in 1978 and the vehicle was installed with new part to deflect the contact in rear end collisions. The Ford Explorer also caused an ethical issue in the 2000’s when more than 100 people did in this model. Many of the Ford Explorers were equipped with Firestone tires which caused a debate as to whether or not the vehicles were too large and prone to rollovers †The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pointed the finger at Firestone tires, some of which reportedly had a tendency to shred. Firestone recalled 6.5 million tires. Ford in 2001 ousted its chief executive officer, Jacques Nasser† (Levin, 2015). Governance issues can range from strategic topics like corporate strategy, IT oversight, innovation, and risk oversight to crisis management and shareholder activism. Governance of organizations are continually moving toward more shareholder centered directions. Governance issues can include long standing debates about purpose of the organization and governance roles, tensions about achievingShow MoreRelatedCase Study : Ford Motor Company Essay2498 Words   |  10 Pagesthe profit maximization. I remember a very famous case study of Ford Motor Company that says the importance of teamwork. In 2006 when Alan Mulally became the CEO of the Ford Motor Company, many senior executives thought that a big change in inevitable as mullally was the outsider. Speculation of changes in team at higher level was at high as Mulally was hired from Boeing because of his expertise in running big organization and employees of Ford Motor were suspicious about his working method. Read MoreCase Study: Ford Motor Company2447 Words   |  10 PagesCASE STUDY: FORD MOTOR COMPANY Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness of Ford Motor Company â€Å"This is everything. It’s heritage. It’s children’s future. It’s everything tied up into one. Failure is not an option.† - Jr. CEO, Ford Motor Company The global marketplace is faced with different challenges that affect its overall management and operations. Various pressures on the internal and external conditions such as the unstable world and local economies, the workforce, the customersRead MoreCase Study Ford Motor Company1461 Words   |  6 PagesCASE STUDY Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, has worked with Penske on several Six Sigma initiatives. As its lead logistics provider (LLP), Penske’s quality team of associates are trained in Six Sigma practices and work closely with Ford to streamline operations and create and maintain a more centralized logistics network. Together, they uncovered several areas for real cost savings as a result of reducing inbound carrier discrepancies, eliminatingRead MoreCase Study of Ford Motor Company1147 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Tim Randall Ford Motor Company has been recognized as one of the worlds most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading business ethics think tank (Ford Motor Company.com. Home Page. 2012. PP. 1). This 2010 award of excellence highlights a fundamental transformation for a company that in the mid-1970s was immersed in a scandal regarding the safety of its Ford Pinto sub-compact. The issue which led to major lawsuits, inconclusive criminal charges, and a costly recall ofRead MoreCase Study : Ford Motor Company1611 Words   |  7 PagesFord Motor Co. Casey T, Blackburn Business 104 Business Organization Management Dr. Earl Murray Jr. 1 November 2015 Abstract I hope that this meets the intent of this paper and that you learn something new about the management of an organization that I have the most interest in. I wanted to discuss how the lessons that we have covered during this class are used and demonstrated in a large worldwide company such as Ford Motor Co. Ford Motor Co. Ford’s Motor Company History Ford Motor CompanyRead MoreCase Study : Ford Motor Company1220 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ford Motor Company fell into a trap of greed that resulted in the loss of many human lives. Before the disaster of the Pinto fires, Ford had a reputation as being the safety pioneer in the automobile industry with additions such as the seat belts even raising awareness of their safety. However, as the invention of small cars began to take emerge Ford began to lose market shares to the foreign market causing Ford to construct a small compact to satisfy this emerging market. Ford’s stance on â€Å"safetyRead MoreCase Study : Ford Motor Company915 Words   |  4 PagesFord Motor Company Ford Motor Company is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. The company is involved in the sale of automobiles, commercial and luxury cars. The company has over 90 plants around the world making it the second largest automobile manufacturer. The company employs more than 213,000 employees hence its human resource management is critical. Ensuring the HR Strategy Is In Alignment with the Business Strategy In the past, organizations have made the mistake of involving HR in the planningRead MoreCase Study of the Ford Motor Company1346 Words   |  5 PagesFinancial analysis of Ford Motor Company 1. Introduction The Ford Motor Company is one of the largest automakers in the world and it is notable due to its powerful position within the global market place. Still, aside from this, Ford is also notable from a business analysis standpoint, representing a firm that has lost its competitive position to the Japanese automakers, due to the inability to recognize changing market trends. Also, the company is notable as it was severely hit by the economicRead MoreCase Study : Ford Motor Company813 Words   |  4 PagesThe company our group chose to analyze was Ford Motor Company. They are based out of Michigan with 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide. They currently sell on six continents and sold 2,493,918 vehicles in 2013. The Ford Motor Company Brand also includes Lincoln but it is only sold in North America. There are many risk factors currently for the company, but a main one is the high fixed structural cost they have in place that are easily susceptible to losses in a turn down of the economyRead MoreCase Study : Ford Motor Company1340 Words   |  6 PagesHenry Ford opened his first factory, Ford Motor Company has been changing the automotive industry all across the world. What started out, as a small company with big ideas has become one of the largest and profitable companies in the world. Ford Motor Company, communally known as Ford stared out as a family own company and today is still run by the Ford family. Today, where companies are having to sell or partner with other companies, it is amazing to see a family company grow in the way Ford has since

Acid Rain Eating Away Our Future free essay sample

This extensive paper looks at the phenomena of acid rain and its effects This paper explores how acid rain is produced, what its impact is on the environment, what has been done by government agencies to help the problem, how effective these measures have been, what individuals can do to help reduce this problem, what are the current technologies for reducing emissions and how these technologies can be used to reduce acid rain in the future. It demonstrates that current attempts to reduce emissions from power plants will not have a significant effect on acid rain reduction; and will support the idea that there is not a single solution to the problem of acid rain, but rather a combination of technologies and methods will have to be utilized to have a noticeable effect of the reduction of and repair of environmental destruction caused by acid rain. Table of Contents: Introduction How Acid Rain is Formed Effect of Acid Rain on the Environment How Large is This Problem? What Has Already Been Done to Reduce Emissions? Have These Measures Been Effective? What is the Future of the Acid Rain Issue? How Can an Individual Help? Current Trends in Alternative Power as a Solution to the Problem Summary Works Cited From the paper: Our modern world has many conveniences. We will write a custom essay sample on Acid Rain: Eating Away Our Future or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We enjoy hot water, lights, computers, cars, and many other conveniences, which are now an integral part of our society. Many of us cannot imagine life without them. We seldom think about the costs every time we turn on a light. We do not think about the where the electricity is produced and what the effects on the environment might be. We simply turn on the light. As with all good things, there is a cost. One cost of our modern conveniences is acid rain caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The effects of acid rain came into the forefront during the early seventies as its effects began to be noticed on a global level. The impact of the effects of acid rain is considered to be of great concern to some and of little concern to others. No matter which side you are on, we all must agree that energy consumption will continue to increase globally and we must be weary of the effects of energy production and always stay focused on future generations.

To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay free essay sample

What is your definition of Courage? In the story To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there are several themes and symbols that occur throughout the story. The one that stood out the most to me is Courage. Atticus Finch fits into the definition of what courage is and demonstrates it several times throughout the story. Attics demonstrate courage when he is explaining the definition to Jem, and when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson. He knows he’s licked before he begins but he begins anyway. Atticus Finch spreads his wisdom about courage to his son, Jem. Atticus said to Jem I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s knowing youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You rarely win, but sometimes you do (61). Atticus taught his son the true meaning of courage. Courage is when you know you’re in a tough situation but you don’t back down, you might fail but you would never know if you don’t try! Atticus teaches Jem this because it is a good life lesson to know and he’s trying to prepare his kids for the real world. Atticus is determined to defend Tom Robinson, the innocent black man accused of a crime he didn’t do. Atticus determinedly states â€Å"That boy might go to the chair, but hes not going till the truths told† (77). Atticus knows Tom Robinson is innocent and he wants the people of Maycomb to know, not caring about the consequences. He has the courage to stand up there defending a black man when the rest of Maycomb think he is guilty. Atticus is explaining the reason he defended Tom Robinson. He also is teaching Scout to be smarter than the people around her and don’t feed into them. Atticus says to Scout â€Å"You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change†¦ it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning† (49). A little before this he was explaining to Scout the reason he defended Tom Robinson. He’s also telling her don’t mind the talk or what other people has to say about it! He is showing her you can be smarter than those people and react in a nonviolent way.

Should Education Be Free free essay sample

Everyone needs education. But should it be free? I believe that education should not be free for multiple reasons. You may be asking, but what if they cant afford it? Well, there are some public schools that let you go for free if you cant afford to pay or dont make you pay so much.I see the reasons why people believe there should be free education. Reasons like people who cant afford it will still be able to have an education if it was free. sure that sounds nice but we arent taking all things into consideration, some things like how much more debt America would be in or how Lazy people would get and those are just a few of many problems we would have if we got a free education. Lots of people believe that a higher education shouldnt cost so much, personally, I disagree, if everyone had a high education it would turn something valuable into something not so valuable. We will write a custom essay sample on Should Education Be Free? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It would make people not care so much about education. It should take hard work and some self-sacrifice. If everyone had a free education wheres the value?If you took all the money away from everyone and gave each person a million dollars, a couple of years later the ones that were wealthy beforehand would be wealthy again and the ones that were not wealthy before would be broke again. What I believe this means is that even if the Government spent millions and millions of dollars for free education for everyone, the number of people that are getting degrees would not increase in fact I think it would decrease because more people will start to not care, they wont care because either themselves or their parents arent paying for their education.In conclusion, having a free education is a really bad idea. It will make things worse for this country and make people less motivated. We wont gain anything but more debt.

Definition and Examples of Closed Class Words

Definition and Examples of Closed Class Words In  English grammar,  closed class  refers to the  category of function words- that is, parts of speech (or word classes)- that dont readily accept new members. Contrast with open class. The closed classes in English include pronouns, determiners, conjunctions, and prepositions. See examples and observations below: Examples and Observations [C]losed-class words are those belonging to the grammatical, or function, classes . . .. Function words in English include conjunctions (and, or), articles (the, a), demonstratives (this, that), and prepositions (to, from, at, with). To take one specific case, consider the word and. The essential feature of the word and is that it functions grammatically to conjoin words and phrases, as seen in the combination of noun phrases the woman and the man. Any change in membership in such a class happens only very slowly (over centuries) and in small increments. Thus, a speaker of English may well encounter dozens of new nouns and verbs during the coming year; but it is extremely unlikely that the English language will acquire a new article (or lose a current one) in the coming year (or even in the speakers lifetime). (Adrian Akmajian, et al., Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication. MIT, 2001)Prepositions have gradually expanded their membership somewhat by admitting part iciples such as including, concerning, but the remaining classes are very resistant to the introduction of new items. This has been noticeable in recent years when attempts have been made to find gender-neutral pronouns. (Angela Downing and Philip Locke, English Grammar: A University Course, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2002) Functions of Closed-Class Words Closed-class words or function words are limited in number and act as markers or guides to the structure of a sentence. The role of articles is to signal nouns. Prepositions mark special relationships between persons, objects, and locations. Conjunctions are connectors that link actors or objects, and specify relationships between clauses in the sentence. Open- and closed-class words occupy certain slots in sentences and set up a frame for interpreting the interrelationships between actors, actions, and objects. (Diane McGuinness, Language Development and Learning to Read. MIT, 2005) Open Class Words Evolve to Closed Class Words The closed classes include pronouns (you, them), modal verbs (could, must), determiners (a, the), prepositions (of, in), and conjunctions (and, but). New members of these classes are not added to the language very often. Instead, they tend to gradually evolve from lexical words in a process called grammaticalization. For example, the lexical verb go means to move (toward a goal). But its progressive form be going (to) has evolved into a grammaticalized prospective (future) marker, as in Shes going to love her gift. The movement meaning of go has been bleached out of the grammaticalized version, and so the going in be going to can be considered to be a function word, rather than a content word. The closed classes represent a more restricted range of meanings, and the meanings of closed-class words tend to be less detailed and less referential than open-class words. (M. Lynne Murphy, Lexical Meaning. Cambridge University Press, 2010)

Human Resource Development and Management Critical Thinking Mod 4 Research Paper

Human Resource Development and Management Critical Thinking Mod 4 - Research Paper Example Hence, the significance of recruitment along with adequate training in order to enhance the skills of potential employees can be regarded as a vital concern for modern day organizations. It is in this context that hiring new employees and boarding them within the set of organizational dimensions is regarded as a crucial and most challenging function of HR managers (Martin, 2008). Therefore, in order to develop the entire process as a systematic and an effective one, various theories and programs have been evolving within the managerial periphery. Two such programs are identified as the New Employee Orientation (NEO) and On-boarding. Based on this context, the discussion in this paper will emphasize on defining the two programs, i.e. NEO and On-boarding in the current day context. Consequently, the paper will intend to identify the reasons owing to which organizations tend to utilize these programs addressing the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the practices aimed at the orientat ion and the socialization of new employees within an organizational setting. Moreover, the discussion will also depict the outcomes to be generated from the implementation of the NEO and On-boarding programs by today’s modern day organizations. ... Theoretically, orientation program delivers a scope for new recruits in order to accustomed with new organizational operational activities, different level of job responsibilities and individual work anticipation. Superior orientation program offers several benefits for new employees as well as managers through which they can adopt and comprehend smooth transition as well as operational function towards the new workplaces (Chen, 2010). On-boarding is regarded as a mechanism by which newly recruit employees attain essential knowledge, skills, capabilities and unique behaviours in order to become effectual organizational members. This particular mechanism is utilized as a systematic procedure that comprises formal conventions, video conferences, lectures and ‘computer-based’ orientation programs in order to provide necessary knowledge to the new employees regarding job description and organizational work procedures (The Inside Coach, 2013). Reasons behind Utilizing NEO and On-Boarding Programs Organizations must utilize the programs such as NEO and On-boarding for the purpose of making the new employees more productive as well as raising their operational standards. On-boarding program plays an imperative role within an organization in order to enhance the productivity of an operating industry. Conversely, NEO acts majorly in the development of the performance of the employee by a significant level (Xin Chen Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2010). In relation to determine the reasons behind utilizing NEO and On-boarding programs, it can be stated that the organizations need active cooperation with its different team members in order to guide the newly recruited employees. It has been apparently observed that effective on-boarding impose optimistic impact upon

Application of State and Federal Law within the Reservation Research Paper

Application of State and Federal Law within the Reservation - Research Paper Example These constitutions at one time gave the tribes quite a bit of power in making decisions and enforcing legal contracts with the people. However, over the last few years tribal power has been diminished with the most dramatic decrease happening with the Indian Civil Rights Act in 1968. Under this act, tribal courts are denied the power to impose sentences in criminal cases in excess of $5,000. and/or one year in jail (Robertson, 2001, pg 9). This has become a very big issue in taking care of criminal problems on the reservations. To add to the problem, if a tribal member feels their rights have been violated, they cannot take that to Federal Court, it has to go to Tribal Court. Congress has also made the tribes responsible for Environmental Laws as determined by the Federal Government as well as Federal Tax laws. The United States government maintains that it is the guardian for the tribes or trustee. This role came from the Cherokee Nation v Georgia ( Robertson, 2001, pg 3) This allows the Federal Government to hold the underlying fee title for reservation lands. That is why they are called trust lands. This guardianship capacity like all guardianship laws allows the Federal government to impose legislation affecting Indians that are the best for them. They are supposedly held to a very high standard for this. Tribal status under all of these laws is considered a political classification. Prohibitory State law applies to reservation land, regulatory does not always. This allows the State and Federal justice system to enforce environmental laws. The reason they can do this is because most environmental laws are prohibitory in nature. On the one hand the Federal government sees that they probably do not have the right to enforce such laws on Indian land but they are also responsible for the welfare of the people under their guardianship clause. It appears from many reviewed cases that the Federal government chooses to enforce when it is convenient to them (www.senat.leg). It is not done the same way every time. This is one of those places where the Reservation Court would not have jurisdiction to enforce because it is Federal law and because the charge is greater than $5,000. It places the tribal enforcement in a poor place because they cannot enforce but are obliged to report. In this case, the advantage seems to be on the side of the State and Federal governments. Another legal situation that has recently come to light based on the reservations and Federal law is the case the IRS and the auction of Indian lands to pay Internal Revenue taxes. This is one of the poorest Indian Reservations in the nation. The lands belong to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. The Federal government says they own Federal income taxes. The tribe has been trying to develop wind energy and this is the land that is set for that development. The land to be auctioned is 7100 acres (Martin, 2009). The law says that Indian tribes are not usually susceptible to tax laws. They are when there is business entities associated with the tribe. The IRS says the

Motivation of nursing staff in a private care home Essay

Motivation of nursing staff in a private care home - Essay Example There are nursing homes with special care units for people with disorders such as Alzheimers. Nursing homes can be used by anyone who needs a constant care and special nursing needs. The needs for skilled nurses are on the rise and the availability is fairly scarce. Therefore it is necessary to understand the factors affecting the nurse’s motivation and their performance to retain them in service. Administrators of Nursing Homes/Hospitals need to know the critical significance of motivation for the performance of health workers and skilled nurses in the context of this scarce resource. Motivation at work is extensively supposed to be a key issue in the performance of individuals and organisations and is also an important predictor of intention to give up the workplace (Hasselhorn, et al. 2004). The challenge for the policy-makers and health care executives is to be able to motivate people to join an organization, stay there and carry out their work to a certain standard. It is well-known that worker performance is the outcome of three factors (Bennett and Franco, 1999), which are the as following: Incentive is one way of motivating people to perform. Linking incentives and performance is important. Incentive may be explained as an unambiguous financial or non-financial reward for performing certain act. The World Health Report defines incentives as all the rewards and punishments that providers face as a result of the organizations in which they work and the exact intervention they give. Those can be constructive or harmful, financial or non-financial, tangible or intangible. Normally incentives comprise pay, bonuses, allowances, vacation, work independence, transportation and flexible working hours. Incentives are used as a means to favour certain behaviours in order to reached defined goals such as improving performance (Hicks and Adams, 2003). Incentives are important for the reason that they can power the key

Marketing Plan for a New Sim Card

Marketing Plan for a New Sim Card This marketing plan is designed for the launch of a sim card that is inserted into the phone. The sim card will then save all the data onto the card and will allow taking the card out and placing inside computer/laptop. Then it will be able to make calls, text and download items onto the sim card via the computer. It would be perfect if the phone battery ran out and need to make an urgent call. Mobile phones have turned from being a luxury item to now being considered an essential to have. This is one of the main reasons why there is need of such a product that is placed in such reliant on market. In 2009 1.2billion mobile phones where sold worldwide and during the last quarter 340million units were sold which was a year over year increase by 8.3%. This plan outlines in the following pages, a renewed vision and strategic focus of what it will take to run a successful and profitable communication service. A careful evaluation of the weekly customer flow and communication schedule served as the foundation for this analysis and the following marketing plan. The product will be sell business to business but to gain more market share the direct user will be targeted. The product will be sold through various mobile companies like Samsung and dell. Vision:- The vision is to capture the market in U.K and after some years and gaining customer loyalty launch it around the globe also to position the product as user friendly and cheap. Competitive Advantage:- Product is offering a unique service which is very easy to avail and easy to use. Sim phone card have the ability to make calls as well as store data as much as 64 GB.This is a unique product no other product have offered this service before. Production:- Production process will be outsourced to the with Giesecke Devrient.One of the main producers of sim cards in the world is the company Giesecke Devrient they have 13 worldwide production locations Dulles, USA Mexico City, Mexico Sao Paolo, Brazil Johannesburg, South Africa Wembley, UK Munich, Germany Barcelona, Spain Moscow, Russia Istanbul, Turkey Cairo, Egypt Huangshi, China Singapore Knoxfield, Australia The company handles and creates any type of Sim card required for your phone. They start the process with art work design followed by the creation of the Sim card body i.e. size and shape. Once the Sim card is then created they will then package the product and send it to either ourselves or the company we are selling it To.The Company ensure that we ourselves are in complete control of the decision making, in the production of the sim card. One of the main factors we chose this company to work alongside is that they have locations spread across the globe and more importantly one situated in Wembley England. Current Market Situation:- The current situation of market can be predict from these tables that mobile phone usage is increasing day by day and there is a lot of scope in telecom industry. UK Mobile Operator Statistics and Market Share Five mobile network operators are indentified in the UK by  The Worldwide Directory of Mobile Network Operators 2008. The UK market consists of 4 geopolitical areas, namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For mobile phone purposes, various islands also have their own operators, such as the Isle of Man (located in the Irish Sea between North West England and Ireland); and the Channel Islands, notably Jersey and Guernsey. At the end of 2007 the UK had some 73.1 million mobile subscribers, which represented 9 percent of the  European mobile subscriber market. IE Market Research Corp.  in its  United Kingdom Mobile Operator Forecast reported that the overall subscriber base in UK is still increasing, and the number of total subscribers will change from our projected 75.9 million in 2008 to 78.0 million in 2010, with wireless penetration expected to reach 126.0% in 2010. The five primary operators are  3 UK,  Orange,  T-Mobile,  Telefonica O2  and Vodafone. In addition there are a number of  Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), the  MVNO Directory  claims there are some 41 organizations active in the sector. These range from conventional MVNOs through to resellers, and include well-known names such as  Virgin Mobile  and  Tesco.   Source:  The Worldwide Directory of Mobile Network Operators 2008 c. 2008 Vodafone  currently (1Q 2008) has the largest UK market share with 25.4% of the market.  Vodafone watch  provides an intimate snapshot of Vodafone, with SWOT, political analysis, market share, activities, communication opportunities, threats, political factors, company background and structure, management, revenue, market segmentation, market research on its peers, with a focus on Vodafone UK, its market share, and resumes of the Vodafone annual reports all presented in one handy monthly newsletter format! Source:  The Worldwide Directory of Mobile Network Operators 2008 c. 2008 Telefonicas O2  is a vibrant No. 2 in the market, only losing the the lead position in 3Q 2007. O2 is part of the Telefonica Group, and a new report -  The Telefonica Report 2008: Strategy and Outlook 2008-11   provides timely analysis and insight into Telefonica short- to medium-term strategy, incorporating a SWOT-type review. From Telefonica future strategy perspective, the report covers the four-year period from 2008 to 2011. Source:  The Worldwide Directory of Mobile Network Operators 2008 c. 2008 T-Mobile  takes third place in this highly competitive market. To learn more about T-Mobile, and its home market,  (The German Telecommunications Report 2008)  has been researched at source and features latest-available data covering all headline indicators; 5-year industry forecasts through end-2012; company rankings and competitive landscapes covering leading multinational handset manufacturers and equipment vendors, domestic fixed-line and mobile operators, and analysis of latest industry news, trends and regulatory developments. This shows that the 3 is the most growing mobile service company. SWOT analysis:- Strengths In a market which is increasing in customers Technology has risen, in 1995 0.4% of the population used the internet and technology and from September 2010 a total of 28.8% of the worlds population are technology users. http://www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm Very unique and there is no other item that can do this Great for business men/women that travel a lot Heading into a market where new technology is being produced every month Apple are fetching out a iphone 3G and google are fetching out the new Nexus S http://www.google.co.uk/nexus/ http://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/compare-iphones/ Weaknesses In a very competitive market Will have to wait for new forms of phones a0nd laptops out for it to work Opportunities We are able to widen our product onto other phone companys We are able to advance our product if it is successful at the beginning Threats Potentially new technology could provide a better service than our product Future financial crisis could mean the pricing of the product could move up and down drastically PEST Analysis:- Political new government put in place could affect the price of the of items such as mobiles Economic With the current economic crisis that has occurred it has had a major effect on the price of products. This could make the pricing on the product very difficult. Potential items in the market could make pricing very difficult Consumer spending, less disposable income Social Behaviour towards our product Can everyone afford it Fits well with work and leisure times Technological Our product is in a very competitive technological market i.esim cards, USB and mobiles Will be sold separate from the phone and will be sold in Phone shops such as Phones 4 u. To increase the range of where we sell the product we will also sell it in computer stores alongside mobiles phones. The internet is also an aspect in which we will sell the product. Branding and Labeling:- The product will be branded as cheap and the name will be easy sim card and it will be label as go easy do easy Pricing strategy http://marketingteacher.com/lesson-store/lesson-pricing.html Price Skimming- Charge a high price because you product a substantial competitive advantage. However, the advantage is not sustainable. The high price tends to attract new competitors into the market, and the price inevitably falls due to increased supply. Manufacturers of digital watches used a skimming approach in the 1970s. Once other manufacturers were tempted into the market and the watches were produced at a lower unit cost, other marketing strategies and pricing approaches are implemented. Product Bundle pricing:- Here sellers combine several products in the same package. This also serves to move old stock. Videos and CDs are often sold using the bundle approach. Nokia n96 has memory card storage of 32 GB largest for phone (hold 7000 songs) Average price for 32 GB Kingston USB range between  £25 to  £150 for quality Average selling price:  £30 Boston matrix http://marketingteacher.com/lesson-store/lesson-boston-matrix.html We are a problem child because: These are products with a low share of a high growth market. They consume resources and generate little in return. They absorb most money as you attempt to increase market share. Hopefully become a star once we make a profit. The integrated production process starts with the artwork design, which is followed by the manufacturing of the card bodies, chip embedding, personalization, and the packaging and mailing of the cards. With GDs total fulfilment services, we handle the complete SIM supply chain on behalf of the network operator, i.e. every step from the transfer of the operators purchase order data to production to delivery. This process also covers GDs implementation of the most original packaging variations, e.g. a combination of mobile phone plus marketing material plus voucher plus SIM card plus CD-ROM or such. This can also encompass conducting an inspection of the goods received as additional packaging components. Delivery can be made either directly to final customers or to stores. Network operators can access inventory information as well as order status online from GD. They can also completely integrate GDs total fulfilment services into the network operators existing materials management system. Promotion:- To promote our product and to penetrate the market we will advertise it with different ways. For first 6 month magazine and newspaper, if we make a profit then look to then advertise on TV.Increase awareness in 70% of target market within 3months time period Enhance perception of superiority within 3 months time period. This is how the budget will be allocated to various fields to advertise. Advertising Objectives To position product as user friendly. To strengthen image of product in consumers mind. To create continuity within campaign. To differentiate product by our competitors. Advertising will be done by various ways some of those are below Print layouts and copy Radio scripts Television storyboards Theme lines, art, package designs, illustrations, and so on Brochure or catalog layouts Outdoor board designs Advertising specialties Sales promotion ideas Internet ads Market Segmentations:- Market will be segmented into 6 different groups Group 1: Group 2:    Age 25-45 Age 35-55 Sex Male Sex Female Income  £50,000  £100,000 Income  £75,000- £150,000 Education College Graduate Education Associates Race All Race Caucasian Social Class Upper Class Social Class Upper-class Family Size 3-4 Family Size 4-5    Geographical: Geographical: Group 3: Group 4: Age 25-55 Age 35-55 Sex Female Sex Female Income  £75,000  £170,000 Income  £15000  £25000 Education College Graduate Education Some College Race All Race All Social Class Upper Class Social Class Middle Class Family Size 2-3 Family Size 4-5    Geographical: Geographical: Product User: 1st Time Buyer Product User: Loyal to Brand Lifestyle: The Good Life Lifestyle: Soccer Mom Group 5: Group 6:    Age 45-65 Age 35-55 Sex Male Sex Both Income £50,000  £100,000 Income  £75,000  £150,000 Education Some Graduate School Education Associate Race Caucasian Race African American Social Class Middle Class Social Class Upper Class Family Size 3-4 Family Size 4-5 Target Market:- Target market will be the people aged 25-45 and middle and upper class of society more business orientated people, who travel a lot and will need constant communication access.

Gay marriage in America Essay

America was built on the foundation of equality for all men; however, not until recently have gay and lesbian individuals inherited such civil rights. One of the largest and most pressing issues effecting the gay population is the issue of gay marriage. Marriage is defined as â€Å"the relationship that exists between a husband and wife or a similar relationship between people of the same sex† (Websters). Within the past ten years fifteen states have legalized gay marriage. â€Å"As of Nov. 13, 2013, gay marriage has been legalized in 15 US states (CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, MA, MD, ME, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WA) and the District of Columbia. 34 states have gay marriage bans through either laws or constitutional amendments or both.† (Procon) Fifteen states legalizing gay marriage in ten years is a strong the accomplishment however, it is still, and continues to be, a very polarizing issue within the country. The passage and acceptance of gay marriage effects many different diversity categories including but not limited to age, religion, and ethnicity and race, and economic status. Age There is a direct correlation between age and the opinion of same sex marriage in America. According to The Pew Research Center, younger Americans are much more accepting and favor same sex unions over older Americans (PewResearchgroup). â€Å"Individuals, born after 1980, favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally by a 53%-to-39% margin, while there is less support for same-sex marriage among Baby Boomers –those born 1946 to 1964 — than among younger age groups. Currently, 38% favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally while 52% are opposed† (Pew Research) These recent poling numbers would suggest a continuing trend from generation to generation; each new generation is more in favor of same sex marriage than the previous. With more Americans favoring same sex marriage than ever before, one would believe this trend of acceptance of gay marriage will continue over the next generations to come. Religion There is a strong relationship between how religious you see yourself and your views and attitudes toward gay marriage. This idea is not very surprising although very important as it contributes to an understanding of the religious factors that influence opinions about issues directly impacting the gay population. â€Å"Religious attendance is associated with negative attitudes towards gay and lesbians and less support to gay and lesbian civil rights.† (Todd and Ong, 1) There is a positive link between high religious attendance and negative attitudes towards gay marriage; religious attendance is a constant predictor of attitudes towards gay marriage. Within subgroups of religion such as Christian Orthodoxy and conservative Protestant, â€Å"with such an identification, therefore reducing the odds of supporting gay marriage.† (Todd and Ong, 1) Findings suggest the more one identifies and strictly follows their religious views has a direct link to their views on gay marri age. Ethnicity and Race Views and opinions, whether they be negative or positive regarding gay marriage changes and varies within ethnicities and race. African-Americans are generally more opposed to gay marriage versus their white counterparts. â€Å"African-American religiosity is primarily responsible for their conservative views about homosexuality and same-sex marriage.† (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek, 81) The factors of race and religion closely relate to each other in this aspect and help to influence each other. As stated above religion has great influence on ones views of same-sex marriage and â€Å"African-Americans have the highest rates of religious participation of any subgroup of the U.S. population† (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek 81) â€Å"Between 1998 and 2004, white opposition to same-sex marriage declined to under 54 percent, and it dipped to under 46 percent by 2008. Opposition to same-sex marriage also declined substantially for those of â€Å"other† races, decreasing to under 40 percent in the 2004 survey, and fluctuating between 45percent in 2006 and 43 percent in 2008. Yet, African-American opposition did not decline substantially between 1988 and 2006.† (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek 81) Within different races the opinions of gay marriage seem to be changing with the times except for the African-American race. Again, whether it is due to outside factors of religion, culture, or tradition, the African-American race seems to be lagging in the forward movement of gay marriage. Summary As Americans we are guaranteed certain inalienable civil rights and liberties, however as we have seen and know that is not always true. Based on an individual’s sexual preference the ability to marry is not always assured. Factors such as age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly influence ones opinion on same sex marriage. Those who are older and more religious oppose gay marriage more than their counterparts who are younger and less religious. Is this to say every older religious individual does not believe in same sex marriage? The answer is no; however, these factors such as age and religiousness tend to follow these trends. There is also variation in opinions within races and ethnicities. White Americans seem to be the most accepting of gay marriage over African-Americans and other races. Discussion The decision on choosing gay marriage legalization and views in America today comes from the realization that there are more gay couples seeking marriage in today’s society than ever before. Gay marriage is no different than heterosexual marriage between a man and a woman with the one obvious exception of gay marriage being between two individuals of the same-sex. Often times, gay marriages are not granted the same civil rights and civil liberties as their heterosexual counterparts. Age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly factor into ones positive or negative  views on gay marriage. Throughout this course I have learned that some individuals or even groups of people, such as the gay population, have a very difficult time obtaining the same advantages as their peers. In the past, homosexuality was something to be feared, however, today the public opinion of gay marriage is changing for the better. Stereotypes and prejudices still exist today however they are slowly being phased out by an understanding and more positive attitude towards gay marriage. As of today fifteen states have legalized gay marriage with many other states predicated to soon follow suit. This research has helped me better understand the struggle and plight that the gay community often faces for basic civil rights. Liberties and benefits that I take for granted that come along with marriage are not often extended to the gay community based solely on sexual orientation. I have gained a new appreciation of marriage because I know it is not something that is equal for everyone as well as not obtainable for every individual at this present time. Marriage is not something to be taken for granted because there are those that still cannot share in its wealth. American was built on the foundation of freedom for all regardless of differing diversities; I believe this should hold true for all regardless of sexual orientation. Work Cited â€Å"Gay MarriageProCon.org.† ProConorg Headlines. ProConorg, 11 Nov.2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Kohut, Andrew. â€Å"Less Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service.† Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. People Press, 22 Mar. 2006. Web. 06 Nov. 2013 â€Å"Marriage.† Marriage. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Sherkat, Darren, Kylan Mattais De Vrias, and Stacia Creek. â€Å"Race, Religion, and Opposition to Same-.† Social Science Quarterly (2010): 80-100. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. . Todd, Nathan R., and Katherine S. Ong. â€Å"Political and Theological Orientation as Moderators for the Association between Religious Attendance and Attitudes toward Gay Marriage for White Christians.† Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality 4.1 (2011): 56-70. EBSCO. Web. 2013. .

British Chinese Relations Essay

Following the transfer of Hong Kong from the British effectively ended many remnants of British imperialism in China, and in the process ended much of Britain’s involvement/power in Asia. The turnover has also given China control over one of the world’s leading financial institutions, thus improving not only its economic standing but also its ability to use soft power. The opposite could be said for the effects on the United Kingdom, where the turnover effectively halted their control over the economic powerhouse and ushered in a new era of Anglo-Chinese relations, yet this is not necessarily a bad thing. Since the turn over of Hong Kong from England, relations between China and the United Kingdom have improved and a larger bond has come about. Before I can begin to speak on the effects of â€Å"The Turnover,† I must first give a history of the events that made the turnover possible. Due to the trade imbalance between China and the United Kingdom in the 1800s, th e UK thought it might be advantageous to sell opium to the Chinese. Within a few years, the UK had gotten China addicted to opium and was starting to close the trade deficit. This in tern made the Qing dynasty officials very angry and they decided that they would disallow the importation of Opium into China. The British saw this act as an insult and in return they attacked China. This act started the first Opium War. Due to the Qing Dynasty’s limited armada, the British effectively wiped out the Qing forces and took possession of the land where Hong Kong currently is. The possession and occupation would not be â€Å"legally† binding until a treaty signed in 1898 that leased the land to the British for 99 years. Following the fall of the Qing dynasty and the rise of the Republic of China in 1912, the relationship between China and the United Kingdom still remained fairly unequal. At this time, the British Empire was still the world’s hegemonic leader and they were not afraid to show their might. This was reflected in the lending p ractices (or lack there off) that the British showed the Republic of China in those years. In these years following the foundation of the Republic, it was commonly known that the British would treat the Chinese as second class citizens in their own country while taking advantage of China’s resources. This was also evident in the effort that the British put into protecting its Chinese workers during World War 1 and World War 2. During the World Wars the UK failed to protect Hong Kong from the powers that attempted to invade it and in the process failed to prevent many preventable deaths. After World War 2, all Anglo-Chinese relations came to a complete halt. This is due to Chairman Mao deciding to close off all foreign interaction with the newly founded nation. This is due to what Mao thought was the influence of a corrupted political ideology and to help heal the wounds of British imperialism. Deng like Mao believed that a communist China was a good China, yet they disagreed as to what extent communism should have on the everyday lives of the people. While Mao’s main concern was providing the bare essentials to every Chinese citizen then China’s outlook on the world stage, Deng on the other hand wanted China to become a world power, then wanted to cater to the Chinese people, even going as far to state, â€Å"some will become rich faster than others.† It was in this mind frame that he started divvying up the collectively run state property to create competition between Chinese citizens. Deng felt this was necessary because the Chinese economy has been lagging since the start of the Great Leap Foreword and due to Mao’s policies; it looked as if it would continue on that track. During Mao’s communist campaign throughout China, many British feared that he might also have his eyes set on Hong Kong. Many British knew that their influence on the world stage was starting to weaken and that another costly war, with a country as large as a Soviet backed China, would prove disastrous to the British bottom line. Yet at the same time, many British were not fearful of China’s new communist regime because they thought it lacked the legitimacy and power to effectively resist the West’s hold on Hong Kong. During this time in history, the United Kingdom still possessed a large area of the world’s land and had a large navy that was capable of at least defending itself if it felt threatened enough. Also because the United Kingdom refused to acknowledge the PRC as a legitimate country, any provocation towards Hong Kong from Mao would have proved disastrous, as it might have set the stage for a foreign backed coup by the Nationalist forces. The British knew about these ways of thinking and at the time did not feel China, in its current state, was a legitimate threat to any of its resources or power that it had vested in Hong Kong or Macau. By the time Deng to the reigns in China, the United Kingdom was a shell of itself during the Imperialism era, and its relationship with China was no more that of a superior to inferior but more so on the level of equals. Analysts began to predict that because China had large numbers of cheap labor and a safely stable government, trade and manufacturing exports between Britain and China would prove advantageous to both nations. This is one of the reasons why the British began to see China as more of a player on the world stage. But even before Deng came to power in 1978, the UK still began to show some favor towards China by signing and even advocating UN Resolution 2758 which transfered the â€Å"China† Security Council seat from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China, respectfully. It was in these diplomatic agreements that China and the UK could find equal ground to later speak on the transfer of Hong Kong from British authority to Chinese authority. During the talks with the United Kingdom, China remained steadfast and strong on the issue of the UK retaining any authority over the region after the handover in the late 1990s. This is due to the fact that many of the Chinese leaders at that time thought that the treaties which gave the UK rights over the region were not done equatibly and some went as far as calling them downright illegal. Moreover, many at the time were surprised that the strong U.S. friend ally would even agree with talks with a Communist nation but at the time Britian had no choice. Hong Kong received the majority of its water and power from the PRC, let alone many of it’s exported items. These aspects combined with the fact of without the help of the United States, the United Kingdom had no way of effectively defending Hong Kong if t he the PRC decided to invade. For one of the first times since contact between the United Kingdom and China began, China had the complete upperhand against the British. Following the handover, relations between China and the U.K. have been relatively calm. Without out any vested insterest in the region, the United Kingdom does not come in contact with China very often because there isn’t much to speak about. Although many British companies do still own many factories in China, the factories are running smoothly and regulations on them have not become more or less strengent since the turnover, so there isn’t much for the British and Chinese to quarrel over. However, during these peaceful times, the United Kingdom’s economic and military might have remained reliatively stagnent while the China’s continues to grow, yet China does not recpricate the sentiment that Britian gave to it for so many years. If anything China has gone above and beyond with talks to England with China offering money to help out the European economy and agreeing to billions in trade to England. From my earlier interviews, I gathered that most people were happy that China has taken â€Å"the high road† in dealing with the United Kingdom. Most were pleased to see China becoming more active on the world stage, so they’d be upset if the Chinese government did anything to upset this activity, and causing trouble with the British would certainly upset this peace. For the majority of its history, China has prefered to use soft power to deal with its problems and one could surmise that it would do the same if it ever had any confrentations with England, but as of recently, China has not had to use its influence with the United Kingdom because talks have been cordial. One could suggust that these talks will remain the way for the forseeable future.

Twelfth Night Essays (952 words) - Theatre, Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night Essays (952 words) - Theatre, Twelfth Night Twelfth Night Twelfth Night In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, it is clearly evident that the fluctuation in attitude to the dual role and situation and tribulations imposed upon the character of Viola/Cesario ends up in a better understanding of both sexes, and thus, allows Viola to have a better understanding for Orsino. Near the opening of the play, when Viola is adopting her male identity, she creates another self, like two masks and may decide to wear one or the other while swinging between the two dentities in emotion and in character. She decides to take on this identity because she has more freedom in society in her Cesario mask, which is evident when she is readily accepted by Orsino, whereas, in her female identity she would not be. Thus, a customary role in society and to the outlooks of others is portrayed. Orsino sees Cesario, as a young squire just starting out in the world, much like himself as a young, spry lad, so he has a tendency to be more willing to unload onto her with his troubles and sorrows, seeking a companion with which to share and to teach. Thus, Viola grows in her male disguise to get a better feeling for his inner self, not the self that heshows to the public, or would reveal and share with Viola in her true female self, but rather his secret self, as he believes he shares with a peer. So, she grows to love him. But, Orsino's motivation is actually not love for Viola, but rather he seems to be in love with love itself. His entire world is filled with love but he knows that there might be a turning point for him, like when he says: If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die. (206) This quote shows that he knows that he is so caught up in love, that he hopes his appetite for love may simmer when he takes more than he can handle. Near the end of the play, when all tricks and treacheries are revealed and all masks are lifted, Orsino falls in love with Viola. He first forgives her/him of her/his duty to him, the master; then says that she shall now be her master's mistress: Your master quits you; and for your service done him, so much against the mettle of your sex, so far beneath your soft and tender breeding, and since you call'd me master for so long, here is my hand. You shall from this time be your master's mistress (237) This is sort of a switching love as he thought he was in love with Olivia in the beginning, but, he readily switches his love to Viola, as he feel she knows her personality well. As for Viola, she declares her love for Orsino many times, as if by saying that she would love him if she were a lady. When Orsino first sends Cesario to act as a messenger and send Orsino's love to Olivia, Cesario proclaims: I'll do my best to woo your lady; [aside] yet, a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife. (210) This shows that Viola knows what a difficult situation that she is in, and that she might try to woo her out of loving Orsino, so that she might have him for herself; except there is a slight, unexpected twist of fate...After Cesario leaves from Olivia's, she declares: yet my state is well; I am a gentleman. I'll be sworn thou art. Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, and spirit, do give thee five-fold blazon. Not too fast: soft, soft! Unless the master were the man. How now! Even so quickly may one catch the plague? Methinks I feel this youth's per- fections with an invisible and subtle stealth to creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be. What ho, Malvolio! (212) Olivia, is thinking back to her question to Cesario, and his response to it. Then she replies to Cesario's response, to herself, thinking about him. She agrees with his response, then goes over his many delightfulfeatures, and wonders how she so quickly has caught the plague of love for young Cesario. She decides that it is her feeling towards his youthful perfections that creep into her heart and to her eyes. Then she agrees with

Mystery of Great Zimbabwe essays

Mystery of Great Zimbabwe essays The first reports of a fabulous stone palace in Southern Africa did not leave Africa until 1552. It was described by Joo de Barros in his book Da Asia as "a square fortress, masonry within and without, built of stones of marvelous size, and there appears to be no mortar joining them." Portuguese chroniclers of that time believed the stone palace to be the biblical city of Ophir, where the queen of Sheba procured gold for the temple of Solomon. These beliefs persisted until 1871, when Carl Mauch discovered the ruins. Unfortunately, Mauch was only able to boost the Portuguese theories, and was unsuccessful in proving the origins of the ruins. He concluded that a "civilized [read: white] nation must have once lived there." He tried to prove that the ruins had been built by the Queen of Sheba. He argued that the wood found there was very similar to the cedar of Lebanon, and therefore, had to have been brought over by the Phoenicians. Later, archeologists found that the wood that Mauch described was actually African sandalwood, a local hardwood. This discovery disproves Mauch's conclusions. In 1890, Cecil Rhodes with the British South Africa Company (BSA) decided to investigate further into Mauch's findings. Unfortunately, his racist views made his findings biased. Rhodes, working with another man named Theodore Bent, concluded based on the artifacts that "a prehistoric race built the ruins...a northern race coming from Arabia...closely akin the Phoenician and Egyptian...and eventually developing into the more civilized races of the ancient world." Although all of the evidence proved that the ruins were built my indigenous peoples, Rhodes and Bent tenaciously adhered to the idea of the ruin's non-black origins. Another archeologist named Richard Nicklin Hall followed in Rhode's and Bent's narrow-minded footsteps. Hall claimed that his investigation was removing the "filth and decadence of the Kaffir occupation." In rea...

Eco-Friendly Plastic Bag Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Eco-Friendly Plastic Bag - Research Paper Example It was also established that the public was aware of the negative impacts of the plastic bags and the need to use eco-friendly bags. It is important to conduct more research on eco-friendly bags and create awareness on the importance of eco-friendly plastic bags in conservation of the environment. Plastic bags are used for packaging and is made of a thin, flexible plastic film such as polyethylene, non-woven fabric or plastic textile. Around the globe, over 500 billion non-reusable plastic bags are used every year while the thin ones are littered ubiquitously. In developing countries, the plastic bags block the water movement in narrow water channels. When water collects in them they provide a place for the breeding of mosquitoes. The thin comfortable bags are a danger to the children because they can cause suffocation. When plastic bags are incinerated, the smoke could cause cancer, asthma and impotence (Khare and Deshmukh). These negative effects to the environment have led to the discouraged use of the plastic bags. To curb this problem, eco-friendly plastic bags are recommended. They are used in several countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. These eco-friendly bags hold more quantity compared to the plastic bags. They are oil derived products and offered in many stylish colors since they are made with dyes that are both color fast and are washable. In addition, the bags comply FDA regulations therefore are not harmful and cannot cause allergic reactions to the skin. They are durable. The ecofriendly bag is reusable. It is made from fabric such as thick plastic that is more durable, canvas, or woven synthetic fibers. The eco-friendly plastic bags was introduced in the United States in 1977, and were used to bag groceries in the 1980s and 1990s. They were first made of polyolefin-starch materials which did not degrade as it was claimed. Some countries enacted policies that imposed taxes on

What is the secondary symbolic role of first ladies in western and Essay

What is the secondary symbolic role of first ladies in western and eastern cultures - Essay Example This is as a result of some countries opening up to new possibilities overtime and loosening up some requirements of a first lady. There are also women who are bold and determined to change the old ways of doing things. They did not accept to be controlled and aspired to be greater than second place. Despite the differences in nationality and cultural values, the roles of the first ladies are similar in numerous ways. Several women have gone out of their way to become leaders as first ladies and not as wives to their prominent husbands. In the western countries among the Europeans, one of the first ladies to break the norm was Angela Merkel who was the first woman to become the head of Germany making her husband Joachim Sauer the gentleman of Germany. Merkel was born on July the 17th in 1954. She started out as a trained physicist and joined politics in 1989 after the fall of the Berlin wall. She joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) political party in 1990. Soon afterwards, Merkel was allotted to Helmut Khol’s cabinet (Ferree, 2006, p. 94). Here, she was made the Minister for Women and Youth. After Khol was defeated in the general elections of 1998, Merkel was appointed Secretary-General of the political party CDU. In the year 2000, she was selected as the leader of the party but lost the candidacy of CDU for chancellor to Edmund Stoiber in the year of 2001. However, this did not shake off her determination to prosper in the male dominated politics. In the year 2005, Merkel run for the seat once more and defeated Chancellor Gerhard Schroder by a whisker. She had won by only three seats. Once the CDU conceded to a coalition pact with the Social Democrats (SPD), Merkel was acknowledged as the first female chancellor of Germany (Crawford, 2013, p. 38). Merkel’s political career gained more media visibility to her husband

Video Games Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Video Games Violence - Essay Example For instance, there was the case of Virginia Tech massacre, where a student tragically ended the lives of his fellow students in April of 2007. This was just one of the violent acts affiliated with academic institutions, and numerous attributions of violent video games are easily available to anyone. In addition, this case worsens if one has the financial power to invest in a gaming console or just a computer, and even at times, if one can afford to spend time in cyber cafe. Analysts of the Virginia Tech incident sparked debate over violence in video games and their influence on the student who decided to massacre his fellow students. I believe this was the same reason Phil McGraw took to the television screens stating that video games of a violent nature and content have causal effects on the violent nature of the students conduct in killing his fellow college mates. Video games also have significant influences on the behavior of students in being violent towards their schoolmates, for instance, in the case of Phillip Kazmierczak, who shot his fellow students in Northern Illinois University, and evidence points to video games. This is following the fact that he was an avid gamer of violent games, although there may be some form of confounding in which other factors were overlooked prior to make such conclusions that may have led to the shootings. Similarly, video games have been proved to have a profound impact on the behavior of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebod, the main characters in the Columbine High shooting. The above said two, are known to have been fans and avid players of the game â€Å"Doom† (Ferguson 26). Even though records indicate that video games are not to blame for every act of school violence, every two out of five are directly related to video games. However, relying on statistics, video games are the highest causal agents of school shootings especially considering that there are many who view those that view video games as causal agents are only seeking to find a scapegoat. Personally, I believe it also means that, in spite of all opposition on the dangerous effects of games on the wellbeing and safety of students in college and institutions of learning, video games play a significant role. As of the case of Columbine High shooting, students who were well acquainted with the perpetrators gave detailed information on the level of exposure to violent games. This includes their networked computers in order to play games in multiplayer mode against each other and even against other computers. Moreover, the two perpetrators were exposed for hours on end, which can be perceived as a tool to harden and get their skills to the outside world, in this case, fellow students. Furthermore, with the games that the two were hooked on, â€Å"Doom and Quake†, the level of violence portrayed is not one that anyone can boast of considering it led to the real loss of human life. In addition, considering that the killings were d one by the two as a team, it appears more as a continuation of their gaming process in their favorite video games that saw the loss of twelve lives. In addition, once an individual is exposed to violent media, of which video games are included; their cognitive, affective and behavioral processes are altered (Funk et al 23). This process

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The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here Essay -- There are N

The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Throughout There Are No Children Here, a continuous, powerful tension always lurks in the background. The gangs that are rampant in the housing projects of Chicago cause this tension. In the Henry Horner Homes, according to Kotlowitz, one person is beaten, shot, or stabbed due to gangs every three days. In one week during the author's study of the projects, police confiscated 22 guns and 330 grams of cocaine in Horner alone (Kotlowitz 32).    For the children of the projects, the pressure to join a gang never waivers. Quick cash and protection are hard forces to resist in a world of poverty and violence. However, the children's role in these gangs is inferior to that of the leaders. At first, the concept of joining is quite attractive. According to Lafeyette, one of the two brothers profiled in the book, " 'When you first join you think it's good. They'll buy you what you want' " (31). However, " 'You have to do anything they tell you to do. If they tell you to kill somebody, you have to do that' " (31).    What Lafeyette refers to is frighteningly true. In the inner city, gangs often recruit young children to do their dirty work. Shortly after joining, a fourteen-year-old friend of Lafayette's allegedly shoots and kills an older man in an alley half a block north of Lafayette's building (31). Acording to Kotlowitz, life in the Henry Horner Homes is controlled to a great extent by gangs, particularly the Conservative Vice Lords. Residents so fear and respect the Vice Lords' control that they refuse to call 911 (34). Snitching can get a resident killed. Even though the Chicago Police Department installed a hot-line number and promise confidentia... ...rime, Social Forces, Vol. 75 No. 2 December 1996, pg. 619-645. Lo, Chun-Nui, A Social Model of Gang Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 no. 1, May 1991, pg. 36-43. Osgood, Wayne et al., Routine Activities and Deviant Behavior, American Sociological Review, Vol. 61 no. 4, August 1996, pg 635-655. Brantley, Gangs, Vol.63, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May 1,1994, pp1-8 (Article) Kennedy, Leslie and Stephen Baron, Routine Activities And A Subculture Of Violence: A Study Of Violence On The Street, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 30 No. 1, Febuary 1993, pp. 88-112 (Journal) Lo, Chun-Nui (Celia), A Social Model Of Gang-Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 No 1, May1991, pp. 36-43 (Journal) Shakur, Sanyika, Monster: The Autobiography Of An L.A. Gang Member,Penguin Book Ltd., 1993

Bullying Is a Legal Crime Essay

On September 18, 2011 a 14-year-old Jamey Redeemer took his life after years of bullying. The news spread in a blink of an eye. The whole country mourned. Jamey cried for help for months. He regularly posted online about being bullied at school and how people would launch insults at him. Soon, students started to bully Jamey online. They posted horrible things like â€Å"I wouldn’t care if you died. No one would. So just do it 🙂 It would make everyone WAY more happier!† Jamey left several messages on his blog letting everyone know that he was in trouble and needed help. But still no one listened. On Saturday night he posted a lyric from Lady Gaga’s song on his Facebook page which said: â€Å"Don’t forget me when I come crying to heaven’s door.† In a few hours he wrote that he was looking forward to seeing his great grandmother, who recently died. It was Jamey’s final message. (â€Å"Suicide: Police Consider Criminal Bullying Charges†) As identified by the the United States Department of Justice, bullying has two key components: repeated harmful acts and an imbalance of power. â€Å"It involves repeated physical, verbal or psychological attacks or intimidation directed against a victim who cannot properly defend him- or herself because of size or strength, or because the victim is outnumbered or less psychologically resilient.†(â€Å"Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series†) In other words, children are verbally and physically assaulted by their peers every day. At school, bullies rip their victim’s self-esteem to shreds while theirs gets high. It has become a huge problem in the U.S. Nearly 160 000 students stay home and miss school everyday due to the fear of being bullied. 20% of all children say they have been bullied and 20% of high school students say they have seriously considered suicide with the last 12 months. By age 24, 60% of bullies have a criminal record. (â€Å"National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education†) As a matter of fact, bullying can occur almost anywhere. At home. At work. At school or even on the street. It becomes a very widespread, invisible threat. Statistics go that that one out of 4 boys or girls will be bullied sometime throughout their childhood. (â€Å"The United States Department of Justice†) The media started to pay more attention to the problem of bullying recently. While it is seemingly impossible to defeat, it can be overturned. This is possible if parents get involved, students are taught how to identify and stop bullying, and if individuals stand up for and support the victims and bullies. These solutions overtime will definitely bring bullying to its demise. One of the widespread questions is who truly a bully is, why does he or she behave in such a way or another. For the most part, bullies are the kids who feel insecure about their beliefs and appearance or who are the victims of bullying. In that case, bullying becomes a mental defense for the victims. â€Å"A number of researchers believe that bullying occurs due to a combination of social interactions with parents, peers and teachers. The history of the parent-child relationship may contribute to cultivating a bully, and low levels of peer and teacher intervention combine to create opportunities for chronic bullies to thrive (as will be discussed later).† (â€Å"Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series†) A child that comes from a poor, abusive and usually one-parent family will probably end up a bully. Being picked on at school or simply rejected by the peers, kids tease smaller ones just to feel better about themselves and release negative energy. Tracy Vaillancourt, Canada Research Chair in children’s mental health and violence prevention at the University of Ottawa claims that there are two types of bullies. The first type is the habitual bullies. â€Å"They tend to be really impulsive and have poor emotional regulation. And that represents about 10 per cent of kids who bully others.† (â€Å"Interview: Who’s a Bully?†) Basically, Tracy Vaillancourt is saying that this type of a bully is the most rare one, but at the same time it is the most severe and brutal. It more or less becomes a disease that requires an immediate medical intervention. The point is that this type of a bully is the easiest to identify: it is usually impulsive kids who get into trouble in school for bad behavior. The second type of a bully is everyday kids. According to Tracy Vaillancourt, â€Å"they tend to be really popular; because they have power, they can abuse power.† It is the hardest type of a bully to identify. Therefore, it is the most dangerous one. Parents usually get blindsided when their kid might be bullying someone. They take their child’s side, and it is completely natural. Parents want to protect their son or daughter no matter what. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that they do more harm than good and that the consequence of such parenting behavior can be catastrophic. â€Å"In terms of childhood abuse and bullying, it is possible that intrusive, flashback memories of these traumatic events occur in adolescence and adulthood.† (â€Å"Society and Psychosis†) In other words, the authors of the â€Å"Society and Psychosis† believe that a victim of bullying will suffer psychological harm for almost the rest of his or her life. Moreover, a bullied child is more likely to develop a criminal record or get psychiatric disorder and mental illness than his or her peers. (â€Å"Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series†) At this point, suicidal behavior becomes a real threat. And numerous teenage suicides and suicidal attempts are an alert and a call to action to all of us. As bullying becomes a serious problem, people try to come up with different ways of solving it. Different programs, developed to stop or at least reduce bulling, almost every time pay much attention to the parents and teachers. On the one hand, I agree that authorities including but not limited to parents, teachers and professor are capable of maintaining a positive surrounding for the kids creating a safe, free from bullying environment. But on the other hand, I still insist that those authorities are not the key to solving this problem. Bullying has been identified as a potential threat for a long time. This issue has been discussed many time at the different forums and summits, and all kinds of programs were introduced to stop it. But, apparently, it’s not working. Most of the teachers don’t even care about their students lives, since it’s not their business. That’s the way things are in my home country Russia. Teachers go to the classes, give lectures and go back home. They view their job as a way to educate students on a particular field of study. When, in fact, teachers are mentors for children or at least that’s what the have to be. They should set an example of a loving, accepting, tolerant human being who is willing to help and support a person in need whether it’s a student, colleague or a friend. The most important thing is that the first step in stopping bullying has to be made by us, the ones who are often easily affected by it. Every each one of us can contribute to solving this problem and making the world a better place. First of all, we have to change the climate of the school environment and stop putting the power in the hands of the teachers, or the government. I don’t believe they have the answers. I believe we do. It is out lives after all. The truth is that there’s no law that can be passed on the federal level to stop or prevent bullying. The public school system in the U.S. is operated by state laws that are hard to pass. (â€Å"Bullying Prevention State Laws†) Rather than dealing with the legal system, we should come to an understanding that we have the power to make a shift in how people view bullying and react to it. It is not an over night thing. It has to become a cultural change, a movement of tolerance, love and acceptance. Another thing is that people pay too much attention to cyber bullying and consider it as the major dangerous form of bullying. But, truthfully, it’s really not. It’s the most visible because you can see all the hate mails and comments online. The worst bullying experience is face to face, on the street, in the school, at home. There has to be a support system in our communities. We need to change the way kids think about themselves. There has to be a suppÐ ¾rt system around every human being that can help anyone build confidence in themselves and others. The work has to be done from the ground up. Creating a climate and an environment in schools where everyone feels safe has to become a priority today for parents, school administration, teachers and students themselves. By doing little acts of kindness, we will create a loving and accepting environment. Just come to a friend or a person you don’t know. Say a compliment or how good the weather is today, or simply: you look great. These are the things that are going to chÐ °nge the culture and make a huge shift in how people communicate and react to bullying in a particular environment. Just set an example. Because teenager are very impressionable. And if you set an example, the rest will follow. Find a friend. Tell somebody in your life, someone important or maybe someone you don’t know about love, tolerance and acceptance. It is not gonna be just the experts that are going to change things. It is going to be all of us. As we all know, life is an energy. And we are responsible for the energy we bring into this space. Every action has an opposite and equal reaction. If you insult someone, the negative energy you put onto them will come back to you. By brining negative energy onto those people, you are making them bring negative energy onto others. Firstly, empowering youth is one of the keys to stopping bullying. All of us have to set an example of brave and tolerant human beings. It has to become cool to be the person that says that something’s not quite right here, that help is needed here. For whatever reason, students tend to ignore the acts of bulling or teasing in school. They go to classes, do their homework, hand in the paper, go home†¦ Students notice the violence, happening in schools, but the do not speak about it. There needs to be attention that is payed to looking for signs of violence and bullying. When students start to look up for each other, then the major shift is made. Secondly, using a multifaceted, comprehensive approach will definitely decrease the percentage of bullied kids. This approach includes establishing a school-wide policy that addresses indirect bullying, providing guidelines for teachers and, most importantly, students on specific actions to take if bullying occurs, encouraging students to report known bullying, to be supportive to classmates who may be bullied and educating and involving parents so they understand the problem and the importance of it. I believe that each of us comes with a gift – to use our lives, to bring goodness to the world, to connect with other people. Every single person, whether it’s victim of violence or the person who committed the violence,has one thing in common: we all want to know that what we do and what we say and who we are matters. We want to be validated. Every single person. Every argument is really about: do you see me, do you hear me, does what I say mean anything to you? Come up to a girl who always seats alone at the canteen, talk to her. Maybe you will be the one who’ll make her day. Be loving, accepting and tolerant. Only this way we’ll create a kind, free from violence and bullying environment.

Mountain Resorts in Malaysia

There are three mountain resorts that are famous as a tourist attraction throughout the Asian region. The thousands of tourists who visit and revisit these three places are proof that these three mountain resorts are fun, addictive and keep you coming back for more. Which three mountain resorts that I am talking about? The three most popular mountain resorts as a tourist attraction in Malaysia are Genting Highland, Cameron Highland and Fraser’s Hill. Genting Highland, the Las Vegas of Malaysia, have three main activities.The first is a wide selection of outdoor and indoor theme parks. The indoor theme park has six theme areas from around the world, each with unique rides. The outdoor theme park features rides suitable for the entire family, such as the double loop Corkscrew for the adults and teenagers and the Flying Jumbo for small children. (pktan, Travel Guide Malaysia, 2007) If you are looking for something else to do, you could gamble at the only legal casinos in Malaysia . There are table games and slot machines for your entertainment. Wikitravel, n. d) Other than that, Arena of Stars in Genting has shows from musical concerts to live shows and sporting events. This fully-roofed amphitheater can make your holiday to be an unforgettable one. (rwgenting. com, n. d) Cameron Highlands is one of the most popular highlands retreat around Malaysia, losing out only to Genting Highlands. There are many different activities that can occupy your time there. Firstly, there are many agriculture farms there, such as tea plantations, strawberry farms and vegetable farms.To savor the delicious fruits, you can pluck the strawberries yourself or just visit the day market at Kea Farm. (Cameron Highlands Online, n. d) There are also honey bee farms and butterfly farms scattered around Cameron. Various honey products and framed preserved butterflies can be bought as a souvenir. (Cameron. com. my, n. d) Thirdly, there is a museum called Time Tunnel Gallery, where the pas t of Cameron Highlands can be seen through photographs.It is full of heartwarming relics from the local descendants from the pre-war days. (Clove Two, 2009) Fraser’s Hill is one of the famous mountain resorts in Malaysia. A few hundred years ago, Scottish James Fraser recruited some guides and hacked his way to the top of the mountains on Titiwangsa range in search of gold and precious metal. He did not find gold but made a home there and opened a tin mine as it is rich in tin deposits. The British authorities build a hill tation there after he disappeared 25 years later and named it Fraser’s Hill. (JourneyMalaysia. com, n. d) Fraser’s Hill is the coolest place in Malaysia. (Kuantan Hotels. com, n. d) The view is spectacular and is a hotspot for naturalists and photographers. As a result, it is a popular tourist attraction and attracts around 60,000 tourists a year, as reported by M. Hamzah Jamaludin from The New Straight Times. Other than visiting Fraserâ€℠¢s Hill for nature, there are also many sport activities that could be enjoyed by the whole family.Nature walk, bird watching, golf, fishing and horse riding are just some of the many activities that could fill your day. (Pahang Tourism, 2011) As the years grow, Fraser’s Hill is slowly growing to be the top tourist attraction in Malaysia. In conclusion, Genting Highland, Cameron Highland and Fraser’s Hill, are all exciting, tourist attraction mountain resorts in Malaysia. These three resorts lure many tourists, local and international, to Malaysia every year, no doubt making them the three most renowned mountain resorts in Asia.

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region if you’re looking for a career change (or a change of scenery!), here are some of the fastest-growing jobs for 2016 in the mountain-plains part of the unites states. per the u.s. bureau of labor statistics, this region includes colorado, kansas, missouri, montana, utah, and wyoming. when you hear the lines, â€Å"o beautiful for spacious skies,/for amber waves of grain,/for purple mountain majesties/above the fruited plain!† in â€Å"america the beautiful,† chance are you’re thinking of u.s. heartland states like the mountain-plains region. once known for its prairie spirit, the region’s population is growing as the former frontier cities turn into (or grow their existing status as) major hubs.tech job outlook: technical support specialistsutah and colorado might be better known for mountain vistas and film festivals, but cities like provo and fort collins are fast becoming booming tech communities, with companies like hewlett packard, intel, and nu merous startups staking a claim. as technology companies expand operations in the region, tech support specialists are in high demand. these specialists help customers and companies troubleshoot computer software and equipment, and are often the front lines of defense when tech goes wrong.a bachelor’s degree is frequently required, but some openings require an associate’s degree or specialized classes. the median salary for these support specialists is $50,380 a year, with a faster-than-average 12% growth expected.administrative job outlook: actuaryactuaries are an essential part of many industries, but especially the insurance field. they use statistics, math, and financial theory to forecast financial risk, make predictions for their company, and then plan how to minimize that risk.the actuarial field usually requires a bachelor’s degree and offers on-the-job training for new hires. the median salary is $96,700 per year, with robust expected growth of 18%.othe r jobs like data entry specialist are easy to find, but not as much potential in term of promotion and learning.logistics job outlook: truck driverper an npr poll in 2014, the most common jobs in missouri in 1978, 1996, and 2014 were truck, delivery, and tractor drivers. that consistency doesn’t seem likely to shift soon- this region is a hotbed of distribution activity, and this trend will keep on truckin’ in 2016 and beyond.the median salary for truck drivers is $38,200, and the field is expected to grow by at least 11% by 2022.healthcare job outlook: emts and paramedicsthere are often shortages of qualified medical personnel, and no career path sees that as much as front-line emergency medical technicians (emts) and paramedics. these vital professionals offer emergency care for illness and injury, and are often the first responders in a variety of emergency situations.demand for these emergency workers is expected to increase by at least 24% in the coming years, and the median salary is $31,700. if you thrive on high-pressure situations and aren’t squeamish at the sight of blood, this can be a very strong career choice.service job outlook: nanny/childcare workeras the number of households with both parents working continues to increase, so do the needs for quality childcare. this field is especially trending in urban areas, as families look for alternatives to traditional daycare options. nannies and childcare workers are responsible for the daily care of children, and in cases of individual family employment, may also help run the household on a daily basis. the median salary is $28,000, with 5-10% growth anticipated in the coming years.so remember: while you’re seeking out those fruited plains and purple mountain majesties, there are many promising career options available to you.

Puddnhead Wilson essays

Pudd'nhead Wilson essays Puddnhead Wilson, like many other Mark Twains novels, was slightly changed when put on motion picture. There are a number of similarities and differences throughout, making the story more interesting or what some may call, A brutal attempt at shredding a classic. Nonetheless, they are different in these ways: After Roxy discovered Toms gambling problem, he was impelled and willing to respect his mother, the incident with Angelo and Tom at the Sons of Liberty political gathering, and the awe infamous alibi Tom uses to buy himself time. When Roxanna arrived from her voyage as a chambermaid, she spoke with Thomas and discovered Marse Tom was in debt and in trouble. Roxy entered Toms room and was welcomed with belligerent and jilting words that not even a foe of great force would say to his opposite. She proceeded to ask for a dollar in which she can eat and stay healthy and again she was slapped with the coldest slap. This left her with no other option but to tell him that she knows what is going on and will expose him if he doesnt provide for her. In the book, this is the turning point in which he starts to obey and respect his blood. Tom, on a numerous occasion, makes many trips back to the haunted house to inform Roxy about his current status; doing all he can to raise money and keep his mother afloat and to also get himself out of trouble. He also keeps a civil tongue and calls her mammy as she requested. However, in the movie he visits the house twice in a spiteful manner, and once outside when he revea led to her that he got into more trouble with gambling. The straw that broke the Camels back, was when Roxy made it abundantly clear, Its ...

Educational Opportunities in the Everyday

Educational Opportunities in the Everyday Learning opportunities surround us every day, but we may miss them because the tasks seem so mundane. As you go about your daily activities, look for opportunities to capitalize on the educational moments in your everyday life. Grocery Shopping   It’s become something of a humorous homeschool stereotype that homeschooling families can turn a trip to the grocery store into a field trip, but the fact is there are many educational opportunities your kids can experience in the grocery store. You can: Learn to read a scale by weighing producePractice estimation and rounding by keeping a mental tally of the amount you’re spendingDiscuss a variety of measurements such as bushel, pounds, gallons, and pints.Practice percentages by figuring sale pricesLearn how to do comparison shopping using unit pricesDiscuss healthy eating habits Used Car Shopping The experience of purchasing a pre-owned car, while a  bit outside the ordinary, is an excellent opportunity for  real-life training skills. Some of the skills you can work on include: Learning what to look for in a used car, such as dependable reputation, safety, gas mileage, and vehicle historyHow to comparison shop and use tools such as Consumer Reports and Kelley Blue Book to gauge value and dependabilityHow interest rates and the age of the car affect the price - for example, we were better off purchasing a newer car through our credit union at just over 2% interest. Cars older than 10 years only qualified for a signature loan and those rates were 10% and higher.How to figure taxes on automobilesConsidering the cost of insurance when purchasing a car  - newer cars and sports cars will mean higher monthly premiumsLearning what’s involved in registering and titling a car Doctor and Dental Appointments If you’ve got to take time out of your busy schedule for appointments, you might as well make them educational. You might learn about: Preventative measures for disease controlProper oral and personal hygieneWhy doctors check your blood pressure and how it affects your overall healthHow dentists screen for diseases like oral cancerWhat causes cavities, illness, or infectionWhat is involved in becoming a doctor, dentist, nurse, or dental hygienist Ask questions  - especially if you’re at the dentist; it will give your dental hygienist something to talk about, rather than asking you questions that you can’t answer because her hands are in your mouth. Cooking Home ec is one subject that you never really have to go out of your way to teach. You may just need to be a bit more intentional about bringing your kids into the kitchen with you to help you prepare meals. As you do so, talk with them about: Food prep and safetyMeasurements such as cups, teaspoons, and tablespoons, along with common conversions for increasing or decreasing the number of servings in a recipeFollowing directions on a recipeHow to properly use cooking utensilsVarious cooking techniques such as baking, broiling, sautà ©ing and simmering You might want to include some specific recipes as you teach your kids about food, such as biscuits, cookies, a few family favorite main dishes and sides, and some desserts, but all of this can be accomplished in the regular day-to-day of your life. Random Educational Moments Don’t miss the random educational opportunities all around you. Look for opportunities to use daily activities that we may take for granted to put to practical use the abstract concepts your kids are learning in school. For example, say youve been getting price quotes to have a concrete pad poured (so youll have a place to park that used car you bought). Youll be able to talk about area and perimeter in concrete terms (pun intended!). You can also use real-world math to figure up how many bags of concrete needed and what the cost would be to do yourselves, along with comparing the cost, in both time and money, to hire someone to do the job. Use sales and dinners out (tipping your server)  to teach your kids simple ways to  quickly calculate  percentages in their heads. Ask your young children to choose a color and count all the cars of that color that they see as you’re driving down the road. Encourage your older kids to tally the variety of colors they see and create a graph to see which color is more popular. Learning opportunities are all around us if we just look for moments to capitalize on the educational in the everyday.