Alcohol abuse Essay

â€Å"National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. † Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 May 2014. â€Å"Alcohol Abuse and Addiction. † Alcohol and Tobacco: America’s Drugs of Choice. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 May 2014. â€Å"Drunkard Attacks Wife. † Family in Society: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 40-42. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 May 2014. Alcohol abuse is the habitual misuse of alcohol. As children move from adolescence to young adulthood, they encounter dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Developmental transitions, such as puberty and increasing independence, have been associated with alcohol use. Some, adolescence take a dark turn, especially when underage drinking is involved. â€Å"Everybody is doing it† so they do it too. They drink because they want to change something about their lives , however they increases the risk of academic failure, and can cause suicide and homicide. Research shows that annually about 4,700 people under age 21 die from injuries involving underage drinking. People take drugs mainly for the reasons to fit in , in school, at work, the community , etc. They also do it to escape from reality or relax . Or so they could feel good among their peers at school. Also, they sometimes are curious and ask themselves â€Å" How does it tastes ? † â€Å" How would it affect me? † â€Å" Is it as bad/ good as everyone tells me? † . But the real reason is peer pressure, because many teenagers feel pressured to drink around their friends. Some short-term effects of alcohol are slurred speech, drowsiness, vomiting, headaches, breathing difficulties, decreased perception and coordination , blackouts and anemia . You can get all of these short-term from simply drinking alcohol. But in the other hand ,the long-term effects are unintentional injuries such as car crashes, or drowning. Increased family problems, broken relationships. They often tend to have short temper because they have been drinking to much and don’t tolerate as much things as they used to. They can get alcohol poising for drinking way too much alcohol. High blood pressure , stroke, and other heart- related diseases are also long-term effects . But the ones that caught my eye the most are liver disease, cancer of the mouth and throat, nerve damage, and permanent damage to the brain. In my opinion those are the worst ones that could happen to you, if you drink too much alcohol. Alcohol is linked to 75,000 U. S deaths a year, and shortens the lives of these people by an average of 30 years. Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable death in the united stated after tobacco use and poor eating and exercise habits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , estimated that 34,833 died from cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and other diseases linked to drinking too much beer , wine and spirits. Another 40,933 died from car crashes and other mishaps caused by excessive alcohol use. Researchers considered any man who averaged more than two drinks per day or more than four drinks per occasion to be an excessive drinker. For woman it was more than one drink per day or more than three drinks per occasion. Men accounted for 72 percent of the excessive drinking deaths in 2001, and those 21 and younger made up six percent of the death toll. Light or moderate drinking can benefit a person’s health , but heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure , heart disorders, certain cancers and liver disease. Excessive drinkers are also more likely to die in car accidents. The United States aims to cut the rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities to four deaths 1 / 2 per 100,000 people by 2010, a 32 percent drop from 1998. There are many myths of alcohol use including that it improves sexual performance, the fact is that although you may think that drinking makes you better in bed, psychologically alcohol reduces your performance. Another myth is that you can drink and still be under control. That is a lie , drinking impairs your judgment , which increases the likelihood that you will do something you’ll later regret such as having unprotected sex , being involved in date rape, damaging property, or being victimized by others. Furthermore, teenagers often say that drinking isn’t all that dangerous, that is a myth. Reality is that one in three eighteen to twenty four year olds admitted to emergency rooms for serious injuries are intoxicated. And alcohol is also associated with homicides, suicides, and drowning , as mentioned before. But, the most common myth is that beer doesn’t have as much alcohol as hard liquor. Actually , a twelve ounce bottle of beer has the same amount as alcohol as a standard shot of eighty proof liquor (either straight or in a mixed drink ) or five ounces of wine. If you believe you or a friend may be experiencing Alcohol and/or substance problems there is help , it can be challenging but it is treatable. You can contact you’re counselor or you can contact psychological services and they could help you , I suggest do some research on which one is best suitable for you, and which one you feel more comfortable with. I strongly suggest that if you know a person with substance problems , let them know of the alcohol addiction treatment. Alcohol addiction treatment utilizes programs that help individuals who cannot stop drinking on their own understand what causes their alcohol addiction. Once they are knowledgeable about the cause and have the tools to break the cycle of alcohol addiction, they can begin to cope with the normal stresses of life. Alcohol addiction treatment means stepping out of your addicted life and into a supportive , comfortable, environment where you can begin life of sobriety. The drug & alcohol addiction treatment program includes expert diagnosis , detoxification, intelligent use of anti-addiction medicines, various neuro and psychotherapies , twelve – step facilitation, family involvement , health and nutrition education, and continuing life care support. POWERED BY TCPDF (WWW. TCPDF. ORG).

Advice on feeding children for parents with concerns about their own eating Essay

Many parents have concerns about their own eating and worry about the impact that this may have on feeding their children and on their children’s healthy development. What follows below is some advice about how best to manage feeding children for parents or caregivers with their own concerns about eating. A role model for children1 ? Children copy the behaviours of others. Your children will pick up eating behaviours exhibited by parents, siblings, other family members and friends so try to be a positive role model for your child by eating and enjoying regular meals with them if possible. Give children child-sized portions ? For parents who are limiting their own calorie intake or portion size, they may lose sight of what is an appropriate portion for their growing child. It is important to give children suitable portions, rather than those that are too large or too small. Guidance on portion size can be found here: http://www. nhs. uk/change4life/Documents/pdf/Step_By_Step_Me_Size_Meals. pdf or here: http://www. nhs. uk/change4life/pages/kids-portion-size-tips. aspx.? As a general rule, a portion of fruit or vegetables is the same size as a person’s palm. So, a child-size portion of peas on a dinner plate should be the same size as your child’s palm. Offer a healthy, balanced diet ? Children and adults need a nutritious, balanced diet for optimal development and health. Try to ensure that you are giving your children meals that include: fruit and vegetables; starchy foods (e. g. , rice, pasta, bread, potatoes); meat, fish, eggs and beans; milk and dairy foods; and moderate amounts of food containing fat and sugar (see here: http://www.nhs.k/Livewell/Goodfood/Documents/Eatwellplate. pdf). ? Don’t cut food groups out of your child’s diet (unless they have an allergy / intolerance) and do try to offer a variety of foods across mealtimes. ? Ensure that children have three meals a day, as well as healthy snacks. Research suggests that breakfast is particularly important for school children as it provides them with energy required for the day. Listen to your child ? Children are good regulators of their own levels of hunger and fullness. They will tell you when they are hungry and full. If they are often still hungry 20 minutes after finishing their meal, it may be that the portion size is too small for them. Try not to be too controlling2-5 ? Parents may feel that their child needs to eat all the food on their plate in order to be healthy. Avoid pressuring or forcing your child to eat more than he/she wishes. Pressuring children to eat food can result in the food becoming less liked and children eating less of that food. If your child tells you he/she is full, they probably are. ? Try not to overly restrict your child’s access to (unhealthy) foods. Limiting children’s intake of foods can unintentionally make these foods seem more desirable and children may then eat more of these foods if given free access to them (e. g. , at parties). ? Everything in moderation. Keeping track of what your child eats is good parenting and ensuring that your child eats a balanced diet is encouraged. However, it is important to offer your child a balance of foods from all the food groups to ensure healthy growth and development. Above all remember that food is a fuel. Your child requires a healthy, balanced diet and regular meals and snacks in order to grow and remain healthy.

Analytical Essay on St. Aquinas’ View of Abstraction Essay

In presenting his view on the process of abstraction, St. Thomas Aquinas has pointed out arguments in a manner somewhat parallel to Aristotle’s idea of such.   For them, a knowledge is established primarily by knowing a universal concept that is housed inside a form or matter, and which gives meaning to that matter.  Ã‚   To know such concept is by way of abstraction — â€Å"process of formulating general concepts by considering (abstracting) properties of instances†1 or construction of concept by setting apart a substance of an identity from it.   In essence, a man can only define or speak of a sensible matter once he is able to identify its substance. To further expound on the thought, take as an example the â€Å"lawn mower†.   Different types of lawn mower has been developed to suite a particular purpose. The design varies from the one that could be used for small residential lawns and gardens, to that design being used for golf courses. Read Also:  Analytical Essay Topics List Nevertheless, in essence, the lawn mower’s mechanism is for the purpose of cutting down or evening out grasses, bushes, or other thriving plants of a field or lawn. It is a device made basically to mow and as a substitute to a scythe.   In giving a definition to these mechanical tools, they are first defined as â€Å"a machine that is used for mowing or cutting down grasses in a lawn or open field†.   The basic idea of a â€Å"mower† or â€Å"lawn mower† has then become the means or main idea or the one that caused or inspired the creation of other lawn mower’s designs. Given such example, it could then be plausible to say that to understand a matter, one must find first its root or the form that gives its form. By abstracting the main substance of an element, may be able to further understand the mechanism of a sensible thing. References: ____________________. (July 12, 1991). St. Thomas Aquinas. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 1, 2008 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aquinas/ WordWeb Application, version 3.02.

Budget Requirements Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Budget Requirements - Coursework Example The selected families will be offered free training, education and mentorship programs until they qualify to leave the program. For us to finance all the activities of the organization, we require to have around $100,000. This will enable us to cater for all the services that we will be delivering to our beneficiaries. As indicated in our budget, the available resources will be properly spent. Meaning, all the planned items will be funded as planned. The total number of families will be 50. This is the appropriate number that we will mange to support at this time. Out of these families, each family will be allocated $1,837. This will be enough to cater for all their expenses throughout the year. However, it is from this allocation that we will get the money to provide for all the necessary services and materials that they will be requiring as we enroll them into this program. They will be used for licensing the program, buying the required materials, paying the personnel and catering for any other activity which might be undertaken during the program. For this reason, we will allocate a total of $30,000 for staff salaries. This will be used to remunerate the program coordinator, assistant coordinator, part and full-time instructors who will be directly handling the children. Besides, we will spend $20,000 on training services; $10,000 for technical assistance; $5,000 for acquiring licenses and registering with our national affiliates. At the same time, we will have to spare $10,000 for the development of the program and then use $10,000 to purchase learning materials such as text books. Last, but by no means the least, the remaining $850 will be left for any other expense which might arise, may be because of emergency or such like issues. By doing this, we are assured of a promising career in the NGO

Introduction - Rationale - Conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Introduction - Rationale - Conclusion - Essay Example Tentative research show that the use of the internet for marketing purposes can make the operators of tourism and travel services easily bridge this gap between the suppliers and the consumers. As already previously discussed, tourism is reliant on a cycle known as the travel cycle, which entails dreaming, researching, booking, experiencing then sharing of the experience (Leigh et al 2013, p.90). The dreaming stage of the traveller or the tourist occurs at the preliminary stages mostly when the potential tourist or traveller uses the internet to look for the most affordable and reliable means of travel by reviewing web pages or videos that ultimately inspires him to want to travel. The consumer then researches and narrows down on his travel options through the making of requests through queries. This is the most important stage for the future successful tourism or travel supplier as it enables the collection and evaluation of the path that determines the path and the power of the tou rist or traveller towards purchasing. Knowing what is likely to happen in the future fascinates each and every man kind and tourists are no exception (Yeoman 2012, p.1). In tourism circles this is significant in the sense that it helps us understand tourism from a sustainability point of view as the industry players that is the tourism and travel suppliers become more prepared and find out the best answers to challenges that are likely to be met in future. The importance of future tourism is intertwined with that of the travel agencies especially those that are internet-based. Tourism experts agree that the internet is an important factor in the distribution and communication of services and products to the global market and eventually all players in this field may be forced to embrace the internet as a means of marketing for the services. Despite this, others argue that the internet will not automatically make the travel agencies dispensable as there are still consumers who insist on the personal touch that may be offered by physical agents as the information supplied needs to be in a continuous manner. The internet as a tool used for marketing is therefore complementary to the physical tourism and travel agent (Palmer and McCole 1999, pp.33-47). Other researchers look at the relevance of the internet based travel agencies as merely to reduce cost by eliminating the intermediaries who increase the total costs incurred in procuring a travel or tourism service or product (Barnett and Standing 2001, P.143). The travel industry and the tourism industry is therefore a major user of the internet that needs to constantly seek new methods of improving the services and products offered to consumers in order to fit in the current and future trends in marketing. Rationale The revolution of the internet is applicable in all aspects of the public especially those wishing to travel. This calls for traveler and tourism suppliers to investigate what motivates consumers of th e tourism and travel services to go into the internet to shop or buy products and services online. The reason for the increased uptake of internet in the marketing of travel products can be attributed to factors such as the ability of one to have one-to-one marketing and can support an interaction between the

The cultural effect of automobile on Americans in the 1920 Essay

The cultural effect of automobile on Americans in the 1920 - Essay Example The automobile had come a long way by then from the era of the Model T Fords that looked like square boxes mounted on wheels. The assembly line manufacturing method of Henry Ford had become the norm in car manufacturing and allowed the people to afford the automobile at lesser than the usual price. Now, no place was too far for the public to reach. Everything was only a car ride away. However, the road infrastructure still needed to keep up with the rapid growth of the automobile economy. The affordable cost of the new range of factory line produced automobiles helped to give rise to the era of American consumerism. Americans no longer purchased goods simply for consumption. Due to the effective advertising campaigns of automobiles, first as print ads and then as commercials on radio and television, the American psyche was awakened to a new and powerful type of happiness. A happiness that lay in their ability to buy things such as automobiles which, according to the sales pitches, was guaranteed to bring them hours, days, months, or even years of happiness with their family members and friends. Now, Americans purchased a lifestyle instead of an item. They now spent their hard earned cash with the knowledge that the purchase would bring them a sense of happiness. The automobile was the greatest expression of the happiness a person could find in his rising social status. From the era of 1910 to 1950, Americans began to develop a special relationship with their cars in part due to the influence of the automobile advertisements and the cars ability to provide a freedom of movement to a person. Customizing the car also became the ultimate in personal expression for young people. The automobile had a tendency to reflect the character of the owner. There was a sense of dependence on the automobile that could often be misconstrued as an

Environmental justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental justice - Essay Example otection Agency of the United States terms environmental justice as the meaningful involvement and fair treatment of all individuals regardless of income, national origin, sex, color, or race with respect to the progression, enactment and application of environmental policies, regulations, and laws. Examples of environmental justice burdens can be air and water pollution, insufficient access to nutritious food, and inadequate transportation, among others (Schlosberg, 7). According to the EUREKALERT!, (1), this burdens all over the world have been documented in an Environmental Justice Atlas by the Environmental Justice Organizations, Liabilities, and Trade (EJOLT) led by the European Union. The aim of the atlas is to convey information from the records of the EJOLT to the public. This will upsurge the understanding of what causes this environmental issues and how material policies and demands from possible hot spots for future issues (Guardian, 1). In North America, biodiversity conservation issues are common affecting the animals, plants, and the rainforests, among others. The misuse of resources causes these issues through human activities hence leading to habitat destruction, ocean acidification, among others. The movement advocating for change in North America is the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) (Bickerstaff and Agyeman, 800). In South America, there are water management issues that are caused by many industries, comprising recreation, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, among others. These industries have led to water and air pollution hence decreasing the amount of quality water available. The group fighting for change is the Latin American environmental justice movement (Alazraque, 122). The connection between these two issues is that biodiversity issues bring many effects including issues in water management issues as seen in South America. Environmental justice movements provide statistical facts on how different actions are affecting

Why and how is the landscape of childrens services changing What are Essay

Why and how is the landscape of childrens services changing What are the implications of these changes for practitioners who work with children - Essay Example fts in institutional values have also contributed to this change, such as the gendered character of contemporary parenting and the gendered character of childhood, which have corresponding implications in the children’s services (Daniel, e al., 2005). Today’s children’s services argue the importance of using gendered perspective in order to engage adequately with the causes and effects of child maltreatment. This perspective may be analysed as an outcome of the growing gendered character of the household and the workplace, which has characterised modern industrial societies like England. England has designed and implemented its early years’ educational policy in the period of 1997-2004 and presented some innovations in the policy, its evidence base, and delivery of new services. It suggests evidence concerning expansion of services on the benefit of early years education on children’s development (Sylva and Pugh, 2005), a direction which children’s services as pedagogy is leading. Early year’s education in England is claimed to be transformed through integration of education and care at local and national level, the strong focus on families and children in the delivery of services, as well as the introduction of the Foundation Stag Curriculum 3-6 years and its birth-3 years supplement (Sylva and Pugh, 2005). Stone and Rixon (2008) stressed that while child-centred is the key, it is as important to seek the perspective of parents who are left with the child when all the professionals have gone home. Stone and Rixon also emphasised that it is important to recognise the value of families, which serve as one point for change and in which change itself can and should originate from, resonating with the changes in children’s services in England. The focus of change, as Rixon (2008) points out, has been on the challenges for practitioners of these currents, which likewise affect the experiences of children and their families. England launched in 2003 its

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Overweight, Underweight, and Obesity - Assignment Example To begin with, people should consider eating foods that have low concentration of fats. When a person has high fat intake there is a high possibility that they will have heart related complications. The fat settles on the outer lining of the heart, which leaves little room for the heart’s activities. With limited space of expansion, the heart does not function accordingly. As such, the person will have difficulties especially when the heart does not give the body enough blood supply due to limited space. This is closely connected to obesity where the body needs massive supply of blood. Similarly, the fat in the body builds the lining of arteries and veins. This leaves little room for blood flow in the body. This leads to high pressure in the blood vessels which later leads to hypertension (Sizer and Whitney, 2012). Therefore, reduction of fat consumptions helps the body to function accordingly. When a person needs to reduce the fat in the body, they are advised to work out eve ryday for a minimum of 15 minutes. Similarly, it has been discovered that the growth of cancer cells can be minimized by healthy eating. These foods help increase the immunity of the body to any attacks, for example garlic. It is known that people who maintain healthy eating habits have lesser chances of attacks from hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Therefore, it is prudent to observe healthy eating habits and exercise on a daily

Catholicism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Catholicism - Essay Example The rise of Catholicism began gaining roots especially in the 16th Century when the protestant reformation started contravening the spirit and the beliefs of the common Christian doctrine that was in existence. Catholicism remains a strong force in the world today but its influence has been tremendously reduced. The history of Catholicism relates with the influential Roman Empire. During this time, the system of leadership was one that integrated both secular and church leadership together; the Pope was seen as a very important political and religious figure. Through his research Dr Paul Coulter established that the Roman emperor leadership was influenced by the conversion of its leaders, for example Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312, he went ahead to legalize Christianity in the empire. Around 590, Gregory the Great became Pope at a time when the Roman Empire had collapsed and the clergy were very active in leadership all across Western Europe. Gregory emphasized on the role of Pope as a universal leader by using biblical interpretations, by then the bible was exclusively in the hands of the Pope. The spirit of Catholicism grew by far and wide and spread across Europe. Martin Luther who was an Augustinian monk around 1517 read the scripture and presented his interpretations to a door of Wittenberg cathedral thereby sparking a revolution that resulted to the Protestant Reformation (Coulter 4). The doctrine behind Catholicism is founded on the Bible, a holy book that is revered for its historical as well as current view. Historically, the Catholic Pope the only person who had a chance to interact with the Bible and deliver its teachings to the masses, this made the church very influential to the daily lives of people at that time. The Pope was able to challenge every authority but he could not be challenged by anybody himself. Galileo Galilei had to persuade the church authorities that the heliocentrism theory he had developed was not against the bible, this was after the Pope disputed the theory claiming it was unbiblical. To date the Bible remains a supreme doctrine among the Catholics, however its interpretation has brought some contention especially among scholars. Because of the interpretation, various factions of the Catholic Church have come up with divergent beliefs (Boettner 25). Recently, the issue of celibacy has been refuted by some catholic clergy who have gone ahead to marry despite the regulation by the church not to do so. It has emerged that celibacy has been based on the church traditions and not actually the teachings in the bible (Jones 14). The core teachings of the Catholic Church are diversified but remains to be the same; this is characterized by the conservatism that the church has tried to adopt over the ages. They believe in one universal true church, a conviction that is constantly recited in the apostle’s creed that is part of the belief in the church. The Pope is a very supreme author ity according to Catholicism; he represents the church as the ‘Vicar of Christ’, a continuation of the leadership of Peter, the apostle in the early church. The decisions by the church leadership are highly regarded and are used as a benchmark for ethics and spirituality. The tradition of the church outstands and is used as the

Business Model and Strategic Plan Essay Example for Free

Business Model and Strategic Plan Essay For any journey the path must be defined with clear and recognizable details for it to be successful. The concepts of markers and landmarks which define the direction of a journey apply to that of any business. We need detailed plans and objectives as well as landmarks and directions we would like the business to travel. The objective of Two Brothers food truck is to create a trusted and popular place for people of the Wenatchee valley to enjoy a quality meal using locally sourced goods and services at a value which all residents of the valley can easily afford. With this detailed strategic business plan we will discuss the concepts which will guide our plan and the obstacles we may face and how we will work to overcome them. Strategic Objectives, Measures, and Targets The objective is the same in all business and that is to keep the business operational and profitable. The profitability of any business is the main reason for which we strive to open and operate businesses; this fact will be  the main reason to implement fundamental financial objectives. The concept of Two Brothers food truck is to keep costs low, maximize profits while maintaining quality ingredients and service to the consumer. The main factor which way affect the profitability of the food truck is locally sourcing fresh ingredients due to the grow cycle of our region. At some point the truck will have to purchase items from a vendor or local grocer to maintain inventory levels. However the other menu ingredients like breads, meats, and dairy items will in most cases be readily available thanks in part to the availability to local butchers and dairies, we plan on baking our own breads. Thanks to the lack of competitive restaurants using locally sourced items we see no issues wit h these items. Methods of Monitoring and Controlling Two Brothers Strategic Plan We understand the importance of a happy employee and their relation to happy customers and relationships play a major role in any business. We strive to build relationships with the community and place high regard on personalized service to each person that visits Two Brothers whether it our guests are local or people visiting the Wenatchee valley. One major way we intend to ensure this will happen is to always empower our staff and make our staff feel like they are part of this business and guide them to feel as emotionally invested in the ideas and concepts of Two Brothers food truck as we do. We plan to offer incentives like shift meals, paid time off after time invested in the company, profit sharing, company events, and bonuses for college students whom receive exceptional grades, we feel the food truck should be a stepping stone and an example of characteristics they can take with them into their careers. We feel that investing the time and energy in our staff and showing them we care as much about them as we do the business will encourage them to feel the same and want to invest time and energy in our customers to ensure their return business and the customers overall satisfaction. Marketing and Information Technology Strategies and Tactics In today’s era of social media and more and more people using their mobile devices for everyday operations we feel we need to maintain that connection. Luckily for Two Brothers food truck the Wenatchee valley is relatively small and offers great coverage for mobile data with most carriers. We would like  to take that a step further and offer a Wi-Fi hot spot as well as charging stations for most devices, we would like to power these items using mainly solar energy to add to the concept of a sustainable culture we are trying to maintain with the business. We understand the importance of technology and social media in the operations of business and how technology can be an aid in our business operations. We plan on focusing our attention on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets to advertise our business which will provide the customer with daily information on specials as well as access to coupon programs we provide. Using social media will provide an outlet for our customers to provide reviews and feedback on our business. Many people feel that bad reviews can hurt a business; we feel that bad reviews provide an opportunity for us to make a new friend and change a process which may harm our business with future guests. Two brothers would also like to develop a smartphone application for iOS and Android which we find is also lacking with many businesses in the Wenatchee valley. This application will also provide instant access to our business as well as letting us track our market. As far as marketing outside of social media we plan to brand our image using items like car clings, bumper stickers, clothing, and sponsorship of local team sports, we feel that the Wenatchee valley is a closely knit tight community and word of mouth and these visual cues will travel fast into making Two Brothers a household name in the Wenatchee valley. Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Issues Regulatory conditions for mobile food service entities like Two Brothers food truck are rather strict in the Wenatchee valley. We will need to focus on consumer safety within the regards of the regulations put forth by the local health department and maintain or equipment and employee paperwork to remain compliant with these standards. Another important element of the food truck will be a base of operations where we store product and prep for day to day operations. This facility will also have to fall within the guidelines set forth by the health district to ensure food and consumer safety. Two Brothers also plan to offer beer and wine at some point in the future operations of our food truck which is legally allowed in Washington State. We will also have to follow the guidelines set forth by the Liquor Control  Board which are monitoring levels of service, age appropriate clientele, and ensuring on premise consumption only. All of these aspects will be factored into our operational details and regulations will be posted per Washington State RCW’s. Business Model and Strategic Plan Part I The goal is to bring a cross section of favorite foods to the community. Some of these will consist of a local high school favorite the Zombie. The Zombie is fluffy dough stuffed with a variety of meats and cheeses then baked to perfection. Other culinary options will include the popular Cuban sandwich as well as bratwursts, homemade fried chicken, fresh cut fries, and several types of wings and sauces. The goal is to bring in as much locally grown items as well as using local providers for most of our items, keeping it home grown is one of our mottos. We also plan and scratch making as many items as we can to provide the highest quality and freshest product possible, another concept lacking in our town. The goal is to bring the highest quality foods for the most reasonable price that we can. I our idea will be to closely follow what Costco tries to bring to their customers. The goals of Two Brothers food truck are to bring items to customers with little or no access within walking d istance to their locations. We will highlight our operating times to ensure each location we stop at will have ample time to order and receive their items in a fashion congruent with their time frame. We will also provide an â€Å"Order Early† option via text, email, and phone orders so that clients will be able to bypass lines and pick up items whilst on the go. Wenatchee is a smaller mid-size market with many businesses and average options for quick lunch options. Wenatchee offers the same fast food and casual dining as larger cities with a sprinkling of mom and pop restaurants which make up the rest of the options none of which offer high quality ingredients with reasonable pricing structures it is usually either quality or fair price, Two Brothers will accomplish both high quality and fair pricing by operating on volume sales to move business. The plan for Two Brothers is to hand craft all possible food items to cut costs and increase quality of our products because we believe that the more hands something touches through the supply chain the more cost it involves in the end product. This will set us apart from most other options locally and  create an amount of exclusivity of market. What will also help Two Brothers is the relative lack of food trucks within the Wenatchee valley area. We plan to monopolize this fact and create a structure where we remain the top contender with first to market entry with home baked breads, oven roasted meats, and locally grown produce (when available). We will market on our commitment for high quality, price friendly foods which focus on family and togetherness. The vision that I see for the Two Brothers is for it to grow into a family run business with maybe two to three locations in total in the valley, keep it home grown and support the valley by staying true to family, friends, and c ommunity. While the quality and reputation of the establishment are paramount, so is the success of profit. Once I am able to show continued growth and a solid profit margins the possibilities are limitless for expansions. Are good profit margin will also allow for commitments like sponsoring a little league team, giving us a positive public image. The guiding principles or values would be to stay true to myself stay grounded if the business does become a success, and keep my promise to the customers by providing them with fresh food and a fun experience at Two Brothers. The culture of the business reflects my culture and that of my family, and when I say culture I mean that of respecting everyone whom we interact with. We will have a diverse menu because I want a diverse crowd. The social responsibility and ethics would be making sure we only provide fresh ingredients, only buy from the best, and never serve anything that is subpar our internal motto is create what you would want to eat. I will not hesitate to take the opportunity to make things right and apologize on behalf of the business, always treat others the way I want to be treated, and with respect. The business cannot be a success if the mission or vision statement is not only followed but also if the staff and owners do not promote what they inspire. The vision is to have the business grow, but it can do only that if the customers are treated with respect. We as a business must keep our word or promises on the service and products we say we will deliver on. For the business to be successful every promise made must be followed up by not only the owners, but also by staff, and those who we conduct business with Two Brothers. The only way to maintain a competitive advantage over larger chain restaurants, sandwich shops, and fast food joints, is to keep the promise we made in our mission statement,  and continue to stay focused on what is most important, the customer. Strategic Plan Part II: SWOTT Analysis The business world of today the rate of a business succeeding is far outweighed by the rate at which they fail and this needs to be understood when undertaking these endeavors. One of these factors to success or to failure is external factors and how they will work in the operations of a business. In this paper there will be a definition of some external factors for the Two Brothers food truck and how well the business adapts to these factors. We will analyze the supply chain and as well as the operations into consideration along with the identification of other issues and opportunities that may happen. Economic, Legal and Regulatory Forces and Trends One of the biggest driving external forces that can impact my business is the need for people to know where their food is coming from and that it is a good and healthy choice for them. Today’s focus on obesity has many people turning away from the fast food chains like McDonald’s and turning to options like Chipotle for healthier options and knowledge that their food is coming from excellent sources and is handpicked as well as made fresh daily. The Wenatchee Valley is very compact so the ability for people to travel for lunch is easy except the only real options are fast food restaurants dominating a large percentage of the choices. Because these health trends are extremely popular among the many in the valley it is wise to include social factors of healthy living are a huge positive trend for the food trucks fresh philosophy. The active population of the valley is more likely to be health conscious because it is the goal to be in shape and fit with the amount of outdoor recreation in the valley and surrounding areas. Therefore, by eating healthy homemade options provided by the truck, the average Wenatchee resident is a positive external force. Competitive analysis as an external force that we can use to measure the possibility of success or failure or trends which may affect the business. Since the food truck is in the Wenatchee valley and we are known for our agricultural history there is a large population of Hispanics thanks in part to the long history agriculture and the need for skilled labor. Mexican cuisine and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Taco trucks† are quite prevalent in the area and a different style food truck would be an outlier among the usual fast food chains and the family-owned restaurants. This provides an advantage as the food truck has something new, and different to offer. In addition, the resta urant is mobile and can be available in various areas gives it advantages over restaurants and most other food trucks since most are mainly stationary and no longer mobile. Because the food truck will be in a mobile we can monopolize areas where many people work with the least amount of food options available, we have to cater to them this way and offer a quick high quality option for lunch. The Wenatchee valley also has many spots for tourist exploring attractions of the city and events that could support the food truck. Since the warms temperatures of the valley in the summer and the mild winters, I expect people to at least stop for food or for something to drink year round as well as eventually becoming a destination spot for locals. External technological forces/trends could go either way depending on how the business is opened. First impressions do matter – as much as businesses do not want them too especially in the era of social media. Wenatchee is a smaller town so word of mouth spreads quickly via sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Craigslist so in this situation, it is very important that the food truck makes a strong first impression. Also the local newspaper is a popular source of information to the valley and perhaps some sort of coupon or deal in the newspaper would be a good way to attract residents to the restaurant. Because the written part of paper has its counterpart on the web, online advertising would probably be an attractive option in attracting the many tourists which visit the city all year round. Supply Chains Organizations Impacts Considering the resource logistics for any business, a strong force that can negatively/positively affect the food truck is the cost of transportation of materials. Originally, the plan was to hand pick fresh material daily through local growers and vendors. However, this would be inefficient and extremely expensive. It makes more sense that these material are obtained from a local source which can deliver on a weekly basis. These items should be items that would definitely have to be locally or regionally located because they have to contribute to the buy local stay local theme. For  example, the vegetables would mainly be locally grown within the season and meats locally purchased and regionally harvested while any baked goods would be homemade by us using regionally sourced materials. Identification of Issues or Opportunities Culture Culture is another internal force, which can make the food truck a great and popular option. Having a family-owned business with a small group of friendly employees makes a huge difference in how a local business is perceived. Hiring employees who not relate well with the business owners generally results in employees perform their duties but may not love the business or take part in the enjoyment that the owners may have in operating the business; in other words, these employees will do their job but they will not have the passion that family has operating the business. Generally, the friendly service that customers will receive from the deli will likely be an incentive for them to return again. The feeling should be relaxing enough that customers will want to continue to hang out after their meal if they have the time. Over time, places like these become a sort of â€Å"favorite† hang out for people; this is very similar to how bars become places where people can hangout and relax while socializing and eating. With technology being so prevalent and because this is a tight knit valley, it is expected that people will have want to socialize so providing portable seating will be an important element. Leadership Leadership is an essential part of any business and can lead to better efficiency. It’s very important for the business to have a good set of leaders. In a small business situation the leaders should be the owners, there is a sense of warmth and gratitude when being greeted and served by the owners/operators. Sometimes, a customer may ask a certain question that requires a bit of prerequisite knowledge about a certain type of food or product and to answer the question. When the owners are available, and a part of the general operations, that knowledge is passed on the other employees when the owner is serving guests. Good leadership also is integral to making a business run smoothly. There usually has to be someone â€Å"in charge† that can direct people around in case they are lost. In this  case, if an employee is making a certain product and is confused on how to finish it or continue with it, the owner can usually step in and aid in the completion of the product. Therefore, a good leader will run the business in a smooth manner while the lack of a leader can result in the business losing money because of customer dissatisfaction (due to problems such as excessive wait for food, bad service, bad food, etc.) Strategy The internal strategy will be to keep consumers pleased and to keep their visit to the food truck memorable so they would want to come there again. Operating the food truck as a fun family oriented business will keep people hopefully wanting to hangout and comeback for that family open arms feel. Possibly providing outdoor games and events will give the customer something to keep them occupied and enjoy their stay. To keep the menu a bit unique, there would be a diversified menu by serving specific options and specials on different days of the week. There would also be incentives provided in the form of discounts, punch cards and options for catering a large group of people, such as parties, weddings or other events. Economic Economic forces and trends that can benefit or work against the food truck are most definitely included the price of oil and prices of raw materials. Because transportation is a must in any business to bring items to the truck and the truck to the clients, rising gas prices will hurt business and cost more. Similarly, a lack of local items in the area will also exacerbate the situation and raise prices of raw materials to be used by the food truck. Nice weather in the summer and good snow in the winter increase the draw of tourism to the valley this would increase the number of potential customers increasing business. Regulatory In regards to regulatory forces/trends that would affect this business would be the health inspection and how they regulate length of time a certain product is fresh. As an example, if health regulations of food trucks are usually more stringent and regulated than say a brick and mortar business since the food truck has the ability to become mobile and the options of  safe storage of foods is limited more so than the regular restaurant. By not following health procedures and safety, laws would be broken and there would be the risk of the business closing or people being hurt by contaminated foods. Because this is a small food truck business, it would not be too difficult to make changes unless the changes are extreme – like the change corresponding to the reliable sourcing of local goods. Making changes to the menu or making different items is usually just a change in how a certain product is prepared. Because food trucks usually provide food made on premise and is easily adaptable to many items this will not be very difficult if changes needed to be made. However, if people were to ask for particular items or drinks these would have to be purchased and that could take some time for delivery. The food truck is a small scale business; it is easier to apply changes than it is for bigger businesses that may be spread out in several locations. Global The most recent global issue for most business right now is the price of oil. Gas keeps the trucks moving and the equipment operating whether they are buying items, operating as in cooking food items, or moving from location to location gas is an unavoidable cost and rising prices could pose a threat to the sustainability of the business. Other options of clean energy can be examined to ensure the best operating options for the business. Processes and Systems Providing great service seems almost nonsensical as every business strives to do so. Small businesses have to make greater strides in this department. Consistency is the key in order to be consistent a system or process is needed for every detail. When there are definite procedures for the everyday tasks the employees and the customers know what to expect. For instance the opening and closing procedures will have specific tasks and duties every day. This type of consistency will keep a positive momentum. Strategic Plan Part III: Balanced Scorecard The reason an individual opens a business is to be successful and make a profits to provide as their livelihood. My vision and my mission for my  business are to be one of the most popular food trucks in the Wenatchee Valley area. In addition, should be a highly respected business and not just another business serving food. Getting to know the customers on a personal basis and prove friendly service that is appreciable and that leaves customer with a sense of superior service that keeps them coming back. But mostly, the food truck will provide great food that people will enjoy to eat and crave. The vision for the food truck is to see it open and available to travel to multiple locations throughout the Wenatchee Valley so that the entire valley can access the unique options we offer. Financial Perspective Because the initial location will be near the main medical facility and high school in the southern part of the valley, it can hold a considerable market share over other restaurants in that area of the valley since no other locations exists. After that the financial perspectives include market share, the vision influences the market share in this way and it allows for enhancement of profitability and the competitive position. More restaurants around the valley use the same supply chain operations that the initial food truck would have, keeping the costs relatively the same. Increasing the number of food trucks would, also help to lower prices of raw materials because the business would be buying larger quantities for more trucks and use volume pricing. This in turn would reduce the cost of spending but would increase the profits. The mission values are to provide great tasting food to a large variety of people of different social groups and to provide great service. To achieve such a goal, it is very necessary that some objectives for customer service and employee satisfaction are put into place. Employee Perspective Obviously, the amount of satisfaction that the employees will have will translate to a higher level of service they provide to customers. Therefore, increasing employee satisfaction is a must for the food truck. Stimulating and offering incentives to the employees is a great way to keep them productive. A method of stimulating the employees would be to rotate the duties. A rotation of duties ensures that all of the employees understand the functions of the different stations but they also understand all the cleaning duties as well and knowing each station helps in the overall  understanding of the business. This, in turn, affects their productivity and how they relate to the customers. The satisfied customers, in turn, helped to enhance the customer’s value perspective in areas such as customer retention and customer value. Providing warm, friendly service is an asset to the food truck will have and will set it apart from other options in the valley. Customer Perspective An objective that should be maintained is to keep the same level of service and customer satisfaction going throughout time. Ways to measure customer satisfaction is how customers react to the food truck on social media sites such as Facebook and Craigslist or frequency in which they visit. Offering a punch card with a reward is way to measure the frequency that they visit the food truck. Obviously, a majority of people frequenting the food truck signifies that the truck is a popular destination and signifies the mass popularity of the truck. Noticing changes in trends can help an owner to understand where problems may exist. An important strategic objective that should be respected in the organization of the food truck is keeping service quick and without any hassle and maintains a high level of quality and service. Process of Internal Operations To achieve this objective, the food truck needs to, again, maintain a fast and reliable service plan for the company. This requires planning, as the employees need efficiently to produce the product that the customer wants. This is not only encompassing the employee perspective but also the customer service perspective. Popular restaurants usually have a method through which they create menu items in an efficient manner. They create recipes and options on the menu which staff and customers can use to guide their experience and production processes. This orderly method that will be developed is essential for the business to run properly because it reduces the work that the employees do and allows the customer more freedom in choosing how they want their foods prepared as well as options available. In addition, I feel like this will be a necessary feature of the food truck because other restaurant businesses serving food create items from various  ingredients and recipes will also be producing their products in a similar procedure. Therefore, to keep competitive and streamlined to business practices of the industry this method should also be used in the food truck. Conclusion Designing and building a strategic objective is a crucial element for any business to operate successfully in the world today. Creating a mission statement with clear and defined objectives will help guide the business through their operations and should be looked to consistently to maintain the objectives set forth by the business creators. By doing this the management and operations of the business will be understood and how the business relates in the marketplace and how to operate through growth and handle competitors. A foundation of objectives will maintain the core concept of the business when changes or shifts in the market place occur and when new strategies need to be developed to handle these changes. The foundation of any business operation is the consumer and the major influence on whether they become a customer for life is the employee. These two factors are the direct drivers for any business and their happiness can bring about failure or ensure success. When the mission and core values are established and clear then it becomes easier for these two factors to provide the success businesses need to remain operational and sustainable. Reference Pearce, John A. , Robinson, Richard B. . (2009). Strategic management. formulation, implementation, and control. United States: McGraw-Hill. Thompson, Arthur A. , Gamble, John E. , Strickland, A. J. (2006). Strategy: winning in the marketplace: core concepts, analytical tools, cases. United States: McGraw-Hill Companies. MacDonald, Denise. (2008, October 15). Mcdonalds marketing strategy. Retrieved from http://www.macdonaldconsultingservices.com/post/2008/10/McDonalds-Marketing-Strategy.aspx

Exploration of a Surrealist theme Essay Example for Free

Exploration of a Surrealist theme Essay Jonathan Safran Foers first novel Everything is Illuminated is yet another artistic interpretation of reliving the memory of the Holocaust – which to younger generations of men and women over the world has moved into the domain of folklore and history, progressing from the living memory of people of yesteryears. In assessing the surrealistic component of his work, we would first define surrealism as an art form and how it has played an important role in modern literature and movies first. Although surrealism as a movement started in 1924, it still influences artists, writers and critics even to this day. At its core, surrealism taps into our unconscious through powerful symbols and abstractions, and according to the author of the book The Surrealist Manifesto Andre Breton(1924), surrealist writers express the passage of actual functioning of thought rather than describing thought itself. The tool that Foer uses in his work is automatic writing which is essentially a popular surrealist tool according to Breton, which implies writing without thinking. This aimed to break down the barriers between the conscious and subconscious, thus providing a clearer picture of the actual awareness and mental processes of the writer. There are numerous elements of Foers work in Everything is Illuminated which is unmistakably surrealistic, and exposes the automatic writing process that Foer employs. In a way this is a new angle way to explore the Holocaust as Alex Perchov, the naive Ukrainian translator writes letters to Foer in a stylized Russo-English tone that reads : It is mammoth honor for me write for a writer, especially when he is American writer, like Ernest Hemingway; or It is bad and popular habit for people in Ukraine to take things without asking are the norm. Interspersed with these letters are the fragments of the real novel by Foer which he exchanges with Alex the interpreter, which describes in a real yet magical account of Foers imagined life in the Shetl, where his grandfather came from, before the Nazis destroyed it completely. An important surrealist theme is this interface between reality deconstructed through Jonathan Foers journey as he traces his familys connections to Trachimbrod ( a fictional representation of the real town Tachenrod) between 1791 and 1942. There are clearly absurd situations and unique personalities and fascinating philosophies depicted in the process, which bring out the intended surrealism. In Chapter two, The Beginning of the world Never Comes, like all traditional Jewish stories it opens with a conditional : Trachim Bs double-axle wagon either did or did not pin him against the bottom of the Brod River. The wagon may or may not have belonged to Trachim, and in truth he may or may not have been killed. This implicit ambiguity and uncertainty is a dominant surreal element – nothing is ever sure when it comes to Trachimrod, and the legend surrounding Trachim who is the real source of the lore. But as a good story is better than no story at all, and Everything is Illminated explores the interface between fact and fiction all along, with the boundaries often merged. To this end, it is a unique narrative art form applied to the pre-history of the Holocaust as someone from a succeeding generation explores its quasi-magical communal origins, now lost. Returning to the theme of automatic writing, much of Alexs perspective as it is presented does not have any line breaks or any semblance of literary organization : They burned the synagogue. They burned the synagogue. That was the first thing they did. That was first. Then they made all of the men in lines' (P. 185). While Alex is literally translating the old womans narrative about the Nazi atrocities, he gives us the surreal impression that he is not lifting his pen from paper as he records a continuous stream of thought. The repetitions reinforce the thought process turning gradually somber and dark, as the novel progresses from its earlier light-hearted beginnings. Towards the end of the novel, it becomes an established theme as the thought process sounds incoherent at times depicting the grim reality of the situation. For instance, when the Nazis march through Kolki, Alex records : It was not forever before he was the only Jew remaining outside of the synagogue the General was now in the second row and said to a man because he only asked men I do not know why who is a Jew and the man said they are all in the synagogue because he did not know Herschel or did not know that Herschel was a Jew (Page 250). Putting no punctuation in this section, as if to rush through the stream of thought is an attempt to get the reader to focus on the text, despite any obvious demarcation between the sentences, as a literary device to bring out the angst and anxiety in the Grandfather as he barely manages to move from one thought to another. The tragedy of the situation, as exemplified by this method of automatic writing, is very distinct from a comprehensively described historical narrative which has been the norm of many historical novels depicting the terror that the Nazis perpetrated. As a surrealist literary tool, this is powerful in evoking subconscious patterns of the mind. Under pressure or fear, as our mind gets cluttered, it gets entwined with the deepest physiological motives of fight or flight – as the mind just processes the bare facts, repeats those which are essential to deconstruct the crucial elements that separate life and death, the bare essentials so to speak. Even love is under strain under such circumstances, and the literary tool of automatic writing that Jonathan Foer uses does not stop at simply removing line breaks and punctuation, he even obliterates the spaces between the words, often repeating them in succession, to bring out the flow and rush of emotion and thoughts. Without stopping to think what he is writing, as if it is a work-in-progress, Foer also introduces the idea of temporality, or the passage of time in his writing. This example of the Grandfathers narrative brings out the idea of a powerful flow : I looked at Grandmother and shekissedmeontheforehead and I kissedheronthemouth and our tearsmixedonourlips and then I kissedyourfather many times I secured him from Grandmothers arms and Iheldhimwithmuchforce so much that he started crying I said I love you I love you I love you I love you I loveyou I loveyou I loveyou I loveyou Iloveyou (Page 250). The use of these new works, cluttered and jumbled, bring out the inherent tragedy of the situation powerfully, as the readers are almost compelled to think outside their normal sphere of reasoning as to why this cluttering has been left unedited in the book. This crazy, quilted patchwork of writing styles that Foer has created perfectly suits the backdrop of the Holocaust, and the use of words like Iloveyou and tearsmixedonourlips seem to express the sentiment that conventional use of English words is inadequate to express the pathos and poignancy of the moment. The presentation of the text itself in Everything is illuminated is another example of surrealistic techniques used in the book. A vivid example is provided in the Book of Antecedents, where after the last entry on Brods list of 613 sadnesses (page 212), the text continues : we are writing†¦ we are writing †¦we are writing for a full one and a half pages. While critics may interpret this somewhat idiosyncratic use as monotonous text in many ways, there is a surrealist explanation that appears plausible. Throughout the interplay of facts, myths and legends seen in Everything is illuminated this was one place in the novel where the reader is powerfully reminded that after all, this is a written piece of work, where writing can be a monotonous activity, when writers have to put pens on papers (or hammer at typewriter keyboards) as part of a daily routine to capture their thought flow. Artistically, this is the equivalent of a painter including a picture of his paintbrushes within a landscape or still portrait to convey the message that it should be interpreted as a work of art, as the artists own rendition of reality. The use of periods to leave out large portions of text is used by Foer in other instances as well, notably towards the end, between the section describing Trachimday and the dream of the end of the world. (pg 272). This was celebration, unmitigated by imminent death. They stayed Without actually describing the bombing of Trachimbrod, Foer powerfully describes the emptiness and tragedy of the impending bombing, as the residents prepared for it stoically, and when the bombing took place they fled the city. These long spaces are the surrealist equivalent of time being frozen, as thought flowed in slow motion. Without adequately expressing the details of the bombing these mental spaces indicate Foers deliberate style of a work-in-progress, as if he intended to fill in these spaces later. In another sense, this surrealistic theme implies the overall mission of the story, as a few characters set out to discover something far bigger than themselves. This surrealist element of describing the function of thought as defined by Breton is evident through out the novel, often with the deliberate misuse of words, as is an artificially distorted surrealist artwork aiming to describe the process rather than reaching literary perfection. For instance, Alex, whose English is not very good confessedly has a thesaurus by his side when writing and picks out inappropriate word alternatives as evident form this line : I have girdled in the envelope the items you inquired, not withholding postcards of Lutsk, the census ledgers of the six villages from before the war, and the photographs you had me keep for cautious purposes†¦ I must eat a slice of humble pie for what occurred to you on the train. I know how momentous the box was for you, for both of us, and how its ingredients were not exchangeable†¦. (Page 23) The inept use of thesaurus-derived synonyms and clumsy phrases remain an important part of the book, as well as the film directed by Liev Schreiber (Carlson 2006) as Alex explains that his friends find his full name Alexander â€Å"more flaccid to utter†. Again in leaving Alexs letters unedited, it is an attempt to depicts the process by which Alex himself matures throughout the book as a researcher and writer, as his initial efforts to prove that he is knowledgeable in English is a surrealistic statement about setting out on the journey to self-discovery through learning. As Alex best describes this process at the end â€Å"Everything is illuminated in the light of the past, which is inside us looking out,† (Carlson 2006) this book is about deconstructing the past using a surrealist technique. Reference Breton, Andre (1924) Le Manifeste du Surrealisme. Translated to English in : Patrick Waldberg, Surrealism (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971), pp. 66-75. Carlson, Daniel (2006) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Decent. Pajiba 2006. Retrieved from the Internet on 15 March, 2008 from : http://www. pajiba. com/everything-is-illuminated. htm

Threats to Prosperity and Stability of Developed Countries

Threats to Prosperity and Stability of Developed Countries Adrian Ma Over the past few decades many developed countries have taken the wrong steps to maintain peace with foreign states and have substantially increased the size of their government. Consequently, it becomes detrimental to any countries’ prosperity and stability; economic freedom is proportionate to size of government and war always affects the civil and moral progression of a society. When a government ignores the notion that â€Å"the individual† is the basic unit of social analysis, then the citizens cannot live life to their fullest potential. The problem perpetuates as more and more youth are becoming liberal because they are also becoming more liberal than the previous generation. The ongoing growing concept of liberalism is determining a lot of age groups to openly seek out help from the government and this strips away the dignity of each individual entailing rights and responsibility. According to an article, the average annual income per household in 2007 was appro ximately 53,000 and in 2013 it dropped to 48,000(Economist’s). The percentage of extra income the average person makes also made a noticeable drop from 5 to 4 percent meaning that it would take 5 extra years for them to double their income. This is an indicator that societies’ focus has transitioned from setting goals and seeking out to excel in certain areas to getting paid to support their financial situations, simply because of the expectation that the government is going to solve their problems. Individuals are the root of any prospering and stable economy, not the government. One top of government programs killing individualism, they also destroy millions of jobs. If citizens are constantly required to pay more and more taxes every year for government programs, not only will their financial situations get worse but competition will drastically decline as well. At the time government wasn’t involved in healthcare, it was cheap because private sectors fought to keep their businesses alive by competing with others and that factored in by lowering prices. All of these amazing â€Å"benefits† that the government forces insurance companies to provide us must be paid for by somebody and it’s those of us who aren’t in any allocations, work for the government, or have lobbyists to get us exemptions. Let’s look at Obamacare; there are so many faults because it tries to make every person happy. It centralizes on ensuring that people are covered rather than addressing the cost of care in the first place. It doesn’t benefit th e youth because they tend to be healthier and they don’t need as much coverage as the older age groups. It also increases the cost of everyone’s insurances because insurance companies are required to cover sick individuals. Healthcare in 2002 for a family of 4 cost approximately 9,235 dollars per year and after the government got involved it rose to a staggering $20,728 in 2012 (Milliman Medical Index). Another problem with government expansion is that it causes inflation; the increased debt ceiling from overspending and the Federal Reserve is just a cataclysmic combination for stability. Here’s the dilemma, whenever the government needs money instead of issuing their own notes backed back their own credit they issue treasury bonds, then they sell these bonds to the Federal Reserve which buys them with money they created out of thin air. The money that the Federal Reserve creates later goes to the government meaning it has to pay interest on the money the Federal Reserve lends to the treasury. This means that there will never be enough money in circulation to pay off the debt. The liquidation of debt is what makes an economy prosper and stabilize. Looking back at how the depression ended, a number of people believed the gold standard was the gold standard but they were mistaken, the countries that were able to liquidate their debt first got out of it. After World War 2, the g overnment cut 60% of the budget, 30% on tax rates, and around 9 million military personnel came home causing all the bad debt to be liquidated, hence, ending the depression. The constant printing of money may have bailed out major corporations during the depression but the problem originated from a governments belief that they can run the economy. The price stability reduces and a side function of an unstable dollar is the large swing in consumer prices. Another issue that developed countries overlook is the importance of economic freedom, it is more than just the freedom to buy and sell products and services. It allows us to be free in our interactions with other people. It also empowers people to travel, to say what they want to say, and to do what they want to do. It is about being free to make our own choices. A lot of those things are positive indicators of a healthy country and for a government to interfere may form impairment. Based on facts, the more economic freedom country has indicates that everyone is better off. The economic freedom of North America Index indicate that states with more economic freedom have higher growth rates of the economy, 4.6% GDP in the 25 least free states and 5.5% in the 25 most free states; lower unemployment rates, 5.5% in the 25 least free labor markets and 4.9% in the most free labor markets; less debt per GDP than states that are less free, 16.2% in the 25 states with least tax freedom and 15 .7% in the 25 states with the most tax freedom (2000-2009, LearnLiberty). All of these things people associate with economy health are also associated with economic freedom, and the same phenomenon also occurs with the countries of the world. The most economically free countries have GDP’s per capita that are about 10 times the size of less economically free countries. Some of the counter arguments I’ve encountered is that the GDP per capita only measures average income but it is untrue. It’s possible to have a country with a small number of elite rich people and a large number of destitute people, and if people examine inequality measures what they should see is that the countries that are more economically free also have more equitable income distributions. Economic freedom is not only associated with higher income levels on average but it is also associated with more equitable income distribution. Skeptics have argued that economic freedom achieves economic i ncome because of exploitation, people and the environment. Based on the data, they are wrong. On average women in more economically free countries have more gender equality and child rates tend to be a lot lower. Some may say that child labor rates are lower in economically free countries because they are more prosperous and can import from but they are also mistaken. The same phenomenon occurs even amongst the poorest countries; the least free poor nations have 40% child labor rates and the freest poor nations have 37% child labor rates (2000-2009). The biggest threat to the prosperity and stability of any developed country is war and the longer it is the more it will cost. An administrator in the Bush Administration told American taxpayers in a hearing before the Iraq War that it would only cost 1.7 billion dollars. According to numerous sources, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will now cost taxpayers roughly 5 trillion dollars, and that isn’t even taking into account the long-term medical care and disability compensation for service members, veterans and families; military replenishment and social and economic costs; expensive repairs to a force depleted by just perpetual fighting. More problems arise with government healthcare because the government owes it to them for fighting their wars. In the United States alone, a quarter of a million troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) putting a bigger toll on the government healthcare system. Even the war on drugs also threatens the stability and prosperity of a country but that’s another issue. Governments should learn to take care of their own people before trying to solve other people’s problems. Our ability to cooperate, to help each other out develops when there is no conflict and when individuals have a smaller reliance on government. They recognize themselves in each other and are programmed for compassion. All of those things make them stronger, faster, and smarter. It relates to why communism doesn’t work as well as it should because human beings are biologically engineered to be competitive in nature and freedom drives then to work harder for success. If a government takes away our rewards and shares it with others then a specific majority will feel less rewarded, thus, competition and innovation is automatically promoted by limiting the government’s role in an economy. In a free economy, people will constantly find ways to create and offer better values to customers than their rival firms. Competitors that do well focus on reality, inventions, innovations, and methods opposed to rivals per se. Citizens are given more of an inclination to be independent, unconventional, and rebellious towards societies’ opinions and norms. It is no wonder why most of the greatest discoveries came from the countries that are the most free. Works Cited Dominguez, J. (1995). The Caribbean in a new international context: Are freedom and peace a  threat to its prosperity? New Dynamics in Trade and Political Economy. Miami: North-South Center, University of Miami, 1-23. Picciotto, R., Weaving, R. (Eds.). (2013).Security and development: investing in peace and   prosperity. Routledge. Meltzer, A. H. (2010).A History of the Federal Reserve, Volume 2. University of Chicago Press. Berger, A. N., Hannan, T. H. (1988).The price-concentration relationship in banking(No. 23). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (US). Dincecco, M. (2009). Fiscal centralization, limited government, and public revenues in  Europe, 1650–1913.The Journal of Economic History,69(01), 48-103. Paul, R. (2008).The Revolution: A Manifesto. Hachette Digital, Inc.. Davies, Antony. Learn Liberty.Learn Liberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.  http://www.learnliberty.org/>.

Movie Analysis of Grease Essay -- Papers

Movie Analysis of Grease In this paper I am going to write about the movie â€Å"Grease.† Specifically, on the two main characters Sandy and Danny. I will be describing and analyzing their interpersonal communication, but mainly on the conflict of their communication. At the beginning they Sandy & Danny start off with a great relationship. They meet at the beach during summer break. Thinking they would never see each other again they went their separate ways. But Sandy ends up moving and goes to the same high school as Danny. They don’t know that the other is at the same school until Rizzo, one of the â€Å"pink ladies† introduces them to on another at the football pep rally. This is when all the conflict starts. Danny and Sandy are so excited to see each other, but all of sudden Danny changes his tone of voice, as well as attitude toward Sandy. Sandy is taken back by the way Danny is acting. She asks him, â€Å"What is wrong with you?† Then he replies â€Å"What’s the matter with me, What’s the matter with you?† Going on she calls him a fake and a phony and says she wishes she never laid eyes on him. The T-Birds, Danny’s friends start giving Danny a hard time about Sandy. So in a nutshe ll he treats her like she is just an ordinary person and not a girl that he cares for. On one day Sandy is at the local restaurant with a guy that happens to run track and Danny keeps watching her. When Sandy goes to the juke box she walks by Danny and does not acknowledge his existence. Danny then approaches Sandy and begins to give her a hard time about the guy that she is with. Sandy is very short with Danny and does not let on that she is upset. Danny then decides for Sandy to notice him that he needs to become athletic, so he starts try... ...e a lot, showing that she was committed to their relationship and tolerated their differences. Once or twice she used the voice response. When she was trying to find out about the girl he says he never dated, she continually brought it up for they could talk about it. I feel that this conflict was good, due to it helped them both grow and strengthen their relationship. It helped them both realize that they can change how they act towards one another and well as say what they really mean and to be open about how they feel for one another. I think that it was great how the two of them went for the Win-Win strategy to accommodate for the other. In all I feel that Danny and Sandy noticed not only by communicating but also by facial gestures as to what the other was thinking and how each of them could change to get to a compromise and go on with their relationship.

Electronic Music :: Art

Electronic Music Lets go back to 1916 where Hugo Balle, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, and Richard Hue- Isenbeck are finding the Dada artistic movement. These guys are a bunch of anarchists living in Zurich, Switzerland. The Dada movement preaches the â€Å"essence of spirit† the freedom of expression, hatred to â€Å"the great war† (or what we later called World War 1) , with a want to preserve the middle class, while humankind was degrading morally, with little or no hopes for a bright future. This goes in context with this CS3 course in how before world war 1, man thought so much was to come. The Dada movement expressed the deterioration or our civilizations due to wars through sound and not words. They thought sound was more sincere and liberal. These guys noticed that music doesn’t have a specific language, so more people can relate to it. They would rebel against what was happening in the world by creating music based on industrial noises. You have to think that back then everyone listened to polka, piano, and Stravinsky. When all of a sudden this â€Å"Dada† movement started using tools to bang on pots and pans to create music. It was not in any way popular, but these guys contributed the base for â€Å"Electronic Music†. Electronic Music is basically making noises into music not by instruments, but rather through alternative sources. The Dada Movement didn’t use electricity to make their music mainly because it’s the early 20th century and electricity was somewhat a luxury. So to be honest it was in the 1920’s that the worlds first synthesizer was born officially launching an era still very active today in all of our lives, yes, called electronic music. The first instrument was made by a Russian electronics genius named Leon Theremin and he called his synthesizer a â€Å"Theremin†. The cool thing about this synth is that it didn’t have a keyboard like synths do now; it was simply a device that senses changes in electromagnetic waves. Basically you stand in front of it and wave your hands back in fourth and it will make noises and tones out of that. So as everyone else go into Hollywood and Rock N Roll, the world was still not speaking the same language of music. People in the Middle East listened to Um-Kilthoum at the same time Elvis was dancing to the Jail House Rock.

Allergies and Allergic Reactions Essay -- Food Allergies

Healthy humans have two types of immune systems that protect the body from invading pathogens that cause diseases. The Innate Immunity is the first barrier of protection. It is similar to a force field. Its primary purpose is to destroy any pathogen that tries to enter the epidermis cells (the skin cells) and the mucosa (mucus secreting cells found in the GI tract, respiratory tract, urogenital tract and eyes. If the first defense does not work, the adaptive immunity steps in to eradicate the invading microbe. Yet, sometimes the body reacts to harmless agents as if they were pathogens. Every day, more adults develop allergies to things in their environment. Exposure to such things as pollen, grass, mold and pet dander1 can lead to mild or harmful reactions. Other allergens can cause tingling in the throat and mouth, and in many cases severe reaction that lead to death. 2 In the last couple of decades, 75 to 100 percent of asthma and 150 percent atopy have reported.4 17.7 million adul ts and 7.1 million were diagnosed with allergies and hay fever.5 There are no known reasons why people developed hypersensitivity to certain agents, yet, many adults are developing allergies later in life. Statistically, children are the ones who develop allergies the most. About 3.9 percent of children have allergies, whereas 2% of adults have it. 6 Then, why are adults becoming more and more susceptible to this affliction? One possible reason is foods and every day household products are making people sick. Could it be that constant exposure to known hypoallergenic agents are causing allergic reactions to develop in adults who have never displayed any allergic reactions in their lifetime? To understand why the sudden affliction of allergies is occu... ...alian adults: A multi-centre study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2009;150(3):271-7. 4 . Isolauri E, Huurre A, Salminen S, Impivaara O. The allergy epidemic extends beyond the past few decades. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004 07;34(7):1007-10. 5. CDC [Internet]. Allergies and Hay Fever. Atlanta, Georgia: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm [Date accessed 2011, November 18] 6. CDC [Internet]. "Food Allergies - DASH/HealthyYouth." Atlanta, Georgia: : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.. 26 Apr. 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/foodallergies [Date accessed 2011, November 18] 7. Laurià ¨re M, Pecquet C, Bouchez-Mahiout I, Snà ©garoff J, Bayrou O, Raison-Peyron N, et al. Hydrolysed wheat proteins present in cosmetics can induce immediate hypersensitivities. Contact Dermatitis. 2006 05;54(5):283-9.

Inventor-Granville T Woods

Background On April 23rd, 1856 a baby boy was born in Columbus Ohio. That boy’s name was Granville T. Woods. Granville grew up in a disadvantaged childhood home. He was only able to be formally educated up to the age of 10, all education that followed was self taught or learned from experience. People had called him â€Å"The Black Edison† because he was almost identical Edison. Edison had been in one of the same situations as Granville, a disadvantaged childhood home. After he was done in his early steps of life he moved on in his education.He had taken interest in the electrical and mechanical engineering fields at an East Coast College from 1876 to 1878. Further education was given to him in the form of his co-workers. They had given him information that he hadn’t already known and he paid them to rent books from the library for him because African-Americans weren’t allowed in the libraries. He also went to night classes and took private lessons. Throug hout his life he had many jobs that led him to being an inventor.His first job was an apprentice in a machine shop; there he had repaired railroad equipment such as track, lights, bridges, and anything else that goes with the railroad. His second job was a fireman, a job he had gained from the Apprentice. Here, he was the fireman of D&S Railroads in Missouri, which led him into his next job. In 1878, he became an engineer on a British steamer known as Ironsides. He was then promoted to the chief engineer. This lead into the start of a business he and his brother Lyates ran. It was called the Woods Railway Telegraph Co.It simply made electrical telephone and telegraph equipment for the railroad industry. By the end of Granville’s life he had had many achievements. First off he had had 60 patents, 35 which were of electrical systems and 15 electric railways. He also invented 15 appliances for the railway as well. Out of the many inventions that he had invented the most importan t one was the Multiplex Railway Telegraph. This discovery was built to help reduce railway accidents by letting dispatchers communicate where they are at so they don’t collide.This was also the first time they were able to communicate with each other. This particular invention was so helpful Granville found himself fighting patent suits with none other than Thomas Edison. Although Granville had won in the end. This invention has changed lives in the many ways below. This telegraph has changed and saved many peoples lives. People then could feel safe having to travel by train, when there weren’t many other ways. Also, this factor told everyone that there could be more people going out to be railroad conductors because they wouldn’t have to worry about getting killed in the process.Finally families would feel safer letting their loved ones travel by train. In the end, Granville had a very successful life although he had died poor. Success Factors How exactly did G ranville T. Woods gain his fame? Well for one, everyone had called him the â€Å"Black Edison. † Secondly, he was the first inventor to create such a thing as the Multiplex Railway Telegraph which hit it big because it was the first thing that allowed dispatchers to communicate back and forth about their locations.Lastly, he had over 60 patents and had himself fighting patent pursuits with Thomas Edison himself. Also, he came from a disadvantaged childhood, not only that but he pushed himself to take extra classes and read books because he was only allowed to attend school until he was 10. He has gained the following attributes from his famousness. The first is creativity. He gained this through the many inventions that he created were quite interesting and anyone could tell how creative he was by these inventions.The second was that he had diverse job experience. By this he had been able to work at countless jobs and learn from them, especially how he had gone into studying one of the fields (electrical and mechanical engineering) in night school, books, and through co-workers. I think that if anyone would research Granville anyone would see how his inventions have these attributes. He also gained education through diverse job experience and the fact that he didn’t take the job that Edison offered him, a very major job.I have realized all these attributes through reading about him in biographies, I may not have them all, or what anyone thinks should be on here, but this is my opinion on Granville and what he had. My Life At this present moment I have many, many goals. My first goal is to do better in school. By this I mean up my grades in the classes I do poorly in. My second goal is to make honor roll at least once before I leave Washington to go to high school. My third goal is to help more around my ouse as in clean up messes that I make, do anything that im told to do when I get told to do it, and lastly be better toward my sister, because a s everyone knows siblings can be a pain in the neck. I can accomplish these goals by doing many tasks. For my first goal, I can accomplish this by being more creative when it comes to homework, projects, and papers. I can also study more for upcoming tests that I am not sure about. Then when needed take the time to write everything the teacher writes on the board when they introduce us to something new and if I don’t understand the specific area we are working in to ask for help.Also, do all my homework when its due, I do turn in my homework, but only a couple times I have had late papers. For my second goal, I can push harder and harder in the classes I am not doing to well in to get the grades I need to make honor roll. I can also spend more time on my homework instead of doing other tasks or just messing around. For my third goal I can do everything when I am told to do, I shouldn’t procrastinate. Another part of my third goal that I need to accomplish would be my b edroom; I can clean up everything even if it’s not mine instead of arguing with my sister about picking her toys and clothes up.For the last part of my third goal, my little sister, I can calm down and try to figure out what needs to be done, instead of the constant arguing. My inventor has some attributes that can help me with accomplishing my goals. His first was Education, that can help me in the way that when I think about how short some people had very little if any schooling, and in his case he was only able to attend school up to age 10, but now anyone attend school for however long anyone wanted to, and the fact with that little bit of schooling he became an inventor.His attribute of diverse job experience does fit in a specific way, I look at it and say well I haven’t had any jobs but I have belonged to many different clubs, and although his jobs lead him up to the decision that he wanted to become an inventor. I have been in builders club and this club helps people so maybe that is why I want to be a pediatrician when I grow up. Finally, with his creative attribute, it can help me with the cleaning section because I hate cleaning and I can turn it into something that would really be fun. I think that this inventor can help accomplish or improve my goals quicker and in a creative way.

Goethe’s Faust Essay

Scene vii of Faust ii act v takes place in a steep, rocky side of an unspecified mountain. The scene is dominated by female characters and takes place on earth. It starts with a chorus of nature spirits, in which the nature is describes the mutually interdependent processes taking place. The idyllic conditions described by the chorus of nature are the celebration of processes like plant and animal life, earth and water. Then enter the four â€Å"anchorite fathers,† who seem to represent progressively increasing degrees of spiritual attainment. First there is Pater Ecstaticus who is hovering up and down in the air. Then there is Pater Profundus who apparently lives in the depth of the earth. He marvels at the creative processes of nature and describes lightning, trees which strive to reach heaven and water flowing from heaven to earth. His heart is however is not at peace and he asks for a divine illumination from the Lord â€Å"Oh, God! Calm my thoughts, pacify us/ And bring light to my needy heart! † The third father is Pater Seraphicus. He lives in the middle regions, (probably between the air and earth). He invites the spirits of young boys who died at birth and had not thus experienced earthly life to come and experience the world through his body. Then a group of angels pass by carrying the soul of Faust and relate why they rescued Faust’s soul. We learn that Faust soul was saved because he struggled so much in developing his projects (â€Å"Whoever strives, in his endeavor, we can rescue from the devil. †). In this instance we are also told of the other reason why Faust’s soul was saved which is that Gretchen was interceding for him to Mother of God. The Younger Angels say of how they distracted the Mephistopheles by using roses of holy love. The More Perfect Angels also say that even though the heart of Faust has â€Å"escaped the flames† it is still impure and that the bond between the soul and body is left for â€Å"Eternal Love† to unwind. The angels then take Faust’s soul to the blessed boys above who â€Å"Joyfully receive Him as a chrysalis† after all the ‘threads that surround him’ disappear since ‘divine love has found him. ’ Then we meet the fourth anchorite father, Doctor Marianus who resides in ‘the purest cell’. When he sees â€Å"womanly shapes† floating around he starts praising Mater Gloriosa and together with the choir of penitent women, Magna Peccatrix, (the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet), the Samaritan woman who met Christ at the well and Mary of Egypt together plead to Mater Gloriosa not to begrudge the true soul of Gretchen. They plead that she transgressed without knowledge of her fall. The Gretchen herself goes to Mater Gloriosa and pleads on behalf of Faust asking Mater Gloriosa to allow her, Gretchen, to teach him the new ways there since he is still blinded by the bright light. She says that Faust is a completely new person having â€Å"thrown off every bond/ Of his old earthbound integument,† The scene ends when Mater Gloriosa accepts Faust’s soul and beckons Gretchen and all the others to follow her into the higher sphere. This scene takes place by the Aegean Sea where the Sirens are addressing the Moon. The Nereids and Tritons are also swimming around and even swim to the Greek mythological island of Samothrace, ‘the domain of the mighty Cabiri’ in an effort to show that they are more than fish. Meanwhile, Thales and Homunculus have gone to visit the sea god, Nereus for advice on how Homunculus can be reborn completely. Thale tells Homunculus that though Nereus is stubborn and a grumbler, people respect him because of his wisdom. They then meet Nereus, who is angry and wants to send them away, he tells them of how men can never heed advice and tells them of how Paris laughed at him when he told him of the future he saw, he also tell them of how he warned Ulysses of ‘Cyclops’ horrors and of Circe’s wiles’ but the advice brought Ulysses no gain. He tells them finally to go to Proteus, the shape changer since he is waiting for Dorides and Galatea. Nereids and Triton arrive then carrying Cabiri in a turtle-shell and Thales and Homunculus watch the procession. Proteus, who is hovering near is so attracted by the light that that homunculus emits. He draws near and Thales asks for advice on Homunculus’ behalf. Proteus suggests that homunculus can repeat the human birth process by starting in the sea and then develop to a full being. They then all (Thales, Proteus and Homunculus) leave together to go and watch the sea festival. In the procession, the Telchines, the nine dog-headed Children of the Sea, pass by and boast that they were the first to shape gods in the image of man. Galatea finally arrives and Nereus, the Sirens and Thales comment on the doves of Paphos which accompany Galatea. Galatea comes closer to her father. And in the process Homunculus drawn near and smashes the glass that holds him at the feet of Galatea and all marvels as the light of Homunculus mixes with the waves in a symbolic marriage with the sea. Analysis of the acts In both these two acts there is a strong reference to the female presence. The female presence in act v is represented by Mater Glorioso, Gretchen, Choir of Female Penitents, Magna Peccatrix, The Woman of Samaria, Mary of Egypt and the female forms that hover in the sky which Dr. Marianus. The strong women influence in this act, as in the rest of the drama, shows the empathetic face of women. The three repentant women plead for Gretchen while Gretchen pleads for Faust. The women are a strong symbolism to life givers. Mater Glorioso gives Faust soul another life by uttering few words. In this act we also know that the soul Faust is received by the young boys in a ‘pupal’ stage. This is so like Homunculus, who is a half being and only survives in a bottle. The rebirth of Homunculus takes place when he joins with the Galatea in a sea wedding. This is what completes Homunculus. Faust soul is also completed by the love of Gretchen. It is Gretchen’s love that finds him and is to lead him in the new place since ‘The new light still blinds him. ’ In act ii, there is also an overwhelming female presence. The sirens, Nereids and Tritons, Galatea, Dorides are all representative of female personalities. Generally this act is one in which the three, Homunculus, Faust and Mephistopheles are on a search of what completes them, which in the three cases happen to be the female personality. References Wolfgang, Johann von Goethe. Faust. Berlin: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1867.